Something Old, Something New

by Beverly Jenkins

  Trent grinned as his memory took him back to that day. “I remember you running her down and the crowd cheering like crazy.”

  “And when I caught her I went crazy.”

  “Yeah, you did. Tamar said it reminded her of roller derby.”

  “I wanted to knock her into next week, I was so mad. I couldn’t believe the judges disqualified me, too.”

  “The girl did need five stitches in her lip, Lil.”

  “She should’ve been glad I didn’t break her legs.”

  “To look at you now, no one would ever know you were a hotheaded teenage Wonder Girl.”

  “You didn’t tell any of those old Wonder Girl stories to my son, Davis, when he visited Marie during the summers when he was young, did you?”

  Trent quieted and studied the face of the woman he’d never stopped loving. “You and I weren’t exactly pen pals back in those days, remember?”

  She stilled. Guilt claimed her face as she dropped her head and said quietly, “You’re right. I forgot.”

  Their relationship had shattered after she went away to college, and the ugly way it happened left him with a battered heart and a vow to never speak to her again. The change in her mood now made him say, “Didn’t mean to bring you down.”

  “I know.”

  He added softly, “But I’m glad we worked it all out.”

  “So am I.”

  Lily was still humbled by the size of his heart. Even though she’d stomped all over it, his love for her had remained buried beneath the hurt and pain she’d caused. She acknowledged it by whispering, “I love you.”

  “Love you back, Lily Flower.”

  It was the name he’d given her back in the day, and the sound of it on his lips twenty-five years later still made her insides do flips.

  “How about you and Devon come over for dinner tonight?” he asked.

  “I should probably take a rain check.” She explained why and added, “Hopefully it’ll be a quick trip, but I’m not sure what time we’ll be back. Bernadine also wants to show Zoey’s picture around while we’re down there.”

  “She’s the most optimistic woman I know.”

  “Me, too.”

  Trent ran his eyes over the sweep of her throat and thought about the kisses he’d placed there whenever they managed a moment alone, which was not very often. He dragged himself back to the present. “Then how about Devon hanging out with me and Amari until you get back? I know he usually goes home with Zoey after school, but we’re all going to be family, and I’d like for us to start connecting.”

  “That’s a good idea, Mr. Mayor. You are so smart,” she replied, sounding pleased. “I’ll run by the school before the Boss Lady and I leave for the airport and let him know to go home with Amari. Not sure how he’ll take not being able to hang with Zoey. He’s already pouting about not being able to marry us.”

  “He’s still asking?”

  “Yep. Not changing my mind, though. The boy’s a kid. I need him to stop acting like he’s ninety. He wants to be a preacher so bad, and I can respect that, but I don’t think he’s ever been given a choice to be anything else but that.”

  “You could be right.”

  She sighed. “Not sure what I’m supposed to do. I feel like I’m making it up as I go along.”

  “You love him, he loves you. That’s half the battle.”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Tell you what. Give me a kiss, and I’ll let you get back to work.”

  “That’s quite a segue, Your Honor,” she said saucily.

  “Have to keep you motivated.” He walked over and braced his hands on the edge of the desk. “Don’t want you slacking on the job.”

  “Can’t have that,” she agreed, and rose from her chair. When he took her into his arms, she placed her head against his heart. “I say we elope and run off to Tahiti.”

  “Be nice, but Bernadine will just find us and book the Sistine Chapel anyway.”

  “Probably.”

  He looked down into her eyes. “Did I tell you today that I love you?”

  “Hmm. I think so, but be nice if you showed me.”

  And so, after a kiss that was slow and sweet, Trent went into his office. Grumbling about being mayor was the last thing on his mind.

