Special Delivery (Mountain Meadow Homecoming 1) (23 page)

Jake grinned, “Into the lion’s den…Baptist.”

Evan laughed. “Presbyterian. Shall we compare notes to see if our nativity thieves have generated unity?”

“Good idea. Then we can report back and see if Holly’s goodwill meter is spiking.”

Holly stuck her nose in the air. “Make fun of me. I’m telling you other forces are at work. Things you non-nativity-season humans just can’t understand.”

“Come on,” Jenny reminded them. “Let’s go before we arrive late and ruin the image we want to project as solid citizens instead of lost souls living in sin.”

“What’s living in sin?” Tyler wanted to know. “Is that what they call the noises I hear at night?”

Evan barked with laughter and both Jake and Holly blushed to the roots of their hair.

* * * *

The members of the Presbyterian church welcomed Evan and Jenny with open arms. Mrs. Tarpley was one of the first to greet them.

“I told you yesterday, but I’ll tell you again, it sure is good to see the two of you together.”

Evan kissed her cheek. “It’s good to be here with the love of my life. Where is the love of your life?”

Mrs. Tarpley smacked his arm with her church bulletin, her eyes twinkling. “You know Jim and I have agreed to disagree. He goes to the Baptist church, and we’ve still managed to stay married all these years.”

Several glances came their way during the service. Evan stretched his arm out along Jenny’s shoulders while they listened to the sermon, and she scooted closer to him when they sang so they could share a hymnal. More than a few sighs went up from older women happy to see the two back together again and younger women disappointed to see the county’s most eligible bachelor was off the market.

Two blocks down, reactions were mixed, but for the most part Jake and Holly were also warmly welcomed. Betty Gatewood was one notable exception, but then Jake figured having a police lieutenant tell her he would like to punch her in the nose would have a dampening effect.

Pastor Joe welcomed them with enthusiasm, shaking Tyler’s hand and letting the boy know they had a church youth Christmas party that evening he was welcome to attend. Tyler’s enthusiasm increased when he noticed their neighbor, Alex Scott, in attendance with his parents.

“Could I go with Alex if he’s going?” he asked Holly and Jake. Holly nodded and smiled. Jake saw such a difference in Tyler just in the last week.

“You’ve brought the whole family,” Jim Tarpley greeted them with a smile before clapping Tyler on the back. “Mornin’, son. You’re looking mighty spiffy.”

Tyler grinned. “You, too. Where’s Mrs. Tarpley?”

Jim chuckled. “You’ve discovered our secret. Mrs. Tarpley is a Presbyterian,” he said the last word in such a stage whisper Holly and Tyler both laughed, drawing several glances. “She enjoys her church and I enjoy mine, and we’ve managed to get along just fine.”

“Hmph!” Jake snorted. “Wish more people took the same attitude.”

“Oh, I think we’re getting there. Why I saw a group of ladies from both churches sipping tea and munching doughnuts at Mercer’s just yesterday,” Jim said with a smile. “There’s nothing like the Christmas season to bring folks together. That’s what I always say.”

Holly’s smile was huge as she elbowed Jake. “I said the same thing just yesterday, Mr. Tarpley. There should be more people like you.”

“The Christmas season or holiday larceny?” Jake arched a brow and Holly just shook her head.

Pastor Joe preached an inspiring sermon on the need to love thy neighbor. From just behind them, Jake heard a woman mumble, “Seems some folks have taken that to heart.”

When he glanced over his shoulder, his gaze met a censorious look from one of the women who had come to his office along with Betty Gatewood. Jake smiled, wrapped his arm around Holly’s shoulders, and pulled her close against his side. Holly flicked a quizzical look his way, before refocusing on Joe’s preaching.

At the end of the service, Holly picked up Noelle. “If you’ll excuse me guys, I’m going to take her to the ladies’ room so I can change her diaper before we leave.”

“We’ll wait for you in the vestibule,” Jake said, leaning down to pet Noelle’s tiny head with its dark curls.

* * * *

Holly smiled at the woman who held the door open for her. As she had hoped, there was a small sitting area providing her with a place to set her belongings so she could change Noelle. She had heard the woman in the pew behind them and her comment. She had also seen the way Betty Gatewood had glared at them Friday evening and again this morning. And, as Holly had already observed, Mrs. Gatewood was in the restroom fluffing her blue-tinted curls and repairing her makeup.

