Past Due (12 page)

Maureen ambled toward him, lips pursed, face clouded in the thought momentarily. Then, with a cluck of her tongue, she said, “Darned if I know, son.” She shrugged, “I reckon only Jenna can say.”

Tres nearly screamed. He clenched and unclenched his jaw. These past two days had been torture. What had he done to deserve this? It was like some sort of bizarre episode of The Twilight Zone.

Maureen pulled a pad and a pencil from the phone stand by the door and handed it to Tres. “I will promise you this. You give me a way to reach you and I promise I’ll get Jenna to answer that question.”

Tres looked at the woman suspiciously. Why did she want to help him? Maureen smiled and Tres grabbed the pad and pencil. Whatever the woman had planned, he intuitively trusted her. He couldn’t say why, he just did. Besides, he had nothing to lose. He wrote down every number he had. Office number, cell phone, home phone, and the number to his mother’s. He handed the paper to Maureen who whistled, “Quite a lot of places to hang your hat.”

“Yeah, you’d think I’d be important,” he answered with a bit more disgust than he’d intended.

“Take care of yourself, Tres Coulter. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

Tres offered his hand in farewell, but found himself pulled into a crushing bear hug. Patting his back firmly, Maureen assured him, “We’re gonna get this worked out, Mr. Coulter. Yes, sir, we’re gonna get it all worked out.”

Chapter
9

Returning home, Jenna knew what she had to do. She couldn’t deceive her family a day longer, no matter how much the thought of telling them made her want to disappear. How had this happened? She had been so certain of her decision, so certain that she never gave the lie a second thought. She gave Tanner a family–one that loved and cherished him. And if something ever happened to Jenna? Tanner had Maureen to step right in and raise him…not as a stranger linked only by blood who resented his presence, but by someone who knew him and cherished him.

When her mother died, Jenna had no other option but to move in with her father. With that one event, she lost her home and family and became the worst kind of guest, one who had no means of leaving.

But what now?

What would Tanner have now?

Tears stung her eyes and her stomach churned. Why did she let Jake talk her into this? He dreamed up the plan, begged her to consider the logic of it all. He wanted them when no one else did. The thought lifted her spirits just a little. Jake had thought of the plan. She hadn’t duped him into marrying her. He had essentially adopted Tanner.

And Tres? He was certainly bold to think he could re-emerge untarnished and assume the place of father. Jake raised Tanner and was still his father. The gall of Tres Coulter to think he could just choose when to usurp parenthood.

If that was his goal.

The possibility remained he simply needed to assure her silence, or wanted nothing at all. Shock flooded his face when she bumped into him at the gas station. The pictures at the lighthouse were another odd coincidence; Lois would have told her if she conspired with Tres or for him. And she assumed the meeting on the beach had to be a product of chance. He had no way of knowing she would be there. She figured if fate hadn’t plotted against her this week, Tres would have come and gone and life would have continued as normal.

But why did he cry to Russell? Did seeing her make him regret his choices? A possible explanation, though she seriously doubted it. If he harbored remorse, he would have at least asked about Tanner. She could assume his defenses were at the lowest and honesty at the highest in his drunken state. The drunken Tres said he wanted a family. Her jaw set, her teeth gritting together as she unraveled the mystery. Tres Coulter was plenty smart enough to execute a plan that looked completely accidental. He would expect her to be off guard and easy to manipulate. He didn’t count on a wiser Jenna to reckon with. This grown woman no longer believed in star-crossed lovers, fate, and fairy tales. He could play his games, but she would be a move ahead. Checkmate, Mr. Coulter.

She gripped the steering wheel and chewed her lower lip nervously as her brain germinated a plan for each possible scenario.

Pulling into her driveway…looking at her home made her want to cry. No matter how savvy the planning, she still had the people she loved to consider.

She sat in her car half afraid to go inside. Tres’s invasion to her sanctuary made her feel more vulnerable than she had in years, and she didn’t like it. The curtain moved in Maureen’s window and she decided she better go in before she came out to check on her. She stepped into her house. It felt different. Changed. Tainted now by his memory. She peeked into Tanner’s room. Tres made the bed before he left. Yes, she decided, scoundrels do have nice manners.

