He looked at her. “Prison got in the way.”
She blushed. “Stupid question.”
He smiled. “That’s okay. Actually, I was taking a correspondence course in prison, Architecture. I didn’t finish it.”
He sounded disappointed. “Well, I know whatever you end up doing, you’ll do it well.” She walked away before she saw the expression on his face.
Kane watched her go. She was an amazing woman. He was further amazed that she could find so many good things about him when nobody else ever had.
Mel left shortly before noon to go home and prepare sandwiches. She discovered her sister still asleep. “Come on, Blair, you can’t lie in bed all day,” she said, shaking her sister awake. “You need to get up and eat something.”
“I’m not hungry,” the younger woman said sleepily. “Every time I eat I get sick.”
“It’s always like that in the beginning,” Mel told her. “But it’ll pass, and you’ll feel better before long. Now come on into the kitchen. I’ll make you something.”
Blair started out of the room in her pajamas, then hesitated. “Where’s the cutthroat?”
Mel gave an exasperated sigh. “Kane is working at the store, and he’s not a cutthroat. Now, what would you like for breakfast?”
“Coffee and dry toast.”
Mel went into the kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator. Blair followed at a sluggish pace. “That’s no kind of breakfast for an expectant mother,” she said, wondering how Blair was going to take care of a baby when she couldn’t take care of herself. She reached for a carton of eggs.
Blair shuddered when Mel put the plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of her. “You’ll feel better after you eat it,” Mel promised, crossing the kitchen once more to start on the sandwiches she planned to take back. “And once you’re finished eating, I want you to call Dr. Hadley for an appointment.”
Blair looked startled. “What if he tells Daddy?”
“He can’t discuss a patient with someone without that patient’s approval. Besides, Daddy is bound to find out sooner or later.”
“I’m not going to tell him,” Blair said, taking a tiny bite of her eggs. “You’ll have to do it.”
Mel sighed. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
“How are you going to tell him?”
“I don’t know yet. First let’s get you to a doctor and make sure everything’s okay.”
“Does anybody else know?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t tell Kane without your permission.”
Blair gave her a funny look. “I wasn’t talking about Kane—I was talking about Harper.”
Mel felt foolish. Of course, one would assume she would confide in the man she’d been seeing for months instead of Kane, who’d only been there a few days. “Nobody knows,” she said.
Blair bit into her toast and chewed. “No matter what, I don’t want you to tell Daddy about the father being married and all.”
Mel leveled her gaze at her sister. “You certainly don’t have to worry about that,” she said tersely. “I wouldn’t think of telling him.”
“You hate me now, don’t you?”
Mel was weary of her questions. Sometimes her sister could be quite childish. “No, I don’t hate you, Blair. I’m disappointed in you. I thought you would have used better judgment.”
“Give it a rest, Mel. I didn’t run a background check or have the guy tested for sexually transmitted diseases as I’m sure you would have done. I’m not you, and I never will be. You’ve always said and done the right thing. You always knew the answers to all the problems. Daddy listened to everything you said. He still does. He couldn’t care less what I said.”
“That’s not true,” Mel said, facing her sister once more. “You’ve always had center stage. You were the most popular girl in Hardeeville High.”
“I was the easiest girl in Hardeeville High.”
“Stop it.” Mel’s face flamed.
“Don’t look so shocked, big sister. Besides, I’m sure you heard the rumors.”
Mel stuffed the sandwiches into a sack with trembling fingers. Of course, she’d known why her sister was so popular with the boys. But she hadn’t wanted to admit it, because she would have to accept part of the blame. After all, she had practically raised Blair, despite being only a few years older.
“I don’t know why you’d want to bring this up now,” Mel said, feeling very close to tears.
“To show you how different we are and why I don’t feel comfortable in my own house,” Blair said. “The reason you get along with Daddy is because you’re just like him. I’m more like Mama.”
Mel’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I’m surprised you even remember her,” she said softly. “You were so young.”
“Of course, I remember her. She taught me to dance. She used to braid satin ribbons in my hair.” Blair looked wistful. “And on cold mornings I would climb into the bed and snuggle with her until that old furnace warmed the house.” Blair’s eyes misted, as well. She shoved her plate aside.
Mel went to her, taking both hands in hers and kneeling on one knee. “Blair, I’m so sorry. I tried so hard to make it up to you when she left, but I know it wasn’t the same.” She paused and swallowed. “I’ll try very hard to be here for you now, okay? I’ll drive you to the doctor myself when you get the appointment. Then, afterward, I’ll take you shopping at the new mall in Pelzer. We can look for baby clothes and maybe a couple of maternity outfits for you.” She was talking so fast, she had to stop to catch her breath. Part of it was guilt, she suspected; guilt because she knew precisely where to find their mother and hadn’t divulged that information.
“I want to go lie down for a while,” Blair said, looking suddenly weary. “Those eggs didn’t sit well with me.”
“You’ll make that doctor’s appointment?” Mel asked.
“After my nap,” Blair told her, and disappeared down the hall.
