Chapter 9. Glad I Came

           Lyle started daycare. I informed the daycare that River would pick him up at three and the hours I would need them once school started. It saddened me that Lyle was nervous about being around other kids. Lyle was used to being at home all the time. Jax would have Lyle, or I would have Lyle. Jax didn't want him in daycare because of the expense. 

            River agreed to pay for half the daycare. River said if his mom would slow down on drinking, she would probably watch him for us. I had to admit I didn't want Bonnie watching Lyle all the time either for the same reason.

            I gave them the names of the people allowed to pick Lyle up that was River, Helen, and me.

            After I made it to work, my cell phone rang.

            It was River.

            “Hello?” I answered, confused.

            “Hey, sorry. I know you're about to go into work, but can I grab Lyle sooner than three?” he asked.

            “Yeah, sure. You have permission to pick him up whenever at the daycare. Just let me know when you grab him, so I don't wig out that he's missing or something,” I said.

            River chuckled. “Why do you think I called? I'll drop him off around six if that is okay?”

            “Six is good,” I said. I opened up the back door of the clinic. Voices from nurses, doctors, and patients swarmed the hall.

            “‘Kay, see ya later,” he said.

            “See ya later,” I said and hung up.

            “Someone looks starry-eyed.”

            I turned around to find out who had spoken. It was Alyson, a nurse that I worked with. I smiled at her.

            “Do I?” I asked.

            “Oh yes,” Alyson said. She gave me a stern nod.

            I rolled my eyes. “It's just my son's dad.”

            “Not together anymore?” Alyson asked. We walked toward the nurse's station.

            “We were never together...” I trailed off. I sounded sad to my own ears, but she didn't catch it.

            “One-night stand?” Alyson asked, surprised.

            “Yeah,” I admitted and blushed. “It was an accident. We've been friends for a long time, and one night we accidentally slept together.”

            “What did you do slip and fall on his dick?” Alyson teased. She gave me a suspicious look, but I ignored it as I got to work. My first appointment was with a girl about the same age as Lyle.

***

After I got back from lunch, I stopped at the nurse's station to check my messages. Alyson sat beside me, doing the same at her computer.

“Hey, legs.”

I looked up to find River smirking at me with Lyle in his arms. Lyle gave me a devious smile. I stared at both of them, confused. I sighed and closed my laptop. I walked around the nurse's station.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I wanted to see what you looked like in scrubs. I ain't even going to lie, I'm damn glad I came,” River said. River checked me out and licked his lips. I shoved him away from the nurse's station and tried not to laugh.

            That’s the last thing Alyson needed to hear. Alyson would think what everyone thought, that River was into me, but he wasn’t. Being flirty was part of River’s personality.

“Seriously, what?” I asked quietly.

“Lyle had a question,” River said.

“Can we go to the zoo on Sunday?” Lyle asked. His face lit up with excitement.

“You and your dad can go,” I told Lyle. I looked at River. “Why would you need to come to work to ask me that?” I asked River. “He's going to be at your house.”

River smirked, but before he could speak, Lyle answered my question.

“No, I mean Daddy, you, and me,” Lyle argued. Lyle crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. His dimples appeared in the frown, which was so like River.

“Can we discuss this later?” I asked.

“Sure,” River said and shrugged. “I just brought him in because I thought I would come to check you out and the oil in my truck. No offense, legs, but I don't trust you.”

I giggled so hard, I snorted.

“Can we?” Lyle demanded.

I knew Lyle wouldn’t wait that long for an answer. I sighed and shrugged. “You know what? Sure, zoo sounds great,” I muttered

“Yes!” Lyle hissed. Lyle threw his little fist in the air.

“Bye,” River said and chuckled. River gave me a flirtatious smile.

I rolled my eyes but smiled. “Bye.” I stared after them as they disappeared out the door. I spun around and stopped short.

