by Amber Crewes
“I’m well,” he said, and she imagined his bright blue eyes and big smile. “Sandy Bay is doing just fine. I ran into Pamela at the pharmacy yesterday, and she really misses you. The dogs are fine. They’ll be excited to make their way down to Texas to reunite with their Mommy.”
Meghan’s heart warmed. “I can’t wait to snuggle them,” she cooed. “Are they getting along with Dash?”
“They are fine,” he promised.
They chatted for a while, and then Jack surprised her with some big news. “I’ll be in Texas tomorrow, Babe,” he told her at the end of their call.
“Tomorrow?” she shrieked. “Honey! You aren’t supposed to get in for a few more days. Are you really coming tomorrow? Why did you wait until the end of the conversation to tell me? I am so excited.”
Jack chuckled. “I wanted to surprise you tomorrow and just show up at your parents’,” he said as Meghan’s heart pounded with anticipation. “But you sound a bit down tonight, and I wanted you to go to sleep with a smile on your face.”
“It’s more than a smile,” Meghan giggled. “I’m over the moon. Are your parents coming too?”
“They’ll be there right before the wedding,” he assured her. “Tomorrow, it’s just me. Well, the dogs and me.”
Meghan shrieked in delight. “You said you were going to board the dogs.”
“I decided they should be part of our big weekend,” he chuckled.
“I can’t wait to see you,” she murmured as she imagined picking Jack and her beloved dogs up from the airport.
“I can’t wait to see you, my love. Just think: the next time you are in Sandy Bay, we will be husband and wife. Can you believe it?”
“No,” she sighed as she put a hand on her heart. “I can’t.”
They talked for a few more minutes before Meghan returned to her family. “What did Jack have to say?” Molly asked as Meghan sat down.
“Molly, don’t be rude,” Rebecca chastised her.
“What? She left dinner to take a phone call. She was rude first,” Molly pouted.
Meghan smiled. “It’s fine,” she told her mother. “Jack is coming tomorrow,” she announced as Karen clapped her hands.
“How wonderful,” Karen remarked.
Mellie sniffed. “It’s about time he showed up.”
Meghan narrowed her eyes. “It’s not like your husband is here yet,” she replied sharply.
“He’s doing important business in Dallas. He’ll be here for the wedding.”
Rebecca cleared her throat. “That’s enough,” she warned her daughters. “Girls, let’s go around the table and say what we love about Meghan. These are her last few days as a Truman, and we need to make it special.”
“I think Meghan is smart as a whip,” Henry began. “She earned great grades in school, and she is a hard worker.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” Meghan grinned.
“Meghan has good hair,” Mellie commented, and Meghan resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
“Meghan is a great friend,” Karen chimed in. “She has integrity, and she never compromises her beliefs.”
Everyone said their piece, and Meghan’s heart was warm as she sat with her family and dear friend, basking in the glow of the compliments she had received. “Thank you, everyone,” she murmured. “That was so kind of you.”
Rebecca nodded. “We want you to feel special,” she told her daughter. “And now that the wedding planning is nearly finished, I want to spend as much time with you as possible before you become Mrs. Irvin.”
Meghan smiled. “All that’s left to do for the wedding is arrange for a wedding cake.”
“We have a cake,” Rebecca reminded her. “David is making one.”
Meghan’s face fell. “I have something to tell you,” she muttered. “David won’t be making my cake.”
“And why not?”
Meghan took a deep breath. “He was arrested,” she informed her family. “David is in jail.”
19
T he color drained from Rebecca’s face. “Why are you just telling me this now?” she demanded as she stood up. “Meghan, how could you keep this a secret?”
Meghan bit her lip. “It wasn’t a secret,” she said defensively. “I just hadn’t mentioned it yet. I’m sorry, Mama.”
Rebecca glared at her daughter. “You don’t look sorry,” she snarled. “I have to help him,” she murmured. “I’m going to the police station.”
Rebecca rushed out of the room, and Meghan trailed behind her. “Mama,” Meghan cried as her mother rummaged through the kitchen drawers. “Why are you going to the police station? Why do you have to help David? I don’t understand.”
“Where are my keys?” Rebecca moaned in frustration as she dug through a decorative basket on the counter.
“Mama? Mama, what is going on here?”
Rebecca retrieved a pair of car keys from the bottom of the basket and turned on her heel. She strode into the garage with Meghan behind her. “I’m coming with you.”
“Don’t bother, Meghan,” Rebecca hissed as Meghan climbed into the passenger seat of Rebecca’s car. “You don’t give a fig about David, and I don’t see why you are coming. You’ll only be in the way. Stay here. I don’t want you coming with me.”
“I can help you keep calm,” Meghan assured her mother as Rebecca opened the garage door and guided the car outside into the warm evening air. “I want to support you, Mama. I love you.”
