Heart of Clay (The Tanner Series Book 6)

by Jo Willow

  “Beth, I’m sorry. You have no idea...”

  “No, you’re right I don’t. I have no idea and I don’t understand. I’m trying though. I am trying as hard as I can because I love you Mitch. Go and get the CD and watch it. I’ll see you in a little while.”

  “I love you Beth. Only you.”

  “So you keep saying. Bye.”

  Beth hung up the phone before he could say anything else and went down the hall to help the children pack.

  Mitch was shell-shocked. He wasn’t sure if Beth knew the full extent of what he’d done, but he knew that she was clued in that it involved Marla. That should’ve been enough to make her run for the hills and never look back. She hadn’t though. She’d stayed and dug in. He didn’t know what it meant, but she was willing to take her kids four hours away and leave them with his family so that they could work it out together.

  He started turning an idea over in his head and when it finally took shape, he packed a quick bag of his own. Then he went outside to his mailbox.

  It was closer to an hour before Beth and the kids pulled into his driveway. He saw her instruct the kids to stay in the van, and when she came in the back door, he took her in his arms and kissed her. She started to protest, but he was unrelenting. He pulled her closer and she moved her hands to his neck. When he felt her kiss him back, he groaned and pulled back, keeping her close.

  “Still have doubts?”

  “Should I have doubts? Did you watch the CD?”

  “I watched some of it.”

  “Do I need to watch it?”

  “No. I’d feel better if you didn’t. I’m ashamed of what’s on there Beth. I can’t believe she taped it.”

  “I can. She torched your barn, ruined your business and tried to destroy our relationship. You can’t believe she’d videotape you having sex? That’s the part you can’t believe? Really?”

  “How did you know what was on the CD?”

  “She said you left her place early and she assumed you were sleeping. That’s why she left it in the mailbox.”

  “She told you that? You knew I’d spent the night with her when we talked earlier?”

  “She hand delivered your sex tape to me Mitch. I assumed you spent the night with her because you’d spent the previous night with me. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out.”

  Beth handed the sealed envelope to Mitch and took a step back.

  “There. I don’t want it. My imagination can’t be any worse than that video. I’ve got a four hour drive ahead of me and I’d like to get on the road. I’ll see you when I get back.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll drive. We’re all spending the weekend at Tara together. I’ve got an appointment with a shrink David recommended, on Monday morning at Tara. I might as well stay the weekend and see him before we come home. I want you to stay with me. You know those people better than I do and I want us all to be together.”

  “I didn’t pack anything Mitch. I’ve got nothing to wear for the weekend.”

  “I packed some of things you’ve left here, in my bag. You’ve got enough to get you through the weekend. Let’s do this. Spend the weekend with me and the kids at Tara.”

  “You’re serious. How can we have a private conversation with all those people around?”

  “I think you’ll be amazed at how much privacy we’ll have. Do this Beth. You know we need it.”

  “Will you talk to me? I don’t mean apologies and promises, I mean really talk to me. Will you tell me what you do with her that you can’t or won’t do with me?”

  Mitch ran his hand through his hair and paled.

  “I thought I’d have that conversation with Dr. Faust before I had it with you Beth. I don’t know if I can talk about that kind of stuff with you yet.”

  “You’d better have that conversation with me and you’d better have it soon. She stood on my front porch and told me she was in love with you and she plans on fighting for you. If I don’t know what ammo she’s using, it’s hardly a fair fight. I’ll tell you right away whether or not I can give you what you need. I’m not as fragile as you think I am. You’re not even giving me a chance Mitch.”

  “I love you and I wanna marry you Beth. I don’t want to scare you off.”

  “Do you want to hit me?”

  “God no!”

  “Do I have to dress up in a chicken suit or a diaper or something?”

  “Beth, what the hell do you think I am?”

  “I have no fucking clue because you won’t tell me! All I know is, she’s got something you can’t seem to live without. Assuming that our equipment is the same, it’s a matter of how we use it. Right?”

  “It’s more a matter of how I treat it.”

  Beth cocked her head and drew one side of her mouth up in an interested smile.

  “Now I’m intrigued.”

  “Intrigued? I’m rougher than hell with her Beth. There’s nothing resembling gentle in the way I treat her body.”

  “Now we’re getting somewhere, but we need to get somewhere else. If you’re going with us, shake a leg. The kids are alone in the van and the keys are in the ignition. I’m pretty sure Scott could steer if Patty worked the pedals.”

  Mitch grinned and put the envelope down on the counter. He picked up his suitcase and followed her out the door, locking it behind him. He ran out and locked the barn, then followed her to the van. He climbed behind the wheel to the squeals of delight from the kids.

  Chapter Twelve

  Marla waited impatiently by the phone. She was certain all hell would have broken loose by now. If Beth had gone to Mitch like she’d threatened, he’d of called her. If he’d watched the CD in his mailbox, he’d of been knocking on her door ready to kill her. Something was wrong.

  Unable to wait any longer, she dialed his cell.

