Anytime Darlin' (13 page)

Jake felt a rueful smile tug at his lips. It was true. From the first time, he realized that there was more to girls than just playmates and friends. He’d been interested in those who were the most mature. Jake never lacked for female companionship. Like any other healthy red-blooded male, sometimes the girls he wanted were the most mature physically, but often, it was emotional maturity that attracted him.

Mary was a good example. She was six years older than he was, and she was wise beyond her years. Even Janice was two years older. Something about Devlin defied age. Whenever Jake looked into her eyes, he didn’t see a seventeen-year-old girl. He saw the woman she would become. Reluctant as he was to leave her, Jake respected Mary’s honesty, and he wanted to avoid any misconceptions on Devlin’s part. He distanced himself. He sat beside her, he stood beside her, but he’d withdrawn from her emotionally. If Devlin sensed it, she never questioned him. When she’d put her warm hand in his after the scene with Janice in the hallway of the courthouse, he almost forgot his promise to Mary. He was tempted to pull Devlin into his arms and hold her close, brush his lips over hers, and taste her. Jake was almost desperate to taste her. He stopped himself.

It had been torture, hiding his feelings. The photographer who shoved Devlin bore the brunt of it. Jake put everything he had into his fist. If it was up to him, he’d hide her away from the world. When he’d held her against his chest, his heart pounded, out of control. He wondered that Devlin didn’t say something. But he had her pressed so close, it was possible she couldn’t breathe. He had enough trouble catching his own breath.

Jake learned to hate the press. After titillating, but patently false testimony from Bitsy Matheson was leaked to the press, some of the tabloids characterized Devlin as jailbait. Photographers hounded her. And she had no idea why.

The reason was clear. Devlin sold papers. One shot of her, one candid shot of those wide aquamarine eyes, the lush lips, translucent skin, and angular cheekbones visible behind a curtain of waving auburn hair was money in the bank.

Devlin didn’t have a clue what she looked like. She never wore makeup, she dressed conservatively, and though she’d put on a few pounds, she was still thin. It was as if she never looked in a mirror. Jake was beginning to think she avoided mirrors like the plague, but he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why. In his experience, most women checked out their reflection regularly. Janice certainly had.

Jake remembered how floored Mike appeared that morning when he repeated the conversation he’d had with Janice about her mother. Mike grasped the implications, and his grim expression matched Jake’s. He said he’d already discussed Jake’s suspicions with Shauna. Scott would be checking into Franz’s whereabouts the weekend Devlin’s family was killed.

The story began to unravel like some film noir murder mystery. The last week in August, William Franz had left for a golf trip in Vail. He met six friends, all of them well-heeled bankers or lawyers. Some of them drove together. Franz came alone. He golfed and drank with his buddies for two days. Then, according to his friends, he claimed he wasn’t feeling well, and he decided to head home early. Only he didn’t head home. He drove himself to Stapleton, parked his BMW in long-term parking, and bought a one-way ticket on Frontier Airlines to Kansas City. Once he landed, he took a cab to Overland Park, where he rented a 1979 brown four-door Oldsmobile sedan from Rent-A-Wreck.

* * * *

Because of Colorado’s grand jury findings, a new forensic report, and new evidence regarding a rented brown sedan, a warrant was issued for Franz on five counts of murder in the first degree and one count of attempt to commit murder in the first degree. William Franz had done it. He’d, caused the accident that killed Devlin’s entire family. As the horror story was revealed, piece by piece, Devlin grew quieter. Jake couldn’t even imagine her shock. Her uncle had deliberately and methodically planned the cold-blooded murder of her entire family. The only time she showed any emotion was when she finished her own testimony.

She’d exited the door of the courtroom, her face a study in misery, walking right past Mary as if she didn’t see her. As soon as she reached the sidewalk, she bolted down the street like she ran from the devil himself. Mary yelled for Jake. He was fast, but Devlin had a head start

He caught up with her, calling her name as he reached her side, but she didn’t respond. Jake grabbed for her arm and slowed his pace, trying to stop her without pitching her face-first onto the sidewalk.

For a moment, Devlin didn’t seem to recognize him. She struggled, desperate to break away. Then she collapsed against him as all the fight drained from her. It was replaced by exhaustion and despair. Jake helped her into a nearby coffee shop, convincing her to eat something. An hour later, Devlin was calm and ready to return to the courthouse. Jake noticed a sadness in her eyes he hadn’t seen before.

