Chapter -Three of Cups

Pulling five cards and writing from those for five different sprints for this chapter

Page of Cups – Ace of cups – reversed Nine of Pentacles – Three of cups – Reverse Queen of Swords

~~~

Tim sipped his bourbon and glanced at the players around him, he didn't need to look at the card he had been given so he looked for the tells. He could read everyone at the table. He knew what had been played, suspected what had been discarded, and whether the people around him were bluffing or not. His old Stetson and country twang let them all make assumptions about him, that he was new to the game, or not able to cover the wagers, or was a luck gambler instead of a numbers man.

"I'm all in," the woman across the table pushed her chips forward.

Tim noticed the way she went from tapping her manicured nails to drawing a little circle with her ring finger. She wasn't bluffing as she had twice before but was her hand better than his? He looked at his cards, thumbing the one he picked up last. Three aces and two eights. The draw to a full house was unexpected but no reason to celebrate or even crack a smile because a hand with four duces would still beat him.

The cigar chewer next to her balked at her bet as did the kid between he and Tim, who threw down his cards and left the table with his few remaining chip.

"Well, cowboy, it's to you," the dealer announced.

"I'll see what the lady is holding," Tim drawled casually.

"Are you sure you can afford it?" She smiled at him with a flirty lick of her lips.

"Mama taught me it wasn't polite to leave a lady alone at a table." Tim wasn't fooled and she wasn't his type, she looked a little too much like his exwife, but Tim put his money in anyway. "You're called, Darlin'."

She turned over a full house with a smirk that significantly diminished her attractiveness. A full house, three sevens and two queens. "Lucky sevens and ladies for me."

The cigar chewer groaned for Tim, but he smiled his best as he turned his cards. "Sorry ma'am, but Aces and Eights are my luck tonight."

She stared at his cards in disbelief then swore angrily before she stomped away from the table. Tim sighed as the dealer pushed the chips over to him. The table had a three-player minimum so his night was over.

"Would you gentlemen, like to switch to blackjack until we get another player?"

"No, thank you, ma'am." Taking a one-hundred-dollar chips, Tim handed it to the dealer. "This is for you."

The cigar chewer eyed him then asked, "Son, have you ever considered playing professionally? I scout talent for the National Poker Players Association and you're the only really player I've met in Colorado this trip. There's an audition in Las Vegas in two weeks."

Tim shook his head, saying, "Much obliged, sir, but poker is just how I relax after a hard week, and in three days, I'll be heading back to work."

"I could fly you in and back over the weekend," he offered.

Chuckling, Tim refused graciously, "Again, thank you but it would be a bit far. The flight takes seventeen hours one-way."

"Where do you work?" The dealer asked in shock as Tim put his chips in his tray.

"I'm a wildcatter for a company putting oil and natural gas drilling platforms in the Pacific." Tim revealed as the talent scout laughed.

"No, wonder you never flinched when the bet went high or you lost."

"It pays the alimony and leaves me a little for poker," admitted Tim then he stood and tipped his hat to them. "Y'all have a nice evening." He carried his tray over to the window and cashed out. In years past, the win would have had him celebrating but now, he felt almost nothing. There was no thrill in playing when he knew he would win.

Handing over the winnings receipt and tax paperwork, the teller offered, "Management would like to offer you a suite upgrade, Mr. Ballard."

"Thank you, but I'm good. I wouldn't mind a ribeye dinner sent to my room," he requested modestly. Having a multi-room suite would just remind him how alone he was, something else he barely noticed most of the time. He signed and handed over his black card to have the amount credited to it

"Of course, sir." She rapidly typed into her computer, asking him questions about side dishes and dessert.

Tim heard a high-pitched giggle and turned to look around, but the casino was crowded. It was so unsettling that his hands started to sweat. 'Where is she?' His resentment and rage demanded.

"Sir? Mr. Ballard?" The teller said his name as he continued to scan the crowd.

Shaking his head, he turned back. "Sorry, ma'am, what did you ask?"

"The manager is offering you a bottle of the bourbon you were drinking at the table."

