Deadline

by Judy McDonough

Trevor enjoyed the gumbo as much as Caroline had, so she was happy he wanted to try Dupree's. She couldn't understand why she cared whether he liked this area. It wasn't like he would ever consider living this far south.

  Nothing happened during their lunch. Well, except the owner and his look-alike brother stared at Caroline the whole time while speaking Cajun to each other. She had no doubt they gossiped about her, and why she'd come with anyone but Cade. Words like, "Bonne a rienne" and "Canaille," stood out in their speech, and she didn't know what they meant, but she didn't care. She was with the man she loved, her fiancé, the man who proposed to her and gave her this beautiful ring.

  However, she did plan to ask Cade later what those words meant. If she still remembered them. She pulled out her phone to Google it, but didn't know how to spell the words. The ones that popped up from her botched attempt weren't very nice.

  Though he said he had forgiven her, Trevor still seemed strangely silent and uninterested in conversation. She had forced him.

  "So, other than thinking I was fooling around with someone else, is there any other reason you came down here?"

  His head snapped in her direction and he answered quickly. Almost too quickly. Very suspicious. "No. Why would you think there would be any other reason for my trip down here? Did someone say something about it?"

  "No. Good grief, Trev. It was just a question. I hoped for something like, 'Well, C, I missed you like crazy and wanted to touch you and hold you in my arms'. Instead, you act like I've accused you of something."

  He smiled nervously and chuckled. "No, I'm sorry, I've just been really stressed lately. I did want to see you and physically hold you in my arms. But when that chick, April, called and told me what you did, I was afraid I would lose you. With that in my head, the journey down here was definitely not a joy trip."

  "What exactly did she tell you? When did she call you?"

  "Don't worry about it. It's over and done with. Dredging up the details will do nothing but cause pain and suffering for all parties involved."

  "I'm not trying to dredge anything up. I did nothing wrong and simply want to know what that demon told you about me."

  "She wasn't very specific, so I really didn't know what to expect. When I got here and you weren't at the house, I started worrying." He stared straight forward with a distant look, probably replaying in his mind what happened. "Then when I saw you coming from the woods with a big smile. . .and you were so surprised to see me. I figured I wasn't the one who had put that beautiful smile on your face. It was almost as if I caught you doing something you shouldn't have been doing. It just. . .it wasn't a good feeling."

  Guilt reared its ugly head. She'd been smiling coming from the woods from excitement that she and Cade would be spending more time together. She had kissed him, for goodness sakes! Caroline was surprised to see Trevor.

  No wonder he's upset with me. I would have been upset with me, too.

  Caroline wasn't a terribly jealous person—well, at least she didn't think so. But just thinking about some other chick with her paws all over Trevor. . . It made the country girl in her ready to beat the pink right out of any woman's panties.

  She reached across the console of the car and held his hand. "I'm so sorry, Trev. I didn't want to cause you any more stress than you already have. I promise I'll try to be more supportive of you. Why are you so stressed at work anyway? What's going on?"

  "It's nothing, really. I'm working on something with my dad's firm, and he's just riding me really hard. Honestly, he's driving me crazy. I can't tell him that or he'll flip out, so I'm forced to just sit back and take it like a dog with his tail between his legs. It's humiliating."

  "What kind of project is it that allows him to have so much control over you?"

  He sat quietly for a few minutes. "It's nothing. I don't want you to worry about it. It's my problem, not yours. I want you to focus on building a strong, solid relationship with your dad so you can be a major part of his life."

  This greatly confused her. Trevor had initially said he wanted her to make amends with Eddie to clear the air, then he made that comment about being accepted as a daughter, and now he wanted her to be a major part of Eddie's life? Each time he mentioned it, he made it even more personal.

  "Trevor, I'm already a part of my dad's life. He told me there wasn't a day that went by when he didn't regret not keeping in touch with me. He recognized me the minute he saw me on his doorstep. We're cool now. There's no hard feelings, and I feel completely accepted. There are no skeletons in the closet and the air is officially cleared. My mission is accomplished."

