Blame It on Texas

by Christie Craig

  Your dad was a good man, Zoe. He would never have hurt anyone. He was so scared because Dean was a cop. He called Windsor panicking, thinking since Windsor had wanted to put a stop to it, he might help. But instead he told your dad that there was another cop involved and he was on the way up there now to finish the job. He told your dad to keep quiet or they’d pin everything on him since he’d been with them on that fishing trip a few months back.

  He got you out of that closet, and brought you home. You were in shock and dehydrated. We took care of you. We don’t know how long you were in that closet. You didn’t talk for a week. Your dad didn’t know what to do. Windsor called him furious asking where you were; your dad lied and said when he found you in the closet you were already dead and he took you out and buried you.

  We decided to wait awhile until we got enough money to leave town, a week, maybe two, and then we’d drop you at a police station. But Windsor kept calling saying the other kidnapper, the other cop, didn’t believe you were dead. Then a little girl about your size died in our town. Your dad worked at his father’s funeral home, and he had a crazy idea. He fixed it so they would stop looking for you. And as soon as we sold the house, and had enough money to run, we planned to drop you off at a police station. But right after that your real parents were killed in a plane crash.

  By then, we both loved you so much, but I wanted to do the right thing. So I went to see the Bradfords. Mrs. Daniels met me at the door and wouldn’t let me in. I told her I had news about you, but she didn’t believe me, and on top of that she didn’t even seem to care. She threatened to call the police if I ever came back. Oh, Zoe, she was so cold, I simply could not see taking you to her. So we walked away from everything, our families, our friends, and the house, and we moved to Alabama. And we lied. We lied to you. We lied to everyone.

  We were going to tell you when you were eighteen, but your father died and I was so afraid if I told you the truth that you’d hate me. So I took this lie to my grave with me. I hope someday when you have a child of your own, you realize how easy it would be to live a lie for fear of losing that child.

  Zoe left the letter on the table and went into her room and cried some more.

  When she woke up in the middle of the night, she scanned the letter and sent a copy to Tyler’s e-mail. She was about to go to bed when she got an e-mail back from him. What was he doing up at this hour? The same reasons she was, heartbroken and couldn’t sleep? As she clicked the mouse to open the e-mail, she held her breath, hoping for a sign that told her he cared.

  He replied with three words. Are you okay?

  Not I miss you. Or, I can’t stand to be without you.

  She answered back with two words. I’m fine.

  Then she went back to bed and cried some more.

  When Zoe got home from school on Friday, she was exhausted. But being at work helped. She only thought about Tyler every fifteen seconds instead of every three. Zoe heard a knock. Her heart jumped in her throat. Tyler? It wasn’t him. But they were from Texas. Mr. Bradford and another man stood outside her door.

  The stranger was a big man, and his two black eyes told Zoe that he’d been the man who’d broken into her apartment.

  “May we come in?” Mr. Bradford asked.

  “Why?” Zoe asked.

  “To talk,” he said.

  She looked at the big man and back to Mr. Bradford. “You can come in, but he can’t. He broke into my apartment.”

  Mr. Bradford moved in and sat on the sofa, while the big guy waited outside. The old man looked uncomfortable, and Zoe worried he was in pain. “Do you need something to drink?”

  “No, I’m fine. I realize that my family behaved badly. I guess I didn’t behave much better by not stopping it.” He paused.

  “If you are waiting for me to disagree with you, you’ll be disappointed.”

  He smiled at her. “You’ve got your mom’s wit, you know?”

  Zoe hesitated. “No, I wasn’t being funny, just blunt, and that came from my dad, Ralph Adams.”

  “Didn’t Tyler contact you? The DNA test proved you are my granddaughter.”

  “I know,” Zoe said. “But Ralph and Mildred Adams were my parents. They raised me. Loved me. Spoiled me a little bit, but they taught me right from wrong, and more importantly they taught me how to treat people. It’s something your family knows nothing about.”