# # #
“You’re deep in thought this afternoon,” Wilton said as Mel ate her sandwich in silence. “What’s on your mind?”
Mel forced a smile she didn’t feel. How could she answer truthfully and tell him what was going on with Blair? Wilton would be devastated at the thought of his unmarried daughter being pregnant. “Nothing much,” she said at last.
“She’s missing the flower shop,” Wilton told Kane. “I’ve never seen someone love her job as much as Mel. It’s a shame she has to take off to help her old man clean up his store.”
“I don’t mind,” Mel said. “Besides, Eunice is thrilled to be running the place.”
Wilton opened his mouth, to say something, but closed it when Harper Beckwood pushed open the front door and stepped inside. “Harper, my boy, you’re just in time for lunch,” he called out in greeting.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Abercrombie,” Harper said, nodding his head stiffly. Although Wilton had told him repeatedly to call him by his first name, Harper insisted on the formality. “Afternoon, Mel,” he said. His gaze wandered to Kane, and a look of intense dislike crossed his face before he returned his attention to Mel. “I’d like to see you outside,” he told her.
Mel nodded and stood, rewrapping her sandwich and placing it on the counter before making her way toward the door. She couldn’t help but wonder what Harper had to say to her that couldn’t be said in front of the others, then tossed him a worried look as she remembered his daughter. “Nothing’s happened to Amy?” she said, following him outside.
“Amy’s fine.” Harper didn’t say anything until they were outside. “I thought you said he was gone.”
“You mean Kane? So that’s what this is all about. Lord, Harper, news travels fast in this town.”
“You told me he was gone, Mel. You lied.”
“I didn’t lie. He was gone, but I invited him to come back when he couldn’t find a place to live. I was going to tell you Friday night when we went to dinner.”
“Why, Mel?” Harper looked tired. �
�Why do you feel responsible for him? Why do you insist on making me look like a fool to the rest of this town?”
She was genuinely baffled. “How am I making you look like a fool?”
“Because we have an understanding between us, and you’re spending all your time with this man. You’ve even opened your home to him. And he’s not just any man, he’s an ex-convict. I can’t take it, Mel. I’ve tried to be patient with you, but you’ve gone too far this time.”
“Harper, if you would only give Kane half a chance,” she said, her tone pleading. “All he’s doing is trying to make a fresh start in life. Come to dinner Sunday. Meet him for yourself.”
He looked at her as if he thought she was crazy. “Are you suggesting I bring my eight-year-old daughter around a common criminal?” he said in disbelief.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that, Harper.”
He crossed his arms and regarded her. “Maybe you need time to think about what you really want in life. Maybe it’s not Amy and me after all.”
“Don’t drag Amy into this,” she said. “I have no argument with her.”
“She’s my daughter; I have to bring her into it. She’s grown very attached to you. She’s already been hurt once. I don’t want to see her hurt again.”
Mel’s heart sank at the thought of having her relationship with Amy altered in any way. At the same time she couldn’t allow Harper to use Amy as a bargaining tool.
“You’re right, Harper, maybe I do need time to think,” she said.
He looked surprised, then resigned. “Call me when you’ve come to your senses.”
Mel watched him drive away, screeching his tires in a way that was totally out of character for him. Tears stung her eyes, but she was determined not to cry. If Harper thought he was going to force her to change a decision she felt was right, then he had a lot to learn about her. Still, it hurt to think that he might try to keep Amy from her.
The door to the store opened, and Kane hurried out. He took one look at her and knew it had to be bad. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she nodded instead.
“He didn’t hurt you?” he asked quickly. “If he so much as laid a hand on you—”
Mel looked at him. “Of course, he didn’t hurt me,” she said. “Harper’s not like that.” She paused, noting the dangerous look in his eyes. “Besides, what would you have done, beat him up? Is that your solution to everything?”
Kane was suddenly angry. “It is if I catch a man hitting on a woman. You got a problem with that?”
“You can’t solve the world’s problems with your fists, Kane. Or by threatening people,” she added, thinking of the scene with Homer Bledsoe.
Kane studied her for a moment, feeling stupid now for charging out of the store to defend her. He’d never met anyone like her before. Having grown up with a father who was quick to raise his hand in anger, Kane didn’t quite know how to take this gentle, giving creature who would never even think of striking another person. She had other ways of showing her displeasure—a cool look, a change in tone of voice—and they were at least as effective as his father’s tactics had been.
He wished he knew how she did it.
“Is Harper upset because of me?” he asked at last.
“He’s upset because I didn’t do as he said,” she responded, being deliberately vague.
“It’d be better if I left.”
“No.” Mel turned to him. The thought of him leaving bothered her more than she cared to admit. “I can’t change who or what I am simply to make someone else happy, Kane. The sooner Harper realizes that, the better.”
“I never meant to cause you trouble. You say the word, and I’m out of here.”
She smiled, reached for his hand, and squeezed it. “I know. But then where would I be? Right now, you seem to be the only friend I have.”
Chapter Eight
Several days later Mel arrived home to find Blair in the kitchen preparing a big tossed salad. The table had already been set and the hamburger meat molded into patties, ready to go under the broiler. “You must be feeling better,” she said, noting Blair had dressed and put on makeup, as well.
