Carolina Mercy (A Southern Breeze Series Book 2)

by Regina Rudd Merrick

  “So that’s how this works.” He arched his eyebrow at her. “I always wondered.”

  “Today we’re deciding on tablescapes.”

  “What on earth is a tablescape? I mean, I have an idea based on the words, but, really? Tablescapes?” He released a sigh. “Why not say, ‘we’re picking out tablecloths and centerpieces?’”

  “Because it’s much more than that. You’ll see. Emmaline is going to have three or four to choose from, or we can mix and match. We had just started talking about centerpieces when the hurricane happened and everything went nuts.” She glanced over at him while waiting at a stoplight in the downtown area of Georgetown. “What have you been up to this morning? I was surprised when you wanted me to meet you at the station. Any news on the relief fund?”

  “No, but I did have an interesting conversation with Sam this morning.”

  Tom seemed thoughtful. Preoccupied. “What was it about?” She hoped it wasn’t about her.

  “He came in and asked about Jared. It was odd.”

  “What’s odd about that? He was there the night he had surgery.”

  “Yes, and then he mentioned the wedding and how lucky Jared was to have found Sarah.” The crease between his brows deepened. “He mentioned he had come close once.”

  “Okay, that is a little strange. Maybe he was looking for sympathy. He’s not married now.” She pulled into a parking spot in front of Quince Wedding Designs. Before she got out of the car, she turned to look at him full in the face. She could tell he was troubled. “Is there something I’m missing?”

  “I think it’s rather that I’m missing something.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door. “It’ll come to me. For now, let’s see how many layers of tulle we think is appropriate for an outdoor wedding in hurricane season.”

  “Funny guy.” As he opened the elegant establishment door to usher her in, she turned and winked. “I’m surprised you know what tulle is.”

  While Tom and Jared watched the football game on television, Lucy sat next to Sarah in the hospital room, showing her pictures of the table decorations for the reception.

  “What do you think of the runner on the wooden tables instead of the tablecloth?” Lucy was worried about this decision. Tom had convinced her that if the wind got up, tablecloths could be a nuisance, but runners were nice and tailored.

  “I love it. The distressed wood table gives enough rustic to be casual, and the brass and white make it formal enough to go with Pilot Oaks.” Sarah smiled as she looked through the pictures. “You two did a good job. I don’t think I would have thought of all this by myself or with Jared.”

  “Emmaline is a wonder. She had stuff put together, and when we got there, we all started mixing and matching until we found a combination we all liked. Even Tom had good input.” She swiped through more pictures, laughing as she got to one particular image.

  Sarah chuckled. “Is that Tom?”

  Lucy laughed and looked over at the guys, engrossed in the game. “Shh. He doesn’t know I took that one.” It was a picture of Tom fingering different grades of tulle fabric, a frown on his handsome face.

  “You could definitely use that one for blackmail someday.” Sarah laughed louder as the guys looked over at them, a quizzical look on both faces. She dismissed them with a wave. “Sorry to interrupt the game, boys.”

  Lucy snorted quietly. “They don’t have a clue, do they?”

  “No, they’re in their own little world.”

  They looked at each other, saying in unison, “Football world.”

  “I guess the World Series will start soon after we get back from our honeymoon.” Sarah sighed and shook her head. “What are your plans after the wedding? Beyond taking care of Oliver and house-sitting, I mean. You know you’re welcome to stay after we get back.”

  Lucy arched an eyebrow at her friend. “Now I can’t think of anything more awkward than being ‘the roommate’ with two newlyweds.”

  Sarah sighed. “I know. I can’t either.” She giggled. “I imagine come game day, I’ll wish for a roommate that doesn’t yell at the television.”

