Small Town, Big Secrets

by Elsie Davis

  Thinking back over her life and the mistakes she’d made left her considering Steve’s last comment about telling his family. Was she wrong in keeping Byron from his father’s family, even if Jack didn’t want anything to do with his son? Jack’s threats no longer mattered. There was nothing he could do to her, so there was no reason to keep it a secret now.

  Other than power and money. Steve assured her no one could take Byron away as long as she was a good mother, but what if he was wrong? What if the Parkers had people in high places who could circumvent the law? If they could offer two million dollars as a wedding gift, they could buy anyone off.

  …

  Friday morning, Becky arrived at work early, leaving her mother and sister to take care of Byron. She filled the condiment containers, rolled silverware napkins, swept the floor, and did everything else that needed to be done to make sure the place was ready to open at eleven.

  The first customers straggled in a few minutes after the opening, and just like clockwork, lots of other townsfolk showed up. The regulars grabbed their favorite seats, and she went to work, hustling back and forth from the kitchen, trying to keep up with the orders and the newcomers. It was going to be a rough day with Katie calling in sick.

  Becky dropped a check off at one table then started to clear the dishes from the next one over, into the gray plastic bin she used to haul the dirty dishes.

  “Hey, Becky, can I get some coffee? I don’t mind waiting for you to catch up before I order if I have some of that special brew to tide me over.” Jerry grinned. The president of the Cattleman’s Association was alone and just the person she wanted to talk to. There was no way she intended to let this opportunity pass to talk with him. No appointment needed.

  “Sure thing.” She picked up the pot of coffee and headed back to his table. “I’ve been needing to tell you something, but I’ve only got a few minutes.” She lowered her voice, not wanting anyone else nearby to hear the conversation.

  One eyebrow shot up as he gazed up at her, a questioning look in his eyes. “What’s up?”

  Becky sat in the chair across from him. It pained her to have to be the one to tell him, but it needed to be done. “You know the problems we’ve been having with foreclosures? Well, I think I know who’s behind it. At least one of the guys. I figure you should know so you can be wary in your dealings with him.”

  “We have our suspicions, but who is this person you’re referring to, and how did you come into your information?” He leaned forward, more than interested in her answer.

  “Steve. Steve Parker.” There. She’d outed him. And any backlash to his campaign was his own fault.

  “No way. You’ve got it all wrong.” Jerry sat back, a slight smile on his face.

  He totally didn’t believe her. She hadn’t expected this.

  “I overheard him talking when he was eating his lunch here not long ago.” He had to believe her, or Steve would get away with his duplicity.

  “Is this why you broke it off with him?” Jerry asked, a concerned look on his face.

  Becky shrugged. “It’s not like we were getting married for love.” Jerry wasn’t much for gossip, and she hoped he wouldn’t repeat what she just said.

  “I see.” He leaned against the back of the booth, shaking his head. “This is bad.”

  “I know. So you believe me now?” Becky was relieved. She’d made the right choice telling Jerry.

  “No. It’s not that. Look, under the circumstances, I think you need to know the truth about Steve. It’s confidential information, but I’ve never known you to be the gossipy type.” It was no less than she thought of Jerry, but what was he talking about?

  “What do you mean by the truth? Did you already know he was one of them?”

  “No, Becky. He’s one of us.” Jerry spoke the words quietly, but they boomed in Becky’s head.

  One of us. It couldn’t be.

  “I know this has come as a shock, but if you two fought over this issue, you need to tell him you made a mistake and try to fix things. Anyone who’s seen the two of you together can tell you’re in love.”

  Jerry’s warm and sincere smile touched her heart, but that was the only thing she was feeling. She didn’t want to face what it meant if she’d been wrong.

  “I can’t believe it. Then what about the money?” She still didn’t understand.

  “We’ve set up a rescue fund to help landowners save their property by loaning them money to keep up with their payments during this recovery period from the drought.” Jerry lowered his voice to barely above a whisper as he delivered another bomb. “Steve’s our major contributor.”

  Becky gasped, shaking her head. It isn’t possible, is it? She’d gotten it all wrong.

  Steve’s reason for needing the money was as altruistic as her own, and she’d severely misjudged his character. But it also meant the reasons she’d been fighting against her feelings for him didn’t exist. Where did that leave her?

  She knew exactly where. Broken-hearted. And the ache she felt was a hundred times stronger than when she’d been betrayed by Jack. She should have trusted her heart, but in the end, what she felt didn’t matter. Steve didn’t reciprocate those feelings, and now that he didn’t need the deal, he didn’t need her.

  “Thanks for telling me.” Her whole body sagged in defeat.

  Jerry laid his hand over hers. “Don’t let him get away.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I want—we live two separate lives. It was for the better, anyway.” Steve had a life in Houston and Becky’s was here. It would never work even if he did forgive her.

  “But at least tell him how you feel. I thought women were good with all the mushy stuff.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not one of them.” And she hadn’t been since Jack.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It had taken him the whole day, but Steve felt a level of satisfaction he hadn’t felt in a long time. He glanced down at the manila envelope that contained everything he needed to finalize Jack’s parental release. He hadn’t minded meeting his brother halfway, preferring to get the ordeal over with.

