Chad laughed and stepped up behind her, encircling her with his big arms. “My wife will grow as large as I am at this rate.”
“Nonsense,” said Harrison’s mother. “You’re more than three or four of her.”
“I guess you’re right,” Chad said. “Still it’s funny such a little thing can change so much.”
“Babies do change everything.” Harrison’s mother held out her hands to Caulin. “Come to Grandma.” When the baby shook his head and buried his face in Rhonda’s chest, she added to Tianna, “When you have this baby, you need to let me watch him more. I want him to get used to me right from the start.”
“Okay. I guess.” Tianna shrugged out of Chad’s arms and crossed the kitchen to retrieve a carrot from the vegetable platter.
Rhonda sighed and shifted her baby’s head to her shoulder. “I’m sure it’ll happen soon with Caulin. I’ll bring him over more.”
The conversation moved on, but Harrison was distracted. The yellow note seemed to burn a hole in his pocket.
His mother took off her apron. “That’s it. As soon as the rolls are finished baking, we’ll take the chicken and fettuccini to the table.” She frowned at Harrison. “It’s almost six. You should have picked her up.”
“She’s a big girl, Mom. She can find her way.”
“In my day,” Eli said, folding his arms across his dress shirt and tie, “a man picked up his date.”
There he goes again with the not-so-subtle criticism. Trying not to bristle, Harrison made his voice matter-of-fact. “I offered, but she had a few things to do first.” He was already beginning to worry about Makay. She’d been pretty sick last night and could have had a relapse. She could also have decided not to come.
“That’s unfortunate,” Eli said.
“What’s with women these days anyway?” Graham, Rhonda’s husband, spoke for the first time. “Give them the vote and they suddenly figure out ways not to let a guy be a gentleman.”
Eli smiled and Chad laughed, but Rhonda glared at him. “Graham.”
“Just kidding.” Graham winked at Harrison, and Harrison knew his brother-in-law didn’t find his own comments humorous. He worked for a software company and was both conservative and intelligent. He understood Eli, and while his comments often seemed to condone Eli’s attitude and behavior, they actually subtly mocked him. Graham’s delivery was such, however, that only Harrison and Rhonda realized it.
Harrison nodded in appreciation before his eyes went to his mother. “Can I talk to you a moment?”
Her eyes flitted to her husband and back again. “Well, we’re all together now. Maybe it can wait?”
“I don’t think so. Please.”
She gave a short nod. “Okay.” Her voice sounded hard—and worried. Harrison hated to do this to her, now or ever, but they had to talk. “Rhonda, keep an eye on the rolls,” she said. “Take them out if I’m not back in time.” With another glance at Eli, she followed Harrison from the kitchen. He didn’t stop in the entryway or go to the sitting room but continued out the front door. The upscale neighborhood was peaceful and silent, with not a person or animal in sight.
His mother waited until the door was firmly closed behind them before asking, “Is this about the note?” The words were scarcely a whisper.
“It’s about the new note someone left today after we talked on the phone.” Harrison turned to face her, as if they were just chatting on the porch before he left to go home.
“Oh, dear Lord,” she murmured. “What did it say?”
Harrison pulled it from his pocket, unfolding it slowly. His mother looked around a bit wildly, as if expecting Eli or one of the neighbors to come out and rip it from his hands. He handed it to her, his mind running over the words he’d already memorized.
Who am I and what do I want, you ask? You should know who I am already. What I want is fifty thousand dollars—unless you’d like your husband and other children to know about me. If you want proof, I can show you. Or not. Whatever. It doesn’t really matter. Because I’ll tell your husband if you don’t pay—and we both know you don’t want that.
It was signed The child you gave up.
His mother let out a little sob. Her eyes were still riveted to the paper, but her hand was shaking so badly that it would be impossible to reread. Harrison grabbed her hands and pried them open, freeing the sheet from her tightened grasp. Belatedly, he thought of fingerprints, but immediately dismissed the idea. They already knew who it was.
