Once In A Blue Moon

by Celia Stewart

  Aunt Susie’s pat on his shoulder did nothing to reassure him as he hustled home, his wife in his arms. The look on Bee’s face at Zander’s words had nearly done him in. The tears and the shriek of agony, he’d felt in his soul. In his worst nightmares he’d never imagined her finding out like this.

  And here he’d been worried about Rhea telling her.

  Paybacks were a bitch, and he intended to see that Zander got his.

  * * * *

  Tim turned and stalked home, wishing more than he’d ever confess to anyone that Toni was there. That she hadn’t left him. He could have used her strength, her humor and her warmth right then.

  He’d wanted to puke when Zander told Betti about Rhea.

  In his living room, he found Rowdy slumped on the sofa, a half-empty beer bottle between his legs. Suddenly, Tim wanted one more than anything else in the world. He felt as if hours had passed, not less than one. He got a beer before rejoining his brother-in-law.

  “How the hell did Zander know about Rhea?” Rowdy grumbled.

  “Me,” Tim softly confessed. “I think he knew when he came home for Momma’s birthday...”

  “Ty had a black eye.”

  “That’s right. We talked about it when I called and told him about the divorce.”

  Rene wandered in from out back and silently sat between them.

  They jokingly offered her a beer, but she declined, a frown on her freckled face. She’d been unusually quiet, had even let him hug her--a rarity these days.

  “Why did he do that, Daddy?” She sniffled, then got all tense and quiet. She was trying like hell not to cry.

  Tim pulled her on his lap and sat rubbing her back. Something else he didn’t do much of anymore either. “I don’t know, baby. I just don’t know.”

  She struggled off of his lap and headed for the stairs, offering up one very loud, “You suck,” toward where her Uncle Zander hid, licking his wounds.

  From his other side, Rowdy snorted with laughter and sipped his beer. Tim couldn’t fault his potty-mouth daughter for that one. Not after Zack and Rowdy had struggled to pull him off Zander. He’d been furious at Zander’s juvenile shit.

  “Well, Zander got off light with her.” He chuckled as she stomped her way upstairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her. “But he better get the hell outta here before Ty comes for his ass.”

  He was the only who knew just how close Ty and Betti had been to having it all. That they loved each other. If they could survive this, they could handle anything.

  “I think he’s in the bedroom nursing that broken nose you gave him.”

  “Should have broken every bone in his fucking body.”

  “You damn near did,” said the object of his anger.

  Tim glanced up over the edge of the couch. “Like you didn’t deserve it, fucker.”

  “Save it. I’m outta here.”

  “And don’t come back!” Rowdy shouted as the door slammed.

  * * * *

  Zander was out the door before Tim could stop him or discover just how badly his ribs hurt. He’d end up calling in sick a couple of days for this one.

  Yeah, he’d been an ass, and yeah, he’d deserved the beating, but shit! Nine years was a long time to let something fester, and he’d be damned if he’d let anyone cheat him out of his victory. A victory that now felt a bit hollow and dry.

  He slid behind the wheel of the Beemer and headed for the county road. He’d done what he came to do and he was ready to go home. Even if he had done a piss poor job of it. Deep down inside he felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn’t meant to let things get so out of hand, to let it go any further than Momma and Dad. And that whore-spawn, Delaney.

  Dad hadn’t just cheated on Momma, but had broken a sacred trust made before God and man to love, honor and cherish his wife. Gone out and had a kid with another woman, for Christ sake.

  Zander’s red-headed temper had gotten the best of him and he hoped Betti and Ty would forgive him at some point. He briefly considered turning around and at least apologizing to Betti, but up ahead he could see the highway, and that represented home.

  Home, where Keilana and Darach waited.

  As he zipped under the highway and turned onto the access ramp, he dialed his cell phone and listened to it ring. A sigh of relief escaped him when she picked up. “Hey, baby. It’s me.”

  “Hi, sweetheart. I thought you’d be in the middle of dinner?”

