Adopted Son (17 page)

“Yes, ma’am, but I’m getting better.”

“Good for you. Take care now.”

“You bet.”

Tuck relayed the conversation to Grace.

“Good.” She seemed relieved. “What have you been doing all day?”

He told her about his day. “I just had a look at the attic and it’s a nightmare.”

“I’m here to help.” She kissed the tip of his nose.

“There are cobwebs up there.” He knew her fear of spiders and it didn’t take long to see that fear in her eyes.

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll slay your spiders.”

“Ah, my hero.”

He took her lips in a long, deep kiss.

Soon they’d have to make decisions about the future—their future. Now, he knew they had one.

E
ACH DAY
T
UCK CONTINUED
his work, cleaning out the attic. Grace helped when she arrived after a full day at the office. Each day, her workday was getting longer and longer. This was minor, he told himself. Soon he’d be back at work, too.

He had a pile of things for Eli to go through and he was after him to get it done. He carried all the clothes and old furniture to a homeless shelter. Old papers and bank records he burned behind the house in a barrel. The attic was beginning to look bare.

The highlight of Tuck’s day was waiting for the sound of Grace’s car in his driveway. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was a pattern for their relationship. He knew she was having problems at work and he was trying very hard to be understanding. The plumbing had burst in the day care and it had been a big mess, and then two lawyers were at odds over a trial and Grace sat in on the proceeding to ensure harmony and a fair trial for their client. She carried an enormous load, and Tuck knew her loyalty and dedication to the firm.

But he missed her.

That night they were keeping Jesse. Caroline had called saying they had plans to go out with Caleb and Josie but didn’t have anywhere to leave Jesse. Her sitters were engaged in other activities. Grace laughed and said to bring him over. Her sitters were open for business.

Grace barely had time to kiss Tuck before Caroline and Eli arrived. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “We never have enough time.”

“I know. We’ll have to talk about that.”

Before she could respond, Eli carted in Jesse’s Pack ’n Play. Caroline was holding Jesse and Grace grabbed him immediately, soaking up the sweet smell of the baby. She’d missed him.

“About time you two came up for air,” Eli said. “And no hanky-panky stuff in front of my son.”

Caroline slapped Eli’s shoulder. “Will you stop it?”

“What?” Eli acted innocent.

“We should be home around ten,” Caroline said, and kissed Jesse. “Bye, sweetie.”

“Take your time,” Tuck said. “We’ll be here. And, Eli, you’re not getting your son back until you agree to go through some of this stuff.” Tuck glanced at the boxes stacked on the floor in a corner.

“Okay, okay. I’ll come by first thing in the morning.”

“I have your word.”

“God, you’re relentless.” Eli sighed. “You have my word.”

After they left, Tuck and Grace spent the evening playing with Jesse. Soon the baby grew drowsy and Grace gave him a bottle and put him in the Pack ’n Play for the night. Jesse went to sleep almost instantly.

She curled up in Tuck’s arms in his recliner as they watched an old movie. She sensed the tension in him. “Are you upset with me?”

“Of course not. I just miss you.”

She relaxed. “I’m thinking of hiring a personal assistant.”

“Would that help?”

“I don’t know, but I have to do something. I’m not happy being away from you, either.”

“I go back to work on Monday and our time together will be shorter.”

She raised up. “We have a problem, Jeremiah Tucker.”

He smiled and her pulse raced. “Kiss me and let’s see if we can’t make it better.”

She obliged, and it made everything better.

For now.

T
HE NEXT MORNING
Grace hurried off to work while Tuck and Eli went through the remaining things.

“I don’t know why you’re insisting I go through this stuff,” Eli complained.

“Because it belongs to both of us, so stop whining,” Tuck told him.

“Okay.” Eli sat on the edge of the den sofa, looking around at the boxes and strewn items. “It’s a big mess in here. Where do we start?”

“Let’s start with the lava lamp.”

“You’re kidding, right? I do not want that gaudy thing.”

“Ma loved it.”

“She saw beauty in everything.”

Eli was right. Ma never saw the bad in anything or anyone. “Okay. I’ll keep it.” He pointed to a gun propped against the wall. “There’s an L.C. Smith shotgun and this knife.” He fished it out of a box. “Both were made in the twenties and have Pa’s initials on them. Which do you want?”