Or did they?
“It’s her.” His mother wilted, a shadow of her former self.
“Maybe. It could just be someone who found out.”
“How? And how would they know I didn’t tell Eli?” She paled abruptly, moving forward to grip the front of his shirt. “You don’t think . . . oh! She must have talked to Eli. She must have talked to all of you to see if you knew.” The idea was apparently too much and a tear escaped her right eye.
Now it was Harrison whose eyes scanned the neighborhood, wondering if anyone was observing them, and if they questioned why his mother clutched at him so desperately.
“No one asked me,” Harrison said. “At least not that I can remember.” Though now that he thought about it, the subject could have come up in a what-if conversation at work or with friends. Had someone pumped him for information without his knowledge? “Anyway, it doesn’t have to be her. It could be anyone who knew you at that time.”
She shook her head. “It couldn’t be. Most didn’t even know. I didn’t announce the pregnancy, and I hid it as much as I could.”
“Things change. Some people knew, and maybe they need money now.”
“No. It’s her. I know it!”
Harrison felt a curious flicker of joy. “Then let’s tell her we want to meet. Let’s welcome her back.”
“No!” His mother gasped. “I can’t. You know Eli. Even if he could get over the fact of her existence, he would never forgive me for lying to him all these years.”
“You think he’ll divorce you?” He couldn’t say it out loud, but maybe that would be a good thing, if she was that frightened of him.
Her face contorted. “No, but he’ll make me pay. Every day, he’ll make me pay.” The tears were running faster now. “You know how it was, Harrison. He did the same thing to you and none of it was your fault. You don’t know how much it hurt to see you trying to please him. It took years before I felt like he respected me, that he forgave me for having you and accepted you as his own. I can’t go through that again.” Her eyes begged him to understand. “Things are better now. Good, even. I love Eli, and I love our life. I don’t want to go back.” She hesitated before adding, “What kind of person is she that she’d approach me this way? It’s like she’s purposely being hateful.”
He had to admit it seemed strange. He would have expected a long letter detailing her life and asking for a chance to be a part of their family. Instead, they had this abrasive, mocking note that clearly told them they meant nothing to her, that she was interested only in their money.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “There’s no way we can pay that much, not without Eli knowing. Unless I got a loan or something.”
“I have some money saved.” Her voice lowered. “Eli doesn’t know about it.”
He stared at her. She hid money from Eli? It seemed too incredible to believe.
“Don’t look at me like that. All women have a stash, at least those who don’t work outside the home. Even if it’s just a few bucks in a jar. You can’t always have someone looking over your shoulder at everything you do. I might be able to get enough for this.”
“What if she comes back for more? What then?”
Again her fingers clutched at his shirt. “You tell her it’s all we have. You can make her understand, right?”
The whole thing was ludicrous. Real people weren’t blackmailed. People he knew shouldn’t have secrets that others could use for blackmail.
“I have some jewelry I never wear
anymore,” his mother added through heavy breaths. “I can offer her that if I need to, or I can hock it.”
“Hock it? What are you saying? It might not even be her. We can’t forget that.” His mind ran over the possibilities. “Have you recently run into someone you used to know?” Maybe they had followed her home and, after seeing where she lived, decided she was a good target. “Or talked to anyone on the phone?”
“No. No one. It’s her, I tell you. She hates me for what I did.”
“For what you did? That’s crazy.” Harrison put an arm around her. “Mom, you gave her life. You put her with a good family. You did all you felt you could do at the time. She should be grateful. Placing a baby for adoption is a sacrifice.”
“Then why is she doing this?” His mother’s tears had stopped, but her face was anguished. “I lived that hell. She has no right to drag me back there again.” She took a deep breath and continued more calmly. “But I want to give her the money. If she needs it, I want her to have it. I just don’t want her to ruin everything I’ve built.”
