I leaned forward. “And if you knew of his and Idella’s money issues?”
“I’d have helped them, given them a loan.”
“How about Hyacinth? Would you have helped her if you knew how bad her drinking had become?”
“Of course.” The brim of her hat fluttered in the breeze. “What are you getting at, Carly?”
“If those people hadn’t been so intent on keeping secrets, protecting themselves instead of looking at the bigger picture, a lot of this heartache wouldn’t be happening. Doc wouldn’t be sitting in jail facing all kinds of charges, and Idella wouldn’t be facing the rest of her life without her husband. Think about that.”
I felt for Idella. Rumors were already swirling with news that she was planning to leave town as soon as possible, embarrassed and ashamed. I wished she’d stay and lean on her friends for support. If there was ever a time, it was now. But I had no say, and the choice was hers to make.
“It’s not that easy,” Patricia said sharply.
“But it is.” It was time to go. I stood up. “Here’s what I know. Dylan loves you. You raised him. You bandaged his scrapes, helped with his homework, and taught him how to drive. You fussed and lectured and loved. His knowing that you didn’t give birth to him isn’t going to change the fact that you’re his mama. It’s not always about blood. Sometimes it’s about love.”
“Carly . . .”
I took a deep breath and cut her off. “Is he going to be shocked at the secret you’ve kept? Absolutely. But the longer the secret is kept, the more painful it’s going to be to him. Which is why he needs to be told. The secrets need to end. I’d rather he hear them from you, but hand to God, I’ll tell him myself, because I cannot keep something like this between us. I’m giving you until Saturday.”
I walked away and didn’t look back.
Chapter Twenty-six
“What did you do?” I exclaimed when I walked through my front door fifteen minutes later and came face-to-face with an item I’d never thought I’d see again. “What. Did. You. Do?”
I dropped my pocketbook and Louella’s dog bed on the floor. I’d forgotten to leave the bed with Patricia, but figured there was time enough to drop it off later. Until then, the cats would make good use of it.
Ainsley bounced on the balls of her feet, her big chest bobbing. “Do you love it? I love it. Do you love it?”
“I love it,” Delia said from her spot on the couch. She sat with both legs tucked beneath her. Her hair had been pulled back in a ponytail, and she was making the most of hibernation day by still being in her pajamas at noon. Boo sat on her lap, and he yipped. “Boo does too.”
“Don’t forget about me,” Dylan called from the kitchen.
I laughed. “I do love it!”
Ainsley’s amethyst eyes were bright with happiness. “Delia helped. She got me in touch with the woman who had originally made the dress so I could buy the notions I needed. Isn’t it pretty?”
Tears came to my eyes, and I threw my arms around her. “So pretty!”
I picked up the dress, gently touching the golden trim, and held it up to myself. Ainsley had taken my ball gown and turned it into a cocktail dress. The top half remained the same, but the ivory silk now fell to just below my knees. She’d replicated the intricate design along its hem and also added a touch of gold at the waist as well. I spun around, watching the silk flare out. “I like it even better now.”
Ainsley slapped my arm. “I love you for saying that, even if it’s not true.”
“It’s true!” I protested.
Dylan came into the living room carrying a tray of snacks. He stopped and gave me a kiss before setting the tray on the table. “How’d it go?”
“It went,” I said, giving love and attention to Roly and Poly, who were eyeing the snacks.
“You’re not bleeding.” Delia grabbed a chip, dipped it in salsa. “That’s saying something.”
“I don’t see Louella,” Ainsley said, looking around. “Does that mean Patricia agreed to adopt her?”
“She did,” I said. “I think they will be very happy together.”
Dylan glanced at me, a look in his eyes I couldn’t quite decipher. I had the feeling he knew I was keeping something from him.
“Did she not want the bed?” Delia asked.
“I forgot to give it to her,” I explained with a shrug. “There’s time enough.”
The phone rang, and I dashed into the kitchen to answer it. My mama.
“Hot diggety, Baby Girl! Your daddy just received word that he’s the newest member of the Harpies!”
“Help me!” my daddy yelled in the background.
My mama hushed him and said to me, “Got a registered letter all fancy this morning. It had been postmarked last Friday, so I guess you didn’t have to do all that investigating on Patricia’s behalf after all.”