Page 56 of Rainwater
“Look, I don’t want to argue about Jay. I want you to help me plan Ellie’s birthday party. She’s going to turn fourteen. God, I can hardly believe it.”
“Of course I’ll help. What were you thinking?”
“A good old-fashioned hoedown with a fiddle and a country band. What do you think?” she asked enthusiastically.
Corey smiled, his teeth flashing brightly against his dark face. “I think that you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Jennifer took a deep breath, got up from the table and settled onto his lap, circling her arms around his shoulders, and burying her face in the hollow of his neck. He was slipping away from her. She could feel it. Soon he would be gone and no matter how much she told herself she would let him go, she just didn’t know if she could.
God help her. She closed her eyes tightly against a wealth of emotions. She just didn’t know.
Chapter
Twelve
Ellie’s birthday party was in full swing. They had just finished eating cake and opening presents. A group of Ellie’s friends were dancing and having a good time, and it took Jennifer a moment to settle back and relax. She closed her eyes and let the music take her away. The fast country beat wrapped around her, and she relaxed against the barn wall, sinking a little deeper in the bale of hay on which she sat.
Corey had spent so much time helping her that he had neglected his duties, but now he stood near the door watching Ellie and Tucker dance, a reflective look on his face.
She saw Corey stiffen and draw away from the doorway and then she saw why. Jay Butler stood at the barn entrance, searching out the crowd. Corey pushed away from the wall with a murderous look on his face. Jennifer jumped up and tried to intercept Corey.
She got to Corey just before he got to Jay. She looked up into his eyes, pleading with him not to make a scene. With her hand against his chest, she could feel the tension in him.
She turned to face Jay, Corey a large warm shadow behind her.
“Jay, what do you want here?” he asked in a steely voice.
“I came to pick Tucker up. Isn’t that right, boy?” he said with smug confidence.
Jennifer could see that Tucker hadn’t expected Jay and was just as angry as Corey that he was here. Tucker’s eyes flicked to Jennifer’s, and she saw the realization in them that if he said he didn’t want to leave, there would be a fight.
Tucker turned to Ellie and jammed his hands into his pockets. “I’ve got to go, Ellie. I’ll see you around, kid, okay?”
Ellie took in the scene and her mouth tightened. She began to reach out to Tucker, but he sidestepped her touch and turned toward his father. “Let’s go,” he said between clenched teeth, and Jay gave them all a self-satisfied grin as he followed his son out.
Ellie watched Tucker walk away and Jennifer felt her heart constrict when she realized what Ellie didn’t even know yet. She had her first crush on a boy. Jennifer’s heart ached for her little girl.
Ellie then looked at her as two silver tears tracked down her face and Jennifer heard Corey swear low and vicious.
Jennifer approached her daughter and took her into her arms. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“He’s mean and horrid, Mom. Just like Dad, just like Sonny.”
Shock held Jennifer immobile. How had Ellie found out her father’s name?
Ellie supplied the answer. “I heard you and Grandpa talking about him, and since it was easy to follow him on the circuit, I collected every clipping and every article until his retirement.”
Ellie looked at Corey and he nodded his encouragement, then very quietly left. “I saw him at the junior championships. He wasn’t very nice and Corey punched him out. Oh, God, I hate him and I hate Mr. Butler. I wish he would die and leave Tucker alone!” With tears running down her cheeks, she ran out of the barn.
She sighed deeply, calling Sonny every vile name she could think of. Jennifer had a feeling she’d find Ellie with Corey. They had gotten so close in such a short time. It warmed her heart to know that Corey would be there for her daughter. When she got to the horse barn, she stopped in the doorway so her eyes could adjust. She heard Ellie’s voice clear and trembling.
“I know it was stupid and that I should have stopped wishing for him to come and visit me, but there were times I just wished…”
“I know, darlin’,” Corey encouraged her with his tone of voice.
“Do you know what I wish now? I wish my father was just like you.” She gently kissed him on the cheek. “Corey, you’re the best.”
Ellie then saw her mother at the entrance to the barn and went to her, wrapping her arms around her waist. “I love you, Mom.”
