“I’m sharing this with you as a friend. You know this isn’t standard protocol, but since we have her dead to rights, there’s not much more to investigate. A warrant will be issued for her arrest and we’ll go pick her up soon, but I wanted to tell you first since she’s River’s mother.
“Ace, she’ll be charged with felony arson and attempted murder. It’ll be up to the DA if they pursue the attempted murder charge. Her lawyer will no doubt argue that she didn’t know Layne was inside, but that’ll come later. Either way, she’ll be sent away for a long time,” Matt warns. “I know she’s been out of your life for a while, but I don’t know how you feel about all this.”
Funny he said that, because I don’t know how I feel about all this either.
My gaze floats to my mother. “If it hadn’t been her, would you have been so quick to turn in the video and prosecute?”
“Of course I would, Ace. Anyone who intentionally tries to burn down a house is not fit to be a member of society. She’s too dangerous and erratic, and if she’s allowed to continue, it could be River’s life in danger next time.”
As much as I hate to admit it, she has a valid point. She’s been kept away from River for a reason.
Even if it wasn’t initially by my hand.
On the drive back home, Layne and I are completely silent. I’m still reeling from seeing Margot caught on camera and struggling with how River will handle growing up with the knowledge that her mother is in prison. In this small town, she’ll have no way to escape it. The stigma of being Margot’s daughter will affect her regardless of how I try to shield her from it.
I can’t even begin to guess why Layne is silent. Maybe she’s shocked to learn who my mother is. Maybe she’s more shocked from the video recording of Margot setting the house on fire. When I try to focus on what Layne is going through, my mind wanders back to my daughter and her future. It’s a never-ending loop.
As if on autopilot, my truck pulls into the driveway and I have little recollection of anything I’ve passed in the last several miles. After I turn off the truck, I finally look over at Layne, but she’s already getting out of the truck, moving robotically toward the door. Seeing her in distress pulls me out of my own head somewhat and I rush to her side. After I lace our fingers together and squeeze, she finally looks up at me.
“We’ll get through this together,” I assure her. And myself. She nods and simply gives me a small, sad smile that in no way brightens the dimmed light in her eyes.
When we step inside the house, I immediately know something is off. Something is wrong. Layne feels it, too, and her eyes dart around the room as she takes mental notes of what’s missing.
All of Zoe’s belongings are gone. There’s no trace that she’s ever been here.
Layne rushes straight ahead to the kitchen table and snatches up a sheet of paper.
“What does it say?” I ask, steeling myself for the bad news that’s sure to follow.
“It says she’s changed her mind about the adoption.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Layne
How I can be so numb and hurt so badly at the same time is beyond my cognitive ability to grasp. Last night, I fell asleep sitting up in the glider chair in the baby’s nursery. The furniture is a constant reminder of what was just within reach but has eluded me once again. I can’t pass by that room without stopping to gaze at how perfect it is. When I walk in there, I can’t not touch everything, run my fingers over it, and visualize a sleeping baby girl. Am I not meant to have a baby to love? That thought plagues me as much as my worry for Zoe’s safety does. Depression tries to consume my mind and take me to an even darker place than where I was after Bobby betrayed me. The only thing that pulls me back is River’s sweet voice.
“Laynie, where are you?”
“In the den, baby.”
She walks down the hall toward the den, still wearing her pajamas and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and climbs into my lap. She snuggles into me as close as she can get, and my frozen heart thaws at the sight. I can’t help but circle my arms around her and rock her gently. Within seconds, she’s fallen back asleep, feeling safe and secure in her own little world.
It’s been days since I’ve seen or heard from Zoe. She’d already quit her job at the grocery store before she disappeared from our lives, and she hasn’t been at her parents’ house. I’ve literally worried myself sick over this whole situation. I can barely eat, and when I do, my stomach churns relentlessly. My heart is so completely broken—and not only because of the adoption falling through.
