That Dog Won't Hunt (Dearing Family Series) (11 page)

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Authors: Brandilyn Collins

BOOK: That Dog Won't Hunt (Dearing Family Series)
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CHAPTER 16
Christina fled down the west wing hallway, through the kitchen and family area toward her room. Tears nearly blinded her. She could hear Mrs. Dearing calling for her to stop, that everything was okay, and she shouldn’t feel bad. Jess was just in one of her moods. They’d figure something else out for supper. Lacey called her name too. As Christina reached the top of the east wing hall, guilt got the best of her. She turned and faced them, one hand gripping the door frame.
“P-please … I just … need to be by my…self right now.”
Before they could say a word, she pivoted and scurried down the hall. Jumped into the safety of her room and locked the door.
Christina sprawled across the bed and buried her face in the covers. She cried and sobbed, then cried some more until her head pounded and the tears dried up. She’d known this wasn’t going to work. But did she have to end up being so humiliated? What had she done right since she’d gotten here? Now she’d cost the whole family a special, expensive supper. Everyone would know about it. Everyone would blame her.
It wasn’t fair. Ben shouldn’t have left her for so many hours. Didn’t he know she was uncomfortable here by herself? If he loved her, if he was going to treat her right like he promised,
why
had he gone to play golf? Last night he’d forced her to tell him things she’d never wanted to say. Yet today that conversation made no difference in his behavior at all.
Plain and simple, Ben might think he loved her, but his actions didn’t show it. None of the Dearings needed her. What place could she have in this family? She was still an Ugly Bug, unwanted, unlovable. Always had been, always would be. The sooner she accepted that, the easier her life would turn out—
Someone knocked on the door. Christina stiffened, then raised her head.
The knock came again. “Christina? It’s Jess.” Her voice sounded thick.
Great. The sister Ben was closest to. The one who liked her least of all.
“I’m sorry, Christina, really. It hadn’t been a good day for me, and … Please don’t feel bad. We’re already pullin’ out meat for supper.”
As if one apology could undo Jess’s accusations. Christina’s hurt went too deep for that.
“Are you in there, Christina?”
She glared at the door. “Yes.”
“Will you come out?”
“No.” The answer shot out of her mouth before she could stop it. She started to apologize but choked on the words. So what if she’d said what she felt? Wasn’t that what Ben wanted her to do? Besides, she was tired of trying to please everybody. Clearly it wasn’t working.
Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?
“Please?”
“I don’t
want
to come out, Jess. I don’t want to see
anybody
right now.”
A long silence pulsed.
“Fine then, be that way.”
What a snotty answer. Anger shot through Christina. As if Jessica Dearing had anything to be ticked about. She, who had a loving family and perfect life. Who’d gone joyriding this morning with a man who obviously loved her while Christina stayed home alone and watched three kids she hardly knew. And one of whom was a spoiled brat.
Christina jumped off the bed and strode to the door. Flung it open. Jess was already walking down the hall. “I’m
sorry
about your lobsters, Jess.” The words came out hard. “In case you couldn’t tell, I didn’t mean to do it.”
Jess turned around, surprise, then irritation flattening her face. “You sure don’t sound sorry.”
“Well, I am.”
“Well, good for you.”
They narrowed their eyes at each other.
“What’s wrong with you?” Jess planted her hands on her hips.
“You mean why didn’t I see your stupid lobsters in the sink?”
Jess’s cheeks reddened. “I mean what’s
wrong
with you? Everyone’s tried to welcome you into this family, and you just run around like some kicked mouse.”
“Am I acting like a mouse now?”
“No, and this is a whole lot scarier.”
“Maybe you’re just not used to having someone stand up to you.”
“Maybe you have
no idea
what you’re talking about!”
At the top of the hall behind Jess, Maddy poked her head out of the family room. Her eyes were wide. She must have heard everything. She locked eyes with Christina, then jerked back and disappeared.
Reality hit Christina in the chest. What was she
doing?
She’d spent her entire wretched childhood holding in her rage. Had promised herself never, ever to show it to anyone, especially the man she so desperately loved. Or his family. Now she’d let out the bad Christina—on Ben’s sister, no less. In his parents’ house.
Christina’s shoulders drooped. She flushed hot, then cold. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what made me…”
Jess gave her a long look. “Yeah, well, you’d better figure it out. ’Cause you got a mess of fury floatin’ around inside you, girl.”
