Page 43 of As It Was (Strawberry Springs #1)

CAIN

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Kerry Winsor

So, you know how Cain’s been all nice lately? Apparently, he’s in a lawsuit for custody of Eric and needs our help. THAT’S why he’s being nice. Mollie finally spilled the beans.

Comments:

Nicole Rudder : Knew it.

Hu Gh : Should’ve seen this coming.

SherriffMike Finch : Oh, damn. Knew about the lawsuit. Didn’t know he was playing everyone with being nice, though.

Kerry Winsor : You KNEW? Why didn’t you tell us?

Tammy Jane : Some things don’t need to end up on Facebook, Kerry.

Kerry Winsor : This DEFINITELY needed to be here! And everyone agrees with me!

Nicole Rudder : Seriously. At least I didn’t fall for his act.

Headlights came down the driveway and I had to stop myself from bolting out the door. Had Mollie had fun? Was she happy? I wanted to know everything about her night out.

I was as patient as I could be, though I opened the front door the second Grace’s car stopped.

The passenger door opened next. “Cain!” Mollie yelled before stumbling into my arms.

“Whoa there, princess.” I grabbed hold of her to keep her steady. “Are you drunk?”

“Just a little.” Her arms went around me and she squeezed. “You smell so good. Has anyone ever told you that?”

There was a laugh, and I saw Grace watching us from where she stood next to the car.

Normally, I’d be embarrassed, but this time, I didn’t really care.

“She had a few of Tammy’s drinks. Jade’s in the back seat cursing me out for not letting her go home with anyone else.”

“Thanks for getting them home safely.”

She brightened at the words. “You do know manners.”

“I have to be on my best behavior.” I pointed to the woman in my arms, who was putting more and more of her weight on me.

“I’m happy for you both. And I bet Jade will say the same thing when she’s sober.” Grace waved and got back into the car before driving off. I opened the door and led Mollie inside.

“That was so fun,” she said. “But it would have been even more fun if you were there.”

“Defeats the purpose of a girls’ night.”

“Who cares about rules?” she asked. “Why can’t the man I love join in on everything I do?”

I paused. Did she just say ...

But then I shook it off. What she said while her inhibitions were lowered could easily be something she wasn’t ready to fully admit. I wouldn’t address it until she was ready.

Unless I said it first.

“We’ll talk to the girls about it. But right now, I’m getting you in bed.”

“You better join me,” she pouted.

“Not when you’re drunk,” I replied.

“No, for sleep . Please? I love it when you’re there.”

“And I love being next to you,” I replied. “But you always grumble when I’m getting up and moving.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You definitely do.”

Carefully, we climbed up the stairs and into her room. She threw off her dress and then fell into bed while I turned to give her some sense of privacy.

“Get some sleep, princess,” I said softly.

“Stay.”

“You know I’ll be here in the morning.”

“But I want you here now .”

I sighed, but I knew I wanted to be with her just as much as she wanted to be with me. I was determined to give her space, especially after I’d annoyed her this morning, but it seemed like she was already past it. “Fine. I’ll go get changed and be back.”

Mollie was drifting in and out by the time I opened the door, but the second I climbed into bed and wrapped my arms around her, her breathing evened out, and she was sound asleep.

And I followed her within minutes.

Both Jackie and Henry sent me screenshots of the Facebook group at six the next morning, but only Jackie sent me some of the comments. I knew even without seeing them that people were pissed.

And now, so was I.

Kerry had made it clear who she’d found out from, and I didn’t understand how this could have happened. Mollie had been on my side since the day she got here. Why would she tell Kerry, the woman who loved to talk about me behind my back, the worst thing that was happening to me?

Now everything was ruined.

I only had the few letters I did. And now, because of what Kerry was saying, they all thought I only cared about them when I needed something from them. And I could admit that it looked that way, but I also knew that it had been nice feeling like a part of this town for once.

That hadn’t lasted for long.

As Mollie came downstairs, my entire body tightened.

“I couldn’t even sleep in because of this headache,” she muttered. “I’m never drinking again.”

“Probably a good idea,” I said. My voice was short, and she froze when she heard it.

“What’s wrong?”

I wanted to snap at her. I wanted to tell her just how wrong she was for telling Kerry , of all people, what was going on.

“Take some ibuprofen.” I put the pill bottle on the counter before walking off, jaw still clenched. I needed to get work done and be away from her before I said something I would regret while she was still hungover.

I stayed outside for as long as I could, but she eventually found me while I washed eggs.

“Please tell me you’re not mad because I went out last night. I thought you said you wouldn’t try to keep me from friends.”

I stopped, and all of the tension I was trying to avoid came rushing back. “You really think that’s what I’m mad about? ”

“It’s the only thing I could have possibly done.”

“It’s not, actually.” I pulled out my phone and handed it to her.

Mollie’s eyes went wide.

“Shit.”

“Yeah, that’s one word for it.”

She screwed her eyes shut. “A lot of last night is blurry. I remember her talking to me and asking questions ...” She trailed off. “Fuck, I told her everything.”

“And now everyone knows.”

“Maybe some of them wanna help?”

I scrolled to the pictures of the comments where people did not want anything to do with me.

“Cain, I’m sorry.”

“Of all the people,” I said. “You had to tell her ?”

“She’s only been nice to me!”

“Yeah, that’s how she is. Nice to your face and then does this when your back is turned.”

“Has she done this before?”

“Yes. She has. When I sold Donny’s house, I caught her telling the cashier that he would be rolling over in his grave if he knew I even had it, and recently she and Nicole had a lovely time in the Facebook group talking about how you were too good for me.”

Her jaw dropped. “Oh. She was who you were gonna warn me about, wasn’t she?”

“She was.” I crossed my arms. “I wasn’t making it up when I said people in this town don’t like me.”

“What about Tammy and Henry?”

“They’re exceptions. Everyone has always seen me as the punk kid who came in and beat up his foster dad.”

“But he was a terrible person! Didn’t they have any idea?— ”

“No, and they never will. Jackie asked me to keep secrets, and I do . Unlike some people.”

There it was. Her eyes fell to her feet. I almost wanted to take it back, but I still couldn’t get over the fact that she’d done this.

“I’m sorry,” she said again. “I was drunk, and she was asking questions. I thought it might help you be a part of everything. Now I see that I was wrong.”

Being drunk wasn’t an adequate excuse.

“You were.”

“How do I fix it?”

“Right now? I have no idea. I’m just surprised that everyone isn’t here with pitchforks and after my head.” I ran a hand over my face. “I’ll have to tell my lawyer that I have all I can get. And if I lose this case ... then I lose the case.”

“You can’t?—”

“It’s always been a possibility,” I said. “Now it’s just more of one.”

“Cain—”

“Give me some space. I’m way too angry to talk to you right now, and I don’t wanna say something I’ll regret.”

Her eyes were wide, but she nodded. “Yeah, okay. I’m ... really sorry.”

She went into the house, grabbed her purse, and hastily left. Normally, I would tell her not to leave, but I didn’t know if I could say a damn word to her.

I didn’t let the weight of losing Eric hit me until she was gone.