He grabbed his work files from the table. Passing the door to the extra bedroom, he spied the wrapped gift on the unmade bed. “Damn!” He’d fucking forgotten about the birthday party from hell. As tempting as it was to bail out, Susan would have his head and then would probably go after his boys.
The idea of taking Cali to the party popped into his mind, but he slammed the lid on that one really quick. With his mom and whatever husband-of-the-week showed up with her, God only knew how the evening would go. The last thing he wanted to do was to try to explain his mom to Cali or explain Cali to his mom.
He raked a hand over his face and decided he’d get Quarles to watch Cali. Brit would only make an appearance at the party. Susan would balk, but if he explained, she’d understand. Yeah, he needed to talk to Susan.
Maybe he needed to talk to Cali, too, about Humphrey. Just to reconfirm she hadn’t neglected to tell him something.
Brit walked into his bedroom and tossed his files on the dresser. Snatching up his phone, he dialed his sister.
She answered the first ring. “Don’t you dare tell me you can’t come.”
“I’m not going to tell you that,” he said. “I’m just not going to be able to stay long.”
“Why?”
He hesitated to tell her the truth, but then did it. “It’s Cali. She has some nut after her, and I don’t want to leave her alone.”
“Then bring her.”
He dropped down on his bed and raked a hand over his face. “Don’t you remember what happened a couple of years ago?”
“No. I try not to focus on the bad shit. Unlike you.”
“Fred or Frank or whatever the fucker’s name was she was married to at the time, he got drunk and shoved Mom into the Christmas tree and I had to break his nose.”
“You didn’t have to,” Susan said and chuckled, but he didn’t see the humor in it.
“He hurt Mom. I had to stand up for her because she wouldn’t stand up for herself. Oh, but did she appreciate it? Hell no, she got mad at me. Did you know the jerkwad reported me to my captain? I got my ass in a sling at work and Mom takes his side.”
“She was wrong,” Susan said, the humor gone from her voice. “She knows that now. She’s trying to change, Brit.”
“Women like her never change,” he seethed and an image of Cali flashed in his head. Cali wasn’t like that, he told himself. “Look, I need to run. I’ll see you tonight, but I can’t stay long.”
He hung up and dialed Quarles’ number. When no one answered he left a message. “Call me. It’s Brit.” Then he went to take a shower.
~
Cali and Tanya both stood in front of the bathroom mirror putting on makeup. It had been a perfect girl’s day out, and Cali almost forgot that her life was in chaos.
Until now. Tanya sent her a worried glance. “I saw the story last night on the news about the jewelry store robbery and the two dead men. Stan hasn’t tried anything else, has he?”
Cali brushed some color on her cheeks. “No.”
“Do you think he killed those two guys?”
Nibbling on her lower lip, Cali answered, “No. I don’t. I mean, if a week ago you’d told me that he robbed a jewelry store, I’d have told you I didn’t think he could have done that either. And maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t see him killing anyone. I know they found Stan’s phone at the hotel and everything points to him, but I don’t believe it.” She shook her head. “The guy helps old people bring in their groceries. He even unstopped my elderly neighbor’s toilet. He’s not evil. Not all evil.”
“He shot at you.” Tanya sent her a cutting glance.
Cali dropped her blush applicator. “What if someone was shooting at him? That’s what he told me that day at the lawyer’s office. I mean, if Stan did the murders then he should have the money and the other jewelry, so why is he trying to find the bracelet he gave me? Why would he hang around for one piece of jewelry?”
Tanya cocked her head as if thinking. “That’s a good point. Have you mentioned that to Brit?”
“A little, but…”
“But what?”
“He thinks I’m trying to defend Stan. He got all angry and turned into a dickhead about it.”
Tanya frowned. “Well, you kind of are defending him.”
“No. Okay, maybe a bit. I mean, I believe he beat up his girlfriends. I saw his temper. I just don’t see him killing anyone.”
Cali added another stroke of blush, and not wanting to think about Stan, she attempted a conversational U-turn. “Where is Eric taking you to dinner?”
“Some Italian place. It’s supposed to be romantic. I know he’s going to try to change my mind about tonight.”
“But you’re not going to give in?”
“Probably not.” A smile spread across Tanya’s lips.
Cali laughed and reached for her purse to get her lip gloss.
Tanya grabbed her hand. “No. Use the red one you bought. It’s sexy and besides, it goes with your sweater.”
Cali scrutinized her image in the mirror. The red sweater fit like a coat of paint. Its neckline dipped down in the front, not too low, but definitely hinting at cleavage. And it came just above the navel. And the hip-hugging jeans fit just below. When Cali walked, the barest hint of belly skin peeked through. According to Tanya, belly skin drove men bonkers.