by Tara Rose
And gossip. Ethan had heard the snide comments as Savannah had danced with each of them in turn. Had she heard them, too? If she had, she gave no sign of it.
They filled their plates with beans, salad, coleslaw, cornbread, and fried chicken, and then took them to one of the picnic tables and sat down with Vivian, Luke, and Preston.
When Noah rose to go and get them each a cup of sweet tea, Ethan leaned over to shake Luke’s hand. “Haven’t seen you in too long. How is the store doing?”
“Great. Busy as ever. We’re so grateful to have Jimmie. He’s a hard worker.”
Jimmie’s mouth was full, but he nodded, and shot Luke a look of gratitude. Ethan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from suggesting that Luke pay Jimmie a bit more, then, so he wouldn’t feel like such a putz.
Noah returned, and when he sat down next to Savannah after distributing their cups of tea, he kissed her right on the mouth. Luke smiled. “Preston was saying we should have you four over for barbeque one night.”
“We would love that,” said Savannah. She leaned across Ethan to ask Vivian where she’d bought her dress, and then they all returned to eating and made small talk about the weather and about work.
People came and went all day long at Ruthie’s annual picnic, so when a dark sedan pulled onto the grass, Ethan didn’t pay any attention, until he watched a man wearing a suit climb out of it. He nodded in the general direction. “Who is that? A bit over-dressed, isn’t he?”
They all glanced over. “No clue,” said Luke. “Never seen him before.”
“I don’t recognize him either,” said Vivian.
“Me either,” said Savannah.
Jimmie glanced up finally, and froze. “Oh, fuck.”
“Who is it?” asked Savannah.
“The assistant DA I spoke with.”
Ethan rose, motioned toward Jimmie, and the two walked over to meet the man before he reached the people eating at picnic tables in tents. What the hell was wrong with him? This was no place for a discussion about Jimmie’s parents.
“Hey there,” said Jimmie. “You could have called me. I would have met you in town.”
“I’m not here to see you. I’m looking for your father. I asked at the church and they said to try here.”
Ethan glanced over to where Bobby James sat with several stalwart members of his congregation. “Over there,” he pointed, unable to stop the grin. “What are you going to do to him?”
“Just talk.”
“Can’t it wait?” asked Jimmie. “This is a birthday party. Half the town is here.”
“It would have been done already if the man had answered my calls and e-mails, but I’ve been trying to reach him for three days now, and I don’t have time to play games, son.”
Chapter Fourteen
The Assistant DA of Rutherford County had driven off in his dark sedan with Jimmie’s father over three hours ago, and that was all anyone had talked about for that long. The band had played their second set, and people had danced, including Savannah, Jimmie, Ethan, and Noah, but even that hadn’t deterred the gossip.
The members of the First Baptist Church who had been with Bobby when the ADA came over to ask him questions had all left about an hour after he did, and each had glared at Savannah, Jimmie, Ethan, and Noah as they did so.
Noah had laughed it off, Ethan had told Jimmie to ignore it, but Savannah wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Not for herself. For Jimmie. He clearly wasn’t having a good time anymore, but she had intended on staying well into the evening when she would then help Aunt Ruthie clean up. She felt torn now. Her place was with her men, but there was a lot of work to do once everybody went home. She couldn’t leave it all for the rest of her family to deal with.
She was on vacation for the next five days, and had hoped to also spend as much time with her three men as possible. But now, as she watched Jimmie sink further and further into whatever state he’d gone to when his father left the picnic with the ADA, she wondered whether he would ever be free from this.
They’d all encouraged him to talk to someone, and she knew in her heart it had been the right thing to do, but at what price? How far was too far to push someone into facing their past demons? Did a sense of justice outweigh what this must be doing to Jimmie inside?
Aunt Ruthie walked over to them, interrupting her train of thought. “This is the best party yet.”
Savannah smiled. “You say that every year, you know.”
