by Kay Lyons
“Where the blazes have you been?”
Chapter 8
HER FATHER’S large frame was in shadow, looming over her. Heart thumping, she blinked in the harsh brightness of the overhead light. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been calling everywhere looking for you!”
She glanced at her watch and winced. “I’m sorry. I should’ve called but I forgot my cell.” His words sank in and she frowned. “Why were you trying to find me? Did something happen? I went to visit Ashley earlier and— Is she all right? The baby?”
“They’re both fine.”
“Oh, thank God. You scared me.”
“I scared you? You left the hospital hours ago. Where have you been?”
She frowned at his tone. “Can I come in or do you want to discuss this while we get eaten alive by mosquitoes?”
Her father took several steps back, holding the door open wide enough for her to step through. When she did, she noticed two things at once: her father was so angry and upset he shook, and Ellen had been there. The whole house smelled of the woman’s perfume. “Where’s your—Ellen?”
“Home. Now answer the question.”
“Bryan drove me to the hosp—”
“You’ve been with Booker the entire time?”
“Yes! After the hospital we went to visit his grandfather.” Melissa dropped her keys inside her purse. “Why am I getting the third degree?”
Her father ran one of his hands over his uniform’s tie and rubbed. “Ashley called this afternoon and said you’d left the hospital upset. When you didn’t come home…”
Her eyes widened when her father’s face began to heat with a ruddy flush. “You mean you thought Bryan and I were— Dad!”
“They don’t call him Bang ’em Booker for nothing, Mel.”
“I don’t believe you! I suppose one glance might make some women happy to take whatever he’s willing to give, but I’m not. How could you think spending one afternoon with Bryan would make me forget about everything I’ve been through and fall into bed with him?”
“Because it happened before!”
Her mouth dropped open in shock. He actually thought—
“Don’t look at me like that. What on God’s green earth were you thinking helping to deliver Joe’s baby? You shouldn’t have been there, Mel. Not only because of the gossip, but why would you put yourself through that?”
She stalked across the living room, resisting the urge to run to her room and slam the door the way she had as a child. Those days were gone. That innocence, gone. “One, I didn’t have much choice since it was an emergency delivery and Bryan needed help! Two, for whatever reason, Ashley wants to be my friend—is my friend—and so is Joe even though I can’t believe he’s forgiven me. And three, I can’t believe you just compared me to the sixteen-year-old child I used to be! I didn’t handle Mom’s death well, but when will you forgive me one little mistake?”
“It wasn’t little.”
“Nor was it bad! If I hadn’t slept with Joe I wouldn’t have had Josie and despite her…her dying, I’m not sorry I had my baby the brief time she lived!”
“Neither am I!” Her father caught her arm. “Mel, I have every right to be worried. Any decent father would be worried if his daughter was out with that reprobate.”
“We were with Bryan’s grandfather and his cook discussing the fund-raiser. How many chaperones do you think a mutilated woman needs?”
“Oh for the love of— You’re not—” He closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face, into his hair. “Mel…sweetheart, I’m sorry. I guess I overreacted.”
Her anger dissolved, but without it she felt deflated, the hurt of his words cutting deep. “No kidding. But why?”
Jaw locked, her dad put his hands on his hips and stared down at her. “Ellen and I…we had a fight and I guess I—”
“Ah,” she drawled, “that answers a lot.” She shook her head and headed toward her bedroom, too tired to handle any Ellen stories now. How dare he accuse her? “I should’ve known. Sorry, Dad, you’re on your own there.”
“Mel, wait.”
Something in his voice made her pause. When she looked at him she saw that he stood with one hand braced on the mantel lining the fireplace, his broad shoulders slumped.
“Maybe we could have lunch again? The three of us?”
