Once Lost

by Brenda Dugas

  Leah spoke excitedly about her new life in Rockport, and invited Sam to come for an extended visit before she settled back into a new job in Florida. The idea seemed unlikely at first, but had firmly taken hold as the conversation wrapped up hours later. Closing the front door behind her, she was thrilled at the prospect of having a trusted female friend in Rockport, even if it was only for a short time. “There’s just something healing about this place!” Leah had insisted.

  She had turned out the lights and was walking toward her bedroom when she heard a car coming up the road. It was unusual to have a vehicle come all the way to the end of the dead-end road, especially at midnight, but this one did. Leah peaked out from behind the heavy curtain as the car turned into her driveway. The headlights were turned off and the car sat there briefly. Her heart began to race, she didn’t move an inch. Then it slowly backed up and headed back down the road turning the headlights back on. With the car safely down the road, Leah slipped out the front door and down the darkened driveway to catch a glimpse as it passed under a street light at the end of the road. She had little doubt that it was the same gray car that had followed her home before. Surely Craig wouldn’t go to these lengths! A chill ran down her spine as she ran inside and locked her deadbolt.

  Dustin called after church the following afternoon. He stopped by to see the repairs that had been made while he had been away, and offered to help with a few things on the list that were not so pressing.

  Leah was certain now that her relationship with Dustin would stay on a friendly, and not a romantic level…one kiss, and that spot had been taken! She was relieved that he seemed to be content with this arrangement, companionship without the complications! Yes, friendship had its advantages!

  Her cell phone rang. Expecting it to be Sam, she looked down at the screen, Craig Warner’s name came up. Dustin noted Leah’s expression as she silenced the phone instead of answering it. Insistent text messages followed, making it harder to keep her composure.

  “Is everything alright?” Dustin asked. “Are you having problems with someone?” His concern reminded Leah of that first day in Rockport, when he had found her asleep in her car.

  “No one here, thank goodness! I believe I mentioned to you that I broke off my engagement a few months before moving to Rockport. My ex-fiancé didn’t take it well then and he’s still not taking it well now! I’m really glad to have some distance between us. But it’s ok, I can ignore the phone. I'm sure he’ll eventually quit trying.” She tried to speak with more confidence than she felt. Having never experienced the protectiveness of an older brother, having Dustin close by was really nice.

  “These messages are likely to go on for a while.” She turned the cell phone off and tried to get on with her day; deciding that now would be a good time to mention the gray car. “I have a feeling he may even be having me followed.”

  “Leah, why don’t we go to the Sherriff’s office and file a report?” Dustin seemed really worried.

  She shrugged it off as if she wasn’t too concerned about it. “I’m not even sure yet; once I know for sure it’s the same car, then I will. I promise! Hey, on a lighter note, my best friend is coming to visit me in a week or so. Sam will be staying with me for the next couple of months.”

  “Did Sam have anything to do with your break-up?”

  “Oh, no, Sam… Samantha… has been staying in Texas with a sick parent who just passed. She’s coming here to visit before she goes back home to Florida to look for a new job. I’m so glad she took me up on the invitation, you’ll love her!”

  “Oh, good. You won’t be staying here alone then. When will she be here?”

  “She should arrive within a couple of weeks, after she ties up loose ends in Texas.”

  “Well, I’m looking forward to meeting her.” Dustin smiled. He really was a great looking guy. He was tall and strong and had the best smile.

  “How is it you’re still unattached? No crazy ex’s for you?” she teased.

  “Nah, dated a girl after high school but she had her eyes on a career up in Boston. Last I heard she was very successful. Just wasn’t in the cards. I am who I am, a small town guy at heart. It hurt for a while, but I have no regrets. Just kind of made it hard to put myself out there again, ya know? So, you mentioned moving a mirror. Where is it?”

