Covenant Child

by Terri Blackstock

  He kind of gasped when he looked at it. He took it out of the box with his big, tobacco-stained fingers. “Where in the Sam Hill did you get this?”

  “It was my grandmother’s. Not Eloise, the Holbrooke grandmother. It’s probably worth a fortune.”

  He took a step back and peered at me as if seeing me for the first time. “Looks to be real,” he said, fingering the pearls. “How much you want for it?”

  “I need at least five hundred dollars.”

  “I can do that.”

  I quickly realized that I’d made a mistake setting the ceiling price. “If it’s worth more, Jason, you could give me more.”

  “That’s about what I’d say it’s worth. Five hundred bucks.” I could see that his eyes were glowing. He thought he’d hit pay dirt.

  He probably had.

  As I waited for the money, I couldn’t help wondering what the thing was really worth if he was that quick to pay. I took the money and stuffed it into my pocket. Now I had $950 to pay that lawyer. If I really hustled today, maybe I could make another $50 in tips.

  I tried to forget about that necklace and just concentrate on my lawsuit as I walked to work. When I got to the truck stop, Rudy was waiting. “Did you get the money?”

  “Yeah, $500. And I got the $450 in cash I had already. I should get at least $50 more in tips in the next couple of days. That’ll make a thousand.”

  Rudy smiled and reached for my hand to pull me close. I practically forgot about his prison record and how aggravated I’d been with him earlier.

  “Tell you what. Just go ahead and give me what you’ve got, and I’ll put in the rest and take it to Jackson this afternoon so we can get this ball rolling.”

  I liked that idea, and I was impressed that he was willing to put in $50. I was really ready to get things started. The sooner that attorney filed the papers, the sooner I’d be rich. “All right.” I pulled the money out of my pocket and put it into his hand.

  “Tell you what,” he said, “I’ll come by and pick you up after you get off work tonight. I don’t like you walking home by yourself.”

  It hadn’t bothered him that much before, but I figured he was starting to have more tender feelings toward me. “All right. I get off at midnight.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” he said.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Rudy was a dream for the next few days. He arranged his schedule at the casino so he could pick me up from work every night and drive me home. I started spending more and more time at his house. He used the word we a lot when he talked about the lawsuit and my future, and I started thinking that something might come of it.

  I was feeling so good about Rudy that I wrote Lizzie again.

  Dear Lizzie,

  I just had to write and tell you all the exciting things that are happening here. The guy, Rudy, I told you about? I think I’m falling in love with him. Lizzie, he treats me like nobody else ever has before.He picks me up from work when I get off and he comes by several times a day and just hangs around. I can’t stop thinking about him. It’s driving me crazy.

  I wish you could meet him. He’s tall and good-looking and real self-confident. He makes a lot of money at the casino. He dresses nice, not like the bums in this town who walk around in greasy jeans and ten-year-old T-shirts. He’s somebody, Lizzie, and when I’m around him, I feel like somebody, too.

  You probably know by now that I’ve filed a lawsuit against Amanda. She may have gotten the papers by now. She’s probably pretty mad, but, Lizzie, that money is ours, or it should be. We were the blood relatives of Paul Holbrooke, not her, and I don’t know why you’re not suspicious that she had anything to do with our dad’s death. It all makes sense if you think about it. She would want to kill him just so she could get the money. And she did and now she’s just biding her time with you.

  Come back, Lizzie, and do this lawsuit with me. We can be rich together and go off to New York, just you and me and Rudy, and live in a penthouse condominium maybe in the same building that John Lennon lived in. Imagine Yoko Ono being our neighbor! I can’t wait. Please think about it, Lizzie. It’ll be more fun with you along. Besides, I miss you real bad. I can’t believe you’ve stayed there that long.

  Love,

  Kara

  When I went to see my attorney the next time, he told me that the prospects for getting a settlement from Amanda were good. He thought we would have an offer soon. As a precelebration, Rudy took me out to dinner at the fanciest restaurant in the casino. He had the band play Olivia Newton-John’s “I Honestly Love You,” while he slowly moved me around on the dance floor like Prince Charming with Cinderella.

