Ryley had been so quiet in the back of the truck she never heard him approach. But Daisy did. She pushed past Maggie, making a beeline straight for Ryley, greeting him as if he was long lost kin. And when Ryley bent down to the dog, something in his face lightened.
“Ryley, can you grab Daisy’s dry food from Diane’s car and take it inside, and while you’re there, fill a bowl of water.” Ryley didn’t move. He looked to his dad as if he needed his okay. The air twisted inside her stomach as a cloud of defeat threatened to close in. She felt helpless, so she glanced away, struggling to hold it together.
“Ryley, your mom asked you do something, and I don’t see you moving.” She turned back at the sharpness in Richard’s tone.
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted the dog, Dad. I know you don’t like the mess.”
“Daisy’s my dog Ryley, and she’s staying. Your dad understands that. Don’t you, Richard?” He looked away with just a hint of a smile flickering at the corner of his mouth.
“The dog stays. Ryley, now go do what your mom asked.”
Diane opened the back door of her blue SUV. She lugged out the bag of dry dog food and placed the bundle in Ryley’s arms. “Can you handle the bag or do you want me to take it in for you?”
“Naww, I got it. Come on, Daisy.” The dog appeared unsure when she focused on Maggie as if to ask, Another new home?
Ryley called her again, but Daisy waited for Maggie’s okay. “Go on Daisy, go with Ryley.” The dog hesitated for a moment until she clapped her hands, and then Daisy limped up the steps following Ryley inside.
“So we have a dog now? Diane, are you sure you can’t keep the dog?”
“She’s my dog, Richard, and she stays with me. Get used to it.” She was still irritated Ryley wouldn’t listen and required Richard’s intervention.
Diane crossed her arms and leaned against her SUV. She remained quiet as she appeared to study both of them. “What’s going on, Maggie? Your message sounded urgent when you called earlier. I phoned, but there was no answer.”
Richard glared at Maggie. “When did you phone Diane?”
“When you were talking to the two deputies.”
Richard pressed his lips together so hard they formed a thin white line and the way he shook his head, Maggie knew he was irritated.
Diane slid off her dark glasses and squinted at Richard. “What’s going on, Richard?” And she asked in a way that was all cop.
He held up his hands. The alpha he-man refused to be cornered. “Nothing for you to get involved in, Diane.” It was amazing to watch him lock up the stony wall around him.
“Richard, tell Diane the truth.” Maggie didn’t give him a chance to reply. She stepped forward, closer to Diane. “Dan called yesterday. Then I found a truck registration in Dan’s name signed over to Richard. Then two deputies showed up this morning about this very same truck being reported stolen by Dan from Seattle—yet, somehow, it was discovered at the bottom of Buckhorn Lake. They sent divers down and they said it’s the same truck. And Richard also said we are not divorced. But the divorce was already done up, just waiting to go before a judge… before we met in his lawyer’s office to finalize details, even though I don’t remember. And then he took it upon himself to move my things from my house and give the key back to my landlord. How can he do that?” Her breathing had escalated to heavy pants during her rant. She closed her eyes for a minute to slow her breathing. Had she made any sense? When she opened her eyes, she brushed her hair back from her forehead and realized both Richard and Diane were staring at her as if she’d lost her mind.
Diane shook her head and studied the ground as if trying to figure out what to say. When she looked up at Maggie, she opened her mouth to speak and paused. She turned to Richard, “I didn’t realize Dan was back in town. When did he get back, Richard?”
“A few weeks ago.”
Diane nodded. Her arms remained crossed as she continued to lean against her SUV.
She stared at Diane and then at Richard. Whatever passed between them, Maggie was dying to be let in.
Diane relaxed her arms and stepped away from her vehicle as if nothing unusual had happened. “Maggie, how about a cup of tea, and some girl talk?”
“What? That’s it, just tea? Diane, aren’t you going to question Richard about what he’s doing with Dan?” She jabbed her entire hand at Richard in disbelief. What was Diane doing?
