Chapter Seven
When we went back inside, Muffy found her bed in the corner of the back room and hunkered down. I wondered if my little dog could see the future too, but it didn’t take a psychic reading to know things were about to get even tenser. I found Violet in a huddle of several people I didn’t recognize, all wearing suits and business attire. Her head swiveled as I emerged from the back room, and she shot me a glare. All the customers had vanished.
A woman with graying hair straightened and took several steps toward me. “You must be Rose,” she said with a smile.
“Yes, ma’am.” I extended my hand, glad that Mason was standing behind me. My nerves were about to overtake me.
She shook with a firm grasp. “I’m Thelma Peterman and I’m with the Arkansas Small Business Association. When J.R. Simmons brought your business to our attention, we were excited to process your grant.”
My stomach tightened and I felt Mason place a hand on the small of my back for support. I wasn’t sure why I was shocked. I had already guessed that Joe’s father was behind this set-up, but suspecting something and having it confirmed were two different things.
“We don’t usually spotlight businesses as new as yours, but Mr. Simmons insisted we feature you as part of Joe Simmons’s political campaign, which, of course, will provide great exposure for both of you.”
“We’re just so honored to be considered,” Violet gushed, clutching her hands in front of her.
Thelma cleared her throat, speaking loud enough to get everyone’s attention. “Here’s what’s going to happen: Joe’s running behind schedule, so we’ll film some footage of you and Violet puttering around the shop and ask some informal questions while we wait. Then we’ll stand outside when he shows up, and Joe will give a speech about Arkansas’ entrepreneurial spirit. He’ll hand you an envelope, saying that he’s giving you the check, but in reality it will be empty. Instead, we’ll deposit the money directly into your account. Then Joe will take questions from the press and be on his way. If we need more footage of you two, we’ll stick around after he leaves. This should take no more than two hours max.”
“Okay,” I said, looking out the window at the growing crowd. “Why are there so many people showing up for this? I didn’t know Joe was so popular in Henryetta.”
“It’s probably because there are going to be news crews from Little Rock here filming the press conference,” Violet said with a snip in her voice. “They want to be on TV. If you’d been in here ten minutes ago, you would know that.”
“Excuse me, Ms. Peterman.” Mason stepped around me. “You say that the money will deposited into the Gardner Sisters Nursery’s bank account. I’d like to know exactly when that transaction will be processed.”
Thelma’s bushy eyebrows shot up, and her mouth pursed into the shape of a heart. “And you are…?”
Mason extended his hand, assuming his official countenance. The one that had intimidated me when we first met on Bruce Wayne Decker’s trial. “Mason Deveraux III. Fenton County Assistant District Attorney.”
Her eyes widened in alarm. “I assure you that there is nothing to worry about, Mr. Deveraux. We’re a state-run department and all the paperwork has been processed. The money will be deposited by the end of the week.”
“I was told that there were conditions placed on awarding the grant. One of them was that Rose has to be present for the press conference, is that correct?”
“Well…yes…”
“May I ask who placed those conditions?”
The blood drained from Violet’s face. “Mason, I’m sure you’re getting all worked up over nothing.”
Thelma had recovered enough to become indignant. “It was a decision of the board, Mr. Deveraux. The business does include the name sisters. We needed both sisters.”
Mason shifted his weight, lifting his eyebrows but maintaining his death stare. “How curious that you would think it necessary to make that stipulation. I would presume that both sisters would be thrilled with such an honor and that neither would consider missing the opportunity to show off their business.”
“Well…”
“I want assurance—in writing—that if Ms. Gardner participates in this presentation, the money will be deposited into the business’s account.”
Thelma’s face reddened. “Mr. Deveraux—”
“Mason!” Violet protested. “That really isn’t necessary.”
Mason stared her down. “Violet, I’m positive you can appreciate that I’m looking out for your best interest.”
Her eyes glittered with suppressed anger. “You mean Rose’s.” She turned to me. “Rose, tell Mason that you don’t need his intervention.”
I looked up into Mason’s determined face then turned back to Violet. “No. He’s right. If I’m gonna do this, I want to know that they won’t change their minds.”
