by Brenda Novak
She blinked repeatedly. “No. And if Roger said that, he’s lying! He doesn’t know what happened because he wasn’t there.”
“But you told him, didn’t you? When you were high or sad or unable to forget, you shared your dark secret.”
“You tricked me into coming here!” She turned on Corinne. “You said all I had to do was show up and tell my story, and you’d give me two hundred dollars for my time and pay for my flight. I want my money, and I want out of here.”
“Two hundred dollars?” Phoenix said. “That’s all it took to get you to try and hurt me again?”
“How can anything I say hurt you now? You’re out, aren’t you? There’s nothing more they can do to you. I might as well get the money.”
Corinne pressed a hand to her throat as if she needed to pry someone’s boot off it. “Is it true?” she gasped. “What Riley’s saying?”
Wearing an expression of concern, Corinne’s husband stood and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t listen to her, Mom,” Buddy said. “This is all Phoenix, trying to confuse us. She did this...”
“That’s ludicrous!” Riley shouted. “You guys are the ones who brought Penny here! But now that we’ve got the chance to talk to her, I want the truth. If you don’t—or can’t—accept being wrong, feel free to walk out.”
Tears were beginning to run down Penny’s face. “I didn’t do it.”
“Then why would your ex-husband say you did?” Helen asked.
Penny’s eyes took on a look of fear that reminded Phoenix of a cornered animal. “He’s bitter, angry. He’s an ex, for Christ’s sake. Some exes will do anything to get back at their former partners.”
“He didn’t sound bitter to me,” Riley said. “He told me part of him will always love you, but that you need help. That you’ve fallen so far, he doesn’t know if you’ll ever get back up.”
Closing her eyes, she covered her face, but the tears continued. Phoenix could see them dripping off her chin.
“Tell the truth,” Riley said, unyielding, insistent. “For once in your life, tell the fucking truth!”
She began to tremble. “I didn’t mean to hurt her,” she whispered through her fingers. “God knows I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. It was—it was an accident. No one should be punished for an accident.”
Phoenix was so surprised that Penny had finally admitted her culpability that it took a second to sink in. She looked at Riley to see if he’d heard it, too. Then she looked around the room and saw that everyone else was equally stunned.
“And yet you made what you did even worse by letting an innocent person take the consequences,” Riley said. “For an accident like that, with no ill intent, you probably would’ve been sentenced to five years, if that. Instead, you let everyone believe Phoenix tried to run Lori down, and you let her sit in prison for seventeen years. She missed out on raising her son, and she had to come home to face the anger of the people who believed she’d murdered a member of their family.”
“I know! But I can’t fix that now! It’s in the past.” Penny crumpled to the carpet, sobbing so loudly that they could no longer understand her. Something about, “I never meant to hurt anyone. It was a joke.”
When she curled into a fetal position, Phoenix stood up to go to her. She wasn’t sure what she felt. It wasn’t forgiveness exactly. That would take a lot more time. But it was a profound sadness that even though Phoenix was the one who’d been punished, Penny hadn’t avoided the consequences. The lie she’d told had destroyed everything admirable about her.
“Come on.” Phoenix took her arm to help her up. “I’m guessing you won’t be getting the two hundred dollars you were hoping for. But Riley and I will drive you to the airport.”
It wasn’t until later, when they were on their way home, that Phoenix was able to ask Riley about Roger. “You told me he didn’t tell you that Penny yanked on the wheel,” she said.
He glanced over as he drove. “He didn’t—but she didn’t know that.”
“You tricked her into admitting the truth?” Phoenix cried.
Riley tucked a length of hair behind her ear as he gave her the same smile she’d dreamed about for seventeen years. “It was a bluff. But it was all I had. Thank God it worked. But I wish we could’ve gotten her to sign a statement accepting responsibility.” They’d tried, but by the time Riley had come up with the idea on their drive to the airport and they’d stopped to buy some paper, Penny had pulled herself together and refused. They’d sat in silence all the way to Sacramento. Then she’d gotten out, slammed the door and stalked off.
“It probably wouldn’t have held up in court, anyway,” Phoenix said. “Not without being notarized.”
“We should hire a lawyer,” he said. “I wish I’d thought of bringing one with us today, but I was too worried about how you’d be treated and the fact that I couldn’t come up with anything solid. It never even crossed my mind.” He shook his head. “Even if I’d thought of recording the conversation on my cell once we got there, we would’ve had some proof of what she admitted.”
“We have witnesses. Your parents won’t lie, will they?”
“No, but I’m sure the Mansfields would rather keep the truth quiet. They were so sure you were at fault, it’ll be more than a little embarrassing when everyone learns just how wrong they were. Fortunately, as much as my mother loves her best friend, she loves me more. We can depend on her to tell the truth.”
“Then that’s enough for me,” Phoenix said. “Let’s not waste our time fighting for more. I’ve heard about ex-cons suing for compensation. But it’s not easy to get, especially if there isn’t some sort of forensic proof that’d make the question of guilt unquestionable. With someone like me? Even if we got Penny to repeat what she said to us today, they could say that memories are faulty. That she was coerced or whatever. There’d be so much red tape we’d never collect. As a matter of fact, we’d spend more money going after it than we’d ever receive.”
