“I’m sorry.”

He leaned down and kissed me, his hand caressing my cheek, careful to avoid my bruises. I kissed him back in desperation and fear. We made love with a tenderness we’d never shared before and I cried the entire time because I knew what this was.

Joe was telling me goodbye.

Chapter Twenty-Six

I was late to the probate meeting, not that I cared. Violet was the executor of Momma’s will and the only thing bequeathed to me was the box my birth mother had left me. I didn’t care about any of it. I’d been reluctant to move from Momma’s house, but I recognized it for what it was now—a fear of change. I’d spent most of my life living in fear. Why should I act differently with this?

I slipped into the room and took a seat next to Violet. She shot me an irritated look when she saw I was in the same clothes as the evening before, but she didn’t seem surprised by my bruises. Which meant she’d heard about the attack from someone else.

I was in for an earful later.

The judge however, took in my contusions and stopped the proceedings. “This is probate court, miss. The criminal court is on the third floor.”

“I’m in the right place. Agnes Gardner was my mother.”

His eyebrows rose, but he continued while I tuned him out.

My mind drifted to the pin Miss Eloise wore the night before. I decided to run by the library and look up Miss Eloise’s grandmother and her friends. The Henryetta Historical Society took great pride in recording the history of its citizens. If I could find out who the other women had married and who their children were, then I might be able to find the White family. Maybe they would know who might have the missing pin.

I knew I should stay out of it. Now that Mason believed me, I should let the police take care of it. I stifled a snort, getting another look from Violet. Letting the police take care of it was a terrible idea. Still, Mason might make them investigate the leads I’d found. Especially since he seemed so convinced that Skeeter Malcolm wasn’t involved in my attack.

Besides, was going to the public library a crime?

And I had to make a decision about my move to Little Rock, but Joe was right. I was a bundle of chaos and I suspected it didn’t matter where I lived, whether it was Henryetta, Little Rock, or Antarctica, I’d find trouble. The trouble I found was what drove a wedge between us.

Did I want to change?

I’d spent my entire life trying to make Momma happy. Did I want to spend the rest of it trying to make Joe happy?

I stifled a sob, knowing the answer. I didn’t want to accept it. Joe was the best thing that ever happened to me. Was I really going to throw that away?

The more immediate question was if I should go to Little Rock with Joe this afternoon. Did he even want me to come?

When the proceedings ended, Violet and I met the estate attorney in the hall. I realized that my life was packed full of attorneys and judges. Shoot, Joe was an attorney, even if he wasn’t practicing.

“I’ll keep in touch, Mrs. Beauregard,” the attorney told Violet, cringing at the sight of my bruises.

After he went around the corner, Violet turned on me. “You have a lot of explaining to do, Rose Anne Gardner.”

“Okay, but not here in the hall.”

“Fine. We can go to the coffee shop across the street.”

“Okay.”

We crossed the lobby toward the exit as Mason entered through the front doors.

“Rose!”

Violet’s eyes darted from him to me as Mason walked toward us. “Do you know him?”

“Yeah, that’s Mason. Mason Deveraux. He’s the assistant DA.”

“You’re on a first-name basis with the assistant DA?”

Mason’s eyes widened in horror as he approached. “I didn’t think it was possible, but you look worse today than you did last night.”

I scowled. “In light of your previous heroic behavior, I’m going to ignore the rudeness of that statement, Mr. Deveraux.”

Violet gasped. “Rose!”

“It’s quite all right.” Mason laughed. “It has been well-established that the majority of my social interactions are rude and hostile.” He winked at Violet.

Mason Deveraux winked?

“Mason, this is my sister, Violet Beauregard. Violet, this is Mason Deveraux, my rescuer.”

Mason’s face reddened. Who would have thought?

Shaking Violet’s hand, Mason grinned. “Rose exaggerates.”

“Savin’ my life twice is far from an exaggeration.”

“I don’t think we can count the first time unless you actually planned to drink and drive. I prefer to think that you were calling my bluff.”

Violet studied Mason with a hungry look, as though he were a New York steak. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Deveraux.”

“And you as well, Mrs. Beauregard.” He grinned at me. “See, Miss Gardner? I’m capable of polite conversation. Be sure to tell your courthouse groupies.”

I laughed. This new Mr. Deveraux was a welcome change.

His expression turned more serious. “How are you today? Really?”

I’d never been more miserable in my life, either physically or emotionally. “I’m fine.”

“Are you still going to Little Rock tomorrow?”

Violet froze, waiting for my answer.

I stared at the floor, trying to figure out what to tell him. Finally, I looked up, tears in my eyes. “I don’t know.”

Mason studied me for several moments. “I see.”