Never Forget Read online

  “Thanks. I know it’s none of my business, but why are you walking? Where’s the Mustang?”

  “Something’s wrong with it. I’m not sure what it is, but it won’t start. I haven’t had a chance to get it looked at.”

  “I could look at it for you. I practically helped Mike put it together. Remember how bad it looked when he bought it?”

  “Yes, and do you remember how mad his mother was then?” she asked as she snuggled the kitten close.

  Adam vaguely remembered Mrs. Hargrove scolding her son about the purchase that cost him all his savings but, apparently, he didn’t remember as well as Shannon.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  “Fine, I suppose. I don’t talk to her much,” she said as she stared out the window.

  “She must be excited about the baby,” he said.

  “Yeah, excited.” She mumbled almost under her breath.

  Adam wasn’t sure if he said something wrong as he pulled into the apartment complex, but she was no longer smiling. Was she thinking about Mike? he wondered.

  “You better drop me off here. I’m already getting a lot of grief about the car just sitting there,” she said as she pointed to the baby blue Mustang sitting in one of the parking spots.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind looking at it.” He tried once again.

  “Could we do this tomorrow, Adam? I’m off and to be honest, I’m kind of tired.”

  “Sure. I’ll drop by tomorrow. I bet it's something simple. I’ll get it running again, I’m sure.”

  “Thanks. Here you go.” She handed him back the kitten before carefully making her way out of the truck.

  “Get some rest and I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, tucking the kitten safely back inside his jacket.

  “Goodnight, Adam, and welcome home.” She gave him a small smile before turning and walking toward the apartments.

  2

  Adam drove up to the apartment complex the next day to look at Shannon’s car. The Classic 65 Mustang that he and Mike spent countless hours working on in high school, still sat in the parking spot. It was a hotrod and not what he’d call family friendly. Thoughts of Shannon and her baby riding around in it soon unsettled him. Maybe he’d make her an offer for it. Help her find something nice and more modern with all the bells and whistles and most importantly, safety airbags and manufacturer warranties.

  It shocked him how a thought like that popped into his head. Weeks ago, the last thing on his mind was safety features and warranties.

  As he headed up the stairs to grab the keys from her, he heard arguing and hurried the last few steps. At the doorway, Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove were standing outside her door. While he couldn’t make out what was being said, he knew from the tone and the volume, it wasn’t good.

  “Shannon, you need to think about the baby. We could provide much more for him than you can. You have a part-time job, and these apartments are no place to raise our grandson.”

  “I don’t know how many times I have to say this, Patty, but I’m not going to sign over my child to you. I’ll manage, I always do.”

  “But you're about to be kicked out of here. What are you going to do then, huh?”

  “What’s going on?” Adam interrupted as he slowly approached.

  “Oh, Adam, I’m so glad you’re here, maybe you can talk some sense into her. Walt and I are tired of trying.”

  Adam looked at Patty, who was apparently running the show, as her husband stood timidly beside her not saying a word, and then to Shannon whose face showed all the signs of frustration and exhaustion.

  “Are you all right?” he asked her.

  Shannon nodded, but he wasn’t convinced.

  “Adam, please talk to her. You’ve known us your whole life. You know we could provide things for the baby that she never could. Mike would have wanted this. I know he would. You were his best friend. You know he would have wanted this, too.”

  Adam tried to hold a civil tongue. It was no secret that Patty Hargrove was less than thrilled when Mike announced that he asked Shannon to marry him. The Hargrove’s were a prominent name around town and known for throwing their name and their money around to get what they wanted. It seemed there was no line they wouldn’t cross, including taking their grandson away from his mother. He wasn’t about to take part in this.

  “Mr. Walt, maybe you and Mrs. Patty should go. I could hear you arguing all the way from the bottom of the stairs. We don’t want anyone calling the police, do we?”

  “Fine, but please, Adam, talk to her, make her see reason. We were good parents to Mike. You know that,” she said as she gripped his forearm. He had a knee jerk reaction to pull away, but right now getting them to leave was more important than continuing the argument.

  “Have a nice afternoon,” Adam said as he patted her hand and gently removed it.

  “Come on, Patty, it’s time to go.”

  Walt finally took his wife by the arm and led her away. Adam wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but he wasn’t leaving until Shannon told him everything.

  “I’ll get the keys,” she said as she turned and left the door open for him. He could see the tears building up in her eyes.

  “Are you all right? What was that all about?” he asked as he stepped in and closed the door.

  “Yes, I’m fine. It’s just Patty sticking her nose in uninvited, as always.”

  “Am I understanding her correctly? She wants to raise your baby?”

  “I know, crazy right? Most soon to be grandmothers would be making shower plans or buying stuff for the baby. But oh no, not Patty Hargrove. Did you know she has a complete nursery at her home all set up for Mikey? She hasn’t even so much as knit a pair of booties for us.”

  “Why do you think she’s wanting to raise him?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe she’s somehow trying to replace Mike with our baby. As soon as I told her I was pregnant, she became obsessed. Buying things for her to use, not me. She even wanted to go to my doctor appointments. At first, I let her, trying to be the good daughter-in-law and all. When we found out it was a boy, it got much worse. Then after she said she should raise Mikey, I’ve been avoiding her like the plague.”

