“Um. . .I never thought of it that way.” Derrick followed her outside.
She patted him on the shoulder. “Pray, Derrick.” She whirled away to her truck.
Derrick headed for his vehicle. Did God answer those kinds of prayers? He had deceived the very people who’d treated him with nothing but kindness.
Allie’s words came back to haunt him, “I can’t abide lying.”
Twenty-three
Allie and Danny returned from the blackberry patch with two buckets of berries. She handed them to him. “Take these inside to Granny.”
“Wow, I can’t believe Mr. Derrick is my uncle,” Danny said for at least the eighth time, his eyes filled with wonder as he headed inside.
Just great. Her nephew was still impressed with “the hero” and glad he was related by blood.
Allie’s cell phone vibrated in its holder on her belt. She snatched it up. Michael. “Hello?”
“Allie.” His voice sounded strained. “I just talked to Paige. She’s hysterical. I want to verify what you told her.” He repeated her conversation with his sister.
“That’s right,” Allie said. “And did she tell you about the payments Luke made to her?”
After a long pause, Michael cleared his throat. “Payments?”
Allie explained the check stubs she’d found. “She claims she was having an affair with Luke and he helped support her.”
Silence from the other end. “Michael, are you there?”
“Yes—yes, I am.” He cleared his throat again. “Listen, no matter what you think of me, please know I don’t want your family hurt. I’m looking into this. And, Allie, you’d do well not to talk to any of the Owenses until you have legal representation. I had my doubts about Derrick all along. I’m here if you need me.”
Of course Michael would use this opportunity to make himself look good, to get Allie back. As she hung up, she heard a vehicle approaching and walked to the front of the house. It was Shannon in her old green truck, tearing up the driveway like a maniac, spewing dust in every direction.
After she slid to a stop, she hopped from the truck. “We need to talk!”
“Yes, we do,” Allie said. They exchanged hugs. “I’m so glad to see you. You’ll never believe—”
“I already know.” Shannon sank onto a porch step and patted the place next to her, suddenly composed and relaxed. “Let’s sit. It’s a lovely day.”
Allie complied. “What do you mean?”
“The sun is shining and—”
“I’m not asking about the weather, Shannon! I’m asking how you know what happened to me. Are we on the same page here?”
Shannon folded her hands in her lap and nodded.
“You spoke with Derrick, didn’t you?”
Shannon inhaled. “How cool that you picked up on that. Maybe you’re getting more in tune with body language.”
“I doubt it,” Allie snapped. “Otherwise I would have picked up on Derrick’s lies.”
Shannon waved her hand in the air. “I was thinking about what deception really is.”
Allie blinked. “What?”
“And then I thought about Luke and Michael. Especially Michael. Anyway, I’m not sure ‘lie’ is the right word to use for what Derrick did.” Shannon’s eyes were filled with compassion. A sure sign that Derrick had gotten to her.
“Derrick did lie.”
“Did he?” Shannon twisted her thumb ring. “He never told you anything that wasn’t true, did he? Did he purposefully set out to deceive you with malice in his heart?”
“What does that mean?” Allie gave an inpatient shrug. “This wound can’t be healed with soothing words. I know you mean well, but I—”
“Okay, stop.” Shannon held up her hand. “This is one time you’re not going to cut me off. You’re not going to stop listening like you do sometimes. It’s too important to your life and Danny’s.”
Allie’s breaths came fast and hard with irritation. “Go ahead then. I don’t have all afternoon. I have to make calls and fill my schedule with more work to earn enough money to hire an attorney to keep the boy who already belongs to us.” She felt the threat of tears all over again. “Did Derrick tell you that, too?”
“Yes.” Shannon patted her back. “That’s not what Derrick wants, Allie. And I believe him with my whole heart.”
“Of course you would. You have an almost unnatural ability to see only the good in people. Like my mother. And speaking of liars, guess who called me?”
Shannon raised her brows. “This is the only conversational digression I’ll allow you, then I get to talk.”
