Southern Sweets (Midnight)

by Cori Williams

  “You don’t want to try them,” I whisper as she passes by.

  “Why?” she asks with a laugh.

  “Because she put potato chips in them. Potato chips.”

  “Seriously, Amelia? You do remember all of the crazy concoctions you used to come up with when we were in school, right? I’m sure it can’t be that bad.”

  I watch Monroe’s face as Paisley pushes a deformed cookie into her hand and she takes a quick bite, a look of disgust flashing across her face before putting on a smile. “Mmm, these are so good, Paisley-girl. You’ve definitely got your mama’s talents.”

  “Here, you can have more.” Paisley pushes two more at her and Monroe eyes them.

  “Oh, thanks. Is that pepper I taste in there? Lots and lots of pepper?”

  “Yes! That’s the secret ingredient.”

  “Oh! Well I’ll just save these other two for Uncle Miller. I’m sure he’ll love them.”

  “Okay!”

  “Paisley, tell Aunt Roe bye and then go get your coat on. We need to get going.”

  “Where you headed?”

  “The senior center and then home. Henry ordered two dozen more of his sugar free cookies and then Paisley and I are vegging out with a pizza.”

  “Oh that sounds fun. Maybe Miller and I will stop by on our way home. He’s taking me out; he’s being very secretive about where exactly, though,” she says with a smile and a sparkle in her eye.

  “Ah to be in love,” I grumble, and she laughs.

  “You’ll get there someday, Amelia.”

  “I highly doubt that.”

  “What is this place, Mama?” Paisley asks as I open the back door for her to climb out of.

  “Well, this is a place where older people go to live when they start to need help.”

  “Like a daycare?”

  “Um… Sort of.” Kids can be so smart sometimes.

  “Oh. Is Mamaw gonna live here?”

  I laugh, picturing my mom living in a place like this. Nope, can’t even imagine it. They would most likely kick her out on the first day. “Well, I don’t know. Maybe someday.”

  She chatters on as we walk through the front doors and I sign in before going on the hunt for Henry. He’s not in his room so we head into the activities room and that’s where I find him, watching the nightly news. His attention is quickly caught when Paisley bounces into the room.

  “Amelia! Here with my delivery, I see. And who might this be?”

  “Paisley, of course! Who are you?” she questions, sticking out her hand to him. “Why’s my mom bringing you cookies? I could’ve brought some of mine, too.”

  I laugh, shaking my head. She definitely is a unique combination of her mom and dad—outgoing, talkative, friendly, and a goofball. Every day is a new experience with her.

  “Oh, Henry can’t have your cookies. They had too much sugar in them, sweetie.” Like way too much.

  “So? Sugar is yummy.”

  “I’d have to agree,” Henry says, “but this old body doesn’t seem to agree. That’s why your mama brought me some special cookies. Do you want to try one? I’ll share just one.”

  “Sharing is nice,” Paisley states matter-of-factly, holding out her hand. “Thank you! Oh, Mama! There’s fishies. Can I go look?”

  “Yep, go ahead, but don’t go any farther. Understand?”

  She’s already flying past me and I collapse in the chair, shaking my head.

  “She sure is full of energy, isn’t she? What a beautiful little girl you have there.”

  “Thank you. She’s my whole life.”

  “Any men in that life of yours? What about that doctor?”

  My whole body shivers in disgust. “Ugh, no thank you, Henry. I’m sure you don’t even want me to get started on that whole situation. Let’s just say the doctor and I will never ever be a thing.”

  “Well, alright then.” He chuckles, patting my knee. “You’re still young, Amelia and have plenty of time to find the one. You know, my wife and I didn’t get together until I was 37 and she was 35. We never had kids sadly, but they were the best years of my life. You’ll get there eventually, but in the meantime, be young and have some fun. Someone’s gotta do it for me. I don’t get around anymore like I used to.”

