Harper leaned forward. “That’s hard to believe, seeing you now. What changed?”
Betts shrugged, smiled. “We met Jesus.”
“Oh.” Harper hadn’t expected that.
Kitty sighed. “Now you’ve done it.” But her words were amused. “You’ve opened the door, and Betts never ceases to go through that particular door.”
Betts just laughed. “She asked.”
“I did.” Harper kept her focus on Betts. “We went to church when I was a kid. It didn’t seem to make much difference in our lives. I’ve been going lately with the man I take care of.”
“Going to church and walking with Jesus are two very different things,” Betts said. “Nothing against church, of course. We go faithfully when we’re home. But going to church for a lot of people is about looking good on the outside. Walking with Jesus is about getting good from the inside out. It’s about giving God access to your whole heart.”
Her whole heart? Why would God want that? The thought of Him seeing everything in her heart made her shudder. But Betts seemed so peaceful. “And that helped your marriage?”
Betts’s nod was emphatic. “As we both sought to be closer to God, we couldn’t help but get closer to each other.”
“Seems simplistic,” Kitty said. “No offense.”
“Like a lot of things in life,” Betts said, “walking with God is simple, but it’s not easy.” She sipped her coffee and stood. “You ladies want some breakfast?”
“Not if we’re going out to lunch,” Kitty said. “Because I know you’ll serve a yummy dinner at the party.”
“Mostly appetizers tonight,” Betts said. “I’m having the party catered so I won’t have to cook all day.”
Harper’s stomach growled at the mention of breakfast. “I don’t want you to have to cook for me. Maybe just some toast?”
A few minutes later while Betts and Kitty planned their shopping excursion, Harper nibbled her toast and thought about what Betts had said.
Good from the inside out.
Red’s words had been different, but the sentiment was similar to what he’d been telling her. That Jesus could forgive her sins. He wanted to forgive her. He wanted to wash her ugliness away.
Could it be true? Could Harper really be free of her past?
Russell came into the kitchen and kissed his wife on the cheek before settling into a chair. They shared a smile. Then, he picked up the newspaper, and Betts went back to her conversation.
The love between the two of them, the love that seemed to glow all around them, couldn’t be denied. Did God have something to do with that?
Was God the key? With Him, would it really be possible for Harper to know that sort of love?
Chapter Fourteen
Shopping was more fun than she’d thought it would be, thanks to the company. Kitty not only oohed and aahed over everything, but she cracked jokes and kept them laughing from the moment they left the house. Jenny had joined them. She’d barely spoken in the morning, but as the day went on, she came out of her shell. Turned out, she had a flair for fashion, and she and Marjorie bonded over that. Harper’d planned to just browse, but Jenny convinced her to try on clothes. In one store, she and Marjorie dressed her up and accessorized her like a mannequin. They had a great time doing it. Harper pretended to enjoy it until she found she actually did.
She hadn’t had real female friends since high school. She’d forgotten how fun they could be.
When they got back to the house that afternoon, the guys were sitting on the porch watching the rain outside, already sipping from bottles of beer.
“Constantine’s holding court again.” Marjorie dropped her purchases on the floor by the stairs.
The woman had done a complete turnabout in her opinion of Constantine. Harper followed her gaze and looked again. Sure enough, Keith, Carter, and Derrick were nodding as Constantine spoke.
Russell was staring at the surf, sipping from a glass of what looked like water.
“Constantine’s got charisma.” Betts filled the coffee carafe with water. “Always has.”
Jenny’s pfft had them all looking at her.
She realized all eyes were on her and reddened. “What?” When nobody spoke, she said, “He can be charming. When people are watching.”
Betts set the carafe in the coffee maker and focused on Jenny. “And when people aren’t watching?”
Jenny shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
But it wasn’t nothing. After they filled their coffee cups, Harper pulled out a kitchen chair and nodded to it. Jenny slid in, and Harper sat beside her and rested her hand over Jenny’s. “Does he ever hurt you?”
“No. Not like that. Just… He can be cruel.”
Betts took the chair on Jenny’s other side. “Charming, charismatic, but when Constantine doesn’t get what he wants, he’s mean. He was like that in college. I never kowtowed to him, and he didn’t like it. He made some cruel remarks about me. Some cutting remarks to me. Honestly, I didn’t think his friendship with Russell would survive it.”
“It did, though,” Kitty said. “How come? Russell doesn’t seem like the type of guy who’d put up with that.”
“He didn’t. He told Constantine to knock it off or they were through. Impervious though he seems, Connie needs Russell. Russell keeps him grounded. Years ago, after Connie made his first few millions, he came to our house all braggadocios. Russell wasn’t impressed and told him so. And Connie… I think he needed to hear it. I think that’s why he came.”
Jenny’s gaze hadn’t wavered from Betts’s face. “That’s my problem. That’s why he doesn’t take me seriously or treat me with respect. I always… how’d you put it? I kowtow to him. I cower. I never stand up for myself. I never argue with him. I never call him out when he lies to me or treats me badly. I just put up with it.”
