Page 125 of Moms of Mayhem
Ty nodded, then walked off the porch. He leaned against his blue truck, one ankle crossed over the other. “Emmy and Jace okay?”
I nodded, smiling down at my feet. “Yeah. I think so. We’re going to figure it all out as we go, but I’m so fucking in love with her, Ty. With both of them.”
“I know,” he said, like it was just that simple.
My nose tingled in the cold air, emotions too close to the surface this morning. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was supposed to come back to town, spend some time with Mom, and repay you for everything you’ve done for me. But, like always, I’m just leaving a pile of my own shit in your lapand leaving again. You didn’t even want to coach—Imadeyou—and now I’m leaving it in your hands alone. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Ty pointed out to the barn where a car sat parked in the snow. “See that Jeep?”
I nodded, not following.
“It’s Emmy’s. She showed up on my doorstep unannounced nine months ago in a car that was basically smoking, divorce papers fresh off the printer, a kid who wouldn’t talk to anyone, and a frown so deep-set, I thought she’d never smile again.”
I rubbed at my eyes to keep my emotions in check, imagining them so broken.
“For months, I tried to convince her to let me buy her a new car, but she refused. Insisted on doing everything herself. Probably some misplaced notion that she needed to prove she could do this on her own. I had to cut the fucking oil lines for her to even agree to drive my car instead of hers, knowing my stubborn little sister would come over to the hardware store to ask me how to fix it.”
I bit my cheeks to hide my smile, imagining the scene. “How’d you get her to take the Land Rover?”
“Told her the parts were backordered, and I’d tow it here until we could get them.”
I arched a brow, a grin spreading. “Have you ordered the parts?”
“Nope.” Ty slapped the hood of his truck, then looked out over the field where Juniper was busy positioning sticks into the arms of her snowman. “And I have no intention of it. The only way Emmy is letting anyone in is if they break in with a sledgehammer. And apparently, you did just that with the whole coaching thing.”
“It was more of a crutch and a pathetic whimper than a sledgehammer, but I get what you’re saying.”
Ty leaned his elbows on the truck, and I went to stand next to him. “Either way. She let you in, and even more importantly, so did Jace. I’m not mad you volunteered me to coach. I love it. I just knew she’d never see it as anything but me trying to fix her life, yet again.”
“Well, you’re welcome, I guess.” I laughed, then slapped him on the back. “It’s been a blast doing this with you.”
Ty looked over at me. “It really has.”
I pointed at the girl, then the llama. “You saving everyone who will let you now? Is that what this is?”
He sniffed, then turned toward me, the humor of moments before gone. “Violet, Junie’s mom, is dying. She has brain cancer. Junie knows it, but everyone is afraid to speak it aloud. Afraid of what comes next. Despite Junie spending every free moment here, I actually don’t know Violet very well, so it’s not like I can walk over and ask to see a copy of her will. So, I went and got certified to be a foster parent, just in case.”
“Shit, man.” My heart constricting at the thought of everything they were going through. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“If that little girl needs me and some misfit animals to feel at home in this terrible time in her life, then I’ll buy whatever the fuck she wants.”
“You truly are the best man I’ve ever met,” I said, meaning every word. “You know that, right?”
His mustache twitched with the hint of a smile. “Way better than you, that’s for damn sure.”
I laughed, then wrapped my arms around his shoulders,hugging him tight. “I’ll be back this summer. Keep them safe for me, will you? Give that boy a chance to win State.”
Ty slapped me on the back, then pulled away. “You know I will.”
“If you need anything,” I said, gesturing at the farm, the girl, the town, all of it. “Call. Doesn’t matter where I am.”
“I know,” Ty said, then glanced toward my truck. “Now get out of here before anyone sees me having emotions. It’ll ruin my whole image.”
I grinned and turned toward the truck. Junie waved from the barn, arm flailing wildly.
“I’ll see you soon,” I called.
“You better,” he shouted back. “She might have me bottle-feeding a possum in a baby sling next week.”
