Carol Post - Dangerous Relations

Two weeks ago, it was Aunt Bea’s funeral. This week, it was meeting with a child-custody lawyer and planning yet another funeral. Saturday, she would leave Tessa in charge again while she said her final goodbye to Mia. In the coming months, there were going to be more obligations—checkups for Chloe, lawyer appointments, court hearings, interviews with Child Services.

Meanwhile, she’d dig up all the dirt she could find on the McConnells. Addy had already given her Randall’s history. He’d been in and out of trouble and finally gotten caught dealing heroin. According to Addy, Robert was just as bad, was maybe even Mafia. Shelby hoped Addy had exaggerated that part because of her obvious dislike for both Ryan and his brother.

Shelby didn’t know much about Ryan. Addy had only said he was a ladies’ man and couldn’t be trusted. But her gut told her he wasn’t like his father and brother. Maybe it was the seriousness in his eyes. Or the fact that he’d spent the past twenty years serving his country. Or the way he carried himself, with pride and honor.

But he was a McConnell, and she didn’t trust him any more than she trusted the others.

The jangling of the phone blended with the blare of guitars pouring from the CD player. Shelby hit Pause before slipping behind the counter to take the call. They were technically closed—they had been for more than a half hour—but she’d have to take care of the caller eventually. Why not now?

She lifted the receiver from the cradle on the back wall and put it to her ear. “Aunt Bea’s Diner.”

“Shelby?”

She’d spoken with Ryan a grand total of three times, but she recognized his smooth, rich voice instantly. She lowered the phone. Before she could place it back on the hook, pleading words reached her.

“Please, don’t hang up.” The desperation in his tone drew her up short.

She brought the receiver back to her ear. “All right.” She’d let him have his say. Then she’d hang up on him.

“I couldn’t figure out what happened last night.” He was talking fast, words tumbling out. “My dad paid you a visit, didn’t he?”

She rolled her eyes. “And you knew nothing about it.”

“No, I didn’t. I knew Mia visited them regularly, but I had no idea they’d try to take custody of Chloe. We can’t let that happen, Shelby. We don’t want my dad raising our niece.”

The conviction in his tone sent uneasiness spiking through her. “What do you suggest?”

“That we file for joint custody.”

She pursed her lips. The whole thing could be a con. Maybe he was manipulating her, trying to make her feel they were on the same side so she’d let down her guard.

“How do I know you’re not working with your parents?”

“You don’t. You’ll have to trust me.”

Yeah, right. “And if I don’t?”

“My father will win. Neither of us have the means to fight him alone. We need to work together.”

She closed her eyes. If only Aunt Bea was still alive. She’d been Shelby’s sounding board more than once. She’d possessed quiet strength and infinite wisdom, both of which she’d attributed to her relationship with God. Shelby had never found that kind of faith, but she’d always admired what she’d seen in Aunt Bea.

“I paid my father a visit last night.” His words cut into her thoughts. “We hadn’t spoken in twenty years.”

What? And Ryan was critical of her for not staying in contact with Mia. “You live an hour apart.”

“I’m the oldest child. My dad planned for me to work with him, to eventually take over his clubs. I wanted nothing to do with them. When I joined the Navy, he disowned me. The only way I got to speak with him last night was by following him onto his property before the electronic gate could close. His security person had a pistol aimed at me the whole time.”

She lifted her eyebrows. She wasn’t about to trust him, but what he was saying was too unbelievable to make up.

“My father is a dangerous man, Shelby.” Urgency slipped into his voice. “Whether he’s behind Mia’s murder or not, the fact that you’re fighting him for custody of Chloe puts your life in danger.”

She closed her eyes and slouched against the counter. She’d always avoided trouble and minded her own business. How could this be happening?

She liked to think she was a good judge of character. But people like the McConnells were way out of her league.

Ryan had said to trust him. For now, it looked like she had no choice. “What do we do?”

“We come up with an arrangement we can agree on, then present a united front.”

Jeri wheeled the mop bucket to the far side of the floor to finish the last ten-foot strip. The lack of music didn’t seem to be slowing her down. As soon as Shelby finished with Ryan, she’d take the player off Pause and check Pam’s progress in the kitchen. In another fifteen minutes, they should all be out of there.

“How would the joint custody work?” she asked.

“Maybe you have her one week, I have her the next, with visitation in between.”

“That might work.” Shelby would do whatever was best for her niece. If that meant sharing her with Ryan, so be it. Once the little girl started kindergarten, he’d have to be content with weekends. Or move to the same school district.

Whatever they worked out, Addy would be Chloe’s constant. She’d already said that where Chloe went, she went.

Last night, the three of them had watched a movie after all—Disney’s Frozen. Addy had thrown several children’s DVDs in with Chloe’s other items. While the movie played, Addy had held Chloe, and Shelby had sat next to them. Several times, Chloe had let Shelby take her hand. Baby steps.

“Did you want to try that visit again?” If what he said was true, she almost felt bad for turning him away.

“If you didn’t offer, I was going to ask.” The relief in his tone was obvious. “I’ll head over when I get off duty. It’ll be around the same time as last night.” He paused. “Thank you, Shelby.”

Warmth swelled inside. She didn’t have Aunt Bea’s connection to the Almighty, but her gut said she’d made the right decision.

As she finished the call, Tessa walked out of the kitchen and began positioning chairs where the floor had dried. Shelby hung up the phone and released the pause button. “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” resumed, the blast of sound jarring after the relative silence.

When she poked her head into the kitchen, everything looked good. The dishwashers were on their dry cycles and Pam was spraying disinfectant on the work surfaces. Shelby helped her staff finish the chores, then ejected the CD. Muffled screams came from upstairs.

Tessa gave Shelby a sympathetic smile. “Your niece isn’t a happy camper.”

“Addy will get her settled down.” She always did. It wasn’t that Shelby didn’t want to soothe the little girl’s troubles, Chloe just wouldn’t let her. Someday.

She handed the CD to Jeri and followed the women to the door. After locking it behind them, she clicked off the lights. As she ascended the stairs, the wails grew louder.

An hour ago, Chloe had been fine. Addy had popped down to show her off to the staff and the last straggling customers. When Addy had asked, Shelby had told her they were working on closing and she’d be up in an hour. Either the nap Addy had planned for Chloe hadn’t happened, or Chloe had awoken too early.

At the top of the stairs, Shelby opened the door and stepped into the hall. The screams came from the living room. When she rounded the corner, her knees went weak. The coffee table was flipped on its side. Aunt Bea’s Tiffany lamp was lying in front of the end table, colorful pieces of glass scattered across the hardwood floor.