Divine Charity (34 page)

At first, she’d considered riding her own Harley in the procession, but at the last minute, she’d decided to ride with Val, who had been particularly hard hit by Patterson’s death.

Val seemed really choked up as he watched James and Vincent Elder escort their father and grandparents out to the family limousine. Vincent then helped a very pale Leah Woodworth in with them as well. She hated how helpless she felt seeing the raw grief on sweet, little Leah’s face.

Charity went to Val as he put on his helmet. He switched on the two-way radios so they could speak to each other while they rode. All three men climbed on their motorcycles and started them, along with a large number of other bikers who were there to pay their respects to Patterson. Val reached out a hand to her and assisted her as she climbed on behind him and got settled.

As he rolled forward with the others, she wrapped her arms around his waist, searching for a way to reach the part of him that was so torn up. “Val?”

“Yeah, babe,” he replied, his voice huskier than usual, although that might have had more to do with the microphone in the helmet.

“Tell me how you’re doing? You’ve been pretty closemouthed about Patterson but I can tell this is cutting you deep.” She tightened her arms around him and waited for what seemed like a long time.

As the procession rolled slowly down Main Street, citizens lined the sidewalk here and there to show respect, many with hands over hearts.

Eventually, he let out a deep, shaky sigh and said, “A few months before the accident, Ransome and I were on a ride with friends, including Patterson, and we were stopped at a diner having lunch in Blanco. It was that weekend you went Christmas shopping with Justine and Grace. The weather was perfect for a ride. Anyway, he and I were standing outside of the diner talking and an older lady came out with two younger kids. The kids, both boys, were admiring the bikes and the lady asked Patterson where his helmet was.”

“Oh.”
Man
.

“He told her he was riding without. I’ve always respected a rider’s right to choose whether or not they wear a helmet. I understand the reasons why riders go without and it’s not my place to judge or tell others what they should or shouldn’t do. Anyway, when he told her that she shook her finger at him and said, ‘Somebody who loves you cares whether or not you wear a helmet,’ and he nodded and agreed that she was right. He never would’ve argued with her.”

“Of course not. He was raised better than that.”

“He rode off with just his bandana on after she left with the kids. I thought about pushing him to wear my extra helmet that day, or at least talking to him and encouraging him to wear one in the future…but I didn’t. I might’ve been the one who finally got through to him. I remember him talking about Leah and how much he liked her. How he was going to win her over eventually. Now his chance is gone. I have regrets about keeping my mouth shut.”

“Yeah.” The word came out in a whisper but said so much more.

“I didn’t know him long but he was a good friend. I’m sad for all the opportunities he’s lost,” he murmured as they rolled out of town, briefly caressing her hands on his abdomen. “And I don’t want to miss any more opportunities.”

Late April…

Justin opened the front door and surveyed the young man standing on his doorstep.

“Noah,” he said, his tone neutral as he leaned against the doorjamb and glowered.

Noah nodded and looked like he was wondering if he’d should smile, shake his hand, or run like hell. “Mr. Connors. I’m here to pick up Justine for prom.”

Justin chuckled and waved him in the house. “No need to be formal. I was just messing with you. We already got the ‘grilling’ out of the way last month.”

Val and Ransome were on the couch in the living room watching a game on television and nodded at Noah when he came in.

Val said, “You’re lucky I didn’t answer the door, son. I figured you were good for one more interrogation.” Justin had to stifle his laughter. Noah was a good kid but Justin also knew Val and Ransome’s chances at playing the protective daddy were numbered. He couldn’t begrudge them their fun. When Noah was a dad, he’d do the same thing.

Noah nodded and grinned like he understood, but when Val kept staring at him, he stuck his hands in the pockets of his fancy black tuxedo and turned his attention to the game.

During a commercial break, the young man’s eyes flitted to the three of them, to find they were all still staring at him. Before Noah could think of something to say, Justin asked, “So what are your plans for tonight?”

Noah swallowed and then said, “I’m taking her to Chantilly’s Steakhouse in Morehead for dinner first—”

Ransome sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “I hope you’re not going to do something stupid like try to get into the Twisted Bull.”

Noah shook his head. “I’d never do that, sir—Ransome, sir. Neither of us would do that. Besides, if we tried, we know Cody, Heath, and Spencer would give us the boot and call the three of you besides. Don’t worry. Our plan is to eat dinner together with Beau and his date and then go to the prom. That’s it. Then I’ll bring her home.”

Justin heard the click of high heels in the hall, the murmur of feminine voices, and then Justine appeared in the arched entry to the living room, looking like a vision. He had to clear his throat to hide the roughness in it and rose from the couch with Val and Ransome, who both were speechless and also trying to hide it.

She looked like a movie starlet in a blue and gold dress that hugged her figure from the knees upward. From the knees down, the dress swept the floor in a golden wave, giving Justine the look of a mermaid. While she’d inherited his dark coloring, she’d definitely gotten her looks and her curves from her mother. He was pleased that the dress was sleeveless with a round neck, instead of being strapless. No point in offering up to Noah what Noah couldn’t have, in his opinion. Charity and Justine had wrapped the cast on her right forearm with a long silky scarf that was printed in colors that matched her dress.

When he finally found his voice, Noah said, “You look…beautiful, Justine. Gorgeous.”

“Honey,” Justin said, finally able to speak. Pride filled his chest as she went to him first and hugged him. “You look like a vision in that dress.”

Her cheeks turned pink and she said, “Thank you, Daddy.”

Val coughed into his fist and then said, “Wait a minute. Aren’t there supposed to be flowers or something?”

Ransome chimed in, too. “Yeah. And there’s a limo waiting out there, right?”