Thelma turned and talked to the people behind her in hushed tones before addressing Mason. “This is highly unusual, Mr. Deveraux.”
“Nevertheless, we’ll need that agreement in writing.”
Her back stiffened. “I’m not authorized to create such a document.”
“Then find someone who is.”
Violet marched over and grabbed Mason’s arm, her fingers digging so deep she was bound to leave bruises. “Mason, can we talk for a moment?”
His gaze shifted to Thelma. “It looks like we have a few moments while we’re waiting.”
Violet dragged him into the back room and I followed them, numb with shock.
Violet jabbed him in the chest with her finger. “You have no right butting your nose into our business, Mason. Our business.”
Mason’s face softened. “And as Rose’s friend, I can’t in good conscience stand in the background without offering her legal counsel when I feel she needs it.” He shifted his weight. “Violet, you know good and well that this was instigated by J.R. Simmons. You don’t think that man will double-cross you both with a smile on his face? I want you to have this money as much as you want it, but I’d hate to see these people put you two through the Joe Simmons Puppet Show without anything to show for it. Trust me, Violet. I am looking out for your best interest here too, not just Rose’s. J.R. Simmons has used every trick in the book to get what he wants. I want to make sure both of you get what you were promised.”
His speech seemed to calm her down. She put her hands on her hips and looked at the floor, nodding. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
“Thank you.” He put his hands on her arms and squatted to meet her gaze. “I promise you, I would never do anything to hurt your business. I care about Rose and I see how happy it makes her. I want it to succeed, but as her friend—and yours—I can’t stand back and watch you be taken advantage of.”
She chewed on the inside of her lip for a moment. “Okay.”
He dropped his hold, becoming more official again. “And when that document shows up—and I’m certain it will—I want to look it over to make sure it’s legally binding.”
“How can you be so sure they’ll do it?” I asked.
Mason’s face hardened. “Because J.R. Simmons is desperate to put you and Joe together. Desperate enough to offer you several hundred thousand dollars to make it happen.”
“Oh.”
Violet was indignant again. “No, we’re getting that money because I applied for this grant.”
“And how long ago did you apply? A month?”
She scowled. “Three weeks.”
“And when was the last time you heard of the government working that quickly?”
Her scowl deepened.
Mason’s face softened as he searched Violet’s eyes. “Trust me.”
She took a deep breath then released it. “Okay.”
Several minutes later, one of Thelma’s associates appeared in the doorway of the back room. “Do you have a fax machine?”
Violet’s eyes widened. “Yeah.” And she rattled off the number.
The document arrived several minutes later and Thelma tapped her foot impatiently while Mason read it over. When he was done, he turned to Violet and me. “This says that you will both be present for the press conference and that the money will be deposited into your account by noon tomorrow. There are no other stipulations or requirements. It also asks you to agree to let them use whatever footage they get for promotion or any other way they see fit. While I admit the wording of the last part concerns me a bit, I think you’ll be fine.”
Violet already had a pen in her hand. “Where do we sign?”
When I signed it, I wasn’t surprised to see J.R. Simmons’s own signature next to ours. “How did they send it so quickly?” I whispered to Mason after I handed Thelma the document.
“Because I suspect he already had it prepared.”
“We need to hustle, people,” Thelma shouted, clapping her hands together. “We’re officially behind schedule.”
The small business group had brought two cameramen and while waiting for the document, they set up the lighting for the interview. They put a microphone on Violet and filmed her walking around the shop straightening the pots and gift items we sold. After a few takes of that, they had her stand by the register and asked her questions about opening the nursery. Another cameraman asked me to go outside so he could get some shots of me with the plants we had lining the sidewalk.
I was thankful the camera crew didn’t seem interested in talking to me, only filming me watering the flowers and talking to a pretend customer. Mason stood off to the side, watching in silence. While they followed me around for the next fifteen minutes, three news vans drove up and parked on the street. The crews emerged and they began setting up for the press conference. Someone had set up a rope barrier between the sidewalk and the parking lot. The crowd on the other side of the rope had swelled even more.
