Cherishing You (Thirsty Hearts Book 3) (26 page)

“Probably. Those crowds are crazy. When are you moving back into your apartment?”

“Maybe another two weeks max. Hopefully, sooner.”

“Is the insurance company going to keep paying for your hotel?”

“They don’t have a choice. I had to go back and clear out anything else I wanted to keep once they shored up the roof. Then, they estimated all that I lost and cut me a check.”

Initially, Shannon planned to pocket the money and stay living with Jonah. Now, she would have to refurnish the apartment.

“That’s good.” Taryn grinned briefly, then cleared her throat. “You and Jonah didn’t do anything last night?”

“No. We didn’t. I don’t think that’s going to work out.”

“Oh,” Taryn’s voice held mild surprise, disappointment, and something else Shannon couldn’t place. “I thought you two were cute together.”

Taryn’s gaze drifted to Shannon’s midsection. Shannon pulled on the hem of her shirt. Did Taryn know?

“‘Fraid so. It’s probably better that it happened now before I got anymore attached.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Shannon, but you seem pretty…attached.”

“How did you know?”

The petite blonde’s brows tilted upward, and she sighed. “So, it’s true? You’re pregnant?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“Ever since you got sick here at Halloween, I suspected. You looked just like I have with my morning sickness. Over the past few weeks, you’ve worn all these loose shirts and sweaters. I didn’t know for sure. And I don’t know that I would have noticed except that I’ve been going through the same changes.”

“Well, I’m pregnant again. I’m not really showing yet, but I’ve been a little paranoid.” Shannon bit her lip. She was not going to cry again. All this emotion frustrated her, and she stifled the urge to scream.

“That doesn’t matter to Jonah? That’s surprising. Everything I’ve known about him is about his family. For better or worse, he takes all of that very seriously, and with his family, that isn’t easy.”

“He checks on me. The thing is that…” Shannon leaned against the counter as her chest constricted. “You can’t tell anyone about this. It’s too embarrassing. Not even Jeff. Especially not Jeff. Never mind. I can’t talk about this.”

“God, Shannon, what is it?” Taryn dropped her stirring spoon with a clang into the deep pot.

“I need to run to the bathroom.”

Shannon turned heel and ran to the site of her Halloween meltdown, slamming the door and fumbling for the light switch. The sudden illumination put her face to face with herself in the bathroom mirror. Horror tinged the fullness of her face with red.

The test had to come back in her favor. It had to. How could she face all of these people in her life, forced to admit that she’d had sex with someone else? All those looks of pity mixed with disgust?

Perfect Taryn did everything right in her life—marrying Jeff, moving into their amazing house, settling in, and then having a baby. Going to college and having a good job.

Shannon didn’t hate Taryn—anymore—and the jealousy had faded. But the envy—the wishing that she herself could make better choices and not let her passions run away with her or allow toxic people into her life—that remained. Earning Taryn’s judgment bothered Shannon so much because, ultimately, she respected Taryn as much as she coveted her life.

Shannon stared into her own shining blue eyes. Jeff once told her that she was running out of chances to do better. Each wrong turn took her further away from her destination. It wasn’t my fault, Shannon thought to herself, then said it out loud to the woman in the mirror.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

In her dark moments of self-loathing, she struggled to remember that. She’d have to remember that when the world looked at her like slut and a fool for being unmarried and pregnant with a child whose father was just a random someone.

“It’s not your fault. You have to know that. You have to keep your head up,” she whispered to frightened woman staring back at her. “And you have to pull it together because today is a New Year, and you’re spending it with your baby girl.”

Shannon closed her eyes and tightened every muscle in her body, then released the tension. Once, and then twice, shaking out her limbs.

She would allow herself these pitiable moments, but then she had to move on.

Opening the bathroom door, Shannon could hear, but not see, her daughter excitedly talking about what they might do today.

“Mommy said we could go to a movie.”

“I did say that. Did you pick something out?”

“Not yet.”

Taryn stepped in. “Jeff!” she yelled, then tried the intercom in the kitchen. “I keep forgetting we have this.”

Jeff wandered in from his office still with the glazed look he had when he got lost in his work.

“Sweetie, go get on the computer with your Dad and find a movie. There’s one more thing I wanted to talk to your mom about.”

Olivia glanced at her mom and warily stepped forward.

“That’s a good idea. We need to finish our conversation.” Shannon shoved as much brightness into her tone as she could muster.

Jeff flicked his eyes between the two women, looking well past wary and full-tilt afraid, but took his daughter’s hand and led her off down the hall.

“You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong, Shannon. It’s none of my business. I know that, but I need to know that nothing is seriously wrong.”