“And I mean it every year.” She sat down next to Jimmie and gave him a big hug. “And how are you doing today?”
“I’ve been better, Aunt Ruthie.” Even though Jimmie wasn’t related to Ruthie, she allowed him to call her by that term of endearment because she adored him as much as Savannah did.
“Don’t you worry about this, you hear? The truth will come out.”
With Jimmie’s permission, Savannah had told Aunt Ruthie what Jimmie told her, Ethan, and Noah last week about his mother’s death.
“Even if it does, I’m ruined in this town.”
“Why do you say that, dear boy? You think your father is the only person people respect? Did you see who he was sitting with? And they were all alone at that big table. What does that tell you? No one wanted to sit with them. Not even at the same table. So don’t you say that, you hear? The people in this town know a rat when they see one. Have a little faith in them. The truth of this will come out, and then you’ll see how much people here love you and want to see you come out the other side of this.”
“I wish I felt as sure of it as you do.”
“Well, that’s okay. I’ll be sure for the both of us.” Ruthie patted Savannah’s arm. “And you stick close to this girl here. She won’t abandon you.” Ruthie eyed Ethan and Noah. “And neither will those two, you hear? You have three good people to take care of you and help you believe in yourself. And don’t you forget that.”
Jimmie gave Ruthie a big hug, and then Ruthie gave the other three a hug and went to the next table to talk. “She’s right you know,” said Savannah. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know you won’t.”
“Then stop moping around.” Savannah stood. “Come on. It’s time for cake. Race you to three to the dessert table.”
“Oh, right,” said Noah. “As if you could outrun me.”
“Maybe she can’t, but I can,” said Ethan, standing and stretching.
Savannah jumped up. “Okay. Wait. You both have to start at the same time. Ready? On your marks, get set, go!”
She jumped up and down and yelled as Ethan and Noah raced across the grass toward the table. They reached it at the same time, but Ethan tripped over something on the ground and both went sprawling. Savannah ran toward them with Jimmie in tow, and when she reached them, they were laughing so hard they could barely stand up. They each pulled her close and teased her about making them run, telling her it was her fault they both fell.
She protested, also laughing so hard she could barely breathe, and said if they weren’t so competitive about everything, it never would have happened to be begin with. Then Ethan leaned close and spoke in her ear, but still loud enough for anyone standing near them to hear. “I’m going to spank you so hard for this, you won’t sit down for a week.”
Her clit throbbed. “Really? Is that a promise, doc, or a threat?”
“Oh, you’re in big trouble now.” He kissed her, tongue and all, and Savannah completely forgot where they were as she kissed him back. When he released her, the sexiest grin she’d ever seen lit up his face, and then Noah pulled her close.
“And when he gets done spanking you, I’m using that cane on your pretty ass.” His voice, also, was loud and proud. Before Savannah had time to glance around and see if anyone had heard him, he kissed her, too, tongue and all.
When he released it, Jimmie kissed her, and then he whispered, “I guess now the rumors will really fly.”
“I don’t give a shit. I’m crazy about all three of you. You’re the best thin
g that’s ever happened to me. All of you. Now let’s get some birthday cake before it’s all gone.”
* * * *
All four of them ended up staying late to help clean up, even though the men had to get up and go to work in the morning. Savannah drove home and gathered enough things to stay at Ethan’s house for a few days, and then drove over there to spend the night. Jimmie and Ethan were already asleep, and she asked Noah what time he needed to get up. “You must be exhausted by now.”
“I’m really not. I drank too much Coke. I’ll be wired for hours.” He shrugged. “It’s only an eight hour day shift. I’ll be okay. Want to watch TV or something?”
She shook her head. “No, but I’d love to talk. Is that all right?”
He gave her a tender look. “Anything I get to do with you is perfect, Savannah. Let’s sit outside. It’s a beautiful night.”
They went out onto the front porch, and as they took a seat on the sofa, she smiled as the memories of what they’d done on it last night washed over her. As if reading her mind, Noah asked if she was okay. “I mean, we didn’t hurt you last night, did we? We were all a bit carried away with it.”
