Not Alone

by Amber Nation

  Every. Single. Weekend.

  Grady helped me get, my then passed out, father settled into my guestroom. He didn’t say much, but I could tell he was perturbed.

  Afterwards, I took Grady home and after a giving a brief eyeful to the neighbors, I went to pick up my son from his grandparent’s house.

  Tucker was beyond thrilled to tell me all about his weekend and his new friend Drew. He didn’t even give me any problems when it was bedtime because he was ready to see Drew the next day, since they would both be attending the same school.

  Now it was Monday morning, I’d already dropped Tucker off at school and I was now putting the finishing touches on my pumpkin cheesecake for the store. I made five of them because they always go over so well. Since Toby and I decorated the storefront window yesterday,I thought it’d be a perfect way to bring in the fall.

  I heard my guestroom door open. Tucker didn’t even know that my father was here, he would’ve asked endless questions and I didn’t need to expose Tucker to that. Out shuffled my father and he looked like shit. Rumpled clothing, what little hair he had was stuck straight up in every direction, and what looked to be dried drool on the side of his mouth, served him right.

  “Morning daddy,” I all but screamed, making him wince. “Nice to see you’ve joined us among the land of the living.”

  “Water,” he croaked out.

  “I’ll get you water and Tylenol. Then you and I are going to have a little chat before I take you by to get your car and go to work.”

  He gave me his don’t start with me glare, and it doesn’t faze me, because I’d already started. He put me in this position and I can’t just stand around doing nothing anymore.

  I gather his hangover provisions, and myself a cup of coffee, and make my way to my kitchen table. I pulled out a chair for my father, pointed to it, and simply said, “sit.”

  “Pumpkin,-“ he tried to say but I cut him off.

  “Nope,” I said as I put my hand up in a stopping motion. Then I clasped both hands around my coffee mug to try and stop them from trembling. This had to be done but in reality I was scared as hell. I’d never talked back to my father, never even smarted off to him as a teenager, but I guess there was a first for everything.

  “This is my time to talk, and all you need to do is listen. I am sick and tired of having to drop everything to come haul your drunken ass out of the bar. Yesterday I was on a second date with an amazing man, in which I was interrupted, because I had to come fetch you, yet again, because you were harassing customers. One of my first dates in a million years with a guy who actually likes me and thinks I’m worthy, and I get interrupted to deal with someone else’s shit, again. Never again, nuh uh, no way. Next time I’ll let them have Sheriff Mitchell come out and deal with your ass. That’ll make great news: Ex-Sheriff gets arrested for harassment in Finnegan’s Bar.”

  By that point my dad looks stunned, with his mouth hanging open. That was something he never expected to come from me, the good girl, but I was nowhere near finished. I crossed my arms over my chest and continued.

  “I know this is harsh but, my son thinks the world of you, you are a superhero in his eyes. He lives for your stories of catching the bad guys and being the law. Do you want to disappoint him as well?”

  This was the last thing I ever thought I would have to do to my dad, and it was breaking my heart to have this conversation at all. “I’m sorry to have to do this but, until you decide to clean yourself up and become sober, Tucker nor myself will be coming around anymore. I can’t trust you enough to leave Tuck in your care and expect you to stay sober. Now grab your shoes so I can take you to the bar. I gotta get to the store.” All I really wanted to do was stay at home and wallow in my misery. But just like with what happened Friday with Corbin, I had to be strong. I had no time for a breakdown, even though I was barely hanging on by a thread.

  Driving my father to the bar, he didn’t utter a single word or even spare a glance my way. I felt awful for what I had to do, but I didn’t want him to end up passed out in his own vomit, or worse.

  The parking lot at Finnegan’s was completely empty, except for my father’s old, dusty pickup truck. Before he got out, I needed to say one more thing to him and I knew it was going to hit home. “I already had to endure losing one parent too young, I don’t want the same thing to happen to you. Get help then, call me when you have.” And with that, he slammed the door to my van and was gone.

  Wasting no time, I made my way to the store. Rose had already opened and, bless her heart, was performing all the daily morning duties.

