Page 28 of Tattered Souls (Whispering Falls #2)

Frank

“You know, I worried about Garrick,” I told my wife.

The love of my life.

Her neck twisted as her eyes snapped to me, “Excuse me?”

I grinned. That was my woman.

Ready to berate them for saying a single curse word, but let someone, even their father, talk about them in a light she didn’t like; it wasn’t no, it was hell no.

“Just meant with the way he is, precious. That’s all.” I said, trying to placate her before my ass ended up on the couch.

Thirty years ago, that wasn’t a problem... but now... my back sure as hell isn’t what it used to be.

My woman smirked at me, “I didn’t. I knew it would take a special kind of woman for him. And I had been right.”

I sat there beside her as we watched Garrick and Tatum dancing to their chosen song as man and wife. I grinned, “Who would have thought?”

“Thought what?” she asked.

“That they would be dancing to the same song that they danced to at Carter and Harlee’s wedding,” I said as I recalled that very moment vividly.

She tilted her head to the side, and then I knew she got it. Her head snapped in my direction, and she smiled.

Then her voice got low, and in a mere whisper, she said, “You know, I’m pretty sure he took care of Lance once and for all.”

I smiled, “Yeah, I raised my boy right.”

Because I had done the same thing for Misty all those years ago.

And when I lay my head down at night, I did it with a smile.

Because I made sure my woman could sleep peacefully at night.

Misty

I knew that he didn’t think I knew what he had done for me.

But I did.

And in that moment, all those years ago, it was what locked my heart inside his chest.

Staying there.

Cemented in.

Rooted in there, as deep as it could go.

And I had kept a secret from my husband. The only secret I ever held close to my heart.

Until my boy was ready, I wouldn’t be sharing it.

I looked to see where he was standing... and smiled.

I gave him hell. A lot of it.

But I did it because I was worried about him.

I worried when he left.

I worried when he came back.

And I worried when loud sounds started going off.

Because my boy Alec didn’t think anyone knew.

But I did.

He was my son after all.