Page 195 of Misrule
“Don’t worry about him. Christopher isn’t going to do you anything.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “He wants me dead.”
“Give me a couple of days, sweetheart. I’m going to bring Val over to do a sweep. If there are hidden cameras, they will be found.”
“Okay.”
His heart broke for her. He’d never seen Kendall so muted and defeated.
“See you.”
“Bye, Johnnie.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
“Am I to understand that marrying Mortician once wasn’t good enough?” Father Wilkins asked Bailey, lifting his brows and looking over the rim of his glasses with disapproval. “You mean to do it again?”
Bailey offered Roxy a hesitant glance. Understanding her daughter’s reasons, Roxy gave a small nod, leaned over and grabbed Bailey’s hand to give it a squeeze. The fact they were here to reserve the church felt like a knife to the gut.
Along with sharing the news of a new baby on the way today, Bailey had once again offered to cancel her vow renewal plans, but Roxy had insisted that was unnecessary. Besides, once Bailey announced the date, then Roxy would have to find a way to leave Knox.
Only a week had passed since he’d found her in the big kitchen, then tempted her nearly out of her mind. In that time, though, she’d made herself scarce. She’d missed a weekly dinner by inviting Jordan out to a restaurant. A couple of times Meggie had taken kitchen duty, but she was under the weather and Fee was still unavailable. To escape Knox, Roxy prepared breakfast at her house, then called up members to make the trek through the woods to get the pans of eggs, sausages, and toast. Nothing too fancy because of the long walk. She’d even refused an invitation from Outlaw for everyone to meet at the club for drinks.
From what she’d heard Knox stayed close to the club and all family events. He wanted another chance. Maybe, she needed to meet with him and talk. Point a few things out. Compromise on one or two issues herself.
“Momma?”
Roxy snapped her head in the direction of Bailey’s voice.
“See, even Mrs. Doucette is tuning your decision out, Mrs. Banks. Notice what I just said?Mrs. Banks. A sure sign another ceremony is quite unnecessary.”
“I don’t remember asking you what was necessary, Father Wilkins,” Bailey responded calmly.
Better her baby than herself. Glaring at the little priest, Roxy folded her arms.
“We’ll pay you five thousand dollars,” Bailey continued.
Father Wilkins gave a pained look. “My child, I’m quite a busy man.”
“Ummmhmmm,” Roxy put in.
“Ten thousand?” Bailey said with some hesitation.
The priest opened a drawer and pulled out a day planner. He settled the book on his desk. “Perhaps, I can pencil you in.”
“No, the fuck you can’t. Penciling can be erased. You better stamp that shit in your book. Why the fuck are you using a damn book, anyway, Father? This is the 21stCentury. Shouldn’t you have an iPad or some type of tablet? An official engagement calendar?”
“I’m a simple man, Mrs. Doucette,” Father Wilkins answered. “Although not simple enough not to know foul language in the house of the Lord is a sacrilege.” He gave Bailey a sugary smile. “What date did you have in mind?”
“August 6th, Father.”
Flipping to that page, Wilkins shook his head sadly. “I might have a prior engagement that day.”
His eyes gleamed and he rubbed his thumb and two fingers together, his hand so high the gesture was impossible not to see.
“Twenty thousand,” Bailey said on a cough.
Wincing, he shook his head again.
