One of Six (Den Hollows #1)

20. Beatrice

20

BEATRICE

"Make no plans for tomorrow. The day is dedicated to your mother," Richard says.

I tilt my head and look at him. I'm not sure what he thinks I'm going to say or do, but nothing polite comes to mind. So, I concentrate on my breakfast.

Something is going on with Evelyn too. She's not herself today and I haven't been able to get her alone. I know she's friends with Maggie Redd, so maybe Essex's mother has talked to Evelyn about me. I wouldn't blame her. But Evelyn knows me. I wince. She also knows Richard.

"I'm busy at the office today. What are you up to?" Richard raises an eyebrow.

Surprised, I say, “Violet's coming over after breakfast. We'll go for a walk. Maybe spend some time in town. I'm not sure about anything else."

Richard nods. "Violet's a good girl." He doesn't say anything more, and then he's gone without another word.

Evelyn looks into the dining room, and I smile. "He's gone."

"I know." She hovers, and I frown. "You can talk to me, Evelyn. Did Richard say anything to you?"

She shakes her head. "What's going on with you and Essex Redd?"

I pause with a slice of toast halfway to my mouth. "I'm falling in love with him," I give her my honest answer.

"Oh, Beatrice." Evelyn takes the chair next to me and holds my hand. "If you care about him, you must stop seeing him. Your father will have him for breakfast if he finds out, and we both know he will."

I watch her carefully and pull my hand away. "Maggie asked you to talk to me, didn't she?"

Evelyn drops her eyes. "She's worried about her boys."

"They're men, Evelyn." I sigh. "I don't blame her for worrying. If Richard tries anything, I will not be silent... Essex spoke to me about it last night. He's helping me with something." Tears sting my eyes as I say, "I love you, Evelyn, but for your own safety you need to start looking for a new job."

She gasps in surprise.

"You have to know it's not safe." I grab her hands. "I'm not staying here, Evelyn. I want you to find a safer job. Promise me you'll look for one."

"I promise," she whispers, tears in her eyes. Just then the doorbell rings throughout the house.

"That will be Violet... Please be careful, Evelyn."

She nods as I open the door. Violet jumps in full of energy. She has no idea where we are going. Essex had left me a message that our rides are waiting. I just hope Violet is trustworthy.

"I was surprised to get your call. But I'm glad. It's so much better than having to stay home with mom. She's busy arranging dishes and stuff on the new sideboards." She wiggles her eyebrows. "They're awesome!"

I roll my eyes. "The furniture or the men who built them?"

"Both," she giggles and gives me a wink.

I shake my head, laughing. "What time does your mom expect you home?"

"Dinner, so I guess between six and seven."

Satisfied with my decision to include her, I slip my arm through hers and walk into the kitchen.

Evelyn looks at us, so I offer, "We'll go. We'll be back before dinner."

Evelyn nods and goes back to stirring the pot on the stove. "Keep your phone with you. I'll send you a message if your dad gets back early."

"I will." We walk out the back, and I feel Evelyn watching us as we cross the lawn. I also feel Violet's curiosity. "I'm trusting you with everything I hold dear today," I say quietly. "You can't say a word to anyone. No matter what happens, Violet. You must stay strong. Can you promise me that?" We're hiding by the oak trees as I bring her to a stop and face her.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I promise your secret is safe with me." She grabs my hand. "I promise."

I give her a quick hug and say, "Wait here for a few minutes. I have to get something." I run to my hiding place, only looking behind me twice.

The phone is where I left it. I quickly shove it into my backpack and head back to Violet.

She raises an eyebrow. I grin in response. "We're crossing the river."

"Oh! Are we going for a walk on the dark side?"

I roll my eyes and laugh. "We are."

Violet hurries down the bank, takes off her shoes, and steps into the water. "What are you waiting for?"

"Nothing!" I follow my friend, laughing. I had no idea she would be so excited about this secret trip.

On the other side, we put on our shoes, and I lead Violet through the trees. My heart is pounding with excitement as we find two hot denim-clad guys on motorcycles.