“You choose.”

“I’ll take the gun.”

“Good. I’ll take the knife.” Eli reached for it, opening up the blades. “Look at the pearl inlay. This is a cool knife.”

Tuck knew Eli would rather have the knife. That’s why he chose the gun.

Tuck pointed to a box. “There are all your high school and college photos and trophies.”

Eli frowned. “I don’t want them.”

“Caroline might. And Jesse might want to see them one day.”

“Sometimes you’re worse than an old woman, Tuck.”

Tuck let that pass and squatted by a box. “Here are Ma’s and Pa’s old country albums.” He sorted through them. “Some are signed by the artist—Ernest Tubbs, Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn, The Wilburn Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, The Carter Family and some I don’t have a clue who they are. I think I’ll keep them and the record player.”

“Fine. I don’t have any use for them.”

Tuck reached for a small box. “This is Ma’s and Pa’s wedding rings.”

“Those are yours. I already have a wedding ring.”

Tuck sat in his chair, staring at the gold bands. “I might use these.”

Eli stopped digging through a box and gaped at him. “What?”

“I might use these,” he repeated.

“The man who said he was never getting married is thinking about marriage?”

“Yes,” Tuck replied without hesitation.

“Wow. I thought I’d never see this day.”

“Me, neither, but how many times have you told me that my day was coming?”

“Too many to remember.” Eli scooted back on the sofa. “So you’re giving up your plans to take in foster kids?”

Tuck closed the velvet box. “I’m not sure. Grace understands me more than any woman ever has. All I know is that my need to be with her is stronger than anything I’ve ever felt.”

“How does Grace feel?”

“We haven’t made a commitment to each other. We’re taking it slow, finding each other, enjoying our time together.”

“But soon you have to face reality.”

“Yeah.” Tuck nodded. “Soon we have to talk.”

“And you’re scared to death.”

Tuck raised his head. “You could be right. I’ve never allowed a woman to change my way of thinking.”

“Are you afraid she doesn’t feel the same way?”

“No. I’m afraid of the obstacles standing in our way.”

“Like what?” Eli asked.

“Like her job and her father.”

“Grace has always been dominated by Stephen but lately she seems to be breaking free.”

“She’s changing, too.”

“You two need to have a good, honest talk.”

Tuck fingered the box. “Tonight I plan to do that. As long as we’re honest with each other, we can make it work. I know we can.”

“Do you realize this will make us brothers-in-law? And let me tell you something. You’re getting the Whittens fifty-fifty. There’s no need for them to be camped out at my house all the time.”

“But you have the grandson.” Tuck laughed.

“You can change that, too.”

Tuck held up a hand. “Don’t rush things. I can only take so many changes at one time.”

“It’s good to see you happy,” Eli said.

“It’s been cathartic going through Ma’s and Pa’s belongings. I can’t keep my life as a shrine to them. I finally can see that and I have peace about it. I’ll probably never let go of the kid thing, though. Helping kids is just a part of me. Grace and I will work through it.”

He returned the velvet box to the larger cardboard one and pulled out a humidor. “Remember this?”

“Damn, I’d forgotten about that thing. Is it locked? Pa always kept it locked.” Eli scooted closer to Tuck.

“Yes, but Ma taped the key to the bottom when Pa died.” Tuck flipped the dark walnut case over and found the key. Flipping it back, he unlocked it.

The pungent smell filled his nostrils and memories swirled around him. He and Eli were never allowed to open the box. Ma forbade Pa to smoke in the house or around the children. He would take the box to the porch and sometimes Tuck and Eli would slip out to watch Pa ready a cigar to smoke, unless Ma spotted them and made them come inside.

“There are cigars still inside,” Eli said, and reached for one and sniffed it. “Man, that reminds me of Pa.”

Tuck opened a drawer near the bottom. “The cigar cutter and lighter are here, too.”

Eli stuck the cigar in his mouth and leaned back. “This smells great. If I lit this thing, it would probably blow off my head. I’m not too sure about aged tobacco, but it doesn’t smell tainted or anything.”

“Pa loved his cigars, and wait—” he lifted the half-empty tray “—there’s a full tray below this one.”

