Shattered Treasure

by Cindy Patterson

  “I just don’t understand. If I were him, I’d be by your side every day. I wouldn’t be able to go weeks without seeing you. I wouldn’t be able to stand one day.”

  McKenzie’s words lingered through her mind. There was so much he didn’t know about her history with Logan. Logan had kept his distance, and she had respected his desire to take things slow. He had probably come to his senses as soon as she left Wilmington. “I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

  “No hard feelings?” His tone was confident.

  “Of course not.” She kept her voice even and without emotion.

  He left the room and she leaned against the desk, dazed. What in the world?

  Logan drove down US17, his chest aching with emptiness. How could this be happening again?

  After witnessing Addison in an intimate conversation with her teacher-friend, he had walked away. A deep gnawing in the darkest recesses of his mind shouted at him. Don’t leave her. She needs you. You need her. But he couldn’t stop. With his head down, he had exited the school and mechanically walked toward his truck, the teddy bear still stuffed in his jacket. It would give him a reason to see her at least one more time. He needed time to sort things through. Each mile drove them farther apart from each other, his heart aching with each length of space.

  Ami met him at the door when he arrived at his parents’ house. “What’re you doing here? I thought you were going to Jacksonville.”

  “I changed my mind,” Logan lied, unable to bear telling Ami he’d seen Addison kissing someone else.

  “Well, you’re taking me tomorrow when you go. Or I’ll drive myself. You can’t keep her away from me, no matter how stupid you act about her. You act like you don’t even care. Is it because of the baby? Are you so disappointed that she’s pregnant, you can’t forgive her?”

  “Ami, that’s enough,” Mom told her, keeping her stance against the kitchen counter.

  “Well, he can’t keep her from me. She was my friend first,” Ami fumed, leaving him stunned.

  Ami stormed up the stairs and he turned to Mom. She was waiting patiently for him to say something, and when he didn’t, she spoke. “Logan, I understand this is very hard on you. You didn’t ask for this, but neither did she. Do you know what she plans to do?”

  “I never asked her.”

  Mom took a seat at the kitchen table and patted the chair next to her. He took the seat reluctantly.

  “I believe she’s scared out of her mind. Try to see it from her point of view. If you love her, you should find out what it is she’s planning to do, so you can prepare yourself for that.”

  “I wanted to ask, but the time never seemed right.”

  She said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

  “I did go to Jacksonville. I was going to surprise her. When I reached her classroom, she was talking to a teacher. A male teacher. He made her laugh a few times and then they kissed.”

  Mom kept her eyes on the table but squeezed her hands together. “I don’t understand. You think she’s been seeing him?”

  His chest tightened at hearing the words. “I don’t know. I saw them together here in Wilmington too.”

  “But wouldn’t she have said something to you? I assumed you two had a nice time together Saturday. How did you leave things?”

  “I asked her if I could visit and she said yes. But I didn’t tell her I was coming today.”

  “I see.” Mom shook her head. “Do you really believe Addison would lead you along if she was in love with someone else?”

  “I don’t know what to think.”

  Mom took his hand and squeezed it. “Maybe you should ask her. Maybe you are mistaken in what you saw. Either way, I believe Addison would be honest with you.”

  Mom stood and left him sitting there, left his mind racing in a million different directions.

  They definitely shared a kiss. But from where he was standing, it was hard to make out Addison’s response, her reaction. She could’ve been the instigator and had even enjoyed the kiss.

  But maybe, just maybe, she hadn’t.

  46

  An empty flutter filled Addison’s stomach as she pulled onto her street. She searched for Logan’s truck, hoping to find it parked on the curb by her house. A cold, sharp wave of affliction rushed through her when she reached her place and its empty driveway.

  After two hours of working through papers her students had finished today, she wandered into the kitchen. At the grocery store yesterday, she’d stocked up on ingredients for a few recipes in case Logan showed up. She had hoped he would come today, though he’d never said when or if he’d come for sure. Only asked if he could.

  Addison pulled the ingredients from the pantry for the green chile chicken and rice soup. After cooking and shredding the boneless chicken breast, she dropped a tablespoon of oil into a large frying pan.

  Adding chopped onions to the pan, she sautéed them for five minutes, then added a clove of garlic. She moved through the motions mechanically, fighting against her disappointment. Stirring slowly, she poured some chicken broth, tomatoes, green chiles, the shredded chicken, rice, and seasonings into the pan. She turned the eye down to simmer.

  Her cell phone vibrated. She’d forgotten to turn the ringer back on. What if Logan had called and she’d missed it? She checked her notifications. Aunt Brenda had called.

  She’d call her back in a few minutes.

  Five minutes later, she ladled some soup into a small bowl and topped it with chopped cilantro, diced avocado, and the juice from a fresh lime.

  After she ate, she took a shower and settled onto the couch to return Aunt Brenda’s call and catch up with all that had been going on in Wilmington.

