Ridiculously pleased that Davey still liked her cookies, her heart swelled. “There’s plenty, so help yourself. Be right back.”
In the kitchen, she grabbed a couple of Cokes and two glasses of ice. When she returned to the living room, Davey was in front of the fireplace looking at the collection of pictures on the mantel.
There was one of her with eight-year old Davey hoisting a trophy in front of his go-kart. Another of her, Cruz, and teenage Davey at a local dirt track. Next was a recent photo of Davey standing on top of his Ford, his hand raised triumphantly in the air after his win in Bristol earlier this year. There was also a picture of her, Hud, Jenna, and Nora behind the bar at OTR. The last picture was a small framed photo of Ben that Nora had given to her.
She wondered what Davey was thinking and if he found it presumptuous that she had pictures of him on display. Nerves plucked at her stomach as she placed the tray of drinks on the coffee table. She rubbed her moist palms on her pant legs, then lowered to the couch.
Focus on the now. Blinking her eyes shut, she thought about all that was good in her life. She was healthy and she worked with people who were more like family than employees. She’d recently discovered a wonderful grandson. Last, but certainly not least, her son was not only in Serenity, but was in her living room at this very moment.
Whenever she followed Guru Bob’s advice to bring her attention to the present moment, it grounded her. This time was no different. She opened her eyes, gave a silent prayer of thanks, and waited for Davey to join her.
When he spun around, his expression was hooded, making her wonder once again what he was thinking.
“Have a seat,” she said, patting the couch.
After another glance at the pictures, Davey joined her. “I’m surprised you have any pictures of me.” His voice was low, defensive, and a little hurt.
His words and defensive tone nipped at her heart. While she desperately yearned for a real mother-son relationship, it wasn’t going to happen overnight. As she drew in a breath of patience, she poured one of the Cokes over ice and handed it to him, then fixed a second glass for her.
“Of course I have pictures of you,” she said in a soft voice. “Did you see the wall at the bar?”
Davey took a sip of Coke. “To be honest, I was pretty shocked. Why—” He stopped short and changed his question. “Where did you get them?”
“From Cruz,” she said.
Davey cocked his head. “Why?”
“I asked him to send them.”
Davey clasped his hands on his lap. “Mind if I ask why?”
“You can ask whatever you want.” She met his gaze. “I couldn’t be with you so—”
“Couldn’t?” Davey said, his voice incredulous. “I get why you left Dad. Didn’t like it, but I understood. But you left me too.” On a huff, he ran a hand through his long bangs. “You know what? Forget it.” His entire body jerked as he rose. “This was a bad idea.”
The pit of Steph’s stomach fell. She finally had the chance to talk—really talk—with Davey and she didn’t want to give it up. “Please wait,” she said, rising. “We need this time, we need to talk.”
Davey crossed his arms. A jumble of emotions flashed through his eyes—anger, unease, and maybe even a trace of regret—before he dialed them back to neutral. She wondered how he did that. She wore her emotions on her sleeve or so she’d been told. “Please, Davey. At least hear me out.” She touched a hand to his arm. “Then we’ll talk about Ben.”
Davey’s gaze moved back and forth between her and the door. After a long moment, he eased onto the couch.
Relief flooded her as she lowered next to him. “Things were bad between your dad and I, to the point where I had to leave. I wanted to fight for custody, but you were adamant that you wanted to stay with your father.” Davey had also told her that he hated her and never wanted to see her again but she decided that was best left unsaid.
“Jesus, I was fourteen.” Davey grabbed a cookie and stuffed the whole thing in his mouth.
She took a drink of soda, gathering the nerve to continue. “I tried to get ahold of you.” The lines in Davey’s face tightened but she forged ahead. She wanted him to understand that she’d tried. “I left messages for you. I came to some of your races only to be told you didn’t want to see me.”
Davey gave her a look of disbelief, then gaped at her for what felt like an eternity. “I don’t want to talk about this,” he said tersely. “Can we just talk about Ben?”
She wanted to finish this conversation so they could bridge the chasm that divided them. But she didn’t want to push Davey away so she gave him a resigned smile. “Of course. What’s going on with you and Ben?”
