Page 20 of Shattered Dreams

Libby walked over and narrowed her eyes. “You sure you want this?”

“Do you see anyone else?” I blew out a long stream of smoke, took the paper, and walked out the back door to the tow truck.

I checked the location and started the truck, pulling out of the lot and onto the road. It always bothered me when it’s a mom with kids.

Why doesn’t her man make sure her car is reliable?

I turned on the back road and drove about a mile when I saw the van parked on the side of the road. It’s hot as hell out and it looked like some old man stopped to look under the hood.

As I drove closer, the woman turned facing me and my breath caught in my throat.

Jo.

She’s all curves and woman now. That must mean the old man was her dad. I pulled up and parked on the other side of the road and hopped out of the cab.

“Hello, Mr. Whitman.” I called out and stepped closer to Jo. “Jolynn.”

“Richie?” Her eyes narrowed in confusion. “I … uh, didn’t know you worked for Grease Monkeys.”

“He doesn’t, Jojo.” He reached out and shook my hand. “He and his brothers own it.”

I glanced at the soccer van and saw three boys, a toddler, and tilting my head, I looked closer.

Is that a rear-facing infant seat?

“It’s way too hot to have the itty-bitty ones sitting out in this.”

Her head spun towards me with a glare. “Yeah. I know.”

Looking at Mr. Whitman, I smiled. “How about we both load her and the kids up and take them home and then I’ll come back for the van?”

“Sounds like a plan, my boy.”

Little voices start yelling from the inside of the van. “I wanna see the tow truck work!” “I wanna ride!” “Me too!”

I toed the gravel and scratched my chin. “I could load up the van and then if you’d be okay with it, Jolynn, the boys can ride with me.”

“I guess.” She bit her lip and sighed. “That would mean a lot to them.”

I offered a smile and nodded at the boys. “C’mon boys. Let’s get you in the cool cab.”

Whoops of happiness came from the van, and I was thankful we’re on a deserted back road. The three boys were all bigger now than they were the last time I saw them. I put my hand on the tallest boy’s shoulder and he flinched.

Son of a bitch. I know that flinch.

“Whoa, didn’t mean to startle you. You’re Harrison, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Richard.” I held out my hand to shake. “Can you tell me everyone’s names?”

He stared at my hand, then finally took it, and shook it. “Those are my brothers and sisters; Grady is the blond and Tyler is the taller one. The toddler is Briar, and Emma is our baby sister.”

“I will try to remember that. Let’s get you all loaded up and cool.”

“Okay.” He helped his brothers climb in and then I shadowed him to make sure he didn’t slip.

My heart broke when he flinched again. I know what those flinches are from. I know because me and my brothers used to do them too.

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