Ragan's Song (Fairfield Corners #2)

by L. A. Remenicky

  “Hey, sweetness. What’re you cooking?”

  She squealed and turned around, her hand up to her chest as if to calm her heart. “Geez, Mark. I think you scared ten years off my life,” she said with a smile as she stepped closer and hugged him, burying her face in his shirt.

  Softly placing both hands on her cheeks, he tilted her head back and bent down to kiss her, frowning at her red eyes. “Why have you been crying? What did Adam do now?”

  “Nothing. I guess I’m just emotional today.”

  “Emotional about what?”

  “Just an old letter that I should throw away.” She picked up an envelope and tossed it into the trash can, smacking the lid down quickly. “There, all taken care of.”

  “You sure you’re okay, Baby?”

  “Yeah.” Her phone rang and bounced across the counter. “It’s a client. Will you watch the sauce for a few minutes?”

  “Sure. Go do what you need to do,” he accepted the wooden spoon.

  He stirred the sauce as he tried to avoid thinking about the wadded up paper at the top of the trash can, but he wondered what was in the letter that had made her sad. Giving in to the temptation with a quick glance over his shoulder, he lifted the trash can lid and grimaced at the envelope addressed to Adam. Figures.

  The floor creaking out in the hall alerted him that she was heading his way. He snatched the envelope quickly and shoved it in his pocket, knowing it was important, but not knowing why.

  As they ate, he laughed at Skylar’s antics, but he couldn’t forget the crinkle of the envelope in his pocket, reminding him that she was still attracted to someone else.

  Later that night as he mindlessly flipped from channel to channel on the television, he remembered the stolen piece of mail. Holding it under the light, he squinted to read the postmark. When he snatched it from the trash, he had thought that it might be recent correspondence between them, but this letter had been mailed while she was in the Congo, not too long after she had left Fairfield Corners.

  He flipped it over and the words written on the back caused him more anger than hurt. Now Mark wanted to find Adam and plow his fist into his face. “And don’t come back,” he read aloud. How could he write that and return it to her unopened? How is it possible for her to still love him?

  Chapter 28

  The next morning Ragan called Cassie to ask if she could take Skylar for the day. She needed some alone time… maybe go to the lake and sit out on the deck and think about everything that had happened during the last two months. While scrambling eggs for Skylar’s breakfast, she felt nauseous and ran to the bathroom. Skylar had climbed into his booster seat when she returned and sat waiting with expectant eyes, so she put the cooled eggs in front of him.

  “Great, just what I need today,” she said out loud to nobody as she made another mad dash to the bathroom. “Oh my God.” The only other time that the smell of food had made her physically ill, she was pregnant with Skylar.

  She sat down as her knees turned to rubber. Thinking back, she realized that she hadn’t had her period since she had been back in Fairfield Corners. Her thoughts of Adam and Mark and the threatening notes had preoccupied her mind and it hadn’t concerned her.

  Carefully placing a hand protectively over her stomach, she remembered the sensation of having a life growing inside her. She smiled at the thought of Adam’s face, but her happy memories turned to horror when she remembered the circumstances for a possible pregnancy. Besides, she couldn’t tell him anything until the stalker was caught.

  Sky had finished his breakfast and was trying to push himself away from the table to climb down when she returned to the kitchen. She kissed the top of his head and wiped up his mess, grateful that the nausea seemed to have passed for now. “We’re going to see Aunt Cassie, okay? Let’s get your coat on. It’s chilly out there this morning.”

  The early sun warmed her back as Ragan released Skylar from his car seat and set him on his feet to run up onto the porch. A part of her hoped that she was pregnant while part of her knew it would complicate the whole situation. She pushed that thought aside as she pictured Adam holding their newborn child. The soft slam of the screen door brought her back to reality, and she looked up to find Cassie standing on the porch with Skylar in her arms.

  “Is everything okay?” her friend asked doubtfully.

