A Gift of Time

by Beth Flynn

  “It’s you, isn’t it?”

  He stopped dead in his tracks as he watched his daughter walk up to the passenger side of his car and jiggle the door handle. The same daughter that had tricked him with a phone call to the prison pretending to be her mother. He didn’t answer her but slowly scanned his surroundings.

  “I’m alone. You are Grizz, aren’t you?” she asked quietly. He barely heard her over the noise in the parking lot.

  He still didn’t answer.

  “Did you have my father killed?” Her voice was calm, but he noticed the defiant tilt to her chin. He saw the same expression on her face he’d seen on her mother’s more than twenty-five years ago. The night he’d had Ginny brought to the motel. And again not fifteen minutes ago in the cereal aisle.

  He didn’t answer her but got in the car, reached over to unlock her door and roll down her window.

  “Get in,” he said.

  Her eyes widened. So it is him. She didn’t know how it was possible, but she was right. She leaned down and looked at him through the passenger window.

  “Why? So you can have me murdered, too? Then who’s next? My little brother? Then you can kidnap my mom like you did all those years ago and disappear?”

  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she knew she shouldn’t have said them. Leslie had shared with her some of the things he’d done. Her mother had confirmed part of it. But Ginny had also shared stories of their love, a love she believed to be a true one. Mimi knew Grizz would never hurt her mother. Could she trust her gut, which told her he hadn’t had anything to do with Tommy’s death and would never do anything to bring harm to her and Jason, as well? She was on the fence. But not for long. She’d just lived through the most painful few months in her life. What do I have to lose?

  She climbed in and slammed the door behind her.

  He didn’t say anything. He didn’t look at her. He just turned the key, and the loud engine roared to life. He pulled out onto the main road. Then, after driving for only a few minutes, he pulled over at the next shopping center. He parked under a shady tree far from the stores and turned off the engine. He looked over at her.

  “Never. I mean fucking never are you to climb into a car with a strange man. Never!” His voice was a low growl.

  It had taken less than three minutes to drive from one parking lot to the next, and she’d watched him the whole time. This was the last thing she expected him to say.

  He held up a hand as she opened her mouth to speak. “And before you give me some teenage lip that I’m not your father and can’t tell you what to do, you need to know I would be saying this to any girl who asked me for a ride. Got that?”

  She didn’t know what to expect, but it hadn’t been a reprimand. Especially since he was right. He’d interrupted her right before she could tell him he wasn’t her father. Darn it. Now what?

  “You don’t need to be afraid of me, and if you know some of the things I’m pretty sure you do know about me, I can understand why you might be. But I didn’t have Tommy killed, and the last thing I’d ever do is cause harm or allow anyone near you, your mother, or your little brother.”

  He’d now turned to face her. He took off his sunglasses, and gave her a level look.

  They say the eyes are the window to the soul. In the depths of his gaze, Mimi knew what he said was true. She blew out a long breath.

  But how was it even possible she was having a conversation with a man who’d been executed last summer?

  They talked for almost thirty minutes. Actually, she asked questions and he gave answers.

  Finally, he said, “I need to get you home.”

  “You’re going to take me home?” she blinked.

  “Yeah. I’m going to take you home.”

  “I…I…I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Aren’t you supposed to be dead? What if one of our neighbors recognizes you? And what were you even doing in a grocery store, right here in South Florida? I mean, shouldn’t you be in hiding?”

  He laughed. “It’s called hiding in plain sight, and it’s not too hard.” His tone changed then, and he gave her a serious look. “It doesn’t mean I want to be seen or recognized. I’m James Kirkland now. I might resemble Jason Talbot, but I’m not him, and I don’t make a habit of being out.”

  “So if somebody does recognize you and tries to report it, what will you do? Will you kill them?” Her eyes were wide.

  “I see your mother has been truthful about me.” He didn’t know whether he was sorry or relieved.

  She nodded, and he recognized something in her expression. She was impressed.

  He didn’t like it.

  “I’m not the same person I used to be,” he said firmly.

  “Will you go inside with me? Will you talk to Mom?”

  She wasn’t sure where she was going with this. She couldn’t fathom her heart or her intentions, but she had come to several realizations in the last half-hour. First, she knew she had no reason to be afraid of him. Second, the wannabe journalist in her was intrigued. Three, she’d stumbled across something far more interesting than Slade Bear or her friend Lindsay’s latest shopping trip.

  And fourth, her inner spirit was telling her this man, her biological father, would be instrumental in making her mother happy again.

  And for some reason, her mother’s happiness had suddenly become very, very important to her.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Ginny

  2001, Fort Lauderdale

  I was putting the groceries away when Denise dropped Jason back at home. While I worked, I’d been pondering the events of the last twenty-four hours.

  Seeing Grizz at the church had been a shock, but I had to admit to myself that I knew he’d show himself eventually. I hadn’t believed he’d leave after what I’d told Carter to relay to him. The fact that he’d showed up at my grocery store earlier this morning had unnerved me more than I cared to admit, and I found a bit of smug satisfaction in knowing I’d been right that he wouldn’t stay away.

