Page 108 of Hit the Ground
Silence beat down on us again. Shelby yelled for Jesse to hurry it up, and he hollered he was almost done. Then she turned back to me, offering a smile that didn’t quite ring true—especially not when she was wringing her hands and shifting back and forth on her feet.
“I’m really embarrassed,” she said, barely above a whisper. “You must think I’m a terrible mother.”
“I don’t think that at all.”
She huffed and looked away. “Well, I do. If Caleb hadn’t shown up here that night and knocked some sense into me, I can’t honestly tell you I would have kicked Kent out. I’m just…tired of being alone, and I guess havinghimseemed like a better option than no one. What kind of mother thinks that?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’ve never been a mother. But Jesse is wonderful, and he didn’t get that way by accident.”
She swiped the back of her hand across her eyes. “He’s got the Kellys, you know? I mean, I think he’s happy when he’s here, buthe can’t wait to get back to the ranch. Who wouldn’t want that? All that land, the big house, the family. I can’t compete.” She held up her hand to stop me from speaking, though I wasn’t sure what to say anyway. “I know it’s not a competition. Iknowthat. But sometimes it’s hard not to feel that way.”
Thank goodness for Jesse. He came skidding down the hallway, a big duffel bag flung over his shoulder.
“Okay, I’m ready. I think I have everything.”
Shelby held out her arms. “Come here, baby. I haven’t gotten enough hugs from you lately. It sucks.”
The corners of his mouth trembled as he went to his mom, dropping his bag at their feet. She reeled him in, and he let her, his cheek on her shoulder. Her sigh of relief when he was in her arms made my chest ache, and Jesse’s expression of contentment sent me on a Tilt-A-Whirl. If I ever doubted Shelby, it had been laid to rest. She’d made a mistake, but she loved her son. I had faith she’d do all she could to get him back.
He pulled away first, his hands going to his hips. “I almost forgot. Tomorrow’s trash day. I have to take the can out to the curb.”
Shelby raked her hand down the back of his head. “You don’t need to do that. I can handle it.”
He shook his head firmly. “No way. That’s my job. I’ll take care of it.” Then he disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later, he was heading out to the garage, the bag of trash over his shoulder.
I raised a brow at Shelby. “That’s a boy who adores his mother.”
“Yeah.” She exhaled slowly, some of the tightness in her shoulders easing. “Thanks for being cool, Alice. I should have known you would be. Caleb’s been single for most of Jesse’s life.Hewouldn’t bring in anyone who’d make a mess of things.”
Once again, I was stumped for a response. But Shelby was a talker, so she continued without me needing to say a word.
“I guess Caleb finding you gives me hope. I mean, you’ve been in town for years, right under his nose. Maybe there’s some decent guy around here I’ve never noticed.” Then she groaned. “Well, I’m not going to think about that now. My most recent ex’s things are still by my door. Let me get done with one mess before I dive into another.”
I let out an uncomfortable laugh. “That’s probably a good idea.”
A loud bang, quickly followed by the shriek of tires, made us both jump. Shelby and I froze for a beat, eyes darting to each other, then we ran for the front window.
A dark car fishtailed down the street, its engine roaring, smoke curling up from the tires. I didn’t quite understand what I was seeing, but my stomach dropped to the floor.
“Jesse,” Shelby cried.
I craned my neck, desperate for a glimpse of him. The overturned trash can lay on its side in the driveway, its contents spilling into the street. But Jesse wasn’t there.
Oh god.
“Kent!” Shelby’s voice cracked then rose into a furious snarl. “That son of a bitch.” She spun on her heel and tore for the door, her face twisted in rage.
“Shelby, wait. Was that Kent’s car? Did he take Jesse?” I scrambled after her. “We have to call the police…Caleb…”
She wasn’t listening. She was already fumbling her keys from her pocket, throwing herself into the driver’s seat of her car.
Panic clutched me. I didn’t know what the right move was. If I let her leave alone, who knew what she’d do? She was in such a state, she might drive right off the road, and I’d never be able to live with myself.
I yanked open the passenger door and slid in beside her. “I’m coming with you.”
The engine roared to life. Shelby’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, her jaw set like iron.
“Hang on tight,” she growled.
