“Lucky I was due for a break,” he said. “I’ll wear it for you this weekend with my safety glasses if you’re really into that. I gotta split.”
“Lane’s having a barbeque tomorrow, don’t forget. It’s supposed to be even nicer out by then.”
“I’m not going if he’s going.” We both narrowed our gazes on Caleb’s truck in the street. I was grateful he had been avoiding his brother.
I went inside to find Caleb on Meggie’s couch exactly where I thought he’d be.
“What’s Mona Deliah doing home?” He dropped his boots to the floor and sat up to stretch and scratch his chest. “She just tore through here wearing a mighty big, shit-eating grin.”
“Can’t you leave her alone for once? She’s been through enough.”
“I always got dragged around by the ear for my pranks. How come she gets off Scot-free?”
“Who said it was a prank?”
“Come on. Do I look like I don’t know which end to spank, legs?”
“She has an in with the principal. I think you already know that. How come I always find you lying on the sofa?”
“Where would you rather find me?” he asked.
One of the babies started crying behind a closed door.
“Don’t keep me in suspense. What’d she do?”
“I don’t know exactly. It had something to do with crazy glue and the boy’s locker room.”
Caleb snorted a laugh just as Gabe had when he walked his sister out of the school. He was biting his fist, trying not to laugh. I didn’t want to know the details. Clearly, they both found humor in their sister’s antics.
After lunch I curled up in the corner of the basement couch while I waited for laundry to dry. Deliah announced she was tired and locked herself in her room. I was catching up on schoolwork when my little sister called.
“Banana,” I said into the phone. “Have you been playing in the snow?”
She told me all about her trip to the ice rink and how she got to skate all day and drink hot chocolate with colored marshmallows and how there were four green ones and six pink ones. I forgot all about the skating lessons she got for Christmas.
“Can I talk to mama? Blow me a kiss. I miss you. I’ll send you pictures of Aunt Meggie’s baby, okay?”
She dropped the phone and my mother picked it up. The first thing she did was hound me about getting my wrist checked. Then she wanted to know if I was focusing on my class. I told her how Meggie was doing and about the progress they made with the house.
“Gabe’s good,” I said when she didn’t think to ask. “He’s still working for his father, and he moved his trailer to Meggie’s land so we can live there and keep watch on the house.”
She asked if he made any plans to enroll in classes. I was about to change the subject and ask what was happening with my father’s firm when I heard Deliah in her bedroom.
“There’s another baby!” she yelled. “I’m not making it up. I have proof.”
“Mom, I have to go.”
“Wait, Avery, was that Deliah? Has Joel arranged for her to see a grief counselor? Meggie mentioned there have been outbursts.”
Deliah made a sniffling sound after I said goodbye to my mother. I knocked on her door and stuck my head in.
“Who were you talking to?”
“Nobody,” she said and wiped her eyes. Her phone was on her pillow.
“Do you want to talk about school?”
“No.”
Her phone buzzed while I sat beside her on the bed. “Did you read your mother’s letter? Because Gabe says there’s no way that—”
“No! I shredded it in Meggie’s office.” She dove into her pillow. The phone skidded across the blanket and landed on the floor. There was a missed call from Tessa.
* * *
“Take a load off,” Caleb said. He leaned against the banister on Lane’s front step. His long legs blocked the path.
“What are you doing out here?” I asked.
“Same as you. Waiting for my sister.”
“Why don’t you go back to work and bandage some people? You had a good thing going and you weren’t even working in oil fulltime. How are you going to survive without a job?”
“I’m planning to leave this world the way I came in, bare assed and broke.” He crossed his arms over his shirt. “Isn’t there an encyclopedia waiting for you somewhere?”
“I’m going to campus after Deliah gets home.”
“You came out because you’re worried about me.”
“I’m not worried about you. I don’t think about you. I want to make sure Deliah had a good day since she got sent home yesterday.”
“You just like to tell yourself that,” he drawled and lifted his cowboy hat to reveal his bruises. His nose was never broken; however, it looked bad.
