by Pat Ballard
Nella regained control, and dabbed at her eyes with the tissue Sam handed her. She mentally braced herself for what was coming. When she finally looked up, Sam sat quietly watching her. The fury she expected was not in evidence on his face. Instead, he handed her a newspaper.
Questioningly, she took it and looked down at the front page.
A gasp of disbelief escaped her as she gazed at a full-page photo of herself wearing only a bra, panties, a red necklace and red earrings. She was obviously soaked and quite dazed-looking.
“What—is—this?” she choked out.
“That’s you, right after we pulled you out of the water.”
“But who would take a picture of me like that?” Disbelief was giving way to agitation.
“The press, obviously.” His voice had not changed tones. He spoke quietly and in control. Nella wondered when the explosion would hit.
“Read the caption,” he instructed.
She read,
Food tycoon Sam du Cannon almost lost his only son last night due to the carelessness of his party-loving wife.
She stared at him through huge, tear-filled eyes.
“Oh, Sam. I’m so sorry. I know it was stupid of me to take a chance like that, but I would have bet my life that rope would never come untied! Do you want me to leave? I—”
He held his hands up to stop her. “Nella—Nella! The rope didn’t come untied.”
She stared at him opened-mouthed as he answered her unasked question.
“It was cut.”
Chapter 5
“Cut? But how? Who would do such a thing? Did one of the other kids have a sharp object in the water?” She would have gone on, but again, Sam stopped her.
“Nella, the rope was cut just below the chair leg. In fact, one of the policemen suggested that you did it. They wanted to question you.”
She felt dead inside. Did Sam believe she’d do something like that?
“Sam, if I had cut that rope, would I have risked my life trying to save Jake?”
“That’s exactly what I asked the authorities.” His answer was quiet and reassuring. “That’s when they realized they were making a wrong assumption.”
“Then they’re not going to question me?” Hope was again creeping into her voice.
“Well, they want to talk to you. Nella, someone was close enough to you to cut that rope, if you were in that chair the whole time.”
Suddenly John McHill’s leering face came to her.
“John McHill,” she almost whispered.
“I told you John was a friend of mine.” Sam’s voice was impatient.
“Then why did he proposition your wife last night, if he’s your friend?”
“Whaat?” Disbelief resounded in his voice. “What did he say to you?”
“Sam—” Nella hesitated. “What he said isn’t important. He just made some cheap, low-class remarks.” She didn’t want to repeat the things John had said.
“Don’t you think I have the right to know if someone is coming on to my wife?” Sam’s eyes bored into Nella’s. A stunned silence settled over the room as they both realized how easily and naturally he had used the term “wife.”
Nella got slowly to her feet. The press? How did the press get there that fast? Did someone call them and tell them a rescue was in progress?
Missing pieces were falling into place. The flashes she had kept seeing during the night were memory replays of the cameras going off around her. But something else was bothering her. John McHill had something in his hand when he was talking to her. Was it a drink? No. He had been doing something when she first looked up. But what? She had to remember!
She pressed her fingers against her temples as she stood and gazed out the window. Someone walking on the beach far below her stooped and picked up a piece of driftwood—
“Whittling!” she almost shouted, as she turned back to Sam.
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked, his mind still on the previous subject.
“John was whittling a piece of driftwood when he first walked up to me last night.” Realization dawned on her face. “He must have said those things to startle me so much that I wouldn’t pay attention to what he was doing.”
“That’s a very strong accusation.” Sam still sounded unconvinced. “But,” he added, as if talking himself, “it was John who showed up with the boat we used to rescue you. And come to think of it, the press was with him. He said they’d been covering a party down the beach when they heard the commotion.”
“But why? What does this mean?”
“It means, I’m guessing, that you fouled up a heroic rescue he had planned.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you see? He must be involved with my in-laws. He cut Jake loose so he could rescue him and make me look like an incompetent parent. But you jumped in and saved Jake, so he had to turn the picture on you, no pun intended. The press had to have already been called. There’s no way they could have gotten there that fast. It was all a set-up.” Again Sam was holding the paper. “That’s why this article is so slanted against you. Will you be okay for a while? Do you feel strong enough to cope with Jake?”
“I’m fine,” she said. She wanted to ask him where he was going, but decided against it.
Sam locked the door behind him as he left, and Nella went in search of Jake. He was in the middle of his bed, curled up in a small bundle, sound asleep.
He looked so tiny lying there. Tears filled her eyes again as she thought of how close she had come to losing him.
John McHill may have thought his plan was foolproof, but he couldn’t have known there would be a storm. His staged rescue had almost turned tragic.
She lay down on the bed and pulled the small bundle close to her. He sighed
deeply and snuggled closer. Holding him tightly, Nella soon slept.
That’s how Sam found them two and a half hours later. Neither had moved, still exhausted from the night before.
As he watched them lying there, Nella holding Jake close and protected against her, he felt something stirring deep inside. An emotion that was new to him. An emotion he wasn’t ready to identify.
