Under the Midnight Stars (29 page)

Brielle shook her head and forced a smile. “No. Thanks, Amy.”

Amy’s hopeful look diminished. Tears glistened in her eyes. Her bottom lip began to tremble. She bit it to steady it. “I’m pregnant, Gabby. And I don’t know what to do. I’m all alone. I’m so scared.”

Brielle gasped. She looked to Jack for help.

His eyes were wide, but he offered no support.

Brielle swallowed nervously. “So, it’s …
his?
” She still couldn’t say his name.

Amy nodded and buried her face into her hands. “I’m so ashamed. I don’t know what to do. I didn’t love him. After I found out what a jerk he was I didn’t even want to be with him. He threatened me. I was afraid to leave.”

Brielle’s heart went out to Amy. It was going to be hard enough for her and Jack to see the child of the murderer who’d caused so much tragedy in their lives. She couldn’t imagine what life was going to be like for Amy, raising the child of the man who’d only brought her shame.

“Amy!” Emmit shouted over the counter as he slid the food across. He turned back to his business in the kitchen.

Jack stood. “I’ll get it, Amy. It’s no trouble.” He quickly headed for the counter, seemingly eager to break away.

Brielle stood and grabbed a chair from a nearby table and set it down behind Amy. “Here, sit.”

Crying, Amy did as instructed.

Brielle sat and took Amy’s hands into hers. “It’s gonna be okay, Amy. It doesn’t matter who the father is. What’s important is that you’re going to have a
baby.
And that baby is gonna need you to love him or her, and to be strong.”

Amy nodded and sniffed. Her eyes were red and swollen. “I know … But I’m carrying the baby of a murderer.”

Brielle gently placed a hand over Amy’s abdomen. “Your baby doesn’t know that. All he’s gonna know is that he loves you more than anyone in this whole world. And that you love him too. You two will have each other now. That’s all that truly matters.”

Amy sucked in a ragged breath. “You’re right … You’re right. It’s
my
baby.”

Jack sat back down with their platters. He handed Amy a small stack of napkins. “Here you go, Amy. And congratulations.” He smiled softly. “Now y’all can be pregnant together.”

Amy’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant too?”

Brielle smiled. “Yeah. I am.”

Amy giggled slightly. “I can’t believe it. Congratulations to you too. Oh, Colt’s a very handsome man. He’s gonna take good care of you. I know it.” She sighed, forlorn over her predicament. “I don’t know how I’m gonna raise a baby and work enough to pay the rent and bills. I sure wish the daddy had been someone else. Someone who wanted to be with me. Someone who loves me.”

Brielle’s eyes lit up as a thought came to mind. Not being able to resist her mouth-watering cheeseburger, she took a bite before filling Amy in on the details.

Amy liked Brielle’s plan, but she was afraid to carry them out on her own. Brielle agreed to go with her, but only under the condition that Amy do all of her own talking. Amy agreed. Jack, on the other hand, didn’t want to be a part of it. He decided to go home and tend to the horses.

When Amy got off work, she and Brielle left the diner in Amy’s car and headed for their destination. When they’d reached the outskirts of town, they drove along the winding country road. Instead of turning right at the three-way stop leading toward Brielle’s and Colt’s homes, they kept straight for almost two miles, until they reached the home of Richard Collins.

Amy slowed and turned onto the paved driveway.

Brielle suddenly became nervous. The thought of being at the home of a murderer sent her skin crawling. She squeezed her eyes shut.
He doesn’t live here anymore and he never will again. It’s the sheriff’s home. You’re safe here,
she told herself silently before opening her eyes again.

Amy parked the car behind Richard’s squad car. “Here goes nothing,” she said as she got out of the car and headed toward the front porch.

Brielle got out and followed Amy.

“It sure is creepy out here,” Amy whispered warily.

“It sure is,” Brielle whispered back.

The asphalt of the driveway was cracked and crumbling. Tall weeds and sticker bushes had taken over the yard and pasture. The white paint of the house was peeling away, exposing the withered gray wood underneath. If she hadn’t known any better, she’d have assumed the house was abandoned.

Amy spun around to face Brielle. Her voice still a whisper. “I can’t do this. I’m scared.”

“I’ll knock for you,” Brielle spoke softly.