  She smiled at his quick change of subject, and led the way to her bedroom. “I’d like it to be moved to the opposite corner, what do you think?” Dustin surveyed the mirror for the best lifting angle, and moved it effortlessly to the other side of the room. Something metallic hit the floor and bounced under the edge of the bed. “It’s a key.”

  Leah looked at the key. “I don’t see anything on here that has a lock. I’ll probably just throw it away. This mirror was originally from this house. It must have been important to Mrs. Mullen because she brought it with her to Florida. It’s the only furniture from her home that I was able to hold on to. The rest had to be sold or given away.”

  “I’m glad you were able to keep it. It seems to belong in this room.”

  “Yes, I had a random dream one night and woke up feeling like the mirror belonged on this side of the room…strange, huh?” Maybe that’s where she had it once?”

  “Dustin chucked, “Then it’s back where it belongs, I guess! Oh, this must be where the key fell from,” he pointed to a small hook on the back side of the mirror.

  “I guess it’s been there for years, so I’ll just put it back.”

  Chapter 10

  The following Friday marked the end of Leah’s first month of employment at C & A Enterprises. She marveled at how quickly the time had passed. With the company picnic now behind them, the week was passing rather uneventfully until news arrived of Melissa Sims’ delivery of a full term, healthy baby girl. While Liz had otherwise kept her distance, she seemed eager to be the first to bring Leah the wonderful news. It went without saying that the countdown was now on, leading to the end of her temporary position. She had little doubt that day couldn’t come soon enough for Liz.

  Slade’s office door had been open when Liz arrived on the scene with the news. He asked her to send flowers congratulating the new mother and daughter, then became absorbed in his work again, oblivious to the excitement over the newborn.

  Leah had been eager for the weekend, with Sam’s arrival scheduled for early Saturday morning. She was now feeling rather deflated. Although no one had actually said how long it would be before Melissa returned to work, Leah supposed it would be another six weeks at most. She enjoyed her work, and wasn’t looking forward to starting her search all over again. Glancing toward Slade’s office, she knew in her heart that there was another reason she didn’t want to leave. He’d been quiet since the picnic and she couldn’t quit daydreaming about how their next conversation would go. She turned back to her desk and tried once again to concentrate on the files in front of her.

  Leah jumped as something lightly hit her arm. She picked up a paper airplane that had to have come from the direction of Slade’s office. He was looking down at something on his desk, but Leah looked around and saw no one else who could have thrown the airplane. He looked up, grinning at her mischievously, and she sailed it back his way. They were playfully tossing the airplane back and forth when a noise behind Leah made her turn toward the door of her office.

  Dustin was trying to suppress his amusement and act like it was completely normal to see the CEO and his assistant engaged in a childish game of paper airplanes. Well, well… Look at these two! Maybe Leah’s behind these changes we’ve been seeing in Slade! He sure has lightened up a lot lately!

  “That looks like fun… I’m a master at paper airplanes!” He picked a blank sheet of copy paper off the printer tray, fashioned it into a paper airplane and hurled it toward Slade. The two began to argue over whose paper airplane could fly the furthest, and the game continued on until Liz appeared at the door and stopped, staring in disbelief at the display. The game abruptly ended and everyone resumed
their grown-up roles.

  Leah wondered if Slade was looking forward to having his “real” assistant return to her duties, or if he was feeling the same dull ache she felt at the thought. She left for the weekend, staying lost in thought throughout the drive home. What messages did those paper airplanes really carry? Her thoughts also kept returning to the mocking smirk in Liz’s face as she delivered the news that Melissa’s baby had arrived. Although she didn’t really feel any sort of connection with the receptionist, it bothered her that Liz seemed so eager to see her leave. Rumor had it that Liz had been in hot pursuit of Dustin, and Leah realized she had probably misunderstood their relationship as something that was … or might become, more than friendship. All she knew was Dustin certainly deserved better than that nosy receptionist!