Devlin looked up at him. “It doesn’t do me any good to run from him. Wherever I go, I take him with me. I’m not afraid of him, out here, in the real world.” Devlin tapped her chest with her index finger. “I’m afraid of him in here.”

Jake laid a hand against her cheek, wishing there was something he could do to make her feel better. Devlin closed her eyes, leaning her face into his rough palm, pressing a slender hand over his.

“I love you, Jake McKenna,” she whispered, her voice so soft Jake almost missed the words. She leaned close and brushed her lips over his. Then she turned and walked away, leaving him stunned.

Even thinking about her words now, her lips on his, warmed him in the cold air. When he’d heard them, his heart had skipped a beat. When he felt the light touch of her mouth on his, he wanted more. That’s what Mary meant. It was why he needed to back off.

Devlin thought she loved him, but Jake figured she was too young to know what she really wanted, what love really was. Hell, Jake wasn’t sure he knew what love was. What was worse, and what was hardest to admit, was that he had feelings for Devlin. That was a problem. Jake would be twenty-five next month. He couldn’t have a thing for a seventeen-year-old girl. What kind of disgusting excuse for a human being did that make him?

Then he sat up in the saddle with a jolt, startling Red. Today was April thirteenth, Devlin’s birthday. Today she turned eighteen. He’d promised he’d call on her birthday. He’d almost forgotten.

Devlin spent her eighteenth birthday wallpapering. Mary looked about to pop, and according to her, she felt that way too. Kenneth arrived home in time to move the new furniture into the baby’s room—the crib, the changing table, the dresser. He’d already set a small cradle next to the bed in their bedroom for the baby to sleep in the first few months. Devlin thought that made sense. It occurred to her that, after spending nine months within its mother, it must be very traumatic to be separated.

Devlin and Mary’s mother, Delores, stood back, admiring their handiwork. Memories of her mother wallpapering her little brother’s room surfaced. Before she was able to thrust them back into her unconsciousness, she shivered. Devlin hugged her arms to her chest. She didn’t want anyone to notice.

No one had said a word about her birthday. Devlin hoped they’d all forgotten. This wasn’t where she’d expected to be on her eighteenth birthday. Devlin reminded herself that this was her life now. Lately, she’d been feeling like she needed to find another place to live. Devlin still wasn’t sure she could return to Iowa, but this wasn’t her home.

Delores put an arm around her. “A good day’s work, don’t you think?”

Devlin smiled a rare smile as she wrapped her arm around Delores’ waist. “Yes, a very good day’s work. Let’s hope little Workman appreciates it.”

“Speaking of little Workman,” interrupted Mary, an odd note in her voice, “my water just broke.” Delores and Devlin rushed to her side.

Kenneth, busy positioning the changing table, without even a glance in her direction, replied in typical doctor fashion. “Impossible. You’re not due for two weeks.”

“Really? In that case, would you care to get some towels? Something seems to be pooling around my feet.”

Kenneth let go of the changing table and came running. “I know I’m a doctor, but what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“Nothing at all at this moment, darling,” laughed Mary. “Let’s just give Paul the heads-up and wait for the contractions to start.”

Mary got up and headed toward the bedroom, laughing all the way down the hall.

“Where are you going?” called Kenneth.

“To take a shower,” yelled Mary. “I figure it may be a while before I have the opportunity again. Mom and Dev, can you come pack for me?”

Delores gave the bemused Kenneth a pat on the head and hurried after Mary. Grinning, Devlin ran to the laundry room to grab some clean towels. Just as she passed Kenneth, still on the phone with the hospital, they heard a loud yelp from the bedroom.

Delores flew down the hall. “The baby’s coming! Now! Kenny, get in here!”

Kenneth dropped the phone onto the counter and ran like a man on fire. Devlin froze for a moment. Running to the retrieve the phone, she yelled, “The baby’s on the way.”

“Grab some clean sheets and throw a couple of baby blankets into the dryer to warm them up,” he instructed her. “Remind Ken to wash his hands; then you dial 911 and leave the front door unlocked. I’m on my way.”