  Then, between the third and fourth courses of our meal, he got down on one knee.

  I thought he had dropped a contact or something, and I felt a stab of disappointment that his eyes weren’t really that blue. But he wasn’t looking at the floor. He was looking up at me. He took my hands, and I noticed that a hush had fallen around the room. Everyone was watching.

  I felt like I was the brunt of some kind of joke and I started to make him get up.

  “Kara Holbrooke.” He looked up at me with this look that said he was real serious. “You’d make me the happiest man in the world if you’d marry me.” He said it real loud, so everybody could hear.

  I caught my breath, and the diners all applauded. Aware that they were all waiting for my answer, I threw my arms around him and shouted, “Yes!”

  The people applauded again, as if they’d just witnessed some grand Broadway performance, and the band struck up again.

  I noticed there was no ring, but I told myself that I didn’t need one. Soon I could buy all the rings I wanted.

  Rudy was laughing when he sat back down.

  “You’re kidding, right?” I asked him. “That was just for show, wasn’t it?”

  “No, baby.” He leaned on the table and put his face close to mine. “I mean it. I want to marry you.”

  “But isn’t this a little quick? I mean, we haven’t known each other all that long.”

  “How long do you have to know somebody? I knew the minute I laid eyes on you that you were the girl for me.”

  My heart was pounding, and I wished I could jump up and go call Lizzie. But the only number I had for her was on that cell phone in the Secret Tree. Anyway, I knew what she would say.

  “You’re not just doing this because I’m about to be a millionaire, are you?”

  He looked wounded. “Do you really think that about me? Because if you do, maybe I’ve made a mistake—”

  I took his hand, stopping him. “No, I don’t think it. I just wanted to hear you say it.”

  “Because I liked you even before I knew about any stinking lawsuit, you know. Didn’t I take you out the first night I met you? Didn’t I?”

  “Well, yes . . .”

  “And haven’t I treated you like a princess? Haven’t I helped you?”

  “Of course you have.” He was so disturbed, I thought he might just cry.

  “Then why would you ask me that? Why would you accuse me of something like that?”

  “I’m not accusing you.” He was really agitated, and the truth was, I didn’t want him mad at me. Plus, I liked the idea of being his wife. I could picture us living our high life and traveling the country together. I really, really liked the idea of that.

  “Kara, you’re just about the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the prettiest girl in Barton, hands down. Probably in all Mississippi, if you want to know the truth. How could I do better?”

  He was a charmer, that Rudy, and my heart melted right to my toes.

  “Come on, Kara. Marry me. And let’s not wait a long time. Let’s do it next weekend.”

  I caught my breath again. “Next weekend? Rudy! That’s so fast.”

  “Well, what is there to wait for? We can’t exactly afford a huge wedding right now, and we’re not the church types.We can get the justice of the peace to do it, and take a little honeymoon i
n Vicksburg. The casino has a honeymoon suite, and I could get an employee discount.”

  “Next weekend . . .” The idea sounded good to me. I could marry him next weekend and leave Eloise and Deke behind. I could become Kara Holbrooke Singer, and then when I got the money, I would have somebody to share it with, even if Lizzie never came back.

  Besides, I was so lonely . . . and I would have done just about anything to stop feeling so sad that Lizzie was gone. It was about time that something good happened in my life. I was long ready.

  “All right.” A thrill rose up inside me. “Next weekend, we’ll tie the knot.”

  He pulled me to my feet then and started dancing me around again. People smiled and watched us, and I did a Lizzie wave. I laughed and laughed and laughed as he danced me around the dance floor to the sound of that big band playing Barry Manilow.

  I didn’t think I’d laughed like that for a very long time. And as he danced me around, I knew that my life was about to get drastically better.

  I couldn’t wait to tell Lizzie.

