by Tina Leonard
“Jittery, are you? Cooling things off?”
He only wished it was that simple. “I think Jill got the jitters. She’s gone.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Dustin nodded. Even now it hurt.
“Ungrateful wench. After everything we did to her, too. Letting a punk beat up on her, not to mention Maxine…” Marsh broke off, his banter falling flat. “I’m sorry, buddy. No explanation, no nothing?”
“Jill left a note. It was your basic Dear John, I’ve-got-to-get-on-with-my-life letter.”
Marsh rubbed the bristles on his face thoughtfully. “Man, I thought she was in it for the long haul.”
Dustin certainly hadn’t seen Jill’s departure coming. “What can I say? Maybe in the beginning I worried that the situation was overwhelming. But Jill was pretty cool about everything. Level-headed, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah. I do.” Marsh nodded his agreement.
“Hell, I don’t know.” He couldn’t talk about Jill anymore, not even with his best friend. It was just too damn hard. “Guess I’ll go see Mother, if you think China’s going to be here soon.”
“Yep. Say hi to Eunice for me.”
Nodding, Dustin left Marsh’s room. It was only a couple of floors to his mother’s room, but once he got there, he fell into the chair by her bed, feeling winded. Like the breath had been knocked out of him.
Eunice opened her eyes and smiled at him. “You don’t look like you’ve been eating right.”
Who could eat? There was nobody in his house. He was used to a baby wailing and Bugs Bunny cartoons blaring and Jill humming and his mother’s encouraging words while he ate. It was too damn quiet.
“I’ll pick something up on the way home.” Glancing over his mother’s finely lined skin, he thought she seemed much better. “You look like you’re on the mend, though.”
“I am.” Eunice smiled.
“Great. Get the hell out of the bed and I’ll get in it.” She laughed. “Dustin, in a few days, you’re going to be a new man.”
“Yeah? How’s that?” It sounded good, but he couldn’t feel that type of instant rejuvenation coming on.
“Joey will come home on Thursday.”
That would do it. “Barring the judge siding with Maxine.”
“I’ve been thinking about this. Nothing Maxine thinks she can testify to is sufficient in the eyes of the court to warrant taking a child away from his only surviving parent. Who also happens to have a parent of his own to help rear the child.” She was quiet for a moment. “I don’t even think anything she can bring up about Jill is enough to convince the court that she shouldn’t be allowed to be a caregiver.”
“Jill isn’t here, so I guess that’s one less worry.”
“Is it?” Eunice slanted him a questioning look.
“Well, as far as the custody situation goes.”
“I didn’t think you were that worried about Jill’s impact on the custody problem.”
He shrugged. “I never was.”
“Then go get her back.” His mother pinned him with a no-nonsense look. “She left because she was afraid Maxine was going to use her against you in court. Jill felt certain her presence was causing such a problem with Maxine that in the end she would wind up costing you Joey.”
“No.” Dustin shook his head.
“No, what?”
“In my mind, Jill is just like you. So, no, she couldn’t have cost me my son.” He glanced up to meet his mother’s gaze. “Maxine doesn’t see it that way, I suppose.”
Eunice snorted. “It wouldn’t make it better if she did. Maxine has been after me like a tiger since we were girls.” She sighed deeply. “I think you’re right. I don’t think Jill would have cost you your son. But I know she felt like you might have to choose: either you had her, or you had Joey. Maxine is a convincing person, and if additional complaints were brought up, Jill knew you would be in trouble because of her.”
“I didn’t tell her about Maxine’s threats.”
“I know. Jill heard you on the phone in your room. She didn’t hear much, but she got enough to upset her.”
Dustin stared down at his hands. His fingers were woven together hard enough to make the skin whiten. “I love her.”
Eunice laid a gentle hand over his. “I know you do. I do, too. So does Joey. You have to go bring her home.”
