Heart of Clay (The Tanner Series Book 6)

by Jo Willow

  “Come here Patty and give me a hug. I’ve missed you.”

  She flew at him and threw her arms around his neck. He stood with her and his head was filled with the smell of baby shampoo and the pasture she’d had to cross to get to him.

  “I missed you too. Are you making pots?”

  “I am indeed. When did you get home baby?”

  “A little while ago. Scott’s showing Jason judo and Mommy’s making mac and cheese. Can you come for dinner?”

  “I don’t think Mommy would like that, do you?”

  “She won’t care. She doesn’t cry all the time anymore, just at night when no one’s lookin’. She stayed up all night one night and sat crying in the rocker, I heard her. I think she needs a good talking to.”

  “Do you now?”

  “Uh-huh. Know what else? I think you need to give her something to cry about.”

  “I’ve already done that sweetheart. Look, she’ll be worried if she looks out and you’re gone, you should...”

  He never got the rest of his sentence out. Beth came running to the door, scared out of her mind. She saw Patty in his arms and she doubled over, placing her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

  “Thank God. I looked up and she was gone and I swear my life passed before my eyes.”

  She stood up and pointed her finger at her daughter.

  “Patty, if you ever scare me like that again, I’ll tan your hide. Do you hear me?”

  The little girl started crying and hugged Mitch tighter. He patted her back and kissed the side of her face.

  “It’s alright sweetheart. You just scared your mother half to death. You need to tell her before you go anywhere. Okay?”

  “Okay. Are you coming for mac and cheese?”

  Mitch looked uncomfortable and Beth walked forward to take Patty. She knew seeing him again would be difficult and she fought back the flood of emotions that threatened to drag her under. She was raised right though, and she wouldn’t back down no matter what.

  “It’s not much, but you’re welcome if you’re hungry. I’m making fried chicken with mac and cheese. There’s iced tea in the fridge and ice cream in the freezer.”

  “Are you sure it’s alright? I don’t want to make things difficult for you Beth.”

  Beth just laughed and shook her head.

  “Difficult will be her if you don’t come. Just keep treating me like a piece of your clay and we’ll be fine.”

  She turned to leave and he grabbed her arm. Patty was holding his hand and he looked down at her.

  “Honey, would you go home and see if Scott’s back yet? I need to talk to Mommy for a minute.”

  “Okay Daddy. I’ll go set the table.”

  The little girl went running through the pasture, her braid bouncing on her back. Beth was nervous before. She was terrified now. She kept her eyes to the floor and her arms crossed in front of her.

  “Say your piece Mitch, I’ve got chicken to fry.”

  “I tried to call you for days, why haven’t you answered your phone?”

  “Because I’m tired. I’m tired of hearing it and I’m sick to death of believing it. I want us to be like we were before any of this shit started. We cared about one another then and I mattered to you.”

  She didn’t see how close he’d gotten until she saw his scuffed up work boots in front of her shoes. He tugged her ponytail until she was looking up at him and his breath caught in his chest.

  “You’ve always mattered to me. You will always matter to me Beth. You were right about everything. I asked her and she admitted it. I flew home that night and haven’t heard from her since. I’m sorry. I was wrong and I should’ve listened to you.”

  His face was inches from hers and she licked her lips. She did not need this man in her life again. She recited that in her head over and over until she had a grip on her emotions.

  “Are you done?”

  “Almost.”

  He pulled her into his arms and he kissed her for lost time. He kissed her as if they’d never been separated and then he kissed her like he hadn’t seen her in years. The kiss was intimate and scorching and she kissed him back. She stood on her toes trying to get closer, then she felt Mitch slide his arms under her bottom and lift her to eye level. She had her arms around his neck and she held on for dear life. When he pulled back his eyes were closed and they stood there forehead to forehead.

  Her voice was soft and he let it flow through him. It soothed his frazzled nerves and stilled his troubled soul.

  “The kids missed you. Especially Patty. She loves you, you know.”

  “I love her too. Beth, does this mean...”

  “This means we’re friends again because you’re the bestest friend I’ve ever had.”

  “It’s a start and I’ll take it. Let’s go before I get brave and push my luck.”

  He let her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor. When he took her hand, they were once again two friends walking through the pasture.

  Mitch sat at the kitchen table with Patty on his lap watching Beth fry chicken. It felt so much like home, they both temporarily forgot that the last week had crippled them both slowly and methodically. When Scott ran in the back door, the room came to a standstill.

  The little boy took in the scene as he stood perfectly still. He’d spent the last week watching his mother cry and his sister panic. As the man of the house, he felt responsible for protecting them both and he wasn’t as keen as they were to have the cause of the grief seated at the table like nothing had happened.

  Beth watched him and waited. She knew he’d always trusted Mitch, and that trust had been shaken as much for her son as it had been for her. She was determined not to interfere. Scott and Mitch would work it out or they wouldn’t, the next few minutes would decide it either way.

  “Hi Scott. I’m glad you’re back, I’ve missed you.”

  Mitch knew that Scott would be a tough nut to crack. The boy was used to a hard life filled with disappointments and proving he wasn’t just another in a long line would be difficult.

