Breath of Scandal(115)

"I'm sorry for you both."

"Jade," Donna Dee said beseechingly, "the best hope Hutch has of a transplant is your son."

"What?" she gasped with disbelief.

Donna Dee left her chair and moved to within inches of Jade. "Hutch and I never had any children. We tried everything, but I never got pregnant. Dora died two years ago, so Hutch doesn't have any family left.

"Before we find a random donor, he could run out of time. Jade," she cried, reaching out to clutch Jade's arm, "if Hutch is Graham's father, Graham could be the donor Hutch needs."

Jade pulled her arm free and backed away from her as though she had a contagious disease. "Have you lost your mind? Never, Donna Dee."

"For God's sake, we're talking about a human life!" "Yes, exactly-Gary's life. He died as a consequence of what Hutch did to me, no matter how you whitewash it for your conscience. You knew damn well I was telling the truth that day in the sheriff s office. You knew, Donna Dee! Afterward, you perpetuated the lies being told about me."

"I was eighteen f*cking years old," she shouted. "I was pissed off because the guy I was crazy about lusted after my best friend and not me.

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"That's hardly justification. Your petty jealousy is partially responsible for driving Gary to commit suicide."

Donna Dee covered her ears with her hands, but Jade pulled them down.

"I wouldn't sacrifice one drop of my son's blood on the outside chance that it would save Hutch's life."

"You're a self-righteous, self-important bitch," Donna Dee said scathingly. "You always were."

"The most important thing in the world to me now is my son. My son, Donna Dee. He belongs to no one but me. And no one is going to touch him."

Donna Dee's glare was so blatantly full of hatred that, had Jade's resolve not been so strong, it might have quelled her. Donna Dee turned her back, opened the door, and stalked out. Jade hastily locked the door behind her, then lunged for the telephone.

Cathy answered on the second ring. "Cathy, is Graham there?"

"Of course. He's sitting right here eating his supper. You told us to go ahead without you."

"Yes, yes, I'm glad you did. " Her knees were trembling. She sank into the chair behind her desk. "Listen, Cathy, I'd rather Graham not go outside again this evening. Not even to ride his bike on the street, or to skateboard or shoot baskets. "

"We planned to watch a movie on HBO after supper." "Good. That's fine."

"What's wrong?" "Nothing. "

"Does this have anything to do with Mrs. Jolly stopping by earlier?"

"Yes, but I'd rather you not say anything about it to Graham. "

She sensed Cathy's disapproval through the ensuing silence. "He wants to say hi.

"Put him on."

"Hey, Mom, when're you coming home?" "Soon. Wait up for me."

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321

"What the-"

Dillon swerved to avoid hitting the dog. Loner had darted out from the ditch along the highway and ran across the road directly in the pickup's path. Dillon slammed on his brakes, laying rubber for several yards.

"You stupid mutt!" he shouted through the window. Hearing the familiar voice, Loner skidded to a halt on the pavement. He cocked his head and looked at the pickup, then charged toward it in a frenzy of glee. Dillon opened the drivers-side door. Loner leaped into his lap, licking his face and thumping the steering wheel with his wagging tail.

"Dumb dog, get off me. Jesus, you stink. When's the last time you had a bath?" He shoved Loner off his lap and dropped the car into gear again. Once they were under way, he cast the animal a sidelong glance. Loner was giving him a lovesick look. His tongue was lolling from one side of his mouth. He was panting hard.

"I've told you a thousand times not to love me, but you just don't listen, do you?"

Dillon admitted that it was nice to be welcomed home after a twelve-day absence, even if the only one to have missed him was a mongrel with no more brains than to run across the road in front of a two-ton pickup. In spite of himself, he'd grown attached to the dog. He watched for him when he wasn't lurking around the trailer and worried about him until he showed up agairr.

He scratched the animal behind his left ear. "Where were you off to? Or were you on your way home? Were you out to see a lady?" Loner stopped panting and raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah? Did you get any?" Loner whined. Ruefully, Dillon said, "I know the feeling."

He draped is left wrist over the steering wheel and continued patting Loner with his fight hand. At this time of night there was little traffic. It was mindless driving, which was good, because Dillon's mind wasn't on driving.

He had missed her.



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He had cut his trip two days short - Unnecessarily, he had driven for six hours to get home tonight when tomorrow by noon would have done just as well. And since when had he started thinking of this place-or any place-as home?

Since there was someone here he was eager to see. That had scared the hell out of him-scared him so badly that he had almost talked himself into abandoning the TexTile pickup in Knoxville and simply disappearing again. He hadn't wrestled with the notion for long, however.