Chapter Twenty-Three
AMARIE HOPED ELI handled his ex-wife in Service better than she tap-danced around her mother and Russell. What possessed the woman to bring trouble to her daughter?! Not that Eli should have concerns with Dr. Russell Feldman parading around town in his electric blue 2023 Range Rover Sport.
“Mama, what are you doing here?” Amarie whispered. “And why would you bring Russell?” Amarie had pointed him in the direction of the restroom, then speed-walked her mother into the front parlor with privacy. Clearly there were questions that required answers.
“Hmm, I received your text message about your exam. Congratulations,” her mother said, sipping the iced lemonade Leah served them both.
“Mom, that was like… an hour ago.”
“Russell showed up in Florida looking for an ally. He promised to come here with or without me, so,” she shrugged her lean shoulders, “I accompanied him. Now that I’ve answered your question. I’m concerned about Eli’s ex-wife being here.”
Amarie ignored the Cara question, continuing with her inquiry. She trusted Eli. Her ex, he had the reliability rating of cheap toilet paper.
“So, you’re Russell’s ally?” Amarie whisper-yelled.
“No, but,” she smiled with a mischievous grin, “I did get a free car ride to come lay eyes on my baby girl. You’re always so animated about new surroundings. I thought… what the heck. Service, West Virginia. Here I come.”
Amarie’s eyes widened in realization. While Russell thought he’d gained a bargaining chip in negotiating her surrender, Bethany had hitched a ride to carry out a private agenda.
“Heaven above,” Amarie sputtered, “Mama grifted my ex.”
Leah, who had been sitting quietly while she and Eli managed their individual disasters, chuckled. Not that she had voiced a distaste for Russell, but Amarie knew how welcoming Leah could be when she enjoyed the company.
“That fool of a man deserved it,” her mother hissed, while Russell was out of earshot, “taking advantage of you for years. About time he got a dose of the nasty he enjoys funneling for others to swallow.”
She shook her head, her relaxed curls brushing the shoulders of her tan St. John float jacket with tweed sparkle. Wait… when had her mother ever worn anything that drew attention to her presence?
“Do you know he had the nerve to bring his laptop into my house asking if I knew how to set up a WordPress website?”
“And?”
Bethany actually rolled her eyes. Amarie felt as if she were seeing her mother for the first time in, well, ever. Who was this bold and animated woman who mimicked the hiss of an angry rattlesnake and rolled eyes better than a teenager? Something miraculous had transformed the compliant, ever-seen-but-not-heard housewife who knew her husband of thirty plus years was a cheating bastard into a she-wolf.
“I played dumb just like I do with your father. My working-for-free days are over.”
They all snickered, but abruptly stopped when Russell strutted into the room in starched khakis with a polo shirt beneath his Ivy League sport coat, a six-figure peacock in full plumage.
“This is a nice house,” he snorted, grabbing a lemonade glass, a tea sandwich, and a slice of homemade poundcake with his fingers before walking to the fireplace mantel to strike a pose. His attempt to impress had the opposite effect. Why couldn’t he enter the room and take a seat like a normal person? Who exactly was he trying to impress? “Didn’t expect much from the outside.”
“Ah… thank you,” Leah said looking to them for direction. “I think…”
Amarie bit her lowered lip, trapping the building tide of laughter in her throat.
Russell, the pompous ass, seemed to be tallying up the value of the Calvary estate, his beady brown eyes flitting like insect wings from the antique detailing surrounding the wall sconces, to the ornate crown molding framing of the ceiling, to the wainscoting beneath the mahogany chair rail. “How much you pay for all this?”
“Oh my god, Russell.” Amarie hung her head, embarrassment breathing on her neck, like the old drunk guy in the night club. Just foul. “That’s just rude.”
“What?” he crowed, talking with his mouth full.
Was that lettuce between his teeth? He looked like a rabbit on a feeding frenzy. How had she thought this man was out of her reach? Talk about distance shining a spotlight on perspective. This man had rude and entitled stitched into his high-waisted briefs.
First, how dare he expect her mother to pick up where Amarie had left him high and dry? Russell had profited from her labor, but he was too selfish to invest the money into building a more profitable business. Any guilt Amarie harbored at hiding his website and deleting his social handles vanished. Furthermore, Russell wasn’t a fledging or distressed businessman. Nope, he just wanted to use Amarie and Bethany because he believed he had a right to exploit their talents.
