Trouble in Tennessee
Tanya Michaels
www.millsandboon.co.uk
MILLS & BOON
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For Jen, with five years worth of gratitude. Thank you for everything youve taught me, for laughing at my jokes, for helping me find the right home for this story and for your uncanny ability to always pick the perfect restaurant.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter One
Please? The word was simple and dignified. As if it hadnt been preceded by twenty minutes of cajoling.
Even though they were on the phone, Treble James could picture the earnest expression in her half sisters big blue eyes. Charity, you know Ill make time to visit after the baby is born, but
How would I know that? Youve been back home to Joyous all of, let me think, once in the past decade.
Maybe that was because Joyous, Tennessee, had never quite lived up to its name for Treble. Stifling, Tennessee. That would have been appropriate.
I was there for your wedding, Treble pointed out, keeping a wary eye on the digital clock atop her bedroom nightstand. You dont think Id make the trip for you again?
Then make it now, her sister begged. It was unlike Charity to request favors, particularly those that inconvenienced other people. Im scared. The books say placenta previa isnt all that uncommon, and my OB says mine isnt a severe case and that panicking is no good for me or the babybut Im a first-time mommy. Having my big sister here would make me feel better. Besides, being on bed rest is driving me nuts! Come tell me dirty jokes or something, keep me from killing my poor husband.
Charity doing harm to any living creature was laughable, but to Bill Sumner? Theyd been smitten with each other since high school, as evidenced by their marrying shortly after Charitys graduation. It blew Trebles mind that her sister, at twenty-two, was expecting a child and had already been married four years. She hadnt even been old enough to drink champagne at her own wedding! Treble had taken it upon herself to imbibe enough for both of them.
It had been the best way to cope with being in Joyous two weeks after a bad breakup with the boyfriend who was supposed to have been her date. Twenty-nine-year-old Trebles relationship recordin contrast to Bill and Charitys seven years togetherwas about six months.
Charity, I dont want to cut you off, but I need to leave for work, so
You know what being pregnant makes you think about? Motherhood. Im about to have my own little girl, and I wish MomEven though youve never been pregnant, youre my closest female relative. It would mean the world to me if you were here right now. Mom would have wanted that, her two girls together.
Treble did a double take, actually staring at the receiver. I thought you were the good sister. Since when do you use emotional blackmail?
Is it working?
Yes. I really do have to leave for the station. Charitys soft-spoken barb had found its mark, though. Despite Trebles cynical shell, she retained weak spots for her late mother and younger sister.
All right. Charity sighed. Im sorry to dump this on you. I know you have a career, a life in Georgia beyond all of us, but I miss you, Treb. And I love you.
Love you, too, brat. The epithet had become a term of endearment over the years, but this evening it seemed particularly applicable. Didnt her sister know what she was asking? To go to Tennessee early and just wait around for Charitys due date in July
Few citizens of Joyous would welcome Treble with open arms. More like the sign of the cross. Shed been a somewhat, ah, spirited youth, and folks in small towns had long memories.
Treble hung up, catching sight of herself in the oval mirror on the wall. Dont give me that look, she chastised her reflection. You dont want to go back any more than I do.
Talking to herself? Never a good sign. But Treble, a weeknight DJ for an Atlanta pop station, was used to addressing an audience. An audience shed be late for if she didnt get moving.
Although she would be in-studio tonight and not doing a remote broadcast at one of the clubs she occasionally visited, she stopped long enough to run a brush through the dark ringlets that spilled past her shoulder blades and to apply her favorite dark red lip gloss. Even if her listeners couldnt see her, it helped her get into character for Trouble J, one of the most popular noncommuting show hosts in the city. While the best airtime was in the mornings and afternoons, when most of the working crowd was stuck in gridlock on I-75, I-85 or the 285 loop around Atlanta, Treble held damn good ratings for her period and liked the late hours that allowed her to sleep in on weekdays and leave her weekend free for a social life. Not, she reflected as she headed toward the parking garage, that shed had much of one lately.
The last guy to ask her out had been a producer on one of the stations other shows, and she wasnt interested in merging her professional life with her personal life. The producer aside, shed been subtly discouraging men for several months. She had been busy booking extra personal appearances for her off-hours, making the most of her minor celebrity status. The additional funds deposited into her savings account were the start of a down payment. Maybe it was the almost-thirty part of her, but when spring had bloomed, shed actually been sorry she didnt have a real house to subject to seasonal cleaning, and a yard to enjoy instead of a railed-in concrete balcony.
It was time she found a home of her owna paradoxically domestic wish for a woman who would be on the air from seven-thirty to midnight playing rock songs interspersed with risqué commentary. Well, risqué within proper FCC guidelines, of course. No matter how grown up she was or where she moved, there was always someone whod disapprove of her.
And in Joyous, Tennessee? Possibly hundreds of someones.
So what? Outside of ratings, she never cared what strangers thought. Witness Trusty, the eyesore of a car parked among other residents vehicles. If cars were status symbols, what did the hatchback say about her? That you take risks. It had been used when she purchased it during college, and couldnt possibly have much life left in it. Still, now that it was paid off, she wanted to get her financing approved for a house before taking on new monthly bills.
But her rebellious attitude and antistatus-symbol car aside, opinions in Joyous would carry more weight than most. Maybe she was sensitive because some of the criticism from the towns citizens would be deserved. After all, she had been something of a hellion, sneaking out to meet Rich Danner her sophomore year, trying to use a fake ID to get into Dukes bar and borrowing her stepfathers car to attend a rock concert two counties over after Harrison had refused to let her go with friends. The fall of her junior year, there had also been that period of indiscriminate and outrageous flirting. Everyone had heard about Rich dumping her before he left for college. Shed tried to hide her broken heart with drawled comments and suggestive smiles directed at any boy in rangeeven a cute chemistry teacher.
