WindSwept Narrows: #16 Anna Carson & Catherine Jenkins

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “I can pick out a gun or knife…” she shook her head and met his gaze. She felt his hand move at her side and saw a small velvet case in his palm. “Aaron…”

  “I know you’re going to argue…you’ll try using excuses that fit other people,” he opened the box and lifted the slender silver hammered ring topped with an oval diamond. “But they aren’t us. They don’t feel what we feel…marry me, Catherine Jenkins,” he lifted her palm while she was still staring and slid the ring along her finger.

  “I…” she felt her stomach jump and heat burn behind her lashes. “I don’t know what to say…I…it’s not…”

  “Just tell me you’ll think about it,” he closed her fingers over his, carrying them to his lips with a grin that faded when she shook her head. “Catherine…”

  “No…no…” Violet eyes shimmering with moisture rose from their hands to stare at him. “I don’t need to think it over…you…somehow…yes,” she finally whispered when her brain and mouth wouldn’t function properly. She swore she could see a brilliant wave of pure delight sweep through him, his hand turning hers over and kissing the soft center before wrapping her tightly against him for a long, long minute of nothingness and everything all at the same time.

  “You just need to know…it’s not for the good food…” Catherine lifted her head and winked at him. “It’s for the really good food,” she teased with a bright laugh.

  “Let’s go before I forget there’s a plan for this evening,” Aaron took keys from the counter, checked for his wallet and set the alarms. He kept his pace slow, his palm at her waist until he had her in the front of his car. “You sure you don’t want the cane, Catherine?”

  “Not tonight…it really is getting better,” she told him once he’d accepted her answer and got in beside her.

  ****

  Anna stood before the mirror in the closet, put a hand beneath each breast and adjusted slightly. The chiffon was amazingly soft and form fitting until just past her hips. The shoulder straps were as far on the end of her shoulders as they could possibly be and she nodded as she stepped into her heels. A little spritz of perfume and one last look before she wandered down the hall. She had the loose curls pulled back with a couple gold wire combs.

  Carter looked up from the computer screen at the sound of swishing and felt that bus slam into him again. She met his gaze and offered a little twirl, the black fabric crisscrossing her back and clinging enviously to the slender curves.

  “You forgot your tie,” she said and walked to stand in front of him, her hands soft as they brushed his throat and gently patted the bow tie in place. “Very handsome,” she said with a wink, going to her toes and kissing him. “Ready?”

  “No. But since the three of you out voted me…” He lifted his cell phone and tapped the call button. “We’re ready, Leo.”

  “We’re going in the limo?” She slid her palm into his, her wrap and small bag in the other hand. “I’m okay with it, Carter…honestly.”

  “Anna…” He felt the bubbly anger and frustrations inside him. “I don’t want you near the politician,” he said flatly. “I don’t want you listening or hearing anything the man has to say.”

  “I’m sorry. I know you’re worried about me,” she said as she slid into the comfortable backseat, her hands on her lap, waiting patiently. “Maybe I need to face him, Carter.”

  He let his head fall back for a quiet minute, the car moving smoothly into the evening and toward Seattle. He didn’t want to fight with her. He didn’t want to have her anywhere near the voice that still haunted her.

  Anna sighed and slid over, lifted his arm and fit herself against him. She felt his hand on her shoulder and slid one of her palms into the hand on his thigh. She felt his cheek against her head, felt his lips gently touch her forehead and closed her eyes.

  “I…don’t have to like it, Anna, but I can understand,” he finally managed to say, looking down at the way she angled their palms up, fitted to one another. Hers was so fine, so delicate. Then he remembered her decked out in khakis and tee shirt, digging and planting; or standing in the door to the dining room making a demand for him to tell her what he wanted. He knew she was stronger than he sometimes felt. Then she woke up covered in sweat or letting loose with a blood curdling scream that lived inside her in a place he could never hope to find and fix for her.

