Anytime Darlin'

by Julia Rachel Barrett

  “Hey,” said Mike, “I’m always good. Just ask Beth.”

  Beth winked at her. “What can I say?” She laughed. “He’s right.” She kissed Devlin on the cheek.

  Mike helped Beth into the front seat, then climbed back into the rear of the Jeep.

  “Hey, Jake!” he called. “Let’s get a move on! I’ve got a honeymoon to get to!”

  Jake waved him off. He pulled Devlin into his arms, grinning as she slid her hands into the back pockets of his jeans to squeeze his ass.

  “I’ll be back in an hour,” he said. “Meet you right here?”

  “Yeah,” she answered, “I won’t be long.”

  Jake kissed her, hard, while Mike hooted in the background. Then he patted her bottom and strode around the front of the Jeep. Devlin waved as they pulled away from the curb. When they were out of sight, she turned toward the entrance to the mall and headed inside.

  * * * *

  Janice waited in the shade near the entrance to the mall. Trevor slept in his stroller. She’d decided to play hooky today and was meeting Cindy and baby Christopher for lunch and some shopping. As she waited for Cindy’s minivan, she saw a Jeep pull up alongside the curb. The driver hopped out. Janice gave an involuntary jerk. It was Jake McKenna. Of all the people, she thought. She moved farther into the shadows as Jake opened the passenger door. Janice recognized the girl immediately. Damn. She was older, taller, and very beautiful.

  Janice watched, hidden, as Mike and his new bride hugged the girl. As Jake kissed the girl, Janice ground her teeth. Even from where she stood, she could read the possessiveness in his stance. It made her sick.

  Staying very still until the girl passed, Janice pushed Trevor’s stroller out of the shade and entered the mall right behind her. She was careful to stay close enough to keep an eye on her, but not so close that she attracted any attention. Janice didn’t even know why she followed her. She should wait for Cindy, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. She just wanted a good look. She wanted to know what it was about this skinny young thing that kept Jake wound so tight.

  The girl entered Nordstrom and headed straight to the children’s department. Janice eyed her as she thumbed through racks of infant clothing. That’s when she noticed the large diamond glittering on the girl’s ring finger. Janice couldn’t seem to help herself. She was livid.

  As the girl concentrated on a rack nearby, Janice stepped forward and faced her from the opposite side.

  “Nice ring.”

  The girl didn’t even look up. She glanced at the ring, as if admiring it herself.

  “Thanks,” she said, “it was my…” Her voice trailed off when she lifted her head.

  “Hello, Devlin,” said Janice, speaking aloud the name she’d tried so hard never to say. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  The girl stared at Janice’s face.

  “I don’t suppose you remember me.”

  The girl cleared her throat. “I remember you very well. Excuse me, I’m shopping for a gift, and I don’t have much time.” She started to walk away.

  “Wouldn’t you like to meet my son?” Janice asked. “Don’t you want to see him? His name’s Trevor.”

  The girl stopped. “How nice for you,” she said. “I’m sorry, but I’m in a hurry.” She turned her back to Janice.

  “Don’t you want to know what your kids are going to look like?” Janice taunted her now.

  The girl turned again. “I beg your pardon?” She was angry, her voice clipped. “What are you talking about? I have no interest in you, in your son, or in your son’s father. Your life is none of my business, and my life is none of yours.” She started to walk away again.

  “His name’s McKenna,” Janice called, “Trevor Matheson McKenna.”

  The girl stopped dead in her tracks. Then she whirled around, her face white.

  “You’re lying.” Her voice shook.

  “What? Do you mean to tell me Jake didn’t mention us?” Janice really pushed it.

  “That is not Jake’s child,” claimed the girl, looking hard at the dark-haired boy in the stroller.

  “Really? Jake must have forgotten to tell you about him. I guess he didn’t mention that Trevor spends every other weekend with him. All the excitement of the wedding, I suppose.” Janice paused. She could see the girl was trembling. “It must have slipped his mind. You know,” Janice continued, “we were together long before you showed up. We were most definitely together. Whose bed do you think he ran to after you took off? After you left without a word?”

