Page 35 of Fortune’s Control (Fortune’s Creek #1)
“McCormick and Associates. Can I take a message?”
“A message? I need to speak with Mr. McCormick.”
“This is his answering service. He’s in court today.”
I covered the phone. “It’s an answering service.” Shane pressed two fingers to his temples, reflecting my frustration. “All day?”
“I don’t know. This is the answering service.”
This was absurd. “Can you contact him for me?”
“Are you a current client in an emergency situation?”
“No, I’m calling about one of his clients.”
“If you’d like to leave a message, I assure you it will be passed along.”
I passed along my contact information and ended the call. “That wasn’t part of my plan.”
“Keep trying. He’ll recognize your name and call. Until then, shall we go?”
My stomach hurt. “I’m nervous. Also, I was supposed to meet with Aiden today.”
“Don’t be nervous.” Shane tilted his head and shook it. “I retract that statement. Nerves are expected. I’m going with you, and I’ll stay as long as you want. If she’s awful, we can declare her the new town pariah and solve that problem.”
I snorted and covered my mouth. “You’d run my family out of town just to please me.”
“For you, absolutely.” Shane took my hand and kissed the inside of my palm, leaving a tingle behind. “As for Aiden, I sent a text letting him know you had plans. He’s on call for the next two days and with a customer after that. He’ll work around your schedule.”
I narrowed my eyes, suspicious. “Did he volunteer that, or did you order him to be patient?”
“What do you think?”
Poor Aiden. “Well, thank you for remembering.”
“Also, you’ll be busy with your new client.”
“What new client?” It’s possible someone hired me, and it slipped my mind. An intense few days did that to a person.
“Me. I’m taking back those rental properties and need someone to handle the accounting and paperwork aspects of it. Do you want the job?”
I wanted to pay him back, while Shane kept insisting it wasn’t necessary, and now the opportunity presented itself.
I stopped counting the number of times he said so, but it never ceased bothering me.
Shane’s generosity came when I needed it most, but it also made me dependent on him.
Working on his business, with him relying on my knowledge, changed that up and made us closer to equals.
“I would love the job.”
“Good, then let’s get going.”
My stomach twisted all over again. I smiled, choosing to radiate confidence. “You can drive.” I gave Pirate a goodbye pet, grabbed my purse, and closed the kitchen door.
“I always aspired to be a chauffeur,” Shane said after locking up. His grin belied the grumble in his voice.
“Just in case,” I said, checking the back door one final time.
*****
Lainey saw us and clapped her hands. “They’re in the conference room. Book club should end any second now.”
I smoothed the front of my blue sundress, removing any sudden wrinkles or dust specks .
Shane watched me and shrugged. “If she judges you for not wearing a ball gown, then we’re leaving.” He leaned against the library front desk to rummage through some pamphlets.
The conference room door opened, and several women shuffled out. I waved at Diane as she passed by, and searched the rest, hoping for a familiar face.
“Hey, Evelyn,” Lainey called for me. “I have something for you.”
An older woman approached, her medium-length silver hair framing her face. She parted it on the side, in the same style as Sarah Jane. “Honey, if they don’t get naked, I won’t read it.”
Shane’s eyebrows raised at the comment as he glanced toward me with a suppressed smile.
“It’s not a book this time,” Lainey said.
She looked at me, wondering what to say next, but Evelyn beat her to it. “Shane Wilcott. You don’t remember me, do you? Hmph, that’s what happens when you leave for more than a decade.”
Shane dropped his pamphlet as his mouth opened to respond.
Evelyn kept right on going. “Son, close your mouth. There are plenty of largemouth bass in the creek; we don’t need one in the library.”
Was she my long-lost grandmother? The wave in her hair resembled mine, but she lacked the tighter curls along her temples and forehead. Her dark blue jeans and black leather belt didn’t resemble my mother, and neither did the polyester blouse.
“I’m back for good,” he said.
“And leading our team to baseball victory,” she said before putting her attention on me. “You must be the rumored wife. Shane’s mother is rolling in her grave over all of it. Does he treat you well?”
