by Amber Crewes
The pastor turned to Meghan. “We can talk another day,” he told her as he gave her a side hug. “It sounds like you and your family have a lot going on right now.”
“That sounds great, pastor,” Meghan said as he walked to the front door. “Thank you for coming.”
As Pastor Winston walked out the door, Henry’s smile disappeared. “I can’t believe he saw my outburst,” he muttered, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow. “The pastor is going to think I am a killer now.”
Rebecca shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she urged her husband. “Pastor Winston is our friend. He’s human, honey. He understands that things happen.”
Henry narrowed his eyes. “I just cannot believe what that little twerp Cameron Barrington wrote about my family,” he scowled. “How dare he? I am going right over to his office and getting in his face about this. He can’t say those things without consequences!”
Rebecca put a hand on her husband’s chest. “Stop,” she commanded. “Stop this nonsense and calm down, Henry. Everyone in Peach Tree Grove is watching us after your little incident over the holidays, and we can’t have you losing your cool right now. You need to be on your best behavior, whether or not you like it.”
Henry glowered at his wife. “I’m supposed to sit back and let someone make accusations about my family?”
“Yes,” Rebecca answered coolly. “You are supposed to sit back, stay quiet, and ride this thing out. We didn’t do anything, honey, and the truth will come out. It always does.”
Meghan turned on her heel and crept out of the foyer, retreating upstairs to the guest room where Karen was napping.
“Hey,” she whispered as she approached Karen’s bedside. “We have an errand to run.”
Ten minutes later, they were both on bikes, speeding toward the town square. “We have to talk with Cameron Barrington,” Meghan insisted as they sped down the dirt road.
“Why would he spread lies about your family?” Karen wondered as they passed a bright green field filled with black and white cows. “Do your parents even know Thelma’s husband?”
“Not really,” Meghan told her. “They’ve met him, of course; it’s a small town, and everyone knows everyone. They don’t know him well, though... not well enough for him to smear our name.”
They pedaled into the heart of Peach Tree Grove just as the sun was beginning to set over the town. “He owns the local newspaper,” Meghan explained as they turned right and traveled down the main street. “It’s just over there.”
They arrived and parked their bikes on the sidewalk. “What’s the plan? Are we going to march right in and demand answers?” Karen asked.
“I think so,” Meghan admitted. “I don’t have an agenda. I just want answers.”
They walked inside and were greeted by a brunette man in a red tie. “Cameron Barrington?” Meghan asked as he rose from the desk.
“I’m his secretary,” the man informed them. “Mr. Barrington stepped out for the afternoon. Can I take a message?”
Meghan shook her head. “Where did he go?”
“He mentioned something about his pickup truck. He has one of those massive fancy trucks that we Texans adore.”
“My dad is like that,” Meghan laughed.
“Will Mr. Barrington be back later?”
“I don’t think so,” the secretary said. “I can take your name and number and pass it along if you’d like.”
“That’s okay,” Meghan told him. “We’ll be on our way.”
They left the office and returned to their bikes. “I don’t want to head home yet,” Meghan sighed as Karen raised an eyebrow. “It’s such a nice night, and there seems to be a lot of drama in the Truman household right now.”
Karen put her hands on her hips. “What should we do? See a movie? Go bowling? Shopping?”
Meghan shook her head. “I don’t want to be indoors; the weather is so pretty, and I want to see the colors of a Texas sunset sky.”
Karen thought for a moment. “Why don’t we grab dinner and a drink?” she suggested. “We don’t have any plans tomorrow morning, and it won’t kill us if we stay out a while.”
“That sounds perfect,” Meghan praised. “Do you have anything in mind?”
“Mexican,” Karen answered immediately. “I want some good, authentic Mexican food. Being in this weather reminds me of when I lived down in Mexico, and I want some real Mexican food in my belly... and a spicy margarita!”
Meghan nodded. “Done. Julio’s, the Mexican restaurant in town, is owned by a family from Guadalajara. Their food is delicious, and they have an outdoor patio where we can watch the sunset.”
“Let’s go,” Karen agreed as she mounted her bike. “You lead the way.”
Within the hour, they were seated on the outdoor patio with bowls of fresh guacamole, spicy queso, and mild lime crema in front of them. “This is amazing,” Karen exclaimed as she tasted the guacamole, shoveling it into her mouth with a blue corn chip. “You should have Julio’s cater your wedding!”
“I seriously should,” Meghan agreed as she spooned some lime crema onto her plate. “Honestly, the staff and owners of Julio’s are practically family; my family loves this place, and we used to come here all the time when I was growing up.”
Karen glanced around. “Here? This doesn’t seem like your Mama’s type of place. It isn’t trendy or posh enough.”
“It isn’t,” Meghan agreed. “But everyone in town knows the bartender here makes the strongest drinks around, and my mama can’t refuse a good cocktail!”
