Page 94 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
The smile fell from her lips as she looked at Miriam Sutton.
“Mrs. Sutton. I heard you’d left Lyntacky,” Leah said, forcing her lips back up into what she hoped was a smile.
In fact, she’d left town a year before Leah, but she didn’t mention that. Her husband was a travelling salesman, and she was over him being away all the time, so they’d moved, and he’d found another position.
“We’ve been back two years,” she said.
Tall, elegant, with long, dark silken curls, Miriam Sutton thought she was special. She had a standing appointment to get her facial and hair done every two weeks. Her house had always been immaculate—not that Leah had ever seen inside, but she’d heard stories.
“How’s Tony doing?” Leah could play nice. Years had passed since she and this woman had gone at it over her son. She thought it was time they both moved on.
The woman’s mouth tightened into a hard line. “He’s married now, so you leave him alone.”
Leah had put up with these kinds of insults for years from her, even though it had been her son who’d come after Leah. She’d turned him down, and he’d told everyone it was the other way round. That she’d begged him to date her.
“My worry is for that little boy you’re raising. How does he have any hope of growing into a responsible adult with you as his guardian?” Mrs. Sutton added, her lips compressed in a tight circle of disapproval.
Leah could handle most things thrown her way, but no way was she putting up with anyone mentioning Hudson and her ability to parent him. She had enough doubts herself without this woman reinforcing them.
“I don’t need or want your opinion, Mrs. Sutton. I’ll add to that: You come after me again, and I will produce the texts that your son sent me, stating he wanted to date me and not the other way round. So, if you want a red face, you keep up what you’re doing. But let me be clear. You mention my nephew again, and there will be consequences,” Leah said.
She had never exposed Tony Sutton, but she had the proof to do so. Now she wondered why she hadn’t. Maybe because even then she doubted anyone would believe her… a Reynolds.
“How dare you!”
Leah took a step closer. “How dare I? How dare you,” she said with a calm she wasn’t feeling. “You’ve held this grudge for years. You need to let it go, especially as it was your son at fault.”
“I can’t believe you are raising a child,” she hissed.
“Okay, we’re done here. You need to get on your broom and go back to the coven.” These words came from Dee Heckler, nowat Leah’s side. “No one likes you or your haughty BS. We just put up with it. Go away and get therapy. You need it.”
Mrs. Sutton looked stunned. “I’ll never frequent the Rollaway again, Delores Heckler.”
“Hallelujah,” Dee drawled. “At least that’s something, then, because I hate serving your uptight ass, and now I don’t have to.”
“You and her, you’re both the same,” Mrs. Sutton hissed.
“Nice, genuine people, do you mean? Unlike you, who is a bitch with no friends. Actually, you have friends, but they all talk about you behind your back because they’re too scared to do it to your face.”
“If you come at Leah again, I’m sure there’s a law somewhere I can find to arrest you over.”
Leah hadn’t seen Dan approaching. He wasn’t in uniform, but the look in his eyes when he spoke to Mrs. Sutton was all hard-assed cop.
“You can’t talk to me like that!”
“I can and will. Like the Reynolds sisters and Dee, us Dukes had to put up with your snide comments and BS too. Until now, I’ve just let it slide off my back. I’m not going to do that anymore. You want me to arrest her for defamation, Leah?”
Leah shook her head quickly. What she wanted was to stop making a scene because people were watching, and she hated that.
“Well then, you’re a lucky woman, Mrs. Sutton, because if Leah has proof and you’re still coming at her for what Tony did, I’d say she’s well within her right to lay charges,” Dan said.
Mrs. Sutton turned and walked away without another word.
“The woman’s a born hater. Don’t sweat it, Leah. Everyone knows what she is. We’re all pleased you’re back, girl. Don’t forget that.” Dee then patted her arm and walked into the bank before Leah could say thank you.
Chapter 26
He’d seen her standing outside the bank, smiling. Laughing, actually—he’d heard her as Brody ran away.Sweet,he’d thought, and for a few seconds, all the pain and anger had drained from her, and he saw the girl he’d once known standing there. Then Miriam Sutton had attacked her. He’d been about to intervene, but Leah had stood up for herself, and then Dee had. But he’d needed to say something to ensure that bitch never came after her again.
