weeks before we could get an afternoon appointment, so I set up several morning appointments for this week and next, then several more afternoon appointments for the weeks after.
The following days were hectic, but good. I was actually feeling pretty good about things until later in the week when I was hit with another unexpected surprise. I’d gone to pick up Sean from basketball practice—something I’d done a hundred times before. That night was like any other. As soon as I got to the school, I parked and lay my head back. It wasn’t long before my mind start drifting, and I found myself thinking about Corry. He hadn’t been happy about missing school to see Dr. Archer, especially three times in a row, but after that third appointment, he seemed to be feeling a little better about things. I, on the other hand, was still a nervous wreck and worried something was terribly wrong with my son. I didn’t know if I was doing enough to help him, but at the same time, I didn’t know what else I could do. I felt so torn. By the time Sean made it to the car, I was on the verge of tears. I didn’t want him to know I was upset, so I put on a brave face and smiled as I watched him buckle his seat belt. As I pulled out of the school’s parking lot, I asked, “How was practice?”
“It was good.” Sean was practically beaming as he announced, “Coach said he was going to start me in this week’s game.”
“That’s awesome, Sweetie. I’m so proud of you.”
“I’ll be the only sixth grader starting. It’s kind of a big deal.”
“It’s a very big deal, and you totally deserve it. You’ve worked hard to get that spot.”
Unlike his brother, Sean had always been very driven. If he wanted something, he wasn’t afraid to work for it. I’d always hoped that Corry would find something that motivated him the way basketball had done for Sean, but that hadn’t happened. It seemed the divorce had made him even less motivated. It was a thought that had my stomach twisting into knots. As soon as Sean picked up on my change of mood, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I was just thinking about what to get for dinner.”
“Hmmm...that’s not it. What’s really going on?” Sean’s brows furrowed as he asked, “Did Corry do something?”
“What makes you ask that?”
“Cause Corry is always doing something.” He shrugged as he let out a frustrated sigh. “Just wish things could be like they used to.”
“How so?”
“Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters. Tell me what you meant.”
Before he could answer, my car started to wobble and shake,, making it difficult to stay on the road. Sounding completely freaked out, Sean shrieked, “What was that?”
“I think we have a flat?” I eased over onto the shoulder and grumbled, “Good grief. I can’t seem to catch a damn break.”
Chapter 3
Widow
I was in a mood. A bad one. And I didn’t know why. For whatever reason, I was feeling on edge and wanted to be alone, so instead of hanging at the clubhouse and shooting the shit with the brothers, I headed home after work. I was looking forward to kicking back and watching an old western, but unfortunately, I hadn’t gotten far when I noticed a blue sedan on the side of the road. It wasn’t something that was out of the norm. Nashville was a big city. I drove by broken-down cars all the time. I’d help out from time to time, but tonight I just wasn’t feeling it and drove right by.
As soon as my headlight flashed across them, I was immediately hit with guilt. It wasn’t some guy changing a flat. It was a woman and her kid, and from the looks of it, they weren’t having an easy go of it. I’d barely driven past them when I found myself making a fucking U-turn with my motorcycle in the middle of the damn highway. When I pulled up behind them, I noticed that both the woman and her kid were using all their weight to turn the lug wrench, but the nut wasn’t budging. Thinking it would make it easier to see, I left on my lights and headed over to offer my help. “You guys need a hand?”
The woman glanced up at me, but only for a second. Hell, I didn’t even get a decent glimpse of her before she’d turned her