by King, Dean
He leaned into her, nuzzling her ear, his warm breath tickling the hair nearby. “I could’ve taken you with me, Nina,” he said playfully and yet partially serious. She lifted her head to look at him, a question in her eyes. He caressed her cheek and continued their earlier discussion. “The reason it matters that they’re your not from your body is because that means you hadn’t been in love. That means a lot to me. I kept wondering at the shadows in your beautiful eyes. I thought maybe you were still in love with their father.” Rafe tried to keep the tremors from his voice. “I think I know how you are. When you fall for a guy, it's forever. I needed to know that I wasn't fighting a losing battle against some ghost from your past.” He felt good that he could at least be honest about this; someday he would have to tell her the truth about himself.
Nina turned in his arms to face him. “Is that what you thought?” She raised her hand to sooth away the deep furrows creasing his brow. “Are you angry?”
“No, I’m not angry, but what else could I think?” Rafe flicked a stray curl from her shoulder; he made a conscious effort to clear his thoughts.
“Until now, I’ve never really been in love,” Nina confessed. Her heart lodged in her throat as she waited for his response, her eyes searching his face.
Rafe felt his heart stop. “I haven’t either, but lately I've had definite thoughts on the matter. Let’s see how the kids take to me, then we’ll go from there.” He bent, dropping a small kiss on her quivering lips. Nina felt her stomach flutter and she nodded in agreement.
Rafe kissed her goodnight and bound down the steps. Nina wanted to ask him how he felt about her, but she didn't dare push it. She prayed she hadn't made a huge mistake in baring her soul so soon.
THIRTEEN
“How the hell did it happen?” Martin raged from behind his desk in the dark paneled mayor's office.
“I don't know, sir. I thought for sure we had this campaign wrapped up…” Peter sighed, his fingers digging into the crisp newspaper he held in his hand. Everything had gone wrong. But he was on cloud nine! Martin was ahead in the race. Yet the girl still proved to be as elusive as the wind. They knew she was alive. He'd talked to the servant who'd been put in charge of the infant. If all went well Martin’s biggest competition would be out of this with egg on her face.
“Where is my blackmail material?” Mayor Martin thundered, “What the hell is taking so long?”
“I'm having trouble getting information from the nuns, sir. They’re a tight-lipped group. But I think I know where the girl is. All I have to do is get to her.”
“Then do it, damn it!” he snarled, “The damned election is three months away and she's in the lead.”
“I will, but we have another player added to our game.” Peter licked his dry lips.
“What?” Martin's small eyes narrowed.
“Mrs. Anthony Montoya and her son.”
“Montoya? What the hell does she have to do with this? Did you find out who got her money?”
“The incumbent Riley got her money. But, as I was saying, every time I go to confront the girl, that woman is there. We can't let her know what's going on. She would discontinue all the funds she has contributed to our campaign.”
“The bitch already has!” Martin snarled. “Her husband was always good to us. But you know women: they stick together like a pack of thieves. Shit!” Martin hissed. “Just lay low until you get a good shot, then bring the girl to me.”
“You got it, sir.” Peter hurried from the room. This was not over for him yet. Martin didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of becoming governor. The kingmaker had known that from the start. Peter didn’t like being set up to fail, but given this recent bit of news, he could live with it. Knowing what he knew now made everything alright. The kingmaker had just suffered a damaging blow. Peter grinned as he savored this juicy bit of news. A friend in the police department had given Peter the scoop on a certain high standing citizen, a member of the Chamber of Commerce. The kingmaker had wasted his money on trying to keep this dirty secret quiet. If it ever leaked out that the Kingmaker had been caught driving drunk with a young male prostitute, he wouldn’t be viewed in a very good light. Especially by his wife! Peter savored his new-found position. If he couldn’t get Martin elected, then he would use this info for a little blackmail of his own.