  The girl’s eyes glistened with tears as she repeated, “You’re lying.”

  “Am I?” asked Janice. “You know, Jake told me I wasn’t invited to the wedding. He even ordered me to stay out of sight for a week or two. But, oh well, the best laid plans…”

  The girl ran past her, toward the escalator.

  “Ask him,” Janice called after her. “Feel free to ask him.”

  Janice started to laugh. She laughed until she cried. She’d done it at last. She’d gotten back at Jake McKenna, finally. She’d hit him where it would hurt the most. She wished there was a chair nearby so she could sit before her shaking legs gave out. It took her a few moments to notice that Trevor was crying. He looked up at her, confusion in his eyes. Janice suddenly realized what she’d said in front of her own son, and she was horrified. She didn’t know how long he’d been awake and how much he might have heard. How much he understood. She cringed as she replayed the conversation in her head. Why had she done that? No matter how angry Janice was at Jake, no matter the hurt she felt, the girl didn’t deserve it. She was innocent in all of this.

  Janice picked Trevor up, patting his back, appalled at her own behavior. Trevor was a big boy, three and a half years old, and he’d started asking who his daddy was. “Sweetie, it’s okay. Mommy’s not mad at you. It’s okay.”

  “Why did you yell at that lady?” Trevor asked in a tearful voice. “Why are you mad at that lady?”

  “Mommy’s not mad at that lady. In fact,” Janice said as she set him in his stroller, “Mommy needs to go find the lady and tell her she’s sorry. Do you want to go do that?”

  Trevor nodded, two fingers in his mouth. “Can we buy her some ice cream?” He sniffed.

  “Sure, Trev, we can buy her some ice cream.”

  “Is Jake my daddy?” Trevor asked shyly.

  Janice flinched as if she’d just been struck. “No, he’s not your daddy. He’s just an old friend.”

  “But you tol’ that lady Jake’s my daddy,” came his reply.

  “I know I did, but I didn’t mean it. I was just teasing. I’m sorry.”

  Trevor sat back in his stroller, sucking his fingers. “The lady dint know,” he said.

  “Didn’t know what?” Janice asked, pushing the stroller after Devlin.

  “That you was just teasing.”

  * * * *

  Jake pulled up to the curb, eyes peeled for Devlin. He didn’t see her, but he wasn’t in any hurry. He figured she’d found something interesting and lost track of time. Jake headed toward the mall entrance, planning to wait on a bench, when Janice appeared, pushing a stroller. This was the first he’d seen of her and her son in over two years.

  “Crap.”

  Of all the people to run into, especially when Dev could be coming any minute. Jake scanned the doorway for Devlin because he knew Janice’s presence would make her uncomfortable, to say the least.

  Janice pushed the stroller straight toward him, her face pale and drawn. She was crying, and the little boy’s face was tear-streaked as well. Jake wondered what the hell was up and hoped to God Janice hadn’t done anything stupid, again. She stopped dead in front of him.

  “Jake, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean it. It just came out.”

  “What just came out? What are you talking about?”

  Janice’s answer made no sense. “She took off.” The little boy began screeching.

  “What did you do?” Jake was
afraid of what Janice would tell him.

  “Devlin,” she sobbed. “She ran off. She’s gone.”

  “What did you do?” yelled Jake, grabbing her by the arm. “What did you do to her?”

  The little boy’s screeching grew louder.

  Janice began to shake. “Stop, Jake. Stop. You’re hurting me.”

  Jake dropped her arm like it was a hot coal. “Where is she?” he demanded. “What happened?”

  “I-I-I don’t know where she is.” Janice continued to sob. “She-She took off, out of the store.”

  She was crying so hard now Jake could barely understand her.

  “Jesus, Janice! Just tell me what happened.”

  “I told her, oh God, I can’t believe I did it…I told her Trevor was yours. Your son. That his name is Trevor Matheson McKenna.”

  “My God!” yelled Jake, pacing back and forth, pulling his hands through his long hair. “How the hell could you do something like that?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know. I’m so sorry.”

