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Small Town, Big Secrets
by Elsie Davis

Copyright © 2020 by Elsie Davis. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Chapter One

Becky walked out of the doctor’s office, the blast of Texas heat hitting her hard, but not as hard as the news she’d just received. Twelve thousand dollars. The deductible and copay on Byron’s hernia surgery were far more than she’d ever expected. In hindsight, the lowest-cost insurance plan might not have been such a good idea, but it had been all she could afford. Of course, there also was no way she could have ever foreseen her five-year-old son needing to be hospitalized for surgery. No number of fundraisers the town did for her would raise this kind of money.

She pulled her long hair back off to one side of her head and rubbed her neck, wiping the pool of sweat that had formed there. Becky already worked full-time at Charlie’s Bar and Grill, and her mother worked full-time at the Parker mansion. Between the two of them, they barely managed their expenses, but neither one could take on a second job, at least not while they had to juggle Byron’s care. Her sister was a big help, but she and her mom agreed Julia’s studies came first.

There was one other avenue she hadn’t pursued, but considering the magnitude of the copay, Becky wasn’t left with much choice. For her son, she’d do anything—and that included asking Byron’s father.

Not that she expected the miserable cur to help, but she would ask.

The weasel hadn’t even acknowledged his own son. Instead, he’d gone out of his way to make sure no one knew he was connected to the boy in any way, forcing Becky into silence.

She glanced at her watch. Darn it. The conversation with the financial administrator had taken longer than she’d planned, and now she was late for work. Becky hurried down the sidewalk toward Charlie’s. The last thing she needed was to lose her job, especially with Ethan considering her for an assistant manager’s position. He was a great boss and a good friend, but to him, his restaurant had to come first, something she understood.

Becky reached into her purse and pulled out the baggie with her peanut butter and jelly sandwich she’d fixed for herself this morning. No such thing as a leisurely lunch today. She pulled out the first half, the sticky red jelly coming out the sides and getting all over her fingers. She licked the outer edges to catch the strawberry goo before it dripped onto her clothes.

She reached for the napkin tucked in the front pocket of her purse and yanked it out, but in doing so, the papers from the doctor’s office she’d shoved in there earlier came out with the napkin and fell to the ground. Sandwich in one hand, she juggled her purse and stooped down to grab the papers. Her day couldn’t get any worse.

She stood and rounded the corner, colliding with the hulking chest of a man, her sandwich firmly smushed between them. The man’s arms came around her, preventing her from falling.

Apparently, her day could get worse.

“I’m so sorry.” Becky stepped back, getting her first good look at the guy she’d broadsided.

“Are you okay?” Mr. Business Executive asked, letting his hands drop when he realized she wasn’t in danger of falling flat on her face.

Of course it had to be a guy who looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine. Dark, wavy hair that was cut in a roguish style and brushed off to the side. His olive complexion had nothing to do with the sun. Chocolate brown eyes, a cleanly shaven face, and a strong jaw completed the picture. Swoon worthy.

But there was nothing swoon worthy about the peanut butter and jelly now plastered across his suit coat, shirt, and tie. This was a day she clearly should have stayed in bed. And considering the man’s frown as he gazed down at the mess she’d made of his clothes, he would agree.

“I’m fine. I’m so sorry. Here, let me help.” Using her napkin, she began to wipe at his shirt. Each stroke only smeared the gooey mixture worse, turning his blue shirt an ugly brownish-red color, making him smell like he’d plastered peanut butter on as aftershave this morning.

The man reached up to grasp her hand, stopping her from doing any more damage than she’d already done. “I’m not sure that’s helping,” he said with a laugh. His smile reached his eyes, the corners crinkling. Way better than a frown.

Becky was mesmerized for just a moment, lost in the kindness of his expression. Most people would’ve been furious with her, but not this guy. “I feel awful.”

“Where were you in such a hurry to go? Or do you just make a habit of meeting people in unorthodox ways?” The warm sound of his laugh was pleasing, his joke at a time like this catching her off guard.

“My job,” she said. “And this isn’t good. I can’t be late—or any later than I already am. I’ve really got to run. Is there anything I can do to make this up to you?”

“I’ll get it handled. Don’t worry. I’d hate for you to be late for work.” The man removed his suit coat.

“Are you sure? I could go get some water and more napkins…” She’d been late far too often trying to manage Byron’s care and doctor visits, but she didn’t feel right leaving him like this.

“I’m sure.”

Becky exhaled, her breath coming out as one big whoosh. “Thank you for being so understanding.” She turned to leave, but then she paused, half twisting back around. “And no, I don’t make a habit of bumping into people, for the record.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I won’t have to keep an eye out for you while I’m in town.”

His laughter continued to ring in her ears as she hurried down the sidewalk, stopping only to toss the rest of her sandwich in the trash can on the corner.

She pushed open the front door of the restaurant, and the overhead bill jingled, announcing her arrival. Ethan looked up from the bar then glanced down at his watch.

“Sorry I’m late. The meeting at the doctor’s office ran over.” Becky raced across the room toward the back kitchen doors.

“Slow down. I know you’ve been late a lot, but I also understand why, and it’s okay. I consider us friends, and I’m a reasonable man.” Ethan was more than reasonable, but it didn’t mean she should take advantage of him.

She stopped at the end of the bar. “I also know there are at least twenty people here in Riverbend waiting to take my place if you ever become not okay with it.”

“So how did it go?” Ethan slid a glass of beer across the counter to one of the lunch customers.

Life had taught Becky to keep her affairs private, and she wasn’t about to change that now, no matter how desperate she was feeling. “It wasn’t good. It’s going to cost more than I expected, but I’ll figure it out. Mom and I always do.” It was the truth, but this time, she wasn’t so sure.

“I know how determined you can be—and how hard-working. I’ll let you get to it. You’ve got your normal section today.” Ethan went back to wiping down the countertop.

Becky grabbed her apron hanging on the hook in the hallway that led to the kitchen and tied it behind her back, letting out a sigh of relief. It was just another day in the long line of many to come. Not at all like the dream she had growing up, back when she had big plans to leave Riverbend and head for the city. Before she’d fallen for Jack Parker’s lies, thinking she was different and that he loved her.

Boy, had she been wrong. It was a mistake she would pay for over and over, but one she couldn’t completely regret. Becky loved her son, no matter the circumstances surrounding his birth.

Jack had been more concerned about his football scholarship to Houston University than about his son, which was why he threatened to have her mother fired for stealing if Becky revealed his identity to anyone. She was the housekeeper for the Parkers, so his threats had been quite effective, just as he’d known they would be.

Unfortunately, staying off Jack’s radar and out of the limelight would no longer be an option. He was her last hope to get the money needed for Byron’s surgery.

She could only hope time would’ve matured him, or at least made him a more reasonable man. She also hoped the self-control she’d learned over the years would keep her in good stead when dealing with him, because there was a lot at stake.

Time had changed her in other ways. Seeing the community pull together to help her with Byron…their outpouring of love and support was nothing short of amazing. Becky finally understood the feeling of belonging, and the last thing she wanted to do was uproot her family and leave. Once upon a time, it had been her dream, but not anymore.

But leaving was exactly what would need to happen if Jack made trouble for her and her mother, because employment and town sentiment would turn against them if the Parkers set their mind to turn them into outcasts. They were that powerful.