“Okay.” Allie told Shannon what Paige had said and then about Michael’s call.
“Hmm. Trying to get on your good side.” Shannon nodded. “I think God is at work here. I’m imagining a big creaky mill slowly turning. It might seem to take forever, but the grain is getting ground up.”
Allie wasn’t sure she could see it. Shannon was particularly confusing today. “Okay. . .God is working.”
“So now it’s my turn. Remember the story of Rahab in the Bible?”
“What?” Allie asked.
“When you hear why Derrick did what he did, maybe you’ll open your heart enough to forgive him.”
Allie sat back and closed her eyes, hoping it might help her understand. “All right. Spill it.”
❧
Derrick walked into his father’s office late that night without bothering to knock. He sat at his large cherry desk and looked up.
“Why’d you do it, Dad? Why did you threaten the Vahns?”
“You know why.” Dad stood and tossed a folder toward Derrick and pointed at it. “This is all the information I need to go to court. I’m not going to change my mind.”
Derrick approached the desk, but ignored the file. “So if you win this court battle—and you won’t—you’ll do what? Force a nine-year-old who adores his adoptive family to love you?”
Dad’s eyes glittered. “If they don’t agree to shared custody, I will do whatever I have to.”
Derrick fought the anger that burned inside him. “You might want to reconsider.”
“Are you threatening me, son?” He dropped to the edge of the desk and crossed his arms. “Your very generous paycheck comes from Owens Realty. You’d do well to remember which side your bread is buttered on.”
Money. Again. “You can keep your money.” Derrick put his hands, palms down, on his father’s desk. “You think money can buy anything, don’t you?” Even love, he was tempted to add.
“All of a sudden you’re the poor little rich boy, are you? Never heard you complain over the years when you squired your many women around town in expensive sports cars, spending money without a second thought.” Dad drew a noisy breath, went behind his desk, and sat. “I’ve got work to do, if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind,” Derrick said. “Why do you always play the womanizing card with me? You know I’ve changed.”
“Hmm, that’s right, you found religion,” Dad said, a trace of laughter in his voice. “But I think we’re more alike than you’d care to admit. Could be I’ve met my match.”
Derrick shook his head. “I used to wish that. I tried to emulate you. But now the last person in the world I’d be like is you.”
Dad’s head snapped back as if Derrick had hit him.
“You’re trying to intimidate and bully an innocent family. Danny is theirs, and that’s exactly how Sandy wanted it. Danny’s a happy kid, he’s well cared for, and—”
“And nothing!” Dad shot out of his chair. “His adoptive parents are dead. He’s being raised by a blacksmith and a cleaning woman when he could have all this.” He waved his arms, then his brows drew together and he snorted. “What’s that look on your face? If you and Sandy had come to me with this situation first, I could’ve handled things. You”—he pointed a shaking finger—“are the cause of all this confusion!”
“A situation? Is that how you refer to Sandy’s son?”
“Ah, now you’re talking sense. Danny is Sandy’s son.” Dad punched his right fist into his left hand. “My grandson. An Owens. Not an orphan meant to live on a dirt farm in the middle of nowhere. Left alone to break his arm.” Looking satisfied with himself, Dad dropped into his leather armchair.
Derrick backed toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving, Dad,” Derrick said quietly. “I want out of the company, out of this family for good.” At the slack-jawed look on his father’s face, anger seeped from him replaced by great sadness.
“You’re leaving us for them? You’re going to walk out on us after we lost Sandy?” Dad came around to the other side of the desk and clamped his hands behind his back. “And your mother, what about her?”
“I’m leaving because I won’t be a part of what you’re doing. Mom will always be a part of my life—I’ll be in touch with her regularly.” He studied his father intently, but the man’s face gave away nothing. “Mom doesn’t know Danny exists, does she? She’s got nothing to do with this idiotic threat.”
“No, she doesn’t. It would kill her to know Sandy’s son is being raised by strangers.”
