A Father's Name

Chapter ELEVEN

ON FRIDAY, FEELING RATHER like a man on his way to an appointment with a guillotine, Tyler hurried out of work an hour before his normal lunch break and stopped at home to change. He wasn’t sure why this meeting felt so ominous to him. He wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible.

He thought about pulling out one of the two suits he’d kept after he lost his job. He’d gotten rid of everything else. The rest of the suits, his house, the car. He’d liquidated and paid the restitution and his legal fees, then banked the little bit that was left over.

He fingered one of the remaining suits, but he’d worn it to Jason’s funeral and didn’t want to put it back on. Plus putting on one of the suits from his former life might give the ADA and judge the wrong impression. He simply wanted to go to this lunch and tell them no. Then he could get back to the life he was building and leave the past behind him.

He settled for khakis and a polo shirt. Dressy enough to show respect for the judge, but nothing more.

Normally, he loved coming down to the dock in Erie. The city had worked hard to take the area from its industrial past into a city tourist hub. The Bicentennial Tower at the end of the dock was one of his favorite attractions. From its top observation deck he could take in the full scope of the bay as well as the peninsula across the water. Today, he barely registered it, or any of the other tourist attractions, as he made his way to the restaurant.

“I’m here to meet Judge Bradley,” he told the hostess and noted his nervousness might have made him sound curt, so he tacked on a, “please,” to try to soften his words. After all, it wasn’t her fault he was forced to be here.

She smiled and picked up a menu. “Your party is waiting for you, sir.”

She led him back to a table in a quiet corner of the restaurant. He recognized the judge and the young ADA from his trial.

The third person at the table turned and he realized it was Jason’s dad, Bill Matthews. “Mr. Matthews? Why are you here? When did you get back in town?”

“Sit down, Tyler. You remember Judge Bradley, and ADA Kelley?”

He nodded. “Sir, Ma’am.” He sat in the vacant chair and tried to figure out what Jason’s father was doing here.



The judge cleared his throat. “I know it’s unusual for a judge to invite a convicted felon and the ADA who prosecuted him to lunch—”

“Unusual has never stopped you before,” the ADA muttered.

Other than his one trip to court, Tyler hadn’t had any experience with the judicial system, but even he knew that probably wasn’t the most appropriate way to speak to a judge, but the judge in question didn’t seem to notice and continued talking as if the woman hadn’t said a word.

“—but when ADA Kelley was telling me about the new information in your case, I’ll confess, I was a bit confused. After talking to Mr. Matthews, I was even more confused by your stance.” He paused, and leaned further toward the middle of the table and added, “And Mr. Martinez, I hate being confused. So I thought maybe you could explain it to us all over lunch.”

“Explain what?” Tyler asked, desperately wishing he was anywhere but here.

The judge looked exasperated. “Explain why you don’t want your name cleared.”

Tyler hadn’t expected such directness. “ADA Kelley—”

“You can call me Jackie, sir,” she told him. “We’re not in the courtroom and it’s really creeping me out to have you all keep using my title and it’s even worse when you ma’am me.”



“So let’s be informal and get right to the point,” the judge said. “Tyler, did you embezzle that money?”

The waitress came to the table and asked if they wanted anything, which gave Tyler time to choose his words carefully before she left with their drink orders and he had to answer. “I took a plea, went to jail and paid restitution for the embezzlement, sir. Is that something an innocent man would do?”

Mr. Matthews patted his hand. “Son, they know everything. Jason talked to Jackie here before his accident and he confessed. Signed some papers to that effect. He urged her to reopen the investigation and gave her dates and times to validate his claim.”

“And for the record, Mr. Martinez, I noticed that you didn’t answer my question,” the judge said in a stern voice. “Did you do it? It’s not like we can legally do anything more to you if you admit it. You’ve served your time. Just a yes or no answer, if you please. Did you do it?”

When Tyler remained silent because he simply couldn’t think of any way to wriggle an answer any more honestly, the judge continued, “I know what your friend said, though only through what ADA Kelley has told me about their meeting. And I know what Mr. Matthews here has claimed his son told him. But I didn’t hear it from your friend directly, so I’d like to hear it from you. Did you embezzle money from your firm? Yes or no, Mr. Martinez?”