  “We had fun shopping today. I really like Catherine, which is good because she’s so crazy about Aaron,” she lifted her head, her hands around his when he fell to his thigh. “I bought you a present.”

  Carter met the slightly lowered dark eyes, his brows knit as she took his palm and slid it onto her bare, satiny covered knee. With her hand over his, she continued to glide over the stockings that came to an end on her thighs in a lacey edge.

  “For me, huh?” He’d known the instant the teasing gleam entered her eyes, he didn’t have a chance.

  “Hmmm…well…I thought you might appreciate what’s beneath the dress as much as the overall appearance,” Anna said with a little laugh when he pulled his hand from beneath her dress.

  “But then I find your khakis and those cute tank tops you wear incredibly sexy,” he returned honestly. “Stay with me tonight, Anna. I…”

  “Catherine and I figured we have to keep you and Aaron from possible violence,” she said with a sigh, peeking up at him through her lashes. She winced at the tense line of his jaw, the thick pulse at the side of his throat a little more prominent. “No one else would believe me, Carter. Not the memory of a four year old and some…some obscure words spoken to her. Why do you?”

  Because I’m so insanely in love with you, you could tell me the moon was purple and I’d believe you, he heard the words shouted out inside his mind.

  “The drawings aren’t something that can be disputed, Anna. The two things together…” he shifted his back against the door, his palms up and on her face. A sweetly innocent face that simply met his gaze without faltering, that curious tilt to her head something that had drawn him to his knees before he’d managed to label what he was feeling. Whether they were shouting at one another or lost in passion, he never doubted where he stood with her and yet there was doubt inside him about her feelings.

  “Catherine told me about him,” she said quietly, a part of her wanted to close her eyes but she didn’t. “She told me what he had been in prison for…when he was thirteen and again at sixteen. I have to wonder how many weren’t safe like me…”

  “Christ…” He pulled her against him, wanted nothing more than to keep her in that safe place.

  Anna sighed and hugged him. “Carter…do you want to know why I love you so very much?” She felt the controlled gasp and lifted her head to meet his eyes. “Because you’re honest with me. Even when we don’t agree…you’re honest. I need that.”

  “Pulling before the hotel now, Carter,” came Leo’s voice through the intercom.

  “We’re going to talk about your timing,” he whispered in her ear before he stepped onto the concrete, his palm held out for hers. He almost burst out laughing at the puzzled expression on her face. She had no idea the immense fireball of a curve she’d tossed at him. A fireball that warmed him from his toes and made him wonder if the grin on his face was as big and silly as it felt.

  “Oh, look! Catherine and Aaron…she’s beautiful,” Anna breathed excitedly, waving across the covered awning area as Aaron helped her out of the car. He was dealing with the valet when Anna swept up and started talking to Catherine. Carter watched the cameras around them, a noncommittal expression on his face when one of them stepped up to him.

  “Mr. Shipley…are you throwing your support to the candidate?”

  Carter looked from the microphone to the woman moving back to his side, her hands wrapped around his arm. “There isn’t one thing about Barrows that I’d contribute either my time or my money to.”

  “Excuse us…we have a dinner reservation,” Aaron kept close to Catherine, his hand firm on her waist and pace de
liberately slower, escorting them inside and straight to the elevator.

  “So which of you is more tense?” Catherine looked from one to the other.

  “They think we don’t notice,” Anna said with a delicate shrug, her eyes widening when they landed on Catherine’s wiggling fingers at the same time the elevator opened. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened and closed when Catherine nodded in silent excitement. “Excuse us…ladies room…” She stepped forward, almost dragging Catherine with her, their heads bent as they found the restroom.

  “She’s right…” Carter said, dragging in a long, slow breath.

  “I’m escorting a woman with a gun strapped to one thigh while the other one is still wrapped in gauze and stitches,” Aaron kept his voice low and flat as they moved out of the stream of people exiting the elevator for various rooms on the massive ballroom level.