  I was also still a little stunned by Alec’s admission last night. We’d met for dinner prior to going to hear the same band we’d heard the previous weekend, and I told him what Jason had said about Caleb thinking we’d make a good family. I asked his opinion on how we could still be friends but dissuade our children from the notion that we might one day be a couple.

  “Would that be so bad?” he’d shyly asked me.

  I’d looked at Alec then. Really looked at him. And noticed something in his expression I hadn’t seen, or hadn’t allowed myself to see before. Attraction.

  Then of course came the awkwardness of trying to figure out how I could stay friends with a man I wasn’t interested in romantically. I knew Alec would make any woman a wonderful partner, and even though I wasn’t having those feelings for him now, I couldn’t help but wonder if someday I might. Was I shooting myself in the foot? Would I be burning a bridge behind me?

  I wouldn’t answer his question. I skirted around it and let myself enjoy his company for the rest of the night. Thankfully, he made no attempt at anything intimate, not even hand holding.

  At one point, I was a little surprised when Alec asked specifically about Sarah Jo. He wanted to know if we’d resumed what he perceived as a close friendship since she and Stan decided to stay in the States. I answered him honestly, told him Sarah Jo was there for me in the tragic weeks following Tommy’s death, but like most people, she’d settled back into her busy life. I hadn’t seen her that much if at all.

  As I put a box of cereal on the shelf, I thought about Sarah Jo, about why we seemed to be drifting apart. Was it just the craziness of life, or something more?

  My reverie was interrupted by an “I’m hungry” from Jason as he made his way into the kitchen.

  “Not even a ‘Hi, Mom, how are you’?” I asked as I placed a kiss on top of his head.

  He gave me a wide smile and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Hi, Mom! How are you? I’m hungry.”
/>   “I just bought lunchmeat. Make yourself a sandwich,” I told him.

  “Awww, can you make it for me?”

  “Sure,” I said as I started to carry some canned goods into the pantry. “I was going to clean Spooky’s litter box, which you were supposed to do before you went to Max’s, but I’ll make you a sandwich instead, and you can clean the box.”

  He followed me into the pantry and looked up at me with wide eyes.

  “Sorry, Mom. I forgot.”

  “I know you did, Jason. I’m not upset with you. I’ve been forgetting a lot of things too lately, especially since we’re all trying to get used to doing Dad’s chores.” I wasn’t referring to Spooky’s litter box but other household chores that had been Tommy’s.

  Twenty minutes later, the cat box was clean and Jason had finished his sandwich. I looked at the clock, and it occurred to me that Christy should’ve had Mimi home by now. I reached for my purse and realized my phone wasn’t in it. When I thought about it, I hadn’t had my phone with me all morning. I bet it was still charging on my nightstand.

  I peeked in Tommy’s office. Jason was sitting at the desk working on homework. It was his new favorite place to study.

  I was heading upstairs to get my phone and see if Mimi had texted or called when the front door opened. I turned around and had to catch myself from gasping out loud.

  Mimi came in the front door—followed by Grizz.

  An intense anger hit me like a punch to the gut, followed by mild curiosity. I stood there, waiting for someone to say something. Anything.

  “You don’t keep your front door locked when you’re home?” Grizz asked in his low, deep voice.

  Typical Grizz.

  Jason could see them through the French doors of Tommy’s office, and he came out now, his curiosity aroused.

  The four of us now stood in the foyer, just staring. Mimi broke the silence.

  “I ran into an old friend of yours and Dad’s at the Bears’. He offered to bring me home. He just heard about Dad and wanted to offer his condolences. You remember James Kirkland, don’t you, Mom?”

  Of course, she was lying, and the hundreds of things that wanted to come out of my mouth had to stay where they were because of Jason. The first, of course, was how had they run into each other? I certainly hadn’t seen Mimi with him at the grocery store.

  I looked at my son, who just stared at the mountain of a man who engulfed our entire foyer. His jaw was slightly agape as he slowly scanned Grizz from head to toe. Jason approached him and put his hand out, like his father had taught him.

  “I’m Jason. You knew my dad?”

  Grizz looked down and smiled at my son. A smile that had melted my heart in days gone by and was starting to have the same effect now. Stop it, Ginny. This is a horrible and dangerous violation of your family. He has no right to be here.

  I don’t remember the small snippets of conversation that were exchanged. There was a loud thrumming in my head, like a freight train was blasting through it. I do know Grizz said something that made Jason laugh. I hadn’t invited him any further into the house, and I had no intention of doing so.

  After a few minutes, I blurted out, “It’s nice to see you again, James. Thank you for coming by. I’ll walk you to your car.”

  I gave Mimi a look that told her I’d be having a private conversation with her as soon as I made my way back into the house.

  “Can he come back for dinner?” Jason asked. I could tell that he was captivated by Grizz.

  “I’m sure he has plans for dinner.” I looked at Grizz and saw understanding in his eyes.

  “Maybe some other time, Jason,” he said quietly.

  Mimi jumped in before Jason could object. “C’mon, squirt, you still have to try and beat me at that new video game you just got.”

  If there was one other benefit besides the obvious that had made me happy since re-bonding with my daughter, it was how seamlessly and lovingly she’d inserted herself back into her little brother’s life. He started to follow her as she headed for the den, but stopped to turn around and address Grizz.