Tyler didn’t respond.



“Tyler didn’t do anything but be a good friend—a brother,” Mr. Matthews said.

“And that, sir, is what I’ve been working with.” The ADA’s frustration was clear in her voice. “Like I said, Jason Matthews has confessed to the crime. I never felt particularly good about this case, but when you have someone taking a deal on a charge you take their plea at face value. But when Mr. Matthews came into the office and confessed, I pulled out our files and went through the evidence with a fine tooth comb. I’m not a handwriting expert, but I could see some discrepancies in some of the documents, so I had them tested. Our expert concluded the signatures in question were not Mr. Martinez’s, but were far more likely Mr. Matthews’s. Everything else that Mr. Matthews said checked out as well. I feel confident that we prosecuted the wrong man. Since Mr. Martinez isn’t seeking exoneration, it would be easy for me to walk away, except for this tiny little worry about justice.”

She turned to Tyler. “I took this job because I believe in the idea of justice and I have never lost any sleep about putting away a criminal, but I’ve lost sleep over this case because I truly believe I prosecuted the wrong man. That’s not justice. That’s not what I signed on for.”

Judge Bradley nodded. “Mr. Martinez, I’ve reviewed ADA…Jackie’s findings and I agree with her assessment. Mr. Matthews was a friend, I believe. I have a lot of friends, but I don’t think I’d take the fall for one who did something so stupid.”

“Tyler, you and I both know why Jason did what he did,” Bill Matthews said. “And it was stupid. I understand Jason’s desperation, but that doesn’t make what he did right.”

Tyler knew what his friend had done was stupid. He’d said as much the day he’d punched his friend. “Let me ask you, sir,” he said to the judge, “what if you and your wife were told you were pregnant, after years of trying, and then the doctor said he’d found some irregularities in her bloodwork and wanted to do further tests? What if he came back and told you she had cancer, and the best option for your wife was aborting your miracle baby and starting a treatment that could save her life? And what if she refused to do it?” His throat tightened as he laid out Jason’s story for the judge. He missed his friend so much.

His voice lowered as he continued, “What if you found some questionable therapy overseas that claimed to be able to hold her cancer at bay long enough for her to deliver and take more traditional therapies here in the states after the baby was born? What if you thought it was the only way to help save your wife? What if, in a moment of utter pain and confusion, you did something horrible and stole money, thinking you could pay it back before anyone noticed? What if you were wrong and they noticed?”

The judge nodded. “And what if your friend was accused and took the fall for you?” It was obvious that the judge had what-iffed more than that. “What if he pled no contest to the charges and hurried things along, to ensure the authorities didn’t dig too deeply into the case?”

“That’s not an admission on my part,” Tyler stated. “We’re playing what-if.”

“Your friend’s dead, Tyler.” The judge’s voice was soft, but Tyler winced at the bald statement. Jason was his brother, for all intents and purposes, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to a world without Jason in it. A world without Mellie.

As if sensing his thoughts, Mr. Matthews reached across the table and patted his hand.

“He’s dead,” the judge continued, “but he confessed before he passed. Jackie and I both believe him. Setting the record straight can’t hurt your friend. Maybe it’s the only thing that will truly allow the man to rest in peace.”

“It’s what Jason wanted,” Mr. Matthews said.

“So, explain it to us. Why aren’t you filing a motion and demanding that your name be cleared?” the judge finished.

Tyler didn’t know how to make them understand. “A father’s name should mean something. A son should be proud of his father.”

The judge agreed. “And you don’t think his son would be proud of a father who made a mistake, a foolish mistake prompted by love and pain, then did everything he could to rectify it?”

“What I know is what it’s like to grow up ashamed of your father. Not being ashamed, but hating him. I don’t want that for Jace.”

“And you’re raising the boy now, right?”

“My wife’s barely recovered from her last surgery and needs another, we couldn’t take the baby, so Tyler did.” Mr. Matthews turned to Tyler. “You honored Jason’s wishes in that regard, you’re caring for his son. You need to honor his wishes in this, too. Let the judge and ADA clear your name, Ty. You can have your old life back. It’s what Jason wanted.”