Peter walked out of the office and into the bright sunlight. He took a deep and cleansing breath. Sometimes he missed his night job. A grin lifted one corner of his lips. That place had been a goldmine of blackmail material. He’d have to thank his cousin for telling him about it. His smile was gone just as quickly as it arrived. Martin would never be governor, he’d been played for a fool. But it wouldn’t stop him from trying to find this girl. Dead or alive, she was as good as gold to his career, just in case Judge Conroy pulled off a miracle and won against the incumbent. Peter planned on having an ace-in-the-hole. Now all he had to do was find a way to get his job at the club back.
*****
From the driver’s seat, Miranda looked at the silent girl next to her. It was early afternoon, just past one, and the sun shined high in the sky. She put on her dark sunglasses. They’d been driving for fifteen minutes and Beth still hadn't said a word since they’d left the mall. Miranda had been looking forward to this since Nina asked her to take Beth out all day so that they could set up for the party. But the only thing she could get out of the child was a few smiles. Now it was time to get back to the house. The party should be ready to start. It troubled her that the usually-animated Beth had been terribly quiet, despite all the fun they’d been having. “Tell me what’s wrong Beth.”
Beth looked out the window. “If I tell you, will you go back and tell my mother?” Suspicion was bright in her blue eyes.
“Not if you don’t want me too.” Miranda assured her, patting Beth’s knee.
“I don’t want you to.” Beth heaved a sigh, “Mama has a boyfriend.”
Miranda’s heart jumped. Rafe had made his move. Good boy.
“She wants us to like him.” Beth pouted, her brow puckered as she stared at the scenery as it flew by.
“And what’s so bad about that?” Miranda asked as if unconcerned.
“I don’t want him to move in with us. If he does, I’ll move out,” Beth declared, her lips tight.
“But why?” Miranda tried to watch the road and Beth at the same time.
“Because mama will have to give him all her time. She won’t be able to spend time with us any more.” Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
“Now, I know you can’t be that selfish.” Miranda shook her head. Is it me, or is everyone losing their minds? “Your mother is a young woman. You have a boyfriend, don’t you?” Miranda asked softly.
Beth flushed but nodded, her long black curls bounced. “There is a boy I like. We aren’t dating because mama says I’m too young, but when I turn sixteen I can start dating. I think he might ask me.” Her creamy gold cheeks flushed red with color.
Miranda nodded thoughtfully. “Your mother needs to have a man in her life, too. I’d say it's about time she found herself someone to love her the way she needs to be loved.”
“But what if he makes her send us away?” Beth cried as her face crumpled into tears, “What if he doesn’t like us? What if Danny does something stupid and her love for him is so strong she can’t say no to him?” Her teary eyes begged Miranda to understand.
Miranda caught Beth’s cold hand in hers, giving it a slight squeeze. “That'll never happen. Your mother’s love is so strong, she'd never let a man come between you.”
“That’s what she said, but I have a friend whose mother is deeply in love. When it comes to her husband, he tells her what to do and she does it.” Miranda felt Beth’s slim hand squeeze her hand.
“That woman is weak. Do you think your mother is weak?” Beth shook her head. “It’s sad Beth, but some women are like that.”
“I know mama is strong, but I don’t know how this man is. He seems
okay, but how do I know for sure?” Beth wiped her eyes with the back of her hand looking just like the child she was.
“Why don’t you give him a chance?” Miranda concentrated on the road.
“What if he doesn’t like that we’re all half-white and half-black? What if it’s a problem for him?”
“Do you really think your mother would give someone like that the time of day? She herself is mixed...”
“But she says she’s black.” Beth whispered.
“I think your mama has some issues that she needs to face.” Miranda caressed Beth’s unbound hair. “What else is it? I can see in your eyes that there’s something else. You might as well tell me, because I won’t leave you alone until you do.”
Beth fidgeted with the silver ring on her right hand, then looked up at Miranda only to look quickly away.
“Tell me, Beth.” Miranda insisted.
“You have to promise not to tell mama.”
“Didn’t I already do that?”