Shannon huffed. “I’m fine. I am. I have these moments where my situation overwhelms me. I forgot how emotional,” Shannon paused and glanced over her shoulder to make sure Jeff and Olivia were out of earshot, “being pregnant makes you.”

“Okay. On some level, this is exciting, right?” Taryn stepped toward Shannon with a face full of forced encouragement and touched Shannon’s hand.

“Oh, life is full of excitement,” Shannon replied sardonically, taking a deep breath. “The thing is, Taryn, I’m not one hundred percent sure Jonah is the father.”

“What do you mean?” Taryn gripped Shannon’s hand harder.

“I went back to Mineola for a friend’s funeral, and someone put something in my drink. This guy was there, and I don’t remember what happened, but apparently, he had sex with me.”

Blurting out the truth in simple terms whittled away some of the compacted shame inside her.

“Shannon, that’s terrible. You had no idea something was in your drink?” Taryn’s words came at Shannon in a modulated tone with a tiny blip of hesitation.

Shannon gritted her teeth and snatched away from Taryn. “I swear on Olivia’s life that I didn’t take anything or drink anything on purpose. One of the girls there thought it would be funny since I wasn’t drinking along with everyone else and wanted to stay sober.”

“If that’s what you say, then okay.”

“Right. You sound real convinced. This is why I didn’t want to say anything. God. The look on your face,” Shannon snarled.

“Look. I believe you. I just—”

“You just what?” Shannon glared.

“I had a fraction of a second of wondering maybe. I’ll admit that, but I believe you. I’m sorry. What happened is awful.”

Taryn’s face softened. She reached a tentative hand out to Shannon and stroked her forearm.

Shannon exhaled. “Thank you.”

“I don’t say this to doubt you, but did you think about going to the police?”

“No. I don’t want to go through all of that. You know how that’s likely to turn out.”

“Maybe, but at least if he got arrested, he’d have that on his record.”

“No. Maybe that’s not the answer people want, but I don’t want to.”

“Doesn’t Jonah want you to go to the police? Or, wait, why would he be mad at you? Are you mad at him? I still don’t get…You haven’t told him.” Taryn’s mouth moved faster than her brain and then caught up.

“No. I didn’t get a chance. I had to tell him that he might not be the father, and he didn’t wait around for the rest.”

“But you’ve seen him since then.”

“You didn’t hear the things he said to me. If I slept with someone else, it’s only what he should have expected from someone like me. No—I’m not going to beg him to think I’m good enough for him. I asked him if he would listen to my side of the story. He said no. Or actually, he called me a scheming bitch and then said no. We’re done.”

She choked on the last two words, but their truth sank in more each day.

“He didn’t mean that. He couldn’t. He was just mad.”

“Would Jeff ever say something like that to you?”

“He’s come close. Trust me. Love doesn’t always mean you’re as nice as you should be. Jonah cares about you. I could tell that when he was here.”

Taryn stepped away from Shannon and went to the pantry to pull out a bag of cornmeal.

The lump in Shannon’s throat grew larger. “He doesn’t care enough. Clearly.”

“What are you going to do?”

“We had a paternity test. I should know this week one way or the other. It’ll work out somehow. I’ve got experience hanging on and fighting. That’s one thing I have in my corner.”

“That’s not all you’ve got. You have friends. You have me and Jeff,” Taryn insisted, slapping the bag of meal on the counter.

Shannon’s dry chuckle seemed to offend Taryn. “Seriously, you can count on us to help anyway we can. I know you and I aren’t best friends. Probably never will be, but you’re family—to Olivia, to Jeff, and to me.” Taryn pursed her lips. “Don’t look so skeptical!”

Shannon forced the smirk from her face. Her ex-husband’s petite wife stood ramrod straight, hands on her hips. When Taryn put her mind to something, make it easier for everyone and just clear out of the way. Shannon knew that from experience.

She raised her hands in surrender. “Okay. You’re in my corner.”

Taryn launched herself toward Shannon with a hug.

“Do me a favor, though?” Shannon asked in a low voice. “Don’t tell Jeff anything yet. I’d just as soon not have people knowing about this when it may not be necessary to say anything at all. I still think it’s more than likely the baby is Jonah’s, and definitely don’t say anything to Olivia about the pregnancy until I know for sure.”

“You’re right. Jonah’s being the dad makes more sense. I won’t say a peep, but either way, though, let me know if you need anything.”

“I will. I should go check on Olivia.” Shannon bent over and snapped up Olivia’s brightly colored backpack. Taryn stumbled in for another hug, which made Shannon laugh.