  A short while later, Lily drove over to the school to talk with Devon. The children were outside, working in the sunshine. Crystal, sporting her new short, feathered do, was hunched over a table with her ever-present shadow, Eli James. They appeared to be drawing something. When Crys looked up and saw Lily, she waved happily, and Lily waved back. The new hairdo was an offshoot of the injuries Crystal had suffered at the hands of her biological father, Ray Chambers. Ray was ultimately killed during a tornado, and the badly injured Crystal had to have her head shaved for the doctors to treat her concussion. Her hair was growing out, and Lily had to admit that their resident teen queen looked very fly.

  Devon and Zoey were seated at another table, working on math problems along with Amari and Preston.

  As she walked up, Devon turned and beamed a smile her way. “Hi, Ms. Lily.”

  “Hey, Devon.”

  She nodded in greeting to Amari and Preston. “Amari, may I talk to you and Devon for a minute, please?”

  Amari went stock-still. “Are we in trouble?”

  “Not with me, but is there something I need to tell your dad?”

  He grinned. “No, ma’am.”

  Enjoying him as she always did, she led him and Devon a few steps away before she explained why she’d come.

  Amari didn’t seem to have a problem with her request and replied, “Sure. I told Dad I’d meet him at the garage. I can take Devon with me.”

  Lily turned to Devon. “Is that okay?”

  He nodded, but asked, “After that can I go to Zoey’s?”

  Lily chose her words slowly and carefully, “I think this time you should stay with Mr. Trent and Amari until I get back. We’re all going to be family soon, Dev. Be nice if we could get to know each other better.”

  Amari nodded as if he agreed, but Devon didn’t seem convinced. “What if Zoey gets lonely? She misses her mom.”

  Lily could see Zoey watching them. Those big dark eyes of hers were Lily’s undoing, so mentally, she threw up her hands. “Okay, Amari, take Zoey, too. I’ll let Dr. Reg know.”

  Amari shrugged off the addition of another person to his entourage. “No problem.”

  “Thanks, Amari. Devon, I’ll see you this evening.”

  As she turned to walk away she heard, “Ms. Lily. Hold up a minute. I need to talk to you.” It was Preston.

  When he reached her, she asked, “Hey, what’s up?”

  He moved a few steps farther from the others before saying quietly, “Just wanted to let you and Ms. Bernadine know that I’m searching for my birth parents.”

  That was not what she’d been expecting to hear, but having lived with these exceptional kids for two years, she was learning to expect the unexpected. “Have you talked to the Paynes about this?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “No?” she asked gently. “Why not?”

  He shrugged as if not knowing what to say. “I don’t want them to think I don’t appreciate them.”

  “Then tell them that. They’ll appreciate the honesty. Do you want to live elsewhere? Is that what this is about?”

  “No,” he countered quickly. “Not at all.”

  “Then you should tell them that, too.”

  He looked down at his shoes and then back up into her eyes. “Okay.”

  “When did you decide to do this?”

  “A few nights ago. Leah thinks it’s a good idea, too.”

  Lily scanned him for a silent moment. “So are you doing this for you, or for her?”

  “Me,” he replied without hesitation. “She just helped me think some things through, like what if my parents are both dead, or if they turn out to be bad people like Crystal’s dad.”

  Lily nodded und
erstandingly.

  “But I wanted you to know in case an e-mail comes through, or something comes in the mail to Ms. Bernadine, or somebody shows up from CPS. I already registered my name on some of the sites I researched, and I posted my birthday and place of birth. That’s all, though.”

  “Are you sure you’re going to be okay with the outcome? This might turn out to be wonderful, or something that breaks your heart.”

  “I know, but I want to know. I’m tired of not knowing who I am. Zoey knew her mom, and so did Crystal. Devon had his grandma. Amari and I are the only ones who don’t have a clue.”

  Lily’s heart went out to him. “Does Amari know about this?”

  “Not yet. I haven’t told him either, but I will. Maybe later tonight on the phone.”

  “Okay. I’ll let Ms. Bernadine know, but I want you to promise me that you will sit down with the Paynes and tell them what you’re doing. They’re your parents, Brain. They should know, and will probably want to help. Promise me,” she echoed, making sure he met her eyes.