  Mitch’s phone wasn’t synced to Beth’s bluetooth. He felt the phone vibrate in his chest pocket and reached in to answer it. He saw the caller and Beth saw the look on his face. She knew who it was. She took the phone from Mitch’s hand and smiled at him.

  “Hello, Mitch’s fiance.”

  He grinned and slowly shook his head. He reached over for her free hand and brought it to his lips. Marla started seething.

  “Where’s Mitch? I need to talk to him.”

  “He’s driving at the moment and our kids are in the car. For the sake of safety, it’s probably a good idea if he concentrates on the road. Can I give him a message?”

  “Tell him I expect him at my place tonight at eight o’clock or he needn’t bother coming again. He’ll know what I mean.”

  “Whore, even I know what you mean. We’re going out of town and won’t be back until late. He’s elected to come with me. I’m sure you know what I mean.”

  Mitch’s eyes grew huge and he was stifling a laugh, partly from fear and partly from joy. His woman was fighting for him.

  “Beth did you watch the CD I gave you?”

  “Mitch watched it and told me I didn’t need to. He told me he’d reenact it with me later if I was that curious. He assured me the quality would be better both in substance and lighting. I decided to go with that. Anything else?”

  Marla had been determined from day one to hold it together where he was concerned. Slow and steady would win the race and she had to remember that. Beth had pushed all of her buttons and she lost it.

  “Don’t get smug with me you corn-fed-country-cow. You will never be Tanner material. I’m surprised you even own the right clothes to walk into their house. I almost had Tim before I snagged Mitch. I know that family. I’ve slept with that family. I BELONG in that family. Mitch is mine. The sooner you grasp that, the sooner you can move on to some guy named Gus and pump out a few more brats. Let him go Beth.”

  Beth was laughing so hard, she was turning red with the exertion.

  “You slept with Tim? Our Tim? Does Mitch know that? Oh. I can see by the look on his face he had n
o clue until now. How many Tanners were you willing to go through until you found the one that fit just right? I need to talk to Tim about his taste in women. Thank god he found Pam. Mitch is off the market Marla. I’m sorry that arson, sabotage, kidnapping and sex didn’t work. Look at it this way, somewhere there’s an actual rich guy that might appreciate your talents. My potter likes little kids, massage night Tuesday and chicken fry on Thursday nights. What can I say? I haven’t mastered matches or spray paint yet. He doesn’t seem to mind. Have a good weekend girlfriend. Bye.”

  Beth hung up and slipped Mitch’s phone back in his pocket. He put his hand on her knee and looked in the rearview mirror. Both kids were sleeping.

  “Did you mean what you just said?”

  “Every word. She actually slept with Tim. I will never let that man live it down.”

  “Damn it Beth, not that part, the rest of it.”

  “I’m reserving judgement until I hear your story. I’m your friend and I want to help you. I’m also your fiance and I’d like to believe that you’ve got a psychiatric disorder and it’s not that you’re dissatisfied with me. If I find out that this is all some bullshit act so that you can sleep around on me, we’re done Mitch. No more chances, no phone calls, no notes, no nothing.”

  “So I’d better be crazy.”

  “Well I know you’re crazy, you slept with her. If you were going to sleep with someone else, why wouldn’t you pick someone that was at least lovable? I have to believe there’s something fundamentally wrong with you. Going on that theory though, you are engaged to ME. What does that say?”

  “It says that I’m not beyond hope. Sanity is in there somewhere because I want to spend my life with you. I just screw her because I want to hurt her.”

  “Wait a minute. Your total objective when you sleep with her is to cause her pain?”

  “Yes. I hate her Beth. She’s the most vile individual I have ever met in my life and for some reason, she wants me naked every time she sees me. The idea of causing her pain gives me intense pleasure and the stupid bitch likes it. It’s a cycle that feeds itself.”

  The conversation was flowing freely and Mitch wasn’t self conscious in the least. Beth decided to press her advantage.

  “Have you ever actually hit her?”

  “No. I would never do that. I’ve done things to her that I’m sure no one else ever has though.”

  “What kinds of things?”

  “Use your imagination Beth. She begged me to stop before she begged me not to stop.”

  “Wow. I want in on the competition but I’m not sure how far I’m willing to go on the pain scale Mitch.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you. I love you baby. I’m not a pain freak, it’s nothing like that. It’s her. I have to find out why any woman can bring out a violent tendency in me. You’re my lifeline Beth. Do I not seem satisfied when we’re together?”

  “I thought so, but I can’t explain this thing you have with her.”

  “I can’t either. I’m hoping Dr. Faust can. I want what I have with you. I want to live without what I feel with her.”

  “I might be the biggest idiot on the planet, but I believe you Mitch. I love you and I believe you. We’ll get through this. When you see her, and you will, she’s not gonna give up that easy, you have to come to me immediately. Don’t wait until she’s got you half naked. Come find me.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like that. Where did it start last night?”

  “She came over and found me in the barn.”

  “The barn? You christened the new barn with her? Oh Mitch...”

  “Don’t be mad Beth, please. Don’t cry either or you’ll set me off. I know it’s our place, it’ll always be our place.”