“I can’t.” Dustin halted for a moment, trying to sort out of his feelings. “I’m too angry with her for leaving. Everything you’ve told me makes it a little better, but it’s the cold hard fact that she walked out on me. She walked out on Joey. I keep thinking how much it’s going to hurt him that she just disappeared.”
“Try to see it her way, Dustin.”
“No.” His voice was curt. It was something he couldn’t explain to his mother. Nina had always been wanting to leave, wanting to go home. He wouldn’t have forced her to stay. No matter what their problems had been, he had wanted their family to stay together. But he couldn’t make her want him.
Jill had left. It had been her own choice to leave without discussing the matter with him. After all, it was his own personal business, involving his family, his son. She had acted without consulting him; she had wanted to go. He would not try to change her mind.
This time, even his mother’s advice couldn’t sway him. A woman walking out on a man was a woman who had her mind made up.
He stood, jamming his Stetson on his head. “Did the doc give you a release date?”
“Tomorrow morning,” she said softly, her eyes too bright. Lord, he didn’t think he could bear it if his mother suddenly sprouted tears. He wasn’t trying to be obstinate. Some things were just the way they were.
“I’ll be here to get you then.” He leaned over, giving her a kiss on the cheek. She patted his cheek in return.
“I’ll be ready.” Her smile was brave.
He stared at her for a moment, realizing she probably felt the same way he did about going home. Like it wasn’t truly going home. It was just going to be the two of them.
Damn it. Rage flooded Dustin as the unfairness of it smote him. Damn it to hell. I’ve had all I can take.
“I’m going to get Joey,” he ground out between his teeth. “If I have to open the bedroom window and pull him out, I’m going to get my son.”
His mother hesitated for only a moment. “I know I’m supposed to say something wise at this moment, something about trying to stay out of jail at Christmas and what have you. However, you have a lawyer for that.” Eunice folded her hands. “I will enjoy eating supper tomorrow with my grandson.”
Dustin nodded. Without another word, he left.
China let Marsh lean on her as he pulled up from the hospital bed. The woman felt heavenly. He’d never really thought he would ever get this close to her. She smelled sweet, and that fiery hair of hers tickled his face so nicely. The curves of her body pressed against his sent enough lust pouring into his body to make him consider trying to talk her into rumpling the hospital bed sheets with him.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
The concern in her eyes sent pure electric voltage shooting through him. “Never been better.”
“Where’s Dustin?” She didn’t pull away from him, so Marsh settled himself against her as they maneuvered toward the wheelchair that would take him to the exit.
“Checking on his mother.” Marsh thought about that for a second. Dustin sure had seemed down about Jill. About everything, in fact. He should probably stop by and check on the old lady—and Dustin—before he left. “Would you mind wheeling me past her room on the way out?”
“Okay.” She leaned over as he half-fell, half-sat in the wheelchair. He took in the view of her cleavage like a starving man.
“Doing all right?”
“Doing fine,” Marsh said happily.
He was content until they reached Eunice’s room. “Hi, Eunice. You look like you’re feeling better.”
“Hello, Mars
h. China.” She nodded graciously. “I am ready to go home, thank you. I have spent enough time in this dreary place. I’m ready to get on with a merry Christmas.”
“I bet you are.” There was an odd light shining in Eunice’s eyes that tweaked Marsh’s sixth sense. “Where’s Dustin?”
“He’s gone to get Joey,” she said calmly.
A rush of shock hit him. “I thought Maxine had…”
“It doesn’t matter what Maxine does. It’s time we start calling the shots. She’s run over us long enough.”
If his friend was pulling such a stunt, he was ready to go to the nut house. Eunice belonged in there with him. “I know you’ve been pretty upset by everything, but this isn’t the time to go jumping off the deep end.”
“On the contrary. The Reed family is not going to be held hostage any longer by a woman who has had it in for me for longer than you’ve been alive.”
“Oh, great.” Marsh had a sickening picture of Dustin and Eunice eating mashed potatoes and Spam in jail on Christmas. “Who the hell do you think gets to drag your son’s ass into jail for bothering a helpless old man and woman? Or for trespassing on their damn property, or any other charge Maxine dreams up?”
