Pumpkin’s face fell. “I think this is the end for us, Sophie.”
“Why did you do it?” Cameron asked.
“I didn’t,” she mumbled. “But no matter what I say, you won’t believe me.”
Evie resisted the urge to shout.
“Who put you up to this?” Pumpkin asked. Her eyes narrowed. “This sounds like something Beverley would do.” She got in Sophie’s face. “Did Beverley put you up to this?”
Sophie shook her head. “Who?”
Evie felt sorry for Sophie then, but she had to reinforce Pumpkin’s suspicions. “I think that’s exactly what happened,” Evie said.
With her head lowered, Sophie departed.
If she could, Evie would have butterflied, twerked or done any other dance move. She was in the clear. Instead, Evie excused herself and rushed into the bathroom. Once inside, she clutched her stomach and laughed. She laughed until she had to hold back tears. Her relief was that great.
“Sorry, Sophie,” she said and then hummed, “You’ve been hit by... You’ve been hit by a smooth criminal.”
17
“Evie, you were a life-saver today,” Pumpkin said to Evie after the photo shoot the following week.
Standing in her kitchen, Pumpkin poured Evie a cup of peppermint tea and one for herself. “Thanks for stepping in and doing the picture with me. Luscious Lips magazine will run our ad together. They want to do a sit down. They offered one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars—as if that’s enough—I turned them down.”
Evie’s teacup clattered against the saucer. “I almost spilled my tea. You turned down that kind of money?”
Pumpkin nodded. “Our story is worth more than that. It’s priceless.” Her mother looked like she was about to pass out.
“But…” Evie shook her head. She seemed at a loss for words.
“But nothing,” she said, reaching for her own cup. “The New York Interviewer is offering double that, but I’ll pass. I’m not going to tell the world anything. What happens with us is our business.”
Evie pulled her sweater close. “I agree, but to me that’s an obscene amount of money.”
“If you start chasing money, you’ll sell your soul,” Pumpkin said. “That’s Grandma’s words.”
“Your grandma isn’t always right,” Evie said.
Pumpkin leaned forward. “I know that seems like a lot of money to you, but that’s a small pittance of what I’m worth, of what I’ll be worth in a few years. Pumpkin Spice is just the beginning. Heaven’s branching out into the baking business and Honey’s looking to open an accessory line. HPH Models Inc. will be highly successful if we keep up with how we do things.” She shook her head. “That’s why I’m so disappointed in Sophie. I had plans for her. That’s why I’m hurt by her betrayal. The way she cried, I would’ve thought she was innocent.”
Evie nodded. “I understand how you feel. Sophie’s lucky Christine declined to press charges.”
“The police would’ve whether she wanted to or not, but Christine told them she had no idea how that happened. She said she must have messed up somehow. It was a lame excuse, but the cops had no case without her testimony. Then she asked me to hand-deliver a fresh bottle,” Pumpkin said.
She touched her chest and continued. “What an unselfish act. I can’t believe how willing Christine was to give me a second chance. She took the blame so my perfume sales wouldn’t suffer.” Pumpkin waved a hand. “Forget the sales, it was my reputation on the line. There’s no dollar figure you can attach to that.”
Evie lifted a brow. “Is that another Bertie saying?”
Pumpkin nodded.
Her mother put down her cup and looked at Evie. “Your grandmother did a great job with you. Better than I ever could. I don’t know how you’d have turned out if I…” She shuddered. “You’re a remarkable young woman and more humble than I would be if I had what you had.”
“Thanks, Evie. That means a lot to me. Grandma’s my ride-or-die lady. She’d never agree to me calling her a chick,” Pumpkin joking, taking a sip of her tea.
Evie’s cell buzzed. Something she saw made her eyes go large. She looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Evie, what is it?” Pumpkin asked.
Evie shook her head. She was in a daze. Pumpkin had to call her name several times before Evie looked her way.
Pumpkin rested her cup on the table. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve got to call my doctor,” she said.
“Your doctor sent you a text message?”
“What? Oh. No. I’ve got to go.” Evie stood, but didn’t move to go anywhere.