The cameraman turned to see where my attention had gone. “Ms. Gardner, we need you to pretend the people on the street aren’t there.”
Easier said than done. I knew Joe would arrive at any moment, and I felt like I was going to be sick. I took a deep breath. I had agreed to do this. It would all be over soon.
When they finished filming, Joe still hadn’t arrived even though it was well past one. I’d noticed Jonah in the crowd earlier and since the camera crew was done with me, I waved him over. He pushed his way through the gathered mass of people and I couldn’t help but think how different this was from the first time I met him at the grand opening of the nursery. That time, he’d arrived with an entourage and his own camera crew. I had to say I liked this new Reverend Jonah much better.
Someone called out, “Reverend Jonah!”
Jonah’s television smile switched on and he turned to wave. He may have changed, but his on-screen persona had endured the transformation. I had to admit he was a great showman.
When he reached me, I grabbed his arm and pulled him around the side of the building. “Did you have a chance to talk to Scooter?”
He leaned his head closer to mine and lowered his voice. “I did, but I didn’t get much information.”
I glanced at Mason, who stood at the edge of the parking lot, looking official. He seemed to be scanning the crowd for something. His gaze landed on mine and his mouth tipped into a sexy smile. My stomach fluttered and my skin heated despite the chilly wind. Flustered, I returned my attention to Jonah, trying to concentrate on the task at hand. “What did he say?”
“Scooter has been out at Weston’s Garage quite a bit over the last week. He says there was lots of activity and he knew something big was about to go down but claims not to know what. He saw Bruce Wayne there on Friday and over the weekend.”
My heart sunk. “It sounds like they were helping Daniel Crocker break out of jail, but I just can’t believe Bruce Wayne would be a part of that.”
“We don’t know for sure that he was. Maybe that’s why he disappeared. Because he refused to cooperate.” His voice lowered. “I really think it’s time for you to tell Mason.”
Movement in the parking lot drew my attention. As a dark sedan pulled into a parking spot, Thelma came outside with Violet and her cameraman in tow. I drew in a breath of anticipation as the rear car doors opened. When Joe got out, he was already waving to the crowd, wearing a smile I’d never once seen on his face the entire time we’d known each other. He shook several hands before he walked toward us. He was handsome in his dark gray suit with a red tie and several women in the crowd shouted his name and whistled. Joe ignored them as his gaze landed on me and Jonah, his face hardening.
My chest tightened and I tried to take a breath. Of all the reactions I’d expected from him the first time we saw each other again, this disdain was stunning.
Thelma intercepted him on the sidewalk and it took him several seconds to give her his attention.
I blinked to ease the tears burning my eyes. What had I done to earn that look from him?
I barely had time to recover when the next person to emerge from the car sent the blood rushing from my head—Hilary. She wore a cream colored dress with a green vine print as though she were playing along with the whole gardening theme. Her long auburn hair was pulled back from her face and hung in waves. If I didn’t know the real her, I would have believed she was the sweet, dutiful fiancée of an up-and-coming political star. She was pretty enough to be a Hollywood celebrity.
My gaze strayed to Mason, who was watching me with a worried expression. I had no doubt he’d seen Joe’s reaction. I flashed him a tight smile even as I fought to take a breath.
Hilary waved to the crowd, her smile lighting up her face as she made her way to Joe. She looped her arm through his, pulling him like she was staking her territory. Her left hand rested on his forearm and the massive diamond on her finger caught the sunlight, sparkling like one of Ashley’s glitter-encrusted art projects. I couldn’t help comparing her engagement ring to the one Joe had given me. The one that now sat in a box in my underwear drawer. The rings were so vastly different it was like they had been given by two different men. But then again, I wasn’t surprised.
This man who was working the crowd wasn’t the one I’d known. He smiled and shook hands, talking to strangers as though they were his close friends. I had no idea why he was wasting time on people who weren’t even his constituents, but maybe he was thinking long term. After all, I’d seen a vision in which Hilary was his wife and he was winning a U.S. Senate seat.
