CHAPTER SIX
Stephanie King bent down and gave her son a tight hug as they watched their new friend and local hero, Jack Francis Bunker, head off with the meddling female deputy—the same brunette who always seemed to be around when something went wrong in her life.
Everyone has an albatross in their life, yanking them back a few steps just when they think they’re making progress. Some call it bad luck or a dark moon rising. Others call it their inner demon.
But Stephanie’s cross to bear was an unstoppable force who went by the name of Daisy Clark—a natural beauty whose life seemed to run on autopilot.
People like Daisy seemed to breeze through life with a perpetual smile on their lips, as fortune always found them around the next corner. Others struggled just to make it through another day, trying not to grab a machine gun and take out their frustrations on the rest of the planet.
Stephanie knew the casting of those two roles all too well, always feeling like the understudy.
Even so, the sweet young boy who was wrapped in her arms made the torment of life worth it. When he giggled like little boys do, it melted her heart and she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.
Her son was the one advantage she had over her nemesis, even if Jeffrey was tethered to a 6’ 4” pile of curly blond baggage who went by the name of William H. King. Her ex. The town man-whore. Another one of those people who found success and happiness with everything he touched—just not with her, apparently.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Mr. Bunker said he’s coming back,” she told Jeffrey as her mind played out a dozen scenarios of how the next few weeks would unfold.
Her precious little boy’s silence was deafening and ripping at the petals of her heart. She knew exactly what Jeffrey was thinking and feeling about Bunker at the moment, because she was thinking and feeling it, too.
Their stressful day together had been filled with a series of heart-pounding moments, each strengthening an invisible bond between the three of them. She couldn’t explain how it got there or why it existed, but it was there nonetheless.
She’d read somewhere that tragedy can bring people together and do so in ways nobody could’ve predicted. She never believed in that kind of fantasy before, but today’s events were proof that it did happen. Even though she knew nothing about the troubled, mysterious man, his soul had touched hers. And her son’s.
Her friends from high school would have called her naive or totally nuts for trusting some guy she just met on a train. But somehow she knew that she could, even without a shred of proof. Sure, it was strange, twisted logic but sometimes you can truly know a person before you really know anything about them.
Today’s events had taught her a new, important lesson: how people handle themselves in an emergency reveals who they really are, even without knowing any of the facts from their past.
Her mother had always told her that your past makes you who you are. Up until today, she always accepted that adage. But now, she didn’t think that old saying was entirely correct. She had a new way of looking at it.
Your past herds you along its own path, pushing you toward the person you truly want to be, whether you’re ready for it or not.
The draw to Bunker was there and she couldn’t deny it, even though she wasn’t looking for any of it. Just yesterday, she swore to give up men entirely and vowed to never get involved again.
The pain she’d endured was just too much to ever trust another man. Her heart had been broken into a million pieces and she didn’t think she’d ever feel normal again. Or feel anything other than hatred for those who peed standing up. But then Bunker came along.
Some of her girlfriends gauged the value of their lives by the men they were with, like it was some kind of contest. Some even judged their success as women by the mere fact that they had a man in their bed—any man—vowing to never be alone at any cost.
She never understood their unwavering need to be in a relationship. It was almost as if being alone was some kind of social taboo. Or the kiss of death as a woman in this world.
Stephanie never wanted to be that shallow or transparent, but it was hard not to cave to peer pressure. She’d heard the whispers echoing around town about her tantrums and her series of relationship failures, ever since grade school.
And now, after the most painful and disruptive period in her life, she’d met this mysterious soul, Jack Bunker—a man who was destined to generate an endless storm of whispers. Whispers that would follow her everywhere she went.
Her heart skipped a few beats, knowing fate had stepped in and dealt her another wickedly sinful hand of cards.
“Who’s that guy with Daisy?” a familiar male voice said behind her.
Jeffrey spun around in her arms. “Daddy!” he said, prying himself loose from her grip. The boy leapt into his father’s arms, wrapping his hands around the man’s slender neck.
“How’s my little chief doing? Did you miss me?” William King said into Jeffrey’s ear, shooting Stephanie a judgmental, penetrating look. “I heard something happened today on the train. Are you okay, son?”
“Yeah, Daddy. It was really scary. First, the train stopped moving, then this really big airplane almost crashed into us. But our new friend, Jack, got us out of there. Then we found this huge bus in the forest with all these kids. They were hanging off a cliff but Mommy and Mr. Bunker got them all out. And I helped.”
“Sounds like you’re a little hero today. Your father is very proud of you,” William told his son, standing the boy on the ground. He looked at Jeffrey’s shirt and pointed at the fresh stain. “What’s this?”
“Ice cream. It was really good. They were giving it away before it melted.”
William smiled, though it looked forced.
Stephanie knew that look. Her ex was deep in thought and about to impose his will, again.
William took out his wallet and handed Jeffrey a five-dollar bill. “Here, son. Go get yourself another treat while Mommy and I have a little talk.”
“No, he’s had more than enough sweets for today,” Stephanie snapped.