I love Zoe as if she’s my own daughter. Not knowing where she is, if she’s safe and taken care of, and if she’s healthy and getting the prenatal care she needs is driving me crazy. Add to that the fact Margot is still on the loose and it’s no wonder I’m a basket case. It’s crystal clear that this entire clusterfuck of events has all been orchestrated and manipulated by Margot.
Ace and I haven’t even addressed the pink, polka-dotted elephant in the room of Marcia being his estranged mother. She followed us home from the police station the day I found Zoe’s letter, but I was in no shape to get into that conversation at that point. She left to go back to wherever she’s staying and said she’d wait for us to contact her and let her know we’re ready to talk. I’d like to say I’m ready since she’s coming over today, but the truth is, I just want to get it over with once and for all.
“What are you doing up so early? It’s not even daylight yet.” Ace asks, his voice low so he doesn’t wake River.
“Can’t sleep.” I shrug one shoulder.
He kneels in front of me, gathers River in his arms, and takes her back to her bed. When he returns, I expect him to sit beside me and urge me to try to eat, to plan a fun day with River, or something similar to pull me from the deep funk I’ve been in. Instead, he hooks one arm under my knees and slips the other behind my back. Standing, he takes me with him and cradles me in his arms as he carries me back to our bedroom.
He carefully places me on the bed, controlling his movements as if I’m a china doll he’s afraid he’ll shatter, and climbs in to spoon me from behind. He slides his arm over my body until his hand is underneath my ribcage and he pulls our bodies together, as close as he can get us. “I’ve been a terrible husband these last few days and I’m so sorry. Please tell me I’m not losing you, because it feels like I am.”
His words strike a chord, his tone is so sincere and pained, and his embrace is so warm and welcome. How quickly I’d forgotten how much I need him and to feel him close to me so that I feel safe and whole myself. “You’re not losing me, Ace. I’m not exactly happy with how you handled this, though. I’ve been very open with you about my past—everything that happened with Bobby, my inability to get pregnant, and my pathetic attempt to get Bobby to marry me. Losing my mom and my non-relationship with my dad. I’ve shown you all of me, but now I wonder if I know you at all.”
“You know me better than anyone, baby. I swear I wasn’t trying to keep anything from you. Lily asked me one day if I’d told you the whole story. Like I told her, there have been many times I wanted to tell you just so you’d understand my past, but the whole thing is such a sore topic it instantly puts me in a bad mood. I selfishly didn’t want to bring it up and put a damper on the new life we’re creating.”
“You are exactly what I want and need. I want to get lost in you so the outside world can’t touch us. But I can’t do that if I don’t really know you. You have to let me in, too. Shielding me from everything that makes you you won’t work for either of us.”
“Do you regret marrying me now? Do you feel like we jumped in too soon?”
“No, that’s not what I’m thinking at all. Are you? Do you regret how fast we got married?”
He squeezes me even tighter. “No, baby. Never. I’m sorry. I can’t say it enough. You’re right, I should’ve told you, included you, and let you see the good and the bad alike. I don’t want to wake up one morning and find all y
our stuff gone with no trace of you. Forgive me, baby.”
“Don’t ever do that to me again. You said we’ll get through this together. We do it all together, Ace. It’s an all-or-nothing deal.”
“You’re absolutely right. I swear, you’ll never feel left out of my life again. You are my life now and nothing is more important to me than you are.”
“Don’t leave River out.”
“I’m not. I’d give my life to protect River. But, as much as I hate to think of this, one day a man will come along and she’ll leave to create a life with him. So, while I get to keep her for many wonderful years, you’re mine for eternity.”
“That apology definitely helps your case.” I sniffle and wipe my eyes.
“Are you okay, Layne? I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve just had a lot of my shit thrown at you at once. Then all this happened with Zoe. I know you’re devastated over the adoption.”
“It’s not just about the adoption,” I admit. “I’d unofficially adopted Zoe, too. I love her like she’s my own. How could she just up and leave with no thought of how it would hurt me?”
