February Waltz (Rhythm of the Heart Book 3) (6 page)

Zoe hadn't bothered Layla in three days.
She's not gonna read it!
Her brain kept repeating over and over. The editor was on hold, and the cover designer was as well.
I need to know if it's good before I put it out there. Oh my God, what if it's awful?

She rolled to her side and pulled her blankets up over her shoulders. Sleep wouldn't come. Burrowing under the blankets she pulled her Kindle under and read until she dozed.
One day my book will be on my Kindle...One day.

“Zoe, wake up!” A hand shook her shoulder and she groggily shifted in the bed, wincing at the hallway light blinding her. Her bedside lamp flicked on and she grimaced as Layla's face came into view.

“What time is it, Layla?”

“Four AM.” She paced the room, her dark eyes feverish.

“Why did you wake me up?” Zoe whispered, her voice cracking. She picked up the glass off the bedside table and took a sip of lukewarm water.

Layla grinned and ran a hand through her short curls. “Zoe. I read it.”

Zoe shifted in the bed and propped herself up. “You – you read it?”

Layla jumped on the end of the bed and smiled again, her excitement palpable in the confines of the room. “Yes. I did...And Zoe? Oh my God.”

She held her breath as she looked at Layla. “Oh my God?” She finally squeaked out.

Layla nodded animatedly. “
Yes!
It was incredible. I knew automatically I was Laura. You portrayed my angst well. I absolutely loved the story and I want more. You have to publish it. You just....” She paused and stifled a squeal in her hand. “You have to.”

Zoe felt her pulse begin to race. “You think so?”

“Yes, you have to. The world needs to know Poppy Monroe. They need to know you. They need to know us, this town. Who knew there was so much drama? Holy hell!” Layla jumped up again and paced. “How did you find all of this out?”

Zoe shrugged. “Google? Old newspapers?”

Layla shook her head. “It's amazing. You have to publish it.”

Zoe chuckled. “So you said.”

“I'm going to like, run around the yard to burn off this high,” Layla whispered. “I've never felt this way reading. You've got this, electric thing, Zoe. Just do it. Do it,” she said as she left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.

Zoe blew out a breath and pulled her laptop onto her lap. With shaky fingers, she sent the manuscript to the editor and an e-mail to the cover designer.

Green light.

She dozed off again, a smile curving her lips.

Early the next morning, a knock came at her door. The electric high of the night before was long gone and Zoe was left a grumpy, sleepy mess. “Yeah?” She croaked.

“That boy working on the house is here.” Grams called. “You decent?”

Zoe groaned and threw the covers back. “Give me five and I will be.”

She hurried through getting herself together and walked out into the living room a few minutes later. Corey sat awkwardly on the edge of the recliner, engaged in conversation with Pops about an episode of
Matlock
. She coughed to catch their attention and Corey smiled.

“Sorry for getting here so early.”

“It's fine,” she mumbled, taking the chair as he left the seat. “What's up?”

“Well, here are the samples I promised.” He handed her a paint chip which took her right to the beach and being with her Momma.

Zoe clenched the little piece of paper to her chest and tears filled her eyes. “It's perfect.”

“Good! I made the folks in Mobile redo the color twice, it wasn't quite right. Here are a few samples for the kitchen, and these are the plans I drew up...”

Zoe looked over the counter sample and the open kitchen plan he had designed. “I really like it, Corey.”

“Great, we will be starting on it within the week, you have a great morning and again, I'm sorry for getting you out of bed, I'm used to keeping early hours. I forget the rest of the world ain't quite as early as me sometimes.” He chuckled softly.

Zoe smiled tightly. “No problem. Could you call first next time?”

“Oh
!
Yeah, sorry, I just got real excited about the paint and well, just didn't think. But yes, next time. I'm sorry. Y'all have a good morning.” He smiled at Grams and Pops as he left.

Grams came from the kitchen bearing a glass of orange juice and a plate of eggs and toast. “Eat.”

