by Regina Hart
“For what?” Alonzo’s voice was husky. His coffee-colored eyes were dark and dreamy. He made her forget where she was.
Doreen looked around the café. Her customers—both regulars and those here just for the sesquicentennial—regarded her with surprise and amusement. But she didn’t regret her impulse. She’d do it again.
She took his left hand and smiled into his puzzled gaze. “Last night, I was blinded by pride. The truth is, I would fight for you, too.”
Alonzo regarded her with a warmth that woke the butterflies in her stomach. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?”
She gave him a flirtatious smile. “For starters. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
She thought she heard Alonzo groan. With a wink, she walked past him and into her kitchen. So this is female empowerment. She liked it.
Darius rang his parents’ doorbell Friday evening.
“Don’t you have a key to your parents’ house?” June sounded baffled.
“No, I don’t.” Darius met her gaze over his shoulder.
Noah exchanged a look with his mother. “That’s cray.”
Yeah, cray. Darius smiled at his half brother’s use of the popular slang for “weird.” Maybe not having a key to one’s family home was odd for a normal family. But Darius couldn’t think of anyone who considered Simon and Ethel Knight normal parents.
The front door opened, framing Ethel in the threshold. She scowled at him. “You didn’t tell me you were coming for dinner.”
“We’re not staying.”
His mother noticed June and Noah on the steps behind him. Her scowl deepened. “You brought company? Who are . . .” Ethel’s dark brown eyes sharpened on Noah. She swayed. “Oh, my Lord.”
Darius stepped forward to catch his mother. His hands banded her forearms. “Steady.”
Her eyes pleaded with him. Her whisper rushed on a breath of air. “Is he your son?”
“You know he’s not,” Darius whispered back. He caught June and Noah’s concerned gazes. “Come in.”
Darius led them into his parents’ great room. Ethel leaned heavily on his arm. June and Noah wandered past him. What did they think as they studied the white walls dotted with framed dried flowers, Ethel’s collection of ornamental birds, and the heavy red curtains that guarded against the natural light?
Darius led his mother to her stiff red sofa. “Sit down, Mom.”
Ethel ignored him. She stared fixedly at the younger version of her husband of thirty-three years. “How old are you?”
Noah faced her. “I’m seventeen, ma’am.”
Ethel swayed on her feet.
Darius’s heart leaped. “Mom, sit before you fall.”
“Who was at the door?” Simon’s voice accompanied his footfalls on the staircase.
With a surprising burst of energy, Ethel tore free of Darius’ support. She marched across the room, meeting Simon at the threshold. “Your whore and her bas—”
“Watch your mouth!” A sudden flash of white-hot rage burned through Darius. He’d never spoken to his parents like that before. He hoped they’d never give him reason to speak like that to them ever again.
Ethel spun to face him, shock stamped on her face. Simon stared across the room as though he’d been confronted by ghosts. Darius didn’t have a lot of moments with his parents for which he could look back and be proud. This evening wouldn’t change that.
“Dad, you’ve met June Cale.” Darius stood between her and Noah. His younger brother hadn’t taken his eyes off Simon since the older man had entered the room. “But it’s about time you met her son, Noah. Your sperm helped make this moment possible.”
“June.” Simon’s voice was hollow.
Ethel grabbed a fistful of her husband’s red shirt and shook him. “Did you know you had a son by her? Did you?”
Simon looked down at his wife. His arms hung limply at his sides. “I . . . Yes.”
“Aiiyee!” Ethel pounded Simon’s chest.
Darius stepped forward to stop his mother, but June caught his arm. She shook her head, cautioning him to let his parents work this out. Darius stepped back.
Ethel’s tirade was painful to hear, painful to watch. “Everyone was talking, whispering about you sleeping with other women. But you told me you weren’t having affairs. You’re a liar!”
Her tears were the sobs of a woman betrayed. Darius’s heart broke for her. She’d married his father because she was pregnant with Darius. And now she was left to wonder how many other children Simon had fathered.
