Tanner really needed to get going. The sooner he solved Arlo J’s murder, the sooner Skyla and Blake would be safe from anyone who tried to avenge his death. He set Blake’s drink down on an empty chair in the hallway and was about to leave when Blake yelled, “Call an ambo, Tanner. She’s bleeding.”
***
April Hornby stood on the curb outside Madigan’s Bar and Grill waiting for her Uber as she stared at the business card in her hand. She hadn’t planned on going out tonight, but work had been rough, and she needed to blow off some steam. There were a lot of people who hated their boss, but April hated hers so much, she often found it hard to breathe around the man. The worst part was that there was nothing she could do about it. It wasn’t like she could leave. That wouldn’t solve anything.
When April’s Uber pulled up to the curb, she got into the backseat and said a quick “hello” to the driver. Then she fastened her seatbelt and dialed her best friend, Zara Montgomery.
Zara lived in a posh area of Los Angeles where she was a highly sought-after esthetician to some of the world’s A list celebrities. Their moms had been best friends, and they’d grown up together, seeing each other through so much that they were more like sisters than friends.
“Hey, you’re up late tonight? How’s our girl doing today?” Zara’s sing-songy voice always made April smile, even on her worst days.
“I ran into him,” April said, cutting to the chase. She still couldn’t believe how tonight had unfolded.
“Who?” Zara asked, already completely enthralled in the conversation. “Are we talking about a football player, a celebrity, or some famous chef I don’t know about?”
“Tanner Rhodes,” April said plainly.
There was a long moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then, “Whaaaat? Oh my God, what was he like? Is he as cute as his picture?”
April smiled. He was better than his picture. “Zara, you know that doesn’t matter.”
“It matters.” Zara insisted. “So, tell me about him. Is he a possible solution to your major dilemma?”
April sighed. “I don’t know. Yes, he’s good looking. He seems nice. He bought me a drink.”
“Really? That’s more than Troy has done for me in the last five years. I’m kind of rooting for this Tanner guy now.”
“You have very low standards, Z,” April teased. “Oh, and he gave me his business card with his cell phone number on the back.”
“Get out of town! Did you tell him?”
April’s heart sank. She knew exactly what Zara was asking. “No. Of course not. I don’t even know if he knows that Violet exists.”
“April, the man has a right to know he has a daughter. Especially if he’s a nice guy, and it sounds like he is.”
“I thought Ned was a nice guy once upon a time,” April said. “And don’t forget what Tanner did to Kasey. She came to him seven months pregnant and he turned her away.”
“It wasn’t him,” Zara reminded her. “She said some bitchy woman turned her away.”
“So? He never even reached out. It’s like he didn’t care.”
“Unless she never told him.”
Zara’s soft words landed heavy in April’s gut. Tanner did seem like a great guy. Would he really turn his back on his own child?
“I’m sorry. I know you’re between a rock and hard place. We can’t trust just anyone with our Violet, but he has to be a better choice than Ned, right?”
“I don’t know,” April said, nearly on the verge of tears. “What if he turns out to be worse or what if he doesn’t care?” She was probably overreacting, but after how things had turned out with Ned, April couldn’t be too careful. Violet’s life and entire future was on the line here.
Zara was silent for a long moment. “Men can be such dogs. How’s Violet doing? Is she still writing new stories?” Zara’s change of subject was a welcome one. April could talk about her niece endlessly and never get tired of it.
“She’s okay. I think she misses her mom though. She came up with a story the other day about a baby duck who lost its mom and was raised by a cat.”
“Sounds like she’s been watching too many animal shows,” Zara laughed. “When do I get to see some of these stories? I bet I could get them in front of an agent. I can think of at least four that come in regularly for facials and other treatments.”
“Violet would love that,” April admitted, sadly. “But if Ned ever caught me taking anything out of DynaTech, I don’t think I’d ever get to see Violet again. I just can’t risk it.”
“I understand. Hang in there. Something’s gotta give, right? And maybe you running into Tanner tonight was a good thing. It could be the beginning of something incredible.”