  “Good morning Rose. I’m going to be in my office for a bit. If anyone calls, please take a message.” I didn’t even wait for her reply before I set down the pumpkin cheesecakes on the counter and closed myself in my office.

  ---~~~---

  A few hours had passed and both Toby and Tessa had been blowing up my phone with their constant calls and text messages.

  The only call I did take was from Sheriff Mitchell. His call didn’t brighten my day either. They still hadn’t located Corbin Montgomery, and if he knew what was good for him, he’d have moved to Mexico.

  I finally got into doing some work, paying bills and ordering new inventory, when I heard a knock on the door.

  “Rose, I said I didn’t want to be bothered.”

  But it was Grady who sauntered in.

  “Hey sweetheart,” he said as I rushed up and ran to him squeezing him tight. “What’s the matter baby? I came by to give you a kiss and to see that smile before I headed back to the bar, and yet I find you barricaded in your office under a mountain of paperwork.” He tilted my chin up and took notice of my puffy eyes from where I’d been silently crying off and on all morning.

  He gave a little kiss to each cheek under my glasses. Then sat down on one of the giant overstuffed chairs in my office and pulled me down on top of him.

  Chapter Twenty

  Grady

  I was sitting in Emmalynne’s office with her curled up tightly on my lap. Normally I wouldn’t complain about it but since I could tell she was hanging on by a thread, it worried me. She was so strong- willed and independent that she was keeping it buried deep inside. I hoped that one day she would trust me enough to open herself up fully to me and let me carry some of her worry. It had only been a little bit of time, and we still hadn’t been intimate. Regardless, I knew she was the one.

  A few minutes passed and she finally spoke. “I talked to my dad this morning and pretty much cut him out of me and Tuck’s life until he cleans up his act. Then, to top it all off, Sheriff Mitchell called and said that they still haven’t found Corbin yet, but they aren’t giving up on the search.”

  Hearing that they hadn’t located that fucker made me immediately tense up. She may not like it, but I was going to be keeping a close eye on her. I started lazily rubbing her back, to consciously let her know that I was there for her.

  I knew something went down with her father this morning. I came out of the bar as soon as she was leaving and had my own little chat with Sam Johnston. I could tell he wasn’t the least bit happy, but he was really fuming when I told him that if he stepped one foot into Finnegan’s again, I would take matters into my own hands and personally escort him off of the premises, whether one of the security guys were there or not.

  I continued to sit there silently while rubbing her back. I could tell that she needed this time to reflect, and I just wanted to show her that I was there for her.

  Her cellphone started vibrating on her desk and I tried to make a move to get up and grab it. She immediately held me tighter and whispered, “Just leave it. I’m sure it’s Toby or Tessa trying to get through again. They’ve only called eleventy billion times already today.”

  Several moments later, Rose burst into the office, a look of utter panic written all over her face. “Emmalynne, the school just called. Tucker was injured on the playground, and they’ve taken him to the hospital. They’re thinking it’s
a broken arm.”

  “What the FUCK?!” she bounced up off of me and rushed to get her purse. I saw that my foul mouth was starting to rub off on her. She began frantically digging through that damn bag, trying to find her keys.

  “Emmy come on, let me drive. My truck is parked right at the curb, and I have my keys already.”

  She took my hand and dragged me out the door, while yelling back to Rose, “Call Miles and see if he can work today. I’m sorry I have to leave!”

  “Em, don’t worry about the store. Just go be with Tucker, but please call and give me an update!” Rose yelled back.

  I broke I don’t know how many traffic laws, trying to get to the hospital as quickly as I could. I just wanted Emmalynne to be with Tucker as soon as possible. All the while she was biting her nails in my passenger seat, trying to keep herself in control. I was silently freaking out for her, so I could only imagine how she felt and he wasn’t even my kid. I dropped her off at the entrance to the Emergency Room and I took off, trying to find a parking spot.

  Several loops through the parking lot later, I finally found a spot. Of course it happened to be between two people who hugged the line, so it was a tight fit, but it was all I could find. I threw my truck into park and jogged my way into the hospital.

