“Darius, Daryl, and Dwayne?” Heff interrupted. “I swear to God, I start hearing banjo music, and I’m outta here.”
Church’s lips quirked before he grew serious again. “Long story short, years ago, Darius thought it would be a good idea to buy up forested land and sell it at a profit to out-of-state companies looking for a place to dump their trash. My father, along with other local community and business leaders, got wind of what he was scheming and disagreed. Some of those deals turned out to be highly illegal and caught the attention of the EPA. They, too, agreed it was a bad idea. Darius got slapped with a shit-ton of fines and ended up having to sell some of the parcels back to the bank. There’s been bad blood ever since.”
“Like a northeast PA version of the Hatfields and the McCoys.”
“More like the Capulets and Montagues,” Church said wryly.
“Oh hell, there’s a daughter. Please don’t tell me her name is Daisy or Darlene.”
“No.” Church’s lips quirked. “Her name is Hayley, and unlike the rest of her family, she was as smart and beautiful as she was shy and quiet.”
It was clear from the way his voice softened that Church had a soft spot for her.
“What happened?”
“Well, we obviously have the tragic Shakespearian ending,” Church said with a slight smile. “I went into the service, and she moved away. End of story.”
Heff doubted that was the end of the story but didn’t pursue it and instead changed the topic back to the reason they were parked down the street from O’Malley’s. “Call me crazy, but something tells me the upswing in vandalism is going to coincide with the timing of Dwayne’s unheralded return.”
“Maybe,” Church said, unconvinced. “I don’t know what he hopes to gain from it though.”
“If he’s as stupid as you say, it doesn’t have to make sense. Your family ruined his family, so they’re going to pick up the gauntlet and ruin you, especially since we pantsed them with Sam’s stalker. Clearly, they don’t understand what they’re up against.”
Movement outside the bar caught Heff’s eyes. Two men had just come out onto the sidewalk. One of them Heff recognized instantly as the guy who lived next to Sandy, the one who’d been giving her a hard time about the farm show. The other, his gut told him, was Dwayne Freed.
“That him?”
Church nodded. “Yep. I should have known those two would be hanging around together. Like Frick and Frack.” At Heff’s blank look, Church explained, “Lenny Petraski and Dwayne are cousins. Jerry Petraski, Lenny’s father, is married to Daryl Freed’s sister, Camille.”
“Christ, is everyone related in this town?”
“Probably, if you look back far enough.”
“Think they’re our guys?”
“It’s worth a closer look,” Church said solemnly.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sandy
Sandy was feeling restless, alternately tidying up the already-neat living room and looking out the window. She’d taken the morning off work, but she had still taken Kevin up to Danny’s, not wanting to disrupt his normal routine. She hadn’t told Kevin that his mother was coming in case something came up. The image of Kevin sitting on the porch with his backpack, waiting for their father, still haunted her.
Thankfully, he had adjusted—they both had—and was doing well. Why jeopardize that if she didn’t need to?
There was another reason she hadn’t broken their regular, daily routine; she wanted the chance to talk to Bianca candidly without him around. Kevin didn’t need to hear some of the things that would probably come out of her mouth in the next few hours.
Before long, a car pulled up to the house. The woman in the driver’s seat looked vaguely familiar. Older than the image in Sandy’s mind. Of course, it had been more than a decade since she last saw her.
She wasn’t proud of it now, but back when she’d first gotten her driver’s license, Sandy had told her mother she was sleeping over at a friend’s but, in reality, had taken a road trip.
She parked down the block from her father’s new address, wanting to see the woman who had destroyed their lives. She sat in that car for hours, watching and waiting with no plan. Then, Bianca came out of the house, stood on the porch, and stared right at her. Her face was wary then, but Sandy knew the moment Bianca put two and two together. Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened. When Bianca started down the walk, right toward her, Sandy had taken off and never looked back.
Now, the situation was reversed. Bianca was the one sitting in her car, staring at Sandy’s house. Through the window, Sandy saw her looking at the house number and then at her phone before getting out of the car and making her way up the walk.
