Page 98 of Fortune's Control
Shane’s head jerked as he fought a silent battle between privacy and his self-appointed role as my bodyguard. “I can wait outside if you’d like. You two have a lot to discuss, I’m sure.”
I wanted him to join, and not because I needed his support, but because I wanted him at my side, like a partner.
Like a husband.
“Oh, no, young man. You’re coming with. Don’t think I don’t have questions for you,” Evelyn said.
Lainey motioned to her phone and gestured to her ear as we left the library, and I nodded in response.
*****
Shane rested his hand on my thigh once we sat down. I squeezed it to acknowledge his silent gesture of support.
“Diet soda and a chicken Caesar salad?” Shane guessed for me. “I’ll order so you can talk,” he said at my nod of agreement.
“Wonderful choice. You may get me the same,” Evelyn said.
“I will, and a question for you.” Shane stretched his arm over the booth to stall for time. “When did you leave Fortune’s Creek?”
“Son, I’m right here.”
“You live in Gainesville,” he shot back.
“I finally moved into one of those fifty-five-plus communities a few years ago. The upkeep, with the yard and maintenance, was more than I could handle, so I purchased a condo and rented out the house.”
“It’s for sale.”
“There comes a point when you ask why you’re holding on after the reason is gone, so I put it on the market last month. Fortune’s Creek is still my home, and always will be. I still come to the baseball games and support our high school football team.”
“And the library,” I added.
“Our book club has met every week for more than a decade. Not even a hurricane could keep me fromit,” she said.
A hurricane sounded frightful.
“Nor would it keep Sam Taggert from his fishing,” Shane said.
“I expect you have more questions for me.” Evelyn tapped my hand where it rested on the table. Shane often used the same gesture, but her delicate skin lacked his rough calluses. It was cool, and I noted a few age spots on the back of her hand. “I’ll tell you what I know, all of it, as I don’t believe in secrets.”
“There are a lot of questions.”
“I expect so.” She looked at Shane, noting where his hand disappeared under the table, and guessed its location. “You seem to care about her, and I hope that’s true. She’ll hurt tonight, and you better be there when she does.”
“That’s an easy promise for me to keep,” Shane said.
Satisfied, Evelyn tilted her head to the side. “She was Sarah Jane Carter when I saw her last. I named her after my mother.”
33-Lilah
Sarah Jane Carter sounded unnatural. Who was that?
“Do you know why she changed her name? Do you know who my father is? Is Mayberry his last name?” My questions came in a rush, leaving me gasping for air by the end.
“That’s a mystery your mother will need to answer. She previously dated someone with that surname. It’s possible they married, and I never knew.” Her lips tightened at the memory. “He was in prison twenty years past for robbery; I’m unsure whether they were together then.”
My father was in prison? “I never heard about him.”
“Hank Mayberry. That was his name.” Evelyn put a finger to her lip while shaking her head at the long-ago memory. “I forgot about him and never connected your name until now.”
