Page 50 of Sin Wagon
“Why?” I ask.
“You don’t know?” she volleys, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Know what? I’m lost. Did Wells and Jonas not come home from Florida, or did they go back? Is that why he hasn’t contacted me again?” Despite my best efforts to conceal the bite in my tone, it manages to slip through. The thought of being abandoned again, even for a short while, cuts deeper than I care to acknowledge.
“Jonas was arrested, Delilah.” Rhonda’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. “The morning after the dinner.”
“What?” I gasp, my hand tightening around the phone.
“Claudia filed a police report, providing compelling evidence of Jonas physically assaulting her,” Rhonda continues, her voice heavy with disbelief and sorrow. “Beat the heck out of her, really.”
I pace the room, my mind racing. “No way,” I whisper, trying to process the information. “There’s no way he laid a hand on her.”
“Authorities have filed charges against him for battery,” Rhonda says, her tone grim. “Since we live in Illinois and the case is in Florida, he had to travel back for an interview with his attorney to prep for the trial.”
I stop in my tracks, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. “This is insane,” I mutter. “Why would she do this?”
“Wells has made it his mission to be by his brother’s side through every step of the journey,” Rhonda adds.
“Oh.” I don’t know what else to say, the words lingering in the air. Once again, the woman who birthed me is causing chaos in my life, but now she’s hurting Jonas—my father. I may not have known him longer than a weekend, but I know there is no way he laid a hand on her. I can just tell he would never do something like that. My heart aches for him, for the injustice of it all.
“You haven’t talked to your mother?” Rhonda’s question feels like a dagger, reopening old wounds.
“No. I’ve not talked to her since the rehearsal dinner. I have no plans to. She’s tried to call me and so has Drew, but I’ve blocked them. I’m done.” The finality of my words surprises even me. I’ve spent so much of my life hoping she would change, but now I know better. I need to protect myself and my baby from her toxicity.
“I’m sorry to hear that. A mother should be a daughter’s best friend, a sounding board per se. Especially now that you’re about to become a mother yourself.” Her words are like a balm to my soul, soothing yet highlighting what I’ve missed out on.
“Thank you, but I’m used to it. I guess since Wells didn’t know about the job offer, I got upset for nothing. Once again, I apologize.”
“Roy is looking for someone to help with more of the day-to-day tasks and that could be trained as interim COO in case things with Jonas go south.”
I sit back down on the bed, adjusting my position to better cradle my growing belly.
“He was looking through resumes on the hospitality site and was impressed by your friend. I was the one who put two and two together. We thought if he’s good enough to be your best friend and uncle to your baby, he’d be a good fit for Covington Hotels.”
“He will do an amazing job. He only lost his job here because he came with me to the wedding.”
Derek has always been there for me, sacrificing so much. The thought of him finding a stable position brings a sense of relief.
“Does that mean he’s accepting... officially?”
“I told him to,” I pause, thinking about how much I rely on Derek.
“We want you to come with him, Delilah. Derek must have offered, considering how close you two are. But this is my personal invitation. We’ll cover everything,” Rhonda assures me. “Please, come with him and get to know us. Be closer to us.” Her plea is not lost on me.
I look out the window, imagining a life with the Covingtons. Could I really leave everything behind and start anew?
“It’s selfish,” she admits. “But we want to be here for you and the baby. Let us be your family.”
The last gathering was a disaster, but could things be different?
“I know we’re strangers,” she says. “And our last gathering ended in chaos, but that’s not our usual behavior. Wells’ admission was shocking, and Jonas didn’t take it well. They’re fine now.”
My mind races. This could be a chance for a fresh start, for Little Boba to have the family I never did.
“So I’m asking as a mother who wants her son to know his baby,” Rhonda continues, her voice softening. “And her other son to know his adult daughter. Please, come with Derek.”
I remain silent, my mind racing as I contemplate her words and the request she has made. I can do my marketing work from anywhere, and there’s nothing else tying me down here—especially if Derek is leaving. The only thing holding me back from leaving is my own stubbornness. Rhonda is asking to know me, to help with the baby, and be our family. I want that for Little Boba. I want him or her to have everything I didn’t. Even if it means putting my pride to the side.
