by Patricia Fry
Once they were inside, Savannah placed Lily on the floor and began removing the new harness she’d bought Rags that afternoon, when she heard a man’s voice. “Hey there, cat lady.”
“Harrison,” she said, watching him enter the room. “How are you?”
He embraced her in a warm hug. “Good.” Pulling back, he said, “Couldn’t be better. How about you, pretty woman?”
“Great,” she said, hoping he didn’t notice her staring at him. Gads, he’s a good-looking guy. How petite little Colbi could have such a tall brother is a puzzle. But the good looks sure do run in this family. “How’s culinary school?” she asked. “Are you enjoying it?”
He smiled broadly. “Sure am. It’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had in a learning environment. But I can’t wait to be free to use all that they’re teaching me.”
“You’re working part-time, too, aren’t you?”
He nodded. “Yes. I’m on the externship program—part of my training is at the restaurant. I should finish the school in a matter of weeks.”
“Cool—so you’re on the fast-track, are you?”
“Uh-huh. I found a small school with a variety of programs you can choose from. I’m taking the steakhouse program. If I want to, I can go back at a later time and do the baking module or learn French cuisine.”
Savannah nodded. “Well, that’s convenient. You pay as you go?”
Colbi said, “We refinanced the house so he could afford tuition, but then he found this school, so he was able to put money in the bank, which he can use if he does go back for more modules.”
“Yeah, I want to get my family here as soon as possible.”
“How are Leah and baby Charlie?” Savannah asked, smiling broadly.
“Great. Just great.” He pulled out his phone. “Here’s a picture she sent me this morning of the two of them. Look at how much that little guy has grown already.”
“Oh, what an adorable smile. Great shot of them both. Is everything going okay for Leah at home?”
“She says it’s as if she never left. All is forgiven and everyone is madly in love with little Charlie. She’s enjoying her time with her family, but she’s eager to move back here for good with me.” His face brightened. “They’ll be here for Sis’s wedding, you know. We’re talking about her moving back in April or May. I should be working full-time at the Mason restaurant by then.”
“Oh, so you won’t have to make the drive to Straley every day to work?”
“No.” He smiled widely. “I’ll be head chef at the Mason Steakhouse.”
“Nice, Harrison. Really nice.”
He nodded. “Well, I’d better go out and finish my job before Damon gets here. Looks like we have just another hour or so of daylight.”
“Yeah, he’s leaving to go back to school this evening,” Colbi said, “so Damon will be on his own for the rest of the week on the yard project.”
“Hey,” Harrison said before leaving the room, “did Colbi take you on a tour of the yard?”
Savannah looked at Colbi, who was sitting quietly with Lily. “Not yet.”
“Come on, let me show you around.”
When Savannah hesitated, Colbi waved her hand. “Go on. Lily’s fine.”
Savannah returned to the living room a few minutes later and found Colbi wiping the floor with a towel. She grimaced. “Uh-oh, what did she do?”
“Oh, it wasn’t the princess,” Colbi said. “The fur tornado struck and upset my cup of tea.” She looked up at Savannah. “Want some?”
“Sounds good. Let me help.” Picking up Lily, she followed Colbi into the kitchen. “I love what the guys are doing out there. Your wedding will be beautiful—just beautiful in that setting.” When Colbi didn’t respond, she asked, “So you got a good report from the doctor? You must be elated.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Savannah hesitated, then asked, “Do you still think Dolly had something to do with that?”
“Could be—or I guess maybe I didn’t have that genetic disorder after all.” She looked down at the teapot as she poured.
“Is something wrong? I thought you’d be beyond happy.”
“I’m just thinking about all those people who do have the disease and are suffering.” She looked at Savannah. “Some of them are in really bad shape. It’s a miserable disease.”
“Oh, so you’re having survivor guilt?”
“Maybe a little,” she said, sullenly.
“Colbi, have you told your cousin the good news?”
