“Perhaps your mother couldn’t have a good time,” I countered. “I mean, she had a child to raise. She had bills to pay. Your father gave all that up when he turned down the help she offered.”
“What help?” Jessica’s eyes flashed. “What help did she offer him? She wanted to force him into rehab. He wasn’t an addict.”
“I don’t want to tell you your business ....”
“Then don’t!”
I pushed forward. “If your father wasn’t an addict, why didn’t he go through the rehab process for form’s sake? That would’ve gotten your mother off his back.”
“I ....” Jessica’s mouth moved but no sound came out.
“I think your mother tried to protect you from your father the best she could,” I said. “Things didn’t go as planned, but she still tried. It had to be heart-wrenching for her when you turned out just like him.”
“Watch your mouth,” Jessica hissed. “You want to be extremely careful about what you say.”
I swallowed hard, debating, and then Carly decided to insert herself into the conversation.
“I don’t want to intrude, but I’m in the middle of having a baby,” she said, flashing a smile that she probably meant to come off as sweet but was right out of the It clown’s playbook. “Could you guys perhaps take this conversation to another room?”
I was desperate to get Jessica away from Carly. “That’s a fabulous idea. In fact, why don’t we take this outside of the hospital? If we follow the hallway, there’s an employee exit into a side parking lot. Nobody will be there. We can talk without being interrupted.”
It wouldn’t be the best move for my safety, but it was what Carly needed. Unfortunately, Jessica was having none of it.
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
I took a moment to study her red-rimmed eyes and sallow complexion. “You probably don’t want me to answer that question.”
“Definitely not,” Carly agreed, growing bolder. She didn’t appear frightened. If I didn’t know better, I would think she was ready to hop out of the bed and start throwing punches. “But I’ll answer it. You’re definitely stupid. I mean ... who wanders into a maternity ward with a gun and thinks that’s going to work out?”
“Who are you?” Jessica’s agitation was on full display as she turned on Carly. “Why are you even a part of this?”
“Are you kidding?” Carly’s eyebrows practically flew off her forehead. “You come into my room when I’m about to give birth ... with a gun no less. I’ll ask questions if I want.”
Jessica raised the gun. “I think this says otherwise.”
Carly caught herself before she could say something truly hateful. “This is all your fault, Avery. I knew I shouldn’t have called you to help me.”
Under different circumstances I might’ve laughed. This situation was a bit too serious for my liking, though. “You definitely shouldn’t have called me,” I agreed. “But it’s too late now. We’re stuck together.”
“That’s my lot in life,” my best friend grumbled. “You and me, together forever. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Eliot was going to propose.” She seemed to have found a new avenue for her frustration. “How long have you known?”
I hesitated and then shrugged. “He told me right after the Fawn thing. He said he was going to propose, that I was going to say yes, and he was giving me time to absorb the news by telling me the way he did.”
Carly nodded sagely. “That makes sense. You really are a pain. He obviously has you figured out.”
Her response rankled. “Everyone keeps saying that. Has anyone considered that maybe I’m right to be frightened?”
“No.” Carly’s smile was benign. “He’s the only person I know who can put up with your crap. And he’s figured out how to get you to move forward. He’s perfect for you.”
That was the last thing I wanted to hear. “Just once I want to be the one who is right. Everyone thinks he’s sunshine and rainbows, and I’m the storm clouds on the horizon. It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair.”
“You are, like, the fiftieth person to tell me that this week.”
“Then maybe it will sink in.” She flashed a smile. “When do you think he’s going to propose? Oh, wait ... he’s not going to take you to a basketball game and do it on the big screen, is he? There’s nothing tackier.”
It hadn’t occurred to me that he might try something public. After a moment’s consideration, I shook my head. “He won’t do it like that. There would be no meaning behind it. He might do it big, but it won’t be at a game.”
Carly tapped her bottom lip. “But he would do something public. Like the Star Wars party he threw you. He would want it to be special for you. I wonder if it will have a theme.” She readjusted her body and pressed her hand to her back, grimacing. “Maybe he’ll let me pick the theme.”
Worry coursed through me when I realized she was suddenly feeling discomfort. She said the epidural was taking the edge off. Was that no longer the case? Did that mean her labor was progressing? Would the baby come before I could handle the Jessica situation?
“As lovely as this conversation is, we need to talk about me,” Jessica drawled, drawing my attention back to her. “None of this will happen unless you come through for me.”
“And what do you want me to do for you?” I challenged. “What exactly do you think I can do for you? I didn’t create this situation.”
“You started digging into Beau’s past. He led you to us. I was hopeful when you were interviewing those old crones he scammed, but you didn’t find anything there to focus on.”
Now I was really confused. “How could you possibly even know about that?” My mind was busy with possibilities ... and then it hit me. “Ray. I went to see him before I questioned CeeCee and Janet. He followed us from the gun range ...
