“I’d like to,” she said. “Let me know.”
“Eddie’s impressive, isn’t he? And Melanie, too. You really are fortunate to get these results and to get them so fast.”
She gave a slight shrug. “No way of knowing where Christine is, though. Or who she is. Of if she is.”
“He’ll find out. Meanwhile, let’s go for a dog walk.” It was becoming their evening ritual, one he’d never enjoyed more.
Their walk was relaxed, as always, except that they heard a coyote in the distance. Cord muttered, “Good thing these dogs are well trained and not chasing after that critter.”
As soon as they got back, they hurried inside and Shallie threw her arms around him, raising them from his waist to his shoulders. “Upstairs?” she whispered.
“Oh, yes!” And so they went.
Another night with Shallie! Cord felt so grateful, so fortunate. No question, their lives were filled with complications, but in some ways those complications had brought them together.
Their sexual encounter was possibly even better than the one before. The excitement, passion, warmth—he’d never experienced anything quite like this.
* * *
THEY WOKE AT the same time, probably because one of the dogs had begun pawing at the door. “Hey, cut it out!” Cord said. “Maybe you’re not as well trained as I thought you were.”
Shallie laughed. “It’s okay. He can come in. I don’t mind.”
“No. I’ll go down, do the dog thing, make us coffee.” He dressed quickly, then gave her a long, slow kiss.
She reflected that last night had been a good one. And once they’d reached her room, it became a great one. It wasn’t only the passion between them. It was also the emotion, the empathy. Everything she needed in a relationship. That and trust...
The Lewises were gone. How much longer could she justify staying here? Unless she and Cord made a commitment to each other soon... She wanted exactly that, but a commitment wouldn’t be simple, for a whole host of reasons. They’d have to talk about it.
Before she could get out of bed and dressed, there was a knock at the suite door. Cord, she assumed as she called, “Come on in.” But no, it was Carly bringing her a large mug of coffee.
“Hi, Cord gave me this to bring up to you,” she said, handing it over.
Shallie took a grateful sip. “So, how are you this fine morning? At least I hope it’ll be a fine morning.”
Carly smiled. “I’m good. But can I speak to you for a minute?”
“Of course! You know that.”
“Well, I talked to Tina last night, and I just talked to Cord. They’re both willing to meet with me. With us. Tonight.”
“Good. What time? And where? As if I even have to ask.”
“Seven. You guessed it—at Bailey’s,” she replied with a smile. “On me, although they don’t know that yet. Oh, and I’ve included Mitch. I’m not sure how much he understands about my...situation, but I’m sure he’s heard some of it from Tina.”
“Are you positive I should be there?” Shallie asked, already a little anxious about the Big Meet.
“Yes! Please! I can’t do it without you!”
Shallie nodded. She finished her coffee and asked, “And how do you feel about this? You sure you’re okay with it?”
“I am. I’m kind of nervous, but I feel as ready as I’m going to be.”
“I’m so glad,” Shallie said. “Give me a chance to get dressed, check my email and head downstairs. We’ll catch up later.”
She had to wonder how the others—especially Cord—would react to these revelations. Would he feel betrayed, angry, upset with Carly? And with her, if he guessed or realized she’d already known most of this?
* * *
SHALLIE, STILL YAWNING and sipping her coffee, got dressed, but wasn’t quite ready to make her way downstairs. She’d agreed to be at the Big Meet tonight, mainly because Carly’s request had seemed so desperate, but she wasn’t really prepared for it.
Didn’t matter. Moral support was all she needed to offer...
Everyone relevant to this particular discussion would be there. Act One, as Shallie thought of it, to be followed by Acts Two and Three, aka Eli and J.P.
She checked her cell and saw that Russ had left her several text messages. Call me, he’d written. Then, in a second one, I want to run something by you. Finally, I know it’s early, but CALL ME.
She did, and he answered after the first ring. “Hi, Russ. What’s so urgent?”
“Listen, I’ve been turning this place upside down, looking for anything on Christine. And... I found something.”
“What did you find?”
“Not ready to tell you. I need to look around some more. But I promise to show you tomorrow.”
Shallie wanted to ask why he’d been so insistent on talking to her if he wasn’t ready to share what he’d found. She had to grit her teeth not to shout at him. But she figured that was typical Russ. Everything on his terms. “Fine.”
“How are things with you?” he asked.
“Okay,” she replied, more curtly than she’d intended.
“Yeah? So are you seeing Cord Hollister? Uh, like boyfriend-girlfriend, I mean.” He paused, managing an embarrassed chuckle. “Lots of us voices from the past, huh?”
Her relationship with Cord was the last thing Shallie wanted to discuss with him. “Gotta go.”
“Let’s do lunch tomorrow,” he said.
“Sure. Why not?”
“At Bailey’s?”
Although she realized it was a good thing for Russ to leave the motel on a more regular basis, Shallie felt she was spending enough time at Brynne’s. And she’d be there for the Carly revelations tonight. Besides, if he had something to show her, it was more practical to simply meet at the motel. “Why don’t I pick something up and bring it over?” she suggested. “Maybe pizza from that outlet on Main? I hear the food is decent.”