Eunice crossed her arms. “Marsh, watch your mouth. I don’t have to listen to that language, even from the sheriff.”
“Oh, for crying out loud.” He cast a helpless glance back at China, who had been standing silently behind his wheelchair. “Are you hearing this crap?”
China nodded. “Yes, I did. I think she just asked you to mind your manners.”
“No, China, did you hear where Dustin’s…” He stopped, frowning at her. “Don’t tell me you agree with what they’re doing?”
“Marsh, put away your badge for a minute. Dustin isn’t going to do anything crazy.”
“He is! Do either one of you realize how much I am not going to enjoy arresting my best friend?” Marsh glared at China, then sent one Eunice’s way for good measure.
“I think Dustin is at the end of his rope, and frankly, I think it’s about time. We haven’t done anything wrong, for heaven’s sake. We’re being treated like we have. The law has certainly not been on our side, pardon me for saying so, Marsh.”
Marsh shook his head, dragging in a deep breath. “Okay. I see that the voice of reason is not going to be heard in this room today. Eunice, I don’t agree with what you are doing. I will not like hearing what happens to your son when Maxine calls the law in. However, as your son’s best friend, I’m trying to remember my manners enough to ask you if there’s anything I can do for you.”
He folded his arms across his chest. The Reeds were an independent bunch. Dustin had not asked for help from him. His mother wouldn’t either. But he could stay polite, even if he had to throw her son in jail.
“Yes, there is, as a matter of fact. You can go to Dallas and explain to Jill that she is very much needed here.”
Marsh hesitated. “Dustin’s kidnapping his own son, and you want me to go haul his housekeeper back to Lassiter? Are we all going to eat meatloaf in prison this holiday? Shall I order tap water to complement the menu?”
Eunice fixed him with an unwavering stare. “I will consider this favor sufficient return for having practically raised you.”
He couldn’t believe the old woman’s spunk. “Even if I did go—and I’m not saying I will—what makes you think Jill will listen to me any more than you do? She’s a sassy lady.” It occurred to him that Jill wasn’t any sassier than the two women looking at him right now. Marsh was starting to feel outmaneuvered.
“I don’t know if she will listen to you. She never did much of that,” Eunice admitted. “However, Dustin won’t go, and he’s busy at this moment, anyway.”
“He’s going to be busy mopping floors at the jail,” Marsh said morosely.
Eunice ignored him. “Jill misunderstood her place in this tangle, and it’s up to you to explain it.”
“Come on, Marsh. Quit being such a wet blanket.”
Marsh swiveled at China’s words. “Oh, thanks for the support. I’m being a professional, a cop, which I can’t stop being.”
“Maybe you could if I drove you into Dallas.”
She smiled at him. Marsh felt his gut turn over. “I can’t help what I am,” he said quietly.
“Neither can Dustin. He’s a father, Marsh. Would you do any differently if you were in his shoes?” she asked softly. “It’s Christmas.”
It was the softness that undid him. The woman could make him see the sense of standing out naked in a snowstorm with her compassionate eyes and sympathetic voice.
“I don’t like this,” he growled. “Jill has never taken a shine to me.”
“You were always suspecting her,” Eunice pointed out helpfully.
“Not always,” he defended himself. Actually, he had been. First of dumping a baby, then being out to win herself a wedding ring. “Can I at least go home and take a shower? Change into some fresh clothes? I gotta have a shave.”
Eunice nodded. “Thank you, Marsh. You’ve made this old lady very happy.”
“I’m not saying this will work,” he warned her sternly. “The woman’s got the disposition of a mule.”
“I’m going to be eating supper with my grandson and Jill tomorrow,” Eunice said quietly. “I don’t believe anything else.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dustin pulled his truck into the Copelands’ drive. He stared out the windshield, wondering what Joey was doing right now. It was nearly lunchtime on a cold and blustery December day. Taking a deep breath, he told himself to remain calm no matter what Maxine said to him.
