Resurrection

by Karina Bliss

  He winked at her. “I knew I could trust you.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  “Dimity, your dog had an accident in here,” Moss called from the small living room Lily used as a study, two weeks later.

  A lie. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor with two rubber balls; one he threw across the room for the Jack Russell, the other he rolled a couple of feet to his daughter, who was lying belly down on the rug. “Play along, you two.” Arching her small spine, Grace made a clumsy grab for the ball. With a gummy smile, she planted her mouth on the curve and sucked it.

  “I swear I haven’t been feeding Madeleine under the table for a week.” Dimity came in and stopped abruptly, wrinkling her nose. “This might require a vet’s visit.”

  The stench was getting pretty ripe.

  “Where is it?” Holding her nose, Dimity went to pick up her dog, but Moss got there before her, scooping up Madeleine and tucking her under his arm.

  “Behind the desk.”

  “You sure? The smell seems to be nearer Grace.”

  “I’m sure.”

  When she went to look, he stood and walked out of the room, calmly locking the door behind him.

  “I can’t find it… Where’d you go?”

  “I thought of a way to cure you of your fear of small babies.” Settling on the floor beside the door, he released Madeleine, who scampered down the hall toward the studio where Seth was working out on the drums. Moss would join him as soon as Lily got home from the library to take over childcare.

  “I’ve been alone with Grace before, you idiot. It’s the three-feet force field I can’t get past. Oh, this baby stinks.”

  “Yeah, all part of her charm.” The dog returned, a little put out. Clearly Seth hadn’t heard her request for entry.

  “Come and change her.”

  “See, that’s part of the cure. You’re doing it.”

  “Dream on.” Her stilettos tapped toward the door. The handle rattled. “Have you locked this?”

  “I’m also holding your pet hostage.” He held out his hand for Madeleine to lick.

  The wood shook as Dimity pounded on it. “Open this, I mean it.”

  “Don’t scare the baby,” he warned.

  The pounding stopped. A voice hissed through the keyhole. “Open this door!”

  “Nope. You’re always trying to run my life. It’s time to return the favor.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Your favorite kind of intervention—tough love.” Respecting her confidence, he hadn’t told Lily or Seth. Dimity assured him she was talking to her therapist, and she was certainly talking to him. But he was done talking. “Welcome to your baptism by poop.”

  No response. His manager’s stilettos walked away, with a lot more staccato. A few seconds later the window rattled. “Yeah, locked that too,” he called helpfully.

  Silence.

  Thirty seconds later, the drums stopped and Seth strolled down the hall.

  “Honey B texted to say you’ve locked her in the study with a stinky baby.”

  “I’m glad you’re here.” Moss watched the Jack Russell dart excitedly between them. “Jared can be a groomsman when you and Dimity get married, but I’m the best man. Got that?”

  “Babe, don’t listen to him,” Dimity pleaded. “Just beat him up and let me out. But be sure to beat him up first.”

  “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you’re both hiding something from me.” Seth folded his arms. “What’s going on?”

  Dimity fell silent.

  “All I’ll say is, what I’m doing is important,” Moss answered. “Go back to your drumming.” Clicking his fingers, he encouraged Madeleine to jump in his lap. “Your dog trusts me. Doesn’t that count for something?”

  “You’ve got ten minutes before I return,” Seth warned. “Then you’re letting Dimity out.”

  “My daughter’s in there, I’m not leaving them alone together for long.”

  “Love you, Honey B,” Seth called, and left.

  “You’re kidding me.” The handle rattled again.

  “And don’t bother texting Lily.” Moss fondled Madeleine’s ears. “She’s miles away. The diaper bag is beside Grace. I’ll talk you through it.”

  “I can’t do it, I’m already gagging.”

  “If you leave it, it only gets worse…in every way. Do it now before she starts crying, it’ll be a lot easier.”

  “You won’t let her cry.” There was panic in her voice.

  “Short-term pain, for long-term gain.” He was bluffing, mostly. And relying on the stench. “Quit with the excuses. She loves you, she saves her best smiles for you.”