  “Well living with her wouldn’t be so bad would it? She has a big house, nice things. I know she’s not your favorite person, but . . .”

  “You don’t understand, Adam, she doesn’t want me to come live with them, she just wants Mikey,” she interrupted.

  Adam knew about Patty’s prejudice toward her daughter-in-law, but he never knew it went this far.

  “Well, she’s crazy. Just ignore her.”

  “Trust me, I’ve been trying, but now she’s threatening to sue me.”

  “Based on what?”

  She paused and sighed before sitting down on the couch.

  “I’m being evicted.”

  “What?”

  “It’s true. The owner of the apartments sold the property. They’re tearing them down and building a shopping center. They gave us a notice ninety days ago. I have less than a week to find another place to live.”

  “Oh wow. Have you had any luck?”

  “Do you see any moving boxes sitting around?”

  Adam stood in silence, not knowing what to say.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. She just makes me so angry. I had hoped after Mike died that maybe she’d finally welcome me, and we could mourn him together. She doesn’t want that. She only cares about the baby. Not me.”

  “What about Walt? Have you talked to him?”

  “He’s too scared of her. She’s always been the one to call the shots. You know that.”

  “Well, I guess we need to find you a place and get you moved out. After I look at the car, we can go looking.”

  “It’s no use. I’ve tried and been blackballed out of every vacancy available. You have to remember there are about thirty of us looking for places to rent. Also, Patty is friends with everyone around here. I just know she told the
m not to rent to me.”

  “I’ll talk to her. Maybe she’ll let you stay with them.”

  “I can’t do it. I can’t be under her roof and her judging me all the time.”

  “What are you going to do then?”

  “I can get a hotel room for the time being and maybe after you get the Mustang running, and after Mikey is born, we’ll take off.”

  “Where?”

  “Somewhere—anywhere—that Patricia Hargrove isn’t.”

  “You mean leave town?”

  “Yes. What other choice do I have? I can’t wait for her to make good on her threat. She has the money for lawyers to fight me for custody. I don’t. I can’t let her get that far with this.”

  Adam couldn’t let this happen. He may not have been able to save his friend, but he sure wasn’t going to let this continue to destroy what was left of Mike’s family. Patty was wrong, Mike wouldn’t have wanted this. He’d want his son to grow up in his hometown and to be near his family.

  Adam took his cell phone from his pocket as Shannon watched him.

  “Hey, Phil, it’s Adam. Hey, buddy, I need you to tow a car for me. It’s at 319 West Chaplin. Yeah, that’s right, the apartments. It’s Mike’s old Mustang. I’m not sure yet, just need you to tow it to my house so I can take a look. Sounds good, I’ll be down in a few to help. Thanks, buddy.”

  “You’re towing my car?”

  “It doesn’t run, and I can get a better look at it at my house. I have a garage and tools.”

  “I can’t afford to pay you back for a tow.”

  “I’m not asking you to. Don’t worry about it.”

  “No, that’s not fair. I can’t let you do that.”

  “Sure, you can, besides, it’s already done. Phil will be here in a few minutes.”

  “Adam, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Now, after he leaves, we need to go gather some boxes from the grocery store. Is the furniture yours, too?” he asked, ignoring her statement.

  He did have to do this.

  “Yes, but why pack? I have no place to go yet.”

  “Yes, you do. My place.”

  “Your place?”

  “Yeah, I’m living over at my grandparents’ old farmhouse. I know it’s not the prettiest of houses, but it’s sturdy, has a roof and electricity and plenty of room for you and the baby.”

  “Adam, I can’t let you do that. This is my mess. When I agreed with you coming over to look at the car, I didn’t mean for you to get involved like this.”

  “Mike Hargrove was my best friend and there’s no way I’m letting my best friend’s wife and unborn child stay at a hotel. You’re staying with me and that’s final.”

  “I appreciate you wanting to help but I can’t move in with you.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because this is a small town. People look up to you here. What would they think if you move me into your home?”

  “Who cares what people think?”

  “I do. I’m trying so hard to make people forget about my parents. I don’t want my baby being picked on or called names like I was growing up.”

  Adam remembered all the taunts and bullying Shannon went through when it was discovered she lived with foster parents, especially when it was found out why. Her parents were both known drug dealers and both were still serving time in prison. Even though Shannon lived with a good Christian family, and went to church every Sunday, she couldn’t shake the stigma of where she came from. Even after graduation, her foster folks kicked her out. It wasn’t until Mike stepped in and asked her to marry him, that her life began to turn around. Adam’s only regret was that he was too shy back then to ask her first.

  “Shannon, you can’t expect me to sit by and watch you get thrown out on the streets, can you? Besides, local hotel of isn’t any place for a pregnant woman.”

  Shannon sat back, visibly frustrated.

  “I’m sorry, Adam, but moving in with you isn’t an option.”