  “Yeah. I really appreciate you watching him for me today. Let’s get together for dinner tonight. It’s the least I can do.”

  “We’re having a cookout with Adam and Jenna tonight. I’ll ask Logan to stop and get another steak.”

  “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Cassie,” Ragan said with a frown, hoping she wouldn’t ask too many questions. Following her into the house, she tried to get her emotions under control.

  Cassie saw the anguish in Ragan’s features. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Did you have another vision?”

  “No. This whole situation has me feeling like I’m running around in circles,” Ragan admitted as she picked at the polish on her nails. “I just need some time alone up at the cottage. I plan on spending all day there sitting on the deck and enjoying the weather. It will give me some time to think things through.”

  “You sound worried, Ragan. Are you really okay?” Cassie asked as she filled a sippy cup for Sky. “Have you gotten any more notes?”

  “No. No more notes,” Ragan answered as she selected a soda out of the fridge. She practically fell into a chair in front of the table and put her head in her hands, only looking up when she heard Logan enter the room. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” She took a drink of the soda, hoping it would help settle her nerves. “Adam kissed me yesterday and it’s tearing me apart that I have to act like I don’t care.” She stifled a sob and stood, reaching for her purse. “I need to go. I’ll be back by four so we can chat before dinner.” Wiping her eyes, she hurried out the door before Cassie could ask any more questions.

  Logan sat in the chair vacated by Ragan and pulled Cassie into his lap. “I’m worried about her, Dudley,” she confessed against his cheek. “Something else is bothering her.”

  “She needs to tell Adam the truth, and soon,” he replied. Logan kissed the top of Cassie’s head as she sank into his embrace. “I’ll let him know that she’s coming for dinner tonight. Maybe we can give them some time alone so they can work this out.”

  A pair of grey eyes watched as Ragan climbed into her car and buckled her seat belt. As soon as she pulled away from the house, a blue Toyota followed, keeping enough distance between them so she wouldn’t notice. She stopped in front of the pharmacy on the outskirts of town to pick up a pregnancy test, and hoped that none of her mother’s friends were there so the purchase would remain private. The stalker watched her disappear through the entrance before he swung his car around drove back toward Fairfield Corners.

  Parking in front of Ragan’s house, he scanned the area for signs of other people and upon seeing no one, he hurried up to the porch, slipped an envelope into the mailbox and returned to his car. Anger built as he thought about her betrayal. “How can she still love him after he hid his past from her?” he asked out loud. He waited as if he expected someone to answer. “She’s supposed to love me.” Steering the car away from the curb, he stepped on the gas and drove away, chanting, “She can’t love him, she loves me,” over and over.

  Chapter 29

  Nervous and excited about the possible pregnancy, Ragan resumed her drive to her parents’ lake house. She let herself imagine the look on Adam’s face when she told him about the baby. Regretting the circumstances that had prevented him knowing about Skylar, she knew things would be different this time.

  Memories of countless summer days comforted her as she parked in front of the garage. Skylar would have such fun at the lake, just as she had when she was a girl. She could picture the kids swinging out over the water in the tire swing or jumping off the dock to see who could make the biggest splash and eagerly went inside t
o confirm her suspicion.

  After a quick perusal of the instructions, she took the test. She stared out the front window across the lake as she waited for the minutes to pass. Echoes of the past competed with daydreams of the future that could be, depending on the result. The test lay on the counter, her future dependent on the outcome. The timer on her phone dinged, indicating she could check the results. Hoping to find a plus sign, she hurried back into the bathroom, almost afraid to look.

  Both happy and sad at the positive result, she wrapped up the test in a small plastic bag and put it in her pocket. She had some hard decisions to make: how to tell one man in her life that she still loved the other, and bring a final end to their possible future.

