“Everyone snaps from time to time. Being a good man, a better man, it’s about being able to control that emotion.”
“I know, and I completely screwed up, didn’t I?”
“You screwed up your chance. When you go back to school next week, you’ve got no choice but to keep your head down, and to do whatever shit you need to do to graduate.”
“I will.”
A car pulling in on the driveway made James turn. There was Lucy. She looked pale and sad.
“Are you okay?” he asked, going to help her with the car.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little tired.”
“How is Lewis doing?” In the past year Lucy had grown close to a rancher, Lewis Corn. The club had him checked out, and when he’d come back clean, they were more than happy for her. None of them had expected her to constantly wait for Dane. That wasn’t fair on her. Lucy was a beautiful woman who deserved a chance to find someone.
“I don’t know. I called him last night. Let him know that Dane was back. It seemed wrong, deceitful to, you know, let him find out from someone else.”
“I understand.”
“Has he left again?” Lucy asked.
He saw the hope in her eyes, and it made James mad as hell. Dane had run from his responsibilities, and that pissed him off. “No. He’s back at the club.”
“Oh.”
“We don’t need him, Mom.”
“Ryan, sweetie, go to your room, and study. I really appreciate everything you’ve done, but you should be in school. Please, do this for me.”
Ryan looked ready to argue, and James gave him a look. Maybe there was hope for him yet. James had the look down. Now all he needed to do was knock Cora up. He was torn in two about finally having a baby. He wanted a baby, and Cora said she’d like to have his kid one day, start a family. The biggest problem for him was he didn’t want to share Cora. With a child he’d have no choice but to share her. The very thought of doing that filled him with regret. She belonged to him, so he decided against actually having a baby.
When they were alone, Lucy finally relaxed and showed him the turmoil she was in.
“I’m really glad you came.”
“The club is with you.”
“I truly thought you’d be with Dane.”
They both made their way into the kitchen. “When you came onto the scene, we all warned him. He decided to do whatever the hell he wanted to do. You’re a good woman. You didn’t deserve for him to walk away.”
Tears filled Lucy’s eyes. “I’m glad he’s back, and yet at the same time, I’m so angry. He left, and I had to struggle to find a job. He didn’t give me any warning, just woke up, and left me.”
“What do you want to do?”
Her hands locked together, and he saw the pain within her.
“Lucy, you don’t have to hide from me. I’m not going to judge you.”
“Every time I think of him, and of the situation, I just want a divorce. He’s here now, and he’s not dead, which means I can move on with my life.”
James nodded.
“Stay here.”
She left the kitchen, and he finished making them a drink. Seconds later she came in holding the divorce paperwork.
“Could you give this to him, and ask him to sign it?”