Choosing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 2)

by Kris Jayne

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the investigator. I should have told you.”

  “Yes. You should have, but don’t beat yourself up. I talked with Shannon yesterday, and—” Jeff paused, setting the hot dish on a trivet. He sighed, looking chagrined.

  “What happened?”

  “You were right.”

  Jeff took Taryn back to his bedroom and recounted Shannon’s hope to extract money out of him as well as her threat to sue. Taryn listened without disbelief. She’d figured Shannon had been up to something, and now the little schemer could ruin everything for Jeff.

  Taryn’s chest constricted, and her fists balled up like a reflexive reaction to what Jeff had just told her. This is why people snap, she thought. This is what they’re feeling when they start plotting someone’s demise.

  If Shannon stood in front of her right now, she’d heave all one hundred and twenty pounds of her five-foot-two frame behind a right cross and knock the bitch flat. The woman was just messy. A hot mess of chaos. Wild and reckless like a two-year-old with an assault rifle. And she was sick of it.

  Jeff poured himself into helping her and trying to integrate her into their family so she could be there for their daughter. Everyone who mistrusted her forced themselves to look her in the eye and treat her as if she were sincere. Shannon had spit in their faces.

  “She admitted that she stole your watch?” Taryn asked. Jeff nodded. “It’s unbelievable. How does she think she’s going to get away with that? You could have her arrested.”

  “I told her that, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Why not? She’s a thief, Jeff. And so is that boyfriend.”

  “If I say anything, she’s threatened to cause trouble with the sale. She mentioned that I started working on the business while we were still married. It wouldn’t come to anything, but she could still muck up the works. Besides, she would end up back in jail. I don’t want her arrested. I want her to get her life together. She’s defensive right now. I need to figure out a way to get her to understand that she’s better off if I’m better off.”

  Taryn snorted. “Like what? Give her more money. That hasn’t helped her see straight so far. Maybe it’s time you got tough with her.”

  “I did get tough with her. She knows that at any time, I could have her arrested. That scared her enough. But how could I tell Olivia that I had her mother arrested?”

  “You’re not having her arrested. She’s getting herself arrested by being a criminal.”

  “I know, but I’ve thought about this. I want to resolve this without taking Olivia’s mother away from her again.”

  Taryn couldn’t believe her ears. It was all well and good to help Shannon hold it together, but if she was dedicated to blowing up her own life and everyone else’s with it, then they needed a new plan. Taryn’s brain turned over different approaches she could take to get Jeff to see that.

  “How did she react when you said you could have her arrested?”

  “She panicked. Badly. I worry that if she feels cornered, she’ll be even more unpredictable. I don’t want her to do anything rash.”

  “Hard to do anything rash from jail,” Taryn insisted.

  “We’re not doing that.”

  Taryn’s mental wheels kept turning. “You could let her think that you would have her arrested and then give her an alternative—like signing an agreement not to sue or ironing out a custody agreement that ensures you get to determine what happens with Olivia without her interfering.”

  “Maybe down the road, once the sale has closed and if she doesn’t get things straight, that’s an option. Now, my goal is to get that guy out of her life so she can be in Olivia’s. Pressure and panic aren’t going to help her—or us.”

  “And it’s still about her? Poor Shannon,” Taryn mocked.

  Jeff’s jaw tightened, and Taryn pressed on.

  “Well, I don’t like her, Jeff. And this stuff she’s pulling isn’t exactly helping her cause with me. I know you don’t want to be nasty, but some situations call for a little nasty.”

  “And it comes so easily to you?”

  Taryn ignored Jeff’s dig and continued her case. “If you don’t get ahead of this, she’ll keep threatening and causing you trouble. As long as you don’t push back, she’ll keep thinking she can play you.”

  “I’m not being played. I’m looking out for Olivia, and despite everything, I know that Shannon was being defensive. With time, she’ll calm down and forget all about this.”

  “You still trust her?”

  “No. Not as far as I can throw her, but I know her,” Jeff insisted. “You’ve seen her with Olivia. She wants to be a mom. She has this stuff with her ex-husband, and it’s getting in the way.”