“I don’t know for sure, but of course, I suspect Margot has a lot to do with this. Especially with what you heard her say to Zoe. Matt is on top of things, though. We may have a small-town police station, but he’s still good at his job. There are only so many places a very pregnant girl can hide.”
“That’s the other concern. She could go into labor at any time now. Who will be there to help her?”
“Don’t do that to yourself, baby. I’m already worried enough about you that I’m ready to take you to the doctor myself.”
“Tell me what happened between you and Marcia, then. Let me in to all of your life. And help take my mind off Zoe while you’re at it.”
He sighs heavily, preparing himself to relive whatever happened to drive them apart. “Mom didn’t like Margot from the start. She thought Margot was a spoiled, mean girl who thought she was entitled to everything because she came from a prominent family. She tried to dissuade me from dating her from day one. Of course, by then I was a grown man and made my own decisions. The more Mom pushed one way, the more I went the other. Because I was bullheaded and stupid.
“Anyway, the news of Margot’s pregnancy was a shock to both of us, but in different ways. Mom was furious with me. She was convinced Margot would ruin my life. The news woke me up, though. As stupid as it sounds, it made me realize I wasn’t a carefree kid anymore. I was an adult and I had adult responsibilities. And it freaked me the fuck out.”
I can’t help but laugh at his blunt honesty. He chuckles behind me and I can feel him shaking his head.
“Anyway, I knew I couldn’t turn my back on her or my baby. But I also realized that I didn’t want to marry her, I didn’t want to spend my life with her. I’d be an active part of my baby’s life, I’d give support in any and every way, but I wouldn’t marry her. Most of her pregnancy was spent arguing over that fact. Margot kept pushing for it, and I withdrew from her more and more.
“When River was born, I was in the room. I cut the cord. I held her first. I instantly fell in love with her. And I couldn’t imagine not being in her life every day. Every other weekend and a couple of weeks during the summer wasn’t going to work for me, and I knew it from the second I laid eyes on her. So, against my better judgment, I decided to bite the bullet and marry Margot. Even if I didn’t love her, I loved my daughter enough to sacrifice my life to make hers happy.
“Before I said a word to Margot, I had a long talk with my mom about it. I was sick over it. Even the thought of giving Margot my last name turned my stomach, but I knew her well enough to know she’d withhold my visitation with River as much as she could get away with. Of course, Mom didn’t take my decision very well. She advised me, as my attorney, to wait and test Margot. See exactly what she’d do when she realized I honestly didn’t want to marry her.
“At first, Margot did exactly as I thought she would. She made one excuse after the other to keep me from seeing River. She wouldn’t answer the phone, wouldn’t answer the door, stayed away from home so I couldn’t find them. That only served to piss me off and her plan backfired on her. By preventing me from taking River home with me, that meant she was a round-the-clock babysitter. No breaks. No breathing room. No downtime. Being a single mom was harder than she thought, and she wasn’t cut out for it.
“I was concerned for River’s safety because Margot became even more unpredictable. Honestly, I didn’t know what she was capable of doing, and I just wanted to get my daughter away from her. Mom knew what was happening—there are so many eyes and ears in this small town—and she decided to take action on her own. She worked her magic, took Margot to court, and proved that she was an unfit mother. River was taken away from Margot and brought to me.
“Not that I didn’t appreciate it, but it was all done behind my back. Mom never said a word to me about it first. She didn’t consider how it would impact River, me, or Margot. She just elbowed her way in, took over, and made all the decisions that impacted my daughter’s life and my own life. We had a heated argument, and I ended it by telling her to stay out of my life for good. She moved to New York to work with a prestigious law firm but stayed in touch with Lily.”
“Did you really not want her in your life anymore?” I ask.
