"Guilt won't work with me, DeeDee. When I'm done, we'll go somewhere. You have my word."
"I'll believe that when I see it."
"Look, I've got to get back to work. I'll talk to you later," Mary said as she hung up. She thought about DeeDee's offer. Louisiana would be a much better choice for a vacation than a ski lodge. With any luck she'd convince DeeDee to go with her, and together they could finish the research on Jean-Pierre and Magdalene.
If only she could find enough partners to help her buy the plantation. She knew she could make a go of it. All she needed was a chance.
She turned her attention back to the papers on her desk. When she finished her task, she took the package to the copy room supervisor for copying and distribution. As she walked back to her office, she heard her phone ringing. Would the dratted thing never stop? She lifted the receiver. "Mary Corbett."
"Hello, Mary. It's Jack. I've been trying to get in touch with you. I hate to tell you this, but my trip's been cancelled."
Her hopes plummeted. He wasn't coming! He continued, but she wasn't listening. All she felt was a dull ache where her heart should have been. She tried to pull her thoughts together, but memories of their short time together rushed back. She struggled to bring her mind back to the present. The receiver was silent. Obviously he was waiting for a response. Her lips formed an automatic reply. "That's okay, Jack. We'll get together some other time."
"I'm really sorry, Mary. If there was any way I could make it, I would."
She tried to make her voice sound normal. "No problem. I know how it goes. The next time you're in town, give me a call."
"I'm glad you understand." His voice sounded odd. "Uh, I forgot to ask you last night if you learned anything new about the plantation."
She stumbled for words. "I got the translation back from my sister, but it didn't provide any additional information. I was really hoping to learn more about Jean–Pierre and Magdalene, but unfortunately there were very few entries that pertained to them."
He paused for a few minutes, then cleared his throat. "You know, I could arrange to come to Boston over the weekend. Do you think we could spend some time together then?"
Her pulse quickened. She wanted to say yes, but how could she? He was married. "That's not a good idea, Jack. I make it a habit not to get involved with married men. Please, don't make special plans to come and see me. If you're in town on business and we get together, that's one thing. But, to make a special trip to see me, that's out of the question."
Silence.
"Mary, I want... No, I need to see you. Won't you please reconsider?"
Her breath caught in her throat. He needed to see her, just like she needed to see him! Joy flooded her heart, then ebbed slowly away. If she agreed to see him, would she regret it the minute he left? Was one or two days of happiness worth the guilt she'd feel when he returned to his wife? "Look, I already feel guilty about the feelings I have for you. Seeing you behind your wife's back would only make it worse."
He sighed. "Mary, Audrey wants to meet you."
She nearly dropped the receiver. "You told her that you're attracted to me? Have you lost your mind?"
"Calm down. I haven't told Audrey that I'm attracted to you. It would crush her." He sighed, hating to be forced to tell Mary about Audrey's condition over the phone. She'd probably think he was a jerk of the biggest order.
He took a deep breath. "Mary, I want you to listen to what I have to tell you. Audrey is terminally ill. She has ovarian cancer. I was going to ask her for a divorce, but that was before we found out how sick she is. Now, there's no way I can do that. The reason she wants to meet you is to ask you a couple of questions about what you saw at the plantation. That's all."
He waited for her to say something. When she didn't, he continued. "Won't you please reconsider meeting us for lunch?"
Mary steeled herself to ignore the longing of her heart. His wife was dying? Oh God, how terrible for both of them. Tears of regret welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away. "Jack, I'm sorry, but I can't. Please don't ask me to do this."
Before he could respond, she hung up. In the span of a few moments, her entire world had collapsed. Her conscience told her she'd done the right thing, but the sad ache of her heart felt otherwise. She knew her response to Jack was more than physical. They'd connected on an emotional level she'd never experienced before. Not once, but twice.
However, he had a dying wife to worry about right now. The last thing he needed was to become involved with her. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew she was doing the right thing.
