Heart of Gold (24 page)

“Oh.”

His tone made her ask, “Why'd you say it like that?”

“No reason. Let's get to work. Look at this list of musicians and tell me who you want to use.”

“Wait, Jason. If you have something you want to say, you should. We've been together a long time—you owe me that.”

“Okay. I was hoping he'd stay gone.”

She forced herself to remain calm. “Why?”

“You can do so much better.”

“Better than a man who loves me as much as he does?”

“Does he? A week ago he walked out on you. What kind of love is that? In my mind, he took advantage of you when you were at your lowest.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The shooting. Had you not been in the mental state you were in, you wouldn't've given him the time of day, let alone married him.”

Roni found this whole conversation bizarre. “Jason, where's this coming from?”

“From a guy who knows you, cares about you, and worries about you.”

“And this is how you show that? You really believe he manipulated me into marrying him? How long have you known me again?”

“I should've kept my mouth shut.”

“No. It's obvious that we needed to have this conversation. Who am I supposed to be with? You, who never met a woman he didn't want to sleep with?”

“Oh, now you're getting personal.”

“And you weren't? Reggie is my husband. I may have been in a bad place when we met, but I was in my right mind, Jason. Yes, he's had some issues dealing with me and the music, but couples have issues about stuff all the time. At least he manned up and tried to figure it out.”

Jason's face turned stony.

“Look, I appreciate you wanting to have my back, but if my husband being in my life is going to be a problem for you, then we need to part ways.”

“You're firing me?”

“No. I'm telling you how I feel.”

“And I feel like he's screwing up your career. You should be on the road right now. How many gigs have you turned down in the past year? And who builds a recording studio in the middle of damn Kansas?”

“A woman who loves her family, Jason. Are you going to start in on my adopting Zoey, too?”

His jaw hardened.

“I'm trying to balance house and home the best way I know how. Until you find someone you love as much as you love the business, you'll never understand that.”

“I guess I won't.”

The sarcasm in his voice sealed the deal. “Send me a bill for whatever I owe you. I'll be looking for a new manager.”

“You're kidding, right?”

“No. Give me my keys.”

Eyes blazing, he fished his ring out of his pocket and slapped the key to the studio onto her outstretched palm. “You'll regret this.”

“Maybe. We'll see.”

He punctuated his exit by slamming the door.

As the sound faded, she stood in the silence. It never occurred to her that he felt the way did about Reggie. Was he just jealous? She tended to think not; he'd never tried to hit on her or push their relationship past professional boundaries. More than likely it was about the business, and in his mind the business should always be paramount. He was a genius at his job, and he'd helped put her career into orbit, but this? How dare he pretend to know what was best for her life? He was her manager, not her daddy. They'd made some beautiful award-winning music together, but she wasn't going to put up with someone who belittled the choices she'd made with her heart and mind. Replacing him was going to be tough, but their conversation proved it was time to move on, and she had no intentions of looking back.

Roni picked her daughter up after school, and as soon as Zoey entered the truck, she asked excitedly, “Did Ms. Bernadine find out whether I can keep my gold?”

“She did, and you can!”

Zoey screamed with joy. She was so elated Roni thought she'd bounce free of the seat belt and clear out the window of the truck. “How about we stop by and see her and talk to her about what happens next.”

“OMG! This is so awesome!”

Zoey was still bouncing off the walls when they reached the Power Plant, and she ran right to Bernadine and gave her a big hug. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Bernadine laughed. “You're welcome, but thank Mr. Patterson.”

Zoey broke the embrace and danced. “I am so happy!”

Laughing, Roni asked, “You think you could sit a moment so we can talk?”

“Yes!” She sat, but happiness kept her from sitting still. “I know exactly what I want to do with some of it.”

“What?” Roni asked as she took a seat, too.

“I'm going to give everybody I know one coin.”

“Really?”

She nodded proudly. “Even if I give out thirty, I'll still have big bank—right, Ms. Bernadine?”