“At first, I said it out of anger. But when she moved away, River lost her grandmother and that fueled my anger all over again. Margot had already skipped town—but not before blaming me for why she was leaving. Guilt ate me alive. Apparently, I was a selfish bastard who just wanted his daughter all to himself. River didn’t have a mother or grandparents. Margot’s parents retired to Florida. My mother moved up north. So I closed my heart to everyone except River and Lily. Until you.”
“I’m surprised you gave me a chance, but I’m so thankful you did. And I’m glad you told me what happened. It helps me understand how all the pieces fit together a little better. What I don’t understand is why Marcia never told me about you. She could’ve told me when she offered me the cabin for a few months or during one of our weekly check-in calls. She wouldn’t have had to go into any details. Just a ‘Hey, my son lives next door’ would’ve sufficed,” I reply.
“Another way she manipulates and controls others. Withholding information. You’ve had weekly calls with her the whole time you’ve been here?”
“Mostly. We’ve missed a few weeks here and there. Like this week, obviously.”
“Have you told her about us dating?”
“Yes. Not intimate details, but enough information that there’s no doubt she knew it was you.”
“Lily would’ve told her, too. I’m sure Martha and Ralph called her before the wedding even started.”
“Why would they tell her?”
“They’re my aunt and uncle. Martha is my mom’s sister.”
“Oh my God. How did I not know that? Do I know you at all?”
“Of course you know me. I’m your husband. What more do you need to know than that?” He nuzzles his face into my neck, his lips press against my skin, his tongue tastes me. He turns me over on my back and uses his mouth to explore the rest of my body. I forget all about what we were talking about when I get lost in my husband, in his touch, in his love.
* * *
Ace and River are in the kitchen when I emerge from the shower. Ace is cooking breakfast and River is at the table drawing a picture. She looks up and smiles brightly at me. “Hi, Laynie.”
“Good morning, baby. Did you sleep well?”
“Yep. Like a rock,” she replies.
I can’t help but laugh. “A walking rock. Do you remember climbing in my lap while it was still dark outside this morning?”
She giggles but eyes me suspiciously, like she’s not sure if I’m teasing her or not. “No. I didn’t do that.”
“Yes, you sure did. Your daddy had to carry you back to bed.” I lovingly tousl
e her hair and walk over to Ace. The smell of bacon frying has my stomach doing somersaults—and not in a good way.
“Hungry?” His tone is casual, but his eyes give him away. He’s testing me.
“I’ll just take some toast to go. I need to go into town and take care of something.”
“Something? What is ‘something,’ Layne?”
“I’ll tell you all about it when I get back, if it turns out to be important.” I quickly kiss him before he can reply, grab some toast, and give River a kiss on my way out.
Something about Ace’s story kept nagging at me while I was getting dressed. When another conversation popped up in my mind, I decided a trip into town was necessary. As soon as possible, before Marcia comes over this afternoon. I just hope my gut instincts are right so I don’t end up making a fool out of myself.
When I reach Magnolia Way, my nerves kick up a notch or ten. The only house on the street is a magnificent, red-brick mansion. The lawn is perfectly manicured. The flower beds are beautifully kept with flowering shrubs, blooming annuals, and mounds of fresh mulch. The front door opens as I’m walking up the sidewalk and Louise steps out onto the porch.
“Good morning, Layne. George and I wondered when you’d show up. Come on in,” Louise says warmly.
The inside of the house is just as warm and inviting as the outside. Even though it’s immaculately kept, not a speck of dust in sight, it has that “lived-in” air about it. A lot of love has been freely shared in this home.
“Hello, young lady. Come have a sit with me,” George jokes good-naturedly. “Make my wife jealous so she’ll pay more attention to me than she does her hydrangeas.”
“Oh, you be quiet, you old coot!” Louise playfully jabs back at him.
I love them already.
“I’m sorry for barging in on you so early this morning. To be honest, I’m not completely sure why I’m even here. I guess I’m just hoping you can help shed some light on a few things for me.”
Intent Page 23