Simon grabbed her wrists. “Ethel, calm down.”
“Calm down!” Ethel’s scream could shatter glass. “Did you pay her? Did you send her money?”
“No, he didn’t.” June’s voice was kind but firm. “I took care of Noah on my own. Simon’s never even met him. We didn’t have contact with anyone in your family before Darius found us.”
Ethel turned on Darius. Wide, wet streaks dampened his mother’s face. Her eyes were red and puffy. She pointed a finger at him. “You. Did you bring them here to humiliate me?”
Darius shook his head, hating the pain he was causing her. “No, Mom. That wasn’t my intent.”
Ethel continued to glare at him. “Then what did you hope to accomplish?”
Darius pushed his fists into the front pockets of his pants. “Dad’s plan to run for public office should be a family decision. Noah is family.” He held Simon’s gaze. “He’s my brother and your son. You may not have acknowledged him, but I don’t want him hurt if the media finds out about him.”
Simon snorted. “The Monitor is the only paper that’s going to cover the mayoral race. And you’re not going to say anything that could embarrass your own family.”
“I’m not the only reporter at the paper.” Darius crossed his arms. “Opal Gutierrez interviewed you when you announced your petition. She’d love to get her hands on this story.”
“Tell her you want to cover it.” Simon shrugged.
Darius dragged a hand over his close-cropped hair. “That’s sure to make her suspicious. And I’m not going to hide Noah for you. It’s time you acknowledged him.”
Ethel stuck her finger in Simon’s face. “I’m through with your bullshit. I’m through with being humiliated by you because you can’t keep your dick in your pants. I told you before that if you run for mayor, I’m leaving you. Well, that’s just what I’m going to do now.”
His mother spun and raced up the stairs. Simon stood and watched her. “Ethel!”
Darius gestured toward the staircase. “Aren’t you going after her?”
Simon shrugged. “Your mother’s too damn emotional. Give her time to cool off. She’s not going anywhere.”
June adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Frankly, Simon, I can’t believe she’s stayed with you as long as she has. You’re a piece of work.”
Simon reared his head in surprise. “What does that mean?”
“It means you’re a pig.” June sighed. “I knew you were never going to be part of Noah’s life. You made that extremely clear. The only reason we’re here is that he was curious about you.”
“He’s grown up well. He looks just like me.” Simon’s gaze was fixated on Noah.
“Any resemblance is only skin deep. Noah’s a good and decent person.” She crossed the room and got right in Simon’s face. “If one harsh word about my son shows up in any paper, TV, or radio in connection with you running for mayor, I will come back to Trinity Falls and peel the skin off your ass like an orange.”
Darius didn’t doubt June’s threat. Apparently, neither did Simon.
After a moment’s consideration, his father nodded. “All right. I’ll withdraw my petition.”
“Good.” June turned to Noah. “Has your curiosity been satisfied?”
Noah pulled his gaze from Simon. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Take us home, Darius.” June started toward the front door as though she expected Darius and Noah to follow her.
&nb
sp; “Wait.” Simon looked Noah up and down. “You must be about seventeen now.”
“Yes, sir.” Noah stood awkwardly in front of the father he’d met for the first time in his life just minutes ago.
Darius moved to stand beside his younger brother.
Simon spared his oldest son a glance before returning his attention to Noah. “What college are you going to?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” Noah’s shrug was a Knight mannerism. “I’m looking at a couple. I was thinking about Trinity Falls University.”
Simon brushed that suggestion aside. “No, no. That’s not good enough for a Knight.”
June walked back to the group, putting a hand on her son’s shoulder. “He’s a Cale.”
Darius arched an eyebrow. “A little late for paternal instincts, isn’t it?”
He escorted June and Noah out of his parents’ house and back into his car.
Noah settled onto the middle of the backseat. “I didn’t think he was that bad.”
