Laundry, Rain & Redemption
Chapter 4: Tucker’s Quiet Battle
The storm outside mirrored the one that often brewed in Tucker’s chest. To everyone in Pendleton, he was just the boy in the Clemson hoodie, always with his headphones on, always with a joke at the ready. What they didn’t see was the weight he carried—the pressure of being the “man of the house” since his dad had left.
His mom worked long hours at the hospital, leaving Tucker to look after his younger siblings. He didn’t mind most days, but it was hard not to feel like he was stuck in place while the world moved on without him.
That’s why he came to Robin’s Laundry so often. It was quiet, predictable, and Mary Ann never asked too many questions. She just let him be, offering the kind of steady presence he didn’t realize he needed.
Tonight, though, he found himself drawn into the orbit of Tiffany and her toddler. Maybe it was her obvious frustration, or maybe it was the way Mary Ann always seemed to pull people together without trying. Either way, he found himself offering advice, something he rarely did.
“So, what do you post first?” Tiffany asked, genuinely curious now.
“Before and after shots,” Tucker said. “People love seeing transformations. And maybe some videos of you working—it makes it feel personal.”
“Sounds like you’ve done this before,” Tiffany said, raising an eyebrow.
“My sister,” Tucker said quickly. “She’s got a little shop in Greenville. I helped her set up her page a while back.”
Mary Ann tilted her head, her knowing gaze settling on Tucker. “Helping your sister, huh? Sounds like you’ve got a knack for this kind of thing.”
He shrugged, uncomfortable with the attention. “It’s nothing. Just messing around.”
Mary Ann didn’t push, but her smile lingered. She saw more in Tucker than he saw in himself.
As the evening wore on, the trio began to feel less like strangers and more like something closer to family. Tiffany opened up about her dreams of owning her own salon one day, her eyes bright with hope for the first time in months.
Tucker listened, occasionally throwing in a sarcastic comment that made her laugh despite herself. And Mary Ann, ever the steady presence, offered gentle words of wisdom, her voice weaving their stories together like the threads of her quilt.
By the time the storm began to ease, Tucker stood to leave, pulling his hoodie tight around his head. “You’ll be fine,” he said to Tiffany, his tone unusually sincere. “Just don’t give up.”
Tiffany smiled, surprised by the encouragement. “Thanks. For everything.”
He nodded, slipping his headphones back on. “See ya, Miss Mary,” he called over his shoulder.
Mary Ann watched him go, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “That boy’s got a good heart,” she said softly.
Tiffany nodded, holding Theo close as she watched the rain lighten. For the first time in a long time, the world outside didn’t feel so heavy.