Ringing the doorbell, Dustin ignored the chill seeping through his jeans as he waited for someone to answer. To his surprise, Maxine herself answered the door.
By the look on her face, she was just as shocked to see him.
“Morning, Maxine.”
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was as brisk and frozen as the weather.
“I think it’s time you and I talked,” he replied. Though his tone was mild, his jaw was clenched with the effort of playing it cool.
“You’ll excuse me if I don’t invite you in?”
Maxine glanced over her shoulder. Dustin surmised she was keeping his visit secret from either Joey or David. It really didn’t matter. He could have his say just as easily out here on the porch.
“I want you to get your lawyer off my back, Maxine. You have no right taking shots at me that you know full well aren’t true.”
“Oh?” Her eyebrows raised. “You can honestly tell me Joey is in good hands at your house?”
“I’ll admit that with Mother being in the hospital, matters are a bit difficult. My suggestion is that it would have been more courteous of you to call and offer to keep Joey while Mother was ill.”
Maxine pursed her lips. “You wouldn’t have let me take care of him. Not with that housekeeper hanging around.”
“I probably wouldn’t have thought of it, but you could at least have offered. Jill could’ve used a break.”
“Really. Looked to me like she’d had one.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, come on, Dustin. If you’re going to drive out here to try to back me into a corner, I may as well be very frank with you. This housekeeper-family relation story is a bit thin. Jill didn’t fall from some long-forgotten family tree branch, and she’s not your housekeeper, either. Obviously, you feel responsible for her, the reason why I can only guess. Could that bundle of joy Jill was hauling around be yours, by any stretch of the imagination?”
Dustin’s jaw dropped. “That baby wasn’t mine. Nor was it Jill’s, Maxine. She was caring for it until the mother could.”
“I see.” That stopped her for only a second. “Do you think caring for every stray misfit in the county is healthy for Joey? I know your mother and father had a pack of foster brats running through their house over the years, but do you think continuing that situation
is best for your son?”
He could feel his teeth gritting with the effort not to curse. “Any community work my parents did will probably continue with me some day.”
“Are you planning on marrying that girl? I’ve got to tell you, Dustin, I’ve seen women not as sleazy as her walking the streets in Dallas.”
His blood began to simmer. “Jill is a fine woman. There is nothing sleazy about her.”
“Did you miss the enormous bruise on her face?” Maxine crossed her arms belligerently. “Somehow I don’t think she got that from dusting doorknobs.”
“No. She didn’t,” he said tightly. He couldn’t tell her about Sadie and the danger Holly had been in without Maxine accusing him of endangering Joey. That would be her next line of defense, he knew. “But Jill is gone now. So other than assuring you that she was a wonderful person, this conversation is pointless.”
“Gone?” Maxine seemed startled by that. “Didn’t have what it took for ranch life, I imagine. She looked like she lacked staying power.”
Jill had possessed plenty of everything required to stick out the difficulties of living in the country. However, he didn’t need to argue about Jill. “Maxine, this battle between you and me is not what’s best for Joey. If his wellbeing is what you’re really concerned about, then let me take him home.”
“No.”
A little body flying against his leg, small arms hugging him hard, halted whatever words Dustin would have said. “Daddy!”
He knelt to nestle his face into his son’s hair. “Joey! How are you doing, big guy?”
“I’m okay. Are…are we going home?”
David wheeled next to Maxine, his eyes fastened on Joey.
“Hello, David,” Dustin said. Obviously, what Marsh had mentioned about David’s health was true. The old man was failing. Dustin hated to see it. David Copeland was a good-hearted soul. He deserved a star on his gravestone, if only for putting up with Maxine’s venom all these years.
David nodded at him.
“Are…we going now, Daddy?” Joey asked.
“Yes. We’re going now, son. Say goodbye to your grandparents.” Dustin picked his son up, holding him so that he could wave goodbye.