Darius watched his brother from the rearview mirror. “You didn’t grow up with him.”
June buckled her seat belt. “How did you grow up in that house?”
“I didn’t.” He’d grown up in Ean and Quincy’s homes.
“I used to envy you, growing up with both parents.” Noah’s voice was pensive. “But I think I was the lucky one.”
Darius smiled without humor. “Yeah, you were.”
June looked away, wiping a hand across her eyes. “Do you think he’s telling the truth? Will he give up his petition?”
“I think so.” Darius pulled away from the curb.
But had Simon’s decision come too late to save his marriage? It seemed Darius had spent his whole life dreading, and yet expecting, his parents to divorce. Had it finally come to that? Only time would tell.
One thing he’d learn from this experience is that there are some stories the media should leave alone. His half brother was one of them. Dr. Peyton Harris’s private life was another. He owed the professor an apology.
Nessa Linden wasn’t happy to see Simon Saturday morning. He entered the councilwoman’s home, anyway.
She locked the door before confronting him. “It’s not a good idea for you to be here. I can’t be seen endorsing your campaign.”
“I’m not going to run for mayor.”
“Because of your sons?”
Simon gave her a sharp look. “How did you know about that?”
She walked past him into her living room. “I underestimated Darius. I didn’t think he’d have the balls to bring his brother into the equation.”
“Everything’s fallen apart.” Simon chewed his inner cheek. “Ethel left me last night. I don’t know where she is. I called Darius this morning and he blames me.”
How had his life gone so wrong? Why did his son hate him? Where was his wife?
“You’re right. You’re no longer a viable candidate for mayor—if you ever were. And the sesquicentennial is only a week away.” Nessa settled onto her black leather sofa. The full skirt of her cream sundress spread around her. “I’ll have to think of something else.”
“For what?” Simon paced her living room.
“For what I have in mind for Trinity Falls.” She smoothed her cap of dark brown hair.
Simon stilled. “What are you planning to do?”
Nessa crossed her legs. “That no longer concerns you.”
Simon chuckled without humor. He tucked his hands into his front pants pockets and rocked forward on his toes. “If you’re planning to do something to hurt the town, you’d better hope Ramona, Doreen, and Megan don’t hear about it.” Or Darius, for that matter.
Nessa’s dark brown eyes were cold. “How would they learn of it? We’re the only ones who know I have a plan, and neither of us would say anything, would we?”
He heard the threat in her voice. Simon wasn’t impressed. Nessa had a long way to go to match Ramona for intimidation.
“I’m no longer your concern, Nessa. I’ll show myself out.”
Simon needed a way to get back into his family’s good graces. Taking his suspicions about Nessa to Darius would be a good start. But could he risk it? What would Nessa do if he told others she’d been the one behind his mayoral bid?
CHAPTER 23
Late Saturday morning, the sound of hammering led Audra to Jack. He stood on the grass as he repaired the railing of another empty rental cabin’s porch. His long, leanly muscled legs extended from a baggy pair of army green shorts. The muscles in his back and shoulders flexed and relaxed under his sweat-soaked gray T-shirt. She was certain he heard her footsteps on the graveled path as she closed the distance between them. But he never turned, never looked up. Audra felt a chill of unease.
“Good morning.” She raised her voice to be heard over his carpentry.
Jack spared her a glance over his shoulder before selecting another nail. “Morning.”
Her brows knitted in a frown. Had she done something wrong?
Jack had stacked boards of cut maple wood beside his feet. His toolbox and a pile of nails were both within easy reach on the porch, but he hadn’t brought any water. Silly man. The air was still and hot. The early August day was far too humid for him to be doing strenuous work without water.
Audra took one of her two bottles of water from her oversized canvas tote bag. She placed the still-cold bottle beside his toolbox, then stepped back. “Did you get my messages yesterday?” She’d left two—perhaps three—on his cell phone.
