Chapter 4 Red #2
Another bright, girlish laugh followed. “Come on! You remember how it all went. He didn’t want a divorce or all that drama. We share a child, Tara. And we will, if things go according to plan, share another.”
Wait—what? Another? Pretty sure that would be news to Gracie. And Marshall.
“Tara, seriously!” Bianca’s voice dropped to a whisper he could barely catch. “No! That’s for when this baby’s…”
He couldn’t decipher the rest. This baby? There was a baby? Or she wanted a baby?
“No, no. I don’t have that much time, hon,” she muttered, walking around and doing things that made it impossible for a person to properly eavesdrop.
She gave a vicious laugh. Now that, he heard.
“Jonathan was never real, you know that. And he doesn’t care if I’m…” A zipper and a thud blocked out the rest of the sentence. “Well, what Marshall doesn’t know won’t hurt him. And if things line up the way I want, then the whole baby thing won’t be so…complicated.”
What baby thing? Line up? Red felt a buzz of alarm start behind his ears.
“He’s generous and he has a soft spot for me,” she said, rustling fabric making it hard to hear. “…depends on how he reacts. But I have to move fast.” More movement and a suitcase hit the floor. “…like baby needs a daddy, Tara….” She mumbled some more. Then, “It’s my best option.”
Red’s stomach pitched. What baby? Who was “he”? Best option for…what?
“It’ll be fine,” Bianca added. “Olivia will adjust. Kids usually do. And I’m not trying to hurt anybody. I just need things to work out and fast.”
His pulse thrummed through his whole body, making him aware of his heart. This kind of stress probably wasn’t good for him.
“Oh, my ride’s here,” she said lightly, passing the bathroom door so close he could hear the clip-clop of heels and the rustle of a jacket.
“I’m going into town to see this ridiculous bakery Marshall opened.
He’ll have to sell it or something, but, trust me, I’m going to pretend it’s the most creative, brilliant, and perfect thing I’ve ever seen.
” She gave a hoot of a laugh. “Oh, sure, Tara. I’ll just put on an apron and sling oatmeal cookies. That’ll be the day.”
More hyena laughing followed that.
“Of course Olivia will love this. Not that a kid has a say in my life. I’ll just remind her that we’ll be a family again and everyone will be happy. Especially American Express. Gotta run, babe. Bye!”
Red stayed frozen, waiting for the door to…there. Closed.
Finally, he let out his breath.
What in the name of all that was holy did he just hear? A plan or a scheme or the rantings of a madwoman?
Was she pregnant and going to try and pin it on Marshall? It sure sounded that way but…he couldn’t be sure. Maybe it was something far more innocent. Maybe he’d misunderstood.
Who could be that calculating?
After a minute, he silently unlatched the bathroom door and looked around the empty cabin, getting a whiff of peppery perfume.
Certain he was alone, he walked to the front window and peeked out, catching sight of a tall woman trudging in the snow toward the lodge.
As soon as she rounded the bend of pine trees, he shot out, scrambled off the little porch, and lumbered around the side of the cabin—straight into Bertie Kessler.
“Well, look at you, big guy!” Bertie shouted—she was always so loud. “Sprinting around the place like a man half your age. And dressed as Santa, no less. I’m so impressed.”
“Son of a Blitzen,” he wheezed, the stress of the last few minutes finally hitting him.
“Did you come out of that cabin?”
“Yes.” Red groaned, twisting his aching back.
“What were you doing in there?”
He opened his mouth to tell her he was checking the new electrical but, doggone it—he was disgusted by liars and he refused to be one of them.
“I was avoiding you.”
She laughed—a deep, surprised laugh. “Points for honesty, Red. Don’t you like me?”
“I don’t like speeches about the power of ten thousand steps a day.”
Bertie raised an eyebrow. “Oh, we can talk about something else.” She slid an arm into his. “While we walk a few thousand of those ten. Come on. Let’s go.”
He just closed his eyes and said a really, really bad word in his head.
“This way.” She tilted her head toward the trail. “You clearly need the exercise—and I could use the company.”
He opened his mouth to say no, but the memory of Bianca’s smug voice stopped him. He needed time to think, to figure out how to tell Gracie what he’d overheard.
“Fine,” he said with a groan. “But if I drop dead halfway, you’re explaining it to my granddaughter.”
Bertie tugged him onto the trail, eyeing him. “Deal. You look rattled.”
“I am.” He exhaled a frosty breath. “Sometimes people surprise you in the worst ways.”
Bertie nodded slowly. “And sometimes they surprise you in the best ways, too.”
“Maybe,” he said quietly. “But not that often.”
They walked on in companionable silence, which Red appreciated because he knew he couldn’t tell anyone what he’d heard. It would implode in the worst imaginable way.
Just as they turned the bend near the frozen creek, he heard Benny’s giggle, and saw Olivia dive out from behind a massive tree.
“How did you find me?” Olivia squealed.
It was the beautiful sound of two little kids innocently playing Hide ‘n’ Seek with no idea their world was about to be ruined.
He couldn’t let it happen. He couldn’t.
“Hi, Grandpa!” Benny waved. “Hi, Miss Bertie!”
He saw Benny and Olivia exchange a high-five, laughter floating on the air as they jumped on their snow toys and took off, leaving joy in their wake.
If what he’d heard was right and that woman was planning on dragging Marshall and Olivia away from here…well, that couldn’t happen. Benny had a lot to lose if his best friend left. And Gracie would be heartbroken.
No one—no one—was going to hurt Red Starling’s family.
He just had no idea how to stop her.