Amy paused for a few seconds before she finally nodded.

Brielle quietly made her way up the porch steps, with Amy right behind her. Behind the screen door the front door was slightly ajar. She raised her fist to knock as she peered inside.

Richard was sitting in a rocker with his head down, crying into his hands. A pistol sat in his lap. It gave Brielle a chill seeing the gun out for no good reason, and her heart broke for the lonely man.

She lowered her hand and announced their presence. “Mr. Collins?” She stepped back to give him privacy as he gathered himself. “It’s Brielle and Amy. We just wanted to talk to you.”

After a moment of silence the sound of heavy boots approached the door.

Amy stared at Brielle with wide eyes. She began to wring her hands nervously.

Brielle placed a comforting hand on Amy’s back.

Richard opened the door. His eyes were dry, but he couldn’t hide the pink in them. “Sorry. I wasn’t expecting company.” His tone was somber. He stepped out onto the porch and closed the door. “What can I do for you ladies?”

“Mr. Collins?” Amy’s voice shook with nerves. She looked at Brielle.

Brielle gave her an encouraging nod.

Amy looked at Richard again. “I’m pregnant!” she blurted. “And Billy’s the father, but I’m not ever gonna let him be!”

Richard stared down at her blankly. And after a long moment of silence, he grinned proudly. “So I’m gonna be a grandpa?”

Amy looked away and smiled through pursed lips. Her cheeks turned rosy. “Yeah. I mean … if you wanna be.”

“What do you mean?” Richard asked.

Amy looked him in the eyes again and suddenly unleashed her worries. “I mean, if you’re willing to accept this baby into your life. I can’t do it on my own.” She began to pace the porch. “I’m scared, Mr. Collins. I don’t know how I’m gonna work at the diner and raise a baby. I have no one to help me care for it once it’s here. It’s just me. I won’t be able to afford rent, or bills, and a babysitter, and all the things a baby needs. And I can’t just let someone else tend to my baby when it’s first born. The baby’s gonna need me.”

Richard let out a relieved sigh. He quickly interjected before she had a chance to carry on. “Amy. Sit down.” He motioned for her to sit on the wooden bench at the end of the porch.

Amy did as she was told.

Richard sat next to her.

Brielle remained quiet and sat on the top step, hoping he’d be willing to help.

He continued, “I’m sure all this worrying isn’t good for the baby. And you do have someone. You have me. I know you and Billy weren’t together for very long. And I’m sure you don’t love him. But I’ve known you since you were little. I knew your mom before she passed too. And as far as I’m concerned, the mother of my grandchild is my family too. Now I know it’s not much at the moment, but I think you should move in here. There’s plenty of room. You can take one of the upstairs bedrooms. I don’t go up there anymore. You’ll have your own bathroom. And you can set up a nursery up there too.”

Smiling, Amy started to cry. “Really? Oh my, Mr. Collins. That would be so great! You don’t know how much I appreciate it! The trailer I’m renting is so small.”

He smiled. “It’s the least I could do, Amy. And don’t worry about rent. There’s no such thing here. Or bills. I’ll take care of them. You can pay your share by doing the household chores. And I’m no good at cooking. If you prepare the meals, I’ll give you grocery money each week.”

“That’s more than generous, Mr. Collins.” Amy smiled wholeheartedly. “But I still have my job at the diner. I can still work ’til the baby’s born. And then I can get that maternity leave and compensation that I heard about.” A frown replaced her smile. “I’m not too sure what I’m gonna do after that. I’ll have to work out babysitting and such.”

“I have an idea. I’ll make sure I’m home at night to take over caring for my grandbaby while you go to night school. You can’t really raise a child on tips from the diner,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“Night school?” She was flabbergasted. “I never imagined I would ever get the chance to go back to school and get a
real
job. I’ve always wanted to go to nursing school. It’s only eighteen months long at night. I could take care of me and the baby with nurse’s pay. Plus I care about people so much. It would be perfect for me.” She giggled and threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Mr. Collins! Thank you so much!”

Richard smiled and hugged her back. “No, thank
you,
Amy … Thank
you.
”

Amy stood and headed back toward Brielle. “Well, we best be on our way then. I guess I have some packing to do.”

Richard followed her to the steps.

Brielle stood and dusted her bottom.

