by Iris Abbott
Caroline narrowed her eyes. “Like you have room to talk, the exact same thing can be said for you and Mason. Abigail and Jonathan too come to think of it. The three of you must be the luckiest women on Earth.”
“I will agree with that. I’m just saying mom would do well to keep Matthew and Aubrey on opposite ends of the table from Evan. There are knives at the table and children will be present. I’d hate for things to get ugly. Actually maybe you should sit across from Evan. Both of you are dateless and Kyle is closer to Aubrey’s end of the table anyway.”
Caroline caught the sudden uplift in her friend’s manner. She’d bet a week’s salary that Abigail was up to something. She would appreciate some space between her and Kyle however so she agreed. “I’d like that. If Evan and Jonathan work together, he’s got to have some kind of science background. We can talk about his job if nothing else.”
Abigail smiled a wicked smile that confirmed her friend’s suspicion that she was up to no good. “I put Mason’s brother Brian on your left. Having you surrounded by two very gorgeous, very eligible men should definitely drive Kyle insane.”
Caroline didn’t want to drive Kyle insane. She just wanted him to leave her alone. She started to tell her friend just that, but Abigail was already making a run for the kitchen.
****
Caroline delicately wiped her mouth with her linen napkin before putting the napkin back in her lap. She had thoroughly enjoyed dinner. Brian and Evan were excellent conversationalists and both were very charming as well. The only bumpy part to the entire dinner had been when Caroline who was working overtime to ignore Kyle had laughed just a little too loud at something Brian had said to her. Conversation on the other end of the table had stopped and Caroline glanced down to see Kyle glaring at her. She’d quickly looked away and focused on Brian and Evan.
She felt comfortable with Evan and Brian. Maybe it was because they didn’t share a past or maybe it was because even though they were both very good looking men she felt no physical chemistry with them. Her traitorous body only reacted to one man, Kyle Wakefield. She heard Evan say her name and she turned her attention to him.
“I expected any glares I got to be coming from Hampton. He’s not too fond of me, never has been. So why am I getting glares from the football player instead?”
Caroline smiled at his reference to Kyle’s athletic physique. She shrugged her shoulders. “He’s my ex-boyfriend, but we are no longer an item. I have no idea why he’s glaring at you.”
Evan let out a low whistle, “your ex huh? How did you both manage to land an invitation to a Montgomery family holiday dinner?”
“Abigail and I have been really good friends for over a year. The Montgomery’s have kind of adopted me. I attend most of their family functions now. Kyle’s daughter Sarah who’s over at the children’s table is best friends with Abigail’s son Jay. Kyle and Sarah have only been in the area for a few months so Abigail did the neighborly thing and invited them to dinner too.”
“If it’s any consolation you’re hiding your angst well.”
Caroline’s eyes opened wide at the perceptiveness of his words. She quickly regained her equilibrium. “I’m sure you’re mistaken.”
It was Evan’s turn to shrug. “Maybe, but I think I know a kindred spirit when I see it. I know what it’s like to want someone you can’t have and then be pushed into their company on occasion.”
“Oh!” She glanced toward Aubrey who was sitting at the opposite end of the table.
“Not even close,” he confided. “There will always be a special place in my heart for Aubrey, but we were never really in love with each other. My tormentor is a couple of states away, which is why I accepted Jonathan and Annabel’s invitation to stay with them during the holidays.”
Caroline relaxed. She liked Evan much more now that she knew he didn’t pose a danger to Aubrey and Matthew. And he was right, they were kindred spirits. A person could never have too many friends and she was comfortable in the knowledge that friendship was all Evan wanted from her.
Kyle tried to avoid the other end of the table, but his eyes always seemed to return to Caroline. He watched as she leaned closer to the man in front of her as they engaged in what looked like an intense and private conversation. He couldn’t stop the frown that covered his face.
Abigail leaned toward him from across the table. “Don’t worry about Evan. He’s harmless.”
