It had not been so easy to leave the bad habits behind.
Now he’d blown it with Marilee, the kindest, most decent woman he’d ever known. He had been willing to use her like the rest, but even in her naiveté, she’d managed to find him out. He had not been good enough for her in high school, and he wasn’t good enough now. It wasn’t about money and success, it was about who and what he was.
Sam leaned forward, propped his elbows on his knees and raked his fingers through his hair. The worst part of it all was that Marilee, the one person he respected most in the world, had looked into his heart and found him lacking.
CHAPTER NINE
MARILEE’S KNEES SHOOK AS TATE RADFORD escorted her inside a conference room two weeks later, where Grady and his attorney, Bruce Hicks, waited. She tried to avoid looking at Grady as the lawyers shook hands and everyone seated themselves around the table, but she felt his gaze on her. Ruby had arrived early that morning to apply Marilee’s makeup—not the thick layer she wore to her night job, just something soft for daytime—but the results were more than flattering. Coupled with a new formfitting emerald-green dress that Marilee had found on sale, the total effect was meant to give her confidence and bolster her ego.
“It’ll do Grady good to see what he walked away from,” Ruby had told her. “He left a class act for trash.”
Now Marilee tried to concentrate on what the attorneys were saying. It was their hope that they could settle the matter outside of court, instead of taking it before the judge. Marilee did not have much faith in that happening.
Tate was the first to speak. “Bruce, as I told you over the telephone, my client is suing for adultery, a claim we can substantiate. Mr. Abernathy has been residing with a Miss Bonaire for some weeks now.”
Bruce Hicks cleared his voice. “Tate, Mr. Abernathy acknowledges that he and his son are residing in Miss Bonaire’s home, but only as paying tenants. Mr. Abernathy has his rent receipts to prove it.”
Marilee looked at Grady. “That’s a lie and you know it. You clearly stated your feelings for the woman before you left.”
“Marilee, if you’d bothered to call me over the past couple of weeks, we could have discussed the situation. Miss Bonaire and I are friends and nothing more.” He paused to catch his breath. “When I left, you and I were not getting along, and it was obvious we needed a trial separation. LaFonda has been renting out her spare bedroom for years, and when her tenant moved I saw it as an opportunity for us to spend some time apart and decide what we’re going to do about our marriage.”
“Everything he’s saying is a lie,” she told Tate. She turned back to Grady. “Why haven’t I seen my son? What hasn’t he bothered to contact me?”
“Believe it or not, I’ve tried to convince Josh to see you, or at least return your calls, but I can’t force him.” Grady paused. “If it makes you feel better, he doesn’t like me either right now.”
Hicks cleared his voice again, in an attempt to gain everybody’s attention. “If I may continue, before emotions start running high. Mr. Abernathy has no desire to pursue a divorce at this time. He feels he and his wife need more time in order to make a decision of that magnitude. He is asking for a postponement. And for the record, Mr. Abernathy absolutely refuses to agree to a divorce on grounds of adultery, if it comes to that. He hopes to take his rightful place on the pulpit once matters settle down.”
“You’ll never preach in this town again,” Marilee said.
Tate spoke. “My client has no desire to reconcile with her husband. She wants to get this matter over with as quickly as possible. We can prove adultery, Bruce.”
“You can prove I’m residing in Ms. Bonaire’s home, but you can’t prove there’s anything going on between us,” Grady said.
“As I was saying,” Tate continued, “my client simply wants to get on with her life. She is willing to waive her right to alimony and divide the financial obligations and assets right down the middle, but she feels the child’s best interests will be served if she retains custody.”
Grady looked angry. “Josh doesn’t want to see his mother at this time.”
Tate ignored him. “My client has hired a child advocate in this matter. In the meantime, she is requesting visitation on Sunday and Monday, and weekly counseling with her son. She’s agreed to cover the expenses.”
Grady asked to speak with his attorney in private, and the two stepped outside. Tate regarded Marilee. “Are you okay?”
