“Yeah.”
“Unlike me, who is nothing but good for you, and yet you still have to convince yourself it’s the right thing to marry me.”
I glowered at him. “This is not the time.” I looked to the still-closed door, wondering if Mario was on the other side listening. “I don’t want Mario to accidentally find out. He’ll tell my mother.”
“Maybe I want your mother to find out. Have you ever considered that?”
“Only a crazy person would want to involve that woman in our lives.”
“Only a crazy person could put up with you.” He lightly tickled my ribs. “You know you have to tell her eventually.”
“I thought I would wait until after the wedding.”
He grinned. “Oh, so there’s going to be a wedding?”
I ignored the question. “Let’s get back to Ruth.”
“Just a second.” He was somber as he held my gaze. “You have to tell your mother. You have to tell all of them. I don’t want to have to hide the truth from them. It will be impossible, especially because Jake knows.”
I balked. “Why is it impossible?”
“Jake will eventually bring it up to Derrick, and we both know he has a big mouth.”
I’d considered that, and then ruthlessly shoved it out of my mind. I didn’t want to deal with it, so I ignored it. “Jake will keep his mouth shut.”
“And Lexie? You’ll tell her eventually. We both know it.”
He had a point and still .... “I’ll make you a deal.”
“Oh, good, I love a negotiation.” He tightened his arms around me. “Let’s hear it.”
“I will agree to mention it at the next family dinner if you help me figure this out.”
He nodded without hesitation. “Sold.”
“Wait. I thought you would need more convincing.”
“Nope. I’m perfectly happy with your terms.”
I had more negotiating power than I realized. Crap on toast! “Well, great.”
His smile widened. “I’m guessing you want to have another conversation with Ruth.”
“I don’t want to give her too much time to think up a lie.”
“Okay.” He pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth and pushed me to a standing position. “Let’s do it.”
“Just like that? I thought for sure you would want to argue some more.”
“I’m good. We can make up later tonight.”
I considered it. “Making up might be fun.”
ELIOT DROVE TO RUTH’S HOUSE, WITH ME PROVIDING directions. By the time we got there, I’d mostly formulated a plan.
“Let me do the talking.” I strode up the walkway and immediately rapped on the door. “I’ve got this.”
He looked dubious but didn’t argue.
Ruth answered on the third knock. She looked genuinely surprised to find me on her porch. “Oh, it’s you.” She glanced around the yard, her gaze momentarily falling on Eliot, and then she forced a smile. “Did you forget something when you were here earlier?”
“Just a few questions I should’ve asked. Do you mind if we come in?”
“Oh, well ....”
I gave the door a little shove, not waiting for her to answer. When I stepped into the foyer, I found the boots had been removed from the rug.
“Now really isn’t a good time,” Ruth said. “I’m busy selecting items for Cal’s funeral.”
“You’re paying for his funeral?” Eliot asked. “That’s nice of you considering the fact that you’ve been separated for a decade.”
“Somebody has to do it.” She straightened her shoulders. “We might not have survived as a couple, but he was still my daughter’s father. He deserves a proper burial.”
“Of course.” Eliot flashed his most charming smile. “I’m sure your daughter appreciates it.”
“I hope so.” Ruth momentarily adopted a far-off expression and then shook her head. “What can I do for you? I don’t really have time for a conversation right now. Besides, I already told you everything I know.”
“I think you left a few things out of the equation,” I countered. “For starters, how often were you seeing Cal?”
A look of legitimate confusion flashed across Ruth’s face. “I told you that I wasn’t seeing him. I hadn’t seen him in ... I don’t know how long. There were times he stopped by to see Jessica, but that was years ago.”
She seemed truthful and yet .... “Okay, I’m just going to lay this out for you because I don’t have time to screw around. I believe that you were involved in whatever plot Cal and Ray had going. I don’t think you participated out of choice, but your lingering feelings for Cal pulled you into the mix.
“Now, I don’t want to see you get in trouble and I’ll do whatever I can to help you, but you have to tell us what you know,” I continued. “Covering for a dead person does nothing for you at this point.”
Ruth’s expression was incredulous. “Are you accusing me of selling drugs with my ex-husband?”
“And your brother.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Real fury filled her eyes and for a brief moment, I wondered if I’d gotten this all wrong. “I can’t believe you think I sell drugs. I let you into this house. I answered your questions. What more do you want from me?”
“You answered my questions and then called the sheriff to tell him I was essentially harassing you,” I challenged.
“I did no such thing.”
She was so adamant that I found I began doubting myself. “Um ... yes, you did. He told me.”
“I ....” She hesitated and I recognized the moment something occurred to her. She snapped her mouth shut and pressed her hand to my shoulder. “You need to leave now. This conversation is over.”
The swift shift in her demeanor had me fighting against her insistent push. “We’re not done talking.”
“Yes, we are. I’m not participating in this conversation a second longer.”
“You have to confide in me.” I was adamant as I pushed back against her. “I’m the only one who can help you.”
“Avery, she won’t trust you now,” Eliot argued. “She’s shutting down.”
“Yeah, but ....” My gaze went to the floor, to the spot next to where the boots had been on my earlier visit. A new pair
