Say Goodbye (Romantic Suspense #25) - Karen Rose Page 0,78

sister go to bed. She’s tired and scared. You had both of us in a hospital, didn’t you? You had an epidural and a real doctor. She won’t, and she’s scared. You would have been, too, don’t you think?”

“No. I was fine, and she will be, too. Unless God’s will is otherwise.”

Hayley took a step back of her own, partly to get away from the pot Graham held and partly so that she wouldn’t drop her mother to the cave floor with an uppercut. Cameron had taught her how as part of her self-defense lessons. Fat lot of good those had done her, because she couldn’t defend herself now. And if she couldn’t defend herself, how could she defend their baby?

Longing for Cameron and a bone-deep sorrow hit her hard. She missed Cameron’s mother. The woman had been a true mother to her. Not like the evil sack of shit that was trying to scare her by insinuating it might not be God’s will for her or her baby to survive. “I’m going back to bed,” she said, teeth clenched.

“I’ll walk you there,” her mother said silkily, taking her arm and digging her fingers into Hayley’s flesh.

Hayley struggled, but her mother was strong. “Mom, you’re hurting me. Don’t—”

Hayley’s protest was suddenly cut off by her mother’s scream, the bitch’s grip abruptly disappearing. Hayley caught Graham’s small wink and bit back her grin. Graham had sloshed some of the contents of the pot onto his mother’s feet, and it was soaking into her shoes.

“Oh, Mother. I am so sorry,” Graham said.

“You did that on purpose!” she screeched.

Murmurs arose from the curtained-off rooms.

“Good job, Mom,” Hayley snapped. “You’ve woken everyone. I’m going back to bed.”

She turned on her heel and headed back for the cubicle she shared with Joshua’s other wives. And ran right into Brother Joshua himself. He gripped her arms, steadying her before she could fall. His grip wasn’t punishing, like her mother’s had been, but she winced.

“What is the meaning of this?” he growled.

Sister Rebecca, the baby-stealer, sidled up beside him. “She’s a troublemaker.”

“Her mother slapped her,” a calm voice said, and Hayley wanted to sag in relief. Sister Tamar had rescued her once again. “She slapped her, then grabbed her arm. She probably has bruises.”

Joshua frowned. “Is this true?”

Hayley started to answer but caught Tamar’s shake of the head. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that the question had been addressed to Graham. Who still held the damn pot of piss.

“Yes, sir,” Graham said respectfully, and Hayley had the urge to giggle. His tone was so respectful. Only Hayley knew that he was laying it on with a trowel.

Joshua let Hayley go. “Go back to bed,” he said with surprising gentleness. “I’ll deal with your mother.”

Hayley blinked in surprise, then bit back a flinch at the venomous look on Sister Rebecca’s face. If looks could kill, I’d be dead.

“I’ll help you,” Tamar said, sliding her arm around Hayley’s shoulders. She looked up at Joshua. “She’s due any day. If she falls, she could harm the baby.”

Joshua glanced at his first wife. “We don’t want that.”

Rebecca’s expression had shifted from venomous to beatific. “No, we don’t.”

“Come,” Tamar said, giving Hayley a tug.

Once they were back in Hayley’s space, Tamar shook her head. “What were you thinking? You can’t provoke your mother like that.”

Now that it was over, Hayley realized that Tamar was right. She’d let her words fly without thinking. “I’m sorry. When she hit me, I . . .”

“I know. But you must control your temper.”

“I know.” Hayley sighed. “You’re right.”

“And you’re tense.” Tamar started a lower back massage that made Hayley groan. “Have you felt any contractions?”

“Not yet.” Hayley hugged her belly. “I’ve been hoping she’ll stay put a little longer.”

“I understand that you’re scared, but if the contractions start, do not fight them. Send Graham to find me immediately. I’m serious. You could be endangering your life and your baby’s. Now, tell me why Graham was really out there. He’s been dumping the pots for a few days now, without complaint. People are talking about it. Now they’re singing his praises, but that could change on a dime.”

Hayley looked at the curtain. It was pulled and there were no feet visible beneath it, so no one was eavesdropping. Unless they were waiting at the curtain’s edge. “He’s looking for something,” Hayley said, trying to keep it generic.

“Something to help you escape?”

Hayley inhaled sharply. “I . . .”

“It’s all right,” Tamar said. “I don’t think anyone else