“I’m mad as hell,” she managed to say.
If Tate was surprised with her language he didn’t show it. “Stay calm, Marilee. Everything is in our favor. I take it you want to proceed with the divorce despite your husband’s objections?”
“That’s correct.”
A few minutes later, Grady and his lawyer returned. “Mr. Abernathy still has no desire to seek a divorce at this time. He is agreeable to a temporary separation, as well as to splitting the assets and financial burdens.” He paused and looked at his notes. “I believe the matter of their savings account has already been taken care of. As for your client’s request for visitation and counseling, Mr. Abernathy is more than happy to cooperate, but for the moment we both feel the boy should have time to recover from the separation before determining custody. Josh is very confused at the moment and rightfully so.”
“I want him out of that woman’s house,” Marilee said, “and I will do whatever’s necessary to get him back. Josh needs guidance, and he’s not going to get it living with you and your paramour.”
Grady’s face reddened. “Once again, you don’t know the situation between Ms. Bonaire and me. As for Josh, I can’t force him to visit you, Marilee.”
“I think it’s in your best interests to convince him, if the court orders it,” Tate replied.
Hicks took notes. Finally, he spoke. “Mr. Abernathy realizes he can’t stop his wife from filing for a divorce, but he will not agree to grant Mrs. Abernathy custody at this time. We have to remember, Josh chose to move from the family residence with his father, and he’s old enough to decide.”
Marilee glared at Grady. She suspected he no more wanted Josh with him than LaFonda did, but that this was his way of punishing her for refusing to hold off on the divorce.
Tate began putting his papers in his briefcase. “I think we’ll leave the matter of custody in the hands of the child advocate. In the meantime, my client will arrange for counseling.”
Grady was visibly not happy, but finally he nodded.
“Okay, then,” Tate said. “I’ll have the temporary order typed up and sent to the judge for his signature. We’ll be in touch as soon as Marilee is able to secure an appointment with a family counselor.”
Hicks stood. “I’ll let the judge know we’ve reached an agreement.”
They left the conference room a few minutes later. “Feel better?” Tate asked her as they made their way toward his car. He had insisted she ride with him to the courthouse so they could discuss the case on the way.
Marilee shook her head. “I won’t rest until I get my son.”
“Be patient, Marilee. These things take time.”
IRBY WAS IN HIS OFFICE reading Mortuary News when Marilee returned to work. “May I speak with you?” she asked.
He indicated the chair in front of his desk. “How’d court go?”
“We settled everything except for the matter of custody,” she said. Marilee told him of her plan to get Josh into counseling. “I’d like to arrange the sessions for when Josh gets out of school, which is around four o’clock. I’ll skip my lunch hour in order to make up the time.”
“You don’t have to skip lunch, silly. Debbie or I will answer the phone while you’re out.”
“Thanks, Irby.”
“Now, why don’t you go home? You don’t look so good. In fact, if you looked any worse, I’d have to embalm you.”
Marilee arrived home twenty minutes later and found Winnie studying at the kitchen table.
“How’d it go?” the girl asked.
Marilee gave her a brief rundown. “I’d like to lie down for a while. I’m beat.”
“Good idea. Slip into something more comfortable and take a long nap. You have plenty of time before you have to be at your night job. When you wake up, I’ll have a nice dinner waiting for you.”
Marilee was too tired to argue. The meeting had drained her. “Thank you, Winnie.”
THE NEXT DAY, SAM BACKED his truck into the receiving area of Felder’s Building Supply and cut the engine. He found George Felder in his office, looking through invoices. “Hi, George,” he called. “I came for the shingles.”
George looked up. “Oh, hey there, Sam. The shingles are in the back.” He suddenly looked amused. “Word has it you’re working on that unwed mothers’ home. What’s the name of it?”
“Blessing Home.”
“I can’t believe you let those women talk you into it. How do they plan to pay you? Gonna give you somebody’s first-born?” He laughed at his own joke.