  “Naw. I made my peace ... but not exactly how you had in mind.” Guilt gnawed at him again. He knew she’d secretly had high hopes for this trip home. He’d done more than hurt Ty and Betti, he’d failed Keilana and Darach also.

  “Alex,” she scolded, her voice low. Her silky voice slid across his skin, making him even more anxious to get home. Except for Darach’s birth and last night, he’d never spent a night away from her in three years of marriage.

  “Care Bear,” he growled back, “how’s my little man?”

  “He’s just fine, but he misses you, Daddy. Don’t try and distract me either. What did you do?”

  He silently drove for a few minutes as he maneuvered from I-10 to Loop 1604.

  “Alexander?” she sang softly.

  “Okay, okay. I was driving.” So he told her--everything. With Keilana, he couldn’t lie. If he had, she would have ferreted out the truth. The bond between them was too deep.

  “Shame on you, Alex.”

  “I know. Is that my boy I hear?” He smiled and settled deeper into the soft leather seat.

  “Yes, and he misses you terribly. He’s been a fuss-monster the whole time you’ve been gone.”

  Zander chuckled softly. “Put him up to the phone.”

  “Hang on. Say hello to Daddy, baby.”

  A smile split his face as he listened to Darach coo into the phone. “I love you, son. I’ll be home soon, okay? Don’t give your momma too much grief now.”

  Then Kei was back. “Aww, he’s crying, Daddy.”

  “I’ll see you in four hours, five tops.”

  “I love you. I’m sorry things didn’t go better. Did you even tell them about Darach?”

  And her. His little hula-honey. “Not this trip, baby.”

  * * * *

  “Maggie May?”

  “Any word on Bettina?” she asked, turning from the kitchen sink to face Jerrod. Her heart quickened as he pinned her there with his thighs. Even after thirty years, he could warm her blood. Of course, there’d been so many of those years she hadn’t allowed him to. They’d worked hard these last few months to make up for lost time.

  “Susie just called. She’s awake and refusing to go to the hospital. Says she’s fine.” He kissed her long and slow with the easy familiarity that only an old married couple has.

  “So much for Thanksgiving.” Heartsore, she shook her head in frustration. “Did you have any idea?”

  “None. Oh, he was mouthing off last night about his brothers being girl-makers. You could tell he was uptight--same as he’s always been--but I never imagined anything like this.”

  “My God, what are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know. He’s already gone, but I’ll hunt him down if Betti loses that baby.”

  “Do you think Betti and Ty will be okay?”

  “I do. Ty has told me to butt out, so until he comes to me, that’s that.” Jerrod shook his head. “This is all my fault.”

  “Jerrod, you said yourself you had no clue.” She hugged him, concerned at the deep lines of worry in his face. They’d taken a hard hit today. “I meant every word I said,” she whispered, her head on his chest. She couldn’t look at him. She was jealous, and she did have regrets but that didn’t lessen the love she felt for Delaney.

  He tilted her head back so that it rested on his arm. “I know and I appreciate them, but if I hadn’t cheated on you...”

  “If you hadn’t cheated on me, we wouldn’t have Delaney to remind us how to laugh and play and not take ourselves so seriously.”

  Jerrod sigh
ed again and she pushed forward in a rush of words. “In truth, if Gabby hadn’t died none of this would have happened. Does that mean we blame God?”

  Everything went back to Gabby. Gabby had been a welcome addition to the family after four boys, but a heart condition had taken her from them before her first birthday. Maggie’d been mad with grief. At God, at Jerrod, at the doctors who couldn’t save her daughter and even the friends who’d come to comfort her. She’d driven Jerrod away the night of the funeral, unwilling to realize that she wasn’t the only one hurting. He’d run into Delaney’s mom, Bridgette, and nine months later Delaney was born.

  Maggie had withdrawn even further, emotionally cutting herself off from him and the boys. She’d never forgiven him, nor let him see Delaney. She’d been so bitter and angry for so many years, no wonder Zander had reacted so harshly.

  This was all her fault.

