Fat Louise (24 page)

“Raul had contacted him while I was gone and told him, if he didn’t give the money back, he would kill Bailey. He said he wouldn’t transfer the money until he saw Bailey, so he went out to meet them without waiting for me to come back. It took me two weeks to find them. Their bodies are being flown back tomorrow. I’m sorry I couldn’t save them for you.”
 

Her father and sister were gone.
 

Numbness at his words quickly gave way to grief, and Cade held her as she cried, gently rocking her back and forth, whispering over and over how much he loved her. His words finally penetrated her sorrow.
 

“Bailey didn’t want to be saved. She always believed that nothing bad could happen to her. Dad was the only one who could have made her change, but he wouldn’t face what the true Bailey was like.”
 

After a while and finally calming down, Jane stood up, taking his hand. “We’re going to have dinner with our family and enjoy the rest of Christmas. Tomorrow, I’ll make the
arrangements…” Jane’s voice broke.
 

They went back to the front room where everyone stopped eating as Jane and Cade took a seat at the table.
 

“Stud, can you pass the ham?” she asked politely, feeling like the food would choke her if she took a bite. She was trying to keep a brave face, not wanting to ruin their Christmas dinner with the sad news.
 

She filled her plate with all her favorites as Cade filled his.
 

“Skulls, can you pass the turkey?” Cade asked, reaching his hands out.
 

“Brother, you don’t want the turkey. Try the ham.” Skulls’s wiggling eyebrows looked like a caterpillar moving across his brow.
 

“I prefer the turkey—”
 

“See, Skulls, not everyone likes ham for Christmas.” A good-looking older woman dressed in a low cut glitter top that bared half her breasts stood up, hefting the untouched turkey closer to him. “Enjoy. I cooked it all by myself without any help from Sex Piston,” she boasted.
 

“You’re Sex Piston’s mom?” At her nod, Cade turned to Jane. “Pass the ham.”
 

Chapter 27
 

Jane couldn’t help the tears that fell down her cheeks as she watched her father’s casket lowered into the ground. Then, minutes later, her sister’s casket was also lowered.
 

Cade stood at her back, his arm around her waist, his warmth a buffer against the strong winds carrying flurries.
 

“Ready?” Cade asked.
 

“Yes.” Jane turned away as the dirt was being shoveled onto their caskets.
 

They rode Cade’s new motorcycle to the home of Sex Piston’s parents, where Jane stood numbly as friends all offered their condolences.
 

She was surprised when her stepmother stepped hesitantly through the doorway. Jane took a step forward, hugging her usually standoffish stepmother. Her typically immaculately beautiful face was a mask of grief.
 

“I’m truly sorry, Delphi.”
 

“Thank you, Jane. I wasn’t sure I would be welcome, but I couldn’t bear to be alone right now.”
 

“I’m glad you came,” Jane said sincerely. “Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”
 

Cade was amazed at Jane’s loving concern for her stepmother. Before now, he was sure Delphi hadn’t had the time of day for her stepdaughter.
 

Cade’s eyes narrowed on Jane’s mother, who moved away from the food-laden table when she saw who was with Jane, ugly jealousy marring her lined face.
 

Cade strolled casually across the room and came to a stop beside her. “Wipe that look from your face before Jane sees it. I’m not going to have her worrying about your shit today.”
 

Jane’s mother opened her mouth to reply.
 

“Shut it. I don’t want to listen. Your days of having Jane jump are over. From now on, you’re going to deal with me first. Your lazy ass is going to get a job, too. Popeye’s is hiring, and the manager is expecting a call from you. Jane won’t be funneling you any more money, which I’m sure you’re counting on when her dad’s house sells. Not going to happen. If there are any drugs in your house, you better get rid of them when you get home. Every day, I’m going to stop by, and if I find any of that shit in your house, I’m calling the cops. Unlike them, I don’t give a fuck about search warrants.”
 

“You can’t—” she protested, nearly choking on her sandwich.
 

“Watch me. You’re on probation. You get caught with drugs, and your ass will be back in jail and out of Jane’s hair. That’s a win-win for me. You’re going to get clean whether you want to or not. You’re going to piss in a cup for me once a week, and if it comes back positive, I’ll call the cops. I’m going to be your worst fucking nightmare.” Cade turned to leave the woman who was glaring a hole through him then turned back around. “Oh, and you better pray Jane’s new car doesn’t so much as get a scratch on it. Touch it, and I’ll break every bone in that useless body of yours, and then I’ll pick one of these big mountains surrounding us to bury you on.”
 

Cade turned, nearly knocking down an eavesdropping Killyama.
 

“Let me know if you need any help after you do that bitch in. I’ll dig the hole for you.”
 

Cade’s lips twitched. “I’d be afraid to go into those mountains with you alone after the way I treated Jane.”
 

Killyama actually grinned at him. “You ain’t in my sights, Cade. A week ago, I wouldn’t have said that, but Fat Louise explained to us all that you had left a note. Any idea what happened to it?”
 

Cade searched her eyes, wondering if she was trying to see if he had lied to Jane. “No,” Cade answered, lying as he watched Rock give Jane a cup of coffee. The fucking bastard was still chasing after his woman. He had no doubts who had taken his note.
 

“It’s my fault, I should have called her and told her what was going on, I’m used to doing things on my own. It’s a habit I intend to break.”
 

“Ummhmm.” Killyama’s eyes followed his. “Still not happy with the way you treated my bitch at first, but she’s forgiven you, and I don’t want to see her hurt if I kill you, so that leaves me—”
 

“With giving me a friendly warning?”
 

“Seems to be the day for it, doesn’t it?”
 

“Yeah, it does,” Cade agreed before escaping the overpowering woman’s presence.
 