“No, I’m not. I’m more concerned about you, and I’d like a cup of tea.” Diane put her arm around Maggie’s shoulder, and directed her inside.
Maggie hesitated and glanced over her shoulder at Richard. His face held not a flicker of emotion. A master with secrets.
Maggie yanked open the screen door, Diane on her heels, and an unsettled Daisy hurrying to her side before turning to paw at Diane.
“Is Dad still outside?” Ryley slumped in a kitchen chair.
Before Maggie could answer, Ryley jumped up and fidgeted as if he’d been caught doing something wrong.
Diane squeezed Maggie’s shoulders and spoke up. “Hey champ, why don’t you go hang out with your dad? I’m going to have some tea with your mom and catch up.” Diane ruffled his hair as he darted out the door, snatching the coat he’d dropped on the floor and looking a lot like a boy given a reprieve.
“He’s scared of me.”
“Who?” Diane set her shades on the counter.
“Ryley. Didn’t you see how nervous he was? He can’t stand to be in the same room with me.”
“Maggie, you need to give it time. You’re just starting to rebuild your family. And you have to know you weren’t there for him when he needed you.”
Maggie lowered herself in the chair Ryley abandoned. “Richard said the same thing.”
“I didn’t say it to hurt you. You’ve overcome some major hurdles. And lived through ugliness no one should have to. Right now, this is about all of you. You know you checked out on Ryley, and he knows it. And you need to give Richard some credit. He pulled it together and saw what was happening to his kid. I tried to tell you Maggie, but you wouldn’t hear me. Richard did.” Diane rummaged the cupboards as if she owned the kitchen. “Give it time. You all need to ease up on each other. Why don’t you start by giving yourself some credit for what you have done? You moved back home and got off those damn pills.”
Diane lit the burner and set the kettle on the flame. She then sat in the chair across from Maggie. She reached across the table and squeezed Maggie’s clasped hands. “Six months ago, I read the riot act to Richard. He was in the same place you were. But he opened his eyes and sobered up to be the support Ryley needed. And don’t forget, Maggie—Richard’s the one who came through for you, too. So why are you still harping on this divorce?”
“Well, it’s because I don’t know what happened at his lawyer’s office. Richard said he told them we reconciled. I haven’t heard from my lawyer, and I don’t understand how he can dismiss my motion for divorce just like that, as if—”
Diane waved her flattened authoritative hand in front of Maggie’s face. “Stop right there. You were whacked out on prescription meds, and I applaud Richard for having the foresight for whatever he did. He stepped up to the plate Maggie, and he was there for you, and he loves you. And I know you still love him. Look me in the eye right now, Maggie, and tell me you don’t.”
Maggie crossed her arms and sat up straight. “You don’t understand, Diane. He’s deciding everything for me.”
Diane leaned her head back and laughed. “He’s always been like such a frickin’ strong alpha and it’s nothing new, honey. And let’s be honest, you needed someone to decide and step in.”
When Maggie tried to rebut, Diane waved her hand in her face again. “Don’t interrupt. Look, why don’t you call your lawyer right now and find out exactly what’s going on? And if in fact your divorce is still on the table, you need to decide what you want, Maggie. Do you want to divorce Richard? Cause I can tell you right now, if you go ahead with it, Ryley will n
ever forgive you.”
She’d been so focused on Richard’s high-handed behavior, she didn’t stop to look at the bigger picture. “I don’t know what I want.”
“Well that’s honest at least. Call your lawyer now and find out where things stand.”
“Do you think he’s still there? It’s after 4:00.”
“Only one way to find out. Dial the phone, Maggie.”
Maggie rose on shaky legs and strode to the phone on the kitchen counter. She hesitated a second. She didn’t know why. She let out a heavy sigh and dialed.
“Peter Sullivan’s office, Marissa speaking.”
“Hi Marissa, it’s Maggie McCafferty. Is Peter in?”
There a short pause on the other end. “Hold on, I’ll check and see if he’s still here.”
