“Oh, my darling. You look like you’ve been to hell and back. I’m sure he deserved it. What did that Dempsey devil say to you?”
“He said he was falling for me.”
“He…my word, that was a nasty thing to say, wasn’t it?” She took Marla’s shoulders and turned her so they were face to face. “Oh my, you’re in love with him.”
Marla sucked in a sob and nodded. “Mom?” She took a breath. “Mom, were you in love with Uncle Johnny?”
With an abject sigh, Silvia nodded. “Completely.”
“But…what about…”
“…your father? Bradley Danaher is the most wonderful man in the world. When John walked out on me, he was there to mend my broken heart. I can’t explain to you how much I love Brad. He has never once thrown John up to me. I don’t deserve him.”
“Oh, Mom, you do. Dad’s crazy for you. He said the day John eloped with Kathleen was the luckiest day of his life.”
“Did he? Such a dear man. He tells me I’m his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but I had no idea he shared his feelings with you. I can’t imagine living without Brad. He never complains about the money I spend, some of the silly things I do and say, but he did lay down the law about John’s wife. Told me it was time to snap out of it. He was right, you know. She’s a lovely person.”
“Even though she married Uncle Johnny?”
“You know something, honey? Not once did John Dempsey ever tell me that he loved me or that he was ‘falling’ for me. It was wishful thinking on my part. We were together, but in his mind we were merely pals with benefits. Very hot benefits.” She pointed her finger in Marla’s face. “That is not for publication.”
Marla smiled and pretended to lock her lips and throw away the key.
They took a few moments of exchanging loving looks and Marla hugged her mother with new appreciation. “What should I do, Mom?”
“What do you want to do?”
“Why do people always say that when you ask for advice?”
“Because it’s the right thing to say. You must do what you think is best for yourself, not what someone else thinks is best. What do you want to do?”
Marla put her hands on her cheeks. “I want to get in my car, drive straight back to his house, get down on my knees, and beg him to forgive me and forget what I said.”
“That’s a bit drastic but can easily be modified.” She sat back against the cushions, crossed her legs, and bounced her foot just the way Charlene often did. She tapped a finger on her chin.
“How about this? Go home, shower, change clothes, then find him and suggest you go out for coffee and talk it over.”
“Finally, some advice I can use.” She kissed her mother, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door.
“Marla!”
She stopped and turned, hand on the doorknob.
Silvia smiled. “I dropped Skipper off at your house on my way here to water Char’s plants. He’ll be happy to see you even if Dwayne isn’t.”
Marla chuckled. “I’ll always have Skip’s loyalty. Bye, Mom.”
Cluny met Dwayne’s eyes when he thundered into the construction trailer, took in his black expression, and said, “Oh, shit.”
Dwayne glared. “Don’t say another goddamned word or you’ll be picking yourself up off the floor.” He pulled off his leather jacket and flung it in the direction of the coat hook, kicked a wastebasket out of his way, and poured a cup of coffee that looked and smelled like yesterday’s sludge into his unwashed mug. Just what he needed.
The door snapped shut when Cluny departed. There was a man who knew when to keep his mouth shut. He’d be around when Dwayne needed him and wouldn’t expect an apology.
He removed files from desk drawers and the filing cabinet. It was time to wrap up this damn job and get out of here. He’d tally the final expenses, give Danaher a bill, collect his money, pay his crew, and disappear from her life.
First though, he had to line up materials for the storage facility job scheduled to start next week. He spent an hour on the phone lining everything up for the first phase of the project.
The door opened. Slim stepped inside. “We’re done, Gunny. Do you want to walk through the building one last time before the Boss Lady does her final inspection?”
Dwayne stood and stretched. “Yeah, tell the painting contractor to hang around until I have a look.”
Slim tipped his head. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave before you’re ready.” He backed out and closed the door.
“Wait, Slim. Tell Jack I want him to start packing and securing the trailer this afternoon so we can haul it to the new site.”
“He’s just heading out to his kid’s Little League game. I’ll catch him.”
“No. Forget it.” He waved Slim off. “He can get to it tomorrow.”
He carried his mug to the sink. The door opened again. “Now what, for chrissakes!”
“Hey, Dempsey.”
His head whipped around. Marla stood in the doorway, her backlit hair floating red-golden around her shoulders. “What do you want, Danaher?” He turned his back on her.
“You.”
Unable to breathe under the enormity of the weight on his heart, he stood still and stiff.
“I want you.” Her footsteps approached, and then her hand rested on his back.
A moment of hurt and anger almost prevented him from doing what he most wanted to do. He turned around and drew her into his arms. With her chest crushed against his, their heartbeats spoke through the silence.
“God, I want you too.”
“I love you, Dwayne.”
He crushed his mouth on hers. This time he wouldn’t let her walk because he needed this woman in his life. He held her beautiful face in her hands, sighed deeply, and then smiled.
“Come with
