“Thank you both for your understanding.” Then he turned to Robin and asked, “Can I hitch a ride back to the motel from you, please?”
Her fiancé looked so forlorn and shell-shocked, Robin’s voice caught before she could speak past the lump in her throat. What did you expect after you deserted him in his time of need? Get a clue, Robin.
“I’ll take you home—back to my place.”
As they walked to the parking lot Robin had to jog to keep up with Jeff. He had his head down and was walking much faster than normal. You’ve blown it sky high this time, Robin.
“Jeff, wait for me. I want to talk to you.”
“There’s nothing to say right now, Robin. We’ll talk later.”
Once they were in the car and on the way back to the cottage the tension between them became stifling. Jeff’s jaw was clenched. Silence filled the interior of the car. Robin pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition. Jeff slammed his door and hustled up the front steps.
~*~
Calm down, Clarke, or else you’ll say something you’ll come to regret. You love Robin and she loves you. She made a mistake. He heard Robin’s rushed footsteps behind him. Without looking up he began speaking.
“That was supremely humiliating,” he said gruffly.
“I know. I can’t believe what Susan did to you,” Robin answered.
“I’m not talking about Susan’s accusations. I can deal with a minor bump in the road.”
“What are you talking about then?” Robin asked.
“You—your desertion and lack of support of me when I needed you most. I’ve tried to be understanding and patient of your feelings about what you went through with Thomas and your father. But what you did to me in front of the sheriff was, well, deeply disturbing. In fact, it’s a game-changer in my eyes.”
“What do you mean a game-changer?”
“I mean if your doubting me and turning against me during a rough patch is what I have to look forward to in our marriage, we may as well break up right now. Your actions earlier were callous and cruel.”
~*~
Robin’s eyes stung with tears. Not tears of sadness, but tears of shame. Jeff’s words were true. She’d been self-centered and obnoxious to bail out on him when he was under attack. Her hands were shaking as she fumbled with her keys. She jammed her key into the lock and swung the door open for him. She turned toward Jeff and said, “Can we continue this inside, please?”
“I doubt it’s worth my time to try to work this out with you, Robin.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d listen to what I have to say—please.”
“I’ll come in for a few minutes; then I need to be alone for a while.”
“I understand.”
“Really? You understand? You haven’t shown you get me at all.”
Sarcasm clouded Jeff’s words, and Robin knew she’d hurt him deeply. Help me to communicate my love and devotion to Jeff. Please help me to be humble and non-judgmental during our talk.
Jeff followed her into the cottage and slammed the front door. Disappointment colored his face and his clenched fists and wrinkled brow showed he’d been pushed beyond all rational thought. Robin could hear his labored breathing.
“Please sit down and relax,” Robin whispered.
“I don’t want to sit down or relax.” Jeff paced around the room in circle.
“I want to apologize for my behavior and unkind words. I spoke without thinking, and I regret I hurt you. Please forgive me.”
Jeff stared at her unblinking.
“Say something!” Robin begged.
“Okay, here goes. I’m tired of being compared to every man who did you wrong in your life. I’ve worked hard to prove my love to you over the past few months. I’m not even close to being perfect, but what you did to me today was—I don’t even know what to call it. It was one of the worst moments of my life. If it happens again, I’m through here. I love you and I want to marry you, but I can’t live expecting to be treated like an unwanted pest when the going gets rough. I have feelings, too.”
Embarrassment surged through Robin. She’d felt like this once before in her life. Her grandmother had caught her in a lie when she was fifteen. Robin had used the portion of her weekly allowance she was supposed to set aside for church offering to buy a tube of mascara she wanted more than anything. When Sunday rolled around and Robin had no offering to put in the collection plate at church her grandmother questioned her about it.
“I lost it,” Robin answered lamely.
“Seems like maybe you lost it at the drug store when you bought the tube of mascara you’ve been wearing to school every day this week.”
Robin was so busted then; now, more than a decade later, she was busted by her future husband. She knew she had to take responsibility for her blunder in front of the sheriff earlier. She lifted her head and spoke with a shaky voice.
“I can’t say anything more than I’m very, very sorry. I won’t do it again. I wish I could take back my words and actions from this morning, but I can’t.”
“Don’t you see? I’m not Thomas Bennett or your father. Until you accept I’m a different man, we don’t have a chance of having an honest relationship or happy marriage.”
Robin shuddered at his dead-on assessment of the situation.
“I’m going to leave now before I say something I’ll regret. I need some space to work through this. I’ll text you later.”
He walked out and closed the door. Silence enveloped Robin as the depth of what she’d done and said settled on her heart like a ten-ton weight. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She sobbed her fiancé’s name. Only he wasn’t there to comfort her because she’d driven him away with her disloyal, critical behavior. Emptiness was her sole companion.
~*~
Robin waited for hours to hear from Jeff. He finally sent her a cryptic text letting her know he was fine and would see her tomorrow morning for breakfast. She’d definitely learned something about her future husband during this harrowing episode. He had integrity and backbone. Moreover, she’d learned a lot about herself—none of it pretty. She was acting like a spoiled teen, living in the past, when it came to accepting her faults. This was about her thought processes much more than Jeff. Realization slammed into Robin with crippling force. Can I repair the damage I’ve done to our relationship?