The phone rang again, but she ignored it, and went to see her boss. Mac was sitting at his desk, a half-smoked cigar sticking out of the corner of his mouth. Piles of paperwork obliterated the top of his desk, file cabinets, and most of the floor. He looked up as she knocked.
"What's up?"
She glanced around the office. His walls were as bare as always, and he hadn't even bothered to open the window blinds. Typical Mac. Although he held several advanced degrees, nobody would know it by his office or his wardrobe. He wore the same thing day after day: a white, long-sleeved shirt, navy blue tie and slacks, dark socks and black shoes. She wondered how many complete sets hung in his closet and decided he must have one for every day of the week. Talk about a creature of habit! Didn't he ever want to wear something different?
She smiled as he rubbed the end of his cigar in his ashtray. He obviously remembered she was allergic to smoke. "Your secretary waved me through. I hope I'm not interrupting."
"I always have time for you, Mary."
"Do you have any out-of-town assignments left? I've finished my last inventory, and I'd be glad to take one."
He raised his eyebrows and gestured for her to sit. "I've been meaning to talk to you. I know something's been bothering you ever since you came back from Louisiana. If you want to tell me what it is, I'll help any way I can."
Her lips curved in a smile. "Thanks, Mac, but there's nothing wrong. I've been having a little trouble sleeping, that's all." She pointed to the circles under her eyes. "That's why I have these. Contrary to office gossip, I haven't been in a cat fight."
He frowned. "Looks like you've been through hell. You sure you don't want to talk about it? If it's money, I can give you an advance."
She shook her head. "It's nothing like that, Mac. Really. I've got a mild case of insomnia. A change of location might do me good."
He narrowed his eyes and picked up his cigar. Although he didn't light it, he stuck it between his teeth as he reached into a drawer and drew out a stack of papers. "As a matter of fact, I can use your help. I need somebody for a job that's supposed to start in two days."
She held out her hand. "I'll go over the files and make the necessary arrangements. I can leave in the morning."
He offered the file, but didn't release his grip on it. "You sure you're okay?"
She patted his arm. "Thanks for asking. I'm fine. Really."
"Get an expense advance before you leave," he said as he struck a match to his cigar. "And shut the door on your way out. I have a couple of calls to make and I don't want to be disturbed."
Mary grinned as she walked down the hall. Underneath Mac's grumpy exterior beat a heart of pure gold.
She opened the envelope and withdrew the contents. The package contained information on an estate in Milwaukee. The job would take about four days. Good. That would give Jack plenty of time to figure out she wasn't going to see him this weekend. She wondered what would've happened if she had agreed to meet Jack. Would they have ended up making love? She'd already had several vivid dreams along that line, and longed for his caress. As strong as her attraction was, it was probably a good thing she'd refused. Otherwise, she'd have a whole lot more to feel guilty about. A whole lot more.
Chapter 17
Inky darkness filled the night sky above the narrow, deep well. The foul odor of rotting leaves permeated the air as she struggled to coax one more cry
out of her parched throat. She waited for a response from above, but nothing happened. No one heard her.
She groped blindly for a means of escape, but encountered nothing but cold, clammy stones, covered with a thick layer of slime. Her heart pounded and her blood turned cold as she faced the truth. She was stuck in the bottom of the well, and nobody was coming to help her.
Uncontrollable fear gripped her as she struggled to remain calm. To get out, all she had to do was find a foothold and climb to the top. She could do this; she just needed to keep her wits about her.
She gritted her teeth as she braced her back against the algae-covered rocks, wetness from their slime seeping through her dress. The damp material clung to her skin, causing her to shiver. Time after time she placed her feet against the stones for a foothold, but always slid down. Was there no way out?
She shivered again when she realized her shoes were wet. Why? Reaching down, she discovered ice-cold water rising from the bottom of the well. The water was rising! She clawed at the stones until her hands and fingers bled, but it was no use. The water rose past her knees, her hips, crawling up her body like an icy tide. Her neck. Her chin.