Davey’s face visibly relaxed as he helped himself to another cookie. “Nora didn’t tell you?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Huh.” Davey proceeded to tell her about his recent outings with Ben, including an ATV accident that had required stitches and a series of mishaps involving friends, women, and beer. “Then last night I took Ben out to dinner, just the two of us. I took the liberty of ordering cheeseburgers and fries.”
“Oh, honey, Ben’s a vegetarian.”
Davey let out a rough laugh. “Trust me, I know that now.”
“Didn’t Nora tell you?” she asked, a little perplexed. Nora was nothing if not thorough. “Or Ben?”
When Davey’s head lowered, she got it. Her son thought eating meat was manly or some such crap.
“I made him try a bite,” Davey said. “Then he puked all over the table.”
She tried not to laugh, but a giggle came out anyway.
Davey laughed along with her. “I deserved it for making him try the burger.” He thunked his head against the back of her tan leather sofa. “I’m a crappy father.”
Nothing Davey had shared sounded like a major disaster. Taking a leap of faith, she reached over and put her hand on top of his.
Davey’s gaze zeroed in on their joined hands, but he didn’t pull his hand away. Hope fluttered inside her as strong as a mama bird’s wings. “You’re not a bad father, Davey. You just need time.” Because she didn’t want to press her luck, she moved her hand away and pushed the plate of cookies toward him. While he chomped into another cookie, she refilled his glass of Coke.
“Thanks,” he said, his voice lower and calmer. He chugged some soda, then gave her a skeptical look. “I don’t know how to be a dad.” He sighed. “Nora’s right—my lifestyle isn’t exactly kid-friendly.”
“You have almost ten years of catching up to do.” She gave him an encouraging smile. “You’ll get there.”
“I’m way out of my league.” He choked out a laugh. “In racing, I’m confident as hell. But with Ben, not so much.” He looked at her with big, hopeful eyes. “What should I do?”
She envisioned her, Davey, and Ben going out to dinner, playing with Ben’s friends, and simply hanging out as a family. Quality time with her son and grandson—what could be better than that? But it was a selfish answer. She had only known Ben for a month and she was still learning what kids his age liked to do.
“I think you should ask Nora for help,” she said before she could change her mind. “She and Ben are close, and Nora’s been the one who’s been there for him throughout his life.”
“I’m not sure she’d be willing.” Davey clasped his hands together. “I don’t think she likes me.”
Maybe she could help her son, after all. “I’ll talk to Nora for you.”
Chapter Ten
Ben bounced up and down as he waited for Davey to arrive. Nora pressed a hand to her belly to hold in the joy. Ben had never been more excited about a birthday, and after the conditions he’d lived in until recently, he deserved every happiness.
It was hard to believe her little man was turning ten. It was also hard to believe that Steph had talked her into mentoring Davey on parenting, although she had to admit he’d been trying as of late.
The fact that
he had asked for help demonstrated his genuine desire to be a good parent. It had both surprised and impressed her. Since then, she and Davey had taken Ben out a few times together. Davey had deferred all decisions to her and had analyzed her responses. She knew this because later, when they were alone, he’d asked for the psychology behind her reactions. He was also noticing Ben’s needs. He’d purchased Ben a new pair of sneakers and a new coat. The coat had been at the top of her next paycheck shopping list. But Davey had beaten her to it, and she was pretty sure the coat he’d selected—a brown NASCAR jacket resembling Davey’s race attire—was preferred over what she would have purchased.
Davey had gone all out for Ben’s birthday too. He was having the party at his dad’s place. He’d rented a lavish paintball game with props that he and Cruz had strategically placed around their barns and fields.
“My friends are gonna think I’m so cool,” Ben said, grinning. “ ‘Cause my dad’s so cool. And the paintball field is cool.” Davey and Cruz had given Ben a preview last night.
She smiled. “You’re gonna wear out the floor.”
“It’s a good warm-up.” Ben’s grin widened. “I’m gonna kick butt in paintball today!”
“Okay, little man, but first this.” She pulled him into a hug.
