“Most of it, I think.” Her cheeks were pink and she wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I heard you announce you’re expectin’ a baby.” Her gaze lifted. “I’ll be here, Rose, unless you want me to move on. After Violet—” Her voice broke. “After Violet passes, I plan on gettin’ a job—whether at the nursery or someplace else—and contributing to the rent.”
“Carly, you’re welcome to stay as long as you want. Truth be told, I’ve never really lived here alone and I’m not eager to start. If you still feel comfortable here, I’d love for you to stay, and we’ll work out the details later.”
A warm smile spread across her face. “Thanks, Rose. You go take the kids home. Don’t worry about anything else.”
The front door opened, and Neely Kate appeared, her hand extended palm up. “I came in to get the truck keys. I loaded up the kids in their car seats in your truck, so I figured we’d just swap cars until tomorrow.”
“I’ll take them home, Neely Kate.”
“You need to stay home and deal with everything. It’s really no bother.”
Since I could tell she meant it, and I still needed to talk to Violet and James, I grabbed the keys out of my purse and handed them to her. “I’m not goin’ into the office tomorrow, so I won’t need it in the morning. I may not go into town until the deposition.”
“We’ll sort it out,” Jed said, taking the keys. “If nothing else, I’ll send Marshall to pick you up and take you to your truck. You stay home and rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”
I felt nauseous at the thought of it. If I told the truth, I still wasn’t convinced I would get off scot-free. What would happen if they charged me? Would I have to have the baby in jail? I’d never asked Joe what had come of his fact-finding trip to the courthouse, although if he’d managed to get me an extension, surely he would have said so.
“Thanks,” I said. “I owe you.”
I walked out with them to tell the kids goodbye, making sure they were handling everything okay. Mikey was already falling asleep and Ashley was singing a song she’d learned at school for an upcoming school program.
I gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Did you have fun tonight?”
She nodded with serious eyes. “What’s gonna happen after Mommy dies?”
I took a breath, caught off guard by her question, mostly because she seemed so aware regarding the entire situation. “Well…we’re gonna have a party, only I guess you and I don’t have to plan it.”
“No,” she said quietly. “After that.”
“You’ll live with your daddy all the time,” I said softly. “Just like when your momma was in the hospital in Texas.”
“Will we still get to see you?”
“Of course,” I said with a smile. “Don’t be silly.”
“We didn’t see you before.”
She was right, and despite James’s assurances, I feared Mike would try to keep them from me again. But I sure wasn’t going to throw their father under the bus. That would only hurt Ashley. “That was different. I’m going to try to see you lots and lots.”
“Will you come to my program? We’re singin’ Halloween songs.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” I said, vowing to find out when it was.
“Mommy won’t be able to come, will she?”
I started to answer, then stopped. “The truth is I don’t know,” I admitted. “I know your momma loves nothin’ more than spendin’ time with you, but she may be too sick to go.”
She nodded. “You could video it on your phone and show it to her.”
“Of course,” I said, fighting tears as I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Your momma would love that.”
“I love you, Aunt Rose.”
“I love you too, sweet girl.” I kissed her again, then backed out the open door, realizing that Jed and Neely Kate had taken a few steps back to give us privacy.
Neely Kate surged forward and wrapped me into a huge hug. “I’m sorry I reacted so badly earlier, Rose. I’ll be here for you. I promise.”
“I know,” I said as I pulled away, and I meant it. The question was how hard would it be for her? “And I love you for it.”
“Get some rest,” Jed said. “Leave the dishes until tomorrow.”
I reached up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Jed.”
He wrapped an arm around my back and held me close. “I love you too, Rose. We’re here for you. Tomorrow we’ll discuss beefing up security. Joe will be back in an hour or two, so y’all should be fine tonight. I would have thought Skeeter would have his men watchin’ out for you, especially after what happened this morning at your office, but we can’t count on that.”
I started to ask him why we couldn’t count on it, then decided it didn’t matter. If I was having a baby, I needed to make sure he or she was protected all the time, regardless of who was watching over me.
But I’d deal with that tomorrow. Tonight I needed to tell James he was going to be a father.
CHAPTER 14
A fter I waved goodbye to Jed and Neely Kate, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent James a text.
I really need to speak to you in person.
An error message showed up immediately.
Undeliverable
Had James changed his phone number and not told me? I tried to call him and immediately got a message that his number was no longer in service.
A feeling of deep betrayal sucked the breath from me. James had always been there for me, even after our fight about Buck Reynolds’ necklace. I’d called him when I’d been kidnapped, and he’d dropped everything to help me. I hadn’t called or texted in eight weeks. Had he changed numbers to purposely avoid me, or had he done it later and decided it didn’t matter since I hadn’t reached out?
I wrapped my arms around myself and shivered. What did it mean?
I half considered calling Jed, but it would only piss him off, and he was already upset with James. No need to add fuel to the fire. Still, I needed to talk to him. I had to be the one to tell him the news. I placed a call to Carter Hale, not surprised when it went to voice mail. I hung up and sent him a text.
Call me.
