Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons
Page 91

“Can we talk about this later?” I was about to breakdown in the courthouse lobby. I’d had enough embarrassment the last few days to last me the rest of the year.
“Of course. We can discuss it this afternoon when we meet the judge. But if you don’t go to Little Rock, we need to make other arrangements.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“I’ll call you when I know what time the judge will see us. In the meantime, if you need anything, call me. If it’s an emergency and you can’t get me on my cell, call my office. They know to contact me if you call.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Rose. And stay out of trouble.”
“I was thinkin’ about spending the afternoon in the library.”
He narrowed his eyes as though he didn’t believe me.
“What trouble can I get into in the library?”
His mouth pinched into a grimace. “Honestly, with you, who knows? Just be careful.” He turned to Violet and smiled. “It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Beauregard, but I’m late for a meeting. Rose, I’ll see you this afternoon.”
Violet watched him walk away and nudged me with her shoulder. “You are in so much trouble.”
“Why? What did I do now?”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about him or about him savin’ you. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”
“There was nothing to tell.”
She raised her eyebrows in disbelief as we exited the building.
“He’s the assistant DA. He and Joe got me out of jail when I was found in contempt of court. And he showed up Monday night at the pool hall and helped me out of an uncomfortable situation.”
“And why on earth were you at the pool hall?”
“I don’t think you want to know.”
Violet let it drop until we’d gotten our coffee and sat down. I told her about going to the pool hall, Mason accidently telling Skeeter Malcolm my name, and Mason’s concern that Skeeter might try to harm me.
“What were you thinking, quizzin’ Skeeter Malcolm? Have you lost your mind?”
“You know who Skeeter Malcolm is?”
She rolled her eyes. “Who doesn’t?”
I groaned. At this point, I bet even seven-year-old Andy Jr. knew about Skeeter.
“And why didn’t you tell me you needed a place to stay?”
“You were going through your own problems. You sure didn’t need mine dumped on your doorstep.”
“But last night…”
“Violet, you had just told me that Mike was leaving and you were going home to sort out the mess. If the roles were reversed, would you have asked to stay with me?”
“I guess not.” She glanced out the window, then back at me. “Now tell me what happened last night.”
I told her sketchy details, not wanting her to get too upset. The few details I shared were enough to make her pale.
Violet bit her trembling lip. “You were almost killed.”
“I’m fine. Thanks to Mason.”
“So that’s why you were going to Little Rock?”
“One of the reasons.”
Violet waited.
“Joe asked me to move to Little Rock with him.”
I expected her to yell or argue. Instead, she inhaled and looked down at her hand on the table. “When were you going to tell me?”
“I was going to tell you tell you last night, but then you told me about Mike and…”
“So why aren’t you going tomorrow?”
“It’s complicated.”
She looked up with sad eyes, but her mouth lifted into a wry grin. “My brain isn’t complete mush after bottles, diapers and sleepless nights. Try me.”
I twisted the coffee cup in my hand. “I can’t leave you, Violet.”
“Rose…”
“It was hard enough considering leaving you before you told me about Mike, but now… You need me.”
Violet reached across the table and grabbed my hand. “Rose, you can’t stay because of me. If you do it will be just like Momma guiltin’ you into taking care of her. You hated it and felt trapped. I don’t want you to hate me.”
“Last week you told me you were scared that I’d leave and move away.”
“I was and I still am, but I want you to be happy.”
“But what about the nursery?”
Sadness filled her eyes. “That’s my dream, not yours.”
The more thought about it, I wasn’t so sure.
“What else is holding you back, Rose? I can see it on your face.”
“I don’t know if I’m the person Joe wants me to be.”
“What on earth are you talking about? That man loves you more than the air he breathes.”
“Part of the reason he wants me to move in with him is so he can keep an eye on me and so I’ll stay out of trouble. But you know I can’t guarantee that nothing will happen in Little Rock. What if I move up there and find out he’s tired of me? What will I do then?”
“He’s not goin’ to get tired of you.”
I hoped she was right.
“There’s something else holding you here. What is it?”
Unease nagged the back of my brain, but something Joe had said earlier that morning had nudged it forward. “I think by moving, maybe I’m trying to run away from my problems.”
Violet sipped her coffee and waited.