Eli handed him the cigar. “Put this one back.”

Tuck looked at it. “You’ve slobbered all over it.”

“So? No one’s ever going to smoke it.”

“I guess you’re right.” Tuck slid the cigar in with the others and tried to put the tray back, but the humidor wouldn’t close. “Something’s wrong. I must have the trays in backward. Hold this one.” Eli took the tray and Tuck lifted out the other. There was a piece of yellowing paper beneath the bottom tray.

“What’s this?” Tuck asked, pulling it out.

“Who knows? Maybe something Pa didn’t want Ma to see.”

“Pa never kept secrets from Ma.”

“Tuck, he was human. Sometimes you forget that. Open the letter and let’s see what kind of secret Pa was keeping.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t,” Tuck said. “It’s been hidden all these years. Maybe we should just let it be.” Tuck didn’t know why he was hesitant, but he was.

“Give me that,” Eli snapped. “It’s probably an old receipt or a bond worth millions. Now wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants.”

Tuck held on to the paper, not letting Eli have it. Slowly he opened the old, yellowing, thin paper. There was a printed heading of an orphanage, Sisters of the Guadalupe. Tuck knew the place. He passed it many times on the outside of Austin. The letter was handwritten and still legible.

Goose bumps popped up on his skin in chilling intensity as he read. Anger slammed into his stomach. Eli gasped over his shoulder.

The letter read:

The letter was dated the day Tuck was born.

Tuck and Eli were frozen in place. They couldn’t move or speak. The only sound was the grandfather clock ticking as loud as a gunshot. Tuck tried to absorb what he’d read, but anger kept blocking his thinking.

He knew. He knew. Pa knew,
kept ripping through his mind like bullets at a target.

Tuck jumped to his feet, the humidor tumbling to the floor. He waved the letter at Eli. “Pa knew who my mother was. He lied to me. Pa lied to me. He said he did a thorough investigation and there were no clues. He lied! He knew exactly where I came from and he never told me even after I was grown. How could he?”

Eli walked around the chair and faced him. “Calm down and let’s think about this rationally.”

“I’m not in a rational mood.” He pushed past Eli. “I’m in a mood for some honest answers and I’m going to get them.”

“Tuck.” Eli grabbed his arm.

“Let me go,” Tuck shouted.

“Not until you calm down.”

Eli might be bigger and stronger, but Tuck was functioning on pure adrenaline. He jerked his arm away and Eli grabbed him again. Tuck shoved him and Eli went flying backward. Tuck made a dash for the back door.

As he swung open the door, Grace stood on the other side. He ran, unable to talk to her. Unable to talk to anyone.

“Tuck,” Grace called, running after him.

He jerked open his car door and got in. Grace jumped into the passenger seat before he could back out.

“What’s wrong?” She saw Eli standing at the back door and she was sure he was cursing. “Did you and Eli have a fight?”

He handed her a piece of paper he clutched in his hand. It took about five seconds before she fully understood the situation and she felt an incredible sadness for him. But she had other concerns first.

Tuck was driving fast and erratic.

“Pull over and let me drive.”

Tuck didn’t respond, just stared straight ahead at the country blacktop road. Luckily it was a farm-to-market road and there wasn’t any traffic. Trees and ranches whizzed by.

“Tuck.”

They turned a corner, swerved to miss a car and plowed through a bar ditch and came to a stop.

Grace let out a long breath, her hands gripping the dash. Glancing at Tuck, she saw him lean his forehead on the steering wheel. He was crying. Her heart twisted at the sight.

She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. “Tuck, don’t, please.”

“Pa lied to me,” he mumbled brokenly.

“I’m so sorry. Let’s go back to the house and talk.”

“No.” He wiped at his eyes. “I have to go to the orphanage. I have to have some answers.”

“Okay.” She brushed away a tear. “I’ll go with you, but slow down, please.”

He backed out of the ditch and they headed for the main highway. She wished she could ease his pain, but all she could do was be there for him and offer him comfort when he needed it.

She was so glad she’d left work early to spend more time with Tuck. If she hadn’t, he would have been gone with this terrible pain in his heart. Being with Tuck was suddenly the most important thing to her. Not her work. Not her family.

But Tuck.

She would always be here for him.