Page 82 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

There was only one man who worked here. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as Thea’s face changed. Gone were her easy smile and sparkling eyes. A fierce, protective look settled in their place.

“And who’s that?” she asked.

The woman didn’t get a chance to answer as Jackson stepped out from the back. His entire body went rigid except for one arm that lifted and pointed right toward the door as he bellowed, “Get the fuck out of my bar!”

How many years was it going to take to erase this woman’s face from my memory? Even after decades, I still recognized her.

My mother didn’t look much different now than she had the day she’d left me standing in the middle of my aunt’s living room. Her hair was a lighter blond and shorter now. I didn’t remember her being so thin. But her voice was the same. It sounded exactly like it had the day she’d left me with my aunt, telling me I’d be happy there.

Lying bitch.

Why the fuck was she here? After all these years, why had she come now? She must have had some kind of sixth sense to know I was actually happy, so she’d come to ruin it.

But I wasn’t going to let her. I wasn’t a kid anymore and she didn’t have any power over me or my life.

“I’m not going to say it again,” I barked. “Get the fuck out.”

She didn’t move. “You look good, Son. Grew up to look a lot like your granddaddy. But you got my eyes.”

The room, which was already silent, went wired as Willa and Thea realized this woman was my mother.

“I spent a lot of time tracking you down.” She smiled. “How are you?”

Did she expect me to be grateful? She sounded like she was doing me the favor here. I crossed my arms over my chest. “You wasted your time coming here. Get out.”

“I need to talk to you about somethin’.”

“No,” I snapped. The hold I had on my temper was about to break. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

Her sugar-sweet smile fell away. “Jackson—”

“You heard him.” Thea cut her off with an angry snarl. She looked like she was seconds from leaping across the bar to throat punch my mom. “Get out.”

Thea knew all about my mother, and so did Hazel. It was a good thing she wasn’t here today because she would have already kicked Mom’s ass through the door.

“Leave.” Thea rounded the bar. “Now.”

Mom glared at Thea but didn’t move.

Willa slid out of her seat, standing with her arms crossed over her chest. Her shoulders were stiff. I was betting the look on her face held anything but her normal cheery smile.

Mom turned away from Thea and scowled at Willa, then looked her up and down. She was about four inches taller than Willa and trying to intimidate her. But Willa just stood straighter, not backing off an inch.

My shy Willa, ready to throw down against my shitty mother. If I hadn’t started falling for her already, that would have tipped me over.

Mom puffed her chest out, inching closer to Willa. The movement unfroze my feet. I d

id not want Mom infecting Willa’s space.

“Fine. You don’t want to leave? I’ll toss your ass out myself.” With long, angry strides, I walked out from behind the bar and went right up to Mom, gripping one of her arms and hauling her toward the door.

“Let me go,” she spat, trying to shake her arm loose.

“Out.” I opened the door with my free hand and shoved her through it. Then I pulled it closed, fighting the hydraulic, and gripped the knob tight.

“Jackson!” she shrieked from the other side of the steel. “I need to talk to you!”

She pounded her fists against it a couple of times, trying to open the door again, but I kept a firm hold on the knob. It didn’t take long for Mom to get the hint and stop her banging and shouting.