I searched the crowd that had now swelled to over a hundred people. There were more people here today than had shown up for our grand opening. A group of middle-aged women held up signs with pictures of Joe and Hilary with crowns drawn on their heads with black marker and the word “Jolary for President!” handwritten at the top. It took me three whole seconds to figure out Jolary was their version of Brangelina.
Several younger women near the front were wearing T-shirts with Joe’s photo emblazoned across their chests with the phrase, “I want to be your First Lady on the street and the First Slut in your bed.” I wondered if they had truly thought that slogan through. My mouth dropped open when I realized Samantha Jo Wheaten was one of the women. She’d waited on us several times at the Suds and Spuds diner without ever giving Joe a second glance. But now that he had TV cameras on him, they all wanted him.
Joe watched as Jonah rejoined the crowd after offering me a smile and a thumbs up. Then Joe turned back to me, his cold eyes searching my face for a moment before he faced the crowd.
The blood drained from my head. Who was this man?
I considered bolting, the stupid grant be damned. I’d deal with Violet later.But as I went to leave, Thelma grabbed my arm and ushered me in front of the nursery doors. I caught a glimpse of Mason, who was hanging close to the building but staying away from the cameras. He offered me an encouraging smile.
I smiled back, not because I was happy with the situation, but because I could always count on him to be there when I needed him. The surety of this surprised me. Truth was, he’d been my rock for a while now. From getting me out of jail to saving me from Jimmy DeWade to helping me choose my truck, he had always been waiting in the wings to lend a helping hand. Now he was standing on the periphery again, and I realized I didn’t want him there anymore. I wanted him beside me. As soon as this nightmare press conference was over, I was going to address that.
But at the moment, I had to stand in front of the crowd in a straight line with the other official participants of this press conference, smack in front of the nursery. Violet and I hung to the right, while Joe and Hilary were on the left, Thelma between us. Joe stood less than four feet from me, close enough for me to see the tremor in his hand as he reached into his jacket and removed a folded piece of paper.
Several women shouted Joe’s name again and I noticed a sign that read Joe, will you marry ME? Hilary grabbed Joe’s hand and laced her fingers with his, smiling coyly at the crowd. “Sorry, girls. He’s all mine.” And without warning, she grabbed his face and gave him a kiss on the lips. Joe resisted for a moment before relaxing into her embrace. When he broke loose, he flashed a hundred-watt smile in response to the catcalls.
Violet stiffened next to me, and I was surprised when her hand slipped into mine. All my anger at her faded as we reverted to our familiar roles. The supporter and the victim. But I was tired of playing the victim, I reminded myself. I wanted to be the strong one for once. I squeezed her hand to show her how much I appreciated her effort, then released it.
Joe laughed. “We’re here today to recognize the Gardner Sisters Nursery, not give y’all a show.” He winked at Hilary, then looked down at his paper and gave a five-minute speech about Arkansas being built on the backs of hardworking entrepreneurs and how the Gardner sisters were carrying that legacy into the twenty-first century. To hear him speak of us, no one would ever guess he’d been there from the beginning, even reconstructing part of the greenhouse that stood twenty feet behind us.
When he finished, Thelma handed him a cream-colored, legal-sized envelope. He turned to us and presented the envelope to Violet. “It is with great pride and respect that the Arkansas Small Business Administration presents the Gardner Sisters Nursery with a two-hundred-thousand dollar grant to expand their business.”
The crowd cheered and cameras flashed as Violet took the envelope and shook Joe’s hand. He moved on to me next, his hand engulfing mine and holding on for several seconds as he stared into my face with a longing that stole my breath.
Hilary pulled on his arm until he released me, then he turned back to the crowd. “We’ll now take any questions y’all might have.”
Hands shot up in the air and Joe pointed to a blonde newswoman. “I’m sure you’re both used to the comparison of you two to Jackie and John F. Kennedy. What we want to know is when is your wedding and will it have a Camelot theme?”
Joe grinned, then shook his head. “We don’t—”
Hilary looped her arm through his and smiled up into his face. “It’s okay, Joe, we might as well tell everyone our big secret.”
