Page 101 of Can't Get Over You
“With the Bright family?” Finlay asked. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I’ve never heard anything negative about you guys. Everyone loves the Brights.”
“Ah, well. That’s because I’m actually Molly Winters.”
“Oh, the Winters.” Finlay nodded. “Yes, I remember them.”
“Right, so, since my parents kept up their antics wherever we moved, I decided to cut ties and legally change my last name to my mom’s maiden name. But I love my aunt and the farm, so I come for a visit whenever I can.” She turned to Jude. “I’ve been yelled at before, so I get it. You’d think after all these years, people would forget. Or at least not associate me with their crimes, but…small towns, short memories.”
“Jude says the same thing. Do you still have friends here?” Finlay asked. “Anyone you hang out with when you come to town?”
Of course, she would ask that. She knew what it was like to be excluded.
“Oh, gosh no. I’ll be forever associated with what my parents did. But it’s fine. I’m here to help my aunt and spend the holiday with her. It’s all good.”
“Well, my friends and I are going to Wild Billy’s tonight if you want to join us.”
He wanted to pinch her ass for lying. She had no such plans. But it was such a sweet gesture, he could only keep his mouth shut and admire the hell out of her.
“Yeah, I’d love that.” She pressed her lips together and drew in a breath. “Thank you.”
“Awesome.” Finlay pulled out her phone. “Here. Text yourself, and then I’ll let you know what time we’ll be there.”
Molly’s teeth sank into the tips of her glove as she pulled it off to type. “I can’t wait. Thank you.”
Finlay slid the phone back into her pocket. “We’ll talk soon. And thank you for stepping in back there.” After Molly took off, Finlay slid her arm through his. “You okay?”
They’d missed one ride, so they had to wait for the next wagon. “Sure.” To be honest, he wanted to get the hell out of there. Ride the Gallatin Road all the way to Yellowstone. Fuck the cold. Fuck the snow. Just leave this town in his rearview mirror.
But the little boy looking up at him with worry in his eyes was his reason to fight against the impulse. He lifted him into his arms, and Cody clutched Jude’s leather jacket. “Sorry about that.”
“That man was mad at you.”
“Yeah.” Jude exhaled, calming down for the boy’s sake. “He was.”
“What’d you do?”
“He actually didn’t do anything wrong,” Finlay said, always his protector. “His friends did it. Unfortunately, that man took it out on Jude, which wasn’t very nice.”
“That man was mean.” There was a question in Cody’s eyes, as if he wanted more of an explanation.
Well, he wouldn’t lie to this kid. “He was upset, and I understand that. I may not have crashed his car, but my friends did. I shouldn’t have hung out with kids who did bad things. That’s my fault, and I learned my lesson.”
“That’s okay.” Cody patted his shoulder. “You’re all right.”
Maybe it was the crash of adrenaline, but his heart swelled so quickly it didn’t fit in his chest. This pure-hearted boy, so filled with compassion at five years old…I’m supposed to take care of him, not the other way around.He cleared his throat and looked away. “Thanks.”
An engine sputtered, and the next tractor pulled up and came to a stop. In the time it took to board and find their seats on the hay-strewn bench, Jude managed to calm down. He’d never seen the point in correcting people’s assumptions about him, and he still didn’t know if it would work. But Finlay was right that hisFuck you and the horse you rode in onattitude wasn’t doing anything but cementing their impressions of him.
So he could stay away and continue to haul the chip on his shoulder, or he could be the man Finlay and Cody needed him to be. Because the idea of walking away from her was unthinkable, and he sure as hell wouldn’t give up his boy.
Over the piped-in Christmas carols, Finlay kept up a conversation with Cody. It was clear she was trying to cheer him up as she pointed out the cute hand-painted wooden signs lining the path and the playful animated elves peering out through the trees. It was all festive and fun, and he appreciated her effort to get him back in the spirit of the occasion.
Which was interesting, considering how important this day was to her.
And maybe that was the answer right there. Being in a relationship, taking care of this boy… Jude’s feelings, his needs, took a back seat to theirs. They came first, no matter what.
When the bumpy ride came to a stop, he got up. “Ready to pick our tree?” The boy nodded, and Jude carried him off the wagon. “Let’s do this.”
Several people gathered around a map of the forest and the various types of trees. “Douglas fir are that way,” Jude said, and they headed off, their boots crunching in the snow. Rays of sunlight streaked through thick cloud cover, and pine and woodsmoke scented the air. “You get to choose any tree you want, okay?”