  Aunt Brenda was on her way to the mountains for a long weekend. Then Taylor called while they were talking, and she opted to end the call with Aunt Brenda. Addison was anxious to tell Taylor about the incident with McKenzie, how each day this week she had hoped Logan would come, how she still worried Philip would find out.

  Taylor and Michael had dinner plans, but she offered to cancel and drive to Jacksonville.

  “No, you go, have a good time with your fiancé. I’m fine.”

  Addison grabbed her journal and Bible from the table. She read her devotion for today and the answer came over her slowly. She wasn’t in control of this situation. God had a plan for her and would protect her baby. She jotted down another verse in her journal next to her memories with Logan on Saturday.

  Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

  Who could blame Logan for being cautious? Addison had pushed Logan away so many times, not trusting God in her circumstances.

  Who was she to decide how Logan should react to what Philip had done? To her decision to not press charges? Why hadn’t she been honest with him from the beginning?

  McKenzie’s kiss lingered in her memory. She wasn’t attracted to him, but his kiss had brought an unexpected longing—a yearning to be loved, a yearning for Logan Tant.

  Logan drove to his new house, his thoughts in a tangled web of confusion. He was going about this all wrong. He’d asked Addison if she wanted to see him, but he hadn’t been completely honest about his intentions. And like his mom pointed out, he hadn’t asked what her plans were. Did she plan to keep the baby or was she considering adoption? Was he willing to raise a baby that wasn’t his own? A baby conceived from rape?

  He walked through the living room, the empty space reinforcing his bleak mood. He should be at Addison’s right now, sitting across from her, hearing about the children from her class—and even her favorite teacher friends.

  His phone vibrated, interrupting his thoughts. He pressed the button and his heart skipped a beat at the words written across the small screen.

  Hey, I was just thinking about you. I had so much fun spending time with you and your family last weekend. Hope to see you soon. Stay safe.

>   He read the message ten times, before the screen blacked out. He needed to think it through before he responded. He glanced at the time on his screen.

  Six-thirty.

  In one hour, he could be standing in front of her and would be able to find out once and for all where he stood.

  No.

  He should wait. Give it a few days. His thoughts were too sporadic tonight.

  Addison pulled her wet hair into a knotty ponytail and collapsed onto the couch. The tightening in her stomach had increased in the last hour and sharp pains were now shooting across her middle.

  Ten minutes later, vehicle lights shined through her front window and she scrambled to her feet, her pulse racing. She had received no response from Logan and that meant he was probably working, that it probably wasn’t him.

  The sun had already set, and the faint glow of the streetlight didn’t help. Slowly she lifted one corner of the blind, hoping whoever was out there wouldn’t see the shift. Even though she wasn’t surprised, there was a moment of utter disappointment when she didn’t find Logan’s truck sitting in her driveway.

  The driver had already left the car and was headed to her front porch. Maybe Taylor, but she always called first and she had talked to her earlier.

  The soft knock startled her, though she’d been expecting it. “Who is it?” She placed a trembling hand behind her back.

  “Addison, it’s me. McKenzie.”

  McKenzie?

  She clutched at her chest. What was he doing here? How did he know how to find her? She turned with a sweeping look at her living room. She glanced at her cell phone stuffed inside her purse, as her stomach tightened with another twinge.

  After unlocking the door, she cracked it open. “Hey. What in the world are you doing here?”

  He looked past her into the living room. “I felt so bad about what happened this afternoon. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable tomorrow at school.”

  She opened the door a little more. “No, it’s okay. Let’s just pretend nothing happened. You’re too much fun to work with for things to become weird between us.” She tried to hide the pain she felt through her midsection, but her throat tightened, and her voice quavered.

  He leaned against the frame and she swayed backward. “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

  “Yes, now go home, eat a big bowl of ice cream, and I’ll see you in the morning.” The quality of her words sounded fake even to her own ears.

  “I was hoping we could talk. Can I come in?” There was an unmistakable pleasure in his expression.

  Clearly, she had missed something.

  Panic gripped the edges of her conscious awareness. “It’s getting late, and I’m not feeling well. Can it wait until tomorrow?”

  “It’s about Philip.” His usual teasing tone had disappeared. His voice was now loud and ominous.

  She made eye contact with the man she had worked with for over a month and something in his expression made her skin crawl.

  “Philip Baker in your class?” she asked him, keeping her tone even, unaffected, though she knew that wasn’t the Philip he meant.

  He leaned closer. “No, my cousin Philip. He’s been so worried about you. When I told him we were working together, I promised him I would look after you. But then what I did today was so incredibly stupid.”

  Addison only heard bits and pieces of what McKenzie was saying. Her mind was racing in several different directions and she flinched as the pain across her middle deepened.

  “I don’t understand. I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

  “Of course, you do. As soon as he found out you were pregnant, he wanted me to look out for you. But then I went and fell in love with you.” He pushed the door open.

  She stumbled back, the door opening with her. A rush of unexpected dizziness slid across her vision as another sharp pain swept through her middle. She grabbed her stomach and screamed in agonizing pain. Suddenly, from behind McKenzie came another voice. It was male. She grabbed the wall to steady herself, but she was too late.