Alyson was behind me with her arms over her chest. A smirk formed on her lips. "Oh, honey, please. You can't accidentally have a one-night stand with a man that fine. What's the matter with you? You should be ready to get all up on that sexy piece of–"

I threw my hand over Alyson’s mouth. My eyes widened in horror as Doctor Frazier came up to us. The last thing I needed was my boss to know about my sex life.

“Problem, ladies?” Frazier asked.

Alyson laughed and backed away from me. “No, sir. We’re just enjoying the...scenery.” Alyson smirked at me again.

I facepalmed and tried not to laugh as I shoved Alyson backward.

***

I climbed out of the shower and got dressed. I opened my bedroom door.

River was on my bed reading a Stephen King book that was mine.

“What are you doing?” I asked, confused. I crawled across the bed and grabbed the book from him.

“Hey, that was getting good,” River whined. River looked up at me, and lips parted slightly. “You smell nice.”

I threw the book down on my stand. “Where is Lyle?” I asked.

“In his bedroom playing,” River said.

“Did you need something?” I asked, confused.

“I need lots of things,” River muttered and sat forward.

I sat cross-legged on my bed and faced him. My back was to the door. “What's wrong?” I asked.

“I'm getting off probation in a few months...” River trailed off.

“Okay, and?”

“I got offered this job truck driving. It's good money. I’m thinking about doing it. I've been working for Mike's Auto since I got out. The truth is, I'd probably make more money,” River said.

I stared at him in shock. “You're not serious.”

River didn't answer. He looked away. “It wasn't something I thought too much about until Lyle and you showed up. Now that I've got him to take care of, I'm seriously thinking about it. I don't want to be broke all the time and not be able to ever give him anything.”

“You're crazy!” I growled. I jumped to my feet and jumped off the bed. I turned to face him. Blood rushed up to my neck and cheeks.

“How is that wrong?” River asked, confused. He sat at the edge of the bed and stared at me in disbelief.

“Oh my god, how can you even ask that? A four-year-old boy doesn’t care about money, River. If you're gone all the time, how will Lyle ever get to know you, huh?” I asked. “Lyle needs his dad, not fucking money!”

“Yeah, okay, coming from the one who makes seventy-five thousand dollars a fucking year!” River snapped. He rose to his feet.

 “Why does it matter what I make? You obviously make enough, River. You drive a nice new truck,” I pointed out. “You bought him more for his birthday than I did.”

River rolled his eyes. “I can't keep doing this, Dallas,” River murmured. He sounded downright exhausted. His hands trembled. He looked away as I approached him.

I grabbed his face and forced him to look at me. “What are you talking about?”

“I'm losing the ranch. I can't keep up with it. My dad always had my mom to help him. For a long time, he had Phoenix, Willow, and I to help too. I can't keep up between the hours Mike wants me to work plus what that ranch requires. I'm so fucking behind. I'm losing buyers for the cattle and the crops. I just can't win...” he trailed off and frowned. “Mom used to train horses. She doesn't even do that now.”

“Jesus, River, you should tell your mother–”

            “You think I haven’t?” River snapped. River bowed his head and shook it. He moved out of my grasp. “I have told her, Dallas. She acted like she didn't hear what I said. My mom is losing her mind. I’m not sure if it’s from all the drinking or if she’s just in denial since my dad died. She's not the same as she was, trust me. I don't even think she cares about much of anything anymore.”

I exhaled sharply. I wasn’t sure what to say.

“Mike wants me to work like a dog for shit pay. Henderson trucking is willing to pay me quite a bit. I got my CDL shortly after I got out, but I couldn't find anything that was local only,” River explained.

“Is that what's wrong?” I asked him. “You're losing the ranch? God, why do both? Quit the shop. Fuck, Mike, he's a dick anyway. Everyone knows that.” I threw my hands in the air in frustration.