“Aunt Nora!”
She squeezed him tight. “Better now than in front of your friends, right?”
Ben nodded, but she let go when a knock sounded at the door.
Ben raced over and tugged it open. “Grandma!”
“I never get tired of hearing that,” Steph said, giving Ben a quick hug. She handed him a present. “You can open this now.”
“Thanks.” Ben flopped onto the floor next to Cosmo, ripped off the paper, and opened the box. Inside was a large die-cast car, a replica of Davey’s brown Ford Fusion, complete with the Outdoor America sponsor decals.
“Oh, boy,” Ben said lifting the car out of the box and studying it from every angle. “Thanks, Grandma!”
He put the car on the floor and hugged Steph again. After, he raced over to Nora. “Did you see what Grandma got me?”
Nora smiled at her nephew. She loved seeing him happy. “Very cool.”
When another knock sounded, Ben sprinted to the door and yanked it open.
Davey and Cruz entered carrying an enormous white box with a big red bow. The box indicated it was a TV. An excessively large TV.
Nora wondered if the gift was appropriate; she didn’t want to spoil Ben. But she quickly pushed the thought aside. After everything Ben had been through, he deserved this luxury. She smiled at Davey and he winked at her in response.
“Happy birthday, son.” Davey gave Ben a light punch on the arm.
“Hey, buddy.” Cruz ruffled Ben’s hair. “Happy birthday.”
Ben barraged Davey and Cruz with questions. “What is it? It’s really big!” As Ben brushed a hand over the box, Nora felt his excitement. “This says it’s a TV. Is it really a TV?” Ben bounced up and down. “A really big TV?”
Davey laughed. “It’s a 65-inch LG. I thought you needed something bigger for your video games.”
Ben’s eyes popped. “Can we set it up now? Huh, can we?” He threw his arms around Davey and Cruz. “You guys are the best.”
“This one’s from your dad,” Cruz said. “And it’s one of the best gaming TV’s out there.”
Ben beamed at Davey. “Can we set it up now? Please!”
“We gotta get you to your party,” Davey said. “We can’t have a birthday party without the guest of honor.”
“But first you have to open my present,” Cruz told Ben. “I just have to grab it from the car.” He turned to Steph. “Want to accompany me?”
Davey’s lips thinned as his mother smiled warmly at Cruz. As Cruz escorted Steph outside with his hand at the small of her back, Davey’s mouth twisted into a scowl. Why was he giving them a hard time? His mother deserved to be happy, and from what Nora knew about Cruz, he did as well.
She stepped in front of Davey to distract him. “This is a very nice present.” She touched a hand to Ben’s head. “Did you thank your dad?”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Ben rose chanting his thanks, making Davey laugh and diffusing the tension. “Can we set it up as soon as we get home tonight?”
Davey nodded. “You got it.”
Cosmo got up and nuzzled his head against Ben’s leg. “Look, Cosmo is wishing me a happy birthday.”
Smiling, Nora rubbed Cosmo’s fuzzy head. Good job, buddy. Cosmo had quickly become Ben’s close friend and confidant, helping Ben through the many changes in his life. Sometimes at night, she would hear Ben confiding in the dog. She’d listened in just long enough to make sure Ben was okay. Thankfully he was, except for feeling guilty that he liked living with her. She had planned to talk with Ben until she heard him tell Cosmo what she’d told him after Lynn had passed. ‘It’s okay that Mommy’s gone ‘cause she’s with the angels now.’ He’d added, ‘So she’s happy, and now I’m happy too.’
Cruz and Steph returned, and Cruz handed Ben one of the packages. “This is from me.”
Ben ripped open the paper and gaped at the Xbox One S. “Lucas has this game station, and I’ve wanted one real bad.” He trailed a hand over the picture on the box, then looked at Cruz with amazement. “How did you know?”
“Lucas told me.” Cruz winked at Ben and handed him another box. “These go with it.”
Inside were a bunch of games and accessories—controllers, steering wheels, and other gadgets Nora was unfamiliar with. But Ben, who was giddy with excitement, seemed to know exactly what they were.
“We better get going,” Steph said after glancing at her watch.