  He frowned. “We lost so much. First my wife in a car accident, then you, and then your parents. Somewhere along the way, we got bitter. But you are still a part of us. You belong with us.” When she shook her head, he added, “There’s money that should be yours.”

  “I don’t want it,” Zoe said. “I know you find that hard to believe. But money doesn’t make people happy. That family of yours is the most miserable bunch I’ve ever met.”

  He laughed. “You do tell it like it is, don’t you?”

  “Pretty much.”

  He paused. “I’m dying.”

  Zoe’s heart ached for him. “I know. And I’m really sorry about that. And if we lived close, I’d visit you. But we don’t. I’ll call if it will make things better for you.”

  He sighed. “I’m leaving you the money; you can do with it what you want. Give it to charity if you want.”

  Zoe sighed. “What kind of cancer do you have?”

  “Liver.”

  “Then I’ll leave it to the cancer foundation that researches liver cancer.”

  Saturday night, Tyler called Rick and told him to come over. He handed him a brown envelope. “Austin said it was the easiest job he’s ever done. One day and the bastard showed his true colors. Get this, the guy went to lunch at a strip club. Took a girl into the back room. Then met his too-young intern at a hotel after work.”

  “I figured as much,” Rick said.

  “And we did some checking. Did you know his father-in-law is Mr. Quarles, meaning it’s his father-in-law’s law practice?”

  “Just gets better and better,” Rick said.

  “What are you going to do with the photos?” Tyler asked.

  “I’d love to take them over to his law office and post them on the reception room walls. But that’s not my place. I’m giving them to Ellen; if she needs to use them, she can. Or she can burn them. I just wanted her to have a little ammunition.”

  Tyler nodded. “You do know that we consider her part of this family, and if you hurt her, all three of us will be on you like stink on shit.”

  “Don’t worry, you won’t need to.” Rick looked at Tyler. “How are you doing?”

  “How do I look?” Tyler asked.

  “Like something a dog wouldn’t eat.”

  “That’s how I feel.”

  Sunday morning, Tyler showed up for the family breakfast under duress. He’d been called by each of his siblings, and by Anna, and told if he wasn’t there, they’d come get him.

  Breakfast was good. Lola made French toast, and Tyler ate more than he’d eaten in the last five days.

  No one mentioned Zoe; he figured they had discussed it and decided against it. But Ramon never was one to follow rules.

  “Why the hell did you let her get away?” Ramon asked when he walked Tyler back to his car a little after nine that morning.

  “She left,” Tyler said.

  “Then go get her and bring her back. She loves you; you could see it in the way she looked at you.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not like you. I’m not good at this.”

  “Not good at what?”

  “Relationships. Statistically, I’m preconditioned to screw them up.” He rubbed his fist, still bruised from where he’d hit Leo, and the PI, and then Leo again.

  Ramon saw Tyler’s reflex. “You think…” He paused. “Unless you’re keeping something from me, the only time you’ve ever raised your fist at someone was to protect yourself or someone you love. And if you think that that makes you like our old man, you’re giving him way too much credit. Hell, if I’d been the one to find Leo with S
am the other night, I’d beat the hombre within an inch of his life.” Ramon shook his head.

  “It’s not just that. I wouldn’t hit a woman, but I still screw up.”

  “How?”

  “Statistically…”

  “Don’t go jabbering about statistical crap and logic, Tyler. We all know you’re smart. But let me tell you something, brother, being smart doesn’t mean you got a lick of common sense. And right now your lack of it is showing big-time.”

  “Both Sam and I—”

  “I know you guys were young, and Lola and I were already leaving the house to avoid the crap that you and Sam witnessed. Perhaps we were wrong, but we were too young to realize things. And yes, Dad was a piece of shit. But that old man is dead now. Been dead a long time. Why don’t you try burying him?”

  Tyler shook his head. “It’s better this way. It will just hurt more if she leaves later.” Though he didn’t think it really could hurt more.

  Ramon scratched his head. “Dios! This isn’t about dear old Dad. It’s about Lisa.”

  “Not true,” Tyler growled.

