by Wendy Vella
“It’s possible, but he’s saying it couldn’t be Hope, because while he knows she has personal problems, he doesn’t believe her capable of doing something like this to Wildlife.”
“He’s a snake, Cub. You need to watch him.”
“I know it, and I’ll need to talk to Hope too.
“Keep me updated,” Newman said before he finished the call.
The Heaths had a nice house in Buster’s street, not far from the Lawrence house, but he saw nothing as he reached the front door. This would upset Hope, and Newman hated that he couldn’t shield her from that.
He knocked on the door, and no one answered, which was odd because someone was home. He’d seen Lizzie’s car parked in the garage.
“Hello?” He turned the handle and poked his head inside. No one replied, but he heard music. Something classical was in the air, and while it wasn’t his thing, it had a nice, haunting sound to it.
“Hello?”
Still no answer. He took off his shoes, because Lizzie ran a tidy ship and shoes inside were not allowed. He’d learned that young, when she’d torn a strip off him for coming to get a cookie with his sneakers on.
Following the music, Newman headed to the dance room the Heaths had set up. They’d dragged him in there a few times in his youth, and while he could dance when necessary, it wasn’t his calling.
The words he had been about to use to greet a Heath fell from his lips as he found Hope in there. Alone, she wore short shorts in some stretchy material, a sports bra that left her midriff bare, and her hair was in a messy knot on her head. She was exquisite.
Moving to one side so she wouldn’t see him unless she turned fully, he watched undetected. The woman he knew Hope to be often stiffened up when in company. She was sometimes awkward and unsure of herself. This Hope could not be more different.
Who knew that the woman who wore black shitkickers on a daily basis could move with such grace? She arched forward, and his eyes followed the curve of her spine down her body to her ankles.
Damn, she’s fine.
Newman pushed aside what he’d learned from Cubby, and lost himself in the wonder of watching Hope dance. The last time they’d seen each other, three days ago, he’d asked her to marry him in what he now conceded was not a very romantic way. In his defense, he’d been off-balance at the time, after what they’d just shared.
She looked a mile away from that angry woman now. Each elegant curve of her fingers, or point of a bare toe had his admiration climbing. Admiration, and something else that sat heavy in his chest. This woman carried his child; the feeling should have terrified him, and yet he didn’t feel scared. Instead he felt humbled.
As the music climbed to the finish, she arched backward, so far that she saw him, and fell.
“Hell! Hope, are you okay?”
She waved his hands away, but he simply picked her up and settled her back on her feet.
“I’m sorry if I scared you, you just seemed so happy dancing, I didn’t want to stop you.”
She lowered her eyes, embarrassed.
“You looked beautiful, and I especially like the fact that your clothes match.” It had been the perfect thing to say, as her spine went stiff, all uncertainty leaving her eyes.
“You’re so shallow.”
“It’s not shallow to want to look good, Hope.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You did that on purpose.”
“What?” He tried to look innocent, not an expression he’d ever pulled off with any success.
“Insulting me.” She took a step back as he advanced. “What are you doing?”
“You’re hot. You know that, right?’
“Neanderthal.”
Her eyes flared with heat that he was sure she saw in his as he stopped inches before her.
“Watching you dance was almost mystical, Hope. I’ve never seen that side of you before.” He cupped one cheek.
“What side?”
Knowing this subject was a minefield of wrong turns that he would likely take, Newman kissed her. It was soft and sweet, and he wanted to take it deeper but he was in the house of two elderly people who had once changed his diapers.
“The dancing side.”
She wrinkled her nose, and he even found that a turn-on.
“That made no sense.”
“Has anything about us, or this,” he rested a hand on her stomach, “made sense to you yet?”
She studied him.
“No, and you are way too good with words. I bet they’ve got you out of plenty of sticky situations using just the right combination.”
“It’s how I earn my living, sweet cheeks.”
“I reckon one of your birth parents was a politician.”
He smiled, because hearing her openly discuss and acknowledge that he was adopted felt good.
“I was thinking royalty. You know there’s something regal about me.”
She snorted, and poked him in the stomach. “I don’t think so, buddy.”
“I’m sorry if I upset you in the trails that day, Hope, with my proposal. I was a bit off-balance because I’d just gone a few rounds with my father, and this is not a situation I have a handbook for.”
She tilted her head to the side.
“Okay, so how about we work out the rules slowly, and together?”
Newman nodded, because there was a lump in his throat the size of a golf ball. She’d actually alluded to wanting to explore the future, and for now that was enough for him. Peace had once again been restored between them, and it felt good, even if he knew it was temporary. Taking a deep breath, he then let it out slowly, and began to tell her what he’d learned from Cubby.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Lake Howling turned on a stunning day for the race. Sun hit the water making it gleam like a polished diamond, and sat high in the sky as the spectators found vantage points to watch the first annual Recycled Boat Race.
Newman stood with Cubby at the start line discussing what was happening with the Wildlife people, and their stolen property.
“Without evidence, I can’t and won’t charge Hope, Newman. And last night she let me look around her house, because Ms. Linear would have camped out in my office if I hadn’t.”