Sandy’s first impression—in her beige capris and a white top sprinkled with bright yellow and black flowers, Bianca didn’t look like the homewrecker she’d imagined all these years. In her late forties or early fifties, her stylish blonde hair was threaded with white, particularly around the temples.
Sandy took a deep breath and opened the door before she had a chance to knock.
“Bianca? I’m Sandy. Please, come in.”
“Thank you.” The older woman stepped inside, her eyes doing a quick scan. “Is Kevin here?”
“No, he’s at the ranch. I thought it would be better if we had a chance to talk alone first. Would you like some coffee?”
She nodded. “Yes, please.”
Bianca followed Sandy into the kitchen and sat down at the table, looking tired and as uncomfortable as Sandy felt.
Sandy placed the coffee in front of her along with a small bowl of sugar and a container of creamer.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Sandy poured herself a cup, too, and sat down. Outside, the birds chirped, and a lawn mower started up, but for several long moments, the tinkling of stirring spoons was the only sound inside the kitchen.
“You’ve grown up since the last time I saw you,” Bianca said with a slight smile. “What were you then, about sixteen?”
Sandy nodded. “Just. I wanted to see you. To understand why my dad had left us.”
It was Bianca’s turn to nod. “Understandable.”
“I hated you, you know.”
“Yes, I know. I would have felt the same.” Bianca stirred her coffee, her eyes on the swirling liquid. “If it makes you feel any better, he only married me for my money.”
“Then, why did you stay with him all these years?”
“I actually fell in love with him, if you can believe that. He was young and handsome and charming, and he swept me off my feet. I never knew he had a family until after I was pregnant. For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”
Sandy shrugged. “I got over it a long time ago.”
“Did you?” Bianca asked softly.
“Not really,” Sandy told her. “But knowing what I know now, I think you did us a favor. My father’s a real asshole.”
Bianca’s lips quirked. “You’re not wrong. But, like you, it took me a while to see that. Divorce proceedings are underway, and my lawyers are working on getting him to surrender his parental rights.” Bianca’s voice was pure steel beneath the cultured, educated words, and Sandy had no doubt she would.
She changed the topic to something more pleasant. “Kevin is great.”
“Yes, he is,” Bianca said, her mouth forming a genuine smile. “He is my sunshine. The light of my life. And quite possibly the only good thing that came from your father.”
“My mother used to say the same thing about my brother and me.”
Bianca exhaled and rubbed her forehead. “I knew your father wasn’t perfect. We had our issues, but he loved Kevin—or at least, I thought he did. I never thought he’d do this. If I had, I would have taken Kevin with me.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“My grandmother was a very wealthy woman, and I knew her death would bring the cockroaches out of the woodwork. I didn’t want Kevin to have to deal with that
, particularly since there are those in my family who believe he is my punishment for having an affair with a married man.”
Sandy gasped. “What? That’s ... that’s ...” She was completely at a loss for words.
“Yes, it is,” Bianca agreed gravely. “Anyway, I thought Kevin would be better off with his father for a few days while I took care of things. Unfortunately, the situation was even worse than I’d anticipated, and it took longer than expected.”
“But why would my father lie and say you’d left him?”
Bianca appeared to think about that, tapping her perfectly manicured nail on the table. “My guess? He was playing the sympathy card. He’s nothing if not a good con man. He’s a lot like my cousin Jasper in that respect. Those two always had some scheme going on or another, which explains why they were usually neck deep in debt. Jasper must have called John right after the reading of the will and told him he wasn’t going to get a dime. We had a prenup, so I guess he figured he had no reason to stick around any longer.”
“Wow. And I didn’t think I could think any less of him. I should have known better.”
“Sandy ... how is Kevin?”
“He’s good,” Sandy answered honestly. “I’m not going to lie; it was a little rough at first. Now, we’ve gotten into a routine, and he seems okay with it. He loves the ranch.”
