As the oldest child, I had many responsibilities.
1. Watch out for Avery.
2. Do my chores.
3. Follow the rules, no matter how much I wanted to break them.
4. Be careful around strangers.
A lot for a thirteen year old, but I did the best I could. Simple rules, yes, but making sure my mom was healthy and stable was definitely not one of them.
When we were at home one afternoon, she snapped. I was so scared that I ran away. So far, I wasn't sure where I was.
Until I met River.
He showed me many things I never would have known if I stayed with my so called 'family'. In a few years, he showed me what it truly felt like to be loved and cared for.
I thought my future was set. River was all I never knew I wanted and needed, but my mom had other ideas.
(Prequel to Taken With Tucker)
A criminal mastermind makes a bold move against a wealthy client to put himself in a position to retire in comfort. He has no idea what he's up against when a young widow, desperate to make ends meet, sets her eyes on earning the bounty set on his head.
***
Newly widowed housewife Melody Scott needs to earn some major cash, fast. When her bright and busy children learn that a priceless ruby bracelet has been stolen and a six-figure reward is being offered, they convince her to try to do what the police, museum security, and the best private investigators have failed to do. Working against them is a notorious thief who has met people from around the world, but who has never once encountered a woman like Melody Scott. When the sweet innocence of the Scott family clashes against criminal forces more dangerous than they ever imagined, Melody is all too aware that a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do to protect her family.
The Widow, Melody Scott is a 2021 Watty Award Winner!
Content Warning: This story does contain depictions of stalking behavior.