I'll Stand by You (20 page)

Ruby poked his belly again and he giggled even louder.

Now everyone was turning to look. The sound of a baby’s laughter was a hard thing to ignore.

“He is so darling,” Vera said.

Dori smiled. “He likes that game. Granddaddy used to play that with him.”

Ruby sighed. “I’m sorry, honey. I had no idea.”

“Oh no, I’m glad he’s happy,” Dori said.

Ruby patted her knee. “Give me a couple of minutes, and I’ll get you in and out before he loses his sense of humor. How’s that?”

“Perfect,” Dori said and settled back to wait.

A few moments later, the lady in Ruby’s chair got up and began gathering her things and walked straight to where Dori was sitting.

“Honey, my name is Rachel Goodhope. I run the bed and breakfast, and I wanted to give you my condolences. I know eventually you’ll figure out what you’re going to do, but if you find yourself in need of a place to stay for a short while, give me a call. I’m rarely booked solid and the cost would be on me.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Goodhope. That is a very generous offer, but I think Luther and I are going to be okay. A friend from high school has kindly taken us into his home. It will take a while for everything to go through court, but eventually I will find Luther and me a new home.”

Everyone heard what she said. The fact that she had spoken of moving herself and her baby away from Johnny Pine didn’t fit the gossip.

Rachel smiled and then cupped Luther’s face.

“He is a beautiful boy. You must be so proud.”

“Yes, ma’am, I am, and thank you,” Dori said.

Rachel waved as she went up front to pay, and then she was gone.

“You’re next, Dori. Into the chair with you,” Ruby said.

Mabel Jean came out of the workroom and saw Dori trying to maneuver the baby around the cape Ruby was fastening around her neck and hurried over.

“Hey, honey, why don’t you let me hold this little chunk while Ruby gets you fixed up? I don’t have any kids, but I sure wish I did.”

Mabel Jean scooped Luther up and into her arms. He took a look at her, popped his thumb in his mouth, but kept his eyes on Dori.

“We’ll make this quick in case he decides to complain,” Ruby said. “Now tell me what we’re going to do here.”

Dori ran her fingers through her long, dark hair and then grabbed one of the places where it felt dry and frizzled.

“There are these dry places that stick out like fuzz. They weren’t there before the fire, and I didn’t notice…” Her voice broke, and then she took a deep breath and started over. “It feels burned, so I guess it happened the night of the fire. I don’t remember much after Granddaddy died, so I could have been on fire myself and wouldn’t have felt it. Luther wouldn’t stop screaming, and everyone was gone except the firemen, then Johnny Pine walked up and took him out of my arms. Luther likes men, you know, because Granddaddy took care of him every day I was at work. He took one look at Johnny and laid his head on Johnny’s shoulder and closed his eyes. I figured if Luther was okay with him, then I should be too.”

There was a lump in Ruby’s throat as she ran her fingers through Dori’s thick hair.

“I think you made a wise choice,” she said. “Now then, do you want length cut off or just trim the burned ends?”

“I think just the trim. I don’t have time for a hairstyle these days, and I need it long enough to put in a ponytail.”

Ruby led her to the shampoo station and then a few minutes later back to her chair, and she began cutting.

Meanwhile Mabel Jean was taking Luther on a tour of the shop and talking to him in a sweet, singsong voice, and for the first time since his birth, he was being presented up close and personal to some of Blessings’s residents. The consensus was final. He was a darling baby, even pretty some said as they touched his soft baby curls and took note of how sweet and clean he smelled. Dori didn’t know it, but her little man was about to sway more public opinion her way.

Ruby was finished within fifteen minutes, complete with trim and a blow-dry, leaving Dori’s hair in soft, wavy curls.

“Luther has your hair, doesn’t he?” Ruby said as she put down the brush and hair dryer and gave the style a quick spritz of spray to hold it in place.

Dori nodded. “My hair and eyes, and my daddy’s name,” she said softly. “How much do I owe you?”

“Not a thing,” Ruby said. “I’m happy to help in any way I can. If you need help with the baby tomorrow during the services, we’ll be there. Just send someone to find us, and we’ll be happy to hold him.”