  I laugh. “Well, I’ll try. I should get going. I’m sure she’s starving. Paisley?” I call her name but don’t get an answer. “Paisley Grace, time to go. Say bye-bye to the fishies.” I stand up, waving to Henry. “Looks like I need to deal with this. I’ll see you soon.”

  I peek around the fish tank, hoping to sneak up on her but she’s not there. Just minutes ago her nose was pressed to the glass as she stared at the swimming fish. “Paisley?” I call out, looking in both directions of the narrow hallway. “This isn’t funny. It’s time to go. Paisley?” I head towards the front, in a panic that she could have gone toward the door. She always stays close by, even when she’s trying to play her games and hide. “Paisley, you’re scaring Mama. Time to come out.”

  I walk past the front receptionist again, my hands beginning to shake.

  “Amelia, honey, what’s wrong?”

  “Did you see Paisley? She was just with me seconds ago. She was looking at the fish and now she’s gone.”

  “Well, I did.” She looks at me in confusion, her forehead wrinkling.

  “Where did she go?” I demand.

  “Well, she went with Doctor Peterson. She was holding his hand and smiling away. I didn’t think it was a problem.”

  “What?” I shriek, a strangled sound squeezing from my throat. My shaking hands fumble for my phone as I run out the front door, my eyes frantically searching for Danny’s car—it’s nowhere in sight. Panic sets in as his words about me ‘paying’ slam into the front of my mind and I sink to the ground.

  Chapter 38

  I’ve been sitting in my living room for an hour straight and I’m completely numb. Activity is buzzing around me, questions are being asked non-stop but I can’t give them any more information than I already have.

  Do I know who she’s with? Yes

  Do I know where he would’ve taken her? I gave them a list of his office and home address, anywhere else I really couldn’t think of. They’ve been to both places and he’s not there.

  Why would he do this? That’s a question I can’t completely answer. Paisley is just a sweet innocent child in all of this. Why would he do this? Why?

  “Amelia.” A familiar comforting voice has me slightly snapping out of the shock that has wrapped itself tightly around my entire body.

  “Tanner.” I blink furiously and he crouches down in front of me, scooping up both of my hands. “You’re here.”

  “Of course I am. What happened, baby?” My vision blurs and he repeats my name again and again as I shake my head.

  “Tanner, it’s all my fault. He has our baby. What if he does something to her? What if we never see her again?”

  “Amelia,” his voice is low but demanding, “you need to be strong for her. Don’t let yourself fall apart. I need you to have a level head right now so we can find her. Okay? Can you do that for me?”

  “I can try,” I whisper, wiping at my eyes. “I’ll try.”

  “Good. The police officers have filled me in on everything. Do you have any idea where he would take her? Think, Amelia. Does he have any family around here? Is there somewhere you two took Paisley before? Does he have any second homes, like a cabin or something?”

  A lightbulb goes off and my heart rate picks up as I remember somewhere he had mentioned a few times. “Yes, yes…there’s a place of his friends out on highway 52 that he mentioned before. He wanted to take us fishing but we never went.”

  “That’s good, that’s good.” The police officer standing nearby scribbles notes down furiously, throwing directions over his shoulder to his partner. “That gives us something.” They disappear into the background, the room buzzing louder. Please God let this be something. I can’t imagine my life without Paisley, I don�
�t even want to begin. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.

  Hands are on my shoulders and my eyes snap open. I didn’t even realize I had them squeezed shut. I think I was hoping that once I opened them, I would wake up and this would all be a bad dream. It isn’t, this is really happening.

  “How are you remaining so calm right now?” I ask Tanner, who’s still gripping my shoulders lightly. I sniffle, dabbing at my raw eyes. “How?”

  “Because I need a clear head right now so we can find her—and we will find her,” he answers, his jaw tight. “Because when we find her, I’m going to beat the fucking shit of that asshole.”

  “Tanner.” Now I’m the one trying to keep him calm and rational. “That would be stupid. He’s the one that needs to go to jail, not you. Paisley needs both of us.” I push to my feet.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Follow me,” I whisper out of the side of my mouth. I tip toe past the crowd gathered and snake out the front door.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I know where she is and I’m not waiting around until they confirm anything,” I state confidently. “We’re going to get our daughter back.”