“I’m much better,” she said. “I even made that doctor’s appointment. He can see me next week.”
“Good.” Mel knew she should try to sound more enthusiastic. After all, that was a quick appointment. Nevertheless, she worried about Blair and the fact she felt so bad much of the time.
“Oh, and guess what? My agent called today. Have you heard of NuWave Wine Coolers?”
Mel shook her head. “Sorry.”
“Well, the owner lives in Biloxi, and he’s interested in finding someone from Mississippi to star in his commercials. They’re holding auditions tomorrow afternoon, and I plan to be there.”
“How are you going to get to Biloxi?” Mel asked. “You don’t even own a car. Not only that, you don’t drive.”
“You’ll have to drive me.”
The way she said it, so matter-of-fact, annoyed Mel. But then, what else was new? Blair had always expected her to be there for her whenever she needed something. And she always had been. “I can't drive you. Daddy and I are painting shelves tomorrow. And I promised Amy I’d be at her recital. She asked me weeks ago.”
“Don’t you think this is a little more important than a child’s dance recital?” Blair replied hotly.
Wilton picked that particular moment to walk through the back door with Kane on his heels. “What’s going on?” he asked the minute he spied Blair’s frowning face.
“Mel refuses to drive me to Biloxi so I can audition for a commercial,” she said, shooting her sister an accusing look. “This could be my big chance.”
“When do you have to be there?” Wilton asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“That’s pretty short notice,” he said. He went to the kitchen sink and washed his hands. “I don’t know, Blair. I don’t like the idea of you girls on the highway all alone. What if Mel’s car breaks down? How long will you need to stay?”
“I can come straight back after the audition.”
“Hmm. That’s a lot of driving. Not only that, Mel broke her glasses. She needs them when she gets behind the wheel. And she has that night-vision problem.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Blair said. “It’s not as if I’m asking her to drive me to the other side of the country. Biloxi is only three hours from here.”
Kane stepped forward. “I could drive her.”
“You!” Blair gave a snort. “Now there's a thought.”
Kane ignored her sarcastic reply and turned his attention to Wilton. “I used to drive eighteen-wheelers long distance,” he said. “I have an excellent driving record.”
“It’s not your driving record I’m worried about,” Blair said. “I’m more concerned with your prison record.”
Kane fixed her with a fierce glare.
“Blair, that’ll be enough!” Wilton said so loudly, they all jumped. “I will not have you talking to a guest in our house like that.” He studied Kane for a moment. “It would be a big help to us, son, if you could do it. That way, me and Mel could get the shelves painted and be ready to start work on that area behind the meat case by the time you returned. You already know how to handle my old pickup truck.”
The color drained from Blair’s face. “Daddy, you can’t mean that I’m going to have to ride all the way to Biloxi in your pickup truck with no air-conditioning.”
“They can take my car,” Mel said. “It’ll be more comfortable.”
Kane tossed her a smile. “I promise to be careful.” Then, he turned to Blair. “If I hear one more peep out of you, I’m going to withdraw my offer and let you walk.” The look on his face must’ve convinced the woman, because she didn’t so much as utter a sound.
# # #
Kane and Blair left early the next morning. Mel packed sandwiches and a thermos of coffee and carried them out to the car, then pulled B
lair aside. “Be sure to eat something,” she said, having watched her get sick in the bathroom. Luckily, Wilton was still sleeping and had not heard her in there. “I’m sure you don’t have a thing left in your stomach.”
“I’ll try.” Blair hung her outfit in the backseat and stuffed her makeup case in the back, as well. She planned to rent a room when she arrived in Biloxi so she could change clothes and make up her face for the audition. At the moment, she looked rather pale.
“You ready?” Kane said, obviously anxious to get the whole thing over with. Neither of them had spoken to the other since the night before.
Blair nodded and got into the car without a word. She looked resigned. As Mel watched them ride off, she prayed Blair would be courteous toward Kane. Mel and Wilton left for the store an hour later and spent the entire day painting the shelves Kane had put in. “It looks pretty good,” Mel said once they’d finished the job and started cleaning up. “We should be able to restock tomorrow.”
Wilton nodded proudly. “I’m not going to let it get this bad again,” he promised.
They arrived home shortly after five. Once Mel showered and scrubbed all the paint off, she prepared a light meal while Wilton cleaned up. “I have to be at Amy’s dance recital at eight,” she told her father as they finished up. “Would you like to come?” She knew how close her father was to Amy.
“Naw, I don’t want to crowd you and Harper.” Mel didn’t quite meet his gaze. “Harper and I won’t be sitting together. In fact, he doesn’t even know I’m coming.”
Wilton looked surprised. “Did you two have a fight?”
“You might say we had a little misunderstanding. I’m sure it’ll be okay, but I’m not going to let it stand in the way of this recital. I promised Amy two weeks ago I would be there.”
“In that case, I’ll be happy to escort you,” Wilton said.
Miss Goody Two-Shoes: Contemporary Romance Page 8