Pocketing my phone, I stood at the base of my porch steps, scanning the trees for signs of James’s men. He’d always watched over me when I was in trouble. Even before we were together. He loved me now, so wouldn’t he go to extraordinary lengths to make sure I was protected? Especially with Denny Carmichael sniffing around?
Unease crawled down my back as I entered the house and headed upstairs to talk to Violet, but she was already asleep. I made my way to the kitchen instead, and Carly was already in there washing dishes.
I reached for the dishrag. “I told you not to do this, Carly. I’ll take care of it. You’ve worked yourself silly today.”
“I’d rather stay and help, if it’s all the same to you,” she said, continuing to wash a plate. “I like the company.” Then she looked stricken. “Of course, if you’d rather be alone, feel free to watch TV or read or whatever you like. You may need a moment or ten to get used to the idea of having a baby.”
“I’d like the company too,” I said, picking up a plate from the dish rack and starting to dry it. “How’d you know I just found out? Maybe I’ve been sittin’ on the news for a while.”
Carly laughed. “I don’t think so, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have had those two and a half cups of coffee yesterday morning.”
My eyes flew wide. “I’ve been drinkin’ coffee the whole time.”
“How far along are you?” she asked as she rinsed off a plate. “If it’s early enough, it might not matter.”
“At least ten weeks.” How much caffeine had I consumed over the past two months? Given how tired I was, gallons.
“Ten?” She stopped rinsing and studied me as she set the plate in the rack. “I’m sure you’re fine. I bet our own mothers drank coffee and tea like there was no tomorrow.” A soft smile lit up her face. “My momma loved coffee. One of my fav
orite memories of her is waking up to the smell of coffee and finding her in the kitchen.”
“I’m sorry you lost her so young.”
Her smile tightened. “I’ve spent more years without her than with her, so how is it possible to miss her so much?”
I reached out and touched her upper arm. “She was your momma, and you’ll love her until the day you die. There will always be a hole where she fit. I already know there’ll be one for Vi.”
“But not your own mother?”
I tried not to frown. “Our mother was not a good mother. Violet protected me as best she could, but she was only two years old than me. She was a child herself.” I looked into her eyes. “People think the worst of Violet, and she’s done some horrible things, I’ll grant you that. But she’s always loved me. Always. Even if her methods of proving it were suspect.” I tilted my head. “She stuck with me when no one else would. Not even our father. She was more of a mother to me than our momma ever was.”
“I’m sorry your mother was such a bitch,” Carly said, turning back to the sink. “But I can see how much Violet loves you. She didn’t have a role model for how to show love. She figured it out as she went along, but there’s no doubt she cares about you.” Her voice broke. “What I wouldn’t have given to have someone like her in my life when I was a kid.”
I leaned in and wrapped an arm around her upper back. “You have us now. We love having you in our lives, Carly. You’re like a piece of the puzzle we didn’t know we were missing. I’m glad you’re here. And not just because of Vi.”
Carly leaned her head into mine as we both stared at the wall over the sink. “Thanks, Rose. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
Dropping my arm, I took a step back and placed the now-dry plate in the cabinet. “Tell me more about the hospice visit.”
We spent the next half hour cleaning up the kitchen and then headed out to the front porch with cups of tea and fuzzy afghans, enjoying the cool fall evening.
“We should have a bonfire at your sister’s party,” Carly said, sounding like she was lost in thought. “The kids would love it.”
“That’s presuming she dies this fall or winter,” I said.
Carly reached over and squeezed my hand, and I heard her wordless message. It would happen soon, and I needed to prepare myself for it. Wishing it weren’t so wouldn’t change things.
She released a long yawn, and I gave her a tender smile. “Go to bed, Carly. And sleep in if you’d like. I’m stickin’ around here in the morning until I head into Henryetta for my grand jury testimony.”
“Thanks, Rose. I think I just might, but if you change your mind, you let me know.” She got to her feet, draping the blanket over her arm, and picked up her teacup.
I’d figured I was stuck out here since Neely Kate hadn’t left me the keys to her car, but the sight of Carly’s clunker next to the house reminded me I had options. “Carly, would you mind if I borrowed your car?”
She blinked in surprise. “Of course not. Did you change your mind about tomorrow morning?”
“No, I was wanting to borrow it tonight.”
Her brows shot up, and then she quickly glanced down to my stomach and an empathetic smile spread across her face. “Of course, Rose. The keys are on the entry table. Just be careful.”
“Thanks, Carly. I will.”
I watched her go inside, then pulled out my phone again and sent Carter another text.
Carter Hale. Call me now. It’s important.
I knew it was close to ten o’clock, but Carter didn’t strike me as the early-to-bed type. After five minutes, I decided to take a riskier course.
I called the pool hall.
The background was noisy with music and the sounds of clinking pool balls, loud enough the bartender had to shout. “Eight Ballers Billiards.”
“Is Skeeter Malcolm there?”
The bartender, whose voice I didn’t recognize, hesitated, then said, “Nope. Want me to give him a message?”
He was lying. I was sure of it. James was having him screen his calls. “I’ll give it to him myself. Just give me his cell number.”
“No can do, sweetheart,” he said with an amused chuckle. “Give me the message, and I’ll be sure he gets it.”