“I can't afford it. The shop is helping me pay for the ranch. I'm not even making money off the ranch, Dallas. I'm that far behind. Working for Mike is keeping my head an inch above water. I’m pretty much breaking even most of the time. Some weeks I’m not even breaking even. Mom quit paying for things when Dad died. When I got out, I didn't even realize it until the bank called and said I'd lose it all if I didn't pull a lot of money out of my ass fast. Shouldn't have even done that.” River groaned and threw his hands over his face. He tossed himself back onto my bed.

“Shouldn't have done what?” I asked. I crawled on top of him and straddled him. I had to pry his hands from his face.

“I did something stupid. I didn't have a lot of choices, though. It was either manage to gather fifty thousand dollars or lose the place. I'm still fifty thousand behind. I can't...” River’s voice was thick with emotion. River swallowed hard.

“What did you do?” I asked quietly.

“It doesn't matter. It was one time, and I never did it again.”

“That's not a good enough answer. How do you expect me to be honest when you're not?” I asked angrily.

He grimaced. “You remember my cousin Jamie?”

“Yes?” I asked, confused.

            “He's been running weed from Colorado to California. He told me if I did a few runs for him, it'd pay out a lot of money, so I did. I thought for sure that I was caught when I got pulled over. I got lucky they didn't search the truck because I easily had a hundred pounds. I made just enough to save the ranch, so I quit. I figured my luck would run out at some point. It usually does,” River muttered.

            I stared at him, dumbfounded. My eyes narrowed. “Oh my god. If you ever do something that stupid again, I swear–”

            “I'm not. I just got done saying that, didn't I?” River shook his head and sat up with me, straddling him.

            “How do you have that truck?” I asked, confused.

            “It was Dad's before he died. Mom, let me have it.” River sighed. “And I still owe about ten thousand dollars on it that Dad hadn't paid off.”

            “What about life insurance money?” I asked.

            “He had just enough to cover hospital, funeral, and burial costs,” he said. “Look, it was an idea. It's not set in stone. I just don't know what else to do.”

            I wrapped my arms around River’s neck and hugged him tightly. He wound his arms around my waist and hugged me back.

            “Maybe I can figure out something else. Maybe just sell some of the property, but I can't keep dealing with that place. I hate to lose it, but...” River trailed off and shrugged. “I'm not going to ask Willow to come home and help. She needs to stay right where she's at. Mom is just too much of a drunk to do much of anything.”

            “We'll talk about this more tomorrow,” I suggested. I pulled away to look him in the eye.

            River pursed his lips and looked at the door. “I'm going to go.”

            “‘Kay,” I said. My arms dropped away from him.       

            River stood up and lifted me with him. River kept his eyes on mine as he sat me down on my feet. Heat rushed up my thighs. The kind of heat that only existed with River. Wordlessly he cupped my cheek and kissed my forehead. River stepped around me and let himself out.

            I groaned in frustration. I walked over to my bed and threw myself down on it. I wished I had known all of this before I had started working. I could have been over there helping him.

            “What are you doing, Mommy?”

            I turned my head and smiled at Lyle. “Hey, buddy. Did you have a fun time with your dad?”

            “Yeah, I like him. You were right. He's not like Jax,” Lyle said. “What's for supper?”

            “Well, Helen is gone. She said she wouldn't be back until ten o'clock or so. So, supper is whatever I don't have to cook. How about we go out?” I suggested.

            “Okay,” Lyle said excitedly. Lyle dashed out of my bedroom.

            We got our boots on. I grabbed my keys and purse from where I had hung them earlier. Lyle waited impatiently with his hand on the doorknob.

            The truck wasn't quite as tall as the one River drove around currently, but it had a lift in it. I chuckled at Lyle's failed attempts to jump into the truck. I grabbed him and lifted him into his car seat. Lyle smiled and started buckling himself in. I jumped into the front seat.

            “Where are we going?” Lyle asked me as I backed out.

            “How about Mama T's Diner?” I asked him.