  “If you missed me, why didn’t you call?”

  “You and I have always been rock solid and straight up with one another Scott. It’s a guy thing. Girls are different and I love your mother. I worried the most about her. Do you understand?”

  Scott took a step closer, then hesitated.

  “She cried the whole time you were gone. When she talked to you, it made it worse.”

  “I cried a lot too. I won’t leave her alone again, you have my word.”

  “You cried? Really?”

  “Men cry too Scott. People that care, cry. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  Scott took two more steps and was standing next to Mitch. Patty watched him and put her forehead against Mitch’s neck. He tightened his grip on her and she settled down.

  “Are we all staying then? Mom said we were moving and we’d have to go to a new school. I knew it was because of you. What do you have to say for yourself?”

  Mitch stifled a smile because he’d heard Beth use that phrase with Scott several times over his life. He also knew that Scott understood the words and was seriously chastising him.

  “Nobody’s going anywhere and I’ll take you two to school myself on the first day. I was wrong to hurt your mother. She’s a good woman and she’s been nothing but good to me. I’m sorry I hurt her and I’m sorry you had to watch me do it. It won’t happen again.”

  Scott listened carefully and thought about what Mitch had said to him. They’d always been honest with one another and whenever he’d had a question or a thought he couldn’t share with his mother, he always took it to Mitch. He wanted to believe him more than either of the two girls. Scott needed the man he’d come to view as his father.

  “Would it be wimpy if I hugged you?”

  “I wish you would. I could use a hug from my boy.”

  Scott wrapped his arms around Mitch and held on tight. Mitch closed his eyes and
kissed him on the top of the head while he rubbed his back. By the grace of god he somehow had his family back and if he could freeze a moment, this would be the one.

  Beth had held her breath throughout the encounter. Scott was stubborn and she knew that if he’d made up his mind that Mitch was the enemy, it would be a long hard battle to win him back. Now she released that breath and watched the three people that meant more than anything in the world to her, locked in a quiet embrace that made her long to make it permanent. They‘d needed him as much as she had and in her selfishness, she’d forgotten that.

  “Alright, somebody start pouring the milk, the chicken’s almost done. Scott, go wash up lord knows what you’ve been up to.”

  Scott pulled back and exchanged a look with Mitch. They were good again, but Mitch understood he was on probation. Scott would give him no second chances. Mitch firmly believed he wouldn’t need one.

  The little boy went to wash up and Mitch looked at Beth.

  “That was a close one.”

  “You handled it well. He needs you, you know.”

  “I need him too. He’s a good kid. They’re both good kids Beth. They mean the world to me.”

  “Glad to hear it. Do you want milk or iced tea with dinner?”

  Mitch kept his eyes on Beth, but spoke to Patty.

  “Patty, go wash up with your brother. You’ve been running through the pasture and you need to wash your hands sweetheart.”

  “Okay. Be right back.”

  She scampered off his lap and ran down the hall, calling for Scott. Mitch got up and crossed the kitchen until he stood before Beth.

  “I meant every word I said to Scott. I love you. I love the kids and I won’t let any of you down again. Let me back in Beth.”

  “You are back in. I told you, we’re friends again. Look at us. We’re having dinner together like nothing ever happened. We’re good.”

  “We both know something did happen. Neither one of us will be able to put it behind us until we talk it through. I want to stay with you tonight. I want to hold you and talk to you and let you yell it out of your system. I want us to be us again.”

  She looked up at him and let him feel the full force of her pain. She held nothing back and he never averted his eyes. He took it all in and tried to take it from her with nothing but the power of his stare.

  “I don’t know if I can do that. I’d like to think I can let it go and trust you because we have history and everyone makes mistakes. But I don’t know if that’s true.”

  He kissed her like he kissed her in the barn. Beth plastered herself against him and he held her so tightly he was afraid he might break her. He continued to hold her even when he’d finished the kiss.

  “Damn it Beth, let me back in. I won’t stop until you do.”

  “We’ll talk, but no bullshit Mitch. No hearts and flowers, no promises or ‘she meant nothing’s’. You got it?”

  “That’s all I ask. Just talk to me.”

  They were interrupted by a giggle in the doorway. They stayed locked in an embrace, while they both looked up at the sound. Scott and Patty were standing in the doorway smiling. Beth smiled back at her children.

  “You two sit down and stop grinning.”

  She looked at Mitch who was smiling down at her.

  “You pour the milk and join them. I’ll put dinner on the table. I hope y’all are hungry, I made enough to feed an army of hungry beggars.”

  The family sat down together and talked about the last week. Scott had questions about what Mitch had seen in Europe and Patty wanted to know if they really had leprechauns in Ireland. Beth laughed at the appropriate times and unconsciously touched Mitch’s arm more than once.

  He felt every laugh and touch and ached to put meaning into them. Halfway through the meal, there was a knock on the door. Four sets of eyes turned toward the living room and Beth stood up.

  “Who in the world could that be at dinner time on a weekend?”

