“I’m as nice as the situation calls for. Anything else she can take up with Jesus. Bless her heart.”
“What situation?” Ruth inquired.
“Ruth!” Jamie exclaimed, mortified that her assistant would ask such a personal question. Yet she was just as curious and hoped Birdie would respond to it.
Ruth turned to Birdie. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m only asking because Jamie has been getting some threatening messages.”
“What kind of messages?” Clayton asked, furrowing his brow.
“It’s not a big deal,” Jamie said, stabbing the last piece of meat on her plate. “Probably just some deranged fan.”
Ruth explained, “It’s mostly been messages telling her to stay away from Clayton.”
“That sounds like Tammy.” Birdie folded her napkin into a neat square and placed it on the table. “Told y’all she was trouble.”
“Take it easy on him, Birdie,” Doc said. “She’s got some problems.”
“Problems? That woman doesn’t have the good sense God gave a goose, Elroy.” Birdie cleared her throat. “What kind of mother doesn’t want to see her own children?” Birdie crossed her arms, appearing to wait for Clayton to respond.
“Mine,” Jamie said, immediately regretting her words. She never spoke about her mother, especially not to strangers.
“Oh, sugar.” Birdie grasped Jamie’s hand, her shoulders tightening.
She shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“Clayton, you best step up and keep Jamie safe, you hear?” Birdie said, almost demanding her son to act.
“What you need is a damn haircut,” Doc chimed in, glancing at Nolan. “That goes for you too, Dr. Langley.”
“Doubt the threats are coming from Tammy,” Clayton said. “But I want you to keep my house locked from now on, just in case. Should probably stay there at night. I’ll use the guest room.”
“Thanks, but I can handle it.” Jamie forced a steady breath. She wasn’t about to accept Clayton’s charity—or his offer to stay. She’d been a latchkey kid since her mother disappeared. And she had Poppy. That was enough for her.
Birdie flashed a smile. “Sugar, this ain’t up for debate.”
CHAPTER 14
CLAYTON
After dinner Jamie and Ruth thanked the Langleys and Nolan drove them back. Meanwhile Clayton headed upstairs to pack an overnight bag with a few essentials. He could have told Jamie how to set his house alarm—or at least mentioned he had one. But who was he kidding? He wanted to see her first thing in the morning. Maybe even make her breakfast.
She’d seemed comfortable around the girls, which caught him off guard. She’d been clear about not wanting kids, yet there was something natural in the way she interacted with them. It made him wonder if there was more to that story than she let on.
Momma was waiting in the foyer when he came down the stairs, arms crossed over her chest and one foot tapping like she was keeping time for a song only she could hear.
“Be careful now, son.”
“What are you talking about?” His mother knew him better than anyone and could always tell when he was up to something.
“You’re grinning like a possum eating sweet taters.” She let out a sigh and put her hands on her hips. “Reckon Jamie Keaton’s the reason.”
There was no sense in lying to her. “I like her, and I think she likes me. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Give her a little time.”
“Let me guess . . . you don’t like her?”
“I like her just fine,” Momma said. “But this ain’t no place for a city girl. I’m sure there’s plenty of nice country girls who’d love to be your wife.”
