Chapter Twenty-Six
Tania looked up intoSmokey’s eyes and found some of the determination she’d lost somewhere along the way.She needed to find out what everyone had been keeping from her.She needed to make some decisions, and something told her they wouldn’t be easy ones.
Some would be.She knew she couldn’t take her son back to a house where she was abused, even if she loved Rod, she couldn’t have her son thinking it was right to beat up on anyone, but especially not someone smaller, when you don’t get your way.And Carter was the most important person in her life.
Tania snaked an arm around Smokey’s waist and pulled herself a little closer to him.She couldn’t help but marvel at how well he’d handled all this.Not just finding out that he had a son, but that she’d known it and had kept it from him.She still marveled that he didn’t hold it against her.
When she’d regained control of her emotions, or at least mostly, Tania took a deep breath, released Smokey and pushed herself upright, folding her legs crisscross beneath her.She bit her lips for a moment as she searched for the words for what she needed to say.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”He stayed laying on his side, but propped his head up on one hand as he watched her.
“For everything.For being there.”She tilted her head back and fought the tears that threatened once more.“For saving us.For loving us.”She bit the inside of her lip as she blinked back the tears she couldn’t keep from pooling in her eyes.She’d been helpless.And it had made her feel so hopeless, but here Smokey was.He went by a different name than the Tim she’d grown up with but he was the same guy.Tim had been the kid.The one who wanted to play and have fun more than settle down, to have a life, one with maybe a wife, maybe kids, but one with real responsibilities.Smokey was the man he’d become.Still the same person, the one who never made her feel silly or stupid.The one who didn’t hesitate to laugh with her.But better.Smokey hadn’t hesitated to find he had a son.He’d stepped up and gotten her out of a bad situation and didn’t care what trouble it might bring to his door.
There was no way she’d walk away from him, not as long as she had a choice.She steeled her back and got up.She needed to wash her face and make sure her hair wasn’t standing on end, but it was time to face facts.Time to learn everything that had been kept from her and make some decisions.
“Give me a couple of minutes, then let’s go talk to your friends and see how bad things are.”She squeezed his hand then got up.She was through wallowing.It was time to take hold of her life.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Smokey watched Taniaas she listened to what Hawkeye and Pike had found.When they finished, she turned to Dagger, who had not only been listening at the same time but had helped the others as they tracked down and traced out what had happened to all the money that had been withdrawn from her inheritance.
“Do we know if Mother was in on it, or just Daddy?”she asked after a while.
“I’d like to tell you she’s innocent,” Hawkeye said, shaking his head.“But I can’t.And not only because the money came from her parents, but because shortly before your wedding there was a signature card filed at a Bozeman branch for your account.Supposedly by you.”Hawkeye paused.“But knowing what I know, I didn’t take that at face value.I hacked into the bank’s security footage on the off chance they still had the footage from that day.Low and behold, they did.It showed your mother showing up at the bank with a woman who looked vaguely like you.They met with a banker, and while I can’t see exactly what they’re doing or hear what’s being said, that banker is the one who input the signature card.”
Tania’s shoulders slumped, as if his words had broken her.Smokey wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he got the feeling she needed to do this on her own, at least for now.Later, he’d hold her and give her the reassurances she needed.For now, he’d let her be the strong, kick ass woman he knew she could be.Later, when she needed to break down or be comforted, he’d be there for her.He would never leave that opening for someone else to fill, not again.
