Chapter Twenty-Two

MAGNOLIA

Luckily, Mary Katherine was my last appointment of the day. I’m nervous and jumpy as I clean up. The girls all keep asking me if I’m okay, but I’m in no mood to talk.

I’m far too busy dissecting Grant’s motives and plans. In my gut, I feel like Mary Katherine had no idea who I am. So, that begs the question of why? Why did he send her here? To me? Why?

“C’mon, Mags, let’s go pick up your car. Myles said I could dip out early.”

I feel guilty that everyone’s having to accommodate me, but I’m so relieved to leave that I don’t question her. I wave goodbye to Myla Rose and Azalea and follow Seraphine out to her car.

The minute I sit down, Simon’s name lights up on my phone screen.

“Hello?”

“Are you okay?” he asks. “I just got your message!”

“I-I’m fine. I have a-a lot to tell you. We’ll talk t-tonight?”

“Okay, Goldilocks. See you soon. I’ll see if I can leave the meeting early, or I can just skip it.”

“No, that’s okay, Simon.”

“Are you sure? Can Seraphine hang out at the house with you until I get there?”

“I’m sure she can. Love you.”

Seraphine waits in the car while I run into Mateo’s shop to get my keys.

“Hola, Magnolia,” Mateo’s brother, Arrón, greets me.

“Hey,” I mumble, slightly nervous, even though I know he’s a nice guy.

“Mateo’s on his way back with your ride, wanted to test-drive it before giving you the keys.”

“Oh. That’s n-nice of him.”

“And here he is now. Vamonos—let’s go.”

I follow dutifully behind him, only for us to both stop short when we see Mateo and Seraphine locked in an intense stare-down. Finally, Arrón clears his throat. “Brother, you gonna keep staring or are you gonna give Simon’s girl her keys?”

Mateo tears his eyes away from my cousin, reaches out, and hands me my keys. “Drives like a dream.”

“Thanks, Mateo.”

After resituating my seat and mirrors, I pull out of their parking lot, Seraphine following behind me.

I bring my car to a stop under the shade of the oak tree in Simon’s front yard, Seraphine pulling in right behind me. “Mind if I hang out until your man gets home?” she asks as I exit my car.

“Did Simon t-text you?” I ask, knowing he did.

Seraphine laughs. “Yup. C’mon, it’s hot—let’s go inside.”

We trot up the steps, only to come to a dead stop when we reach the front door. Resting on the porch is a rectangular box. It’s no bigger than a shoe box, and it’s beautifully wrapped in gold paper.

“What in hell?” Seraphine asks, echoing my sentiments. “You think it’s from Simon?”

I shake my head. “N-no.”

Seraphine nudges it with the toe of her wedged sandal, waiting a moment before reaching down and picking it up.

I unlock the door and hold it open for her. She heads straight to the dining room table and I’m right behind her, pausing only to lock the door behind me.

“Should we open it?” she whispers, even though it’s only the two of us.

“Maybe we should wait for Simon,” I suggest.

“Yeah,” she agrees, “let’s wait.”

We distract ourselves with Hart of Dixie reruns until Simon finally walks through the door.

“Well, that’s my cue to head out,” Seraphine says, stretching before standing. “See y’all later.” She walks to the front door, bumping Simon’s shoulder with her own as she passes him. “Oh! And be sure to tell me what’s in the box tomorrow!”

Simon locks the door after her before turning to me. “What box?” I point toward the table and his eyes follow. “The hell is that?”

“I don’t know. Figured I’d wait for you to open it.”

“Good call, pretty girl. Let’s figure it out.”

I stand back as he pulls the paper from the box, discarding it in a crumpled heap on the floor. Slowly, Simon lifts the lid, not daring to peek inside.

“Aren’t you gonna l-look?” I ask, hoping he’s brave enough to do it so I don’t have to.

“Like rippin’ off a Band-Aid,” he murmurs before dumping the contents onto the table.

I look on in horror as it all spills out. Surely, he didn’t…

With unsteady hands, I sift through the items, each one making it harder and harder for me to breathe.

A pregnancy test.

The sonogram from when we found out we were having a son with a big X slashed through it, leaving only my name and the date recognizable.

A busted baby rattle.

The teddy bear I bought for my son, minus the head.

I stumble back, sobbing. With a loud roar, Simon shoves the items back into the box and slams the lid down on it.

He scoops me up and into his arms, carrying me straight to his bed. He lays me down with such softness and pulls the covers up around me, tucking me in. “Just rest, pretty girl. I’m gonna step out into the hall and make a phone call or two.” He brushes my hair away from my face. “I love you. Holler if you need me.”

My eyelids feel weighted as I watch his retreating form. As I drift off to sleep, the sound of Simon’s voice filters in through the crack in the door. I listen as my knight goes to bat for me, reporting Grant’s actions to the police, and probably to Cash and Drake as well.