Read Online Love Life & Circumstance by V. L. Moon, J. T. Cheyanne - Free Book Online

your damn voice down. There are other mourners here.” He gritted out between clenched teeth.
    Carrie laughed hysterically. “You think I care about that hypocritical bastard. All of this is his fault.” Each word went an octave higher. Seth reached out and grasped her arm. In the back of the room, the attendant cast worried glances at the open doors.
    “He wasn’t driving the car. You were. The facts speak for themselves.”
    “Facts!” Carrie screamed. “You want facts.” She snatched away from him and hobbled toward the door. “I think everyone needs to hear the facts.”
    “Would you be quiet?” Seth hissed grabbing her again and pulling her to a stop. She rounded on him eyes blazing. “Please shut the door.” He called to the attendant as Carrie struggled in his hold.
    “No. I won’t be quiet. He preached tolerance and compassion. He stood in his pulpit and repeated the scripture. He claimed to be a man of God, but when Bethany asked him for help with the baby, he threw her out of the church. Refused to tell his son the truth.”
    Seth’s entire body froze where he stood. “You know who the father is?” Bethany had never said a word, claimed not to know.
    “Of course I know. She was my best friend. She told me everything.” Carrie swiped at the tears streaming down her face, but didn’t lower her voice. “When he refused to acknowledge Elijah’s baby, she lost it.”
    “Who’s baby?” The deep baritone cut through the room. Carrie jerked out of Seth’s grasp.
    “Yours, Elijah Deacon. Bethany was pregnant with your baby. She went to your father, and he kicked her out. Demanded proof.”
    “No fucking way, my father would have told me.” Elijah frowned as he stepped further into the room.
    The girl snorted. “Like hell he would. He told her if she came anywhere near you he’d have her arrested. Said the Chief was his best friend, and he wouldn’t hesitate to call him.”
    Seth watched the color drain completely from the other man’s face, and his temper skyrocketed. “Are you happy now, the man’s father is dead and your making accusations against him.” Seth didn’t hesitate this time. He jerked her toward Bethany’s casket. “I’m sorry she disturbed you. I’ll make sure she leaves.”
    “No. I want to hear what she has to say.” The big man turned and grasped the double doors and swung them shut on the gawkers in the hall. Rhett, Jr. tried to step through, but Elijah shook his head and closed the doors in his face. He turned, his eyes flicking from Seth to Carrie.
    “Talk.”
    Seth let go of Carrie’s arm and took a seat on the first pew. Elijah slid into the third pew and propped his arms on the seat before him. Carrie paced in front of sprays of flowers and assorted plants.
    “I tried to get her to stop drinking when she found out she was pregnant. She was doing better.” She stabbed a finger at Seth. “You know she was. Then we went to see Pastor Deacon. He called her a Jezebel, said she’d never know who the father was because her womb was diluted. I’ve never see her so upset. She went back to drinking and started smoking.  All of this, every bit of it is his fault. Bethie was doing so good. She wanted this baby, but he kicked her feet out from under her.”
    “Why? Why didn’t she come to me?” Seth yelled this time. His fist slammed into the wooden bench.
    “Or me? If I’m the father, why did she go to my dad?”
    “She tried. She went to the work site but you were gone. Your father was there, he told us to follow him to the church. We thought he was going to listen, but it was just to get her away from the crew.” Carrie said bitterly; the tears still falling as she stopped at the casket and reached in to smooth her fingers over Bethany’s cheek.
    “And she never came back.” Elijah’s quiet words seemed to calm the distraught girl.
    “No. She was too hurt and so angry.”
    Seth broke in needing answers about the wreck. “What happened in the car?