The next morning Robin woke up early and fixed a huge breakfast. When Jeff knocked on the door, she flew to answer it. He looked like something Miss Praise would’ve dragged in and left on the front porch for Robin. Dark circles highlighted his puffy eyes. He hadn’t shaved, and his hair was a mess. He managed a weak smile when she greeted him.
“I missed you,” Robin said as she hugged him around the waist.
His heartbeat was strong and true and she sought comfort there again. He hugged her tightly. He kissed her temples and pushed away to look her in the eye.
“I missed you, too. We need to talk.”
“Yes, all right. Do you want to eat first or talk . . .?”
“I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning, so it might help me feel better if we had breakfast.”
He followed her into the kitchen. She dished up the eggs and sausage she’d cooked for them and added toast, fruit, and juice to the tabletop. She said a brief blessing and encouraged Jeff to eat before they began sharing. The hum of the fridge and the ticking of the wall clock were the only sounds during the meal. Jeff pushed back his chair and put both hands on the table.
“First off, I’m sorry I went off on you yesterday. I was so angry and embarrassed I didn’t think before I spoke. Forgive me?”
“Yes.”
“Second, I definitely do not want to break off our engagement. I was just lashing out because I was so hurt.”
“Okay.”
“Third, let’s move forward and keep the promises we’ve made to each other about improved behavior. I want our love to grow. I’m not a fighter, and I didn’t like not being able to share
my feelings with my best friend last night.”
“Me, too.”
Jeff stood and walked to Robin’s side of the table. He took her hand and pulled her into an embrace. Then he placed his head on her shoulder and smiled. Robin touched his face and kissed him.
“No more disagreements, agreed?” Jeff pinned her with his gaze.
“Absolutely.”
~*~
A few days later Sheriff Snead called Jeff and asked him to come down to the sheriff’s office. Robin volunteered to accompany him, and they walked over together. The sheriff greeted them and waved them into his private office. After closing the door, he turned and smiled at the anxious couple.
“All charges have been dropped by Susan Stinson. After a heated discussion, she agreed with my proposition that perhaps someone else had slashed her tires. She agreed to withdraw the charges if you promise not to come near her property ever again.”
“Not a problem,” Jeff said, his voice unwavering.
“By the way, this isn’t going into any law enforcement records on you, Jeff. Let’s chalk it up to an unfortunate, time-consuming misunderstanding. Agreed?”
“Thank you, Sheriff. Something like this could have negative consequences in my line of business.”
“Believe me, I know. And Jeff, my warning about staying away from Susan Stinson stands. The woman is definitely trouble with a capital T.”
The couple shook hands with the sheriff and walked out into the sunshine smiling.
“I’m so glad for you.” Robin flashed Jeff a smile.
“You think you’re glad . . .” Jeff grinned for the first time in days.
“I hope Susan has gotten her need to stir up trouble out of her system for good,” Robin said.
“I wouldn’t count on it, honey. Her need for attention and drama seems insatiable.”
~*~
It was time for Jeff to return to Illinois. Saying farewell to Robin was more difficult than he imagined when he’d proposed. To her credit, she didn’t cry as they were saying their goodbyes. He could see the strain on her face from forcing back her tears.
They’d decided it was easier for them both to say goodbye at the cottage rather than at the airport. Bruce and Shirley from the church had offered to deliver him safely to the airport in Santa Rosa to catch his flight home.
As Robin looked up at him with cloudy eyes, Jeff reassured her he’d be in contact by telephone, texts, and email each day. He’d definitely be in Bonita Creek for Thanksgiving, if not before. She’d be in his prayers each day, and she should call him for any reason.
Jeff knew Robin was anxious because she began to pace around her living room. She refused to make eye contact with him, and her expression grew more panicked as the minutes ticked past. “Please stop pacing.” He snagged her hand and pulled her close. “I want to say something to you, Robin.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, we’ve come a long way in the past few days. I love you, and my heart will be in California with you even when I’m back in Illinois working. I’m glad you’ll be my wife within the next year. We’ll be together soon, but first we have to make it through this horrible separation. Then I’ll be free to begin fresh here.”
She nodded unenthusiastically and he continued, “Promise me you won’t doubt my love for you and my dedication to our relationship. Once I move to Bonita Creek, we’ll never be separated again. I’m not going away. I’m in this relationship for the long haul.”
“Thanks for saying that. I love you. Have a safe trip home, and please call me when you get home.”
“I’ll be back before long, you’ll see.”
The pair gazed into each other’s eyes until they heard Bruce honk the horn outside.
“I’ve got to go.”
Jeff's call came several hours later.
“I made it back safely, but I’m exhausted. I’ll call you back in the morning to tell you how much I love you all over again.”
“I love you. Sleep well,” Robin said.
