Page 13 of Weatherman

Weatherman watched as Natalie inserted what looked like a big toothpick through the pile in her hand. “I’m gonna go for a ride and head over to the station. I’ll see you later tonight, yeah?”

Natalie didn’t look up as she twisted the multicolored strands around her fingers. “Okay, dearest. Be safe.”

He left the small house and mounted his bike, pointing it in the direction of the highway. In a few minutes, he opened up the throttle and relished the wind against his face shield. Only now could he allow the tears to fall from his eyes.

He cursed long and loud at the unfairness of life. His mom had worked so damn hard for decades and now was battling to keep her life when she should be enjoying retirement.It’s not right,he screamed in his head as he barreled down the road.

He took one curve a little too fast and skidded slightly. He corrected quickly before it became a problem, but he did slow down. The last thing his mom needed was a call that he’d been hospitalized for being a dumbass.

Off in the distance, he spotted a car on the roadside shoulder. The trunk was open, and a woman rummaged in the back. As he passed it, he saw the flat tire. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with people, but a lone woman trying to change a tire on her own prompted him to turn around and go back to help her.

He pulled up behind the car and recognized Opal, the unpleasant woman from the salon who’d cut his hair a while back. Pearl’s mother.

As disagreeable as she’d been, he’d thought she was pretty when he first saw her. Hell, she was what he would call hot, but her standoffish and downright hostile attitude turned him off.Big-time. On the other hand, she was a single mom with all the frustrations that came with the title. Perhaps she’d been having a really bad day when he entered the salon. He was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt but planned on steering clear of her. Even so, as much as he preferred to keep riding, his sense of right wasn’t so skewed as to drive off and leave her there.

She turned, and for a brief moment, he saw a flash of fear in her eyes.

Fear? Of him?

It didn’t last long. Those baby blues shut down in an instant, and she stood straight.

“What do you want?” Her tone was Nordic cold, and Weatherman had the urge to turn around and leave. It pissed him off, and in his present state, he would probably lose his temper at her and say things he would regret later.

“I thought you might need some help. My mistake.”

She huffed a bit but relaxed her face. “Actually, I do. I don’t know how to change a tire, and my cell phone is dead.”

Weatherman let part of his ire go. It wasn’t her fault that life was rough now. He shouldn’t take it out on her. He inhaled through his nose and blew out a calming breath. “I’ll take care of it. Got a jack back there?”

She lifted a tool bag from the spare tire well. “Is this it?”

He stifled a smile. If he laughed at her ignorance, she might throw it at him. “Yeah, it is. Step back, and I’ll get this done.”

“Okay. Hold on a minute.” The bag clinked as she handed it to him and then walked to the back of the car.

Weatherman opened the drawstring and examined the contents. Just as he’d thought. The crappy, flimsy stock tools that came standard with the vehicle. He hoped they would hold up long enough to get the job done.

As he placed the jack under the frame, Opal came back around to the side of the car with something in her arms.Weatherman had to stop and look. Pearl peeked out at him from a pink blanket and grinned her baby teeth at him. Automatically, his eyes darted to Opal’s left hand to confirm the absence of a ring.

She didn’t miss the curious look. “I’m a single mom. Is that a problem?”

Weatherman focused back on his task. “Not at all. I was raised by a single mom, so I know firsthand how tough it can get.”

She bobbled the baby but didn’t say anything. No snappy rejoinder. There was a lot going on behind her eyes. He was somewhat curious but didn’t ask. She might answer, and if she did, then he’d get to know her. If he got to know her, he might develop an interest in her. If he developed an interest in her, that would detract from his obligations to his own mother. Still, he had a soft spot for single moms.

The flipping jack handle on the loose crank wrench slipped like crazy as he lifted the car but miraculously didn’t break. Somehow it held, and he prayed it stayed that way until he got the tire done. He nearly threw his back out forcing off the nuts, but he got them loose after several minutes of yanking and swearing at them with the floppy nut wrench. The spare tire was one of those cheap fifty-fifty styles, but at least it would get her to the garage.

“You should get a T-handle nut wrench. Better torque in case you have to do this by yourself someday.” He put the poor tools back in the bag and pulled the string shut. There weren’t any towels that he could see, so he wiped his hands on his jeans.

“I’ll check into it.” Her tone came out contrite. She took a breath. “I’m sorry for being so mean to you. It’s….” She sighed. “I’m not in a really great place right now, but I’m trying.”

He relaxed his stance and his attitude, as he definitely related to that statement. “I get you. My life isn’t where I want it tobe either, but time only has one direction—forward. It will get better.” He closed the trunk and turned to face her. He didn’t know how she would react if she knew he had met her daughter at Table and Lori’s place, and even played peekaboo with her. “What’s your daughter’s name?”

She smiled at the dozing child. “This is my precious Pearl.”

Opal and Pearl. It really is very cute,Weatherman thought as he watched Opal’s face soften. Her clean wavy hair was pulled back from her face in a high ponytail, making her appear more like a teenager than a mother somewhere in her twenties. One fat lock hung over her forehead and framed her thickly lashed eyes.

Beautiful.

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