The local radio station filled the dead air as Maggie waited. She kept her back to Diane and watched Richard through the kitchen window as he walked toward the large shed with his arm around Ryley. The bond between father and son flowed. What kind of person would come between that?
“Maggie, how are you?” Her lawyer’s deep voice sounded hesitant.
“I’m good. Listen I wanted to find out what’s going on with the divorce, I mean after that meeting—”
He cut her off before she could finish. “Maggie, that meeting was over two weeks ago, and you fell asleep. You don’t remember any of it, do you? Did you take something?”
She winced at his candor. “Umm, I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember the meeting. I did something stupid. I accidentally took a sleeping pill right before I met with you.”
“How do you accidentally take a sleeping pill?”
“I mixed it up with one I take for my anxiety.” She could feel her face heat up knowing Diane could hear everything.
“Ahh, I see. Are you still taking them?”
“No, Richard helped me get off them.”
“Hmm. Well.” Sullivan took a breath. “I’m glad for that. Are you back with Richard?”
“I’m staying back at his place; I mean, on the acreage.” She winced. Why did she keep saying that?
“Have you resumed marital relations?”
Her spine stiffened. “How’s it your business if we’ve slept together?”
He chuckled on the other end. “Maggie. Richard announced you reconciled while you were asleep. The laws are clear. In order to file for divorce, you are required to remain separated for a period of one year—with no relations. And since you are now back home living together, you can’t apply for divorce again until you separate for one year.”
“But Richard moved all my things out of my house in town and cancelled my lease and—”
“What is it you’re trying to accomplish Maggie? Do you want a divorce? Really? I’m an honest lawyer, and I believe if you remain honest and do the right thing, you’ll reap the benefits. You could go and hire any other lawyer out there, and they’ll gladly take your money and file your divorce, and don’t care whose lives they rip apart. You two suffered a horrible loss—add to that your drug addiction, which by the way, I do know about—I’ve seen it before, Maggie. It sounds to me Richard’s trying to look after you, and the advice I’m going to give you right now is to take a step back and evaluate what you really want. What will make you happy, and what about your son? If being single is what you really want, call me, but I warn you. You’ll have to start all over again. Take some honest time, which means not a couple days but a few months. Get some help, therapy and honestly look at your life. You’re angry. And as a family lawyer, I’ve seen the ugliness in divorce battles. Don’t go that route unless this is truly what you want. And ask yourself one more question, do you still love Richard?”
“Okay, thanks Peter.”
Maggie hung up the phone and then turned slowly around. Diane leaned back in her chair and stuck her booted feet out in front of her. “Well, where do you stand, Maggie?”
“Back at square one.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Maggie soaked in a steaming bath and gazed up at the skylight in her en suite bathroom. Diane left a little over an hour ago after staying for dinner. Before leaving, she slipped outside with Richard far enough from the house Maggie couldn’t hear. But when she came back inside and hugged Maggie goodbye, she told her to let the stolen truck and Richard’s involvement with Dan drop. Of course, Maggie didn’t let it drop; she glanced at Richard and followed Diane to her SUV. Diane yelled at her to stop asking questions, which startled Maggie, and she wondered what Richard had told her.
The telephone rang, and Maggie didn’t move. She heard Richard answer the phone downstairs, before his heavy footsteps hurried upstairs and pushed open the bathroom door. “Jean’s on the phone, do you want me to take a message?”
She lifted a damp hand out of the water. “No, I’ll take it.”
Richard’s finger touched her hand, and then he bent down and kissed her before handing her the phone. He left the bathroom, but this time, left the door open as he went back downstairs.
She leaned over the side of the bathtub. “Hi Jean, how’re you doing?”
“Maggie, I’m so sorry to call so late. But when I called your home number, it was disconnected. I was so worried I called Richard only to find you two reconciled.”
She sighed. “I guess we have.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I’m kind of hesitant to call, but Angie’s in trouble. She needs to find a place to live. The guy she was involved with, well… she’s got herself into a messy situation. Long story short, he’s her landlord, and now he’s throwing her and Sammy out.”
“What! How would she find herself in a situation like that?”