  “What else did you tell her?” Jake asked accusingly. “Huh? What else?”

  “That-That…when she left four years ago, you came running back to my bed.”

  “Holy Christ, Janice! Why would you do something like this?” Jake was beside himself. “For God’s sake, why would you do something like this to her?”

  “Because,” Janice sobbed, “because I still love you.”

  Jake stared at her like she was insane.

  “I’ve got to find her.” He headed toward the entrance.

  “No, Jake, she’s not here,” Janice called after him, desperation in her voice. “She ran out. I saw her. She’s not here.”

  “You better hope to God she’s all right,” Jake yelled at her as he sprinted to the Jeep. “Call Mary,” he ordered her. “Call Mary and tell her exactly what you told me. If you’re lucky, that’s where she went.”

  “But what if she’s not there?” Janice called after him.

  Jake didn’t answer.

  Chapter Eleven

  Beth sat sideways in the uncomfortable plastic chair, leaning against Mike’s shoulder. Their plane to Hawaii had been delayed by bad weather in Dallas. She was trying to read a magazine, but she was distracted, keeping an eye on the board for departing flights, watching for updates. Suddenly she did a double take. Devlin rushed by their gate, her face streaked with tears.

  Beth jerked upright. “Mike.” She shook him out of his doze. “Mike. Devlin just ran by. She looked really upset.”

  “That’s not possible,” replied Mike, stretching. “She’s with Jake.”

  “No,” insisted Beth, jumping to her feet and tugging on his arm. “I know it was her. She was crying.” When he didn’t respond right away, she stomped her foot at him. “I’m going to look for her. Are you coming?”

  Beth slung her carry-on bag over her shoulder and took off at a fast pace.

  Mike grabbed the other bag, sprinting after her.

  “Wait up,” he yelled. “Which way did she go?”

  “She’s over there.” Beth pointed. “She turned in to that gate down there. Gate sixteen, I think.”

  Mike ran past Beth, dodging travelers. Beth tried to keep up. She could see Devlin now, in a line of travelers who were rapidly boarding. She looked like she’d been crying. Mike didn’t stop until he was right beside her.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Devlin turned toward him. Beth could see her face was grief-stricken. She looked as if she’d lost her best friend.

  “Get away from me.”

  “What the hell is going on?” Mike shouted.

  “Keep your voice down,” Beth said. “Security is looking our way. Devlin, what are you doing here?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m going home.”

  Mike reached for her arm, and she pulled away from him.

  “How dare you?” Devlin hissed. “How dare you all pretend you didn’t know? How dare you keep it from me?”

  The line moved forward, the three of them blocking the entrance to the ramp.

  Mike shouted again. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Jake’s kid,” she said. “With Janice.” Devlin took off down the ramp at a run.

  “Devlin!” Mike called. “Devlin, wait! Devlin, stop!”

  He headed after her, Beth following close on his heels, but the security guard stepped in front of them.

  “Sir, ma’am, this line is for ticketed passengers only. You’ll have to step back.”

  “But I’m a cop,” bellowed Mike. “I need to speak with that passenger.”

  “You’ll have to show me a badge and give me a legitimate reason, sir. In the meantime, step back now, or I’ll take you into custody.”

  Beth put a hand on Mike’s arm. “Let’s go, honey it’s all right, Officer. That passenger is a friend of ours, and we’re worried about her, that’s all. We’ll make some phone calls and work it out. I’m sorry if we caused a disturbance.”

  * * * *

  Mike let Beth pull him away. Why the hell had he left his badge at home? He took a look at the sign above the desk. Devlin had just boarded a plane to Omaha. Mike strode rapidly down the corridor to a bank of pay phones.

  “Mike, what is she talking about?”

  “It’s a long story. As soon as I get a hold of Jake, I’ll fill you in.” Mike glanced at Beth’s face. She was as pale as Devlin. “No, sweetheart, Jake does not have a kid with Janice Matheson.”

  Mike searched the phone book for the number to the hotel.

