Chapter Twenty-One #2
Beside her on the quilt spread out in the truck bed, Martin hummed along to a playlist on his phone, the best of the Eagles. Had he taken note of her preferences from her concert T-shirts? The thoughtfulness touched her.
Skeeter had been stitched up and appeared none the worse for wear, but the veterinarian was keeping him overnight for observation, sedated and calm.
Fireworks could be stressful for dogs under the best of circumstances.
Saying good night to Skeeter had been tough, but she assured him she would be there first thing in the morning with the very best treats.
Bailey Rae rested her head on Martin’s shoulder, allowing the familiar refrain from “Take It Easy” to fill her. Wise words. “Thank you for coming to my rescue this morning.”
“Looked to me like you and Skeeter had the situation well in hand.”
Even though his voice was lighthearted, she heard the undercurrent of concern, felt the tension that hadn’t eased yet from his muscles. This morning’s close call would take time to process, to shake free of the emotions searing through them both.
A shiver rippled through her in spite of the muggy night air. “Skeeter and I sure didn’t mind the backup.”
During the frantic drive to the vet, Martin had explained how the instant he’d seen her text, he’d reached out to the police, but he hadn’t waited around for them to mobilize.
He’d sped over, except before he could turn onto the driveway, he’d caught sight of her through the trees.
So he’d picked his way through the woods on foot for the element of surprise.
Martin slid an arm around her shoulders. “How much longer until you head for the beach? I was thinking of taking some of my vacation time. Dip my toes in the sand. No pressure. Whatever pace you’re comfortable with. And if the day comes that we both want more, I’m open to relocating.”
Stunned, she wondered if she’d heard him right, but the light in his brown eyes assured her. She appreciated his strides to compromise, more than she’d thought possible. As if he’d realized she needed to know her choice wasn’t based on following a man like her mama.
Which made Bailey Rae’s answer all the easier. “I think I’ll stick around here for a while.”
A pack of kids ran past the truck holding sparklers, their laughter reminding her of everything that Winnie had fought for.
Lives lived in peace. Happiness.
“Is that so?” His eyebrows raised in surprise. “I guess you do still have a final truckload of things left to sell.”
“Actually, since I have enough money to buy a food truck, why not use it at the markets here?” She gestured to the gathering of Bent Oak residents.
Her gaze skated over to Thea and Howard’s tailgating party a few feet away with their adult children, as well as June, Keith, and Libby.
She’d called them with the basics, and they’d agreed to meet in the morning to discuss in more detail.
“There’ll be other events too and some in surrounding towns, like for sports, fairs, festivals, weddings, and parties.
Just to tide me over while I make a decision about my next step. ”
She would chase her own dreams. But she would chase a new one too. One that would make Winnie proud.
Martin toyed with a lock of her hair. “What about all the furniture you sold and gave away?”
“Lucky for me, I’ll still have a little extra cash to replace the basics.
” Winnie had always been emphatic about saving for a rainy day.
Bailey Rae just hadn’t realized how deep the savings went.
Most of the furniture had needed upgrading anyway.
She realized her aunt had likely seen it as her last tie to her life with Russell.
Bailey Rae had a host of memories connecting her to them both. “What do you think of my plan?”
“I think folks will line up to get a sample of that pound cake.” He tipped her chin upward with a gentle knuckle, pressing a quick kiss to her lips before continuing, “And I’ll be first in line every time.”
Industrial fan working overtime, Bailey Rae sat on the porch floor beside Skeeter, who was resting on a quilt. She’d picked him up the moment the vet had opened for business at the crack of dawn. “Sorry about the cone of shame, Skeeter.”
He gave her a woeful hound dog look, clearly not a fan of the plastic cone that kept him from chewing his stitches.
The six-inch gash along his side hadn’t damaged any organs but still made her heart ache with the wide patch of shaved fur and painful red sutured line.
The horror of yesterday morning threatened to steal today’s peace, but she swept it aside. She wasn’t living in the past anymore.
Ian had already been charged with murder.
Between her statement about his confession and evidence connecting him to the crime, the authorities had enough to ensure he wouldn’t be given bail while awaiting trial.
Gia had texted Bailey Rae to thank her again.
She’d even promised to send Skeeter a special peanut butter treat for his role in apprehending Ian.
She sounded sincere when saying she didn’t want to lose touch.
Bailey Rae understood all about the importance of connections with the special people in her life. Libby, Keith, June, Thea, Howard ...
And yes, Martin too.
His workday promised to be busy after so many reports of vandalism in the marshy backwoods during the Fourth of July celebrations.
He would come over later with supper from the Fill ’Er Up.
She had a million tasks to tackle too, starting with unloading the contents of the truck back into the barn, then beginning the search for a good deal on a food truck trailer.
Thanks to the money from Aunt Winnie, Bailey Rae had time to plan for her future in Bent Oak.
A honking car horn jolted her back to the present.
Standing, Bailey Rae shaded her eyes from the morning sun. An unmistakable minivan careened along the winding path on shock absorbers long past their expiration date.
The minivan slid to a stop by the front steps, a cloud of dust swirling. The driver’s side door creaked open, with June behind the wheel. She grabbed the frame and hopped out. “Bailey Rae, honey, put on your dancing shoes. Your party has arrived.”
“Not a minute too soon.” Bailey Rae lifted her hair off her sweaty neck, nodding toward June’s latest adventure in hair color. “Love the red-and-blue stripe for Independence Day.”
June gave a sassy flick of her head. “Just celebrating freedom.”