  The room darkened as a wave of numbness washed over her and then there was nothing.

  47

  “Stay with me, Addison. Help’s on the way.” She had fainted, and Logan’s lungs tightened in his chest.

  “Logan?” Her heavy eyes searched his face.

  “I’m here.” He stroked her damp hair, pushing it from her face. “You’re going to be okay.”

  Within minutes, the medics he’d called arrived and lifted Addison onto the gurney. Logan stood back, his body trembling in fear. Please, God, let her be okay.

  “Are you her husband?”

  Everything within him wanted to say yes. “No.”

  The EMS worker glanced at the teacher standing by his car.

  “He’s the husband?”

  “No. I’m her boyfriend,” Logan blurted.

  “Are you following us, then?”

  “Yes, I’m right behind you.”

  They lifted Addison inside the ambulance and the doors slammed behind them. Logan grabbed Addison’s purse and locked her front door. Rushing to his truck, dread filled him. He glanced at the other teacher’s somber look across the yard.

  Logan’s legs trembled as he sped onto the main highway, heading toward the hospital. Logan ran his fingers through his hair, his pulse thrashing in his ears. He hadn’t heard the conversation between Addison and the teacher but seeing her standing there with him had inflicted a deep agonizing wound through his chest. Why was he there? Was she seeing him?

  The drive took only ten minutes, but it felt like hours. Please be with her, God. She’s been through so much. Wrap your arms around her and protect her … and the baby.

  Tears burned his eyes, as he struggled to stay focused. The ambulance’s siren blared against the moonless night, vehicles pulling over, pedestrians staring as they sped by. Addison meant nothing to them, but she meant everything to him.

  How would he ever survive if something happened to her? If God decided her time here was done?

  Why did I wait so long?

  Reaching the hospital, Logan fought his desire to park on the curb. Instead, he settled on a spot near the back and took off in a full run toward the emergency room.

  Images of the night Ami was in the emergency room came rushing back. He had blamed Addison for Ami’s accident. He had wanted to make her pay. And because of his stubbornness, he almost missed out on the best thing that had ever happened in his life.

  “I’m here for Addison Morgan.”

  The blonde typed something into her keyboard and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t have anyone listed by that name.”

  “They just brought her in on an ambulance.”

  “Are you family?”

  “No, not exactly.”

  “I’m sorry. You’ll have to wait out here.”

  “But she doesn’t have anyone else here with her.”

  “Have a seat and I’ll let you know as soon as I hear something.”

  He placed both hands on the counter. “But I need to see her.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. Unless you’re a relative, I can’t let you back there.”

  The girl scanned the screen, barely acknowledging his presence. “Thank you, next.”

  Defeated, Logan turned in a daze and met the eyes of the frazzled man behind him, and the man pushed by Logan, stepping closer to the counter. Addison was here somewhere in this building, but he couldn’t get to her.

  What am I supposed to do? Taylor! Logan ran through the automatic doors and reached his truck within minutes. It wouldn’t be right to dig around in Addison’s purse, but her phone was sticking out of a side pocket, so he didn’t have to. He punched Taylor’s name, her number appeared, and he pressed call. She answered on the second ring.

  “No, Taylor, this is Logan. Addison’s in the emergency room. She passed out. They brought her in, but they won’t let me see her.”

  Logan waited while Taylor took in the news before he said mo
re.

  “I need to call her aunt.”

  “Yes.” Taylor’s high-pitched voice caused him to pull the phone away from his ear. “She’s on the way to the mountains.”

  Logan’s stomach lurched at her response. “I’ll call her right now. What should I do until you get here?”

  Taylor told him she had already started driving in the direction of the hospital. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Tell them you’re her fiancé. In her condition, it’ll work.”

  “I’m going back in. Call her phone when you get here. I’ll keep it in my pocket.”

  He locked his truck and raced back to the front entrance and to the front desk. “Have you heard anything yet?”

  “What was her name?”

  “Addison Morgan,” he told her, clinging to a small spark of hope. “Please let me see her. I’m the closest thing to family she has. I’m going to marry her.”

  The lady’s eyes softened, and she pressed a button while giving quick directions to the internal waiting room. “I’ll have one of the doctors meet you.”

  Logan didn’t look back as he followed three glaringly white hallways until he reached the one he looked for. He paced back and forth, waiting for the doctor to appear. The seconds stretched into minutes and Logan finally sat, bowing his head between his knees.

  “Addison Morgan?”

  Logan jerked into a standing position and faced the doctor. “I’m her fiancé.” He liked the sound of that. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s in labor. We’re hoping to slow it down, but so far it’s not working.”

  “How is she?”

  “She should be fine. You did the right thing getting her here.”

  A wave of relief washed over him. “Can I see her?”

  “Follow me.”

  Logan peeked into the room and got a full look at Addison. She was lying on the bed, tubes running from her arms and he shuddered. He strode across the room and stopped next to the bed.

  He took her hand and she startled at the movement. “Logan,” she mumbled, her eyes heavy. “You’re here?”