Beth bit her lower lip. “Yes, but this is different. I know adults like to promise things, but then they think they're doing you a favor when they tell everybody what you said.”
“I won’t do that, Beth, I swear it. Just tell me what’s going on.” The girl was beginning to worry her.
“A few weeks ago, when mama was at work, I walked with the boys so they could buy some candy. Really, it was to keep them occupied because they get bored sometimes and they end up getting into trouble.” Beth’s untrusting eyes shot to Miranda. “On the way back a white van parked on the side of the road, we thought he was broken down. A man got out, he was tall, blond, and had bumps all over his face. I thought he was someone from school, but he wasn’t. He said he needed help, that he wanted to use my phone to call someone. I looked at the boys, I felt, I don’t know what I felt but I knew this man wasn’t a nice guy. I let go of the boy’s hands and told the guy to give us a moment. He said no, and he grabbed me. He tried to get me in his van.” Beth lifted the sleeve of her new dress. “See these bruises?” Dark purple bruises marred her pale skin. “That was from the fight. I screamed at the boys to run into the woods but they didn’t they helped me get away from the man. I was so proud of them, they screamed and yelled adding to my mine. All three of us fought the man until another man came running from the woods. He had a gun in his hand and he was yelling. The blond let us go because Danny stabbed him in the leg with a knife he had and we ran. We were so scared we ran all the way home and didn’t leave the house again.”
Miranda placed her hand over her heart, quickly she pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car. “Oh my god!” She leaned back, dazed, as chill bumps ran over her body. “You could’ve been killed...” She turned silver gray eyes to Beth and grabbed her cold hand. “Oh honey, you have to tell your mother. You just have …”
“See!” Beth cried, her face flushed red. “That’s just what I said you would do. Why do I have to tell her? She would just worry and I don’t want her to. It’s over, that’s all the end of it!”
“But if she knows then she’ll be better able to protect you guys. How do you think she would feel if something happened to you and she could've been able to prevent it?” Miranda tried to reason with Beth, but the girl wore a stubborn look that Miranda was all too familiar with.
“But that was the one and only thing that’s ever happened. Nothing before. We just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Beth insisted. “I should never have taken the boys away from the house. Mama always said to stay at the house and don’t ever leave. It was all my fault but it'll never happen again I swear it.”
“I think you’re wrong. I think something like this needs to be addressed. I won’t tell Nina, but I feel strongly that you should.”
Beth hung her head for a moment then nodded. “Okay, I’ll tell, but not right now. Maybe later.”
“As long as you do it, Beth.” Miranda was caught, it was her responsibility as an adult to tell Nina but how could she betray Beth?
“We’re here.” Miranda looked at her watch. Right on time, they pulled into the driveway of Nina’s house.
“What in the world is going on? Why are all those cars here?” Beth frowned as she got out of the car.
“I don’t know. Let’s go see what’s happening.”
Beth looked down at her new dress. It was shorter than her other dresses and the indigo prints brought out the color in her eyes. “Do you think mama will like it? It’s not too short, is it?”
“Stop it. For the fourth time, it’s not too short. Come on, let’s see what’s happening.” Miranda led the way up the stairs, but she had Beth open the door.
“Surprise!”
Beth stood still, her eyes stretched wide. Miranda gently pushed her into the room.
“Oh no! For me?” Her eyes found Nina, who stood back, her eyes shining with deep love. “But my birthday isn’t for another week. I thought my party was next week.”
Miranda froze as she saw who stood next to Nina. Her gray eyes narrowed, but she turned from him.
Rafe hadn't expected his mother to be here. The instant he saw her walk into the house behind Beth, the enormity of the situation hit him square in the chest. His breath stopped in his throat. What would she say? I have to get to her before she blows this for me.
Nina threw her arms around Beth, squeezing tight. “Oh sweetheart, were you surprised?” She kissed her forehead.
“Shocked is the word. I didn’t have a clue. When? How did you do it?” Beth was dazed, too dazed to do more than say thanks to anyone.