His body tensed.
She stared down the cameras, her face beaming. “Joe and I are planning a December wedding and it will have a royal theme.”
The crowd began shouting questions.
“What are your colors?”
“Will the wedding be at the Simmons Estate?”
December. While my vision had shown him married to a very pregnant Hilary, learning that they’d set a date made me want to throw up.
Joe seemed to regain his senses. “Okay, we’ll take the next question. A non-wedding question.”
But the blonde reporter shouted, “How do you feel about your upcoming nuptials, Joe?”
His mouth opened then closed; he looked like a fish out of water struggling to breathe.
“Do you get any say about the colors or the ceremony?”
A grim smile lifted his mouth. “Hilary seems to be in charge of all of the details. I guess I’ll just show up when and where I’m told like any dutiful husband-to-be.” He released a chuckle, but it sounded forced. “Next question.” He pointed to a man in the back.
“Joe, you’re a last-minute entry into what might be your first political office. What makes you qualified?”
“Well…” Joe drawled. “That’s an excellent question. After graduating from the University of Arkansas law school and rankin’ third in my class, I’ve spent the last five years working for the Arkansas state police as an undercover officer. I’ve seen firsthand the effects of crime, and as an Arkansas State Senator, I will help ensure that criminal laws are upheld. I see it as a natural extension of my experience.”
“Do you think your father’s reputation and money make you more qualified?”
Joe’s grin froze. It was such a subtle reaction that no one else would notice. But I did. I knew this man…or thought I did. The Joe Simmons standing in front of this crowd was different from any of the variations of Joe that I’d met, from Joe McAllister, his pseudonym while he was undercover, to the Joe Simmons who had walked out my door five weeks ago. This Joe Simmons was a schmoozer who said what people wanted to hear. But the set of his mouth told me that he didn’t like what he was doing and I couldn’t help but feel partially responsible for that.
“No,” Joe answered. “I’d like to think I’m my own man and I’m making my own way in this world. I’d like to stand on my own merit. Next question.”
An older man with a notepad turned his attention to me, self-consciously sweeping long strands of thinning hair over a large bald spot on top of his head. When he lowered his hand, the gusty wind instantly blew them to the side. “Anthony Blund from the Henryetta Gazette. My question is for Rose Gardner.”
“Uh…” Joe’s eyes widened slightly and he turned to me. “I’m not sure the Gardner sisters are here to answer questions.”
“We were assured that they would.”
That damned contract.
I felt a comforting hand on the small of my back, and I looked over my shoulder into Mason’s expressionless face. “Take the question,” he said, leaning down to my ear, “but don’t answer if it’s a setup.”
I nodded at the reporter. “All right.”
“What do you have to say about the allegations that you have defrauded your sister of her inheritance?”
My chest constricted and I turned to Violet. Her face paled and she shook her head, turning toward the reporter. “That’s not true. Rose has done no such thing.”
“There are witnesses who testify that you, Violet, made such a claim. Are you backing down from your accusations?”
“I…” Violet fumbled.
Mason stepped between us. “As the Gardner Sisters Nursery’s legal counsel, I advise my clients to not respond to rumors and gossip.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Deveraux,” the Henryetta reporter called out. “If you’re the assistant DA, why are you their legal counsel? Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?”
“I can assure you, Mr. Blund, there has been no wrongdoing, so there can be no conflict of interest.”
“What about the fact that she hires a known felon? Doesn’t that present an issue?”
I cringed, but Mason kept his resolve. “Mr. Decker has served his time and reports regularly to his parole officer. Ms. Gardner has offered him employment when most people in this town would not. Ms. Gardner believes that everyone deserves a second chance and I commend her efforts.”
“Rose, is it true that you and Jonah Pruitt are dating? Was that why his mother tried to kill you? Because she didn’t approve?”
My mouth dropped open.
Mason cleared his throat. “Rose’s personal relationships are not up for public discussion.” He turned his head toward Joe and flashed a good-ole-boy grin. “I thought we were here to quiz Joe, not my clients.”