“You have three daughters, don’t you?” Sam asked.
“That’s right. And they’re good girls, let me tell you. Their mama raised ‘em up Christian-like. They ain’t likely to get knocked up like that bunch over there.”
“I hope you’re never faced with that decision, George. My mother used to say, it’s the good girls who get into trouble because they are inexperienced and don’t know much about protecting themselves. But you’re right. I don’t think you have to worry about that happening to your young ladies.”
Felder was quiet as he escorted Grady to the back for the boxes of shingles.
Sam returned to his office and found his partner, Bobby, on the phone. Bobby was broad-shouldered and thick around the waist from the cold Budweisers he drank with the other men after work. Although he and Bobby worked well together, Sam seldom joined the guys at quitting time. He found it boring sitting on a bar stool for hours with the same men he worked with all day, and he sure as hell didn’t like watching them spend their paychecks on other women when they had wives and children at home. For all his faults, Sam had never once cheated on Shelly.
Bobby was prematurely gray and that, coupled with the leathery look that he’d earned from years of working outdoors, made him look older than he was. He hung up the phone and regarded Sam.
“That was George Felder,” he said. “His nose is out of joint ‘cause you insinuated his daughters were sluts.”
Sam shook his head. “That’s bullshit.” Sitting at his desk, he riffled through a stack of papers in search of an order for lighting fixtures that hadn’t come in.
“What’s this I hear about you getting involved in that unwed mothers’ home? I walked off that job some weeks back for nonpayment.”
Sam looked up. He wasn’t accustomed to answering to anyone for his actions.
“The place needs a roof. They’ve got the money.”
Bobby gave a grunt. “That place needs more than a new roof, and those women don’t have two nickels to rub together. It’s a losing proposition, Sam, and we’ve got more important things to do. Like that new shopping center you bid on last month. If we land that job we won’t have time for that bunch of bleeding hearts.”
Sam leaned back in his chair and regarded his partner. Bobby Benson had been his best friend in high school, but the two had lost touch when Sam moved to Atlanta. “I’m doing the work in my spare time. I don’t see a problem with that, do you?” His voice held a challenge. As much as he liked Bobby, he wasn’t going to take orders from the man. Besides, they were full partners, and the only reason they had a shot at the shopping center was because of Sam’s expertise in handling big jobs.
“I reckon you just put me in my place,” Bobby said, reaching for a cigar and biting off the tip. He tossed Sam a knowing grin as he lit it. “This got anything to do with the fact that Marilee Abernathy is on the committee?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Like hell you don’t. Man, you had it bad for her back in high school.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“You know she left her husband. He’s screwing some waitress from the Tick-Tock. Moved in with her, last I heard, and took their kid with him. Sucks, if you ask me.”
“That’s the bad thing about small towns,” Sam said. “Everybody knows your business before you do.” He gave up looking for the order. It was probably stashed in the mountain of paperwork on the floor of his pickup truck. “We need a secretary.”
“Won’t be able to afford one if you start taking on all this charity work,” Bobby chided. “You need to get laid, Brewer, so you’ll stop thinking with your dick.”
Sam couldn’t hide his annoyance. “What I’m thinking is what a shame it is that nobody in this town gives a rat’s ass about a group of young women in trouble,” he said. “We haul off enough scrap lumber to rebuild the place and never miss a dime.”
“Who’s going to pay the subs? You expect me to send men out there for nothing? You think this company should pick up the tab?”
“I don’t think it should all fall on us, no. But it certainly wouldn’t hurt our image if we came up with some of the supplies and donated a little labor.” Sam stood and fished his keys out of his pocket. “In the meantime, I’ll do what I can, and it won’t cost this company a cent.” Sam started for the door.
“Hold on, Brewer,” Bobby said.
Sam turned.
“You still got a chip on your shoulder, you know that?.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“You think if we help this group out a little bit it’ll make us look good? A little PR never hurt anyone.”
