Dylan's Redemption (5 page)

Unable to look at the dress any longer, he opened the closet door, peering inside. Just like her room, nothing appeared out of place. What little clothes she owned were neatly stacked or hanging. Her work boots were gone. She’d probably been wearing them the night Buddy killed her. As far as he could tell, everything stood as if she’d just left.

For all intents and purposes, it appeared Buddy and Jessie argued and Buddy killed her, then hid her body. But where? Now, he’d never know. That thought disturbed him more than anything.

Dylan closed the door to her room and walked out of the house without a backward glance. Jessie wasn’t there. He’d lost her. He couldn’t feel her presence in that house, or in her room. The pressure in his chest grew so great, he collapsed into his truck seat. He sat and stared at the stars for a good long while before he could breathe enough to drive himself home.

Chapter Four

J
ESSIE SPENT THE
evening making calls and settling her father’s affairs. Brian hadn’t done a single thing to set up a cremation or funeral for their father. No surprise there. She’d made all the necessary phone calls and doled out her credit card number. She spent the rest of the evening carving a chunk of wood into a horse, alternating between denying the fact she had to go back to Fallbrook and resigning herself to the fact she didn’t have a choice.

After several phone calls to local lawyers, luckily avoiding having to call Dylan’s cousin Owen McBride, she discovered her father actually had a will. Everything went to Brian. The house had a small mortgage, but nothing Brian couldn’t afford if he worked steadily. She could spare a few workers from the housing development outside of town for a few days to put the house to rights and make it perfect for Brian, his wife, and their new baby.

Morning bloomed bright and cheerful, irritating her already crappy mood. She pulled up in front of Brian’s rented house. Brian hadn’t done anything to take care of it. An old dusty truck sat out front. She wondered if it ran well, or if he’d neglected it like everything else in his life. The little compact car probably belonged to his wife, Marilee. A nice girl, Jessie remembered her from high school. A good choice for Brian. Sweet and kind. A cheerleader. Jessie remembered her being tossed in the air, her golden curls flying while her petite, strong body struck a pose. If memory served, she’d had a crush on Brian since their freshman year.

“It’s now or never, J.T. Get your ass out of the car and go talk to Brian.”

Great, she’d resorted to talking to herself. She headed for the front door, knocked, and waited for whatever came next.

Marilee answered the door, swinging it wide. Her polite smile died and her blue widened with shock. She gasped. “You’re alive.” She held a dishtowel to her breast. “Oh my goodness. It can’t be. We thought you were dead.”

“Not so much. Alive and well. I hear the old man isn’t though.”

“How? Why? Oh my God. I can’t believe you’re here.”

“May I come in?”

Marilee regained her composure and stepped back. Jessie entered and found Brian lying passed out on the couch in the family room, four beer bottles clustered on the coffee table. Completely dressed, including his work boots, he snored so loudly she didn’t even worry about lowering her voice as she followed Marilee through the room into the kitchen.

“Would you like some coffee?” Marilee asked, her voice unsteady, unsure after Jessie’s surprise resurrection.

“I’d love a cup. How are you? The baby?”

Marilee’s hands shook as she took down a mug and poured the coffee. Seeing Jessie had shocked her. Brian would probably think her a ghost.

“We’re both fine. I’ve got about two months to go.” She patted her growing belly. Jessie felt a twinge of jealousy and held off the overwhelming memories.

“Have you been to the doctor? Everything is going well?” Jessie accepted the coffee.

“I’ve been a few times. They gave me some vitamins and said the baby is growing just fine. There doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about.”

Marilee frowned, squint lines appearing at her eyes. Jessie imagined all the things she’d worried about over the last seven months. Jessie understood being pregnant for the first time and not knowing if you were doing everything you could for the life depending on you. She imagined Marilee wondered how she’d afford to feed, clothe, and generally take care of a baby when her husband barely worked. They had bills piling up and no good source of income.

“Listen, Marilee, you don’t know me. You probably don’t want me poking around in your business, but I’m going to if you’ll let me. I want to help straighten Brian out and get him back to the guy he used to be. If you want my help, I need you to step back and let me do my thing. I’m overbearing and demanding. I’ll really piss him off before he realizes I’m only trying to help. If you’re up for it, I think I can make life for you and your baby better. Actually, a lot better if I can get him to cooperate.”