Pumpkin’s heart raced. Her mother was acting weird. She wondered if this was one of the effects from the tumor. She jumped to her feet, knocking over the teacups and everything.
Evie wobbled. Pumpkin helped her to the couch. She went limp in Pumpkin’s arms.
“Evie!” Pumpkin screamed. She ran for her phone and dialed 911. “Come quick. I think my mother’s...” She gulped. “I think she’s... She has a brain tumor.” Pumpkin struggled to remain calm. She gave the operator her address.
Next Pumpkin called her grandmother. “Grandma, Evie’s sick! I’m waiting on an ambulance.” Her shoulders shook. “I’m just starting to get to know her and now I’m going to lose her.” She paced.
“Jesus! Work a miracle!” Bertie yelled before saying, “Breathe, Baby. I’m on my way. I’ll call a cab. Text me and let me know where she’ll be.”
Pumpkin called Cameron. Her feet trembled. Her hands shook. “I need you,” she sobbed. “It’s Evie.”
“I’m actually almost home. I’ll be there in two minutes.”
Evie groaned, holding her head.
“She’s in pain. I think it’s the tumor,” Pumpkin wailed. “Come quick.”
She rushed to Evie’s side. “Hold on, the ambulance is coming. What can I do?”
Evie thrashed her head back and forth. Pumpkin wondered if she was having a seizure. She turned Evie’s head to the side. Her heart pounded. Where was the ambulance?
Just then, she heard the door open. Cameron and Mitch came tumbling inside. Mitch ran over to Evie, who was gasping for air.
“What was she doing?” Cameron asked.
“I don’t know. She was looking at her phone and then the next thing I knew… she’s…” Pumpkin dissolved into tears. Cameron scooped her into his arms.
“I think the photo shoot was too much for her. I don’t know what I’ll do if she collapsed because of me.” She shook her head and sniffed. “All through the session, she didn’t complain. She seemed like she was enjoying herself.” Pumpkin bit her lower lip. “And now this happens.”
“Hush, she’ll be okay. The ambulance will be here soon.” Cameron soothed her.
Pumpkin folded her body into his, drawing from his strength. “Please, God, let her be okay,” she whispered.
The EMT’s arrived. Within minutes, Pumpkin was in the Navigator with Cameron and Mitch trailing the ambulance to Lenox Hospital. Pumpkin texted Bertie and gripped both her and Evie’s purses in her lap.
They took Evie to intake. Mitch dropped her in front and then went to park. The man at the front desk told her where to go. Pumpkin paced while they attached all kinds of gadgets and monitors. Evie was now alert and fighting them.
“No. No. I don’t want that.” She pulled things off as the nurses were putting them on.
Pumpkin went over and held Evie’s hand. “You have to calm down. Let the doctors do their job. Please.”
Evie looked like she wanted to argue. Then she stilled and let the doctors do what they had to do. She looked… resigned.
“Does she have any pre-existing conditions?” one of the men in a lab coat asked her.
Pumpkin read his nameplate. Dr. Jeffers. It sounded like a good, safe name.
“She has a brain tumor. I don’t think she’s on any meds.”
“I’ll order a CAT scan,” the doctor said. “See what’s going on.”
The machines beeped with vengeance. Pumpkin twisted her fingers. “What’s going on? Her blood pressure’s high and her heart is beating really fast.”
Dr. Jeffers gave her a reassuring pat. “I’ll take a look at her EKG and then I’ll let you know.”
He approached Evie. “Ma’am, can you tell me your name.”
“I’m not a ma’am,” she answered. “My name’s Evelyn Burkette.”
He checked a box. “Do you know where you are?”
She nodded and told him.
“Can you tell me your birthday?”
Evie told him.
Just then, Cameron came inside. Mitch lurked behind. Evie pointed at them and then said, “Make them leave.”
Pumpkin shooed the men off. She understood Evie valued her privacy, but she didn’t have to be rude.
She opened her mouth to say something when Evie said, “You, too.”
Pumpkin leaned forward. “Excuse me?” She looked at the doctor.
