Stalking her Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 1)

by Agnes Alexander

  Luke grew angry. “Excuse us, Minnie. I need to take my family home.” He picked up a crying Jacob and headed out the door. Brenda followed.

  CHAPTER 38

  The waves of the blue Caribbean lapped on the shore sending the lulling sounds through the balcony doors of the exclusive resort. Heather’s head rested on Alex’s shoulder and his arm encircled her. The afternoon lovemaking had been passionate and afterward they drifted off to sleep

  The cell phone on the night table jangled and jarred them awake. With his free arm, Alex picked it up. He frowned when he looked at the calling number. “It’s Luke.”

  Heather sat up, a worried look on her face. “I hope Brenda’s okay.”

  “Yes, son?”

  “Dad, I’m sorry to bother you and Heather on your honeymoon.”

  “Is anything wrong?”

  “We’re all fine physically, but I have a little boy here with a broken heart.”

  “What’s wrong with Jacob?”

  “At church this morning, Minnie Cox told him Heather didn’t love him and he’s been crying off and on ever since. We can’t convince him Minnie was wrong. He’s really upset.”

  “Why can’t that woman keep her mouth shut?” Alex shook his head. “Here, I’m going to let you talk to Heather.”

  Heather took the phone. “What’s going on, Luke?” He told her about Minnie Cox.

  “My word, she must be a piece of work.” She took a breath.

  “Is Jacob nearby?”

  “He’s right here.”

  “Let me speak to him, please.”

  She heard Luke say, “Here son. Grammy wants to talk to you.”

  “Hey, Grammy,” a weak little voice came over the phone.

  “Hello, sweetheart. Did somebody tell you I don’t love you?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Well, let me tell you, they’re wrong. I love you very, very much.”

  “Do you, Grammy?”

  “Of course I do! Why, you and Ben are my grandsons, and remember I told you you’d always be my baby boys no matter how big you get?”

  “I ‘member.” His voice was growing stronger.

  “That woman doesn’t know me, so how could she know how I feel? You and I both know how we love each other, don’t we?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I know you love me, Jacob, and I want you to know I love you. I’ll always love you, and don’t you ever let anybody tell you I don’t.”

  “I glad you love me, Grammy.”

  “When I get home, we’ll have to let the lady see how much we love each other.”

  “Are you coming home with Poppa?”

  “Yes. I’ll be living in Poppa’s house with him. Is that okay with you?”

  “Oh, yeah. We can have fun. We can swim in his swimming pool and maybe ride a horse.”

  “That sounds good. Of course, you and Poppa are going to have to teach me how to ride a horse. Will you?”

  “Yes, I will. I love you, Grammy.” There was now a lilt to his voice.

  “I love you too, Jacob. Now, don’t you ever forget it.”

  “I won’t forget.” He giggled. “When you coming home with Poppa?”

  “It won’t be long. We’ll bring you a present from this beautiful island. Would you like a car from here?”

  “Yes. Grammy said she does love me, Daddy. Poppa and me are going to teach her how to ride a horse.”

  Heather said, “Jacob, do you want to give Grammy a big good-bye kiss on the phone.”

  “Yep.” A smacking sound came over the wire. “Bye-bye, Grammy.”

  She sent him a loud smacking kiss back. “Good-bye, sweetie. I love you.”

  As the phone was being passed, she heard Jacob say again, “Grammy does love me. The woman didn’t know how Grammy felt.”

  Luke said, “Thanks, Heather. You’ve made my boy’s day, but I’m sorry I called and interrupted your honeymoon.”

  “Don’t apologize, Luke. I’m spending whole days and nights with this husband of mine. I don’t mind taking a few minutes out for family.”

  “You’re a good woman, Heather.”

  “Thanks. I’m going to give the phone to your father now.

  He’s anxious to talk with you.”

  “Hey, son. I assume the crisis is over now.”

  “Heather did a beautiful job of restoring Jacob’s faith. Your wife sure is good with kids.”

  “She’s good with old men, too.”

  “Dad!”