Jackie said, “That baby’s lucky because he has a biological father who was strong enough and ethical enough to confess to a moment of weakness, and he’ll be raised by a man who would do anything for a friend.”

“What if Jace doesn’t understand what his father did? What if he hates him?” Tyler knew he was projecting his own feelings for his father onto Jace.

“Mr. Martinez,” Jackie said. “I know I’m going to sound young and naive, but I really believe in my job. I believe that truth should win out. That justice should be served. And I don’t believe that justice is always easy. You didn’t commit this crime. You’ve been careful all along. You’ve never directly confessed to doing it. You’ve been honest, even if ambiguous, but sir, I know you didn’t do it. Mr. Matthews confessed. His father here has been hounding my office to pursue justice in this case, and justice means clearing your name.”



“Even if I don’t want it?” he said to all three of them.

“Maybe especially if you don’t want it,” the judge said. “Everyone associated with this case has discussed the findings. ADA Kelley, myself, the police department, our forensic handwriting expert, and even your old boss at the firm. We’re all agreed that you didn’t do this, and while we could wend our way through the legal system to expunge your record, we’ve all decided on a different course. As of today, you’re no longer on parole. We’ve had it terminated early. And I’ve already spoken to the governor, and ADA Kelley will be approaching him formally to request that he pardons you.”

Tyler had never felt so frustrated. How could they still not get it? Images of his father lying on the kitchen floor where he’d collapsed in a drunken haze, waiting to be discovered by Tyler and a friend after school.

The cops bringing his dad home, or picking his dad up, while the entire neighborhood watched.

The time his father had broken his arm and forced him to lie to the sympathetic nurse at the hospital.

He knew what it was to have a father who did nothing but humiliate and embarrass. He would do anything for the baby.

Anything.

He needed to make them all understand. “I don’t want—”

The judge interrupted him. “We’re not negotiating this, Mr. Martinez. The wheels are already in motion. When you’re cleared, you’ll be able to apply for your license again. You could have your investment job back.”

Tyler hadn’t even considered that possibility. “I don’t know what to say to make you all understand.”

Mr. Matthews patted his shoulder. “There’s not much to say other than thank you, son.”

“But—”

“But nothing,” the judge said, sternly. “Our job isn’t simply to prosecute and judge, our job is to serve justice. Both Jackie and I, and everyone else involved in this case, agree that your name should be cleared. It’s what justice demands.” He took his napkin off the table and placed it on his lap with flourish, as if to indicate the formal part of their discussion had ended. “So does everyone know what they want for lunch?”

“I need to leave,” Tyler said, and walked away from the table without even saying goodbye to Mr. Matthews. He walked out of the restaurant feeling shell-shocked.

They said he could have his life back. Maybe they were wrong. The governor might refuse to sign the pardon. But the judge and the ADA didn’t sound like it.

He followed the sidewalk to the dock and stared out at the smooth water of Erie’s bay.

He could have his life back.

His condo, his cars.



Designer suits on a daily basis.

He could rewind the clock. How many people got to do that?

He should be thrilled.

And yet he wasn’t.

Free and clear.

He could try to return to the firm, but the other day he’d realized how much he loved the garage. He left his house every day with a sense of anticipation. He asked himself how he’d felt each morning heading into the firm, as opposed to how he felt heading into the garage.

He was happy at the garage. He loved the guys he worked with. And they were right, they’d made him feel like part of the family.

He bought a ticket and went to the top of the Bicentennial Tower, which rose from the end of the dock and looked out over the bay. Rather than taking in the picturesque sights, his mind continued going in circles. He had no idea how he should feel, or how he actually felt.

“Son?”

He turned and found Jason’s father behind him. “Mind if I have a seat?”

Tyler nodded at the bench and asked the question that had been bothering him since he showed up at lunch and found Mr. Matthews there. “Why?”

“Why what?” Jason’s father asked.

“Why were you there, encouraging me to let them ruin Jason’s name? He’s your son. You should want to preserve his memory.”

