Page 53 of Forever His This Christmas

“I’m not answering that. Lisa has a daughter, she’s thirteen and if you say a single word about it, I will make you sorry.”

“You’re marrying someone who has a kid…a thirteen-year-old kid? Tony said the chick you met seemed young.”

“Lisa’s thirty, so she’s eight years younger than me, and yes, she was sixteen when she had Abby. There’s more to it than that and I’m not getting into it over the phone. So, if you want to meet her get out here and do not upset her understand?”

“Okay, I take it she is pregnant though. You refusing to answer the question pretty much answers it but if she’s not far enough along to be showing I’d say that’s why you’re getting married. You don’t want her looking trashy or something?”

“I will kill you if you say a single word about it to anyone, but I didn’t know untilafterI proposed. It didn’t make me want to marry her faster. It just made me happy. I want a baby, I want Abby as my daughter, and I want Lisa forever.”

“What about Donna? She’s going to flip when she finds out you’re married again. Ever since she saw you last year at Christmas with some chick—this Lisa I’m guessing, she’s been stopping by the bar more and more looking for you, asking questions.”

“Yes, she was out here for some reason last year and I’ve made sure no one lets her near my office or tells her where I am because she tried calling and stopping in several times after New Years. So yeah, I know she’s likely to be pissed I’ve moved on, especially after the guy she was here with last year dumped her but let her flip out. Lisa is my world, my present, my future, and that’s all I need. I’ll keep Donna away from her and we’ll have our family. If you want to be part of that then get your ass outhere and stop asking me questions,” Corey stated before hanging up finding the jerk still waiting for them.

“I think we’re all set,” Lisa said giving him a kiss.

“You found a dress?” he asked, seeing Abby’s huge smile.

“We found dresses and I think you’re going to love them,” Lisa said noting his preoccupation. “What’s going on?” she asked when Abby looked at a pair of shoes that she pointed out for her.

“I don’t want you upset but…I think he’s watching you,” Corey admitted turning her enough to see the jerk in a wheelchair across the street in a diner window. Her face tightened and he held her closer to him. “That’s him, isn’t it?”

“Yeah…let’s just go, keep Abby on the far side of us and get back to the lodge,” she suggested and was thankful when Corey did just that, carrying the dress bags to block his view of them until they were back at the car and leaving town.

Chapter 18

“We don’t have to go to the dining room for supper tonight, Mom,” Abby said as Lisa debated about what to wear. “We can just stay here.”

“No, we’ll have dinner there that way no one can say I’m still hiding you because I’m ashamed of you,” Lisa said as her heart beat faster, the worry she’d had since seeing Benton in town at the forefront and she couldn’t let him win.

“I don’t care what anyone else says,” Abby stated from her spot at the window seat as Corey came out of the bathroom dressed. “Mom, you’re scared, and I don’t want you to be, so if the thought of going to dinner is making you scared then we don’t have to.”

Lisa sighed as Corey moved over to her side, kissing her temple as he hugged her, turning them towards Abby. She crossed the room to her daughter and sat down next to her, keeping her hand in Corey’s for strength. “I’m not scared of taking you to dinner Abby that’s not what this is about.”

“No? Then what is it? You’re not having second thoughts about the wedding, right?” Abby asked, looking between them.

“No that’s one thing I’m not worried about,” Lisa admitted as Corey lifted her hand kissing it gently. “Today while we were in town…”

“What?” Abby said letting her gaze flow between them again. She saw the looks they both wore and let out a light gasp. “You saw him, didn’t you? That’s what this is about…you saw him—or he saw us and now you’re scared for me.”

“I noticed someone watching your mom when we went into the dress shop,” Corey answered moving over to the other side of the window seat, cushioning her between them to keep her calm. “He kept watching her and his watch, seeing how long we were in there. I don’t think he saw you but that’s why we came back here after getting the dresses.”

“And you’re scared he’s going to show up here tonight?” Abby asked her mom.

“I don’t think he’d do that, I just…I’m worried about what he might do when it gets out around town that I’m here with you,” Lisa admitted trying to stay calm. The tape recorders sat in the lockbox hidden in the new safe, underneath the window seat, she’d installed after discovering Benton had managed to get someone in there to find the old items.

“So that’s why you’re going through everything you brought trying to stall for time?” Abby asked and she smiled softly at her. “Mom, I’m not leaving your or Diane’s side while I’m here, I promise. I know you’ll keep me safe, and I know Corey will keep you safe.”

“I will,” he agreed kissing the top of her head as he squeezed Lisa’s hand. “I can have someone out here to watch him in a couple hours if you want baby. He wouldn’t be able to do anything without us knowing about it.”

“And what happens when someone sees them watching him or he sees someone watching him?” Lisa countered, not about to risk it. “I won’t have the town looking at Abby like that.”

“What about if I have someone come out to watch you and Abby then? They’ll stay in the background, I promise. I’m awealthy man Lisa, very wealthy and there are people who would use those I love against me for something they wanted.”

“I know,” Lisa said leaning into her daughter as she watched her for a reaction to that news.

“I said I’d do whatever I have to Mom, if it’ll make you feel better, not put so much stress on you, keep my little brother or sister safe,” Abby replied smiling at her as she hugged her in return, “I’ll do it. I don’t care about anyone else, just us and being a family.”

“Okay, I won’t say no to that,” Lisa said, and Corey breathed easier.

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