Jessie glanced through the archway at her unconscious brother, snoring on the sofa, and thought this might take dynamite to fix.

Marilee admitted, “I was never your friend. We used to laugh at you in school. Brian was the exact opposite to your loner, outcast, but now I realize that’s not who you were. We pushed you into that role because of the way we treated you. I know about what happened with your father. How he used to . . . to treat you.”

Jessie cringed, but hid the instinctive reaction by taking a sip of coffee.

“Brian sometimes gets going when he’s drinking, and there’s no telling what he’ll say. I guess I’m just trying to say I’m sorry I wasn’t very nice to you in school. I’ve been married to your brother for more than two years and we were together before that for three more. I love him. But, Jessie, I’m desperate. I want this baby to have a good life with a father who loves him and isn’t half in the bag by suppertime.”

“Him. It’s a boy?”

“I don’t know for sure, but that’s my intuition. I haven’t had one of those ultrasound things. We don’t have insurance because Brian won’t work steady hours. He does fine for months and then goes on a bender and everything he’s worked for is wasted. It’s like he’s afraid to succeed. He’s smart and works hard. He’s great with his hands. I don’t know what to do, or how to get him to stop drinking. He’s punishing himself because you died. Well, we thought you did.”

“He might wish I were dead when I start on him. I’ve come here to bury the old man and set Brian straight. If you want my help, you’ve got it. If you want me to keep my nose out of your business, say so now.”

“You really are a no-nonsense, get-to-the-point kind of person.”

“I don’t want to waste my time, or yours, trying to fix things if you don’t want my help. I’ll probably step on your pride, and I’ll kick some ass with Brian. You probably won’t like my style, but I have your best interest at heart. I have the baby’s best interest at heart.”

“I’m having a hard time getting past the fact you’re sitting in my kitchen. And you’re offering to help with Brian. Clearly, you mean business. It’s just so hard to believe.”

Marilee sighed so heavily Jessie felt the breeze from across the table. “Believe it. I know you’ve resigned yourself to the fate of being married to a drunk. I’m offering you a different future.”

“I’ve asked my parents to help us more times than I can count. I can’t ask them again. The rent is due, the electricity bill is past due, the telephone is about to be shut off, and that’s not all.” She stood and flung open the refrigerator to reveal the nearly empty compartment. Among the few condiments, an apple sat alone in the crisper. An almost-empty container of milk and a block of cheese occupied one of the shelves. The rest looked inedible and sad. Jessie would bet the cupboards weren’t much better.

“Jessie, I’m begging you. If you can get Brian to be the man he was years ago before this baby arrives, I’ll do anything you ask. You won’t hurt my pride, because I don’t have any left. I’ve used it all up trying to make ends meet and make a semblance of a life for this baby.”

“Are you working?”

“Yes, at the insurance agency in town. It’s a small business, so they don’t offer insurance to their employees. Too expensive. Ironic, I know. I have no idea how we’ll pay the hospital bills when this baby arrives. I started as the receptionist, but now I’m an assistant to one of the agents. I’ve been learning how to do claims. It’s a good job and pays well.” She bit her lower lip and glanced at her sleeping husband. “I want to go over there and throw his feet off the couch and choke him for making me worry about everything while he drinks himself to death.”

Jessie could relate. “Will they give you time off when the baby arrives, then allow you to come back?”

“Yes, I’ve worked it all out.”

“Okay. Then, here’s the deal. I’ve got a job for Brian. He’ll get insurance by the end of next week. I’ll make sure of it. As soon as it kicks in, I want you to make regular appointments with your obstetrician. Have your ultrasound, and I want to hear all about it.” Jessie took out some papers from her purse. “Directions to the jobsite. He needs to be there Monday morning at six. He’ll meet with James. It’s on the paper.”

“I don’t know if I can make sure he’s there. Sometimes he drinks and I can’t get him up.”

“Don’t worry. If he doesn’t show, I’ll come after him. He won’t like that outcome.” She winked at Marilee.