  Mitch shrugged at the kids who giggled and stuffed more mac and cheese into their mouths.

  All three of them heard her before they saw her expression or who she was talking to.

  “What in the hell are you doing here?”

  Mitch stood and walked to the doorway, Scott and Patty close behind. Patty moved next to Mitch and tugged on his shirt. He looked down and saw she was nervous so he scooped her up and settled her on his hip.

  Brian had pushed past Beth and was now standing in the living room looking around. He was starting to think that maybe they hadn’t it so bad after all, when his eyes fell on the gathering in the doorway to another room. He grinned at the little boy that had his face and his mother’s eyes and Scott scowled at him in return.

  Brian’s smile faltered for a second and then his scowl matched Scott’s when he saw his daughter in the arms of the man he’d met only once before.

  “What do we have here Elizabeth? Looks like a happy little family to me. What’s going on? Did he not tell you I was looking for you?”

  Beth turned to Mitch in question and he never took his eyes off of his adversary.

  “He’s famous for disappearing. I didn’t expect to see him again. Besides, I forgot about him the minute he drove off.”

  Brian ignored the slight and turned back to Beth.

  “You’re still as pretty as a Spring morning wife. Come here and greet me proper.”

  He started to put his arms around her and she stepped back. Scott’s voice stunned them all.

  “Get your hands off my mother!”

  Brian turned to the boy and cocked his head.

  “That’s no way to talk to your father young man. You come over here and apologize or I’ll box your ears.”

  Mitch emitted a low growl that came from somewhere he wasn’t acquainted with.

  “If you lay one hand on either one of these kids you won’t live to see another sunrise Stone. You should go now before it gets ugly.”

  “Is that so? That’s big talk coming from a man that’s stealing another man’s children. Put my daughter down and leave while I still feel like forgiving my wife.”

  Beth felt the situation ramping up and she started to wring her hands. Patty started crying and clinging to Mitch. He kissed her cheek and rubbed her back.

  “It’s okay baby, I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Daddy.”

  Brian lost all patience.

  “Patty get over here! I’m your daddy.”

  Scott went to stand beside his mother.

  “You’re not our dad, he’s our dad. You’re a stranger. Go away!”

  “Is that right? Well maybe we should just let the courts decide that. How would you like to come and live with me for awhile young man? Your mom shacking up with the neighbor might not look so good to child welfare.”

  Mitch was seething and afraid to put Patty down. Brian had threatened Beth with the one thing he could hold over her. If she caved, he’d never get near the kids again. He knew it. Beth didn’t cave.

  “Go to anyone you want Brian. Lawyer up. You’ve never paid a dime of child support and never visited once in six years.”

  Beth was standing with her hands behind her back so he couldn’t be sure about the next piece of information she threw at him.

  “You can’t shack up with someone you’re married to. Mitch and I are married. My name is Beth Tanner now and you’re not welcome here. Get the hell out.”

  Scott made the next statement loud and clear.

  “My mom and dad don’t want you here. Go away.”

  Beth pulled Scotty in close and Scott put his arm around her, giving her strength. Brian was rattled but not convinced.

  “If you’re married, why didn’t he tell me that the other day? Why do you still have two houses?”

  Mitch reached into his pocket while Brian’s focus was still on Beth. He made his way to her still holding Patty, and put his free arm around her when he got next to her. He placed the ring he’d been carrying on her finger, watching her
eyes grow huge.

  She brought her hands out in front so that Brian could see the ring at the same time she did. It was amazing. It shone like the sun and she reached for Patty. Patty went to her mother and Mitch pulled Scott in close. They looked like the perfect family and when Beth spoke, she sounded confident and proud.

  “We haven’t gotten around to selling this one yet. We’re still moving things into his place because it’s bigger. It’ll be on the market next week. He didn’t tell you because it was none of your damned business.”

  Brian couldn’t take his eyes off of her ring. The man in front of him didn’t look like he had money, but that ring told a different story. That made him wonder.

  “Where were you Beth? Why weren’t you here with your husband?”

  “Mitch had a lot of work to do so me and the kids went up to Atlanta to spend some time with his family. The Tanners have a big place with plenty of room and the kids needed to get to know their aunts, uncles and cousins better. Anything else?”

  Brian staggered a few steps backwards. He knew the name. Anyone in Georgia knew the name. One of them was always in the news, they were filthy rich.

  “That’s convenient Beth. What did it take, six years? If you’re gonna get back up on the horse, make sure the saddle bags are filled with money eh?”

  Mitch was done. Beth felt the change and knew that if he struck him, Brian would sue them for everything they owned or ever hoped to. She turned to Mitch and spoke softly, immediately getting his attention.

  “Honey, he’s not worth it. He never was.”

  Mitch leaned down and kissed her, then kissed Patty on the cheek.

  “My wife asked you to leave, now leave. We won’t be asking you again. I’m adopting these kids. If you choose to fight it, then I suggest you get ready to explain why you’ve made no effort to see them and why you didn’t even know your own daughter’s name. My family knows enough judges to keep you busy for years, Brian. Get the hell out of our home. Now.”