  “I’m going to kill you for this.” Her threat was no less vicious for being whispered. “Ugh.” Her whisper developed a choke. “If this smell doesn’t kill me first.” Sensing her owner’s distress, Madeleine pricked up her ears and gave a small whine.

  “Dimity, you’d do anything for Seth, right?” Moss soothed the dog. “If you’d take a bullet for him, you can change a diaper. I can’t let you break his heart. I won’t.”

  “I don’t want to break his heart either.” The defiance had left her voice.

  “He won’t be happy without you. You know that.”

  “Okay, I promise I’ll pick her up and hold her. As soon as you’ve changed her diaper.”

  He’d heard her excuses before. “Nope, we gotta fix this thing once and for all. Aren’t you tired of constantly worrying about how it will affect your future with Seth?”

  Silence, but for the light squeak of the ball, which meant Grace was still gumming it.

  “Dimity Graham doesn’t cower from challenges,” he reminded her. “She tackles them head-on.” Or in this case, ass-on.

  “I’m going in. Argh, that smell. Tell me what to do, quick, while I hold my breath.”

  “Get all the stuff you need out of the bag. The diaper, the changing mat, the wet wipes.” He waited. “You done that?”

  A gasp. “I’m reading the instructions.”

  “Practice with the tags,” he said, recalling his learning curve. “It’ll make it easier.”

  Another gasp. “I’m going to be sick.”

  “No, you’re not. Put down the changing mat and roll Grace onto her back.”

  “I’m hyperventilating!”

  “Yeah, I’d recommend shallow breaths myself, but it’s your diaper change.”

  “It’s a panic attack, you idiot!”

  “Just take off the damn diaper.”

  There was the sound of tabs being pulled. “Good. Slide it out from under her, being very careful with the contents.”

  “I’m gagging. This is disgusting. I can’t do this.”

  “Yes you can. Bundle up the poopy diaper and bag it.”

  The tap of stilettos. “Dimity?”

  “I’m dumping it in the corner.”

  “Don’t leave Gra—”

  “She rolled onto her tummy, Moss. And there’s poop on the rug.”

  He really, really struggled to keep the laughter out of his voice. “Yeah, her motor skills are kinda advanced.”

  “Your daughter is smiling at me. She’s a sadist.”

  He did laugh then. That’s my girl. “First things first. Roll her onto the changing mat again and clean her up with the wet wipes. Put them in a plastic bag.”

  “Oh my God…” For the next few minutes all he heard was the sound of gagging, the ripping of wet wipes from the container—she was using a lot—and the occasional gurgle from Grace.

  “Is she clean?”

  “Yes, but I’ll never be again,” Dimity said in a tragic voice.

  Moss made himself more comfortable against the wall, careful of the dog on his lap. “Okay, put on the fresh diaper.”

  “How do I move her?”

  “You grab her legs by the ankles with one hand, and lift.”

  “She’s wiggling.”

  “Take your time.”

  “Stop Grace, you n
eed to lie still. I hate your daddy, hate him. You better take after your mom. Either one is fine.”

  “Jess.” Are you laughing somewhere, Jess? I hope so. I hope you know how much I love our daughter. How much Lily does. Thank you for this child.

  “I’ve done it.” His manager sounded exhausted. “Though I’m traumatized for life. What happens next?”

  “Pick her up and bring her to the door.”

  Panic returned to her tone. “I’ve never held a baby before.”

  “You’ve watched us do it a thousand times.” Now he had to trust her. He cuddled Madeleine and she licked his face. “You’re nearly there, don’t quit.”

  Seth strode down the corridor and held out his hand. “Game’s over. Give me the key.”

  “I’m doing it, Moss,” Dimity called, her tone full of wonder. “Oh, she’s so light!”

  Understanding dawned on Seth’s face. He grinned.

  “Okay, I’ve got her. I really have.” There was jubilation in Dimity’s voice, wonder. “Now what?”

  Moss threw Seth the key. “Now you show off,” he said, and took his hostage for a walk.

  * * *

  A few days after what was fondly referred to as Poopgate, Lily left the specialist bakery smiling, Grace in her arms. The carry bag over her shoulder bulged with a cake box and she turned sideways to avoid crushing it as she navigated the narrow doorway.