Justine raised a hand and said, “He offered. I told him I didn’t need all of that.” She turned to Noah and said, “I’m happy that you took my suggestion for your tuxedo, though.”

Justin didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary and then paused. “You going to a prom or to a wedding? I thought it was a rule that you wore the same colors as your date.”

Noah shrugged. “I picked exactly what Justine recommended, and she’s wearing my college colors.”

Ransome folded his arms over his chest and Val followed suit. They both nodded with respect, and Justin said, “Nice.” He knew that Justine was thoroughly done with all the high school drama and games. She was ready to move on and he’d known that for a long time. The two of them looked like they were ready to attend a formal event in some big city, not ready to go a small-town junior-senior prom. Justine winked at him and nodded in thanks when he said nothing else on the subject.

Noah reached inside his jacket as he said, “You told me to not do all the clichéd things expected on a prom night so I tried to be different. I brought you something, if it’s okay with your mom and dad—dads, that is.” Looking at Val and Ransome, he added, “I’ll get that down eventually. Sorry.” He pulled a little velvet box from his coat pocket and held it out to Justine.

Justine looked at her mom and her dads, and then looked up at Noah as he opened the box. Justin saw the glow in her eyes as she looked at Noah and his heart constricted a little. His little girl was in love, or thought she was. She gasped when she flicked her gaze down to the little bracelet on the bed of satin.

“It’s jade,” Noah said as he lifted the bracelet, which was a series of links with small green stones set into each section. She held out her left wrist and he clasped it on for her. “It probably doesn’t go with your dress very well but it’s the state gem of Alaska and I thought—” He shrugged and looked embarrassed.

Justine hugged him and said, “It is perfect and I don’t care if it matches. I love it, Noah. Thank you. I’ll think of you in Alaska every time I wear it.”

Justin’s heart twisted again as he watched the tears collect in her eyes and the way she valiantly fought them. His eyes met Charity’s over his daughter’s shoulder and his wife winked at him and nodded.

Clearing his throat again, Justin said, “That’s awful nice, Noah. Now, her curfew is midnight—”

“One a.m.,” Charity chimed in. “No later.”

“Okay, one,” Justin conceded.

Just then Beau barreled into the room, struggling with his red bowtie. “Hey, mom, a little help here?”

Charity giggled as she took the tie from him, straightened it out, and hooked it for him. “Is the horned helmet really necessary, honey?” she asked, nodding to the Viking helmet he held in his hand.

Beau ran his fingers through his hair and said, “Only for the crowning of the Prom King. Remember? I won it when they crowned me Homecoming King and now I have to turn it over.”

Justine giggled and said, “The way all the girls fawn over you, I’m sure you’ll just be bringing it right back home.”

Beau did a double take when he saw his sister and said, “Whoa,
hashtag-Sis-is-looking-beautiful
! Well, I gotta run. I’m late to pick up Sarah.” Like that, he was gone.

Charity groaned. “I didn’t get a picture of him!”

She positioned Noah and Justine in front of the fireplace mantel, which was crowded with pictures of the kids as they’d grown, and took their picture together. Ransome handed Justine the little sparkly evening bag that matched the blue in her dress and she gave him and Val hugs.

Justin caught Noah around the shoulder as they made their way to the door and growled, “Remember one thing, son. She’s my princess, not your conquest.”

Noah nodded and looked him in the eye. “I will treat her with the utmost respect, sir.”

Justin looked over his shoulder at Val and Ransome, who were staring quite convincingly and said, “Good, because they don’t mind going to prison if it’s over their little girl. That’s what she is to them.”

“Understood, sir,” Noah said with a smile.

“He gets it,” Charity whispered as Noah escorted Justine down the walk to his truck, which looked like it’d just been detailed.

Suddenly, Justine stopped in her tracks, made a disgusted sound, and turned, holding something up in her hand that had come out of her bag. “Pepper spray, Ransome?
Really
?”

“Hey, it could come in handy!” Ransome called. “You know, with molesters…and handsy dates. Just watching out for our girl!”

The two teenagers laughed and Justin was pleased to see Noah opened her door and helped her into the truck before going around to his side.

With a giggle, Charity said, “He’ll probably be a perfect gentleman.”

“If not, the machete is nice and sharp.”

“Oh my gawd,” Charity said, holding back laughter as she went back to the house.

“Niiiiice,” Ransome said.

Justin bumped fists with the guys and waved to his angel as she left on her date.

* * * *

Justine had been preparing to leave the prom, allowing plenty of time for Noah to get her home early, when they’d heard a rumor circulating among the other prom-goers.

Beau and Sarah had reconnected with them, a worried look on his face. “Everyone is talking about heading out to a keg party at the Martinez place, on the Divine Creek Ranch. That doesn’t sound right.”

“Angel and Joaquin don’t strike me as the type to throw whatever kind of party high-schoolers would attend,” Justine said, already
knowing
that Teresa certainly wouldn’t.

Beau frowned and said, “No, but Luka and Matthias might.”

Justine’s heart had stuttered at the thought. When she’d been younger, she’d had a major crush on the younger Martinez brothers after meeting them at Teresa’s wedding. They were handsome devils, total players, who were developing a reputation in Divine for partying. In the last few years, the kind of women she’d seen them with had killed her crush.

Turning to Noah, Justine said, “We have to go see what’s going on.”

At first, Noah shook his head, obviously wanting to avoid trouble, but Justine insisted that they get to the bottom of the rumor. That was Teresa’s home, and her children’s, that they were supposedly hosting a party at. A party she knew could get totally out of hand if word had spread to the prom crowd.

When they got there, they’d realized it was too late.

Now she stood in the trashed, barely recognizable living room of the lovely home Teresa had put together. The scent of beer and spilled liquor permeated the air, along with vomit.