“Around noon?” he said.
“Okay. See you then.”
* * *
THE DAY PASSED QUICKLY, despite the lack of a schedule or serious work, other than a couple of hours spent acclimating Patience, the little rescue horse, to her new home. She and Carly did have a brief discussion that mostly consisted of Shallie encouraging the girl, reminding her this was the right thing to do. They visited with the other horses, went for a stroll with the dogs—and then Carly showed her My 3 Dads.
Shallie was impressed—and told her so.
“This is incredible!” she said. “Everything about it! Your singing—no surprise there. Your comments and the way you tell your story, the videos, the way you’ve organized everything. And you look gorgeous. In spite of those clothes.”
Carly laughed at that last remark.
* * *
CORD AND SHALLIE drove to Brynne’s together, while—as usual—Carly went with Tina and Mitch. It was going to be another mild and almost balmy night with more than a hint of humidity. They hadn’t experienced heavy rain since the evening Carly had shown up.
However, he had something more critical to discuss with Shallie right now. This was his chance to ask her, in advance, what Carly’s meeting was about—although he could guess. Sort of. All she’d said when she invited him this morning was that it was “important” and “personal” and also “concerned him.”
But he figured if anyone knew what that meant, it was Shallie.
Carly had obviously, more than obviously, been hiding things. Her history, the little they knew, checked out according to Eli, who’d examined her birth certificate. Exactly as expected. Mother: Reba Diane Shannon. Father: Unknown. Issued in Orlando, Florida.
“Well,” he began. “What do you suppose Carly wants to discuss with us? She’s set up a pretty formal way to do it, so I have to wonder—”
“I don’t want to be rud
e,” she broke in, “but it’s not my place to tell you. Anyway, you’ll hear soon enough.”
“Fine, we’ll leave it for now.”
He could hear her take a deep breath. “I talked to Russ today,” she told him, staring straight ahead. “And he says he has something to show me. Something to do with my mother.”
The fact that Russ had evidence of some kind (if he really did) struck him as interesting—and potentially valuable.
“When are you going to find out what he has?”
“Tomorrow. I’m having lunch with him.”
“I hope whatever it is will be useful. Nothing too unexpected, at least not in a bad way. Nothing that’ll distress you.” He wished he could be there with her, to lend any support or offer any help he could. “I’d join you if that would help but tomorrow’s one of my patrols.”
“Thanks, I appreciate the thought. But Russ will probably do better if I’m there on my own. This time, anyway. On another subject, I should mention that Carly will want to talk to Eli and J.P., as well. Separately.”
“She told me. Makes sense.”
“The timing is up to her. She has to arrange when to see them.”
He nodded.
They were silent after that. As they reached Main Street, Cord ventured one more question, hoping she wouldn’t consider it presumptuous. “Would you be willing to stay on for another week or two? I’ve heard from some tentative clients... A couple of veterinary students interested in training therapy horses.”
“Yes,” she replied immediately. “I’d love to! Plus, it’ll give me a chance to see where the parent search goes—for both of us. And even more for Carly. Plus, I want to learn everything I can about working with horses and clients. And... I want to find out what’s going on between us. If it’s something that might last.” A moment later, she said, “I’m just trying to be completely honest with you.”
“I know.” He wasn’t sure what else he could say, other than I want to find out, too. And a moment later, he did say that, even though she already knew it. Still, some things couldn’t be said often enough...
Not quite seven yet, full daylight, though clouds were continuing to form. No sign of the darkness that would descend on them a few hours from now.
As they drove along Main, he saw several people he recognized and slowed down to wave at them. “Okay, here we are,” he said unnecessarily, pulling into Bailey’s lot. “Tina and company are already present and accounted for, I see.”
When they walked into the restaurant, Brynne met them at the door and led them to a relatively isolated table—as isolated as it was possible to get. Which meant near the kitchen. The other three were already seated.
After the formalities of greeting and ordering, and Brynne herself had served their drinks, Carly said, “I’m the one who called this meeting, so... I guess I should start. And by the way, dinner’s on me.”
Despite everyone’s protests, she persisted.
She began, sounding like she’d practiced this speech. “You already know that Reba Shannon was my mother. And Cord, as you also know, you might be my father. Same is true for Eli and J.P. I’ve reached a point in my life where I need to know. I imagine you guys feel the same way.”
Cord nodded vigorously. “I do.” And he meant it. He was sure Eli and J.P. would, too, even if they hadn’t before. It was time to get this settled.
“That’s part of what I wanted to talk about. The other...” And she launched into a complicated story that involved a YouTube channel called My 3 Dads, with various musical performances—including classic country songs—and the accumulation of a shocking amount of money.
Neither Tina nor Shallie seemed surprised. Even Mitch didn’t appear too startled.
