Rich in Faith (Richness in Faith, Book 3) (16 page)

MEND

MY BREATH HITCHES. “MaryLeigh?”

He stands now in the middle of the foyer, the chandelier casting shadows on the walls, and light on his face. “Yes. MaryLeigh.”

“I was only trying to help you.”

He laughs, but it’s not a jovial laugh. “Help me?”

“Yes.” Not wanting to see Court in any more turmoil I walk to him, leaving only inches between us.

I have no idea why I want to mend his hurt, but I do. I touch his face, my thumb rubbing his cheek, while my fingers play with the hair at the nape of his neck. “He accused me of going out with him to find out information about you.”

“Did you succeed?” His voice is husky, and I wonder how much my touch has to do with that.

“I had to back off once he found me out.” I smile hoping my words ease his soul.

“Then what did you talk about?”

His voice is a whisper, and it’s a good thing we are so close or I might not have heard him. “Different things. I wanted to find out if he is embezzling from you.”

His lips are a straight line and stay that way. “How did you think you were going to find that out? Just ask him?”

“No, silly. But the more I hang out with him, get comfortable with him, you never know what might slip.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“I don’t want you falling for him.”

“How can I when I’ve already fallen for you.”

And I have fallen.

Hard.

Court won’t be easy to recover from, but I’m a big girl. I’ll be okay in the end, but right now I want to enjoy every aspect of this man and situation.

Every aspect.

I stand on my tiptoes and touch my lips to his. His arms pull me to him, and our kiss bridges any gap that may have been between us.

“Don’t scare me like that again, Shelby,” he says after our kiss ends.

“I won’t.” I stand in his arms, feeling like it’s the best place on earth.

And right now it is.

“Did you hug him?”

“Just hello.”

“You smell like him. I don’t like it.”

“I’ll make sure I shower. Soon.”

“Please.

Would now be a good time to broach the subject of MaryLeigh and Jared? There are some things I still don’t understand. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“It might be a tough one.”

“I’m a tough guy.”

“Can we go and sit?”

“We can.”

We walk to the living room, but this time, instead of sitting opposite each other, we plop down next to each other, practically in each other’s lap.

But not quite.

So do I bring up his agenda or mine first? His statement about how MaryLeigh and I spoke the same words is very intriguing, but so is the aspect that Jared and Court grew up together and were apparently close, yet Jared knew MaryLeigh and Court didn’t.

I’ll start with my agenda.

One might naturally lead into the other.

He takes my hand in his, and it feels like we’ve been doing this forever. I like it. I like how his touch makes me feel.

“You said that Jared and MaryLeigh knew each other from childhood. You and Jared were pretty tight growing up. How is it you didn’t know MaryLeigh, too?”

“They hid her from me.”

“Hid her? Like in a closet or something?”

His thumb rubs my fingers, making it hard to concentrate on anything but our touch.

But I have to.

“First I have to say that I’m not sure what the truth is. They both had a story. Similar but not entirely matching. But over time details can get blurry. At least that’s what they told me.”

“That and the same people can see the same incident, yet have totally different aspects of what happened.”

“True. The story is that MaryLeigh knew who I was, but she was embarrassed about her upbringing. She lived in a tenement in the city. A pretty rough neighborhood. Jared and she were friends, and she made him promise not to say anything about her or introduce her until she could better her situation.”

To voice the words “that is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard” would be so hypocritical. But I should say something. “How did she better her situation?”

“Those details are fuzzy. I’ve never been told. But when Jared did introduce her, he acted like he just met her at a club. She lived in a very nice apartment in the best part of town. She dressed impeccably and had it all together.”

I hope he doesn’t notice that I can’t look him in the eye. Every word he speaks is like hammering the proverbial nail in my coffin. “Was it love at first sight?”

He laughs. “She says it was, but she had been seeing me for years by then and I didn’t know. It was a fast courtship and we were married in less than two months. The twins came along one year later, almost on our anniversary.”

“So when did you find out about Jared and MaryLeigh?” The look on his face makes me add, “Their friendship. That’s all it was, right?”

“So they say. Those words you said, ‘It’s not what you’re thinking’ are the same words MaryLeigh used to tell me when I would ask her about Jared.”

“You do believe them, don’t you?”

“I wish I could. There’s so much you don’t know about. I think MaryLeigh was always taken with him, but my money and fame were more important.”

That’s how it was. No wonder he’s so hurt and sensitive where Jared is concerned.