“He’s my son and he made a mistake. A terrible mistake. I’m proud that he owned up and that he tried to make things right.”

“Make things right at the expense of his son.”

“You really think that Jason’s admitting what he did will make Jace think less of him?”

Tyler nodded. “How could Jace not be affected? I mean, I don’t plan to say anything about it, but when he gets older, he could find out.”

“He will find out because I’ll tell him.”

“Mr. Matthews.” Tyler’s frustration mounted. Everything was changing, and he didn’t know what to do or how to feel about those changes. He just knew he wanted to protect Jace.

Jason’s father patted his shoulder. “I plan to tell my grandson about my two amazing sons. The one I raised from birth and the one who became part of our family later. Jace will never know his biological father, but he’ll know you. He’ll learn from you. Things like honesty, honor, friendship, loyalty…love.”

Tyler didn’t know how to handle compliments, so he snorted.

“As to how could I be with the ADA and judge this morning…” He slid closer to Tyler. “No matter what Jason did, I loved him and was proud of him. My definition of a man is one who makes a mistake and does what he can to fix it. The same goes for you. I was there today to support you because I love you. I’ve always been so proud of you. And I don’t know how to put in words how I feel about what you did. You selflessly took the blame for what Jason did. You gave him the time to be home when Mellie needed him, to be at her side when she died. You did that selflessly because you loved him, and I would tell you to allow him to set things right. He would have been here today telling you all these things if he could. Since he can’t, I was here to represent him.”

“But what about Jace?”

“My grandson is blessed. He was born out of Jason and Mellie’s love. And now he’s surrounded by love. Ours, yours and all your friends at the garage. He’s got two fathers whose names he can be proud of.”

“Mr. Matthews…”

“Tell your friend Angelina the truth, Tyler. There’s a very good chance this story will get picked up by some news outlet. A man who gave up everything to help a friend? The networks would be all over it. And even if it stays hush-hush, she should know the truth.”

“Why? She’s my boss, nothing more.” Tyler knew the lie even as he uttered the words.

So did Mr. Matthews. He chuckled. “Wow, I thought you were a man who didn’t lie. Either you’re lying to me, or to yourself.”

“Maybe I do care about her more than I should,” he admitted, “but she deserves better than me.”



“What she deserves is the truth, and between you and me, son, she could spend the rest of her life looking and she’d never find a man who held a candle to you. Ever. Your greatest gift is your ability to love wholeheartedly.” He paused a moment and added, “And as long as I already have you riled up, I should mention I’m also here for the closing on Jason’s house.”

“It sold already? Good.” He knew that was going to be one less problem for the Matthews. Right now, they needed to focus on getting Mrs. Matthews well.

“It sold and he has a nice little bit in equity,” Mr. Matthews continued. “If you take that, and Jason’s insurance money, there’s enough to pay you back for what you paid in restitution.”

“That’s not necessary. The money is Jace’s.”

“There will still be enough to start a college fund for him.”

“I don’t want—”

“It’s not open to negotiation, Tyler. Let Jason rest in peace knowing his debts here were settled. Well, not completely settled because no amount of money can pay you back for what you did for him, and what you’re doing by taking care of Jace. I’m going to let you think this all over. Marge, she tells me that you’re a muller. You need to work things out for yourself. So, work it out, and take the check from me graciously. Be happy, son. That’s all we want for you.”

He left before Tyler could say anything else.

Mrs. Matthews was right and Tyler knew it. He was a muller. And he knew he had so much to think about, to figure out, he could sit here and mull a long time, but he needed to get back to work. He’d mull some more tonight, after he’d put Jace to bed.

Unless Angelina was there with him. Then he’d have better things to do than mull.

Tell her, Mr. Matthews had said.

Be happy, he said.

Tyler’s greatest gift was to love? He scoffed at the notion. He needed to think, to try to figure out what he should do. What would be best.

He went back to work and everyone there seemed to sense he needed time with his thoughts. Even North steered clear.

After work, Tyler walked to Angelina’s to get Jace. He stopped at her screen door, entranced by the scene inside.