And was he? Cord asked himself. Well, yes. Shocked. At least she’d indicated in her description of My 3 Dads that she’d been extremely careful to protect their privacy, careful not to reveal details of their lives, and once they learned who her father actually was, she’d consult with him, Eli and J.P. about how much to say.
All this new and astonishing information left him with conflicting reactions, opposing emotions. He couldn’t help feeling disturbed, even a little betrayed, that she’d made private information public—and profited from it. Yet he believed Carly’s reassurances about her discretion, which would be easy enough to check. He also understood her nervousness.
At the same time, her revelations made him feel something else. An unexpected pride. Pride in the fact that, at her age, she’d pulled this off. Pride in her honesty and courage, her enterprising spirit, her talent.
Carly now went on to explain that she wanted all three of her potential dads to agree to DNA testing and, of course, she would, too. After that...who knew?
Cord knew. If she was his daughter, he’d do anything and everything he could for her. He’d be a true father, a good father, make up for what she’d lost and lacked in the past. And if J.P. or Eli turned out to be her dad, he’d be an honorary uncle.
Again, Tina and Mitch said nothing; neither did Shallie.
Cord decided it was time to make something clear. “Carly, whichever one of us is your dad will be privileged to learn that. And the other two will be an important part of your life, too, as your honorary uncles.” A little formal, perhaps... “All of us will do our best to make your new life here as happy as we can.”
Carly nodded, not hiding her tears.
Brynne had obviously noticed the confidential nature of their discussion, not interrupting but keeping an eye on them. Still, four friends stopped by their table, obviously not as sensitive as Brynne to their need for privacy. Finally, Cord waved at her and she brought over their appetizers and fresh drinks. The conversation grew lighter and there was a sense of relief all around.
The only thing that still bothered Cord—and he guessed it was his traditional upbringing—was that Carly really did pay. In cash.
* * *
THE RAIN HAD STARTED, nothing too heavy, but to Cord it seemed fitting.
He and Shallie spoke little during the drive, but the atmosphere was relaxed, comfortable.
After the evening they’d just had, he was left with various impressions, various feelings rocketing through him. First, a residue of his earlier shock. He was tempted to check out Carly’s YouTube channel, but decided he should control his curiosity for now. He realized that he felt a bit afraid of learning what had been said about him, not by Carly, but by her fans and supporters, even though she’d assured him she’d never used his name. He also felt relief that the mystery of her paternity was going to be solved.
Another thing—considering the money she’d made, he should put her in touch with his accountant, Mitch and Tina’s son-in-law, for financial advice. Or suggest that she call Len.
In addition, they’d need to arrange for DNA testing. He’d look into what that involved.
He’d have to focus on his business, too, especially at this time of year, since most of his clients arrived between April and October. He had to connect with his PR team again, plan some events for his website, organize upcoming clients, work with the new horse.
Then there was the whole Julie situation. Not to mention Christine Fletcher...
And Shallie. Most of all Shallie.
She’d admitted that she wanted to see if there was anything serious between them. Despite his inevitable fear of another betrayal, another disappointment, his connection with her—connection in every sense—felt the closest he’d ever been to what he truly wanted. Without Reba’s lies and duplicity or Jenna’s exploitation.
It suddenly occurred to him that although he and Shallie had spent a lot of time together (like tonight, for instance), they’d never been on a date. Or was that too dated (ha!) a term, too old-fashioned a concept these days? Too juvenile? Too...unequal?
No, he decided, it all depended on your expectations and ho
w you handled them. The fact was, any time he and Shallie went out together, they encountered his friends, neighbors, acquaintances. There was no opportunity for the kind of discovery an old-fashioned date could provide. Time to change that.
He glanced at Shallie. Her eyes were closed. “Uh, Shallie, are you awake?”
“Yes.” She smiled over at him.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course!”
“Would you go out with me?”
“What?”
“On a date, I mean. An old-fashioned, real, honest-to-God date.”
She giggled and he was delighted by the sound. “Have we reverted to high school or something?” she asked.
“No.” He laughed, too, then explained what he’d been thinking.
“Where would we go?”
“How about somewhere outside of town? I was thinking about Silver Hills. There’s a nice inn there, with an elegant restaurant. That’s not a slight against Bailey’s, mind you. Her place has its own charm. I’d just like to go somewhere that would give us some privacy, a little solitude. If you like that idea.”
“I love it! My answer is an unqualified yes.”
Feeling a rush of excitement, he said, “I’ll make the reservation. And the animal-care arrangements.”
* * *
CARLY CLIMBED INTO BED, wearing another long T-shirt of Susan’s, this one with an I Love New York logo. The first thing she did was haul out her makeshift journal. She wrote the date at the top of a fresh page, chewed the end of her pen for a moment, then began to write.
Today was the beginning of the beginning. A new beginning. I truly believe that. I’d be happy if Cord turns out to be my dad. Or if it’s Eli or J.P., that would be really good, too. Cord would still be in my life. Like, my uncle. I hope he and Shallie get married! Then she’d be my mom—or my aunt.
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