Then, he realized… they were a real couple. He cared about her. He wanted to protect her from all the pain and the horrible things said today.
She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Theresa Jean is going to wake up, isn’t she?”
“She is. That was just grandstanding on my father’s part.”
“But my aunt… I don’t understand… she died. I got an inheritance.”
He pulled her close. “I don’t know about all of that. But I promise I’ll help you find out the truth.”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion and pain.
“They said such… mean things about Theresa Jean and you.”
“I can take it. It’s just my father’s way. I’m sorry about the things they said about TJ, though. And there is no way she has a drug problem. No way.”
John Black stopped beside them. “I’ll be in touch.”
Cal nodded. Their lawyer left, but he sat and held Becky Lee, waiting for her to feel strong enough to leave.
“James.”
Cal looked up to see his father standing in the aisle.
“You might have gotten custody for this week but that’s all you’ll get. I’m going to have that boy.”
“His name is Scotty,” Cal said each word slowly and deliberately.
“Don’t mess with me. You know I always win. One way or another.”
“Is that a threat?” Cal tightened his arm around Becky Lee.
“It’s more of… a promise.”
His father turned and walked out of the courtroom. Cal’s heart pounded in his chest. His father was a formidable foe to have. He’d put nothing past the man. Nothing at all. The man was ruthless.
“Cal?” Becky Lee’s voice was low and tired.
“Yes?”
“Will you take me home now?”
“I can do that.” Cal stood up and reached down with both hands. She slipped her hands in his and he pulled her to her feet.
“I want to go home and be with Scotty. Tomorrow, when I’ve had a bit of time to sort things out, I’m going to go talk to my father and get the truth about Aunt Ellie.”
~ * ~
It didn’t take Greta very long to decide she had to go tell Becky Lee the truth about Ellie. Becky Lee had talked to Jenny, of course, after the court case. Jenny had told Greta what happened. Now it was up to Greta to sort things out for Becky Lee.
She drove to Becky Lee’s home and knocked on the door. If Becky Lee wasn’t here, she’d try the Magnolia Cafe next. She heard a scuffling inside then the door opened and a puppy jumped up on her, nearly bowling her over.
“Penny. Bad dog. Don’t jump on people.” Scotty reached out grabbed a shoe from the puppy’s mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to teach her not to do that.” The boy looked at the shoe. “Penny, Aunt Becky is going to be so mad when she sees what you did to her shoe.”
Greta reached down to greet the dog. “Hello there, Penny. Looks like Scotty has his work cut out training you.”
“You know me?”
“My daughter-in-law is a friend of Becky Lee’s.”
“Oh. Did you know she’s my aunt?”
“I did.”
“Well, I know now, too. She’s a pretty cool aunt.”
Becky Lee came up behind the boy. Her face was creased with worry, her eyes red from tears or lack of sleep… or maybe both. “Hi. What brings you here? Everything okay with Jenny? I just talked to her last night.”
“We need to talk for a bit. It’s important.”
“We could have tea on the back patio if you’d like.”
“I’d like that.” Greta stepped inside.
“Scotty, why don’t you work on your puzzle while I visit with Greta?”
“Okay, but I hope Penny doesn’t try to eat any more puzzle pieces.” Scotty let out a long-suffering sigh.
Becky Lee poured two glasses of tea and led the way out back. Greta sat down beside her, wondering where to start.
“I need to tell you some things. Things that have been secret for years. It looks like everything is unraveling now, so I’m going to tell you the truth. You see, your Aunt Ellie and I were best friends growing up.”
“You were? I didn’t know.” Becky Lee brushed her hair back behind her shoulder. “In court they said she was alive. How can that be? I inherited money from her. I don’t even know why she ever left. My father won’t talk about it.”
“It’s a long story. But, I did recently learn that indeed Ellie is alive. They faked her death to try to keep all of you safer. Keep Ellie safer.”
“So that’s the truth? She’s alive?”