“You can’t leave before I have the chance to tell you what happened. This news will destroy my reputation with country music and I’m going to need your help to get out of it.”
She sighed deeply as if tolerating his presence. “What I see in front of me is a pathetic excuse for a man, like my mother said. Now, if you don’t mind, I have better things to do than stand here listening to a desperate and selfish cowboy.”
“Did you find the CD I left for you?”
She reached into an outside pocket on her purse and pulled out the CD. When she dropped it on the garage floor and stomped it with her heel, the loud crack echoed like a gun shot in the room.
“Send me a bill for the damages,” she said with a lift of her chin.
“Well, don’t do me any favors, darlin’.” She stepped into the car and started to close the door, but he grabbed it with one hand. “Aren’t you going to tell me to not call you that?”
With complete dismissal, she replied in an even tone, “I don’t care what you call me.”
Becky leaned across Silver. “Let go of the door, Justin, unless you plan to be dragged across town. On second thought, hold on.” She revved the engine to make her point.
When he stepped away, Silver closed the door. Becky backed up the car and quickly drove out the driveway. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Hunter standing there with a grim face.
“Time to face the music,” he said. “Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa are waiting.”
* * *
Silver stared out the car window the entire way home, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Becky tried to get her to talk, but there was nothing more to say. All that mattered right now was maintaining control.
When they pulled into the driveway, Silver swallowed hard at the sight of reporters and cameramen on her front lawn. She opened the passenger door as soon as the car stopped and got out. Becky popped the trunk. Silver pulled out her bag and walked to her front door, refusing to answer the questions being shouted at her. Then she went inside and shut the door behind her. She heard Becky telling the press to leave.
Silver stared at the sofa where Justin had slept. It seemed like years ago.
Becky opened the door and walked into the house. “Silver Madison, I am not moving from here until you talk to me.”
“Have a seat,” she said in a hushed tone without turning around.
“I don’t want a seat. I want to know where my friend went,” Becky declared.
“That’s exactly what I’m wondering.”
Becky frowned at her. “I’m right here.”
Silver sat down in a chair and crossed her legs at the ankles, prim and proper. Just like Amelia. “I prefer to not strain my neck when I’m talking to you.”
“Oh. My. God.” Becky stomped over and plopped onto the sofa. “Would you cut the Amelia crap? This is me you’re talking to. Your best friend of too many years to count.”
“You’re right. You were a good friend.”
“Did you say were?”
Silver sighed. “I wonder if you reviewed that little announcement before you made it this morning, because it certainly had very little to do with me. ‘Justin Rivers announces his engagement… Mr. Rivers will be talking with counsel… His options… When Justin can clear his schedule.’” She paused, picking non-existent lint from the sleeve of her blouse. “It was all about him, wasn’t it? To save his reputation and further his career.” With a barely discernible shrug, she said, “No mention of my feelings, or my counsel, or my schedule. I realize you work for him, but I found that very odd coming from my friend.”
Becky crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re kidding, right? Correct me if I’m wrong, but you signed onto that insanity express of your own free will, and now you want to blame me?”
“No, I’m not going to blame anyone,” Silver said calmly. “But I don’t need your kind of friendship anymore either. Where was the friend who said she’d have my back? The one who would be there to make sure things were done right? What happened to that person whose opinion I used to value more than my own?”
“I’m sorry if you didn’t like the way I worded the press release, but it’s a moot point. You’re not engaged to him anymore, and I think you made a solid impact with America when you slapped him hard enough to be heard in Texas. By the way, I quit my job because of that bombshell the cowboy dropped.”
“Yes, and speaking of which,” Silver said. “I think it’s interesting, how you were able to find out which photographer broke into my house and took those pictures, but had no idea that Justin was married.”
“What does that mean?” Becky demanded. “Do you think I would keep something like that from you? I’m your friend, Silver. Here for you.”
Lifting her chin, Silver said very quietly. “I know you’re here. I can’t imagine why anyone would stay where they’re not welcome.”
Becky’s mouth dropped open. “You did not just say that to me.”
Silver stood with her hands clasped in front of her. “I’d like you to leave, please. Don’t quit your job on my account. Like you said, I’m a moot point now.” She stood, waiting quietly.
“Wow. You’re willing to throw away our friendship because you screwed up.”
“Excuse me, I screwed up? Did I ask to get pulled into this sleaziness? Did I ask for the pictures to be taken and released? Did I ask for Justin to set wheels in motion that we were engaged? And did I ask to find out in front of God and everyone that he’s already married?” Her voice became a bit louder on the last word.
“Well, maybe you should have stood up for yourself.”
Silver went limp as the anger away. “I did stand up for myself. And I am. Now please leave.”
Becky started to argue but Silver ignored her, staring straight ahead. Finally the other woman let out a ragged sigh.
“Bye, Sil. I still love you like my sister.”
Silver waited until she heard the door close, then she listened to the sounds in the tiny house. The clock ticking on the living room wall. The refrigerator running. The quiet hum of the heating unit. All familiar sounds that should give her comfort. Instead they were pinpricks jumping across her skin.
