2000
Ginny and Tommy managed to compose themselves for Jason’s sake. Tommy took the jacket from his son and returned it to the bottom of the box.
“Start packing it back up, Jason.”
“But Dad—”
“Do it now, son.” He looked at his wife. She was pale.
He knew what she was thinking. She wanted to leave, and she wanted to leave right now. He walked her to where she had left her small suitcase. He held her hand as he carried it out to the car.
“I love you, Ginny. It’s because I love you that I know you need some time. I won’t fight you on this. I’ll handle the kids.”
He set her suitcase in the back seat and turned to her.
She willingly leaned into his arms. Being in his embrace, in those arms that had grown into achingly familiar ones, brought her up short. Now that she knew he was Grizz’s son, would it be a constant reminder of Grizz? These were the same arms that held her for almost fifteen years. Why was it that, after learning the truth, it all seemed somehow tainted?
She inhaled his scent. At least that was uniquely Tommy’s.
Then she remembered the reason she was leaving and hastily removed herself from his loving grip. He tried to reach for her again, but she shrugged him off, got in the car, and started it. She rolled down the window.
“Would you mind giving Carter a call and telling her I’m on my way over?”
Without waiting for his reply, she put the car in reverse and headed for Shady Ranches.
On the drive over to Carter and Bill’s, Ginny’s mind drifted. With the population growth over the last several years, traffic had become a nightmare. It would take at least forty-five minutes to get to Carter’s house. The house she had once shared with Grizz. She knew Carter would be there and that Bill was out of town.
Carter had been with Sarah Jo outside the execution viewing room just a couple of days ago. She’d told Ginny how badly Casey had wanted to be there too, but she’d been delayed at an airport somewhere in the Middle East. Casey, one of their other college friends, was now a journalist and worked for the foreign press. She was always traveling. She’d tried her hardest to be there for Ginny when Grizz died, but she couldn’t get a flight out in time. Ginny wondered if she’d ever even made it to Fort Lauderdale.
She thought back to how she had married Tommy in a quick ceremony, but couldn’t bring herself to have him move into the house in Shady Ranches. The very house she was driving to now. She’d been pregnant and emotional. It was hard enough marrying another man—even Tommy, who she’d known almost as long as she’d known Grizz. She remembered how shocked she’d been when Grizz sat her down that day, told her he’d always known Grunt had feelings for her—and that Grizz wanted her to marry him.
She sat at the red light and gulped. How much of that was true? She didn’t know what to believe anymore.
Yes, she had a lot to discuss with Tommy. But not yet. She needed some breathing space. She needed to think.
The light turned green and she drove on, the past wrapped around her like a blanket. Carter had been the perfect choice to live in their former home in the rural subdivision. She was one of those people who took in every stray animal that needed a home. The house, on a few acres, was just right for Carter and her adopted “children.” Her friend hadn’t been married when she’d first moved into Shady Ranches, at first to keep Ginny company, and later on her own. She met Bill a few years later at a fundraiser for an animal rescue organization. It had been love at first sight and the pair were married almost immediately. Bill had a career in computer hardware sales and traveled frequently for his job. He made an excellent living, and it enabled them to support Carter’s animal rescue activities, but computer sales wasn’t his passion. Rather, Bill loved anything and everything that had to do with surveillance—what he called his “spy stuff.” He’d even set up a system at Tommy’s office to help them catch someone who’d been stealing from the corporate bank accounts. Bill was an electronic wizard.
With Bill gone more than not, it wasn’t unusual at all for Ginny to spend time at the house, helping Carter with the animals. Ginny laughed to herself when she remembered how Carter had provided a temporary foster home to a nasty camel named Phil. Phil turned out to be quite the challenge, and she was certain even Carter had breathed a sigh of relief when Phil was finally placed in an animal sanctuary.
Grizz had specifically asked her not to sell the home, so having Carter and Bill there, taking care of it and making good use of the property, worked out for everyone.
Even behind bars and now, beyond the grave, Grizz seemed to have his hands in everything.
She pulled into Shady Ranches and up the long, familiar driveway. Waiting for her, she saw Carter and Casey, both standing on the porch. So Casey had finally gotten a flight. She was glad. And Tommy had called ahead. Ginny had known he would. He was the most dependable human being in the world.
But apparently, just not the most honest.
She felt a stab of pain in her chest.
Her friends approached the car. She couldn’t park quickly enough. She practically fell into their outstretched arms. She leaned heavily on Carter, sobbing, while her friend gently guided her into the house. Casey retrieved her small suitcase from the back seat and followed them inside.