Shattered Treasure

by Cindy Patterson

  “I know. I’m so sorry. I forgot about something I was supposed to do.”

  “Are you sure it can’t wait?”

  Addison was already going through the front door, fresh tears leaking onto her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, I can’t.”

  “Don’t forget about our plans Sunday afternoon.”

  With one timid glance in his direction, Addison grinned, but it was as if his response had bruised her heart. And he was the one who couldn’t look away.

  “I don’t know. Maybe it would be better if I didn’t.”

  “Logan?” There were hundreds of questions in Ami’s frantic stare.

  “Of course, you should come.” At Nathan’s words, Logan spun to face him. “Right, Logan?”

  Logan seethed yet marveled over Nathan’s reaction to the girl. “What plans?”

  “Nothing specific.” Ami skipped past him and looped her arm through Addison’s. “I just invited her over.”

  His gaze darted away from Ami and settled again on Addison. Hesitancy played across her face, and impulsively he gave in. “You should come.” It wasn’t until his agreement was out that the weight of what he’d done settled over him.

  He’d just gave his consent for Ami to have her over again, the girl who almost killed her.

  Ami cheered and hugged Addison. “See, you have to now.”

  Logan took deliberate steps to the kitchen, the scowl on his lips twitching. It was as if she was part of their family now. As if she had bewitched them. Bewitched him.

  Ami carried on without taking a breath about the girl once Addison walked away. He would have to keep his opinions to himself. At least for now. His sister had been through enough. He wouldn’t be responsible for causing her further heartache.

  But Logan wasn’t finished. He wouldn’t rest until Addison paid for what she did to his sister. He didn’t have to wait very long. Addison was coming on Sunday and he planned to be here no matter what.

  Silence and emptiness encased Addison as she reached her car and drove away from Ami’s house. She wiped at the tears now pouring from her eyes.

  She was a fool.

  As hard as she struggled to thrust the image from her mind, Logan’s glaring eyes seeping with revulsion burned in her memory. There was no mistaking his feelings.

  He hated her.

  Swelling tears obstructed her vision, but she blinked through them and drove mile after mile, afflicted that her acceptance into the Tant’s perfect family had been shattered.

  At home, she entered the house quietly and made her way to her bedroom, avoiding Aunt Brenda. She would have too many questions, especially with mascara and eyeliner now staining Addison’s cheeks.

  Agony uncoiled in her chest as each defeat, one by one, registered with deep conviction. Losing her sister, the accident, Philip, and the hate she’d felt from Ami’s brother. The same brother she had been dreaming about since that day in the library.

  Her grief thickened as she lay on her bed, turning her world black and sweeping her into an exhausted sleep.

  “I’m leaving, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Addison startled and sat straight up, her eyes focusing on the clock. 6:00. How long had she been sleeping? Clearing her throat, she croaked, “Okay.” Wretched thoughts fought their way back into her conscious.

  She got up and stared into the mirror wiping away all evidence of grief smeared across her face.

  Logan had every right to hate her. She’d been responsible for hurting his sister. But because of her guilt, because she truly cared for Ami, Addison couldn’t let Logan Tant hinder her relationship with his sister.

  No matter how much he hated her.

  7

  Guilt stabbed Logan’s conscience as he left the church. For days he had anticipated retaliating against the drunk driver until the sermon this morning resonated. A message that shattered his reasoning. A verse that he couldn’t stop repeating. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31

  Bitterness. Logan shook his head. Bitter. He wasn’t bitter. This was different. He had a right to be angry.

  Every right.

  He wasn’t only doing this for himself, but for them, for Ami. Anyone who chose to ignore the consequences of drinking and driving deserved to be punished. Since he was the only one not blinded by her attempt to redeem herself, it was his obligation to see this through. And he was anxious to make Addison regret that very decision.

  The wait was short. He arrived just before she did, and he held the door as she stepped onto the front porch.

  “Addison.” He drew her name out, his tone chastising. One hand stuffed in his pocket, the other squeezing the knob, he waited for her reaction, though he refused to look at her.

  “Logan, it’s so nice to see you again.” His stab at a warning did nothing to rattle her. Instead her voice was warm and inviting. It bubbled with compassion. “I ran into you not too long ago on campus. In the library.” Her remark lowered his gaze to hers. Her smile widened and held nothing back. Within the span of two short breaths, she trapped him with her eyes.

  Again.

  Addison didn’t give him a chance to reply. “Maybe it wasn’t you.”

  Before he could react, she was already moving away from him and toward Ami.

  He had planned to stare at the girl, waiting for the perfect opportunity to crush her, but instead he studied her subtle motions, the way her dimple deepened with the slightest movement of her lips, the way her eyes darkened with concern with every glance at Ami. She was beautiful.

  And he couldn’t look away.

  “Ami tells me you’re student teaching a kindergarten class,” his mom asked Addison.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  As Addison went into detail of her daily routine, of how much she loved the children, Logan seethed over the fact that his family was warming up to her even more. Then she told her mom how most of the class came from lower income families, how there were some who were only fed when at school—how it broke her heart. There was so much compassion in her voice, her expression, it softened his resolve to see her punished.