  “Not ex. They’re still married, remember? She stole from you, and he hocked your watch. Quite the team.” Taryn pursed her lips.

  “I don’t think they’re the team you think they are. She told me why she got together with him. She had no other options. That’s the best way to get things straight. Make sure she knows she has options.”

  “You’ve done that already.”

  “I know. This is the make or break moment. If she screws up again, I have all the leverage I need, but that doesn’t mean I have to use that leverage now.”

  Taryn seethed. As long as Jeff felt this way, she had no choice but to go along. Keeping her life with Jeff had to be more important than punishing his ex. Taryn had to trust him or lose him.

  “If she sounded like she wants the guy out of her life, then maybe you can help her with that. A safe divorce. It’s not going to be easy, though. You know when she was here the other day, it kind of looked like she had a black eye, maybe. I’m not sure.”

  “You think he’s still abusing her? All the more reason to be careful with her, Taryn.”

  Even as she fumed, Taryn knew Jeff was right about that. She closed her eyes and thought about Shannon’s situation, reaching deep for her compassion. “Even if she kicks him out, he could still follow her to work and the apartment. She probably needs to hit the reset button again. We could help her get away from her husband. Help her plan. We’ll have to talk to a professional about that. Maybe Dr. Baker? She’ll have to have yet another new place to live. And maybe another new job. Unbelievable.”

  Jeff pulled Taryn into his arms. “I know, but this is her last chance. If we do this, she should know for sure that we’re on her side. That should count for something.”

  “I guess. Maybe she’ll understand that her success is tied to yours and quit with the threats.”

  “Exactly. Maybe I could even offer her a job with the company. Get her invested in how well it does.”

  Taryn shook her head.

  “Having Shannon knocking around the business when she can’t be trusted? I don’t think that’s a good idea. Plus, what could she possibly do? She has no skills in technology or business. Does she even have the demeanor you’d need to answer phones? Everyone would know you hired her because of some very twisted nepotism.”

  “It would be easier to keep an eye on her.”

  “Having Shannon work at your company is not okay with me, Jeff.” She felt the heat of temper warm her face and neck.

  “I know. You’re right. Again,” Jeff conceded.

  “I’m saying maybe you can help her get a job somewhere else. What about your friend with the restaurant? She could wait tables or something.”

  “Maybe. I don’t know that she would be too excited about that.”

  Taryn figured Shannon should be excited about any help she could get. “Well, we don’t have to figure this out now. It is her life. But you could come up with a proposal for her that facilitates her getting away from that criminal.”

  “You’re right. All we have to do is show her what her life could be. Keep her positive and less defensive. That could work.”

  Taryn could see the resolve coalesce in Jeff’s voice and in his eyes. Taryn thought about all he’d done t
o get Shannon set up in the current living situation. Now he was prepared to do it all again.

  “She doesn’t deserve you.”

  “She doesn’t have me,” Jeff reminded her. “You do.”

  Taryn knew it, but she couldn’t help the niggling irritation that Shannon still held him in the palm of her hand. She immersed herself in his arms, pressing her lips to the side of his neck. He still felt like home.

  Jeff asked a lot of her, but Taryn loved him. She loved Olivia. She needed to remember that helping Shannon was helping Jeff and Olivia. She owed them her kindness and her good will even if Shannon didn’t deserve it. Family was the most important thing.

  The thought twisted Taryn’s gut, but Shannon was now her family by extension. She didn’t know when or if she could ever stop hating that fact, but the inevitability of it stood like a brick wall in front of her.

  Taryn couldn’t let her distaste for Shannon overrun her love for the family that she already called her own. As she squeezed Jeff tighter, she knew she’d do anything she had to do to protect that family. Anything.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Typically, Shannon would be over a couple of times per week to see Olivia. However, since her blow up with Jeff, she’d been by only once. She and Olivia had watched a movie in the game room, and she’d promptly left.