“Dad, no. You can’t expect me to sit through another meal without making it clear I don’t think you should be getting married. Do us both a favor and don’t put either of us through it.” She was careful to keep her voice soft, steady. Hoping to coax him to reason. “Why not give this more time? Date her, have fun, but take your time before you—”
“I love her—I love you! Don’t put me in the middle and make me choose!”
Would there be a choice? “You want me to care for her, right? Well, caring takes time. Give me a year,” she begged. “Give me six months! At least then when you marry, it won’t make me feel like you’re rushing or trying to prove something!”
He shook his head, adamant. “I’ve made up my mind. And I’ve waited long enough. Too long.”
“Says who? Is Ellen pushing you? If you love her now, you’ll love her—”
His pager going off interrupted her, and Melissa wanted to scream. Couldn’t they have a conversation without interruptions? “Let me guess—Ellen?”
“It’s work,” he said after a single glance down. “I’ve got to go, but we’ll finish our conversation in the morning.”
“I can’t, remember? Tomorrow’s the day I start my new job.”
Her dad had crossed to the door, but stopped in his tracks when her words registered. “Don’t do it.”
“Why don’t you like Bryan? Because he’s all grown-up and friends with Ellen?” She couldn’t help her snide tone.
“It’s not that I don’t like him.”
She crossed her arms over her front. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“I don’t approve of his shenanigans,” her dad said as if that excused his anger. “Call him, Mel. Tell him you’ve changed your mind.”
“I will if you will,” she countered, desperate, regretting the words as soon as they left her mouth. She wanted the job with Bryan. Not because she found him attractive, but because she needed to get out of this house. Needed distance. A life. But if quitting would end or postpone things with her dad and Ellen?
Then she’d do it. All he had to do was say the word.
Looking over his shoulder, her dad gave her a piercing look. Okay, so maybe she did sound like a child, tossing out ultimatums, but she was desperate to keep him from making a mistake.
He yanked the door open. “I’ve warned you against Booker, Mel. You might think no one would want a woman like you, but you’re wrong. He’ll break your heart and move on to the next conquest. It’s what men like him do.”
“Dad, of the two of us, I’m not the one going to get my heart broken. I know exactly who Bryan is. It’s Ellen I don’t trust.” She stepped closer. “You’re a widower, in good health but with a dangerous job. You’ve got a house—”
“She’s not after my pension! Mel, the house is yours and she knows that. If anything, Ellen’s taking me in.”
“You don’t have to go anywhere!”
“And you’re getting off track. Booker will break you—”
“Ellen will break you!”
He shook his head. “She’s made me whole again. You just can’t see it. Mel, I’m marrying Ellen. You’re going to have to deal with it, and the sooner you do, the better. Love doesn’t break you, it heals. You’d know that if you’d ever experienced it.”
* * *
IGNORING ELLEN’S DARKENED windows and car parked crookedly in her short driveway as if she hadn’t been paying attention when she’d pulled in, Hal glared at the lights shining in the second-floor living area above Booker’s practice.
Lights flashing, he sped past the homes on the edge of town and kept going, down Route 5 until it crossed Miller�
�s Run. Turning left, he drove into one of the more isolated areas and slowed, squinting to see a road sign that might or might not be standing, depending on the teenagers’ latest scavenger hunt. He found it, and three minutes later spotted the flash of his officers’ lights through the trees. He pulled in behind them, and a shadow detached itself from the trailer’s doorway.
“Hey, Chief, sorry to bother you, but she insisted she only wanted to talk to you.”
“How is the old bird?”
Nathan shook his head. “Scared to death. Who wouldn’t be after some punk breaks in and terrorizes her?”
Hal jogged up the uneven path to the wheelchair ramp and stepped inside the open doorway. The gray-haired old woman sat on the couch with her face buried in the bag of frozen peas in her hand. A female EMT smoothed the old woman’s hair back to check the cut on her temple.
Hal crouched down in front of her. “Miss Molly, you okay?”
