WindSwept Narrows: #13 Charity, Faith & Hope

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

“I don’t have parents, Mr. Carlton,” Charity said flatly. “I have a father and a step-mother and two uncles, all of which gave my grand-parents a royal pain in the ass.”

  “You were sent here…because her parents have money?” Nico stared in disbelief.

  “Her family has influence,” Carlton corrected simply. “They contacted the San Francisco commissioner who, in turn, contacted the commissioner here. I’m delivering the request.”

  “Did you see the news story?” Charity asked abruptly, watching his reaction. He shrugged.

  “It’s on the national news, Miss St. James. I read the missing persons report this morning before I came to see you,” he told her.

  “But I’m not missing. I’m not a wayward child and I’m not going back there,” she said with a sweet smile. “But thank you for visiting the resort. Come again when you can stay longer.”

  “It’s in your best interests…” The man ground between his teeth, annoyed at the flippant response.

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “I’m making a strong suggestion, Miss St. James.” He stood up and looked from one to the other. “Convince her to go home, doctor. It’ll be best for you both,” he turned and left the restaurant.

  “I keep waiting to wake up,” Charity said quietly, eyeing the omelet and toast being set out before her. She heard her stomach growl and decided being awake for breakfast wasn’t a bad thing. “Do you think he came here to kidnap and take me back there?”

  Nico stared at her and sliced into the steak on his plate. “This is something out of a really bad movie, Charity. I don’t know. I don’t know how to gather enough information to even make a guess. It’s locked up inside your head.”

  Charity worked her way silently through the ham and cheese omelet, looking up when her name was called as they were finishing breakfast. She watched the dark haired woman her age wave and come running through the restaurant.

  “Charity!” Danielle Greystone O’Conner came to a skidding stop, breathless and leaning on the table. “I got the key and code for you,” she declared, rummaging in the bag on her hip. “Somewhere…”

  Charity looked from her to Nico, hoping for some kind of clue.

  “Nico Setopoulis,” he extended his palm.

  “Oh, sorry…Danielle,” she looked from one to the other, shaking his hand briefly. “What’s wrong? Brady went to let them know we were leaving…it was a wonderful…oh, you don’t know! He hijacked me and had a wedding set up in one of the penthouse suites! It was so romantic!” She whispered excitedly, wiggling her fingers to show off the new rings. “Oh, and Abby and Cassidy were part of the ambush! It was a triple wedding! You should have seen their faces when Cade and Mac…” She came to a slow stop, aware of Brady coming up behind her. Her head shook slowly. “What’s wrong?”

  “Did you give her the key, Danielle?” Brady looked at the three people, one brow arching at the silence.

  “You haven’t seen the news,” Nico said carefully.

  “No…haven’t read a paper or bothered…what’s happened?”

  “Congratulations on the wedding,” Charity said with a smile, standing up and hugging a person she guessed was a friend. “You look very happy, Dani.” Her head cocked to the side. “The key and code…I…the condo…I leased the condo from you. Gave you a check for the years lease fee…”

  “What’s wrong?” Dani repeated firmly, looking expectantly at Nico.

  “Charity was assaulted on Friday morning outside the dorms,” Nico said quietly. “They struck her with a large rock, according to Cassidy. The video footage shows what looks like a male dressed in black sweats. They spoke and she shook her head and turned to leave. He hit her with a one of the granite border pieces on the edge. She’s got some stitches and can’t remember a lot of things…”

  “That’s why my things are in boxes. I’m moving,” Charity said as if to herself.

  “I…are you alright? Really?” Danielle pulled a chair over and plopped down. “Why didn’t you…well, you couldn’t because you don’t know who to call…can I help? I don’t know how to…”

  “Breathe, Dani…” Brady put his hands on her shoulders. “Any idea who it was?”

  “Nothing,” Nico answered, shoving his plate back and nodding to the waitress, handing her money and telling her to keep the change.