“Jacie poo, Tucker loves you,” Angelina sang.

Bart groaned. “Mom, seriously, don’t call the kid Jacie, or worse, Jacie-poo. No boy can survive being known as Jacie-poo in school. He’ll get beat up and picked on and—”

“Do you really think the name Jacie-poo will stick until he’s in school?” she asked with a laugh.

“Bart did,” her son said dryly.

“Point taken,” she said. “I should feel bad about that, but you are definitely a Bart, not a Spencer…”

The two of them continued their banter as Angelina stirred something on the stove with one hand, and held Jace with the other.



Jace was content being held by Angelina.

Tyler had noticed how the baby’s face lit up every morning when he saw her. He flat out ran to her and expected to be picked up immediately. Jace loved her.

As he had the thought, Angelina leaned down and nonchalantly kissed the baby’s head.

She loved him.

And Tyler loved them both. For the first time, he wondered if he and Angelina could have a chance. Should he tell her and let her decide? Should he take a chance?

Could he take a chance that he could become the man she deserved? That they could become a family? The ghost of his father settled over him, and he remembered what Angelina had said about seeing himself through his father’s filter.

He’d never hurt Jace, or Angelina. He could almost believe it. He knew he’d never want to, but what if in a moment of anger he forgot?

Partway through another verse of her Jacie-poo song, Angelina spotted him. “Tyler, what’s wrong?”

“I was coming to get Jace, but I wonder, if instead, you could keep him a little longer. I really need—”

He didn’t even finish the sentence and Angelina said, “He’s fine with us for as long as you need. Overnight if you’d like. Go ahead, it’s no problem.”

That was it. No questions. No recriminations. Just her trust and willingness to help.

Tyler had planned on turning around and going, but first, he opened the screen door and kissed her. Kissed her because he knew he loved her.

Bart made a gagging noise in the background and Jace, in Angelina’s arms, tugged on Tyler’s hair and still he kissed her.

When they finally broke apart, she asked, “What was that for?”

“I’ll tell you later.” And he rushed out.

He still had some thinking to do, but in his heart, he knew he’d already answered the most important question.



“SORRY THAT OUR GIRLS’ night out has become a girls’ and kids’ night out,” Tucker said as Eli and Laura arrived, kids in tow. “Bart said he’d stay home with Jace, but it’s his last weekend in town and I know babysitting wasn’t what he had in mind.”

“No problem,” Eli said. “Zac was almost beside himself at the thought of a quiet solo evening. He swore he was going to do nothing until I got home.”

“Sounds kind of boring to me,” Tucker admitted.

“No, I’m with him,” Eli said. “Love the kids and all the noise that comes with them, but sometimes, I crave the silence. Zac took them out for lunch a few weeks ago, and I sat home and simply lost myself in the silence.”

Tucker realized that after Bart left next week and Jace started going to the new babysitter, she’d have plenty of silence. The thought didn’t sound quite as nice to her as it obviously did to Eli.



“Poor Seth is on second shift tonight. So he won’t get to enjoy any silence,” Laura said. “I had to promise Jamie’s grandparents that they can have him tomorrow. And Seth’s off. Oh, whatever shall we do?” She grinned as she asked the mock question.

Tucker smiled as they took all the kids to the backyard and the small wading pool she’d bought and filled with buckets and water toys.

They sat and talked, catching up on each other’s week. Jace played with Eli’s two kids and Laura’s one.

Tucker kept up with the conversation, but Eli’s off-the-cuff comment on silence ate at her. She was losing Bart and Jace, and she’d agreed to walk away from whatever her relationship was with Tyler and begin a strictly friendly employer-employee one.

She deserved more.

That was her father’s and Tyler’s refrain.

When Bart was little she’d dreamed of the faraway day when he’d go off on his own and she could finally be on her own.

Now, with sudden insight, she knew that being on her own meant being alone and that in this case it meant being lonely.

She listened to her two friends talk about their lives, their families, their husbands, and despite what she’d always told herself, Tucker knew that’s what she wanted. A partner. Someone she belonged to. Someone she belonged with.



Not simply an abstract someone, but specifically, Tyler.

