Poison Me

by Checketts, Cami

  Jake couldn’t help smiling. If his grandma was happy, who was he to question how or why it had happened? But he had to ask, “So, you’re doing okay with Marissa’s death?”

  Grandma Ruby’s face went pale, and Michael tightened his grip on her.

  Ellie wrung her hands together. “Okay will take a long time, Jake.”

  He nodded.

  “The pain of losing someone like Marissa won’t go away,” Ruby said. “Sometimes we’ll forget for a while, but the ache will always be a part of us.”

  “Is that how you feel about losing Grandpa?” It was an innocent question, but Jake felt instant chagrin as he saw Ruby’s face blanch.

  “Jake, honey, there are things I need to tell you about your grandpa.” She paused and sighed, glancing at Ellie, then Michael. They both nodded encouragingly. Ruby shook her head. “Maybe someday we can sit down and I will tell you about our relationship.”

  Ellie rolled her eyes. “Or lack thereof. Spit the story out, Rubes. The boy deserves to know the truth about who his grandpa really was…or is.” She grinned at Michael.

  “I know, but…” Ruby glanced at Michael as if asking for help.

  The front door of the Palace opened and someone stomped in. Jake was the only one facing the doorway. Glancing up, he disregarded the rounded, balding stranger, but then his eyes flitted to the man again. Jake’s heart stopped. He blinked to clear his vision and then looked again. “Grandpa Don?”

  Ellie, Ruby, and Michael turned to face the intruder. Michael leapt to his feet. His fists clenched, and he instantly took a boxer’s stance. Ruby closed her eyes and buried her hands in her hair.

  Ellie shrieked. “What in the name of all that is evil are you doing back from the dead?” She jumped out of her chair and hurried over to Don, hitting him with her small fists, then shook her hand at the ceiling. “Why? Why, Lord? How could you make this big of a mistake? I pray and pray for Marissa to be resurrected and you send us this putz!”

  Don frowned. “Good to see you too, Ellie.” He rushed past her. “Ruby, we need to talk.”

  She didn’t move. Michael stepped in front of her, and Don stopped short. “Trapper? What are you doing here?”

  Michael tightened his fists.

  Jake rose on trembling legs. “Grandpa Don?”

  The old man turned to face him. “Jake?” He sputtered, gulping in air and clutching a hand over his chest.

  Jake nodded, staring at the grandfather he’d thought was dead.

  Don crossed the space separating them and pulled Jake into a fierce hug. “Jake. I wanted to see you—hoped I would—but I didn’t want to confuse you.” He leaned back and studied Jake’s face, then hugged him again. “Oh, my boy, I’ve missed you.”

  Jake pulled away. “But… you’re… you died. You burned in the fire.”

  Don smiled gently, patting Jake’s arm like a child. “No. You just think I’m dead.”

  Jake looked at Ruby with wide eyes. “Grandma?” He turned to face the apparition in front of him. “Grandpa? What’s going on here?”

  Ellie sank onto the floor, hands clasped, head lifted toward the ceiling. “Why, Lord? How could you send us the wrong one? I ask for a simple miracle, just one saintly woman, and you send us the devil reincarnated.”

  Don glared at Ellie, sweeping a long hair from his forehead. “Do you want to explain it, woman, or should I?”

  “You,” Ruby said to the floor.

  Don gripped Jake’s arms, forcing the younger man to look into his grandpa’s eyes. “Your grandma and I faked my death. She was frustrated about some things that happened between us, and I needed a new start.”

  Ruby’s head whipped up, her back straightening like a steel pole. “Tell him the truth, Don.”

  Grandpa Don stared at Ruby for a long time, then released Jake and looked away. “I lost a lot of money with online poker. I thought your dad would help us out.” He rolled his eyes. “Selfish little brat told me to take care of myself, when I am the only reason he made his money in the first place.”

  Ruby stood, glaring at Don and reaching for Michael’s hand.

  “You want the truth, let’s get it all out there,” Don said.

