Prodigal Daughter
Copyright© 2025 by DB86
Chapter 6
Elise punched the side of the ATM in frustration as the information mocked her. She didn’t have enough money to pay for her expenses and buy a fruit basket.
Including the change in her wallet, she had exactly fifty-seven dollars and twelve cents to last until payday.
“Are you going to stand there much longer, lady?” a male voice asked behind her.
Elise turned to see a man who looked like a farmer standing behind her. He was muscular, rough, and to her surprise, she found him attractive.
She didn’t understand her sudden attraction to him. She’d never been into the brawny, outdoorsy, work-with-his-hands type. Sure, they had muscles—but they were also sweaty, dirty, and too rugged for her taste.
Yet something about this man stirred something primal in her—a raw instinct to mate with the strongest in the herd.
Then she noticed a child standing behind him.
“Hi, who are you?” Elise asked.
“This is Justin,” the man replied, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “He’s my son. I’m Marshall Tucker,” he added, extending his hand.
Elise hadn’t expected that. No ring on his finger. A single parent?
She shook his hand and noticed how rough it felt—just like her father’s.
“Recently divorced?” she asked.
“No. Divorced a long time ago. I didn’t even know Justin existed until Social Services dropped him on my doorstep this morning. His mother died of an overdose two days ago,” the last part was said in a whisper.
“And I thought I was having a bad week,” Elise muttered.
Justin was busy pressing buttons on the ATM.
“They still need to confirm everything with a DNA test,” Marshall added, “but I’m keeping him either way.”
Elise glanced at Justin, and suddenly her own problems didn’t seem so overwhelming.
“So, you’ve got a kid,” she said, softly.
“Looks that way,” Marshall replied, scratching the back of his neck.
“And ... how do you feel about that?”
“Shocked. Scared. Guilty.”
“Guilty?”
“I never thought I’d left a child behind. Just a cheating, addict ex-wife.”
“Oh.”
Elise felt a sudden urge to comfort the boy. She leaned down and said gently, “What’s your name again?”
“Justin.” His voice was quiet and uncertain. He tentatively reached out and touched her cheek, then quickly pulled his hand back.
“Nice meeting you, Justin,” Elise said, with a smile.
Justin looked up at her, his eyes full of worry. Marshall sensed the boy’s confusion but wasn’t sure how to ease it.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Marshall whispered to Justin, giving him a wink.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Justin echoed, whispering with quiet determination, his chin lifting slightly.
Marshall placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and felt something unexpected—pride.
“You’re going to keep him...” Elise said, still surprised.
Marshall rubbed his temples and shrugged. “His mother’s dead. He has no other relatives. And judging by the state of his clothes, no one else gave a damn about him.”
“Even if he’s not your kid?” Elise asked, glancing at Justin, who was busy playing with the ATM again.
“He looks like me.”
“He does have your eyes,” she admitted.
“We’re together forever now, right, buddy?” Marshall smiled down at Justin, who nodded and gave his dad a fist bump.
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