William ignored her response, turning Jeffrey by the shoulders and aiming him toward the ice cream parlor. “It’s okay, son. Heroes deserve two treats when they help save lives like you did today.”
“But Daaaad, they’re free today. We don’t have to pay.”
“I know, Jeffrey, but remember what I’ve taught you. A real man always pays his own way in this world. He never takes charity from anyone. Charity is for lazy people who don’t want to work for what they have. And the men in the King family are never lazy. So take this money and go pay your way. Enjoy your ice cream while I speak to your mom in private.”
Jeffrey nodded, then took the greenback in his hand. He took off running for another round of ice cream.
“Why do you always do that?” she asked in a firm tone.
“Do what? Buy my only son some ice cream?”
“No, always go against my wishes and spoil him like that. I know what you’re trying to do, but it won’t work. The judge gave me primary custody, despite all your lawyer’s dirty tactics. Little boys belong with their mothers, and the judge agreed with me.”
“So who was that man with Daisy? Was it this Jack Bunker asshole I’ve been hearing about?”
“Yes, and he’s no asshole. In fact, he’s the bravest man I’ve ever met. He risked his life for a bunch of complete strangers. Something I know you’d never do because there’s no profit in it.”
He hesitated, looking like he was holding back a torrent of rage. “Word has it you two hooked up on the train. It’s been what, seventy-two hours since the ink dried on our divorce decree? And you’re already spreading your legs?”
“It wasn’t like that at all. I’m not like you. I don’t just hook up with anyone. That’s your deal, remember?”
“I’m betting if my lawyer went back to the judge and explained how you were running away without permission and shacking up wit
h some complete stranger on a train, and doing so in front of my son, there’d be some quick changes to the custody terms. I’m pretty sure they call that child endangerment. Shame on you, Steph.”
“You can’t do that! That’s a complete lie!”
“Watch me,” he said, looking away for a moment, then bringing his hateful eyes back to her. “When you decided to file for divorce, I told you to watch your step and never cross me. I own this town, just like my father before me.”
“It never ends with you, thinking you’re all that. Just because your family owns the silver mine doesn’t mean you control the courts.”
“I don’t need to. Not when you’re tramping around like some bitch in heat. All I need to do is put doubt in the judge’s mind and I guarantee you, he’ll see things my way. Slutting around on that train just gave me all the ammo I need.”
She raised her hand to slap him, but someone grabbed it from behind and held it.
“Easy now, Stephanie,” a man’s steady voice said.
She turned and saw Franklin Atwater’s fingers wrapped around her wrist. His daughter, Megan, was with him and walking with crutches, her knee in a shiny metal brace.
“What’s going on here?” the tall black man asked, looking extra handsome in his fitted cowboy shirt.
“Mind your own business, Atwater. This doesn’t concern you,” William said, flaring his eyes and pushing out his chin.
“I think today, I’ll make it my business,” Franklin said, letting go of Stephanie’s hand and turning his attention to her. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, well, sort of,” she said, pointing a nervous hand at her ex-husband. “I just can’t stand to look at him anymore. Every word out of his mouth is a lie. It never stops. I’m tired of everyone taking his side all the time.”
Atwater looked down at his daughter. “Megan, sweetheart, why don’t you go talk to Jeffrey for a minute? Looks like he might need some help with his ice cream.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she answered, hobbling away.
Atwater waited a handful of seconds before he turned and looked at William and then at Stephanie. He held out his hands, pointing at both of them. “Maybe both of you need to take a step back. Think about what’s happening here and how it looks to the little one in your life. I get that you two have some troubled history and things are a little heated right now, but it really doesn’t have to be like this. Don’t you think there are more important things to consider? Like Jeffrey’s future? I hope you both realize that everything you say and do to each other affects your son. There will be scars from all of this. Is that really what you want?”
William’s tense look hadn’t changed, still burning a hole into Stephanie’s face. “Ah, come on, Franklin. She’s an emotional mess. Everyone knows it. She’s always going ballistic over the littlest things. All I did was buy my son some ice cream and she gets all physical about it. I mean, look at Jeffrey. He’s happy. That’s how kids are supposed to be.”
Stephanie couldn’t believe the gall of her ex. “See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about, Franklin. That’s a complete lie. That’s not why I wanted to slap him just now. He threatened to—”
Franklin interrupted her before she could finish the explanation, looking frustrated and upset. “The whys and whats don’t really matter at this point.”
“But wait, you don’t understand,” she said, trying to make him listen.
Franklin shook his head. “You two are divorced now. It’s time to act like grownups and stop hurting each other. Couples always know exactly which buttons to push, but this kind of behavior has to stop. For Jeffrey’s sake.”
Before she could raise another appeal to the towering cowboy, a heavyset man with a deputy star hanging from his plus-sized shirt appeared out of nowhere and stood behind her former spouse.
The unidentified deputy was accompanied by another man, this one taller and as skinny as a light post. He, too, was wearing a deputy’s badge on the loose-fitting shirt covering his obviously concave chest.
The words Blimp and Wimp burned into her thoughts when she saw the two of them together. Both men had their arms folded across their chests.
“Is there a problem here?” the fat deputy said, his voice ringing a familiar tone from her past.
