Page 25 of A Little Bit Whiskey
Noir wasn’t a nosy man. He didn’t go through her things, but she’d never been secretive either, telling him to leave her stuff alone. The only thing he never touched was her uniform and her weapon.
She stuffed the box into her workbag. It was unlikely that Noir would ever go in there. But if he did, she’d have some explaining to do. She’d told him about that necklace many times and how much it would have meant to her to have that one thing from her mom.
A tap at the door startled her and she fell over on her butt. She jumped to her feet and smoothed down the front of her jeans. Noir had promised his family wouldn’t show up unannounced. She had no right to be angry. This was their property, but still, annoyance bubbled in the center of her chest. She pulled back the door, ready to give whoever was on the other side a piece of her mind.
She gasped, staring at Anna. “What are you doing here?”
Anna barged inside. “I just had the most god-awful meeting. Weezer is a horrible person. You have to break up with Noir. It’s for your own good.”
“By all means. Come in.” She closed the door. “And I’m not doing that. I’m sorry that you had a bad afternoon, but that showcase had nothing to do with me and Noir.”
“Are you kidding me?” Anna tossed her purse on the small table, plopping herself on the sofa. She stared at the unmade bed and audibly groaned. “Of all the men in this town, you have to be sleeping with him.”
“What happened, Anna?” Quickly, Tamsyn pulled the covers over the bed, fluffing the pillows and placing them against the headboard. She sat on the corner and waited for Anna to open her big mouth.
“Weezer has most of the committee members snowed. The Holiday Showcase is going to be held at the winery. I couldn’t prevent that from happening, but I’m hoping to talk some sense into you before this family breaks your heart, because that’s what will happen.” She leaned forward. “Why can’t you see that? Why can’t you see that I care about you? Love you like my own. I only want what’s best for you, and it’s not Noir River.”
Tamsyn had planned on having this conversation with Anna and Fred. She thought that having Fred present might defuse the situation. But given how hot Anna came in, there was no time like the present. Besides, Anna might not be so forthcoming if Noir sat at the dinner table. “Why do you hate the River family so much? What did they ever do to you?”
“I don’t hate them,” Anna said. “But they are manipulative and liars. The whole lot of them. History has told us that. Weezer’s family stole that winery.” Anna raised her finger and waggled it. “That’s a fact. They allowed a doctor to sell babies right under everyone’s noses in this town. Carter helped Talbot and her mother fake their own deaths. That’s criminal, and yet they are seen as heroes. The things that they have done to their own children.” She made a clucking noise with her mouth. “It amazes me that they were able to get them to forgive Weezer and they have all returned home as if nothing had happened. But mark my words, the shit will hit the fan, and I don’t want you—my precious little girl—to get caught in the crossfire. You’ve suffered enough in your life.”
“What goes on in their family is none of our business.” Tamsyn knew the history. She’d followed it. Studied it. Heard it from Noir and from everyone in this town. The stories were all slightly different, and depending on who told it, the spin was either damning or supportive. Now that Tamsyn had some personal insight into the River family—seen and heard their perspective—she understood their mistakes. Their shame. Their regrets. And how they had done their best to make right all the wrongs.
They were good people who had done their best to survive under the most outrageous situations. Some were their fault; others were the sins of the past.
Either way, they didn’t deserve such hatred.
“This feels like you have a personal axe to grind and I want to know what it is,” Tamsyn said. “Please tell me so I can understand. Did something in the past happen between you and Weezer? Something that hurt you and now you’re holding on to that so tightly it’s spilling over on to me?”
“What kind of lies is that family filling your pretty little head with?” Anna rose. She planted her hands on her hips and glared. It was the same look she’d given Tamsyn the day she found out Tamsyn wanted to go to the police academy. Tamsyn had been so excited. She thought both Fred and Anna would be so happy she’d decided to follow in Fred’s footsteps and serve their community.
But not Anna.
She thought Tamsyn would be better served getting a degree in something like communications. Or anything outside of law enforcement. She wanted Tamsyn to find a suitable husband and pump outgrandbabies.While Fred and Anna had raised her, and she’d always be grateful for that, she wasn’t sure about having her children call them Grandma and Grandpa.
Maybe Grandma Anna and Grandpa Fred. That might be more appropriate.
Tamsyn wanted to keep her mother’s spirit alive, and if and when she did have children, Elizabeth would be their grandmother. She would raise her children in the memory of her mother. Her real mother. That was something she believed she needed to do. Not only for her mother, but for herself and her child. If she ever had one.
“It’s not personal, except for the fact it now includes you.” Anna dropped her hands to her sides. “I love you. Why can’t you see that everything I do is for you?”
“Anna.” Tamsyn stood, inching closer, taking Anna’s hands. “I need you to accept Noir. I need you to drop this vendetta against the River family. I don’t want to be at odds with you.”
“How can you forget and forgive all the horrible things that woman did and said to your mother?” Anna palmed her cheek. “You were there. You saw it. I know you remember. And Weezer is capable of anything. Trust me on that.”
“My mother did a horrible thing in accusing Carter of being my father. I would probably do the same thing that Weezer did. It was twenty years ago. They are not part of the mystery surrounding what happened to my mom, something I’m still searching for answers to. Please, let this go and get to know Noir. He’s a good man, and he cares deeply for me. He’s coming to dinner tonight and I want this to be a good thing for all of us. Can you be nice to him? For me? For us? For the sake of our family?” Tamsyn choked out the last word, but she hoped it might be the thing that turned the corner with Anna. She realized she was never going to get Anna to admit anything about her past with Weezer. There was no point in pushing that anymore. It was time to change tactics and she really wanted peace. Needed it for the sake of her relationship with Noir.
And with Anna and Fred.
Noir was the man she wanted to build a life with and regardless of the distance she felt with Anna, she was still the woman who opened her home to her when she had no one. It was worth fighting for.
“Fine.” Anna let out a sigh. “I will be on my best behavior tonight and I promise I will give that young man a chance. But it’s going to be difficult for Weezer and me to come to any kind of agreement on this. I’m sure she’s filling that boy with all sorts of lies about us. And maybe you.”
“Rest assured, she’s not. Noir’s family is quite supportive of us.” Tamsyn smiled.
“Maybe to your face. However, they are…” Anna squared her shoulders. “I will work on this. I promise. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
That was the best she was going to get and she knew it. “Thank you, Anna. That means a lot to me.” She leaned in and kissed Anna’s cheek to drive the point home.
