Page 25 of Saving Salem
“Miss Willie! I didn’t know you were back from London.”
The older woman leaned in and kissed Salem’s cheek before bustling into the apartment, a canvas tote draped across her arm. She made a beeline for Chloe, handing the bag to Gabi, and lifting her honorary granddaughter into her arms. She nuzzled Chloe’s cheek and gave a pleased sigh.
“Got back day before yesterday, but it’s been a whirlwind since I got home. Trip took longer than I expected, but we managed to get the information we needed.” She gave a pleased smile. “I might have been out of the game for a while, but I’ve still got a few moves up my sleeve.”
“I bet you haven’t lost a step, Ms. Willie.” Gabi opened the bag Ms. Willie brought and pulled out a pan filled with delicious-smelling chocolate brownies with what looked like a decadent chocolate frosting. “Ta da! I thought I smelled chocolate. Ms. Willie, you are the best!”
Walking over to one of the empty chairs, Ms. Willie sat, holding Chloe in her lap, while the little one played with the necklace hanging against her chest. She seemed fascinated with the brightly colored beads, immediately trying to stick them in her mouth. Salem reached for her daughter, but Ms. Willie simply shook her head. Though she’d never had children of her own, everybody knew the unofficial godmother of all the kids around Carpenter Security knew she was the one who always had a treat or a hug handy.
“Now what’s this I hear about you having some trouble, dear?” Though Ms. Willie had lived in the U.S. for more than a few decades, she’d never lost her upper-crust British accent.
“Forget the trouble, didn’t Samuel tell you? Salem got married.” Andrea leaned back against the cushion after delivering that bit of news.
“Married?” She narrowed her eyelids, her gaze zeroing in on Salem. “Samuel didn’t mention that little fact. He simply said you were having some trouble with the Amirs. As a matter of fact, he had me do a little digging into them while I was in London.” Shaking her head, she bounced Chloe on her knee, keeping the child entertained while she spoke. “I must say, that family has their fingers in a few unsavory enterprises, ones that my former employers are taking an interest in as we speak. You’re very lucky to have gotten away from them when you did, Salem, because I have the feeling Abdullah is about to be neck deep in alligators, as you Americans say.”
Salem quirked a brow but said nothing. Everybody present knew Ms. Willie had a colorful past to say the least. She’d worked for British Intelligence with MI-5 and then MI-6, and had been an accomplished agent until her fiancé was killed. She’d moved to the States, where she’d worked for Samuel Carpenter as a housekeeper for what seemed like forever. When they’d relocated the company from Dallas to New Orleans, back to Samuel’s hometown, Ms. Willie had naturally moved too. Now, she took care of everyone at C.S.S. in both an official and unofficial capacity, and nobody could dream of a time when she wasn’t around. Samuel had provided her with a luxury apartment in the building, above the offices, and she divided her time between there and Gator’s house, since they’d been an item for a couple of years. There was even a pool going around the office about when the two of them would get hitched. So far, they didn’t seem to be in any hurry.
“The Amirs have served me with a custody case. They want full custody of Chloe.” Salem’s voice broke on the last word, and her body shuddered even thinking about the possibility. “Abdullah’s the one who brought the case, but I can guarantee it’s Sayifa who’s behind it. Abdullah couldn’t care less about Chloe, but Sayifa is her grandmother. Chloe is her only tie to Tarik, and she says she wants to teach Chloe their customs, their beliefs.”
“Nonsense. A simple check of the facts by any court would reveal the truth of what happened in Texas. That excuse won’t fly.”
“They are also suing Rafe Boudreau, since he is the sheriff of Shiloh Springs, as well as the county. They’re bringing a wrongful death case.”
Ms. Willie shook her head. “Again, Sheriff Boudreau was cleared after a thorough investigation by the Texas Rangers, and the Attorney General’s office for the state of Texas. I’m sure the Amirs can bring a case, but it’ll be thrown out of any reputable court the minute a judge sees the facts.”
“It’s not just that, Ms. Willie. The Amirs are saying Salem is an unfit mother.”
“Balderdash.”
“It’s true.” Stephanie leaned forward, her gaze locked with the other woman’s. “We all think the Amirs are going to claim that because Salem is a single mother working two jobs as well as going to school, Chloe is being neglected. Which is total B.S. Nobody loves their baby more than Salem, but the facts can be twisted, making it look like she doesn’t spend enough time with her child.”
Salem remained silent because every time she talked about the Amirs and what they were trying to do, it made her ill. She wasn’t sure how she’d go on if she lost Chloe.
After a few moments of quiet, Ms. Willie smiled. “I guess it’s a good thing that Salem isn’t a single mother anymore, isn’t it?”
Every eye in the room swung toward Salem, as if a collective lightbulb went off over everyone’s heads. Gabi didn’t say a word, but she sent a look toward Salem as if to say “see, I told you they’d figure it out.”
“Salem, you and Jack? Is that why you got married?” Andrea was the first to speak. “Is this a marriage of convenience, to keep the Amirs from getting Chloe?”
Salem took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say. She and Jack hadn’t wanted to tell anyone why they’d gotten married, but these were her friends, the women who’d supported her after Chloe was born. Had helped her heal physically and psychologically from Tarik’s abuse. They deserved the truth.
“Okay, what I’m going to tell you, you have to keep to yourselves. I need you to promise.” Each one gave their verbal consent, so she continued. “When I was in Shiloh Springs, Jack was there almost every day. When I met with Chance the first night, Jack was at the Big House, and he heard all the details of what the Amirs were doing. I mean, it seemed only fair since he was one of the men who was there the night Tarik almost killed me and Gabi.”
“He was the Texas Ranger, the one who’d been visiting Rafe.” Ms. Willie whispered the words, before grinning. “I love Texas Rangers, they’re all so handsome. Rugged with a touch of danger. Deliciously yummy. Is Jack—”
“Oh, yeah,” Stephanie answered, her head bobbing.
“Absolutely,” Andrea added. “He’s definitely a hottie.”
“Wait until you meet him, Ms. Willie.” Gabi leaned closer to Ms. Willie and whispered, “He’s totally besotted with Salem, though she can’t see it.”
Heat flooded Salem’s cheeks at Gabi’s words.
“Ignore them, dear. Go ahead with your tale.”
“Jack heard everything. All the things the Amirs were accusing me of, their threats to take Chloe back to the U.A.E. Their threats against Rafe and the county. He went to Chance and Ivy, who’s my attorney, and asked if my being married would help with my case. Then he proposed.”
“Oh, my. He’s your knight in shining armor. Or in this case, your savior in a Stetson.” Chloe clapped her hands, as if she understood Ms. Willie’s words.