  The mirror-like surface of the lake reflected the sun back toward the line of dark clouds blowing in from the west, where the two met in the distance with striking contrast. Sitting on the end of the dock with her feet dangling in the water, Ragan marveled at the positive pregnancy test stick in her pocket. She smiled until she pictured the look on Mark’s face and how her decision would affect him. A car door slammed, bringing her out of the momentary panic. She made out Mark as he approached, his face appearing troubled.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded in surprise. She hadn’t told anyone except Cassie that she was headed there for the day.

  “Hey, sweetness. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  “You could say that.” Ragan pulled the small white stick, still wrapped in the plastic sandwich bag, out of her pocket and handed it to him.

  “What…” he started to speak until he realized what he held in his hand. “Adam,” he said with a sigh.

  Nodding, she tried to smile through her tears, “Yeah. He’s the only one I’ve been with since Liam.”

  “I can tell by the look on your face that there’s no hope for us. You still love Adam and there’s nothing I can do to change it.”

  “I’m sorry, Mark. I love you, but what I feel for Adam is…” she gazed out across the lake as she tried to find the words to explain, “so much more than mere love.” She tilted her head toward him in anticipation of his next words, but hoping he understood.

  “I think I knew from the start you would always love Adam.” He sighed as he laced his fingers with hers. “I’ll always be your friend, Ragan, but it will be a while before the hurt fades. I just want you to be happy, and if that happiness is with Adam, then I’ll learn to deal with it.” He turned away from her and stared back at the lake. “I was offered an attending position at a hospital in Indianapolis. I think it’s best to take it.”

  Pulling him into a hug, she whispered, “Your forever after is out there somewhere, Mark. She’ll drop into your life when you least expect it.”

  “I’ll always love you, Ragan. If you ever need a friend, I’ll be there.” He brushed the hair off her forehead and lightly ran his thumb across her cheekbone before letting her go. “I should leave now before this situation gets too emotional. Stay in touch, sweetness.”

  Ragan watched as he slowly walked back to his car, hating that she had to break his heart. Why couldn’t I love him? It would have been so much easier than dealing with reality. She turned and stared across the lake, wondering how to tell Adam he was going to be a father again.

  “Geez, my phone seems to buzz at the most inopportune moments.” As she reached into her pocket for it, Dreaming of You played. It was Cassie’s ringtone. “Hey Cass, what’s up?”

  “Checking up on you. You seemed off this morning.”

  “I’m okay, wonderful actually. I’ll tell you why when I get there. It’s not a conversation for over the phone.”

  “Good. I’ll see you in a bit. Be careful, the skies are really threatening here and the weather service just issued a tornado watch for Fairfield Corners. Drive safe, Ragan.”

  “I will. I’m leaving as soon as I close up the cottage. Bye, Cass.”

  The rumble of thunder brought her attention to the line of storms moving in; the clouds were definitely more menacing than when she’d arrived at the lake. The wind whistled through the trees, rustling the branches and sending dirt devils aloft. She closed the windows, making sure to lock everything up tight. Her phone buzzed again, this time with a text.

  Robbie—Need the extra grill tank from the shed. Can you bring back with you?

  Ragan—Sure. Will drop off tomorrow. Love you.

  Grabbing her keys off the end table by the front door, she locked it behind her and hurried to the shed. A crack of thunder directly overhead drove her to move faster. Unlocking the shed door, she swung it open and frowned at the mess in front of her. She dug through the pile of lawn furniture and water toys, searching for the grill tank. Ten minutes later, she spotted it as the rain began to come down in torrents.

  “Thanks, Robbie,” she grumbled as she ran to the car and threw the tank in the back seat. After sending a quick text to Cassie, she started the car and pulled out of the driveway, hoping the worst of the storms would hold off until she was safely home in Fairfield Corners.

  Chapter 30

  Cassie glanced at the time on her cell phone again, wondering why Ragan hadn’t made it back from the lake. She got up to check on the weather, watching as the clouds seemed to darken before her eyes. In the last few minutes they had turned ominous. Her phone buzzed, signaling a new text message from Ragan.

  Ragan—Leaving now. Be there soon.

