. . .

  Zoey

  “Dance party!” Riley runs through the living room with her hands waving in the air. Close behind is Regan imitating her sister’s movements. “Dance Emma,” she yells out wiggling her butt, making us all laugh. Regan throws her hands above her head shaking her hips from side to side as they begin belting out the words to the music.

  “They are wired tonight.” Lucy laughs, leaning back on the couch. “What did you feed them?” She asks her eyes widening.

  “Grilled cheese and tomato soup.” I let them choose tonight and was surprised they didn’t pick cereal. It saved me an argument, thank God.

  I grab my glass of wine and lean back next to Lucy as we watch Emma and the girls have a dance party in the middle of my living room.

  I loved these moments, seeing the girls so happy and carefree.

  “Momma!” Regan runs over grabbing my hand and tugging me. “Dance,” she adds before grabbing for Lucy too.

  “She won’t let it go until we join them.” Lucy knows my daughter so well. They are both stubborn and demanding when they want something.

  “Okay,” I say as I stand, “let’s do this.”

  I’m sure to anyone on the outside of this crazy house, we look insane. Five of us jumping around, singing to the music, laughing until we cry.

  I pause when I hear my phone ringing and look back to see it vibrating along the countertop. Emma smiles at me I am sure thinking the same thing.

  Leaving the girls with Emma and Lucy I walk toward my kitchen and pick it up, moving down the hall slightly. When I look at the screen it’s not a number I recognize.

  “Hello?”

  “Zoey?” My heart sinks. He shouldn’t be calling me.

  “What do you want, Carson?”

  “I need some help.”

  I literally laugh.

  “That’s hilarious.” I look back over my shoulder to find both the girls are still occupied, laughing and jumping around like their feet are on fire.

  “I’ve been arrested.” Okay so Carson was an ass. He was selfish and egotistical, but he wasn’t a criminal. “There was a guy who asked me to store some stuff for him. I didn’t know it was all stolen.”

  “How is this my problem?”

  “It’s not,” he confesses, and for a split second I get a glimpse of the man I thought I loved. A man who may not have been my dream, but for a short time treated me good enough to marry. “I don’t have anyone else to call."

  “And you don’t have me,” I say, ignoring the small pang of guilt that hits me. He doesn’t deserve my guilt. He doesn’t deserve anything from me.

  “All I asked from you is for you to be a good man. But you couldn’t even be that. Now you have the nerve to call me when you have nowhere else to turn. What about when I was pregnant, waiting at home, sick and could barely get out of bed, but you were too busy searching out your next lay.”

  “I’m sorry,” he says in a rush and I feel a hand come to rest on my shoulder.

  “The only reason you’re sorry now, is because you need something. But guess what Carson, I don’t need a damn thing from you. Rot there for all I care, but don’t call me again.”

  Ending the call, I turn to find Lucy standing behind me with a concerned look on her face. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good.” I am, I feel freed. I gave him too much already and I refuse to give him another thought. I got from him two of the very best gifts, other than my girls, he gave me nothing but grief. “What do you say we blast some country music and teach these girls some real moves?”

  She nods, and I know she’s afraid I’m prolonging my breakdown. I tend to do that. But I’m not; honestly, I feel nothing. All I want is to love my girls and make sure I give them both all the happiness I can provide. Starting with the best damn dance party they’ve ever had.

  “The hem is coming out.” Lora Randall holds up the dress. “I never should have bought this thing, it’s been a mess from the second I got it home. The rhinestones are falling off. The sleeve stitching came loose and now this.”

  She points toward the bottom hem and my gaze follows her movements.

  “You do know I could have made you a dress that would have held up?”

  Immediately she hangs her head. “I know this.” She looks ashamed. “But I was visiting my cousin and had a buy now-think later moment. Like I said…regret. I am drowning in it. Can you help?”

  “When do you need it by?”

  “Saturday.” It’s doable. “I have to leave by nine to make it to Mobile in time for the pageant check in.”

  “I can have it ready for you to pick up by six, Friday. Will that work?”

  “You are a life saver, Zoey.” She passes me the dress. “And I will never buy a dress again for a pageant unless it’s a custom-made Zoey creation.”

  She practically skips out the front door just as it comes open and my father steps in carrying two cups of coffee. I can sense by the look on his face he’s less than pleased. When he’s irritated or angry, he gets this squinty eye thing going on. His brows are scrunched, his lips pursed.

  “Hey,” I stay behind the counter wondering what I could have done to piss him off as I start to run through the last couple days.

  “Busy day?”

  “Working on a custom-made flower girl dress and a few other orders that I’m trying to finish up.” He approaches the counter and offers me one of the cups. “Picked you up one of those fufu drinks you like.”

  “Fufu?”

  “Yeah.” He waves his hand. “The caramel, whipped with sprinkles shit.”

  I smile, wondering how he actually ordered it if he couldn’t say it now. Then realize he most likely had my mother write it down or she texted it to him. Maybe ordered ahead, but he definitely got help on this one.

  “Thank you,” I offer with a smile.

  “I saw Emma at Jitterbug.” He eyes me, and I am still not getting it. “Seems you got a call last night from a certain someone.”