Zoe smiled her thanks. “You don't have to tell me twice.” She tucked into the food with relish, balancing the plate on her ever growing belly. The baby kicked and rolled as she ate, one good kick to the plate nearly upsetting it off the burgeoning bump. “Calm down, girl!”

Dr. Crist said things were progressing great and they were nearly out of the danger zone. Zoe crossed her fingers and toes with each day they got closer to twenty-eight weeks.
Just keep hanging on, girl.

The phone jangled in the quiet and Grams picked it up with a boisterous, “Hello?”

Zoe half listened to the one sided conversation and the TV as she finished off her breakfast. As Grams hung up the phone she came into the living room with a solemn face and took the plate. “You still hungry?”

Zoe shook her head as she poked the last bite of toast in her mouth. “No,” she garbled out around the bite. “Who called?”

Grams shook her head and refused to answer as she took the plate into the kitchen. Pops looked over at her and shrugged. “Who knows? I stay out of the phone calls.”

Zoe pursed her lips and sighed. “Grams?”

She walked back into the room and took a seat on the wooden chair against the wall. “They unplugged that boy.”

Zoe's breath caught in her throat, and the eggs and toast which had been so delicious going down threatened to come back up. “Derek?” She choked out finally.

Grams nodded. “Doctors said he wasn't ever gonna come to and it was best for them to say their goodbyes.”

Zoe shook her head slowly, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. “No...It can't be so.”
What if it was his baby? Now he'll never see her. Never.
Common sense told her it was for the best, he wasn't in pain, but so much death and pain had happened in the past two months it was nearly too much to bear.

“Yes, honey, it is. He's with the good Lord now. CeeCee, you remember her, don't you? I think you went to school with her grandson Leroy? Anyhow, she said they pulled him a couple of days ago and had him cremated just that fast. No burial, no funeral, nothin'. Just burnt him up and tossed his ashes in the water. They said he's travelin' the world now or something. Poor folks. To lose the only child you got...it's hard.” Grams voice ended on a whisper, tears filling her own eyes.

Zoe nodded. “I'm sorry, Grams. I can't imagine.”

“Aw, honey, it's all right.” Grams straightened her shoulders and smiled sadly. “We got Calvin and Layla... and now we got you and this baby to spoil the pants off of.”

Zoe hefted herself out of the chair and stepped over to Grams, her arms open wide. Grams stood and pulled her into a warm embrace. Zoe cried for the boy she once cared for, and Grams cried for the son she lost. A few moments later they both pulled back and Grams wiped at her eyes.

“Sometimes you just need a good cry. Cleans all the dust off your soul and lets good things grow.” Grams patted her shoulder softly. “You go rest and don't get yourself all worked up over this.”

Zoe nodded and wiped her own eyes. “You're right. I do feel better.” She smiled tremulously and moved back into the bedroom where she curled up on her side. Her hand swept against her belly and tears filled her eyes again.
Oh Derek, this isn't what I wanted...I am so sorry. Wherever you are out there, I hope you're all right. I promise if this girl is yours I'm going to raise her right. I don't want her around your dad, I can't help it, Derek. I can't let him take her from me. I just can't. If he would come to terms with his hate, then we could work out visitation. I want her to have grandparents...
She flipped to her back and sighed.
Hell, I don't even know if she's yours, Derek. I just don't know.
A soft giggle escaped her lips.
If you were still here, maybe I could haul us all on Maury. Great episode, right?

She sighed again.
You know, I'd give anything to see you again. I wish our last time together hadn't been the way it was. I think given some time, we could have been friends. Let all the water pass under the bridge and if she's yours, parented her all together. I know Calvin would have wanted you in her life. You might have had more trouble with that. You have some Rebel running up your back, but I think for her you would have done anything. I hope you would have, anyway. Oh hey, if you see Daddy? Tell him hey for me, would you? Momma too.

Her phone rang and she pulled it from between the sheets. Calvin's name flashed across the screen and she answered. “Hello?”

