She enjoyed every bite, but she considered her options throughout the prep work and her wonderful meal.
She could look up the Homewood address without having to bring anyone else into her decision, or she could phone her grandmother, or Willow, and ask for Cora’s phone number — and then text her to request a phone call at Cora’s leisure.
When she finished eating, she went to her office and sat to compose a handwritten letter.
And then addressed the envelope and drove it to the nearest mailbox before she could change her mind.
Chapter 38
Three days later, her phone rang from an unknown number, and Tuesday’s stomach rose into her heart.
She answered the phone, and her heart rate went crazy when she heard Cora’s voice.
“I can only think of one thing you’d ask to come to me for, instead of Kenny. I’m not sure why you want Marco included, but if you come tomorrow between three and seven, we’ll be able to meet with you.”
“Thank you. Can I bring my grandmother?”
“Of course. Everyone respects June’s advice, and I’m sure she’ll be a comfort for you, though in the end, all decisions will have to be yours.”
“I know. Thank you for your time. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She stressed over what to wear and ended up in a hunter-green skirt that swooshed when she walked, with a simple white blouse. Dressy without being over the top, because it was a little like visiting royalty, and you don’t do that in jeans.
On the bottom of the mountain the next day, she stopped to buy an expensive bottle of wine. She wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to offer as her gift to the power-couple until she saw the perfect Barolo — Italian, aged to perfection, twice the amount she’d budgeted, but it was so perfect, she bought two bottles: one to gift, and one to drink with a nice homemade pasta meal she would make for herself in the coming days.
- - -?- - -
The mountain road to Homewood wound tightly back and forth and all around. Her grandmother filled the silence with gossip about the newest pack family. The father had been transferred to Chattanooga, and the parents had oathed in. Their kids were too young to have had their firstchange, but the oldest wasn’t far from it.
Tuesday nodded and kept up the conversation, but wondered if she’d ever actually meet this family.
An eagle shifter watched them walk from the parking area to the front door, and Tuesday was relieved when Cora opened the door to welcome them in.
She walked them downstairs through hallways Tuesday would never find her way back out of, and then they were in what was clearly Marco’s office.
It was warmly lit, with a large screen on the wall showing a view of the front yard, complete with curtains around and over it to give the impression of a window.
Marco stood and moved around his desk, “Welcome to Homewood, Tuesday and June. Let us sit and talk.”
Tuesday turned to Cora. “I brought… it’s a joint gift. I hope it’s okay.”
“Oh, wow,” Cora said. “Thank you. This is wonderful.”
“The two of us will enjoy it together,” Marco said. “It’s an exceptionally thoughtful gift. Thank you.”
The four sat on opposite sofas, facing each other across a low table, and then there was nothing left to do but say it.
“Thank you, both of you, for meeting with me. The thing is… I’m in love with a member of the Rolling Thunder MC. His name is Knife, and we’ve been…”
She sighed. “We started spending time together in February. It became serious despite both of us knowing it couldn’t.”
Cora didn’t say anything. Her expression was neutral, and Marco’s was both pleasant and blank at the same time.
“The MC has rules against members having a close relationship with someone who can’t keep their secrets,” Tuesday added, hoping she didn’t have to spell it out more.
“They do, indeed,” Marco said.
“After the big party, the one here, I knew we had to split. We were lying to ourselves, thinking it could just be friends with benefits.” She stared at her hands. “I broke it off that night, and he told me he loved me, but then he let me walk away.”