Despite the exaggerated gossip, she hadnt meant to cause breakups between other classmates or steal anyones boyfriend. She certainly hadnt planned for anything to ever happen with the chemistry teacher, no matter what the nervous guidance counselor had told Harrison in a meeting about Trebles acting out for attention. The memory of Harrison Breckfields icy condemnation as hed walked Treble to his car was enough to make her shiver even now. Harrison didnt believe his wifes death was any excuse for misbehavior. Hed pointed out savagely that Charity had lost a mother, too, yet continued to be a perfectly respectable daughter. Even if Treble had known how to articulate her unspoken insecurities, pride probably would have kept her from asking if Harrison had ever loved Treble, the born troublemaker, as he did his own child.
He had been the adult in the situation. Couldnt he have reached out to his stepdaughter just once and assured her of her place in his home? Still, were bitter memories of Harrison not being there for Treble a valid reason not to be there for Charity now?
ON SATURDAY, Trebles only scheduled appearance was at a mall grand opening midafternoon. Lets just hope I dont blow the small stipend Im getting on cute shoes before I even leave the premises. Ah, retail therapy. Thank God for clearance sales and outlet stores.
A coworker from the station had recently invited her to do some outlet shopping near the Georgia-Tennessee borderTrebles enjoyment over her finds had been marred by the guilt of being less than an hour and a half from the pregnant sister she hadnt seen in four years. Treble knew shed been a disappointment as a daughter, but did that mean she was doomed to be a bad sister, too?
Stop it. She refused to spend a sunny June morning cooped up in her apartment, agonizing over Charitys recent request. At the very least, Treble could agonize by the pool.
After loading this mornings juice cup and cereal bowl into the dishwasher, Treble changed into a fuchsia-striped bikini.
Youre so lucky, Charity had said back when shed been selecting bridesmaid dresses. You can pull off any color. I have to stay within three main hues or look so washed out I scare people.
Untrue. Charity looked like an angel, a beautifully blond vision of their mother. Petite, fine-boned with flawless porcelain skin. Treble took after her biological father, the first of many men whod been unable to commit to her. When shed tracked him down after leaving Joyous, shed been surprised at how handsome he still was. But the dimpled persona and rich drawl were just superficial niceties.
Treble had inherited his height, dark hair, bold features and almond eyes. And his tendency to run away? No, her leaving Joyous had been best for everyone, not an act of cowardice. Trouble J was audacious and unafraid.
She packed a tote bag bearing the stations call letters with a towel, SPF protection, a black pen and a Sudoku bookone of the assistants at the station got her hooked on the puzzlesthen hurried toward the front door. Fresh air would do her a world of good.
Outside, the warmth embraced her. Though the sun would be punishing in large doses, she looked forward to stretching out for a little while like a relaxed feline basking in the rays. Treble had barely situated herself in a poolside lounge chair when she heard her name called. She peered over the top of her sunglasses at the smiling Latina woman in a one-piece suit coming through the gate.
Hey, Alana. Treble waved, then waited for her friend to come closer so that they werent yelling over the commotion of kids splashing in the pool.
Alana Torres was a fellow tenant and friend. Sometimes Treble got the woman passes into clubs where Treble was broadcasting. Both of them were fans of high-octane action films, and they went to a lot of movies together when they were mutually between boyfriends. The curvy bank teller, however, had been seeing an airline pilot since February.
Havent seen much of you lately, Treble said as her friend dragged a chair closer across the concrete. But seeing you now, you look incredible. Muy caliente.
The woman lowered her dark eyes but smiled proudly. Thanks. I havent entirely adjusted to the new haircut. Since theyd known each other, Alana had worn her thick black hair long, but had had about six inches taken off recently.
Its sophisticated. Treble put her hands behind her and lifted her own hair off her neck. And probably a lot cooler.
My high school reunion is this month. I know its shallow, but Im determined to look hot. Chubby girls prerogative.
I doubt you were ever as chubby as you felt, and youve already lostwhat, fifteen pounds?
Twelve.
Promise me you wont drop so much that you turn bony, okay?
Alana laughed as she opened her sunblock. The citrus scent was strong, but preferable to the chlorine from the water. Yeah, thats likely to happen, given the way Im addicted to the bakery across the street from the bank. Whoever invented soup in a loaf of bread was a diabolical genius.
To Alana, baked goods equaled what cute shoes were to Treblean irresistible vice.
Glancing around, Alana lowered her voice. Thank goodness Greg has such stamina and creativity when it comes to helping me burn calories.
You mean his suggestions are more fun than jogging? Treble grinned. No, seriously, Im asking. Its been so long that I barely remember what its like toburn calories.
Alana returned her smile. Your listeners would never believe you. I heard some of the advice you gave your callers last night and, girl, where do you get those naughty ideas?
Repressed sexual energy. It leads to a rich fantasy life.
You had a great show. I know you tease that your main concern is boosting the ratings, but I think you enjoy helping people. Youre a generous soul.
Yeah, so generous she wasnt even bothering to examine her schedule for the possibility of lending physical and moral support to her only sibling. Treble heaved a sigh.
Dont tell me works not going well? Alana asked, misinterpreting her friends brief frown.
Its not the radio thing, itsYou know the expression you cant go home again? Lets just say I always clung to that as kind of a guarantee.
Okay. And?
Someone I really care about wants me to take a few weeks out of my life and go home. I think Id rather have my show canceled.
Alana winced. That awful?
Hard to say. Ive managed to avoid finding out for the past four years and was tipsy for part of my last long weekend there. Her behavior had fuelled the fires of gossip.