“Yes, you will.”

“Do you think I can call a town meeting?”

“I don't see why not,” Bernadine replied.

“But don't tell anyone why I want to talk to them. I want it to be a surprise.”

“Got it.”

“And after that, I want to go to Toledo and see my aunt Yvette.”

The out-of-the-blue request caught both women by surprise. Roni saw her own concern mirrored in Bernadine's eyes. “Can I ask why?” Roni inquired.

“My mom owed her money, and I don't think she paid her back.”

“Oh.”

“Are you sure?” Bernadine asked gently.

“Yes.”

Roni knew that Bernadine had visited Bonnie's sister Yvette the first summer the kids came to town. Although she'd been decent enough to send along the picture of Bonnie Zoey now held so close to her heart, the aunt hadn't been very kind. “You know, we can probably send your aunt a check instead.”

“No. I want to give it to her in person. I think my mom would like that.”

Roni didn't push, but the mother in her wanted to protect her child from what could be a disastrous encounter.

“Maybe she'll even come for the family Thanksgiving the town is having,” Zoey speculated, looking to Roni for approval.

“Maybe.”

“That would be awesome. I have some cousins, too. Maybe they'd want to come here for the summer sometime.”

Roni prayed. “They'd certainly be welcome. So when do you want to go?”

“You think we could go this weekend?” She directed her next question at Bernadine. “Can Ms. Katie fly us down there?”

“Most certainly.”

“Great. I'm the happiest kid on Planet Earth.”

Roni hoped she'd still hold that title when they returned from Toledo.

That evening, because Roni didn't want to show up on the aunt's doorstep unannounced, she got Yvette's phone number from Bernadine. And after dinner, while Zoey worked on her homework up in her room, Roni placed the call. It didn't go well. The aunt expressed no interest in seeing her niece. Roni tried to change her mind. “Zoey's ten years old, Mrs. Caseman, and you're her only family. Certainly you can understand her desire to meet you, if only one time. I promise we won't bother you again, if that's what you choose.”

“I don't want to see her.”

Roni forced herself to remain calm. “She really has her heart set on this. I'd hate to have to tell her you prefer not to be contacted.”

“I don't care what you tell her, frankly. My sister was a drug addict. I don't want my children exposed to that lifestyle.”

“Zoey isn't an addict, Mrs. Caseman, and neither are my husband and I. She'd really like to meet her cousins, too.”

“Absolutely not.”

Roni wanted to reach through the phone and strangle the woman for being so mean-spirited. “Again, she's ten years old. She's no threat to you or to your family whatsoever.” Roni hated having to beg, but this meant so much to Zoey. “Look, see her for a few seconds. You don't even have to let us in your house. We'll stand on the porch. Please, Mrs. Caseman.”

The other end of the phone was silent for so long, Roni thought they'd been disconnected.

Finally she replied tersely. “Okay, fine. I'll see her this one time only.”

“We'll be there next weekend.”

“And, Mrs. Garland—after this, lose my number.”

“Understood.”

Roni put down the phone. How could a person be so uncharitable? According to Bernadine, Yvette Raymond Caseman had been jealous of her sister Bonnie's musical talents and the attention they earned her from their parents. But none of that had anything to do with Zoey. Roni hoped the woman would change her mind, or at least pretend to be happy about seeing her niece, but there was no guarantee. The only thing guaranteed was that she didn't have the heart to tell Zoey the truth.

C H A P T E R

19

A
t school the next day, the weather was too cold to eat lunch outside, so Zoey and her classmates sat in the conference room instead. Wyatt announced that he and his gram were moving into their house tomorrow, and he sounded really excited.

Amari nodded. “It's a great house, man. My dad and I lived there before he and my mom got married. You'll like the place.”

Zoey was as elated about his news as she was about having her own stash of gold. Now she could see him nearly twenty-four/seven. Of course, after witnessing her confrontation with Devon, she wasn't sure what he thought of her now.