She headed to the kitchen. She found a note on the counter. Tanner mowed the lawn and went to the beach with friends for the day. Good. She didn’t have to speak with him ... yet. She touched the note to her chest wondering, with a squeeze to her heart, what would this do to her son? Would he hate her when he found out she lied? Would he prefer to live with Tres in the luxury she could never provide? Be angry with her for making him do without when she could have eased the pressure on them both by at least getting child support? Imagining further complications did little to settle her nerves, and she began to doubt her ability to deal with it all. Maybe she should just go on with life as usual and pretend none of this happened? She looked at Tanner’s note. He had a good life. How could she knowingly destroy that? But what if Tres lured him in again with his fancy car and spilled the beans? That would create chaos.

She just didn’t know. But Maureen would. She would discuss this with Maureen and do what she thought best. Jenna trusted her above all others.

Heading for the door, Jenna felt confident in one thing. Maureen might hate her for lying to her all these years, but even if she despised Jenna, she would never turn her back on Tanner. That love burned as constant as the sun. It comforted her to know Maureen would always be there for him, but the mere thought of losing the closeness for herself made her realize her mother-in-law formed the foundation of her present existence. Jenna couldn’t imagine her life without her. She wished she could pretend this never happened; wished she could relegate yesterday to a bad memory and move forward without dismantling her entire life.

But that wasn’t an option. Heavy legs carried her outside where the sun shined bright and warm in the cloudless sky, but still her flesh felt chilled. She opened the door and moved straight to the kitchen. Maureen sat at the dining table studying the pages in a photo album. She looked up and smiled at Jenna. Patting the chair next to her, she said, “Sit, darlin’.”

Jenna sat and Maureen gave her shoulder a squeeze, leaving her hand there as she spoke, “You know, Jenna Marie, there’s nothing more important to me than my family.”

Jenna felt the gravity of Maureen’s statement vibrate through her. Her grave tone and the absolute serious look in her eyes sent a shiver down Jenna’s spine. Her heart stopped then began again in quick, sporadic beats. She knows, Jenna thought. Biting her lip, she prepared herself for the firestorm which she expected to come.

Maureen’s gaze never faltered from Jenna’s as she repeated, “nothing in this world.”

Jenna’s mind reeled and her jaw dropped open, but no words came. Surely, Lois hadn’t called Maureen. Maybe Margie? Or had Maureen taken one look at Tres and seen his resemblance in Tanner? Jenna closed her mouth, covering it with her hand as if to stop any confessions made sloppily in too much haste. Her hand tightened against her mouth until at last the truth burst from her, gushing out in a torrent of apologies and sobs. Maureen pulled her in and held her tight, cushioning her head against her chest stroking her hair as if she were still a child. She let her cry a few minutes, hushing her sobs with quiet soothings. When she spoke, her words were quiet, solemn, “Jenna, darlin’, I’ve known the truth about Tanner since he was born, and I have loved our boy since the first moment I held him.” Her hands patted Jenna’s back with each word. “He’s my grandson because my son chose to claim him. Do you understand me?”

Jenna sat frozen, stunned silent. Maureen knew? As her confusion eased, relief pulsed through her as strong as if she’d received a reprieve from death row. Maureen knew and she didn’t hate her. She knew. Had always known. Jenna looked up at Maureen and accepted the tissue she offered. “I’m so sorry, Maureen. I should’ve told you. I guess I never really saw it as a lie until Tres showed up yesterday. I promised Jake I wouldn’t tell anyone without his permission. We didn’t want any confusion.” Jenna let out an exhausted breath and rubbed her forehead to massage away the rising pain. “Jake wanted us. Tres didn’t. Tres had no desire to be a father to Tanner.”

Maureen’s mouth formed a thin line, her lips compressed so tightly they appeared white. Her voice never faltered. She spoke calmly and shocked Jenna yet again, “and I suppose he never will, unless you tell him the truth.”

Jenna gave her a quizzical look.

