Now that he knew the whole story, he felt like such a fool. When he put it all together, he realized no woman on earth could’ve been as loving and giving as Kay had been if they were only playing a game. Why had he been so stubborn when she reached out to him with questions about his actions? Why didn’t he ask what really happened and let her explain? He hated this stubborn streak of pride he’d always had. This time, it didn’t just get him in trouble it may have ruined his life.
Worst of all, he knew he’d hurt her deeply and he hoped against hope he hadn’t been so cruel that she couldn’t forgive him. He was willing to do anything to get her back. He’d beg, he’d plead and he’d grovel. He’d do anything. And last night he’d finally realized, to be with her, he’d even move to Washington DC. He’d sell his farm, if necessary. Cole didn’t want or need it, anyway. With the money it would bring, he’d be able to give her any kind of home she wanted. He’d even discussed its value with Alex as he and Heather had come to visit last night. They came to the conclusion that fifteen million was the minimum it would bring. With the herd, it would fetch much more.
Jude twisted in his seat. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he gave up the farm. It was the only life he knew. He’d been raised on a farm and until he’d gone to college, he’d never stayed any length of time anywhere else. He wasn’t sure adjusting to another way of life would be easy for him, but to have Kay in that life it’d be more precious than any farm. He was sure as hell going to give it a try, anyway. She was worth it, if she’d only let him back into her life.
His mind drifted to their one night together. He knew he’d never loved a woman or been loved by a woman the way it had been that night. Neil and Alex had been right. She was the perfect bed companion for him. She gave herself completely to him without reservation. And she took his love as if she was receiving a precious gift. Yes, he thought, it’ll be worth anything to know that I can hold her every night for the rest of my life. She’s all I’ll ever need. I have to make her know that.
For the first time in a long time, Jude began to pray a sincere prayer. “I know I’ve not done the things I should, God,” he said inwardly. “I’ve ignored You for a long time and I have no right to come to You now, but please let me have this one thing. I’ll love her the way a woman should be loved, and I’ll respect her and be true to her for the rest of my life. Please God, if in Your wisdom You find it possible…”
His seatmate punched his shoulder.
He looked from the window to the short man beside him. The man asked, “Are you okay, mister?”
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?” Jude eyed the little man.
“You were mumbling. I wanted to be sure you weren’t…”
Jude almost laughed. He started to tell the man to ignore him, but something made him say, “I was praying.”
“Oh, I see. You scared to fly or something?”
“No, I’m not afraid. I just have something going on in my life that I need help with.”
“So you think God might help you out?”
“I was hoping maybe He would. He’s about the only one I know who could help me right now, because things are really complicated.”
The man looked a Jude for a long minute. “Well, it just so happens I believe in prayer myself. If you want to tell me a little about your problem, maybe we could pray together.”
Jude wondered if the man was a nut case or if he was serious. Either way, he decided he wasn’t going to turn down any offer of help. “I have to find Senator Kay Littleton right away. A lot of things in my life depend my finding her.”
The man openly stared at Jude. Finally, he said in an almost inaudible voice, “Mister, I think your prayer has already been answered.” Before Jude could say anything, the little man went on, “My name is Julian Marley. I have an aunt who says she lives next door to Senator Kay Littleton.”
It was Jude’s turn to stare.
CHAPTER 16
“Gilbert, this was such a good idea.” Kay smiled at the man in the seat beside her. “I haven’t been to the ballet in a long time. Thank you for asking me to come along.”
“I’m so glad you said you’d come with me, Ms. Kay. I’ve been worried about you since you got home from North Carolina. You’ve been so sad and so depressed. I don’t like to see you in that condition. It makes me worry about you.”
“My trip there started out wonderfully. I met some great people there and everyone was so accepting and gracious to me. I felt as if I’d found the place where I wanted to spend the rest of my life, but…” She paused.
“But something terrible happened and it ended badly, didn’t it?”
She nodded. “Very badly, Gilbert.”
“Do you want to talk about it, Ms. Kay?”
She knew he was willing to listen to anything she had to say because he loved her and only wanted to help. But she couldn’t share this with him. She couldn’t share it with anyone. She knew her feelings for Jude had to remain locked in her heart forever. She forced a smile. “No, Gilbert. I don’t want to talk about it. I appreciate you offering to listen, but it’s something I have to deal with on my own. Nobody can help me with this.”
“I’m sorry I can’t help, and if you want to keep it to yourself, I understand.”
“I know you do. You’ve always known my needs very well.”
The lights flashed and they quit talking. It was time for the second act. When the beautifully costumed dancers came onto the stage, Kay almost smiled a genuine smile. Not at the performers, but for some reason, she was visualizing Jude here beside her. She knew that he’d be miserable here in more ways than one.
First off, all he’d be physically uncomfortable because the seats weren’t very large and they were close together. His long frame would have a hard time bending to fit in. Another reason she knew he wouldn’t be happy was the music. The times she’d been in his truck or car, he had country music playing. The classical tunes weren’t what he was used to, or probably even liked. Though she knew by the size and design of his home, he was a man of some means, she didn’t think he’d appreciate the ballet. Not that it was her favorite pastime. Oh, she liked it well enough, but she’d rather have been home on this cold Sunday night curled up with a book.
