Haven of Swans

by Colleen Coble

  “I see. How long have you been here? And why is this case being settled here and not in Bay City? You intend to move here?”

  As soon as he asked the question, Eve knew the answer. Rock Harbor had entwined itself around her heart and soul. This was where she wanted to raise Keri. But how would that affect Nick? After her talk with Bree, Eve was beginning to see her own role in the failure of her marriage. A tiny seed of hope had begun to sprout, but there was no way it would come to full flower if she didn’t go back home—Nick needed law enforcement.

  “I’m going to see about finding my own place here,” Eve said before she could change her mind. She felt Nick’s startled glance. “I’m going to sell my house in Bay City.”

  “I see. How long have you been here?”

  “Three months.”

  Mark paused writing. “Seems a long time for a visit. What’s the history of this decision?”

  She was going to have to tell him. Patti would anyway if Eve didn’t. She sighed and plunged into the story. He jotted down notes while she spoke. His expression gave nothing away, and she had no idea if she’d just shot herself in the foot.

  “You say you’ve regained your memory now. If I may say so, that seems convenient. Do you have proof of this? What does the doctor say? Is it possible the amnesia will return?”

  “I haven’t been to the doctor yet.” Stupid. She should have made sure she had the doctor’s diagnosis. There hadn’t been time, and she hadn’t wanted to leave the house after Gideon’s attack. Her fingers touched the bruises on her neck without thinking.

  Mark’s gaze followed her hand. “You’re bruised. Those look like finger marks.” He looked at Nick with accusation.

  Nick held up his hands. “She was attacked last night.”

  “Attacked? By the same man you fled from?”

  “Yes,” Eve admitted. “He broke in.”

  “And where was your daughter during this time?”

  “Sleeping upstairs with everyone else. He didn’t bother anyone but me.”

  “But she was still in danger,” Mark said.

  “Isn’t everyone?” Nick stood and paced. “Look, we live in a scary world. Terrorists and murderers seem everywhere. But it only seems that way. You can’t stick your head in the sand and pretend they aren’t out there. But you can’t hide out from life either.” He stopped and scooped Keri into his arms.

  She reached up and patted his face. “Daddy,” she said.

  His face dissolved in tenderness. “The fact is we love her. She’s our world. Patti will never be able to say that. Her own interests are always more important than her daughter’s.”

  “According to the court report, she says she’s changed.”

  “You’ll have to decide that for yourself,” Eve said. “But we’ve raised Keri for two years. Patti left her at a day care and never went back to get her. From that day until she showed up here last week, we hadn’t heard a word from her. If she really loved Keri, wouldn’t she at least call and inquire about her?”

  “I would think so,” Mark admitted. He closed his file. “What is the status of your relationship? Who would have custody?”

  “I would. But Nick will see her often.”

  “And I’ll pay child support. But frankly, I want my family back again. I haven’t given up on our marriage.”

  “I see.” Mark glanced to Eve. “And you, Ms. Andreakos?”

  Eve and Nick locked eyes. “I’d like that as well,” she said, unable to tear her gaze away.

  Joy lit Nick’s face. He took a step toward her, then stopped. But the warmth in his eyes only grew more brilliant.

  “I’d like to observe Keri with you for a few minutes, if I may,” Mark said.

  Eve stood and held out her hands for the little girl. “Let’s do your puzzle, baby girl.”

  Keri lurched out of Nick’s arms toward her. Eve and Nick sat cross-legged on the floor with Keri between them. Memories of other times like this flooded Eve’s mind, and she forgot about Mark sitting behind them taking notes. Her hand grazed Nick’s, and their eyes met again.

  She looked away. They had work to do on their relationship before she was willing to risk her heart again. Trust had to be rebuilt on both sides. She hoped it was possible.

  Keri played happily with them, and Eve hoped Mark could see how secure the little girl felt with them around her.