  “I hope you’ll come back, Mr. Kirkland.” Then, with half a wave, he chased his sister into the den.

  I wordlessly followed Grizz to his car.

  “You owe me an explanation,” I said in a low voice as I stood with arms crossed and looked down into the driver’s side of his car.

  He reached into the ashtray and took out a business card. It was for Anthony’s landscaping service. He grabbed a pen out of the console and wrote something on the back.

  “I’m not calling you if that’s what you think,” I said, my fingernails digging into my upper arms.

  Without looking up at me, he said, “Good, because I don’t have a phone.” He handed me the card. “That’s my address on the back. You want an explanation, you come see me. I get home from work every night at six.”

  “You want me to come to you?” I hissed.

  “You can’t have it all your way, Ginny. You obviously weren’t happy to see me in your church classroom. You don’t like that I shop at your grocery store. You don’t want me in your home, and you already made it clear you wouldn’t call me even if I did have a phone. If you don’t get the explanation that you’re looking for from Mimi, you know where to find me.”

  I glared at him.

  He started his car then, and shifted it into reverse.

  “I won’t bother you again, Ginny. I’ll stay away. You have my word on that.”

  I stood there and watched him pull away, rolling my eyes at his last statement. Grizz would never stay away. He wouldn’t know how to. He obviously wanted to immerse himself back in my life. And like the bully he’d always been, he would do it one way or another.

  I was certain I would be seeing him again.

  My neck prickled, and I turned, immediately aware of my surroundings again. Slowly I scanned my neighborhood. I wanted to be sure nobody had seen him. I needed to know he hadn’t been spotted. But as I walked back to my house, I was struck with the sudden realization that I didn’t need to worry about that. I was overthinking. Grizz was never stupid, and he wouldn’t have let himself have any contact with Mimi, let alone drive her home, if there was even a hint of suspicion or danger.

  Nobody cared about the dead biker who’d wreaked havoc on South Florida all those years ago. Apparently, nobody but me.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Grizz

  2001, Fort Lauderdale

  Grizz headed back for his house in Laurel Falls. His mind was still spinning from the conversation he’d had with Mimi. She was sharp, and he felt like he’d been put through an official interrogation. If Mimi was this inquisitive, he could only imagine what his conversation with Ginny would be like. If he ever got to have one with her.

  He answered all of Mimi’s questions honestly except for one—how he’d faked his death. He did, however, plant some truth in her mind: that anyone with enough power and the right amount of money can do anything they wanted.

  “I know you are—or were—wealthy,” she’d said, brow arched. Good. He was glad when she didn’t pursue the subject further.

  His daughter was smart and a bit sassy. She’d continued with other questions after that. He was a little taken aback when he thought he saw her lip quiver as she said in a low voice, “So I guess you never wanted me. You wanted Mom, but not me. You told her to make sure I never knew you. I guess that’s because you didn’t want to know me.”

  He could’ve explained to her then that it had never been his intention to stay away. He could’ve gone into a lengthy discussion about never believing his fake execution would take so many years.

  Instead, he hefted his hip off the car seat and reached for his wallet. He dug deep and pulled out three pictures that were worn and had been cropped to fit inside. He handed them to her.

  Her hands shook as she looked at the pictures. They were of her when she was just a little girl.

  “Mom sent these to you?” So
mething that may have resembled hope was in her voice.

  “No,” he said evenly. “She honored my request to keep you away. I had surveillance on you those first few years. I didn’t want to miss anything. When it was obvious things were taking longer than I’d expected, I stopped the surveillance. It was too much for me and not fair to your parents. Or you.”

  She didn’t say anything, and he thought her lip started to tremble harder.

  “I’d like those back,” he said, his deep voice bringing her back. “They’re the only ones I still have.”

  She’d regained her composure and handed them back to him.

  Now, his groceries put away, he’d made himself something to eat and was sitting on the couch staring at the blank TV screen.

  “I won’t bother you again, Ginny. I’ll stay away. You have my word on that.”

  His own words, spoken only hours ago, taunted him. Who was he kidding? There was a bit of sincerity in what he’d said, but he was really trying to call her bluff. He was certain he caught a moment of weakness in her glance when Jason introduced himself.

  Had he read her right? Did she still have feelings for him? And if she did, to what end? Would she lead two lives? One of devoted and widowed mother of two children and another as mistress to a dead man? He knew how he would like to see things play out, but it would be a long shot, and he had no choice but to wait out the standoff he’d initiated.

  Ginny was one of the most strong-willed and stubborn women he’d ever known, even when she was younger. She would only be stronger now.

  He went to a second bedroom which he’d set up as an exercise room and lifted weights. When his muscles tired, he took a hot shower and did a load of laundry. He packed his lunch for the next day and headed back to the living room. He flipped through the TV channels and, not finding anything that interested him, tossed the remote aside.

  Where had he put Moe’s journal when he’d moved over here from the efficiency? He went into the bedroom and rummaged through his few belongings. There it was, stuffed back in the bag he’d shoved into one of the nightstand drawers.