  He hesitantly smiled. "That's great, babe. I'm glad you guys hit it off. So what will you do the rest of the summer? Just hang out with each other and bond some more? Has he mentioned anything about you being included in his inheritance? I mean, that house has been in his family for a very long time. I'm sure he would like to have someone to leave it to."

  "Is that what all this is about? My inheritance from him? Don't forget he has a wife, Trevor! A wife who hates me with a passion. Also, I have two siblings who have been with him since birth, so I'm sure if something were to happen to my dad I wouldn't get much of anything, if at all. He's only known me for a month, so I'm quite sure he hasn't rushed out to make things legal."

  She turned in her seat to face him. "Technically, I've done what you wanted me to do, so I could come back to Chicago with you if you wanted. I've told my dad we're getting married and that he's invited. I think he will come if he can get off work, and, since he's his own boss, that shouldn't be a problem."

  Trevor gripped the steering wheel tighter, his eyes darted about erratically—out the window, at his mirrors, at the car's gauges. "Well, Caroline, I can't. . .I don't see any necessary. . . You don't have to. . .well, are you ready. . .well, there's no reason for you to come back now. . .so early. I mean, don't you want to hang out with your dad more and learn more about him. . .his family? I mean, you. . .you could learn more about that chick who scratched her initials in the window or something. You should definitely stay and bond with your dad more. You've only been here for a month. That's not enough time—I mean, it's not very long to reconnect with someone you haven't seen in twenty-something years. You know?"

  Her sinking suspicion that he didn't want her to come back yet unsettled her. "Actually, I've been here almost two months." Annoyance ate at her that he didn't even know how long she'd been gone. "What's up with you? You're very distracted. Is there something you're not telling me? Have you been with someone else?"

  "What? No! Of course not! Why would—what makes you think that?"

  "That! That right there! You are stammering. You never do that. You're acting weird. I just have a bad feeling that I'm missing something, and I can't figure out what it is. You would tell me, wouldn't you? If something was going on? Something that involved me? You'd tell me, right?"

  He didn't look at her as he answered. "Sure. You know I would. I'm fine, I'm just. . .still shaken up about the whole reason I had to come down here."

  Caroline flinched. Would her guilt ever subside? Maybe it would go away once they were married and, by man's law as well as God's law, she was legally bound to be faithful. Surely she could control her thoughts and emotions better around Cade when held accountable for her actions legally, physically and spiritually. She caused this whole mess.

  Caroline smiled when she saw her dad's truck in the driveway. Trevor noticed and smiled. "So, I finally get to meet your dad. Should I be nervous? Is he going to be cleaning his guns or sharpening his knives when I walk in?"

  She laughed. She'd never had to worry about bringing home a guy to meet her dad. The whole experience was new to her. "Oh, don't be silly. I'm sure he's doing something simple and harmless, like extracting the venom from his rattlesnakes."

  Trevor's eyes grew huge, and his voice raised an octave. "Come again? Did you say rattlesnakes?" Caroline laughed so hard, she realized she had to pee. Then she remembered her frightening
experience with a rattlesnake that morning. She seriously doubted Trevor would've acted as gallantly as Cade had, nor be as good a shot. Come to think of it, she didn't know if Trevor even owned a gun, much less knew how to use one.

  Caroline led the way and couldn't help but notice Trevor's hesitation as they entered the foyer. Eddie came barreling around the corner with an indignant look on his face. She instinctively stepped between him and Trevor, red flags popping up everywhere. She assumed he had already spoken to Cade, and anger bit through her pleasant mood. Though not surprised after what happened to his sister, she still wished Cade had at least given her the opportunity to explain to Eddie before tattling like a preschooler. Eddie looked her over while she introduced them.

  "Dad, I'd like you to meet Trevor. My fiancé."

  He had the same fierce green eyes she had when angry. He fixed his sights on Trevor who held his hand out to shake Eddie's hand. "Hello, Mr. Fontenot, I've heard a lot about you. I'm happy to finally meet you."

  Eddie didn't extend his hand, nor did he remove his eyes from Trevor's. "Forgive me for not reciprocating those feelings. I heard about what happened earlier today, and I can't say I'm thrilled to see the bruises on my daughter's arms." Caroline inherently folded her arms across her stomach and hugged herself trying to hide the now colorful bruises.