“But the system failed you. It took seventeen years of your life! And what about clearing your name? Isn’t that important to you?”
“I might pursue that at some point. Who can say if it’ll become more important to me later on? I just don’t want to deal with it right now, not when the people who matter to me the most know the truth. I just want to put it behind me, start over. Besides, it wasn’t the system that failed me. It was the integrity of one person. No system can compensate for a lack of integrity.”
“You’re serious.”
“Absolutely. At least it’s over. At least you know the truth and your family knows. That’s more than I’ve dared to hope for in a long, long time. And I have so much to look forward to.”
“Being with me and Jacob—that’s enough?”
“What more could I ask for?” Phoenix felt lighter than air. She’d be able to walk through Whiskey Creek with her head held high. She wouldn’t have to fear the Mansfields or endure the hatred that had barraged her before. She could go to Jake’s games without any hesitation and feel he had no reason to be ashamed of her. “I’ll never forget the way the Mansfields hung their heads after Penny broke down, and how apologetic your parents were.”
“They were wrong, and now they know it.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “So what do you think?”
She studied his profile as he drove. His tone indicated that he was taking the conversation in a different direction, but she had no idea which direction. “About what?”
He grinned. “Isn’t it time for you to make me a bracelet?”
* * *
Riley couldn’t wait to tell Jake what had happened with Penny, and he knew Phoenix was even more excited. She kept wringing her hands and shifting her weight while they stood outside the entrance of Just Like Mom’s and watched Jake park in the restaurant lot. Jake knew they were happy about something, because they’d invited him to join them for a celebration sundae. But he didn’t know what they were going to tell him.
“Hey!” The cleats on Jake’s shoes clicked on the walkway as he approached. He’d come straight from baseball practice, so he was sweaty and his uniform was covered in dirt. He’d asked if he should stop and shower first, but they’d been too eager to see him.
“Hi!” Phoenix rushed toward him and hugged him, which probably wasn’t a good idea, because she broke down in tears almost immediately.
Jake glanced at Riley as he returned the embrace, looking a little uncertain, and Riley winked to say he shouldn’t be concerned.
“We met with Penny today,” Phoenix announced with a sniff as she let him go.
Jake removed his baseball cap and put it on backward. “And?” He sounded even more uncertain than he looked.
“She finally told the truth.” Riley spoke up since Phoenix’s tears had welled up again, and she had to keep wiping her face. “She admitted that she was the one who caused Lori’s death.”
“Are you kidding?” Jake nearly yelled, he was so excited, which drew the attention of a party walking past. But Riley felt like shouting it to the whole world, anyway, and he was confident Phoenix felt the same.
Smiling through her tears, she shook her head and Jake swept her into his arms again. “Mom! Do you realize what this means?”
She laughed as he swung her around. “It means you no longer have to wonder about me or feel as if other people believe the worst,” she said.
“We believed you even before. Didn’t we, Dad?” he said. “Someone like you could never do anything like that.”
The sight of Jake clasping his mother with such happy relief made Riley emotional, too. He was afraid his voice could crack, so he cleared his throat in an attempt to conceal his emotions and nodded instead of speaking.
“Did Grandma and Grandpa hear it?” Jake asked, setting her down.
“They did,” Phoenix replied. “The Mansfields heard it, too. And we owe it all to your father. He’s the one who got her to admit that she pulled on the wheel.”
“How’d he do that?” Jake asked.
Riley had recovered enough to speak without losing control, so he interrupted before Phoenix could retell the story. “Let’s go in, and we’ll give you all the details.”
“This is awesome!” Jake told Phoenix.
Her smile stretched wider than Riley had ever seen. “It’s so good to be free—really free—at last,” she said, and slipped under Riley’s arm as they walked into the restaurant.
Epilogue
June 2
Dear Coop,
So much has happened since I got out that I don’t even know where to start. I’m happy. I guess that’s a good place to begin. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life—so happy that I’d go through ten more years of prison if I had to, in order to get where I am now. I still live on my mother’s property in a run-down trailer, but it’s not so bad, since I’ve made it my own. It lets me stay close to her and take care of her. She needs that. I haven’t even pressured her to get rid of the junk yet. I figure there’s time. We can take it in small increments, work with her limitations so that she’s not too miserable about the whole thing.
My bracelet business is growing like crazy. I’m surprised by how fast. I can barely keep up with the orders. Who knew they’d catch on? I just bought myself a new laptop (it’s a used one but that’s all I need for now) and ordered internet service. Hallelujah for the small things! I’m saving up for a car next. But that will take a while. I put some money on your books, by the way.
I’ve included a picture of Jake. Isn’t he handsome? He’s the best son a mother could have. He comes to see me often, and I go to all his baseball games. You should see him pitch! I’m sure he’ll get a college scholarship (and I’ll be weeping in the audience when they award it to him).
Now you’re probably chuckling about the other picture. You always teased me that I’d get with a man right away after going so long without...you know. But that’s me and Riley. Yep, the Riley. LOL! I never could get over him. I think you knew that. Only now being in love isn’t such a bad thing, since he claims he wants to marry me. It might take a few months to actually convince me that he means it. But he’s trying, and I’m fine to let him keep trying—for a while.