  After hours in a car, his muscles were stiff. He rolled his shoulders to loosen the tightness in his neck. His first stop was to see his mother, and with any luck, his father would have gotten his message and would join them. But it was the thought of seeing Becky again that gave him the extra push mentally and on the gas pedal as he headed back to Riverbend.

  Becky would soon be done with her shift at Charlie’s. He couldn’t wait to share the good news and hoped to convince her to let him take Byron and her to the hospital tomorrow for the boy’s surgery. Whether she wanted his help or not, he knew it was the right thing to do.

  He pulled into his mother’s driveway and was pleased to see his father’s car parked in front. More than likely, out of curiosity since Steve had left the message firm yet vague.

  The butler opened the door as he approached. “Good evening, sir.”

  “Good evening, Randall.”

  “They are waiting for you in the front room.” The man’s formal stiffness never sat well with Steve. He would have appreciated a doorman with a little personality, but then, maybe his mother controlled that the same way she did everything else. Well, he would soon tell her about something she couldn’t control. What she did about it would be up to her.

  “Thank you.” Steve pushed open the door, entered, and spotted his parents on the far side of the room, each with a cocktail in hand. He made his way to where they stood. “Mother. Judge.” He nodded, unable to keep the smirk from his face. He loved using his father’s title because it irritated the old man, but also because Steve couldn’t think of anything else to call him that he was comfortable with, except Thomas, and he would hate that even more.

  “Well, this was certainly a surprise. I almost thought once I released your trust money, I wouldn
’t see you again.” His mother was always direct, but tact wasn’t her strong suit.

  “Don’t exaggerate. You know I’m busy at work. Besides, it’s a two-way street to Houston last time I checked.” He leaned forward to kiss her cheek out of habit.

  “But there’s so much to be done here. The Ladies’ Society would be lost without my guidance.” The woman had no small share of puff about herself.

  “Can we all cut to the chase? I’ve got another meeting in thirty minutes,” his father chimed in.

  “Absolutely. You might both want to have a seat for what I need to say.” His father’s left eyebrow shot up, a surprised expression on his face. Wait till he heard the rest.

  “I’m fine.” His father tensed, a closed look on his face.

  His mother took his advice and sat on the divan, sipping on her drink for fortification. “What is it, dear?”

  “First, let me say this. What you are about to hear is confidential information. It can go no further than our family, not that you will want it to, but I’ve made a deal with the parties concerned.” Steve wanted their promise and would accept nothing less.

  “I don’t like the sound of this already,” the Judge bristled.

  “And you won’t, trust me. But I feel you have a right to know the truth.”

  “I promise, but I don’t like it.” His mother set her drink down on the table. “What is it we need to know?”

  Steve looked up at the Judge and waited.

  “Thomas, for heaven’s sake, just agree. You have no choice.”

  “Fine. I agree.” The Judge nodded, his mouth set in a tight line of disapproval. The man didn’t like to be forced into anything.

  “Byron McAllister is Jack’s son.”

  His mother choked on her drink, and his father’s clenched jaw and white-knuckled fingers as they gripped his glass were the tell-tale signs of how well they received the news.

  “That’s impossible. What’s that little tramp been telling you?” His mother jumped to her feet, looking on the verge of an all-out fit.

  “I think you should see this before you pass judgment. It takes two to make a baby, the last time I checked, but in this case, only one person took responsibility.” He handed the documents to his father.

  “What does it say, Thomas?”

  “It’s a release of parental rights. Signed by Jack.” The Judge let out a deep sigh, one hand rubbing the back of his neck as he shook his head.

  “She must have tried to trap him, and he knew about it. There has to be a reason.” Her attitude rankled. Always protecting her baby boy.

  “Whether you want to hear it or not, Jack is no saint. He was more concerned about his football career than he was about his own son. He blackmailed Becky into silence by threatening to have her mother fired and run out of town. Nice, huh?”

  His father shook his head in disgust, his upper lip curled in a sneer. “Should have known the boy would disgrace us. Washed-up football player and living off his parents. I should have put an end to this a long time ago.”

  “I can’t believe Jack would do this.” His mother shook her head, still trying to comprehend the full extent of the news.

  “Pull off the blinders, Mother. He’s a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy, and Becky was one of the first to fall for his sweet act. Heck, he’s been fooling you for years—how do you think an eighteen-year-old girl would stand up to that? I know Becky, and I’d say her character is without question. It’s Jack’s that needs an overhaul.” Steve leaned back against the piano and folded his arms. The questions would come, and he’d answer, but after a quick glance at his watch, he realized he didn’t have long.

  “So Byron is my grandson?” his mother asked, finally starting to process the information and what it meant to them personally.

  “Yes, but you can’t say or do anything about it.” This was the tough part, which was why he’d extracted their promise first.

  “I don’t like anyone telling me what I can or can’t do.” The Judge’s answer didn’t surprise him.

