His Old Lady - Debra Kayn Page 0,30

achieve her goal of expanding the nursery, she never would. Time was against her, she needed to act now.

Always having Curley in the back of her mind, dealing with his random visits, his dominating personality toward their non-relationship, killed her.

"Quit your job, and I'll talk to...him," said Uncle Walker.

Her breath hitched. Not once in all these years had her uncle made an effort to stand up for her against Curley. Like now, he wouldn't even speak Curley's name.

But to force her to walk away from a good job in exchange for gaining her personal life back would hurt the others.

She couldn't be that selfish. Besides, with no job, she wouldn't have enough money to purchase land for the nursery.

"If you talk to Curley this week about giving me my freedom back, and then call me afterward to let me know how it went, I'll quit working at Kingston Bar the moment I'm free of him. I promise." Positive she would find another job for all of them easier than she could get out of her relationship with Curley, she tried to figure out a way where they'd all benefit.

"Damnit, Faye." Uncle Walker let his chin fall to his chest, shaking his head.

Not backing down, she said, "Don't I deserve more than what I'm getting? If nothing changes, I'm going to die of old age loving him and the thought of never having someone love me back..."

Her eyes burned, and she swiped her cheek with her hand. She rarely talked to him about her love life or lack of one. But he had to understand that going through every day knowing she wasn't wanted was making her miserable.

Uncle Walker set the receiver down on the counter and rubbed his face with both hands, finally looking at her. The pain he carried, he kept to himself. She had no idea what had happened between him and Curley. She could only assume he'd found out about her having sex with his MC brother and pushed his power within the club onto Curley to get him to claim her.

It was obvious from the way Curley acted, claiming her was the last thing he had wanted to do. To make matters worse, she wanted nothing more than to have that perfect fantasy of being with him.

Or, she had.

It was too late now.

Even if a miracle happened and Curley could see her for the woman she was instead of an obligation, she would always remember the years when he regretted her.

Uncle Walker picked up the receiver. "They're not going to let me use the phone again if I call him."

"That's okay. We can talk next week," she said eagerly.

His mouth hardened. "You sure?"

Her body pitched forward. She was expecting him to disagree with her.

"You'll call him?"

He nodded. "I worry about you. I need you to allow Tarkio to help you."

"I don't need help."

His gaze softened. "You need them."

She was strong enough to argue back and forth with him, but she wanted to give him something from their visit to hold him while he continued to serve his sentence.

"What you're doing will make things perfect for me." She blew out her breath. "Thank you."

"I'd do anything for you. Maybe, I..." The muscle near his eye twitched. "Fuck, sweetheart. Maybe I did everything wrong with you. Everyone let you down your whole life, and we all should've been there for you. My sister." He swallowed. "Your mom. Your dad, whoever the hell he was. Me. Grandma June. Cur..."

Uncle Walker's lips thinned, and he shook his head. He couldn't even speak Curley's name.

She pressed her hand to the Plexiglass, wanting to assure him that he'd done the best he could. She was born under the wrong star or fated for a life where nobody wanted her, and if they had, it was predestined that they'd leave her in one way or another.

After all the losses she'd lived through, she never expected to have those she loved in her life for long.

Though rooted deep in her heart, she continued to hope for more.

For something different.

For a love that stayed forever.

She only wished Curley was that man.

Chapter 13

Curley

"Curley," shouted Paco, holding up the phone receiver on the other side of the clubhouse. "Prison call."

He jogged across the room, knowing the operator wouldn't hold the line more than a minute before disconnecting. As he approached Paco, he asked, "Nelson?"

"She never said who's calling." Paco handed him the receiver.

"Yeah, Curley, here." He dropped his chin to his chest, trying to hear over the