Page 37 of Fortune’s Control (Fortune’s Creek #1)

“Thank you for the update, Mr. McCormick. Have a lovely evening.”

I ended the call and planted both palms on my forehead.

“Is that a positive sign, or should I worry?” Shane asked. He started the dishwasher before working on the countertops. “The kitchen is almost clean.”

“Thank you for doing it. It’s my turn next.”

“A call from the lawyer is worth it.”

Mr. McCormick returned my message yesterday and provided a follow-up today. “Can you imagine calling so late at night? What are his work hours like?” I shuddered.

“It speaks to his dedication to his clients.”

“I hope that bodes well for Wilson Skane. He requested police records regarding the two cases we found, as well as my interviews with the police. I offered to be a defense witness.”

“I’m proud of you.”

Shane’s compliment settled over me. “I’m ready to call my mother now. I considered a longer delay, maybe after the big presentation, or once…I don’t know.”

We hosted dinner again tonight and invited my grandmother over. Jack and Sam Taggert joined in this time, and our simple meal turned into an impromptu dinner party.

“Emma plans another visit soon.”

Shane didn’t react to that statement, as mentioning my mother was explanation enough. “You know she’s welcome to visit whenever you want. This house has gone from empty to full.”

“I can’t tell if you’re disappointed. ”

“Disappointed? No.” Shane flashed a big grin to prove it. “It’s like it used to be around here. Why don’t you head to the sitting room, and I’ll bring you tea.”

“You spoil me.”

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

*****

Calling my mother shouldn’t feel like prepping for a marathon. I stared at the living room’s tongue and groove ceiling and willed my heart to slow.

She probably sent Sandy Cooper’s killer to Fortune’s Creek without my consent. I admitted she didn’t know that part, but a simmering anger still lingered in me, one that would eventually die out if I managed not to feed it.

My stomach hurt. “Mom? How are you?”

“Delilah, it’s been a while.”

“Two weeks.” She knew my number and could call or text me as well.

“I have a request. It won’t require any effort on your part.

” I hoped the last comment prevented any protests.

This call’s goal didn’t require me to rehash every childhood frustration, or at least not the first part of it. The rest was up to her.

“Well, honey, what do you want?”

I didn’t miss her sudden pep or the use of honey. My grandmother used the same term of endearment. Is that where it came from?

“Did a police officer come by?”

“He did. A very polite gentleman, too. He spoke with the cutest Southern drawl and even flirted a little.”

That sounded like Detective Davis, minus the flirting part. It appeared even a professional like him fell under my mother’s spell. “Do you remember his name?”

“I remember what he looked like. Younger than one expects, but maybe that’s me.”

“Did he ask where I was?”

Her tone sharpened. “Well, of course he did. He was concerned, so I told him you were safe on vacation. He promised to look after you and assured me they had put that criminal away. This was weeks ago. Did I forget to tell you?”

“It’s not that. Shane and I planned a brief trip, so we won’t be in town for a few days. I wanted to let the detectives know.” For a complete lie on short notice, it was a decent one.

“Oh, how lovely. Why don’t you come back to Atlanta so I can meet this Shane? Is he really your husband, Delilah? It’s enough to get yourself involved in a murder.” She lowered her voice, hissing that last word. “Perhaps you should ask yourself why you didn’t want him to meet your mother first.”

Shane set a cup of tea on a nearby table and squeezed my shoulder in support. I made an attacking motion with my hands, which earned me a pat on the knee, so I settled against him and kept going.

“He’s a busy man, but I’ll speak to him about it. We will soon.” I shook my head to let him know we would not be. “One more thing before we go. I know you lived in Fortune’s Creek several years ago.”

“What did you do?”

I wasn’t in the mood to appease her or play nice, not now.

Maybe never again. “I met her. Evelyn Carter. We invited her to dinner twice, and she told me about your childhood. She showed me pictures of my grandfather, Fred Carter. She also told me about Hank Mayberry. Evelyn looked for you several times over the years. It would be healthy for us if you spoke to her.”

My stomach pain faded as the words stopped, and we waited for her answer.

None came.

“Mom?”

“I asked you not to do that, and you couldn’t do this one little favor?”

“I had a right to know.”

“Well, then, congratulations,” she said.

The call ended.

“She hung up on me.” I lifted my hand. “Not a surprise.”

Calm settled over me. Her ending the call signaled a finality to our past, and a chance to start over, whatever form that took, and on whatever timeline I chose.

“Do you want to call her back or send a text?”

“I may as well send a certified letter. For now, she knows where I am, and she knows how to contact me. Do you remember what Evelyn said?”

Shane circled my shoulders, pulling me close, so I settled against his chest. “When she asked if your mother ever called after learning about me?” I felt the deep rumble of his voice as he spoke.

He chuckled, and the sound felt like a tickle.

I snuggled deeper. “She’s right. I’d be on his front doorstep the next morning if my daughter married a strange man. ”

“Do you think I need rescuing?”

“Of course. Lucky for us both, I already did it.”

My chamomile tea came with the perfect amount of honey, lending it a subtle sweetness with no cloying taste.

I sipped it as the long day’s drowsiness settled in.

“I didn’t think she would hang up. It’s liberating, in a way.

I tried, and she rejected it. That’s her choice, and I can push against it or move on. I’m moving on.”

“Do you plan to go no-contact?” Shane asked. I heard the gentle probe behind his question. He wouldn’t encourage one choice over another, but he would understand my reasoning if I did so.

“Right now, I’m liberated, and that’s enough. Whatever happens next, it will be my choice. You think she’s emotionally abusive, don’t you?” Emma did, and she broadly shared Shane’s opinion.

“I think you deserved a better parent. I also believe it’s your choice, and my role is to support you. ”

“Wow, someone should have been a lawyer. Skillfully delivered.” I’d decide tomorrow or the day after that.

The distance between no-contact and daily check-ins left me plenty of room.

“Evelyn called me pretty, and she praised all my work on the town proposal. Then she listened to me practice my part of the presentation. She called it genius. No one told me that before. She said taking care of Pirate proved I had a kind heart. You know what else? She suggested I enter my cookies in the county fair or even sell them at the ice cream parlor. Could you imagine that?”

“Well, yes, I could. People who love you tell you those things because they’re true, Lilah. Listen to her.” Was Shane one of those people? I waited for him to say the words, but he took a sip of tea instead. “Have you given more thought to your CPA license?”

I blinked with momentary confusion. “Lots of thoughts.”

“How about a decision?”

“I want my license. I need to prepare, and there’s required coursework, but I will do it.” Decisive, like him. “Plus, now that I have family here, it’s a deeper connection to the area.”

Shane grazed my chin, so I faced him. His features softened as he spoke. “You have several connections here, not just your grandmother.” He searched my face, gauging my response. “You’ve made your mark on this town in a short time.”

My heart sank. That wasn’t the bold declaration I hoped for. “If our big proposal is approved, I’ll demand a job from Sam. He can’t manage it all on his own, plus I suggested Sophie, but she’s lukewarm about the idea.”

“Demand? I should like to witness that. A hint about Sam: he enjoys the PR aspects of his job. If you volunteer to take over the paperwork, he’ll give you a signing bonus and a giant desk to go with it.”

Lainey suggested I wait for Shane to say it first, and it sounded like a practical idea, but waiting for it did not align with tonight’s assertive statements. I walked away from my mother, volunteered as a defense witness, and redirected my career. Those were not things a mess did.

“You’ll get a chance soon, because I intend to win this contract for Fortune’s Creek.”

I would confess how I feel another time. Tomorrow, or the day after that, or I’ll take Lainey’s advice.