“Hogwash!” Derrick’s muscles went rigid, and he drew a breath and asked God to give him peace. “You don’t know the Vahns. Allie and Betsy love Danny with all their hearts. Yeah, they have financial problems, but they work hard to give your grandson everything he needs.” He had his father’s full attention now, and Derrick took another breath lest he choke up. “You should’ve seen the birthday party Allie had for Danny. It must’ve cost her a week’s pay.”
Dad stared over Derrick’s shoulder.
What was the use? His words were falling on deaf ears. “I’d rather Danny be raised without all the things I had. You gave me plenty of material things, but I needed your heart. That’s what Danny needs, too, and he’s got that with Allie and Betsy.” Derrick swiped his suit jacket off the back of the chair and headed for the door.
“So just like that, you’re walking out?” Dad asked before he could read the message.
“I’ll have everything out of the guest house by Monday. And if you pursue action against the Vahns, I will use everything in my power to help fight you.” Derrick opened the door and stopped. Standing there in the hall was Mom, her face whiter than it had been, if that were possible. Tears wet her face.
“How long have you been here?” Derrick whispered.
Twenty-four
On Monday morning Allie loaded her truck with supplies, then zipped her bag closed. She had one appointment with a normal horse, then she’d have to deal with Eddieboy again. Seems he had spent two days hock-deep in manure in his stall, and the thrush grew worse. Not that she should complain. Frank paid her well, and she was able to slip in the appointment between two others. But today she was going to lay down the law. No animal, no matter how cranky, deserved to be treated like that. Besides, dealing with Eddieboy would keep her mind off everything Shannon had told her about Derrick. Allie didn’t know how she felt or what to think.
As she pulled down the driveway, a big blue Lincoln headed toward her. She got closer and recognized Philip Maynard. The mayor hailed her, waving his chunky hand out the window.
Allie pulled onto the side of the drive and waited. He stopped his car alongside her. “Allie, I need to speak with you.”
Her first question was, “Why?” Lately every encounter with a Maynard spelled trouble. In fact it was her encounter with Philip at the parade that had led to her meeting Derrick. “What can I do for you?”
“Um, got some place we can sit?” He cut the engine and tugged at his shirt collar.
“Yeah, sure.” Allie indicated the picnic bench near the house, a myriad of scenarios passing through her mind. Did he come in peace or to threaten them in some way?
After they settled at the table, the mayor smiled. “How’s everybody doing? Everybody okay?”
“Philip, I know you didn’t come here for small talk. Please just get on with it.”
“Right.” He nodded, and his smile disappeared. “I’m ashamed of my daughter.”
Allie gasped. “Paige told you about the. . .” Affair? Adoption? Money? The words stuck in her throat.
“Paige confided in Michael, and he’s the one who told me everything. You know, my son’s got plenty of faults, but he’s letter of the law when it comes to business.”
Her mind raced. “Business? Luke gave Paige—”
“Close to fifty thousand dollars. I know.” Philip sighed. “And I intend to give you back every red cent.”
“Why?” As much as her family desperately needed the money, her suspicions grew. This show of humility from Philip Maynard was out of character to the extreme. “What did Michael tell you exactly?”
Philip’s eyes narrowed. “Paige misled you.” He pulled a hankie from his pocket and dabbed sweat from his brow. “When Cindy was a nurse in the rehab clinic in the Tri-Cities, she met Sandy Owens, Danny’s biological mother.”
“Yes, I know all this and that Paige handled the paperwork.”
He breathed heavily and wiped his balding head, and she felt a pang of compassion for the man. Mayor Maynard looked her in the eye. “Did you ever ask yourself, ‘Why Paige?’ ”
Allie nodded. “Yes. She said it was because she loved Luke. She also told me she was having an affair with him.”
“That’s not true, Allie. Your brother was a good man, completely blind to what was going on. He wasn’t aware the adoption was questionable.”
