Chapter 26
Carrington House
Searcy, Arkansas
It took all morning and part of the afternoon for Taylor to finish recounting her and Greer's story to Harvey Cox, the reporter writing the article on Bennett.
Taylor was exhausted. The reporter looked a little overwhelmed by the tale himself.
A feeling Taylor greatly understood. Reliving it all had left her feeling the same way.
Harvey recorded her as she spoke and made notes for hours. Greer had texted nearly two hours before that he and Rosie were back at Edna's, and the car was packed and ready to leave as soon as she finished.
"So let me get this straight," asked Harvey, "When you left after Bennett resigned, you returned to Gulf Shores, but you still had no idea about Mrs. Carrington's true identity?
The other Mrs. Carrington, the former Mrs. Thompson?
" The reporter actually blushed and appeared embarrassed at having to clarify which Mrs. Carrington he was talking about.
Again, Taylor got it. Oh, what a tangled web they had weaved!
Shaking her head in the affirmative, Taylor said, "That is correct. I did not find out about all of that until after Rosie was born."
"Rosie, your daughter?"
"Correct. I returned to Gulf Shores with Greer.
True to his word, Bennett filed for divorce the next week.
It took a little over thirty days for the paperwork to be completed.
Our marriage of eleven years was over in just over a month.
Greer and I flew to Vegas and married in a wedding chapel on the strip.
When he first suggested it, I thought he was joking, but the idea grew on me over time.
After all, it was the quickest, cheapest way to do it.
We had both been married before and had big weddings, and look how those turned out.
We just wanted to be married and together.
That was in July. Rosie was born in late December. "
"When did you learn about your connection to Poppy Thompson Carrington?"
"After Rosie was born. But, look, I am not comfortable talking about that. If you want to know more about that, you need to ask Poppy."
Smiling at her like she was hiding something he was determined to figure out, Harvey said, "Oh, I most definitely intend to."
Feeling like she had shared everything she cared to share, Taylor said, "I think I have told you all there is to tell. If you don't mind, I am exhausted and have a long car ride home to Gulf Shores tonight. If it is okay with you, I would like to end the interview here."
Having been a reporter long enough to know when he had gotten all he could from a source, Harvey smiled and thanked her for her time. "Thank you, Mrs. Stone, for taking the time to talk with me. Would it be okay if I took your number and called you with any follow-up questions I might have?"
Not really wanting to give him her number but unable to think of a reasonable reason not to, Taylor gave him her number.
Then she went in search of Bennett, Poppy, and their family to say her goodbyes.
Bennett and Poppy had left to run a few errands, so Taylor hugged and kissed Ben and the girls and then texted Greer she was ready to go.
Ben promised to give her regards to his parents.
In a few minutes, Greer pulled up in front of the home Taylor had called home for many years.
She quickly got in the car and gave Greer a quick kiss as she buckled herself in for the long car ride.
As they pulled out of the drive, she could not help but take one last look at the house.
Having spent the better part of the day recounting everything that had happened eleven years before had left her exhausted and emotionally raw.
But one thing she knew for sure. She was as happy to leave that old life behind today as she was eleven years ago.
She said a quick prayer that they were making the right decision to air their dirty laundry.
Bennett would make a fabulous governor. Only time would tell if doing this would be worth all it was going to cost them.