“Hey, we gotta hug while we can. You know how small I am. Between the two of us, my arms won’t reach for much longer.”

Taryn’s big heart elicited from Shannon the thousandth set of teary eyes in the past week.

“Good Lord, I have to stop crying.”

O
n Monday
, Kim volunteered to pick Shannon up to go furniture shopping since Shannon received her first check from the insurance company for the loss of her items. They planned to hit some stores and head to work together, both working the later shift.

The sound of the door knocker at a quarter to noon startled Shannon, but she figured Kim got an earlier start than she expected. She didn’t even check the peephole before swinging the hotel room door open, coming face-to-face with Tom Moran.

“How did you know I was here? I didn’t even tell Jonah I was here.” Her question and statement came out as an accusation.

“Perhaps I’m more motivated than my son to find you.”

Shannon glowered at him. “What do you want?”

“Must we have this conversation in the hallway?”

“Yes.”

Tom stuck a foot in the door as Shannon went to close it.

“I’m not letting you in, so accept it or get ready for me to scream bloody murder.”

“I’ll chalk up this fit of temper to pregnancy hormones.”

“Whatever makes you feel better.”

“I want to talk to you about Aaron Godfrey.”

Shannon’s face flamed. How did he know about Aaron? No way Jonah would tell his father anything until the paternity test results came back.

“What about him?”

“I think you know.”

“I do?”

Tom sighed. “Are you going to make me say it?”

“Since I’m at a loss as to what it is you think you know, yes.”

“He’s the father of this baby.”

Shannon laughed. Tom didn’t know anything. If he did, he would know that this was an open question. After all, even if he thought that Shannon and Aaron were a secret couple, obviously, Shannon and Jonah weren’t celibate.

“Good-bye, Mr. Moran.”

Shannon pushed the door closed. She heard another knock and opened the door a crack. Instead of speaking, Tom simply held up a cashier’s check for five hundred thousand dollars. With Shannon stunned, Tom stepped into the hotel room.

“I have your attention.”

“Your wife has already offered me money to go away. I told her no.”

“She told me, but that was when you and Jonah were still steeped in bliss. Now that things have fallen apart, I thought you might reconsider.”

“No.”

“Listen—”

“No. Save it. I know what you’re going to say before you say it. This is my big score. Jonah isn’t going to marry me, so I have no shot at getting my grubby hands on your money except that check in your hand. Think about my baby’s future. Blah, blah, blah. Save it.”

“Don’t be stupid. Do you think my son is so blinded by you that he’ll raise another man’s baby?”

“You seem awfully sure that this isn’t your grandchild, and I don’t understand why.” Shannon held her swelling abdomen with both hands.

Tom tried to hide his consternation, but couldn’t. He had Aaron’s name for some reason, but didn’t have a clue as to what it meant.

“You had an affair with some ne’er do well friend of your ex-husband. The one who killed him.”

“No. I didn’t, and even if I did, you don’t know that I’m not carrying Jonah’s baby.”

Tom’s eyes iced over. “I don’t care. Trust me, and think about what I’m offering. You take this money. Go have your baby anywhere you want—except anywhere near Dallas. Start over. Go to school. All you have to do is not look back.”

“Cards on the table, Tom. Jonah has asked for a paternity test. We’re getting the results in a few days. Aren’t you premature with your offer? What if the baby isn’t Jonah’s as you suspect? I’ll already be gone with your money.”

“I want to eliminate all possibilities.”

Shannon stopped to absorb the hidden agenda behind the timing of Tom’s appearance. “You’re the one who thinks Jonah might raise a baby who isn’t his. That’s why you’re here. That’s flattering, but you overestimate me. Or you underestimate your son. Whichever it is, I’m not taking your money.”

“You’re full of bluster today, but you should think it over.”

“I could take this money and still not leave, you know?”

“You wouldn’t do that because you wouldn’t want to make an enemy of me. We could take your baby. We could help Aaron Godfrey take your baby. You have no family. No friends with any clout. Take the money and run, Shannon.”

Tom placed the check on the dining table and walked out without another word.

Shannon had done many foolish things in her life. Tearing up that check as soon as Tom left might be at the top of the list, but being a fool had never left her breathing easier.

J
onah woke
up feeling surprisingly fresh on Monday morning. After a midday jog, he returned to the house and saw a terse text message from Shannon.

> Call me

He did. While the line rang, his heart pounded. What if something happened to the baby? What if she’d heard from Aaron?

“Hello, Jonah.”

“Hi. What’s wrong?”

“I’ll keep this short. Tell your parents to stop showing up with checks trying to buy me off and get me to leave my life and everything I know. Tell them to keep their money, and while you’re at it, keep yours.”