She didn’t want their relationship to end next week…or ever. But he did. She felt morose and hung her head slightly.

Enough to force herself to look at her T-shirt.

One Foot on the Accelerator…

On the back she knew it read, One Foot on the Brake.

It showed a woman in a convertible, her hair flowing in the wind behind her as she drove.

Tucker’s short strands would never flow, but she was in control. She had her one foot on the accelerator, the other on the brake. She could decide which to press.

Because Tyler said brake, didn’t mean she had to listen.

She was in control.

She didn’t need to accept her father’s or Tyler’s dictates. She didn’t have to live by what she’d thought she should want. She could decide what she did want.

She didn’t need to think it over, she knew. She’d known for a long time. What she wanted was Tyler and Jace.

The only question was, how did she go about getting them short of beating Tyler’s hardheadedness? “Eli and Laura, I need some advice.”

Her friends stopped their conversation and waited for her to continue. “Tyler thinks our relationship ends this weekend because I deserve the best, and he doesn’t think that’s him. But while I agree I deserve the best, I know the best man for me is Tyler. So what do I do?”

Eli sighed. “The Tucker I’ve always known is a strong, independent woman who has never let anyone dictate what she should and shouldn’t do.”

“And she’s kind,” Laura added. “She’s the type of person who will help you even when you say you don’t want help. She’ll show up in a snowstorm with only a sweatshirt on to bring you food. She’s an amazing woman.”

“Who’s raised an amazing son,” Eli said. “She doesn’t let anyone dictate to her.”

“You think that’s what I’m doing with Tyler?” she asked, though she knew the answer.

“Well, you’ve admitted you want him,” Eli said. “But seem willing to give your relationship up because he’s said so.”

Laura picked up the tag-team dialogue. “What you need to ask yourself is—”

She didn’t let her friend finish. “What I need to ask myself is, do I want Tyler enough to fight for him? Especially because the person I will be fighting is Tyler himself?”

Her friends both nodded.

“So, what are you going to do?” Eli asked.

“I’m going to lull him into a false sense of security,” she said, realizing she’d made a decision. She would fight for Tyler.

“I’m going to let him think I’ve given up as quietly as he wants. I’ll take next week off and spend it with Bart, getting ready for, then moving him into college. But once he’s settled, all bets are off. Tyler will have thought he won, but I’ll sneak up on him and I’ll make Tyler Martinez realize he can’t walk away from what we have, much less walk away from me.”

Tucker studied her two friends. Eli, who’d been a part of her life for going on twenty years, and Laura, who was a more recent friend. And she suddenly knew that even if she didn’t win her battle with Tyler’s stubbornness, she’d never be alone.

Neither Laura or Eli mentioned Tyler’s past. They didn’t tell her that she could do better. They simply dove in and helped her make her plans.

She thought of a T-shirt Eli had given her a few years back. Friends Are Like Funeral Homes…Both Will Help You Bury the Body.



THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY evening, Tucker surveyed her truck. “Okay, that’s it.” She was impressed they’d managed to fit all Bart’s things in it.

She thought of Tyler. Not because packing a truck in any way reminded her of him, but because no matter what she’d done all week, she’d thought of him. She wasn’t sure what to make of him. She thought after they broke up, he’d steer clear of her, but instead, he’d been friendly and even asked how Bart was doing. Mainly he kept giving her the oddest looks. As if he were thinking or plotting something.



Or maybe that was her guilty conscience projecting on him, because she was certainly plotting and planning ways to convince Tyler he was the man she deserved. The only man she wanted.

He had turned over the new accounting and invoice system to her on Sunday. It was definitely going to cut the paperwork down, but not down far enough as far as Tucker was concerned.

Tyler seemed okay with the end of their relationship. She’d left Sunday night hoping he’d say don’t. Stay. Though knowing he probably wouldn’t. He didn’t disappoint. He’d let her go, and she’d simply gone.

“So, let’s go say goodbye to Jace and Tyler,” Bart said, pulling her back to the present.

