Moon Underfoot (50 page)

When Levi walked into the library, the room fell silent. Bailey folded her arms defensively. All were curious as to what was in the travel bag he carried.

Levi stood at the end of the table and smiled at everyone before placing the bag on the floor. Everyone’s eyes followed his movements. The bag was expensive looking. Only Bailey recognized it as hers, which really pissed her off.

“Thank you all for comin’,” he said awkwardly and then took a seat. He quickly looked around to ensure no one else was in the room. He then smiled at Bailey, who wanted to smile back but didn’t.

“It’s been a rough few days. I suppose y’all heard about my brother?” he asked.

Everyone simply nodded, since no one knew what to say and they were all glad that Moon Pie was dead.

Levi sensed this, quickly saying, “Look, I know that Moon Pie was nothing but a criminal. I also know that I was headed down that same road. All my life, I really wanted his approval…which I could never get. And now I know that was a good thing. Just before he died, I really had a change of heart, and that was mostly due to Bailey. She showed me a better way…a way to be better. That’s it. That’s what I’m tryin’ to do, and now I’m here for you, if you wanna give me a chance. Bailey, I’m…I’m like that
Rascal Flatts song you like so much, ‘Changed.’ I’m changed.” He looked at Bailey and blushed slightly.

The group nodded in response, and each made encouraging comments or remarks, except Bailey.

Levi exhaled deeply and continued, “Bailey told me about why y’all took the money. I know each of your stories and your reasons. I’m not mad about any of that. But I couldn’t let y’all keep that nine hundred thousand dollars. That money woulda gotten me killed…and probably y’all too. It belongs to some seriously mean Mexican drug dealers. It’s a long story, but I’ve already given them their money back.”

Walter jumped in, “Levi, we didn’t know. I mean, we knew we were stealing…but we didn’t know what we were stealin’ and what the blowback from it was gonna be.”

“I understand.” Levi looked around again to confirm that no one had walked into the big room.

Bailey studied him. She saw a man trying to make things right, not a man trying to con a bunch of old folks into or out of something. She sensed his sincerity, and she liked it.

“Okay, I’ve got a proposal for y’all,” he said, scanning their faces. Each one either leaned in or sat up straight, indicating he had their full attention. He pressed on: “Inside this bag is a box with the exact amount of money that y’all…let’s say, acquired from Kroger. Let’s get the attorney Bailey told me about to return it and get Mr. Walter out of hot water.” Levi noticed the relief on Walter’s face, and the rest wholeheartedly nodded their agreement.

“After the smoke clears, that leaves a little over three hundred thousand dollars in cash that was Moon Pie’s. So here’s my idea. Each of you four, plus me, gets forty grand apiece—free and clear—to do with whatever we want. Spend it on yourselves, help out a family member, pay for someone’s school—whatever. It’s up to you.”

Bailey realized she was being left out. Watching the others’ reactions, she remembered how the money had made her crazy.
Maybe Levi knows
, she thought.

Levi continued, “And,” he looked at Bailey, “I propose that we take the balance—one hundred grand—and invest it in Bailey and her clothing designs. Let’s put her in business, and we’ll all own a piece. I checked, and there’s a small vacant store right down the street. We can work outta there. We can get her a website built, and she can be right here, designin’, makin’, and sellin’ dresses all over the world! It’ll give each of y’all something to do every day, and, well, I just think after all Bailey’s been through, she deserves a shot and we can give it to her!”

Bailey was shocked and almost in tears. She looked around, and everybody seemed to think it was a great idea. She ran around the table and hugged Levi. Even if nobody else wanted to invest in her dream, she was impressed with the gesture and Levi’s sincerity. All she really wanted was Levi. After what he had done, she knew she could be happy with him.

“I thought you stole the money and left for good.”

“No way! I knew that I needed to make things right before one of us got killed. I got really busy and focused trying to get things settled with the Mexicans. They had come to town lookin’ for me. But that’s done. They’re gone, and now I’m here for you, if you wanna give me a chance.”

“Ya know,” Bernard interrupted eagerly, “I bet we could get a whole bunch of women from all over the city to sew for us!”

“I’ve heard there’s a lot of markup in clothing. We could make a killin’,” Sebastian added.

Lucille watched Bailey’s obvious excitement and feelings toward Levi. She stood, touching him on the arm. “I think it’s a wonderful idea, Levi. I’m so proud of you.”

Walter stood and said, “I love Southern styles. Mississippi dresses will be a hit. We’ve got a whole lot to do!”

Levi smiled at everyone’s enthusiasm. He leaned into Walter’s ear and whispered, “Mr. Walter…you can’t leave town for the next several days. In fact, you need to make sure that you’re seen every day.”

Walter cocked his head suspiciously. “Why?”

“I made a deal with those Mexican drug dealers that I would return all of the money on the condition that a certain someone’s ex-son-in-law receives a little of what he’s been dishing out…and if something permanent happened, then that would be fine. It’s goin’ down this week.”

Walter looked up at Levi, remembering why he had started the whole project. He thought of all the wrongs he had done. He thought of his daughter’s suffering and life cut painfully short. He smiled thinking of his wife and what she would want—of her strong moral compass even in their darkest hours.

He placed a fresh, unlit cigar in the corner of his mouth and said assertively, “Thanks, but call it off, son. He’ll get what’s comin’ to him.”

