Jail? What would she go to jail for?
“Well, I don’t know what they do to people who can’t pay their bills. Do you have any earthly idea how high my creditcards are? And rent on that beachfront house? I spent every dime of alimony and it doesn’t even begin to touch the debt. That’s why I’m here.”
Red stood again, cocking his ear to the door, instinctively knowing he had to hear this, but every few words were muffled and impossible for his eighty-three-year-old ears to pick up.
“…No, he wouldn’t…” Dang, he didn’t get the rest. Then, “Oh, yeah. You never know with Marshall, but…” The rest was unintelligible, so Red leaned closer.
Another bright, girlish laugh followed. “Come on! You remember how it all went. He didn’t want a divorce or all that drama. We share a child, Tara. And we will, if things go according to plan, share another.”
Wait—what?Another? Pretty sure that would be news to Gracie. And Marshall.
“Tara, seriously!” Bianca’s voice dropped to a whisper he could barely catch. “No! That’s for when this baby’s…”
He couldn’t decipher the rest.Thisbaby? There was a baby? Or shewanteda baby?
“No, no. I don’t have that much time, hon,” she muttered, walking around and doing things that made it impossible for a person to properly eavesdrop.
She gave a vicious laugh. Nowthat, he heard.
“Jonathan was never real, you know that. And he doesn’t care if I’m…” A zipper and a thud blocked out the rest of the sentence. “Well, what Marshall doesn’t know won’t hurt him. And if things line up the way I want, then the whole baby thing won’t be so…complicated.”
What baby thing?Line up? Red felt a buzz of alarm start behind his ears.
“He’s generous and he has a soft spot for me,” she said, rustling fabric making it hard to hear. “…depends on how he reacts. But I have to move fast.” More movement and a suitcasehit the floor. “…like baby needs a daddy, Tara….” She mumbled some more. Then, “It’s my best option.”
Red’s stomach pitched. What baby? Who was “he”? Best option for…what?
“It’ll be fine,” Bianca added. “Olivia will adjust. Kids usually do. And I’m not trying to hurt anybody. I just need things to work out andfast.”
His pulse thrummed through his whole body, making him aware of his heart. This kind of stress probably wasn’t good for him.
“Oh, my ride’s here,” she said lightly, passing the bathroom door so close he could hear the clip-clop of heels and the rustle of a jacket. “I’m going into town to see this ridiculous bakery Marshall opened. He’ll have to sell it or something, but, trust me, I’m going to pretend it’s the most creative, brilliant, and perfect thing I’ve ever seen.” She gave a hoot of a laugh. “Oh, sure, Tara. I’ll just put on an apron and sling oatmeal cookies. That’ll be the day.”
More hyena laughing followed that.
“Of course Olivia will love this. Not that a kid has a say in my life. I’ll just remind her that we’ll be a family again and everyone will be happy. Especially American Express. Gotta run, babe. Bye!”
Red stayed frozen, waiting for the door to…there. Closed.
Finally, he let out his breath.
What in the name of all that was holy did he just hear? A plan or a scheme or the rantings of a madwoman?
Was she pregnant and going to try and pin it on Marshall? It sure sounded that way but…he couldn’t be sure. Maybe it was something far more innocent. Maybe he’d misunderstood.
Who could be that calculating?
After a minute, he silently unlatched the bathroom door and looked around the empty cabin, getting a whiff of peppery perfume.
Certain he was alone, he walked to the front window and peeked out, catching sight of a tall woman trudging in the snow toward the lodge. As soon as she rounded the bend of pine trees, he shot out, scrambled off the little porch, and lumbered around the side of the cabin—straight into Bertie Kessler.
“Well, look at you, big guy!” Bertie shouted—she was always so loud. “Sprinting around the place like a man half your age. And dressed as Santa, no less. I’m so impressed.”
“Son of a Blitzen,” he wheezed, the stress of the last few minutes finally hitting him.
“Did you come out of that cabin?”
“Yes.” Red groaned, twisting his aching back.