  About fifteen minutes later, Mark cleared his throat. “I think that’s enough for now.” He clicked his pen again and slipped it into his briefcase. His folder followed, and he snapped shut the latches on the case, then stood. “I’ll file my report with the judge next week. I know you all need closure.”

  Eve wished she could read his opinion in his face, but he’d undoubtedly had a lot of experience hiding his emotions. “Thank you,” she said. She walked him to the door and closed it behind him.

  When she returned to the living room, Nick had picked up Keri and was rocking her. Her eyes were beginning to close, and she nestled against Nick’s chest.

  They belonged together. Eve could see that so clearly now. But there seemed to be no easy resolution to their conflicts.

  24

  Nick laid his sleeping daughter on the sofa and covered her with her favorite silky pink blanket. He pulled it up around her neck and went in search of Eve.

  She was nowhere in the downstairs, and he hadn’t heard her go upstairs, so he glanced out the yellow ruffled curtains into the backyard. She stood out on the farthest promontory that overlooked Superior.

  He made sure Keri was still asleep, locked the front door, then stepped out the back door and joined her.

  She jumped when he put his hand on her shoulder. “You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said.

  “I’m tired of being afraid,” she said softly. “I’m not going to let him terrorize me. I thought about that when you told Mark that we can’t be afraid to live our lives. I’ve been afraid to stick my head out of my hidey-hole. I was just starting to emerge, and he came at me again. I found myself retreating, and I’m not going to do it.”

  The waves beat at the rocks offshore. The clouds hung low over the gray water, and the wind blew Eve’s hair into his face, but Nick didn’t mind. He slipped his arm around her waist and watched nature’s show. They didn’t need to talk, not yet. In fact, he wasn’t sure he was ready.

  In one breath she said she hadn’t given up on their marriage, and in the other she said she was going to move here permanently. The two didn’t mesh. At least not in his mind. He didn’t see how they could in hers either.

  “Life has beat us up some, Nick,” Eve said, her gaze on the horizon. “Like those rocks, we’re worn down and battered. Do you think we can withstand the waves?”

  “Our foundations are deep in bedrock. Our faith, our love for each other and for Keri—they’re as solid as they come.”

  “We divorced,” she reminded him. “I think the waves moved us along the sand a bit.”

  They stood spoon fashion, and he rested his chin on her head. “We started looking at the waves instead of into each other’s eyes.”

  She didn’t answer right away. A sigh eased out, and she relaxed against his chest a minute before turning around in his arms and looking up into his face. “I don’t want to leave here, Nick. I can’t go back to Bay City. Maybe we’d better talk about that before we go overboard with discussing how solid we are.”

  He cupped her cheek in his hand and brushed his thumb across her soft lips. Words wouldn’t do nearly as much as showing her how he felt. He bent his head and brushed his lips across hers. When the kiss deepened, he wasn’t sure who had initiated it.

  She wound her arms around his neck, and the passion between them spiked quickly to the power of the waves. He crushed her to him and forgot all the problems they faced. There was only the softness of her body pressing against him, and the heady feel of her lips on his. It had been so long since they’d loved.

  The wind swept around them as if to drive them mor
e tightly together. Nick wanted only to prolong this moment. It had been so long in coming.

  “Daddy.”

  Only gradually did he become aware that Keri had been tugging at his pant leg. He and Eve broke apart. His brain felt fuzzy, and he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Eve’s blue eyes for a moment.

  Keri tugged again. “Up, Daddy. Keri up.”

  He scooped her into his arms, almost thankful for the defense. “You didn’t sleep very long.”

  “Phone,” she said.

  “You answered the phone?” Eve asked.

  Keri nodded.

  “Who was it?” Nick carried her back toward the house with Eve keeping step.

  “Duck.”

  Nick’s smile faltered. Eve’s eyes registered fear.

  “What did he say, Keri?” Nick asked, careful to keep his voice interested and nonthreatening.

  “Come visit,” she said. “Duck visit.”

  EVE’S LEGS TREMBLED AS SHE RAN INTO THE house. She couldn’t quite clear her head enough to understand what Gideon’s purpose had been in calling.