I look at him and wonder how anyone could not love this man. Be with him, marry him, simply for who he is. Impossible. “I’m sure she loved you.”

“I’m not as sure as you are.”

“You stayed married.”

“I stayed rich.”

Part of me wonders how cynical Court is. I’m sure anyone in his position in life would have reason to be somewhat cynical, but would they have to live that way all their life in every aspect?

He releases my hand and runs his fingers through my hair. “That’s why I’m so taken with you. I know you are running from something, but you weren’t running to something. Like me. I can trust who you are, Shelby. That is the most important thing.”

Tell him.

Tell him now.

Tell him how you grew up living in a trailer park. How you got made fun of all your school days. How the boy with the wealthiest parents noticed you, and when you gave him what he wanted, he joined the crowd who snubbed you and made fun of you at school going down the hall.

“Thank you for being real. I don’t think I can take any more people who aren’t who they say they are. I’m through.”

He pulls me to him and kisses me until it is impossible to think of speaking.

Or to think about the childhood I’m hiding.

THURSDAY AND Friday pass quickly with Court working for a couple of hours each morning, then we would have a late morning swim, indulge in a kiss or two, get the girls from next door and head out for an afternoon of fun.

We didn’t talk about Jared or the upcoming Rolling Stones concert I was going to with him in just a few short hours from now.

Three to be exact.

He’s picking me up at six.

Court has been brooding all day. Even Team Twin notice and ask him what is wrong.

No matter how many times I tell him it is a fact finding mission, he chooses to ignore me.

The girls are swinging at the park, and Court and I are sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree.

I tap him on the shoulder. “I can’t stand the thought of you being mad at me.”

“I’m not mad.” He clenches his fists as he speaks.

“Maybe not mad, but you’re something.”

“What guy wouldn’t be something knowing his girl is going out with his best friend?”

“It’s not a date.”

“I’ve said it before. That’s how you see it. It’s not how he sees it.”

“He will. There will be nothing happening but me singing along with Mick Jagger. Besides, I’m going to keep digging. You have to settle that embezzlement issue. That has to be weighing on you.”

He looks at me and actually scoots a little away from me. “Have you ever thought I may not really want to solve it?”

“Seriously? Why not?”

“What if I don’t want it to be true?”

“I’m sure you don’t want it to be true. But it appears somebody is taking your hard-earned money. It needs to stop.”

“This whole situation stinks.”

“It does. But think of how good it will feel to have everything out in the open. You’ll feel better.”

“You already make me feel better. Isn’t that enough?”

As much as I’m flattered by his attention, I’m anxious about every other aspect of our togetherness. “I know it’s hard. But the right thing has to be done.”

“I’m going to blow your phone up with texts all night.”

“So juvenile.”

“That’s how I feel. Like I’m back in all the high school mess. Girl, guy, other guy wanting girl.”

I laugh. “Now you sound like a caveman.”

“Me Tarzan—”

“Stop,” I say, as I try to control my laughter. I’m glad something is making me laugh. Our conversation from a couple of nights ago has been weighing heavily on my mind.

I’ve envisioned several scenarios where I blurt out, “I was raised in a trailer park. But my parents were kind and loving. Still are. You want to meet them July fourth?”

Then every bit of my insides cringe, and I think that I’m acting crazy and that he really won’t care if I was raised in a trailer park and he would probably love my parents.

It’s me that’s uncomfortable with the situation. I realize I’m pretty much acting like he is. Twice burned…and that whole thing. I keep telling myself Court isn’t Paul or Dale. Court’s not going to say see you later.

Court hasn’t attempted to do anything but kiss me. But that’s how Paul was at first.

Then there was Dale. Giving that man everything I had and then some things I didn’t know I had, all to be dumped.

For an heiress.

Dale didn’t draw lines when it came to status and background and professions. At least that’s what he said.

And we shouldn’t. We are all the same. Every one of us breathes in and out.

But sometimes the air we breathe in and out is different.

Too different in some cases.

MOVE

MICK JAGGER IS everything I thought he’d be and more. He’s still a wild-child on stage, and the arena is screaming with voices singing along to all the best songs.

Jared is acting like a perfect gentleman. I have no reason to complain. He hasn’t attempted to do anything inappropriate. I hope I’ve been right all along and Court has been wrong in his assessment of the situation.

My ears are still ringing as we leave the show. It’s almost eleven o’clock and I am starving, but I’m not saying anything to Jared. The sooner he takes me home the better.

