Page 42 of Shelter for Sharla

“Dealing with a little lady who has pneumonia. Poor little thing. She’s like eighty-three and very weak. I helped her with some breathing treatments, but I’m afraid the evening shift won’t keep up with them and she won’t be any better in the morning.”

“That’s awful.”

Sharla nodded. “Yeah. She’s so sweet.”

“Get the kids back to school?”

“Yeah. They didn’t want to go, but I told them it was best to stay busy.”

“Yep. Probably.” His phone rang and he looked at the screen. “Cruz. Gotta take it. Hey, bud, any luck?”

“A little. Before you grill me, I recorded the whole conversation on my phone so you can listen to it. That way you might pick up on something I missed and vice versa. O’Fallon? Prison?”

“Yes and yes. Anytime we want.”

“Good and good. I’m on my way to Sam and Dahlia’s right now and we’re going to some buffet here that they like. Don’t know how late I’ll be.”

“That’s okay. Sharla’s here with me and she’s staying the night. Hope that doesn’t bother you.”

A snicker rolled out of the phone. “Bother me? The way I snore, I doubt I’d hear anything if you were tearing the house down!”

“I take it that’s a no!” Carter said, laughing.

“Your house, your girlfriend. You staying in?”

“Yeah, she’s begging to. We’re both exhausted.”

“I know. I could see that in your face. I’d hoped you’d have some fun, but you need the rest. Hang in there. It’s going to get better. Just wait until tomorrow. Today I went over your stuff. Tomorrow you go through mine.”

“Good!”

“Yeah. I’ve got some stuff that you haven’t…” Carter was trying to listen, but the sound of keys in the lock startled him and he sat straight up. The door cracked open just a little and he heard something he never dreamed he’d hear.

“Hello? Carter? Son? It’s Mom. Are you here, honey?”

“Jesus, Cruz, sorry to interrupt, but I’ll have to talk to you later. Small emergency. Bye.”Shit! What is she doing here?Carter wanted to scream. “Mom?”

“Hi, honey! I cooked a bunch of chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy and… Well, hello! Who do we have here?” WildaFern asked, eyes wide and a huge casserole dish in her hands.

“Um, Mom, this is my friend, SharlaBarker. Sharla, this is my mother, WildaFern Melton.”

“Here, let me take that for you,” Sharla said and reached for the dish. WildaFern handed it off, that dumbfounded look still on her face, and watched silently as Sharla disappeared into the kitchen.

“Carter?”

“Mom, I didn’t want you to find out this way, but Sharla and I have been seeing each other for a little while now.”

“Oh. Well, you know how it is. The mom’s always the last to know,” WildaFern huffed.

“Don’t be like that. I just hadn’t had a chance to talk to you.”

“Did I miss anything?” Sharla asked as she rejoined them, a huge smile on her face.

“No, babe. I was just telling Mom that we’ve been seeing each other for a little while and I hadn’t had a chance to tell her yet.”

“Oh, yes, Mrs.Melton. Carter was just saying to me that he needed to introduce us.” Sharla held out a hand, which WildaFern took hesitantly. “It’s so good to meet you.”

Dear god, woman, if I loved you before, I love you ten times more now,Carter wanted to sing. She’d just saved his ass and said the absolute best thing she could’ve said. “That’s right, Mom. We decided we wanted to have some quiet, alone time tonight. Sharla lost a family member and she’s had a rough week.”

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