Unbuttoning her blouse, she turned and walked into her bedroom. She took off her jewelry and carefully set it on the dresser. It had been an exhausting two days, and she wanted sleep more than anything else.
Her phone rang and when she saw the name displayed, she answered. “Hi, Jackie.”
“Silver. I caught the early edition news, and I am shocked about Justin but proud of you. The board is already preparing a statement for the press. Do you need another day off?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll be there tomorrow, if that’s all right with you.”
“Are you sure? I can have the sub…”
“I’m perfect. I have another call, so I’ll see you in the morning.” When she read the caller ID, her fingers gripped the phone.
Justin.
A crashing wave of fresh pain threatened to break free of the sternly cast walls around her heart, but she mentally forced it back. Letting the call go to voicemail, she checked to see if there were any other messages. Three from her mother. Two from her father. She’d call them back…sometime.
Clicking off her phone, she tossed it onto the dresser then sat down wearily on the bed. Her mind kept going over the past two days like she had one finger on the replay button of a YouTube video.
Why had she believed Justin’s lies? She had been used, like the worst type of fool. Rubbing her temples, she heard Becky’s voice again: “You’re willing to throw away our friendship because you screwed up…”
“No, I didn’t screw up,” Silver whispered, glancing at her closet as she stood and went into the kitchen. She made sure the patio door was locked as she passed it, thanks to Justin’s locksmith.
She reached for a tea kettle, her hands trembling, then went to the sink and turned on the faucet. Maybe a hot cup of tea would chase away the chi
ll of betrayal.
The faucet on the sink…Justin…the leak…the robe.
You should have stood up for yourself…
Water flowed into the kettle and over the rim. Words pounded her rigid control, causing her to breathe in rapid pants as fragments of condemnation screamed at her.
Your whorish stunt…
Your sordid affair…
So disappointed in you again…
You screwed up…
“I did not screw up!” she screamed as she hurled the kettle against the wall and sank to the floor.
For the first time that day, she cried, deep, wracking sobs that made her entire body shake. Pulling her blouse shut, she wrapped her arms around herself, rocking back and forth on the kitchen floor. She didn’t hear the front door open or the footsteps running through her house. Somehow she wasn’t surprised when Becky sat down and put both arms around her, crying with her.
“You can’t get rid of your best friend that easily. I’m here, Sil, and I’m so sorry.”
Wrapping her arms around her friend’s waist, Silver held on as if Becky were a life line. Still crying after several minutes, she tried to talk.
“I…did…not…screw…” She couldn’t finish what she wanted to say.
“Well, yeah you did. That’s kind of what started all of this.”
Silver pulled back in shock and saw Becky biting her lip to keep from laughing. They both began laughing until Silver’s laughter faded back into tears.
“I hate him,” she declared in a watery voice.
“Me, too,” said Becky.
“But I love him.”
“I know.”
“I like his mother more than mine.”
“Me, too.”
Laughing weakly, Silver hugged her friend. “Thank you.”
Becky smiled as she stood and reached down to pull Silver up. “Anything for my friend. Welcome back. Geez, I hated that Amelia thing you had going.”
As they walked into the living room, Silver looked over her shoulder at water running down the kitchen wall. “There’s a big mess to clean up.”
“We’ll do it together.”
* * *
Justin sat in his mother’s home office with his head down, listening to her on the phone with one of the restaurant managers as she tried to keep a chef from walking out. Hunter had taken Grandma Ginny home after the older woman had kissed his cheek and turned away. The family attorney, Robert Sullivan, had left a few minutes ago, saying his firm would get to work on the “Danielle Rivers issue.”
Grandpa Slade had gone to the kitchen to pour himself a whiskey before he took his grandson “out behind the cabana and thrashed him within an inch of his life.” Justin had never seen Slade that angry with him—ever.
“Tell Eric that his tuna surprise doesn’t work in a barbecue place. If he doesn’t understand, then tell him we’ll find someone else.” Connie ended the call, shaking her head. “What self-respecting cowboy would eat tuna instead of barbecue beef or pork?”
Justin didn’t reply. The call had been a welcome delay to the inevitable talk. She put her phone on silent and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Start talking, son,” she said with her usual directness. “And sit up so I can see you.”
Even at this age, he responded to that don’t-disrespect-your-mother tone. Clearing his throat, he straightened in the chair.
“You remember what happened with me right after dad died?”
“Lord help me, we all remember. You were drunk more days than you were sober for close to six months. Scared me to death, because I thought I’d lose you, too.”
“During one of my inebriated weekends, I went to Las Vegas. I met Danielle in a casino; we gambled and drank, talked, drank some more…and I woke up the next morning married to her. It was a stupid mistake, and we agreed on an annulment. I gave her a pocketful of money to take care of it, and I haven’t heard from her since that day.”
Connie’s mouth dropped open. “That must have been one hell of a bender, son. Why didn’t you call Robert or one of the other lawyers to get this taken care of?”
“Mom, I couldn’t face you after what I’d done. And Dani convinced me she would take care of everything. I didn’t want to bother you with any more of my screw ups.”