  But then Bridgette had died, and Jessa had bluntly reminded her that we weren’t often given second chances. Delaney had been Maggie’s second chance.

  “We can’t control the past. We can only do our best to influence our future, isn’t that what Dr. Ritter says?”

  * * * *

  Delaney stood in the doorway, listening to Maggie. She would have snorted but she was afraid she’d blow a snot bubble out of her nose from all the tears she’d cried. “Pardon me if I’m having a hard time putting everything in perspective.”

  Her daddy turned and opened his arms to let her in the circle they’d created, and she threw herself at him. Maggie’s hesitant kindness had always left her off-kilter, but with Daddy, she knew right where she stood. That didn’t keep the tears at bay. Or her anger.

  She’d considered snagging the keys to Daddy’s suburban and going after Zander. Running him off the road and leaving him lying in a ditch, bleeding. Not only for her sake, but Betti’s. Poor Betti still hadn’t stopped crying.

  But her mother’s words came back to haunt her: Be careful what you throw out into the Universe. It’ll come back and bite you on the ass tenfold.

  Maggie’s words caught her attention. “Delaney, I have to say something. We both know we’re supposed to focus on the future, the stuff we can control, but I sincerely regret the past. That we missed so much of your life. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, all of this could have been avoided. Even the transition after your mother died would have been easier.”

  Delaney bit her lip against the tears that threatened, against the tears that poured down Maggie’s face.

  “So you see, Jerrod, it’s not all your fault. It’s mine.” She turned her tear-filled eyes back to Delaney and continued, “I know your mom meant the world to you and you two were very close and I can't ever replace her, but I love you as if you were my own.”

  “I miss her.” She let Maggie pull her close and Dad wrap his arms around them both.

  “I know,” Maggie whispered. “It’ll be okay.”

  “Seeing you two together has done a lot for this battered old heart.” He squeezed her so tight, Delaney could barely breathe. “What the hell are we going to do with all that turkey?”

  * * * *

  Ty slumped on the couch, feeling as limp as the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. He couldn’t figure out which was worse--Zander’s treatment of Mom, Dad and Delaney or the look on Bee’s face when she’d found out about Rhea.

  Dad had been right. He should have told her, but hadn’t thought there was any harm in waiting one more day.

  Bettina was awake and Angi and Aunt Susie were with her. She’d gotten sick again and he could still hear her crying. They’d put in a call to the midwife who finally called back and suggested they bring Bettina in if she didn’t start feeling better soon. But Bee refused.

  “She’s resting,” Angi said, sinking down next to him on the couch.

  “How is she?”

  “Well her stomach is finally empty.”

  He nodded and wished for just a minute that he was twelve again. At least at twelve life was fairly easy. “Does she hate me?”

  “Why would she hate you? Because of your ex?” Angi asked.

  .” He shrugged, eyes on his hands. He’d never noticed how callused and busted up they looked. One more day. All he’d wanted was one more day.

  “Ty, she could never hate you,” Angi whispered, leaning closer and wrapping an arm around him.

  He struggled against the tears. “I don’t know what to say to her. I’m just ... numb.” And angry and scared. “I’d planned on telling her. Honest.”

  “I believe you, and I’m sure she will, too. Just give her some time to settle down and sort things out in her head, and I’m sure she’ll talk to you. I know my sister and she’s not one to let things fester.”

  They were interrupted by a light knock on the door. “I’ll get it.” Angi patted his back as she stood up.

  Ty flopped back on the couch and kicked the coffee table with his booted foot, ready to throw everyone out and curl up with his wife. If she’d have him.

  “That’s no way to treat your wife’s furniture.”

  His head snapped up as he looked over the top of the couch. Tim. “Angi, could you leave us alone.”

  “I’ll be in the bedroom.”

  He waited until the bedroom door softly clicked before speaking. “Well?”

  “Zander left.” Tim came around the end of the couch and sat where Ty had sat earlier that day, refereeing the two sisters. He rubbed his head and growled in frustration.