At least he knows I didn’t kill Lori on purpose. That’s the important part. How he figured it out is a long story—too long to write now—but Penny (the other girl in the car when the accident happened) finally admitted the truth. You’re probably wondering if that means Lori’s family is going to try and have her prosecuted. I doubt it. I think they understand there’s not much to be gained by punishing someone who never meant to do anything wrong in the first place. And even if they want their vengeance, prison would be an improvement over the life Penny’s leading now. Turns out she’s a junkie, living here and there and all over, with few friends and very little contact with her family. Things never got that bad for me. I’ve had my fair share of enemies—this heart of mine has been shattered in a million pieces—but even during the worst of times, I had you. One of God’s tender mercies.
Love,
Phoenix
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from COME HOME TO ME by Brenda Novak.
If you loved This Heart of Mine by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak, be sure to catch the rest of her heartwarming and award-winning contemporary romance series Whiskey Creek:
When We Touch (novella)
When Lightning Strikes
When Snow Falls
When Summer Comes
Home to Whiskey Creek
Take Me Home for Christmas
Come Home To Me
The Heart of Christmas
Order your copies today!
And don’t miss The Secret Sister (August 2015), a captivating exploration of family relationships, lost memories and long-hidden secrets.
“Every book is a winner! Brenda Novak doesn’t just write fabulous stories, she writes keepers.”
—New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery
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1
Aaron Amos was in the bookstore, too. Presley Christensen could tell by the prickle that skittered up her spine. Maybe she’d subconsciously recognized his voice amid the babble of the others, or there really was such a thing as a sixth sense, because when she turned and glanced across the crowded room, she confirmed what her body had already told her. He was standing off to one side, looking right at her.
It’d been two years since she’d seen him, and almost the same length of time since she’d shared his bed. But it felt like much longer. Her pregnancy and the first eighteen months of her son’s life had been hard, harder than anything that had come before—which was saying something for a girl who’d lived out of a car or a motel for most of her childhood.
Although she’d known when she decided to return to Whiskey Creek that she might bump into Aaron, and had tried to prepare herself for that moment, her eyes locked with his as if he held a high-powered magnet that drew them there against her will. Then it was all she could do not to stumble back; the sight of him hit her like a blow to the chest.
Damn it! Her reaction—the way her breath jammed in her throat and her stomach knotted—was ridiculous. Why couldn’t she get over him?
Gritting her teeth, she jerked her gaze away and slipped behind the people standing in line to get Ted Dixon’s autograph. She was a big fan of Ted’s work. Once she’d moved to Fresno to start over, his thrillers, along with a lot of other novels, had helped keep her mind occupied so she wouldn’t fall back into her previous lifestyle. And after she found work at the Helping Hands Thrift Store, which was the best job she could land with so little education, books—second-hand, mostly
—had provided the only entertainment she could afford. They’d especially been a blessing after Wyatt was born and she was up walking the floor so often with a colicky baby.
Still, Ted was local. It wasn’t as if she wouldn’t have another chance to see him. She’d wanted to come but probably wouldn’t have if not for the urging of her sister. Cheyenne had insisted on watching Wyatt so Presley could get out for a few hours. She said it was important for her to take a break. And Presley was grateful. After the effort she’d put into cleaning her small rental house, getting settled and finding the perfect retail space to lease for her new yoga studio, she’d been eager for the chance to clean up and feel like something other than a mom.
But that was when she’d believed, as Cheyenne and Cheyenne’s husband, Dylan, had believed, that Aaron would be a hundred and forty miles to the northeast. He planned to branch off on his own and open a franchise of Amos Auto Body, the collision repair shop he owned with Dylan and his other brothers. According to Cheyenne, he’d been spending a great deal of time in Reno looking for the best location.
“Excuse me.” She pressed against the closest bookshelves in an attempt to squeeze past two men who were deep in conversation.
“Presley!”
She’d been so intent on her escape that she hadn’t even looked up, but this caught her attention. Kyle and Riley, two of her sister’s closest friends, were standing there. Ted Dixon, the author, belonged to their clique, so it was no surprise to see them here. If she searched hard enough, she’d likely find a handful of the others who’d hung out with Ted since kindergarten.
“Hello.” She managed a smile, although her heart was pounding. Was Aaron, at this very instant, threading his way through the people standing between them?
There wasn’t any reason he should feel uncomfortable approaching her. Maybe they hadn’t kept in touch while she was gone, but there’d been no expectations along those lines. Their former relationship hadn’t involved any commitment or obligation. They’d partied a great deal, and they’d had the hottest sex she’d ever experienced, but as far as he was concerned it was all in fun. They hadn’t even had a fight when she left. The death of her mother and the knowledge of her pregnancy had set her off on a self-destructive odyssey that led her to an abortion clinic in Arizona. She’d felt sure that ending her pregnancy was what Aaron would want if he knew about it, which was why, when she decided to keep the baby, she didn’t feel she owed him anything, even notice that Wyatt was his.