Joe tried to take control. “Mr. Deveraux is right.” He spread his hands open. “I’ve got six more days until the election. What else do you have for me?”
“Joe,” a TV reporter shouted. “You’ve based a good portion of your fight against crime on your bust of alleged murderer and drug dealer Daniel Crocker. Do you think his escape will hurt your campaign?”
Joe’s face froze. “What?”
“Surely you’re aware of his escape.”
His eyes widened and he gave a slight shake of his head. “Uh…”
“Daniel Crocker escaped from the Fenton County Jail last night, starting the biggest manhunt in the state of Arkansas in the last twenty years. I’m surprised that someone with a campaign against crime wouldn’t be aware of that.”
Joe shot a glare at Hilary and then turned back toward the crowd. “I’ve been traveling all morning and have been away from the news. My people neglected to inform me.”
“Rose,” a woman shouted. “Aren’t you worried about Daniel Crocker being on the loose after you helped get him arrested?”
I glanced up at Mason and he nodded. I turned back to the crowd. “I’ve been told that the state police have that matter under control.”
“Joe,” someone called out. “Is this a sign of how well you’ll be kept apprised if you’re elected?”
“No,” Joe’s eyes narrowed. “I can assure you that I will be addressing my staff’s huge error in judgment.” He looked at his watch. “Now if you’ll excuse me, we’re out of time. Thanks for coming today!” He waved to the crowd and disappeared into the nursery.
I stepped back while reporters shouted my name. Mason moved in front of me and grabbed my arm, leading me through the door.
I stood just inside it, shock hitting me like a freight train. “What just happened?” I whispered.
He leaned into my ear, keeping his gaze on Joe and Hilary as they disappeared into the back room. “I don’t know, but I think we know who was behind part of it.”
I didn’t want to believe it. “Doesn’t that seem a little paranoid?”
“We’re talking about a man who probably forked out several hundred thousand of his own money to set this up. When you look at it that way, it doesn’t seem so paranoid.” He pulled me into the corner as a camera crew followed Violet making her way through the shop. “But what does surprise me is that Joe of all people didn’t know about Crocker’s escape. He’s already four points behind in the polls. That lack of information is bound to hurt him even more.”
A man in a suit emerged from the back room and searched the shop until his eyes landed on me. He walked over, studying me before he grinned. “Rose? I’m Teddy Bowman, Joe’s campaign manager. Joe’s in the back and would like to meet with you.”
“Uh…I…”
“It’s not part of the conditions, Rose,” Mason whispered into my ear. “You don’t have to see him.”
The thought of seeing Joe filled my heart with equal amounts of joy and dread. Did I want to talk to him? I wasn’t so sure after the way he’d treated me. I glanced up at Mason. “I need to do this. If I don’t, I think I’ll always regret it.”
His eyes searched mine and I struggled to lay name to the emotion I saw there. I knew he didn’t want me to go, but Mason would never make demands of me. It made me appreciate him all the more. I threw my arms around his neck. “Will you wait for me? Then we’ll go to Magnolia and spend the rest of the afternoon together. A date.”
A smile quivered on his lips. “You know that I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”
I kissed his cheek and released him, smoothing my skirt. I followed Teddy through the shop, past the camera crew that was now filming Violet talking to a customer. As we neared the back room, I could hear Joe shouting.
I pushed the door to the back room open and stood in the threshold for a moment before shutting the door behind me. Joe was yelling and pointing his finger at two college-aged kids, whose faces were red from Joe’s verbal berating.
Muffy was still sitting in her dog bed, hunkered down, but when she saw me she hopped up and ran over, jumping and begging for me to pick her up. She’d been subjected to more confrontation in one afternoon than she’d probably seen in her entire life. I had no idea what was about to happen, but I didn’t want her to be traumatized any more than she already had been. I bent down and whispered in her ear, “Go find Violet, Muffy.”
She whimpered when I stood up, and when I opened the door a crack, she slunk into the front room.
