Page 97 of Where We Promise

I needed to talk to Penelope and figure out what her thoughts were around this. Luke wasn’t wrong, her mom was sick…it was a punch to the gut learning about it. It seemed to sneak up on all of us, although I had a suspicion it had been going on for a bit longer than anyone knew. Regardless, she was given mere months to live…if that. Her cancer was aggressive, and Wanda declined doing chemotherapy, saying she wanted to live her last days in peace.

I had no idea how Penelope was handing the news. She and her mom were close, but after dealing with everything I had with my own dad, I knew she had to be in pain.

I walked over to the club garage where she worked as a receptionist to see if I could steal a few minutes of her time. The large bay doors were open, but the small office in the front was vacant.

Poking my head in, I searched back by the file cabinets and then the waiting room. Maybe she was in the bathroom. I moved down the hall, but the women’s bathroom door was open, the light off.

I turned toward the mechanics, and asked Rafe, one of the lead men, “Where’s Penelope?”

His face twisted as he spit into a nearby cup. “The whore?”

“Fuck you, Rafe. She was dating Luke. He’s the one who stepped out.”

Rafe shook his head. “She should have left…just the same, Luke told us to fire her. She was let go a few days ago.”

“That was my call, not Luke’s.” I seethed, angry that once again this entire fucking thing seemed to be falling apart.

It angered me on an entirely different level because before Pen had started dating Luke, she’d gotten back into photography, but at his request she quit and started working at this stupid fucking garage.

Now he had fired her.

Fucking asshole.

I left in a rage, heading for Miles’ house.

I knocked on Miles’ front door, knowing the male was currently down at the bar, drinking and smoking with a few old timers. Fucker didn’t seem to think it was necessary to stay by his old lady’s side while she was in the last days of her life.

Gene answered the door with a sad smile in place.

“I need to talk to Penelope.” I didn’t waste time on pleasantries. They’d be lost on Gene anyway.

She welcomed me into the house, but once I was inside, she let out a sigh.

“Penelope is out job hunting.”

Fuck. I shook my head, my hands going to my hips, unsure how to fix this. It was quiet in the house when I heard a feeble request coming from the living room.

“Jameson King, come talk to me.”

My stomach tilted as I registered it was Wanda.

I gave Gene a quick look, she only gave me that sad smile once more then nodded toward the living room.

I followed her, wishing I had washed my hands or taken off my boots. Something that would have made me feel a little more prepared to see her lithe body, the pallor of her skin nearly translucent, and the bags under her eyes that were deep set and dark.

She saw me and those cracked lips tilted up into a smile. My chest felt tight as I remembered the old Wanda, and how beautiful she once was, how that beauty still lingered around her like a faded photograph.

Her hand came out, and I took it into mine, taking a seat in the chair next to her.

“Jameson.” Her voice was weak, and it made tears burn behind my steady gaze. I wanted her to be strong for Pen, to stay for her daughter who needed her more than ever right now.

“I’m here.” I smiled at her, lightly squeezing her hand.

Her watery blue eyes latched onto me as she pulled me closer. “I need you to make me a promise, Jamie. I need you to promise me that you’ll get Penny out of here. Find somewhere safe for her to go to have the baby. She can’t stay here. Miles doesn’t want her here…Gene can’t take her in. Luke…” Her voice wobbled as if she were about to start crying.

I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be on the verge of death, unsure if your child would be okay.

“I’ll try, Wanda. I can get her an apartment or something.”

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