Holly smiled. “I’m sorry to bother you, but would you mind holding Noelle for just a moment while I get everything set to change her diaper.” The older woman looked as though she wanted to refuse, but with the baby already halfway in her arms, she had no choice but to grab her. As Holly worked she chatted. “Thank you so much. Everyone has been so kind to my brother and me since we came to Mountain Meadow. Tyler’s had a tough time. Our folks were killed in a car accident just a year ago at Thanksgiving.”

“How terrible.” Mrs. Gatewood responded.

That didn’t sound sincere
. Holly would have to work a little harder.

“Then when Doc Owens ordered me on bed rest, I was so worried. Mr. Crawford let me work from home, but of course my hours were cut. I hadn’t worked there long enough to qualify for leave.” She paused, glancing over her shoulder, where the older woman had now shifted Noelle to her shoulder and was bouncing her. The baby cooed in her ear. Holly grabbed a clean diaper.

“Then the Tarpleys were kind enough provide my little brother with groceries in exchange for doing odd jobs for them, and Doc sent Jake out to help. He chopped wood for us.” Holly stood and smiled as she held out her arms for her daughter. “I don’t know what I would have done without him,” she finished, making sure the older woman saw the ring sparkling on her finger. “My phone was out when I went into labor, and he showed up with Tyler and helped deliver Noelle when Doc told him the weather was too bad to move me.”

Holly smiled into Mrs. Gatewood’s softening expression and added, “You must be very proud to live in a town where people look out for each other and know what it means to ‘love thy neighbor.’”

The woman puffed with pride. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

Holly beamed at her. “Thanks again for holding Noelle. Family and friends are the most important things we have.”

“Yes, they are.” Mrs. Gatewood smiled at Noelle’s wiggles as Holly unsnapped clothing to get to the little girl’s diaper. “You know the church auxiliary runs a children’s clothes closet. You should stop by to see if you can find anything for the baby. Most of the baby items for one as tiny as your precious little girl are almost brand new.”

Holly laughed. “A wonderful idea, Mrs. Gatewood. Thank you. I will do that.”

“Call me Betty. You have a blessed day, dear,” the woman said as she left with a smile on her face.

Holly changed Noelle’s diaper and smiled at her daughter. “Always remember, my precious little daughter, the message of the season…peace on earth, goodwill toward men, but then you already understand Christmas magic, don’t you sweetie? Just like Mama.”

She was humming Christmas carols when she met Jake and Tyler. Jake arched one thick brow. “Are you all right? I saw Betty Gatewood come out of there with a smile on her face, and I was afraid she might have spitted, roasted, and eaten you.”

“We had a lovely conversation, Jake. She told me about the children’s clothes closet the church runs. I said I would stop by some time this week. You know, we should bring my car over.”

He was staring at her as if something about her just seemed to puzzle him. “I’ll send one of our guys out to get it.”

“Jake?” Holly asked as Tyler walked on ahead of them.

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

He put his arm around her shoulder and smiled at her. “I never would have imagined even one week ago how much my life was going to change all because of you and Noelle.”

* * * *

“Can you run me by the courthouse on your way to the clinic this morning?” Evan asked Jenny as they curled into each other in the aftermath of making love Monday morning. Evan could hardly believe it. Jenny was here by his side where she belonged. He touched the golden cap of her hair and skimmed his hand from her back to her bottom. Man, he wanted her again.

“Mmm. Not if you keep doing that.”

“Why?” he murmured.

“Because we’ll never get out of bed, much less to the car.”

He chuckled. “You’re right. And I need to get into my office. I’ve been out two days and had to continue the Hairston trial.”

“The DWI case involving the family from Hillsville?”

“Yeah. I was hoping to have it wrapped up before Christmas, but now I’m sure it won’t be back on the calendar until January.”

Evan stood and stretched, and Jenny’s gaze roved over him.

“I will never get tired of looking at your body,” she told him. “You’ve got a great ass…no doubt from all those years of basketball…long, long legs and those feet.”

He caught her staring. “Feet aren’t the thing most women want to stare at,” Evan commented and chuckled.

“They’re the biggest thing on you,” Jenny shot back with an arch of her brow. He huffed and laughed.

“I guess I opened myself up for that one.”

