AFTER A LONG and wonderful visit, during which all their troubles felt miles away, Chloe said goodbye to the women who were more a part of her life than her own mother had ever been.
As the others climbed into Emery’s car, Rose said, “My Leon used to say that dirt couldn’t hide in the wash. Believe that, Chloe. The truth will come out.” Her warm gray-blue eyes moved between her and Justin. “You two have something very special. Don’t let what happened steal a second of your happiness.”
“We’re trying not to,” Chloe said.
“Good, and for what it’s worth, if Justin hadn’t knocked that creep out, I would have brought my grandsons in to do the job.” Rose hugged Chloe and said, “We love you, honey. Come back to us when you’re ready.” Then she embraced Justin. “Thank you for inviting us over. We all needed it.”
Chloe joined Justin and waved as they drove away. “I can do this,” Chloe said, feeling stronger and more confident. “With you by my side, and those ladies behind me, I can fight this battle.”
“I always knew you could, baby. I’m glad a visit with the Golden Girls helped you to get out of your own way and remember how much you’re loved and how strong you are.” He wrapped his arms around her, flashing that crooked grin she loved, and said, “I need to tell you something. That call I walked inside to answer while you were visiting with them was from Justice. Do you know someone named Janet Kirsh?”
“Yes. She worked in our accounting department. Why?”
“Well, I guess Alan’s wife has left him. She took her kids to her parents’ house in Connecticut—”
“Oh my gosh, his wife. In all of this mess, I hadn’t even thought about her. That poor woman, and her girls…”
“It’s a nightmare for sure. But they’re better off away from him, and it sounds like she knew, or had suspicions, about what he was like. When she got to Connecticut, she called the police and gave them Janet’s number, told them to check her out.”
“What does that mean?” Chloe’s stomach sank as understanding dawned on her. “Oh no. Do you think he did this to Janet, too? We’ve been getting calls every few weeks for references. That poor woman. She’s a single mom. No wonder she took off so abruptly. That’s horrible.”
“It is, but if he did this to her, and if she comes forward, it will validate your allegations.”
“Talk about a double-edged sword. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”
“Don’t wish it on her, babe.” He embraced her and said, “Just hope the truth comes out, whatever it is.”
“I am, but that still doesn’t help the charges against you.”
“You’re right, but we can’t lose ourselves in what might happen five weeks from now. I say we hold on to this thread of hope that the truth will put that guy behind bars, and we focus on the here and now.” He pressed his lips to hers and lowered his voice to say, “You have a move on the horizon, unless you’ve changed your mind.”
“You’re not getting out of me moving in that easily.” She breathed a little easier and said, “How do you always know just what to do and say to help me see past my worries?”
“I love you. That makes it easy.”
“Nothing feels easy these days.”
“I could make a few great jokes about how good hard things can be, but I have a feeling you’d smack me.”
She laughed, and it felt so good to finally feel free enough to laugh, she held on to those good feelings and said, “Trust me, Mr. Wicked, I know just how good your hard thing can be.”
“Careful, heartbreaker, or we’ll never make it to your cottage.”
She sauntered up the porch steps, gazed over her shoulder with a seductive wink, and said, “It’s still early…”
Chapter Thirty-One
CHLOE PULLED A cupcake pan from a kitchen cabinet Saturday afternoon, listening to Marly and Madigan chat as they sorted through the kitchen in Chloe’s cottage. She reveled in the sound of Justin’s laughter coming from the bedroom, where he and some of the guys were getting another load to take out to the moving truck. Zeke was upstairs clearing out the second floor, and Dwayne and Tank had just gone outside with more boxes from the guest room, where Serena and Drake were probably making out, though they claimed to be marking boxes.
Focusing on the here and now had been exactly what Chloe