Jailbird by Heather Huffman

turn to keep something from me.
    “What aren’t you telling me?”
    “I’m Mary’s attorney.”
    “Oh.”
    “Conrad didn’t want you to know. He thought
it would worry you too much.”
    “That brat.”
    “He’s trying to help.”
    “I know,” I tried to process it all. “So
you’ve known for a while now.”
    “It didn’t take long to figure it out once I
started talking to Mary,” he admitted.
    “And that’s why I’ve had to pick Cara up so
often. You’ve been in Louisiana.”
    “Yeah, sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry… this never would have dawned
on me. You’re licensed in Louisiana?”
    “Yeah, I worked as a junior prosecutor in
Marion County years ago.”
    “Well I feel silly,” I felt all of the energy
drain from my body suddenly as a huge burden was lifted.
    “Don’t. I’m completely and totally in awe of
you. I think you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. And you
still haven’t answered my question.”
    “You’re right… yes, I’ll marry you,” I
decided in that instant anything I might face as a result of my
consent was worth it if I got to stay wrapped in his arms for just
a little bit longer.
    “My little jailbird,” he kissed the top of my
head and sighed contentedly.
     
     
     

Chapter Ten
     
    My happy haze was disturbed by a constant
tapping at the front door. I lifted my head and met Charlie’s
confused gaze.
    “Why don’t you go check on Cara while I see
who’s at the door,” he suggested as he stretched. I nodded drowsily
and headed up the stairs to Cara’s room. The thought occurred to me
that it could be a police officer on his porch, but that thought
occurred to me any time someone knocked on the door.
    I couldn’t be sure if my sticking my head in
her room is what woke Cara up, but I was met with a sleepy good
morning.
    “Morning, sunshine,” I greeted her with a
kiss to the forehead. “How’s your arm?”
    “It hurts,” she frowned prettily then
brightened. “That’s a very pretty ring.”
    “It is,” I remembered the ring and held my
hand out for us both to survey. “Your daddy bought it for me.”
    “Does that mean you’re his wife now?”
    “It means I will be… if that’s okay with
you,” I hoped Charlie wasn’t upset with me for telling her, but I
wasn’t going to lie.
    “And you’ll be my mom?”
    “Well, you have a mom. But I’ll be your
step-mom.”
    “I don’t like my mom. She left me. I want you
to be my mom.”
    “Then I’ll be your mom,” I brushed her hair
back from her face, touched by her words but also wondering if
Gabrielle disliked me for the same reasons Cara did Julie. “Right
now, I’m going to go get you some Tylenol for the pain in your arm.
Then I’ll make you some breakfast. Deal?”
    “Deal,” she nodded with a bubbly smile. I
felt pretty bubbly on the inside myself. I ran a quick brush
through my hair and took Cara her medicine, then bounded down the
steps to go make some bacon and eggs.
    The sight of the woman standing in the
entryway brought me up short. She was only slightly shorter than
Charlie and put together better than any Barbie doll. But it was
the riotous blonde curls and bright blue eyes that froze me in
place. She was obviously Cara’s mother. One look told me the rumors
flying around town about her drug addiction were just that—rumors.
Fear clinched my stomach.
    If the resemblance hadn’t given it away,
Charlie’s discomfort would have. He didn’t seem to be capable of
not rubbing the back of his neck without subsequently pinching the
bridge of his nose or jamming his hands in his pockets.
    “Oh,” she gasped when she saw me. “I didn’t
mean to interrupt… I have to say I’m a little surprised at you,
Charlie. The old Charlie wouldn’t have brought a woman home for the
night. And certainly not in front of our daughter.”
    “It’s not like that,” I protested, instantly
disliking her. “Cara hurt herself last night so I stayed on the
couch in case they needed