  “But then you’d have nothing to blackmail me.” When he didn’t reply she said, “No one’s to blame here but you, Don.” She turned to Jake. “He lost it all, sweetheart. All of our retirement. All of the inheritance we received from our parents. All the money your dad had paid him. He refinanced our house and maxed out our credit cards to give himself more gambling money.” She snapped her fingers at Don and grunted in disgust.

  Don hung his head.

  “His only solution was to file bankruptcy papers so they couldn’t take our house, and then try to live off your dad’s money. I couldn’t stand it anymore.” Ruby exhaled. “Don agreed to start the fire, plant evidence that he burned in it, hide out until I could obtain the life insurance money, and then run with it. He promised I’d never see him again.” She glared at her husband. “Just another lie, huh, Don?”

  Jake couldn’t speak. How could his grandfather betray him like this?

  “Please resurrect the right one next time,” Ellie muttered. After one more look of anguish at the ceiling, she stood and ambled over to Ruby’s side.

  Michael wrapped his arm around Ruby and pulled her close.

  “Get your hands off my wife,” Don growled.

  “You are dead, and I am not your wife.” Ruby lifted her chin. “I never should’ve been your wife. I never loved you.”

  Don took two steps closer. “I knew you’d run to him as soon as I was gone. Once a whore, always a whore.” He shoved Michael with all his strength. Michael teetered for a moment, then regained his balance.

  “Grandpa!” Jake cried out.

  Michael released his grasp on Ruby. He grabbed Don’s wrist and twisted the smaller man’s arm. Blood vessels popped up in Michael’s forearms.

  “Stop. Let go, you son of a—,” Don cursed.

  Jake was sure his grandpa’s bones would break. Ruby looked on with wide eyes.

  Ellie cheered. “Go, Michael! Don’t just squeeze him—why don’t you kick him or something?” Taking her own advice she sashayed close and kicked Don with her toe.

  Spewing insults, Don tried to pivot and kick her back, but Michael’s grip prevented the movement.

  Michael spoke in a hushed voice that rang above Don’s angry words. “Ruby’s mine,” Michael said. “You’ve never been worthy of her.”

  “Oh, and you have?” Don taunted.

  “No, but at least I’ll treat her right.” Michael released Don’s wrist and shoved him toward the door. “Get out of here before I decide to do something about the hurt you’ve caused her.”

  Don held his wrist, cast a lingering glance at Jake, and then scurried through the front door. A crowd had gathered—several residents, the managers, and Tracy. Everyone cheered, Ellie the loudest. “Shiska boom rum, Michael kicked his bum. Shiska boom bass, Michael pummeled his…”

  “Ellie!” Ruby interrupted.

  Ellie whirled on her. “Don’t you ‘Ellie’ me. What the crap is this? Don’s alive and you never told me.” She jabbed a finger at Ruby. “You lied to me. Me! Your best friend.” Ellie stomped her foot. “Sixty—no seventy—years of loyal friendship I give you, and what do you do? You lie to me.”

  Ruby nodded. “You’re right.”

  Ellie folded her arms across her chest. “I need an apology.”

  Ruby bowed her head. “You’re right,” she said again. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”

  Ellie scowled. “That’s a pretty lame apology. I don’t know if it will make up for two years of lies.” She sniffed. “I’ll have to get back to you on whether or not I accept it.”

  “I understand,” Ruby said softly, her face filled with anguish. She spun to face Michael. “I’m sorry, I lied to you, too.”

  He shook his head and smiled. “I just wish the sucker really was dead.”

  Ruby w
rapped her arms around her middle and glanced at Jake. “And I’m sorry I lied to you.”

  He opened his mouth to try to comfort her. “Uh… I…” he sputtered. He didn’t know what to say. Grandpa Don’s betrayal hurt, but nothing could compare with the pain of his wonderful grandmother keeping this kind of a secret from him.

  Ruby backed away. “I’m sorry, Jake. I’m so sorry.” Eyes bright, she spun on her heel and fled toward the back door. Michael hurried after her.

  Jake rushed in front of the older man. “Wait, Michael. Please. Can you let me talk to her first?”

  Michael’s eyes shifted past Jake to Ruby’s retreating form.

  “Please, Mr. Trapper,” Jake said. “I need to be with my grandma right now.”