  “Here’s the key,” Danielle took a ring with three keys on it from her little bag, along with a small note pad. She found a pen and wrote across the surface. “This is the address. It’s been cleaned and all the furniture is there. Jasper has tons of furniture and Brady didn’t want anything from there. Oh…hah…this is Brady O’Conner…Dr…”

  “Setopoulis…just call me Nico,” he said with a smile, shaking hands with the man behind her. “And congratulations to you both.”

  “I have a condo,” Charity said, her smile a little crooked.

  “I don’t…is there anything I can do to help?” Dani felt the little pain inside her at the lost look in her friend’s eyes.

  “Just time,” Charity said, forcing a bright smile into place. “It’s okay…it’ll be back…” she said confidently. “It’s just taking its sweet time getting here is all. I guess I’ll go visit my new place…if I can figure out what my car looks like…” She sighed, drawing in a long, shaky breath.

  “We’ll find it, Charity,” Nico told her, lifting the keys and code from the table and dropping them into his jacket pocket when he stood up. “Thanks, Danielle…Brady, nice meeting you both.”

  Charity stood up and hugged Danielle. “It really is okay…bits are flying back into my memory every day.”

  Nico had his arm around her, his palm on her waist as they walked back to the dorms, his gaze sweeping the area as they walked. Old habits, he thought, mixed with new instincts. And an amazing new reason for those instincts to be honed to a fine edge.

  “Your place or mine, Charity?”

  “Yours…I feel safer there,” she answered, immediately wishing she had sounded tougher. “I’m sorry, Nico…I should go home. I need to…to think…I have to remember.”

  “Charity, you can’t force this,” Nico said firmly, refusing to release her hand. “Until we have all the facts, we just continue with our lives the way we want them to be.”

  “I suppose I could call…” She pulled the phone from her bag on her hip and stared at the front, taping through a collection of buttons until she found the address book. “Surprise…the numbers are in here…” She stepped into his apartment and laid the phone on the counter, dropping her coat to the sofa and staring at the phone.

  “Mental dialing?”

  “I was thinking more stare of death,” she replied. “Not sure what to say to them…guess I could let the fireflies loose and see what happens…”

  Nico laughed, deep and low. The humor came to a slow halt when he watched her press the speaker button and tap the call number. A deep, male voice answered the call.

  Chapter Eight

  “Charity? My god, Charity, where are you? We saw you on the news last night…are you alright? We’ve been worried…” The words rushed out in a flurry of what seemed genuine concern.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” she interrupted quietly. “I told you I was leaving. Why would you file a missing persons claim on me?”

  “You were angry. I never expected you to just pack and vanish,” came the concern filled voice over the phone. “I know we haven’t always agreed, but…you should have called me. Talked to me…there were things to be ironed out…”

  “About what?” Charity asked, the softly innocent tone genuine.

  “Look, you were very close to your grand-parents. I understand that. I…it hit you hard when they died,” he said wearily. “But there are things that must be settled. Must be…we were very unprepared for all the changes you began. It’s disturbed a lot of the family.”

  “I’m alright, you know. I have a nice job and friends. It’s a lovely area here,” Charity looked at Nico and shrugg
ed. There was nothing in her memory to help with the call. “No one is actually worried about me. Sounds like they’re more angry than worried.”

  “This has always been your home. Rochelle was very concerned when you didn’t return our calls. She’s been under so much stress what with the move we had to make and the…the changes to so many things in our lives,” William St. James ran one hand through the graying hair. “She’s the one who suggested we file a report with the police…just in case…perhaps you involved yourself with the wrong type of people.”

  “I think the change is doing me a world of good. Honestly. I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t bother the police again. I don’t care for them pounding on our door at eight in the morning,” Charity said easily.

  “How about if you return home for a visit? No pressure…just a visit, Charity,” he tried cajoling.

  “No, I don’t think so. I have my job and…”

  “So does her husband,” Nico said from her side, his finger up and on his lips when her head almost snapped when she turned to face him.