J
AKE CROSBY SLOWLY
recuperated from his nightmare in the pipe. There were some complications with his fractured leg, but after three surgeries, it finally healed. He and Morgan welcomed Kendall, another beautiful daughter, into the world. With Morgan’s blessing, Jake started searching for a career that interested him. With legal assistance from Sam, the insurance company finally paid the Crosbys’ claim for the fire-destroyed river cabin, and they plan to rebuild with an extra bedroom.

Katy Crosby won the Mississippi Spelling Bee for her age, correctly spelling
catamaran
. She was so relieved and proud that her dad had killed Moon Pie that she never again spoke to another counselor.

R. C. Smithson finally replied to Jake’s calls and e-mails. He claimed to have been beaten up by three different jealous boyfriends at the same time. He wished he had been there for Jake.

Moon Pie was buried next to his momma in a tiny cemetery outside Noxapater, Mississippi. Levi had him dressed in his autographed Peyton Manning jersey. Levi was the only person at the funeral.

One day after returning from Tupelo, Tam was arrested when his car was broadsided by an elderly couple going to swing-dancing
lessons. Tam was pinned and couldn’t escape. An observant Biloxi police officer got the glory. The Mississippi Drug Task Force happily moved on to their next target.

Alexa became a bikini model for a start-up swimwear company based in Pensacola, Florida. She still hasn’t missed a Rascal Flatts concert anywhere within three states.

Bailey continued her college education at the W, making the dean’s list the last two semesters. The dress shop has been an Internet success. Her Mississippi-made dresses have become fashionable with college girls around the country. Projected sales for next year are just over $800,000. Watch any SEC football game, and you’ll probably see a host of smiling sorority girls wearing her designs.

Lucille, Walter, Sebastian, and Bernard are at the shop every day. Lucille deals with all the orders. Walter manages the money. Sebastian stays busy managing operations, and Bernard manages the six ladies who sew for them. He takes them all to lunch every day at the Ritz and tries to expense it. He also started a scholarship fund in his dad’s name at his high school.

Samantha’s legal career spiraled up when Kroger decided to put her on retainer. She recently moved into nicer offices. Her totally refurbished antebellum home is now on the Columbus Spring Pilgrimage, and Tom the cat sometimes tolerates the sightseers.

The First Baptist Church and First Methodist Church in West Point received significant donations earmarked to help the poor. Nobody ever determined where the money came from.

The two grave robbers finally explained their true reason for being in the woods that night. Although they were in serious trouble, the judge took into consideration their heroics in saving Jake’s life. They received lifetime prohibition from all Corps of Engineers properties, and Warden Gran demanded that each man spend three weeks working with the community liaisons from two Indian nations. They continued to volunteer beyond
their mandated service, working with the tribes to identify potential archaeological sites for preservation.

The Tennessee Mexicans, relieved to have their money returned, sent Levi a $25,000 cashier’s check as a finder’s fee. Julio joined Old Waverly Golf Club and spends many weekends relaxing by the pool and in the clubhouse.

Levi used the cashier’s check for a down payment on an A-frame cabin on the Tombigbee River. He proposed to Bailey, and they are planning a small wedding as soon as she graduates. In the meantime, Levi works as a groundskeeper at the historic Waverley Mansion, an antebellum showplace, and he is taking care of Mississippi’s oldest magnolia tree. He’s also carrying a full load at Mississippi State.

Moon Pie’s taxidermist buddy was arrested during a raid. He was charged with possession of illegally taken animals. He was subsequently charged with sixty-one violations of the Lacey Act after agreeing to mount a spotted owl for an undercover officer.

The mounted African lion from the Gold Mine was returned to its owner just in time for his wife to demand it in the divorce.

Sebastian had his prostate removed and takes his medicine religiously. He’s looking forward to his son’s arrival home after serving his country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two months after Walter asked Levi to call off the Mexicans, he received news that his former son-in-law had been run over and killed by his current wife in their driveway. She was wearing giant sunglasses to hide a black eye as she explained to the police that her car had a mysterious acceleration problem.

T
HERE ARE SO
many people to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude.

Kyle Jennings and his wife, Jill Conner Browne, have personally made my books possible. A simple thank-you doesn’t seem enough for all they have done.

I offer special thanks to all the folks at Amazon Publishing, particularly Terry Goodman for believing in and supporting my stories, and the various Author Teams, editors, and supporting staff—consisting of Sarah Tomashek, Katie Finch Rinella, Jessica Poore, Jacque Ben-Zekry, Rory Connell, Danielle Marshall, Reema Al-Zaben, Kaila Lightner, Justin Golenbock, Kathryn Rogers, Amanda Price, and Alan Turkus—who have worked tirelessly on and for my books. I really appreciate their efforts. And to Sarah Burningham at Little Bird Publicity, who did a wonderful job garnering press and exposure for
The Dummy Line
.

My wife, Melissa, is nothing short of a saint for putting up with me. I know it’s not easy. She also struggles to keep me from dangling my participles. I love her more than I can say with words.

My beautiful daughter seems to enjoy the “Dad writes books” experience. She has traveled with me to select book signings and
somehow manages to make the torturous experience of being an unknown author trying to sell a book fun. Also, I’ll never forget her enthusiastic telephone call to a radio show that I was on, promoting my first book. It was the only call we received, and it made my day. Thanks, Jessi, for the great memories. I love you!

I thank and deeply appreciate my mother, Peggy Cole, for all her love and support. She deserves a medal. (Mom, I apologize for my characters’ profanity.)