They laughed, and a few minutes later, an older man appeared at the table. “Hola, Seniorita Meghan. You are looking as beautiful as ever. It is so good to see you.”
“Hola, Antonio,” she greeted cheerfully. “Antonio, this is Karen, my friend. Karen, Antonio and his wife, Juana, are the owners and operators of Julio’s.”
“It is so nice to meet you,” Karen said. “This restaurant is great. It’s hard to find authentic Mexican food, and yours is fantastic.”
Antonio chuckled. “We were born and raised in Guadalajara, so my wife and I are truly authentic.”
Karen gasped. “I used to live in Guadalajara,” she told him as she launched into rapid conversation in perfect Spanish.
Antonio grinned. “Your friend has wonderful Spanish,” he announced. “It’s a pleasure hosting you both here tonight. I need to get back to the kitchen, but I wanted to stop over and say hello.”
“Tell Juana hello for me,” Meghan asked him.
“Si,” he promised her as he waved and walked away.
Karen grinned. “What a pleasant surprise to travel to Texas and get to speak Spanish with a good-looking Mexican,” she commented as she reached for the menu. “What is your favorite thing to order here, dear?”
Meghan smiled. “The special is to die for,” she raved as she pointed to it. “The Julio’s Nacho Special is not to be missed; they spread enormous chunks of fresh lobster tail over a plate of nachos, add feta cheese, fried oysters, hoisin sauce, and fried calamari drizzled in lemon juice.”
“Are you serious?” Karen asked. “That sounds amazing.”
“Let’s get it. You won’t be sorry,” Meghan giggled. “You might not be able to run tomorrow, but it will be worth it.”
Ramon, Antonio’s teenage son, came to take their order, and as he walked away, Meghan’s heart sank. Joy Ford walked onto the patio, and she strutted right over to Meghan and Karen.
“Hi, ladies,” Joy chirped as Meghan stared at her.
“Nice to see you,” Karen said politely.
“What are you two up to?” Joy asked. “A girls’ night? Can I join? How fun.”
“Just a little girls’ night,” Meghan confirmed. “I was introducing Karen to the wonderful Julio’s. Sure, you can join us…”
“Great!” Joy smiled. “It’ll make up for not being invited to either of your bachelorette parties, Meghan.”
Meghan’s face grew hot. “Joy…”
Joy held up her hands. “I’m just kidding,” she insisted, though Meghan was not so sure. “I’m totally over not being invited to your wedding or bachelorette parties. You know I don’t hold a grudge, Meghan.”
Karen shot her a look. The three women sat in silence for several moments until Joy broke the ice. “You should try the new menu item,” she told Meghan. “They have a dessert taco that is out of this world. I always have to hit the gym the morning after I have it; you know I don’t do well with too many calories in my system, but it is worth it.”
Meghan nodded. “We can order it.”
Joy beamed. “Perfecto. Hey, speaking of dessert, who is making your wedding cake now that Thelma Barrington has passed? Is that stuffy little assistant of hers, Stanley, going to take over? He’s an odd duck; he helped Thelma at a party my Mama threw, and she and I got such weird vibes from him.”
Meghan shook her head. “David will do it. He owns a bakery a few towns over. Have you heard of him?”
Joy’s face lit up. “Do I? He is so good looking. Meghan, I think every woman in town knows who David is. He makes sweet treats, and he is a sweet treat. That smile! I think every single woman in Peach Tree Grove would run away with him if they could.”
Meghan’s mind was racing. Had her own mother noticed his smile? Would Rebecca Truman run away with David, the enigmatic baker? As Joy gushed over David’s good looks and business success, Meghan’s stomach churned; she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know the answer to that question.
14
“T ell me more about David,” Meghan asked as Joy batted her eyelashes. “What do you know about him?”
Joy winked. “You’re off the market, Bride-to-Be. Why do you care?”
Meghan nodded at Joy’s massive engagement ring and matching wedding bands. “You’re off the market too. Taken girls can still enjoy a little girl talk, can’t they? Come on, Joy. Spill the beans. What’s the deal with David?”
Joy nodded. “You’re right,” she said gleefully as she pulled out her cell phone and unlocked the home screen. “I follow him on Instagram, and he is just gorgeous. He posts these artsy pictures that scream sexy.”
Joy handed the phone to Meghan, and Meghan glanced through the photos. There were photos of David staring into the camera as he bit his lip, photos of him posing in front of his bakery, and photos of him with his shirt off, flexing his muscles and laughing at the camera. “He likes to post about himself,” Meghan muttered as she scrolled through David’s profile. “Does he have a family? Friends? A pet?”
“No one really knows,” Joy admitted as she reached over to take her cell phone back. “He doesn’t say much or post much about his personal life.”
“Where is he from?” Karen asked. “Around here?”
Joy nodded. “Actually, yes. He is. He grew up in Peach Tree Grove.”
“How do you know that?”