  Silence filled the line for several very long seconds.

  “Husband? Charity…”

  “Like I said…husband, friend, partner…” Nico said quietly. “Someone to watch out for her. Whether it’s because someone assaulted her with lethal intent or a police representative is pounding on our door.”

  “Who are you?” Came the immediate demand.

  “Nico Setopoulis,” was the flat answer. “I’m sure you wish your daughter every happiness.”

  “Charity? What is going on up there? This man is claiming…you would never go off and do something…Did he say you were assaulted? The news report hinted that you were injured somehow,” he said casually. “But you appeared to be in good health on the interview.”

  “I’m guessing you don’t want me to be happy? Did you see the news? Is that how you found me?” Charity asked curiously.

  “We filed a missing person’s report, Charity. We’ve been trying to locate you for months,” he told her, aggravation becoming evident in his voice. “It was quite a shock to learn you were working as…as an exotic dancer…”

  Charity gaped at the phone. “I was at the news conference,” she said quietly. “Nowhere…ever…were the words exotic dancer used. I am a waitress for the resort employee cafeteria. I spend my days surrounded by really fun people and good food.”

  “The photo’s were shown, Charity. It’s been extremely unsettling. To have my daughter exposed to my friends and associates…”

  “I can’t believe this,” she shook her head and paced across the floor. “Of all the puritanical, moronic opinions…” she growled softly. “Why is it important that I return to San Francisco?” She spoke each word carefully, suspiciously.

  “I told you, there is a great deal to be settled regarding your grand-parents estate,” the male voice explained, working to sound casual despite the edge in his voice.

  “Have an attorney contact me. This is the age of technology. Business can be conducted from places most inconvenient and distant,” Charity tapped the off button and glared at the phone. “Why did you do that, Nico? Why did you tell him that?”

  “In the hopes that if he plans something less than fatherly, he reconsiders knowing there’s someone here who would be in his way,” Nico answered immediately, warily watching her nod slowly. “It can’t be coincidence that you were attacked at the same time people start popping up wanting your attention, Charity.”

  “No…I guess that would be a little too much to hope for, huh?”

  “How about an hour or so at the gym?”

  “Brilliant idea. I’ll run up and change clothes,” she told him, striding out of his apartment and going to her own. “I’d really like to hit something…” she mumbled as she searched drawers for a leotard and snug top. She pulled a large tee shirt over her head and found a pair of sneakers beneath the bed, sitting back on the floor and tying them in place before her feet pounded on the stairs.

  Nico didn’t like the silence. And he wasn’t sure how to get her to vent or talk or both. They entered the quiet employee gym, a few people on the treadmills and another couple sparing with what looked like kick boxing, he thought.

  A frown creased his face when she went and put her name on a list near the roped off mat but he didn’t say anything and began his routine with the weight machines. Until he saw her fitting a pair of gloves on and stepping over the thick ropes that sectioned off the mat. The weight that had been in his hands fell with a loud clunk, his mouth open for a long minute before he snapped it shut.

  Whatever was in her mind, Charity knew she had rules to follow. Part of her instinctually knew what they were and went through the defensive routines without thinking. Hands and feet knew how to move, how to react and how to defeat. Twenty minutes after the bout began, the pair parted with a shake of hands, the gloves she had used hooked on the wall and her hand reaching for the towel Nico handed her.

  “That was…” Nico began slowly.

  “The fireflies took over…I’m innocent,” she told him with a wink and a smile. “I seriously needed to hit something. Who knew…” She said with a chuckle, glancing at their hands clasp together as they headed for the exit.

  “Very true…who knew,” Nico chuckled. “Here I was thinking you needed protection…”

  “Evidently it didn’t stop me getting beaned in the head,” she said dryly, sighing tiredly. “Then I think I’m going to throw stuff into my car…when I find it…and cart things to this new condo…and rip boxes open. Maybe there’s stuff in there that will trigger some memories. I couldn’t feel…or find…a single memory when that man was talking to us…except I knew I didn’t want to be around him,” she whispered, a little pain in her voice.