Nella came awake to voices in the living room. Jake was no longer beside her. Was it the police? Had they come to question her? She glanced at her watch. Six o’clock! She’d slept for four hours!
Slowly she got up and straightened her hair and clothes before starting to the living room. Sam was saying good-bye to someone at the door.
Jake saw her first and came to give her a big hug. “You slept for a long time, Mommy. Daddy and me had to be real quiet so we didn’t wake you up.” A warm ray of pleasure shot through her, just knowing Sam had made a special effort to let her rest. She was gradually changing her opinion of him. He really wasn’t as hard a man as she had thought at first.
Sam turned from the door and motioned toward the dining table. “That was room service. I thought we all needed a good hot meal, but I didn’t think you’d feel like going out. Jake ordered for you.”
She couldn’t believe all the food that was spread on the table before her. Jake was on his knees in one of the chairs, leaning on the table with his elbows, surveying the food.
“That looks like a lot of fat gwams to me,” he said solemnly.
Laughter exploded from Sam. When he caught his breath, he asked, “What are you teaching my son?”
“I’m trying to teach him how to eat so he’ll always be healthy,” she said. “And it wouldn’t hurt you to pay some attention, yourself. Jake,” she continued, “why is it important for us to watch our fat grams?”
“So we can have a healthy car—cardoorvaslalar sistern,” he finished, looking important that he had said such a large word.
“That’s right, Son!” Sam exclaimed, lifting Jake from the chair and high above his head. “And I’m very impressed with you for knowing such a good word. What is your cardiovascular system?”
“It’s your heart, Daddy. Eberybody
knows that.”
After the laughter had quieted down, Sam turned to Nella, looking very serious.
“I’m being forced to be impressed with you,” he admitted honestly. “The doctor said you were one of the healthiest people he’d ever seen. Some time ago I accused you of eating to try to impress me. And, I admit, I thought you were probably just going down and lying on the beach every morning instead of swimming, but now I know how wrong I’ve been. If you weren’t really doing all the things you seem to be doing, you could never have saved Jake’s life last night. I apologize for misjudging you, and I really appreciate what you’re doing with my son. And I don’t even know how to thank you for saving him last night.” Emotions choked Sam’s voice down to a gruff whisper.
Tears filled Nella’s eyes as she reached out and briefly squeezed Sam’s hand. “I can’t imagine a mother who wouldn’t risk her life for her child,” Nella said, looking deeply into Sam’s eyes.
The next morning when Nella got up, Sam had already left.
She went to the kitchen, poured a cup of coffee, and reached for the morning paper. The headlines jumped out at her. There was another full-page cover story about her. But this time it was an apology, and a full, correct account of how she had rescued her stepson, with much praise for her and her heroic actions.
She shook her head in amazement. Sam du Cannon must be a very powerful man to be able to convince the press to eat crow. That must have been where he went when he left yesterday.
She would have loved to have seen him in action. She gave a slight shudder, imagining how he could be if he were really angry.
She had barely gotten dressed when she heard someone knocking on the door. She opened it to find two policemen standing in front of her.
“Yes?” she asked, but knowing why they were there.
“Ma’am, we hate to bother you, but we need to ask you some questions about what happened the other night.”
Nella was dismayed. She didn’t think she’d be questioned now that everyone knew she couldn’t have been involved with what had happened.
“Why do you want to question me?” she asked. The two officers were very young and couldn’t have been out of the academy very long.
“Well, ma’am, you know that rope was cut, and we have to try to find out who did it. May we come in?”
“You certainly may not!” Sam was close behind the two officers, and they hadn’t seen him come up. They both jumped at his loud interjection.
“You boys need to check with Chief Carlson before you try to start questioning my wife. This case is closed as far as she’s concerned. Maybe you two need to go direct traffic somewhere.” Sam’s eyes were cold as he stepped past the two officers and closed the door behind him.
“I am so glad you came when you did. I didn’t know what to do.” Relief flooded through Nella.
“You are in no way to be questioned about what happened. If something like that happens again, you call this man.” Sam handed Nella a business card. “This is my lawyer, Dan Beasly. Just tell him you’re my wife, and he’ll tell you what to do. I don’t think it’ll happen again after I call Chief Carlson, but you keep that card anyway. Call Dan if you ever get into a situation where you need advice.”
As Sam finished his sentence, he picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Chief Carlson, this is Sam du Cannon. Two of your overeager young upstarts were here just now, trying to question my wife about the incident the other night. I would appreciate it if that doesn’t happen again.”
Nella watched as Sam made the call. He was the embodiment of strength. She felt a thrill of excitement just watching him. He looked up and caught her eyes, and winked.
Her pulse leaped. She made a hasty retreat to look out the window. Surely she wasn’t about to blush! But her face sure felt like it was turning red. She must really be tired, to be acting like a silly schoolgirl.
Sam’s laughter brought her back to his conversation. “Yes, I do think a little traffic duty would bring them back down to earth. Thanks, again, Chief.” He hung up the phone.