The sound of his voice brought the eighty-eight-year-old woman’s head up, and he grimaced at the extent of the damage. One side of her face was already blue, her eye swollen shut, her mouth and nose bloodied. Hal silently cursed and vowed to find whomever had done this to a defenseless old woman.
Fresh tears appeared in her eyes, but Miss Molly nodded. “I’m fine.” Her shaking hand caught the EMT’s and gently patted. “This young darling is taking good care of me.” The EMT smiled and kept working.
Hal shifted onto one knee, leaning his elbow on the other for balance. “Did you see who did it? Did you know him?”
Miss Molly winced when a cloth was pressed and held on her cut, but nodded. “He knocked on the door pretty as you please. The bulb had burned out on the porch so I couldn’t see him too good, but he said he’d run out of gas and needed to use the phone.”
“You let him in?”
The woman gave him a sour look. “I’m old, but I’m not a fool.”
Grinning, Hal nodded his agreement. “I’d say not. So what happened then?”
“I told him to tell me the number and I’d call someone to come bring him gas.”
“Smart girl. Then what?”
“He left. Least I thought he did. I watched him till I couldn’t see him no more. Must’ve dozed off, but a little while later I woke up when I heard a crash. Next thing I knew he was in the house with me.”
“Was he tall? Short? Dark hair or light?”
Now the woman frowned. “He broke my lamp first thing, but he had dark hair, short, but straggly. He was skinny, taller than me but I don’t know how much.”
Considering the woman was barely five feet, that could mean anything. “What then?”
“After he broke my lamp—my sister made that lamp,” she said, growing agitated. “Sent it all the way from Washington because she knew it was my favorite color.”
“Maybe she’ll make you another one,” Hal soothed. “Tell me what happened after he broke your lamp.”
“He kept shoutin’ something, but—” she ducked her head “—I couldn’t make it out ’cause I was cryin’ and scared.”
“Don’t feel bad about that, Miss Molly. Anyone would’ve done the same in your shoes.”
“Maybe so.” She nodded weakly. “But when I didn’t answer, he slapped me and knocked me down. I hit the coffee table and that’s all I remember until I woke up and called for help.”
Hal transferred his attention to the EMT. “Any other signs of abuse?”
“Just her face and head that I can see. She’ll need X-rays to check for fractures.”
“Take good care of her and once you get her to the hospital, call dispatch and give me an update.”
The EMT nodded. “No problem. Miss Molly, are you ready for that ride?”
Hal got out of the way of the gurney and looked around at the home’s interior. Someone had turned on the kitchen light and from the looks of things, the place had been trashed.
One of his deputies stood in the impossibly tiny hall outside the bathroom and Hal made his way there, keeping a careful eye on where he stepped. Tubes and bottles littered the ripped linoleum floor.
“Our friend wasn’t only after her cash and jewelry,” the deputy said. “She said she had some Vicodin and Darvocet, but they’re gone.”
“Like the others,” he muttered. “Any prints?”
Nathan left the bedroom farther down and joined them. “None so far.”
“Keep checking. Make sure you do it all by the book, too. I want everything we can get to put this punk away.”
An hour later Hal tiredly made his way back through town. When he approached Ellen’s house he slowed, wondering if he should pull in and continue the conversation he and Ellen had begun earlier. The road was deserted, the houses dark when he turned left and drove down the street bordering Ellen’s. Booker’s sports car was parked in back. Alone.
He rolled to a stop and stared up at the house a long moment before his attention was drawn to movement taking place at Ellen’s. A light switched on in the kitchen; the curtain moved. She’d heard him. Hal pulled in beside Booker’s car and shoved the cruiser into Park. Moments later Ellen’s arms welcomed him and he was well aware of the tension and stress draining from him the moment he inhaled her familiar scent.
“Are you okay? I saw Bryan when he came home a while ago, and he told me where they were today.”
A heavy sigh left his chest. “She said they were working on some fund-raiser.”