Carrying the load of towels, Dev ran down the hall to Mary’s bedroom, grabbing sheets and baby blankets along the way. She found Mary, naked and dripping wet on the bed, any modesty long gone, panting like a dog. Ken hovered between Mary’s legs, a panic-stricken look on his face. Without hesitation, Devlin threw a big beach towel over Mary, and Delores covered her. Devlin asked Mary to lift her bottom and shoved a clean sheet beneath her. Devlin grabbed Ken, tugging him toward the bathroom, passing on Dr. Warden’s instructions to wash his hands. She tossed the baby blankets in the dryer on warm. Finally, she called the paramedics and unlocked the front door.

Kenneth’s voice came from the bedroom. “I can see the head.”

Devlin sprinted back down the hall. She had no intention of missing this child’s precipitous arrival. She skidded through the open bedroom door. Kenneth had himself under control now. He directed her to help Delores support Mary as she labored. Mary was groaning.

“It’s okay, love,” he said in a soothing voice. “The head’s already crowning. You can push.”

“My God. It hurts!”

“Just wait for the contractions and work with them. You know what to do, sweetie.” Kenneth leaned over Mary’s tight belly to give her a kiss.

At that moment, another contraction began, and Mary gave Devlin’s hand a painful squeeze.

“Push,” instructed Kenneth, keeping close eye contact with his wife. “Hold your breath, and push as hard as you can.”

Eyes locked on her husband’s face, Mary followed his instructions. Devlin could see a silver-dollar sized portion of the baby’s head with the push, but it vanished as soon as the contraction ended.

“It’s okay, love. You’re doing great. Rest between contractions. It’s a first baby. It takes time. You’re already way ahead of the curve.”

Devlin watched, fascinated, as the next contraction began, spreading from the top of Mary’s swollen abdomen, along her sides, and then angling down toward her pelvis. Her eyes open wide, holding her breath, Mary pushed harder than Devlin thought it was possible for anyone to push, especially a tiny thing like Mary. This effort exposed more of the baby’s head, and Devlin could see dark, curly hair.

“Doing good, Mary, doing good,” crooned Kenneth as he supported the head through the contraction.

At that moment, they all heard a commotion at the door. Dr. Warden strode into the room, followed by the paramedics.

“How’re thing’s going, Ken?” He took a quick look, then headed into the bathroom to wash his hands.

“Pretty good so far.”

Mary piped up. “If you all think you’re moving me at this point,” she called in the direction of the bathroom, “you’re fucking nuts! I’m not going anywhere. Ken!”

Devlin watched, enthralled.

Dr. Warden walked to the foot of the bed and stood behind Ken, looking over his shoulder.

“Doing great, Ken. You want me to take over?” He opened a package of sterile gloves. “I need a delivery kit,” he said to the paramedics. “Just set it up right there.” He motioned to Devlin’s side of the bed.

“I’d like to deliver the baby,” Ken said, but he added, “Stay right here in case I mess up.”

They all watched, breaths held, as the head slid farther out with the next contraction.

“Somebody fetch the baby blankets,” ordered Dr. Warden.

Devlin disengaged her hand from Mary’s and hurried down the hall to the laundry room. She grabbed three baby blankets out of the dryer and returned just in time to witness the baby’s head pop out. She gasped in amazement. She’d never given a thought to exactly how a woman in labor could get such a big head out of such a small space, but apparently, it was possible.

Ken let out a whoop while Mary groaned in relief.

“Move over,” said Dr. Warden. He grabbed a blue bulb syringe and suctioned out the baby’s mouth and nose. “Mary, pant for a moment, please. Don’t push. We’ve got some pretty big shoulders here, thanks to your husband, I suspect. I’m going to have to wriggle them out. Just hang in there for a minute.”

As another contraction started, Devlin watched in fascination as Dr. Warden exerted gentle downward pressure on the baby’s head while reaching inside Mary to slip a finger under the baby’s arm. Out popped a shoulder. Then he maneuvered the baby’s head upward, and out popped the other shoulder.

“Okay, push.” He grinned. “Let’s see the rest of this kid. Hand me a blanket, will you, please?”

With shaking hands, Devlin reached for the pile of blankets and thrust one in his direction as the baby slid all the way out, squawking loudly. It was a girl. Devlin felt wet tears on her cheeks, though she didn’t remember crying. She glanced at Delores and Ken and saw that they were crying too. Mary, on the other hand, wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear.