Page 47 of Cowboys at Coconuts

Blinking through tears and praying the light wouldn’t turn green, Hope smiled as she remembered her sleeveless white top with the scalloped edge and bright yellow shorts. The trio didn’t go together appearance wise, but theywereher parents. The only parents she had ever known until recently. They had been a family, albeit a non-traditional family, but a family all the same. Hope swallowed past a lump in her throat.

Larry studied the photo as the light turned green. “Wonder who this cute little girl is? She has the prettiest big, brown eyes. Reminds me of two chocolate kisses.”

Unable to continue driving through her tears, Hope took the first exit and pulled into a Cracker Barrel parking lot. She wanted to weep, hug him, and tell Larry everything. Every. Single. Thing. Tears trailed down her cheeks.

Obviously noticing Hope’s tear-stained face, Larry asked, “What’s wrong, Miss Hope? Why ya cryin’?” After parking, she took several breaths to calm herself and locked eyes with him. Words wouldn’t come. All she could do was stare at her hippie dad.

Peering back at the photo, deep wrinkles formed on Larry’s forehead as if he were concentrating for a difficult test. A small sound escaped. Glancing back at Hope, he said, “Wait a minute. You have the same brown doe eyes and curly, brown hair.” He waved the photo in the air. “This little girl is you, ain’t it?”

Hope bobbed her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Yes, yes. It’s me.” Placing her hand over Larry’s, between sobs, she said, “Listen closely. You raised me. You and Montana raised me. I’m your daughter.”

He leaned back against the headrest and shifted in his seat. Cars came and went in the parking lot. Unknowing patrons entered the restaurant during Larry’s momentous breakthrough. Staring out the window obviously trying to digest the shocking news, he asked, “I did? I raised you?”

Hope’s curls bounced as she nodded. “You sure did. From when I was a baby to adulthood.” She wanted to reach across the car and hug him but they never had that type of relationship to begin with. Knowing he put this puzzle piece together was more than enough for now.

Shaking his head, Larry said, “I don’t know how I could forget raising you. From when you were little, you say?”

“Yes. You adopted me when I was a baby from an attorney named Paul Taylor. His wife—my biological mom—died shortly after giving birth.” Hope began crying again. “I never knew her.”

Studying the photo with intense scrutiny, Larry said, “Wish I remembered you—and us—together. Sorry.”

Hope reached for a tissue and dabbed her eyes. “No need to be sorry. You were in a horrible train accident. I thought you and Montana were both dead.” Blowing her nose loudly, she said, “I’m just glad you’re alive. Really glad. The fact that you both survived is unbelievable, really. The authorities assured me no one—” Another loud sob escaped. “We all thought you and Montana were both killed. We had a funeral for you. That’s how I connected with my biological dad.”

He shook his head again. “That’s really somethin’. I don’t remember Montana. I don’t remember much from the past.”

“We’re going to see Montana. That’s the reason for this trip.”

“It is?” His eyebrows shot up.

Hope nodded. “Yes. Maybe your memories will come back once you see your wife.”

Gingerly placing the photo back in his wallet, he said, “Like I said, I don’t remember her.”

“Hopefully, you will after you see her.” Hope dabbed her eyes again, put the car into gear, and fished sunglasses out of her purse. Driving out of the lot into the blinding sun, she peered at Larry over her sunglasses. “You’re still legally married to Montana, you know.”

His response was: “Mind if I smoke. I need a smoke.”

“Go ahead. If I smoked, I’d need a cigarette too. I know this is a shock. I’ve had quite a while to get used to it.”

Taking a long drag, Larry said, “I may be married to Montana but Willow’s my old lady now.”

Ignoring the ‘old lady’ remark, Hope continued. “Yes, I know. But polygamy is illegal. We have to fix this. Actually, you and Willow have to handle the matter. Hopefully, Paul can help us wade through this.”

He blew a smoke ring. “Paul who?”

His memory loss was almost too much to bear. “Paul Taylor. I just told you he’s my biological father. You used to work for him. Both of you did, apparently, before I was born.”

“Don’t ‘member him neither.”

Nobody said this would be easy.“As I mentioned he’s an attorney.” Hope had never been so confused and rocked to her core in her life.

Staring ahead stony faced, Larry said, “This is as confusin’ as all get out.”

Blinking through tears, Hope pressed on the gas pedal as she attempted to focus on the congested traffic. She couldn’t imagine what lie ahead or how it would all unfold. She’d figure it out when they got to the nursing home.

Chapter 44

After she returned from Coconuts, Alex received a text from Tony saying he was playing mini golf with little Joey.I bet his darling ex, Nikki, is in tow.Scrolling through her phone, she impulsively found the contact information for Cheri’s limo driver and emailed Gage about her vacation plans. Before hitting send, she stared at the screen for far too long, but eventually pressed the button.

---