  “Huh…that beats what I found beneath Anna’s skirt,” Carter murmured with a shake of his head. “Although, I have to admit what I found was by far more…entertaining.”

  “As a brother, I don’t want to know,” he ground out with a laugh. “I was exposed to her Halloween costumes through the years.”

  “You know you’re just going to get the lecture about how ever did they survive all these years alone.”

  “Yeah…and you’re handling it much better?”

  “No. Hell no, I want to throw her over my shoulder and get her the hell away from the Austin’s and Barrows,” he returned coldly, he shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze in the direction of the restrooms. “She said she has to do this, Aaron. And maybe that’s the part we’re missing.”

  “I know…I’ve done nothing but think about it since the whole thing began again,” Aaron leaned against the wall, his stance deceptively relaxed, his eyes scanning the long hallway to the room touting the fundraiser for congressional candidate Barrows.

  “But you went along and even agreed to let the girls handle it,” Carter pointed out. “While we stand back and look mean.”

  “I’m pretty sure it won’t be a difficult part for either of us at the moment,” Aaron watched the two women move among the people, their arms linked and heads bent in chatter.

  Both men felt the crush of their senses as they approached, each one offering a palm. A gesture that was noticed and remarked upon.

  “Lieutenant…I had no idea you cleaned up so well,” the man came from along the hall, dressed in a black tux like most of the guests around the hall.

  Catherine turned at the voice, her palm resting in Aaron’s. “You catch candidate duty, Milner?”

  “Me ‘an Kelly…you?”

  “Just out with some friends,” she said easily, taking a step toward him and holding up a finger to the others behind her. “A minute…” She walked with him out of hearing range. “You’ll be in the fundraiser?”

  “Yeah…problems?” He’d been a detective long enough to know how to read those with more experience.

  “Let’s say it’s not going to be a stellar night for the candidate. Get with Kelly. If you see him or any of his goons move toward the woman with me, block them. And I’ll take the hit for how. Just keep them from her.”

  “Consider it done,” he said with a solemn nod. “Don’t care for the guy or his politics…something…twitchy…about him…”

  “Yeah…keep an eye out for Vianne Summers. And enjoy the show,” she said with a wink, turning and heading back to Aaron. “Sorry…a little cop stuff.”

  Aaron bent his head, touching the side of her face with his lips. “You’re looking out for Anna, aren’t you?” He whispered as they followed the other couple into the expensive, exclusive restaurant.

  “Hmm…you smell pretty good,” she teased with a wink that made him smile and hold her a little closer.

  “We’re to meet the Austin’s in the lounge,” Carter said quietly, too aware of the tension in the small hands wrapped around his palm. “Anna…”

  “Shhh…I’m good…please…maybe some wine would be nice,” she said, plastering a smile in place and walking casually into the dim, very large room. Waiters and waitresses were decked out with starched everything, she thought, watching them move through the tables with trays of drinks.

  “Shipley party,” Carter told the man at the desk, a brisk nod offered before he stepped forward, gesturing that they follow.

  Anna knew her feet were slowing. She knew it and couldn’t make them walk normal. It was getting cold and the only thing keeping her from shaking was Carter, he brought his other palm up, covering hers and swearing softly.

  Catherine hung back slightly to the side with Aaron, watching Anna. She could see her pale slightly, her body shifting. She could envision her wanting to hide behind a door, be unseen. She could tell from watching her that something had triggered a memory.

  Anna raised one palm and touched her cheek at the same time Catherine grabbed her wrist with a tight squeeze. She told her when she felt like this, look at her. Not at anyone else. Anna’s eyes went immediately to Catherine’s, her head up and a shuddering breath drawn in before she nodded.

  “Amelia and Michael Austin…” Carter kept his hand at his side. “Aaron and Anna Carson. Catherine Jenkins.”

