Free Saved By The Belles by Beth Albright

here,” Dallas reasoned.
    “So true, and all of us are in the dark here about who called him and just where he’s been staying. Not to mention the brothel calls.” Now I had my hands on my hips, frustrated with all the secrecy.
    “Brothel?” Dallas said in shock. “You mean he has something to do with all that talk we been hearing about there being a secret brothel in town?”
    Harry stood quietly as he inched toward the door.
    “What are y’all talking about?” Meridee perked up.
    “It’s okay, Nanny. Harry is just here for a few days to clear some things up. He’s been staying somewhere in town and we were just talking to him about where he’s been.” I was trying to include her without being too overwhelming. I knew even though the doctor said the TIAs weren’t debilitating, I understood she was tired and maybe still a tad confused. Weren’t we all!
    Meridee spoke up, loud and clear. “Well, I can tell y’all one thing—Harry sure as hell hadn’t been staying at no brothel—he’s been stayin’ with me.”

 
    CHAPTER 14
     
     
     
    “Oh, good God almighty! Is that the houseguest we were grocery shoppin’ for when you passed out earlier?” Kitty jumped in.
    “Well, he is a houseguest since he is stayin’ with me,” Meridee explained.
    “Where the hell has he been? I’ve been in and out of your house several times in the last couple of days and I never saw him.”
    “That was the plan. I needed to help him stay outta site till this whole mess blows over.”
    Okay clearly she wasn’t as confused as I thought. She was flat out nuts.
    “Mother, you can’t hide a fugitive!” Kitty exploded. “I mean there’s a petition to get him out of office. He’s trouble right now. That’s probably why you started havin’ these TMJ’s—all the stress. Harry, how could you do this to her?”
    I shook my head and jumped in. “Mother! It’s not TMJ’s—surely there’s nothing wrong with her jaw or her speech. They’re TIAs and you’re right-- no wonder she’s been so stressed! Harry you should be ashamed taking her up on her offer.”
    Then, it occurred to me that second that of course Meridee would take him in. That’s what she always does. She finds the misunderstood, the underdogs and fights for them. She had helped Lewis open his radio station. She always defended Dallas even when the rest of us hated her; she saw something good in her. Meridee had a nose for the deep down truth and somehow she must have known Harry was telling the truth.
    “How did you get here?” I pushed him for answers.
    “I took cab. I was at Meridee’s when the phone rang. The caller ID announced the hospital so I answered and was told she had been brought in. I told them I was her next of kin.”
    Lying came so easy for him.
    Harry just stood there, head down, propped against the wall. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just wanted to come home to tell Blake before the news hit about Jessica. None of it’s even true,” he pleaded, “I swear.”
    “We all need to get out of this room now and let Ms. Meridee get her rest,” Sonny took charge. “Come on y’all, we’ll sneak out the back to my squad car and get Harry back to safety away from those paparazzi out there.” Sonny looked at me and gave me a nod. I knew he was right. We needed to go. The room was too crowded and Meridee wanted to believe she was her same ol’ normal self. So she’d push to make it all good with Harry. We needed to leave right that second or she could over do it.
    “I love you, Nanny. We got this, okay. You rest. We’re gonna need you as soon as you can get home. This baby boy needs his great Nanny.” I patted my tummy smiling, then leaned over her and kissed her little cheek. She was such a tiny woman, all five feet of her and maybe a hundred and ten pounds soaking wet. “I love you.”
    “I love you too,” she responded. “Now y’all be careful.” She laid her little gray head back on her pillows.
    “You just drive