Harrison was torn. He understood what she was saying, and knowing the kind of man Eli was made it all the more true, but how could his mother turn her back on her own blood? Did she hate the girl’s father so much that simply meeting their child would be too painful? Or maybe just surviving the pregnancy and birth without support had scarred her for life.
No, it’s Eli. Everything seemed to end and begin with his stepfather and his mother’s fear and worship of the man.
At the same time, the idea of paying off the woman, if she was his sister, seemed wrong when maybe all she really wanted—and needed—was love.
Did this sister-stranger like baseball games and popcorn? Harrison couldn’t help wondering. Did she swim well like Rhonda, or was she more like Tianna, who only went into the water to jet ski with a life jacket on? Did she have a boyfriend or had she married young and already have children of her own like his other sisters?
“Aren’t you curious about her life?” Harrison asked.
“I can’t afford to be. And don’t think we’d be doing her a favor inviting her into our lives. Eli would never accept her.” His mother pushed him toward the door. “Go inside first. Make sure no one is there so I can go up the front stairs. I need to fix my face before anyone sees me. It’s after six, and your friend will be here soon.”
“What about the money?”
“I’ll get it. You arrange the rest.” She pushed harder at him and this time he went inside. No one was in the entryway, and he motioned for his mother to go past him and up the stairs. He watched her go, feeling he’d somehow failed her.
This emotion only solidified his determination. Whatever happened, whoever was behind this plan was not going to walk away without getting burned, even if it was his sister.
Chapter Twelve
Makay awoke from her nap with a start, her heart pounding. She’d been dreaming about the park again. This time she was hiding in the bushes waiting for two men in hoodies to complete their transaction. Money and a small bag of white powder exchanged hands practically above her head. They both wore guns, and she knew her life depended on staying silent. Even a rustle of her sleeping bag could be the end. Not really a dream but a memory.
Head whirling, she forced her eyes to focus on the time glowing on her alarm clock. Great. Five forty already and no way for her to do much with her appearance without being late for dinner with Harrison. Or even later than she would already likely be since it would take her extra time to find the house in Scottsdale. She came to her feet, staggering a little, but not feeling too bad. At least she wasn’t cold anymore.
“Nate!” she called from the door. “Get dressed, honey. Your best jeans.”
“We’re going to dinner now? Yay!” He came at a run, going for the bottom drawer in the dresser where they kept his jeans. “Can I wear my blue shirt?”
“The polo with the white stripes? Sure.” That should dress the jeans up a little.
For herself, she grabbed the standard black pants. They had a spot on them, but a little water did wonders. She had a frilly yellow blouse somewhere that might be good with them. There it was. Did it look like the wrinkles were on purpose? She thought so, but she couldn’t be sure. Regardless, she didn’t have time to dig out the iron she’d inherited from Fern when she died.
“You look great,” she said to Nate, “but wash your face, okay? And get your shoes on.”
She headed to the bathroom to see what she could do with her own face. She looked a heartbeat shy of death, but a little base could work miracles. Eye shadow and liner also helped create some distraction from her unhealthy pallor. When she was finished, she looked better, but she still wasn’t satisfied.
She dragged a brush through her hair. Maybe I shouldn’t go. Snotsdale wasn’t really the place for her. Harrison’s family was going to see right through to her lowly roots and detest her on principle. It was a miracle he’d invited her in the first place. If she cut her losses now, she’d save them both a lot of trouble, and she could focus on what was important—getting away from Lenny so he could never threaten her again. But she would also never know what might have been. Besides, she’d told him she’d be there.
“You’re going,” she told the woman in the mirror. “He’s been sweet to you, and you really want to know if he’s a stalker or not.” She smiled despite her lousy mood. Now where had she put her purse and phone? She’d been in the kitchen when she’d made her last call. Oh, right. Her phone was in her sweatshirt pocket.