Aubrey who was seated directly across from Kyle and next to Abigail agreed. She patted Kyle’s hand in a sign of support. “Evan is harmless. We were involved for a long time and it took me forever to realize that his heart belongs to someone else. Trust me he’s not a threat to you or Caroline.”
“I’m not worried,” and he wasn’t. Caroline was too guarded to let a stranger like Evan into her heart. He did feel his body relax after the sisters’ reassurances, which told him that the sight of Caroline flirting with a stranger had a much bigger effect on him then he wanted it to.
****
After dinner the women helped Joyce with the cleanup while Sarah and Jay kept an eye on the children and the men watched football in the family room. Caroline was thinking about excusing herself and going home early, but Abigail put an end to that. “We’re almost done in here. I say we challenge the men to a game of charades.”
“I’ll keep score,” Joyce volunteered. “That will make for an even number of players and you can play in pairs.”
“I like that idea,” Abigail was quick to jump on the bandwagon. “Come on ladies let’s grab a partner.”
Caroline watched Abigail and the other women excitedly rush to the family room. She followed a few steps behind. She knew Abigail was up to something and she probably wasn’t going to like it. She was right. Kyle gave her a big smile when she finally joined everyone else.
“Looks like we’re partners,” he informed her. “I hope you’re good at games, since I play to win.”
“Well then I’m sure we’ll leave the other groups in the dust.” She gave him a hard stare. “If there’s one thing I know about you Kyle Wakefield, it’s that you’re very good at games.” He looked like he wanted to reply, but Joyce called everyone to attention and the game began.
A couple of hours later Annabel and Jonathan called for the last round. They wanted to get their young children home and in their own beds for the night. Caroline had been having more fun then she’d thought possible. The game was close. She and Kyle were tied for first place with Annabel and Jonathan, and Matthew and Aubrey. Abigail and Mason, and Brian and Evan were only one point back. Once she and Kyle both competitive by nature had become absorbed in the game the animosity and awkwardness had faded into the background. They really worked well together at charades anyway. Too bad they didn’t mesh so well in the rest of their lives. She had to remind herself that no matter how much she might want him, Kyle was not the man for her. There was too much water under that bridge and even though she’d slipped up once she couldn’t let him back into her life.
She was so intent on her inner thoughts that she couldn’t concentrate when it was their turn. Kyle did a great job acting out the clue, but her mind couldn’t grasp what he was trying to show her. She made a few wild guesses and then Joyce called time. They sat next to each other on the couch while Aubrey and Matthew took their turn in the game.
“You made us lose on purpose,” Kyle accused. “You knew how much I wanted to win and we were doing so well too,” he shook his head in disbelief.
Caroline leaned in closer, “still willing to think the worse of me, I see.” She was interrupted when Annabel and Jonathan’s time ran out and Aubrey and Matthew claimed victory. Caroline looked back at Kyle. “You know Kyle, I really did have a good reason for trying to contact you after we broke up, but that reason’s gone now and I’m not going back to that place ever again.”
She got up from the couch without giving him time to reply and made her way across the room to Joyce Montgomery. She hugged the older woman and relished the hug back she
received. It was times like this that she really missed her own mom and her Aunt Lucinda. “Thank you Joyce for including me with the rest of the family. I had a great time, but I should really be heading home now.” She made a general goodbye to everyone in the room and almost wept in relief when Evan volunteered to walk her out to her car. His presence would keep Kyle at bay, which is exactly what she wanted. So why did she feel so empty on the drive home?
Ten
Caroline put away the last few pieces of glassware her students had used in that day’s lab. She glanced toward the wall clock. It was only fifteen minutes past four, but for once she was caught up with all her work. The thought of a nice long bubble bath followed by a glass of wine and a lighthearted romance book to pass the time beckoned. She could definitely use a happily-ever-after right now. The shadow that was Kyle looming over her was beginning to have an effect. She really needed to let go of everything plaguing her mind and take care of herself.
