“If this is about Neely Kate’s cousin or Hilary—”
“Does Hilary know about J.R.’s blackmail information?”
His eyebrows lifted. “What?” He shook his head. “No. I never told her. I swear.”
“I think she knows.”
“Why do you say that?”
I told him about our encounter, and he took a deep breath, rubbing his hand across his forehead. “She may not know anything.”
“But there’s a chance J.R. told her, right?” I asked.
“Yes.”
I already knew, but his acknowledgment stole my breath away. “Will she tell anyone else?”
His face paled. “I don’t know.”
“Do you think she’s going to use this to try to get you to marry her?”
“Maybe.”
I stepped off the porch and began to pace in the yard.
“I’ll talk to her and see what she knows.”
“What if she’s bluffing?” I stopped and looked up at him. “I don’t think I reacted to her statement, so at least I didn’t confirm anything. She knows your father wanted to split us up, and she knows how much you wanted to be with me. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out your father threatened you with something. Maybe she’s fishing for information.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He paused. “Does Neely Kate know?”
I wrapped my arms around my chest, the cold wind biting through my sweater. “No. The fewer people who know, the better. But Mason does.”
He nodded, then gave me a soft smile. “That explains why she’s still so mad at me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No. It’s for the best. I’m glad you have her for a friend.”
“Me too.” We stared at each other for several seconds. “I’m going inside. I just wanted you to know.” I walked past him toward the front porch, but he reached out and grabbed my arm.
“Rose, don’t tell Mason.”
My mouth fell open. “What?”
“Don’t tell him that Hilary might know.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m not keeping this from him.”
“Then just give me a few days, okay? Let me figure out what she knows.” He swallowed and leveled his gaze on mine. “No sense worrying him if it’s nothing.”
I squinted up at him. “Since when did you care about Mason?”
He hesitated. “He’s under a lot of stress at work right now. There’s some fallout from his boss over that Black Friday bust.”
I scrutinized him to see if I could catch him in a lie. “He hasn’t mentioned it to me.”
“He probably doesn’t want to worry you.”
“Is his job in trouble?”
“Honestly? I don’t know.”
Anger burned in my chest. “You’re just trying to stir up trouble between us.”
“I’m not, Rose. I swear. And while there’s no love lost between Mason and me, I’d rather work with him than the actual DA.”
“I don’t want to keep this from him. It’s too important.”
“I know. Just give me until next week.”
“No.” I steeled my back. “I’ll give you until the weekend.”
He started to protest, then stopped. “Okay.”
I turned around and started up the porch steps.
“Rose.”
I looked over my shoulder at him.
“Tread carefully around Hilary. I’d truly kick her out of town if I had the authority, but I don’t. Try not to rile her up.”
His words rekindled my anger. “I’m done hiding from the world, Joe Simmons.”
“And I wouldn’t have it any other way. But until this is sorted out, try to avoid her if you can.”
“That shouldn’t be too hard,” I said sarcastically. “Why don’t you tell her the same thing?”
I walked back into the house, worried that Maeve would be upset that I’d stayed outside for so long with Joe. But she seemed more concerned about the leak under her kitchen sink.
“The inspection showed some issues, but I got the house for such a steal we didn’t make the owner fix them.” She put a large plastic bowl under the pipes. “This should take care of it for now.”
“That won’t work for long,” I said.
She sighed, and I reached down to help her up. “But it’ll keep the floor dry for the time being. I’ll just have to remember to keep emptying the bowl.”
“I thought the realtor said he was going to give you the names of some repairmen.”
“He did, but none of them seem to be in a hurry to run over for nickel-and-dime repairs.”
We finished putting the meatloaf together, making a double batch so Neely Kate could take one home to bake for her and Ronnie. I was impressed, though not surprised, that Maeve had already gone grocery shopping and picked up all the essentials.
Neely Kate looked beat, so I offered to drop her and her meatloaf off at her car so she could get home to put it in the oven. Maeve cut another couple of generous slices of cake and put them on a plate for my friend to take with her.