  Rudy got me home by midnight that night, since I had to get up early and work the next morning. Instead of going into the trailer, I ran through the woods with my flashlight until I got to the Secret Tree that had Amanda’s cell phone in a Ziploc bag. I pulled it out and tried to turn it on, but the battery had lost its charge. Amanda had left an adapter cord with it, so I took it back to the trailer. Eloise and Deke were at the casino, so I had the place to myself.

  I plugged the phone cord into the wall and waited a few minutes until it got a slight charge. I had played with some of the truckers’ phones at the SOS, so I knew how they worked. I scrolled through the list for Amanda’s number and hoped she meant it when she said that Lizzie would have that phone. I pressed talk and waited as it rang through.

  After three rings, I heard Lizzie’s sleepy voice. “Hello?”

  “Lizzie, it’s me!”

  “Kara?” I could hear the excitement in her voice. “Kara, you finally called.”

  “Yeah. I figured if Amanda Holbrooke wanted me to use her phone, I’d just use it. But I have some news I have to tell you.”

  “What? Tell me.”

  I could hear the anticipation in her voice, and I knew she was hoping that I was about to tell her I’d had a change of heart, that I was coming to join her. But my news was far better.

  “I’m getting married!”

  There was dead silence on the other end of the phone, and I started thinking that we’d been cut off. It wasn’t that easy to get a good signal in Barton. The truckers were always complaining about it.

  Finally, Lizzie spoke again. “Kara, you can’t be serious.”

  “I am serious. I’m marrying Rudy. He took me out to dinner tonight at the bistro in the casino, and he had the band play ‘I Honestly Love You,’ and we danced, and he got down on one knee, Lizzie, and he asked me to marry him!”

  “Don’t do it, Kara. Please promise me you won’t do it.”

  That set me off. I hated it when Lizzie didn’t know the whole story, hadn’t even met a guy, and started trying to change my plans. “Of course I’m going to do it. I’ve already told him yes.”

  “But, Kara, he’s after this money that he thinks you’re going to get. Only you’re not going to get it. Amanda is not going to settle. You won’t get any of it unless you come to us. It’s all yours if you do that. You don’t need Rudy or any bloodthirsty lawyer.”

  Now I was really insulted. “I do need Rudy. He treats me better than anybody in my life ever has. I’m going to marry him, and we’re going to win this suit. I don’t care what Amanda has been telling you. It’s all lies. We’ve been told lies all our lives.”

  “Well, you’re being told lies again. Kara, think about it. You don’t know anything about him. Where did he come from? What’s his background? Has he ever been married before? Does he have children?”

  “I do know all that. He’s never been married, has no children, and he used to live in Las Vegas.” I left out the part about the prison sentence. That was really none of her business.

  Lizzie got quiet again, and I started wishing I hadn’t called her. She was really starting to bum me out. When somebody calls you up and tells you they’re getting married, it’s practically your obligation to act excited. I really resented that she couldn’t do that for me.

  But I didn’t feel like getting into some big fight with her, so finally I said, “I want you to come to the wedding, Lizzie. I need for you to be here. It’s next weekend.”

  “Next weekend? Kara, you’re rushing into this. What’s the hurry?”

  “The hurry is that I want to marry him next weekend,” I snapped. “I don’t want to wait another day. Will you come or not?”

  Lizzie thought that over for a moment. I could tell she was struggling with what to do. If she came, it was like she was condoning what I was doing. But if she didn’t, she would really be letting me down.

  Finally, she said, “Yes, I’ll come. I know Amanda will want to be there, too.”

  I looked at the phone in my hand like I could see her crazy face. “You’re nuts. I’m not inviting Amanda. I don’t want her here. I don’t want her anywhere near me.”

  “Why? What has she done to you?”

  “She killed my father and she stole my sister. She took millions of dollars that would have been mine.”

  “She didn’t do any of those things, Kara, and you know it. Our father died in a plane crash, and it was accidental. I’ve seen videos of newscasts when we were first taken away from Amanda. She even got arrested once for trying to run with us. She’s nothing like you think.”