He was so certain he had heard Tonia's fake laugh that he decided he had had enough to drink because it would not do to end up in jail for yelling at his exwife for keeping his daughter from him if she was here.

"Tell him I appreciate it, but I have to drive out early. If he would like, he can leave it for me when I come back at the end of the summer. Your poker tables are always good to me." He tipped his hat to her and looked up at the camera, then tapped the brim in a sign of respect before walking toward the elevators.

Riding the elevator, the doors opened to the parking garage. Stopping himself from going to search for Tonia's car, he angrily hit the button for the casino main floor, then changed to the hotel elevator and pressed the button for his floor as he held his key card to the reader. Going up, Tim wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. Whether or not, Tonia was here was none of his concern except it meant she had left Tiana with a sitter instead of letting him have the extra time with their daughter. Getting to his room, he carded in and was about to call Tiana when he remembered the time. He paced back and forth at the end of the bed until his dinner came, then he showered and laid down. 

After two hours of tossing and turning, he got up and got dressed. Driving back to Pagosa Cliffs, he parked in front of the house he paid the mortgage on. Half an hour later, the light in the kitchen came on so he went to the door and knocked.

The porch light blinked on, then the door unlocked.

"Hey, tadpole."

"Daddy," Tiana giggled as she hugged him. "I'm not a tadpole anymore."

"Oh my mistake, my little tadpole grew up into a princess." He corrected himself and she smiled so much like his mother that his heart hurt for a moment. "Do you want to go to breakfast before school? I promised you waffles while I was here this time."

Her eyes shined with happiness. "Great, I'll get my things. I have dive practice at six."

Standing in the entryway, he glanced around then looked into the kitchen. Tonia's purse wasn't where she usually set it. He gritted his teeth at the thought of his daughter home alone, but he made himself smile as Tiana came down the stairs.

"Let's go." She grinned as she almost dragged him out.

"Aren't you going to tell your mom?" He asked to confirm his suspicion.

Tiana seemed to shrink on herself, and Tim inhaled slowly to stop the tirade that wanted to spill from his hatred. "She isn't here, is she?"

"No," Tiana answered meekly like it was her fault.

"Don't, baby girl. Nothing your mother does is your fault. Let's go get breakfast." Tim put on his best smile for her sake. As they got in his old truck, he raised his hand to wave at Lloyd who drove by in his Pagosa County Sheriff Department SUV.

"Uncle Lloyd drives by at least twice a night, and sometimes he drives me to diving practice when I have to walk," Tiana revealed as she waved. Lloyd raised his hand to her, not him.

"Was he supposed to drive you today?" Tim asked.

"No, but he would have," Tiana answered. "He takes really good care of me and buys groceries and stuff." She stopped talking as she put her seatbelt on.

"He loves you like I do," Tim finished then he decided he needed to get Tiana a vehicle before he left. "When will you get your license?

"I have my permit and Uncle Lloyd taught me how to drive. My test is next month." Tiana gushed, "I'm so excited to be able to drive myself and stop being a burden on Mum."

Tim held in another rant about Tonia and stopped at the café but didn't get out. "Sweetie, have you missed any days this semester?"

"No," she answered.

Tim tapped the steering wheel for a minute then texted Lloyd. 'I am taking Tiana to buy a car today. Do you want to come? We're having breakfast at the Mountain Rose.'

"You're coming with me today. We are going to find you a car after we have some waffles." Tim thought about the money he won last night and knew he could easily pay cash but as far as Tonia was concerned it would just be another thing he was making payments on.

Lloyd pulled up beside them in his truck. He was still in his duty shirt. "I'm coming with you."

Tim just nodded and said, "Let's get some food."

They ate and talked about Tiana's diving. Tim called Coach Wally to tell her Tiana was going with him to buy a car and Camille said she would inform the office. When Tiana went to the bathroom, Tim reached over and took the ticket before Lloyd could.

"I need a favor," Tim announced. "I need you to tell Tonia I financed Tiana's car. I don't want her selling it or getting one of those title loans and losing it. If I give you the title, can you keep it?"