“What good news?” she asked, picking up two cups of tea and handing one to Savannah.
“About your health.”
“Oh, no. I haven’t talked to her.”
Savannah frowned. “Colbi, what’s wrong now?”
“What makes you think anything’s wrong?” she asked, straightening her posture. “You know what stress I’m under with the wedding and all. In fact, I still don’t have a dress.” When Savannah started to say something, Colbi continued, “I’m going to try on that soft tangerine number again. What did you think of that one?” She ran her hand over her stomach, “It wasn’t too tight—left room to grow.”
“Grow?” Savannah chuckled. “You plan to go on an eating binge, do you?”
“No, it’s just…” Before she could finish her sentence, the cats raced down the stairs, into the living room, and around the corner into the kitchen. “Whoops!” Savannah exclaimed, quickly grasping Lily’s hand before she tumbled over from the whirlwind of cats.
“Where do they get that energy?” Colbi said, walking into the living room with her tea and sitting down.
“So Dolly has been despondent?” Savannah asked, joining Colbi. “She doesn’t look like it today.”
“Well, yeah, she’s perked up considerably since Rags got here. I think those two really bonded out there in the mountains. She seemed to miss him last night. Thanks for bringing him over and making her day. I love seeing my little girl happy.”
“Why don’t you get her a baby?” Savannah said, smiling.
“What?” Colbi asked, startled.
“A kitten. Auntie and Max have a young tabby female at their shelter who’s up for adoption. In fact, she looks a lot like Dolly. You ought to go look at her. She’s really a sweet thing.”
“Oh, I don’t know if I want any added responsibility,” she whined. A tear formed in one eye.
“Hi ladies,” came a voice from the front door.
“Damon, hello,” Savannah said, rising to give him a hug.
“Look out!” he shouted, when he saw the two cats rush into the room. “Oh, hi there, Rags—looks like you’ve brought some energy to Dolly.” He stooped over and petted Rags when the cat stopped and sniffed his shoes. “I hear she has missed you.”
“Yeah, they sure seem to like each other, don’t they?” Savannah said.
“Sure do.” Damon stepped over to where Colbi sat and kissed her. He peered into her eyes. “How’s my girl?”
“Fine,” she said, faking a bright smile.
“Hey, Lily,” he greeted. “What are you doing to that poor baby?”
“I think she’s trying to take off the doll’s dress,” Savannah explained.
“Looks like she has her in a stranglehold.” He peered out the window. “I see Harrison’s hard at work. I’d better go join him. There’s still a lot to do before the big day.” He gazed down at Colbi and started to say something, but turned and walked out of the room.
“He looks good,” Savannah said. “Seems excited.” When she glanced at Colbi and saw that she was weeping, she let out a sigh and promptly joined her on the sofa. “Okay, girlfriend, spill it. What’s wrong?” Savannah asked rather sternly.
“Well, I only told you part of what the doctor said. I’m not ill, but there is something…”
“What?” Savannah urged.
“I’m…pregnant,” she wailed.
“Oh!” Savannah said, her eyes w
ide. “Wow, I didn’t see that coming, did you?”
“Obviously not,” she said between sobs.
Savannah thought for a moment, not knowing what to say, then finally asked, “Don’t you want children?”
Colbi stopped crying. “Of course I do. It’s in the plan, but not now. The timing’s just so way off. We have careers that we want to grow.”
“Probably most children are little surprises that come when they’re ready, not when it’s convenient for their parents.” She glanced in the direction Damon had walked minutes earlier. “So what does he think? He looked mighty happy to me.”
“I haven’t told him,” Colbi said quietly. When she saw Savannah staring at her, she said, “He has his own problems with his father hassling the family—threatening a big lawsuit and all.”
“Oh yes, his father—so he’s still causing trouble?”
“Uh-huh. He came to the newspaper office yesterday to talk to Damon, to try to get him on his side.” Colbi uncurled her legs and put her feet on the floor. “You know, this is actually the first time he’d ever seen his real father.”
