by Kay Stockham
Nick shoved Ethan into Luke’s hold in time to keep Jenn from flying toward Sean. Garret quickly took Nick’s place, and Ethan winced at the broken cry Jenn released.
Ethan jerked his arms loose from his brothers’ and moved to the crowded doorway, Garret and Luke at his heels.
“Nick, let me go! You heard what he did!”
Sean’s gaze met his the moment Ethan came into view, and Ethan knew by the man’s expression that Sean recognized him. Sean swallowed but made no move to defend himself.
“If I could do things over, I would.”
“But you can’t. How could you?” Jenn’s voice was raw with tears, pain.
Ethan never took his eyes off Megan’s ex-husband. “Where’s Megan?”
“I changed her tire and left like I told her I would. She was still sitting by the side of the road outside town when I came here.” The man stared down at the tattoo inscribed on the inside of his wrist. Above the number was a small cross and two teardrops. “I paid for what I did.”
“Nothing could ever pay for that,” Jenn said with a choked sob. “A couple years in prison is nothing for doing what you did. For murder! You should’ve been dealt the same hand you gave to Megan and her babies.”
Nick soothed his wife but apparently knew better than to try to get Jenn back inside the house.
Sean nodded in what appeared to be total agreement. “I know. Jenn, I know that. It sounds crazy but…1 agree. Look, a guy in prison lost his wife and baby to a drunk driver who just mowed them over on the guy’s front lawn. The drunk got off with time served, so Junior took things into his own hands and went to prison. When Junior heard what I’d—why I was there, he beat the hell out of me every chance he could. Got so bad the warden put us in side-by-side cells, trying to make us get along.”
Sean lifted his gaze to Jenn and, like it or not, Ethan saw the pain, the sincerity, of his words.
But he still wanted to beat Sean the same way Junior had.
“Did you?” Garret asked.
“Eventually. The hardest part wasn’t the beatings. I know it sounds crazy, but the hardest part was listening to Junior pray.” He ran a hand over his forehead. “Night after night Junior would sit on his bunk and read his Bible out loud. Then he’d start talking—praying—for me. One day when I was on the ground at Junior’s feet, something finally clicked.” Sean inhaled. “That’s why I’m here. Look, all I wanted was to set the record straight and smooth things over with you and Meggie. It wasn’t her fault. None of it. I did the things she said. I did more than that,” he said, shamefaced. “Kept her from calling, told her she was dead to all of you. I thought you needed to hear that from me, since you probably wouldn’t believe that coming from her.”
JENN’S HOUSE was something out of a magazine. Little candle lights in each window of the saltbox, the wreath lit on the door. A beautiful tree framed perfectly in the picture window.
Megan stared at the tree, unsure of what to do or where to go now. Sean had pulled away and kept driving down the road after his little speech, and she’d climbed back into her car and sat there a long time, shocked, stunned, digesting his words and finally realizing that this was how Jenn must have felt when she’d suddenly appeared in Beauty. She’d wanted Jenn to give her a second chance, wanted Jenn’s forgiveness, and there Sean was, wanting the same thing.
“Oh, the irony,” Megan whispered, staring up at the sky. “You’re good.”
She’d tried to drive by Beauty and keep going but couldn’t. Now here she sat, staring at Jenn’s home, still trying to catch her breath. She felt like a fish. All these years she’d been caught on a hook and she’d thrashed and flailed, reacting to her father, to her mother, Jenn, Sean and the miscarriages and all that had happened.
But she was tired of thrashing, tired of hanging from that stupid hook and she wanted a home. A family. A new start. A life where she was Megan, not Megs or Meggie.
She’d come to Beauty under false pretenses. To get well, hide, and if she were honest, to rub Jenn’s nose in what Megan had endured on her sister’s behalf as though Jenn owed her for something she didn’t even know had occurred. In that sense, Megan knew her thoughts weren’t rational but those of the child she’d been. Once here, she’d realized it didn’t matter, not anymore. Jenn would probably never understand the complexity of her decision or the anger Megan had held inside, but she didn’t need to know. It had been Megan’s decision, her choice. Her life to live.
She ached with wanting to go knock on that door and talk to Jenn, laugh with her, be the sisters they were supposed—but never had been allowed—to be. How could she face Jenn now? And Ethan—Maybe Sean wasn’t the monster he’d been, maybe he wasn’t stalking her with the violence of the past, but how could Ethan possibly—
The door to Jenn and Nick’s house opened and people spilled out. Not just Ethan but also Luke, Garret and Alan as well as Tobias Richardson and several of the cousins she remembered from Thanksgiving dinner. But why were they all there? Together?
Garret and Tobias had climbed into Garret’s SUV while her attention had been on the others. Garret swung the vehicle out of the drive, the bright headlights flashing over her car where she’d parked along the street in a shadowy area. The lights blinded her but nothing could’ve kept her from hearing Ethan’s hoarse shout.
Unsure of what to do, she fumbled for the keys, even though spots danced in front of her eyes due to the bright lights. But it was too late.