  “Sorry. Couldn’t resist. Other than Jacob’s run-in with Minnie, how’d things go at church?”

  “When I first announced you were married, Minnie dropped a hymn book and made everyone in church jump. Dad, she looked like somebody had taken her candy away. Her mouth puckered and her eyes blazed.”

  “Now maybe she’ll turn her attention to Jude, or Brock, or Seth.”

  “My money’s on Brock, since he comes to our church sometimes, but who knows? All you guys, who were dubbed the Redwoods on your high school basketball team, seem to be fair game.” Luke laughed. “Well, not Neil, since he’s happily married and maybe not Ethan Foley, because he lives out of town and is still married, too.”

  “I don’t know if it’ll be one of the Redwoods, who she chooses to chase now, but I don’t think she and Heather will be best friends.” Alex chuckled. “Knowing Heather, I bet she’ll let Minnie know she didn’t appreciate her upsetting our grandson.”

  “I have a feeling Heather is going to fight anyone who picks on the kids.” Luke changed the subject. “Tell me about St. Thomas. You’re staying there, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. It’s a paradise. You’ll have to bring Brenda here sometime. We’ve toured the islands of St. John and St. Croix. We’ve eaten exotic food. We’ve danced in the moonlight and done a few things I’m not going to tell you about.”

  “Please don’t.”

  “The only thing I haven’t been able to talk her into is snorkeling. She’s says she’ll follow me anywhere except to the bottom of the ocean.”

  Luke laughed. “I can tell it’s going well.”

  “Very.”

  “Then I’ll let you go get back to your honeymoon. I’m going to take my family out to dinner.”

  “We’ll see you in a week or so, son. Love you all.”

  “Love you too, Dad.”

  Alex hung up and turned to Heather. “I hope you didn’t mind him calling.”

  “I would’ve been upset if he hadn’t. I’m glad I was able to reassure Jacob. It makes me mad to think of some woman upsetting my grandson. And you’re right. I’m going to let her know I don’t like it. I only have one question. What was that about the Redwoods? The only place I’ve heard about those trees is California.”

  He laughed. “When Brock, Neil and I went to high school we were all over six feet tall. One grade behind us were Ethan, Seth and Jude, also over six feet. We were the toughest basketball team in the state for three years running and they dubbed us the Redwoods because nobody could topple us.”

  “Well, I’m glad I was able to topple you.”

  “Yes, you did, baby.” He grinned at her, then kissed her cheek. “Now, before I get to thinking of how cute you are here on this bed, why don’t we give the Mastersons a call and make sure everything is okay there?”

  She smiled at him. “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I minded. We’ve talked to the Hargrove clan. It’s only fair we call your kid, too.” He handed her the phone. “Let’s go sit on our private balcony while you make your call. If we stay here I might attack you before you finish your conversation.”

  “Okay. We’ll get in the lounge chair built for two.”

  “Good. I’ll plan where we’re going for dinner while you talk.” He winked at her. “Or explore some other options.”

  CHAPTER 39

  The following Friday, one of the weekly celebrity magazines hit the stands. It would’ve probably gone unnoticed in Coverton Mills except L
inda Waters was getting a perm at Annie’s Beauty Salon at ten o’clock. Running behind, but wanting something published in the last six months to read while under the dryer, she stopped in the drugstore and grabbed a copy of that particular magazine.

  By eleven-thirty Annie finished the perm, set Linda’s hair in big rollers and placed her under the dryer. Linda pulled out her magazine and began to read.

  A few minutes later, she startled everyone when she yelled, “Lord have mercy!” She bumped her head on the dryer and scrambled to push it up.

  “What’s the matter, Linda?” Annie asked as everyone in the shop looked at the woman in big curlers.

  “Look!” she shouted as she held up the magazine. “It’s Alex Hargrove.”

  “What’s he doing in a movie magazine?” Annie asked.

  “I don’t know, but here he is. Big as life.”

  “He’s really a good-looking man for his age,” Maggie Lolly said.

  “Heck, he’s a good-looking man for any age,” Annie said.

  They all laughed.