I answered the first couple of texts from Court, but then, especially considering nothing was happening I told him I’d text him when I was on the way back to the house.

Jared helps me into his car, always the gentleman.

“Do you feel like grabbing something to eat? There’s a lot of great diners around here. I’m sorry we didn’t get to eat before the concert. I had no idea every place would be so crowded.”

My stomach says yes, but my heart says no.

Jared looks disappointed as I turn down his offer, but he doesn’t complain or try and talk me into going. The more I think about the evening, the more I realize Jared hasn’t been his usual self tonight.

“Thanks for taking me. I have always wanted to see Mick Jagger. One thing off my bucket list.”

He chuckles as we sit in the long line of traffic waiting to exit the deck. “You’re too young to have a bucket list.”

“I didn’t think there was an age limit.”

“I think old people make bucket lists.”

“I guess you don’t have one.”

“Not quite. Besides, I think I’ve done almost everything I’ve ever dreamed of doing. Except getting married and having a family. Other than that, I’ve been knocking out my dreams left and right. It’s been great.”

I wonder what’ll happen when the dreams turn into nightmares. Or maybe they already have and that’s where he found himself in trouble.

And I’m assuming he’s in trouble. Because Court is assuming as much.

I decide to run with what little information he provided a moment ago. “You’re ready to be married?”

“If I find the right girl. She’s been eluding me.”

I’m hoping the she he’s referring to is an ambiguous she and I’m not she. Now I’m not anxious to continue with this conversation. “I guess getting married and having kids are a natural ambition for most people.”

“What about you?”

He’s not going to be the recipient of the broken engagement story. “Maybe someday. But I’m content for now.”

“Content taking care of someone else’s kids.”

“It’s a good break for me. I’m enjoying it.”

What I’m enjoying more than taking care of the kids is kissing their father. I blush at the thought and am glad it’s dark. Jared is very observant, and not a lot of things escape his notice.

He would have noticed the blush.

“My assistant is pregnant. She’s about to have her baby anytime now.”

I remember Court mentioning that. Why is Jared mentioning it? “That’s nice. Boy? Girl?”

“She doesn’t know. She wants it to be a surprise.”

“That’s fun. You don’t hear of that too much anymore. Obviously she and her husband agreed to wait to find out.”

“She’s not married.”

“Oh.”

He laughs. “It’s okay. She’s good with everything. I thought for a while she would have a rough time of it, but I guess her parents came through and bailed her out of some stuff financially, so she’s all ready for the baby.”

“That’s good. I imagine it’s tough enough adjusting to having a new baby, I can’t imagine having financial worries on top of that.”

Financial worries.

I look at Jared who’s looking straight ahead, preventing me from seeing his eyes and facial expressions. “She’s lucky to have such generous parents.”

I hope I don’t emphasize the words parents.

And I hope it was indeed her parents that helped her out of that financial jam and not Jared James.

I DECIDE TO VOICE MY concerns to Court once Jared has left. Again, he was quick to take the hint and leave, and he was barely out of the driveway before I broached the subject with Court.

Court listens intently. When I’m done retelling the story, he shrugs his shoulders. “Could be. I can’t figure out what he’s spending his money on. At least this scenario makes sense.”

“Well, we don’t know if it’s true or not. We’re speculating. But it’s something to look into. How well does Susan know Jared’s assistant?”

“I’m not sure. I can find out though.”

I pick up the invitation Team Twin made for the vacation Bible school program on Sunday morning. They also made one for Uncle Jared. “Do you think Jared will come Sunday morning?”

“I don’t know. He does love those girls.”

I sense sadness in his voice as well as in his gaze. “This whole thing has you torn up inside, doesn’t it.”

“There are a lot of things that have me feeling a bit discombobulated.” I’m hoping I’m one of those things. He has yet to kiss me tonight, or even make a move toward me like he is going to kiss me.

In fact, he is keeping his distance, which is something he hasn’t done since we shared that first kiss.

I sniff my shirt.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Seeing if I smell like Jared. You’re awfully far away from me and not making any moves to be closer.”

“It’s not intentional. I promise. I have a lot on my mind tonight.”

He reaches his hand out and I take his in mine. Neither of us move closer to the other. Hand in hand is satisfying right now. It’s a connection.

One that I’m finding harder and harder to break as each day goes by.

And I’m going to be miserable when that breaking day does come.