“Don’t you have a landline?” Abby asked early the next morning.

“I have a cell phone. Why would I have a landline?”

“To have a secure connection?” she glared at me.

“Here.” I slid my phone across the table to her.

“What’s a landline?” Thayer asked.

“Don’t worry about it Thayer. When you’re old enough to have one, they’ll probably be extinct.” I grinned as Abigail rolled her eyes at me. Hey, it was the truth.

“I forgot to ask Mama to watch Thayer today. Isabelle who usually babysits him is gone for a few days and what with the fire and all, I forgot to see if I could bring him over.”

“He could stay with me.”

She quirked an eyebrow at me, “All day?”

“Sure. Feed store opens at nine today. You could come hang with me, couldn’t you Thayer?”

Her eyes went from Thayer to me before she focused on the task of calling her mother.

“Mornin’ Mama. I don’t have much time before I’m late for work; can you watch Thayer today?”

I watched Abigail absentmindedly stroke Thayer’s head as she listened to her mother on the other end of the line. He could come to work with me. I could easily find stuff for him to do. He could help me.

“Well, she can pick him up from the feed store around eleven-thirty. You sure taking him with you is a good idea?” she asked once she ended the call.

“Sure as ever.”

“Fine. While I’m at work, I’ll figure out a place for us to stay tonight. Once I get off, I’m going to have to get some clothes and necessities for Thayer and I-”

“How about you and Thayer stay here? I’m serious, Abigail. I gave Adrian my word. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

She raised her eyebrows at me, “What are you going to do? Put me over your shoulder and make me?”

I envisioned that tight, round ass of hers nestled into my shoulder and how if I tilted my head just enough, I could sink my teeth into the soft globes. “If I need to. Mighty fine place for you to be, if you ask me.”

She flushed and glanced away.

“I’m serious, Abigail.”

“For how long? We can’t stay… for forever.”

“Long enough to get things sorted out. Until we hear from the fire department about what happened. Long enough that you can speak to insurance, get him settled into school, things like that. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now. Only trying to help.”

“I know, Thatcher.” She bit her lip, “Fine. We’ll stay here for a few more days. Or day,” she gave me a pointed look. “I don’t know how long exactly. But I have to get to work and I have to go out tonight and find us some clothes, right Thayer?”

“Yes and a blanket.”

“Yes Baby, and a blanket. Now hear me. You going to be okay going to work with Thatcher for a little while before Gigi comes to get you?”

“I’m only staying with Thatcher for a little while?”

“Yes. Can you be a good boy? He has to work while you’re there so you’ll have to be on your best behavior. You hear me?”

“Yes, Mama. I can do that. But what about Spider-Man?”

“Spider-Man will be okay by himself, I promise. Give me some sugar. I have to get to work.”

She kissed Thayer on the forehead and I turned my head, pointing to my cheek. Worth a shot, right?

She laughed and shook her head.

“You boys be good now. Thatcher?” She looked at me as if to ask that I was good, that everything would be okay. It would be. Soon as she figured out she had no ride to get her to work.

“We’ll be fine. Right, Thayer?”

“Right.”

She walked out the front door and I counted. One. Two. Three. The door opened.

“Dang it. I don’t have a car.”

I burst out laughing. “Come on, Son. We gotta get your mama to work.”

After dropping off Abigail at Lone Star’s newspaper, Thayer and I made it to the feed store.

“What are we going to do?”

“I figured you’d be great at cracking peanuts.”

“Peanuts?”

“Sure thing, buddy. I have a few friends that usually come in here each morning and they love eating peanuts. I figured you could sit right here and join the conversation. Eat some peanuts. Course, only if you want to that is.”

“I want to!” he yelled.

I helped him onto one of the stools where Cap, Ryan and Dean sat almost every morning. I unloaded a large pile of peanuts onto the counter directly in front of Thayer.

“Have at it.”

Having him occupied, I did my normal morning routine and then sent a text to Grace. I needed a favor and I knew she would be much too happy to help. A few minutes later my phone dinged with her message saying she’d come into the feed store soon enough and with that out of the way, I started working on a few invoices.

Every so often Thayer would jump down from his stool and ask me a variety of questions ranging from who worked here besides me to what people bought when they came in. He pronounced he was parched and we walked to the gas station across the street to get some apple juice.

When we came back, Gracie sat along the short brick wall outside the feed store, so immersed in a book that when Thayer and I walked up and I tapped the top of her book, she jumped.

