by SL Beabhar
Ash didn't try to explain that his relationship with Phoebe was much more than a special arrangement. He'd spent a lifetime telling everyone near and dear to him that he had no plans to get married. Both of his sisters knew he enjoyed a life with minimal commitments. But his whole perspective on marriage had changed after he'd married his temporary wife. And he wasn't quite ready to announce that to Frank, who he knew would be happy and supportive. He was much more concerned about Jack finding out because she'd take pleasure in destroying his happiness.
"A special arrangement?" she asked. "What are you talking about?"
He plucked the phone from the holder, then turned off the speaker. He cradled the phone between his head and shoulder as he climbed out of the car. "Hold on. Let me get to my room, and I'll explain." He found himself dragging his feet as he walked the long corridor to his room. When he arrived, he slowly unlocked the door, dropped his case, then leapt onto the bed. "I got in a little over my head when I moved Reggie in. I just assumed I could hire someone to take care of her while I was at work but, you know Reggie, she didn't appreciate having someone babysitting her. Before I knew it, she'd run through nearly a dozen"--he knew he exaggerated--"caregivers and my boss was running out of patience. Someone suggested finding a wife who'd care for Reggie, and it sounded like a good idea."
"You could have sent her home to me," Frank muttered. In the background, Ash could hear his newborn nephew screaming for attention.
"Your hands are already full." He sat up and kicked off his shoes. "And asking Jack was out of the question."
"You have to give her a chance, Ash."
He shook his head even though she couldn't see the motion. "Look. She's burned me way too many times. I've bailed her out of jail. I let her move in with me, only to have her steal from me, then get arrested when she was trying to buy her next fix." He was so angry with the abrupt change in conversation that he found himself ripping his clothes off. "I know she's been sober for a while, but she's been sober before. She's gonna have to earn my trust again, and that's going to take time."
Frank released a heavy sigh. "Jack says Phoebe--"
"Wait a second. How does Jack know about Phoebe? Reggie wouldn't rat me out."
There was a brief pause on the other end. "Don't get mad."
"Frank."
"I might have told Jack that you were going away for a while and leaving Reggie with a caregiver. In my defense, if I'd known that you were leaving her with your wife, I might not have worried."
Dread formed in the pit of his stomach. His fingers ached as he clutched the phone more tightly. "What are you saying?"
"Jack's there."
"Bye," he said, ending the call abruptly so he could call Phoebe. When she answered the phone, he could hear Jack and Reggie talking in the background. "What's going on?"
There was a slight hesitation, then Phoebe greeted him. "Hey, Ash."
"Look, I'm sure you're confused and probably pissed, and you have a right to be. But right now, I need you to do me a favor. Is Jack in the same room with you?"
There was another hesitation. "Yes."
"Go to another room."
"Why? We're just sitting down for dinner."
"Please, just go up to your room." He heard her murmur her apologies. He held onto the phone as he waited for her to give him the all-clear.
"Okay. What's up?"
"My sister, Jack, she's in recovery."
"Ah." The way she said that simple sound conveyed a lot. He knew a bit about her history. He knew that her mother had struggled with addiction and that she'd died from a drug overdose. "I'd wondered, considering how Reggie acted when she arrived. I guess there's still some bad blood there, huh?"
"It's complicated," he muttered. He loved his younger sister, he truly did, and he felt awful putting Phoebe into this awkward position, but he wasn't ready to be burned again. "She's been sober over a year, but she's relapsed in the past. I'm not worried about her being around Reggie. I am worried that she might try to take Reggie's meds. She's done things like that before."
"Got it," Phoebe said.
He knew what he was about to say would upset her. "She has a lot of bitterness. She's never forgiven me for reporting her to the cops." If Jack understood how much trouble he could face for marrying Phoebe under false pretenses, then she would report his ass in a heartbeat. But he didn't want to burden Phoebe with that knowledge. "Don't let her out of your sight. She has a history of rummaging through people's things."
