All for Hope
Page 16
“Hey, man, don’t try that evil-eye shit with me. It won’t work.”
So, apparently some people were impervious to the cold, dead look. Rolling his eyes and flicking a few more chips onto the pile, Guillory finally laughed. “You guys are as nosy as a bunch of old women. What the hell do want to know?”
Lipton laughed. “Avoiding the question? We asked why. It’s a pretty simple question, officer.”
He shrugged, tapping his cards against the felt-covered table. “It was time for me to get out of this… this crap. I see perps around every corner. I can honestly say that nine out of every ten people I run across give me that gut reaction that says ‘you’re guilty as hell of something.’ I mean, there’s got to be more than that out there. From the moment Sheffield’s case dropped into my lap, I was missing that gut reaction where it was supposed to be.”
“So you followed your gut. You did the right thing.” Lipton nodded, a lovely smile softening her normally hard expression.
Swiping his cards across his chin, Guillory thought about her words and then shook his head. “Nah, you see, you’re missing what I’m trying to say. Or I’m screwing up what I’m saying. I knew she took that kid. I knew she was still alive. Knowing that and even knowing that Taggart was probably a sick SOB shouldn’t have mattered. I had a job to do. But it was the last turn of the merry-go-round for me, and I needed that brass ring. Sheffield was my last chance at it. I needed something, someone to believe in.”
Silence fell heavy on the room and every one paused a moment.
Eva’s brow drew together, and she shot Guillory another disarming grin.
“So, what you needed was hope.”
The adoption hearing didn't last long. All it took was both Justine and Geneva's testimonies, along with Justine’s agreement to forfeit her parental rights, and Judge Kleinburg was convinced. Hope, Brennan and Sir James then assured the court that the baby rightfully belonged in the Rawley family.
In the end, the judge agreed. Hope screeched when he announced that Michelle Taggert was now Michelle Rawley. The Coles entered the courtroom when the doors were opened, Michelle laughing in Mrs. Cole’s arms.
The little girl looked up when Hope called her name. She stared at Hope a moment, and Hope feared the baby had forgotten her.
Then the little girl shrieked with excitement and threw her arms out. “Mama!”
Brennan placed one arm around Hope’s shoulders. Together the Rawley gang moved out of the courthouse, glad to be leaving for good. Cindy sighed as she watched them go. Mark smiled, taking his wife’s hand.
“It’s finally all over.” he said.
“Yes,” she said woefully.
“What’s wrong?”
Cindy smiled as she sighed again. “Mark, this is the most excitement I’ve ever had in all my life. I think I’ve really enjoyed most of it.”
Mark looked down at his young wife, smiling despite himself. “This was not fun, Cindy. However, if you feel your life needs some excitement, I can always kidnap you.”
“Really?” she asked coyly. “And whatever would you do with me?”
He put his lips to her ear and told her in detail what he would do with her. By the time they left, her knees were weak and her face was cherry red.
Almost a year later, the court allowed Hope to transfer her probation so that she and Brennan could return to New Durma. In celebration of what amounted to the final victory for them, both the Rawley family and the Sheffield family, along with Mark and Cindy gathered together at a restaurant not far from New Durma; it was the same restaurant the Rawleys had visited once before. This time, however, everyone was on their best behavior, even Michelle and newborn Melody.
And so, all for Hope, they carried on polite conversation and kept their voices soft and dignified. Hope allowed her eyes to skim each and every face. It was becoming one of the most boring dinners of her entire life.
Where the heck is my real family? She wondered to herself. Did I leave them at home, maybe?
With a frustrated sigh she innocently picked up a long piece of bread and twirled it in her hands, contemplating what she wanted to do. Sir James politely made a comment about the weather, and Hope rolled her eyes. Taking perfect aim, she hurled the bread stick at her uncle-in-law, striking him right across the bridge of his nose.
The elder man blinked, shook his head, and then wiped a smattering of garlic from his face. Hope snorted with laughter, slapping her hand over her mouth, astonished at her own behavior.
“Hope!” Brennan admonished, mouth agape.
“Mommy!” Michelle screeched, a toothy grin on her face.
“Michelle, darling, this is a celebration. It was time to get the party started.”
Brennan smiled at his wife, remembering the conversation at the jail when she had told him how much she had loved the last time they were here. He broke a piece of bread off of his slice and catapulted it with his fork at Jeremy's head.
“Daddy!' Michelle squealed again and slapped her hand into her mashed potatoes, splatting them everywhere.
It didn't take long for a full-fledged food fight to begin. When things died down, most everyone had some sort of food on their clothes or in their hair. They could only be glad they had gotten a private dining room, or else they might have been booted out of the restaurant.
Hope stood, raising her glass and tapping it with her fork.
“Okay, okay. Settle down everyone,” she told them, just as Uncle James dashed a piece of raw broccoli at her. Everyone giggled as she shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Uncle.” She inclined her head to the elder Rawley. “I had wanted to say this last night, but I didn't want ruin your good news, Kay,” Hope explained, referring to Kay's and Audrick's declaration of their engagement.
“It’s too early to announce another baby, Hope!” Jeremy taunted with a wry grin at his cousin Brennan.
