Page 143 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

“Nope. I want to name her Brave Heart.”

“Like the movie?” Seeley asked.

“No. Two words, because she has a brave heart.”

“I love that,” Juliette said.

“Me too.”

Lucas moved in front of the horse and said, “Welcome to the family, Brave Heart. You’ll never be alone again.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“SEELEY JUST TEXTED. He should be here soon,” Juliette said after Lucas had his blood drawn. Now that they both knew what to expect on treatment days, they were less anxious about them.

“Can we get something from the cafeteria before we go to the infusion room?”

“Sure.” Before his last treatment, he’d stocked up on snacks, but when he’d gotten his infusion, he hadn’t wanted to eat any of them. Instead, he’d shared them with the nurse who was helping him. As they headed to the elevator, she had a feeling this would become his new routine. Blood draw, cafeteria to stock up, share snacks while getting his treatment, go home and chill.

“That was intense this morning,” he said. “I liked helping you guys.”

“You did a great job, and I think the love you showed Brave Heart made a difference.” They stopped at the elevator, and she pushed the button.

“I can’t understand how anyone could dump an injured animal out in a field like that. That guy’s a monster.”

“Unfortunately, the world is full of them,” she said as they stepped into the elevator.

He pored over the snacks in the cafeteria like his choices had the power to create world peace. He finally chose an array of sweet and salty snacks, along with a couple of bottles of water and two Dr Peppers. She’d bet one of those Dr Peppers had Seeley’s name on it.

“Sure you don’t want a pizza with all that?” she teased as they headed up to the infusion room.

“Ha ha,” he said sarcastically. “I found out that Layla’s wearing a blue and gray dress to the dance.”

She was happy he’d brought it up. He’d been so tired lately, she was wondering if he still wanted to go but didn’t want to ask in case it upset him. “Are we getting you a blue suit or tie?”

“Everyone’s wearing jeans and a dress shirt and jacket.”

“Okay. We’ll go shopping and see what you like. You might want to ask Layla for a picture of her dress so we know what shade of blue to match.”

“I’ve already got one.”

“Look at you, Mr. Ready to Do It Right,” she teased as they pushed through the doors to the infusion room and headed up to the desk.

“Juliette.”

The deep voice shot fear through her veins, but in the next second, that fear iced over with prickling vengeance. Hatred coiled around her heart as she swept her arm in front of Lucas, pushing him behind her, and turned to face her father.

“Mom! Why’d you—”

“Quiet, Lucas,” she said, keeping her voice low to avoid a scene, her eyes never leaving her father. He had the same stoic face he’d had years ago. His hair was thinner and gray, his dark brows making him look as sinister as he was to his core. He was dressed in a business suit and tie. He could pull the wool over other people’s eyes like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but not hers. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see my grandson,” he said with the practiced smile of her youth.

“Mom, is that him? Is that your father?”

“He was never a father. This fraud is a deceitful con man.” She stood taller, seething, “How did you know we’d be here?”

“Have you forgotten how well connected I am? Do you think I didn’t know you’d moved back?” he said with amusement, further infuriating her. “That you’re shacking up with your lowly biker boyfriend?”