A Father's Name(55)

She slugged him in the arm. “You might ask me for a date, but I have taste…I’d say no. And there’s the little age difference thing.”

“Hey, I don’t mind that you’re old.”



She slugged him again.

He rubbed his arm. “Old, but man, you don’t hit like a girl, or like you’re old.”

She glared at him and he backed away, still rubbing his arm.

“Dork,” she muttered as she moved closer to the house.

Jace spotted her then. He didn’t care that she was wearing a sundress and sandals. He cried, “Uck,” as he squirmed out of Mrs. Matthews’s arms and ran to her in his toddley way.

“Hey, champ, I missed you,” Tucker said as she scooped him up and hugged him.

He babbled a mile a minute, and she agreed with whatever it was he was saying and walked over toward Mrs. Matthews.

“Mrs. Matthews.” She extended her free hand. She’d been introduced to the woman at Jason’s funeral, but doubted his mother had registered her amidst the other mourners. “I’m Tucker.”

“Tucker?”

She sighed. “There’s a chance Tyler said my name was Angelina.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Matthews nodded. “He called you Angel a few times, too.”

Tucker sighed. “I’d prefer Tucker, if you don’t mind.”

“I’ll call you Tucker if you’ll call me Marge.” She dropped her voice and added, “My mother always insisted on calling me Margaret, but she was the only one. Well, my father would as well, but only when I was in trouble.”

Tucker laughed. “I’m sure that wasn’t that often.”

Mrs. Matthews—Marge—gave her a wicked grin. “Oh, you’d be surprised. I was known to kick up my heels in the day, but since this last surgery, I’m not kicking much of anything.” She nodded at the cane that was propped next to her. “I’m barely up and walking after the first surgery, and they’re planning the second for two months from now.”

“I’m sorry.” Tucker couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to have your mobility drawn up short like that.

“I’ll be fine—seeking sympathy wasn’t my intent. But I find it frustrating not to be able to do the things I used to do. Things I didn’t even think twice about. And I wanted to say thank you. I’ve already told everyone else from the shop, as well as your father and son.”

Tucker scanned the yard for them, but didn’t see them.

“They’re in the house with Bill and Tyler. You know, I’m not sure a mere thank you is enough for you.”

“It’s definitely enough, ma’am.”

“Is it Angelina?” she asked.

Tucker got Marge’s point and corrected her ma’am. “Marge. A thank you is more than enough, Marge. We all love Jace. And I keep telling Tyler, the garage is more than a place to work. It’s a family. He’s part of it now.”

“I’m sure that goes over well, Tucker,” Marge snorted.

Tucker laughed. “Yeah, about as good as you’d imagine.”

“Having dealt with Tyler all these years, it doesn’t take too much of an imagination.” Marge grew serious. “I wish there was something more I could do to thank you for taking care of both our boys. Not being able to step in and take Jace was so hard, but knowing that Tyler and Jace are surrounded by kindness helps.”

Mr. Matthews came out from the house and Marge waved him over. “Bill, this is Tyler’s Angelina, though rumor has it, she prefers being called Tucker.”

“Tucker, it’s so nice to meet you.” And with that proclamation, Mr. Matthews enveloped her in a huge bear hug. “My Marge has been beside herself worrying about our boys, but Ty’s been telling us all about you, it’s Angelina this and Angel that. You don’t know how good it is knowing he’s got friends who’ve stood by him. People who can see what an amazing man he is.” Mr. Matthews choked up.

“Bill,” Marge said, her eyes watery.

Tucker couldn’t figure out why they were both on the verge of tears, but she knew she was missing something. Something big. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out how to ask.



Mr. Matthews continued. “All those so-called friends from the firm he worked with were quick to walk away from Tyler, like they stayed away when Jason was dealing with Mellie’s illness. Fair-weather friends aren’t worth the—”