This was a three-day weekend and she was planning to relax before she cooked a large dish of broccoli casserole and a couple of pound cakes. She was joining the Montgomery family for Sunday lunch this weekend. All three sisters were going to be in town. Joyce had invited Caroline as well, saying she would be delighted to have all four of her daughters together at the same table for the traditional Montgomery Sunday lunch.
This Sunday the lunch was going to be at Annabel’s home. Caroline had heard the romantic tale of Annabel and Jonathan’s reunion after being separated for several years. He’d bought the house which had been adored by Annabel since childhood as a wedding present. It would be enough to melt Caroline’s heart if she still had one to melt that is. She’d pretty much lost her heart when she had the miscarriage. At least Jonathan, Mason, and Matthew were proof that not all men were selfish thoughtless jerks! She was really happy that the Montgomery sisters got their happy ending, but that didn’t mean there was going to be one for her.
It was a little nippy so Caroline put on the light jacket she’d worn that morning. She grabbed her purse, turned out all the lights, and closed and locked the door behind her. She wouldn’t be back for four days and it felt good knowing she was caught up with all her work and could actually relax during this short break.
She passed the student pick up area on the way to her car. She noticed that Sarah was sitting on the curb with a dejected slump to her shoulders. Caroline knew she should keep going, but her feet had a mind of their own. She was standing next to Sarah before she even knew what she was doing. She sat down next to the teen. “Hey Sarah,” she greeted in a welcoming voice. “Is something bothering you? You don’t seem to be your usual cheerful self.” In fact the teen had been very talkative during lab less than two hours ago.
“My dad promised me we could go to Atlanta this weekend. Now he says he has to work. On top of everything else, he has a late meeting this afternoon that he couldn’t postpone or cancel. If I’d known just a few minutes earlier, Jay’s mom could have taken me home.” She shrugged her shoulders, “but I didn’t and now I’m stuck here for God knows how long!”
Caroline stifled the sigh threatening to escape. She’d managed to avoid Kyle and all mention of him in the weeks following the holidays and that fiasco of a dinner at Joyce’s house. She couldn’t ignore a student in need however, especially Sarah. It went against everything that made Caroline who she was. “I was just on my way home myself. I’d be more than happy to give you a ride home,” Caroline offered. “You need to call your dad first of course to make sure it’s all right with him. I’ll just wait here while you call him.”
Sarah perked up and gave Caroline a huge smile. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she enthused. “I’ll call him right now.”
Caroline waited. She wasn’t too surprised when Sarah couldn’t get through to her father. She heard Sarah leave a message with Jenna, Kyle’s personal assistant.
Sarah looked back at her teacher. “He’s already in his meeting and can’t be disturbed. I left a message with his PA. She’ll let him know that you are taking me home. That way he won’t have to come by the school on his way home.” Sarah started walking toward the teacher’s parking lot.
Caroline had no choice but to follow. She would hate for Sarah to be stuck at the school for another couple of hours. It got dark early these days. Kyle was at work still, so at least she didn’t have to worry about running into him. She’d blissfully been able to avoid him the past few weeks. She wanted to keep it that way. Maybe just this once her luck would hold until the end of the school year.
She glanced around and noticed that the parking lot was practically empty. The other teachers must have cleared out early. They were probably in a hurry to start their three-day weekend. Thank goodness for the Montgomery family Caroline decided. If it wasn’t for them she’d probably end up working at school Monday anyway. How boring was that? Now she had Sunday to look forward too and it would probably be a late night with lots of talking and wine drinking. Caroline was so focused on her thoughts of the upcoming dinner that she didn’t notice the out of place cargo van until it was almost too late.
Caroline and Sarah were about forty feet from her car when a plain white van came to a stop in front of the two females. That action was alarming and immediately put Caroline on notice. The fact that the van was actively blocking their access to Caroline’s car sent alarm bells shrieking in her head. Her first instinct was to protect Sarah. She turned to the girl just as the van door slid open.