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Phoebe sawed into her French toast, ignoring the blazing glare of Jack's hazel eyes. It was the tensest breakfast she'd ever experienced; even worse than the meals she'd suffered through when she'd lived with Paul and Brandilynn. It would have been easy for her to extract herself from this situation, but Reggie had begged Phoebe not to leave her alone with her niece.
She knew the reasons behind Ash's distrust of his youngest sister, but she didn't quite grasp the source of Reggie's apprehension. Phoebe hadn't had an opportunity to converse alone with Reggie. Since Jack's arrival, the younger woman had gone out of her way to insert herself in every interaction Phoebe had with Reggie.
At first, Phoebe had assumed it was due to Jack's concern for her aunt. That made sense to Phoebe. She remembered when she was carrying for Andrea and had taken one night off to visit with Dana and the kids. Even though Andrea had been at home with her husband, that hadn't stopped Phoebe from worrying that she wouldn't eat a proper meal or that Paul would forget to grind her medication.
However, as the morning dragged on, Phoebe reassessed her initial conclusion. She'd watched the interactions between Reggie and Jack, and she was nearly convinced that Jack was afraid that if she wasn't around Reggie, then Reggie would reveal some big secret.
"Would you like more eggs?" Phoebe asked, studying the unusually quiet Reggie.
Reggie sat across from her gripping her fork. There were deep shadows under her eyes, and her gaze was downcast. With her drooping shoulders, she seemed despondent, almost like a whipped dog. It worried Phoebe, especially when Reggie remained silent and pushed her food from one side of the plate to the other.
"I think we might have some frozen strawberries I could defrost and puree. I'm sorry about the sugar-free syrup, I was really hoping it would taste better than it did." Phoebe reached out and placed her hand on Reggie's arm. "Or, if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, we could drizzle on some of that chocolate-hazelnut spread and add some whipped cream."
As if pulling herself from a fog, Reggie patted Phoebe's hand, then dropped her fork onto the plate. "Don't fret none, Phoebe. I guess I'm just not in the mood for no French toast."
"I could make some pancakes. It'd just take a few minutes."
Reggie smiled and shook her head. She pulled her hand away to place it on Phoebe's cheek. "You're a sweetheart for asking, but I'm okay. I've eaten all my bacon and half my eggs." She dropped her hand to her coffee mug. "I'll just sip my coffee while you two finish with your breakfasts."
Phoebe could feel the rage pulsing from the other end of the table. She looked at Jack and found her shooting daggers in Phoebe's direction. Their eyes connected for a moment, and Phoebe recognized a challenge there. For a moment, she entertained the thought of having a stare-down, as she didn't want this other woman to think she was weak. But then she reminded herself that this wasn't a competition, and she wouldn't find herself struggling to win Reggie, or Ash's, affections.
"I think I'm done, too." Phoebe broke their stare-down. She placed her fork and knife onto her plate, then slid from her seat. She picked up her place setting and held out her hand to take Reggie's plate. "I'll take it, if you're absolutely finished."
Reggie inclined her head, then she handed her plate and utensils to Phoebe. "I've been thinking. Maybe you and me can go do a bit of shopping. I'd like to pick up some bananas and fresh blackberries."
A loud throat clearing drew both Phoebe and Reggie's attention. They looked at Ja
ck and found her stabbing into a piece of sausage. "I can take you, Reggie. I need to pick up some things myself. I only packed for a few days."
Her comment brought Phoebe up short. She'd never asked Jack how long she intended to stay. "How long are you planning to stay?"
"Why?" Jack asked, cocking her head. The challenge returned to her eyes. "Does it matter?"
Phoebe felt herself plunging towards a no-win situation. On the one hand, Jack was family and, in spite of whatever the history was between them, she obviously cared about Reggie, hence her surprise trip to check on her. On the other hand, she hadn't been invited and, irrespective of their status as a married couple, this was still Ash's home, and he wasn't comfortable having her around. Phoebe could tell Jack to leave, knowing she would forever alienate one or both of her sisters-in-law. Or, she could keep Jack around and risk having Ash blow up when he arrived home. She wished she didn't have to make a choice, but even if she chose to do nothing, it would mean that Jack was given tacit approval to stay.