“Come on, Cubby, really? Why are you letting that bitch push you around?” Newman felt his pulse rise, and the race hadn’t even started.
“Hope understands that I believe her innocent, but I have to be seen to be doing things right while at the same time, Katie and I are looking for whoever is really doing this.”
“Jesus, Cubby, Hope doesn’t need this shit now.”
“I know it, but what I really need is for you to keep calm, and we’ll all get through this. Now I have to go and do sheriffing stuff, so stay out of trouble.”
Newman watched his friend walk away, weaving his way through the people. Cubby and Macy were judges, and Willow wanted to sketch, so she hadn’t entered. The locals had turned out, some to watch, others to enter their boats. A few people had come in from out of town to join the fun.
“Not sure why these others are bothering,” Noah said, lowering their boat into the water. Like Newman, he wore board shorts.
He and Newman had tested it several times under the cover of darkness. It had held their weight, thankfully.
“You know that’s not going to hold your combined bulk, don’t you?”
Newman flipped Tex the bird as he and Brad arrived, with John Finch on their heels. Around his neck he had his camera. Cubby had told him the man had offered to take photos of the day for free. Newman thought that a very generous offer now he knew about Ingrid, John’s girlfriend.
The brothers were wearing shorts with the Texan flag on their butt, and Longhorns caps. Their boat was more a raft with a sail. It had several branches bound together with rope, but looked sturdy enough. The Texan flag fluttered from a pole at the rear.
“Where you guys from?”
Brad bared his teeth at Newman by way of an answer.
&
nbsp; “Not a very creative entry, it has to be noted, Cub,” Jake said, arriving with Buster. Both wore aprons. On their heads were chefs’ hats. Their entry was a large muffin, complete with frosting. It was made of cardboard. “Whereas ours… now, it’s a masterpiece.”
“It’s a muffin,” Buster added.
“No shit,” Newman said. Written on the side were the words Mystery Muffin.
“You,” Buster waved a spatula at him that Newman guessed was an oar, “are going to eat our dust.”
“Or wake, as we’re on the water.”
“Hey, sweetie.” Newman kissed Rose, and shook Billy’s hand as they arrived at the water’s edge with Willow.
“My mom’s judging,” Billy said.
“An important job, bud.”
“Heads up, the womenfolk have arrived.”
Following Cubby’s gaze, the men watched Annabelle and Branna walk down the bank. They carried their boat, and it looked like one made of paper, complete with newspaper on the outside. They wore sailor hats, little white skirts, and sailor tops.
“They should win simply for the hotness factor,” Jake said.
“Amen,” Tex said. “I hope that’s not heavy,” he added, looking at his wife.
“I bet she loves it when you get all clucky with her,” Noah said.
“She punched me last night, because I told her that putting out the trash wasn’t good for her. My chin has a black bruise on it today.”
Newman smiled, but it fell away as he saw Hope arrive.
“Jesus!”
She and Faith wore tutus and pink bikini tops. She was showing off vast amounts of lush flesh, and he wasn’t entirely comfortable with that fact. He knew she was hot, but didn’t like anyone else knowing it. She usually hid her body in those hideous clothes he was coming to like.
Noah whistled, and Newman only just stopped himself from pummeling him.
“Well, well, well, who knew she could look that hot.”
“Seriously, you are one word away from my fist.”
Noah smiled, and kept right on looking.
Mikey wore a blue captain’s jacket over shorts. On his head was a cap. Their boat was cardboard and painted blue with little white portholes on the side, and a red stripe.
“You got safety boats on the water, Cub?”
“Yes, Newman.”
“Life vests are compulsory, right?”
“Yes, Newman, I’ll ensure your girl has a life vest on.”
Newman didn’t care that Cubby’s tone was condescending. Hope was important to him, and she carried his child. He needed to know she was safe.
He watched her walk down the hill, following the sway of her tutu-clad hips. Memories of her dancing at Walt and Lizzie’s filled his head. The woman was like a butterfly coming out of a chrysalis. Every time he saw her, she was changing.
“Paul, I’d like to speak with you.”
And just like that he was tense. Looking at his father, he wondered what he was going to say to piss him off now.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“ I’ll be at the finish line shouting you on, Hope.”
“Does it count that I’m having a baby?”
Faith shook her head. “You’re barely pregnant, stop being a wuss.”
Hope’s stomach felt odd today. She’d had a few cramps, but guessed this was all part of the pregnancy process. Plus, there was the stress of what Casey believed her capable of. Like Newman, Hope now believed someone was sabotaging Wildlife, and unfortunately the finger was pointed firmly at her. The thought made her stomach clench. Cubby said they needed proof to charge her, and of course she knew they would find none, but still, it was unsettling.
“You puking up your breakfast yet?”
“Not puking, just a bit of nausea,” Hope answered Faith.