  Inside the box was a maple-walnut coffee cake trickled with frosting. “I’ll add the Congratulations! candles in a couple hours when Moss becomes your legal father,” she told Grace. “Let’s not jinx anything.”

  But she wasn’t worried. Lincoln had said the hearing was a formality. “The case worker’s happy, Moss’s financial future is secure, there’s no reason for the judge to say no.”

  Glimpsing the time on the shopping plaza’s clock tower, she picked up her pace. She had an hour to drop Grace and the cake off at Kayla’s and drive the twenty minutes to the courthouse to wish Moss luck before he went in. He was playing it low-key, only he and Lincoln were attending.

  Formality or not, both he and Lily were nervous and trying to hide it from each other. Let the professionals dull proceedings down; she’d be there for the celebrations.

  She was winding among the cars in the parking lot when she spotted Toby James, press scum, sitting on the hood of her Honda checking his cell. Coming to an abrupt halt, she ducked behind a Chevy Silverado, her mind racing.

  Had he discovered Moss was Grace’s father? No, they’d been too careful. Aside from two desperate midnight runs to get Grace to sleep, Moss never went out in public with her and the baby.

  With the band’s profile trending up, Toby was scavenging. Out jogging yesterday, Seth had seen the photographer lurking near the local dog park, and texted Dimity to suggest she walk Madeleine somewhere else.

  Grace started to fret in Lily’s arms. They’d been out for two hours and the baby was tired and hungry. They could catch a cab to Kayla’s, but the car seat was in the Honda. Hiding in plain sight, remember?

  Sliding the carry bag carefully onto the ground, she unhooked her bag. One-handed, she found her car keys, and swapped her glasses for prescription sunglasses. “Don’t let them see the whites of your eyes, precious girl,” she told Grace, shifting the baby to a more comfortable position.

  Hooking the two bags over her shoulder again, she stepped out from behind the Chevy and pressed the unlock button on her car key. Showtime.

  The car lights flashed and beeped, startling Toby, who dropped his cell.

  “You’re wasting your time,” she said airily, walking toward him. “I don’t drive Moss anymore, and haven’t for weeks.”

  “Yeah, kinda planned it that way, he’s a big bastard.”

  So that was his game. “Nor am I telling tales on the band,” she added flatly. “Now get off my car before you leave a skid mark.”

  “Feisty little thing, aren’t you?” he said, but slid his bulk off the hood with a grunt and picked up his cell.

  Obviously picking up her tension, Grace started to cry. Lily patted her small back before opening the rear passenger door. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

  She clipped Grace into her car seat. “Now let’s get the hell out of Dodge,” she murmured, and the baby smiled at her. It helped. She backed out of the car, no longer careful of the carry bag on her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the flash of Toby’s camera. Incredulous, she straightened. “Did you just take my picture?”

  “You’re a very attractive woman. Ever think about modeling?” He snapped off another shot. “How about taking your sunglasses off, and showing me your pretty blue eyes?”

  Quietly, she closed Grace’s door, even though she ached to slam it. “Don’t you have anything better to do than hitting on passing women and making babies cry?”

  “Your daughter is the spitting image of you,” he remarked. “Exactly how old is she? It’s always hard for me to tell, not having kids myself.” He lifted his camera to take her picture again. Screening her face with the carry bag, she ignored him and reached for the driver’s door. He had nothing on Moss. This was a fishing expedition.

  “If you won’t pose for a shot, I guess I’ll take one of her.”

  Instantly, she was fierce mama bear, protector. She moved to block his view of Grace through the rear passenger window. “You have until the count of three to walk away,” she threatened.

  “Or?” His tone was chilling in its affability.

  “I start screaming that you’re flashing me.” Her gaze never wavered from his. “Want to be arrested for indecent exposure?”

  Toby glanced around. There were enough shoppers that someone would come to her aid. “Okay, okay.” He backed off, hands raised. “One final question. You fucking McFadden?”