He stepped forward. “I’m sorry, but I have to honor your mother’s wishes. You have to wait outside.”
Pumpkin nodded and stepped out. Her mother’s request hurt. She touched her chest. How could her mother be so callous to her? Pumpkin tried not to take it personal, but the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“She didn’t want me there,” Pumpkin told Cameron.
Cameron enfolded her in his arms. “She might not want you to hear about her illness.”
“But that’s why I needed to be there. She’ll probably downplay it for my benefit.”
“I know you’re hurting, but your mother’s wishes are more important. When she’s better, you can tell her how you feel.”
Cameron’s words calmed her mind, if not her heart. She would wait, but Pumpkin decided she would have her say. It was time to tell her mother how she truly felt.
18
Evie hated the pain that had slashed across Pumpkin’s face. Pumpkin had opened her home to her, even though Evie didn’t deserve her kindness. And how did Evie repay her? She had kicked Pumpkin out, knowing what it would do to her.
But what else could she have done? Evie needed to tell the doctor the truth. She couldn’t risk Pumpkin finding out she was a fraud.
Evie gathered the hospital gown closer and burrowed her feet under the thin sheet. Then she sighed. This lie was multiplying like feeding gremlins after midnight.
“Ms. Burkette, it looks like you had a panic attack,” Dr. Jeffers said. “We’re going to monitor you, but we’ll probably discharge you in a few hours.” He patted her leg. “In the meantime, take it easy.”
Evie sagged at his words. “Thank you doctor. I thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke.” A panic attack made sense after what she’d seen on her phone.
“Do you want me to inform your family? They’re all waiting outside.”
Evie jumped. She’d forgotten the doctor was still there. She shook her head. “I’ll tell them.”
He nodded. “I’ll go let them know they can come see you.”
“Okay, thank you, Doctor.” She prepared herself for Pumpkin’s return. She owed her daughter an apology.
Pumpkin entered, but didn’t make eye contact. She sat in the chair next to Evie’s bed. The distance between them felt like three hundred feet instead of three.
“I’m sorry I asked you to leave like that,” Evie said. “I’m not used to all this. I’m not used to having people care about me.”
Her daughter looked at her hands. “I’m glad to hear you’re okay. I was worried.”
Her sad eyes tore at Evie’s heart. She hated she was the cause. “Pumpkin, look at me.”
She obeyed.
“From the bottom of my heart, I apologize. You’ve been generous and kind. I shouldn’t have rejected you. Please forgive me.”
Pumpkin nodded. “It’s okay.”
Evie knew better. Things were far from okay. Her rejection might have seemed small, but it was a major setback in their relationship. Pumpkin seemed reserved like she had to guard her feelings.
Pumpkin cleared her throat. “May I ask what the doctor had to say?” Her tone was polite and formal.
Evie hated it, but she couldn’t forget what she needed to do. “He said he’d referred me to a neurosurgeon. She’s willing to remove the tumor.” She turned her head away. She didn’t want to look Pumpkin in the face and lie to her. “It’s going to cost so much money. I told him I’d have to think about it, but I already know the answer.”
“I’ll pay for it,” Pumpkin said. “Have them bill me.”
Evie hadn’t thought about that. She had been naïve to think Pumpkin would write her a check.
She needed time to think.
“Did you happen to grab my purse?” she asked.
“Yes, I brought it. I’ll be right back.” Pumpkin walked out of the room.
While she was gone, Evie planned her next move.
She heard the door open and smiled wide expecting to see Pumpkin. Instead, Bertie entered the room. Evie tilted her head to look behind Bertie.
“Where’s Pumpkin?”
“It took some convincing, but I sent her home,” Bertie said, pulling up a chair. “She said you can spend the night with her once you’re released. But in the meantime, you and I need to have a little chat.”
This panic attack was working for her good if Pumpkin was inviting her to stay over. Her mother’s chest heaved.
“Why are you breathing so hard? You’re like a bull in a pen.”
Bertie glared. “I have two questions for you.”
Bertie plopped Evie’s purse on the bed. It landed with a thud on Evie’s legs. She reached over to pick it up.