            “What do they have there?” Lyle asked.

            “Oh, you know, burgers, fries...pie.”

            “Pie?” Lyle asked excitedly. “Okay!”

            I laughed at Lyle’s enthusiasm.

            Anaconda wasn't all that busy. There were only three vehicles parked outside the diner. We pulled up, and I helped Lyle out of the truck. We walked hand in hand toward the restaurant.

            “Dallas?” A familiar deep voice said my name.

            Lyle and I stepped up onto the wide sidewalk. I looked to the right and saw Hunter.

            Hunter rocked back on his heels slightly and smiled politely. “This must be your boy?” Hunter asked. Hunter looked down at Lyle. “He sure does look like River, doesn't he?” Hunter looked back at me.

            “Hi, Hunter. Yes, he does,” I said. I shifted my weight uncomfortably.

            “I'm glad that I ran into you. I wanted to apologize for the other day. I was way out of line. I should not have brought up something that happened back in high school,” Hunter muttered and grimaced. “Forgive me?” His eyes were apologetic.

            The air escaped my lungs. I didn't even realize I was holding my breath. “There's nothing to forgive. I'm sorry too that I said that the way I did yesterday. I left such a mess behind. I knew I was going to have to face it when I got back. There's just...so much.” I shook my head and took a ragged breath.

            “Don't let the past eat at you. Let the past stay in the past,” Hunter said.

            “Not everyone would agree with you,” I said.

            Hunter stepped closer. “Just ignore them, Dallas. Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody is perfect. Anyway, I just came for some coffee. I'll let you two do what you're going to do.” Hunter smiled and tipped his hat at me. Hunter smiled at Lyle. Hunter turned and walked into the diner.

            Lyle glared at Hunter.

            My lips parted in surprise at the hostility in my son’s expression. “What's wrong?” I asked Lyle.

            “I think that guy is a butt,” Lyle whispered and rolled his eyes.

            A giggle escaped me. “Shh. Don't say stuff like that,” I whispered.

            An older couple walked by and stared at Lyle.

            “Why not? It made you laugh,” Lyle said and smiled.

            I snorted and tried to hold another laugh back as we started for the door.

            “Dallas?”

            We turned to see River walking up the sidewalk.

            I moved slightly away from the door of the diner and toward River as the door opened.

            Hunter came out. Hunter looked at River and then at me, and back to River. It couldn't have been a more intense and awkward moment.

            “Hi, Daddy,” Lyle broke the silence.

            River gritted his teeth but broke the glare that he had been giving Hunter. River fixed his expression before he looked at Lyle. “Hey, boy,” River said to Lyle. River smiled at Lyle.

            I let go of Lyle's hand as he tugged. Lyle ran forward with a broad smile on his face.

            River squatted down, and Lyle jumped into his arms. “What are you and your momma up to, huh?” River asked him quietly.

            I turned to look, and Hunter was almost to his truck. I sighed. I felt guilty that I had brought all of this on. I looked back at River.

            “We're getting food. They have pie here!” Lyle said excitedly.

            River chuckled and walked toward me but kept his eyes on Lyle. “This place has the best pie,” River said. River’s eyes met mine, and they were apologetic.

            “You two live in the same town. You're going to have to get past what happened,” I muttered.

            “I'm sorry, I just...” River trailed off. He shook his head. “At least, I didn't lose my cool?” The way River said it was like a question as if I must approve his answer. River knew he was forgiven. He smiled at me.

            I rolled my eyes as a smile stretched across my lips. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

            “I was in town to pick up some supplies. I was stopping to get coffee, and I saw you two were here.”

            I pursed my lips. “Join us for dinner?”

            River looked unsure.

            “Yeah, and pie!” Lyle said excitedly.

            River laughed. “I can't say no to pie.”

            “Me neither,” Lyle said and shook his head.

            I laughed at them and opened the door. River followed after me.