"Well..." Phoebe licked her lips, thinking of the right words. "Ash will be home in another few days. I don't know the history between the two of you, but I have the impression things are rather strained."
Reggie snorted, then traced her finger around the rim of her coffee mug. "Strained is putting it lightly."
"It's not really any of your business what's going on between me and Ash. It's a family thing."
Reggie's face blossomed into a full-blown grin. "Like it or not, Jack"--she pointed in Phoebe's direction--"she's family now."
"I talked to Frank." A look of triumph flashed over Jack's features. Resting her back against the chair, she smirked. "She's the nursing aide that Ash married so he could save money and his job." She arched a brow at Reggie. "That doesn't make her family."
Phoebe flinched at the hurtful words. She knew the reasons why Ash had married her, but she'd genuinely thought they'd developed something deep between them. How did he truly feel about her if he described her like this?
Any amusement on Reggie's face quickly evaporated. She slapped her palm against the table. "Jacinda, I warn you now. If you go around Ash talking like that, you'll find your ass bouncin' against the sidewalk." She leaned forward and wagged her finger in warning. "So if I was you, I'd start learning to keep my damn opinion to myself."
It was well past time for Phoebe to intervene. The docile Reggie had fled the room and now the old curmudgeon had returned.
"I think it's a good idea if you and me got out of the house." Phoebe walked to Reggie's chair and placed her hand against the back. "Would you like to go with us, Jack? We could catch a movie or maybe go to an afternoon bingo session."
"No, thank you." Jack stood from her chair and grabbed her plate from the table. "I can go to the store later."
Ash's warning replayed in Phoebe's mind. She wasn't unfamiliar with addicts; she'd grown up with a mother addicted to heroin, and she could remember her mother's frequent attempts at sobriety. She also remembered the levels her mother had stooped to in order to feed her addiction.
But Phoebe wasn't here to serve as Jack's babysitter. She was here to care for Reggie and, judging from the strain on her face, it was time they all took a break.
"Okay," Phoebe said. "If you'd like, you can write me a list, and I can pick you up a few things." She wiped her hands against her thighs, and then she glanced around the kitchen. "We've been eating a fairly clean diet lately. We've been monitoring Reggie's sugar intake, and Ash has been working to maintain his weight. So, I don't think we have many good snacks around the house."
From the corner of her eye, she could see Reggie motioning at her. But Phoebe ignored her to focus on the shifting emotions rolling over Jack's face.
"I'm good," Jack said, seeming a bit upset. She looked towards Reggie with her brows raised. "I guess this means you're staying?"
Reggie's mouth curled, but she shook her head. "Phoebe and I'll just be gone for a minute. Stay out of my room, Jacinda."
Phoebe looked between Jack and Reggie. She was definitely missing something, but it wasn't her place to pry. Making a mental note to herself, she promised to ask Ash about it the first chance she got.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Phoebe clutched her purse as two older women brushed past her. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at Reggie and saw the happiness gleaming in the older woman's face. Reggie was even bobbing her head to the loud vibrations emitted from the club's sound system.
"Are you sure about this?" Phoebe fell against the wall while a gaggle of blue-haired women stepped into the entryway. She frowned as she watched them whisper and giggle. She cut another glance in Reggie's direction and found that her charge was no longer there. "Reggie!"
The loud music throbbed through her head. Even though no smoking was allowed in the venue, enough of it lingered on the clothes of the patrons that she felt her eyes water. She even caught the distinctive whiff of marijuana in the air, and she covered her nose with a curled fist while she made her way through the packed crowd.
After their shopping trip, Phoebe had convinced Reggie to participate in a bingo game at one of the local casinos. They'd agreed that if Phoebe chose the bingo, then they would do something of Reggie's choosing after the game was finished. To Phoebe's surprise, Reggie had given her directions to a dimly-lit nightclub just east of downtown Tacoma.