  I will kill her!

  “I guess she thought I would already know.” He seems disappointed.

  “He called, I pretty much told him to go to hell, end of story. Didn’t seem like a big enough reason to activate the phone tree.” I shrug. “Seems he’s got himself in some trouble and doesn’t have anyone to bail him out. Not sure why he thought I’d be that person.”

  “Is this something I need to handle?”

  “I already called Reece this morning, I’m pretty sure Carson won’t be calling me anymore.”

  “Did I tell you I had a talk with Jayson?”

  “What?” Now I’m interested.

  “We ran into each other outside of Willy’s one night.”

  I remain silent, unsure of exactly where this may be going. My father doesn’t dislike him, but after all the sneaking around when we were kids, the jury is still out on his true feelings.

  “You ran into each other? Or you sought him out?” I ask, staring at him raising a brow in question.

  “Ran into him and saw it as my opportunity to clear some things up.” I wait, knowing there is more. “He’s not the man I thought he was.”

  “Meaning?”

  He steps back offering me a smile and dipping his chin. “Enjoy that coffee sweetheart.” My father winks before turning around and walking toward the front door.

  “Dad?” I holler after him and all he does is wave before walking out with the door closing behind him, leaving me more confused than when he first showed up.

  thirty-one

  . . .

  Jayson

  I climb out of my SUV, closing the door and locking it. Walking through the gravel parking lot I make my way toward the entrance of River’s End pausing near the entrance. The door comes open and Wade Jenkins exits, offering me a nod as he passes.

  “Hey,” I holler out and he pauses, turning around taking a few steps backwards. “You got some time to work me in for some landscaping at my new place?”

  “What you thinking?”

  “Complete facelift, what’s there is shit.” I chuckle when he offers a nod. Seems our town landscaper agrees.

  “You sure you don’t want to wait for a certain pretty lady to put her spin on the place?”

  Everyone in town seems to be rooting for Zoey and me.

  “Maybe you could lay the foundation, give it some appeal, and then she can add her own touch later down the road.”

  “I can stop by next Saturday maybe, take a look around.”

  “That works,” I tell him and he offers a wave before turning around and continuing toward his truck.

  I hold the door for a couple ladies exiting, getting a sweet smile from one.

  Entering the bar, I look around the open space. Music plays from the speakers, groups are tucked into booths and at tables, enjoying drinks and food, laughing along, lost in conversation. I spot Emma and Mattie at the bar and I begin to move in their direction. As I get closer, I see Dean and a few others.

  I’d messaged Zoey a few hours ago telling her I had to run over and pick up some supplies that we were shorted. I expected it to take longer but they had everything ready when I arrived.

  As I reach the bar I motion to the bartender and point to the Coors bottle on the counter indicating I want one. As I turn around, I see Mattie has noticed me.

  “Where you been?” he asks.

  “Had to make a run for supplies.” I look around the bar getting a few nods from friends, “Zoey make it yet?”

  Mattie looks at Emma, Emma looks at me, then quickly looks away.

  “Is there something I’m missing?”

  My brother shrugs. “Female drama and I’m staying out of it.” Emma is still ignoring me and when I realize I’m getting nothing from these two I dig my phone out of my back pocket and start to dial her number when the door opens and I look up. She steps inside, her golden colored hair hanging loosely around her shoulders. She has on a pair of jeans, fitting her like a glove and a red off the shoulder shirt.

  I smile, pushing off the bar and moving across the room toward her. She notices me and pauses right as I move in and cup her face with my hands. My lips meet hers and she freezes there for a second before melting into me like she always does.

  I hear a few catcalls, but I ignore them.

  Realizing it’s the first time we've shown affection this freely in public, but not caring.

  “Well, hello to you too.” She sighs as I pull back.

  “You look damn good, woman.” The words tumble from my mouth making her laugh. “We could skip this whole thing and you and I could get out of here.”

  “But I got all dressed up.” She pushes out her bottom lip in a pout. “And I’m hungry.” So many things run through my mind at that moment but I choose to keep them private and place my arm over her shoulders.

  Leading her toward the bar, I notice the way Emma glances over at Zoey, but neither of them say a word.

  I glance at my brother, and he smirks and again I feel completely lost. Obviously, I’m missing something.

  “Do you want a drink?”

  “Sure,” Zoey replies as she places her palm against my stomach, just above the waistband of my jeans.

  “Zoey.” Emma moves in closer and the two girls stare at one another. “Can we talk?”

  “Why?”

  “Because it was an accident and you got to know I didn’t mean to tell your father.” Emma looks torn as she glances up at me. “Please,” she adds and its then I look at my girl.

  “I need to talk to Jay,” Zoey tells her friend. “Before you get a few drinks in you and tell him too, prior to me having the chance to do it myself.”

  “Tell me what?” Now my mind is racing.

  Emma looks like she wants to say so much more but instead she backs away and goes back to Mattie. I feel for her, because she looks genuinely bothered by whatever it is that is going on between the two of them.

  I slouched down enough so I can see her face fully and notice her worrying her lip. “What’s going on?”