“I imagine he does. He’s always had a thing for horses.”
“And he’s got a friend there, too, so that helps.”
Bianca stared at her, eyebrows raised. “I’m sorry. Did you say Kevin made a friend?”
“Yes,” Sandy confirmed. “Tori has a son, Danny, and the two of them are pals. I take it, that’s unusual?”
“Very. He’s a sweet, gentle boy, but he doesn’t connect well with others.”
Sandy thought about the way Kevin hugged Heff and decided to share that too. Sandy told her about the music and the dancing, and by the time she was finished, Bianca was staring at her in disbelief.
“I ... I don’t know what to say.”
“Heff’s a great guy,” Sandy said, feeling the warm truth of it deep in her bones. “He’s just got this way about him, you know? People are naturally drawn to him.”
“Sounds like you’re pretty drawn to him too.”
Sandy felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “Like I said, everyone is.” She sipped her coffee and focused on the curtains blowing slightly in the breeze.
When she turned back, she saw Bianca looking around the kitchen with interest, her eyes landing on the assortment of drawings hung up everywhere.
“I see Kevin’s been drawing.”
Sandy chuckled. “Yeah, a little. I think I’ve been in the arts and crafts store more in the last few weeks than I’ve been in the last few years.”
“Thank you for that. I can’t imagine how much this has disrupted your life.”
“It was quite a surprise,” Sandy admitted, “but it’s good it happened when it did. A few days later, and I wouldn’t have been here.”
“What do you mean?”
Sandy told her about the job in New York.
“Oh, Sandy, I’m so sorry. Do you think the position is still open?”
“No, I’m sure it’s not.” She knew it wasn’t because she’d been checking out the website open position listings for each of the big firms nearly every night, just in case. She was a glutton for punishment that way.
“Maybe you could try somewhere else?”
“I will. I’m not giving up by any means, but paid internships with the big firms are hard to come by without a professional recommendation. I got lucky last time.” She shrugged. “Life happens, right? I’ll just have to set my sights elsewhere and work my way up. Wouldn’t be the first time. Besides, I’m glad I could be here for him. What else are big sisters for, right?”
Bianca’s eyes teared up. She reached over and put her hand on Sandy’s. “I am so glad he has you. I hope you’ll visit.”
Though she’d been expecting it, hearing it was still a shock to her system. “I’d like that.” She looked up at the clock, stunned to see how much time had passed. “It’s almost time to pick up Kevin. Would you like to come?”
Bianca’s face brightened. “I’d like that very much, thank you.”
The ride up to the Happy Trail Ranch was a quiet one. Sandy usually enjoyed the drive, but knowing it might be one of the last times she did so made it feel different. Things were happening quickly, maybe a little too quickly.
Her heart, heavy as it was, lifted slightly when she saw the familiar truck parked in front of the stables. Even more so when she heard the familiar Staying Alive song playing from inside.
She walked over, stopping in the doorway to watch. Heff was now singing into a brush, attempting to hit the Bee Gees’ falsetto, while Kevin and Danny danced and giggled.
Heff was the first to spot her. Discarding the brush, he danced on over and pulled her into a series of Saturday Night Fever–type moves. It was a good thing she’d watched the movie recently because she was able to play along without sending them both crashing to the floor.
When the song ended, Kevin grinned, and Danny whooped. Behind her, Bianca applauded.
“That was wonderful!” she exclaimed.
Kevin lifted his gaze at the sound of his mother’s voice and then made a beeline for her and wrapped her in a hug.
She returned it, her face a mask of bliss. “Hi, baby. I’ve missed you so much. Did you miss me?”
Kevin didn’t let her go. He held on while she patted his back, stroked his hair, and spoke softly into his ear. Sandy felt her own eyes get a little misty.
“Who’s that, Miss Sandy?” Danny asked, stepping up beside her.
“That’s Kevin’s mom,” she explained.
Danny’s face was a mask of confusion. “Why’s she crying?”