  “I hear ya. I don’t know. With the house being sold and all, I guess you could say I’m homeless. Grandmommy wants me to come and live in Atlanta, preferably with her, but I’m not sure I want to do that. With you here, and the rest of you migrating here eventually, I thought about moving here. And then I thought to myself, ‘I can’t depend on my friends or family for my happiness.’ That being said, I’m waiting for a sign. God knows what He wants me to do. After the hurricane and everything else, I knew I was supposed to be here at this time.”

  Sarah leaned over and hugged Lucy. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, Lucy. Would you believe I’m not even worried about the wedding anymore? Yeah, we still have around two hundred people coming to the wedding, had to change the venue, and the groom will have a very short haircut, but the details are falling into place.”

  “Speaking of details, the flower girl dresses came in, and they are adorable! The blush tulle and pearls are perfect. When will the girls be here? I don’t think there will be many alterations, but just in case . . .” Lucy had pulled up the calendar app on her phone and was looking over appointments for various wedding activities.

  “They’ll be here next weekend and won’t go home until after the wedding. Since the ceremony will be at the church and the reception at Pilot Oaks, Susan wanted to be here to help Mom and Dad get the house ready.” Sarah paused. “Wow. It’s coming fast, isn’t it?”

  Emotion welled up in Lucy’s chest. Why in the world did she feel teary-eyed all of the sudden? “My buddy’s getting married.”

  “Hey, you two.” Jared raised his voice. “It’s half-time and I want pizza.”

  Sarah looked at Lucy. “Is it me, or is the patient getting a little demanding?”

  “It’s not you. I think boredom has set in now that he’s graduated to real-people food.” Lucy tilted her head to look at Tom. What kind of patient would Tom be? Even worse, she was sure. She grinned at him. With a surprised expression, he grinned back.

  “Luce, I’m going to get this man some pizza. Want to come with me?” His expression was tender.

  She wondered at that but wasn’t going to question it. Not now anyway. She was simply going to enjoy every minute she could get when he was in this kind of mood. “Sure. What can I bring you, Sarah?”

  “Cheese sticks and marinara. And a large sweet tea.”

  Jared chuckled. “Only in the South does someone order sweet tea with pizza. Make it two, please.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Monday dawned dreary and gray. Tom’s mood matched the sky.

  It had been a great weekend. Jared’s rehab was moving along, and the doctor assured them he would be walking alone by the wedding. He might have to rest more than he planned, but other than that, he would make a full recovery, hopefully within six months.

  It was an answer to prayer. Tom had prayed, and just about every believer he knew in the county had prayed for Jared Benton. Who knew there were so many prayers going back and forth? It seemed everyone he ran into had seen his name on a prayer list.

  As he drove down Highway 17 toward Georgetown, the gray skies seemed to tamp him down. The thought of what was coming that day had weighed on him, even during the good times. This couldn’t continue. God was in control, so why was he trying to pick up the reins?

  “Thank you, God, for the healing You’ve done in Jared’s life. How could I even doubt You’re in control, seeing the miracles You’ve performed? Thank You, Lord.” He thought a minute about the meeting coming up this afternoon with Sam, the mayor, and the county judge. “Lord, bring something good out of this meeting with Sam. I don’t know why he’s done this, but You know his heart, and You love him. Help me to love him too.”

  He crossed the bridges into town, still in a prayerful mood, still thinking about Sam, Jared, and Lucy.

  Jared. He sat up straighter in his se
at. Sam said his girlfriend had been killed in a car accident.

  It couldn’t be. Surely not.

  He turned right to go to the hospital instead of left to go to City Hall and the station. When he parked, he pulled out his phone and called the receptionist to let her know he would be late. He started to pull up Lucy’s number, and thought again. He’d wait until he had talked to Jared.

  It was still early for visiting, but this was business. He made his way to the fourth floor, dodging breakfast carts and nurses intent on their morning routine. He paused at Jared’s door, knocked, and entered at Jared’s request.

  “Hey, you’re early.” Jared smiled and winced as the nurse struck a vein to draw blood. “The vampires come every morning to relieve me of my blood.”