“He never saw him when he was a child?” Savannah asked, surprised.
“No. Evidently, Iris told him his father must have been in an accident or something, because he would never leave him if he had a choice. Damon grew up believing that his father loved him and that he must be dead. I guess Eugene Jackson has a very different perspective. He says Iris kept him away from Damon—that he wanted a relationship with him, but Iris refused to let him see his son. He maintains that he sent support money like clockwork and that he has the documentation to prove it.”
Savannah sat silent for a moment, then said, “Does Damon know who that other guy is? The one who claimed to be his father?”
“Huh? What guy?” Colbi asked, confused.
When Savannah realized that Damon hadn’t told her about the tall man, she tried to cover her tracks. “Oh, nothing. I thought I saw something the other day…but I’m sure I was mistaken.” She quickly changed the subject. “Gosh, I can’t believe Iris would lie about something as important as child support, can you? I mean there are ways to prove something like that.”
“No! Definitely not. According to Damon, his father said he paid out $65,000 over those eighteen years and he wants that money back. He’s here with a woman attorney who’s prepared to handle the court filing if the family doesn’t hand over the money.”
“Gads, sounds like extortion to me.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what it is. I believe they’ve come in with forged paperwork or maybe they’re flat-out bluffing. Anyway, all that has Damon and Iris pretty upset, and as you saw the other day, Craig’s trying to run interference for them.” She paused. “Damon’s worried about his mother. He’s working full-time and he’s busting his you-know-what to get things ready for the wedding. How can I tell him about the baby at a time like this?”
“Colbi, how can you not?”
“No, Savannah, no I won’t. Not until the timing is right.”
Chapter 5
Later that evening as Michael and Savannah prepared for bed, he said, “You seem quiet since you got home from Colbi’s. What’s up, hon?”
“Oh, Michael, it just seems that everyone around me is falling apart. My aunt isn’t sleeping after her ordeal, Colbi’s keeping a secret she really needs to tell, and Iris and her family are being harassed by a crook. I’m so worried about them all.” Before he could comment, she chuckled a little. “Even Dolly’s upset. She seemed fine when she saw Rags this evening, but Colbi said she’s been pining for him. I guess they bonded when they were lost in the mountains together.” She perked up. “You know, I told her about the kitten at Auntie’s and Max’s shelter. She’s so sweet and she’s a social little thing. I think Dolly would love having a little sister kitty.”
“Or she would hate sharing her space and her people with another cat. It could go either way.”
“True. But it wouldn’t hurt Colbi to have a cute little distraction. I may just take the kitten over there and see what sort of reaction she gets.”
Michael grimaced. “That’s kind of a dirty trick, don’t you think—taking an adorable kitten to someone who doesn’t think she wants one? She’ll probably see the kitten and won’t be able to say no.”
“That’s what I’m counting on,” she said, grinning.
He shook his head. “Not fair.” He nodded toward the nightstand. “That’s your phone.”
When she reached for it, however, he put his hand on her arm. “Why don’t you let it go? You need your rest. I don’t want you getting sick.”
She thought about it, but said, “It’s probably Iris; I’m expecting a callback from her. I won’t be long, I promise.” She glanced at Michael as she picked up her phone. “Hi Iris.”
“Hi, can you talk?”
“Well, yes. What’s up? I hear you’re being harassed by a bad memory from your past.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s how you could describe it.” She paused. “Savannah, am I losing my mind?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s so convincing—he swears he sent me a check every month for nearly eighteen years and has proof of it. He’s got me wondering if I’ve forgotten.”
“Oh, Iris, of course not. From what I’ve heard, Eugene Jackson’s the one who’s delusional. He’s playing you. That’s what he does.”
“I’m not so sure anymore. I mean, he has an attorney. It’s all so danged legal and convincing. Maybe I’ve forgotten. Savannah, I was wondering—do you think I might remember for sure, one way or another, if I went under—you know—hypnosis or something?”