  “Not anymore it’s not. It’s not the same now. Damn it anyway.”

  “I’m sorry honey. You and me will do it right.”

  “Like hell we will! I’ll never look at that place the same way again. I need to think about this a spell.”

  “Ah Beth, don’t go thinkin’ about it. You’ll end up sad or pissed off.”

  “How many times Mitch?”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. How many times?”

  “Three.”

  “Oh crap.”

  Beth had inched farther into the corner where the passenger seat met the door. She was physically as far from him as she could get without crawling into the backseat with the kids. She didn’t realize she’d done it, but he did.

  “You’re pulling away from me already. Look at you.”

  “What did you think was gonna happen when I found out? A special massage while you were driving? Maybe you thought I’d lean over and make you smile while the kids slept?”

  “Stop talking Beth. Please.”

  Beth looked at him as if he’d just told her to jump from the van.

  “Excuse me?”

  He recognized the tone and knew she didn’t know what he was talking about. He reached over, took her hand and placed it on his lap. Then he glanced at her to gauge her reaction.

  “Mitch, all I did was suggest things.”

  “With you, that’s all it takes. I feel guilty enough Beth. When you talk about doing things to me, this happens every time. So please. Stop talking.”

  Instead she leaned over and started whispering in his ear. She talked until he squirmed and licked his lips. She watched his grip tighten on the steering wheel and then she whispered some more. When she felt his breathing change and his skin grow hot, she gripped him and squeezed. He shuddered violently and hissed out a breath. She kept her grip tight until he settled down, then she stole a glance at the back seat where the children continued to sleep.

  Beth nuzzled Mitch just below his ear and she heard him moan.

  “Honey, don’t ever tell me to stop talking, shut up, or settle down. Understand?”

  “I think I’ve got it. I’m a real mess though.”

  “Want me to get a wet wipe from the glove box?”

  “That might be good. Thanks babe.”

  Beth handed him the wipe with a smug look on her face and turned to watch the scenery roll by. If Marla thought she had the market cornered on unfair advantages, she’d better stop to readjust her line of thinking.

  Marla was still clutching the phone. She started pacing and wondering where she’d gone wrong. This was going nothing as she’d envisioned. Mitch should be crying on her shoulder by now. Beth should be gone. They should not be on their way to anywhere together. She was running out of ideas. She couldn’t torch his house, it would look too suspicious. She couldn’t go after the gallery, she’d already done that once and again, too suspicious.

  She stopped pacing and smiled. Beth had children. Those kids had to have a father somewhere. Maybe he could be of assistance. She dialed the phone and talked to her connection.

  The Tanners knew how to throw a pool party. There were flotation devices of every shape and size and a game of chicken going on involving Phil with Amber and David with Claire. Rose was in her tank suit on a floating lounge chair, with a glass of iced tea and her sunglasses on. The kids were splashing each other on the shallow end. It seemed that Buddy Holly, The Eagles, Sam and Dave and Linda Ronstadt had equal billing on the CD player and the smell of barbecued chicken and ribs permeated the air. A giant jar of tea and one of lemonade sat on one of the picnic tables and red plastic solo cups sat in a stack next to a cooler filled with ice.

  Maggie let them in through the gate and when they walked around back, Mitch grinned and shook his head. He leaned down and spoke softly to Beth.

  “Is it me, or does this look like the the looney bin bussed their inmates here?”

  “This is the family you thought was too snooty. This is the family that you thought were nothing like us. See what I mean?”

  Scott and Patty had already carried their suitcases into the house and straight to their rooms. When Mitch and Beth walked into the kitchen, they were seated at the kitchen table having c
ookies and milk and talking to Maggie and Bill. Carol was unpacking their suitcases. Bill looked up and smiled.

  “Beth, it’s great to see you again. Which Tanner is this?”

  “Bill, this is my fiance Mitch. We’re staying the weekend at least. I’m glad you’re here, I needed to ask you a question.”

  Mitch sat down and snatched one of Patty’s cookies, then winked at her. He was barely listening when Beth leveled him.

  “If we went to the courthouse on Monday, could you have us married before we left?”

  Bill watched Patty give Mitch a kiss on the cheek and he gave her one right back. Then he saw her climb onto Mitch’s lap, call him daddy and tuck her head under his chin. He didn’t know what the hurry was, but it was obvious that this man had bonded with her children.

  Mitch looked up when he heard her ask the question.

  “Honey, don’t you wanna wait and hear what Dr. Faust says?”

  “Sweetheart, I don’t give a rat’s ass what Dr. Faust says. We need to present a united front and nothing says, ‘lay off bitch’ like two gold bands and a restraining order.”

  Mitch blushed and Beth turned a sweet smile back to a very stunned Bill. Maggie was barely suppressing laughter, as she had heard the story of this couple from Rose, Pam and Carie. She privately applauded Beth’s tactic and reached over to pat Mitch on the arm. Beth continued to stare at Bill, waiting.

  “Don’t you want a chance to plan an all out Tanner wedding? It seems like this family does everything quickly. You people just make up your mind and get it done. I don’t understand the hurry.”