  Michael searched Jake’s eyes. “Be gentle with her. She’s been through a lot.”

  She’s been through a lot? What else was his grandmother hiding from him? Jake wanted to ask so many questions, instinctively knowing Michael held the keys.

  Michael shook his head. “Not now, son. Go after her.”

  Jake pivoted and sprinted after his grandma.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Willy pointed at an older man emerging from the Retirement Palace’s front doors. “Don?”

  Ace leaned closer to the car’s windshield, studying the man. “That’s him. Finally.”

  Willy pulled on the door handle, preparing to intercept the old man.

  Ace lifted a hand, restraining his partner. “No. We know we’re at the right place now. This is where his wife lives. He’ll be back. Let’s check out the facility and wait for him.” He grinned. “It’s all going to work out now, but we’ve got to find the right moment.” He clapped Willy’s shoulder. “I can almost taste the cash.”

  Willy grinned and dared to look into Ace’s eyes.

  Ace inclined his head toward the Palace’s front doors. “Why don’t we wait and watch his little family for him until he returns?”

  ***

  Ruby sniffled, touching the back of her hand to the tip of her nose. She waited on her favorite bench in the gardens, knowing Michael would come soon. She blinked away the moisture in her eyes. She didn’t want to look like a sniveling idiot when he arrived. Her heart clenched as she pictured Jake’s face. He blamed her. He probably detested her.

  She picked a daisy and twirled the stem in her fingers. Jake had every right to feel betrayed and confused. She should be begging his forgiveness instead of hiding in the garden. How could she face the boy she’d raised and explain why she’d been dishonest with him for two years? No. Her grip tightened on the flower. The truth was, she’d been dishonest with him his whole life.

  She glanced down. The daisy now resembled cooked spinach. Ruby groaned. Did she have to ruin everything she touched? Dropping the mutilated flower, she wrapped her arms around her stomach and swayed on the bench. A large hand closed around her shoulder. She leaned her cheek against it without looking up. “Oh, Michael. What a mess I’ve made. How am I ever going to make this right with Jake?”

  “I don’t know,” a deep voice grated out, “but I’d sure like you to try.”

  Ruby gasped and shot to her feet. “Oh, Jake. Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”

  He stared at her with tortured eyes.

  “I don’t even know where to start, what to say.” She grabbed his arms and tried to embrace him.

  Pulling back, he smiled grimly. “Wow, Grandma. You’re one of the most impressive actresses I’ve ever met. Which part of our life is true?”

  “Your grandpa’s death is the only thing I’ve ever lied…” Ruby paused, unable to look at Jake. The other secrets were just as significant as the one he’d discovered. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I was trying to protect you.”

  He shook his head. “From what? I loved Grandpa Don. I love you. I could’ve helped you through this. I’m all grown up now, Grandma. You don’t need to protect me from anything.”

  Ruby nodded. “It was just such a huge mess, and when I went to the police they decided our best strategy for luring Don back was to keep the whole thing quiet, let him think he was safe and make a mistake.” Her shoulders lifted and lowered. “So I swore not to say anything until they captured him.”

  “Was it really that bad between you and Grandpa?”

  She stared up at the towering poplar tree. “Yes. It was miserable, but I know Don always loved you. You, Brinley, and Trevor were the only reasons he had not to leave.”

  Jake shoved his hand through his hair, pivoting a quarter turn and kicking a rock down the path. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better? I’ve never had much in the parents’ department¾you and Grandpa Don raised me. Now I find out I’ve been mourning someone who faked his death so he could scam the insurance company and gamble away their money.” Jake yanked a leaf from the tree and crumpled it in his hand. “And the one person I’ve never doubted, always adored,” he stared hard at her, “has been lying to me for years.”

  “Jake…” Ruby paused, knowing nothing she could say would make this better. She took his hand and led him to the bench. Once they sat down, she put her arms around his shoulders.

  He leaned against her and sighed. “Why, Grandma?”

  “It’s such a mess, I don’t know where to start.”

  “Start somewhere.”

  Ruby rubbed his back. She gulped several breaths before beginning. “I never should’ve married Don. I loved someone else, but the man I loved hurt me. I thought he didn’t want me anymore or…” She’d almost mentioned the baby. “I was running away from him and fell straight into Don’s lap.”