Lloyd eyed him, his voice cold and hostile. "How can you afford it or are you skipping your child support again?"

Swallowing his rage, Tim declared, "I have never missed a single support, alimony, or mortgage payment and I'll show you my bank statements if you don't believe me."

They glared at each other then Tim bowed his head, begging, "Look, I don't want to fight today. I don't want to talk about Tonia. I just want to get Tiana a reliable vehicle and I need you to check it for me. I don't have anyone else to ask with Beau still in the hospital."

Lloyd gave a curt nod then looked out the window, "I'm not ready for Ben's funeral."

"Me neither," Tim admitted then he nodded his head slightly to tell Lloyd Tiana was coming. They both stood and smiled at her.

"Ready to go, Mermaid?" Lloyd asked with a smile, and Tim wondered how long Lloyd had called her that nickname.

Tiana looked between them cautiously. "Do you promise not to fight?"

"Darlin', today is all about you," Lloyd promised as Tim nodded.

"You and your car," Tim confirmed.

Tiana chewed her lip for a moment, then whispered, "Are you sure you can afford it?"

Tim patted her arm, reassuring her, "Yes, there is nothing I wouldn't do for you and your Uncle Lloyd can make sure it keeps running." He thought about his poker winnings and how much he had after he paid the taxes. "I have sixteen thousand that I have put back just for today."

Tiana's eyes lit up in surprise then admitted, "There is this one jeep I have had my eye on at the dealership in Durango."

"Well, let's go get it." Tim closed the door after she got in.

As Lloyd walked with him around the truck, he asked suspiciously, "Where did you get that much money?"

Tim smirked at him, revealing, "I maybe unlucky at love but I am very lucky at cards, and I put my winnings aside for Tiana." Then he couldn't help himself as he asked, "Did you know Tonia was in Black Bear last night? I heard her fake giggle when I was cashing out with the last bit for Tiana's car. Meet you at the dealership." Tim got in and started the truck. It made him malevolently happy in a terrible way to know Lloyd would fume for the hour drive.

At the dealership, Tim and Lloyd checked the vehicles carefully. Lloyd made Tiana drive three different ones, but she wanted the golden yellow jeep so badly, it was hard to say no. Lloyd explained that the transmission would go out within a year, and he worried about the high mileage. They went to two other dealerships. Tiana finally settled on a sensible pale yellow Volvo sedan, that Tim promised to buy sunflower seat covers for. It felt good to be a part of this milestone in Tiana's life and he was happy to share it with Lloyd because for those few hours, things felt like they should have always been.

Lloyd spent half an hour talking with the dealership mechanic. The car had front-wheel drive, good gas millage, and all the safety features. The boxy, older car also had an engine with less than forty thousand miles on it. They agreed to replace all the belts, bulbs, fuses, hoses, and the wiring harness, and upgrade the stereo for an additional fee.

"It's almost as old as we are but in very good condition. Once everything in the engine is new, she should get 200,000 miles out of it easy," Lloyd assured him.

The young salesman was shocked when Tim handed over his black credit card and it went through, but the older finance manager scolded him, "Don't let worn boots and hats fool you, a lot of these ranchers have money, and they will spend it on what they want and come back to people who treat them with respect." He went back out to give the paperwork to Tim. "Mr. Ballard, we will have the car delivered to the address you requested in Pagosa Cliffs in a week and the title will be sent to the other address you requested. Is there anything else you need?"

Tim looked at Lloyd who shook his head as Tiana touched the steering wheel one last time before she got out. "Think we are good. Thank you for doing the work my cousin wanted done. We just want Tiana to have a safe and reliable car."

As they walked to Tim's truck, Tiana, hugged him. "Thank you, Daddy."

He kissed the top of her head. "Anything to keep you safe, Mermaid." Tim turned and held out his hand to Lloyd, who hesitated before he shook it. "And thanks for driving all the way here to help me find the right car."

"It's for Tiana." Lloyd answered gruffly then Tiana hugged him too.

As Lloyd drove away first, Tiana asked, "Daddy, so you think you and Uncle Lloyd will ever not hate each other?"

"I don't hate him, sweetheart, but he has good reason to hate me. Maybe someday he'll forgive me for the ruin I caused us both to suffer." Tim sighed, then said, "Let's go get some ice cream."