“I don’t think you’ll have any more problems,” Sam assured her.
Chapter 6
The sunset was so beautiful that Nella felt a lump rise to her throat as she sat on the beach, alone, and watched the sun sink slowly behind the horizon.
She reflected over the past two months. The two months of her marriage. She still had to stop occasionally and ask herself where she was and what was really happening.
She had left Jake at the daycare center and strolled along the beach for a long time. She needed to be alone today, just to think, just to meditate, just to try to take mental stock of what was happening to her life. Sam had called to say he had a late meeting and would not be home before eight-thirty or nine o’clock, so she had decided to get out for a little while.
She stopped in the shade of a large sand dune to watch the spectacular sunset. She was so engrossed in the colorful sky that the voices of the approaching couple were very close to her before she realized anyone was near.
The couple stopped just before they reached the sand dune concealing her from their view. Their conversation drifted over to Nella.
The all-too-familiar voice of her husband came through the softening twilight. “Miranda, I can’t afford to take a chance like that.”
“But Sam—” The voice was soft and persuasive. “We were so close before you got married. I miss the times we spent together. I miss being in your arms.”
Nella knew she should speak up and let them know she was there, but she sat spellbound, remembering the name and voice as belonging to a shapely blonde she’d met at the company party. So this was Sam’s late office meeting. Was this what he was doing every time he said he was working late?
“I know we had some good times, but I have enemies that are watching my every move, and they won’t miss a chance to slap an adultery charge on me, proving me to be an unfit parent. If they caught me going out with you, or if it even looked like I was dating you, that’s all they’d need to have me back in court.”
“Are you sure that’s what’s stopping you? Maybe you really are in love with your wife.” The bitter tone of a jilted woman crept into her voice. “I saw how you were looking at her at the company party, and you sure looked like a jealous husband to me. I don’t think you liked seeing her dance with all those other men.”
“Miranda, don’t be ridiculous! You’re just grabbing at straws now.” Sam’s tone of voice was becoming impatient.
“But Sam, she’s fat. You deserve better than that!” Her voice was whining now.
“Miranda, you’ve said quite enough!” The sharpness of his voice surprised Nella. “Nella,” he continued, “is turning out to be the biggest surprise of my life. I never knew that a woman of her character existed, and her size has nothing to do with anything you and I need to discuss.”
“My word! You are in love with her!” There was genuine shock in her voice.
“And the full moon is getting to you. Come on, I’m taking you home.” Sam’s voice faded as they walked back in the opposite direction.
Nella became aware that as she sat and listened to the conversation the sun had set, and a full moon was, indeed, beginning to light up the sky. She got up and slowly made her way toward the hotel.
So Sam and Miranda had been lovers. Did he love Miranda? Surely he would have shown more emotion tonight if he did. She couldn’t believe he had actually defended her to the woman he had recently been having an affair with. Especially since he’d said he would never be attracted to her. Was he possibly changing his mind?
No. She was sure his stand had been only to protect Jake.
As she reached for the daycare’s door it opened suddenly to reveal Sam with Jake in his arms. The glare he gave her made her wonder briefly if he knew she’d eavesdropped on him and Miranda.
He didn’t say a word as he turned and started toward the elevator. Not knowing what to expect, she followed him inside just as th
e elevator doors slid closed.
She didn’t realize that her hair was thoroughly tousled from her hours on the beach, and that her smoky blue eyes looked questioning and mysterious from her newfound knowledge of him. She didn’t know, as he stood and glared at her, that he was thinking how beautiful she looked standing in front of him.
He unlocked the door and had barely stepped inside before he turned on her and asked, “Where were you?” His tone was mildly accusing, and set Nella immediately on the defensive.
“Out,” she stated flatly, as she brushed past him to go to the living room.
“With whom?” Now his voice was low and very accusing. Nella could not believe this was happening. She couldn’t tell him too much, or he’d suspect her of knowing where he was tonight.
“I just went for a stroll on the beach.” She kept her voice quiet and honest.
“Where?” She saw the glint in his golden eyes.
“Up around Morgan’s Bend,” she lied, as she’d been in the opposite direction.
“And were you alone? You weren’t with any of your admirers from the party?”
“Well, my, my, Sam. I never took you for the jealous type.” She smiled coyly at him. She had to try to throw him off track before he found out where she’d really been.
“I just can’t afford any more media exposure right now,” he said, standing and looking out the window. In a few minutes, he turned back to her. “Pack the bags. We’re leaving tomorrow as soon as I can book a flight.”
“Why are we leaving here?” she asked, already knowing. But she wondered if he was running from potential publicity, or from his feelings for Miranda.
“I just think it’s time to get away from everyone for awhile. This situation with John McHill lets me know my in-laws are trying harder than ever to get their hands on Jake. We need to disappear for a while.”
“Disappear? Where?” Nella didn’t think she liked the mysterious sound of that word.
