Page 102 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

Tiny lifted his chin in acknowledgment.

“If I get my license to drive a motorcycle next year, can I prospect the club?” Lucas asked.

Tiny’s mustache split with a big-ass grin.

“Tiny Whiskey, do not answer that,” Juliette said. “He’s not driving a motorcycle at sixteen.”

“Come on, Mom! Doc and Dare and Cowboy did!”

She looked expectantly over her shoulder at Doc.

He shrugged, laughing. Sasha tapped Juliette’s knee, and Juliette turned away.

As he reached into the cooler to get her soda, his mother sidled up to him.

“Things never get dull around here, do they?” she said with a knowing smile.

“They sure don’t.”

“I spent some time talking to Lucas earlier. He’s a special young man. He’s got a big heart, like you and Juliette, and big hearts feel everything deeply.”

“Yeah. That’s what worries me.”

“I think he’s going to be okay. Things like this aren’t fixed in a day or a week, and even after they’ve been dealt with and you all move forward, it might arise again and again. Like what you and Juliette have dealt with over the years. You never know when it’ll hit. But that’s how life goes.”

“At least I’m with them now. I can help.”

“And they can help you, too. Being around family is good for them. I noticed Lucas is wearing the necklace you and Grandpa made.”

Doc smiled. “You saw that, huh?”

“I never thought we’d see it again.”

“Neither did I. I was shocked to find out Juliette had kept it, much less had given it to Lucas after everything she thought had gone on.”

“How does that make you feel?”

“Happy. Proud to see him wearing it.” He gazed across the yard at Lucas before meeting his mother’s gaze again. “And so damn grateful, I feel like my chest is going to explode.”

She laughed softly and leaned into his shoulder. “That’s the best feeling, honey.”

“It’s pretty wild. I’m glad he has that necklace. It’s part of me and Grandpa. Did I tell you Juliette gave him my middle name, too?”

“No.” She smiled. “Isn’t that something? It’s not surprising though.”

“It surprised the hell out of me.”

“I’m sure it did. What I mean is, you and Juliette had a special bond as teenagers that reminded me of me and your father. We were older, of course, but the love was the same.”

“In what way?”

“Every way. You filled gaps in each other’s lives that weren’t just physical or rebellious. Don’t get me wrong. You two lusted after each other like starving kids who couldn’t get enough, but you helped each other grow, and you encouraged each other to figure things out. You helped her become stronger, more confident, and you showed her what it was to be loved.”

“She was confident and strong when I met her. That was one of the reasons I was so drawn to her.”

“She most certainly was, but you helped her grow to become even more so. She helped you in the same ways.”

“Are you saying I wasn’t confident? Because I beg to differ.”