  “Doesn’t matter. I gave my word to Jack and Becky not to reveal his identity. Therefore, you can’t claim him. Not that you would.”

  “Why wouldn’t I? He’s my grandson. And based on you and Jack, he may be my only grandchild. The next generation. He needs to be raised like a Parker. Becky can’t do that for him.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. He’s a McAllister. And unless Becky wants you involved, you must stay away. Don’t get any bulldozing ideas, because this is one case I’d fight you to the end on.” Steve leveled the Judge with a hard gaze, making sure he understood. This was no game.

  “Then why tell us in the first place?” his mother asked.

  “Because you had a right to know.”

  “And to think I let poor Judith go. I hated to do it, mind you. She was an excellent employee and knew exactly how I wanted everything. The new woman doesn’t come close. How will I ever fix this?” His mother’s anguish came across as genuine, surprising Steve. It was the first time he’d seen a compassionate side to her.

  “You’ll think of something, I’m sure.” She always did.

  “Thanks for telling us, son. I’ll deal with Jack, don’t worry.” The Judge’s tone didn’t bode well for Jack, but that was between them. He’d done what he came here to do.

  “That’s between you three. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I want to share the good news of the release with Becky. I’m driving them to the hospital in Houston tomorrow if she’ll let me.”

  “Why wouldn’t she let you?” His mother’s gaze was suddenly confused, the idea of anyone refusing a Parker’s helping hand inconceivable.

  “Becky’s not one of your society friends, Mother. She’s a real person with real feelings and a big heart and a pure soul.” She never wanted to be a part of the grand scheme playing out.

  “You don’t need to take that tone with me. Tell her I’m sorry. I understand why you were determined to help her and applaud your choices.” His mother’s sincere apology surprised him. It was as though she’d done a one-eighty, but he was still grappling with the change, unsure of where this was headed.

  “We both had our reasons.” Steve shook his head.

  “I still don’t know yours.” The Judge’s steely gaze zeroed in on Steve.

  He shrugged. “To beat you. It’s no secret.” It didn’t matter if his father knew the truth. The only thing that mattered was Becky and Byron.

  “So why did you need the money?” he asked, persistent as always when he wanted information.

  “Last time I checked, I’m an adult and don’t answer to you anymore.” If the Judge learned the truth about their fake marriage deal, there was no telling how he’d react, and Steve didn’t want to know.

  “See if you can talk to her, change her mind about keeping this a secret. I’m not against people knowing.” It was as though the news she had a grandson had made her heart grow ten sizes.

  The question was, could he trust her? Steve had promised Becky that Byron wouldn’t be hurt by anything they’d done, and he meant to keep that promise. “That’s a shocker. I’ll talk to her, but I doubt I can change her mind. Her family’s been hurt by the Parkers enough, and I’m not sure she’s up to another round. Good night.” Steve turned to leave.

  He had a feeling Jack was only beginning to understand the repercussions of his actions. Five years overdue, but time.

  …

  The drive to Becky’s was short, and before he knew it, he was knocking on the door.

  Judith answered, her hands landing on her hips in a formidable gesture as she faced off with him. “If you’re looking for Becky, she’s not here.”

  “Good evening. I’m looking for her and Byron. I was hoping to take them to the hospital.” At least she hadn’t closed the door in his face.

  Her expressi
on softened, giving him hope she’d tell him where they were. He waited for her to make a decision, letting her come to her own conclusion about him.

  “She took off from work early and left for Houston hours ago. They have an early appointment, so she wanted to stay there overnight and not do the drive in the morning to make it easier on Byron. And she wanted to treat him to dinner in the city.”

  A wave of disappointment washed over him, leaving an ache in the region of his heart. He was too late. “Oh, I’d hoped to drive them there myself. I need to talk to her. I guess I’ll have to wait and see them at the hospital tomorrow.”

  “You’re going?” Judith stepped through the door and closed it behind her, joining him on the porch.

  “Of course I’m going. I promised Byron, and I want to be there to support Becky.” He couldn’t not go.

  “You care for her, don’t you? Aside from a hasty engagement and even hastier breakup,” she added.

  “I do…as a friend,” he clarified. More than a friend, but he didn’t think telling her mother that before he told Becky was a good idea.

  “Cold feet happens to everyone. Just see that it doesn’t turn your heart to ice.” Her all-knowing look of wisdom settled on him like a lead weight.

  “Good night.” Steve turned and left, Judith’s words echoing in his head.

  Chapter Twenty

  Becky glanced up at the clock but continued pacing the recovery room. The doctors had said forty-five minutes, and it was already five minutes past that window of time. “Thanks for coming to the hospital this morning, Kayla. I was a nervous wreck. Correction, am a nervous wreck. Byron, on the other hand, has been loving all the attention from the nurses.” Becky gave a little half laugh. It was the most she could muster at this point. Her baby was in surgery, something no parent wanted for their child.

  “He’ll be fine. The hernia surgery is routine—and quit looking at the clock. I’m sure they’ll be done any minute.” Kayla crossed the room to grab her phone and send a text.