  “I don’t want her here! Come by yourself or don’t come at all.”

  The minute I’d said it, I started thinking that maybe she wouldn’t come, and I couldn’t stand the thought of getting married without her.

  I knew Lizzie well enough to think she’d probably dig her heels in and spout off that she would miss it, then. I couldn’t take that chance, so I said, “But I really want you to come.”

  Silence lingered between us. “I’ll think about it,” she said. “I’ll need to ask Amanda.”

  “Right. Go ask the warden. See if she’ll let you out for a weekend pass.”

  “It’s not like that, Kara. Not at all. You don’t understand. I just like to talk things over with her. She’s wiser than I am.”

  “Well, that’s fine . Knock yourself out. The wedding is going to be at seven Saturday night. We’re getting married at the courthouse. The justice of the peace is opening it just for us.”

  “Justice of the peace? Oh, Kara, what happened to the beautiful wedding we used to plan? Ever since we were little we used to dress up with veils on our heads—”

  “It’s not the veil and the dress that’s important, Lizzie. And that big storybook wedding doesn’t matter. It’s the man that counts, and I’m marrying the man I want.”

  I heard the phone beep and looked down at it. The battery was about to go dead again. “I’ve got to go. I think this phone is about to cut out. Come Friday, Lizzie. You can help me get ready.”

  There was another long pause, then, “Okay, Kara. I’ll try.”

  The phone went dead before I could get a firmer answer from her. I sat there holding the phone, feeling as if my one lifeline had been slashed off. Despite my excitement over my wedding and my hopes about the future, I couldn’t escape the feeling that something vital was missing inside me . . .

  And I wasn’t sure that even Rudy could fill it.

  THIRTY- SIX

  I didn’t call Lizzie back, partly out of pride, and partly because I didn’t want her trying to talk me out of it again. I figured by now Amanda had given her more ammunition for her arguments against Rudy, and I wasn’t in the mood to hear them. I even worried that Lizzie might have found out about his record and start riding me about how I didn’t need to marry an ex-killer and all.

  I was having enough trouble with Eloise and Deke.


  I hadn’t expected a champagne celebration from them, but I didn’t think they’d give my marriage much thought since they hardly knew I was there, anyway. Our paths didn’t cross all that much since they spent most nights over at the casino and slept all day. I could have forgotten to tell them I was getting married, and they might not have noticed I was gone for months.

  But the minute I told them, they started in on me.

  “That man is out for one thing, Kara Holbrooke, and that’s your money,” Eloise said. “Don’t you think it’s not. He wants what you’re gonna get, and then he’ll probably clean you out and disappear without a trace.”

  Deke agreed, as passionate as I’d ever seen him. “You can’t do this, girl! You wait until this lawsuit’s settled, then you park it somewhere safe. If he still wants to marry you then, fine, but don’t you do it before then.”

  “I’m marrying him next Saturday.” I was getting good at standing my ground. “You can say whatever you want to about him, but he’s going to be my husband.”

  “Kara, you’re washing your future right down the toilet!” Eloise screeched.

  I thought that was kind of funny since there’d never been any talk about my future before. “Seems like everybody’s real interested in this money I’m gonna get. Seems like maybe you two are suspicious because you think this’ll make your part smaller.”

  “We’re looking out for you, girl,” Deke said. “Don’t you know that?”

  I was so moved I wanted to gag. “You don’t have to come to the wedding. I’m just telling you when it’s going to be.”

  “Can’t you at least wait until you’ve filed the suit?” A vein in Eloise’s forehead looked like it might burst. “Just so’s his name ain’t on it, too?”

  They didn’t know I had already filed it. They still thought I was saving up the five hundred dollars so I could use their lawyer and that they would get a big hunk of whatever I won. I wondered how much they thought I would give them. Did they think I would just write them a check, out of the goodness of my heart?