Jess choked back a laugh. Tamel raised a hand—what can you say?
Rita shifted on her feet, leaning on one fat arm. She looked mighty pleased about telling Jess and Tamel this juicy piece of news.
Her expression changed to all business. “So.” She shifted again, hitting the drive-up window ledge with a palm. “What can I getcha?”
Tamel ordered a double latte, and Jess, black coffee. Tamel insisted on paying. Rita proposed to him twice more before he could close his window and drive away.
“Man, she is somethin’.” Jess cradled her cup.
“Yeah.”
“Poor Tony.”
“And Charlie and Tom. I hope we get our gas station back.”
“The town’ll be up in arms if you don’t. They’ll run Leslie’s new boyfriend back to Florence.”
Tamel grunted.
Silence fell over the car. Jess studied Tamel. He looked bothered. If he knew she was watching him, he didn’t let on.
What was this, a new tactic to draw her out? He was usually the talker.
They passed the outskirts of Justus and headed north on Highway 49.
“So what’s goin’ on, Tamel? You said you needed to talk to someone.”
“Actually no. I needed to talk to you.”
Oh. Jess worked her mouth. “So talk.”
Tamel threw her an exasperated look. “Why are you always like that these days?”
“Like what?”
“You know very well what I’m talkin’ about.”
“No, I don’t.”
“I—” He lifted a hand and let it drop. “Fine.”
Jess took her time placing her coffee in the empty console holder.
“When did we last see each other, Jess?”
“Easter.” He knew that.
“And before that?”
“Christmas.”
“Either time, did you act happy to see me? Or more like you were just continuously ticked off?”
“I … I don’t know.” Why was he being so direct all of a sudden?
“Well, I do. And it’s the latter.”
Jess bit the inside of her lip.
“And when did we see each other before that?”
She didn’t have to think very hard. “Last August. Our last family reunion. You came home for the weekend.” Tamel had still been working at the law firm in Biloxi, about two hours and forty minutes from Justus.
“Remember what we did?”
Jessica’s heart pricked. She looked out the window. “Yes.”
“We hung out together as much as we could without takin’ you away from your family. We took a drive. Had a late-night snack Saturday night in Jackson.”
“Mm-hm.” She felt a lump in her throat. It had been a great weekend. But that was before. When he was still an attorney, doing what he was meant to do. Now look at how he earned his living—if you could call it that.
She didn’t even know him anymore.
Tamel rubbed his forehead. “These last ten months since I’ve been back in Justus have been some of the longest of my life. I’ve really looked forward to your comin’ home. But Christmas, Easter, and now—all you do is act cold toward me.” Hurt coated his voice. “I’ve kept upbeat around you, kept smilin’, but it’s gettin’ pretty old, Jess.”
Jess gazed at her lap, cut to the core. How could she have known? He always acted so sure of himself, as if what she did made no difference. But a voice deep inside her told her to stop rationalizing. She had to have known she was hurting him. Tamel wasn’t a cold person, far from it.
“I’m sorry.” Her words were barely a whisper.
Tamel took a deep breath. “What I want to know is—why?”
Shame trickled through Jess, trailing defensiveness. He had to know why. He was just making her say it. And the reason made her feel about two feet tall.
“I’m listenin’. And I’m not gonna let this drop.”
“Fine then, Tamel Curd.” She folded her arms. “Because you walked away from a great career, that’s why.”
“Ah. You mean because I came back to help my father, who happens to be dyin’?”
He’d die anyway, wouldn’t he?
The minute she thought the words, Jess felt appalled at herself. But it was true, wasn’t it? Henry Curd had never been much of a father to Tamel. Now he wanted to ruin his son’s life by forcing him to take over the funeral parlor. And Tamel was just going along with it.
“You could have helped him and kept your job. Come to visit more often. Get him to sell his business. He should be retirin’ anyway.”
“That’s not what he wanted.”