She looked at her son. Having a child when she was not much more than a child herself was hard, but somehow they’d managed. In some ways, they’d grown up together. She reached out and touched his stubbled cheek, which served as a reminder that he wasn’t her little boy any longer.

If she were another kind of woman, she’d probably sniffle a bit, but she knew Bart would hate that, so she chucked his chin instead and said, “Yeah, they’re waiting to say goodbye to you.”

Bart motioned toward the packed truck. “We should have packed the Pilot after we went over. I would have been easier to drive.”

“Yeah, driving it packed to the brim is a bit of a pain. So, maybe, instead of driving my Pilot, we’ll take your car.”

Bart’s head snapped in her direction. “My car?”

She reached in her pocket and took out a set of keys and nodded at the gold Blazer sitting in the back of the garage. “It’s geriatric, but it’s got four-wheel drive and the motor’s in great shape. You can work on the body during school breaks. Pops and I thought it would be a great incentive for you to come home.”

He hugged her. “Mom, I don’t need any incentive other than seeing you all, but really…” He squeezed harder. “Thanks. I didn’t have a clue.”

“We all wanted to surprise you. And rumor has it, there’s a certain girl in your life who might be glad you have some wheels.”

Bart scooped her into a giant hug. “Thanks, Mom. I mean, really…”

She felt her eyes fill with tears that she’d never shed. “We own a garage. This was nothing.”

“Can I run and find Pops before we go? Maybe he wants to drive over with us. He misses Jace, too.”

Before she had a chance to say go, he ran behind the garage toward her father’s. She smiled. That worked out well and his having a car meant that he’d have a way to come home on weekends, at least at first. She imagined that once he got to school and settled, his visits home would be infrequent at best, but she suspected his visits to Cessy Keller’s campus might be more frequent.

And that was the way it should be.

Bart was ready to start a new chapter, and once she’d settled him, so was she. She was going to make Tyler Martinez see that he couldn’t live without her.

She’d played all her possible moves over and over in her mind all week. She was running through them again when Bart ran back. “Pops can’t go, Mom. He’s waiting for Marilyn.”

“Then it’s the two of us. Let’s go.”

He crawled into the driver’s side of the car and checked out the panel. “This is sweet, Mom.”

“Two rules before you officially own it. You’ll never drive without seatbelts, and you’ll never drive if you’ve been drinking…anything. Even one drink. You have to promise.”

He raised his hand in a boyscout sign. “I swear, Mom.”

“Good.” She sat back and watched him grin as he drove the short distance to Tyler’s. He was out in the backyard with Jace as they approached. He’d put in a sandbox, she realized, and felt out of sorts that she’d missed out on that. Not only did she want a real relationship with Tyler, she wanted to be part of Jace’s life, too. She’d thought that she might revel in her soon-to-be childless state; instead, she wanted to jump right back into it. She wanted Jace and Tyler. A package deal.

“Hey, shrimp,” Bart called as he got out of the car and scooped up the baby. “I’m going to miss you.”

Jace squealed as Bart twirled him around. Tucker stood against the Blazer, noting the scene and feeling as if her heart would explode. Even thinking that made her feel way too sentimental, but there it was. Her baby was grown and leaving soon.

“So, how are you holding up?” Tyler asked as he approached.

“Good. I mean, I’m going to miss him, but I have plans. I’ve never had to make decisions for only myself before. Everything I did had to have Bart’s welfare first and foremost.”

“Now, you need to think about yourself.” Tyler nodded, as if he agreed.

“Yes. I’m going to do exactly what I want, when I want.”

His laughter didn’t quite reach his eyes. “All I ever wanted was your happiness, Tucker.” Then he switched the subject from her happiness to Bart’s. “Did he like the car?”

“Yes. More than like. I suspect he’ll be home a number of weekends working on it.”

“That was nice.” They both looked across the lawn where Bart was handing the baby off to an older lady.

Tucker liked Mrs. Kovalski. And it was apparent that Jace did as well. Tucker knew that having Jace cared for in his own home had been a priority for Tyler. He wanted the little boy to have that security. She turned back to Tyler and said, “Well, when your mother owns a garage, you probably should have your own car. I could have gotten him something nicer, but I don’t believe in giving people things. He should have to work for it, too.”