  “One.” She stepped to the driver’s door and opened it. “Two.” Throwing the carry bag inside, she got into the car and jammed the key into the ignition. “Thr—”

  “Of course you are. He’s a rock star and you’ve got form…haven’t you, Stormy?”

  Reaching for the door, she made the mistake of looking at him, and he smiled at her, a smile that made her skin crawl. “And you accuse me of indecent exposure.”

  An icy calm settled over her. “How did you find me?”

  “I bought your number from your mother…charming lady. When you picked up, you said, ‘Moss.’” He lifted the camera. “So does Travis Calvert know he’s a daddy?”

  “She’s not my child.” She had to tell him. It was the lesser of two evils.

  He lowered the camera. “Then whose is she?”

  “My sister’s.” She lied without a qualm. “She’s going through a marriage breakup and I’m helping her out.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Any child I had with Travis would be a toddler, you idiot, clearly she’s younger than that.” That wasn’t true; she was relying on his ignorance of babies.

  “Then I guess the story is, ‘Sex tape groupie finds herself a new rock star’.”

  “Not true.” She had to protect Moss. “I’m staying with my friend Dimity Graham and her fiancée. Hiding out from scum like you. I’ve only been driving Moss to pay my way.”

  “Since when has paying your way been important to you?” He grinned. “Or the truth been important to me?” He snapped off another couple of shots, and turned away. “Not a fan of the new titties myself, but you probably don’t care what turns me on.”

  She got out of the car and hurled the carry bag after him. He laughed as he dodged it, a sound that echoed around the lot with Grace’s wail.

  * * *

  “I shouldn’t be here,” Lily blurted when she arrived at the courthouse.

  When she’d phoned Moss in a panic after dropping Grace at Kayla’s, he’d said, “Deep breaths, we’ll deal with it. Get here as soon as you can.”

  Nearly an hour after her encounter with Toby, paranoia had replaced shock. As she waited for the elevator, it seemed
everyone in the building—security staff, clerks, plaintiffs, and defendants—was staring at her. Even now a photograph of Lily Stuart might be circulating online. She felt hunted and exposed.

  The moment she glimpsed Moss waiting in the hall, she had to swallow a sob. His expression somber, he caught her to him, and she buried her face into his chest, trying not to smear mascara over the white shirt he’d worn to court.

  “Lily’s had bad news about her mom,” he told his lawyer over her head, giving her a warning squeeze before he released her.

  “That’s terrible,” Lincoln exclaimed, his square-jawed face concerned. “What happened?”

  Her overloaded brain went blank. “I…that is…” What was Moss doing?

  “Health scare,” he answered for her. “Lily’s waiting to hear how serious. Is there somewhere private we can go for five minutes?”

  His lawyer looked at his watch and frowned. “You’re due before the judge in five. I don’t think—”

  “Two minutes, then. Look at her, Linc, she’s white as a ghost.”

  Lincoln found them an empty interview room, housing a table, four chairs, and a dusty pot plant.

  Moss closed the door and opened his arms. “It’s going to be okay.”

  She leaned her forehead against his heart, felt the beat of it against skin and bone. “The porn star shacks up with another rock star, that’s how he’s playing it. Just when you’re announcing Grace is your daughter. If I thought it would help, I’d leave town, but the damage is done.”

  He held her away from him and his expression was as stern as she’d ever seen it. “I’m not ashamed of our relationship.”

  “But—”

  “Nonnegotiable, Lily.” His grip on her upper arms tightened. “Don’t even think about leaving us.”

  She loved him so much in that moment. How had she ever thought this man unreliable? But however much she appreciated his reassurances, she had no right to them. “I should never have stayed once Grace arrived.”

  “Bullshit. If you’d left, Grace would probably be in foster care. I was in no state to bring her home without your support.” He smoothed her hair away from her face. “You were her guardian angel. And mine.”

  “Then I should have moved out once you decided to keep her,” she said miserably. It seemed incredible that she’d let herself be lulled so completely into a false sense of security. She’d been beating herself up for her selfishness ever since she’d left Kayla’s. She could still see her friend standing with Grace and the kids, all waving for good luck. She hadn’t had the heart to tell her.