“What did you want, Tamel? Doesn’t that count?”
Tamel’s eyes remained locked on the road, his jaw set. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet. “What I wanted was to forge as much of a relationship with my father as I could during his remainin’ days. I never had a dad like yours, Jess. And I lost my mama long ago. You don’t know what it’s like to want for more in your family.”
Jess couldn’t find a response.
“My father’s likely to die within a year.”
She looked at Tamel, eyebrows raised. “I didn’t know he was that bad.”
“How could you? You’ve never come ’round to see.”
Jess bit her lip and turned away.
Tamel said no more.
Jess unfolded her arms. Clasped her hands. “So … what will you do then?”
“He wants me to stay in Justus. Keep runnin’ the business.”
“I know.” The thought infuriated her. Selfish old man. Didn’t care about his son at all. “So is that what you’re goin’ to do?”
“I suppose if I did, you’d never speak to me again.”
“I never said that.”
“No. You act it.”
He made her sound so … petty. She wanted to smack him. “For your information, we’d still be friends.”
“Oh, good. Like we are now. The up-and-comin’ Memphis attorney lookin’ down her nose at her childhood friend. ‘Tsk, tsk, see what he’s made of his life. And he had so much potential.’”
“I’ve never talked to you like that.”
“You don’t have to, Jess!” He tossed her a glare. “It’s written all over you.”
“I—”
“You’ve always been pretty self-absorbed. I figured as you got older you’d grow out of it.”
“How dare—”
“But your self confidence, the way you take life by the horns—that’s what I’ve always admired about you. You’ve been that way since grade school. And in high school you were the shinin’ light over everyone. No one could touch you, Jess. No other girl came close to you.”
What was this? One minute he was cutting her down …
She waited for him to say more, but Tamel fell silent. She could feel frustration coming off him. It was in the way he gripped the steering wheel, watched the road like it was going to roll up and blow away.
Jess pushed tease into her tone. “So I’m not a shinin’ light anymore?”
“More like shallow waters.”
“Oh. Well, aren’t you Mr. Deep Ocean.”
No response.
“And what makes me so ‘shallow’ all of a sudden?”
He threw her another hard glance, as if she knew very well.
“Okay, Tamel. Have it your way. I’m shallow because I think you shouldn’t have given up your career. Forgive me for being sorry to see all your hard work go for nothin’.”
“I’m helpin’ my dad.”
“Yeah. I get it.”
“Wouldn’t you help yours?”
Her dad would never ask her to change her career and goals. He wouldn’t suck the life out of her like that.
“Wouldn’t you?”
Oh, for— “You never answered my question. What are you gonna do after your dad is gone?”
“Why does it matter to you?”
“It matters a lot! I don’t want to see you th
row your life away, just for the wishes of a parent who’s not even around anymore!”
“Because I wouldn’t be equal to you, right? I’d just be some small-town hick.”
“Wait a minute, I love Justus. I grew up here too.”
“This isn’t about the town. It’s about how you view people who grow up here and choose to stay. Maybe some people don’t like city life. Maybe they want to be in an easier-paced atmosphere.”
“Good for them. We’re talkin’ ’bout you.”
Tamel drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I’d be the same person, Jess.”
“Is that a yes? You’re gonna stay?”
“I’d be the same person.”
But he wouldn’t, that was just it. He already wasn’t. How can you be the same when you give up your goals and settle for so much less?
“Tamel, don’t. You can sell your dad’s business then. There’ll be no point in your stayin’. You can come to Memphis. I’ll help you get a job in a firm somewhere.” Hadn’t they both known someday they’d be near each other? That one day—
“I get it, Jess. Then I’d be back up to your level, so you’d like me again.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, then twisted away to glare out the windshield.
Tamel said no more.
They reached Ridgeville. Tamel stopped at a red light and stared straight ahead.