Jenny rolled onto her back and put her arms above her head as she stretched. “You did. Mmm. I guess I should get up too.”

Evan ogled the firm thrust of her breasts beneath the covers. “We could shower together.”

“Not a chance, Richardson.” Jenny laughed. “I have patients scheduled first thing this morning.”

A few brows raised when Jenny’s red BMW halted at the curb in front of the county courthouse. Evan leaned over and kissed her. “I’ll see if I can’t get one of the county vehicles until I get the insurance settled on my car. Then you can help me car shop. I was thinking maybe an SUV or a minivan. We can fill it with car seats.”

He laughed when she blushed, grabbed his briefcase from the backseat, and got out. Before he shut the door, Evan leaned down and smiled at her. His step had a little extra spring as he took the steps to the front door two at a time.

God, I love her.

It struck him just how much his life had changed in the last few days, and how by chance it had. If he hadn’t agreed to help Jake move Holly’s belongings, who knew how long he and Jenny would have continued avoiding each other except for the occasional lurch into open hostilities. Holly and Noelle, the spirits of Christmas. Maybe there was something to Holly’s belief in peace and good will.

Evan opened the door to the main office and stepped through. Conversations halted, almost as if someone had thrown cold water on the whole group. He looked around at the clerks and his assistants. Did he really have such a dampening effect on their moods? Had he been as cold and sarcastic as Jenny described him?

He smiled at everyone. “Good morning!”

A nervous cough came from the youngest clerk, then Wanda Sue Gardner stood. “Welcome back, Mr. Richardson. I hope you’re feeling better.”

Evan’s fingers touched the bandage still covering the stitches Jenny had put in his head. “I am, though I can’t say the same thing for my car.”

There was more silence in the office. Were they scared of him? When had he become such a monster? But he knew the answer, and knew things were going to change from now on.

“Is it true?” Wanda Sue continued. “Are you going to marry Doc Owens?”

Serious faces, hardly daring to show curiosity, regarded him. He smiled again and saw them shift nervously at what must be an unaccustomed action on his part. “Yes. It’s true. Jenny Owens and I are going to get married.” Just admitting it in public filled him with euphoria.

He grinned then and laughed. Another nervous titter slipped from the young clerk and then the whole office was laughing and congratulating him. Evan accepted their handshakes and hugs and the warm sense of belonging missing before. As he closed the door to his office, he decided the change was for the better. He’d do his best to make sure it stayed that way.

Still, some things couldn’t be avoided. There was a twelve-year-old crime for which he needed to ensure someone paid. He pulled a pad of paper in front of him and began making notes. He would need his father’s bank records, Jenny’s bank records, and
her
father’s as well. He would need a statement from Doc Baxter and access to Jenny’s medical records.

Most of all, he needed the video. And he would have to be careful. Evan now suspected the man he’d spent so many years trying to please was not at all who he thought him to be. The man Jenny described would have no compunction whatsoever destroying evidence if he sensed a threat. Evan would have to be very, very careful.

He drummed his fingers on the desk, realizing he needed to talk to her. She was smart enough to know that now he knew about it, pursuing prosecution was his job. He could not ignore the commission of a felony. This, he thought, was going to get a whole lot uglier before it was over.

Evan grabbed the phone and punched in a number. “Sam, it’s Evan. You got a few minutes to talk?”

“Sure, Evan. I’ve always got time for you. Come on. One of my deputies just got back from Mercer’s with fresh doughnuts, and I made coffee. Good stuff, not that swill Jake and Ernie drink at the police station. We can drink to my apparent psychic powers. Just when are you and Jake tying the knot?”

“Bite me. I’ll be right down.”

Evan walked out of his office whistling “Jingle Bell Rock” under his breath and could have sworn everyone in the outer office caught their breath. He stopped, stared at them all, and snapped, “Oh for heaven’s sake! I’m happy okay? I have not acquired some fatal disease.”

“Sir?” Bill Fields, his senior assistant ventured.

“What?”

“We’re just a little shell-shocked right now.”

Evan stared at them all. “Was I that bad?”

Wanda Sue and Bill nodded, and soon everyone else had joined them. He frowned. Damn. He must have become a real son of a bitch without even realizing it. He had become his father. The thought entered his brain unbidden…and very unwelcome. With a flip of his coattail, Evan pulled out his money clip and grabbed a credit card.