Clearing his throat, Andrew crossed his arms. “Of course you are. What is it you would like me to do?”
“Don’t tell her about the other day.”
His head tilted, and his brows furrowed.
“The day we all went to get ice cream.” Mallory’s pulse quickened when she spotted movement in the front yard, and she stood without thinking. Eric was standing next to Victoria.
“Where are you going?” Andrew said too loudly.
“Nowhere,” she said more quietly. “I’m stretching my legs.”
Mallory took her seat, but kept her gaze on them, hoping they wouldn’t turn around. What could he possibly see in Victoria? Other than her perfect face, perfect hair, and perfect life. If anyone didn’t deserve Eric, it was Victoria. But what if he was just like her?
Andrew waved his hand in front of her face. “Hello, is anyone there?”
“I need to be going. It’s getting late.”
“But I never got the chance to ask you.”
Mallory met his gaze. “Ask me what?”
“Do you want to have lunch with me tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah, it’s Saturday. We have the day off.”
“Sure, that would be nice.”
“Great, I’ll pick you up around eleven.” He rose and helped her up. “And then, after lunch, we can do whatever.”
“That sounds great.”
He released her after she took a few steps. “Goodnight, beautiful.”
Eric had stopped by the Chamberlain’s to drop off some paperwork. His feelings caught him off guard when he glanced toward the garden and found Mallory and Andrew sitting together. Andrew was a nice guy, but something about him falling for Mallory bothered him. It shouldn’t, he was supposed to be dating his sister.
When Victoria followed him outside, he rubbed his brows, warding off a headache. He’d hoped to run into Mallory. It didn’t matter. She was with Andrew.
Maybe it worked out for the best that he’d seen them together again. It gave him reason to push away the unbalanced emotions that surfaced anytime he thought of her. He needed something to put his mind back on Victoria.
“Are you okay?” Victoria broke into his thoughts.
“Yes.” He cleared his mind. “We’re going out with Paul and Rachel tomorrow night. The reservations have already been made.” He left no room for argument.
Victoria’s face collapsed, before changing to something he didn’t recognize. “Really? That’s too bad. I had already bought tickets to a ballgame in Philadelphia. It was supposed to be a surprise.”
He gave a shaky smile. “Really, a Phillies game?”
“Yeah, I know how much you love baseball. I even booked us a room.” Her voice softened.
“A room? But we can’t …”
She flipped her hair back and rolled her eyes. “No, of course not. I booked connecting rooms, but that’s okay.” With faint movement, her bottom lip curled outward. “I can give them to some friends of mine. It’s no big deal.”
Maybe this was the boost their relationship needed. “No, you don’t have to do that. I mean, you’ve already gone through all the trouble.”
“Are you sure? We can do it some other time. I hate to ruin your plans.”
“No, they’ll understand. We’ll get together with them next weekend though, okay?”
“Sure, whatever you want, Eric.” She inched closer filling his senses with her toxic perfume.
As he climbed into his truck to leave, he unwillingly glanced toward the apartment. It was wrong, but he hoped for one more glimpse and wondered what Mallory was doing this very minute.
Twelve
The smell of apple pie and coffee filled Mallory’s senses as she followed Andrew into the restaurant. A young waitress with honey-colored hair led them to a booth, and Andrew waited until Mallory sat before he slid into the seat across from her.
After setting two menus on the table, the waitress centered her attention on Andrew. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Ladies first.”
With a flirtatious smile aimed at Andrew, she turned with a sling of her long ponytail and faced Mallory.
“I’ll have water with lemon, please.”
“I’ll take a root beer.” Andrew met her gaze as soon as the waitress left. “What are you grinning at?”
“Nothing.” Mallory studied her menu, ignoring his pleading glare. “So, what did you want to do today?”
“I thought we could go to the Central Market. The Amish always have cool things for sale.”
“That sounds fun. Thanks for bringing me out today.” For half a second, her world tilted and she wasn’t the same girl who’d come from North Carolina, whose mother had thrown her away—no longer a girl running for her life. She now had a real home in Paradise, Pennsylvania. The closest she’d been to paradise in a very long time.
“Okay, okay, don’t go getting mushy on me.”
Mallory scooted out of her seat. “I need to use the ladies room. Will you wait before you order?”
“Sure, we have all day.”
The columns separated the wall leading to the bathroom, and when she rounded the corner on her way back to the table, someone stood there talking to Andrew. Her muscles tensed seeing the blonde waves falling across her shoulders. Victoria.
“Why’d you bring that good for nothing piece of trash out in public?”
Mallory’s hands fell limp by her side, and she stared into the gift shop behind her, seeing nothing.
“It’s none of your business what I do.” Andrew’s tone deepened. “And you’re wrong about her.”
“You’re making a fool of yourself,” she hissed.
Andrew pushed himself up, but then lowered slowly into his seat. “Go back to your boyfriend and mind your own business. Leave her alone. She’s done nothing to you.”