  “You just said, she’d leave you later. You’re just scared. All these years, I admired you going into the police force and doing all this tough-guy stuff—my brother, the big bad guy who wasn’t afraid of anything. Who knew you were just a scared wimp? Your sisters had it right, dressing you up as a little girl.”

  Tyler bristled. “I’m not scared.” But even as he said it, he knew he was lying. He hadn’t wanted to care about anyone since the force and then Lisa. Because caring about people meant you could be hurt.

  “Then go take a chance, damn it. Quit being afraid of losing something you don’t have, and something you won’t have if you don’t grow a pair of cojones.”

  Ramon walked away. Tyler muttered curses and got in his car. He’d started back to the office when he saw the sign for the I-10 East. It was crazy, but it wasn’t. He took the exit and started to Alabama.

  Rick asked LeAnn to watch Ricky for a couple of hours. She said she was happy to do it. And when Tony walked him out to the car, he told him that LeAnn was pregnant. Rick had never seen Tony so happy. Rick gave the lucky man a hug.

  When Rick pulled up in Ellen’s driveway, he didn’t see the Porsche parked in front of the house until he cut off his engine. He knew who owned the car. He was about to leave because he didn’t think Ellen wanted him here, but Ellen and Noel walked out.

  Shit!

  They hadn’t seen him yet but would if he started the car.

  Noel turned and waved his hands in anger at Ellen. Rick couldn’t make out the angry words, but if the look on her face was any indication, it hadn’t been nice.

  Rick couldn’t stop himself then. He got out of the car. Hearing Noel say the word bitch had Rick slamming his car door shut.

  Both Ellen and Noel turned toward him.

  He walked up, eyed Noel coldly, and stood by Ellen.

  “So this is him, the guy you’re spending all your time with instead of our daughter,” Noel sneered.

  Rick smiled, thrilled that Ellen had told this asshole about him.

  “What’s so damn funny?” Noel asked.

  “Not a damn thing,” Rick said. “I’m just happy to be here. I’m a lucky man.” He wrapped his arm around Ellen’s waist. “Did you know that Mr. Quarles of this guy’s law firm is his father-in-law?”

  Ellen looked puzzled.

  “Are you having me investigated? Who the hell do you think you are?” Noel asked.

  Rick bit back his smile. “I’m the man you’re going to see a lot of around here.”

  This wasn’t the way he wanted to play this, but what the hell. He handed Ellen the brown envelope. “Got you a little gift.”

  She looked confused, and he motioned for her to open it.

  “Couldn’t you wait until I left?” Noel asked.

  Ellen looked from Rick to Noel, and, stepping back a few steps, she pulled out the photos and held them close. At first she didn’t understand. She shifted the photos. Her eyes widened, probably getting to the image of Noel sticking money in a stripper’s panties. He held his breath, praying she wasn’t going to be angry at him for having it done.

  “What the hell is that?” Noel asked.

  Ellen looped her arm with Rick’s and started walking to the door. “Good-bye, Noel.”

  “You’re not planning on sharing your gift with him?” Rick said.

  “If I have to, I will. Did you take these?”

  “The Only in Texas team did.” He frowned. “I asked them to check into it.”

  She shook her head. “His father-in-law really owns the firm?”

  “Yup. And I’m assuming his father-in-law wouldn’t be happy to learn his daughter’s husband was a rounder. I don’t think the jerk ever told his wife about Britney.”

  “I think you’re probably right.” She leaned against his arm as they walked to the front porch. “Where’s Ricky?”

  “LeAnn is watching him for a bit.” He heard Noel’s Porsche drive off. “I’m in love with you, by the way. And it’s not because of Ricky. I mean, I love that you helped me, but… it’s you. Everything about you. The way you approach life. I want you in my life.”

  She gazed up at him with a smile that warmed his heart. “I come with a kid.”

  He grinned. “So do I.”