  Chapter 39

  Amelia

  I point Tanner turn after turn until we’re on the narrow dirt road that looks somewhat familiar. Danny had said a friend of his used this cabin as a getaway. Something tells me this is where he has taken Paisley, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting the police get here before me. Paisley is probably terrified.

  “It’s gonna be alright,” Tanner assures me, reaching over to squeeze my hand. The strength and warmth of it makes me feel just a sliver better and I’m glad he’s right here beside me.

  “Turn here.”

  Tanner slams on the brakes, barely missing the sharp turn.

  “Yes, this is it.”

  “Alright.” He pulls to the side of the driveway and shuts off the truck.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We need to have the element of surprise, Amelia. I’m not gonna come roaring up the driveway.” He leans across the seat, opening the glove box, and I plaster myself against the seat.

  “Wh-at…what’s that for?” I stammer, cautiously eyeing the gun that he pulled out and is now tucking into his waistband.

  He shrugs, pulling on my hand. “Just in case. Now c’mon…on second thought, maybe you should stay here.”

  “Like hell I am.”

  “Amelia,” he says sternly, but lets me pass by him and follows me up the driveway.

  “What should we do? Ring the doorbell?” I whisper.

  Tanner shakes his head, sighing softly. “Let’s walk around back.”

  I tip toe around the corner, all the different possibilities racing through my head as to what could’ve happened to Paisley already, and my stomach rolls. Keep walking, Amelia. Stay strong.

  What I see is not one of the possibilities. There’s my beautiful girl, laughing and giggling, blowing bubbles. My stomach stops rolling and before I can even think, I’m running towards her. She spots me right away and squeals. “Mama, you came!”

  “Of course I did, baby girl.” She leaps into my arms and I can finally breathe normally once she’s pressed against me.

  “You’re alright. You’re okay,” I repeat over and over again, more to myself than her. She seems completely unaffected, happy in fact.

  “What were you thinking?” I hiss at Danny with Paisley’s head buried in my chest.

  His face is pale and his eyes are wide as Tanner glares at him, his hand resting on the cool silver poking from the top of his waistband. He holds his hands up defensively, waving them in the air.

  “You were going to destroy my career. After everything that I had done to get there, I couldn’t let you do that. Marcia came to my office… she…she…she said she was going to report me, but Sophia talked her out of it, said she’s in love with me. She’s going to keep it quiet, but you…you on the other hand, don’t know when to keep your mouth shut. Such a stupid c—”

  “I wouldn’t,” Tanner warns in a low voice.

  “This is rich.” Danny laughs. “You’re defending her. What, are you two together again or something? How laughable that would be.”

  “We’re here to get our daughter.” I pet Paisley’s hair, pressing her harder against me to cover her ears. “The police are on their way.”

  “The police?” His mouth gapes open and I roll my eyes.

  “Would you really think I wouldn’t call the police when my daughter disappears?” I shake my head. “Don’t try to blame me for this. You’re the one who made the decisions that brought you here today.”

  “All because of you,” he screams. “All because of you. I wasn’t going to hurt her. We were playing with bubbles, for Christ’s sake. This is your fault.” He shifts on his feet but then is hurtling towards Paisley and I.

  It all happens in slow motion.

  I twist my body, pushing Paisley out of harm’s way and when I’m turning around, Tanner dives in front of me, taking the blunt force of Danny’s body slamming into him. Grunts and groans sound and I’m not sure whose limbs are whose as they wrestle.

  “Tanner!” I screech when Danny picks him up, slamming into the worn wooden picnic table. “Stop it, Danny! Right now, please. We’ll leave, you can go before the police get here.” Just as I say it, I hear the faint sound of sirens and I pray that they get here in time before someone gets hurt.

  “Mama.” Paisley runs to me, wrapping herself around my legs. Her eyes are watering as she watches Tanner and Danny fight and I pick her up, covering her eyes.