  He nodded tightly. “I will. I promise. I’ll talk to them after school.”

  She gave him a quick hug. “I’m rooting for you on this. If there’s anything Ms. Bernadine or I can do, let us know.”

  He gave her a smile. “I promise that, too.”

  She gave him another quick, tight squeeze. He nodded good-bye, and she resumed her journey to her car.

  But as she crossed the parking lot to where it sat, someone else called her name. Once again, she stopped and turned. At this rate, Bernadine was liable to fly off without her.

  Gary Clark was waving at her from the driver’s side of his sweet new Buick. He’d gone to high school with her and Trent, but lived now over in Franklin. He drove slowly over to where she stood.

  “Hey, Gare. How are you?” The last time she’d seen him had been over the summer at the dedication of the new school.

  “Been better.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Just enrolled the girls in school here. We’re moving back to Henry Adams.”

  Before Lily could form a reaction, he added, “And you may as well know, Colleen left me. She wants a divorce.” His pain was obvious.

  “I’m so sorry.” Colleen was his witch of a wife. Lily had known her in high school, too.

  “How in the hell am I supposed to raise two teenage girls alone?” he asked, and ran a hand wearily over his tired face.

  “She’s not asking for custody?”

  He blew out a breath of disgust. “Please. No.”

  Lily didn’t know what to say.

  He shrugged. “I’m broke, Lil. The company shut down my dealership. Between that and the way Colleen has been spending, and the hits I took on the company stock . . .” His eyes were bleak. “We have no place to go, so the girls and I have to move back into my parents’ old place. I drove out and looked at it yesterday. It’s been empty for so long, it’s a mess. Mice nests, snakes. Rotting wood. We’re staying out at a motel on 183 for now.”

  Lily’s first reaction was to whip out her phone and call Bernadine, but something stopped her. Gary talking to Trent might be better. “Have you talked to Trent about this?”

  “No.”

  “You should.”

  He shook his head. “A man’s got his pride.”

  “And this pride is going to clothe and feed your daughters how?”

  The pointed question made him turn away and stare sightlessly off out into the plains.

  Lily waited.

  He finally met her eyes and gave her a soft smile. “You haven’t changed a bit, have you, Fontaine? Always straight to the point.”

  “No sense in messing around.”

  “Or putting lipstick on a pig.”

  “Or anything else. Talk to Trent, please, Gary. You were best friends. He’ll figure out a way to help you.”

  “And if I don’t talk to him?”

  “Then I will.”

  He sighed and chuckled. “Okay.”

  “Today, Gary,” she warned as she walked to her car.

  “Okay. Lily. Okay.”

  She gave him a wave before she drove back to the Power Plant like a bat out of hell. Her quick trip to the school had taken longer than she’d planned. First Preston and now the Clarks. She and the Boss Lady were going to have a whole lot to talk about on the flight down to Miami.

  Chapter 3

  When it was time for Lily and Bernadine to head off to the airport, Trent walked them out to the waiting town car, where the hired driver, Nathan, dressed in a sharp blue suit, stood at the ready. Lily gave Trent a kiss good-bye.

  Bernadine gave him a hug and a humor-filled warning, “Tell folks I expect this place to be still standing when I get back.”

  “With Genevieve on the warpath, that might be hard.”

  Both women responded with puzzled looks.

  “You haven’t heard about the Thrilla in Manila at the Dog this morning? Genevieve knocked Riley smooth out.”

  Lily tried to contain her chuckles but failed.

  “What?” Bernadine asked, as if maybe she hadn’t heard him correctly.

  “Out cold.” He gave them a quick rundown of the morning’s drama, and when he was done, they both sighed.

  “Okay,” Bernadine said, shaking her head. “If Riley presses charges and she’s arrested, take care of the bail if she needs help.”

  “Will do. Have a safe flight.”

  Lily quipped. “Keep your head down.”

  “And my dukes up.”

  Nathan closed them in and drove them away.

