by Robin Caroll
“By whom?” Her mother’s brows were raised in that prissy way of hers.
No, Ava wouldn’t lash out at her mother. Despite everything her mother did that drove her crazy, at least she wouldn’t frame her children for murder.
“Lenore.”
Charla spit coffee across the table. “Lenore Pershing framed her own son for Dylan’s murder?”
Bea moved in an instant, wiping up the mess.
“She confessed.” Ava lifted a casual shoulder, praying her mother wouldn’t ask for more details.
“Well, well, well.” Charla smiled, the first smile Ava had seen from her mother in days. “I always knew that woman was evil from the word go.”
“Mother.”
Charla’s eyes hardened. “Did she kill my son?”
“She says no, and I think the police believe her.”
“Bradford is an idiot and soft on her. Of course, he’d believe her.”
“No. The FBI. She’s been charged with framing Max and interfering in a federal investigation.”
“So, who killed Dylan?”
“That’s still unsolved.” Which filled Ava with remorse and frustration.
“I see.” Charla took a sip of the fresh cup Bea handed her.
No time like the present to lay her emotions out on the table, quite literally. She set her cup on the saucer. “Mother, I need to let you know I love Max Pershing, and if he’s interested, I’m going to be dating him.” She held up a hand to stop the tirade she saw flaming in Charla’s expression. “This isn’t up for discussion. I won’t force you to accept him, but he will be a part of my life. If you can’t handle that, I’ll rent a place of my own and move out.”
Her mother opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. A softness crept into the edges of her eyes. Just the edges, but it was a start. “I don’t like it, Ava, and you know it. But you don’t have to move out.”
It was enough. For now.
She nodded and took a bite of the toast Bea slipped in front of her.
A knock on the front door interrupted the peaceful silence between mother and daughter. Moments later, Bosworth appeared with a vase of a dozen white roses. “Ms. Ava, where would you like these?”
Heart hopping, Ava jumped up and took the vase from the butler. She inhaled their heady scent, then reached for the card. Her fingers fumbled getting it out of the envelope.
God gave me a second chance. Will you?
All my love, Max
“Oh, my.” Ava smelled the flowers again, her heart and spirit soaring.
“Where would you like the rest of them?” Bosworth asked.
“Rest of them?”
“Yes, ma’am. There are fifteen dozen in all, from what I understand.”
“Fifteen dozen?!” Ava’s hand flew to her mouth. A dozen for each year they were apart. Tears trailed down her cheeks. “I don’t know, Bosworth.”
The older man smiled. “I’ll have them scattered across the house, madam.”
“Thank you.” Ava touched a petal.
“I wasn’t aware the Pershings owned a florist.”
Ava snapped her gaze to her mother’s face. No malice lurked in the carefully made up lines. “Was that a joke, Mother?”
Charla pushed the button to back her chair from the table. “Don’t be ridiculous, Ava Scarlett. Renaults don’t make jokes.”
Watching her mother roll out of the room, Ava smiled. This was a good day indeed.
Suddenly, the faint chords of “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge could be heard.
Their song.
She raced to the door, nearly knocking over Bosworth. The florist van moved, heading down the driveway.
Max sat on the hood of his truck, a portable CD player sitting beside him.
Her heart nearly stopped.
He slid to the ground and took two steps toward her.
She scampered down the stairs.
And into his waiting arms.
“Oh, Max.”
“I love you, Ava. With all my heart.”
Fresh tears spilled from her eyes. “And I love you. I always have.”
Their kiss melded their hearts and spirits together.
This time for good.
EPILOGUE
Fat Tuesday delivered a magical day.
Ava accepted the hug from Jocelyn and Sam both. “It was perfect, girl. Thank you so much,” Jocelyn gushed. As a bride, she was simply breathtaking. Her simple gown brought out her natural beauty—from the inside. Sam Pierce was a lucky man indeed.
Max stood at Ava’s shoulder, looking proud. His close proximity kept Ava’s heart fluttering all through the ceremony.
Sam offered his hand to Max. “I hope there are no hard feelings. I was just doing my job.”
Max hesitated a moment, then shook Sam’s hand. “But you have a totally different personality when you put the badge on.”
Sam laughed. “I have to, man.”
Ava smiled, her heart filled to bursting as she glanced around the park.
The outdoor wedding in the gazebo had been beautiful. She’d wondered—what with the invitations calling for guests to come in full Mardi Gras costume, but the event had been amazing.
Her own dress, green and purple satin, grazed the tips of her toes. She’d pulled her hair up into a French twist and decorated it with gold feathers. The look in Max’s eyes when he came to pick her up made the extra time she took to get ready all worth it. And he looked dashing in his tuxedo.
Neither Charla nor Lenore was present, which made the gaiety even better. With Max and Ava a firm couple, the towns-people of Loomis didn’t have to pick sides today. A blessing all around.
The park had been decked out in everything Mardi Gras. A zydeco band set up next to Pershing Provisions, which had irked Micheline Pershing. Max overruled her arguments. Even the day was warm and clear. Not a cloud in the sky.
The band started a slow song.
Max took her elbow. “Shall we, Ms. Renault?”
She laughed. “Most certainly, Mr. Pershing.”
She stepped into his arms as if they’d never been apart. In her heart, they hadn’t been. They moved together, gently swaying to the beat of the music.
