Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr

Author:Robyn Carr [Carr, Robyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2007-10-09T22:00:00+00:00

Jack had been watching Rick closely. He hadn’t expected him to be carefree, but the boy’s troubled frown seemed to grow deeper and Jack was determined he wasn’t going to let Rick be swallowed up by this, his one mistake.

“You look like a man who needs to go fishing,” Jack said.

“I need to work,” Rick returned.

“I’m a really good boss,” Jack said, grinning. “I’m willing to keep you on the clock if you’re willing to talk about it.”

“You’ll be sorry,” he said. “I’m such a mess, a world-class psychiatrist couldn’t straighten me out.”

“Good thing you have me, then,” Jack said. “Get your gear.”

It was their way that they didn’t broach the subject right off. They drove out to the river, got into their waders and began casting. There were a lot of fishermen this time of year, but that wasn’t a problem; they simply staked out their own little piece of river where they could quietly talk without being overheard above the rushing water. After a little while, a little casting, Jack said, “Lay it on me, pal. What’s eating you?”

“I don’t think I can do it, Jack. I can’t give up my son.”

“Whoa,” Jack said. He hadn’t prepared himself for that, but probably he should have. Where was Mel when he needed her? “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t have a freaking clue,” Rick said. “I saw him on the ultrasound, kicking around in there. I saw his penis. My son. I can’t have someone else raising him. Not when I made him. I’d worry all the time. You know?”

It was not as though Jack had a hard time understanding those feelings. “I’ve heard of adoptions where you can stay in touch, stay involved.”

“I don’t know if that’ll do it for me,” Rick said. “I know this is crazy…”

“What does Liz say?”

He laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “She wants to quit school right now. Run away and get married. You have any idea how awful school is for her?”

Jack suddenly felt pretty stupid—of all the things he could focus on, be aware of, it had never occurred to him how terrible it might be for a fifteen-year-old pregnant girl to attend school every day. And since she’d only been in that school a couple of months the spring before, it was practically a new school for her at that. She might as well have a tattoo on her forehead. “Aw, Rick,” he said. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“I try to be there for her after every class, get her to the next class. I’m late a lot. I’m getting in trouble a lot. It sucks so much.” He sighed deeply. “Lizzie is so young. She didn’t seem that young before. Before we got into this mess. She was…I couldn’t keep my freaking hands off her, she was so hot. She was that way with me, too. She seemed so…experienced. But she wasn’t, you know? There wasn’t anyone before me and there hasn’t been anyone after. And now she’s just this scared little girl who would give anything not to have these problems.

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