“No. I’m fine. But thank you for asking.” She was sore in places she hadn’t known could get sore, but nothing earth-shattering or worth worrying him over. “How are you doing with all this?”
“Me? I’m cool. I hope the ADA decides to prosecute Jimmie’s father. It’s about time that man was forced to take responsibility for what he’s done.”
“I remember when she passed. The entire school had off the day of the funeral in case anyone wanted to go. They had counselors come in from Murfreesboro to talk to us about losing a parent and dealing with grief. It just doesn’t seem real, you know? That a parent could die when you’re so young like that.”
“I know. I can’t imagine what he went through. And to have seen it and then never told anyone… All these years. I’ve known him for sixteen years. Why didn’t I see it?”
“How could you have known it was there to see? None of us did. Not even the people who lived here and saw him every day.”
“He must have grown up terrified of his father. Why else would he keep quiet about something like that?”
“Bobby James has always been an imposing man. And he uses his pulpit to sow fear, not love. I don’t know about you, but the Bible I read doesn’t preach hate and intolerance. Quite the opposite.”
“I know. Jimmie must have seen the hypocrisy in his own home. It must have been eating away at him all these years.”
“I’m betting he used the pain killers as a way to escape it, you know? I mean, I know he was in a lot of pain after the accident, but long after those wounds healed he was still using them. And the doctors in Shelbyville just kept refilling the scripts.”
Noah gave her an odd look. “You know, I forgot about that. And at the time, I didn’t question it. But why Shelbyville? Why didn’t Jimmie see his own doctor right here?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. He was taken to the ER down there, and that’s where he had the surgery. No clue why. I never asked.”
“Maybe his father didn’t want our local docs to start asking questions?”
She shivered. “Oh Noah…don’t say that. Please. It’s too horrible to think about. No. The accident was legit. His father wasn’t even around at the time. Jimmie was out in the fields behind the church on the tractor and it got stuck in a rut. We’d just had a bad rain storm and he probably shouldn’t have been out there at all until the ground dried up a bit. He tried to get it out but the tractor tipped over onto him. It was close to half an hour before anyone spotted him, or he wouldn’t have been hurt that badly.”
“Yeah. It still makes my stomach turn to think about it.”
“It was awful. But his father had nothing to do with it.”
“You’re right. He couldn’t have. But I still don’t understand why he wasn’t taken to the ER right here.”
“Maybe his father didn’t want anyone becoming suspicious? First his wife, now his son? Maybe he had a reason to think someone here might question it?” She leaned forward. “Noah, what if something is in his mother’s chart that would lead the ADA to think it might not have happened the way Bobby told them it did? What if the reason Jimmie was taken to Shelbyville was because his father wanted to avoid any questions?”
They stared at each other, and when a breeze blew, Savannah stood. “I want to go inside now.”
Noah rose and pulled her close, stroking her hair. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Nothing can hurt you. Nothing can hurt any of us. Jimmie will get through this because we’ll help him do it.”
She stared into his dark eyes, and it hit her suddenly like a ton of bricks. Maybe she’d always known it? But it was more intense and potent at that moment than it had ever been, and she knew it was true. She also knew it was time to stop holding it in. These men wouldn’t hurt her, and they had a right to know how she felt. “I love you, Noah. I love you, Jimmie, and Ethan.”
He exhaled loudly, and then he kissed her. When he released it, he held her face in his hands. “I love you, too. We all do.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I haven’t said the words to Ethan yet, but I have to Jimmie.”
“Tell him in the morning. Oh, Savannah… How did I get so lucky?”
“I’m the lucky one. Three big, strong, handsome men to love and have sex with.”
He chuckled and pulled her close again. “You need more than one man. One person can’t possibly contain your spirit and your passion. I’m not sure the three of us can most days.”