I stepped over his legs. I felt his eyes follow me as I walked down the driveway.
“Ok, legs. You win.”
I turned around. “What did I win?”
“I can’t shake this feeling that you hate me.”
“I’m not having the same conversation for the next ten years.”
“So in ten years, you’ll dump him for me? I can wait.” He was doing it again.
“Why don’t you go help clean up Meggie’s house? Everybody’s pitching in but you. Do you even know what you want?” I asked. Then under my breath I muttered, “I mean in life. Besides sex.”
His expression turned melancholy. Had I struck a chord? I took a step toward him.
“What are you, my personal philosopher?”
“You’re going to be alone forever if you don’t cut the crap, Caleb.”
“I’ll never be alone,” he replied.
“Because you’re so good-looking and charming and girls will always fall all over you?”
“You forgot magnificent kisser. See, I made you blush just mentioning it.”
“I did not. God, you’re so cocky. Why don’t you lay off?”
He scratched his jaw. “Because that wouldn't be any fun.”
“All you do is chase after girls you can’t have. How is that working?”
“You don’t know me too well,” he said. “I don’t need you telling me what I want, legs.” He reached out and grabbed my ankle. Then he tugged on the hem of my jeans.
Judson’s truck rolled in. Deliah climbed down with her bag on her shoulder. I stepped out of Caleb’s grip.
“I was waiting for you to get off the bus,” I told her. “Why didn’t you text me?”
“Uncle Dud picked me up. I was walking home, and he thought I might get ax murdered or something.”
“I was keeping an eye on Barrett,” said Judson.
“Can’t we call the police on him?” I asked. “Gabe said he’s been lurking.”
Deliah ran inside and slammed the door.
“Man, sometimes that girl gives me the nastiest case of whiplash,” said Caleb. “She’s like a revolving door. One mood in. One mood out.”
“You have to watch what you say. Deliah thinks Barrett—” I shut my mouth before it was too late. Gabe didn’t want me to reveal my suspicions. But that’s not really what stopped me. Judson was wearing a faded Red’s Stomp Box T-shirt from Tessa’s bar in Memphis.
“Cat got your tongue?” Caleb ran a hand down my hair. I shook it off.
“Avery,” Meggie called when I stepped into the living room and let out the breath I was holding in. I found her sitting at the kitchen table with a burp cloth on her shoulder, blowing on her hot tea. Judson sat down. I stood behind him. He kicked a kitchen chair out and shrugged off his jacket. Meggie motioned for me to sit, but I chose to stand.
“I don’t know what’s troubling Deliah now. Someone mentions the Barrett family and she gets all bent out of shape. I look at her cross-eyed and she melts down like a two-year-old. Joel and I have an appointment with her school psychologist. We need to get to the bottom of this behavior.”
“My mother asked me if she was getting any therapy.�
��
“You’re close to her. Can you think of anything else that could be bothering her?”
Judson turned around. I studied his T-shirt and wondered if he had a clue I noticed the shirt or if he thought I was admiring his muscles. There was no way for anyone in the Halden family to know about Red’s Stomp Box aside from Caleb and Gabe. No one had any contact with Gabe’s mother for a hundred years. Judson’s T-shirt was old.
I shrugged and headed down the basement stairs. I turned around when it occurred to me that Deliah could use a snack. She talked more when she wasn’t hungry. Gabe was the same way.
“I wish Joel would step it up,” Meggie told Judson. “I’ve got my own children. I never signed up to be a camp counselor.”
I put a popcorn packet in the microwave while they chatted. Meggie ran her hands through her hair. “I haven’t had a moment to breathe this winter,” she vented. “Or comb my hair.”
They continued to visit while I had my back to the table and pretended to be busy. The corn began to pop.
“My highflying brother’s taken on a helluva chore relocating the company headquarters. Once that gets rolling, you’ll wish he were a twin. I don’t see the point in racing to an early grave.”