They drove in silence for a few moments. Meghan prayed there wouldn’t be any police officers out on the roads; her mother was driving over the speed limit in a fashion bordering dangerous, and she did not want her to get into any trouble.
“Mom? Slow down,” she softly urged her as they rounded a corner. “Please? It is unsafe to drive like this. I don’t want either of us to get hurt.”
“I can’t,” Rebecca snapped. “I can’t slow down, Meghan. You don’t understand. I have to get to the police station and help him as soon as I can.”
“Why?” she asked. “Why do you care about David, Mama? He’s just a baker. I don’t understand.”
“It’s none of your business,” she told her as they sped around another sharp corner. “You couldn’t possibly understand. Why do you always have to poke your nose in other people’s business, Meghan? It’s a very unbecoming trait of yours. I think it’s why you get into so much trouble.”
Meghan’s face darkened. “That isn’t very nice, Mama.”
“You know what isn’t very nice? Having your daughter keep secrets from you and then having her insert herself into something that is not her business.”
Meghan glared. “Mama, are you and Daddy not getting along? Is that what is wrong? Is that why you and David are so close?”
Rebecca turned to her daughter and shot her a venomous look. “Stop it. Stop this nonsense at once. You are behaving terribly, and I wish you had not come with me.”
“Just tell me, Mama. If you and Daddy are having problems, you can fix them. There are marriage counselors, or seminars, or books that can help you. You don’t have to chase after another guy. He’s too young for you. I’ve heard unpleasant things about him. I don’t want you to get mixed up with the wrong kind of guy. You’re probably very vulnerable right now, with you and Daddy having problems, and I’m sure it was hard when he went off to jail. I’m sure it was easy to find comfort with David, but now, Daddy is back. You have to face your problems with him head-on, and you have to make it work. He’s your husband, Mama. David is just some younger guy who came around at the right time. In fact, don’t you think it’s a little suspicious that he just so happened to come into your life when your wealthy husband was sent away to jail? It all seems a little too convenient to me, and I think you need to be careful. David is trouble, and I don’t want anything bad to happen between you and Daddy.”
Rebecca cackled. “Is that what you think? You think Daddy went off to jail and I went looking for a fling? You are so naïve, Meghan.”
; “I don’t know what else to think.”
Rebecca gripped the wheel, her knuckles turning white. “It’s not your business to think about,” she said haughtily. “When your Daddy made his mistakes and was sent to jail, I was devastated. Your Daddy is the love of my life, and my best friend. I didn’t just run out and find David to pass the time while Henry was gone. That would be cruel.”
“Maybe you didn’t mean for it to happen,” Meghan suggested softly.
“Mean for what to happen? I didn’t have an affair,” Rebecca insisted angrily. “You don’t know what you are talking about, and in fact, when you have a daughter someday, I hope she never speaks to you like this. Your disrespect is appalling, and I am flabbergasted by your rudeness, Meghan Truman.”
They drove into town and parked outside of the Peach Tree Grove Police Station. “Stay in the car,” Rebecca ordered.
“I’m coming in,” Meghan said firmly.
Rebecca marched up the stairs and inside the station, her nude heels clicking along the pavement as she stomped through the door. “Where is he?” she cried as she approached the front desk.
The uniformed officer positioned at the desk raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?” she asked. “Who are you trying to see?”
“I’m Rebecca Truman, and I need to see someone you’ve thrown in jail.”
The officer shook her head. “Visitors have to report to the north entrance of the building,” she informed her. “But unfortunately, visitor hours are over for the week. You can come back tomorrow at noon.”
“Noon?” Rebecca cried. “That’s too long. I can’t wait. Please?”
The officer sighed. “Who do you need to see?”
“David Major.”
The officer typed his name into her computer and shook her head. “He was just booked, Mrs. Truman,” she said apologetically. “I’m afraid he can’t have visitors until tomorrow evening, and that’s only if he shows good behavior today.”
“Good behavior?” Rebecca spat. “Do you even know him? David Major is a good man. He doesn’t deserve to be locked up in this trash pit. You will let me see him, or else.”
“Or else what?”
Meghan’s stomach sank as Doug Liman sauntered over. “Is there a problem here?” he asked the female officer at the desk.
“Not yet,” she answered. “But if this woman doesn’t back off, there will be.”
“What’s the issue?” Doug asked Rebecca.
“She won’t let me see David Major,” Rebecca complained, her face red and her eyes dancing with rage. “I need to see him now. You don’t understand. It is imperative that I see him.”
Doug took her by the elbow and gently led her away from the desk. Meghan followed along behind. “Ma’am,” he began. “We have policies here for a reason, and we can’t let you see him now. It’s past visiting time. We’re sorry, but it will have to wait.”
