Liars (Licking Thicket 2)

The opposing attorney looked surprised when he caught sight of Ian. “Oh, ah, fine. She’ll be back racing in no time. How’s Kana?”

They spoke about their wives for several minutes while one of Ian’s associates tried to distract me by saying hello to Marigold. Her little forehead crinkled in confusion when he played peek-a-boo with his necktie. I appreciated the effort, but I agreed with the baby. He looked silly.

“Do you know their wives?” I asked.

The associate straightened. “Wives? Oh! No, Moffie and Kana are horses. Two-year-olds. They race on the same circuit as the Kensingtons.” He lowered his voice. “Darren’s been married like four times, and the last one cut out six months ago. Moffie’s lasted longer than she did.”

Jeez. Like I needed more reason to worry about Marigold living with these people.

“Diesel.”

I turned and looked down at my aunt, whose gray head barely reached my shoulder. “Hey, Aunt Birdie. I was gonna come over and say hi. I didn’t expect to see you two here today! Thought you still had a couple more days touring… Helsinki, was it? On your great European tour?”

“It was Zagreb. Helsinki was before that. And we cut our trip short soon as Ava messaged Dotty about Marigold’s custody hearing today.” She scowled. “Poor Dotty thought Ava must’ve lost her mind. ‘Custody?’ she said. ‘Not our Diesel! No way. Surely if he were fighting for custody of a baby, we’d know about it.’ But sure enough, Ava ain’t the crazy one.” She set her hands on her hips. “What is wrong with you, Edwin Church?”

Hearing that name, my real name, in a tone of voice that implied I was crazy brought me up short. Did Aunt Birdie doubt my ability to parent a child too?

“Well, I—” I cuddled Marigold closer. “I wasn’t sure what else to do. Beth left her to me, and at first I took care of her for Beth’s sake, but now I love her more than life, just for her own sake. She’s a great kid—smart, funny, adorable.”

“Bah,” Marigold agreed, reaching for Birdie’s hair. Birdie’s face softened, and she kissed Mari’s palm before scowling again.

“I’m learning to take care of her, with Parrish’s help,” I assured her. “I know I don’t know anything about taking care of a baby, but—”

“Uh-huh. Parrish,” Birdie repeated. “Who, according to Ava, is somehow your husband?”

“Well.” I winced. “Yes.”

“Sweet butter biscuits, Diesel, when were you going to tell us that any of this was happening?”

“When you got back?” I shrugged. “I didn’t want to ruin your vacation. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip, after all, and—”

“And you didn’t think we’d be a little more concerned about you than about some old, drafty cathedrals?”

Aunt Dot came scurrying over with a large rectangle of pink material she’d crocheted and held it up to Mari’s back. “There we go. Sized it perfectly on the first go! I’ll have this worked up for my baby in a jiffy, won’t I, sweet girl?” She ran a hand over Marigold’s head. “I won’t upset you by holding you right now, angel, since you don’t know me yet, but we’re gonna have so much fun together, and—”

“Dorothy Ann,” Birdie interrupted pointedly. “I was telling Diesel off for keeping us in the dark, and you’re stealing my thunder, honey.”

“Oh. Did you get to the part with the drafty, old cathedrals?”

“Yes.”

“And the bit where we think of him as the son we never had? And how proud we are of the man he’s become? And how lucky Parrish is to have him? And how we can’t wait to see them kick butt at raising this baby? And how we want to support them in whatever way we can?”

Aunt Birdie sighed. “No, I hadn’t gotten there yet.”

“Oh.” Dot shrugged and smiled saucily. “Well, it’s not my fault you can’t cut to the chase.” She gave me a loving look. “But really, Diesel. We love you. We’re family. And family’s not just for barbecues and gift-giving occasions, okay? You should’ve told us. You should’ve let us support you. You aren’t alone.”

It was hard to speak around the giant lump in my throat, so I nodded. “Okay.”

“All parties in the case of Marigold Church, please step forward,” the bailiff called.

The aunts hugged me quickly, and I stepped forward to take my place, even though my nerves were eating at me. “I can’t do this,” I whispered to no one in particular. “I need Parrish.”

Ava stepped in front of me and put her hands on my cheeks. “I’m sure Parrish will be here any minute, but you don’t need him to win this case. You never did, do you hear me? You were always good enough for that little girl, with or without your husband. You’re a hard worker, a business owner, a generous member of your community. You are strong and loving, and you have all the support you need to bring Marigold up to be the same. We are your family, do you understand? All of us.” She gestured to the packed hallway where more of the Thicket citizens had gathered while I’d been busy wallowing in my pity party. I saw Tucker Wright and Dunn Johnson, Amos Nutter and Emmaline Proud. People I’d given eggs to, sold parts to, or somehow met or interacted with during the decade I’d lived in the Thicket.