Corey pulled his truck up the wide, tree-lined drive of Covington Manor, home of the wealthy owners of Covington Oil. Trees towered like watchful sentinels along the quarter-mile drive. Their branches, never still in the West Texas breeze, sprouted a million dancing leaves all flashing in the sunlight as if signaling his approach to the Lady of the Manor.

Twelve years ago, Tiffany Covington had been the daughter of Wayback's charismatic mayor, making her the undisputed Princess of Wayback, the county, and half the state. Marrying Les Covington had certainly managed to maintain, even elevate her lifestyle. 

Seeing her in Telli's place had unnerved him, but not half as much as coming to terms with the fact that he was a father to a half-grown boy who didn't know he existed. What he was going to do about that wasn't clear yet. If he just walked away, he'd probably be doing the kid a favor. Too bad that walking away was one lesson he'd never learned. Though in the past, some had tried to beat the principle into him.

He stopped his truck just shy of the front portico and stepped out on the clean concrete drive lined with azalea and rose beds. From there, it was a short walk up three tiers of steps, across a wide porch furnished with white wicker furniture and potted plants to the front door. 

An ornate, porcelain bell perched beside the gold door handle and a horseshoe knocker hung heavily in the door's center. He chose the knocker. Instantly, a small woman with frizzy, gray hair cracked the door about eight inches, narrowed her eyes, and scanned him from his Stetson to his new boots.

"I'm..." he started to introduce himself.

"I know who you are." The frizzy-haired woman snorted. "Miss Tiffany said I was to keep an eye out for you. Yep, she said I'd know you when I saw you. You probably don't remember me, seeing as how we never met face to face. But I remember all those nights at Texas Glory when you snuck up the road to see Miss Tiffany, all quiet-like. You ain't changed none, still got that cocky walk. You may as well come on in. I suppose you got to do what you got to do."

Corey's thoughts ricocheted around his head as if he'd received an uppercut to the jaw. His confidence of two minutes ago teetered as he stepped through the door the woman widened for his entrance.

"You just remember, Miss Tiffany is a lady. You treat her as such. As for that boy, it's about time you showed up. He's a handful, needs his...well, he needs a man to corral him a might. You do right by him too. The library is the door on your left. Miss Tiffany is waiting for you.

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Thank you for reading my story.