Page 9 of Stone
“Well, he might think he has custody once a quarter, but I’ve been a little bored. There’s nothing better as a cure for boredom than destroying an abuser’s carefully crafted life of lies,” Regina mused.
Seeing all the women around the room nod had a huge weight lifting from her. She wasn’t alone and everyone believed her.
“I already started digging after Naomi and I talked this morning. I did find something interesting. Father Franks istrying to sell the accounting business. I’m not sure why but it seems like something we should investigate, and Jared needs a new secretary at his office,” Sarah said.
“Woohoo! Boom! Undercover assignment. It’s been forever since I’ve gotten to use my disguises,” Beth whooped.
“Won’t he recognize you when you apply because he saw you at the house?” Naomi asked.
Laughter echoed in the room.
“Her best friend and the man who became her husband didn’t even recognize her when she talked to him,” Clara said, giggling.
Naomi wanted to get to know Clara better. She was older and had offered to help the girls learn to crochet. Each woman had offered something to make her and her girls feel welcome.
“My question is, can we share with the men? They get so pissy when they aren’t included,” Meg pointed out.
Winnie chuckled. “Preach,” she agreed, holding her hand out to Meg for a high-five.
“Stone knows. I think the more people who know, the better. I was worried about telling anyone because they might think I was weak,” Naomi confessed.
“Oh, Naomi, weakness isn’t always a negative. Sometimes it’s the catalyst to finding your greatest strength, and you, my darling, are stronger than you’ve ever believed. You needed to find your way here, where you’re supported by strong women who lift others up,” Regina comforted, walking across to pull Naomi into her arms.
“Thank you,” Naomi whispered, relaxing into the hug. She wished her mom could have been this supportive growing up, but now she was examining everything she’d thought about her mom. Was her mom in an abusive relationship?
“Let’s snack and hang out. Tomorrow is early enough to plan,” Sarah said.
Naomi didn’t have a free moment as every woman came by and talked with her. Ellie made sure to mention that she’d been an FBI agent who had been talked down to by her superior officer. Knowing that someone who was considered strong had to deal with being made to feel small had her wondering how many women dealt with this on a day-to-day basis.
Faith was sweet and asked her if they could get the girls together because she thought her daughter, Deborah, and the triplets would get along great.
She looked around the room at the women who had her back and knew that Bluff Creek was the perfect place for her to build her new life. Next on her list was getting over her embarrassment with Stone and having him design a tattoo for her. It was time to take back her life and show her girls a strong mom.
Chapter Five
Naomi walked into Broken Hearts Brewing with her girls Regan, Taylor, and Beck, along with Faith and her daughter Deborah.
“Oh, can we get books or what about some of those mini bookshelves?” Regan asked.
Before Naomi could answer, Rachel, one of the managers of the place, answered. “Of course you can. We have a promotional budget each month, and as new-found family members, you can get whatever you want.”
“Well, within reason. Not everything you want,” Naomi said.
“I have to disagree. Locks called and said if what the girls wanted was over the promotional budget, to add it to his monthly bill,” Rachel countered, grinning.
Naomi wasn’t sure what to say. Seeing people she’d barely gotten to know treat her girls better than their father or grandfather ever had brought tears to her eyes, but she didn’twant to have to explain it to the girls. She needed to pull herself together.
“Oh, do you haveThe Hunger Games? Mom said we’re old enough to read the books and watch the movies,” Beck asked. All three girls loved books, but Beck was the quiet one who would rather read a book than go do something. For her to speak up meant she felt comfortable.
“We have the first one, and I can get the others ordered pretty quickly and have them here. I also have Ally Carter’sGallagher Girlsfirst in the series that you might like,” Rachel suggested.
“I’ll take that one,” Regan claimed.
“What about a book on baking? I want to figure out how to make my own recipes for cookies. Locks said I could use the kitchen whenever I wanted,” Taylor said.
Naomi bit her lip to keep from screaming. She’d started teaching Taylor to bake, but Jared had thrown a fit the last three times they’d been in the kitchen because he didn’t like having it messy. Douche would still eat the cookies they made, though.
“I do, but you can also ask Regina to have you over. She makes cinnamon rolls and all sorts of other things. She’s always looking for help if you want to learn,” Rachel nudged.