“Haha.” she mocked back. “Really, everyone, I need to say this. I’ve struggled with the words, how to explain what all of you mean to me. Life for me has spun in so many different circles over the last year or so that I can barely keep up. You are, each of you, the most special and most important people in my life. I cannot imagine a day without you as my friends. If I’m being reflective, well, who could blame me? Without the struggles that brought us all together in this way, I may not have ever realized how lucky I am, and I just don't want this opportunity pass by to let you know that I love you all and to thank you.”
There was a silence as all of the adults absorbed the heartfelt words. She watched Uncle James and Jeremy squirm a bit in their chairs, just as men do when they’re uncomfortable with sudden shows of intimacy. Audrick’s arm was wrapped around Kay’s waist, holding her close to his chest, but he tossed Hope a supportive wink. When she turned her eyes to Mark she was pretty sure she saw tears there, but when Meg began to sniffle, Hope gazed at her and smiled.
“Tell Mommy to stop with the mushy stuff before she makes us all cry,” Brennan murmured to Melody, lifting the baby’s face close to his mouth so that he could kiss her nose. Melody pressed her fist between his lips where he also kissed the tiny digits.
Leaning down to hug her husband, she felt Brennan sweep his lips close to her ear. “Quite the family you’ve got for us here, Hope.”
“I wondered when you would realize it,” she said, grinning and nuzzling his neck.
“I did realize it—it just still amazes me how lucky I am. I really wasn't sure I would ever have any of this. I wasn't ever sure I wanted it.”
“I know. You were quite a rake—but I’ve tamed, you haven't I? I have made a respectable man of you.”
They both laughed and kissed again. Just as Bren pulled away, he grinned.
“Thank you, Hope.”
Then he reached over for a scoop of mashed potatoes and smeared it on her nose.
If you enjoyed this story, then be sure to check out these other books and series:
Contemporary/ Urban Legend
Like Urban Fantasy too? Then get into TROUBLE with The Lynlee Lincoln Series
Trolling for Trouble (The Lynlee Lincoln Series Book One)
Tangled Up in Trouble (The Lynlee Lincoln Series Book Two)
This Spells Trouble (The Lynlee Lincoln Series Book Three)
This is the most difficult part of writing a book because as soon as this “goes to print” I will remember all the people I didn’t acknowledge. First, thank you so much Mandie Stevens and Tawdra Kandle for believing in me. You two are fantastic women and I admire you and am honored to work with you. Next, to Liz Schulte who helped me stay focused when I let myself get wrapped around the axle with this story. Always for my beautiful friend Melissa, who gave me lots of help and pointers about “mommy-hood” and encouraged me every step of the way. Thank you to Bill Pepsis who answered my cryptic questions such as “how to fake one’s death” and did so without turning me into the authorities.
And as always, to my husband, Danny. You have been patient in sharing me with my “imaginary friends” and I so appreciate your willingness to promote me when I’m too befuddled to speak. Thank you!
Olivia Hardin always realized how strange she was to have complete movie-like character dreams as a child. Eventually she began putting those vivid dreams to paper and was rarely without her spiral notebooks full of those mental ramblings. Her forgotten vision of becoming an author was realized when she connected with a group of amazingly talented and fabulous writers who gave her lots of direction and encouragement. With a little extra push from family and friends, she hunkered down to get lost in the words. She’s also an insatiable crafter who only completes about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and is sometimes accused of being artistic, though she’s generally too much of a perfectionist to appreciate her own work. A native Texas girl, Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny, and their puppy Bonnie.
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I can remember sitting with my daddy watching old John Wayne movies as a child. “The Duke” is his hero, and by extension I developed a strong attachment to those movies, too. One of my mom’s favorite actors is Jimmy Stewart. For that reason, it seemed fitting to include The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance in the story, since it starred both of those fine actors. Not only that, it’s a fabulous movie and the allegory paralleled Brennan’s growing affection for Hope and how much he was willing to sacrifice for her.
These days I love to curl up on the couch with the hubby and watch classic movies. I even chose to take a course in college called “History through Film.” The movie High Noon is one that is much-discussed because many believe it is a metaphor for McCarthyism. Others argue that it was not, but regardless of what the intentions were, it is a powerful movie for me today. The idea that one man should stand up, risking his life for others who aren’t willing to take that stand themselves. Wow…
Both of the movies I chose to reference in this story have really great theme songs, and “High Noon” even won an Oscar for Best Song in 1952. That song was also performed by a western singer who grew up in Nederland, Texas. Maurice Woodward Ritter, better known as “Tex” Ritter, was a star of the “western” film songs in the 1940s and 50s. He was also the father of the late actor John Ritter. There’s a nice little exhibit to him at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur, Texas so if you’re in the area, be sure to check it out.
These days, as much as I love old movies, I also enjoy listening to classic radio programs on satellite radio. Bob Bailey’s Yours truly, Johnny Dollar is my absolute favorite, and if you’ve never heard those, you should consider logging onto www.archive.org and checking out the audio files. There are some really great old programs.
They just don’t make ‘em like that anymore!