Her tone kicked anger back up Christina’s spine. She tried to force it down, but it wouldn’t budge. “And what exactly would you call what’s ‘floatin’ around’ inside of
you?
I’ve seen the way you treat Tamel.”
Jess inhaled a sharp breath. “Don’t you dare mention Tamel to me.”
“It’s obvious he’s crazy in love with you.”
“That’s
none
of your business!”
“And how I act is none of yours!”
“It
is
when you’re about to marry my brother!” Jess stalked two steps toward Christina. “I will not stand by and watch him get his heart broken again. No one in this family will.”
Christina drew her head back, stricken. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Ben. “Why don’t you watch
yourself,
Miss Know-It-All.”
Jess’s body went rigid. She pointed at Christina, her voice low and shaking. “I knew somethin’ was off-kilter the minute I saw you. You aren’t what you pretend to be. Now you’ve gone way too far.” Her voice hitched. “I will
not
let you destroy my brother.”
She pivoted and stomped down the hall. Veered left. Christina heard her pounding up the stairs.
Was that a sob?
Weakly, Christina leaned against the wall. Self-loathing and despair poured over her. She’d done it now. Really done it. Maddy was probably still listening from the family room. She’d go tell Mrs. Dearing and Sarah.
No way could Christina face them now.
She escaped back into the guestroom and relocked the door. Fresh tears spilled out of her eyes, no holding them back. She did
not
want to cry. She snatched up her suitcase in the corner and tossed it on the bed. Started throwing in her clothes and toiletries.
The minute Ben came home they were
leaving
. And if he was too mad to drive her, all the better. She couldn’t bear to sit in a car with him for six hours anyway. Couldn’t stand to see the pain on his face. She’d failed him completely. Failed herself too. She’d been a fool to believe she could have her fairy tale life.
Tamel would take her to Jackson, wouldn’t he? She’d pay for the first plane back to Dallas. Find another job. And she would never, ever see the Dearing family again.
CHAPTER 17
Ruth hovered in the kitchen with Sarah, watching Maddy peek around the corner into the hall. In the sink sat five pounds of hamburger—a last-minute substitute for tonight’s supper. The dying lobsters still writhed in the laundry tub. Jess hadn’t been able to bring herself to throw them out.
Alex’s clothes were now in the dryer. All three kids were in the play room, the door closed. Penny was with them. Ruth didn’t want the kids to know … whatever was happening. She could hear the hiss of Christina’s and Jess’s voices but couldn’t make out what they said. Whatever it was—it wasn’t friendly.
Ruth’s throat had gone so tight it felt raw. How had the day fallen apart like this? The very things she’d worried about Christina were coming true. She couldn’t bear to think what that might mean for Ben.
Maddy yanked her head back and hurried toward the kitchen. “Oh, my gosh, they’re tearin’ each other up out there.”
Oh, no.
Ruth started for the hall. “I have to stop them.”
Sarah grabbed her arm. “No, Mama, don’t get in the middle of it.”
“But—”
“You’ll only make it worse.”
Stomping feet came up the hall, then headed upstairs. At the end of the east wing a door closed.
Sarah cocked her head. “Sounds like it’s over.”
Maddy nodded. “Maybe one of them threw in the flag.”
“Towel, Maddy,” Sarah said. “Throw in the towel; raise the white flag.”
“Whatever.”
Ruth put her palms against her cheeks. They felt so hot. “I need to go to Christina.”
Sarah shook her head. “You already tried goin’ after her once. She didn’t want to talk to you. Besides Jess told us she was goin’ to apologize to her. Apparently even that didn’t work.”
“But it’s not just Jess. First Penny gets mad at her, then the kids give her a hard time, and a plate breaks—which she’s blaming herself for. Then the lobsters, and Jess so mad, and you two laughin’—”
“I know, but just let her be for now,” Sarah said. “It’ll be easier to talk to her when she’s calmed down.”
“Then I should go talk to Jess. She’s upset too.”
“Mama, no. You know how mad
she
can get. Let her blow it off.”
Ruth sank into a kitchen chair. “What should we do, then? I feel sorry for your sister after she spent all that money. And I can’t have Christina bein’ so upset. She’s our guest.”