“Yes, very well,” I said. It came out as a stammer. Up close, her lack of wrinkles stood out, but her chin clinched it. I recognized that narrow chin whenever I looked in the mirror.
“This is Delilah Mayberry,” Shane said, introducing us. We waited for any sign of recognition, but there was nothing. He kept going. “She used to live in Atlanta.”
She shook her head. “Big city with too many people. I barely tolerate Gainesville. Tell me, do you plan to stay in Fortune’s Creek or head back home to the bright lights of Atlanta?”
It’s strange. I’d half-expected Shane to whip out a questionnaire or throw her into an interrogation room before allowing me to speak with her, when there was no reason to. My relationship with Evelyn Carter, if she were my grandmother, was my own. Whatever happened next was my choice.
I’d waited so long to find her, even coming to Fortune’s Creek for the opportunity. A part of me wanted to know, while another part was afraid to learn the truth. What if she were just like my mother? Worse, what if Sarah Jane told me the truth? Evelyn Carter knew I existed and didn’t care.
I grabbed Shane’s hand and squeezed with every bit of strength I had. “Did you ever know Sarah Jane Mayberry?” My throat closed up as adrenaline and fear coursed through my body.
“Sarah Jane Mayberry.” Evelyn’s demeanor softened. She took my chin, but it was closer to a caress than an inspection. “Oh, heavens. I didn’t know she changed her last name.”
Hope grabbed and held me. “I’m her daughter.”
She paled. “Honey, you’re my granddaughter.” Evelyn moved her head as shock and joy took over her expression. She rolled back, struggling to process it all. “My granddaughter. Oh, my darling girl, look at you. You look so much like her, I should have seen it.”
“Would you like to go to lunch at the Creekside Diner? We could get to know each other.”
Shane’s head jerked as he fought a silent battle between privacy and his self-appointed role as my bodyguard. “I can wait outside if you’d like. You two have a lot to discuss, I’m sure. ”
I wanted him to join, and not because I needed his support, but because I wanted him at my side, like a partner.
Like a husband.
“Oh, no, young man. You’re coming with. Don’t think I don’t have questions for you,” Evelyn said.
Lainey motioned to her phone and gestured to her ear as we left the library, and I nodded in response.
*****
Shane rested his hand on my thigh once we sat down. I squeezed it to acknowledge his silent gesture of support.
“Diet soda and a chicken Caesar salad?” Shane guessed for me. “I’ll order so you can talk,” he said at my nod of agreement.
“Wonderful choice. You may get me the same,” Evelyn said.
“I will, and a question for you.” Shane stretched his arm over the booth to stall for time. “When did you leave Fortune’s Creek?”
“Son, I’m right here.”
“You live in Gainesville,” he shot back.
“I finally moved into one of those fifty-five-plus communities a few years ago. The upkeep, with the yard and maintenance, was more than I could handle, so I purchased a condo and rented out the house.”
“It’s for sale.”
“There comes a point when you ask why you’re holding on after the reason is gone, so I put it on the market last month. Fortune’s Creek is still my home, and always will be. I still come to the baseball games and support our high school football team.”
“And the library,” I added.
“Our book club has met every week for more than a decade. Not even a hurricane could keep me from it,” she said.
A hurricane sounded frightful.
“Nor would it keep Sam Taggert from his fishing,” Shane said.
“I expect you have more questions for me.” Evelyn tapped my hand where it rested on the table.
Shane often used the same gesture, but her delicate skin lacked his rough calluses.
It was cool, and I noted a few age spots on the back of her hand.
“I’ll tell you what I know, all of it, as I don’t believe in secrets. ”
“There are a lot of questions.”
“I expect so.” She looked at Shane, noting where his hand disappeared under the table, and guessed its location. “You seem to care about her, and I hope that’s true. She’ll hurt tonight, and you better be there when she does.”
“That’s an easy promise for me to keep,” Shane said.
Satisfied, Evelyn tilted her head to the side. “She was Sarah Jane Carter when I saw her last. I named her after my mother.”