Page 41 of Georgia On My Mind (Southern Promises)

“I was glad to help.” Peering behind Jessica’s shoulder, he made eye contact with the little girl. “You okay?” She nodded, shyly clinging to her mother. “Good.” He patted her head before collecting the tools he had used to free her. “Sorry about the railing. It’s gonna need replacing.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I can call a handyman, or maybe Stephen can fix it if he’s ever home.”

Hart felt a pang of guilt, knowing exactly where Jessica’s husband was. The bastard had left his poor wife alone with his four daughters when they should have been together as a family enjoying a lovely spring Saturday morning.

As they walked back toward the family room, Jessica paused. “I’m sure Stephen told you this, but I knew your sister Katie Parker at Lakeside High School very well. She was always the sweetest girl.”

“Thanks. Katie is pretty special.”

“I was on the cheerleading squad, and I remember you were quite the football player.” She sighed. “Those were the days, weren’t they?”

Hart nodded in agreement. “Glory days. Some of the best.”

Jill wiggled out of her arms and ran into the family room with lightning speed, making the two adults laugh. “See? She’s already over her little ordeal. Little girls can be very dramatic.”

“Kids bounce right back, don’t they?” He started to walk away but stopped when she touched his arm, looking at him poignantly.

“I know you work closely with my husband Stephen,” she whispered.

Hart’s eyes grew wide. “Yes. We work together.”

Her cheeks blushed, and she nervously smiled. “Do you know where he is this weekend? He’s not answering his phone or replying to my text messages. He told me before he left that he was going somewhere remote that didn’t have good cell towers. That’s why he gave me your number. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t there be a landline?” The look of concern on her face made Hart avert his eyes with shame. “I mean, what if somethin’ awful had happened to Jilly and I couldn’t reach him. Can you reach him?”

He wasn’t about to tell her Stephen was at their family mountain home in North Georgia probably fucking his mistress at that very moment. He knew the place had a landline because Stephen had given him the number, just in case.

“I’m sure he’ll call and check in. You know how he is. A workaholic if you ask me.” He chuckled unconvincingly.

Jessica tightened her lips and sighed. “Yeah. A workaholic.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

After a quick round of donut holes and milk to celebrate Jilly’s freedom, Gia and Hart started to leave. JoJo held her baby hands up, indicating to Gia she wanted to be held while Jennifer and Jill grabbed her legs, begging her not to go. Little Julia remained silent with her thumb stuck in her mouth and innocently grabbed Hart’s hand. It was precious.

“Girls, let’s not cause a scene. It’s time for our guests to leave.” Jessica sounded like a sweet school teacher trying to calm down her rowdy class. “Thanks again. For everything. And don’t forget to put some aloe vera on that bruised cheek of yours. It’ll clear it right up.”

“Thanks for the tip.” When Jessica had asked about his face, he fibbed, telling her he had bumped into a doorframe during the night. “If anything else comes up, give me a call. We’ll be around all weekend,” Hart replied. Jessica nodded, as if relieved she would have contact with at least some adults over the next couple of days.

Gia handed the baby back to Jessica. “Your daughters are so sweet. They’re lucky to have you.” Jo-Jo started to cry, reaching for Gia again.

“Ha! If you say so. Again, it was so nice to meet you. Thank you for making such a great impression on my girls.”

When they got in the car, Gia looked out the window one last time to see Jessica standing on the front stoop of the magnificent home surrounded by her beautiful daughters. The snapshot of the little family waving goodbye made her feel melancholy, knowing what her husband, Stephen was up to.

“He’s such a dick!” she bemoaned.

“Yeah, I know.”

They drove in silence as Hart navigated through the bustling traffic. Gia noticed his cheek was turning darker. “Is your face okay? Does it hurt?” she asked tentatively, wanting desperately to reach up and touch him.

He glanced at her and smirked. “I’m fine. One of the hazards of trying to beat off a guy who weighed twice as much as me, I suppose.”

“Oh, Hart. I’m so sorry…”

He shook his head. “I don’t even know how to begin this conversation.”

“I know,” she squeaked, feeling small and vulnerable.

“I mean, you lied to me. Again. Why would you do that?”

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