Then she remembered no book had held her attention since she left Coverton Mills. Besides, she knew it would’ve broken Gilbert’s heart if she’d refused to attend the ballet with him. He’d tried everything he could think of to cheer her up since her return. She just couldn’t let him down again. Not eating more than a few bites of his lovingly prepared shrimp scampi last night had been bad enough. Refusal to come with him tonight would have sent him into the dumps, too. She didn’t want that. Not at this time. She had enough depression of her own, and she didn’t want to try to deal with his.
As she watched the dancers on the stage, her mind was seeing Coverton Mills. What the hell did I do? It was as if someone flipped a switch. One minute, Jude was holding me in his arms and telling me he loved me and talking about a future together; the next, he accused me of betraying him. What could I have done?
Then, it hit her. I didn’t do a thing. Nothing changed until Jude got that phone call and I went out of the room. I don’t even know who called him. I was looking at his pitiful plants and wondering if I could do anything to revive them. Whoever made that call must have told him something awful about me because it was when I went back into the kitchen that everything changed.
She shifted in her seat and Gilbert glanced at her. She flashed him a smile and he turned back to the performance.
What could they have said? I don’t know anyone who hates me enough to ruin my life. Grandpa’s sister, Maxine would have done it, but she’s dead now. Would one of her descendants have tried to…That’s stupid thinking. I haven’t been in touch with any of them in a long time. None of them could know I was in Coverton Mills, much less know to call Jude. But it had to be that call. There’s no other explanation. If only I knew who that was on the phone
with him, maybe I could understand why he so suddenly changed.
The performance came to an end, and people were offering a standing ovation. Kay got to her feet, clapping. Gilbert was clapping, too. He had a big smile on his face and looking pleased with himself. Kay knew he was concerned about what had happened in Coverton Mills and he was doing everything he could think of to make her feel better. She had to admit, she did feel a little better, but it was more because she’d finally got a handle on why Jude had changed so quickly than because of the performance. Of course, Gilbert didn’t have to know that. She wanted him to think he’d helped her in his own special way. And maybe he had. If she hadn’t come here with him, it might never have occurred to her what had caused Jude to change so quickly. Though she knew it was probably impossible, now all she needed to do was try to find out who made that call.
•♥ •
It was dark when the plane landed in Washington. Jude couldn’t wait to get to the street. He wasn’t going to question the coincidence of meeting Marley on the plane. Maybe it was chance and maybe it was the prayer. He didn’t know, but he wanted to believe it was the latter, so he did. He hailed a cab and gave the driver the address in Alexandria. Lord, he hoped Marley hadn’t been putting him on. He could just be a guy who liked telling lies to gullible people. Jude knew it could be a big mistake to take a stranger’s word, yet it had come about almost supernaturally.
The driver was talkative, but when Jude gave him only short answers, he gave up and concentrated on his driving. Later, Jude regretted not asking the fellow questions. He might have learned more about the senate and the people who worked and served there. The man might even have known things about Kay.
Finally, they pulled up in front of a long brick building. There was a small, black wrought-iron fence near the sidewalk, and each individual unit had a small yard behind their fence. There were plants in the enclosed area, but he had no idea what kind, and at this moment, he didn’t care. As they all did, the door with Miss Marley’s number had five brick steps leading to it.
Jude asked the cab to wait and he got out. He hesitated as he looked at the building. He realized in his exuberance he’d failed to ask Marley which side of his aunt Kay lived on. He was going to have to take a chance. He wondered if eenie-meenie-minie-mo would help.
The door on the right had a wreath made of fruit hanging on it. The one on the left was bare. Deciding Kay wasn’t the fruit type, he went to the left. It had been the right decision, because in a matter of seconds, a young couple exited the door on the right of Miss Marley’s unit. They looked at Jude. “Looking for someone, mister?” the man asked in a clipped New England accent.
“Kay Littleton.” Jude decided not to say “Senator”.
“You a friend of hers?”
“Yes. I just arrived from North Carolina. She visited there during Thanksgiving and left some things at my house. I came to return them. Do you know if she’s in?” He knew it was a lie, but it sounded good.
“Don’t think so, but you can try.”
“Thanks.” He walked up to her door and pushed the buzzer. There was no response.
The couple still watched him.
He rang the door buzzer again. Still no response. There were no lights coming from inside, either. She must have gone out west after all.
He looked back at the couple. “I guess you’re right. I’ll go back to my hotel and try to call instead of just dropping by later.”
“Can we tell her who came by?”
“If you like. Name’s Jude Winslow from Coverton Mills.”
“I’ll see her tomorrow, if she’s home, and I’ll tell her you were here, Mr. Winslow.”
“Thank you.” He went back to the cab. He was disappointed that Kay wasn’t home, but pleased to know he had the right address.
He noticed the couple was still watching as the cab pulled away.
“Where to now, buddy?”
“Take me to a hotel.”
“Any particular one?”