  I immediately took in Emmalynne’s red face, waving her hands around. I walked up to her and put my hand on the small of her back, trying to and help soothe her nerves.

  “Tucker Morgan, is my son. He was brought in by someone from Brown County Elementary school. He got hurt at recess. Find him!” she hissed. I had to place a hand on her forearm to try and deter her from jumping across the counter and strangling the poor receptionist.

  “Calm down ma’am. I’m trying to locate what room they have him in,” the receptionist replied back, snottily. Uh oh. I physically saw Emmalynne’s body tense as her blood pressure rose.

  “Calm down!? Calm down!? Don’t you fucking tell me to calm down, that’s my son!” she yelled as she pounded her closed fist on the counter. “He is probably scared and he needs his mother. Don’t make me go all momma bear on your ass!!!!”

  Fuck, she was even sexy when she threatened someone. This was definitely not the time to be thinking of Emmalynne all sexy. Grady…Think with your brain and not your dick.

  A man in a white coat emerged out from behind the double doors that led into the Emergency Room and walked straight to me and Em. “Are you Emmalynne Morgan?” he asked.

  “Yes, I’m looking for my son Tucker Morgan. Is he back there?”

  “He is, follow me and I’ll bring you to him.”

  “Thank god,” she threw her hands in the air. “Someone who knows what the fuck they are doing,” she said as she glared at the receptionist. I was personally staying out of this. I didn’t plan on having her go all momma bear on my ass. I was rather fond of all parts of my anatomy, ass or otherwise.

  The doctor took us through the double doors and down a long corridor, finally stopping in front of room five and letting Emmalynne through. She wasted no time in throwing back the curtain and rushing to Tucker’s side. I stepped partially into the room and waited in the corner while she comforted her son.

  “Tucker, are you ok? What happened? Do I need to kick someone’s ass?” she said as she picked up his already casted arm and examined it.

  “Miss Morgan, I’m Mr. Franklin, the assistant principal. I’ll be going now. I just wanted to make sure that you made it here with Tucker before I left.”

  Emmalynne wasn’t paying a bit of attention to Mr. Franklin so I politely shook his hand and told him, “thank you.”

  He let us be and I finally took in Tucker’s form. He was sitting perched up on the hospital bed sporting a neon green cast on his arm, and he didn’t look in the least bit sad or upset. He actually looked pretty fucking excited.

  “Mom, it was awesome! Drew and I were trying to walk across the monkey bars, I made it, but then I fell. The Doctor let me chose what color I wanted my cast to be, I liked the blue, but decided to get green. Can I bring a marker to school tomorrow? I can’t wait for everyone to sign it.” I could see where he got his rambling from. Like mother like son.

  “Sure Tuck.” I could tell her pent up anger had already dissipated. “Let’s try and get you out of here and I’ll make you some grilled cheese and tomato soup. How does that sound?”

  “Yum, that sounds great! Oh hey Grady, do you want to be the first one to sign my cast?” he looked back to his mom. “You can sign it too mom!”

  “Sure thing, kiddo,” I said to Tucker. “But you do know that you won’t be able to play soccer for a while now.”

  “Bummer, I didn’t think of that.” His smile faltered for a split second. “Can I still go show the team my support by being at the games?”

  “Absolutely, I think that’s a great idea. And that shows great sportsmanship. You are a great kid, Tucker Morgan,” Emmalynne said as she ruffled Tucker’s hair and placed a kiss on top of his head.

  “Moooom, don’t mess with the ‘do!” I chuckled to his response. Tucker really did seem like a great kid, and Emmalynne just amazed me with how she was with him. There was so much love in that house, despite what went down with Bryce, the asshole.

  My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I take it out to see Becca calling. I guessed my little chat with her did nothing. She needed to learn to leave me alone, and I sent her to voicemail. By the time my phone had slid back into my pocket, she had been forgotten.

  Tucker finally got discharged and he had been set up with an appointment in six weeks to get his cast removed. I ran out to get my truck and pulled up to the entrance so Tucker and Emmalynne can climb in.

