13

As Jeremy Bolton reached for the front doorknob on his townhouse, he knew he'd have to play this very carefully—just the right combo of hurt pride and indignation. Strike a single clinker and Dawn might start to wonder. Couldn't allow any doubt in that little girl's head. She had to believe him like his momma had believed in Jesus on her deathbed. Before that, she hadn't believed in nothin except maybe a snootful of hooch before she bedded down with the latest truck driver stopping over on his way to Shreveport, but she became a major Bible thumper after she heard she had the cancer.

Yeah, Dawn damn well better believe, because turning away from those stacks of C-notes had been just about the hardest thing he'd ever done. All those zeroes… damn! His fingers had fought like they'd had a life of their own.

He shook his head. He could have taken off with that envelope and had a real good time—maybe even started a new life.

But no go. He had to keep his eye on the prize and stay on course. Plenty of time—all of time—for fun and games afterward.

He patted his pocket. He'd left the money behind but the photo was about to come in very handy.

He stepped inside and found Dawn sitting on the couch in a sweatshirt and a thong. His groin stirred at the sight of her smooth, firm, young flesh. Not a pretty face and not a fantasy body, but no flab, no sag, no wrinkles, no lumps—the freshness of her flesh made up for whatever flaws she might have.

God, he'd been horny when he got out of Creighton, so horny that he couldn't wait till he'd sweet-talked Dawn out of her clothes. He didn't know how experienced she was—not too very, from the look of her—but he knew he wasn't. Damn near all his adult life without a woman. He wanted to come on as more experienced than her, but to do that he had to get some experience. So he'd hired hookers and had them teach him ways to make Dawn forget she'd ever had anyone else.

And it had worked.

He noticed she had her damn iPod buds plugged into her ears and didn't even know he'd come home.

These iPods drove him crazy. Every damn kid her age or younger didn't seem to be able to exist without them. Earlier today he'd watched a clump of five teen girls shuffling through the Queens Center Mall, two on cell phones and the other three plugged into their iPods. Why go out together if you've got nothing to say to the people you're with?

I'm showing my age.

Couldn't come across as an old fart with Dawn. She had to see him as cool and very much of the moment.

But this illusion of connectedness had to go. Technology—especially the Internet—gave the illusion of bringing people together when actually it was isolating them. They "met" in chat rooms, IM'd and TM'd people who were fifty yards away, and used smilies to overcome the physical and emotional distance that separated them.

That had to change. And it would. Oh, yes, it would.

Finally Dawn spotted him. She disconnected herself from her iPod and ran across the room to throw herself into his arms.

"What happened? What did she say?"

He hugged her, gave her a kiss, then broke free.

"I called you on the way back but you didn't answer."

She pointed to her iPod and shrugged. "Sorry. Didn't hear you, I guess. But what did she say?"

He turned away, stepped to the window, and stared out at the night sky.

"I'm not sure I know how to tell you this."

"Oh, God, what?" She was close behind him, breathing on his neck. "Tell me what?"

Without looking around he removed his phone from his pocket, called up the photo, and handed it over his shoulder.

"Take a look."

He felt it snatched from hand, and waited as he heard Dawn fumbling with it. Any second now…

A gasp and then, "What is this?"

"Money."

"I can see that, but—"

"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to be exact."

"Ohmigod! I don't get it."

He figured it was time to face her now. After a slow turn he gripped her by the shoulders and stared into her blue eyes.

"Your mother offered it to me."

Her eyes widened. "Why would she—oh no!"

He nodded. "Yeah. All mine if I took it, got in my car, and never saw you again."

She backed away a step, her gaze shifting between him and the phone. "I totally can't believe she'd do this!"

"The proof's right in your hands. And the fact that I'm here is the proof of my answer."

"I still can't believe—!"

He put on a hurt expression. "You think I'm lying?"

"No. No, of course not, but this… this is so totally unlike her."

"Call her then. Ask her. See what she says."

She looked at him. "You won't be hurt? It's not that I don't trust you but—"

He pointed to the phone in her hand. "Do it. What are you waiting for? Let's settle this once and for all."

"Okay."

She sounded frightened and looked terrified, touching the keys as if they were red hot. Finally she put it to her ear. Jeremy sat and pulled her down beside him, then angled the phone so that he could listen along with her.

His gut tightened. This was a gamble. He hoped it worked.

Moonglow's voice: '"'Hello?"

"Mom? It's me. I think you know what I'm calling about."

"Oh, Dawn, I—"

"Is it true? That's all I want to know. Did you offer Jerry money to leave me?"

"It's not like you think."

"Did you or didn't you?"

"Yes, but—"

Dawn screamed and hurled the phone across the room. It slid along the flood and bounced off the far wall as she buried her face in her hands.

"It's true! I can't believe it."

"Sad, isn't it," Jeremy said.

Dawn lowered her hands and looked at him with a tear-smeared face. "What?"

"That that's all she thinks you're worth."

"I think it's plenty. But you… you turned down all that money for me?"

He'd known she'd ask that, and he'd come up with a perfect response—if he could keep from gagging.

"There's lots of money out there, darlin, but there's only one you."

She fairly flew into his arms and sobbed against his chest.

"Oh God, thank you! I knew you were for real! No matter what she said I totally knew you were the best thing to ever happen to me!" She leaned back and looked up at him. "1 can't go back there. I mean like no way I can live with her anymore." She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Can I move in with you? Please?"

Yes!

He couldn't help smiling. "Of course you can. What's mine is yours. But are you sure? That's a big step."

Her eyes glowed as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.

"Totally sure. I don't think I've ever been so sure of anything in my life."

He held her and kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair. Across the room he could see his reflection in the mirror. He grinned at it.

You did it, Jerry. She's right where you've always wanted her.

It was all coming together.

Like fate.