Harper could relate. She’d allowed herself to be treated like property. Like decoration. Shame inched its way into her heart, but she forced it out. She wasn’t that woman anymore.
She never would be again.
“And as long as you put up with it,” Betts said, “he’ll continue to treat you like he does.”
The doorbell rang, and Betts left to answer it. A moment later, women in chef’s coats carried platters and trays into the kitchen. Betts followed. “You girls might want to go into the living room. It’s about to get busy in here.”
Kitty and Marjorie headed upstairs to get ready for the party. Betts stayed in the kitchen with the caterers. Harper sat on the comfy brown sofa and gestured for Jenny to join her.
Jenny settled in and set her coffee on the table, then turned to Harper. “I know what you’re saying, you and Betts. And I know you’re right. But what if I stand up to him and he dumps me?”
“No man is worth losing yourself over.”
“You say that as if you’re sure.”
“It’s a lesson I paid a really steep price for.” Steep didn’t begin to cover it. The things she’d done, the way she’d sold her soul for some counterfeit version of love. She’d trusted men, and one by one, they’d all let her down. The only exceptions were bald or gray-headed, too old to do any damage. And even them she had a hard time trusting. “I’ll never allow myself to be used by a man again. Never.”
Jenny sat back and swallowed. She reached for her coffee cup and took a long sip. Her hand was shaking.
Harper squeezed her hand and pushed her own demons aside. She needed Jenny to understand all of it. “It’s very likely he’ll dump you at some point. I wish I could tell you differently, but what I see in your relationship isn’t love. It’s power on his part, submission on yours. I can’t see how he’s going to take you seriously at this point, no matter what you do. You have to decide if you’d rather live like this or live without him.”
“I was destitute before I met him. Now…” But her words trailed off.
“Now, you have a lot of nice stuff. Beautiful clothes, lovely jewelry. But life isn’t about stuff.”
<
br /> Jenny swallowed, looked at the blank TV screen, and said nothing.
Harper looked beyond Jenny to the men on the porch. Constantine’s gaze locked with hers. He narrowed his eyes. She broke the eye contact.
The hair on her arms stood again, and it wasn’t from the cold.
Chapter Fifteen
That night, people kept coming until the beach house looked like it might burst at the seams. Of course, when Betts and Russell had invited all their friends for the party, they’d thought the weather would be nice. Harper imagined how different it would be if guests could gather on the patio and on the beach. That kind of party would be lovely. But this… She surveyed the huge crowd. There were well-dressed people sitting on every chair and standing on nearly every square foot of floor space. Harper stood a few steps up on the staircase and tried to talk herself into continuing down. She’d already been in that mess, had been introduced to so many people that all their faces were blending together. Perfectly coiffed blondes and brunettes dripping with jewelry, dignified gentlemen with open collars and sports coats, all holding drinks and nibbling appetizers and talking about people Harper didn’t know and businesses Harper didn’t understand.
Who could have blamed her for escaping to her bedroom for a few minutes of privacy? She wondered, had she stayed up there, if anybody would have noticed her absence. Not that she minded. Aside from Jenny, whom she hadn’t seen, Harper’s new friends were having fun. They knew the people here tonight. They enjoyed this kind of thing. Harper would rather be home with Red.
Near the front door, Jenny and Constantine were engaged in a private discussion. It was the first time Harper’d seen the man not surrounded by sycophants, though plenty seemed to be hovering nearby. That morning, before they’d left for shopping, she and Derrick had found a few moments alone on the porch, and she’d asked him about Constantine, trying to understand why the man was so well respected.
Derrick had rolled his eyes. “You’re the only person here who doesn’t know the answer to that question. He’s worth hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Hundreds of millions? No wonder people hung on his every word. Apparently, he’d invested in offshore oil and drilling technology. Not to mention real estate.
Apparently, being rich recommended a person to this crowd. She didn’t belong here.
Jenny didn’t fit in, either. The woman dressed the part, but she certainly didn’t act it. It seemed she and Constantine were embroiled in a battle. By her feet… was that a suitcase?
Indeed it was. A moment later, Jenny snatched it and walked out.
Good for her.
Harper wanted to shout her support. All her boredom whooshed away with the closing of that door.
Jenny’d done it. And maybe, just maybe, Harper had given her a little encouragement.
All the junk she’d gone through, maybe sharing it had made a difference. Maybe all those years and experiences hadn’t been a complete waste.
Constantine stared at the closed door a moment, then turned, a plastic smile on his face. Not ten seconds went by before people surrounded him. She couldn’t hear them, of course, but she could imagine the flattering and fawning. He responded, but then he saw Harper on the stairs. Their gazes met.
She turned away, noticed Derrick and Keith on the porch. Harper started to head their way, then paused and looked closer.
They were arguing, too. Derrick was red-faced. Keith jabbed his finger in Derrick’s chest. What was going on?
It couldn’t be good. And Keith was a cop. Was Derrick in some sort of legal trouble?
If he was, Harper needed to know immediately. She’d had her fill of people living on the edge of the law. What else could it be?