  The nurse grinned. “You should be thankful the real vampire didn’t come. He likes to draw blood at 5:00 in the morning. I don’t believe in this before sunrise stuff.”

  “I’ve seen him a few times.” He glanced down as the fourth vial filled with blood.

  She finished, removed the rubber tourniquet and needle, and put a bandage on his arm. “Now you be good, you hear?” She patted him on the arm and left the room.

  “Every morning?” Tom shook his head.

  “Yep. Every morning. I’m surprised I have any left.” Jared reached for his coffee cup and settled into his bed. “What’s up?”

  “Does something have to be ‘up’ for me to come see you early?” Man. He dreaded bringing this up. At the moment when Jared seems to be recovered from the tragedy that changed his life eleven years ago, it has to come up again.

  “You’re pensive.” Jared’s dark brown eyes were boring a hole in him.

  Tom chuckled. “Pensive? Okay, that’s a Sarah word if I ever heard one.”

  “Maybe so, but it’s accurate.”

  Tom took a deep breath. “I told you about the relief fund?”

  “What about it?”

  “What I didn’t tell you, and what you can’t tell anybody, is that money is missing from the fund. I’ve been working on figuring out who it is, and Lucy’s been helping me.”

  “Lucy? What’s she got to do with this?” Jared was shifting himself into a more upright position in his bed.

  “Relax, she’s not in any danger. She’s the one who caught it. She had volunteered to manage the account since everyone else in the office was tied up with post-hurricane events.” He cleared his throat. “Do you know Sam Watson?” Tom watched Jared. His face was a blank as he shook his head.

  “Name sounds familiar.” He frowned. “No, it’s not coming to me.”

  “He was a couple of years younger than you. Went to Georgetown High, transferred to Waccamaw his senior year. I didn’t know him, either. He knew you.”

  “How?”

  “I can’t be positive, but I think he knew of you through Annabelle.”

  Jared turned pale. “Annabelle. Sam Watson. I got nothing.”

  Nothing but confusion. “Did you ever know who Annabelle was dating?”

  “I don’t think so. The concussion blocked out some of the details, and I think I hoped she would tell somebody, maybe her friend in Charleston.” He looked at Tom in horror. “Do you think?”

  “What do you remember about that night? The night of the accident?”

  Jared closed his eyes and shook his head, as if trying to alternately remember and wipe the images from his head. “I remember getting to her house.” He looked up, shaking his head. “Tom, I was going to break up with her that night.”

  “I know it’s hard. What else do you remember?”

  “I remember her face. She had a bruise on her right eye and cheek.”

  Tom thought a minute. “You’re sure it was her right eye?”

  “Yes. When I went into her living room, the fireplace was to the left, and she was sitting on the couch, facing it, to my right. Her right side was away from me, and she had her elbow resting on the arm and her hand covering it.” He closed his eyes for a second. “Until she turned to look at me. That image is burned into my mind.”

  “That means whoever hit her was left-handed.” Tom thought about writing down that bit of information then realized he would never forget it.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Lucy was waiting in the hallway, wondering what was keeping Tom. He knew what time the meeting was, and he knew how nervous she was. She knew tapping her size-6 high heels wouldn’t help, either, but still she tapped.

  She had ducked seeing Sam, wanting to touch base with Tom before the meeting. And now the meeting was about to start, and if Tom didn’t get here in time, she would have to go in there and face the music without him. Maybe instead of tapping, she would pace.

  She made one round of the hallway, and on her way back toward the door, she saw him. “Where have you been? I’ve been going nuts.”

  He held her off by raising both hands. She could see the lines of stress and worry on his face, and her heart softened. “What’s happened? Is it Jared?” Her eyes widened, and her heart constricted. “Is he okay?” She covered her mouth with her hand, dreading what he might say.

  “Jared’s fine. I went to see him. Something came up in a conversation I had with Sam that brought up a few questions I needed to ask Jared.” He looked at his phone. “I’ll explain it all later. Let’s get this over with, shall we?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You promise you’ll tell me.” It was a statement, not a question.

