Jim Beam by Jen Talty

Author:Jen Talty [Talty, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jupiter Press
Published: 2020-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

JB did his best to act as if he wasn’t worried in front of Jimmy when inside he was utterly terrified. He glanced at his watch.

Eight in the evening.

“Daddy?” Jimmy asked as he rubbed his tired eyes.

JB looped his arm around the boy, snuggling him closer. They’d played hard most of the day while he let JD, Luke, and other ranch hands search for Cheyenne, but she was nowhere to be found. Whiskey Ranch stretched on for miles and miles, and no way could they cover all that ground in one afternoon. It was summertime, so the sun had yet to completely disappear behind the mountains, but soon, it would grow dark.

“What’s up, buddy?”

“When’s Mommy coming home?”

How the hell did he answer that question? He didn’t want to lie to the little fella, but he couldn’t tell him the truth.

A flash from the night his parents died filled his brain. Everyone on the ranch tried to soften the blow, especially for ten-year-old JB.

But nothing could ever make losing both your parents at that age any easier.

Fuck. Why did he have to let his mind go there? Cheyenne was fine. She just needed space. She’d experienced something that brought back painful memories.

He of all people should understand that.

“Why don’t we try to call her?” he said, pulling out his phone. “Would you like to leave the message?”

“Can I?”

“Of course you can.” JB tapped the number and waited, praying she answered, but it went to voicemail.

“Mommy. It’s bedtime. I want you to tuck me in. Are you going to be home soon? I love you,” Jimmy said with a sniffle.

That brought JB to his knees. He was a stranger to his own son. Didn’t matter that the boy had been dreaming about meeting his father, he still didn’t know him, and it would take time for them to feel completely comfortable and at ease with one another.

“Why don’t you teach me how Mommy tucks you in. I know it won’t be the same, but I’d like to learn.”

“Okay.” He jumped from the sofa, carrying his blanket with him as he dragged up the stairs and into the bedroom. He climbed up onto the bed. “I’m a big boy, but can I stay in Mommy’s bed until she gets home? She might need a hug.”

“Of course you can. So, tell me, what does Mommy do when it’s time to tuck you in for the night?”

“We start with a story.” He pulled a big book off the nightstand and flipped it open. “This one is my favorite.”

He laughed when he saw it was Green Eggs and Ham. “When I was a little boy, my mommy used to read me this story all the time. And sometimes, my older sister would sneak in my room after my parents left and read it to me again.”

“I’d love to meet my grandma someday.”

JB’s heart squeezed. “I wish you could, but she and my dad are in heaven.”

Jimmy reached up and palmed JB’s cheek. “Maybe they are with my other grandparents.

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