~*~
The next morning when Robin went outside to fill Miss Praise’s food and water bowls, she discovered the bowls had barely been touched since she’d filled them yesterday. This was odd because the old tabby had a hearty appetite. Worried, Robin went around to the front porch to see if Miss Praise was dozing in her cozy bed. What she saw when she rounded the porch corner puzzled her. Instead of finding Miss Praise cuddled up in the basket, there was a stuffed cat. The toy was a gray tabby, the same as Miss Praise. A large card was tied around the toy’s neck.
What in heaven’s name is going on? Robin leaned down and yanked the card off of the toy. The front of the card featured a black and white photo of Miss Praise dozing in her bed. Robin’s heart pulsed into overdrive. She took a deep breath and hesitated before opening the card. Handwritten in red ink the card read:
Boo hoo for Little Miss Perfect, Robin Bennett. Have her cat’s nine lives finally ended? Maybe this replacement cat will cheer you up.
All my best,
A Concerned Friend.
Robin felt dizzy and reached for the porch post to steady herself. When her head cleared a bit, she searched for Miss Praise in the front garden. Maybe her cat was fine. Maybe this was Susan’s idea of a sick prank.
“Here, kitty, kitty, kitty. Here, Miss Praise. Come here, sweetie.”
This might work because Miss Praise usually comes when I call her. Robin walked through her front garden without finding a sign of her tabby, so she wandered into the back garden and continued her search.
“Please come here, kitty. Here, kitty—”
After searching carefully for nearly an hour Robin hadn’t found Miss Praise. Miss Praise had never been one to wander far from home. Robin’s imagination went wild. Had someone harmed the cat? Where was she? Tears streamed down Robin’s face and neck. She was shaking uncontrollably and her first thought was to call over the fence to rouse Jeff. Except Jeff wasn’t there, he was in Illinois. So she ran to the house to call the first person who came to mind.
~*~
Pastor White’s heels make a clickety-clack noise on Robin’s brick pathway, breaking the overwhelming silence in the garden.
“Oh, my dear. How can I help?”
The grief in Robin’s monotone voice was obvious.
“Pastor, I think we both know who did this awful thing. It has to be Susan Stinson. The nasty emails were one thing, no one got hurt. The charges against Jeff were worse, but once again no one was harmed. Now she’s involved an innocent animal. She has to be stopped!”
“We can’t just accuse someone without any evidence.”
“I do have evidence. Susan wrote the same name on today’s card she used on those nasty emails. When she signed the card, she drew a little heart over the ‘i’ in friend just as she’s done since she was a teen.”
“I see. You may be right about Susan. Shall I call Sheriff Snead to come over here? We’ll need to file a formal report before he can become involved.”
“Yes. Will you call him for me? I want to find my cat as soon as possible.”
Robin stood and reached for the card the pastor held in his hand.
“I feel like ripping this card to shreds. Susan is taunting me like she’s done for so many years.”
“We need to leave everything just as it is so the sheriff and his deputies can investigate the crime scene. Let me hold onto the card until the sheriff arrives.”
“Of course, I wasn’t thinking.”
“I’ll call him right now. Why don’t we move you to another spot so you’ll be more comfortable?”
Robin allowed him to guide her back to the patio area. “Can you please call my cousin Penny? I need her to be here. Her number’s posted on the fridge.”
“Yes.”
It seemed like an eternity before the pastor returned to Robin’s side. “Sheriff Snead is on his way and so is Penny. May I get you something?”
“Maybe a sweater from the front closet. I’m
freezing, and I can’t stop shivering.”
The pastor returned in a few minutes with a heavy sweater for Robin. Penny was trailing behind him.
“Oh, Robbie—I’m so sorry. What can I do for you?”
“Just sit with me. I’m so shocked. Miss Praise was my last tie to my grandpa and grandma. Why would Susan hurt my sweet kitty?”
Robin dissolved into tears as Penny reached for her. Penny held her best friend and shared words of comfort with her, and soon Robin’s tears slowed. By that time, the sheriff and two of his men had arrived with cameras, evidence bags, and their other crime scene equipment. They spoke to Pastor White to get the general information needed to begin their investigation.
“Hopefully, we can get some prints off the stuffed animal and the card. We can also have the handwriting analyzed,” Sheriff Snead reported. “Robin, when you feel better, we’ll need a statement from you.”
She nodded wearily, her eyes swollen and vacant. As the sheriff and the deputies began working on the front porch and in the gardens, Penny hugged her best friend.
“Do you want me to call Jeff?”
“Would you, please? Tell him what happened. Make sure to tell him I’m heartbroken and worried, but I’m not hurt. You can use my phone. His number’s stored there under JC.”
Pastor White came to sit with Robin while Penny was gone. “I told the sheriff about your suspicions Susan Stinson was involved in this episode. He told me what Susan did to Jeff with the tire slashing incident. He said he’ll do his best to find the guilty party.”
Robin looked at her pastor and attempted to smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you and Penny in my life. Thanks for being here.”
“My pleasure. Mind if I call Marian to let her know what’s happening? She can get the prayer circle started. We’ll definitely need the Lord’s intervention on this one. He loves all of His creatures.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
As he walked to the far end of the garden to call home Penny returned with Robin’s cell phone in hand.
Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1) Page 22