“Yes.” Jack’s attention shifted to the water bottle, then returned to his repairs.
“I stopped by your cabin yesterday, but you must have been out.” The hammering was starting to strain her nerves. “I was hoping we could spend some time together before I leave next Saturday night.”
Why was he still hammering? Why wouldn’t he look at her while she spoke?
“Been busy.”
A pain pierced her heart like a blade. He’d reverted to the stingy speech he’d used when they first met. “Are you too busy even for our morning run?”
Jack didn’t respond.
Audra checked the time. It was just after ten o’clock in the morning. Vaughn Brooks and the Trinity Falls University concert band expected her at two o’clock for practice. She’d hoped to have lunch with Jack first.
She tried again. “Have I done something to offend you?”
His lengthy pause made her think he was going to ignore her again. “No, you haven’t.”
Audra sighed. “I prefer the unkempt mountain man. He may have looked scary, but at least he was honest. If I haven’t upset you, why are you avoiding me?”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Bullshit.” The word whipped out as she lost her patience. Audra had the satisfaction of seeing Jack’s back stiffen. “You’re still jogging in the mornings, aren’t you? You’re still eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve always joined you before. Why can’t I now? Your schedule hasn’t suddenly become so busy that you’d need to change our routine.”
Jack spun to face her. “Change our routine? We don’t have a routine. You’re on vacation. Next Saturday, you’re leaving.”
Audra’s heart raced as she stared into his onyx eyes. “I’m not looking forward to my leaving any more than you are. But I’m here now. Why don’t you want to spend time with me?”
“Can’t you understand I’m busy?” Jack’s words were hard and harsh. He dragged a hand over his hair. “I’m not the one on vacation. I don’t have time to entertain you any longer.”
Audra took a shaky step back, then another. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized I was monopolizing your time. I thought we were enjoying each other’s company.”
Jack steeled himself for the flash of pain that swept in and out of Audra’s gaze. “And now the party’s over. You can get ready to go home.”
“Suppose I want to stay in Trinity Falls, specifically Harmony Cabins, a little longer?” Audra’s voice was soft and gentle, lik
e a tentative caress across his mind.
“What are you saying?” Jack was caught between needing Audra to leave now to get the pain over with and wanting to delay the inevitable.
“Make it easier on yourself, dude. Just rip off the bandage,” Wendell had advised.
“I’m saying I don’t have a pressing reason to return to Los Angeles Saturday night. I could stay an extra week or so.” Her champagne eyes sparkled with hope.
Jack heard Wendell’s taunt in his ears: “Your ex-wife even left Trinity Falls, and she’s from here. Audra’s from L.A. What chance do you have of her staying?”
He hardened his heart. “What’s the point? You’ll leave sooner or later.”
The light drained from Audra’s eyes. “Why are you saying these things?”
“It’s the truth.” His muscles screamed with tension. When would this conversation end?
“You’re acting as though you don’t want me here.”
In fact, he couldn’t think of anywhere else he’d want her besides Trinity Falls, Harmony Cabins, and his arms. “And you’re acting as though you really think you can stay.”
Audra frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be able to?”
Jack took a deep breath to ease the pain in his chest. “You don’t belong here. You belong in L.A.—with all the other Grammy winners.”
Audra’s caramel skin darkened with a blush. “Did Wendell tell you about the Grammy? Is that why you’re so upset, because I didn’t tell you myself?”
“I already knew about your Grammy. I read the papers.”
Audra gaped. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why didn’t you?”
Audra expelled a breath. Her shoulders rose and fell with it. “What was I supposed to do? Introduce myself as a Grammy-winning songwriter? That would have been a little pretentious, don’t you think? And what about you?”
Jack arched an eyebrow. “What about me?”
“You didn’t introduce yourself in any detail, either. You let me think you were the desk clerk. Your friends were the ones who told me you were the rental cabins’ owner and a descendent of the town’s founder.”