“What’s got you so oblivious to the outside world?”

“Nothing,” she snapped the book shut, flipping it away from me so I couldn’t see the cover.

“Give it here.” I tugged the book out of her hands ignoring her squeal of protest. “Ride me.” I cocked my head at her, chuckling at the dirty title.

“Shut up. Hi, Thayer.” She looked back at me, “I can read romance novels anytime I want.”

“Hello.”

“Miss Priss reading romance novels? Where’s the real Grace?”

She snatched her book away from me and slid it into her overly large purse.

“I’m still me. A friend at school suggested I join their book club. I didn’t know they called themselves the Raunchy Reader Club,” she wrinkled her nose. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone. But I went, now I’m hooked. This is the second in the Delta MC series. I’m hoping to get through all five of them before school starts.”

“What’s MC?” I asked as Thayer crawled up onto the wall alongside her.

“Motorcycle Club. Don’t judge me.”

I belted out a laugh, “You’re kidding, right? You know people ‘round here call you Ivanka Trump behind your back because you always act so damn perfect, right? Myself included. What would the citizens of Lone Star say if they knew their precious second-grade teacher was reading romance novels about bad-ass biker dudes?”

“I don’t intend to find out. Because you aren’t telling anyone. Thayer, what brings you around this man?” she changed the subject.

“My mama’s at work.”

“Abby’s at work and her mom is coming to pick him up shortly. She just needed a temporary babysitter.”

“I’m surprised she went to work and all with what happened yesterday.”

“Me too. But that woman, she’s something else.” I shook my head in amazement.

“So tell me how you got involved.”

“Cap called and told me. I went over while the fire was still burning – almost out. Adrian has been out of town. He asked me if they could stay with me.” I didn’t elaborate too much on all that because I wasn’t willing to divulge Abby’s secret about their divorce, sister or not. Not yet, anyway. “So here we are, right Buddy?”

“Yep. I’m working today with Thatcher.”

“I see that. I bet you’re a big help, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Are you starting preschool next week?”

“I sure am.”

“Did you know that I’m a second-grade teacher at Star Falls?” when he shook his head, Gracie went on, “Do you remember who your teacher is?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Are you excited?”

“Yes. But I don’t have any clothes now.”

“Which is why I asked you to come over actually. Let’s go inside,” I said.

Once inside, I explained my idea to her. Just like I thought, Gracie jumped at the chance to help.

“She gets off work at five. This all needs to be done by three or so, just to be on the safe side.”

“I’m going to head out right now. I’ll have everything done by lunch.”

Just then, Cap’s loud-ass motorcycle violated our conversation, drowning out any sounds except for the mufflers on his bike as he pulled up to his usual parking spot.

“Is that necessary?” Grace shuddered.

“It is if you own a bike. Which, haven’t those romance novels taught you anything yet? I bet Cap knows a few things about MCs, we could ask him if he’s ever fu-”

My sister’s hand shot over my mouth, effectively sealing off further conversation, just as Cap strode into the shop. He took a second glance at Grace and me and I shrugged out of her reach.

“What’s up, Cap? Gracie here was just explaining to me what MC stands for, right sister?”

Cap surveyed my sister, his gaze slowly assessing her body from top to bottom and back to the top. I knew that look. And I knew he and I were going to have a chat the second Gracie left. ‘Cause Cap, despite what he might be thinking, wasn’t going anywhere near Grace. Even though his eyes were screaming fresh piece of meat.

“Grace,” he nodded, adjusting the do-rag on his head.

“Maverick,” she replied in her matter-of-fact voice.

“Please, call me Cap.”

“No thank you. I prefer Maverick.”

“I prefer Cap. What were you telling your brother about motorcycle clubs? I might be able to help him out in that department. Thatch, you lookin’ to join?”

“Never. Gracie is reading a book about them. Ain’t that right, Grace?”

Her cheeks flushed and she picked up her purse from the counter before throwing daggers in my direction.

“I am but it’s not important. I’ll just leave the three of you-”

The strap on her purse snagged along the metal post I’d just put up that held up a row of shelves alongside her path on the way out, catching her purse. It fell to the floor at Cap’s feet and he bent down with her to help her pick it up.

“Ride me?” he asked her in a curious tone. He held up the book she’d been reading only moments ago and she tried grabbing it out of his hold.

“That’s my book!” she pleaded.

He let out a low whistle, “What’s a perfect little thing like you reading a dirty book like this?”

“It’s for book club.”