Maddy looked to Sarah. “We should apologize to Christina too. Even though we were laughin’ at Jess, not her.” A giggle popped out of Maddy. “It’s still funny.”
“Yeah, but Christina doesn’t seem to understand our humor.” Sarah gazed toward the east wing. “She’s been so quiet and tryin’ to please everybody. But this sure took her over the edge. What if she goes off on Ben like that?”
Maddy sighed. “Not good.”
“Now wait, you two.” Ruth made eye contact with both her daughters. “You’ve had issues with your own husbands. Remember how hard it was at first? There’s so much to work out between two people. It was the same for your dad and me.”
“Oh, come on, Mama,” Sarah said, “you and Daddy never had a fight in your life.”
“Not for years, maybe, but we did at first.”
They fell silent. Ruth thought of the lobsters. She needed to throw them out before they died and stunk up the whole house. Pogey’s feet couldn’t even compete with that.
She smacked the table. “I’ve been wantin’ new plumbin’ for that washin’ machine for years. We should have a proper drain, not goin’ through that old sink.”
Sarah nodded. “I’m sure a certain bunch of lobsters would agree with you.”
Maddy chortled. Ruth shot her a look, and she cut the laugh short. Putting on a serious expression, Maddy leaned forward, listening. “Do you hear anything from either of ’em?”
Sarah shook her head.
Maddy drummed her fingers on the counter. “I’m gonna listen at the doors, see what’s goin’ on.” She scurried off.
Ruth rubbed her forehead, picturing Ben on the golf course. How long before the men got home?
“Why’s Jess got her knickers in such a twist anyway?” Sarah leaned against the counter. “I mean, I get that the lobsters were expensive, but this is ridiculous.”
Ruth stared at the table. “She was with Tamel this morning. I wonder if somethin’ went wrong.”
“She’s been actin’ terrible toward him. When’s she gonna come off that?”
Ruth shook her head. Her youngest daughter was a complicated woman.
Maddy returned. She shook her head—
not good
.
Sarah stared at her. “What?”
“Jess is up in her room, bawlin’. She wouldn’t open the door for me. Christina’s in
her
room, cryin’. I didn’t even try to get her to come out.”
Oh, no.
Ruth lowered her head.
“Why is Jess cryin’, you think?” Maddy asked Sarah.
“Maybe Tamel?”
“Oh.” Maddy thought that over. “Maybe.”
Ruth closed her eyes.
Lord, send your peace. Help me know what to do here.
She stood up. She had to fix this. “I’m goin’ to talk to Jess.” Her tone said she’d made up her mind. Sarah and Maddy didn’t try to stop her.
Ruth hurried up the stairs and knocked lightly on Jess’s door. “Sweetie, can I come in?”
“Not now, Mama, please.” Jess’s words sounded clogged.
“I’m worried about you. Don’t want you feelin’ bad up here by yourself.”
“I’ll be okay.”
She didn’t sound okay at all. And this was definitely more than a bunch of soapy lobsters. “Please, Jess. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I don’t want to talk right now.” Jess let out a sob. “Just … give me a while, okay?”
Ruth lingered at the door, her heart in knots. Wanting to make everything all right for her daughter, knowing she couldn’t. “Okay, honey. I’ll be downstairs when you need me.”
She descended the steps slowly, hesitated at the top of the east wing hall, then walked toward Christina’s room. At the door, she listened.
No sound.
“Christina?” She knocked.
No answer. Then—“I’m sleeping.”
Christina’s tone clearly said she didn’t want to be bothered.
Ruth winced. “Okay.”
She returned to the kitchen and the questioning gazes of her two older daughters. Sarah raised her eyebrows. “Well?”
Ruth shook her head.
She lowered herself into a kitchen chair and stared out the window. She just couldn’t sit back and do nothing. After a moment she straightened. “I’m gonna call Ben and Tamel. They’re the only two who can straighten this out.”
Sarah looked at her askance. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“You have a better one?”
“Just let them work this out, Mama,” Maddy said. “You can’t fix everything.”
“Well, I can try.” Besides, Ruth knew human nature. Christina and Jess might be mad at first that she’d made the calls. But the sooner these two talked things out with the men in their lives, the better it would be—for the whole family. “I’ll have to do this carefully, though. If Ben lights into Jess for upsetting Christina …”
Maddy pursed her lips. “Oh, boy.”
Ruth got up and reached for the phone.

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