I growl at the name.
“Yeah, that asshole, one of many of Cora’s horrible decisions over the years. But he helped her with some of the party plannin’ stuff, setting up her business, and that was a big mistake. He got her some investors, but they were not the kind of people ya wanna be mixed up with.”
“Shit,” I say, my mind reeling.
“Then Jared just took off after about four years, leaving Cora with a pile of debt and a drug habit,” Rodger admits.
“What the hell, Rodger. I can’t believe that. Drugs?” I feel like this is my fault. Had I not kicked her out the night ofgraduation and worked things out with her, maybe her life would have turned out better, different. But Cora was Cora, and her manipulative self-centered ways would have destroyed us that day or one in the future. Plus, if I did not end that toxic relationship I wouldn’t be where I am today, where I am meant to be. As sad as I am for Cora and the shitty path her life took, I cannot look back or take on any responsibility for her self-implosion.
“Did she move the business back to Fox Grove?” I ask Rodger.
“No, she lost everything almost two years ago. Everything she does now is to try and keep the guys she owes money to off her back and fuel her drug habit. Wetriedto help her. Tried to get her into rehab, but nothin’ has worked. She’s stolen money and medication from our house. Rem, she even took the three pieces of heirloom jewelry that Nancy had in our bedroom. They were the only thing she had left of her mother, ya know what those meant to her.” Rodger is a broken man. The sadness laced in his voice is paired with exhaustion and a loss of any hope he might have been holding on to. Cora is his only daughter, and I know telling me this must be so difficult.
“Rodger, I had no idea. I’m so sorry,” I tell him sincerely.
“Listen, Rem, you and your girl do what ya need to do. Cora needs a wake-up call and to be held responsible for her actions. I am sorry it’s been so long since we spoke. Nancy and I have always loved ya like a son and hold no ill will toward ya. Cora treated ya so awful, and you were nothin’ but good to her. You’re a good man, Rem.” Rodger’s words are something I did not realize I needed to hear so badly.
“I really appreciate you saying that.” I clear my throat, feeling surprised by such a closed-off man expressing so much to me after all this time.
“Seriously, Rem. If Cora is coming ’round causingproblems or trying to rope ya into any crazy plan she hatched, it is all ’bout money. She needs it for those damn thugs that constantly shake her down and for the drugs.Pleasedon’t give her anything. Don’t let her ruin what ya have goin’ there that’s good in Fox Grove.” Rodger sounds worried that she might be able to pull the wool over my eyes, like I am certain she did with him more than once to get her way. She did it a lot when we were growing up, so I can’t imagine what it is like now that she has an addictive motivator.
“I promise to be careful, Rodger. Do you have any idea where Cora might be?” I ask.
“Yeah, a little apartment complex on the south end of town. It’s week-by-week rent and cheap. I think it’s called Riverview? Not sure why, no river in sight, and it has the shittiest views in town.” He huffs.
“I know the place, thanks, Rodger,” I assure him.
“Anything you need, Rem, I mean it, ya call me.” His rough voice is stern, but I believe him.
“I will, thank you.”
I hang up the phone and feel exhausted from the whole conversation.
After a grueling workout with Eli, an emergency call on the highway, and coming back to the station I need to decompress. I take out Lainey’s new journal, my drawing supplies, and her old, ugly journal. If I can’t be with her tonight, I can at least work on this and draw her flowers. Hopefully I can give it to her soon, watch Lainey flip through the pages, and surprise her with her own personal garden at her fingertips.
28
Lainey
Kendra and I are at Brooks and Books dropping off her first full order of mugs to display and sell in the store. Sutton was right, of course, and Kendra’s samples she left when we first came in sold out almost immediately. Today, she brought in enough to fill the table—a wide variety from several of her past collections.
My jaw dropped as we kept pulling beautifully crafted mugs from the wrapping. “Kendra, how on earth did you have time to make all of these and keep up with the online ordersandthe salon?”
She grins at me and tells us, “Well, I decided to pause the online store for the time being. I wanted to focus on getting a lot of mugs made for my table here. I was really inspired and excited to see my work in anactualstore. So, I have been spending all of my extra time in my studio working my sexy butt off ... and I must say it’s some of my best work.” Kendra holds up a teal mug with delicate wildflowers hand-painted on it, a design from her spring collection last year that was very popular.
Sutton, organizing the mugs just so, says, “Kendra, theseare stunning. I have a really hard time letting them go every time somebody buys one because I want them all. But I also know that they will bring so much joy to each customer. I think you should stick around sometimes to see people buying them.”
“I would love that!” Kendra claps. “With an online order you don’t get to see how the person reacts when they see the final product, the joy, as you say.”
“What if you did a pop-up shop?” I suggest. “Like a day where people know you will be here at a certain time, and they will be able to come in and ‘meet the artist.’ We could advertise for it, make it like a little party or something?”
“I LOVE that idea!” Sutton nearly lets a daisy-printed mug slip from her hands in her excitement. “Oh, shit!” She carefully places the mug down and wipes her hands on her legs.
Kendra lets out a relieved, slightly nervous, sigh. “Why don’t you take a break, mama, and let me and Lainey finish the unpacking? You need to get off of your feet anyways.”
“You’re right, theyarekilling me. I also wanted to ask you a favor, Kendra?”
“Of course,” Kendra says, placing down the last few mugs. “Whatever you need!”