A few people now knew that she was carrying Newman’s baby. Secrets couldn’t be kept in Howling, unless you were the only person who knew them. Newman’s friends had taken it in their stride, which had surprised Hope, because she hadn’t thought they would be happy. Annabelle had hugged her hard enough to crack a few ribs, and said she was pleased she wasn’t the only one puking each morning.
Faith stood with hands on her slender hips, feet braced. She was an imposing figure, even dressed in the tutu and bikini top.
“Not sure why we had to wear such revealing clothing either,” Hope muttered, tugging down the top.
“It’s probably the last time you get to show off your body, because it’ll be all baggy and stretched soon.”
“I’m not entirely sure why I put up with you.”
“Because I’m awesome, and you love me.”
Hope waved at Jake and Buster, and then John, who was busy taking photos. They had gone through some of what they’d shot yesterday, and she had to say, it was good. He challenged her to be the best, and had also given her confidence a boost after this business with Wildlife.
She hadn’t realized she was looking for him, until Hope found Newman standing to one side talking to his father. She couldn’t read his expression, but he didn’t look happy. His lips were in a line, his arms folded.
“Sure, that’s the reason,” Hope said, dragging her eyes from Newman, because it really was none of her business what was being said between father and son.
“I’ll be a minute, Mikey. You and Faith get the boat down to the water.” She should be minding her own business, but didn’t seem to be able to stop her feet from heading to where Newman stood.
“You owe me for taking you in, Paul. Owe me for giving you a home. I never expected you to repay me with betrayal.”
Mr. Newman was talking softly, but Hope could hear his anger as she approached.
“This is not the time for this conversation,” Newman said quietly. “Half of Howling is around us, for pity’s sake.”
“As you have been avoiding me, this is the only place I knew I could get you to talk to me. You’ve ruined my reputation in this town. Patrick McBride came to see me yesterday to ask for the inflatable boat I was using, back.”
“Why were you borrowing his boat when you have one of your own?”
Resentment flashed across his father’s face.
“His is bigger.”
Hope hadn’t spoken more than a handful of words to Mr. Newman in her life, and never really noticed there was no resemblance between father and son, until now.
“He has a right to his boat back, Dad.”
“Before he left, he said that you had grown into a wonderful man, whom he respected hugely, and how proud I must be of you. He wouldn’t have said that if he didn’t know you were adopted.”
“Like I have already told you, I no longer want my birth to be a dirty secret. You may believe that, but I don’t, and nothing you can do or say will make me see otherwise.”
“You would be nothing without me!”
Anger had Hope moving to Newman’s side. She glared at his father.
“How dare you speak to your son that way!”
“Hope, it’s all right,” Newman said.
“No, it’s not. How could you have raised him to believe he owed you anything but love, when in return that was all he expected from you. You had no right to make him believe his birth was anything but a miracle!”
Mr. Newman glared at Hope. His eyes were too close together. She hadn’t noticed that before either.
“This does not concern you, young lady. I know all about your type.”
“Don’t speak to her like that.” Newman stepped forward, but Hope blocked his way. She shook her finger at his father.
“You, sir, are a disgrace. It’s really another miracle that your son has turned out to be the kind, caring, wonderful man he is, which, I may add, is no thanks to you.” She turned and hugged Newman hard, before walking away. Her anger carried her back to the boat.
“Thank you.”
He must have followed her.
“I just said what was needed. I’m sorry, Newman, I know he’s your dad, but
he’s not very nice.” Hope kept her eyes on his bare chest. Not a hardship, really.
“I know, and I’ll put him straight on the ‘I owe him’ business. It felt good, by the way.” He tilted her chin so their eyes met.
“What felt good?”
“You standing up for me.”
“He made me angry.”
“Remind me not to make you angry in the future then.”
She nodded. Would there be a future for them? She had to admit to herself that she hoped so.
“You need to take care out there on the lake, Hope.”
“I know that, Newman, I’m not an idiot.”
“If you get into trouble just wave and yell.”
“I got this, thanks, Newman.”
“You need to put on your vest.”
“Newman!” Hope snapped. “Walk away.”
“I’m just trying to let you know that anything can happen on the water.”
She’d felt sorry for him minutes ago, but now she was angry. He was an exhausting man.
“I’ve lived here for years, remember. Raised around water, and know what I’m doing. Now go away!”
He gave her a final look that she couldn’t interpret, then left.
“Strange how he loses his nice guyness when you’re around.”
“Not a word, Buster.”
“I don’t need a dictionary to explain what I see, sweet cheeks.”
“You people are weird,” Hope muttered, getting gingerly into the boat. She was then hauled out of it, and a life vest was forced over her head.
“Do it up, or I will.”
“All right already,” Hope said, doing as Newman demanded.
“His crown is certainly slipping,” Ethan said as he and his brother launched their boat.
“Where you guys from?” Hope asked.
“Your man already asked us that, and it wasn’t funny then,” Brad said, and then he gave her a stunning smile.
She turned as she heard a loud sigh, and saw Macy. Rolling her eyes, Hope settled her weight as Mikey got in the front.
“You ladies don’t get too upset when we kick your fine butts.”
Hope heard Annabelle growl at Jake’s words.