  “Everything I was able to read this morning told me patience, Charity,” Nico chuckled at the soft growl. “Yeah…there’s plenty on unconventional attempts to recover memories quicker. Hypnosis, acupuncture…but with the brain, like it or not, we only have patience. What you’re doing with your belongings is probably the best thing we can do. Remember, you’re still healing, too,” he sighed when she mumbled darkly, his palm out and on her chin, forcing it up for his kiss outside his door. “I’ll shower and wait for you here.”

  She sighed and leaned against him, returning the kiss, her tongue teasing his to play. “I’ll be down in thirty minutes, Nico. Thank you…for helping me be patient.”

  He’d just fastened his watch when he heard a thumping outside his apartment. He questioned why he was surprised when he saw a bright green SUV backed up to the sidewalk, boxes being loaded into the back by a woman wearing jeans and a fitting downy vest over a black girl tee shirt. Only a small part of him felt remorse at staring at the curved behind bending inside the back of the SUV and it passed quickly.

  She straightened up and turned, a smile filling her face when she saw him. She closed the doors to the back and held up keys.

  “Car alarms that help you find your car…ingenious,” she beamed, holding her palm out to him. “Ready to explore? Nico…I never stopped and wondered if you have other things you’d rather…” she backed against the SUV as he pressed forward, her eyes widening only for a brief few seconds before she sighed beneath the teasing, minty kiss. “Oh, wow…you seriously know how to make a girl’s knees weak. Okay…I had to ask…” she said with a long sigh, his glasses adjusting to the light outside and fogged over a little as he joined her inside the SUV.

  Charity laid out the address on the dash, pulling her lower lip between her teeth and scowling at the GPS sitting there mocking her. A rush of gratitude sped through her when Nico reached up and tapped in the address and pushed the right buttons.

  “Thank you,” she said with a deep breath.

  Nico looked from the stick shift in the center panel to the grim expression on her face, pale brows knit tightly and her knuckles a little tense as her palm rested over the knob.

  “Charity, do you want me to
drive?” He asked carefully.

  “No…no…I can do this,” she said with a firm nod, not looking over at the painful expression on his face when the gears ground loudly. “Just….give me a minute here…” she shoved it into drive, her foot working the clutch as she eased the large vehicle forward. A long puff of breath was pushed between her lips as they glided smoothly to the stop sign. “It’s good…I got it now.”

  “I’m relieved,” Nico told her honestly. “It’s not very far…a little over six miles.”

  “And three lights along the way and a coastal view,” she added, sighing at the memory. “I see bits and pieces of things. I remember the drive. I remember thinking someone who truly needs the apartment can use it, since I can obviously afford to live someplace else.”

  “You had an extremely intense look on your face when you were sparing in the ring,” Nico commented as she eased them along the wide coastal road.

  “A part of me is…bothered…that after talking to that man, I wanted to seriously hit something.”

  “If the information in your phone is to be believed, he was your father, Charity,” Nico pointed out cautiously.

  “That’s the other part that’s bothering me. Makes you want to find some nano bots and have them rewrite your DNA so you can disavow all knowledge of another individual,” she glanced over at his laughter. “And I don’t know…it’s all based on feelings…on some buried instinct, maybe, that makes me just know that conversations with that person will never be a positive experience,” she eased before the new, large three story building set back from the Sound.

  Checking for traffic, she made her three point turn and backed the SUV into an empty spot.

  “And it makes me a little sad,” she sighed and stepped onto the concrete, tucking the keys into a pocket on her vest and reaching into the pocket of her jeans, fingers out with a single key on a ring.

  She felt the tension in him when she was loading the boxes. She had a feeling why and wasn’t sure how to broach the topic. But it was obvious it would have to be talked about.