Page 129 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
His shoulders and face relaxed. “That’s a good thing.”
“No kidding. Why do you think they stopped?”
“I don’t know.” He tossed his keys onto the counter. “Why do you?”
Was it because I knew so much more about Everett now? Or maybe because I wasn’t nearly as stressed as I used to be? Or was it because Hunter made me feel so much more grounded and safe? I searched my gut for that unsettled feeling I’d had for years, but it was gone. Whatever the reason, I was grateful.
Everett had haunted me enough.
“I’m not sure why,” I said, “but I won’t miss them if they never come back.”
Hunter came around the island and kissed my temple. “If they do, promise to tell me, okay? I still think it might be good for you to talk to someone about it all.”
“I promise.”
He walked to the fridge and pulled out a soda. “Tell me about your day.”
Before I could answer, his phone rang. When he looked at the screen, his entire frame tensed.
“It’s Nell.” He put the phone to his ear and answered as he walked into the living room.
Nell?
I shut off the stove and followed.
“Yes. She’s here,” Hunter said into the phone, then paused. “No, you can’t talk to her until you tell me what you have to say.”
Nell wanted to talk to me? Why? She had my number; why hadn’t she called me directly?
My stomach tightened. Nell had basically disappeared since the custody hearing. As far as I knew, she hadn’t been calling Hunter and I certainly hadn’t heard from her. I liked it that way. Nothing good could come from her call.
“I’m sure she would agree to that,” Hunter said.
“Agree to what?” I whispered.
He held up one finger for me to wait. “That’s fine. I’ll text you the details after I talk to Maisy.” He hung up and came right to me, resting his hands on my shoulders.
Uh-oh. My arms wrapped around my stomach. “What?”
“She’d like to meet Coby.”
“Oh, shit.” My heart dropped. I had no desire for that woman to be around my son, but I was also required to let her have her visits. “I can’t say no.”
He shook his head and rubbed my arms. “No, you can’t.”
During the court case, I’d been thrilled at the idea of weekend visits from Nell versus months of no Coby. But now? After I’d learned so much about her from Hunter, I had no desire to see that woman’s face ever again.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice.
“Okay. When does she want to meet him?”
“This weekend. She said she’d fly in from Grand Rapids to Bozeman on Friday. Then drive here Saturday.”
So much for a nice fall weekend. “All right.” I nodded. “What should we do with her? Bring her here? Or to the motel? Maybe we should do this in public. Would that be better? Oh my god, this sucks!”
Hunter’s arms pulled me into his embrace before I could completely flip out. “Relax. You’re in control of the visits, remember? Let’s start with a brief meeting. Maybe have her join us at the café for lunch or dinner. If that goes well, the next time she can come here.”
“Lunch could work. I know you don’t like her so if you don’t want to come—”
