I tried to keep calm now that I was 99% certain I knew the father of her baby. “Jenny Lynn, you didn’t tell me anything, but I think I know who it is. I’m trying to get him arrested. Let me help you.”

“No!” She shook her head violently. “You’ll only make it worse.”

“You can’t just do nothing.”

She took a breath and her eyes hardened. “Dustin’s leaving at the end of the week. And I’m going with him. He’s heading out to Virginia. He’ll never think to look for me there.”

I considered trying to talk her out of it, but I knew it was wasted breath. Besides, if I was right about her baby’s father, running was probably for the best. “So what were you doin’ in the parking lot at the factory?”

Tears filled her eyes. “I wanted to see the place that changed my life. I never would have met him if it weren’t for that place.”

Then she got up and left. I heard at church the next Sunday that she’d run away with Dustin Hargrove. And her momma never even tried to hunt her down.

I swear I’ll do better by my baby girl.

But I can’t stop the wave of guilt swallowing me whole. Jenny Lynn Rivers is just one more casualty from the mess I created. And I’m clueless about how to fix it.

I stopped reading and looked over at Neely Kate. Tears were streaming down her face.

“Neely Kate, you don’t know that he’s your father.”

“I’m not sure we need much more proof,” she said. Then she wiped her face and opened the car door. “We don’t have time for this. Let’s go see my half-sister.”

Chapter 26

I hurried to catch up with Neely Kate, who seemed remarkably calm after hearing such earth-shattering news. Like she’d just stepped into her next role.

“Neely Kate, I think you goin’ in to meet Kate right now is a bad idea.”

She stopped in her tracks. “Why?”

I sighed in exasperation. “Because you just found out something life-altering. When I found out about Dora, I fell to pieces.”

“With all due respect, Rose,” she said in a tight voice, “I’m much stronger than you were then.”

I gasped.

Her eyes softened. “You have no idea what my life has been like. I’ve hardly told a soul any of it, especially the two years I left after high school, but I promise you that finding out that boll weevil is my father changes nothin’.”

I didn’t believe her for a second. “Do you think Kate knows?”

It was her turn to gasp. “Why would she know?”

“Think about it. Whenever we see her, she’s really taken with you.”

Neely Kate looked stunned.

“Plus, she insisted that you come to this meeting.” I studied her face. “Are you planning on saying something to her?”

She sucked in her bottom lip, suddenly looking more vulnerable. “I don’t know yet.”

I pulled her into a hug. “Just think about it for a spell, okay? Don’t rush into anything. Let this sit for a bit.”

She backed up and looked me in the eye, her mask of indifference back in place. “We have far bigger things to worry about than who provided half of my DNA.”

“Maybe or maybe not, but you’re entitled to your feelings.”

She ignored me, hustling across the street and leaving me to trail behind her.

“Neely Kate!”

“We’re late.” She didn’t slow down until she stepped into the restaurant.

Kate was already sitting at a table for four by the window, wearing her trademark sarcastic grin. Her dark hair had grown since she’d come to town, but she’d touched up the blue streaks. She was dressed in a long-sleeved black T-shirt, jeans, and boots. Her canvas jacket hung on the back of her chair. A plate with half a sandwich and some chips sat in front of her, along with a glass of water. “You two were having a heartfelt moment out there.”

“It’s called friendship,” Neely Kate spat out as she sat across from her. “You might want to try it sometime.”

Kate’s grin spread, and she made a scratching motion with her curled fingers. “Someone’s feeling bitchy today. I like it. It’s a good look on you.”

“Cut the shit, Kate,” my friend said with more venom than I’d ever heard in her voice. “Why are we here?”

She leaned back in her chair and slightly tilted her head, her smile gone. “We’re here because your friend said she has questions. So I’m letting her ask them.”

Neely Kate started to say something, but I grabbed her hand under the table and squeezed. I could only imagine what was going through her head right now. I should have made her stay in the office.

A waitress walked over with her order pad. “What can I get for you two girls?”

“Water for me,” I said, then glanced at Neely Kate before adding, “And a sweet tea for Neely Kate.”

When the waitress walked away, I turned my attention to Joe’s sister. “Why did you come to Henryetta?”

Kate laughed and sat up. “No beatin’ around the bush for you, Rosie. Just get right to it. Good for you.”

“Answer the question.”

She gave me a pouty look. “I missed my brother.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Am I supposed to care that you don’t?”

Crap. This was going to be a waste of time. I had to figure out why she was interested in me. I thought it was because of my past relationship with Joe, but what if she was trying to get to Neely Kate through me? What if her sudden appearance in town was really all about Neely Kate? I had to be smart with my questions. It was best to start with the obvious. “Do you really want me and Joe back together?”

She burst out laughing. When she settled down, she asked, “Of all the questions you could come up with, that’s the one you ask?” She shook her head. “Maybe I pegged you wrong. Maybe you’re just like that cow after all.”

“Hilary?”

She rolled her eyes. “How many cows do you know?”

Neely Kate narrowed her eyes. “I’m looking at one right now.”

Oh, crap on a cracker. This was going downhill fast.

But Kate just laughed. “What’s eatin’ you today, NK? You upset about your man leavin’ you?” She laughed at Neely Kate’s look of surprise. “Yeah. I know about that. Chin up. No man’s worth the grief.”