  Unable to shake the day’s events, she tossed and turned for what felt like hours. Although she was thrilled at the thought of seeing Sam again, it was the thought of leaving her job… and the thought of leaving Slade…that kept her awake. This is probably only the first of many sleepless nights! Those dang paper airplanes!

  Leah woke to the alarm blaring at five AM, and prepared to begin the hour long drive to the nearest airport, feeling that she had slept very little. Thank God for coffee! She was also thankful there were very few people on the roads that early, so she arrived with time to spare.

  After parking in the passenger pick-up zone, she watched as people began filing out, one by one. Finally, her friend appeared, accompanied by a porter who was rolling a cart with several large suitcases. Leah waved feverishly until Sam spotted her. The two girls hugged tearfully as the luggage was loaded into the SUV. It seemed like they had been apart for a very long time, and both were overwhelmed with emotion.

  They stopped at a café and had breakfast, chattering excitedly, catching up with all that had happened recently in their lives. Leah’s cell phone started ringing, and upon glancing at the name on the screen, she silenced the phone. “It’s him.” The phone chimed with insistent text messages. “I really thought he’d have given up by now.” She had already filled Sam in on Craig’s unwillingness to accept the inevitable.

  “He’s acting pretty psycho,” Sam warned. “I’m glad you won’t be alone, you don’t think he’ll ever show up here?” Leah didn’t even want to consider the possibility that Craig would show up in Rockport.

  “He kept asking for my address, supposedly to mail something important to me. Nothing ever came though, so I don’t know. I probably should get a new number, so he won’t be able to reach me by phone, but the realtor in Florida has this number. I’ll change it as soon as the sale on the other house closes!”

  “On the other hand, that may be what it would take to make him try to find you in person.”

  Leah shuddered at the thought. “He may already be having me followed. He probably has the connections.” She filled Sam in about the gray car.

  Sam’s concern was evident. “Leah, do you think you should just try to talk to him again? Maybe it would put an end to this craziness.”

  “No, talking didn’t work, now I’m just ignoring him.” She tried to laugh it off. “You came just in time, I’m all settled in now, my new furniture came in and I have a guest room set up, just for you! Things are good now, but you wouldn’t have wanted to stay with me a month or so ago. It was quite a project!”

  With the cell now silenced, it was easy to get caught up again in the excitement of Sam’s arrival and plan a day of touring her lovely new town. It was mid-morning, and the day was as beautiful as she remembered it being the first day she had arrived in Rockport. “Just wait until you see the view from the hillside and the bay, the light house, and covered bridge!”

  “I don’t blame you for moving here! I already love it!”

  Leah turned to a more serious note, “Sam, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you like. The job outlook may not be as hopeful here; I’ll be looking for another job too, in a few weeks, but I have no intention of ever leaving this place. The only thing missing was my BFF Sam – and she’s here now…so life is good!”

  “Watch what you wish for! You may never get rid of me if you keep that up! I have very little to go back to in Florida, or Texas either now.”

  “I have a little more time now that the house in Florida is under contract. We could share expenses, and probably do just fine! Please tell me you’ll pray about it.” That’s one thing she loved about Sam, she was a great person who had strong faith and good values.

  The idea was tempting, and Sam really couldn’t think of any reason not to consider it.

  “Sometimes we need a drastic change like this. It’s been great for me!”

  The smile on her face let Sam know she meant it. Mrs. Mullen had been such a positive influence in her friend’s life. Sam was glad Leah had her neighbor to look out for her all those years, seemed she may still be doing just that.

  The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the now familiar, white C & A work truck. “Oh, you’ll like Dustin; I told him all about you!” After introductions were made, his light hearted humor kept them entertained for the rest of the morning.

  The chatter continued, and it was noon when he looked at his watch. “Let me treat you ladies to lunch.” They drove into Rockport to the same quaint little café where he and Leah had stopped for lunch the day she had arrived. After eating, Dustin drove them to the end of the road where they all took in the view of the bay with the fishing boats.