Tears pricked Jess’s eyes. She blinked them back. No way on this earth would she let Tamel Curd think he’d made her cry. No way would she let him think she cared one whit about him. And he had no right to judge her. She hadn’t gone off course, he had.
Tamel had ticked her off so bad, she’d almost forgotten the monstrosity she was riding in. When other drivers stared, she ignored them.
After two more simmering miles, they reached Fresh Market. Jess opened her door to get out, but Tamel didn’t move. “Aren’t you comin’ inside?” The guy who knew so much about lobsters?
“No.”
“Fine then.” Jess slammed the ugly yellow door and stalked away. Why in the world hadn’t she driven herself here?
Inside the store it took some doing to shove her anger aside long enough to visit the seafood department and pick up the lobsters. She’d ordered nine of them, one for each adult—not including Tamel. The kids would be eating hamburgers.
And so what if they were expensive? She’d known this would cost a lot. She was a lawyer with a good job—unlike someone she knew. Jess Dearing could afford it.
Ten minutes later she exited the store, victorious in lobsters and a whole lot poorer. She carried three paper bags full of moving live creatures, each of them with wide colored rubber bands over their pinchers. She tossed the bags in the back of the car, then hefted herself up front. Ol’ Camel wouldn’t even look at her.
Jerk.
They drove home in silence, vibrations roiling in the car. From the back came eerie scraping sounds of claws against paper. Panicked lobsters, not quite knowing what had hit ’em.
Jess felt the same way.
Twice during the drive fresh tears scratched at her eyes. Each time she blinked them back. When they reached the house, she grabbed her purse and got out. Fetched her haul from the back. Before closing the rear door she made one last effort. “You comin’ to supper?” It was the polite thing to say, not that he deserved it. She’d share her lobster.
“Nope.”
Not even a “thank you” for the offer.
“Good for you. Thanks for the ride.” She slammed the door.
He drove off without looking back. She couldn’t help but stand there and watch him go.
Good riddance out of my life, Tamel Curd.
CHAPTER 13
Christina found the house so quiet with Jess and the men gone. She would have loved to play with Lady Penelope, but the stubborn Yorkie still had her nose stuck in the corner.
“How long is she going to stay like that?” Christina asked Sarah, who lingered in the kitchen, Lacey at her side.
Sarah shrugged. “Long as she figures it takes to punish you.”
Christina already felt punished.
Sarah must have seen her fallen expression. “Don’t worry, the dog’ll get over it.” She turned toward Penny. “Hear that, Lady P? You’re a dog.”
Maybe. But she clearly thought she’d descended from royalty.
Mrs. Dearing came into the kitchen and bustled about, making a list of things to get at the store. “Okay, I’m ready, Sarah, let’s go.” She turned to Christina. “Want to come with us, hon?”
“No, stay and play!” Lacey stood up on her toes. “We can color.”
Which should she do? Either way, someone wouldn’t be happy with her.
“Oh, have mercy, I have a headache.” Maddy appeared in the family room, headed for the kitchen. She opened a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of pain reliever.
“Oh, dear, I’m sorry.” Mrs. Dearing frowned. “Somethin’ we can get you at the store?”
“No, these’ll do.” Maddy stuck two pills in her mouth and gulped them down with water.
“Maybe I should stay,” Christina said. “I’ll watch the kids, and Maddy can rest.”
“Oh, goody, I’m gonna go pick some colorin’ books!” Lacey skipped down the west wing hall, then veered into the play room. Christina could hear one of Pogey’s video games already running.
“That sure is nice of you, Christina.” Mrs. Dearing picked up her purse. “You sure you’ll be all right?”
No. “Sure.”
“Okay. Thank you.” She checked the clock. “Jess has been gone about forty-five minutes. If they go to the seafood store and come straight home, she’ll be back in a half hour or so.” She turned to Maddy. “You lie down now, hear? Get rid of that headache before everybody gets home.”
“Don’t worry, I’m goin’ back to bed.”
Mrs. Dearing and Sarah disappeared down the hall toward the garage.