“So, Zoey,” Leah asked. “What's this town meeting about, my dad said you want everybody to come to?”

“Yeah,” said Preston. “I was wondering that, too.”

She took a sip from the straw in her juice pouch. “It's a secret.”

“What kind of secret?” Amari asked.

“A secret secret.”

Wyatt watched with quizzical eyes.

“Give us a hint.”

“No.”

“Come on,” Amari pleaded.

“Nope. You'll have to wait until the meet.”

“Maybe she's going to announce she's leaving town,” Devon tossed out sarcastically.

“Maybe I'll announce I'll kick your behind for the third time if you ever talk to me again.”

That drew snickers and some sage advice from Amari. “You really need to let this go, Devon. She's giving you beatdowns right and left.”

“Left and right,” Preston added.

“East and west. North and south,” Leah threw in.

Devon snapped, “All of you can kiss my butt.”

“No thanks,” Amari replied and made a point of turning his attention back to Zoey. “Now about this secret—”

But no matter how much he and the rest of the kids pushed and prodded, Zoey's lips remained sealed. And when it came time to return to the classroom, her friends were still in the dark.

From her bedroom window, Zoey watched Dads Inc. move Wyatt and his gram's stuff into Amari's old place. She thought it was nice that they were moving in, not only because Wyatt was so awesome but because there'd be someone else to hang out with who was closer to her age. In the past that had been Devon's role, but he was being such a butthead, she didn't want to do anything with him anymore.

“So the cutie-pie is moving in, huh?”

Zoey turned to see her smiling mom walking in. “Yep.”

“I went over to welcome them to the neighborhood. Both he and his grandmother seem to be nice people.”

“They don't have a lot of stuff.” She'd seen some beds go in, a couch, and a couple of chairs.

“Stuff isn't important.”

“I know, but are they poor?”

“I don't know, honey.”

“I'm going to give his gram two coins.”

Her mom stroked her hair softly. “You have a good heart.”

They both stood silently and watched Trent and the colonel carry in some boxes. Her mom asked, “Did you enjoy talking to Dad this morning?”

Zoey nodded. “I'm glad he's coming home. I really miss him. He said he was helping Papa Charlie and Uncle Drew build some houses for poor people.”

“Yes. Papa Charlie and Gigi Jas helped him figure some stuff out so he could come back.”

“I'm glad.”

“So am I.”

“Are they coming for Thanksgiving?”

“I hope so.” Her mom gave her shoulders a loving squeeze. “Is there anything you want to talk to me about regarding Dad coming back? Anything bugging you—worrying you?”

“Nope. Just glad he's coming back.”

“You sure?”

“I'm fine, Mom.”

Roni chuckled “Okay. Understood. We'll leave for the Dog in about an hour.”

“Okay.”

After she left, Zoey watched the move-in for a short while longer, then changed clothes for her town meeting.

As everyone filed into the Dog, Zoey tried to hold on to her excitement. She felt real important, sitting at the big center table with her mom, Ms. Bernadine, and Tamar. She wondered if this was how her mom felt right before a big press conference. All the people she cared about and who cared about her had come—even Wyatt and his gram. When he smiled her way, she smiled back, and her heart took off like the engine on Ms. Rocky's Silver Shadow.

Mr. Bing stopped at the table to ask, “What's all this secrecy about, Miss Miami?”

“Secrecy,” she whispered back, and gave him an exaggerated wink that made him laugh very loud.

“Okay. Gotcha.” He was still chuckling as he and his cane walked over to sit with Mr. Clay.

She'd asked Tamar to bring thirty of the coins, and they were in an old cigar box on the table in front of her.

After everyone found their seats, Ms. Bernadine leaned close. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, ma'am.” She glanced at her mom and then at Tamar and received approving nods from both. Why she was so nervous she didn't know, but she drew in a deep breath in an effort to calm herself down.

Ms. Bernadine stood. “Okay, folks, let's get this show on the road. Zoey?”