“You’re all I want. The three of you. I have everything I need.” It was tempting to follow Noah into the bedroom he was using, but she told him to get some rest so he could at least pretend to function in the morning. He kissed her again, several times, and when she finally curled up in the bedroom she’d chosen to use, she had a tough time falling asleep.
She should be tired after everything that had happened today, but she kept playing Jimmie’s accident over and over in her mind, along with the way he’d told them his mother had really died. How could a man who stood up in front of a congregation in church several times a week be so cold and heartless? Didn’t anyone else see it?
Her parents had. And a few others she knew about, as well. But how could the rest of this town be so blind? Were they afraid of Bobby James, or were they merely afraid to face the truth in their own hearts?
By the time she finally drifted off to sleep, Savannah knew she’d never look at Jimmie’s father the same way again. And she also knew she was going to do whatever she had to in order to help Jimmie find justice and peace over his mother’s death.
Chapter Fifteen
Savannah woke up to an empty house and a note on her nightstand, along with a single yellow rose. It was from Ethan, and she grinned from ear to ear while reading it.
This was growing alongside the house, and it reminded me of your hair. I hope you got some sleep, beautiful. Noah will be home at 3:30, Jimmie works until 6:00, and I hope to leave by 4:00 or 5:00. Can you stay for dinner? We thought we’d grill out on the back porch tonight. See you later. Love, Ethan.
Love, Ethan. She read it again. Yes. He really had signed it that way. She was telling him tonight. But why wait? He was only down the road at the hospital, and she was off today. She had nothing else to do.
She took a shower and put on a tank top and shorts, and then cleaned up the breakfast mess the men had left in the kitchen. She could get used to this, even with the mess. When the kitchen was as clean as she preferred it to be, she walked around Ethan’s house, inhaling his scent everywhere. Jimmie’s and Noah’s presences were here now, too. It would be so much fun if they all lived here.
And why not? Ethan had already told her that she could move in if she wanted to. She knew he’d said the same thing to Noah. Her house was so old it was constantly in need of something. Her parents usually took care of the repairs for her when she could
n’t, but why should she live alone now? This was it. The real thing. She wasn’t going to give these three up. Not even one of them. She should put her home up for sale and move in here.
Savannah had to sit down in the nearest chair as the enormity of her decision finally struck home. She was thirty years old, and had dated more men than she cared to count. She hadn’t had sex with all of them, but that was only because she rarely went out with anyone longer than a few weeks. Three months was pretty much her average I’m not sure this is working for me point. Some of those relationships had progressed to sex during that time, but not all of them. Not even close to all them, actually.
Jimmie, Noah, and Ethan were the only three men she hadn’t blown off within a few weeks or months. Well, to be fair, she hadn’t been dating Ethan for months yet. But she already knew she didn’t want to give him up. She was in love with him. She was in love with all three of them. And she knew it was real because it had never happened before.
Savannah giggled. And then her giggles turned into full-blown laughs. She stood up and twirled around the room until she became dizzy again and had to sit back down. She didn’t know whether to keep laughing or cry. So many powerful emotions bubbled up at the same time that she couldn’t even process all of them.
She felt as though she should mark this date on a calendar or something, to commemorate it. She should pinpoint the exact time, as well. Savannah Patterson was in love, and she was ready to settle down with three men. To hell with the unconventionality of it. She was who she was, and damn proud of it. If the people in this town hadn’t figured that out by now, they never would.
And, it was time to let Ethan know how she felt. She’d already said the words to Jimmie and Noah, and all three men had told her they loved her. Ethan needed to know she loved him, too.
Savannah texted Ethan to let him know she was coming to the hospital with lunch for him, and then she put together a basket with sandwiches and leftover potato salad from the picnic. She added two slices of carrot cake that she’d managed to grab last evening before it was all gone, and then dropped in two cans of Arizona sweet tea. He was waiting for her outside in the back at one of the picnic tables, and he gave her a big hug and kiss when she walked up to him.