In a matter of seconds everything changed. She heard the roar of an engine as Garret gunned the motor and headed right toward her, squealing to a stop and blocking her exit. Ethan ran toward her, skidding to a halt when he reached the car.
“Megan? Open the door. Megan, open the door!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
TREMBLING UNCONTROLLABLY, Megan pulled the lock up. Two seconds later Ethan was in the car with her, releasing her seat belt and pulling her out of the vehicle into his arms.
“Oh, thank God.”
“What’s wrong? Is Simon okay? Did something happen? Where’s Jenn?”
Ethan had buried his nose in her hair and at her words he squeezed her so tight the air squeaked from her lungs.
“He’s fine. She’s fine.”
She couldn’t tell which of them was trembling more, her or Ethan, but when she opened her eyes the rest of the Tulanes had gathered around them in the middle of the rain-soaked street.
Ethan drew back and shifted his hands to her face, his eyes glittering beneath the streetlight. “Are you all right? We were just leaving to search for you.”
“But…why?” she whispered. “I told you what I’d done, that Sean had followed me.”
He pulled her back into his arms and kissed her temple, her hair. “And you scared ten years off my life by taking off like that. When we talked to Sean—”
“You talked to Sean?” She pushed at his confining arms. “When?”
Ethan released her enough that she could look up at him, but he kept her tight to his side, like he had to have contact.
Jenn moved closer toward Megan and Ethan. “Megan, why didn’t you tell us you were running from him?”
The knot in Megan’s stomach returned with force. “Jenn, I swear I didn’t think he’d come here.”
“But why didn’t you tell us so we could help you?”
Megan looked at the faces surrounding her and saw fierce loyalty etched on every one of them. Her heart broke. She’d wanted a family for so long, wanted to belong, and here she was an honorary member as Simon’s nanny. But she’d abused their trust in the worst way. “I was scared,” she managed to whisper. “I knew you didn’t want me here and if I told you that…I had to see you, to say I was sorry.”
“In case Sean caught up with you?”
“Yes.”
“In case he hurt you?” Jenn pressed, horrified.
Big tears filled her eyes that no dam could hold back. With a gasp Jenn closed the distance between them in two steps and
Ethan released her as Jenn’s arms surrounded her.
“The things he did to you. Oh, Megan.”
Eyes closed, she relished the feel of Jenn hugging her. “It was what it was.” She smoothed her hand over Jenn’s hair, just as she used to do before the madness of sibling rivalry kicked in. “I’m sorry I came. Jenn, I never would’ve endangered you or the baby. I would die before I’d let that happen, please believe that.”
“Ahem. I, uh, think we need to go inside,” Alan said from the sidelines, emotion clogging his voice.
“We’ll be in in a minute. Nick, pry your wife off and calm her down. Jenn, she’s fine, she’s here, and she’s not going anywhere. Are you, sweetheart?”
Nick plucked Jenn’s arms from around her and gave Jenn a comforting squeeze. “Come on, babe. The sooner they talk, the sooner you can hug Megan again.”
Ethan turned to face her fully, but Megan was very aware that none of his family moved. They all watched. Listened.
“Promise me you won’t ever pull a stunt like that again. If you have a problem, we have a problem. You scared the hell out of me when I realized you’d left.”
“I’m sorry.” She sounded like a broken record. “I was…trying to do the responsible thing. I knew if I left, Sean would follow me and you’d all be safe.”
“Megan…did I scare you tonight, with my response? Is that why you ran instead of trusting me to help you?”
She closed her eyes and leaned against him, exhausted physically and emotionally. “No. No,” she repeated, raising her head so that she could look him in the eyes, careful to keep her voice low. She had a lot of explaining to do to Ethan and Jenn, but she didn’t want to do it on the street. And it would take time. Time she now had with them? “You’ve had plenty of opportunity to hurt me if you wanted. I know you’d never lift a hand to me.”
“We’d set him straight if he ever made you think he would,” Garret informed her.
“In the old days the neighboring men would get together and set a bundle of sticks on the porch.”
The group as a whole turned to stare at Tobias Richardson in confusion.
Realizing he’d gained everyone’s attention, Garret’s best friend shrugged. “Just saying. It was a signal to the man of the house that he was being watched and if his wife and kids were abused again, they’d use the sticks on him.”
Ethan sighed at being interrupted and Megan found herself wishing for privacy more than ever.
“Megan, I know you would never have put Simon at risk.”
“But I did. I didn’t mean to but I did.”
“No, you didn’t. I was upset by the news but only because you hadn’t told me you needed help, not because I thought you’d risked Simon. You threw up at the idea of Simon thinking he had to eat dirt cookies, and you left town the moment you realized your ex-husband was here. Those aren’t the traits of someone who’d put her interests above someone she loves, that was you protecting him.”
“You were angry. You can’t deny that.”
“Of course I was angry. I was angry because Mrs. Dunley didn’t make it through her surgery today.”
He’d told her about his former teacher, how sweet she was. How upset he was that he couldn’t perform her operation. “Oh, Ethan. I’m so sorry.” No wonder he’d been in such a mood.