Joe continued his tirade. “What the hell were you thinking by keeping something like this away from me? I looked like an idiot out there! I’ve never worked with such incompetent idiots in all my life!” he shouted, running his hands through his hair as his gaze spun around the room. His eyes finally landed on me, and he stopped as though a switch in his head had been flipped. Dropping his hand to his side, his face hardened. “Everybody out. Now.”
Their mouths dropped open as they turned their attention to me.
“You heard him.” Hilary slid off my stool at the potting table and wrapped her hand around Joe’s arm. “Joe needs a few moments alone to regroup.”
Joe shook off her hand. “That includes you, Hilary.”
She turned up her chin, her eyes darting hate toward me. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“So help me God, if you don’t—”
An angry glare made her look five years older. “If you think I’m leaving you alone with her—”
Joe pointed to the doorway, shouting, “Get the hell out of here now, or I’ll go out there and tell the press our engagement is off.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Joe,” she hissed. “You know your father will be quizzing all your people tonight. He’ll know you saw her.”
The veins on his temple throbbed. “Get. Out!”
Hilary walked past me, bumping into my arm. I took a step backward, gasping at her rudeness.
“Lock the door,” Joe barked. “I don’t want to be interrupted.”
I spun around to see who he was talking to. When I realized I was the only person in the back room with him, my anger surged. “You may think it’s acceptable to talk to your staff that way, but I don’t work for you, Joe Simmons.”
He stomped past me and turned the lock, then pulled me into his arms, lowering his mouth to mine. His breath reeked of alcohol.
I turned my head to the side, his lips brushing my cheek. “Let go of me, Joe.”
“Are you saving yourself for Jonah Pruitt now?”
I shoved his chest to break his hold. “What in tarnation are you talking about?”
Anger filled his eyes. “I know about you and Jonah, and I have to say I’m surprised that you moved on so quickly. Especially with him.”
“Me move on?” I hissed in a low voice. I refused to provide this god-forsaken town with more gossip. “You’re the one who announced your engagement to your old girlfriend within two days of breaking up with me!”
“You know I don’t care about her!”
“And yet you’re still engaged to her.”
“Rose,” he ran his hand through his hair and sank onto my potting stool, where Hilary had been sitting just moments ago. “How could you sleep with Jonah Pruitt?”
Had he lost his mind? “You have no right to accuse me of that.”
He looked up, his eyes red and glassy. “I saw the pictures.”
“What pictures?”
“Of Jonah holding you and you two sitting close together, holding hands. Photos taken less than two weeks after we broke up. I know, Rose.”
“You have photos of me? You’re watching me?”
“My father.” His voice was tight.
Of course he was. I shook my head. “You think that you meant so little to me—that we did—that I could just move on with someone else in two weeks? How could you see us hugging and jump to the conclusion that we were sleeping together?” And then I knew why he would make that leap. “You’ve slept with Hilary. Your engagement isn’t pretend.”
Guilt flooded his face.
“Who are you?” Tears stung my eyes. “My Joe would never sleep with her.” But even as I said the words, I knew they weren’t true. How many times had he run back to her? Running back to Hilary was what he did. “Why am I back here, Joe? Why did you want to see me?”
He slid off the stool and moved toward me, taking my hand in his. “I miss you so much it hurts, Rose. I don’t know if I can live without you.”
A lump formed in my throat, and it took everything I had not to let my tears loose.
He slowly slid his hand around my lower back and pulled me to his chest. “You’re the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing on my mind when I close my eyes.”
“I can tell from the way you and Hilary were kissing outside.”
“I don’t want to be with her, Rose. You have to know that.”
“And yet you are. I understand why you’re engaged to her. I get it. But it’s not a total sham and we both know it. You’re sleeping with her. You’ve been sleeping with her for weeks.”
“I…It’s just…”
“Thank you for not insulting me by denying it.” I closed my eyes, smelling his alcohol-laden breath. It wasn’t even two o’clock yet. I slowly pushed on his chest, but his hand covered mine.
“Rose, I love you. You are my reason for living. Without you, I have nothing. I am nothing.” His voice broke and tears filled his eyes.
