Page 53 of Love Like Ours

Chapter Sixteen

“What in the hell are you doing here?” Palmer growled as he took his mother’s arm so that she wouldn’t run. As he’d walked out, he’d shot a text message to his brother. No doubt Parker or the police were on their way here already.

She hadn’t changed. Not a bit. Her hair was still wiry, and she was as pale and frail looking as ever, like someone who had spent too many years drinking or addicted to drugs.

“Is it a crime to want to see my son?” she said in a raspy voice, one he had never been comfortable with.

“Sons,” he corrected with a hiss. “You had two of us, remember? And yes, it is, because this morning Parker and I filed for, and were awarded, restraining orders against you and Jack.” He felt no connection with her or his father and had almost always thought of them by their names, never as Mom and Dad. “The pair of you aren’t allowed to step foot in Pride either.”

She waved her hand as if dismissing his words. “Our lawyer will fix all that. Along with giving us back all the money your brother stole from us.”

“What money?” He balked. “You mean the inheritance from your mother?”

“Of course.” She laughed. “My mother. That woman and her husband owed me. After all the years of⁠—”

“Just stop.” H grew tired of listening to her. He knew all the lies she’d spread about her family. The things her father supposedly did to her. And he knew the way she’d treated her own mother, stealing from her whenever she came to visit Parker when he’d been a child. She’d even allowed her husband to beat her elderly mother up and forced her to sign an invalid will, one that stated she would be the sole beneficiary of the estate.

For most of Palmer’s life, his grandmother hadn’t known about him. But once she did, she’d made a point to include his name in her will.

“I’ll give you this one warning. But if I see you again in town, you won’t be so⁠—”

He stopped as a patrol car parked a few feet from him. When he glanced towards the restaurant, he cursed under his breath as he spotted his father through the window, talking to Sophia.

“Son of a…” he said as he left his mother on the curb and rushed towards the doors. He’d kill the man if he laid a finger on Sophia.

His father was laughing and sitting down at the bar like he was just catching up with old friends. Lucas realized that he was holding Sophia’s phone, the picture of her new nephew still on the screen.

He heard his father say, “Bartender, give me a beer. She’s paying,” as he motioned towards Sophia.

Then Palmer’s fists were gripping his father’s shirt and yanking the man backwards out of his barstool. He hit the floor with a thud just as Nick rushed over and threw his body between the pair of them.

“Jack Clark, you’re under arrest for breaking your restraining order,” Nick said loudly as he glanced back at Palmer.

“Me? Under arrest?” Jack spat out as he was being hauled up from the floor. “I want that boy arrested for assault.”

“I didn’t witness any assault,” Nick said, slapping the cuffs on Jack.

“This is not yours,” Palmer said, bending down and grabbing Sophia’s phone from where it had dropped.

Jack laughed. “You bastard. You’ll pay. Sooner or later, you and your brother will cough up what we’re owed.”

Every bit of noise in the restaurant had stopped when Palmer had yanked Jack off the stool. Since finding out about his parents’ release, everyone in town had been on high alert, keeping an eye out for them. No doubt the station had gotten half a dozen calls about the pair before he’d even shot the text off to his brother.

All eyes in the place watched as Nick hauled Jack outside, where Aiden was still talking to Joanne.

“Are you okay?” Palmer asked Sophia, turning around and wrapping his arms around her tightly. “I didn’t think… I didn’t think he’d be here too. I should have stayed with you.”

“I’m fine,” she said, holding onto him.

“Thanks for the entertainment,” Lisa said in his direction. “I think this calls for shots.” When they glanced over, she had a row of shots waiting. “On me,” she called out as she continued pouring. “This town is the best!” she shouted as people came over and grabbed a shot glass.

Sophia picked up two glasses and handed one to Palmer. “Agreed.” She downed the drink along with everyone else who surrounded them.

“How about we swing by my place, grab Loki, and then head to your place for the night?” he suggested, holding onto her again.

“Sounds good.” She nodded and grabbed her purse.

When they walked out, the patrol car was gone and his brother was just parking next to his truck.