“What have they done?”

“First, your mother offered me half a million dollars to break up with you. That’s when I slipped and let her know I was pregnant. Then, your father came by an hour ago and offered me the same amount of money to leave town and never speak to you again. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I would never ask you to, Shannon. I had no idea my parents were pulling these stunts. Why didn’t you tell me about my mother?”

“Because she told me she’d make my life with you a living hell, but since I don’t have a life with you anymore, it doesn’t matter. Does it?”

“Shannon, I’m so, so sorry for my parents. I’ll talk to them, and this will never happen again.”

“I’m tired, Jonah. You and your family and all your money. You think it puts you in charge of other people. Y’all pat me on the head and tell me I should be lucky for whatever you have to offer me because I’m alone. I have nobody. But that’s not true. I have friends. I have my daughter. I have Jeff and Taryn on my side. I am not alone.”

“I know. I had no idea my parents were causing you trouble.”

“How did your father even know about Aaron? He shows up here accusing me of having an affair.” Something in Shannon broke, and her voice chilled. “He has no idea what happened. None—and neither do you—so let’s just end this for good. If you have something to say to me, you can talk to my lawyer. I’ll text you her contact information.”

“You’ve hired an attorney?”

“I already have one. She represented me in my custody case with Jeff.”

“Oh.” Of course, she had a lawyer. Jonah ran his hand through his hair. “What about when the test results come back?”

“You’ll get a copy, and I’ll get a copy. If you get news that concerns you, you can have your lawyer talk to mine.”

“Shannon, can’t we be civil about this?”

“This is civil. Where I come from, if I wasn’t being civil, you’d know.”

Then, the line went dead.

His parents had pushed her too far. Gone was any hope of working things out between the two of them. Gone was the Shannon who hoped that he might come around. If the test results came back and he wasn’t the father, she would never speak to him again.

Sure, she worked for his sister, but he doubted that would last now. Shannon sounded sick to death of any and all things to do with his family.

Jonah closed his eyes and prayed that the test came back in his favor.

H
e took
a risk showing up unannounced on Vivienne’s doorstep. She had spent New Year’s weekend with her favorite brunette in New Orleans, flying back early this morning because her girlfriend has some work thing to do.

Only Vivienne could talk him through this latest fiasco with their parents.

Jonah rang the bell and waited. The door flew open, and Vivienne stood there in flannel pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt.

“I’m fairly certain our mother raised us to call before showing up on people’s doorsteps.”

“I know. Am I interrupting?”

He peeked around his sister into the house.

“No one’s here. Come in.”

Jonah followed her into her kitchen and parked on a barstool.

“What is it this time?” she asked.

Jonah took a breath and launched into every detail of his conversation with Shannon.

“You still didn’t ask her what she meant about what happened with Aaron?”

Jonah processed the question, realizing that he should have. All along, he should have. The first afternoon after they left the police station, he should have let her tell him. She asked him to listen, and he’d called her a bitch.

His fell forward and banged his forehead on the counter, repeatedly.

“I never have,” he groaned. “I’ve been too pissed off and hurt. Then, she’s been too pissed off.”

“Then have the conversation.”

“She told me she didn’t want to talk to me.”

“You’re going to have to push.”

“She’s tired of us pushing.”

“She’s tired of us trying to push her around. She’d not tired of you fighting for her.” Vivienne smacked her brother on the back of the head. “I can’t believe I have to tell you this. I’m so glad I don’t have to date men anymore.”

“Okay. I’ll call her.”

“What was the other thing you wanted to tell me when I got back in town?”

“Oh, Jesus.” Jonah had forgotten the small matter of their having a half-brother. “I don’t even know where to start so I’ll just say it. Trevor Stiges is our half-brother.”

“That little worm who tried to blackmail me?”

“He’s not a little worm. He was looking after his mother.”

“He extorted money out of us.”

“I gave him money because I felt badly for what our dad did to his mother. I had no idea at the time that Dad was his father.”

“Dad has another son? Did he ever tell you about this?”

“No. He didn’t know, or so he says. I just found out the other day. I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”

“How could he not know? Who was his mother?”

“A woman who used to work for the company. Dad paid her off, and she told him that she had a paternity test and he was off the hook. He believed her. It might be that he wanted to. Paying her off seemed easier, I think.”

“God, if I were Shannon, I wouldn’t want into this family either.”

“Our family doesn’t have to be this way. You and I can do things differently.”

Jonah embraced his sister, and she clung to him for a second, murmuring into his ear.

“We can. You start.”

“I will.”