“We had a little help from Miranda.” Nina beamed. “School starts next week and I wanted you to have your party before then.”
Beth turned to Miranda. “Is that why you took me shopping today?” Something in Beth’s dark eyes gave Miranda pause.
“Partly, but mostly because I like your company and wanted us to go shopping. This just gave me a good excuse.”
Beth flushed with pleasure at Miranda’s reassuring words, and kissed her soft cheek. “Thank you, I had fun today,” she whispered.
“Come on, Beth.” One of Beth’s high school friends pulled her towards the stairs. “Your mother bought a dress that you have to wear.” Beth flushed as she was led away. Her smile slipped just a bit as her eyes clashed with Rafe’s.
At the first opportunity, Rafe grabbed his mother’s arm. “What’re you doing here?”
“I’ll ask you the same thing. Nina is a friend of mine and you know it! Why wouldn't I be here? What’re you doing here?” She hissed, “I thought you couldn’t get over the children thing.”
“I’ve met the children. You could’ve told me they weren’t hers,” he snapped. His cautious gaze took in Nina's every move as she smiled and spoke to everyone.
“But they are her children. How can you want the mother and not the children? They come as a package.” Miranda speared Rafe with a withering look. “I'm so angry with you, I could scream. These children are deeply affected by your relationship with their mother. Either you’re going to marry her, or you’re going to leave her alone!”
“I’ve been beating myself up over the thought that she had some long lost love hidden away. Why didn’t you tell me?” He insisted.
“You said you wanted her, but when you found out she had kids you dumped her! Then you said you loved her. What am I supposed to think? If you can’t figure this out for yourself then I’m not going to help you.” Miranda snapped.
“I didn’t dump her. I just needed some time to think. I had time and now I find that she’s free and clear to give me her love. I don’t have to fight some ghost for her love.” He murmured.
“What difference does that make?” Miranda said tightly. “If you had to fight a ghost, would you?”
“Yes, I’d do anything to get her. That’s why I don’t want you to tell them you know me,” Rafe ignored her question.
“Excuse me?” Miranda blinked at him, confusion darkening her eyes. “
Surely you told her who you are.”
“Surely I didn't tell her who I am.” He snapped. “Do you think I’d be here if I had?” he sighed. “Besides if she knew we’re related she’ll think I lied about everything.” Rafe didn't take his eyes from Nina.
“Did you lie?” she asked, one dark brow lifted as she watched him.
“She doesn't know anything about me.” He skirted the question.
“Why?” Deep furrows creased her other wise smooth brow, “What have you told her? Why are you lying to her like this?”
“Mother how can I tell her the truth now?” he shrugged, “Besides, I wanted to be sure of her first.”
“Sure of her! You said you were in love with her Rafe. Are you still?” Miranda pulled on his sleeve to get his attention.
“Yes, with all my heart.” Rafe looked down at his mother. “That’s why I need to break this to her alone. Give me that, give me the chance to tell her truth under my own terms.”
“Then one day you’re going to have to lie in your bed of lies. I can guarantee you won’t like it.” She warned him.
“I’ll tell her soon. I want to make sure she loves me. Once I get my ring on her finger, I’ll tell her everything. That way, she’ll be angry for a while, but she'll have to get over it.” He was thoughtful for a moment.
“No! Don’t you dare do that to her!” Miranda slapped his arm hard. “I’m shocked to hear this from you. If you even so much as think to do that to her, I’ll go to her myself and tell everything.”
“If you do that she’ll hate you, too.” Rafe said quietly, watching her face. “She’ll think you were a part of it from the beginning. Which you were.”
“Are you threatening me, Rafael?” Her gray eyes narrowed dangerously, she stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
“I wouldn’t do that.” Rafe tossed his hands up, shaking his head. “I’m sorry I got you mixed up in this. But either way, you are involved. Nina is going to think the worst of both of us no matter when I tell her, or how. I love you and I would never wish this on you, but I don’t know how to get out of it without losing her.”