Divine Charity(Divine Creek Ranch 18)(91)

“Awesome, not only are you letting Daddy pay your rent, now you’re going to move back home and let him take care of everything.”

It stung but she let it go. Her sister had a right to jump to the wrong conclusion and she was no shape to argue with.

“No, I’m moving out on my own.”

Leah scoffed. “Good luck with that. We’ll see how long it lasts.”

Presley Ann rose from the seat, the ache in her heart billowing and increasing. She’d suspected Leah would react that way, even under the best of circumstances, and she couldn’t blame her. Somebody she cared about had just died. That trumped hurt feelings. Now her main concern was making the move happen.

Before she turned away from her sister, she put her hand on her shoulder. Leah shrugged it off and said, “I’m so done with you and all your bullshit. It’ll be nice having the place all to myself again.”

Presley Ann nodded. “Dad’s aware of my plans. When I talked to him I mentioned that you were going through a rough spell and he said he’d send someone from the store in Morehead to help out or fill in where needed.”

Leah cursed softly, surprising Presley Ann. “Awesome. You told him I’m having a hard time? Now he’ll start micro-managing again. Just what I needed.”

“I don’t think that’s what he intended at all. He said he was sending you help. That’s all. He didn’t say he was coming, too. He said you haven’t been taking his calls or returning his messages. I think he just wanted to help.”

“We’ll see. You passed on the message. Thanks.” Leah frowned as she looked down at the beer bottle in her hand and used her thumbnail to scrap loose the label.

Presley Ann put her hand on Leah’s shoulder one more time and this time her sister didn’t shrug it off. “Sis, I’m really sorry about Patterson.”

Leah’s face fell and her chin quivered. Her only response was to tilt her head over so her cheek rested briefly on Presley Ann’s hand. “Thanks. Close the doors on your way in, will you? We’re cooling the great outdoors leaving them open like this.”

“Sure.” She closed the doors quietly behind her and tears stung in her eyes when she saw Leah’s head fall into her hands and the sounds of soft, pain-filled sobs filtered through the window glass.

Her heart knew that even though the harsh words had been directed at her, Leah was just lashing out at the unfairness of the world. She wished she could do something to ease that pain but the only thing that would ease it was time.

Setting out to do something productive, she went out to her car and brought up the load of flattened cardboard boxes and roll of tape she’d gotten while in town. After popping several open and taping the bottoms, she pulled open her walk-in closet double doors and surveyed the sheer quantity of expensive designer crap she’d accumulated over the last few years. “What was I thinking?”

The original plan had been to keep only her favorite pieces and take the rest to the resale boutique in San Antonio. Sick of the constant internal debate, weighing the pros and cons of keeping each pair of shoes, accessory, purse or item of clothing, she finally said “fuck it” and gave almost the entire closet a heave-ho. Hopefully she’d come away from that resale boutique with enough money to cover the cost of maternity clothing for her and baby clothes for her little one.

Looking down, she caressed her still flat belly and said, “It’s you and me, peanut.”

Knowing the hurt Leah was suffering through down the hall put her own situation into a whole new light. She could do this.



* * * *



“Ready to do this?” Justin asked, holding her helmet in his big capable hands while Charity finished braiding her hair and tied it off. It was Saturday morning and they’d just exited the funeral home where Patterson Elder’s memorial service had been held. She nodded as she took the helmet Justin offered her. Her head swam at the unreality of it all. The grief was sharpened by the fact that she’d seen him alive just hours before the accident. So alive, so fun-loving, so very Patterson.

The last radio call, which had been done at the end of the funeral echoed in her memory.

“114…114…Calling Divine 114…No answer Divine 114…Divine 114 out of service. Gone but not forgotten. Rest in peace, our friend.”

Her heart ached for all of her friends who were involved in law enforcement. Patterson had been well known and his death had rocked the community. Respectful tributes were visible everywhere, including American flags flying all over Divine at half-staff, mourning bunting draped at the police department and sheriff’s department offices, and badge shrouds being worn by all law enforcement officers.