“Well, this guy’s a piece of work. After her divorce, she had to move, so she rented a house from this guy. He apparently showed up every night and wooed her with his charm, like he was her knight in shining armor, and started a relationship with her. She followed him around like a love-struck puppy. She said this guy’s been playing games with her for so long, she didn’t know if she was coming or going, and he’s taken so much from her—money, her time—and profited off her. She’s being stubborn and doesn’t want to move. She said it’s like her first real home. But she also said she suspects he’s got grow ops going in a few of the houses on the property where she lives.”
“Sounds to me like she needs to get away from this guy, get a lawyer, and sue his ass for what he owes her. Jean, what the hell is Angie doing with a guy like this anyway?”
“In her defense, I think he played her good. Hasn’t every woman at one time been there? And when you get as emotionally attached as she has, well she doesn’t want to move. That’s why I was hoping you’d come with me and talk to her. She keeps everything bottled up inside and carries her pain, so she won’t burden others. But this guy really hurt her. She was in love with him. I just went over to her place, and you should see what she did with that place, what she did for him. This guy… Well, I can see he’s up to no good. I just don’t know how to talk sense into her. She needs to get away from this guy. Emotionally, she’s a mess right now.”
“Of course I’ll go. When?”
“Tomorrow morning? I can swing by and pick you up.”
“Sure how about 9:30? Who is this guy anyway?”
“Dan… something, what was his last name? Started with Mc or Mac, some Scottish name.”
Even though the water she soaked in was still warm, Maggie shivered. “Tell me it’s not Dan McKenzie.”
“That’s it. How did you know?”
“Let’s just say you need not say more about this guy, because I have a real clear picture of what he’s up to, and it’s no good. We need to get Angie as far away from him as possible. Or farther.”
Long after she said goodbye and dumped the phone on the floor, she stayed in the bathtub until the water cooled. She couldn’t believe how Dan McKenzie had evaded jail and charges of trafficking, when he’d gotten her and Marcie to get his marijuana for him—from all the mariju
ana gardens he wooed Marcie into growing for him—by threatening to set up Richard and Sam with some unspeakable crime. He was dangerous, and here he was screwing around a mom with a special needs kid, a mom she knew well, and who by no means should be mixed up in his craziness. “What are you up to Dan? First my husband, then Marcie, and now Angie. Whatever it is, I’ll stop you. I’ll find away.”
Chapter Twenty-two
The last time Maggie was on Dan McKenzie’s property was the night she and Marcie delivered the marijuana to Sandra.
Jean picked up Maggie after Richard left to take Ryley to school. And of course, Maggie didn’t mention where she was going this morning. She knew he’d stop her. But seeing Dan’s property in daylight from the front passenger seat of Jean’s Ford Escape filled her with an unsettling sense of oddness and dread she hadn’t felt in a long time. The driveway was just as she’d remembered, but instead of pulling into the small house built onto the shop, they drove past it to the next driveway that belonged to a large two story house, surrounded by beautiful gardens, rockwork, and forest.
Angie must have been watching because the front door popped open as soon as Jean pulled in beside a small Dodge minivan. The gray van appeared quite worn but still in good shape. Maggie stepped out and looked around, half expecting to see Dan or Sandra walk out of his shop—the shop and house she could see through the opening in the crop of trees.
“Thanks, you guys, for coming.” Angie appeared thinner, but still quite attractive. But there was a tightness in her face making her appear to have aged since she’d seen her at school a few weeks ago after Mrs. Johnson’s last tirade. Angie’s long brown hair was tied back, highlighting her apple blossom cheeks and big blue eyes. Maggie realized as she stared at her friend—if you put her beside Marcie, they could have been cousins with those country girl looks. She nodded her head and swallowed hard. Exactly Dan’s type: innocent, naïve.
“Did you do all this work yourself, Angie?” Maggie gave her quick hug and then gazed in amazement at the acre of green grass, the rockwork, and the gardens filled with perennials and bushes all ready to bloom at the first hint of spring.
From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone Page 31