Derrick slammed out the screen door and into the night.
What in the world? She hadn’t gotten the feeling he and Keith had known each other that well. And now… there was definitely something there, something Harper knew nothing about.
When Keith turned back toward the party, Harper thought about following Derrick. Except that by the time she shouldered her way through the crowd and to the door, he’d probably be long gone. And he seemed angry. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to talk. She’d ask him about it later.
Harper tried to find someone to talk to and watched Kitty as she snatched a blanket off the back of the couch, wrapped it around her shoulders, and joined her husband on the porch. A moment later, they, too, were involved in a serious discussion.
What was that about? Did it have something to do with Derrick?
Why was Harper the only one who didn’t know?
Harper was just about to escape back up the stairs when she heard someone behind her. She turned and saw Betts heading down.
“You all right?”
“Just trying to work up my courage.”
Betts laughed. “Come on. I’ll introduce you around.”
It was the last thing Harper wanted to do, but she followed anyway, met Betts’s friends, and made small talk. Usually, when people realized who she was (nobody important) and what she did (nothing impressive), they nodded politely and looked for the bigger, better deal. Betts wouldn’t realize that, of course. She saw the best in everyone. Saw it when it wasn’t even there to see.
Not thirty minutes had passed when Harper found herself alone, again, in a sea of bodies. She leaned against the living room wall, sipped a glass of tea that needed more sugar, and watched, wishing like crazy she’d escaped when she had the chance.
A moment later, she felt a presence beside her and turned. Constantine.
He was no taller than she was, though his presence seemed to loom large over the room. She hadn’t been this close to him all weekend, and she didn’t like it. Didn’t like the strength he emanated, the confidence. The anger. She looked around for his ever-present posse, but he was alone.
He stared out at partygoers. “Having fun?”
She followed his gaze, happy not to have to look into his eyes. There was something…menacing there. “Sure.”
“You’re lying. You hate it.”
She glanced at him, forced a smile. “Okay, I hate it. You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
He shrugged. “You know what I don’t enjoy?” He paused, seemed to wait for her to answer. She couldn’t imagine and couldn’t care less. He leaned closer and whispered, “Sleeping alone.”
Acid pooled in her stomach. She didn’t react to his words. She’d known men like this one. Like dogs, they could smell fear. “Sorry to hear that.”
“Good to know, considering it’s your fault.”
She turned to face him then, tamping down the fear in favor of the irritation that rose. “How do you figure?”
“Jenny left.”
Harper turned toward the crowd so he wouldn’t see her satisfied smile. “Good for her.”
Constantine’s hand slithered around Harper’s wrist. Soft and smooth, strong as cushioned handcuffs.
She considered trying to yank her arm back, but she knew it would do no good. Better to pretend she didn’t care.
“Not so good for me,” he said.
“That’s not my problem.”
He shifted closer. “It’s your opportunity.” Instinct had her yanking at her hand, but he tightened his grip. “Your boyfriend needs me. He needs my money. Tonight, you can make all his troubles go away.”
How dare he? Did she look like a prostitute? Or did he think everyone was for sale if you had enough money. She clenched her hands into fists and contemplated a good, loud scream.
People would probably accuse her of harming their hero.
And then, the rest of his words registered.
Derrick’s troubles? What did Constantine know that she didn’t?
That he had troubles that money would solve, obviously.
She pushed that thought away. First, she had to deal with this… this… She couldn’t even come up with a bad enough word.
She forced herself to think. She didn’t want to make a scene.
She wanted this man away from her. Now. She took a calming breath and blew it out. Then she faced him full on. “So you’re saying that if we spend this one night together, you’ll move your investment accounts to Derrick?”
“Some of them.”
“For how long?”
A slow smile spread across his lips. “I guess that depends on how much fun we have.”
She forced a laugh, leaned very close. Waited until he’d become quite sure of her. The slithering snake. “I’ve done a whole list of bad things in my life, Connie.”
He flinched at the name.
“Things I’m not proud of. But I’ve never been a whore, and I’m not about to add that to the list tonight.”
His smile faded. “Not a whore. An opportunist.”
“So here’s the deal,” she said. “You’re going to release my wrist or I’m going to scream and embarrass us both. And if you set one foot near my bedroom tonight, you’ll regret it.”
“Like you could stop me.”
“You want to risk it?” After a little shrug, she added, “I spent a couple of years in prison.”
His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.
“I learned a few tricks there.” She glanced toward the kitchen doorway. “Have you seen Betts’s knife collection?”
He released her arm and stepped back.
She smiled at the doubt in his expression. The wavering confidence in his eyes. “You have fun now, Connie.”
Chapter Sixteen
Back in her bedroom, Harper changed out of her party clothes and scrubbed her face. Before she climbed into bed, she perched her ratty old suitcase against the door. If anybody opened it, the thing would topple over.
At least she’d have a moment’s notice before anybody got in. If she’d brought her keys, she’d have pulled out the little keychain/knife Estelle had given her. Like a fool, she’d left her keys on the bureau in her bedroom at Red’s.
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