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Elizabeth never wanted me to date her son, but Tom had always been kind. He didn’t know about the money she’d offered me to leave, and he’d never treated me like a maid’s son. When Judah and I had dated, he’d considered me another son. Would he have changed much?
Shaking my head, I forced myself to get out of the truck and walk steadily toward the door, which opened before I could reach it. I froze as Tom appeared and he smiled kindly. He looked exactly like he had all those years ago; although, he had more wrinkles and grays.
“Hello, Tavish! I didn’t expect a visit from you.” His grin widened, but his gaze flicked to my jaw and his smile faltered slightly. “What happened to you, son?”
My hand shot to my face, and I winced when I touched the sore part of my jaw. “I....” Lies weaved themselves in my head before I forced them out. No. I wasn’t going to tell tales anymore. If I wanted this to work with Judah, I needed to be honest. “Can I come inside? I have something I need to tell you.”
Tom squinted at me before he gestured me forward.
I hesitated, uneasiness twisting in my stomach, but I stepped toward him and allowed him to guide me inside. He took me to his study, and I didn’t stop to appreciate the changes they’d made to the house because it didn’t matter. Despite the memories, this place meant nothing to me anymore.
In his office, he pointed at one of the brown leather chairs that faced each other, and I took it while he sat in the other.
He leaned back and stared at me seriously. “Did something happen?”
I resisted the urge to laugh. Did something happen? Too many somethings. The thing about Tom was that he let his wife run rampant. He was a peacekeeper, the white flag between his wife and son, but that would only work for so long.
“Elizabeth sent someone to destroy my trailer looking for blackmail material.”
Tom tensed. “Are you sure?”
I didn’t stop my laughter this time. “Yes. It was her.”
He linked his fingers together and sighed. “I was worried she’d go too far. She’s the kind of person who has strong ideas about how to protect Judah.”
“It needs to stop,” I whispered harshly, tension coiling inside me. My muscles tightened as I resisted the urge to snap. Like Tom, I was the white flag. I needed to be to help Judah. “She’s threatening to take away Judah’s job at Dailey Tires to make a point. Mr. Dailey?—”
“Don’t call me that. Tom. You’re an adult now, Tav.” He smiled gently when I nodded in gratitude.
“Tom, I love your son. I’ve always loved him. I’m in a tough position right now. I want to fight for him, but if I do that, he’ll lose his career. Judah says he doesn’t care, but I don’t want it to come to that.” I leaned forward, desperate. “I walked away once before because of my mum. I was a teenager in a horrid position. But Mum’s gone now, and Judah shouldn’t have to choose between me and Dailey Tires. He’s done amazin’ at his company. Please. You have to stop your wife from destroyin’ your son’s hard work.” I swallowed around the lump that lodged itself in my throat. “I don’t want to walk away, but if that’s truly what will make her leave him alone?—”
“Don’t be silly,” Tom interrupted sharply. He stood and took two large steps until he was in front of me before he fell to one knee. He grabbed my hands and squeezed them in his own. The cuts from Mum’s vase stung. “It isn’t about Elizabeth’s happiness, but Judah’s. I know my son, and he loves you, too. I’m not the kind of person who gets involved in their arguments, but I will let Elizabeth know my opinion on what she’s doing. Don’t worry about Judah’s position, I’ll make sure he stays where he is. The investors listen to Elizabeth, but she listens to me.” He patted my cheek gently so as not to hurt my bruising jaw. “I’m sorry I haven’t stepped in before this. I should’ve.”
I smiled in relief. “Thank you. Judah needs you on his side right now.”
“I’m glad he has you again, Tav. My boy missed you.” He stared at me for a moment before he huffed. “Is it true she bribed you with money for your mother’s hospital bills when you were eighteen? Is that why you left him?”
My gaze dropped to the floor and I nodded. “Aye, that’s true.”
“Goddamn it, Elizabeth.” He heaved another sigh and stood, groaning. “I’ll handle this. Go back to Judah.”
I shot him a glance and rose, too. “Thank you. I promise I love him with my whole heart.”
He chuckled and patted my shoulders. “I know you do. You always have. I knew it back then, too, which was why I was confused with the breakup. I’m glad you’re back. Now, you should probably head home before Judah realizes you’re gone.”
He certainly knew his son well. I hugged him gently like we used to do when Mum worked here, and he returned the gesture, and it felt like everything was being slotted back into place. Missing pieces of a puzzle once again found.
I left his house and made it about a mile down the road before I finally pulled over when my hands began to shake. I stared at them as a mountain of emotions hit hard. “Fuck.”
I leaned my head against the steering wheel and sobbed. My shoulders trembled, and outside, it’d begun to rain, then pour. Fat droplets slammed against my truck, and thick gray clouds drowned out the afternoon sun until it was dark. It felt almost as though the weather was responding to the waterfall of my feelings, and despite still crying, I hiccupped out a laugh.
I wiped my eyes, but still more tears flooded them and streaked down my cheeks.
A sharp, hard rap to the window had me jerking back, and I glanced with wide eyes at Judah, standing outside my truck with an open black umbrella.
“Jude?” I yelled over the pounding rain. “How did you?—”
“I put a tracking device on your phone,” he snapped angrily. “Open the damned door and move over, Puffin. You’re not leaving me again.”
