Page 56 of Searching for Love

After lunch, his mother and sister headed back to Edgeview. By the time he made it back to his place, the sign was completed and the construction crew was gone.

The moment he stepped out onto the sidewalk to appreciate it, several people walked over to chat with him, trying to get him to divulge the name.

While he stood there and joked with them, he began to feel what it was like to be an insider. To be one of the townspeople. Everyone knew him by name. Knew his story. Asked after his mom and sister.

Since he wanted to know more people, he asked about each one of them and mentally made notes for future run-ins.

This was what it was to be a business owner in a small town, something he’d dreamed about his entire life.

He’d never imagined he’d come this far. To own his very own restaurant, and now, it appeared, to possibly own a home too. Of course, there was still the nasty bit about getting approved for a loan for the home and coming up with the down payment. But he figured he could deal with that after the wedding next weekend. He might just make enough to start the process.

With a smile on his lips, he stepped through his front doors and stopped dead in his tracks. There, standing at the brightly colored bar, was his father, leaning against it as if he owned the place.

“What in the hell.” He rushed towards the man but stopped dead in his tracks when a man in a suit stepped in front of him.

“Mr. Jenkins? Lucas Jenkins?” the man asked while his father sneered at him.

“Yes,” he said, not taking his eyes off his old man.

“You’ve been served.” The man held up a large envelope for Lucas.

“Fine, now get the hell off my property,” he barked, taking the envelope from the man.

“Not yours for long, boy.” His father laughed as he and the man walked out of the room.

He wanted to tear the envelope up, but he locked the front door and sat at the bar to open it.

“What’s that, boss?” Rico asked as he came out of the office.

“My father is trying to sue me,” he said, still reading the fine print.

“I thought you said your old man was in jail and was going to be there for a long time?” Rico sat next to him.

“I thought that up until the moment I found him leaning on this very bar not two minutes ago.”

“Shit, that was him? The pair of them came in and asked if they could wait for you to get back. I was just getting my cell phone to give you a call and let you know they were here,” Rico answered, waving his phone. “What does it say?” He asked, looking over his shoulder.

“He’s trying to pin some of his crimes on me and claiming I’m financially responsible for the injuries that he suffered when I attacked him. He’s listed this place as an asset he is seeking to gain control over.” He slammed the paper down. “He held my mother and sister prisoner in their own home and wants me to pay for it?” He pulled out his phone and the card from the detective in charge of his mother’s case. Why in the hell hadn’t he been told his father was out of jail already? The last he’d heard, the man was being transported and had been denied bond.

His blood turned ice-cold as he thought of his mom and sister. He hung up just as the phone rang once to the detective and quickly called his mother.

“He’s out,” he said when she answered.

“What?” His mother’s voice dipped.

“Dad. He was just here. He’s suing me for this place. You and Sophia turn back around and get over here. You’re staying with me until…”

“No, honey, I… I don’t think…” His mother started crying. “Your place is not big enough. We don’t have any of our clothes. The cats.”

“I’ll head to town after you’re here and get everything you need. You’ll stay at Avery’s place. She can stay here with me. Just get back here. I’ll make it work. Just… turn around now.”

“Okay, okay.” His mother hung up.

He called Avery and quickly told her what was happening.

“I’ll make sure my place is ready for them. They can stay there as long as they need. I’ll pack a bag and meet you over there,” she said before hanging up.

“Looks like you just moved in together.” Rico slapped him on the back. “Let me know if you need me for anything. Now that I know what the man looks like, he’ll never step foot in here again,” he assured Lucas.