and shoot Darrin. Then she made her way to the foyer and told Paula that someone was there to see her.
Paula raised an eyebrow. “Who?”
“Clinton Ballard is at the back door. The shotgun is loaded and right there if you need it. Want me to go with you?”
“Yes.” Paula’s chin quivered. “Why would he come here?”
“He wouldn’t tell me.”
“Ellie Mae, we’ve got some business to take care of but we’ll be right back,” Mitzi said.
“I’m okay,” Ellie Mae whimpered. “But you won’t be gone long, will you?”
“No, honey,” Paula answered. “Just a few minutes. Can we bring you anything when we come back?”
“No, I’ve got cookies right here.” She tried to smile.
“Okay, then.” Mitzi patted her on the shoulder and then almost jogged to the kitchen. She picked up the gun as they passed the table.
“She says you might have a word or two, but you’re to stay on the porch,” Mitzi told him as she took a couple of steps to the side so he could see Paula.
“It took you long enough,” he growled as he reached for the door.
“Oh, no!” Mitzi pointed the gun right at his crotch. “Don’t even think about coming inside.”
“Do we have to talk through a screen door? Can’t I come inside the house?” he asked. “Paula, I need to talk to you privately.”
“Whatever you’ve got to say to me can be said in front of Mitzi, and if she says we keep the screen between us, then that’s what we do,” Paula told him.
“Okay, then. I’m sorry that I led you on, but I was lonely. Kayla was sick all the time, and I was trying to take care of my father, and—”
Paula held up a palm. “Real apologies don’t need buts, ifs, or ands. You should’ve been honest with me, Clinton.”
“I know.” He ducked his head, but it wasn’t very convincing.
“Why are you even here?” Paula’s hands knotted into fists.
“To ask you not to tell Graham because he might tell Kayla and it would ruin my marriage. I hate talking through this screen. Someone might see me out here,” he said.
“You got a choice. You can stay out there or come inside and I’ll help Mitzi clean up the blood,” Paula said.
“That’s pretty harsh.” Clinton’s head jerked back up and he glared at her.
Paula eyed him from toes to eyes, wondering all the time what in the world she’d ever seen in him to begin with. “Go home to your wife. Try being faithful to her. And stay away from me. I never want to see you again.” She slammed the door and slid down the wall. She dropped her head to her knees and took a deep breath. “Do you think he could tell that I’m pregnant?”
Mitzi sat down cross-legged in front of her. “Nope. He’s only interested in saving his own hide. The bastard doesn’t care that he broke your heart or got you pregnant. Can I get you anything?”
“No, I’ll be fine when my heart stops pounding. Been a helluva day, hasn’t it? Don’t let it ruin your perfect time with Graham. And please don’t tell Graham, not to appease Clinton, because I don’t give a damn about him, but for the baby’s sake. If he said something to Kayla or Rita, it could eventually get back to Clinton that I’m pregnant.”
Mitzi held up a pinkie finger. “Remember when we did this when we were little girls?”
Paula linked her finger with it. “We’re big girls now, and it’s still friendship before relationship.”
“After today, I’m not so sure that I ever want a relationship,” Mitzi said.
“Don’t let what’s going on with me and Jody spoil what you might have. Good Lord!” Paula eased her way to a standing position when someone knocked on the back door again. “If it’s Clinton again, load that shotgun. This time I mean to do more than scare him. We can drag him inside, and then bury him in the cellar out back soon as it gets dark. The dirt floor won’t be too hard to dig up. I’ll even repair the hole in the screen myself.”
Mitzi eased the door open a crack and shook her head. “It’s Darrin. Do we let him in or not?”
“Sure, we do. Unless you want to offer to let Ellie Mae crash on our sofa upstairs,” Paula answered.
Mitzi opened the door wide and unlatched the screen door. “I suppose you’re here to see Ellie Mae?”
“I’ve been driving all over town, looking for her car. I finally spotted it out