“He doesn’t know, Jenna.” Maureen cradled Jenna’s hand in her own, “I talked to the man this morning and I’m telling you, he doesn’t know he’s a father.”

“Of course he knows. Jake told him.” The stress of the past few days caused her mind to swim and her head to throb. What kind of mess did she make? Tres had to know. Jenna looked at Maureen. “But he broke Jake’s nose, and Jake wouldn’t lie to me.”

“No,” Maureen said, and then paused thoughtfully, remaining quiet a moment. Then she continued, “No, my son never was a liar.” She smiled, tears forming in her eyes again, “He was a lot of things but he was never that, was he Jenna?”

Jenna’s jaw was firm. “No, Maureen, he wasn’t. He was a fine man. Naughty at times, but always noble.”

Maureen laughed. “Naughty but noble.” She blotted her eyes with a hanky she kept in her pocket. “I suppose that’s one way to describe him.” Maureen twisted her hanky around her finger as she thought. Then she sighed hard, “when I asked Jake about Tanner’s real daddy, he swore to me the man had no interest in him. My son never lied to me, and I won’t consider for a moment that he’d done all this just to steal another man’s child.” Maureen closed her eyes a minute. “But I can’t let go of the nagging feeling right in my gut that this Coulter fella has no clue. And he sure didn’t seem like the kind of man who would turn his back on his own flesh and blood. I’m no expert on people, but...”

“I’ve always trusted your instincts, Maureen, but you know it may just be that Tres is better than average folk at lying.”

“But I liked the man, Jenna. He seemed like a good sort.”

“Trust me, Maureen, there was a time when I thought the same. I trusted him, but I learned the hard way, he’s not what he seems.” Jenna thought a moment before suggesting, “He is a politician. He’s not your regular kind of louse; he’s a professional.”

“I suppose that may be true. But still, I can’t shake the feeling,” she gave Jenna’s hand a squeeze. “You know, the only way we’ll know for sure is if you go talk to him.”

Jenna closed her eyes. “I can’t. I can’t think straight when I’m around him.” Memories of last night rushed back to her, her cheeks flamed. “And I just went to Teddy Pugh. He told me to steer clear of Tres and let him make the first move. If he doesn’t know and I tell him, I’ll be the one opening the can of worms.”

Maureen asked simply, “Say he doesn’t know, would his ignorance would be all right with you?”

Jenna weighed the possibilities aloud, “If he doesn’t know, then I don’t have a problem.” Her hands turned to ice and began to shake. “But then, how do I do that to him? It would be cruel.” She rubbed her hands together to warm them. Then she stood and announced, “He knows, Maureen.” When Maureen failed to agree, Jenna repeated, “He has to know.”

Maureen remained silent.

Jenna hugged her body and flopped back down in her seat, too tired to pace a moment longer. “What have I done? And oh God, Maureen, if you are right. If he doesn’t know? And if I tell him? What’s to stop him from getting mad and taking my baby from me? Dear God, I would rather die than ever face that.”

Maureen squeezed Jenna’s hand, “Oh, darlin’, I don’t know what to say. I promised Jake I’d protect you, watch out for you. And he sure didn’t trust the Coulter family. I doubt he’d have walked across the street to spit on a single one of them if they were on fire. And I just always trusted his word. Until today, at least. That man in my kitchen didn’t fit the description of the Tres Coulter Jake told me about. Maybe Jake was still suffering from Angel’s death. He blamed people like the Coulter’s as much as he did your poor father. And he certainly was angry.”

“Oh, God, Maureen. My life’s a mess. Fifteen years ago…this all made sense. Tres knows. He has to. Jake loved Tanner. He wouldn’t have done anything to hurt him. He’d never claim him to get even with people.”

“You’re right. He always wanted the best for Tanner.”

Jenna nodded agreement.

“And I believe if Jake were alive and he thought there was any doubt whether or not Tres knew, he’d tell you to ask him.”

Jenna wasn’t convinced.

Maureen continued her surmise, “Jake only claimed Tanner because he fully believed his biological father didn’t care. But if somehow, Tres didn’t get the message, Jake would want the man to know. He sure made enough visits to Richmond trying to tell him.”