"Hey, Mermaid Girl!"

I squeal and run up to Essex and throw myself into his arms. He catches me and laughs—rich and familiar.

"Hi, Essex Drake Redd." I press my mouth to his, only to have Ridge clear his throat and remind us that we're not alone.

"Well," Violet says, "there's single old me and single old you,” she points at Ridge, “we should join in." She slowly walks over to Ridge, who narrows his eyes.

"I don't know what the hell you've been drinking, but that isn't happening." He pats the seat behind him. "Climb on, Jailbait ."

"Ugh!" Violet stops on his bike. "Does everyone know I'm only seventeen?"

"Yes," Essex and Ridge answer.

I climb on behind Essex. "Step on it."

I make sure Violet is sitting behind Ridge. The man winks and says to Violet, "Hang on, Jailbait .”

"I'm not always going to be seventeen!"

Chuckling, I hold on as Essex pulls out. I love sitting behind him and feeling the power of man and machine between my legs.

The ride is too short when he pulls into the driveway leading to WoodArt.

"Mom's got cake and tea waiting," Ridge tells us. "Come on, sweet cheeks , I'll take you to meet Mama Bear." Violet lets him take her hand and follows, not looking in my direction.

"I've lost my friend," I mutter.

"I hope she doesn't go after Ridge," Essex says, helping me off the bike.

He holds me close, his hands cupping my face. "How are you doing?"

"I slept like a log with you there."

He smiles softly, "I'm glad. I wish I could stay with you all night."

"Mmm." I press myself against him and enjoy how this man makes me feel. As if I'm valued and belong to him. "I should call that FBI guy before we go see your mom."

"Yeah. Inside, though." We walk into his studio, and I smile.

"I like being in here. This is your work, Essex. It makes me happy."

"Baby, you make me happy... Let's see the phone."

He laughs at the bundle I pull out and rolls his eyes.

"I know I overdid it, but I can't let it get damaged."

"You're right." His arms slip around me, and I lean in as I wait for the phone to turn on. "Don't be nervous, Bea. It's just a phone call."

"I'm afraid of who he's going to be." I rub my eyebrows. "If Mom was having an affair, I don't think she would have written about him being an FBI agent."

"Would it bother you to know if your mom was having an affair?"

"I don't think it would. In fact, I know it wouldn't."

I open the phone, navigate to the note, and press my finger on the numbers, selecting call from the menu.

Each ring makes my heart pound...then a deep voice answers, "Agent Ed Carter."

"Um, hi. I was wondering how you knew my mom. Elisabeth Lincoln?"

"I haven’t heard that name in a long time—until last week, that is. She left me a voicemail. What's going on?"

I'm still stuck on the fact that she called him days before she was killed.

"Hello, are you still there?"

I cough to clear my throat and grab one of Essex's hands and hold on tight.

"I'm here. I don't know what's going on, but my mom was killed the other night. I found..."

"What?!" Agent Carter stutters. "Your mom... Elise? She's dead?"

I step out of Essex's arms and hold his gaze. "Yes. She was shot in her own home."

"Is the shooter in custody?"

"Not yet." Suddenly remembering who I'm dealing with in town, I say, "You can't ask the sheriff or anyone else about this. It will have far-reaching consequences if you do. More people will get hurt.”

"I need to process what you've told me. Can I call you back?"

"That's not a good idea."

Essex picks up the phone.

"You can call me. It will be much safer for my girl. I'm Essex Redd and my number is..."

He hangs up while I’m wondering how Mom even knew him. I should have asked.

"We're going to need him if shit happens down here. He has my number, and he text me, so I have his. Do you need the phone again?"

"I have all the content on my phone."

"Okay. Pack it up again and we'll hide it. No one will think to look for it here."

"That's a good idea."

"I've got just the place." He takes my hand and pulls me back. He smiles. "A secret cabinet."

The cabinet he's sitting in front of has ten drawers down and six across. The grin on Essex's face tells me he likes it a lot.