  “That’s too bad. I hope he has a wreck on the way home.” Ty pushed himself deeper into the couch.

  “You wanna hit me? ‘Cause if that’ll help, you can.”

  He laughed. It was either that or cry. He abso-freakin-lutely hated confrontations and he’d really been through the wringer today. “It just all feels so weird. I should go talk to her.”

  “Then why don’t you?” Tim asked softly.

  Unable to meet his brother’s eyes, Ty fidgeted, finally resting his chin on his fingers and frowning at nothing. “I ... I don’t want to see that look on her face again.”

  “What look?”

  “That ... sick ... look. Like, pity ... and disgust.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Tightrope

  “You don’t disgust me,” I said softly, swallowing a fresh round of tears at my husband’s words.

  Ty stumbled to his feet, Tim right behind him. I crossed my arms and gave up on trying to stop the tears. “Tim, would you please leave and take everyone with you.”

  While he silently herded Aunt Susie and Angi out, I headed for the sofa on wobbly knees. My heart hurt and I felt as if someone had scooped out my soul and was playing soccer with it.

  “You should be in bed.” Ty looked up at me, concern visible in his red-rimmed eyes.

  “I wanted to talk to you.”

  “You’re gonna make yourself sick, honey. Stop that.” He reached for me and I hurled myself into his arms, burrowing against him as another round of sobs hit me.

  I couldn’t even begin to process the fact that Rhea had abused him. It only made me want to scream and pull my hair in frustration--or hire a hitman. I’d never in my life felt so helpless and weak and frustrated. I hated it.

  “Stop it, Bettina,” he crooned, his arms around me. If anything, I cried harder at his gentleness. “Stop, stop it.” He forced my head back and made me meet his eyes. I blinked and hiccuped as he snapped at me. “Stop it! Breathe!”

  “I ... I ... I.”

  “Hush, don’t talk just breathe.”

  I breathed.

  “Nice and slow. That’s my girl. Exhale nice and slow.” His voice was low and gentle and I kept my eyes focused on him. “Better?” he asked, leaning closer.

  I nodded and ducked my head, laying it on his chest.

  “I was going to tell you.” One hand cupped my face and he stroked my cheek with his thumb.

  “When? When did you plan on telling me?”

  “Soon. The next couple days. This weeke
nd.” His grip on me tightened. “And I want you to know something. Last Wednesday when I came home from Dr. Ritter’s, I made a promise to myself to give you one hundred percent because you deserved it. You still do. I hope you still feel like you can give me the same.”

  “Who’s Dr. Ritter?” Last Wednesday when he’d disappeared. When we’d made love on the kitchen table and broken the dishes.

  “My shrink.”

  We silently stared at each other while I let his latest revelation sink in. His stormy green eyes never blinked. I traced his eyebrows and cheeks with my fingertip, searching for words to form some sort of reply.

  But I didn’t have one.

  “Bee, so help me God, if you could give me the chance, hell, I’ll even settle for fifty percent. I’ll be the best husband you could ever ask for. I’ll be so good to you and our baby. I’ll be the best daddy just ... gimme a little.”

  Ty Boudreaux did not deserve to settle! If he had any clue just how much I loved him he wouldn’t even have to ask, but this wasn’t the time for that discussion. Instead, I pressed my lips to his and whispered, “Wanna watch a home movie?”

  He chuckled and kissed me, his lips sipping at mine. “I swear you won’t regret this,” he said, his voice hoarse and low.

  My heart broke all over again at his earnestness, but I painted a smile on my face and said, “I already don’t.”

  * * * *

  Still feeling hung over from the previous day’s upset and tears, I rolled over and confiscated Ty’s pillow when he got up. “I could fix breakfast.”

  “You don’t have to do that.” He leaned down and kissed me.

  Since I’d be home all morning, the least I could do was cook. Besides we still needed to talk. I stretched and wiggled my toes, smiling at him. My nausea was almost gone, I just hoped the baby was okay after yesterday’s upset. “I want to. What do you want?”