  Jake straightened and turned to study her face. She dropped her arms, but covered one of his hands with hers, trying to offer what comfort she could.

  “But you fell in love with Grandpa later?” Jake asked hopefully.

  Ruby shook her head. She wouldn’t lie to him any longer, at least about this. “We had a horrible marriage.”

  Jake’s expression fell. He gripped her hand tighter.

  “I should’ve divorced your grandpa fifty years ago, but he… well, people didn’t just divorce back then. After so many years of putting up with the degrading comments and the lack of love—” she shrugged “—I talked myself into believing I didn’t deserve any better.”

  Jake swallowed hard. “Grandpa tore you down.”

  “Yes, and he couldn’t tolerate your dad. Then Don claimed that the gadgets David had made were his inventions. He wanted to sue his own son.” Ruby shook her head in disgust. “I promised him I’d stay with him and help him get the money he needed for gambling if he would stop the lawsuit.”

  Jake just stared.

  “I didn’t blame your dad at all when he sold out, paid Don a lump sum to shut him up, and left the country. I wished I could go with them. The only hard part was seeing how much you and Brinley missed your parents.” She smiled at Jake. “But selfish me, I loved raising you.”

  He pressed her hand. “It hurt that my parents left us behind. I always felt like we weren’t important to them.” He sighed. “But you and Grandpa Don gave us a great childhood.”

  “I’m glad you had a good childhood. Don and I had an unwritten agreement—we waited to argue until after you two were asleep.” Ruby exhaled. “Your grandpa loved you and Brinley, but things were never good for the two of us. When he got addicted to online poker, he squandered all of our money. We were going to lose our house. He expected your dad to bail him out again. David told him to try the lawsuit and begged me to leave your grandpa so he could take better care of me.”

  “Wouldn’t that have been a more attractive option than rigging a bomb in your own house?”

  Ruby closed her eyes. “Don wouldn’t allow me to divorce him. He was…” She bit back a harsh laugh. “Very convincing.”

  Jake’s brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. You said you didn’t love him. How could he convince you?”

  “He had proof that your dad stole his designs, Jake. I didn’t want to de
al with him pressing that lawsuit, plus I got pregnant in high school.” She paused. “Let’s deal with one issue at a time, sweetie.”

  He frowned. “No. Let’s get it all out there.”

  “I don’t want you to know about how big of a mistake I made.”

  Jake jerked his hand away and pulled up his shirtsleeve. “You think I’ve never made a mistake? Look at this!”

  She traced her fingers along the scar. “When are you going to stop hiding your arm?”

  “When I stop seeing her face.”

  “Oh, Jake. Can we ever forgive ourselves?”

  “Grandma, getting pregnant in high school doesn’t even compare with killing somebody.”

  Ruby raised her brows. “What about faking a death?”

  Jake chuckled. “I think that is illegal.” He frowned again. “I can’t believe I did that to Angela.”

  Ruby stroked his back. “Enough, Jake. You’ve got to stop blaming yourself. You weren’t even driving that Jeep.”

  He hung his head, bracing his forearms on his thighs. “I got her into it.”

  “You forced her into it?” Ruby studied him, praying she could help him forgive himself.

  “No. But she trusted me.”

  “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  Jake’s head jerked up. He started to protest.

  “Come on, sweetie. Whoever told you to take responsibility for everything that happens in life? Place the blame on somebody else for once!”

  “I learned everything from you.” Jake gave his grandma a half smile. “You raised me.”

  “I keep thinking if I would’ve done a better job, you and your sister wouldn’t have such a hard time.” Ruby sighed. “You have to admit that Brinley’s life is a mess, and you never letting yourself love someone again… I think it’s all my fault.”

  “What are you talking about? It’s Mom and Dad’s fault we got screwed up.” He wrapped an arm around Ruby. “You and Grandpa were the only stable part of our lives.”

  She raised her thin shoulders. “Please don’t blame your parents. Your dad had an awful time. Don was so tough on him, and then when David found out we got married because I was pregnant with him, he flipped out.”