Page 22 of Shattered Dreams

Jolynn

“Mama, you laughing!” Grady smiled

“Yes, I am.”

Has it been that long since I’ve laughed?

“Richard was always a good guy.” My dad walked past, holding Emma.

“I know, dad.”

“Is he gonna fix our van?” Harrison asked as he cleaned his glasses.

I nodded at him. “He is going to check it out and see what’s wrong with it.”

“Can we watch a movie?” Tyler bounced up and down.

“Let’s watch a movie.” With a nod of my head, I got the boys set up with a movie and snacks, then I joined my dad in the kitchen for a late lunch. “Emma asleep?”

“Sure is. So is Briar.” He took a sip of his diet soda.

“Good.” I relaxed. “Maybe then neither of them will be crabby tonight at the fair.”

Dad’s head tilted as he looked me over. “Think he’ll have your van done?”

My shoulder lifted in a shrug. “Even if he doesn’t, he invited me and the kids to go.”

A slow smile spread across his face. “Mm. I see.”

“What? What do you see?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Nothing.” The smile grew as he shook his head.

“Dad.” I laughed. “What?”

“I always thought you and Richard would get married.” He set his fork down. “I never understood why you broke up with him and left.”

I choked on my water.

“From where I sat, If you would’ve told him about the baby, I bet he would’ve done the right thing.”

“Dad.” I felt the tears in my eyes well up and spill over. “He made it clear he didn’t want kids. At. All.” I wiped up my mess and looked at my dad. “And I was so sure there was something bigger and better out there.”

“How’d that work out for ya’?” He chuffed.

“Like shit.” I rubbed my face. “Dad, I swear. At first, Johnny was good to me. He was kind and sweet. Then, little by little, things changed. I swear I didn’t see it.”

He nodded and scratched his scruff. “With men like him, you never do. You know if you ever need someone who gets it, you could talk to Jean. She’d understand.”

“I know she would.” I sat back in my chair. “But I broke her son’s heart.”

“Jean knew something was up. She never hated you, or said a mean thing about you.”

“She was too good for Gary.”

“Yeah, she was.” He drifted off in thought. “He was a son of a bitch.”

I looked out the window and saw the old treehouse in the backyard at their place. That was the safe-haven all three boys hid in when their dad was on a rampage. There were even nights the boys camped in it.

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