She braced herself above the surface for a few moments, tipping her head back to keep from being submerged, but in moments, the water covered her mouth and nose. The weight of her long skirt dragged her down, and she flailed her arms and kicked in a struggle for upward movement. She had to get out of here! Again and again she struggled to the surface, only to be pulled down. Her arms and legs were soon tired, and she could no longer drag herself upward. When water squeezed the air from her lungs, she felt her life force slipping away.
Mary woke with a start. Her heart raced erratically; her mouth felt paper dry. Remembering the nightmare, she wondered if she'd actually screamed, or only dreamed it. A knock on the door startled her, and she got up quickly. "Who is it?"
"Security."
She opened the door on the chain.
The hotel security guard and a maid peered back at her. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment as she assured them she was fine, her screams merely the result of a scary nightmare. The guard peered past her as if to check the room for signs of a struggle. Eventually satisfied, he wished her a better night and withdrew.
The bed felt warm as she climbed back beneath the covers. What was she going to do now? She couldn't cope with any more nightmares. She rested her arm across her forehead as tears of frustration trailed down her cheeks, leaving damp spots on the pillow. Maybe if she told DeeDee, she could help. Exhausted beyond belief, Mary fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Two days later she finished the inventory, just as a heavy snowstorm moved into the area. Huge snowdrifts covered the roads, and she momentarily lost control of the car when it skidded across a patch of ice. Once she was safely back on the highway, she promised herself this was the last time she'd risk her life by driving through the snow and ice to catch a late night flight. By the time she turned in her car, her nerves felt like frayed wires, and she had to force wobbly legs to carry her into the plane. As it taxied toward the runway, she prayed for the falling snow to end.
Instead of ending, the storm got worse. Moments later the pilot announced their flight would be delayed because of the weather. Three hours later, the snow stopped and ground crews cleared the runways enough for take off. Mary breathed a sigh of relief as the ground disappeared from beneath her. With any luck, she'd still make her connection in New York, then continue on to Boston.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side. Just after she landed at JFK airport, a sympathetic stewardess informed her she'd missed her connecting flight, and the next one wasn't for two hours. Mary thanked the woman and fumed all the way to the ticket counter. Damn this snow and ice! For two cents she'd move to a warm climate and stay there. She sat huddled in her chair, trying to diffuse her irritation.
The hair on her neck suddenly bristled and she had the strangest urge to look over her shoulder. The feeling persisted, so she stopped sorting her papers and turned.
It couldn't be, but it was! Jack was here! Her eyes met his and he lifted a hand in greeting. She found herself walking toward him, arms outstretched. He met her halfway and wrapped his arms around her. She lifted her head and their lips met in a long kiss.
Someone bumped into them, and the kiss ended. "I can't believe you're here!" he whispered. "You look terrific!"
Several rude comments from travelers brought them back to reality. Embarrassed, Mary lowered her arms and stepped back. Her heart thudded and blood soared through her veins. "My...my plane got delayed. I'm on my way back to Boston."
He led her toward two empty chairs. "I'm on my way to Ohio, for another inventory job." He glanced at his watch. "I don't leave for another hour. How about you?"
She shook her head. "Hour and a half."
He pulled her to her feet. "Let's go somewhere where we can talk." Arms entwined, they walked through the terminal. "It's good to see you, Mary. I think about you all the time, wondering what you're doing, if you're okay."
She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Ouch! She was here with Jack. "I'm so glad to see you. I didn't realize just seeing somebody could feel so good." Breathless, she remained where she was, unwilling to move.
His response was cut short when a group of running children stumbled into them. He released her to help one of them back on his feet. Two adults appeared, scolding the children for running through the airport. It was several minutes before everything got sorted out and the group departed.