“Well, the kids appreciate having their uncle around since they never see their dad. You hardly ever stay this long.”
“Great kids. Y’all are very hospitable,” he drawled. “I’ll do what I can while I’m here doll, but you know me. I’m not one to put down roots. Especially not in this town.”
“Lefty, you’re always welcome.” She laughed out loud. “Uff-da, I betcha nobody calls you that anymore.”
I inhaled and choked on my breath.
The microwave beeped as Meggie’s laughter subsided. I dropped the steaming bag of popcorn into a bowl when it burned my knuckles. My heart leapt into my throat and then my throat tightened as if someone’s hands were strangling me to death. I grabbed the bowl to carry it downstairs and it slipped out of my grip and bounced on the floor.
Did I hear her right?
Lefty and Judson were one and the same. Gabe’s uncle hadn’t been searching for Deliah’s birth certificate to rule out Brigg Barrett as father—he was trying to confirm himself.
Meggie pushed out her seat. “Avery, honey, are you okay?” She bent and gathered the bowl and the bag of popcorn.
I glared at Judson’s face even though I knew I might give myself away. He towered over me. I didn’t take my gaze off of his hazel eyes. The same eyes he shared with his brother—and the boys—and Deliah. The same eyes turned dark with concern.
I took the popcorn from Meggie’s hand and ran down the stairs.
Ten
“Let’s skip the shindig,” said Gabe. He tossed his keys onto the coffee table in the trailer and then poured himself a glass of Dr. Pepper. “I can think of about three hundred things I’d rather do than eat supper with the lieutenant and everybody else. Whose stupid idea was it again? It’s nobody’s birthday.”
I pulled off my cowboy boots and sat on the couch while Gabe picked up his brother’s guitar and strummed a tune.
“Lane’s idea.” I rubbed my eyes, thankful he couldn’t see my manic inner-thoughts. He grew up in a love triangle between his mother, father and uncle—and he didn’t even know it. Actually, it was more like a love hexagon.
“He won’t care if we pass.” He set the guitar against the wall and stood in front of me. His legs bumped my knees.
I wanted to skip the barbeque too. I didn’t know how long I could keep the truth to myself. I couldn’t tell Gabe his family was hiding more secrets.
He sat down beside me and pulled my legs onto his lap. I set my head on the arm.
“You’re quiet.” He pressed the back of his hand on my forehead. “You’re not warm, but I should check you out anyway.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
He tugged on my sleeve so my arm popped out. Then he pulled the other one out until my shirt acted like a shawl. Next thing I knew, I was underneath him on the couch.
“I don’t need food. I just ate,” he said into my lips and dragged some of his books out from under my head. “How do you smell so good all the time?”
He pushed up and sat on my waist. I wanted to get up and hide in the bathroom.
“You’re miles away, and I’m right here. Remember me? Your Texas hottie?” He tried to tickle me.
I wouldn’t laugh. He was in an exceptional mood, and I knew how fast I could ruin it. “I remember.”
He tugged his T-shirt off with one hand and made a gymnastic move to slip underneath me. Then he pulled my shirt over my head.
“Gabe, we have to get ready.”
“You look ready to me,” he smirked.
“Let’s just go. There won’t be drama. Meggie won’t allow it.”
I rolled off the couch and fell on the floor. It was the only way to escape.
“You know what’ll happen,” he said as he sat up and offered me a hand. “I’ll be all over you all night and you’ll wish like hell we did it before we left.”
“I’ll wear my ugliest sweater and three bras. Trust me. You’ll be able to stay away.”
* * *
“Hope you saved your appetites. I’ve got brisket smoking on the grill. Pickled veggies, beans, and potato salad on the side,” Lane told us.
He was wearing an apron with a longhorn on the bib. Deliah was wearing an apron made from the Texas flag. They wore matching HalRem caps. The house smelled better than a barbeque restaurant.
“You coulda told me this was a theme party,” said Gabe. He flicked a finger at Deliah’s hat. “He’s letting you help?”