  Trent went back to his office and used the rest of the morning to pore over the paperwork tied to the new sewer system planned for the spring. The project was necessary if the dream to revitalize the once-thriving Main Street was to be achieved. Presently, the only building from those glory days still standing was the sagging hulk that in the 1880s had been the Henry Adams hotel. There were hopes to revive it, too, someday, but pipes for water and sewage had to be laid first.

  “Knock, knock.”

  He looked up to see Rocky standing in the doorway.

  “Got a minute?” she asked.

  “Sure. Come on in.”

  She took a seat.

  Trent waited for her to tell him the reason for her visit, but she remained silent. Wondering if she was waiting on him to begin the conversation, which didn’t make any sense, he asked, “How’d the mess with Riley and Genevieve turn out?”

  “Soon as Reg got him back on his feet, Gennie knocked him out again. Crumbled like a wet cotton sheet.”

  In spite of her answer, Trent got the impression that her mind was elsewhere. “Rock? You okay?”

  “No,” she replied and turned to meet his eyes. “Why does he keep asking me out?”

  “Who?”

  “Jack.”

  “Ah.”

  “Don’t ah me. I’ve told him no a hundred times, and he keeps coming back.”

  Trent viewed her with humor and affection. “Man’s sweet on you.”

  “I need him to be sweet on somebody else.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  She folded her arms tightly across her chest and sighed with frustration. “In truth, nothing. And that’s why I keep trying to run him off.”

  Trent never claimed to understand the women in Henry Adams, or anywhere else, for that matter; after all, he’d been divorced twice. “I’m sure there’s logic behind that answer somewhere, but you’ll have to explain it to me.”

  “He’s nice, Trent.”

  “And?”

  “I’m vulnerable to nice.”

  He still didn’t get it. “More logic, please.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Never mind.”

  And before he could say anything else, she got up and walked out.

  He wondered if there was something in the town’s water that made the females around him so special. First Genevieve, and now Rocky. The only woman who seemed relatively sane was
the colonel’s wife, Sheila, and that was because she’d yet to show any personality at all, but Tamar, Bernadine, or Lily could always be counted on to take up the slack.

  He was still pondering Rocky’s visit when another knock sounded. Seeing Gary Clark standing in the doorway, he stood up and said with surprise, “Hey. How are you?”

  Gary shrugged. “Need to talk to you about something.”

  The emotion on his old friend’s face was plain. “Come on in.”

  Gary glanced around the well-furnished office. “Nice place you got here.”

  “I think so, too. Blame it on Fontaine. She picked out most of the stuff. Have a seat.”

  Gary chose one of the plush brown leather chairs.

  Trent rested his hip on the edge of his desk and folded his arms. “How’re things going?”

  “Not so good.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Trent listened as Gary told him the same story he’d told Lily, and finished up by confessing. “Only reason I’m here is because Fontaine threatened to tell you all this if I didn’t.”

  “Kudos to her. It’s what friends are for.”

  “You’d think she’d’ve grown out of being so bossy.”

  Trent laughed. “I know, but that’s part of her charm.” He brought the conversation back to the topic at hand. “How much work do you think your parents’ place is going to need before you can move back in?”

  “More than I can afford, that’s for sure. Thousands more, probably.”

  “Then let’s take a ride out there. Once I get a look, I can make a rough estimate of what it’s going to cost.”

  “Doesn’t matter, Trent, I can’t afford it.”

  “Who said anything about you being able to pay?”

  Gary went still.

  Trent said, “I know you’d rather eat rat poison than take charity, but let me make a phone call. I know a place where you and the girls can probably stay until we get your place back in shape.”

  “Trent—”

  Trent turned away and called Tamar. After a short conversation with her, he closed his phone. “Okay. Found you a place.”

  “Where?” Gary asked with wonder on his face and in his voice.

  “The town owns some trailers out on Tamar’s property that are used for emergencies like this. They’re fully furnished, and Tamar’s on her way to the grocery store in Franklin to fill the fridge.”