Dori hugged Ruby’s neck.

“Your kindness is more appreciated than you can know,” she said, then opened up her arms as Mabel Jean handed the baby back. “Thank you for the help too.”

“It was totally my pleasure and ditto to what Ruby said. I’ll gladly do it again tomorrow.”

Dori nodded. “I appreciate your offer.”

She slung her purse and diaper bag on her shoulder, cradled the baby in her arms, and walked out the door.

Ruby stood in the middle of the salon, watching until she saw them drive away, and then put her hands on her hips and gave everyone in the salon a look.

“Amazing young lady, isn’t she? Sweet baby, isn’t he? Anyone want to talk ugly about them again, you won’t be doing it in here. Are we clear on that?”

Silence.

Ruby glanced at the women waiting.

“I’ve lost track of who’s next. If you can make that decision without a fight, come on back,” she said and then smiled at the lady who got up and walked toward her. “Morning, Sue.”

“Morning, Sister,” she said.

Ruby smiled as she whipped out a fresh cape. She liked it when people in town called her by her nickname. It made her feel like she belonged to a real family. Even if they were a little hateful now and then, what family wasn’t?

“Take a seat and we’ll get you all fluffed up.”

* * *

Johnny came back from the job site at noon, hauling the dozer. He’d already called his boss to tell him the hydraulic system was leaking.

Mr. Clawson was disgusted by the news, but not at Johnny, as he unloaded the dozer and moved it into the repair bay.

“Did it go out all of a sudden, or could you feel it going loose?” Clawson asked as Johnny killed the engine and jumped down.

“I think it blew a seal somewhere,” Johnny said. “It seemed okay one minute and then it wasn’t and there was fluid spray all over this side here.”

Clawson saw it and shrugged. “I guess I can’t complain. It’s almost as old as you are. Listen, the other two dozers and drivers are on jobs, and this one’s gonna be down. Why don’t you call it a day and go on home? We’ll finish up work on that job site first thing Monday.”

“You sure?” Johnny asked. “I don’t mind helping here if you need me.”

“I’m sure,” he said. “I have mechanics. They can earn their pay today.”

“Okay. See you Monday, then,” Johnny said and headed for the car.

It wasn’t often he got to go home in the middle of the day, and he welcomed the downtime to catch up on some other things. Dori was on his mind as he started home. He thought about calling her to see if she needed anything and then decided he’d find out when he got there and go out again later if need be.

When he turned down Admiral and saw the strange car in his driveway, he frowned, wondering who else was there. He parked on the other side of it and got out, then headed to the house.

* * *

Dori was in the kitchen when she heard someone at the front door. Then she heard a key in the lock and headed to the living room with the dishrag still in her hand and saw Johnny.

“Hey,” she said. “Is everything all right? Are you sick?”

The answer was on the tip of his tongue, and then he saw her—really saw her—standing barefoot with her hair down and framing her face in long, soft curls. She was wearing a pink T-shirt and blue jeans and the rag in her hand was dripping water, and he forgot what he was going to say.

“Johnny?”

He jerked. “Oh. Sorry. I, uh…what did you say?”

“You’re home, and I asked if you were sick.”

“Oh, right. No, I’m fine. Hydraulics went out on the dozer. Mr. Clawson sent me home for the rest of the day.” Then he saw the playpen and Luther in it asleep and sucking his thumb.

“Mr. Butterman brought it,” Dori said. “Did you eat yet?”

He shook his head and held up his Tupperware container.

“Then come in the kitchen. I just made myself a sandwich. I’ll make you something to drink,” she said.

He followed her, still shocked by what he was feeling.

“Whose car is that?” he asked as he opened his lunch box and took out the food.

“It’s a rental. Mr. Butterman brought it too. He said it was a benefit from the insurance coverage Granddaddy had. I can use it at their expense until they issue the money for me to replace the one that burned.”

“Nice,” Johnny said, but his mind was racing.

Did that mean she would be leaving soon? He wasn’t going to ask, because it might seem like he wanted to be rid of her when he’d just realized that wasn’t entirely true.

“Is iced tea okay?” Dori asked.

“Uh, yes, thank you,” he said, sitting down and beginning to unwrap his food.