“Hey, baby, you okay? Layla texted me and told me about Derek.” Zoe closed her eyes and let his voice wash over her for a moment.

“I'm okay,” she finally answered softly.

“You sure? I know he was a big part of your life for a long time, and well, with everything and the possibilities...” His voice trailed off with a sigh.

Zoe swallowed and blew out a breath as she stared up at the ceiling. “I'm – I'm sad, sure. But strangely at peace at the same time. I know it makes no sense, but I know he's in a better place, wherever that is, and if this girl is his, we'll raise her knowing him. I just...” She paused and swallowed against the tightness in her throat. “I just wish things had been different the last time I saw him, and that things were different with his people. I just know Rebel isn't going to let this go until he knows one hundred percent that she isn't his blood.”

“Zoe,” Calvin started, his voice soothing and calm, “we will cross that bridge when we get to it. We can't do a thing about it more than you already have. You drew up a restraining order and if he crosses the line, we'll press charges, and I know Tim will make sure he is locked up. Don't worry about it. You just focus on growing our girl. I can't talk long, I'm supposed to be at work, but I slipped out to call you.”

Zoe chuckled softly. “Ohhh, you're a bad boy.”

“For you, always, baby. You rest, I'll call you later. I love you, I gotta run.”

“I love you too.”

Zoe stared at the paperback in her hands incredulously. The cover designer had found a picture which was perfect for the story, a beach scene with a worn fence and she'd layered on a pair of handcuffs and a yellowed newspaper which helped tie in the mystery of the story. Her title was prominently spread across the cover,
Broken Waves
, by Lila Edward.

She had hit publish on Kindle and Nook, and now she waited. A small self-publishing group had helped her set up a Facebook page and suggested a book tour. She paid for it under the guise of buying things for the baby.
Calvin will just have to understand.

Out of the thirty blogs signed up for her tour, she would get twenty-five reviews. The baby kicked her and she patted her stomach.
Sorry, baby girl, I'm just way too excited...

Layla ran in the room, throwing her backpack on the bed. “You got them?” She squealed.

Zoe held one of the books up and Layla snatched it from her hand. “Oh, dear God. It is
GORGEOUS
!” She jumped up and down in the middle of the room.

“Shhhh!” Zoe whispered. “Grams doesn't know.”

Layla froze. “You haven't told anyone?”

Zoe shook her head. “Not yet.”

“When are you going to?” Layla palmed the paperback slowly.

“I don't know,” Zoe admitted.

“So the surprise thing, was it a lie?” Layla growled, her guard instantly going up.

Zoe rubbed her forehead. “Sort of.”

“So... you kind of used me?” Layla frowned.

“Maybe a little, but I had no one else and I didn't want Calvin to know until it was over.” Zoe sighed.

Layla chewed her bottom lip. “Think he'll be pissed?”

“I don't know. Maybe he'll tell me I should have left well enough alone. That I didn't change enough of the facts...I did put a disclaimer, but...” Her voice trailed off and she sighed.

Layla nodded. “I mean, that's true. You have opened up a whole big ass can of worms, but it's fiction. And if someone gets pissed off about it, oh well.”

“I don't know how to tell him.”

Layla whipped her cell phone out of her back pocket and punched numbers. “I'll do it.”

“No!” Zoe yelled as she tried to crawl from between the covers. Layla hurried out of the room and Zoe groaned as she realized it was absolutely futile to chase after the girl. Her stomach twisted as she waited for his call.
Damn it to hell. I should have just told him...

Minutes later the phone rang and she picked it up. “Yes? If you're going to yell I'm just going to hang up.”

Calvin chuckled. “Well, I wondered why you were so busy these past few weeks. Barely talking when I called, muttering about indents and page numbers. I mean I knew something was going on, but I had no idea it was something like this.”

“You're not mad?”