“If she didn’t do it for Luke, then why? Paige would’ve never handled the adoption out of the goodness of her heart. Cindy and Paige disliked each other intensely.”
“Paige didn’t do it out of the ‘goodness of her heart.’ She used it as an ace in the hole to endear herself to Luke. She never did get over him.”
“Endear herself how?” Her heart pounded in her ears, and she struggled for breath.
“Then Paige could come to him with the cold facts later, in hopes that he’d leave Cindy for deceiving him. When that didn’t work, Paige got angry and blackmailed your brother. If Luke didn’t give her money, Paige threatened to expose Cindy, even at the expense of losing her law license.” He wagged his head. “I don’t know where I went wrong with my daughter. Gave her everything till she took advantage and I cut her off.”
That explained all the fights Luke and Cindy had. Cindy’s bitterness toward Paige. As Allie digested the information, she took pity on the mayor. Tears rushed to her eyes. “I’m so relieved to know my brother wasn’t cheating on his wife. It was killing me to think Luke was a fraud.”
“No, Luke was only protecting his wife and Danny. He hid things from you, but that’s what a good man does—anything to protect family.”
Just like Derrick had been protecting his sister. What Luke had done to protect Cindy—who wasn’t dying—Derrick had done for his sister, only in a different way. He’d even tried to protect Danny, her, and Ma. In her mind’s eye, she saw him sitting on the bale of straw, trying to get her to understand, but she’d refused.
“Why did you tell me all this?”
“Yes, well,” Philip said with a wave of his hand. “Don’t mistake me for being altruistic. I’m protecting my own family. If I didn’t tell you, Michael would have. He wants to get back into your good graces. Besides, from what I understand, the Owenses might try to sue for custody. All this might play out in court, and I’m not going to risk my reputation for what my daughter did.”
“That’s why you’re offering me the money?”
“Well, if you take recompense and don’t press charges against Paige, the DA, who is a friend of mine, won’t take this to court, and we’ll avoid a public scandal. Unless Owens raises a huge stink, which I hope he doesn’t. But Paige’s future remains to be seen. She may lose her license to practice law.”
“I don’t want a scandal either, and I don’t want to see Paige behind bars, but I might need that
money for legal fees to fight the Owenses.”
Philip swung his heavily jowled head from side to side. “Try to settle out of court. Take it from an old man. Maybe you could see it in your heart to let the kid see his grandparents. I know how I’d feel if I knew I had a grandson somewhere.”
He struggled to his feet, and Allie followed him to his car. “Again, I’m sorry for what my daughter did, Allie. And the part Cindy played in all this.”
Cindy. Paige. The Owenses. Philip’s words rang in her mind as he drove off. She walked toward the house feeling lighter. They wouldn’t have to sell their property. They would be able to battle the Owenses if they chose to fight. Despite all the bad that had happened, she could tell her mother Luke was innocent of wrongdoing. Ma would want to pray together to thank God, and for the first time in a very long time, Allie was eager to join her with a grateful heart.
❧
The full weight of what he’d done hit Derrick as he glanced around the empty guest house. Along with moving his belongings to a small apartment, he’d talked to his financial advisor. Though he had money of his own, walking away from his family meant he would no longer live a privileged life. Oddly enough, that idea challenged him and gave him the strength to follow through with his painful decision.
“So you finally stood up to the old man,” Hank’s voice came from behind him.
Derrick turned and saw him in the doorway. “Yes, I guess I did.”
Hank dropped into a leather chair in the corner. “I’m not surprised. It was inevitable. I saw it, even when you were a kid. No need to wonder where you and Sandy got your willful streaks.”
“Yeah, right. Maybe the showdown was inevitable, but not what I wanted.” He zipped his suitcases closed. “Promise me you’ll look after Mom?”
“You got it, but I think you’ll discover your mother has a backbone of steel. She might have appeared vulnerable and acquiescent all these years, and especially the last few weeks, but believe me, the woman knows how to run the show.”
A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) Page 15