  Ten minutes later, Cassie heard the weather radio alarm signaling a tornado warning, with the announcer telling everyone to take cover. Taking her phone and the kids, she headed for the basement as the wind whipped through the trees, bending them over towards the ground. Large hailstones pummeled the roof, and she called for Princess to follow them down the stairs.

  After sending her text to Cassie, Ragan had turned on the radio and sang along; glad she took the time today to think things through. She also felt happy that Mark had shown up so she could clear the air with him, too. Telling Adam the truth about everything, including her stalker, was the first thing she needed to do when he arrived at Cassie and Logan’s tonight. She hoped he was ready to start over. Her love for him couldn’t be denied any longer. The positive pregnancy test helped clarify her resolve to be with Adam, and she certainly couldn’t keep this child from him. She hoped to have a chance to talk to Cassie alone before dinner, although the text message from Robbie put her behind on her schedule and she hadn’t left the cottage until almost four.

  A light rainfall had started and stopped several times, but began again as Ragan pulled out of the driveway. As she drove along, the wind picked up, driving the rain horizontal so the wipers were having a hard time keeping the windshield clear. That’s when she noticed a blue Toyota following her. She had sent Logan a picture of one like it the day before. She shot off a quick text to him when she stopped at a stop sign, “Toyota following me again.”

  The song on the radio stopped abruptly and the emergency broadcast signal squealed from the speakers. A tornado warning for the entire area was announced as the station faded in and out. She looked back to the west as hail started smashing against the glass, gasping at the sight of a funnel cloud reaching for the ground in the distance.

  Panic constricted her airway as the tornado seemed to bob and weave across the sky in her view to the front and left. At times her Jeep swayed in the high wind, causing her to fight the wheel for control. Watching the power poles dance in the gusts, she pulled to the side of the road and shut off the engine. She struggled to get her seat belt unhooked with her shaking hands, but finally unlatched it; reaching for the door handle, the tornado seemed on track for her direction.

  The wind caught the driver side door when she opened it, yanking it out of her hand; blowing dirt and debris made it hard to see. She knew that hiding low in a ditch would be her best option, and she blindly ran towards it while protecting her face with her forearms. Her last thought was of getting home safely to Skylar. Something hit her from behind, knocking her uncons
cious and she fell into the ditch, lifeless.

  Chapter 31

  After spending twenty long minutes in hiding, the storm had passed, leaving destruction in its wake. Cassie poked her head out of the basement, glad to see the house still standing. The front door flew open as Logan came running in, with Adam two steps behind him.

  “Cassie? Where are you, darlin’?” Logan yelled, looking around frantically until he spotted her entering the kitchen from the basement. She carried Skylar and held Violet’s hand, with Jenna right behind her and holding onto Princess’ collar. “Thank God,” he howled to see them all safe and gathered her into a hug.

  Adam took Sky and hugged Jenna, looking relieved until he realized that Ragan wasn’t there. “Cassie, where’s Ragan? Isn’t she here with you?” his voice squeaked.

  “No, she isn’t back from the lake yet, and I’m worried. She sent me a text about ten minutes before the storm hit saying she was just leaving. I’m sure she stopped to wait for the storm to pass and will be here any minute.” She looked hopeful and tried to smile when her phone rang. “Hi, Robbie. No, she hasn’t shown up yet. I’m sure she’s fine. I’ll let you know when she gets here. Bye.” She turned to Logan, “Now, I actually am worried. Robbie hasn’t heard from her either.”

  Adam frantically dialed. “C’mon, pick up, Ragan,” he mumbled. “Damn, it went straight to voicemail,” he muttered as he dialed again, getting her voice mail once more. “Something’s not right.” He headed for the door, dialing his phone to try the call again.

  Logan kissed Cassie and Violet. “I’ve got to go with him to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. I’ll call when we find her, darlin’,” he said as he hurried out the door behind Adam.

  They got in Logan’s cruiser and headed west. “Don’t worry, Adam. I’m sure she’s fine.”