“Because she’s happy to see him.”
Sandy met Heff’s questioning gaze over Danny’s head. She nodded silently.
“Come on, big man. Let’s give them a few minutes, okay?”
Heff deftly shepherded Danny out of the stables, and Sandy followed.
“We’re going to head over to the house,” Sandy told Bianca. “Come over when you’re ready.”
Bianca silently mouthed, Thank you, over Kevin’s shoulder.
“Hey, you okay?” Heff asked quietly when Danny ran ahead to tell Tori about Kevin’s mom.
“Yeah.” Sandy exhaled, but she wasn’t certain that was true.
“Did you know she was coming?”
“I talked to her Monday night, but I was afraid to say anything in case she didn’t show.”
Heff frowned, but he said nothing.
They went into the house, where Tori was putting a tray of snacks onto the table and Danny was filling her in.
“Is it true? Kevin’s mom is here?”
“It’s true,” Sandy verified. She flicked a glance at Danny, unsure of how much to say. “She had a family emergency and was out of touch for a while.”
Tori’s lips turned downward, much like Heff’s had.
A knock sounded on the screen door, and Tori went to answer it. “Hi, I’m Tori. You must be Kevin’s mom.”
“I am.”
“Please come in.”
Bianca entered with Kevin plastered to her side.
“Danny, why don’t you and Kevin have your snack in the family room today?” Tori suggested.
Kevin seemed reluctant to let go of his mother, but she murmured some soothing words, and he dutifully went into the other room with Danny. He didn’t even look at Sandy. She didn’t know how to feel about that.
“Won’t you sit down? Can I offer you something to drink? Coffee? Tea?” Tori asked.
Bianca sat down at the kitchen table, as did Sandy. Heff remained standing in the doorway.
“Thanks for the offer,” Bianca said, “but we really can’t stay long. We’ve got a long drive home ahead of us.”
Sandy felt both Tori’s and Heff’s
eyes on her, but what could she say?
It was Tori who spoke first, “You’re leaving? So soon?”
“Yes. Right after Sandy called me, I got in touch with Kevin’s specialist. He believes that the sooner Kevin is back home and in familiar surroundings, the more quickly he’ll recover.”
Heff’s eyebrows shot up. “Recover?”
Bianca looked over at him with an assessing gaze. “You must be Heff.”
Sandy’s apology came quickly on the heels of her embarrassment. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Bianca, this is my friend Heff, and this is Tori. She runs the Happy Trails Ranch.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet both of you,” Bianca said. “Sandy’s told me how wonderful you’ve been to Kevin. I can’t thank you enough.”
“It was our pleasure,” Tori said, glancing sideways at Sandy. “Kevin has been doing very well here. We love having him.”
“I’m sure he has,” Bianca answered, “and this does look like a lovely place, but Kevin needs a more ... structured environment.”
Heff spoke up, “No disrespect, ma’am, but he’s thriving here.”
Bianca sat a little taller. “Is that your professional opinion?”
Sandy saw Heff’s jaw clench and felt embarrassed. “Bianca, Kevin really is thriving here. Just in the last few weeks, I’ve seen a huge difference. I told you how he and Danny have become friends and how he’s taken to Heff.”
Bianca’s face softened. “I know your heart’s in the right place, and I am thankful for all you have done, but I think I know what my son needs better than you do. Speaking of, we should probably get on the road. I’ll just get Kevin, and Sandy can drive us back into town so we can be on our way.”
It was Sandy’s turn to clamp her jaw shut as Bianca rose and went to tell Kevin it was time to leave.
“Well, I need to be going too,” Heff said abruptly. Sandy tried to meet his eyes, but he didn’t look her way. “Tell the boys I said good-bye, will you?”
With that, he was gone. Tori looked helplessly at Sandy, silently begging her to say or do something, but what could she say? What could she do? Bianca was right. She did know more about Kevin and what he needed than Sandy did.
Best Laid Plans: Sanctuary, Book Two Page 20
