Semi-Psychic Life (Glimmer Lake #2) - Elizabeth Hunter Page 0,55
here tomorrow, dressed for trail riding.”
“Okay.” He still didn’t look happy, but Val would take it.
As long as it got Josh back into civilization and got all this mess straightened out, she wasn’t going to complain.
“Thank you. Seriously.”
He eyed her. “You sure you can’t see ghosts?”
“Very sure.” She smiled. “Trust me, if I saw ghosts, I’d be even crankier than I am now.”
He eyed her gloved hands again. “Uh-huh.”
“Seriously.” She backed away and walked toward Robin and Mark. “Okay. Tomorrow morning. I’ll be here and I’ll bring lunch.”
“And coffee.”
“And coffee.” She gave him a thumbs-up. “Good to know you got your priorities in line.”
Chapter 18
Jackson’s arms were crossed over his chest. “I don’t understand why you’re going.”
Val threw her snow parka on top of her backpack. “Because he’s your father.”
“He’s not your husband anymore.” Jackson’s face was mutinous. “You said you divorced him so you wouldn’t have to deal with his shit anymore. Because you wanted the best thing for us. You and me and Andy.”
“One, I don’t think I used those exact words, okay? And two, you think the best thing for all of us is your dad ends up in jail?”
Jackson shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me.”
Val stepped closer and glanced over her shoulder. “Do you think it matters to Andy?”
“He’s young, and he’s going to realize when he’s older—”
“What?” She put her hand on Jackson’s cheek. “That his dad is unreliable? That’s he’s not a very good person? You don’t think he realizes that already?”
Jackson looked away.
“He knows it, Jack. And he loves your dad anyway. That says nothing about your dad and everything about your brother. And don’t lie—I know you love your dad too. Don’t pretend like all the time you’ve ever spent with him was shit. He loves you guys, and you’ve had a lot of good memories with him.”
“Just being there for the fun stuff—”
“Isn’t enough.” She squeezed his shoulder. “I know that. We all do. But that doesn’t mean he belongs in jail. Or caught in the middle of a situation he has no idea how he fell into. The cops in Bridger are setting him up, and it’s not right.”
“It’s not your job to fix it. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Let Dad clean up his own mess for once.”
“He’s going to have to after this, and I’m not doing this on my own. Sully and I are going together. Sully is the one who’s going to decide what to do once he talks to your dad. Once we find him”—she raised her hands—“I’m out of it. Your dad is on his own. I’ll have done my part. But I can’t just act like he’s a stranger.” She put her arms around Jackson and hugged him tight. “Without your dad, I don’t have you and Andy. And don’t you know I’d walk through fire for my babies?”
Jackson hugged her back hard. “We’re not babies anymore.”
She leaned back and kissed his cheek. “You are always my babies. Always. Even when you need to shave.” She tapped his chin. “You need to shave, by the way.”
Jackson rubbed his chin. “I’ve been thinking about growing my beard out.”
She rubbed the thin stubble. “Up to you. But your dad’s beard didn’t really grow in until he was twenty-five or so. Just warning you. It was really patchy and kind of gross until his late twenties.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t look very thankful. “So you’re going up to the cabin with Sheriff Sully?”
“Yep.”
“He likes you.”
Val nodded. “He’s a nice guy. I like him too.”
Jackson gave her his “I’m not stupid” look. “No, Mom. He likes you. Like… you know.”
Oh. Right. “Uh—”
“He’s a good guy. That’s all I’m saying.” Jackson shrugged. “He seems cool.”
“Okay.” She picked up her backpack. “Cool. I… don’t know what to do with that information.”
“Whatever. It’s not like you don’t know already.” He rolled his eyes. “As soon as Andy wakes up, I’ll drive us over to Grandma and Grandpa’s, okay?”
“I should be back by tonight, but just in case—”
“I know. I was gonna help Grandpa with the woodpile anyway.”
Val walked to the door. “Good. Make sure Andy does some work too. Even if you have to force his nose out of a book.”
“Okay.” Jackson held the door as Val grabbed her jacket and walked to the truck.
“We’re taking Sully’s truck up there. It’s heavier.”
“Good call. I think they were tearing down that house with the red roof right by the road, by the way. So make sure you don’t miss the turnoff.”