Victoria straightened. “She is my business. This is my family and I won’t be happy until she’s gone. She doesn’t belong here.”
Even knowing that escape was only feet away, Mallory’s leg muscles tightened and she couldn’t move. She gave Victoria plenty of time to walk away before she turned the corner, still hesitant. Andrew acted as if nothing had happened.
Mallory cleared her parched throat. “Can we go?” Her voice quivered. With unsteady motions, she headed for the door and pushed through it in a sluggish daze.
Eric stared through the window pane waiting for Victoria, when Mallory sat on the bench outside the restaurant.
Where did she come from?
Moments later, Victoria stood before him wearing a short, black dress. “Hi. Sorry, I’m late.”
He started to stand, but she slid into the seat before he had a chance.
Andrew appeared out of nowhere and slammed his fist on the table. “How dare you? Leave her alone. I’m warning you.”
Eric started to protest, but Andrew stormed away.
His stomach tensed. “What was that about? Leave who alone?” Eric glanced out the window again. Andrew joined Mallory, and he took her hand and led her down the sidewalk.
“My brother, I don’t understand him.” Victoria swung her hair. “There isn’t a good explanation for him.”
Had Andrew brought Mallory here?
“Who’s he talking about? Who did he tell you to leave alone?” Eric wanted to force the truth from Victoria. Was it Mallory?
“Who knows? He’s crazy if you ask me. Do we really want to waste our time talking about him? Are you excited about the game tonight?”
He stared at her for a full three seconds unable to speak.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” The lie came easy. In his brief pause, he wanted to back out of the trip, but couldn’t let this go. He had to get to the bottom of this.
Victoria didn’t seem bothered at all by the outburst. Maybe over the weekend, he’d find a way to bring it up again.
Eric reached the hotel in Philadelphia two hours before the game started.
Victoria squeezed his knee. “Thanks for coming with me. I’m sorry the surprise was ruined, but we’ll have a wonderful time … just you and me.”
The combination of watching her work her skirt higher up her tan legs all the way here, and the feel of her slender fingers against his skin shot doubt through every fiber of his brain.
He parked and climbed from the truck.
They walked inside and, after getting their room keys, Eric carried all three of her bags along with his. He would’ve laughed at her bringing so much for only an overnight trip, if the bags hadn’t been so heavy, and he wasn’t so distressed.
Victoria stopped, hands on hips. “You’re not carrying those. They have people to do that here.”
“They usually have carts, but they’re out. It’s okay.”
“I didn’t know you were so strong.”
Her sapphire eyes locked with his. The force so strong, so powerful, he struggled to look away. Victoria Chamberlain was used to getting what she wanted and she wanted him.
He shouldn’t have come. He’d made a mistake.
“I’m going to change. I brought the perfect outfit.”
“Great.”
“I want to look perfect for you so you’ll forgive me if I take too long.” She winked.
He savored the time alone, but his thoughts were filled with anguish. What had he been thinking coming here with her? It would only make things worse for Mallory if he asked any more questions. It would be better to mind his business.
Victoria met him in the hall two hours later. They didn’t take their stadium seats until the bottom of the third inning, and then he missed most of the plays because of her questions.
“Do you mind getting me a Coke?”
“A Coke?”
He glanced toward the batter’s box, there were no outs. He could count, and unless they made a double play, he would miss the one batter he’d been waiting to see. Bryce Harper. The National’s Leftfielder.
“I’m so thirsty. And it’s so hot.”
Maybe it was better to get it over with so he could enjoy the rest of the game.
When he returned, it was just as he’d thought. But Bryce wasn’t on base and neither were any of the other runners.
“What happened?”
She took the drink. “What do you mean?”
“Where are the runners?”
The guy sitting next to him spoke. “Zimmerman hit a walk off grand slam.”
He took a deep breath. The thought of being back at the hotel alone in a few minutes lightened his mood.
Victoria tried to slip her fingers between his when they reached their rooms. “So what do you want to do now?”
He pulled his hand away and rubbed his jaw. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but it’s late. If you’re tired, we can turn in.”
He really wanted to be alone. He appreciated Victoria going through all this trouble. They even had the perfect seats, front row, third base line. But he couldn’t enjoy himself, no matter how he tried.
“We could hang out in my room and talk.” She clutched his arm, her voice deepening.
“I don’t know if that’d be a good idea.”
“No one knows us here. It isn’t like someone will see us.”
“It isn’t only about the appearance. We can find a coffee house if you want.”
“Never mind.” Victoria pouted and turned her back to him.
Eric didn’t care if she was upset. He wasn’t about to go into her room. The scene Andrew made at the restaurant hovered in the recesses of his mind. He even thought about calling him, but couldn’t. It was none of his business. Mallory didn’t seem to want to be friends with him anyway. Why should he worry so much about her?
He almost forgot Victoria was standing next to him when she unlocked the room door.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Eric, sleep tight,” she said, her voice gentle.
Why the sudden change in attitude? At least she spoke before disappearing behind the door.
