I pulled in front of the house and came to a stop. The car was off for less than a second before Parker opened the door and ran in, his backpack hanging off one shoulder.
“Hey!” I called. “Do what you need to do, and I’d better see you at that table with your homework in ten minutes.”
“I will!” His tone was chipper, and I suspected the idea of missing out on pie was doing some heavy lifting when it came to him getting his act together – at least for the moment.
I glanced over my shoulder as I followed Parker into the house, as if I might look and see Hunter standing in our yard. Why would I even want to talk to him? The guy was a jerk. Maybe a sexy jerk, but a jerk all the same.
I scolded myself for the thought, frustrated that I’d even let myself look at him like that. But there was something about him, something that made me feel like he was more than just some cranky loner living in the woods.
When I stepped inside, Parker was already seated at the table, his bookbag open in front of him as he pulled out his weekend’s work.
“Can I get a new PlayStation game this weekend?” he asked. “If I do all my homework?”
“First of all,” I said, going over to the coffeemaker and starting a pot. “You’re in no position to ask for new video games. Second, we’re going to Grandma’s tomorrow. Maybe if you’re good I’ll think about it.”
That was enough to put a big grin on his face. I set to work getting the place tidied up for the evening. And around five when Lizzie showed up, I was more than ready for a big glass from the bottle of wine she’d brought.
“Hey!” she greeted, sauntering into the house like she lived there.
“Hi, Aunt Lizzie!” Parker called with a big smile.
“Hey, P-Man!” she said, mussing Parker’s hair as she walked past him and setting the bags of food on the kitchen counter. She stopped in the middle of the living room to look at the cupboard. “I knew you’d find a place for that,” she said, looking at me with a smile. “Do you like it?”
“I do,” I said. “And thanks again. But I would’ve appreciated a little warning before you sent it.”
“Come on,” she said, waving her hand through the air dismissively. “I wouldn’t have been a surprise if I’d told you.”
“But I could’ve made sure you’d sent it to the right house.”
She flashed me a sly grin. “But then you wouldn’t have had an unexpected guest.” She winked, as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
“You know how weird that was when he came by?” I asked. “Driving that big truck onto my property and hauling that thing into the house like it was nothing?”
She stepped over to the cupboard, pushing it slightly. “He lifted this thing? It’s gotta weigh, like, two hundred pounds.”
“Well, Mr. Mountain Hermit is pretty big, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“That he is,” Lizzie said with a wistful smile. “That he most definitely is. And I bet he is in all the ways that matter.”
“Liz!” I scolded, trying to hold back my laugh. “Come on!” I nodded my head toward Parker, but he didn’t seem to get her innuendo.
“Just saying,” Lizzie shrugged. “You’ve both been here for about the same amount of time, but he’s the one everyone’s talking about, sorry to say. Everyone wants to know just who the handsome mountain man is.”
“Anyone find anything out?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, so one minute you’re mad he was in your house, and the next you’re just as curious as everyone else in Silver Pines?”
“I mean, he is my neighbor. I think it’s in my best interest to know at least a little about him.”
“You’re not wrong. But the thing is, no one knows anything. He’s super gruff and unfriendly. All I know is that he’s working at Sam’s auto shop, but that’s it.”
“Mom?” Parker asked, putting on the sweetest voice possible. “Can we have dinner?”
I looked at him, using my best mom look. “Well, I guess you’ve been pretty good since we got back. How about this – go down and get the mail and we can eat when you get back?”
“Okay!” Parker sprang out of his seat, jumped into his shoes, and started out the door.
“And I’ve got a surprise for you, kiddo,” Lizzie called, reaching into her purse. “Do you know about some game called Mario Kart?”
Parker’s eyes were about as wide as I’ve ever seen them as she slipped the game out of her bag. “What?” he asked, unable to believe it, a big smile on his face.
“Someone dropped it off at the store with a bunch of other stuff. I’m not exactly in video game sales, so I thought you might like it.”
“Hold on,” I said, taking it from Lizzie. “We had some problems at school today – not sure if I want to reward him just yet.”
“Please, Mom,” he begged, clasping his hands together. “Pleeeaaase.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “Finish your homework when you get back and you can play for a couple of hours.”
“Yes!” he said, hurrying out the door.
“Sorry if that was a bad call,” Lizzie apologized. “But I figured after this week you could do with a little chill time –both of you.”
“You’re right. It’s just…I don’t know. I know he’s been through a lot, but I never expected to have to raise him and discipline him alone.”
Lizzie grabbed a few plates from the cupboard and started setting the table. I got up and helped her.
“He’s dealing with a lot. I can’t imagine what the kid’s going through.”
“I just…I thought I could handle him all on my own. I just really miss Michael,” I murmured.
“I know you do. What happened at school today?” Lizzie fetched a couple of wine glasses, and my mouth practically watered as she opened the bottle and poured the red.
“I still need to hear his side of the story. But he’s getting into little scrapes with the other kids, and whenever I try to figure out what’s wrong, he shuts down on me. It’s…so unlike him.”
“He’s still a sweet kid. He’s just going through some stuff right now. And he feels angry, I bet.” She passed me one of the glasses of red wine. “Where’s the mailbox?”
“It’s down the road, one of those joint mailbox deals that we all share.”
“Is it far away? I’m thinking the kiddo should’ve been back by now.”
I got up without another word. He should’ve been back. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones.
“I’m coming with,” she said as I stepped into my slip-ons.
We hurried out of the house and across the property, reaching the road. My place was on a hill, and from out in front I could see the mailbox. Parker was there. And he wasn’t alone.
“Who the hell is that?” Lizzie asked as we picked up our pace.
As we drew closer, I could see who was with Parker. “Hey!” I shouted, my heart pounding as Hunter and Parker came into view.
One of Parker’s pant legs was rolled up, a red smear on his skin. He was bleeding.