She was biting her lip so hard I thought blood might bust through.

Cap held the book out for her where she immediately threw it back into her bag.

“Book club, I see. Well, if you ever want to expand your knowledge in regards to MC’s, I can promise you that I will teach you more than this book ever can. I’m your guy.”

“I-”

Before she could respond, I interrupted, “She won’t. Gracie, lunch time. Don’t forget.”

“I won’t,” she huffed as she managed to tactfully make it to the door. “Good bye, Thayer.”

“See you later.”

“Maverick. Thank you for helping pick up my purse.” The three of us watched her leave. Well, Thayer and Cap did anyway. I watched Cap watch her and there was something in his eyes I couldn’t place. Something far beyond attraction.

I turned to Cap, “Get your fucking mind out of the gutter.”

“Mine? She’s the one reading that smut.”

“Stay the fuck away from her. You’re too damn old for her. And bad.”

He laughed, “Rest assured, man. That youngen wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole. I don’t fit into her cookie cutter life.”

His eyes flickered and I couldn’t tell if he was relieved about that or not. Whatever. Like he said, Gracie was so busy being perfect there was no way a man like him could ever fit into her life.

Except in books.

Good.

That’s exactly where I wanted him to stay with my sister.

“I take it you met up with Abby?” he nodded toward Thayer.

“Sure did. She spent the night last night. In my guest room.”

“That so?”

“Yep. Didn’t sleep a wink.”

He laughed as he placed a peanut between his teeth and cracked it open. “I’m Cap. You remember me?” he asked Thayer.

“A little. Peanuts are good, huh?”

“They sure are. I heard about the fire. Sorry about that, kiddo.”

“It’s okay. My mom’s going to get me a new Spider-Man blanket and some toys tonight.”

“Good thing.”

The bell rang above the door and Ryan walked in. He was going through better days; I could see it in the set of his shoulders.

“A pow-wow? Why didn’t anyone call me?”

“Just got here.”

“What’s a pow-wow?” Thayer asked.

“When you get together with your friends,” I answered.

“Ryan, you remember Thayer, don’t you?”

“How you doing little man?” Ryan patted him on the shoulder and took his usual seat on the other side of my counter. “I heard about the fire, you doing okay?”

“Yeah. All my toys were in there.”

“That sucks, Dude.”

“Thatcher said he lost his toys in a fire, too.”

“Fires are pretty scary. Luckily no one was inside.”

“Yeah.”

This felt good. It was playing house. Hanging with the guys. My son was here where he belonged and all felt right in my world. It reaffirmed that I could do this. I could be the father I was so afraid to be when he was born. I could be better than my father. I would be better than my father. I could get my inheritance and figure out what to do with Deer Creek. All in all, I could be on top of the world soon enough.

“How are the lots coming along?” I asked Ryan. A few months ago, Ryan got engaged to Lone Star’s reporter, Miranda Phillips, a co-worker of Abigail’s. Since then Ryan has turned his late parents’ section of farmland into a construction site where they were currently zoning parcels in order to sell lots and build single-family homes.

“Great. I’ve got zero complaints. The zoning is going well. The twins are ready for school. Alex has been helping the mayor with this tree planting program he got involved in this summer. Bri’s still writing articles-”

“Yeah, I loved that last one she did. What was it, Cap?”

“Tobacco use?”

“No. That was the one before. I liked the one about what would be the proper age to discuss the birds and the bees with children.”

Cap and I burst out laughing. “Did you have that talk with her or what, man?”

“Sometimes I can’t read her articles. I feel like they’re a reflection on my parenting skills or lack thereof. No. No birds and bees talk. Not yet. Fine. It’s been a borderline topic. Especially since Miranda and I became a thing. I think I pushed that topic onto Miranda to discuss with Bri.”

“Dude, you got to bite the bullet at some point.”

“Not today. What about you, Thatch? How’s the birds and bees going for you?”

I shrugged, “Never better,” I lied.

Our conversation went on like this for a while until the guys left and Abby’s mom picked up Thayer. Quick as they left, my phone pinged with a text from Grace. Dropped it all off.

I owe you one.

A big one, she replied.

There were a few more invoices I had to take care of that I hadn’t been able to finish this morning that I worked on once all was quiet. All the while, I waited and hoped Abby wouldn’t take offense to the surprise Grace helped me with. I was too eager for a man my age, wondering how Abby was going to feel about it all and hoping she was going to love the gesture. The only thing I could do was wait.