Eric woke to the sound of his cell phone. He blinked several times as he searched the unfamiliar space. The dream lured his eyes to close when the familiar ring tone played again.
He lifted the phone adjusting his vision, when Victoria’s number flashed on the screen.
Why is she calling at this hour?
He focused on the digital clock. Two twenty-five.
He rubbed his eyes. “Victoria,” he said, yawning.
“I’m sorry to wake you, but I had a nightmare. I’m scared. I keep hearing something in the bathroom and I can’t go back to sleep.” She spoke in a frightened whisper. “Will you come check it out for me? Please, Eric. I feel so scared.”
Why now? He shouldn’t, but she sounded sincere. After dressing, he walked out into the hallway. He knocked on her door softly at first, but when she didn’t answer, he tried again. Before his fist made contact, the door flew open and she invited him inside. Only a night light shimmered in the dark room.
“I’m sorry for waking you like this.” She jumped on the bed and pulled her feet under her.
He crossed the room and she flipped the lamp switch, illuminating the room. Eric checked the bathroom cabinets, the shower, and behind the counters.
“Everything …” he started to say as he turned the corner, but found Victoria sitting against the head board in a white tank top and panties. “I didn’t see anything …”
“Please stay with me,” she begged, leaning forward. “I don’t want to stay here alone.”
He walked toward the door. “Victoria, I can’t.”
She encircled him in her arms and he spun to face her. He’d stepped into a trap, but surely she wouldn’t have done this on purpose. But, why did he keep feeling that way?
Eric fought to compose himself. “I can’t stay in here, Mal …, Victoria.” A flash of hate stretched across Victoria’s face. Just as quickly, a smile filled with understanding replaced her frown.
“I’ll put some more clothes on. We don’t even have to sleep. I’m not sleepy anyway. I just don’t want to be alone.”
What was he supposed to do? He hated to leave her feeling scared, but it would be wrong.
“Please, Eric. I’ll be miserable all alone, listening to every sound, wondering what it is.”
If he stayed awake it would be okay. She was beautiful. He wasn’t dead, after all. But she wasn’t the girl he wanted, or needed. He could no longer spend time with Victoria, even as friends. It would be better to go their separate ways.
Eric sat on the bed since all her bags occupied the chair. He checked the clock relentlessly. He didn’t care that she’d stayed in the bathroom, but felt so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. Leaning against the headboard, he relaxed his back. He thought of turning on the television, but had no desire to do that either. He allowed his eyes to close after glancing at the clock once more thirty minutes later. The last thing he remembered before he drifted to sleep was the way Mallory’s brown eyes twinkled against the moonlit night.
On Sunday morning, the birds chirped noisily as Mallory dressed in the white v-neck sweater and black skirt she purchased, with her own hard earned money, a week ago after making the decision to join Rachel for church. Nervous shivers invaded her stomach as she brushed her hair. She’d never been to a church before, and wasn’t sure what to expect. Rachel had been so nice when she’d asked, not wanting to pressure her. Mallory had enjoyed the Bible studies every Thursday night and hadn’t missed one.
She waited by the flower garden. Andrew had done an excellent job designing the landscape. A butterfly looped its way around a row of
hyacinths. In the moments she stood waiting, her thoughts raced against her will to a time she never allowed herself to go.
“I’ll call you Butterfly.”
Mallory whispered, “Butterfly?” She smiled at her new friend. “Why butterfly?”
“I don’t know, because butterflies are pretty like you.”
Mallory blushed. He thought she was pretty? No one had ever told her that before. She didn’t know what to think of this boy … this cute boy who seemed to like her.
“So now we need to come up with a name for me.” His dark, blue eyes intensified.
Mallory felt silly, but the name came to her immediately. “How about dragonfly?”
“Butterfly and dragonfly, I like it.”
“Mallory?”
She twirled around and found Rachel standing at the door.
“There you are.”
Mallory blushed from the memories filling her head just moments ago. She had been so deep in thought she missed the roar of Rachel’s car. She didn’t like reminiscing, hating the way things ended. The tattoo on her ankle would be a reminder for the rest of her life.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.” Shaking the memory free, she cleared her throat.
“Are you all right? You haven’t changed your mind?”
“No, I’m looking forward to it. I was admiring the flowers and thinking too much. I’m ready whenever you are.”
Rachel put her arm around Mallory’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re coming.”
“Me too.” She needed to get away from herself for a while … away from her memories.
They arrived a few minutes early, Rachel leading the way. The stained glass window sprayed colorful rays inside the large auditorium. Mallory curled her hands into fists and then relaxed them as they walked down the carpeted aisle. Immediately people everywhere greeted her warmly. It was different from what she expected. Rachel introduced her to several friends on the way to their seats. Kelli was sitting on the same pew that Rachel walked down.
Kelli stood to hug Mallory. “It’s so good to see you.”
She sat between the two girls. Paul followed and took the seat next to Rachel.
Broken Butterfly Page 9