  Trevor dropped his eyes to the floor. "Yes, sir, I apologized to her already for that, and I'll apologize to you, as well. I briefly lost my temper, and what I did was inexcusable. I'm sorry the results of my actions today are your first impression of me. I love your daughter very much and would never do anything to hurt her."

  Eddie snapped. "Well, it looks like you already broke that promise today. What's to say you won't lose your temper again sometime? What will you do to her then? Today you nearly broke her arms and threw her across the driveway. What's it gonna be next time?" Caroline seethed and wanted to punch Cade right in his big mouth. "I just got my daughter back in my life, and I refuse to allow anyone, especially the man she's choosing to spend the rest of her life with, to mistreat her because of a temper tantrum."

  Trevor stiffened. Caroline could see this would not end well and stepped closer to Eddie. "Dad, please. It was all a big misunderstanding, and everything is okay now. I'm sure Cade made it out to be much worse than it really was." Eddie's tender, saddened eyes studied her.

  "Caroline, no man—no respectable man," his eyes flashed to Trevor and back, "Would ever physically harm you for any reason. Misunderstanding or not, he bruised you." Her dad touched the bloody spot on her head where she'd hit the rocking chair. She winced in pain. She had forgotten about that one.

  "Dad, that was my fault. I tripped over the plant on the front porch and lost my balance. It's no big deal."

  He glared at Trevor again. "Tripping over it and being pushed over it are two totally different things, sweetheart."

  Caroline started to interject again and explain how she tripped, but a scalding hand wrapped around her arm and pulled her back a step.

  Trevor shifted, obviously needing a significant amount of control to speak calmly. "Mr. Fontenot, may I call you Eddie?"

  "No."

  "Okay. . .Mr. Fontenot. As I already told you, I have apologized to Caroline for my inexcusable actions, and she has forgiven me. I can assure you nothing like this will happen again. You have my word."

  "Your word? What's that to me? I don't know you from Adam. How is that supposed to make me feel better? I'm a realist, Mr. Callahan. I believe what I see, and what I see is my daughter looking like a battered woman, by your hand. Tell me, why did you come down here, and what caused you to be so angry?"

  Trevor's piercing blue eyes were cold as ice now. He was livid. "Mr. Fontenot, I do not have to explain myself to you or anyone. Caroline is my fiancée and this is between her and me. With all due respect, it's none of your business."

  "Right. Well, her well-being is my business, and, from what I can see, you aren't proving to be very good for her."

  "That's rich coming from someone who ran out on her when she was just a baby. I hardly think your opinion is relevant in this case."

  Eddie's glare turned murderous. "You self-righteous, spoiled little—"

  "Dad, please stop. Trevor and I are together. I love him, and he loves me. You have obviously only heard one side of the story. You should go talk to April. She's the reason all this happened, the reason Trevor is down here. She stole my phone and got his number so she could call him and stir the pot. She told him I slept with Cade and caused him to come down here thinking I cheated on him."

  "What? April did this?" Eddie looked confused. Shocked. This surprised Caroline because he had to know know exactly what kind of woman he married. Or maybe she was an Oscar-worthy actress and had him duped.

  "Yes. I told you, she hates me. It's no secret, everyone in this house knows it."

  "I'll take care of April. Right now, I'm concerned about your safety. If he'll hurt you like this once, he will do it again. It's only a matter of time." Eddie held her hands in his before cupping her cheek. "I love you, cher. I've waited a long time to be able to say those words to you, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some pompous, hot-tempered, control freak slap you around. It's just not right."

  Caroline hugged him, emotion bubbling over. "Thank you, Daddy. I appreciate your concern, but I'm quite capable of taking care of myself. I've been with Trevor for over two years now, and this was the first time he's ever completely lost his temper with me. Frankly, he had good reason. He thought I had cheated on him. I would be out of my mind, too, if I thought he was cheating on me. It's all good. Please, don't worry about me." She kissed his cheek and held Trevor's hand as they walked up the stairs. She pretended not to notice the lingering glare between the two of them as she led the way.

  Twenty-Eight