Cruz drove them to the party in his Hummer. It was a clear sunny day, with just a slight chill in the air—a perfect day for paintball. The kids had a blast. Even Daisy and Cosmo got into the action, chasing the kids around after the game had ended.
Lucas’ dad, Jamie, who Davey had also invited seemed to have fun too. Jamie was not only a huge NASCAR fan, but he was lonely because his wife, a military nurse, was currently deployed. She’d been in Afghanistan since October and wouldn’t be coming home until next summer.
Nora was starting to see a whole different side of Davey. He had put a lot of time and money into making Ben’s birthday extra special. He’d befriended Lucas’ dad. He had been genuinely appreciative of her help with parenting. She’d also caught glimpses of the special bond he had with Cruz. Even Cosmo had taken a liking to Davey and Cosmo-Astro had always been a good judge of character. Maybe her Pap had been right all along.
With more than a little dread, Davey drove to Nora’s to begin the long day of celebration. Usually, he, Cruz, and Daisy spent a quiet Christmas at Davey’s condo. But this year, they were making the rounds, spending Christmas morning at Nora’s, Christmas afternoon at his mother’s, and Christmas evening at Jamie and Lucas’.
“Lighten up,” Cruz said, tapping two fingers over Davey’s.
Davey glanced at his white fingers, loosened his grip on the steering wheel, and shook his head. “I’m a little nervous over the family festivities.” While he and his mother were now on speaking terms, they were hardly close, which could make for an uncomfortable day.
“Can I make a suggestion?”
A laugh rumbled out of Davey. “You always do,” he said, his voice teasing. Both he and Cruz knew that he needed Cruz’s guidance.
Cruz chuckled. “Let’s put the past aside for today.”
At the stoplight, Davey glanced at Cruz. Obviously, Cruz was referring to Davey’s relationship with his mother. But how was he supposed to put aside his hurt and resentment?
“Just for one day,” Cruz said. “It’ll be a gift of sorts, to your mother and to you.” Cruz pinned a look on him. “You need to model behavior for your son. Show Ben how he should treat his mother, or in his case, his mother-figure.”
Cruz was right. As usual.
Davey nodded. “I�
�ll give it my best shot.”
Cruz put a hand on his shoulder. “That’s my boy.”
They spent the rest of the short drive in silence, with Davey drumming up the willpower to put his bitterness aside. It was Christmas, after all.
From the back seat, Daisy nudged her nose against his arm. At the next light, he rubbed her ears. Nora had insisted that Daisy come along, which had pleased the hell out of him. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave his girl behind on a holiday.
He pulled in front of Nora and his mother’s duplex and drew in a long, deep breath. You can do this, he told himself. He got Daisy out of the truck while Cruz grabbed the bag of presents, and the three of them made their way up the walkway.
Nora opened the door before they’d even reached the porch. She hugged Cruz, Daisy, and then him. “Come on in.”
A sweet, delectable smell assaulted Davey’s senses as he made his way into the living room. “Smells good in here.”
Nora smiled. “Steph, Hud, and I have been baking.”
Davey frowned. Why was Hud here? He wasn’t family.
As Nora stepped over to the stairs and called for Ben, Cruz nudged him. “Remember, lighten up.”
Steph came out from the kitchen. “Merry Christmas,” she said approaching them. She gave Davey a quick hug, and Cruz a long, tight hug which didn’t help Davey lighten up.
“Dad! Mr. Cruz!” Ben rushed over and threw his arms around Davey and Cruz’s leg.
Davey laughed. Ben’s enthusiasm never failed to put a smile on his face.
“Merry Christmas, buddy,” he said, bending down to give Ben a real hug.
“Yeah, you too.” He grinned. “Wanna play a racing game?”
Unsure of what the plans were, he glanced at Nora.
“Go ahead,” she said. “We’ll have breakfast when you’re done.”
Davey went upstairs with Ben and found Hud in Ben’s room. “Hud’s been playing with me in between cooking,” Ben said.
Davey introduced himself to Hud.
“Guess I’ll leave you two to play,” Hud said, rising.
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