She frowned. “I understand that, son, but I would never turn away one of my children when they’re in trouble. Now we have an even bigger mess to wade through.”
“You’re right.” He didn’t need to be reminded of Silver and the day’s events to know that his stupidity had caught up with him in the worst way possible.
“As soon as the lawyers contact her, I imagine Miss Danielle will see how she can cash in, so how are you going to handle it?”
“I don’t know, Mom. If she were to walk in this room, I wouldn’t recognize her. I don’t remember much about those six months.”
“Robert will put his best men on it to see if we can get some answers.”
He didn’t say anything. After several seconds, he asked, “I really hurt her, didn’t I?” Justin wasn’t talking about Danielle anymore and his mother understood.
“Silver loved you with all her heart, and you basically told her she was a temporary fix for your problems.”
“It’s not Silver I want to be temporary, only this bad situation. But I don’t know if there’s anything between us worth saving. I thought there was…maybe.” He stared at the floor. “Should I try to call her?”
“You can try, but don’t be surprised if she doesn’t answer. She’s wounded, Justin. She had her private life put on the front pages of scandal sheets, and now she’s been doubly humiliated by you. Not to mention what this could do to her teaching career.”
Justin stood and began pacing. “What about me? My reputation is at stake, too. My career could be in shambles and I’ll probably lose my chance in Nashville. And she slapped me in front of all those reporters.”
His stopped pacing as his mother stood up slowly to her full height, anger etched on her face and hands on her hips.
Never a good sign.
“Justin…Ernest…Rivers. How dare you make this about you! Of all the self-centered crap!”
“Wait, I—”
“I’m not finished, young man. Keep quiet until I’m done,” she told him with one finger up. “I hope this isn’t the way you tried to explain things to her, because all I heard you say just now was me, me, me. Do you have to walk into a school tomorrow and hold your head up even when you hear the whispers behind your back? Will you dodge paparazzi until they get tired of the story? How do you think Amelia is going to treat Silver after that press conference?”
“I tried to tell her, explain what happened in Las Vegas, but she didn’t want to listen. And I…” Then he suddenly remembered and closed his eyes, groaning with the memory.
“What else did you say to her?”
He collapsed into a chair. “Something about how this would all destroy me and I needed her help to get through it.”
Connie threw her hands up in exasperation. “Justin! She endured that scene about you having a wife with more class than any woman I’ve ever met. You tell her it’s still all about you, and then have the gall to ask for her help?” She turned away from him, mumbling, “I’ve raised an idiot.” Sitting in the chair behind her desk, she gave him a pained expression. “Justin. Really?”
Justin’s take-charge nature kicked in and he dialed his phone. He listened as it rang and went to voicemail, so he disconnected and stared at the phone.
“She’s not going to answer. You’ve lost her, son. Might as well concentrate on getting rid of the woman you do have in your life, because Silver is already gone. Let me get started on helping with this one.” Connie picked up the phone to make some calls.
As Justin left the office, a sick feeling of certainty about his mother’s words congealed in his stomach. His heart clenched in emotional pain. Had he really lost Silver for good?
Right now he want
ed to get drunk and forget the past forty-eight hours, but he knew that wouldn’t help anything. Been there, done that—way too much, and it was one of the reasons for the current trouble.
He decided to call the local press agency and see if he could keep the reporters away from Silver’s school tomorrow. She deserved to have some peace in her life right now. Then he needed Becky to come back as his manager. He didn’t know how he would convince her, but he had to try.
His thoughts swirled as he walked into the living room. Everything involving Silver seemed so jumbled and confused, but one thing he did know: he’d driven away a woman who’d done nothing but treat him fairly and honestly. She’d withdrawn from him because of his selfishness, and he’d turned the knife more by asking her to help him out of this self-imposed mess. Even worse, he’d taken the warmth and love of a beautiful woman and treated it—and her—as if it were something owed to him. He’d taken Silver for granted. What the hell was wrong with him?
Slade walked up beside him. “Life isn’t easy, is it? Just when we think we know or have what we want, something comes along to knock us in the head. Changes our whole perspective about women.”
Justin plopped onto the sofa. “Getting a woman or keeping one?”
Slade chuckled and sat down, too. “Yep.”
“Is it wrong to try and make everyone happy?”
“Did you ask everyone what they wanted, or did you assume you knew?”
He didn’t answer and his grandfather nodded.
“That is one fine woman and I’m sure she’s in love with you, but every woman has a limit to what she can deal with. You pushed past it.” He gave a short laugh. “Your granddaddy Ernest knew how to push the limits, but he never took a step without a lot of thought.”
“How did he push the limits?”
Slade stared at the floor, lost in memories. “I remember when I was about ten years old, my daddy was having a tough time because of World War II. He had opened two new restaurants the week before Pearl Harbor, and all of us kids were trying to help out at the cafes, but people didn’t have the money to eat out. One night something woke me and I got up to see what I was hearing. I found my daddy on his knees beside his bed, sobbing his heart out.” Slade took a moment and cleared his throat.
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