In spite of her joy at seeing Jack, Mary welcomed the interruption. What was she doing? She hardly knew this man! Her emotions were running rampant--she needed a few moments to regroup. She stepped back and gazed at him from under her lashes. Desire flickered through her veins like a lit fuse, but she somehow found the strength to ignore it. If this was going to be her reaction every time she saw him, she needed to make sure the situation didn't get out of hand.
He seemed to sense her withdrawal, but said nothing. He simply tucked her arm through his as they walked toward the restaurant. "How about a cup of coffee?"
She nodded and followed him to a table. Her eyes memorized his every move, imprinting it to memory, as he gave the waitress their order. Would she be able to build a life without him?
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
How could she explain what she'd been thinking? She didn't even understand it herself. "Nothing. I'm just glad to see you."
He nodded and thanked the waitress as she delivered their coffee. Once she departed, he reached across the table and squeezed her fingers. "So, where do we go from here?"
Why couldn't he leave well enough alone? Her smile faded. "Oh, Jack. I want to see you again, I really do. But all I can think about is Audrey."
He rubbed the inside of her wrist with his thumb. "Mary, look at me. I think I'm falling in love with you. I know it sounds crazy, but the way I feel about you is entirely different than what I felt for Audrey. I can't divorce her--she needs me too much right now. It's tearing me apart, bit by bit. I've got to see you again, please."
An alarm beeped and he glanced at his watch. "Damn. My plane leaves in a few minutes. We need to talk about this. Will you walk with me?"
Her heart sang with joy. He was falling in love with her! He wanted to be with her as much as she wanted to be with him.
They threaded their way through the busy airport. When they reached the gates, he held on to her hands. "Mary, there has to be a way we can be together. Please, promise me you'll think about it. That's all I'm asking."
Smiling, she brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. "I don't know how to tell you this, but I think I'm falling in love with you, too," she whispered.
His frown turned into a smile. "You are?" He crushed her against him. "God, I hate to leave." The flight began to board and he released her. "I'll call you," he promised.
Her mind whirred with activity as she headed back to the main terminal. She
glanced at her reflection in her mirror, and grinned at her smiling reflection. Jack loved her! She could hardly believe it. His image came to mind, and her smile grew wider. How could she ever have doubted her feelings for him?
She wanted to sing out his name at the top of her lungs. Finally, after all these years, she'd found the man of her dreams. She loved him and he loved her! How much better could life get?
Her mood sobered when she remembered how sick Audrey was, and the joy she felt turned to guilt. She suddenly felt like a balloon that had been deflated. Her legs wobbled, and she sat in the nearest chair, suddenly depressed. Why did life have to be so complicated? As hard as she tried, she couldn't figure out a way to resolve the underlying problem. Right now, Jack's wife needed him. Even though she hated the thought of it, she knew he'd have to stay with Audrey. There was no way she could ask him to divorce his wife--her conscience simply wouldn't allow it.
Bad weather caused flight delays and she arrived in Boston near midnight. As she trudged through the knee–deep snow to the long–term parking lot, she slipped and fell on a patch of ice. Rubbing her sore hip, she realized she was too tired to drive home in this kind of weather. She retraced her path back to the terminal.
The hell with it; she'd take a taxi. Her head pounded, her hip ached where she'd fallen, and she didn't give a damn whether the company reimbursed her for the fare or not. She'd pick up her car tomorrow. DeeDee could drive her over to get it.
Her overstuffed sofa cushions made a welcome change from uncomfortable airplane seats. She kicked off her shoes and rubbed the muscles in her neck and hip. Laying her head back and closing her eyes, she decided to rest a minute before she unpacked and got ready for bed. She didn't realize she'd drifted into sleep until the sound of someone calling her name made her sit up abruptly.
The tiny specks of light... She watched them form the image of a woman, the same one she'd seen several times before. She sat still, gathering courage to confront it. If she figured out what the spirit wanted, maybe it would go away.
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