"Reggie!" Phoebe didn't know why she continued to call Reggie's name. She was only making her voice hoarse as she competed with the music, laughter, and conversation. She clamped her purse against her body and took shallow breaths through her nose as she walked around the venue in search of Reggie.
After five minutes, Phoebe came to two startling revelations. The first was that it must have been ladies' night as the club was packed with mostly women. The only men she'd seen were the bartenders and the bouncer at the door. The second thing she realized was that she was likely one of the youngest women in the place.
That observation snagged her full attention. Standing in the center of the club, she spun in a circle and realized that she wasn't finding Reggie because she was standing in a gaggle of Reggies.
Phoebe grabbed her purse and rummaged around until her hand grazed her phone. She was pulling it out when she felt a hand latch onto her forearm and spin her around.
"Damn, girl, you need your hearing checked." Reggie pulled on her arm until Phoebe staggered in the direction Reggie wanted. They bobbed and weaved through the crowd until they arrived at a table near the wall.
"You found her?" asked a large-boned woman. She was sitting at the table with a wad of money in her hands. As her eyes perused the length of Phoebe's body, her thumbs flicked over the bills.
Reggie sat down beside the woman, then plucked a shot glass from the table and threw it back. She cut Phoebe with such a sharp glance that Phoebe closed her mouth before she could utter an objection. As Phoebe sunk down into the chair beside Reggie, she watched another older woman, who looked as though she was in her early seventies, lift a bottle of whiskey and pour more shots for the group.
Placing one hand on the back of Phoebe's chair, Reggie rested her other elbow on the table. She inclined her head in Phoebe's direction. "This is Phoebe. My niece." Reggie removed her hand from Phoebe's chair and grabbed her shot glass. Lifting it, she motioned towards the large-boned woman. "Phoebe, meet my new friends. This is Kalena." She pointed at the other woman. "And this is her sister-in-law, Soo-Jung."
Kalena reached out in Phoebe's direction, and Phoebe assumed the other woman wanted to shake hands. But instead of taking her hand, the woman grabbed onto Phoebe's upper arm and squeezed.
"You're so little," Kalena said, pulling her hand back. Her nose crinkled as if she'd caught a bad odor. "My son likes his women with a bit more meat."
"Uh..." Phoebe's empty hand fell onto the table. She looked at Reggie, who only motioned for Soo-Jung to pour more whiskey. When she realized help wasn't coming, Phoebe lifted her left hand and pointed at her wed
ding band. "I'm married actually. I'm married to Reggie's nephew."
Kalena cocked her head to the side as she studied Phoebe's ring. Then she turned her gaze back to Phoebe's face and shrugged. "So."
There was a shrill scream from the front of the venue. Reggie, Kalena, and Soo-Jung all turned rapt eyes in that direction while Phoebe exhaled a heavy breath. More screams filled the air as a man dressed in only black leather pants and a white bowtie stepped out onto the stage.
"Good evening, Tacoma!" yelled the scantily-clad man into the microphone. His bright white teeth contrasted with his darkly tanned skin. His gelled blond hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and his pectoral muscles bounced with each word he said. "My name is Dirty Rod, and I'll be your host for the evening." Dirty Rod braced his legs apart, which sent some of the women into near vapors. "Welcome to the Houston Revue!"
Phoebe told herself that the Houston Revue was some obscure cover band. She'd nearly convinced herself that they must perform hit songs from the seventies when loud house music began to fill the venue. This sent the audience into a frenzy; many of the women leapt from their seats and shouted.
Dirty Rod pointed into the crowd. Then to Phoebe's horror, he cocked his fingers like they were a gun and began shooting at women throughout the audience. His pretend victims would gasp loudly, clutch at their chests, and collapse back into their chairs.
"Where are the instruments?" Phoebe murmured.
She didn't think her voice would carry over the noise, but her words must have reached Reggie because she sent Phoebe an amused glance. Then Reggie chuckled low in her throat, pulled her wallet from her pocket, and grabbed a fistful of bills from inside.
"Where'd that come from?" Phoebe asked, pointing at the money.
Reggie waved her question away. "Inconsequential."