  The phone lay on the floor. She picked it up. “Hello?” There was only silence. She clicked it on and off and heard the dial tone. It was useless to check the caller ID, but she punched the button anyway. Unknown was all that came up. Nick had put a recording device on the phone. She went into the living room to check it. The red light was on, indicating something had been taped.

  She started to punch the button, then dropped her hand. Nick would be in here shortly, and she’d wait to hear it with him. His footsteps approached on the wooden floors. “In here, Nick,” she called.

  He joined her by the desk.

  “There’s a message,” she said.

  “Down,” Keri said.

  Nick set her on the floor, and she ran to her puzzle. “Did you listen to it yet?”

  Eve shook her head. “I wanted to wait on you.” She shuddered. He pushed the button to play the message.

  A voice like Daffy Duck’s blared out of the recorder. “You’re Keri, aren’t you? How are you, Keri?”

  “Fine,” Keri’s voice was clear and loud.

  “Where is your mommy?”

  “Out.”

  “You’re there all alone? Oh dear, I shall have to come visit and help you, Keri. You shouldn’t be alone. Something might happen to you.”

  “Puzzle?” Keri asked. “Duck play puzzle.”

  “I like puzzles. I think your mommy does too. But she’s not very good at them. I think she’ll never figure this puzzle out. Can I talk to your mommy, Keri? Go get her.”

  “’Tay.” There was a clatter as Keri evidently dropped the phone on the floor. “Mommy!” she called. The back door clattered.

  The machine continued to play. “You’re recording this, I’m sure, Eve. The other night didn’t go well. I’ve taken it as a sign. I won’t break into the house again.” The line clicked, and there was nothing more.

  “You think he’s telling the truth?” Eve asked. She was afraid to believe that he’d decided to leave her alone.

  “I wish we could believe it, but I wouldn’t count on it. He might not break in here, but he hasn’t given up his plans.” He dug out his phone and made the call. “Dad? We got a call here from Gideon. The machine taped it.” He listened a minute. “Okay, see you later.” He ended the call. “He wants me to digitize it and send a copy to forensics in Bay City.”

  “Should you call Deputy Montgomery?”

  “Yeah.” He called Montgomery and told him what had happened.

  Eve wondered if the nightmare could possibly be over, though it didn’t make sense Gideon would just give up. Not after all he’d done to find her. Her calmness surprised her, but facing him twice and living to tell about it had given her courage.

  Nick closed his phone. He went to the sofa and patted the spot next to him. “Come here, I want to talk to you.”

  “Talk?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Are you sure that’s all?”

  “I’d rather kiss you,” he said, grinning. “But we need to talk.”

  She tried to keep from smiling, but it came out anyway. She’d rather kiss him too. Joining him on the sofa, she settled into the arm he put around her. The scent of his cologne made her want to turn and throw herself against him. To kiss him until he couldn’t speak, to drag him upstairs to her bedroom.

  In fact, her feelings quite shocked her.

  She wet her lips and fought her instincts. “Okay.”

  “I can’t live here, Eve.”

  She’d known he would say that. “You could get transferred to the Marquette Post.”

  “That’s an hour and a half from here. Three hours’ driving time a day. How about if we look into getting a weekend cabin here?”

  “What weekends? You’re always working.”

  “What about your dance studio? You love it. Do you really think you could round up enough students up here to continue your work? You love dancing.”

  She hadn’t thought about that part of it. She loved her studio with the sunlit wood floors and the high ceilings. It looked out over the bay. “I feel so safe here.”

  “Why? There are none of the shops you like. Your friends, our church, our home, they’re all back in Bay City.”

  “I do feel safe here, Nick. But more than that, I feel like I can be me with no masks. Bree and Kade, they accepted me from day one, when I didn’t even know my name. These people are different. I want to be like them. My life in Bay City was all about putting on a happy face, never showing anyone the real me.”

