Page 92 of His Old Lady

Chapter 32

Faye

Rocky stood in frontof her in the yard, holding a plastic bat. Faye picked up the whiffle ball and tossed it underhanded to Tracy's son.

Tracy walked out of the house, carrying Elizabeth, who wasn't walking yet. "He's going to wear you out chasing that ball."

"You've got a jock on your hands." She jogged over to retrieve the ball. "He hits them about half the time. I don't even think I could do that."

She walked over to Rocky and ruffled his hair. "I need a break, buddy. Do you want a push-up?"

"Please." Rocky dropped the bat, reaching up for her hand.

She laughed, taking him to the freezer in the garage. The longer she was around him, she started to understand his language. Please sounded a lot like peas.

After getting him the easy to eat ice cream treat, she returned to the front of the house and sat beside Tracy. Curley would be arriving soon. He'd called earlier that morning and let her know he was in Eastern Washington and heading home.

"Were we ever that young?" She swept her hair behind her shoulders.

"If we were, I don't remember." Tracy leaned to the side and nudged Faye's shoulder. "Thanks for stay last night. I can't remember when the last time both kids slept through the whole night. I might hire you to come wear them out every day if it means I get enough hours of sleep."

"I don't think I'm ready for that." She glanced at Tracy. "Do you want to tell me why I was sent here to spend the night?"

Tracy sighed and put the baby on her other side. "You caught that too?"

"Mm-hm. I had a feeling Curley had his hand in having me come here." She stretched her legs out in front of her, watching Rocky make a mess of his ice cream out in the yard. "Things are going so good between us, I didn't want to ask Curley. I knew the club was going on a ride, so he has a legitimate reason for leaving town, but there was no real reason for me to come here and interrupt you and Rick."

"Give me a minute." Tracy got up and gathered Rocky, leading him into the house.

Outside by herself, Faye rubbed the base of her neck. She wasn't worried about Curley's reasons for sending her here, she was mostly curious.

Now that they'd opened communication, it was like someone had turned the faucet on. Her questions poured out. She wanted to know everything about him.

Several minutes later, Tracy returned by herself. "Rick's going to clean Rocky up and try to get both kids down for a nap. That means I can sit out here and relax."

"He's really a good dad." She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.

"Yeah." Tracy smiled. "The best."

She wondered if Curley ever had a desire for children. He was older than her and must've gone through a phase in his life when he'd thought about having a family. She swallowed. Maybe she had stopped him. He hadn't planned on claiming her, and once he had, he wouldn't walk away. Tarkio members had a process to go through, from what she knew about their laws about common-law marriages. Splitting up with an outsider was easy, but if the relationship involved a daughter, wife, or relative of another Tarkio member, they had to go in front of the table and state their intent.

At least that's how Uncle Walker had once explained it to her.

"As for Curley's reasons for sending you here, I honestly don't know. I would tell you if I did know. Curley did have Rick tell me to ask you. You know me, the more people at the house, the better. Everyone is welcome. I love having you here, so I jumped at the chance."

"I'm glad you did." She put her cheek on her knees. "I'll ask him when he gets back. It's probably nothing."

"Yeah, he could've just been trying to do something nice and give you time with an old friend," said Tracy.

"Curley? Nice?" She snorted, then grinned. "No, I hear you. He is nice. A lot nicer than in the past...what? Six years?"

"Stop." Tracy shook her head in amusement. "He is nice to me, so I'm biased. But, seriously, you guys seem like you're getting along. You were all up in each other's business at the clubhouse the other night."

Her stomach fluttered, remembering what they'd done afterward at Curley's house, out in the field.

"We're doing so much better. It's like everything is new and exciting. It's what I didn't get back when I was seventeen years old." She leaned over and put her head on Tracy's shoulder. "You and Rick give me something to strive for. I love how you're so happy, and you have a beautiful family to love. I can't imagine how happy you are."

The front door opened. "Tracy?"

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