He opens certain doors and pushes in three of them, then opens the top right one all the way. "This is the only way this drawer will open."

"That's so cool!" I approach and run my hand over the smooth top. "Did you make it?"

"No. My dad and Uncle Jesus made it."

I forgot that he has an uncle named Jesus. I bet he is a character. He should be with that name.

"Put the phone in here, babe, and I'll show you how to open and close it so you can access it."

I put the bundle in the drawer and hesitate. "What if one of your brothers finds it? It can't be lost."

He shakes his head. "No one uses it."

"Show it to me?" My eyes light up with joy and Essex laughs.

He takes my hand and runs it through twice. "I won't remember this."

"I'll put it in the note app. Just remember that the first number is the row, and the second number is the drawer in that row.

Open: 3/1, 4/4, 7/3, 9/5, 10/3

Push in: 2/4, 5/3, 8/4

"That I can remember." I sit and watch him make the note for me and check it again. I could watch this man all day long. I place a hand gently on his neck and feel the shudder he releases. My fingers continue into his hair, which is soft.

He turns and takes my hand. "Mom wants me to bring you to say hello. I hope that's okay."

"I'm not sure she likes me very much."

"Baby, she knows how your father is. She's worried about me and the others. But she likes you. I promise.” Brushing his lips over mine, he leads us back to the studio room. "We better go save Violet from Ridge."

I snort. "When you get to know Violet, you'll realize she doesn't need to be saved from a Redd—she needs to be saved from herself."

He puts an arm around my shoulder, and we walk out of the building. I put an arm around his waist.

"Which one of my brothers is she looking at? Galen?"

"She says not, but maybe."

He chuckles. "I'll let him discover that for himself."

Moving outside, Atilio is waiting. I smile, hoping he's not mad at me.

"Firecracker," he says somberly, "I'm sorry for your loss. Are you all right?"

"Thank you, Atilio. I’m okay, but only because of Essex and you."

He nods. "Mama sent me to find you." He chuckles. “She's tired of being polite to Violet."

My eyes go wide. "Oh, no! What did she do?"

Atilio chuckles. "Nothing like that. She hasn’t stopped talking."

I jump. "Oh dear. I shouldn't have left her. She's nervous." I hurry out into the beautiful yard and into the kitchen. All the talking stops.

"Um, Maggie, hi."

She smiles. "Come and sit down, Bea. Would you like a piece of cake and some sweet tea?"

"Yes, please." I sit next to Violet with Essex next to me. He puts a hand on my thigh and leaves it there.

"Jailbait's finally shut up." Ridge joins us.

I glance at Violet, who narrows her eyes to a grinning Ridge as he sits next to her. Hmm, there are other seats available, but he chose the one next to my girlfriend.

"I'm not always going to be jailbait. In fact, I turn eighteen in three weeks and four days. You won't know what to do with me then!"

My lips twitch in amusement and I desperately try not to laugh.

Ridge mutters. "That's what you think... The first thing I'd do is put you over my knee."

"Cake!" Maggie says louder than necessary, shooting a warning glare at Ridge. He smirks and takes a piece, munching on it. His eyes go back to Violet.

My friend takes a piece and scowls at Ridge. "What color panties should I wear while you spank me?"

Ridge chokes on a bite of cake while Essex and Atilio howl with laughter. I join in, noticing that Maggie’s mouth is twitching with amusement. How Violet keeps her face straight, I'll never know.

After getting himself under control, Ridge cups Violet's chin, brings her closer to his face and says, "Babe, I'd prefer no panties." He saunters out of the kitchen.

"That can be arranged," Violet shouts at his retreating back. She waves her hands in front of her face. "Is it me or is it warm in here?

I giggle. "It's all you."

Violet winks and takes a bite of cake. "Mmm, this is really good, Mrs. Redd."

"Maggie, please. Any girl who gets to one of my sons has to be on a first name basis with me."

I meet Violet's eyes and shake my head. Her eyes are bright with joy. She also looks flushed. My friend enjoyed teasing Ridge.