  Over the next hour, Addison’s conversation with his family grew faint as something within him surrendered and welcomed her presence.

  Every time Addison glanced in his direction, his eyes aligned with hers, hers begging for affirmation. But to his disappointment after only twice she wouldn’t glance in his direction again, not even when he spoke trying to get her attention.

  What was he doing? He would not give into this. He could not let her get away with this.

  Logan stood. “I’m out of here. Let me know when things get back to normal.”

  Nathan followed him into the kitchen, a scowl tightening his face.

  “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “What’s wrong with you? I’ve never seen you treat anyone that way.”

  Logan had only barely kept to his original plan. “What do you expect me to do?” He slammed his hat onto his head. “That girl you keep inviting over here almost killed our sister.”

  “People have accidents every day, Logan. That’s all it was. An accident.”

  “An accident that would’ve never happened if she hadn’t decided to drink and drive.” His own declaration pricked his conscience.

  “Is this about Carrie?”

  A coldblooded laugh resounded in his throat. “Don’t …”

  “Logan, it’s been over three years. You can’t blame Addison for what happened to Carrie.”

  Logan snarled. “This has nothing to do with Carrie. But I see no one else to blame for the permanent scar my sister will live with the rest of her life.” He walked through the entryway but stopped when he found Addison standing there.

  She’d heard him.

  He rubbed his jaw as another blow of remorse darkened his determination. She stood near the door, seeking an escape.

  Because of him.

  Shame distorted
the perfect smile she’d worn earlier. And his resentment bound his tongue as he stepped through the front door.

  Sorrow slowly slithered back onto the surface of Addison’s heart when Logan walked past her and out the front door.

  “Addison?” Nathan led her into the kitchen. As soon as they were alone, he took both of her hands. “Please don’t let Logan bother you. He doesn’t mean any harm.”

  “It’s okay. I understand how he feels. He’s right. The accident was my fault. I don’t belong here.”

  “Ami loves you and she’s the one that matters. I haven’t seen her this happy in months.” He barreled on, leaving no room for her objection. “Hey, cheer up. He’s gone. Now you can finally relax.” Still holding one of her hands, Nathan escorted her to the living room.

  The chair where Logan had sat was now vacant. She took a deep breath and instructed herself to maintain her composure instead of going after him. To apologize for intruding on his family.

  She shouldn’t be here. Not instead of him. It was wrong. But she wanted this. More than anything. The Tants made her feel she belonged, like she was a part of their family. Something she’d never had.

  When she arrived home, Philip was waiting in the yard.

  He rose from the front porch and met her halfway. “Where’ve you been?”

  “With a friend.”

  He spat in the dirt, shot her a backward glance, but kept walking toward his truck. “Taylor?”

  “No, you don’t know her.”

  “Can we go somewhere to talk?”

  Her stomach recoiled at the thought of all she needed to say. “Yes, we need to talk.”

  “Where do you want to go?”

  Somewhere they could talk but wouldn’t be alone. “How about the boardwalk at Carolina Beach?”

  When they reached the pier, she absorbed her surroundings with awareness. She welcomed the crowd, the bright lights.

  He took her hand as soon as they stepped onto the wooden planks. She snatched it away, cringing against his touch, and gripped her hands tight to her waist. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what? I thought you wanted this.”

  “You wanted to talk, so talk.”

  “We have a lot of making up to do. I’m going to grab a beer. I’ll be right back.” He didn’t wait for a response.

  As soon as it was in his hand, he popped off the top and sucked down two-thirds of the bottle as he made his way back to her. How was she supposed to get home? What had possessed her to come all the way out here with him?

  She would have to call Taylor. Again.

  Teeth clenched, she scowled. “You can’t survive one night without drinking?”

  He leaned closer, the stench of alcohol offensive. “I’m celebrating.”

  “Celebrating what?”

  “You and me.” He guzzled the remaining liquid.

  Philip had never been one to get excited about anything. Especially anything concerning her. His drinking would only complicate everything. “Philip, I’m being serious. You’re not listening to me.” Every instinct told her to call Taylor and leave now.

  Playing the devoted boyfriend, he cupped her elbow and led her to a bench.

  Before she could form her thoughts into words, Philip threw his empty beer into the trash, slipped his hands beneath her shirt, and grabbed her bare waist. “I’m listening, baby. You have my full attention.”

  She laid both hands flat against his chest and pushed, but it did no good. He was solid, unmoving. “Let go of me.”

  His hands drifted way below her comfort level. In a desperate attempt to free herself, she twisted from his grip and he pushed her back, the bench cutting her leg as she went down.

  A set of different hands grabbed her upper arms and secured her into his own, before she hit the wooden floor. “Whoa, there.” The voice she recognized instantly, and her pulse raced in a disturbing rhythm, causing her legs to wobble.

  “Logan, my man. You’ll have to excuse my girlfriend.” Philip chuckled crudely. “She’s had too much to drink.”