She set his drink in front of him and then took a seat on the other side of the table.

“Want a chip?” she asked as she pushed a bag of potato chips his way.

He realized she’d bought some groceries on her own, and he helped himself to a handful. This was the first time they’d been together like this without the boys. It was like being on an almost date without his chaperones. He wanted to know her, to know about her, and he took a chance.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked.

She looked up and met his gaze. There was a long moment of silence and then she nodded.

“What do you want out of life?”

She paused, a little surprised by the question. “I want to be happy, and I want Luther to grow up to be a good man. After I took the GED, I began taking college courses online to design websites. I am…was getting pretty good at it.”

He was both surprised and pleased by her answer. Like him, she wanted more than to settle for where life had thrust her.

“You can get right back in it as soon as you get a computer, right?”

She nodded.

“That’s a very creative outlet and a great avenue for income,” he said.

Dori smiled, pleased that he didn’t make fun of the idea, and took another bite of her sandwich.

Johnny put his elbows on the table and leaned forward, his food forgotten. “Can I ask you another question?”

She tensed. “You can ask.”

Johnny heard the hesitance in her voice and panicked. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “I don’t know what you think I was going to ask, but it had nothing to do with your privacy. I would never presume to—”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Ever since Luther, I have this big thing hanging over my head… It’s like being shot at. After it happens once, you find yourself ducking for the rest of your life.”

Johnny reached across the table and took her hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened between you and your boyfriend to cause the separation, but I would never—” He stopped, shocked by her reaction to what he’d said.

She had doubled her hand into a fist, and there was a muscle jerking at the side of her mouth. “There was no boyfriend, and that’s more than I’ve ever said to anyone.”

When she went to pull her hand away, he grabbed it and held on.

Dori looked up. His face was a blur. She was crying and hadn’t even known it. She tried to pull her hand away again, but he wouldn’t let go. It was the firm, steady grip that finally broke her—a feeling that no matter what she said, he wouldn’t turn away.

“I couldn’t tell. Granddaddy would have killed him.”

Johnny flinched. The look on her face was one of such devastation that he knew what had happened without hearing the word.

“Where is he now?” Johnny asked.

“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Dori whispered. “I went to a dance at the school gym. There were a few people there I didn’t know—party crashers I guess—and I think someone slipped something in my drink. I got dizzy. Someone took me outside to get some air. I don’t remember a lot except his face and me telling him no, telling him to stop.” Her shoulders slumped. “But he didn’t. And now I have Luther. I don’t understand why I had to go through all that to have him, but I know with everything I am that he was supposed to be mine.”

Rage swept through him so fast it took his breath away. He kept looking at her, imagining her fear, hearing her cries for help while no one came.

“Do you know his name?”

“Just his first name,” she said.

“Does he live here in Blessings?” he asked.

“I don’t know where he lives,” Dori said. She slipped her hand out from beneath his grasp and covered her face.

Johnny’s voice was so soft, she almost didn’t hear it.

“The son of a bitch,” he whispered. “Why didn’t you tell? Why would you let everyone in Blessings believe the worst of you?”

She looked up. “Granddaddy would have gone looking for him with a gun. Someone would have died, and someone else would have gone to jail. Either way, it would have made my life worse and it wouldn’t have changed a thing. It’s always the girl’s fault, Johnny. Don’t you know that? I didn’t want my baby to grow up knowing he was born from an act of violence. It’s better people think that it was me being foolish. I won’t have him thinking he was a mistake.”

Johnny got up from the table and dumped his food. He couldn’t swallow. When Dori followed him to the cabinet, he took the plate out of her hands and pulled her into his arms.

She stiffened.

“It’s a hug, nothing more.”

His arms were so strong, and she could feel his heartbeat against her cheek. Before she knew it, she was sobbing; fifteen long months of shock, horror, and misery came bubbling up, and Johnny didn’t let go.

Chapter 13

Dori had moved the playpen into her bedroom for the night and was giving Luther a bottle. The rocker creaked every now and then, but Luther’s eyes were nearly closed. The milk in his mouth was running down the side of his cheek. He was already too far gone to swallow.