“Sarah run back to the school as fast as you can.” She felt the girl hesitate. She turned putting her body between Sarah and whoever was in the van. She gave the girl a push. “Go! Now!” Caroline demanded. She was relieved to see that the teen listened this time. Sarah took off at a sprint that would have done any track coach proud.
Caroline was focused on getting to the safety of her car. She veered to the left of the van, intent on going around the front of the vehicle. A stranger stepped out of the open door and lunged for her. She came to an abrupt halt when the man grabbed her jacket from behind to hinder her progress. She opened her mouth to scream, but a grimy hand slapped across it cut off any sound she would have made.
Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might break through her skin and land on the gravely concrete. She arched her back and kicked the man that was keeping her from safety. The back of her foot connected with his shin and he let out a muffled oath.
The driver opened his door. “Get her in the van. She cost us the kid, but maybe we can use her to get back at Wakefield.”
That statement answered one of Caroline’s questions. This wasn’t a random attack. They’d been after Sarah and it had something to do with Kyle. Well they’d be in for a surprise, because Kyle didn’t give a damn about her. She’d learned that the hard way. The man holding her tried to hustle her into the van and she struggled harder. She couldn’t let them get her in that van. Surely Sarah had reached the school and found help by now? She fought until she had an arm loose. She used it to elbow her captor in the gut.
Finally Caroline heard feet pounding against the payment. Someone was coming to her rescue. Thank God! Sarah must have found help. A siren suddenly wailed in the distance. The driver of the van let out a vicious swearword. “Leave her! We have to get out of here. That brat must have alerted the police. We can’t afford to get caught. Move!” the driver barked at his accomplice.
The man holding Caroline brutally shoved her back and away so he could jump into the now moving van. Caroline had not ceased her fighting and the extra momentum of the shove sent her hurtling toward the ground. She tried to turn so she could break her fall, but she wasn’t fast enough. The back of her head hit the hard concrete with a resounding thump.
She was out cold when Jason Dixon, the school resource officer got to her. He lightly checked her for other wounds. He was pretty sure a head injury was the only damage. He couldn’t see anything to indicate a gun or knife wound. And she had been conscience before the fall. He’d
seen her struggling with the suspect. He’d also heard the hideous sound her head had made when it came in contact with the unforgiving concrete of the parking lot. He wasn’t likely to forget it anytime soon.
An attempted abduction was the most excitement he’d seen since he became a deputy in this sleepy little town. He knew one thing for sure, his boss Sheriff Cole Duncan was not going to be happy about this. The man prided himself on running one of the safest counties in Florida, hell the southeast. Nope the sheriff was not going to be happy at all.
The siren in the distance grew louder. Jason watched as the large black SUV driven by his boss turned into the school parking lot and came to a sudden stop right beside him. The grim look on his face spoke volumes.
Cole Duncan jumped out of the SUV and ran over to his deputy. “What happened here,” he demanded. He recognized the woman on the ground as Caroline Johnson. He’d been introduced to her by Abigail Montgomery several months before. He thought Abigail had been trying to match-make and he had been interested in the lush redhead. Caroline had been friendly but standoffish however, so Cole had not pursued her.
The Montgomery family would be infuriated beyond belief. They considered Caroline one of their own. Add to that the fact that this happened on school grounds, oh boy. Mason Blake, the school superintendent was going to be furious, and his wife Abigail Montgomery Blake was going to be out for blood! He almost felt sorry for the perpetrators, almost.
Even though he’d been expecting it, the deputy was taken aback by the harshness of Cole’s voice. It was disconcerting even though he knew it wasn’t directed toward him. He’d better give his boss the facts pronto. He gulped at the fury radiating from his boss. “Um, Miss Johnson was giving a student, a Miss Sarah Wakefield, a ride home. A van stopped in front of them and Miss Johnson instructed the student to run. I was making my rounds of the school building when I saw Miss Wakefield running toward me. She was waving her hands and screaming for help. She told me a man in a white van was trying to take Ms. Johnson and she needed my help right away.”
