Chapter 30: Baxter's Bluff

Tom hoisted himself off the bar stool and walked to the back of the room where Baxter and his cronies were busy laughing at the latest joke. When Baxter saw Tom approach their table with his tall and angular body, he stopped laughing.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m Tom…”
“Yeah, I know who you are. You’re the kid of those real estate tycoons.”
Tom fumed inside. He wanted to be known for more than his association with his parents.
“Actually, I’m here about Roxanne.”
“Oh, the hot construction manager who got arrested for forging my signature?”
“That’s not how I’d describe her, but yes.”
“I hope you’re not here to beg me to get her off the hook. I mean I could help her, but she’d have to do the begging,” he leaned back and laughed as his friends chuckled at his joke.
“Look, I know you signed that permit. Then something mysteriously happened to it. And I know about that abandoned glass factory,” Baxter’s eyes narrowed at Tom’s mention of the factory. “You’re into something, and I’m going to find out. You can help me now or it will get much worse later on.”
“I don’t know what this guy is talking about,” Baxter said to his friends. “She must be filling your head with lies. I never signed off on that permit,” he rolled his eyes and shook his head. “As for some factory, you must have the wrong guy.”
Tom had always been a gentleman, and this was no exception. “Excuse me, then,” he said and marched away.
“Can you believe that guy?” he heard Baxter say to his friends and laugh.
Tom could tell that Baxter was just trying to play him, but he hoped he’d gotten into his head. When people were doing bad things, they often made mistakes when they learned someone was close to finding out their secret. Tom didn’t want to hide in the dark anymore. He had called Baxter’s bluff.
***
Even though Roxanne knew she and Tom had to talk, she needed to reconcile with her father first. Heading over to his apartment in the afternoon, beads of sweat formed around her forehead due to the heatwave.
A few weeks ago, she might have suggested meeting at The Hole in the Wall, but with Owen gone, the place had shuttered, at least temporarily, until his sister could find a buyer.
She knocked on her father’s door, and after a few moments, he opened it. “Hey, Pop,” she said.
“Hey, Roxy. Come in.” He scuttled over to the couch where a beer rested on the coffee table. “I’d offer you a beer, but…,” he pointed to her stomach.
“Look, Dad. I know I should have told you. It was just…” She plopped down next to him on the sofa.
“The thing is, you knew I’d be happy for ya. I’m going to be a grandpa.” He smiled. “And I don’t even care that you’re not married.”
Roxanne rolled her eyes and turned toward him. “Dad, I know. It’s just all a little sudden – and scary.”
“Roxy, you’ve been looking after me all these years. It’s time you forgot about me anyway and think about your future.”
“Dad, I didn’t forget you. I did this for you.”
He looked at her confused. “I know I said I wanted to be a grandpa, but what do you mean?”
“It’s this deal Tom and I made. I mean, kind of. He wanted to help with the loan shark, but I wouldn’t let him. And then – well, let’s just say a lot has happened.”
“And I used to be the person you told when it did.” Her dad looked disappointed.
“I’ll tell you things, Pop. I promise. I was just protecting you.”
“Well, stop.” He reached around her for a hug. She rested her head against his chest.
She started to cry. “I’m in too deep, Pop. I got arrested and then Tom took the blame. We need to buy Ruby’s land and I don’t know…”
“Shh,” he said, holding her harder. “It’s going to be alright. You don’t have to tell me all now. I can see those hormones are getting to you,” he laughed a little.
“What if I’m like Mom?” she asked, wiping her eyes and looking at her father.
“You’re not, not in the way you mean. You’re strong and loyal and determined,” said her dad, “I haven’t quite made up my mind about Tom yet, but I sense he’s going to protect you.”
Roxanne nodded. “He will.” They stayed like that for a few minutes, embracing. Roxanne remembered how they all became embroiled in the mess in the first place. Her first priority had been to protect her father. She couldn’t forget that. Despite her feelings about Tom, Ruby, and their deal, she needed to work through it for her father’s sake.
Her dad clicked on the TV. One of their favorite old movies was playing, and they sat nestled together watching the flick, Roxanne eventually spending the night.
***
When Tom returned home, he couldn’t find Roxanne. He wanted to tell her about his talk with Ruby and how he confronted Baxter. After he searched the rooms and looked at the five unanswered texts on his phone, he asked Blake to find out what happened.
Blake confirmed Roxanne was safe at her father’s apartment, and Tom, visibly relieved wilted into the couch. It had been a long 24 hours stemming from his tension with Roxanne. He was surprised by how much she had changed him and couldn’t quite believe he had ever proposed raising a baby alone.
He wanted to prove how much he cared for her, not just because of their deal or the baby, but how deeply he felt about her. He remembered one of the things she mentioned, how sometimes she wanted fire. If it was fire and passion she wanted, he’d give it to her.
He called an associate on the phone. “You know that deal I was working on? Yes, buy it. I’ll sign the papers in the morning.”