Jane was still talking to Rock when he came to her side, taking the coffee cup out of her hands and ignoring Rock’s angry glare. “Come on. There’s something I want to show you.” Taking her hand, he led her to the coat closet where he handed Jane her coat.
 

“I can’t leave yet.”
 

“We won’t be gone long,” Cade assured her, opening the door and then tugging her outside.
 

“Where are we going?” Jane asked as they walked down the driveway to the sidewalk.
 

Cade felt a lump in his throat at the trust she put in him.
 

“Right here.” Cade led her up the walkway of a house next door to Sex Piston’s parents.
 

“What are we doing here? No one lives here.”
 

Cade took the key out of his pocket and opened the front door. “I do, or I will if you agree.” He ushered her inside the empty house.
 

Her eyes widened at the inside of the home. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.
 

“It’s close to your friends and the clubhouse,” Cade said softly, his voice filling the empty rooms. “I’m going to make an offer if you agree to move in here with me.”
 

She turned to face him. “And if I don’t?”
 

“Then I’ll wait to buy a home until you are, but I can’t guarantee the house will still be around. Of course, if you don’t like this one, we can go together to find another. I just thought that—”
 

“Who told you?”
 

Cade smiled, cupping her cheek. “Sex Piston. She told me that, since you were teenagers, you planned to live in the same neighborhood. She doesn’t exactly live next door anymore, but she comes by every day to check on her parents. I figured it would be close enough for you to still see her and your friends.”
 

“You don’t mind my friends?” Her amazed eyes stared up into his.
 

“Not so much. They take a little getting used to, but they’re growing on me.”
 

“Really?”
 

“Really.” Cade’s mouth brushed hers.
 

“Are you sure about buying the house? I mean, it will mean staying in one place, growing roots—”
 

“Growing roots isn’t all I plan to do in this house. When you’re ready, tell me and we’ll get married and fill all the rooms upstairs with kids.”
 

“That’s a lot of commitment for you to take on.” She leaned against him, letting him take all her weight.
 

“I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
 

Jane reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone, handing it to him. “Call the
realtor. I can’t think of a better place.”
 

With her standing in his arms, staring at him with love shining in her eyes, Cade thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He didn’t care about the four walls and a roof, all he needed was her.
 

Epilogue
 

“Allison, does this blanket come in blue?” Jane ran her fingertips over the soft pink baby blanket she had laid on the counter.
 

“It does, but I’m sold out of it. I can order it and have it here by the weekend.”
 

“Okay, go ahead and order it. I’ll pay for it and the other items.” The counter was filled with baby goodies.
 

She had originally come to the Bag Boutique to wait for Sex Piston and the rest of the crew—they were going to have lunch at the Sizzler next door. When she hadn’t seen their car outside, she had come inside with the intention to browse. To her surprise, Allison had designated a part of her designer store to merchandise for babies.
 

At first, Jane had leisurely strolled through the aisles, until a small giraffe caught her attention. From there, she had chosen several other items.
 

Allison began to ring up her purchases as Jane searched through her purse for her credit card. Her hand shook as she pulled her wallet out. She hadn’t eaten much this morning, which was a no, no for her. She had intended to snack on a protein bar later that morning yet had become too busy at work. Her body was beginning to show the first warning sign that her sugar was running low. She needed to hurry and go next door for lunch.
 

“How’s Stacy doing?”
 

Allison’s mouth tightened at her question. “She’s fine.”
 

Jane blushed, belatedly realizing that her daughter would be a sore subject. Sex Piston had quit doing Allison’s hair because Stacy had been caught bullying Meri and Sheri, Sex Piston’s stepdaughters.
 

Jane tried her best to keep her gaze away from Allison’s hair yet couldn’t. It was very attractive, but it was the same style Jane had seen replicated on several women in town. The Cut Shop must only be able to cut hair in one style.
 

Jane brushed her own hair back from her cheek, beginning to perspire and feel even sicker. She wished Allison would finish.
 

The door opening behind her had both women turning.
 

“Hey, Rock, what are you doing in here?” Jane smiled. “Trying to buy a present for one of the women?” she teased.
 

“No.” Rock didn’t return her smile, his eyes on the counter. “I saw your car parked out front and thought I’d see if you wanted to grab some lunch.”
 

“I’m already meeting Sex Piston and the rest of the crew. You’re welcome to join us. Stud and Cade are also coming.”
 

“I’ll pass.” His hand touched the pink baby blanket, his face going pale. “You’re pregnant again?”
 

“No.” Jane’s expression lost her glow of happiness. “I’m buying this for Lily’s baby.”
 

“I thought Shade threatened everyone not to give her a baby shower?”
 

“He did … but I thought…” Jane stumbled with her explanation at his expression. “Every baby needs a few new things. I know she has all Sex Piston’s and Beth’s babies hand me downs, but”—she reached out, touching the cute blue pacifier—“you can’t reuse a paci”—her hand then touched a giraffe—“or a teether. These bottles are new, so the baby doesn’t get as gassy.”
 

“What are you doing, Jane?”
 

“What do you mean?” Her voice trembled at his harsh expression.
 

“You know what I see when I look at you?”
 

“No…” Jane turned back to the counter, sure she didn’t want to hear what Rock was about to say.
 

She nodded to Allison for her to give the total.
 

“I see a woman desperately wanting what you can’t have. You’re buying Lily’s baby all this overpriced shit for her baby instead of the one you lost. Just like you took Cade back knowing he’s going to fuck around on you again. Your baby’s gone, just like Cade will be. Accept it and move on.”
 

“Who to? You?” Cade’s voice came from the doorway as he strode inside, followed by her friends and Stud.
 

Rock didn’t back down, though, and Jane’s lips trembled. Rock had been her friend.
 

She started to reach out to touch his arm.