  “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”

  “But Daddy.” Her bottom lip trembles and I turn her away, walking in the opposite direction and fighting the urge to help Tanner in some way. Right now, I need to get our daughter away from this situation. The police will be here soon enough.

  The crack of a gunshot whistles through the air just as I’m walking around front. My whole body tenses and I hunch around Paisley, trying to protect her as much I can. “Are you okay, baby? Are you okay?”

  “Yes, Mama.” She presses a hand to my cheek. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

  “Daddy?” she questions, her lip once again trembling but no tears have yet spilled over. She’s my brave girl.

  “I need to go check on him,” I whisper, I glance up just in time to see two unmarked police cars creeping into the driveway. “Wait right here, the policemen are coming. They’ll make sure you’re safe. Don’t move.”

  She nods and I press one last kiss to her forehead.

  The air is thick with silence as I round the edge of the house. I find the two men, both lying still—too still. Tanner is on his back, a deep red spot spread across the front of his shirt. Panic begins to set in and I have tunnel vision as I run towards him.

  “Tanner!” I scream, dropping to my knees. “Tanner, please be okay, please be okay.” I press my ear to his lips and relief floods my entire body when I hear his breath pass through.

  “Amelia,” he groans, his eyes still pressed shut. He sighs against my cheek. “I…I—”

  “Shh, it’s okay. I need to try to stop the bleeding. Where did it hit?”

  He shakes his head. “I’m okay.”

  “No you’re not. You were shot! You’re bleeding.” The panic that was creeping up spills over and my breath starts coming in small spurts. Stay in control, Amelia. You need to stay in control for Tanner.

  “No, it’s not…it’s not mine. It’s his. My head’s just fucking killing me. I think…” he licks at his lips, his eyes falling before he murmurs, “concussion.”

  My heart soars in relief when I lift up the bottom of his shirt and find that what he said is true. His skin is smooth, no wounds. A heavy weight is lifted away. I glance towards Danny and now see where the bullet grazed his shoulder, but his chest is moving steadily up and down. I shouldn’t care but an ounce of me is relieved that Tanner does
n’t have to live with killing someone. I know he blames himself for Marissa; this added on top of that might have just ruined him.

  “Mama!” Paisley runs towards Tanner and I, and she looks down at Tanner before whispering, “Is Daddy okay? Does he have to go to the hospital again?”

  “He’s okay. He’s just really, really tired. Are you okay?”

  “Mama, stop asking me that.” It’s then that she notices Danny but before she can ask another question, the backyard is swarmed.

  Chapter 40

  Tanner was right; thankfully, all he ended up with after the whole debacle was a concussion. Paisley didn’t seem effected by it much, but I kept a close eye on her for any after effects. I had never imagined anything like that could happen to my child, and now that it had, I was afraid she was going to get smothered for the rest of her life.

  “Amelia, I think it would be better if I took her back to my house for a while,” my mother insists, but I shake my head, setting my shoulders back.

  “She’s fine right here.”

  She perches an eyebrow. “You’re going to have to let her out of your sight sometime, honey.”

  “I know,” I whisper. “But not right now. Besides, as soon as we’re finished up here she has her very first dance class with Monroe.”

  “Well okay then.” She leans down to crouch in front of Paisley, who’s busy coloring, oblivious to the constant worry that wracking my body on an everyday basis. “Maybe we’ll be able to talk your mama into a sleepover at Grandma’s this weekend. Doesn’t that sound like a fabulous time?”

  I glare at her, but Paisley’s grin stretches as she looks at me. “Can I, Mama?”

  “We’ll see,” I answer, even though I’ll probably give in. My mom doesn’t mention that I can’t come along for said sleepover.

  “Alright, well I need to get going. We have dinner at the club tonight.”

  We say our goodbyes and I feel like I can breathe a little bit easier without my mother here to keep pushing at me. I finish up a couple of orders before I start to flip everything off for the day and Paisley bounces from her seat. “Is it time, Mama? Can I put on my tutu now?”