Maddy put the bottle on the shelf. “You’re a darlin’, Christina.”
“No problem. Do you get headaches very often?”
In childhood Christina had a lot of stomach aches. They’d gone away when she fled her parents’ house.
“Not really. But they’re doozies when I do. Best thing is to take some aspirin and lie down.” She raised her voice toward the play room. “Lacey, y’all keep it quiet in there now.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Alex, don’t you fight with your cousin.”
“Yes, Mama,” Alex’s little voice squeaked.
Maddy ambled off down the east wing hallway.
For a moment Christina stood in the empty family room, watching Penny. The Yorkie must have sensed most everyone had gone. She peeked over her shoulder, spotted Christina, and gave her a hard look.
“Hi, Penny. Will you please forgive me?” Christina took a step forward.
Penny’s ears went back. She turned around and faced the corner.
Great. Christina couldn’t even get the dog to like her. And the day had just begun.
“Christina, come on!” Lacey’s voice filtered from the play room.
“Coming.”
Soon she was ensconced at the large play table, coloring with the girls. Books and crayons littered the table, as well as child scissors, paper, pens, and pencils. Mrs. Dearing sure kept the place well stocked. Pogey sat on the floor cross-legged, eyes locked on his TV video game. Lacey and Alex played quietly awhile, then started squabbling about who would color a fairy princess on a certain page. Their argument got louder and louder. Christina started to sweat.
“Shh, you have to be quiet. You don’t want to wake up your mom, Alex.”
“But I want the picture!” She pushed out her lips in an exaggerated pout.
This little girl was spoiled. If Christina ever had kids, she’d love them like crazy, but she’d wouldn’t stand for this. “Well, you can’t have it if you’re going to fight about it.”
“You can’t give it to Lacey!”
&nbs
p; “Why can’t she?” Lacey looked just fine with the idea.
Christina reached for the picture. “I’ll take it and not give it to either of you.”
“You’re not my mama.” Alex narrowed her eyes.
Oh, please. Pogey kept on playing his game, no help at all.
Christina took a deep breath and manufactured a smile. “No, I’m not. But I’d like to play without fighting, and your mom needs to rest.”
“We are playing, and I want the picture.” Alex pushed up from the table, her face dark. “I’m gonna go tell.” She stomped toward the door.
“No, wait!” Christina swallowed. “How about if we get something to eat?”
Alex turned back and eyed her with suspicion. “Like what?”
Christina thought a minute. “I’ll bet there’s some apple pie left.”
Lacey screwed up her face. “Apple pie after breakfast? My mama’d be mad.”
Great. Which mother to have angry at her, Maddy or Sarah?
Maddy would be in the worst mood, given her headache. Besides, Christina felt sorry for her. “Well, maybe we’ll do it and not tell.”
Lacey slid a look at her brother. “Pogey’ll tell.”
“Pogey doesn’t even hear us.” The boy was totally lost in cyber land.
Lacey and Alex exchanged looks. Alex unfolded her arms. “I want some pie.”
“Okay, let’s go.” Christina got up before they could change their minds. They followed. She led the girls into the kitchen, praying she’d find some apple pie. She was in luck—half of a pie still sat in the refrigerator.
“I want ice cream with mine,” Alex whined
Of course she did. Christina gritted her teeth and opened the freezer door.
Quickly she fixed the plates and set them before the girls. Since Alex was having ice cream, of course Lacey had to eat some too. They both happily dug in, Lacey swinging her feet. From the look on her face, she was pleased as punch to be getting away with something her mama would never let her do.
This couldn’t be setting a good precedent. But Christina would have to worry about that later.
The girls continued to eat, no fighting. Maybe, Christina thought, she just might get away with this before Jess got home. If the girls would just finish. They were taking forever. Alex took a bite about every other minute.
The front door opened. Christina tensed.
That Dog Won't Hunt (Dearing Family Series) Page 9