Walk the Line (Kings of Chaos 5)

Karen

I feel like the air has been sucked from the room. My mother is alive. She’s apologizing for what she did and asking for a chance to know me. How can I say no? How can I risk it? Would it hurt worse to be disappointed, or to ever take the risk? All I ever wanted was family. Now I have a shot.

“She wants to meet me.”

“What do you want?” B asked.

I shake my head. “I never entertained this being a possibility.”

“It’s got to be a shock to the system.”

“Yeah. She’s been out a year and trying to find me. She traced me through the foster system and then lost my trail when I was nineteen and left the state.”

“A year? Why is she only contacting you now?”

“She had to get stable and save up enough to hire a private detective to find me.”

“Whoa. She’s really serious about this, isn’t she?”

“Apparently. Damn.” I rub my mouth and stroke my goatee.

“Whatever you decide, J, I’ll back you one-hundred percent.”

Her words are background noise compared to my crowded head.

Chapter Eleven

Blanche

I feel like I’ve been lifting heavy weights all day as I trudge up the stairs. In the nostalgia of remembering what being a physical therapist was like, I’d forgotten how physically demanding it could be. I hesitate as I reach our landing. Jagger has been unusually sullen and withdrawn. The letter from his mother threw him for a real loop. While I can’t blame him, I hate the distance creeping in between us. The man has a lot to learn about communication. I shake my head as I think about his mediation with Warp. Healthy communication that is. I unlock the door and step inside dragging my feet as I toss my purse onto the table.

“Hey.”

“You’re home,” I whisper trying to gage his mood.

“I got sent home early. I was covering shifts for Tinley this week because Cody had the flu. So she did me a solid and took me off the schedule for the next two days giving me four days off, with the weekend.” He studies me and frowns. “You okay, B?”

“Yes. The only thing I want right now is to take a shower, put on my pajamas and crack open the bottle of Tennessee Whiskey Jess sent to the house.”

“We can do that.”

I shake my head. “Not really, ‘cause I need to tame this mane. Which is fine, except I can barely lift my arms over my head right now. It takes so much more upper body strength than I’m used to. Before I worked with clients, who had a variety of injuries. The center focuses on spinal cord injuries which means I need to beef up the muscles.” I flex my arms.

“Don’t worry about doing your hair; I can do that for you.”

“Babe, my hair is totally different from yours,” I say gently.

“I know, Curly Q, but I can follow directions.”

“You’d do that for me?” I whisper. His willingness is worth more than any diamond bracelet my husband ever gave me.

“Yeah. I know I been a dick lately. I’m working my way through the bomb my mom dropped on me. I think I want to see her. At least once, you know? Do you think you could go with me?”

“You don’t even have to ask. Let me know dates when you’re ready. I’ll work it out with the center.”

He relaxes. “Alright. Go get showered and bring me the hair stuff.”

“If you’re sure,” I say with a frown. I’ve never had a man willing to cater to me like this man. Maybe that’s why I follow his directions. If anyone else ever treated me the way he did, I’d be turned off. It’s different with, Jagger. I know my happiness and well-being are always at the forefront of his mind in everything he does. I crave the ability to live unencumbered by too many choices. I can turn my busy head off and follow his lead.