“He’s gonna want to talk to me,” I said, my tone firm. “If you’d like, you can put me on hold while you tell him that if he doesn’t take my call, I’ll march up there and take care of his family jewels.”
The bartender chuckled. “Okay, hold on a minute.” He put me on hold, and I listened to two full country songs before he came back. “He says if you’re Tabby that he gave you your fifty dollars and he’s not givin’ you a penny more.” Then he hung up.
I stared at my phone in disbelief. What the hell was that about?
I needed to talk to him and I had no idea where he planned to go after he got done at the pool hall. He might go to his house south of town—where the two of us used to meet—but somehow I doubted it. I considered marching into the pool hall and following through on my threat, but that didn’t seem prudent considering half the county would be buzzing about my pregnancy, and if I was seen stomping into Skeeter Malcolm’s office the night I found out… But waiting wasn’t an option. We had to talk, and I knew another way.
I walked inside to grab my purse and Carly’s keys. Muffy followed me in. I considered leaving her behind, but where I planned to go, it might not be a bad idea to have some backup. “Okay, Muff. You can be my bodyguard.”
She trotted after me and jumped in the car after I opened the driver’s door. Carly’s car was a hunk of junk, but Jed had it up to its top potential. On the positive side, no one would notice me driving it. Stealth was what I needed, and this car fit the bill.
I had plenty of time to think as I drove into town. I was surprised at how quickly I was acclimating to the idea of having a baby. It scared the snot out of me—could I even afford a baby? Could I handle raising a baby on my own? But mostly I tried to imagine James’s reaction when I told him. While he knew me well enough not to believe I’d trapped or tricked him, in no scenario did I picture him welcoming the news. I had to prepare for the worst.
Thankfully, his car was still parked out back of the pool hall when I got there. I parked several spots away, and after looking around to make sure no one was out in the lot, I walked over to the car with Muffy on my heels and sat on the hood. She jumped into my lap, and we waited together.
I’d considered banging on the back door, but this felt more dignified somehow. Was there a dignified way to tell the man you’d slept with that you were pregnant?
Would he think I wanted money from him?
What did it say about our relationship that I had to ask myself that question?
The pool hall had security cameras, so it wouldn’t be long before somebody came out to investigate. I was surprised that it took ten minutes for James to come marching out the back door.
“What the hell do you think you’re doin’?” he demanded, his face hard. “You can’t be here, especially the night before your testimony.”
“Then maybe you should take my damn call next time.”
He stopped several feet in front of me. “That was you?”
“I figured the family jewels would give me away.”
He shook his head. “He told me you said you’d cut off my balls and shove them down my throat.” A slight smile tipped up the corners of his mouth. “That didn’t sound like you at all.”
“You changed your number.”
His smile fell. “I needed to put distance between us, and I told you to call Jed if you needed help. So why are you here?”
My brows shot up to my hairline. “Excuse me?”
“You can’t be talkin’ to me, Rose. In person or over the phone. You need to go. Now.”
He took a step toward me and Muffy let out a low growl.
That stopped James in his tracks and his menacing glare softened. “You can’t be here, Rose. You have t
o go.”
“This is important, and I needed to see you tonight. I texted Carter several times and told him to call me back right away, but I’m still waiting for his call.” My voice took on a hard edge. “That doesn’t make me feel all that warm and cozy about havin’ him as my attorney. What if I needed him for somethin’ urgent?” When he didn’t answer, I urged Muffy to hop down and then slid off the hood. “I think it just became very clear that I need to find a new attorney.”
“How are you gonna find a new attorney before tomorrow afternoon?”
I took a step forward and glared up at him. “Carter wasn’t even plannin’ on bein’ there tomorrow afternoon.”
He shook his head in frustration. “You don’t need a new attorney. Hale’s tied up in something right now. We both are. You need to go.”
I shot a glance to the back door. “He’s here now?”
James reached for my arm, but I took a step back as Muffy rushed in front of me and growled louder.
“Call off your dog, Rose,” he said through gritted teeth.
Anger burned in my chest. “My dog has a name, and you know her from all the times she’s come to your house.”
“Then why the fuck is she growling at me now?”
“Because she clearly doesn’t trust you.” And she wanted to protect me from him—a thought that settled about as well as a bowling ball in a canoe. Although I knew James would never hurt me, I wasn’t about to admonish her for having my back.
He took a step back, dropping his hand to his side in frustration. “You can’t be here, Rose. How many fucking times do I have to say it? Go!” He half-shouted the last word, then looked pissed that he’d lost control. “Why are you here?”
I put my hand on my hip, even madder. “You’re just now askin’ me that?”
“Goddammit, Rose!”
I shook my head in disgust. “After everything we’ve been through, you’re treating me like one of your booty calls showin’ up and beggin’ for more.”
“What the hell are you talkin’ about?” he asked, confusion swimming in his eyes.
“Who’s Tabby?” I demanded, not even knowing why I was wasting what little time he had deigned to give me to discuss some random woman.
Come Rain or Shine: Rose Gardner Investigations #5 (Rose Gardner Investigatons) Page 14