She turned to him and put her fists on her hips. “I made the molasses and bourbon sauce, for your information. Lane says it’s mom’s recipe.”
Judson raised his hat and waved it. I tried not to make comparisons between his looks and Deliah’s. “Actually it was mine, kid. I concocted the formula in home economics and then won a prize at the county fair. Back when I was a lanky stud like this one.” He stretched his leg and pretended to whack Gabe’s butt. “Your mom stole it from me.”
Deliah flashed her gaze at Judson. “You brought bourbon to school? I bet Shelly’s mom would kick you out for that.”
He tipped his cowboy hat. “Hell yeah. I brought it in a thermos on special occasions if I needed to impress a girl.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” Lane told his sister. “That was in the dark ages.”
“Only one girl?” asked Meggie. “You didn’t need a family recipe to impress anyone back then. Halden men don’t seem to have a problem in that department.”
I glared at Judson and waited to see if he would look at me. He didn’t make eye contact.
Gabe looked up and smiled. I wanted to rewind time and go back to the trailer. I couldn’t get over his mood.
Molly stepped outside and yawned. “Babies are down. Freedom at last. I hope I don’t fall asleep with a fork in my mouth.”
“This co-mothering is working for y’all, huh?” Gabe asked.
“Not exactly, kiddo. We don’t have enough arms to go around. I’d like my house, back and I’m sure your brother would like his life back.”
“Joel wants to hire a live-in nanny,” Deliah said.
“That’s out of the question. I’ll be darned if I let a stranger help raise my own child.”
Lane shut the barbeque lid and set his bowl of sauce on the picnic table. “Can somebody fetch the cooler? It’s in the garage.”
Caleb stood and stretched his arms behind his back. “Better have bourbon in it,” he said as he brushed past me and whistled into my ear. “I can be so much more than charming, legs.”
Gabe leaned on the deck railing with his elbows back. His raglan shirt stretched across his torso. A cowboy hat shaded his eyes, yet I could tell he was watching me with Caleb. I was irritated with myself for turning him down on the couch. He hadn’t tried to touch me again and suddenly that was all I wante
d.
“Your dad’s on a call with the prime minister of Dubai. I think it’s four in the morning there. They always take his call,” Meggie said. “I’m waiting for the day an asteroid wipes out cell service worldwide.”
The collective eye rolling on the deck was not lost on me. Nor was the fact that Mr. Halden was talking to a head of state in one of the richest countries in the world.
“They’d laugh their asses off if they knew he was conferencing from the crapper,” said Judson.
“Tell him you won’t marry him until he pays more attention to you,” said Deliah.
“You don’t know him,” Gabe replied. “Work means more to him than any of us, even her.”
I held my breath. It wasn’t a very nice thing to say. Even so, we all knew Gabe was telling the truth.
“I’ll never know him, and I don’t care either. He’s not my dad.”
Meggie jerked her head to the side and glared at Deliah. Lane spun around holding a knife and fork in each hand.
“Honey, why would you say that?” Meggie asked.
“Because it’s true,” she said. She picked up her Coke and poured it all over a plate of nachos.
“Hey! What’d you do that for? I would’ve eaten them,” said Gabe.
Deliah bit her lips closed and made a pouting face.
“I’ll make more.” Molly grabbed the flooded plate and headed past me.
Lane called after her. “Can you find the bag with the cups and plates? It’s in my truck.”
“They were lousy nachos anyway,” Deliah snickered.
Gabe threw his leg over the bench and took a seat facing his sister. “Way to make friends.”
“I’ve got friends,” she snapped. “Unlike you.”
“Okiedokie. That’s enough,” Meggie scolded. “What’s gotten into you? I didn’t always get along with my sister, but you just found each other. Gabe, you’re older. You know better.”
“He was always the baby. He got the snot kicked out of him. This is his chance at intimidation,” Judson teased.
Meggie covered her eyes. “Goodness gracious. I can’t win. Avery, can you help me out?”
Stubborn Truth (The Stubborn Series Book 3) Page 20