  “And look she’s pretty, too,” Linda spoke up. “I love her books, but didn’t know what she looked like.”

  As everyone moved in to look at the picture they all agreed, Alex and Heather made a good-looking couple. Even Selena Caststevens, the mayor’s daughter, lifted her head from the shampooing sink to see what was happening.

  “She’s awful little,” Annie said. “Why are they in the magazine?”

  “It’s here in what they call their late gossip section.” Linda began reading. “It reads ‘How many writers marry their main character? Last Friday afternoon, best-selling author, Heather Masterson, 53, was wed in a private ceremony at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Alex Hargrove, 56, a businessman from Coverton Mills, North Carolina. Ironically, the protagonists of Ms. Masterson’s famous novels carries the name of Alex Hargrove.’ How about that?”

  Annie asked. “Is that all it says, Linda?”

  “No. There’s more.” She continued to read. ‘Ms. Masterson’s first novel hit the best seller list four years ago and since that time, she’s published three more in the series. It’s rumored she received in excess of a million dollars for her next three Alex Hargrove novels, which does not include the sale of the movie rights. She makes her home in Wynburg, North Carolina, though she owns property in other areas, including an exclusive condominium in Myrtle Beach.’ “

  “Wow, Alex hit the jackpot, didn’t he?”

  “Wait, here’s a little more,” Linda gave Maggie Lolly a hard look, then continued, ‘Mr. Hargrove owns a large cattle farm in the mountains of North Carolina and an assortment of other businesses. It isn’t clear where the couple plans to make their home. The bride and groom are honeymooning in an unknown location. Who says love belongs only to the young?’ That’s the main article.”

  “Wow,” Bertie Williams, her hair in small rollers, said. “Luke announced at church Sunday his dad got married, but he didn’t mention she was famous.”

  “What does the little box beside the picture say, Linda?” Annie asked.

  “It’s a list of facts about Heather. I’ll read them. ‘Heather Stoner Masterson: Divorced; One son; One grandson. Hobbies: reading, symphony concerts, theatrical productions, travel, swimming, gourmet cooking, and playing with her grandson.’ Can you imagine Alex doing some of those things? He may have scads of money, but he’s a country boy at heart. It’s hard to picture him at a symphony concert.”

  “Or eating gourmet food,” Bertie said. “He’s a beans and potatoes man if ever I saw one.”

  Everyone laughed and voiced their agreement.

  “Where did you get the magazine, Linda? I want to get one,” Selena said. “I know Daddy will be interested in this. He’s been trying to get Alex to take an active part in city government. He may want to contact the new wife about it.”

  “I want one, too,” Annie said. “We don’t have many famous people in Coverton Mills.”

  “I guess we all want one,” Maggie said. “Annie’s through combing me out. Why don’t I pop over to the drugstore and get them?”

  By dinner time, every business in Coverton Mills offering the movie magazine had sold out. Luke picked up the last three at the grocery store when Brenda sent him to get the strawberries she was craving.

  •♥ •

  It was getting dark outside as Irma sat on the sofa in her quarters and stared at the magazine. She had to admit Mr. Alex and the woman made a handsome couple. She wondered if the new Mrs. Hargrove was as nice as she looked. After all, she’d not been able to keep her promise to Ms. Anna. There hadn’t been a chance to find out if this woman was right for her beloved boss. Would this woman want her to stay on as housekeeper? The article made it clear she was rich, probably with a slew of maids and housekeepers of her own. She might think an old country woman like Irma wasn’t good enough.

  “Well, there’s one consolation,” she muttered aloud. “I know she didn’t go after Mr. Alex for his money. She has plenty of her own.”

  She tossed the magazine on the coffee table and stood. All I can do is be nice to her and see what happens. Maybe Mr. Alex will want me to stay in spite of what she says.

  Irma walked into the kitchen and washed a potato to put in the microwave. She then took a plate from the cabinet and smiled. Luke had given her this set of his mother’s china. It was covered in country scenes and reminded her of her former friend. “Oh, Ms. Anna,” she said aloud. “I wish you were still here. I hate to see things change like this. Now, don’t get me wrong. I hope this woman will make Mr. Alex happy. He deserves it, and they look happy in that picture, but she sounds awfully highfalutin’ to me.”