“Do we need to call the Sheriff?” the skinny one said a split second later.
Stephanie took a long, hard look at the heavy guy, letting the contours of his round face, curly black hair, raging acne, and full, ragged beard soak in. She recognized him. “Albert? Is that you?”
“Hey Steph. Long time no see,” he answered. “I wasn’t sure for a minute that you’d remember me.”
“Who is this clown?” William asked, stepping to the side as if he wanted to keep a safe distance from the sudden wave of law enforcement.
“I’m Albert Mortenson. The new deputy sheriff in town. I went to high school with your wife.”
“Ex-wife,” William said, looking smug and condescending, like the complete jerk he was. “Crazy ex-wife, to be exact.”
Stephanie took a step forward, feeling an overwhelming desire to strike him dead. Whatever was controlling her heart right now was powerful and all-consuming.
Franklin grabbed her by the elbows just as Albert stepped between the former spouses. The other rail-thin deputy remained silent and still, looking as though he’d rather be somewhere else at the moment.
“See what I mean? Look at her. She wants to kill me right now,” William said with a crooked grin on his face. “And for what?”
“You’re such an ass,” she snapped, struggling against the grip on her arms.
Atwater spun her away and ushered her toward the ice cream joint. “Let’s go see how our kids are doing.”
She took a series of deep, choppy breaths, trying to regain control of her temper. It wasn’t easy, but the fury finally bled off.
“You can’t react that way. Especially in public,” Franklin said.
“I know. I know. But when Bill’s around, something just takes over and I wanna scream at him until I can’t scream any more. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s there and I totally see red.”
“Like I said before, you both know how to push each other’s buttons. It’s called marriage. But you can’t go there. Ever. That’s exactly what he wants you to do. You can’t keep giving him ammo to use against you.”
Tears welled in her eyes, leaking down her cheeks as she made her way to her son, who was knuckles-deep into another ice cream cone.
When they arrived, Atwater let go and stood watch behind her.
“Mom? Are you okay?” Jeffrey asked, his eyebrows pinched and cheeks red.
She wiped the tears from her cheeks and forced them to stop before dropping to one knee. Her swollen face was now level with Jeffrey’s. “Yes, Mommy is okay. Just a little sad, but I’m all better now.”
“Hi, Mrs. King,” Megan said, blinking her almond-shaped eyes at Stephanie. The tiny, dark-skinned girl seemed to be handling the crutches, but the medical brace looked heavy and awkward.
“How’s your knee feeling, sweetheart?” Stephanie asked, feeling guilty for not asking earlier. She’d been so wrapped up in her own drama that she’d forgotten to say hi to the child she’d helped rescue from the bus.
“It’s really sore, but Doctor Marino said it’s just a sprain. I’ll be good as new in no time. I just have to use these crutches for a while. It sucks because I can’t ride Star for like four weeks.”
“I know, baby. Being hurt is no fun, especially for little girls who were really brave on that bus today. But I’m sure your daddy will take really good care of you,” she said, cradling Megan’s cheeks in her hands.
Stephanie let go after a brief linger, then turned and looked up at Franklin, who was showing a gentle smile. He gave her a simple head nod and touched the soft area near the top of her back. His enormous hand sent a warm, comforting wave of tingles down her spine and into her bones. It felt amazing. Just what she needed.
Right then, Stephanie knew that all men were not like her ex. She had to find a way to let her hatred fade because it was consuming all that she was, turning her into a version of herself that she hated. She needed to focus on surrounding herself with tender, good-hearted men like Franklin.
And maybe even Bunker—a man she barely knew. But clearly a man who was willing to help others at great risk to himself. A man who wasn’t consumed with money and power and living life only for himself. A man she might be able to feel safe with. Especially when the penetrating darkness came for her, creeping into her soul during the endless, quiet moments waiting for her in the future.
It wasn’t going to be easy, not with her hold on sanity tenuous at best. But she needed to be strong and find a way through this. For herself and for Jeffrey.
After her son finished the last of the cone, she wiped off a splotch of ice cream from his lips, then cleaned up a drip down his chin.
Jeffrey smiled at her.
She wrapped him in her arms and whispered in his ear. “Mommy loves you. I hope you know that.”
“I’m sorry I made you sad, Mommy.”
“No sweetheart. You didn’t make me sad,” she said, struggling to keep from blaming the boy’s father. She needed to rise above the pettiness and change her outlook, like Franklin wanted her to do.
“Sometimes, Mommy just gets sad and needs a minute to herself. It’s never you, honey. You always make Mommy happy. Always. You’re my little angel. Never forget that. That’s why I love you soooo much.”
She let go of Jeffrey and leaned back. Her son nodded, looking adorable. She smiled and brushed a swatch of hair away from his forehead, then stood and turned to Franklin.
Stephanie was about to ask the dark-skinned cowboy for a huge favor, but he beat her to it.
“I think you and Jeffrey should stay with us for a bit. Some time away from this town—and you-know-who—will do you good.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Bunker (A Post-Apocalyptic Techno Thriller Book 2) Page 4
