Page 26 of Saving Salem
“Ladies, it’s not like that,” she protested. “He’s doing this to save Chloe.”
“Girlfriend, let’s look at the facts, shall we?” Gabi started counting on her fingers. “One, he proposed marriage to help you keep custody of your daughter. Marriage to somebody he barely knew. Two,” she continued over Salem’s protest. “He willingly moved to another state to be with you and your daughter. Three, he left a job that he’d had for almost a decade, a prestigious job where he was well respected and had opportunity to advance. A job that he immediately resigned so he could marry you and move to New Orleans. Four, he took a job with a company he didn’t know a thing about, except by reputation. Again, so he could marry you and relocate. And five, the man has goo-goo eyes every time he looks at you. Somebody who doesn’t care wouldn’t make those kinds of sacrifices.”
“Sounds like the man has feelings for you.” Andrea reached over and squeezed Salem’s hand. “The bigger question is how do you feel about him?”
Salem looked at each one of the women seated around her, each one her friend, there to lend her support, a friendly ear, or anything else she needed, and she felt blessed to have them in her life. Less than two years ago, the only one in this group she knew was Gabi, and now she had women who had her back, who trusted her and that she trusted.
“Honestly, I don’t know. My brain tells me I can’t afford to get involved with any man, not after Tarik.” Her hand went to her cheek without thought, covering the scar. “I haven’t wanted anybody. Then Jack…he was there when Tarik died. He’s been around Shiloh Springs a few of the times when I visited Ms. Patti. He makes me feel…cherished in a way I can’t describe.”
“That’s what your head’s telling you. What is your heart telling you?”
Salem gave a watery chuckle, and Chloe reached for her, calling “Mama?” She reached over and took Chloe from Ms. Willie, placing her onto her lap. “Shh, it’s okay, sweet pea.” Looking down into her daughter’s face, she decided to try and put into words how she felt. “Jack makes me feel like I’m the only person in the room when he looks at me. Like he sees the real me, past the persona everybody else sees. I try to pretend I’m strong, that I can face the world, take on the Amirs or anybody else who strikes at me, but the truth is I’m scared. But somehow when Jack’s with me, that fear goes away. I’m terrified if I open myself up to a man again, it will end in a disaster. I’m gun shy after Tarik, even though I know Jack is nothing like him.”
“Do you want this marriage to be more than words on a page in front of a judge, or are you willing to let Jack go when the court case and the custody battle is over?”
“That’s the big question, Steph. I’m afraid to let myself care again, to give my heart to somebody only to have it stomped on, or worse, find out that he can’t care for me in return. Maybe it’s best if we keep being friends, and not take a chance on losing everything.”
“Oh, love, I understand far better than you’ll ever know. But I can tell you from personal experience, if you don’t take that chance, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Taking a chance on love is always worth it. Yes, you might get your heart broken, but you may also find the best thing that’ll ever happen to you. Fate has stepped in, given you an unexpected chance at finding something special, a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Nobody can give you promises that everything will work out the way you want, but isn’t the possibility of happiness worth the risk?”
There was a faraway look in Ms. Willie’s eyes, tinged with sadness. Her words spoke of love lost and a broken heart. Fortunately, she knew Ms. Willie had found true happiness with Gator, knew she loved him with all her heart. Seeing them together, she knew they’d make it for the long haul. She wanted that, wanted to find somebody who looked at her the way Gator looked at Ms. Willie. The way Samuel looked at Andrea, and Etienne looked at Stephanie. The way Dylan looked at Gabi.
All of her friends had found their happily ever after with men who adored them, thought they walked on water.
What if there was a chance for her to find that with Jack? Should she take the chance, jump in with both feet and see where it could go? She might drown, but she also might rise to the top happy and whole.
“You’re right, Ms. Willie. True love is always worth taking a risk for. I don’t know how Jack feels, but I’m willing to see where things might lead. After we’ve dealt with the Amirs.” A chorus of groans met her words.
“Okay, enough about me. I don’t want to think about sad stuff anymore today. Somebody give me a brownie, I’m in need of a chocolate fix.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“How’ve you been,Bubba? Heard you got out of Angola about six weeks ago.”
“Yeah. Did my time and they let me out on account of good behavior. I’ve been keeping my nose clean ever since.”
“Have you, Bubba? A little birdie done told me you picked up a job recently. Said you made a good haul, got a lot of cash.”
Bubba shook his head back and forth so hard Jack was surprised it stayed attached to his neck. The skinny man was pale as a ghost, obviously terrified of Gator. Thus far, he was impressed with the older man. He barely had to say a word before people told him anything and everything they knew. He inspired awe and adoration in the good people of New Orleans. The not-so-upstanding citizens? Those people steered clear of the Boudreau patriarch.
“Nah, Gator, it’s not like that. I…I won that money at the casino, fair and square. I ain’t done nothing wrong.”
Gator sat on the edge of the bed across from Bubba, who’d plunked down in one of the chairs in the shabby motel room. Threadbare puke green carpet covered the floor, which likely had no padding beneath it; he heard the echo of his boots against concrete when he’d walked in. A burnt orange and brown bedspread lay across the bottom of the unmade bed, and the bathroom door was thankfully closed. He really didn’t want to see what the tub or toilet looked like in this palace.
“Bubba, that’s not what we heard.” Gator gestured toward Jack, who stood leaning against the doorframe by the closed door. “We heard you picked up that wad of cash because of these.” He reached into the back pocket of his jeans where he’d folded the envelope and put it there after leaving the manager’s office. Pulling out one of the pictures, he held it up in front of Bubba, who sank back against the chair, staring at it like it was a rattlesnake preparing to strike.
“Gator, you gotta listen—”
“Only if you tell me the truth, Bubba. I’ll know if you’re lying. You know what’s going to happen if you lie to me?”
“Please, Gator, I can’t tell you anything. I open my mouth, I’m gonna disappear, and not in an ‘I’ve run off to South America’ kind of disappear. Disappear as in my body will never be found.”
“Bubba, one way or another, you’re going to tell me who hired you. Easy way or hard way, you pick. I need to know who hired you to install the cameras.”
Bubba’s head fell forward, and Jack wasn’t sure if the man was crying or not. From the way his shoulders shook, he probably was. Not that he felt sorry for the guy, he’d planted cameras in Salem’s home. Invaded her privacy. Made her afraid.
“I can’t. They find out—”
“They won’t find out from me. Bubba, you’re not the big fish we’re after. I want a name, and then I’ll let you walk out of here. If you don’t wanna cooperate, well, we’ll be taking a little trip out to my camp, and I’ll introduce you to Big Shirley.”