  Adam was about to reason with her once again, but he felt the vibration of his phone. It was Phil downstairs ready with his tow truck.

  “I’ll be right back. Phil is here.”

  Adam walked downstairs, his mind working overtime. He couldn’t let her do it. Move into a hotel? That was crazy. Mike would roll over in his grave to know his wife and baby would be living in a hotel. Plus, if Patty Hargrove caught wind of her living there, she’d surely be able to take the baby away. He couldn’t let that happen. He’d made a promise.

  “Hey, pal. Welcome home. It’s good to see your ugly mug around here again,” Phil said as got out of his truck. Phil was another high school buddy, one who was one of the best linebackers that Enterprise High School football team ever had. He’d gone to AU but dropped out a year later after a knee injury benched him.

  “Good to see you, too. How’s the knee?”

  “Fake but hey, I’m not complaining. At least I can walk.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I should have known she’d sell it to you.”

  Adam looked at him confused as he handed over the keys.

  “The car,” he said motioning to it with his head.

  “So many people have wanted to buy it. I made her a fair offer for it just last week. I was guessing she just wasn’t ready to part with it yet. Too soon you know,” he said as he unlocked the car and put it in neutral.

  “I’m glad she’s selling it to you. As much as you fixed it for Mike, he should have left it to you anyhow.”

  “The car belongs to her,” Adam said trying not to take offense.

  “Yeah, I know, but it’s not the kind of car a mother to be should be driving, but she better get a vehicle soon. I saw her the other day, and she looks as if she’s ready to pop any time now.”

  “I’m not buying it. Just helping to get it running again.”

  “I only offered to buy it because I wanted to help her out, you know? It’s a shame everyone is being evicted out of here. Stupid shopping centers are popping up everywhere you look. Has she found a place yet?”

  “Not yet, but she will.”

  “It’s just as well, this place was a dump anyway. I can’t believe this is all the Army could afford for a soldier’s widow. He died for our country and this is how our government takes care of his family. Just a crying shame. I hate to sound like chauvinistic pig, like my gal calls me, but what she needs is a husband. She needs someone to step up to take care of her and the baby. As pretty as Shannon is, she shouldn’t have any problems finding a man. I even know of a few guys that would be interested.”

  Adam wasn’t liking this conversation one bit. Shannon wasn’t a charity case and she wasn’t going to be set up with some grease monkey friend of Phil’s. It was his duty to take care of her, no one else.

  “Just want me to drop it off in the driveway?”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. I can take over from there. Thanks, Phil.”

  “Anytime. Stop by and hang out with us. We can have a few beers and talk about the good times.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll call you.”

  Adam looked upstairs and saw her on the balcony staring down at them. Phil was right, she was beautiful and there was no way Adam was going to let any other man touch her. He had a plan, but would she go along with it?

  “You want to what?” Shannon looked at him as if he lost his mind.

  “You heard me,” Adam said as he sat down on the couch.

  “Seriously? You want to marry me. Have you gone completely mad?”

  “You don’t have to make it sound like it's the end of the world. A simple yes or no would be okay.” He tried to joke and hide the fact she was making it sound like it was a bad thing.

  “I just don’t understand. How did we go from you working on my car to you asking me to marry you?” she said as she sat down beside him.

  “Look. You need a place to stay, that little guy will be here anytime now. You can’t be worrying about where you’ll live, especially with Patt
y hovering and waiting for you to mess up so she can take the baby. You won’t move in with me as a friend because you think people will talk, but if you’re my wife, no one will say anything.”

  “Oh really? How about Wow! She didn’t even let his body get cold before she married again,” she said.

  “Are you going to spend the rest of your life worrying about what other people say or think?”

  “That’s easy for you to say, Adam. You come from a good family. You don’t have skeletons in your closet.”

  “Oh, I don’t? You should sit on the porch with my nana and let her tell you about the family over a glass of sweet tea.” He started laughing at the thought.

  He hoped she’d at least smile but she did the exact opposite. She began to cry.

  “Hey, don’t cry. Talk to me. Help me help you.”

  “Why do you want to help me?”

  Adam thought for a moment. There was more than one answer to that, but that was better left for another day.

  “You’re my friend. Look, no one is going to fault you for wanting to do what’s best for you and the baby. My house can make a good home. Just needs some renovations, but it’s a solid roof over your head. Whether you want to admit it or not, you need help, Shannon. You have no one else. Let me help you.”

  “You want to help me by marrying me? What’s in it for you?”

  “Company. It’s an awful big house for one person. Besides, you talked me into keeping the kitten so I could use your help. I don’t have time to take care of him, while I’m fixing up the house.”

  “You want to marry me so I can take care of a kitten?” She finally chuckled as she shook her head.

  “No, of course not. Only you and I will know it’s not the real deal. Look, it’s a good idea. You can relax and concentrate on the baby and not worry about the job or where to live or Patty trying to take away the baby. You’ll not only have me, but you’ll have the entire Brody family behind you. You always said you’d have liked to have been adopted by my family, well, here’s your chance.” He smiled.

  “When do you want to do this?” she asked.