  When things were ready, she sat down at her small dinette table and said a blessing. I wonder if the new Mrs. Hargrove goes to church or says prayers like we do. I hope so. The church and his faith are important to Mr. Alex.

  After eating, Irma put her dishes in the sink and decided to go back into the main house. She thought it was beginning to look empty, but Mr. Luke said this was what his daddy wanted. Luke had taken a lot of things which belonged to his mother and he’d let Irma choose some things which were special to her. Brenda helped him pack all of Anna’s clothes stored in the upstairs closets and they’d been sent to a charity. The ones in her closet in Alex’s room had been taken away soon after Anna’s death. The bedroom suite the couple had slept in for years had now been replaced by the fancy one Alex had ordered for his new bride.

  Irma had to admit it was pretty. She liked the high, fat posts and the big, curved head and foot boards. She did think the big claw feet would be hard to keep dusted. She put new Egyptian cotton sheets on the king-sized bed and placed new towels in the huge adjoining bathroom as she’d been instructed to do. She straightened all the clothes in Alex’s closet and checked to be sure there was nothing of Anna’s left in her closet and dressing area which might upset his new wife. Though tomorrow would be Sunday and the room was clean, she knew she’d run the vacuum over the carpet one more time and hope the new mistress of the house would be pleased.

  She wandered from the bedroom to the kitchen. It sparkled. She had stocked the refrigerator with Mr. Alex’s favorite foods and had added some things Brenda told her the new Mrs. Hargrove liked. The family room and the informal dining area were also shining, though some pieces of furniture were missing.

  When she went into the living room, she sighed. The beautiful portrait of Ms. Anna was gone. It had hung over the fireplace for years. She was glad Luke had wanted it. She didn’t want to see the new woman come in and discard it.

  She went upstairs and checked in each of the five bedrooms and the baths. She didn’t bother with Alex’s exercise room or office, because she didn’t think the new Mrs. Hargrove would go in there.

  Going back down, she glanced into the formal dining room. It was in good shape, though Luke had said this furniture would probably be replaced. She checked out the library. She’d spent a lot of time cleaning in here b
ecause Luke told her this would be turned into his stepmother’s office.

  Satisfied the house was as clean as she could get it, she went out on the lanai and looked at the pool. The man was coming first thing Monday morning to make sure it was clean and the ph level right. The flower beds had been weeded and the lawn was immaculate. She’d make sure the gardener walked over it early Monday to pick up any limbs which had blown down.

  She sighed and went back inside. She locked the doors and went into the garage where she climbed the stairs to her quarters.

  “Well, Mrs. Hargrove number two,” she said aloud as she locked her own door, “I’ve done everything I can to impress you. I hope it’s enough and you won’t make Mr. Alex fire me.” She reached down and picked up the magazine. She had it folded to the page with the picture of Alex and Heather. She stared at it for a long time. She then put it down and went into her bedroom. She was going to make it an early night. She was too worried about her job to watch television.

  •♥ •

  With a copy of the movie magazine in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other, Rachelle paced back and forth in her small apartment spouting every curse word she’d ever heard. “I can’t believe she’d do this to me! What right has she got to marry Alex Hargrove?” She looked at the picture again. “It can’t be true. He must have stolen Alex’s identity. There’s no way my Alex can be this old. He’s not some dumb farmer, either. He’s a police officer.”

  She flung the book across the room. “You’ll pay for this Heather Masterson. I won’t have you ridiculing my man. I spend two weeks’ worth of nights sitting outside your house waiting for you to come home and you were off at the beach screwing around with this identity thief.”

  She paused long enough to go to the coffee table, pick up the bottle and refill her whiskey glass. “Now, I don’t know how long this honeymoon thing is going to last. And when it’s over, will you come home, or will you go off to the mountains with this imposter? You’ve messed me up royally, lady. No matter what I do to you when I finally get you, it won’t be enough to make you pay for what you’ve done.”