Sam chuckled. “You’re right, it wouldn’t hurt. Maybe we’ll set a precedent for other business owners.”
Bobby sucked on his cigar. “Just make sure you don’t get involved with Marilee. Women like that usually go back to their husbands. They think it’s the right thing to do—Christian duty, and all.”
Sam felt a sudden tightness in his gut. “It’s really none of my business what Mrs. Abernathy chooses to do with her personal life. I’m just doing a job.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. This is me you’re talking to, pal. You’ve got something at stake here or you wouldn’t be spending your off time over there.”
“Remind me to call on you if I ever need a personal reference,” Sam said before heading out the door.
JOSH SPIED HIS FATHER SITTING on LaFonda’s patio when he climbed from Conway’s beat-up Honda and crossed the postage-stamp lawn that had run to seed long ago. “What are you doing home from work so early?” he asked.
Grady paused for a moment, then answered bluntly. “I’ve been laid off. Business is bad.”
Josh slumped into a battered lawn chair beside him. “What will you do now?”
His father sighed. “I haven’t figured that out yet. How come you’re so late getting home from school?”
“I’ve got a part-time job detailing cars for a guy. I’ve been working for him about a week now.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“You’ve been preoccupied.”
Grady looked away. “I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you much lately. I’m under a lot of stress right now. It hasn’t helped my blood pressure, I can tell you that.”
His dad didn’t look the least bit sorry. Josh didn’t want to hear about his problems anymore. He started to get up.
“Hold on a minute, son. I need to talk to you.”
Josh stiffened. His dad must’ve gotten a call from school. He wasn’t attending regularly. Instead, he hung out with Conway. They’d sort of become friends, although Conway sometimes pissed him off by telling him what to do or teasing him, even in front of others. But Conway had introduced him to a lot of people, and for the first time Josh felt as if he fit in. So if Conway sometimes treated him like a gofer, Josh figured it was a small price to pay for acceptance.
“I need to talk to you about your mother. We met a couple of days ago with
our lawyers. She wants you to attend counseling with her. I agreed to it.”
Josh shot him an angry look. “You had no right to do that without talking to me first.”
“It’s out of my hands, Josh. You can fight it all you want, but it’s part of the temporary agreement, and the judge will probably issue a court order in the matter. You’re scheduled to go to the mental health offices this Monday at four o’clock.” Josh opened his mouth to respond, but Grady cut him off. “Don’t be difficult, son. I have enough problems.”
His dad always had problems. “Fine,” Josh said angrily. “I’ll go because I have to, but I’m not the one who screwed up our lives. Seems to me, you and Mom are the ones who need a shrink.” He leaped from the chair and made his way down the road. He began to walk, faster this time, because he knew it was the only way to calm the familiar rage he felt inside.
MARILEE AWOKE AT DAWN on Monday morning with her heart beating frantically. If everything went according to plan, she would see her son today. If Grady did as he promised and delivered the boy as planned and if Josh agreed to go. Of course, Grady would more than likely follow through, because it was part of the temporary agreement, but Josh might balk at the idea.
All she could do was hope and pray. In the meantime, she applied her makeup and dressed in a simple skirt and sweater. Though it was flattering, it gave her the maternal look she was hoping for.
Winnie was making her school lunch when Marilee came downstairs. She smiled, trying to hide her worry. “Good morning.”
Winnie stuffed her sandwich and a diet drink into a paper sack. “You look nervous.”
Marilee wondered how the girl managed to see through her so easily. “A little. But that’s to be expected.”
“I have something for you,” Winnie said, reaching into her book bag. She pulled out something that resembled a large acorn. “It’s a buckeye seed. Supposed to bring you luck.”
“Thank you, Winnie.” Marilee stuck it in the pocket of her skirt. A horn blew out front. Winnie jumped. “Oh, there’s the bus.” She hurried for the door, juggling books, which was no small feat against her ever-increasing abdomen. “I’ll be thinking of you today,” she called out.
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