“Why would I be, Zoe? You wrote a book, and had the balls to publish it. Yeah, you kind of, I guess, went behind my back. I just wish you'd let me in enough so you could trust me. You'd think you'd know me by now, but I guess you don't. That's the only thing I'm upset about. I'm not mad you wrote the book, or because Layla says it's going to cause issues potentially. I am just sad you don't believe I will back you, anytime, anywhere,” he said gently.

Zoe rubbed her eyes. “I just figured you'd say I shouldn't be writing about the town. But the story begged to be written. It started out about us and just something to keep me busy, but then it morphed into something much, much more.”

“Layla says it's really great. I'm proud of you. Do I get a signed copy? First edition?”

Zoe melted into the pillows and smiled. “Yeah,” she whispered, “you do.”

“So tell me about the story.”

Zoe grinned and launched into the tale of Poppy Monroe and her husband Jace. She talked until she grew hoarse, and Calvin held on until she finished. “So that's it,” she murmured.

The line hung quiet for a moment and then Calvin spoke. “Wow. That's a hell of a story, Zoe.”

“You think?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“I set up a blog tour, and I'm just waiting for some reviews to come in. I haven't checked to see if I've made sales yet.”

“I'm proud of you, Zoe. It's pretty incredible in six weeks you've written a book and grown a baby.”

“We are almost to twenty-eight weeks, and it's really easy to write a book in less than six weeks when you have nothing to do but sit and stare at four walls.” She chewed at her thumb nail nervously.

“Well I just downloaded it on my laptop. I'm going to read it tonight and let you know what I think.”

“Calvin! You didn't have to buy it.” She mumbled, suddenly very nervous at the thought of him reading her book. Her palms broke out in a sweat and she tugged at the collar of her t-shirt.

“Zoe, you just told me the whole story. I am not going to suddenly hate it. Let me read it. You go rest and bask in the glow of your accomplishment.” He paused for a moment and then said with a soft sigh, “I really am proud of you. Just trust me next time, all right?”

Her chin dropped to her chest and her nose wrinkled as tears prickled at her lashes. “I am sorry.”

“Just know I'm here for you, and I'm not going anywhere. You gotta trust me.”

She swiped at the moisture leaking from between clenched lids. “Calvin,” she mumbled raggedly, her breath catching on the inhalation, “It’s so hard to do, especially after everything I've gone through.”

His sigh was audible and a pregnant pause stretched on the line. “I know, Zoe,” he said finally. “I just keep hoping one day you'll let me in. I kind of feel like you're the princess locked in the tower and I'm the idiot prince racing the horse around the moat. The horse and I are tired, Zoe. Can't you let us in? I promise he's potty trained, and well, I'm pretty reliable.”

Zoe chuckled. “I'm trying.”

“That's all I ask, babe. Keep trying. Don't give up on us. Well, I gotta grab some dinner and I have a hot date with this future New York Times bestseller's book.”

She clung to the phone and with a heavy heart, whispered, “Bye, babe. I love you.”

“I love you too. Don't forget it.”

They hung up and she placed the phone beside her, her hands trembling with anxiety. She shifted down on the mattress and curled up on her side, the tears free flowing and unbidden now. Her sobs shook her shoulders and the baby flipped with the rush of emotion coursing through her veins. She placed a quivering hand on her belly and her other hand curled into a fist to press into her mouth.
At least he knows now. Oh God, what if something goes wrong and this book turns into a total flop, or someone figures out the story is about them and they sue me?

Her stomach cramped and she rubbed the baby who was doing complete somersaults by this point. “Sorry, beautiful,” she whispered softly. “Mommy is awful, I'm sorry. I'm going to calm down.”

Grams' voice came from the doorway. “Girl, you need to calm down. You want a glass of tea? I can make you one and we could talk for a bit. I know you've had yourself wound up tighter than a tick the past few weeks and been keeping secrets. I reckon that grandson of mine knows by now, but I think you still need to talk. Am I right?”

Zoe flipped so she faced the door and wiped at the wetness on her cheeks. “Yeah, I could talk.”