“The old man will be buried tomorrow morning at eleven at the old cemetery out on Poplar Way. If you guys want to come and dance on the old man’s grave, I’ll see you there. There won’t be any pomp and circumstance, but it’ll be done.

“He left the house and whatever else he had to Brian. I’ll have a crew fix it up and get it ready for you to move into as soon as possible. Got a favorite house color?”

“White with blue trim.” Marilee didn’t hesitate. Like she’d said, she had no pride left. “I’ve dreamed of having a white house with blue trim since I was a little girl.”

Too many of her girlhood dreams hadn’t come true when she married Brian. He had a lot of making up to do with his wife.

“Could you have them take out that old stump and maybe put in a new tree?”

“Anything in particular?”

“Not really, just something that will provide shade to the yard when the baby plays. Something we could hang a swing from someday.” Marilee smiled at the thought and it lit her whole face. “This is like taking charity, but I’m doing it for the baby. I’ll take whatever help you’re willing to give and be grateful to you the rest of my days. Someday, I’ll find a way to thank you and pay you back.”

Overwhelmed by the emotion behind Marilee’s words, Jessie got them back on subject. “Anything else you want for the house?”

“I don’t know. The kitchen is outdated, and the bathrooms too. You used to work with your father; I’ll trust your judgment to make the house livable, clean, and safe for the baby. That’s the most important thing.”

“Done. Now, I want you to go grocery shopping.” Jessie pulled out her wallet and took out a bunch of cash and handed it over to Marilee. “Can you still pay the electric bill at the market?”

“Yes.”

“There should be enough to pay that off and get the groceries. I’ll write you a check for rent and the other bills. That should catch you up until you get into the other house in about two weeks. By then, Brian will have his first paycheck and things should get back to normal.”

Marilee unfolded the bills in her hand. Her eyebrows shot up at the sight of all the money, over five hundred dollars. She crushed it in her palm and held on to it for dear life. “He’ll be shocked to see you.”

“That’s why I suggest you go grocery shopping while I rudely wake him up. And I don’t just mean from his nap on the couch. It’s time he saw the light and went about the business of being a husband and father.”

Marilee stared at Brian on the couch. So much sadness and hope filled her eyes. She truly wanted to believe this time Brian would turn himself around and do the right thing. Jessie knew all about that kind of desperation.

“Marilee, if this doesn’t work out—if he won’t stop drinking, and you want to leave—I’ll help you. No questions. No strings. No judgment. I’ll help you leave him and make a life with the baby.”

Marilee’s gaze remained on Brian for a long moment. “I’ve tried to imagine my life without him. I can’t. I love him. When he isn’t drinking, he’s such a nice and caring man.” But for the sake of the baby, she nodded her agreement to Jessie’s offer. “Brian better clean up his act, or he’ll lose us. This is his chance, and our chance to get our lives back on track,” she said with such hope in her voice, Jessie felt it in her own heart.

“I’ll be gone about an hour. Um, maybe you’d like to come to dinner tonight?”

Jessie smiled softly. She didn’t want to hurt Marilee’s feelings. “Not tonight. I’m not staying in town. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow. I think it would be good for Brian to go to the cemetery. It’s time to put the past behind us. I think we could all use a fresh start.”

Marilee nodded and pulled her own purse off the counter.

“Are you partial to that couch?” Jessie asked.

“It smells like stale beer and sweat. It’s old and worn like everything else in this house, including my husband. I’m partial to the man, not the couch.” With that, she waddled out of the kitchen, blond curls bobbing at her shoulders.

Jessie laughed. Marilee still had a lot of spunk. She may be down, but she wasn’t out. Not by a long shot. Jessie related, making her like Marilee even more.

Jessie finished her cup of coffee, set the cup in the sink, and grabbed another cup out of the cupboard and filled it from the coffee carafe for her brother. Black. She took a pitcher out of the strainer next to the sink and filled it with cold water.

Standing over her sleeping brother, she held the pitcher in one hand and the cup of coffee in the other. She poured the cold water over her brother’s face and chest. He sat bolt upright and yelled, “What the hell!”

Chapter Five

B
RIAN HELD A
hand to his wet head and one to his stomach. He probably had a splitting headache to go with his rotten gut. As far as Jessie was concerned, he deserved both.