  “Shit. I don’t have any quarters,” he muttered, feeling around in his pockets.

  Beth ran to the nearest snack bar to get change. As soon as he had a quarter, Mike rang the hotel.

  “Front desk.”

  “Jake McKenna’s room, please.”

  “Mr. McKenna just entered the elevator, sir. Would you like to call back, or do you want me to ring you through to his room?”

  “Ring me through.”

  * * * *

  She was nowhere to be found at the mall. Jake decided not to take Janice’s word. He looked everywhere. He had her paged three times. When he called Mary from a pay phone, she said she’d already heard from Janice and given her holy hell, but she hadn’t heard a word from Devlin. Jake’s only other recourse was to return to the hotel to see if Devlin had gone there, to see if her stuff was still in the room. He hoped to God she’d be in the room, ready to slug him or scream at him or throw a lamp at him. Tell him she hated him and never wanted to see him again. Anything would be better than this feeling of helplessness that threatened to overwhelm him. If Jake couldn’t find her, he couldn’t correct the damage Janice had done.

  Jake left his Jeep at the curb in front of the hotel. As Jake approached his room, he could hear the phone ringing. He quickly checked his pockets. Goddamn it! Where the hell was his key card? He finally found it lying at his feet. He opened the door and ran across the room to the phone.

  “Devlin,” he practically shouted into the phone.

  “No, asshole, it’s me,” came Mike’s voice. “What the fuck is going on? Devlin showed up at the airport ten minutes ago and hopped on a plane. She refused to talk to me.”

  “A plane to where?”

  “Omaha.”

  “Wait for me. I’m on my way.”

  * * * *

  Devlin stared out the window of the airplane. Against her will, her eyes filled with tears. She refused to let them spill over. Nothing seemed real. She felt as if she was standing outside herself, watching. Watching as she ran from Jake all over again.

  I must be in shock, she mused, because I can’t feel a fucking thing.

  Her chest was a block of ice. It had frozen the moment Janice spoke those words. “Jake’s kid. Ran right to my bed. Ask him. Go ahead and ask him.” It wasn’t as if Devlin expected Jake to be celibate. She knew he’d had his share of relationships over the past four years.
It wasn’t even that he had a child. She could accept a child, especially Jake’s child. She recalled him saying just two days ago—was it only two days ago?—that he’d forgotten to use a condom once. Well, she thought, once was apparently enough. She also remembered that when she asked what he’d done when she left, he said he’d gotten stinking drunk. What he’d left unsaid was that he’d run to another woman’s bed. She could accept that too.

  What Dev couldn’t accept, what turned her blood cold, was that he’d done it with her. With the daughter of the woman who helped William Franz. Dev choked back a sob. How could he do that? How? How could Jake climb into bed with the woman who hated her? Who loathed her. Who tried to excuse the fact that her mother was an accessory to murder, the murder of Devlin’s entire family. Jake conveniently forgot to mention it. What did he do? Swear everyone to secrecy? Even Mary?

  Maybe Mary didn’t know. Devlin couldn’t believe Mary would be a part of this charade. Mike, maybe, he was Jake’s best friend, but not Mary and Ken. Mary watched over her like a big sister. If she’d known, she’d have told Devlin long ago. She would have opposed the engagement for all she was worth unless Jake came clean. No, Devlin thought, Mary was as much in the dark as she had been.

  The flight attendant came by and asked Devlin if she’d like a drink. Devlin had bought a first class ticket this time. It was all she could get at the last minute. She was glad. First Class was almost empty. Devlin had the row to herself. She asked for a Scotch on the rocks, and she paid extra for the premium Scotch. If she was going to drink, Devlin figured she might as well do it right. She wondered how much she could down in an hour.

  Then she remembered that she’d have to rent a car in Omaha. Her own car was in long-term parking at the airport in Des Moines. She hoped they’d let her leave the rental car at the airport there. If she was drunk, they wouldn’t let her drive. She set the Scotch aside, afraid she’d smell of liquor. Dev was desperate to get home.

  Drinking herself into oblivion would have to wait.

  * * * *