~~~~

Anxiously walking to the terminal gate, Tim stood alone in the airport in Durango. He hated that he had to leave right after the funeral. His old truck was in the long term parking so his grandparents could retrieve it later in the week. Staying the extra two days for Ben Wallace's funeral would cost him his job if he didn't make his flights. As he checked in for his boarding pass, his phone rang. He sent his exwife to voicemail. She kept calling back until he got sick of it on the fifth time.

"Tonia, I am about to get on a plane so if you want your alimony, I can't talk," Tim snarled so hostilely the counter steward looked at him. Sorry, Tim mouthed as he rolled his eyes.

The clerk smirked and handed him the pass, whispering, "Group B."

Nodding, Tim stepped away from the gate desk.

"Well, take a later flight. I need you to come back and take care of Tiana. I have to go to a C.E. credit symposium and I am already on the way," Tonia announced.

"Are you kidding? I have to leave now, or I'll miss my connection," Tim refuted her.

"Really? Because you obviously can afford to book another flight if you can afford to buy Tiana a new car," she snapped shrewishly.

"For the love of gawd, woman!" Tim growled, as he reminded, "It's a used car that is as old as we are. I was not going to let her continue to walk to diving practice before school while you go to Black Bear with a random new guy like some whore." Their fight over Tiana's car had lasted hours.

"How dare you! I never..."

"Don't lie to me. I was leaving the poker tables at 2:00 AM. You were there." He was rewarded with her gasp. "I know what you are and what you do. Now go home and take care of our daughter."

Tonia went on a profanity laden tirade then she snarled at him. "Go back to Pagosa and watch our daughter or I'll tell my uncle you abandoned her."

They continued to argue, and Tonia hung up on him three times then called back. Tim realized the gate clerk was waving at him, so he demanded, "Are you going home, Tonia?"

"No, so you need to come home or I'll report you. I am already half-way to I-25 and I am not coming home for a week, so you better be there and don't you dare call Molly!" Tonia hung up.

"Fuck!" Tim snarled so loud it sounded like a cough. Swallowing his pride, he called his cousin.

Lloyd answered on the first ring. "McConnell."

"Hey Lloyd, it's Tim."

"Problem with your flight?" Lloyd asked, sounding annoyed.

"No, I... I just need a favor. I already overstayed my leave to be here for Grandpa Ben's funeral. Half-an-hour ago, Tonia dropped on me that she had some teacher Continuing Ed thing and will be gone for the next week. She said I had to come back and stay with our daughter. Could you stay with Tiana for me?" Tim asked, as the PA announced a garbled boarding call. The gate clerk tapped his wrist as Tim held up one finger signaling to wait.

"Just tell Tonia to reschedule. You have to work if she wants her alimony." Lloyd's retort almost sounded like a growl.

"She already left and if I don't leave today, I'll miss the supply ship that's supposed to take me back out to the rigs. I'll lose my job. I hate to ask but..." Tim begged.

"Tonia hates Molly now, and I'm the only one left... Fine, I'll let Tiana know. She'll be fine. You better go, it sounds like they are paging your flight. Bye Tim." Lloyd hung up on Tim's gratitude.

"Thank you, Lloyd. Lloyd?" Shaking his head, he rushed to the gate where the clerk waited.

"Bad news?" The clerk scanned Tim's pass as they walked rapidly to the plane.

"Just a crazy exwife... Thank you for holding the plane, if I don't make my connection, I'll lose my job."

"You looked like you needed a favor. This is the only one to L.A.X. today. Have a good flight."

Tim sat down and stared out the window. His heart ached to leave Colorado and Tiana. In the distance, he could see the peaks above home, and he wished more than anything he could just stay on the Rocking M Ranch forever.