  “What am I supposed to do here, Eve? Arrest poachers?” Though his words were soft, the passion behind them came through. His warm fingers touched her chin to turn her face toward him. “I love law enforcement. You’ve always known that. Are you trying to make me choose between you and my job?”

  “No, it’s not that, Nick.” She grabbed his wrist and moved his hand so his fingers rested against her lips. She kissed them. “This is about me and Keri, not you.”

  “I don’t think so. I feel manipulated. And you’re very good at that, honey. I often don’t recognize it, but this time I see it. If I could live this way, I’d do it in a heartbeat, because I love you. But I’d shrivel up and die here. If you don’t see that, you don’t know me very well.”

  Her eyes burned, and pressure built behind them. “I do know that. And I’m not saying forever. Just for now, I need this place.”

  “And what about what I need? What Keri needs? She needs me in her life.”

  “You can be in her life.”

  “Eve, it’s an eight-hour drive one way to get here. When am I going to see her with my schedule? You’re not looking at it clearly.”

  “Maybe I’m not.” She turned her head so his fingers dropped away. “I can breathe here. If you stay awhile, you’ll love it too.”

  “It would be easy to give in, to just find a little Podunk deputy job. But we both know what would happen. I’d start to blame you eventually for the way I was stagnating. I don’t want that to happen.”

  “I know,” she whispered past the knot in her throat.

  “How about if we find a place in a little smaller town? Maybe Oakhurst or Bay Park.”

  If she loved him, she’d go with him. The truth whispered in her heart. Leaving Rock Harbor would be like losing a piece of herself, but maybe that was better than losing Nick. And he was right—Keri needed him.

  “I’ll think about it,” was all she could promise.

  25

  The life-support machines that surrounded Miranda beeped in the background. Gideon barely noticed them or the stink of antiseptic that burned his nose. He sat in a hard-backed chair and held his wife’s hand.

  “Is she going to die?” Odette asked, her voice trembling. She turned to her father for reassurance.

  He’d hoped seeing Odette would rouse Miranda, so he’d gone after her. “She’s not going to die.”

  “How do you know? The doctor said we should stay here be
cause it wouldn’t be long.” Odette took her mother’s other hand. “She’s been like this forever. I kind of forget what she was like, Dad. I remember her baking cookies and reading The Swan Princess to me. But I almost can’t hear her voice in my head anymore.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You have to remember her, Odette. She will be devastated when she awakens if you’ve forgotten her.”

  “I was only eleven when it happened.” Odette looked down at her mother. “Six years is a long time.”

  “Not so long. She’s going to be fine.” He dipped a sponge into water and ran it along Miranda’s lips.

  A shadow fell over the bed. He looked up to see the doctor standing at the foot. Clipboard in hand, he wasn’t smiling.

  Gideon’s gut tightened. “Doctor.”

  “We need to talk,” the doctor said.

  “Not in front of her. Perhaps a room somewhere?”

  “There’s a conference room down the hall.”

  “Stay with your mother, Odette,” Gideon said.

  “No! I’m old enough to hear this, Dad. I want to come.”

  “Doctor?” Gideon asked.

  “Fine with me.”

  The doctor led them down the tiled hallway to a sparse office: brown utilitarian furniture, an end table that held only a couple of magazines. Gideon wouldn’t need the box of tissues on the coffee table.

  He perched on the edge of the hard sofa. Odette looked young and frightened when she sat beside him. Probably he should take her hand to appear as a loving father, but he cared only about Miranda.

  “Proceed, Doctor,” he said.

  “I’m sorry it has come to this, but the latest tests on your wife show no brain activity.”

  Odette gasped, and tears pooled in her eyes. “Daddy?” she asked in a small voice. “Does that mean . . .”

  “It means nothing. My wife is going to wake up, Doctor.” He turned an icy stare onto the physician, who squirmed but didn’t look away.

  “I’m sorry, but the machines are the only thing keeping her alive. It’s time for you and your daughter to make a decision about turning them off.”

  “My decision is no.” Gideon stood. “This conversation is over.”