  The older woman smiled at them all and waved her palm toward the chairs. “Please…please…sit down…are you alright, dear?” She reached toward Anna only to withdraw her palm when the younger woman pulled back with a sharp gasp. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t touch me…” Anna brought her hand to her face again. “You pinched. You pinched and told me I wasn’t pretty like my mother…because I had dark hair…not golden.”

  “Anna…” Aaron pulled a chair over and Carter pushed her into the seat. He let Catherine sit next to her with him on the edge and Carter on her other side.

  “I’m sure there’s some mistake…” The man began smoothly.

  “Why did you want to find us?” Anna demanded, her back stiff and hands folded on the table.

  “Why…because you’re family…”

  “No, we aren’t your family,” she threw back without thinking. She opened the little bag between her hands and pulled a photo out. “I didn’t remember until I saw the photos. You had long blond hair like the mother. Tight clothes and lots of makeup…”

  There was a strange sense of satisfaction inside her when they paled at her words. She wasn’t a child this time. She had the words now.

  “I think maybe you’re a slight bit distraught, Anna…” Amelia Austin lost the glossy smile that had been in place. “Childhood memories can play tricks on you…”

  “I’m not distraught,” Catherine spoke up with a cheery smile, her hand sliding onto the table and covering Anna’s. “So let me tell you a story…”

  “Young woman, I have no idea who you are…”

  “I’m the story teller,” she said simply. “You had a good looking daughter. I’ve seen pictures of her as a teenager. From the seriously wrong side of the tracks. But Philip Ellison was a pretty normal eighteen year old male when you targeted him for her. You had long term plans and his family had deep, deep pockets that you wanted a piece of,” she looked from one to the other and leaned back into Aaron’s arm. “Oh, good….I could use some wine about now, how about you?”

  “We don’t know you and have no intention of discussing family matters with you.”

  “But I’m going to be family,” she returned with a chuckle, her hand up and wiggling. “Nice rock, don’t you think? My guy has serious taste…”

  Aaron couldn’t stop the laughter if he had fought it. He lifted the palm closest to him, kissing her knuckles. “Yes, he seriously does, Catherine.”

  Catherine took her time, sipping the wine and watching them weigh how badly things had started to turn.

  “You got the teenagers together and told your daughter to be real nice and friendly to Philip. Friendly enough that the next thing you know, there’s a rush wedding and a set of twins born nine months later. Fortunate for you…anoth
er couple reasons for the Ellison’s to pay up. And because of the twins, they did. Fancy house, nanny…expenses…all in exchange for visitation. Since you controlled Maryanne and she controlled Philip…the twins were a commodity to you, but you had bigger plans. Take the drug trade out of the slums and move it into a fancy neighborhood where the narcotics cops never looked.”

  “This is preposterous!” Michael Austin looked from one to the other. “Where did you find this…this woman?”

  Catherine laid the little black bag on the table and pulled out a gold shield to rest on top of it.

  “Actually, I was lucky and found him…so where was I in the story?” Catherine watched the jumping pulses on the older couple. “And you really want to know…I made the mistake of thinking it was all one big issue…when in reality, you’re afraid of Barrows…afraid he’ll recognize you. Carter told me how you balked at this location and this time for a meeting. You want to pretend to the world that you’re wealthy and well connected, which is why you’re listed on his donor list.”

  “This is not a meeting,” Amelia bit out angrily. “It’s an ambush…an assassination!”

  “Because we aren’t four years old anymore,” Anna said quietly, looking from one to the other and shaking her head.

  “If it hadn’t been for our son-in-law, that man would have gotten his hands on you,” Amelia shot back without pausing. A smirk filled her features when she watched the younger woman pale.

  “You knew all along what he was,” Catherine tightened her hand on Anna’s. “But she was worth more to you from the Ellison’s. And Philip was gullible and spoiled and not overly bright, but a little part of him was still decent enough to protect a child from a predator. Enough to fight with him occasionally…that’s what brought the whole thing crashing around you. Spencer wanted to hurt them because he didn’t get what he wanted, so he set you up with the feds. The parents went down and you disappeared.”