“Our econ teacher loved to say there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

“Exactly.” She directed her attention to Mrs. Kovalski and Jace. “So, how’s she doing with him?”

“Great. And how is the new program working in the office?”

“Really good. Although if I have a problem with it, I’ll holler. I mean, you’re down the hall most of the day.” Just down the hall, in the main garage, but it felt like a million miles without their having to run back and forth, talking about Jace, trading off duties. “We should probably be going.”

“Thanks for bringing him over.”

“No problem. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow for Pittsburgh. I won’t be in the office at all, but Pops will check in and I’m sure you and Lou can handle anything else that comes up.”

“I’m sure we can.”

“Bart?” she called.

He sprinted over to them.

Tyler extended his hand as he said, “Thanks for all the help with Jace, Bart. Thanks for everything. You know if you ever need something, you only have to call.”

Bart shook Tyler’s hand, so grown up. “No problem. Jace and I are buddies, I can’t wait for him to get older. We’ll do lots of stuff together.” Bart smiled warmly. “I’ll see you soon. I’ve got a lot of body work to do on the Blazer.”

Tyler looked past Bart and caught Tucker’s eye as they shared a smile. Bart turned and walked toward the car.

“Bye, Tyler,” Tucker said softly as she followed her son.

“See you, Tyler,” Bart called as they pulled away.

Tucker glanced over her shoulder as they pulled onto the street.

“Are you really going to let him go, Mom?” Bart asked.

“Pardon?”

Bart concentrated on his driving, staring straight forward, not at her as he said, “I’ve noticed that he hasn’t been over this week. After spending the summer together, you’ve suddenly cooled things off. I’m not asking whose decision it was, but I’m going to say that you shouldn’t let him go. At least without a fight.”

Her son was much more observant than she’d have thought. “I’m not going to. I’m lulling him into a false sense of security. He thinks he’s won and that I’m letting him go because I realize I deserve better. What he doesn’t realize is I have no doubts about what I deserve. He doesn’t realize that he’s the best, and that’s what I’m going after. Once I get you to school, I’ll show him.”

“He’s not going to know what hit him,” Bart said, laughing. Then sobering up, he said, “Really, Mom, you should be happy. I want to say thank you.”

She patted the ancient car’s dashboard. “Yeah, it was a great surprise. I think it was a better surprise than the year I got you the mini bike.”

“It was, but really, I want to thank you for everything. I can’t imagine having a baby at my age. Jace did make me understand how difficult it must have been for you. Yet, despite your age, you were the best mom ever. All my friends always wanted to come to my house because you were so cool. I never once doubted you loved me or that you supported me. I…” He shrugged. “Before I leave for college, I wanted you to know that I know how hard you worked. That, and I love you.”

Tucker felt an uncharacteristic dampness gather under her eyes. “Oh, man, you’re going all mushy on me. Waxing nostalgic and all that,” she joked, then more seriously added, “but for the record, you’re welcome. Being a mother at such a young age wasn’t easy, but you were worth all the effort and every moment of it. You’re an amazing kid and you’re growing into an amazing man. I’m so proud of you.”

“Mom…”

She shook her head and waved her hand between them. “Enough of the mushy stuff. By my reckoning we won’t be required to go down this lane again until your graduation, then maybe at your wedding and… Well, milestones. We’ll make a date to be mushy during milestones, but the rest of the time, we’re just us.”

He laughed. “Deal.”

“So, drop me off at home and go have some fun on your last night here. Don’t forget, we’re out of here first thing in the morning, and you’ll be driving, too, so get in early enough that you can manage it.”

“I will.”

She stood outside the shop and watched Bart drive away. She thought about going into the house, but it would be too quiet and she wasn’t up for that. So, she let herself into the garage instead. She’d get some work done so that it didn’t pile up while she was gone.

And as she got ready to paint, she thought about her upcoming showdown with Tyler Martinez. He was right. She deserved the best. Somehow she was going to have to convince him that while he was right about that, he’d overlooked the fact that he was the best for her.

She didn’t think they made a T-shirt for that.