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Authors: Linda Warren
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and she pays me.”
“Do you work a lot?” Leona took a sip of tea.
“Only when my mama lets me. She works real hard and I help out all I can, but my schoolwork has to be done first.”
“I see,” Grif said and handed Jilly his mug.
Everyone was quiet for a while, then Grif asked, “Jilly, why did you come here today?”
Tripp was immediately on his feet. His one goal was to get Jilly out of the room before his father could say anything hateful or hurtful, but Jilly started talking and he listened like his mother and father did.
“Well, I used to see you in town a lot, but now I only see Morris. I thought you might be sick or something, but I never came out here to check because…” She trailed her fingers across Button’s back. “Well, I know you’re my grandparents, but I also know you don’t believe that. That’s okay, ’cause I believe. My mama doesn’t lie.”
Complete silence followed that statement.
“When I saw Tripp’s picture in the paper, I came out here,” Jilly continued. “People say that Tripp and Patrick favor and I wanted to see, but when I arrived I got scared and told him who I was and quickly left. My mama didn’t know where I was and I didn’t want to upset her.”
“You’ve been here before?” Leona asked.
“Just that one time.”
“So you believe you’re Patrick’s daughter?” Grif was stuck on that question.
Jilly turned to Grif. “Yes, sir. I not only believe. I know it.”
“Because your mother told you and she doesn’t lie.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you have any proof?”
Jilly got to her feet, clutching Button, her chin jutting out. “My mama’s word.”
“I’m afraid that’s not enough for me,” Grif said. “You came for money, didn’t you?”
“Dad,” Tripp reprimanded.
“No, sir, I didn’t come for money. I don’t need or want it and my mama wouldn’t allow it anyway.” Jilly gripped Button tighter. “My mama has always said that Patrick was soft-hearted and kind and I guess I came here to feel a part of that—to feel a part of my father. I won’t bother you again.” She bolted from the room.
“Jilly.” Tripp went after her, but Jilly was already on her bike pedaling furiously for Bramble.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Chapter Five
Tripp slammed the door a little harder than he should have and went back into the den. His parents were arguing.
“You didn’t have to be so blunt,” his mother was saying.
“Sometimes you have to be to get results.”
“She’s just a child.”
“I agree with Mom,” Tripp said. “You were way out of line, Dad. There was no need to hurt Jilly like that.”
“They’re after our money, son. Can’t you see that?”
“Money?” Tripp choked out. “Have you checked your accounts lately? There’s very little money left. Take a good look around you—the place is falling apart, the pool is covered with algae, as is the pond out front. The pastures are overgrown and unkempt and there’s not much here to make a person think you have money. Jilly Walker just wanted to feel a connection to her father. That’s it—no ulterior motive.”
Neither had a word to say.
“I’m going after her to try and apologize. I’ll be back later.”
Tripp caught up with Jilly. He pulled the truck ahead of her, stopped and got out.
Jilly stopped, too, and her dark eyes were wet. He cursed himself for letting the situation get out of hand.
Button was in the basket and she raised up and barked, her ears pointed, as if sensing Jilly’s distress. Jilly patted the dog and looked at Tripp. “What do you want?”
“Thought I’d give you a ride into town.”
“I don’t accept rides from strangers.”
Tripp drew a deep breath. “I’m not a stranger. I’m your uncle.” At first, he’d been as stubborn as his father, but now he believed what he was saying.
Her bottom lip trembled and she caught it with her teeth.
“Come on, Jilly. Let me take you home to your mama.”
That seemed to be the magic
“Do you work a lot?” Leona took a sip of tea.
“Only when my mama lets me. She works real hard and I help out all I can, but my schoolwork has to be done first.”
“I see,” Grif said and handed Jilly his mug.
Everyone was quiet for a while, then Grif asked, “Jilly, why did you come here today?”
Tripp was immediately on his feet. His one goal was to get Jilly out of the room before his father could say anything hateful or hurtful, but Jilly started talking and he listened like his mother and father did.
“Well, I used to see you in town a lot, but now I only see Morris. I thought you might be sick or something, but I never came out here to check because…” She trailed her fingers across Button’s back. “Well, I know you’re my grandparents, but I also know you don’t believe that. That’s okay, ’cause I believe. My mama doesn’t lie.”
Complete silence followed that statement.
“When I saw Tripp’s picture in the paper, I came out here,” Jilly continued. “People say that Tripp and Patrick favor and I wanted to see, but when I arrived I got scared and told him who I was and quickly left. My mama didn’t know where I was and I didn’t want to upset her.”
“You’ve been here before?” Leona asked.
“Just that one time.”
“So you believe you’re Patrick’s daughter?” Grif was stuck on that question.
Jilly turned to Grif. “Yes, sir. I not only believe. I know it.”
“Because your mother told you and she doesn’t lie.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you have any proof?”
Jilly got to her feet, clutching Button, her chin jutting out. “My mama’s word.”
“I’m afraid that’s not enough for me,” Grif said. “You came for money, didn’t you?”
“Dad,” Tripp reprimanded.
“No, sir, I didn’t come for money. I don’t need or want it and my mama wouldn’t allow it anyway.” Jilly gripped Button tighter. “My mama has always said that Patrick was soft-hearted and kind and I guess I came here to feel a part of that—to feel a part of my father. I won’t bother you again.” She bolted from the room.
“Jilly.” Tripp went after her, but Jilly was already on her bike pedaling furiously for Bramble.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Chapter Five
Tripp slammed the door a little harder than he should have and went back into the den. His parents were arguing.
“You didn’t have to be so blunt,” his mother was saying.
“Sometimes you have to be to get results.”
“She’s just a child.”
“I agree with Mom,” Tripp said. “You were way out of line, Dad. There was no need to hurt Jilly like that.”
“They’re after our money, son. Can’t you see that?”
“Money?” Tripp choked out. “Have you checked your accounts lately? There’s very little money left. Take a good look around you—the place is falling apart, the pool is covered with algae, as is the pond out front. The pastures are overgrown and unkempt and there’s not much here to make a person think you have money. Jilly Walker just wanted to feel a connection to her father. That’s it—no ulterior motive.”
Neither had a word to say.
“I’m going after her to try and apologize. I’ll be back later.”
Tripp caught up with Jilly. He pulled the truck ahead of her, stopped and got out.
Jilly stopped, too, and her dark eyes were wet. He cursed himself for letting the situation get out of hand.
Button was in the basket and she raised up and barked, her ears pointed, as if sensing Jilly’s distress. Jilly patted the dog and looked at Tripp. “What do you want?”
“Thought I’d give you a ride into town.”
“I don’t accept rides from strangers.”
Tripp drew a deep breath. “I’m not a stranger. I’m your uncle.” At first, he’d been as stubborn as his father, but now he believed what he was saying.
Her bottom lip trembled and she caught it with her teeth.
“Come on, Jilly. Let me take you home to your mama.”
That seemed to be the magic
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