  This week, nothing but a phone call for Olivia. Days had gone by, and Jeff and Taryn had heard nothing regarding her threats. When Jeff tried to reach her, she would only text back and ask if Olivia was okay. As the week stretched on, Taryn worked harder and harder to keep Jeff calm. Silence could only mean Shannon was planning something. What? They had no idea.

  In the meantime, Jeff had to discuss the possibility of Shannon’s staking a claim on the company with his business partners. They, like Jeff, knew that Shannon had no claim. That didn’t stop the crushing wave of nervousness hitting everyone involved. Nick was looking into their legal options while they all decided to sit tight and see what Shannon might do.

  On top of the now-regular Shannon stress, Taryn still had a thousand things left to do for the wedding. Ronaldo had called. The seamstress had finished the first alterations on Olivia’s dress. The little girl asked if her mom was coming to the bridal boutique to try on the dress like she did last time. With Olivia’s wanting her mother there and Jeff’s wanting to pacify Shannon and show a willingness to get along, they had agreed that Shannon could come.

  Now, Jeff had informed her that Shannon was having trouble with her truck again and needed to be picked up from work. Oh, fun.

  Taryn flew out of work and hustled to her car. Swinging by to get Shannon would add at least twenty minutes to the route home to pick up Olivia. Feeling harried, she’d almost didn’t notice her phone buzzing annoyingly at her. A 911 text from Jeff.

  Tears rose in her eyes. She mentally kicked herself for her emotional response. She couldn’t let all of this send her into a full-tilt meltdown, but Taryn knew it had to be some kind of Shannon nonsense. A few minutes later, Taryn hung up the phone, steaming like a tea kettle.

  A process server had shown up at Jeff’s office. Shannon had been true to her word and hired an attorney. She’d filed for joint custody of Olivia.

  Maybe it was good news that all Shannon had asked for is a custody agreement and not any claim on Jeff’s corporate assets. Still, Taryn couldn’t believe the nerve Shannon had to decide now was the time to file for legal standing as a parent. She was lucky not to be in jail, along with her drug addict boyfriend. Taryn hopped in her car and broke a handful of traffic laws storming in fury to Shannon’s work.

  Taryn drove up in front of the Wal-Mart and spotted her nemesis standing a few yards from the entrance, smoking. Taryn sighed. Now her car would reek of cigarettes. Shannon noticed Taryn and dropped the flaming stub to the ground, smashing it under her shoe. She shivered and then hustled toward the car as Taryn pulled close to the curb. Shannon opened the car and practically dove in.

  “It’s so cold still.”

  “Yeah. I have the seat warmers on. Yours is here.” Taryn pointed to a button on the console. “You can adjust it.”

  “Nice.” Shannon rubbed the tips of her fingers together in front of the car’s vent. The scent of fresh tobacco smoke clung to her. Taryn coughed a little. Just twenty minutes. That’s how long the drive would be to Jeff’s house so they could pick up Olivia. Taryn turned up the radio a little. NPR was doing a story on Syrian refugees. Taryn circled the busy Wal-Mart parking lot and found her way to exit onto the highway frontage road.

  “Jesus, this is depressing. Could we maybe listen to some music?”

  Taryn punched off the radio. She couldn’t drive another yard without addressing the obvious topic. “How about we turn it off and chat? Jeff got your papers today.”

  “He told you.”

  “Yes. Honestly, I’m stunned.”

  “Why? Olivia is mine too.”

  “Jeff knows that. He’s bent over backward to include you in Olivia’s life. And you’ve done nothing but lie to him.”

  “All of that stuff was a mistake. I said I was sorry.”

  “Sorry doesn’t cover it. After everything that’s happened, you can’t possibly think you’ll get a custody order right now.”

  “Why not? All these things you guys think are so terrible are nothing when it comes to keeping a child away from her mother. I’m clean. I have a job. There’s no reason I can’t be a mother just like anybody else.”

  “Violating your probation is—in fact—a big deal, Shannon. Drugs or not.”

  “What the fuck do you know about that?”

  “You stole from Jeff and pawned the watch. Your boyfriend is seen on video at the pawn shop.”