My conscience fought a battle with my guilt. How much of his misery should I lay claim to? “I’m sorry, but we both have to accept that we’re done.”
“I can’t.”
“Joe, even if your father changed his mind, I couldn’t go back to you now. Not after this. All I can see is you with Hilary.”
Anger contorted his face. “And you don’t think it kills me to think of you with Jonah Pruitt of all people? How could you, Rose? Jonah Pruitt,” he spat. “And what the hell is going on between you and Mason?”
I shoved his arm off my waist. “I don’t owe you an answer. Not after I found out about you and Hilary, but I’m going to tell you anyway: I’m not sleeping with Jonah Pruitt. He’s my friend and he’s my therapist. There’s nothing between us.”
He jolted and seemed dazed. “And Mason?”
I shook my head, anger seeping into my words. “That is none of your business.”
“So you’re with him.”
“I’m with no one. No one. I could hardly breathe when you left me, Joe. I struggled to get up every morning and survive. How could I possibly consider being with someone else before now?”
He looked like I’d shot him.
“But I’d like to thank you. I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to see you today, but now I know. I needed closure and you’ve definitely given me that. Now I can move on without feeling guilty.”
His eyes pleaded with me. “Rose, I love you.”
“Do you? I thought so, but now I’m not so sure. I think you love the escape from your family that I seemed to offer. But you’re not strong enough to stay away from them and I’m obviously not reason enough.”
He grabbed me again and buried his face in my hair. “No, Rose. No. I love you more than I’ve loved anyone in my whole life. But I’m not as strong as you. Without you everything seems hopeless and pointless.”
I closed my eyes and tried to keep from crying. Could I blame him for what he’d done? We were over and he was lonely. But Hilary? I took a step back. “No. I could forgive you for anyone else, but not her. Not after my vision, and not after what happened to Savannah. How could you, Joe? Hilary’s partially responsible for her death.”
His hands clenched at his sides. “Go ahead and finish it. Who else is responsible?”
“You,” I choked out. “You. And I could forgive you for that too, even though you destroyed Mason in the process—” I shook my head. “But I can’t forgive this.”
“So that’s it? We’re just over?”
“We were already over. You told me that we were over when you walked out my door. Has anything changed? Has your father taken back his threat?”
He closed his eyes and turned away. “No.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. We’re done.”
He turned back to me, his eyes pleading. “How can you say that? I gave up everything including you to save you!”
I fought to catch my breath. “I know. And I’ll always be grateful for that. But why are you set on destroying your entire life? I can’t accept responsibility for that. You have to.” I looked up at the ceiling, trying not to cry. “I have to go.”
“Don’t leave me, Rose. I’m begging you.”
“I can’t do this, Joe. I can’t. I can’t be with you after you’ve been with her. Can’t you see? I would never be able to trust you. I’d always be waiting for you to go back to her.” I turned around and walked toward the door.
“What about Daniel Crocker?”
I stopped but didn’t face him. “What about him?”
“He’s going to be out for revenge. I want to protect you.”
I slowly spun around. “The state police think he’s in Shreveport.”
“But they don’t know that for sure, do they?”
“No.”
“You’re unprotected.” He took several breaths and I could see he was trying to work out a plan.
“No. I’m not.”
His jaw clenched.
“I have Mason. Just like I did a month ago when he stopped Jonah’s mother from shooting me. And last July when he scared away Jimmy DeWade after he attacked me in my house. Mason’s there for me now, just like he’s always been.”
Before Joe could answer, I unlocked the door and opened it, a dozen pairs of prying eyes focused on me.
Hilary stood two feet on the other side of the curtain and if looks could kill, I’d have a dozen knives in my back. I offered her a grim smile. “He’s all yours. I wish you a very happy life together, but somehow I find that unlikely.”
Her mouth dropped open, then she recovered and disappeared into the back.
Violet held Muffy, smiling sweetly and talking to a cameraman, but her smile faded as her gaze turned to me. I could see she was dying to ask what happened, but there was only one person I wanted to see right now. He was standing in the back corner where I’d left him. I moved through the crowd and slipped my hand into his.
“Let’s go.”