He stopped at the bookstore first. When he found it closed tight, he headed to the pink house. Jolene’s Mercedes was parked in the driveway, along with Emma’s Civic. Cal should’ve left Emma to take care of her friend. But he couldn’t bring himself to leave. He had to make sure she was okay. Emma was the one who answered the door.
“Hey, Cal,” she said. “I should’ve had Boone call you and tell you that you don’t need to work on the house anymore. Jolene has decided to buy it.”
“Oh. Well, that’s real nice.” He glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see Jolene, but she was nowhere in sight. “Mind if I come in?” he asked. “I think I left some of my tools here.”
“Of course.” Emma stepped back and held open the door. “Boone and I sure appreciate you coming over to work on the house.” She hesitated. “Although I was wondering exactly what you’ve been working on.”
Since there was no way to lie when Emma had obviously looked around, he told the truth. Or at least some of it. “I’m afraid I haven’t been working on anything. I’ve been using your house as a place to get away and . . . relax.”
Emma laughed as she closed the door. “So that was why Jolene and I found the mattress in the living room.” Her eyes twinkled. “Taking some naps by the fire, Cal?”
His face heated. “Sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize. You work way too hardand I’m glad you finally got some rest. I’m sorry you won’t be able to use the house anymore as your secret hideout.”
Before his face could get any redder, Jolene walked out of the kitchen. Her eyes were puffy and her face sad. It was a struggle not to pull her into his arms and try to kiss the sadness away.
To keep from doing it, he shoved his hands in his front pockets. “Hey, Jolene.”
“Hi, Cal.”
“I heard you’re buying the house.”
Jolene sent him a wobbly smile that made his heart tighten. “I’m excited to be a homeowner.”
He nodded. “It’s a good house.” He stood there for a long moment trying to communicate with his eyes all his concern and caring before he cleared his throat. “Well, I guess I’ll look around for my tools.”
He headed up the stairs, feeling heartbroken for Jolene. She was obviously upset, and he couldn’t help wondering what would make a father kick out his own daughter. A thought struck him. Had Mr. Applegate found out about their secret affair? That had to be it. Cal didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it before.
The sound of the front door opening and closing pulled him from his thoughts and he headed back down the stairs. Jolene stood in the foyer looking completely lost. When she saw him, she attempted to smile.
“Emma went to the store to get some groceries. I tried to tell her I was fine, but she insisted on making me lasagna.” She lifted her shoulders ina sad shrug. “Although I don’t know what we’re going to eat it on.”
Cal didn’t hesitate to do what he’d been wanting to do since walking in the door. He pulled Jolene into his arms and held her tightly. He didn’t realize she was crying until her tears soaked into his shirt. She was breaking his heart.
“Don’t cry, Jolie. Don’t cry, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”
“I’m so embarrassed,” she said in a soft voice clogged with tears.
He rubbed her back. “So I guess your father found out about our affair.”
She sniffed. “No. We got in a fight about . . . something else.”
“Then what are you embarrassed about?”
She drew back and stared at him with surprise. “I’m a thirty-nine-year-old woman who just got kicked out of her daddy’s house. If that’s not embarrassing, Cal Daily, I don’t know what is. I should’ve left that house long ago, instead of hiding inside like a timid little mouse afraid of my own shadow.”
Cal couldn’t help but feel relieved. He thought her father had broken her heart. Instead, she was just a little humiliated. He could understand that.
“You want to know about humiliation?” he said. “Try having a father who always wants something for nothing. Or having your wife run off and leave you. Or having the town view you as their number one charity case after your mama dies and your trailer burns down. I know humiliation, Jolene. And getting kicked out of yourdaddy’s house shouldn’t be humiliating as much as infuriating. He was damned lucky to have you living with him and watching out for him. If he can’t see that, then he doesn’t deserve you as a daughter.”
She shook her head. “That’s what I wanted everyone to believe. That I was doing my father a favor by living with him and taking care of him. But the truth is I wasn’t taking care of him as much as he was taking care of me—or at least controlling me. He told me how to do my job, how to dress, and what to drive. And I let him because it was easier and less scary than living my own life. I was afraid if I fell out of the nest, I might hit the ground.” She hesitated and tears filled her eyes. “I’m still a little afraid of that.”
A strand of her hair had gotten stuck to her wet cheek, and he smoothed it back. “You’ll fly, Jolie. I don’t doubt it for a second. You’re one of the strongest women I know.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t blow smoke up my ass, Cal Daily.”
A few weeks ago, he never would’ve believed that Jolene Applegate would cuss. But she’d surprised him. Boy, how she’d surprised him.