  “I explained that to Jeff already. He told me he’s not going to press charges. He understands the pressure I was under.”

  Acid rose in Taryn’s throat. “Well, I don’t.”

  “I didn’t ask you to.” Shannon’s smugness grated on her nerves.

  “No. You don’t seem to care what anyone thinks. I suppose that’s one way to live your life. Floating along from mistake to mistake while expecting everyone else to forgive you and clean up your messes.” She knew she should stop but couldn’t. How much of this was she supposed to swallow without any comment, let alone objection?

  “You have nothing to do with whether I’m in my daughter’s life. It’s not up to you. Good thing, too, since you hate me. I’m a good mother.”

  On one hand, Taryn admired Shannon’s obvious passion. On the other hand, she was still cavorting around with a violent convict who beats her and seemed to have no trouble exposing Olivia to all of that madness.

  “Fine. Leave it up to the courts then. They have your record and your husband’s. If they knew about the theft—”

  “And how would they find that out? Jeff and I talked about that already. You need to get used to the fact that you don’t get to control everything,” Shannon jeered. Taryn could see her passenger staring down the side of her face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Not yet, I guess.”

  The pair lapsed into silence. Taryn punched the radio back on. The smooth tones of NPR’s jazzy music be-bopped throughout the car. The whole thing gave her a headache.

  Once they got to Jeff’s, Taryn ran in to get Olivia, who was home with the housekeeper until Jeff got off work. When she came back out, Shannon leaped from the car and gave her daughter a big hug. Taryn slapped on a teeth-gritting smile so wide that her jaw hurt.

  “How was your day, Olivia?” Taryn asked, getting her own hug before helping Olivia into the back seat.

  “It was okay. I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I want to go try on my dress.”

  “You’re gonna to look so pretty. I want to take some pictures. This will be my only chance to get to see you in the dress.”

  Shannon spoke with a tinge of bitterness. Was she angling for an invitation? Surely she wasn’t that delusional?

  “You’re not
coming to the wedding? We’re having a big party.” Olivia’s eyes grew big, and Taryn swallowed her disgust, feeling nauseated.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Shannon explained. “People don’t usually want the old wife at the wedding to the new one.”

  “Oh,” Olivia responded. Her little mouth twisted to the side. Taryn gave Olivia’s seat belt a tug and patted her leg, saying nothing. As much as Olivia might wish that she could share everything with both her parents, Taryn and Jeff’s wedding wasn’t on the menu. Period.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  The awkward threesome drove to Danya’s bridal salon in silence. Once they arrived, Shannon immediately fled to the bathroom, leaving Taryn blissfully alone with Olivia for a moment.

  “Can I get my kid’s champagne?” Olivia asked Ronaldo, who ushered them to a private suite.

  “It’s already waiting, my dear. It’s our job to be on top of these things,” he replied with a wink.

  In the plushly carpeted room, a glass coffee table sat in front of a chenille couch, bearing a tray of crystal flutes.

  “Taryn, yours is the one with the strawberry,” he informed her and winked again, this time in her direction.

  Everyone else might have sparkling cider, but hers had the genuine kick of real sparkling wine. Taryn picked up her glass and handed one of the others to Olivia.

  “Cheers.” Taryn clinked her glass with Olivia’s. They each took a sip, and then Taryn set hers down. “Let’s get you into your dress. I’m dying to see how it looks now that we’ve had it altered.”

  Olivia hesitated and looked at the door.

  “You can have it on when your mom gets back and surprise her.”

  She fixed her mind on getting through this as quickly as possible. Olivia pulled her shirt over her head, and once undressed, Taryn helped her step into the silk satin dress in pale raspberry.

  The waist had been too big and the inch-wide straps too long so the bodice drooped and gaped without pinning it up. Now, it fit nearly perfectly—though still a little big. The smooth pleats criss-crossed the top, brought together in a wide-banded waist. A few simple pleats fell from an elegantly folded rosette in the center of the waistband, but the rest of the skirt was a smooth ripple of pink silk.