Her mother had supported her father’s practice in the early years of their marriage, serving as his orientation and training manager. Amarie realized she had imitated her mother’s example, the supportive and dutiful partner, but had diverted to a road less traveled when she landed in Service. No way would she ever consider returning to the life she’d had with Russell. In fact, she hadn’t had any life at all. She existed to make his life easier at the expense of her own hopes and dreams.
Now he felt entitled to disrespect the one person who helped Amarie to see her worth.
Standing to her feet, Amarie released a weighted sigh. “Russell, you’re done here. Time for you to leave.”
“Leave?” he scoffed, dusting his palms together, depositing crumbs on Leah’s polished hardwood floors.
“You’re making a mess,” Amarie hissed. “Where did you lose your manners?”
“It’s just food, Amarie.” He shrugged. “Since when did you develop discerning tastes?”
“When I left you in D.C. Where you should’ve stayed,” she said with emphasis.
“Oh,” he mocked, stepping off his invisible high horse. “I see what’s happening. You think you’re something here in Who-ville and can say anything to me? We both know you can’t cut it in the city, that’s why you’re hiding out in tiny town USA.”
“You don’t get to tell me who I am. If I’m the one hiding, why are you hunting for me? Did I call, text, or write sending for you?”
His mouth opened and closed with a squeak of sound.
“Exactly. I didn’t send for you, so there was no need to come for me.”
He chuckled, an attempt to distract from the rising color spreading from beneath the polo collar, like shark chum.
“Bethany. You need to talk to your daughter. I drove to Florida to pick you up, so you could do your job to get her back where she belongs.”
Amarie opened her mouth to defend her mother, but Leah gave a subtle nod to keep quiet. Obviously, there was some nonverbal, mother-to-mother communication happening that Amarie had missed because Bethany gave a smile of approval. To have the two most important women in her life stand united at her side meant the world to Amarie.
Bethany placed her glass on a coaster before meeting this arrogant man’s gaze. “I didn’t ask you to come to my home.”
“No,” he snapped, trying to track his fingers through locks gelled within an inch of life support. “Your husband did. Because he understands you and your daughter can’t come up with the right answer unless it’s told to you.”
Amarie released an audible gasp.
Her mother looked unmoved by Russell’s hurtful comment.
“No sir,” Leah rasped. “This is my house. Bethany, Amarie, say your goodbyes to this fella.” To Russell she said, “I’m going to get my rolling pin. It’ll be aimed in your direction. If you don’t want a knot on that inflated head, you best be gone.”
“Russell,” Bethany called, “we are guests in Mrs. Calvary’s home. Please temper your stupidity.”
“Are you threatening me with kitchenware?” Russell laughed.
Leah smiled. “Nope. I’m promising to tenderize your backside before turning you over to my boys.”
Russell stiffened. Leah’s gentle tone had delivered a mighty hammer. Her tone said she had the manpower to back up her words.
“Fine, but I drove the freakin’ green mile to the swamps of Florida. And then around the world in eighty days to get to this hillbilly cesspool. I’m not leaving empty-handed. Amarie, here.” He retrieved a small red velvet box from his front pocket and thrust it at her.
At seeing it, Amarie recoiled. “What is that?”
“It’s what you wanted from the day we met. A real diamond ring. A wedding. Stop baulking. Take the stupid thing.”
Oh no he didn’t. Did he think he could demand her commitment? Real love shouldn’t be transactional. And she valued herself above the Mrs. Russell Feldman title.
Amarie crossed her arms over her chest, defiant. “No, thank you.”
“No,” Russell yelled, his face flaming a horrid shade of bruised red. “You force me to come after you. To spend two grand on a new ring. All to refuse my proposal?”
“Ah, Russell,” she mused, “I didn’t hear a proposal.” Looking at the other women in the room. “Did either of you hear in a man standing in this very room ask me, Amarie Walker, to marry him?”
“No” came the tandem reply.
“See.” Amarie frowned, having fun at Russell’s expense. “We didn’t hear anything close to a declaration of love and commitment.”
“Okay. Okay. Fine. Amarie,” he huffed, “will you be my wife?” He looked downright ill, red giving way to ashen gray.
“Absolutely—”
Russel interrupted before she could finish. “Good.” He re-pocketed the ring. “You and your mother pack your things. I’m leaving in ten minutes.”
“My answer is absolutely not. And why wait?” Amarie laughed.
Bethany stood. “Why indeed.”
“Oh, oh, you think you have the upper hand. I saw his ex-wife in that key fob–sized clinic, Amarie. She’s beautiful, delicate, feminine. You don’t stand a chance.”