What would her and Max’s wedding be like? She’d plan the most perfect wedding ever. They deserved it.
Ava glanced around at the people crowding the dance floor. Sam and Jocelyn, looking like they stepped off the top of the wedding cake. Did she and Max glow like that?
Couples danced and laughed. A perfectly planned wedding. She needed to give Cathy a big bonus for all her help.
Off to the side, Clint Herald sat with Sarah on his knee. While he may not agree to a DNA test just yet, Ava wasn’t going to give up hope. God was in the miracle business after all. Being in Max’s arms right now was proof of that.
She let out a sigh. Happiness threatened to explode in her. Life was good.
Sheriff Bradford Reed, in his uniform, stepped onto the dance floor and tapped Sam on the shoulder. Ava was close enough to hear their exchange.
“I hate to interrupt you today.”
“Then don’t.” Jocelyn glared at the local lawman.
“I don’t have a choice.”
“What is it?” Sam growled.
“A shoe that’s been identified as belonging to Leah Farley has been found.”
Jocelyn twisted to spy Clint and Sarah in the corner of the park. Sam took Jocelyn’s hand and followed the sheriff off the dance floor.
Ava tugged Max behind them. No way was she going to miss this conversation.
“Where?” Sam asked.
“Out near the old pier. By an old house that’s been boarded up. It was once a stop on the underground railroad. There’s a door in the root cellar beneath it that opens into a narrow tunnel which leads to a room where escaped slaves once hid. We boarded up the entrance to the tunnel many years ago to keep kids out, but when we found the shoe near the back door of the house, we found that the boards coverin
g the entrance to the tunnel have been pulled down and haphazardly replaced.”
Sam hesitated, clearly being sucked back into the investigation but wanting to stay with Jocelyn.
She rose on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Go. This town deserves answers to what happened to our citizens.”
Sam gave Jocelyn a quick kiss before leaving with the sheriff.
Ava put an arm around her friend. “An FBI agent…it’s always going to be something, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Jocelyn glanced over to Clint and Sarah again. “But I meant what I said. Loomis needs to know the truth of what happened to Earl, Leah, Angelina and Dylan.”
“I know.” Ava dropped her arm from Jocelyn’s shoulders and snuggled into Max. “We do need answers.”
“I’m going to talk to Clint.” Jocelyn headed across the park.
Max turned Ava to face him. “We might not have the answers to what happened to everyone yet, but God asks us to trust in Him, with all our hearts.”
“I do.”
“I know, and that’s one of the many reasons I love you so much.” He kissed her lips, then held her tight.
She did trust God with all her heart, but she sure hoped answers to what happened would be uncovered soon.
Very soon.
Dear Reader,
This has been a fun adventure for me—to work with five other amazing Love Inspired Suspense authors to produce this series. It’s been a great honor to work with them and see this series all brought together. I’ve so enjoyed being a part of the group.
The characters in all of the books are so complex and diverse. It’s been fun watching them work through their inner struggles and overcome.
Ava and Max’s story reminds me of a modern-day Romeo and Juliet. Sharing their love amid a backdrop of mystery and suspense was both challenging and gratifying. Max being accused of a crime he didn’t commit is a story line that’s very close to my heart. Bad things sometimes happen to good people and we may never understand that—we just have to trust in God with all our hearts. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about the people from Loomis.
I love hearing from readers. Please visit me at www.robincaroll.com and drop me a line, or write to me at P.O. Box 242091, Little Rock, Arkansas 72223. Join my newsletter group and sign my guest book. I look forward to hearing from you.
Blessings,
Robin Caroll
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Ava’s mother ripped apart Ava and Max’s young love. Have you ever had someone interfere with your relationships? How did you handle the situation?
Max felt as if God wasn’t answering his prayers. Have you ever felt that way? How did you work through your disappointments?
Dylan didn’t have a great reputation around town, which upset Ava. Have you ever had to live down a reputation or one of a relative? What is the best way to deal with the situation?
Max was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Have you ever been falsely accused of something? How did you overcome it?
Ava felt inferior around her overbearing mother. Have you ever felt that way? How did you reconcile your emotions?
Max’s and Ava’s mothers were domineering and interfering, sometimes to extremes. Have you ever had to deal with someone close to you with those character traits? How did you handle the relationship?
Ava felt as if she’d been pushed into a profession she hadn’t really wanted to pursue. Have you ever been in a similar situation? What did you do?
Law enforcement doesn’t always get it right. Have you ever been convinced that law enforcement was wrong in a particular situation? How did you handle that in a Christian manner?
Ava had made mistakes in her past, acting out because she was hurt. Have you ever acted out? Explain.
Max and Ava had to learn to trust one another again in order to reclaim their love. How important is trust to you in your personal relationships?
Ava battled with herself about Max’s possible involvement in her brother’s death. Have you ever warred within yourself about another person? What happened?
Micheline Pershing showed great rudeness at Dylan’s funeral. How have you dealt with rudeness in people?
Ava and Max were each raised to hate the other because of an old family feud. Has someone ever tried to persuade you not to like someone based on the past actions of others? How did you handle the situation?
Max returned to God when he felt all alone in the world. Have you ever felt like that? What did you do?
Ava loved Max and prayed for his salvation. How might you help someone you know is unsaved?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-2829-4
FRAMED!
Copyright © 2009 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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