“You want to talk to Rochelle?”
“I’m thinking maybe I should, just for my own peace of mind. Savannah, if they put me on the stand now, in the state I’m in, I might confess to something crazy that isn’t at all true. If he takes me to court, I have to have clarity. I need to be sure of the truth. You know what a terrible liar I am.”
Savannah laughed. “Oh, yes. I remember that time we played poker with Michael and my aunt. You couldn’t even bluff successfully.” She laughed harder. “I’ve never seen anyone reveal their hand as transparently as you did.”
“Yeah, poker’s definitely not my game. So what do you think, Savannah? Could Rochelle hypnotize me and help me sort out what’s real and what’s pure brainwashing on Eugene’s part? I mean she was able to help your friend Arthur remember those awful things from his past.”
“Sure, I can see about setting up an appointment with Rochelle. When could you make the trip to see her?”
“Any time. It’s that important. I’m beginning to feel as though I’m losing touch. That man has me rattled—and the fact that he’s harassing Damon just makes me so angry, I could…”
“I’ll call her in the morning and I’ll let you know what she thinks, okay?”
“Yes, thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.”
“Hey, Iris, you went with Colbi to her doctor appointment, didn’t you?”
Her voice brightened. “Yes. Isn’t it good news?”
“Uh…”
“I’m absolutely delighted that she got a clean bill of health. I guess her imagination just got away from her. It’s wonderful knowing she’s okay—no horrible genetic disease.”
“Yes, yes it is. So you didn’t go in to see the doctor with her?”
“No. I offered to, but she asked me to wait for her. Why?”
“Oh nothing. I just wondered. Yes, it is super news. I couldn’t be happier for her.”
“Me, too. Now, if that awful man who doesn’t even want to call himself Damon’s father would just disappear, all would be wonderful in my family.”
“Iris,” Savannah said, “do you know who that tall, dark man was that I saw arguing with Damon last week? The one who originally claimed to be Damon’s father?”
“Hell, I don’t know. I can tell you Eugene Jackson is not tall
or dark. In fact, he just got out of jail. He showed up here yesterday afternoon with his attorney—what a floozy. Doesn’t look like an attorney to me. Do you know what her name is?” she asked. Before Savannah could respond, she said, “Honey Babcock.” She laughed. “Honey Babcock. What kind of name is that for an attorney? She looks more like a…”
“A floozy?” Savannah said, laughing.
“Yes.”
“Iris, I told Craig I saw a woman matching that description with the tall man. She waited in the car while he badgered Damon. Now what’s she doing with your ex-husband? This is all rather mysterious, don’t you think? Are the three of them working together?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never seen the tall man. I don’t know who he is. He does have Damon confused, though. That guy came to him, claiming to be his father, then he disappears and Eugene gets out of jail and shows up at the newspaper office also claiming to be his father. I guess the other guy was willing to take whatever Damon would give him—he had discounted the presumed debt down to $20,000, then $5,000. Did you know that?”
“No. Gads, what a puzzle.”
“More like a nightmare.”
Savannah sighed deeply. “Well, Iris, I’ll contact Rochelle tomorrow and let you know what she says about a hypnosis session.”
****
“Iris, have you heard of Skype?” Savannah asked, the following morning when she called her.
“Huh? Oh, you mean that deal where you can see each other while chatting on the computer?”
“Yes. Well, Rochelle uses Skype sometimes for her sessions. If you’re open to trying it, she could work with you this week. What do you think?”
“Sure. Where do you get the camera? Hey wait, the boys talk through the computer to an exchange student they know in Germany sometimes and I think they have one of those. Yeah, I could use theirs if someone will show me how to do it.”
“Good. I’ll give you Rochelle’s number. Why don’t you call and set up a time?”
“Okay. Um Savannah, would you be with me?”
“During the session?”
“Yeah. I mean, what if I go to sleep and miss the important stuff?”
