“Has she spoken to you since?”
“No.”
He just said a ghost helped him find her, and she didn’t even blink. Suddenly, his somber mood disappeared.
“Maybe she’s found peace at last,” said Sam, “and moved on.”
“I hope so.”
She chewed her lower lip, fingers twirling a spoon on the table. “What was the final decision?”
He intuitively knew she asked how JD died.
Neither had spoken of the strange chain of events that transpired in the basement. How could he explain the strange voice, or the fog surrounding JD that pushed him against a wall, then threw him to the floor where his gun discharged? He couldn’t.
“When his gun went off, I saw you go down…I thought he hit you.” He covered her hand with his. “My heart stopped. I fired on instinct, but he was already down.” He swallowed hard. “He took one bullet—his own—into the heart. They’re ruling it accidental because there’s nothing to prove otherwise.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “It’s over.”
“What about Billy?” asked Sam, “have you talked with him?”
“He’s back at work.” He sipped his coffee. “He went to see his mother in Dallas during that time. Just found out she has cancer and wanted to see him.” He toyed with the cake on his plate. “Things are a little strained between us right now, but I’m hopeful we’ll be back to normal soon.”
Coop finished his coffee and cake, though his throat threatened to close several times. Would things ever be normal again?
“Frank came by earlier to apologize,” said Sam. “Miriam was with him.” She paused. “What will happen to him?”
“Up to the DA. Miriam waited two days to pay his bail.” He shook his head. “Wouldn’t want to be him these days.”
“Rumor mill said Puckett’s wife kicked him out.”
“Bout time.”
Jason entered carrying a covered plate which he placed on the table. “Big Mama baked these tea cakes, and said if I didn’t give them to you, she’d skin me alive.” He gave a very unmanly shudder. “She scares me.”
Amusement flickered in Sam’s eyes. “You won’t find a kinder soul, Jason. She’s as sweet as they come.”
“Yeah, well,” He looked at the counter lined with food. “Between her and all those other folks who have paraded in here bringing food this week, you won’t have to cook for a while.” He hesitated, then looked at his father. “So, Dad…are we ready?”
Coop pushed back from the table and reached for Sam’s hand. “Yeah. We’re ready.”
A few minutes later, Coop perched on the edge of the wooden coffee table in front of the couch where Sam and Eva sat. “Can I get y’all anything?”
“Please stop fussing so, Coop,” admonished Eva as she glanced at Sam. “We are both doing just fine.”
“Absolutely,” echoed Sam.
Eva opened her mouth, but Jason held up his hand. “Yes, Dad and I are keeping a list of who brought what. We froze some and kept some out to eat now. Except for that awful spinach concoction Miriam Arnold made. I’m sorry, but I tossed it.”
Coop looked back and forth between the two women who owned his heart and thanked God he hadn’t lost them. He was the luckiest man alive.
“I still can’t believe JD did all that,” said Eva. “He seemed so nice.” She looked at Coop, head shaking in disbelief. “Are you all right?”
Silence gathered as Eva’s gaze found and held his. “You know, don’t you?” Her voice quaked with emotion.
“Yes.”
“But…”
He covered her frail hand with his and tried to keep his voice from shaking as he revealed the secret he’d kept for so long. “I always knew I was adopted.” He swallowed twice before he could continue. “You told my mother to give me the letter if I ever asked for details, and she did. It told me the why, but not who you were. I didn’t find out until after my parents died.” He paused for a breath. “My adoptive mother left me a letter. Said she’d leave it up to me whether or not I told you what was in it.” He paused to get a grip on his emotions. “I was wild and foolish, and made the worst mistake of my life. I should have said something long before now.”
He glanced at his son, and back to the woman who birthed him, then silently stepped aside to let her best friend raise him, because society wouldn’t sympathize or forgive. “It took me a long time to understand, but I do. I do. You’ve always been there for me.” He looked at Jason. “For us. And we’ll be here for you. Always.” Vision blurred, he kissed her hand. “We love you.”
Her tear-smothered voice trembled. “I was so afraid you would hate me or be embarrassed if you knew.”
He drew strength from the warmth of Sam’s hand on his knee. “I could never hate you. You gave me life, then saw to it I grew up in a warm and loving home. You put my welfare above everything. Even your own happiness.”
“…You’re the spitting image of him. Your father.” Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her cheeks. “My son.”
“We have a couple of weddings to plan now.” Heart dancing with happiness, he looked at his mother “…Ma…I love you.”
Jason moved to sit beside her on the couch, pulling her to him in a gentle hug. “So, does this mean I can call you Grammie now instead of Miss Eva?”
Sam snuggled closer to him on the big porch swing, a light blanket over her knees. “So what’s this about two weddings to plan?”
“You don’t want to get married?” His stomach rolled at the thought.
