Page 34 of Needing Your Love
I heaved a sigh and grabbed another cookie off the plate Gram had sat in front of me. Her place was where I spent my time between working on Dad’s house without puking and heading to The Moose every evening. I felt like I took advantage of her goodness even though she always welcomed me with open arms and snacks while Kendra pushed her homemade muffins on me every morning. Both women were amazing bakers and gave me something to look forward to.
Gram held a steaming cup of tea in her arthritic hands while the coffee she’d poured for me when I’d arrived a half hour earlier grew cold.
“The contractor got the front porch done this morning,” I said rather than tell the truth about my feelings for Sutton and how badly his rejection had hurt. “He also patched the holes in my bedroom walls so I can paint tomorrow. The place should be market-ready by the beginning of next week as long as DJ and I can get the yard work finished this weekend. Did you hear back from that guy down in Berlin about your shop?”
Lips pursed, Gram studied me until I shifted on the chair. “Yes,” she finally answered, allowing me my secrets. “We are going to meet tomorrow afternoon.”
I nodded absently, breaking the cookie in two before nibbling on one corner. Gram still spoke about possibly heading to Florida near the end of October but had only made steps toward selling her store so she could retire. “You’re really considering leaving us, huh?” I couldn’t help but ask, even though I knowingly did so with the intent to guilt-trip her into staying.
“I thought you didn’t have plans to stick around?”
I had noromanticreason to, Sutton had made that clear, but no inner urging attempted to lead me elsewhere, no bucket list item called me away from town limits. Talk about a stagnant existence. I hated not knowing my future other than my pipe dream, and I certainly didn’t want to discuss my lack of vision for my life other than riding off into the sunset.
“What about DJ?” I asked instead of answering, setting down the cookie and brushing my fingers free of crumbs. He’d become my buddy, and I wanted to offer him the safe place to go that I never had as a kid.
“Kurt and Carrie agreed to let him visit over February vacation and also for a week at the beginning of summer if I decide to move.” Gram sipped her tea. “Maybe Kurt would allow me stay in his spare bedroom when I fly up here on occasion too. He can be somewhat decent when he’s sober, so I could deal with being at his house for a little while.”
I nodded, torn between wishing she could live her best life with the time she had left and selfishly longing to keep her near because I didn’t want to have to do without her again now that we’d reconnected.
She eyed me as though trying to map out the roller coaster in my head. “Jimmy?—”
Banging on the door cut her off, and I hopped up before she did, striding toward the entryway.
Kurt shoved inside before I got to the door, his eyes bloodshot, and he reeked of booze.
My stomach clenched, brow furrowing as he shuffled DJ in ahead of him with a too-sturdy shove.
DJ stumbled forward, and I knelt to steady the boy, adrenaline rushing through my system telling me to stay still—avoid the danger lurking nearby. “You all right?” I somehow managed to whisper past the tightness in my throat, and even though wetness coated his eyes, DJ nodded.
“Mom!” Kurt shouted, ignoring how I cowered with DJ at his feet, thank fuck.
Gram shuffled our way, and I soothed back DJ’s wayward hair with a shaking hand, fighting to find my voice and keep it steady. “Head outside and grab the basketball,” I whispered. “I’ll be out in a minute, okay?”
He nodded sharply and ran toward the kitchen.
The back door slammed shut a second later.
I barely had an ounce of willpower in order to stand upright. My fingernails scratched down my left arm out of habit, and I swallowed hard, eyeing the two facing off in front of me. Tension radiated through the entryway, and I wished I could sink into the floor and disappear. I wanted to escape like DJ had done but couldn’t move my feet.
“How dare you drive drunk with DJ in the car?” Gram hissed at her son, having come close enough she doubtless smelled the alcohol on him.
Kurt grumbled something under his breath, stumbling around to leave.
“You get your act together, Kurt, or so help me God…” Gram called after him.
He paused on the stoop and spun, glowering at his mom. “I have enough shit on my plate. Don’t needyounagging me too!” His words slurred past curled lips. “Carrie won’t shut up about the past child support I owe her, and now—” Kurt shook his head, turned, and stumbled down the stairs.
“You shouldn’t be driving!” Gram called after him, but Kurt slammed himself into his truck and tore off up the road.
My breath left in a rush as the negative energy dissipated. “I’m calling Sutton,” I informed her with a telling, shaky-as-hell voice while pulling my cell from my pocket.
Lips pursed, Gram nodded, her eyes welling as she glanced toward the backyard.
Cursing Kurt, I hit send, my body trembling from the after effects of too much adrenaline crashing through my blood.
Chapter 15
Sutton