Rebecca leaned in and whispered into Doug’s ear. His eyes grew wide, and he nodded. “I see,” he told her. “Let me think for a moment, Mrs. Truman.”
Doug walked over to the officer at the desk and peered over her shoulder at the computer. He returned to the Trumans and nodded. “I’ll take you back to see him now. It will only be a short visit, but that’s the best I can do.”
“Thank you,” Rebecca gushed, her voice filled with relief. “Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means to me. I deeply appreciate your kindness.”
Ten minutes later, they were seated in a dimly lit meeting room. David was brought in; his dark hair was messy, and he had deep circles beneath his eyes. “David,” Rebecca cried as she embraced him. “Are you okay? My darling David, I am so sorry they were harassing you. Are you alright, my dear?”
“I’ve been better,” he shrugged. “Thank you for coming. It means a lot. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I couldn’t stay away,” she assured him. “Nothing will keep me away from you, my dear. NOTHING."
Meghan was puzzled. “Mama? Why are we here? What is going on?”
David turned to stare at her, his dark eyes large with confusion. “She doesn’t know?”
Just then, the door burst open, and Henry Truman marched in, his face a dark shade of beet red. “What is going on here?” he demanded as Rebecca pulled away from David. “Rebecca Truman, why are you here visiting this convict? Why did you drag our daughter down here? Have you been seeing him behind my back? Explain yourself.”
“Don’t say anything,” David urged Rebecca. “Don’t tell them. They don’t need to know our business.”
“Tell us what?” Meghan asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and moved to stand by her father. “What is going on between you two? Daddy deserves to know. Mama?”
Rebecca’s face fell. “I didn’t want you to find out like this,” she whispered as David’s eyes grew large. “This isn’t something I wanted you to know… at least not yet, Henry…”
“Find out what?” Henry asked coldly. “That you’ve been seeing this guy behind my back? Rebecca, tell the truth.”
“No,” Rebecca whimpered as she hung her head. “That isn’t what is going on, Henry. David isn’t my boyfriend, Henry. David is my son.”
20
“D oug!” Meghan called as she spotted Doug Liman walking down the hall of the police station. “Doug, wait.”
He turned around. “What can I do for you?”
“I need information,” she asked breathlessly.
“Look, Meghan, I’ve done a lot of favors for you today,” he began as he furrowed his brow. “I let you and your mom go back and talk to that inmate, and I even took your dad back there when he showed up. I can’t do much more…”
“Please,” she asked with desperation in her voice. “Why was he arrested? Why was David taken to jail?”
Doug stared at her. “That’s confidential information,” he shrugged. “I can’t tell you that. It’s pending investigation.”
“Doug, please,” she urged him. “This is an emergency. A family emergency.”
She and her father had both gasped when Rebecca had revealed that David was her son.
“Your son? Your son?” Henry roared. “How old are you?” he demanded as he turned to David.
“Don’t answer him,” Rebecca ordered David. “Henry, he was born before we got together. I was very young and very lost…”
Henry glowered at his wife. “I’m very lost in this story. How did this happen? How long have you known about this?”
Rebecca cleared her throat. “Remember when we broke up?”
“Yes?”
She took a deep breath. “I was new in Peach Tree Grove, and we had called things off. I was lost and alone, Henry, and I had a fling with a musician who was playing an open mic night. It meant nothing to me... but our encounter meant everything. I found out I was pregnant, and I left town.”
“I thought you went home to live with your parents after we broke up?”
“That’s what I told you,” she said as she cried. “I didn’t want you to know what happened. I hoped we would get back together.”
“What happened?”
“I went away to a home for unwed mothers,” she wept, her makeup beginning to smear as tears rolled down her cheeks. “And when the baby was born, a couple from Texas adopted him. It was a closed adoption, and I didn’t know a thing about the baby until he was older.”
Henry stared at her. “And this is him? David is the baby?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “He found me a few years ago. His adoptive parents moved to Peach Tree Grove with him when he was a teenager, and he went to school with our girls. He noticed the resemblance between himself and our daughters, and he contacted me. We did a DNA test, and David is my son.”
Meghan’s jaw had dropped. She studied David’s face, noticing the striking similarities between them. His dark eyes looked just like hers, and their hair fell in waves in all the same places. They shared the same olive complexion, and their dimples were nea
rly identical.
“Mama? Is it true?” she asked her mother.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Henry murmured.
Meghan had walked out the door; she knew her parents needed some time to talk, and she needed some fresh air. That’s when she had gone looking for Doug; if David was truly her brother, she needed to know why he had been arrested and if he was someone they could trust.
“Look, if I tell you, you have to keep it under wraps,” Doug whispered as a group of officers walked by. “Since I know Jack, I’ll do you a favor, but this is the last time I can help you.”