“Thank goodness you brought it. I can’t do without it. I have all my important papers in there.” Evie clutched the purse close to her chest.
Bertie rolled her eyes. “Don’t you mean you have your gun in there?”
“Did you go searching in my bag?” Evie asked. “I can’t believe you snooped through my things.”
“Yup. I sure did. If I had done more of this when you were younger, you wouldn’t have ended up pregnant at fourteen.” Bertie gave her an I-dare-you-to-say-something look.
Evie said something. “You had no right.” But she had no fight behind her words.
“Why do you have a gun?” Bertie asked again, in a you’d-better-answer-me tone.
“I live in New York City. I carry it for protection.”
Bertie folded her arms. “That was question number one. Now onto my next question.” She squared her shoulders. Her facial expression hardened. “Why do you have a picture of a dead man in your phone?”
19
“What did she say when you confronted her?” Pumpkin asked Bertie. The women were seated in Pumpkin’s kitchen that same night. Evie had settled into one of the guest rooms. Bertie was filling Pumpkin in on the discoveries in Evie’s purse.
“She said it was a random pic. I asked her several times, but she didn’t change the answer.” Bertie lifted her chin. “Of course, I don’t believe her. I think Evie’s in serious trouble, but she’s not talking.”
Pumpkin held out her hands. “A dead man brutally beaten is not a random pic. It’s a message. I don’t get why she wouldn’t say. We’re family. Maybe we could help her.”
Mitch came into the room. “She’s sleeping.” He yawned. “I’ll be back early in the morning to talk to her.”
He let himself out.
Bertie went back to their conversation. “I feel like shaking her awake and making her talk.” She slapped a hand on the table. “Evie lies so much, I don’t know what’s true and what’s a lie. For all I know, she’s lying about this tumor.”
Pumpkin shook her head. “You’d have to be a psycho to lie about dying.” Her finger circled the design on the tabletop. “I was planning to ask Evie about my father. I’d love to hear about him.”
“You should ask. I told you what I know already. Garvin died before you were even born,” Berti
e gently said. “I don’t know how much Evie can add to that. She didn’t know him that well.”
“I still want to know about him,” Pumpkin said.
When she had gotten older, Bertie had told her Evie was about money and men. Those were Evie’s two loves, key word being men.
“Well, after she has her surgery, I’ll ask her about it,” Pumpkin said.
Bertie’s brows furrowed. “What surgery?”
“Evie told me Dr. Jeffers recommended a neurosurgeon. They’re going to schedule the surgery. I told her I’d handle the costs.”
“You’d better check to get confirmation. That’s all I’m saying. Talk with the doctor and verify before you even think of writing a check,” Bertie urged.
“Who’s writing a check?” Cameron said, coming in the kitchen. He headed to the freezer and pulled out the container of Baskin Robbins hand-packed Vanilla ice cream.
“Grandma thinks Evie is pretending to be sick so she can get my money.” Pumpkin looked at him expecting Cameron to oppose.
“I can believe it.” He placed the ice cream on the counter and retrieved a bowl and spoon. Then he opened the kitchen drawer and pulled out an ice cream scoop.
Pumpkin’s mouth hung open. “You don’t know her well enough to judge her like that.”
“You don’t either,” he pointed out, scooping out two large servings into his bowl. “There’s something about her. I told you already, I’m not staying anywhere alone with that woman.”
Bertie chuckled. She tilted a head toward Pumpkin. “You have a smart man. He’s a keeper.”
Pumpkin kissed Cameron on the cheek. “Yes, he is.” Cameron gave her a spoonful of his vanilla. She savored the treat.
Bertie scratched her head. “That child is the biggest headache of my life.”
“Don’t say that,” Pumpkin said. “I didn’t think I’d feel this way. But no matter what, Evie’s family. She’s our headache.”
Bertie’s face softened. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have said that. Without her, there wouldn’t be you.”
“Oh, I would’ve been here. I believe that. God decides,” Pumpkin said. She bit her lip. “I’m not going to keep talking about Evie behind her back. I’m going to confront her.”
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