Deceptive Truth: Cowboy Justice Association (Serials and Stalkers Book 4) by Olivia Jaymes (reading women .txt) 📕

"I'll be okay. But what about Michelle? She's going to be devastated."

He nodded in agreement, his expression somber. "She will be, and I wish I knew some way to spare her what she's going to go through but I just don't know. I've tried to talk to her before, bring it up, but she shuts me down right away. She doesn't want any negative thoughts. She says it's bad luck."

"We'll be here for her," Jenna vowed. "If the worst happens."

Tom reached across the table and placed his own hand on hers, giving her a weak smile. "We'll be here for each other. We're a family. Together we can get through this."

Her chest tight, Jenna gave him the best smile back that she could muster. "Family."

Clearing his throat again, Tom stood to refill his coffee mug. "Speaking of family, are you going to see Anita today?"

"Yes, I'm going this morning." She checked the clock on the wall. It was eight -thirty. If she hurried and showered, she could be there in an hour. "I was hoping I could borrow a car but if not, I can call a ride share or taxi."

"Take the Civic in the garage. The keys are on the peg next to the back door."

"Thanks, I may do that." Draining her coffee, she stood and placed her cup in the sink. "I better get dressed. Knox and I have a busy day ahead."

It was time to get to the truth. No matter how painful it might be.

11

"You really don't have to go in with me. I'll be fine on my own."

Jenna had repeated that statement at least three times in the last twenty minutes, but Knox wasn't deterred in the least. He'd shown up at the house just as she'd been about to leave to see Anita and had insisted on driving her there.

"I'd really like to meet and talk to her," he said. "Ask her about the last time she saw or spoke with Lori."

"She may not remember. Her memory isn't what it was."

"You never know," he replied, parking the SUV in a shady spot in front of the house. "It's the smallest details that can be the most help."

"I'll just warn you again that her memory isn't good. She gets confused easily. She has a nurse that lives in with her to make sure that she takes her medicines and eats every day."

Knox frowned. "Why doesn't she live in the family house with Tom and Michelle?"

"That's not our family home. That's Tom's house. He inherited it from his mother. Michelle moved in a few years ago when she sold her condo. It was going to be temporary but they got along well and they decided she would stay." Jenna pointed to the Tudor style dwelling. "This is the family home."

"I keep forgetting that Tom is from your father's first marriage." Knox paused on the walkway to the front door. "I was actually surprised to meet him. You don't talk about him much."

"He was so much older than us, I really didn't spend any time with him. He's always been nice though and it was clear that he loved Tom, his father."

"How did he and Anita get on?"

"Quite well, although it was rocky in the beginning from what Michelle and Lori said. Anita always said that she wouldn't try and replace his mother."

The front door opened and Anita stepped out onto the front step, her arms wide open and wearing a smile. Jenna didn't hesitate. She'd had very little affection in her life until she'd come into Tom and Anita's home, but now she realized that it was important to her. She flew into her adopted mother's arms and gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Her chest swelled with love and a few tears began to well up into her eyes. She needed to spend more time here. She'd been gone too often because of her career.

"I missed you," she said, hugging Anita again.

"I missed you too, sweetheart. It's good to see you." Anita looked over Jenna's shoulder. "And who do we have here?"

Jenna stepped back. "This is my friend, Knox."

"What an interesting name. Come in, Knox. Do you like iced tea?"

As usual, Anita didn't wait for an answer. Knox was going to get that iced tea whether he liked it or not. When they walked into the living room, the nurse had already set out a tray of cookies, a pitcher of tea, and two glasses.

"I'll have Mary get an extra glass," Anita said, sinking into her favorite chair by the front window. She liked to watch the neighborhood hustle and bustle.

"I'll get it," Jenna offered. Mary usually took the opportunity to run an errand or rest while one of Anita's children were there. "It will only take a minute."

"Your young man can tell me how he got such an interesting name while you're doing that."

To be honest, Jenna wouldn't mind hearing that story too. She dashed into the kitchen and grabbed an extra glass before hurrying back into the living room.

"I'm named after Fort Knox," he was explaining with a big smile. "My grandmother thought it sounded like a strong name since Fort Knox is supposed to be the most secure place ever."

Jenna poured everyone a glass of tea and then grabbed a cookie. She hadn't eaten any breakfast this morning. She also made a mental note to ask Knox about his grandmother. For once when speaking about his family, he actually looked happy.

Anita launched into a story about how she'd come