  Continuing the tour, they drove to the vantage point up the hill so Sam could take pictures overlooking the entire village, with the bay in the distance. Photography was one of her passions and she was like a child in a candy store! “I love everything about this place, it looks like a postcard!” Sam was as taken with the view as Leah had been.

  Dustin had quite a way of making newcomers feel welcome. As they drove home, Leah could have sworn she saw a giddiness in him she'd never seen before when he talked to Sam, but maybe not.

  His cell phone rang as he started to drive away. Stopping the truck sharply, he pulled back into the driveway rolling his window down, “Leah, Slade has been trying to get in touch with you.”

  “Oh yea, I forgot to turn my ringer back on, I had to turn it off again.” Leah rolled her eyes and Dustin immediately understood why. “Can you let him know its back on now?”

  “He’s still on the line,” Dustin handed Leah his phone.

  “Hey.”

  “Leah, I’ve tried several times to get in touch with you.”

  “I may have been in and out of range for several hours while I picked up Sam this morning from the airport.”

  “I see.” Slade’s tone had changed, and Leah proceeded with the gender clarification, “Samantha will be staying with me here for a little while, an extended visit I guess you could say. Dustin and I have been showing her around so she doesn’t get lost like I did!” Leah laughed.

  Slade’s voice returned to normal as he suggested, “Ah, I see. Well, why don’t we all go to the bayside steakhouse for dinner then, to show her the view of Rockport at night, my treat?” The plan was enthusiastically agreed to by all, and Leah’s spirits soared. She loved that little steakhouse!

  “Dustin and I will pick you ladies up at seven.” Sam’s first day here, and we already have a double date!

  He drove away, and Leah helped Sam to get unpacked and settled in. They giggled and chatted like teenagers while selecting the perfect outfits, it felt so good to have Sam in town, just like old times.

  ***

  It seemed a little strange now, Leah thought, as she and Sam rode in the back seat of Slade’s car, with Dustin, this time, sitting in the front passenger’s seat. The two men interacted as old friends instead of co-workers. “So… you knew each other before you worked together?” Sam asked.

  “We all work for C & A Enterprises, but none of us met there.” Dustin informed her. Sam was filled in on Leah’s accident in the storm; which of course, led to the story of her f
irst encounter with Slade. She blushed as Dustin continued with the story of her mishap by the stream, her midnight visit to Slade’s house, “and now, guess who she’s working for!” Samantha laughed out loud at her friends misadventures. “She never was great with directions. I'm surprised she found the airport!”

  “That's on a map!” Leah winked.

  After drinks had been ordered, the guys were arguing lightheartedly over last weekend’s baseball game between their favorite teams. Sam lightly nudged Leah’s foot under the table, excusing herself before heading toward the restroom sign in the back corner of the restaurant. Understanding her friend’s subtle hint, Leah joined her after a few brief seconds. “Is everything ok?”

  Sam could hardly contain herself, “I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t complicate my life with a man anytime soon, but Dustin could make me forget that promise!”

  “I noticed you two do seem to be enjoying each other’s company!” Leah smiled. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? They would be a great pair! Liz flashed through her mind, maybe now she’ll finally have a reason to dislike me so much! The thought made her smile even bigger, that Liz was just annoying!

  “Well, you can't miss the spark between you and Slade either.”

  “Great! That’s what I was afraid of. It’s getting harder and harder to hide at work!”

  They returned to the table as several appetizers arrived. The meal was delicious and the moon was coming up over the water as they all walked along the boardwalk by the bay. Leah smiled up at the man in the moon, now convinced he knew exactly what he was doing!

  Sam was enchanted with the view across the bay, as she and Dustin walked ahead chatting amicably. Slade had dropped back to Leah’s side. She couldn’t tell if he was giving the other couple space or if he wanted her to himself. Either way worked for her! As the couple in front kept up a lively conversation, they walked quietly behind hand in hand.