Ladd Haven by Dianne Venetta

ignored
her—other than staring at her like she was some kind of science
experiment turned mutation. He’d totally dissed her.
    Suddenly realizing she was clenching
her dress, Casey let go Jeremiah Ladd. He wasn’t worth her time or
thought. Hauling her eyes away from the vacated parking spot she
looked in the opposite direction. Trees in the distance, the
layered green mountain range, were so familiar, tears filled her
lids. But hatred coiled around her heart, her legs, squeezed her
arms her shoulders, threatened to choke the very life from her.
Casey hated that man. Hated Jeremiah Ladd with every cell in her
body.
    “ Casey?”
    The gentle voice cut like a
knife. Casey turned to see Felicity Wilkins standing three feet
away. Like everyone else at the party, her attire consisted of red,
white and blue. In her case it was a red and white striped
sleeveless top and blue denim skirt. Strawberry blonde hair was
braided in twin ponytails and hung past her shoulders. Green eyes
were soaked in pity. How long had she been
there ?
    Shifting in her seat, Casey
acknowledged her. “Hey.”
    “ Want company?”
    Not really, but to say no
would only make Felicity run tell the others what a sad state of
affairs her cousin was in and then everyone would be out here.
“Sure.”
    Felicity walked around her outstretched
legs and took a seat in the opposite rocker. She crossed booted
legs and settled in.
    Casey pushed back and forth, like she
was just hanging out, relaxing. “Too noisy out back,” she
replied.
    Felicity nodded but Casey knew she
didn’t believe a word of it. “How’d it go with Troy?”
    Right to the point. Did she expect any
less? Casey heaved a sigh, the moisture of her breath warm against
the skin at her breast. Even sitting in the shade and wearing a
flimsy cotton dress the day was still hot. “Not good.”
    “ I hear you told him the
baby is Jimmy’s.”
    “ I did.”
    “ How come?”
    No complaint, no blame, no disapproval,
Felicity merely asked the question. Casey appreciated the lack of
criticism. It was nice to have someone simply let things be for a
change. “I don’t want him to think it’s his because he’s only going
to leave again and then what?”
    Felicity nodded. “I hear ya.” No
attempt to persuade or defend, she simply let it go.
    Casey was glad for Felicity’s
friendship. Over the last six months, the two had grown closer and
it made the pregnancy easier to deal with, knowing she could share
it with someone who cared about both parties. Delaney had
encouraged their relationship, actually insisted they were family
and family should be close. It wasn’t like they didn’t know each
other from school, but now that paternity had been proven and she
owned half of Ladd Springs, Casey felt a whole new appreciation for
Felicity. After the initial awkwardness, the two had come to talk
like friends, discussing whatever was on their minds without
worrying what the other would think. Felicity never mentioned Troy,
didn’t harp on college like she had over Thanksgiving. She seemed
content to let Casey be who she was.
    Maybe it had something to do with the
fact that Casey was taking a few classes at the community college,
but she believed it was due to changes in Felicity. She wasn’t
nearly as innocent and naïve as she used to be but instead felt
more open, objective. It was like her professors had peeled back
the layers of home, exposing Felicity to the real world. Casey’s
mom said Felicity was maturing, expanding her horizons, coming into
her own. Maybe. Sliding her hands in a wide arc over her belly,
Casey thought it ran deeper, as if her cousin was taking a new look
at her life now that she’d seen it from afar.
    “ Are you ever going to tell
him?”
    There was no reproach in her voice,
only sincere interest. “Do you think I should?” Casey
asked.
    Felicity shrugged. “I don’t know. I
hear what you’re saying about him leaving.”
    “ He’s done if before, why
wouldn’t he do