Amy passed by her on the steps and headed toward the car.

“You call me when you’re ready and I’ll load all your stuff in my truck,” Richard called out to her.

She stopped and turned to him. “Okay. I’ll give my thirty days’ notice today. Thanks again, Mr. Collins.” She smiled.

Richard shook his head. “Call me Richard.”

Amy nodded and turned to Brielle. “Are you coming?”

“Give me a minute,” Brielle replied. She couldn’t get the image of Richard crying hopelessly, holding a gun in his lap, out of her mind.

Amy nodded and got into her car.

“Mr. Collins.” Brielle looked up at him.

He smiled.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

His smile faded for a brief moment before a glimmer of hope filled his eyes. “I am now.”

“I’m glad.” Brielle thought of his visit earlier that day. She felt like she needed to apologize for Jack’s behavior for some reason. After all, Richard wasn’t to blame for their anguish. He was suffering his own afflictions.

She spotted a knothole on the railing and began to nervously toy with it. “There’s one more thing … I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about my brother’s rude behavior earlier. And so is he. And I’m sure he’d be more than happy to help move Amy out of her trailer if you need it.”

He shook his head. “There’s no need to apologize. But I could probably use help with the move.”

“All right then. I’ll tell Jack.” She headed down the steps, but stopped at the bottom. Slowly, she turned to face him again. “And … if you ever need anything … we’re here for you too.”

Tears filled his eyes, but he held them back. “You don’t know how much that means to me.” He smiled warmly.

She nodded and smiled back at him. “I’ll see ya later, Mr. Collins.” She gave a quick wave and hurried to Amy’s car.

Brielle opened her eyes and sat up from the couch. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep after Amy had dropped her off that afternoon, but a nap seemed to be turning into a daily ritual now — one she couldn’t control. She glanced out the window into the darkness and wondered why she hadn’t yet heard from Colt. Just then her cell phone chimed an incoming message. Eagerly, she snatched it from the coffee table and read it.

Hi baby. Hope you enjoyed your nap.

Come over as soon as you get this.

She beamed as her excitement grew. Finally, she would get to spend time alone with Colt. She rushed upstairs to brush her teeth and freshen up. Wanting to look extra beautiful for him tonight in anticipation of their lovemaking, she went to her bedroom closet and quickly donned her mother’s white eyelet summer dress — her favorite. It snugly accentuated her breasts, modestly hugged her full hips, and flowed softly to rest above her knees. After admiring herself in the mirror, she smiled her approval at her appearance, slid on her matching closed-toe flats, and hurried back downstairs and out the front door.

A rush of warm summer air blanketed her. Crickets buzzed while the yellow-green luminescence of lightning bugs faded in and out. Billions of dazzling stars lit the midnight sky. The night was perfect.

She went around the side of the house to her truck. The thud of hooves and creaking leather came from the brightly lit corral, where Jack was riding his horse.

“Bye, Jack!” she shouted and waved merrily.

“Good night, brat!” Jack chuckled lightly. “You look really nice tonight,” he added with genuine admiration.

“Thanks!”

Quickly she jumped into her truck and drove to Colt’s farm. She couldn’t wait to see him after a long day of his absence. The anticipation was almost too much to bear. Pulling up next to his truck parked beside the house, she wasted no time climbing out and slamming the door behind her. Eagerly she ran up the porch steps and flung open the front door. But to her disappointment, the house was dark and empty.

Then she noticed a soft glow illuminating the hallway through the panes of the kitchen door. She hurried to it and opened it. To her surprise, starting at the base of the porch steps was a pathway of white solar candles — hundreds of them leading though the soft green grass of the backyard, their light softly illuminating the aged mighty oaks towering above before disappearing over a slight hill in the distance.

“Oh Colt,” she whispered in awe, placing her hand over her heart. “What have you done?”

She bit her lower lip, descended the steps, and followed the heavenly pathway. Her skirt billowed gently behind her. Over the hill, her journey continued on a short distance until finally she topped the last small hill. Looking down, she saw Colt standing beside a white quilt spread next to the gently flowing creek, surrounded by more softly glowing candles.

“There you are.” Colt grinned.

She smiled with wonder as her heart fluttered. Slowly she made her way down the hill to stand before him. She bit her lower lip and looked around.