“And neither do you, Russell. The door is that way.” She pointed.
“If I walk out that door, you’re both stranded. You think your father will come to your rescue. He won’t. He practically begged me to take you both off his hands.”
“Russell, I’m not counting on you or my father. I got this. Bye-bye now.” Amarie looked at her mother, who had tears in her eyes.
“Come here, baby girl.” She hugged Amarie so tight it hurt, and it felt absolutely sublime. “I’m so proud of you. You could’ve been angry at the world—at me, but you, my beautiful sunshine,” Bethany’s voice trembled, “you saved yourself. You saved me.”
Amarie raised her brow, having never heard these words from her mother. “You sure it’s me you’re talking about? The six-year champion. Your late bloomer.”
“Don’t sound surprised. When have you ever quit?”
“Well…”
“See.” Her mother smiled. “You can’t think of a time where a hard knock meant a hard stop. You’re relentless. Something you didn’t inherit from me.”
“Mom,” she said, thinking about Ruth and little Phoebe. “I owe you an apology—”
“Shh, baby. I had my own lessons to learn. When you’re young, you’re discovering who you are. But as you age you learn who you aren’t. The fantasy of storybook marriages, perfect kids—heck, fairy-tale love falls away. I let your father tell me my value for years. But I never stopped to question his. He’s not the man who deserves the woman I am. I know that now.”
“I have a new appreciation for how brave you were to have left Dad back then. He gave Princess away to hurt you, didn’t he?”
Amarie watched as her words hit their mark. Tears gathered in Bethany’s eyes, but the lines bracketing her eyes and mouth seemed to recede like the ebb tide. “H-he threatened to take her to the shelter if we didn’t return home at once. I knew how much you loved her, but I couldn’t bear to turn around, drive us back to that beautiful prison of stucco and iron. So,” Bethany stiffened her spine, “I kept going.”
“Then I got sick,” Amarie whispered, knowing her weakness was the reason her mother had chosen to return to a long-dead marriage.
“No. No.” Bethany shook her head, adamant in her denial. “You were always resilient, strong. I knew you would heal, Amarie. But sleeping in our chariot had reached its end. And your father promised to pay for your college education if I returned and didn’t leave again.”
“So, you went back?”
Bethany smiled then. “After he had his lawyers put it in writing. I felt like a failure when we walked back into that house, your little face crumpled when you called for Princess, and she didn’t appear, tail wagging in happiness. Your father had followed through on his threat, but I had the documents in my hand that secured your future. Then, you came home with Russell,” she deadpanned.
“Forget Russell. I can’t believe you kept your deal with Daddy Dearest from me.”
“Hello,” Russell drawled, “I’m standing right here.”
“Shush, you,” Amarie shooed him away. “Mom and I are talking. So rude.”
Bethany cut him a withering glance before continuing.
“I wanted to protect you. Our marriage is separate from the relationship you could’ve had with Russell. I had hoped he would be a better father than husband. Turns out he was more interested in chasing tail.” She shrugged. Again, who was this carefree woman who’d hidden away under her husband’s thumb?
“What are you going to do about Dad? He’s going to be furious once Russell snitches on us. How you failed to marry me off.”
“Oh, I’ve decided to leave your father.”
“What—when did this happen?”
“Just now. My daughter is a college graduate and a licensed nurse. Weren’t you listening?”
“Yes, ma’am. I am.”
“Now, what are you going to do about Eli’s other woman?”
“Eli and I are together, Mom. Cara. Russell. There’s nothing either of them can say that will matter to us.”
“Hello,” Russell yelled, “I’m still here.”
Leah walked in, rolling pin in hand. “You don’t have to worry about Amarie. My Eli knows the makeup of a good woman.”
As if conjured by a sorcerer, Tobias, Noah, and Eli stormed in behind their mother, jaws tight, limbs loose.
Noah looked at the wooden rolling pin in Leah’s small hand and frowned.
“Who do I need to smack into Middle Earth?” Noah announced, eyes locked on Russell’s slack-jawed face fading to an increasingly pale complexion.
“You ain’t never lied,” Tobias added, stepping in Russell’s personal space.
“Amarie. Mrs. Walker.” Eli came right up to Amarie, wrapping her in his capable arms. “You okay?” he asked kissing the top of her head.
“Perfect,” she whispered. “You?”
When Eli didn’t respond, Amarie lifted her head from his chest and looked up at his face. The mask, hard and frozen, was back. That couldn’t be good.