Page 113 of His Old Lady

Chapter 41

Curley

Faye clung to his hand. Curley squeezed her fingers, watching the door. They'd already waited an hour in the holding room to find out if Walker would see them, and if the prison would allow them both to come back at the same time to visit.

The rules posted on the wall permitted two people back at a time. Though he knew from experience that none of the Tarkio members on the outside would ever be allowed to go inside in pairs.

Rules meant shit. If the higher-ups wanted to stop visits, they'd find an excuse not to let him in.

He hoped for Faye's sake, they'd let a female in with him.

They'd already agreed back at the house if only one person gained access to Walker, it would be him. It was important to Faye that he and Walker talk.

The door opened. A male guard with a clipboard scanned the room. "Carl Albright. Faye Walker."

Faye glanced at him, probably taken back by the use of his real name. He shielded his reaction, not wanting his road name used within the building, and brought Faye forward with him.

She looked forward to the visit and led the way as they walked through the long hallway. It would be the first time in sixteen years that all three of them would come face to face together.

A short time for him.

Almost a lifetime for Faye.

And for Walker—Hell had no time.

Shown to the partition, blocking them from the other visitors, he let Faye sit in the chair at the counter in front of the Plexiglas. He stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. Underneath his palms, he picked up on the slight tremor in her body.

Or maybe that was him.

He hadn't looked forward to the visit. It was hard to face his MC brother, who'd given up his freedom to save him. Over the years, he'd gone from pissed off and full of rage toward Walker for having taken the hit for him to not wanting to face him because the guilt crippled him.

It should be him behind the glass.

He squeezed Faye's shoulders.

If he lived two lifetimes, there was never any way he could pay back Walker for what he'd done. There would be no Faye in his life if he was serving time.

Faye stiffened. Curley gazed toward the left as far as he could see and spotted Walker. The guard led him toward the table. Their slow procession dictated by the chain-linked from the handcuffs to the ankle shackles.

A perpetual frown marred Walker's hard-lined face. The pit of Curley's stomach hardened. Knowing Walker had already received the news of what happened with Cal Williams, he understood his MC brother's concern. Though Walker's hands were literally tied in prison.

Walker sat in the chair, waited for the guard to secure the chain to the counter, and then picked up the phone receiver.

Faye grabbed the phone on her side and immediately said, "Stop frowning, Uncle. I'm okay."

Because he could only hear one side of the conversation, Curley watched Walker's lips, trying to decipher his reply. Once Walker had walked in, his gaze had stayed on Faye.

"I'm okay, really." Faye glanced over her shoulder at Curley, smiled, and turned back to her uncle. "Better than okay."

Walker's chin lifted, and he spoke into the receiver. Faye reached up and covered Curley's hand with her own.

"He's taking care of me and treating me right." Faye's shoulders relaxed. "I have news."

Over the last two weeks, Faye had taken a lot of time to do what she called 'soul searching' when she wasn't working at Promise. He'd given her time, which she'd spent walking the back property at his house. It wasn't until she'd sought him out and asked him to take a stroll with her, she shared her ideas with him.

"Now that I'm living with Cur—Carl and received notice that I can expect the payoff from the insurance company in two weeks, I'm going to rent out Grandma June's house. That way, when you're released, I can sign the deed over to you. It really belonged to you, anyway."

Walker glanced at Curley, nodded, and spoke over the phone. Curley stroked his thumb against the back of Faye's neck. He'd talked her out of selling the place.

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