“Let me get the tea and I'll be right back, honey.”

Zoe stared at the wall while she waited, worrisome thoughts flooding her mind still.
I shouldn't have written about Rebel. He's going to figure it out. He's just going to.
She swallowed the panic and bile rising in her throat and forced a smile on her face as Grams walked back in the room.

Grams carried two tall Mason jars of iced tea in her grizzled hands. “Here you go, baby. Sit yourself up and have some tea. Now talk to me.”

Zoe pushed herself up and took the glass of tea. Grams sat down on the mattress by her feet and smiled, waiting patiently for her to begin the story. Zoe took a sip of the sweet brew and blew out a breath. “Well. I wrote a book.”

“Mhm,” Grams grunted. “I figured out that much on my own. Hope you know Layla has a mouth looser than a hooker's back end and she's spread that mess all over town. The calls coming in are enough to make me want to take the phone off the hook. You're famous, honey.”

Zoe blanched and took another sip of the tea. “It's barely out.”

Grams shrugged. “Well, honey, everyone in Major is about to snap up a copy. This is the most exciting thing to happen here in ages. We've got us a real, high-faluting author in this town, baby, and it's just the way it is.”

Zoe shivered and goosebumps ran across her skin. “I – I wrote about the town.”

Grams nodded. “I figured as much. Did you put a disclaimer in it, sayin' it's fictional and such? I sure hope you didn't put in it when I said we were goin' commando to find Layla, now did you? Or if you did, I sure hope you made me out to be a sexy Grams. I don't want to be portrayed as saggy and baggy.” Grams’ eyes sparkled with mirth and Zoe smiled.

“You were portrayed as awesome, Grams, I promise. Yes, I put a disclaimer saying all things were a figment of my imagination or if it was coincidental, it was not on purpose. My editor helped me with it.” She took another long draught of the tea.

“You're gonna float away if you don't ease up on the tea, Zoe Hall. So did you write about Rebel?”

Zoe nodded, a sick feeling filling her stomach and swimming around with the sweet iced tea. Bile raced up her throat again and she threw the sheets back as she scrambled across the hall to the bathroom and emptied her feelings out in the toilet with a shuddering heave. With a shaky hand, she pushed her hair back and washed her face with cool water. Finally feeling composed, she came back to the bedroom door and Grams took her hand, leading her back to bed.

“Girl, you need to get your nerves together. You put it was co – cowinkadinkle, so there's nothing he can do.”

Zoe's head snapped up and she looked at Grams curiously. “Cowinkadinkle?” She asked incredulously with a breathy laugh.

“Yeah. What you said. If it was cowinkadinkle, it wasn't on purpose.” Grams nodded.

“Coincidental. Yeah.”

“Ain't that what I said, girl? Cowinkadinkle!” Grams smacked her lips with a huff.

“Yeah, you did.” Zoe nodded. “I'm tired, Grams.”

“Well, you better rest. Do you feel any better?”

“Now that I threw up, yes. I want to sleep.”

Grams ran a calloused hand across her forehead. “You rest, baby. Don't you worry. It's just a book. Most of Major ain't even gonna read it. Hell half of them can't even write their own name. I think you're gonna be fine.”

Zoe smiled tiredly. “Thanks, Grams.”

“You holler if you need to go upchuck again, you hear?” She paused at the door.

Zoe nodded again. “Okay, Grams.”

Her dreams came quickly while she slept. Vivid, horrible dreams of her brake lines being cut, just like her character Poppy's had been. Another dream left her shaking in a pool of sweat between the cotton sheets. Rebel had been in her dream, walking away with her daughter and carelessly tossing her off the bridge into the churning waves below.

Zoe shivered as she tried to go back to sleep, but Rebel's face wouldn't leave her alone.
The man is so damn evil. It's amazing what money will let you get away with...
She mopped at the sweat on her brow with the corner of the sheet and took slow breaths, counting to one hundred, then five hundred, then a thousand before she finally slept again.