Ellen’s head nodded against his chest. “The clinic. It’s very important to Bryan because it’s his grandfather’s dream.”
He tensed. “You know an awful lot about Booker’s dreams.”
“Hal, stop. We cleared that up a while ago and don’t you go down that road again,” she said, raising her head from his chest. Ellen stared up at him, and without her glasses on she squinted to see clearly. “Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled with a teasing grin, tired of arguments and tension. All he wanted was peace. “I should go. I’m not in the best of moods. We had another break-in tonight, and on top of Mel’s behavior—”
“She’s afraid of losing her father, Hal. We were wrong to keep our relationship from her. This is too sudden to her.”
“She’s twenty-eight years old.”
“But she’s never been alone. She’s dealt with one blow after another from the time she was a child and the only constant in her life has been you.” Her arms tightened. “I’d hold on and fight back, too, if I were her.”
“Maybe, but she’ll be in worse shape if Booker does a number on her.”
“Bryan is a nice guy. I wish you’d look beyond—”
“The man has slept with every woman in town. Almost,” he added hastily when her face clouded with anger. “I’ve had a half-dozen drunken ex-boyfriends in my jail over the past three years because some girl thought she had a chance at being a doctor’s wife and screwed her fella over for Booker, even though he didn’t care about any of them.”
“You’d better keep adding that ‘almost’ in there. As to the rest, Bryan’s a flirt and sometimes a player, but he sets the women straight from the get-go. Hal, they are the ones wanting more, and you can’t blame him for those girls’ poor decisions.”
He ran a hand over his hair. “You’re defending him again.”
“Someone has to.”
“It doesn’t have to be you.”
Ellen tilted her head to the side, a strange expression crossing her face. She blinked, winced.
“What’s wrong?”
She pasted a weak smile to her lips and pressed a hand to her stomach. “Nothing. I ate too late, that’s all. Now I have some indigestion and our fighting isn’t helping it.”
“You sure that’s all?”
She nodded. “Too much sugar. I had a huge piece of chocolate cake. Now I’m paying for it.” She lifted her hand from her belly and indicated the kitchen table where a bottle sat. “I came down and took some Tums and then heard your car outside.”
“I shou
ld’ve kept going.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
He tugged her back into his arms, resting his chin on her head when she snuggled against him with a sigh. “Things will ease up soon, and Mel will come around. You’re worrying about it so much you’re making yourself sick.”
“I’m worried about you. I don’t want you and Melissa fighting because of me. You’ve both been through enough.”
Hal tucked his hand under her chin and nudged it up. She tasted minty and sweet. “Ellen, you’re my wife in every way. God sees what’s in my heart. The piece of paper is coming, but I don’t want you to ever doubt what I feel for you no matter what Mel or anyone else says.”
Ellen lifted her hand to his cheek, the engagement ring sparkling on her finger. “Can you stay? Just for a little while?”
“I’d love to.”
She smiled at his words, but then her expression clouded again. In a split second she went from looking a bit green to being white as a sheet. She clamped a hand over her mouth before running for the bathroom.
Hal followed her, held her head while she tossed up the cake, and he pressed a cool, wet cloth to her face when she was through. “Better now?”
She nodded weakly, eyes closed.
“Sure?”
Another nod. He wasn’t buying it, though. She’d been sick several times recently. Said her stomach was upset. “Ellie?”
“Mmm?”
“When are you going to tell me you’re pregnant?”
Ellen’s eyes snapped open and what little color she’d regained left her cheeks again. Fresh tears trickled down her cheeks, but these had nothing to do with hurling, and everything to do with the panicked, horrified expression she wore. “I can’t be… I—”
He could almost see her brain counting up the days. “It’s all right.”
“No, it’s not!” she cried with a moan. “You think Melissa is upset now? If I’m— Oh, Hal!”
Hal pulled her into his arms and held her close. Shock rolled through him, but then…then a grin started. One he couldn’t stop.