The side panel rolled away and the wheelchair ramp cranked out for Libby, a picnic basket on her lap and a cane hooked on the armrest. “Keith’s putting in some overtime at the new construction job of his, but he sends his best.”
Was she confused? Bailey Rae glanced at June, who shrugged, smiling. “Who knew Keith would be a whiz at construction? Guess he’s a late bloomer.”
Better late than never. Bailey Rae hoped, for his sake and his mother’s, this could be his fresh beginning too.
The passenger-side door opened for Thea, who wore pink lace gloves. “We’ve brought chicken salad sandwiches, ladyfinger cookies, and sweet tea—”
Libby interrupted, patting the wicker basket. “I wanted Southern Comfort, but they said it’s still morning.”
June grasped the wheelchair handles, steering her toward the cabin’s side ramp. “We’re here to give you a proper send-off.”
What Southern celebration would be complete without food? She would be glad to spend more time cooking Winnie’s recipes in the weeks ahead, perfecting them for her food truck business. But for now, she couldn’t wait to let them know this celebration was about to take a surprising twist.
“Well,” Bailey Rae said with a grin, then blurted, “turns out I’ve decided to stick around for a little while longer.”
All three paused, eyes wide with surprise, followed by an exhale of relief.
“Woo-hoo,” June squealed. “Praise the Lord and pass the gravy.”
Thea clapped her hands over her chest. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a month of Sundays.”
Libby smirked. “I told you to let me bring the Southern Comfort.”
Bailey Rae climbed the porch steps, motioning to the rockers and swing. “Let’s have our picnic out here and keep Skeeter company.”
The hound had drifted off to sleep, but she still wasn’t ready to let him out of her sight for a moment.
June pushed the wheelchair up the ramp onto the porch, then set the brakes. “Did your change of heart have something to do with the yummy game warden?”
“Actually,” Bailey Rae said, opening the basket and pulling out four Mason jars, “he offered to come see me and even look into job postings in the Myrtle Beach area.”
June nodded approvingly, choosing the rocker closest to Libby. “An enlightened man. He has my vote.”
Laughing, Bailey Rae poured sweet tea from the carafe into jars. “I decided I don’t need to go to Myrtle Beach to feel close to Winnie. My very best memories of her are in Bent Oak.”
“Hear! Hear!” Thea cheered, sitting in a rocker. “Will you return to work at the Fill ’Er Up? I’m sure they would be thrilled to have you back.”
Bailey Rae passed the jars over one at a time. “I’m still buying a food truck. I decided to look into opportunities around the county.”
Saying it out loud still felt a little scary, but exciting too.
“Brilliant,” June declared, sipping her tea before continuing, “I can already think of ideas around the community college campus.”
Thea waggled her fingers. “I know Howard will want to schedule you to come to the mill’s loading dock for lunch and the occasional event.”
Bailey Rae blinked back tears at their support. “I can’t thank you enough for all the times you’ve been there for me.”
“Honey,” June said, leaning forward to pat her knee. “You’re family.”
Libby tipped her head back into the warm morning breeze.
“This feels like the day Winnie and I arrived in Bent Oak at the same time. Full of promise, thanks to Annette and our new lives.” She opened her eyes again.
“But you don’t have to trust my word. I realize I’m slipping. You can verify with Thea and June.”
“I believe it,” Bailey Rae said, taking a seat on the porch swing and cradling her jar of tea in her hands. “I only have one question. How did you manage the new documents, like birth certificates?”
Thea jumped right in, saying, “It’s all a matter of who you know—having a connection with a paralegal, who then knows someone at the courthouse. Did we break the law?” She shrugged. “We did what we had to. Which brings me to our little bit of news.”
“Your news?” Scooting to the edge of the swing, Bailey Rae couldn’t imagine what other surprises life would have in store. “Please, do tell.”
The three women exchanged excited looks before June and Libby nodded to Thea to take the lead.
“As far as helping others find the freedom we have, we’d put things on hold after losing Winnie.
We needed time to begin healing and figuring out what to do next.
There’s still more work to be done, but the path forward for us will look different.
Less hiding, thanks to laws now that didn’t exist then.
Not perfect, but progress. It’s time to step out into the daylight. ”
Libby gripped the arms of her wheelchair, her gray eyes animated and sharp.
“We’ve seen firsthand how many people still need help, so many that the two shelters in this area don’t have nearly enough beds.
I’ve always wanted to open a shelter, the kind that helps families get back on their feet.
The kind where folks don’t have to keep secrets.
It’s tough enough for me to keep one set of names straight, much less two. ”
June cackled. “And it’s not like I have to worry about anyone recognizing me now.”
Thea tugged off her gloves. “The people looking for me died a long time ago. I kept quiet more for the others we’d helped, but I believe the time is right for me to spearhead some ideas about what services a shelter could provide with the right sponsors. What do you think of our idea, Bailey Rae?”
The bravery and generosity of these women took her breath away.
“I can’t wait to hear more and see your plans come to life.
” And as if Winnie whispered in her ear, an idea flowered as her gaze fell on one of her aunt’s jars of collected stones.
She’d poured so much love into the place, it was a shame not to share it.
“If you’re interested, we can talk about using this property in some way. ”
Thea blinked back tears, all the more moving from the normally reserved woman. “Annette, Winnie, and Russell would love that.”
The rightness of building something lasting on this land settled around her. Details could come later, like piecing together a quilt.
Bailey Rae lifted her jar. “Shall we toast?”
And with the clink of four jars against each other, the thick glass refracting sunbeams, they sealed the deal.