  Logan’s pools of dark brown pored over her as she rested against him, the weight of his gaze crushing her airway. Time seemed to slow as Logan held her, but then just as suddenly, he helped her stand on her own and let go. “Sorry to interrupt. See you at practice.”

  Practice? Baseball. Logan and Philip were teammates? Logan didn’t even speak to her. Or acknowledge that he knew her.

  The shuffle of Logan’s boots was the only indication of his departure.

  At the end of the next day, Addison stopped by the university to drop off some books she’d borrowed from the library. She walked across campus, her mind cloaked with defeat. It was impossible to carry on a firm conversation with Philip—especially after he drained three more beers within twenty minutes.

  A gentle tug kept nudging her to tell someone. It would be easy to ignore some of Philip’s deceit, but she could no longer ignore his violence.

  Even though Logan said nothing last night, she could easily imagine what he was thinking. His telling gaze said more than enough. It didn’t help that every time she looked at him, she nearly swooned.

  “Addison? Wait.”

  She risked a brief glance over her shoulder.

  Logan? Her breath caught in her throat as she slowed. Their last encounter was still scrambling to the forefront of her mind. How she fell into him. How he caught her. How Philip accused her of being drunk. How Logan looked at her.

  He caught up to her and stretched out his fingers. “You left these on the hood of your car.”

  “Oh, my gosh. I just got my car back and already I’m losing my keys.” Why had she said that? It was a reminder of the accident, a reminder of his hate of her. “I’m sorry. Thank you so much.” She balanced the books so she could take the keys, but the books tumbled to the ground. Heart leaping to an unrecognizable beat, Addison bent to retrieve them.

  Logan lifted the books before she could and settled them in the crook of his arm. “These are the kind of college books I need.”

  She laughed as she reached for them. “Activity books for my kindergarten class.”

  “I’ve got it.”

  “You don’t have to carry them.”

  “You should never argue with a man trying to be a gentleman.”

  The intensity of his gaze lingering on her shattered any remaining fight within her.

  Still struggling to believe Logan Tant was walking with her to the library, she savored the hope that stirred within. Stomach fluttering when they reached the library, Addison turned and started to retrieve her things. “Thank you.”

  “It was me.”

  “It was you?” Needing more space, she shuffled backward. “It was you, what?” A tremble shook her fingers as she reached for the books. Chills slithered down her arms as her hand brushed against his rough palm, his fingers almost twice the size of hers.

  “In the library that day.”

  “Oh.” She felt every element of that moment as if it was happening all over again. “I knew it was you.” Her words came on a whisper. Maybe he didn’t recognize her last night.

  “So, you and Philip, huh?”

  Or maybe not. Heat stung her face.

  His gaze shifted to her leg before she could respond. He’d taken a step closer, then looked straight at her, his gaze softer. Polite. Confusing. “You’re bleeding.”

  “What?” Addison glanced at the deep red trickling down her calf, below her skirt. Shifting her scraped leg from his view, she swallowed hard. “Just a little scratch.”

  He bent to get a closer look. “That is not a little scratch. What happened?”

  In the distance she spotted Philip walking toward them. Instinctively, she snatched her leg from Logan’s touch.

  “Let me get something for that.”

  “No, really. It’s fine. I can grab a paper towel from the library restroom.”

  “There you go again trying to keep me from being a gentleman.”

  “Thank yo
u so much, Logan, but I’ve really got to go.” She rushed inside before he could say anything more, her cheeks flaming, her pulse racing.

  Watching her hurry inside, an ache filled his chest. With one last glance, she offered a smile. Not a formal, forced smile, but one that brightened the blue of her eyes.

  She was dating Philip Thomas. The centerfielder for the Seahawks. He would’ve never imagined them together. But how was he any different? He’d been horrible to her.

  Sitting in class, he pulled out his Criminal Law notebook, but the color was wrong.

  Purple.

  He stared at the cover, enchanted. Addison’s name drawn with a black marker, a heart dotting the i.

  Resisting the urge to open it, he placed it to the side. The professor started his lecture, but Logan’s attention was diverted. The effect Addison had on him, the way she had distracted him so fully, surprised him. And he couldn’t help but smile.

  “What are you smiling about? I’ve never been so bored in my life.”

  Logan’s best friend, Matt, spoke releasing him from his thoughts. “I was thinking about something.”

  “Tell me, I need something to think about other than this boring lecture concerning this Italian guy. Does it have something to do with she?”

  Logan had spoken without thinking and now was expected to share his thoughts.

  He couldn’t.

  He wasn’t even sure what happened to cause such a drastic change in him. Maybe it wasn’t so drastic, after all. He had been unable to stop thinking of Addison since they’d met in the library. But things were different now.

  The professor spoke, presenting an escape. “Matt, could you please come to the front?”

  Logan held his laughter. Maybe he would tell him later.

  But what would he say? How would he explain she was the same she who had caused Ami’s accident?

  Logan placed his paper on the desk, the purple notebook catching his eye. What if she needed it right now? Was it for her kindergarten class? He couldn’t tell from the cover. Only her name drawn creatively adorned the jacket. Logan traced each letter before slipping his finger beneath the cover and opening it.