  Tyler stopped three times. Twice for gas and a bathroom. When about an hour outside of Zoe’s town, he stopped for a clean shirt and some deodorant at Walmart. While looking for the men’s department, he ran across the toy department and found one other item he had to have. Then as he went to payout, he passed the grocery store department and filled his cart with a few other items.

  At 9:45 p.m., he parked in front of Zoe’s apartment. Her lights were still on. As he made his way to the door, his heart did a bad rendition of the theme song from Jaws. Ramon was right. He was scared. Scared she’d reject him the way Lisa had rejected him. But Zoe was so much more important to him than Lisa had ever been.

  He knocked on the door. And he heard Lucky meowing. At least he knew someone was excited to see him.

  He saw the peephole go black. And could swear he heard her gasp.

  The door opened, and when his eyes lit on her, his heart felt like it took flight. She had on pajamas, pink ones. Seeing her made his chest swell with emotion. Happiness and then fear.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  He held out the game. “I lost my partner at Strip Scrabble.”

  She didn’t smile, and he realized how that might have sounded. That this was all about sex. And it wasn’t.

  “I miss you,” he blurted out. “And I realized that I might have screwed up the best thing that ever happened to me because I didn’t tell you how I felt. And I was going to tell you, but I got scared, and then you left and I really got scared.”

  She bit down on her lip and looked like she was going to cry.

  He didn’t know if that was good or bad, so he figured he’d better talk fast. “Seeing my parents’ dysfunctional relationship left me feeling impaired, but I moved past it. Then between the force accusing me of being a corrupt cop and Lisa walking out… I put up barriers. It seemed logical that if I didn’t want to feel that way, all I had to do was not let people get close. You managed to break through those barriers. And now I love you. You know all my flaws. You get along with my crazy family. Both my real family and the friends. You make me laugh and…” Lucky started doing circles around his ankles. “And I love your cat, too.”

  When she didn’t say anything, he asked, “Can I come in?”

  She stepped back.

  He and Lucky walked inside.

  “Can you say that again?” she asked.

  “Can I come in?” He grinned, knowing that wasn’t what she meant, but he was just so happy to see her and she’d let him in, which meant he might just have a chance.

  “I don’t mean that.”

  Hope filled his chest. “Would it be the
part about how I loved your cat?”

  She arched one brow and looked at him. “You think you can just waltz in here and tell me you love me and that’ll make everything hunky-dory.”

  Was that humor in her voice? Or was he just wanting it to be? “That was my first plan,” he said, his hope dwindling because he wasn’t completely sure if she was joking.

  “And your second one?”

  “I’m working on it right now. Usually, I always have a backup plan, but… lately, and only with you, I don’t have a backup plan. I mean, I always follow logic, but logic wasn’t any help at all. So I took a chance and followed my heart, and that’s why I’m here.”

  “Your heart?”

  “Yup.” He hesitated and then handed her the bag of grocery items. She looked into the bag of bananas, white bread, and mayonnaise, and then back up at him in puzzlement. “I know it’s stupid. I don’t even know why I bought them. I saw bananas, and all I could think of was you and your sandwiches and how much I wanted you back.” He paused. “I do not like banana sandwiches. To be honest, I really don’t like them, but I’ll eat them for the rest of my life if you’ll make them for me. I love you, Zoe.”

  She moved in. “You realize that once you say something like that, you can’t take it back.”

  He fit his hands in the curve of her waist. Touching her sent waves of sweet pain running through him. “Yeah, it’s like toothpaste. You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. Lola Lopez.”

  “She’s a smart woman,” Zoe said.

  “That she is, but more important is how you feel about her brother.” He arched a brow.

  She smiled and leaned in closer, her lips a whisper from his. “You mean the guy who hates banana sandwiches but will eat them for me?”

  “Yeah, that would be him.”

  “I’m crazy about him.”

  “Crazy enough to follow him back to Texas?”

  “Yup, that crazy.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his chest while her blue eyes gazed up at him. “I love you, Tyler Lopez.”

  He laughed and picked her up. “And you can’t take it back.”

  “Never,” she said, and kissed him.