  Tom sighed. “I promise.”

  She nodded. “All right, I’ve got the statements from the bank.” She walked by his side toward the conference room, hurrying to keep up with his long stride. She stopped at the door and leaned closer to whisper. “Did you know that the bank contacted the SCBI?”

  “I heard. It may not be enough to prosecute, but it will start a file on him, and they’ll keep an eye on his activities from now on.” He reached for the door handle. “Ready?”

  She nodded. “Prayed up.”

  “Even better.”

  “Glad you both could join us.” Sam’s raised eyebrow made Lucy’s hackles rise.

  How dare he?

  Tom, gentleman that he was, held her chair and waited until she was seated to sit in his own chair.

  “Sorry we’re running late. I had a last-minute stop to make, questioning a witness on a case.”

  The mayor and judge smiled and nodded their forgiveness. Only Sam looked peeved.

  Tom glanced at Sam then back at Lucy. “Mayor Hynes, Judge Simpson, you’ve both met Lucy Dixon?”

  Judge Simpson smiled. “Yes, and I must say, you’ve been a delight to work with.”

  Sam spoke up, starting the meeting without another word. “Now that the pleasantries and explanations have been voiced, may I say I appreciate you all being here today. As you know, the relief fund has taken in over one hundred thousand dollars in the last few weeks. We’re getting checks and electronic deposits from all over.”

  “It’s been a God-send, I have to say. Those folks need all the help they can get.” The mayor turned to Lucy. “Miss Dixon, having your help has been invaluable. Everyone else has been tied up taking care of their own trauma, having someone slightly removed from the fray has been a blessing.”

  Lucy blushed. “Everyone here has been wonderful to me and to my friend Sarah, and I was happy to help in any way I could. I hope the money gets to the places it needs to be.” Sam’s eyes narrowed when she mentioned the fund. She looked away.

  Sam straightened the papers in his stack and cleared his throat. “And that’s why we’re meeting today. I’ve been checking on the account, and I’ve noticed a few discrepancies in the debits from the fund.”

  The judge looked surprised. “Should we even have any debits yet?”

  Lucy understood his concern. Disbursements weren’t to begin until the following week. People in need were instructed either to come to the county government building or to go online and fill out the application form applying for aid. After that, a com
mittee would distribute the funds until it was gone.

  Tom spoke up. “No, there shouldn’t be. That’s what was disturbing.” He looked at Sam and back to the two elected officials. “There are a few things that are disturbing.”

  “I agree.” Sam interjected. “According to the online account, there have been several ATM debits made with one particular credit card.”

  “And which card was this? I wouldn’t think a relief fund would have a debit card attached to it.” The mayor was beginning to get agitated.

  Tom held up his hand. “I think I can help you there. You see, the account, unbeknownst to me, was attached to my department debit card. The card that is missing from my wallet.”

  Judge Simpson’s face was getting redder and redder. “When did this happen?”

  “My missing card or the debits?”

  “Both.”

  “I didn’t realize the card was missing until Lucy found the missing funds that were tied to the card. We went to the bank to check it out, and found some pretty interesting information.” He smiled over at Lucy. “Would you like to share with the gentlemen what we found out?”

  She smiled at Tom and then looked at Sam with a withering expression. Would that he would actually wither. Hmm. Looking over at him, he did have a little bit of a “withered” look about him. A little pale. A little green around the gills?

  “I would be happy to.” She handed packets of copied evidence she had gathered. The bank statements, the signature card, and the record of debits from Tom’s card prior to the incident.

  “As you can see, prior to the debits from the relief fund, there have not been any types of debits on Tom’s card. He has a spending limit on the department card of one thousand five hundred dollars.”

  Sam shifted in his chair. He looked uncomfortable with the line of discussion. “That doesn’t mean he didn’t skim from the relief fund account.”