  “Carson called the other night.” The sound of his name has the beer souring in my stomach. “From jail.”

  “Why would he call you?”

  “Because he has no one else.” I stare at her. “He doesn’t have me either,” she finishes.

  Who win the hell does this guy think he is? After everything he put her through, the years of shit and then tossing away Riley and Regan like they were a bag of trash. Then he has the nerve to reach out.

  “The conversation was very short,” she adds, and I nod. I’m pissed, but not at her. “He got himself into some trouble after storing some stuff for someone.” She continues. “I didn’t ask details because frankly I didn’t care. I told him he could rot there and not to call me again.”

  I know she’d never go back to him, that thought doesn’t even cross my mind.

  “You shouldn’t be mad at her,” I tell Zoey. There are a hundred different things I want to say, but instead I hold back those thoughts and take the easy road. “That woman is so protective of you and of the girls. When she says it slipped out to your dad, I have to believe her because she is always on your side.”

  “And?” Zoey says watching me with caution.

  “And what?”

  “I know your mind is rolling over and over and you have so much more you want to say.”

  She shrugs her shoulders. “So say it.”

  “I don’t like him calling you.” It flies out of my mouth without pause. “I don’t want him near you or our girls. I’m half tempted to jump in my car right now and drive to the jail or if he’s out make a visit to his place just so I can express how much I dislike it.”

  Zoey stares at me and slowly I see a smile tug at her lips.

  “What?”

  “You called them our girls.” She smirks and I rethink my words and realize she’s right.

  “They are.” The attachment I feel to Riley and Regan is uncontrollable. “He gave up his rights, he walked away and his ass needs to stay away.”

  Slowly she glides her hand over my chest, until she reaches my neck and pulls me down to meet her. Pressing her lips to mine, I grip her hip and hold her close. “You can breathe, papa bear.” She smiles against my lips. “They’re safe.”

  With my forehead resting to hers, I feel like it’s only her and I. Wrapping her tight in my hold, I sway her from side to side and notice Emma watching us. I offer her a wink, and she smiles, and I know without a doubt the two of them will get over this.

  thirty-two

  . . .

  Zoey

  “I want to show you both something.” Jay holds out his hands to the girls and they each place theirs in his. There is no sense of pause, and I love how they trust him so freely. When he told me he loved them I wasn’t surprised because I could sense it in his actions. The way he included them in everything. The way he looked at them when he thought no one was watching. And he still does, only now he is protective and caring. He’s all the things a father should be that their own dad never was.

  “What is it?” Regan asks as together they begin to climb the steps leading to the upstairs of Jay’s house.

  We’ve been to his place a few times, bringing the girls over so they could play on their play gym. But we’ve always ended back at my house so we can put the girls to bed at a decent time. It’s incredible how he always seems to put them first.

  “Is it a present?” Riley asks excitedly as I follow them up. When we all reach the landing, Jay glances over at me, offering a smile.

  “It’s a surprise,” he tells them as they both look up at him eagerly. “I wanted it to be perfect before I showed it to you.”

  My heart is racing, as he releases their hands and steps forward turning the knob to one of the rooms. It opens wide, and immediately my heart feels like is swells, as tears fill my eyes.

  Both Regan and Riley start to oh and ah, moving into the bedroom and pausing in the middle. Jay follows close behind and I fill the doorway, watching the girls take it all in. “It’s so pretty,” Regan whisper yells to Riley. Linking hands, they start to turn in a full circle, ensuring they can see every little thing.

  The room is two to three times the size of their bedroom at home. There are two matching beds, both white, and so beautiful. The comforters are fluffy and soft looking, one pink and the other purple. Each bed has cute little hearts, circles, and even a crown shaped pillow on them. Sheer curtains on the two windows, long and just barely touching the floor, each side tied back with sparkly ties.

  “Who lives here,” Regan asks in awe, and I place my hand to my chest.

  Jay moves closer to them, kneeling down on the floor before the two of them. “I’m the only person who lives in this house for now. But I wanted the two of you to have a place to play and call your own whenever you visit.” They both stare at him. “This room is yours, and everything in it. Do you like it?”

  “I love it.” Regan leaps forward and wraps her arms around Jay’s neck. I cover my mouth with my hand, because seeing me little girl so happy, it rocks something deep within me.

  Riley slides in, and Jay wraps an arm around her too, pulling her into their little circle. “Thank you,” Riley smiles up at him and then glances over to me. “Mommy, we love it,” she tells me, and all I can manage to do is smile at her, because inside I feel so incredibly raw with emotion.

  When he releases them, they start moving around the bedroom exploring everything. They’re picking up the books on the shelves, the toys positioned around the room, showing each other everything new they find.

  Jay moves over to where I’m standing and leans his shoulder against the wall at my side.

  “This is beautiful,” I tell him, glancing over to find him watching me. “Did you pick all the colors?”

  “Dean helped,” he admits, and I smile imagining the two of them creating this space. “And Grams,” he adds. “She said that no little girls’ room is complete without all the cute decorations, and it has to be colorful.”

  “It’s like their own little play land.” I point toward the partially opened door at the end of the bedroom. “Their own bathroom?”