“I know these things happen, but I was angry as hell that it had to happen to her. I’ve been so busy doing administrative crap and sitting through meetings that I scheduled her surgery with another doctor when she requested me.”
“I know.” She smoothed her hands over his chest. “But, Ethan, you can’t blame yourself for that. She might have died no matter who performed the surgery.”
“I know. But today it hit home that I’ve been chasing a dream I don’t really want. That’s why I told the hospital board to take me out of the running for chief. When I think of the time I’ve wasted with you and Simon, I get angry all over again.”
“Oh, Ethan, are you sure? You’re giving up the promotion?” Jenn asked.
“You’re upset.” Megan fingered his coat. “With me and with Mrs. Dunley’s death, maybe now isn’t the time to make decisions.”
He dropped a kiss to her lips, lingering over the contact. “It’s the perfect time. I thought I wanted it, but I found out today what I really want. I love what I do as a doctor and surgeon, not sitting at a desk or in a meeting. I want to operate, but I want a life, too. I want to raise my son, be a father and share all that with the woman I love.”
The air left her lungs in a rush. “Love?”
He framed her face with his hands. “Love,” he repeated softly. “Will you stay, Megan? We’ll take things slow, get to know each other better and do things right, but please, don’t go.”
“I want you to stay, too.” Jenn smiled. “My baby will need you to teach her all that girlie stuff I don’t know.”
“And Simon needs a mother,” Luke said as he rejoined the group, carrying Simon in his arms. Luke was followed closely by Marilyn, a relieved smile of welcome on her gently lined face.
Simon was dressed in his pajamas but the moment he saw them, he shoved at Luke’s shoulders to be put down. His slippers made a scratching sound on the asphalt as Simon ran toward them. Ethan scooped the boy up into his arms only to give Simon to Megan before wrapping them both in his embrace.
“What do you say?” Ethan asked softly. “We need you, sweetheart. We love you. Are you ready to be part of our family?”
Megan laughed softly. Her chest hurt it was so full, her heart ready to explode with love. She raised her mouth to Simon’s ear and whispered to the boy, drawing a giggle from him.
“Well, Simon?” Ethan smiled at them both. “What did Mommy Megan say?”
With his little arms looped around her neck, Simon grinned from ear to ear. “Mommy say yes!”
EPILOGUE
Eight months later
SHE SHOULD HAVE REALIZED her perfect big sister would one day grow up to be the perfect doctor’s wife, with the perfect house in the country, the perfect family and the perfect business growing by leaps and bounds. It was all so…
“Perfect,” Jenn said with a smile.
She pulled up in front of Simon Says Day Care & Preschool. She never would have believed it possible for Megan to have chosen this career for herself. But Jenn had to admit her sister had the patience of a saint when dealing with the children. She was fun and creative, and she’d already made a name for herself in town, so much so everyone wanted their children enrolled in Simon’s namesake.
“There you are,” Megan said when Jenn entered the brightly painted door. “I was beginning to think you were taking her with you.”
“I wish I could.” Jenn sighed and kissed Rosie, not wanting to leave her daughter for her first day back at school but knowing without a doubt her baby girl was in good hands. Megan wasn’t the teenager of years ago and after Megan and Ethan had married at Easter, they’d gotten a little surprise of their own. Simon’s little sister would be born around Christmas and the girl cousins wouldn’t be far apart in age.
And since she was nearly back to her prebaby weight and still going down thanks to good old-fashioned nursing, she couldn’t wait to be the skinny sister and rub it in when Megan waddled like a duck.
Megan pried Rosie from her grasp and settled the baby against her chest like a pro.
Jenn smoothed her fingers over Rosie’s cheek and kissed her repeatedly.
“Jenn, enough already. You’re going to smother her.”
“You’ll call me if—”
“Yes.”
“And you have all the numbers if—”
“Yes.”
“You—”
“Yes, yes, yes! Rosie will be fine and if we have any questions or problems, I’ll call. Immediately.”
Jenn noted the way Megan made goofy faces at an oblivious Rosie. Rosie would be all right. Just as she and Megan would be all right. They still argued over everything but things were differen
t now, better than they ever had been, and she knew it was because they’d learned to talk to each other. They’d learned to coexist, protected each other’s back to anyone who dared to say a negative thing and could put themselves in each other’s shoes—not that she’d ever be able to wear those ridiculous spikes Megan preferred.
“You know, Nick said if you refused to leave he’d come carry you out.”
“Oh, hush. You wouldn’t call him.”
“Would, too.” Megan shot her a superior, older-sibling look. “Jenn, you’re late for work. Get out.”
Jenn huffed but acknowledged the time crunch. “Bye, lovebug.” She leaned close and kissed Rosie again. “You be good and remember what Mommy told you. If Aunt Megan is mean?” she said sweetly, sliding Megan a playful glare. “You have my permission to pee on her.”
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3860-3
SIMON SAYS MOMMY
Copyright © 2009 by Dorma Kay Stockham.
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The Tulanes of Tennessee