Page 22 of Lone Star Longing
Which was a good thing, because she and her baby were going to need him on their side.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I just wanted to keep this private a little longer while I figure things out.”
“I shouldn’t have said anything without your permission,” he acknowledged. “But there isn’t any way to take it back, so we’re going to have to make a plan for how to deal with it.”
“With it?” She put her hand on her stomach reflexively.
Her dad shook his head. “I’m not talking about the baby. I’m talking about the situation. You’re not married, the baby’s father isn’t in town. You’re going to stay here at the house, right? I mean, until you and Jesse figure out what to do?”
“I suppose that’s my only option.” She couldn't afford a place on her own, and she wasn't sure she could count on Jesse. She hadn’t heard from him since she told him she was pregnant. Just that pretty much told her everything she needed to know about his excitement about the baby.
He would get leave this summer and come back to Broken Wheel. She’d just talk to him then.
*****
BECK GLANCED AT HISphone when it buzzed on the table top. He winced when he saw Riley’s face and number on his screen.
“Sorry, I have to take this,” he muttered to his mother and the woman whose name he couldn't remember, sliding the phone from the table and standing in the same movement.
He stepped out onto the hot sidewalk as he pressed the button to answer. “Hey, Riley.”
“Beck, when are you getting out here?” Riley demanded without preamble.
“Sorry. I wanted to get out there before now, but my mom’s having some trouble with her house and I’m trying to find an exterminator and a plumber. I set her up in town at the motel right now, so I’ll get out there day after tomorrow, but as soon as the race is done, I need to come back.”
“What the hell? You can’t do that. We’re going on to California and we can’t waste any time before that race.”
“Riley, look, man, I’m sorry, but this can’t be helped. I’m doing everything I can do as fast as I can get it done, but the town doesn’t have a lot of resources, so I’m kind of scrambling.”
“You make good money. Hire someone from out of town, and get to Las Vegas tomorrow. I need you here.”
Riley disconnected before Beck could protest that even if he got someone from another town, he’d have to meet with them before he sent them out to his mother’s house. He wasn't going to abandon his mother to deal with that.
If only one of his siblings could take over for a little bit, but there was just no easy way to get to Broken Wheel, so even that would take time.
Maybe he’d ask Lacey, pay her some good money. She’d need it if she was expecting.
He tucked the phone in his pocket and returned to the diner.
*****
BECK LOOKED UP AT THEtall man leaning on a cane who opened the door of the small Craftsman house.
“Hi, Mr. Davila. I’m looking for Lacey. Does she still live here?”
“Beck Conover?” Mr. Davila shifted his weight on the cane, like he wasn't really used to it. “What do you need with Lacey?”
Beck looked past him into the house, hoping for sight of her. “She works for my mom and I need to ask her an enormous favor, but I’m willing to pay her well. I’m just kind of out of options right now.”
The older man’s brow furrowed, but he opened the door wider in invitation and stepped back. “Lacey, Beck Conover is here to see you.”
She appeared around the doorway, a dishtowel in both hands, still in her scrubs, her straight dark hair coming loose from her ponytail, her dark eyes shadowed with fatigue. Her brow matched her father’s.
He shouldn’t have come. Of course she was tired. But he was out of options.
“Hey, Lacey, I have got to get out of town, like tonight, to get to Las Vegas in time, but I won’t be able to meet the exterminator to let him into the house, and the same with the plumber. I know you have a schedule, but I will pay you an extra hundred dollars each trip if you’ll go out there and let the exterminator in, and then the plumber. The exterminator will be tomorrow, and it’ll only be one time, but the plumber won’t be there until the following day, and it might take more than one trip. I’ll pay you for each time you drive out there, until I can make it back to town, but I don't know when that will be.”
Her frown deepened, and she angled her head. “Beck—”