  It was almost my shift so I regretfully dropped them off at her van at the bookstore and promised to call her later in the evening. Before getting out she gave me a knowing glance and a wink that told me that if she could she would kiss me goodbye.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Emmalynne

  Several days had passed since Manic Monday, that was what I was calling it. So much crap went down, that I was ready to fall into bed and sleep until Wednesday. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. Sheriff Mitchell still hadn’t found Corbin Montgomery. And I’d heard nothing from my dad. But fortunately things had been pretty mellow the last few days, thank goodness!

  Grady kept true to his promise of calling me that night, in fact we’d texted and called each other several times this week. I just hadn’t seen him since that day.

  Toby and Tessa were pissed off that I didn’t let them in on what happened Monday, but they quickly got over it. And now all was well.

  It was now Friday and I was opening the store. I made oatmeal raisin cookies today, they were Toby’s favorite and he always stopped by on Friday’s. What was I saying, he stopped by every day of the week.

  Speak of the devil, in walked both Toby and Tessa.

  “Hey guys,” I said while filling up the bakery case with loads of cookies.

  “If those are what I think they are, you’d better leave a dozen out for me,” Toby said by way of a greeting. I complied and left a dozen in the tin, something I had already planned to do, but I won’t let him know that.

  “So, how are things?” Tessa asked.

  “Things… are good, quiet.”

  “So, have you done the nasty with Mr. Hottie McHottness?” Toby, always the straight shooter.

  “No, Toby, I haven’t done the nasty with Grady. I haven’t even seen him since Monday, is it sad that I miss him? I mean we talk and text several times a day, but we’ve both been so busy.”

  “Girl, you’ve got it bad don’t you? But what are you waiting for? You need to get on it and clear out those cobwebs!” she said while waving at my nether regions. Wow, Tessa lets be blunt.

  “Stop talking, please stop talking! I’ve been out of commission on the sex life aspect for too many years, I don’t even know if I’ll remember how.”

  Tessa perched herself on a stool that was behind
the counter and picked at her cookie while saying, “Honey, it’s something you’ll never forget, like riding a bike. You just need to woman up and attack his ass.”

  The bell for the door sounded and in walked in none other than, Grady. Just looking at him made my breath hitch and heart skip a beat.

  “That’s my cue. I have to go meet Brock anyways; we are auditioning several bass players today as a replacement for the dickhead,” Toby said as he looked over to Tessa. “You coming, Tess?”

  “Wha? Oh yah,” she shook herself from her thoughts, no doubt on Grady. “Hi Grady, bye Grady. Bye Em, see ya later!” And then they were gone, Toby taking the entire tin of cookies with him.

  “Hi sweetheart, I’ve missed seeing you this week,” he said as he took my lips in a perfect, sweet kiss.

  “Hi babe, I missed you too, but I’ve enjoyed our phone conversations.” Talking until the wee hours of the morning, made me feel like a teenager again, but it made it hell on getting up on time.

  “Mmm. I like it when you call me babe, it gets me hot,” he said in a husky voice.

  Blushing, I shoved him playfully out of the way, and offered him a cookie.

  He took a generous bite. “Damn woman, is there anything you can’t bake?” He went on to say, “I gotta see you tonight, can I come by after I get off work, at eleven?”

  “Sure, I have a pot roast cooking in the crockpot. I’m sure there will be plenty of leftovers if you want them.”

  “Oh, I know what I want, and it sure as hell isn’t leftovers.” He nuzzled my neck and kissed me right below my ear, making me shiver with delight. “I gotta go sweetheart, but I’ll text you when I’m on my way.” He gave me a quick peck on my lips and he was gone.

  The rest of the day went by at a snail’s pace. Tucker stayed at his friend Drew’s house, so after dinner I changed into my pajamas, jersey capris and a t-shirt, and settled onto the couch to watch a movie. You’ve Got Mail was on the menu for tonight, ever since I talked about it last weekend with Grady, I’d wanted to watch it. What could I say, it was my absolute favorite.