Thinking of her phone brought back the conversation with Lenny, and her heart started pounding again. He’d found her mother, and she didn’t want Makay. Why? A part of Makay didn’t want to believe rejection was possible, but she’d seen it too many times not to believe. She still wanted to understand why. What was so bad in her birth mother’s life that she was willing to pay to keep her away? I have to know. During the years of working with Lenny, she’d learned a thing or two about investigation, so maybe it was time to put that knowledge to work.
In the kitchen, Makay pushed Snoop’s nose away from her and grabbed her phone. Her purse she finally discovered hiding in a cupboard where she’d put her can of diced tomatoes from the dance. The sight of the can pushed all the bad thoughts to the background. She was going to see Harrison, and she was going to enjoy every minute of their time together, no matter what the future held.
“I’m not exactly sure how to get there,” she said to Nate as they locked Snoop in the apartment and hurried outside to the car.
“Didn’t he give you the address?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t tell me where it is.” She looked at the phone and saw that Harrison had not only sent her the address, but also directions. Her tension eased. Maybe she wouldn’t be as late as she’d thought. “Here.” She handed the phone to Nate. “Read these aloud to me as I need them, okay? Every now and then, touch the screen so it doesn’t go dark.”
“I know,” he said, but there was no real aggravation in his voice.
Together they made it to Scottsdale in eighteen minutes and to Harrison’s parents’ six minutes later. She was fifteen minutes late. The area was as expensive as she’d expected, which meant huge houses set far apart, each with wide expanses of lawn and sculptured flowerbeds. To her surprise, Harrison was outside the house, sitting on the porch. He stood and came to meet her.
“Harrison!” shouted Nate. “We’re here!”
“So I see. I was beginning to wonder.” He met them halfway up the walk, stepping close to Makay and wrapping his arms around her. He kissed her firmly on the mouth as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if he didn’t care who saw them together.
“Two little lovers sitting in a tree,” sang Nate. “K-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes love, then comes—”
Makay broke from Harrison and clamped a hand over Nate’s mouth. “Don’t things ever change?”
Harrison chuckled. “Guess not. I think that was the sam
e song my sisters taunted me with when I went to prom a million years ago.” He kept an arm around her as they continued up the walk. “You look great, by the way. I hope you got in a nap.”
“Actually, that’s why I’m late. I kind of overslept.”
“Good.” Amusement filled his voice. “That’s better than the alternative.”
“The alternative?”
He stopped walking and turned toward her. “That you decided you never wanted to see me again.”
His eyes looked deep enough to lose herself in. She searched for something adequate to say, but “I think I’m falling in love with you” seemed a bit much. Instead, she said, “Then Lily might not get that alarm you promised her.”
He chuckled again. “I guess I’d better stretch that out as long as possible.”
Nate had already reached the porch, and they hurried to catch up. “Your family isn’t going to be upset that I’m late, are they?” Makay asked as he opened the front door.
“No.” There was an odd catch in his voice.
“You don’t sound too sure.”
“No one will care except maybe my stepfather. It’s hard to tell. Oh, and Tianna, who’s eating for two.”
“She’s expecting? I didn’t realize.”
“Yep.” He grinned. “I’m going to be an uncle again.”
“That’s great.” His sister had seemed to be a little off at the club—dancing madly for a time and then running to the rest room. She’d also kept nibbling little snacks all night long that seemed to appear from nowhere.
Harrison put a finger on her brow between her eyes and whispered, “Don’t worry too much about Eli. I stopped caring what he thought years ago. Come on.” He took her hand and led the way to the kitchen.
“Oh, you’re here!” Tianna saw her first and came rushing over. “Harrison said something about you being sick?”
“Last night. I’m fine now.” She looked over the rest of the people in the kitchen that was larger than her entire apartment. “I’m really sorry for being late. I was napping, and I overslept.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Rhonda said. “Everyone’s late the first time they come here. It’s hard to find.”
Your Eyes Don't Lie Page 13
