Page 119 of Sweet Little Thing

“These are seven and a half,” she beamed. “I wear an eight now. My foot has grown with age. But these feel like you’re walking on a cloud. She’ll love them.”

“She won’t know how to handle so much excitement. A surprise visit is one thing. We are also taking the treats, the dress and shoes. She’s going to think it’s Christmas.”

Geraldine was smiling from ear to ear. She liked doing things for people. It was one of the many reasons she was easy to love. She had a huge heart. Heidi had taken to her immediately. She’d be happy to see her again today.

“Has Stone visited Heidi with you?”

Her question made me pause. I didn’t want to answer that. Asimperfect as Jasper was, he’d visited Heidi with me. He knew she was important to me, and he had wanted to be a part of my life. Stone had never asked or shown interest.

Again, my emotions were raw. I was being sensitive. Shaking that off, I smiled and mentally reassured myself that everything was fine. Stone was withdrawn, quiet, and kept to himself. Jasper was different. He liked crowds.

Stone liked crowds, too. Or at least it seemed like he did when he had been at Jasper’s parties. They had been his people, though—the ones he’d grown up and gone to school with.

No. I would not do this to myself. I was digging up drama where there wasn’t any. “Stone is busy. He rarely has time to sleep. I can’t expect him to find time to visit my sister,” I said, knowing I didn’t have to defend him to Geraldine. She understood him better than anyone.

“Humph.” She frowned as we walked to the door. “He’s got time to have relations with you in my pantry while he thinks I’m napping. If he can do that, he can visit your family with you.”

I opened my mouth and closed it three times, unable to think of the right thing to say here.

“Stop flapping your jaw, or a fly is gonna get in there. Now, come on. Let’s go see your sister. I won’t talk about Stone anymore today. But I will tell you this”—she stopped and looked at me—“you have got to make a stand. Let him know what you expect and deserve. Don’t let him run all over you or take advantage of your good nature. He’s a man, Beulah, and they are all a little self-centered until we shake them up a bit.”

All I could do was nod. I didn’t think Stone was self-centered at all, but I wasn’t about to argue with her. She would keep going, and we would run out of time. I had three hours to visit with my sister and drive Geraldine back home to get her settled before my appointment.

“Men don’t know how lucky they are when they findthemselves a good one. We are worth our weight in gold.” Geraldine marched toward the garage that housed her Mercedes.

I didn’t comment.

“Do you think I should wear this pink dress to the Miller’s wedding?”

I had no idea who the Millers were. I started to ask when she added, “I can’t believe Claudia is getting married so young. We have years left of our youth. What is she thinking?”

I slowed my pace and wondered if I should turn back to the house. I couldn’t take Geraldine to see Heidi like this.

“I haven’t rolled my hair yet!” Geraldine gasped before she turned and ran back to the house. “I can’t go like this. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I watched her walk inside the house. The cookies and cupcakes I held smelled good. I reached for a frosted sugar cookie and took a bite. I chewed slowly and waited. When Geraldine didn’t come back, I knew she wouldn’t be snapping out of this one anytime soon.

Visiting Heidi would have to wait.

Chapter

Seventy-Three

Stone

Geraldine wasn’t answering her phone. Beulah wasn’t answering hers. It was after seven, and the doctor’s office closed two hours ago. Hilda was drinking my good wine and listening to a loud-ass reality TV show in the living room.

And all I fucking wanted was to be alone with Beulah. Today had been hell.

Although my lawyers felt positive now that we had proof the DNA said Wills was mine and I had his mother ready to stand by my side to fight for him, there was still the concern about the power behind my father’s name…or the man I had thought was my father.

Wills called me today, and his entire tone changed when Hilda asked to speak to him. He was tense. He didn’t want to talk to her. She wasn’t a source of comfort for him, and I understood his feelings all too well. But Wills didn’t have a Geraldine in his life.

I glanced at the clock again and decided I’d look for Beulah.I couldn’t stay here wondering where she could be. My pacing in front of the door wasn’t helping anyone. Hilda’s drunken laughter was also grating on my nerves. She had an affair back in Chicago she would need to get back to eventually. I didn’t expect her to stay here long. As much as I needed her in court, I didn’t need her in my home.

The doorknob turned, and I froze. My first instinct was to grab it and swing it open, but I waited for Beulah to walk inside.

She was barely in the door when I blurted out, “Where have you been?” It was harsh and demanding. I cringed at the tone of my voice. My worry and panic had built up, and I couldn’t help my reaction.

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