“Doesn’t have to be a five-star, but something clean and decent and not too far from here.”
“Got you.”
When he’d showered and climbed out of the tub with a towel around him, Jude decided he wasn’t ready to go to bed. It was only nine-thirty. He called downstairs and asked for a cab in twenty minutes. He dressed in the warmest clothes he had with him and went down to meet his ride.
Kay still wasn’t home. Neither was the couple he’d encountered earlier. He dallied with the idea of leaving Kay a note, but decided against it. At ten-thirty, he climbed back in the cab and returned to the hotel to call Red. He’d have to give up for the night, but he wasn’t giving up completely. On the off chance she hadn’t gone west, he still intended to be at her office when it opened on Monday.
CHAPTER 17
“Red, I appreciate you letting me read your letter. Your mother was a top-notch woman, and your Aunt Kay still is.” Cole handed the letter back to Red. “I feel like such a heel.”
“We all feel that way, Cole.” Red folded the letter and put it in his pocket.
“I’m sorry I’m the one who told Dad she was putting on an act. I messed up everything, didn’t I?”
“Not really. I’d already turned Neil and Mavis against her. Well, not Neil as much as Mavis. She was concerned for me and your dad. She didn’t want to see him get hurt like he was over the council woman, and you know she treats me like a son.”
“Jude was deeply hurt, Red.” Alisa poured coffee for the four of them. “When Cole came home and told me what your cousin said about her, I called Jude to check on him. He tried to fluff it off, but I could tell he’d been crying. It broke my heart to know how sad he was, but to save his pride, I pretended I didn’t notice.”
“Dad really fell hard for her. Now, I understand why. She’s a special lady.”
“She fell for your dad, too. She was so happy when they were together.” Red shook his head. “I didn’t have sense enough to ask her if any of Ralph’s accusations were true. I just went right out and started telling everyone what a slut she was and how she’d used all of us.”
“Don’t forget about me,” Darlene said. “I feel like a dog because of the way I treated her when Jude dropped her off. She kept asking me what was going on and I ignored her and told her to pack and leave. I thought she knew what she’d done. All the time, she’d done nothing. No wonder the poor woman was so confused.”
“I know we were all shocked when you called and told us what that cousin of yours said. We were all ready to stone the woman. I was as guilty as everyone else. I couldn’t wait to tell my dad what he’d said about her.”
Cole looked at him.
“I guess I was just so shocked to learn she was a senator I wasn’t thinking straight. I also wondered if any of the distant relatives had heard from her through the years. I figured they’d be as proud of her as I was. I called Ralph because he was the only one I could remember, and when he started telling me all that crap about her, damn fool me took his word for it.”
“I guess we’d still think she was nothing but a money grabbing slut if she hadn’t left Becky’s letter.” Darlene stirred her coffee.
“After what we’d put her through I wonder why she didn’t just throw the letter away.” Alisa said.
“In her place, I might have done that, but Kay’s not like that. She left a note saying Becky had asked her to give it to Red and she said she planned to give it to him when he took her to the airport. She went on to explain since that was impossible, she hoped he’d find it because it was something his mother wanted him to have.” Darlene took a breath. “Red didn’t find it, but I did.
“When I went in to clean her room the next morning I saw it. As soon as I could get the kids together, I took it to him at the farm and we then learned the real story.”
“By then, it was too late to run after her.” Red shook his head. “Never before had I let one person influence me as much as those tales Ralph told me did. I stil
l can’t get over what a fool I was for believing him and telling all of you about it as if it were the gospel truth.”
“We believed it as much as you did, Red.” Alisa looked pensive. “We all should have questioned the man.”
There was a short silence. “Are you going to set him straight, about Kay, Red?” Cole asked.
“I’ve already done it. I made a copy of Mother’s letter and sent it to him. I told him if anyone in what was left of the whole damn family ever said another bad or even cross word about Aunt Kay I was going to put the letter in their local paper. I also sent his mother a copy. I wanted to let her see what her uncle was really like. He wasn’t the loving brother her mother claimed. He was nothing but a damn incestuous monster. It’s almost a fact that he sired my mama from one of his daughters. A little DNA would prove it. I told Ralph this, too.” He sighed. “I must say I’m glad Aunt Kay got away from him before the old bastard pimped her out to his friends.”
“I don’t blame you for letting Ralph know the truth. They deserve to know what viscous lies they’ve been spreading. Have you heard from him since you sent the letter?”
“No. Only sent it yesterday. Don’t expect to hear from him, though. I’m sure the whole pack of them will be biting their nails, waiting to see what I do next.” He chuckled a little. “I don’t plan to do a damn thing unless they bother Aunt Kay again. Of course, they don’t know that.”
“How does it make you feel to know your mother’s grandfather could have been her daddy?” Alisa looked at him. He could tell she wasn’t being nosy. Only concerned.
“It doesn’t really bother me because I don’t think it bothered my mother. She and Dad were happy and she was thankful for the life she had with him. The only thing, from her letter, I know she felt really bad for her mother. I almost get the feeling she wished she’d found out sooner so maybe she could’ve stopped it.”
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