“His photo is on the wall of fame at our high school,” Joy told them. “I noticed it at our ten-year high school reunion last summer... the reunion you chose not to attend.”
Meghan ignored Joy’s comment. “How old is he?”
“A few years older than us,” Joy said. “Maybe six or seven? He isn’t too old for us, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“But way too young for my mother,” Meghan muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“He’s a bad boy,” Joy whispered as Antonio walked past their table. “Before he started working for Thelma, he was arrested at a protest in Austin.”
“A protest?”
“He was protesting something about women’s rights... or maybe animal rights? I can’t remember. Anyway, he got arrested, and I heard that’s why he had to be Thelma’s apprentice instead of attending a proper culinary school.”
Meghan wondered if that was true. “Is he well-liked around here?”
“Well-liked by the ladies... not so much by their husbands,” Joy joked. “Rumor was that he was responsible for Betty Jan’s marriage breaking up two summers ago.”
“Really?” Meghan asked. She had graduated with Betty Jan, a tall, beautiful girl who had married her high school sweetheart the day after graduation. “I thought she and Drew were happily married.”
“So did we,” Joy murmured. “But David helped cater a 4th of July party at their house, and a month later, Betty Jan’s husband filed for divorce. Everyone thinks it was because of David.”
Meghan pursed her lips. “Why do you think my Mama is so intent on using him to bake the cake for my wedding?” she wondered aloud.
Joy’s eyebrows lifted. “Maybe she and David have a thing?” she suggested. “He’s a good-looking man, and your Mama looks like she could be your sister. You just never know.”
Meghan glowered at her old friend. “I don’t like what you’re implying,” she said bluntly. “My Mama is loyal to my Daddy, and any suggestion otherwise is rude.”
Joy’s eyes widened. “I was just joking, Meghan,” she sighed. “You know that everyone in town knows about the affair my Mama had. It isn’t uncommon for bored Texas housewives to get close with someone else when their husband is married to their business or job.”
Meghan’s jaw dropped. She had never heard Joy speak so directly before, and she wondered if her friend had indulged in her own affair. Joy’s husband was hardly around; he worked over eighty hours a week, and Meghan supposed Joy was lonely.
Before Meghan could reply, they all heard the revving of an engine. Meghan turned to see a large white pickup truck drive by. “Cameron Barrington,” Joy rolled her eyes. “He drives around in that big truck like he owns this town. He’s worse than his wife. Oops. I guess now, I can’t say that…”
Meghan stared as the truck parked in front of the newspaper office. “What’s he like?” Meghan asked.
“Cameron Barrington is a big talker,” Joy began. “He’s a short man with a big attitude, if that tells you anything.”
Meghan stood up. “My stomach doesn’t feel well,” she lied as she clutched her stomach. “Karen? Will you get me home? It hurts. The pain is unbearable.”
Taking the hint, Karen stood up. “Of course. I’ll go get the check.”
“No, no,” Joy insisted as she also stood up. “Let me get it. No worries at all, Meghan. You just focus on feeling better.”
Meghan pretended to be weak as she hobbled off of the patio. “You should have stayed in Hollywood and become an actress. That was a fabulous performance,” Karen whispered as they rounded the corner. “She totally bought it.”
“Thank goodness,” Meghan muttered as they stood in front of the newspaper office. “I couldn’t listen to another minute of her going on and on about the secret lives of Texas housewives. Joy doesn’t know how to shut up.”
“It was nice that she instantly offered to pay for dinner,” Karen shrugged. “She didn’t have to do that.”
“True,” Meghan agreed. She thought about what Joy had said, and she imagined her mother in an embrace with David. “Do you really think my mom is seeing David? Or that she has had an affair?”
Karen pursed her lips. “The lives of women are complicated,” she offered. “And even if she has, it isn’t our place to judge. We don’t know what her marriage to your father is like.”
Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “Karen, I can’t believe you’re saying that.”
Karen stared into Meghan’s eyes. “You’re an adult now, Meghan. It’s time to see your parents for the adults they are.”
Meghan balled her hands into fists, but she softened them as she weighed Karen’s words. Maybe her friend was right. Maybe she needed to think of her parents as fellow adults instead of viewing them through the eyes of herself as a child.
“Should we go inside?” Karen asked. “Cameron Barrington’s truck is parked right there, so it’s likely he’s in.”
Meghan bit her lip. “I don’t know…”
Karen jerked her chin toward the door. “Let’s do it,” she t
old Meghan. “We skipped out on dessert to come over here, so we might as well go in.”
They walked in the door and were met by the brunette secretary again. “You’re back,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
“Is Mr. Barrington in?” Karen asked sweetly. “We saw his truck outside and we would love to speak with him.”
The secretary frowned. “He’s occupied at the moment.”
“Occupied?”
“He’s in a meeting.”
Meghan glanced at the clock on the wall. “At ten in the evening?”