Page 88 of A River of Crows

Ridge raised his head till his red eyes met Sloan’s. “Dad would have gotten custody, and it would never stop. The only way we would ever be safe is if he were in jail.”

Sloan felt a prickling along the back of her neck. “So, it was a setup? Libby and Vince framed Dad for your murder?”

Ridge shook his head. “Mom framed dad. It was all her idea.”

Chapter 26

Mallowater, TX, 1988

Jay suspected something. Caroline was sure of it. He was overly kind and nurturing, insisting on staying home until Caroline was completely better. That was the last thing she wanted.

So, after two days of sleeping, Caroline emerged from her room Friday morning. “You can go back to work today,” she announced, sitting in front of a piece of toast she knew she wouldn’t be able to eat. She’d left her appetite, like so much more of her, on Brookhaven Drive.

Jay set the paper down. “I don’t mind staying. I’m supposed to be coming home today, anyway. Sloan won’t be happy if I miss our Friday night shows.”

“You’ve wasted two vacation days.” Go home to your wife. “Sloan will live. You’ve missed your busiest days of sales. Make up for it this weekend. I have a lot of housework to catch up on.” Because by the looks of this place, you certainly haven’t lifted a finger.

“Well, alright.” Jay took the last sip of his coffee and stood. “But not without one dance.”

He turned up the radio. The chorus of “Eighteen Wheels and A Dozen Roses” filled the kitchen.

Jay extended his hand. Caroline loved this song. It had seemed so fitting for her and Jay. A sweet ballad about a couple separated by work being reunited. Now the sappy lyrics made her nauseous. Whatever happened to those good ole cheating songs?

She waved his hand away. “I’m not up to dancing.”

Jay pressed his hands down on the back of the chair. “What’s going on, Caroline?”

She shrugged. “Do you often feel like dancing after you’ve been sick in bed for two days?”

Jay sat. “If you aren’t up to dancing, how are you up to housework?”

Caroline’s fingers retracted, became claw-like. “Well, some things have to be done, don’t they? Housework, caring for children, selling cleaning products door to door to provide for your family. Then other things, well, they are extra, and frankly, I’m not up to extra.”

Jay shifted in his seat. Watching him squirm made Caroline feel oddly powerful. She couldn’t explain the shift inside, but she wasn’t even sad anymore. She’d felt like she was dying the past two days, but she woke up today different. Perhaps she’d cried all her tears out. But she felt stronger now, like she’d risen from her own ashes.

“Are you sure everything’s okay? This is me, Caroline. You can talk to me.”

“I’m just sad about Libby,” she said, avoiding Jay’s eyes.

She heard him sigh, and she hated him even more. If you think I’m dramatic now, just you wait.

“Alright. I’ll catch up and be home Thursday night—make it a long weekend.” He leaned in for a kiss, and she turned her head, offering her cheek.

“I’m still a little warm. Don’t want to get you sick.”

Jay’s face and neck flushed, but he said nothing, just planted a tiny kiss on her cheek. His stubble rubbed up against her face. That had once driven Caroline wild, but now she felt nothing.

He broke the news to Sloan, waved the kids off to school, and gave Caroline a last hug. “Don’t overdo it,” he said, kissing the side of her head. “Call Libby if you need help cleaning.”

Once he was gone, Caroline did exactly that. And as soon as she hung up with Libby, she raised the heavy phone in her hand and slammed it against her eye.

Time to clean house indeed.

“Oh, honey!” Libby wrapped her arms around Caroline. “I’ve been so worried. Every time I called, Jay claimed you were asleep.” She moved Caroline’s hair away from her face. “Did this just happen?”

Caroline lowered her head. “I wouldn’t give him a kiss when he left.”

“That sonofabitch!” Libby’s heels clicked as she entered the kitchen and retrieved a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer. “He didn’t hear us talking that night he came in, did he?”