“I need to talk to you about something and I hope you will be able to show me some forgiveness.”
When she made no comment, he continued. “I grew up in the Bronx. My mom was a single mother and she worked two jobs in order to take care of my sister and me. As a result, she was never home. I was often in trouble with the law and spent some time in juvie.”
“Juvie?”
“Juvenile hall. When I turned seventeen, I lied about my age and went into the Navy.” Choosing to ignore his years as a Navy Seal, he continued. “During my time in the Navy, I met a girl and when she told me she was pregnant, I wanted to do the right thing. I married her. As it turned out, she wasn’t pregnant. Had only said she was.”
He turned to look at Kate and saw he had her full attention.
“When I got out of the Navy, I found she had sold our house, cleaned out our bank account, and left town with a man I had always considered a friend. After my divorce, I decided to use my GI bill and go to college. I enrolled in Georgetown University and earned a law degree.”
He knew he was coming to the hard part and paused to think of the right words.
“I was pretty disillusioned about marriage and women in general. When I started dating again I never stayed with one woman for long. As soon as a woman began pressing for a commitment, I would drop her and go on to the next one.”
Not wanting to divulge the information that he worked for the USCIS, he said, “When I came to Mountain Springs, everything changed. You were different from any woman I had ever met. I fell hard. You must know that. I have given up smoking and drinking. I haven’t dated any woman since I arrived at the lodge. What I’m trying to say is I want to make a commitment to you.”
“What kind of commitment?”
“To date you exclusively.”
Kate was thoughtful for a moment. “But what about Megan? She said you had proposed to her.”
“That’s not true. Right before I left D.C., she tried to get a proposal out of me, but that just wasn’t going to happen.”
“I will have to think about it,” Kate said.
Jake tried not to feel disappointed at her response. He made no attempt to convince her otherwise and they made the rest of the trip into Lava Cove in silence.
Later, as they were eating their dinner in Kate’s favorite Mexican restaurant, Kate said, “Jake, I don’t have a problem with how you lived before I met you. I know it has nothing to do with me, since I didn’t even know you. I don’t feel you need my forgiveness, if that’s what you were asking for. As far as I’m concerned it was another lifetime for both you and me. But I do have to take Jennifer into consideration.”
“There is no rush for you to make up your mind.” Jake reached out and took her hand. “But I did want you to know how I feel.”
“You know from things I’ve said, I never want to see Walt again, but Jennifer asks me every time she calls if I will take her to see him as soon as she gets back to Utah. I’m sure you must understand I can’t make any decisions now.”
“Fair enough,” he replied, glancing at his watch. Catching the waiter’s eye, he gave him a wave.
“Jake, one thing I don’t understand.”
“Yes?”
“You said you are part of a law firm in Los Angeles, yet all the calls were coming from Washington, D.C.”
“That’s true. I’ve only been in LA a few months. I recently moved there with a branch of the law firm I was working for in D.C. I lived in Washington for several years where I attended Georgetown University and then was hired by a firm there, right after I graduated.”
Kate’s puzzled look had vanished as he made the explanation and Jake was glad he didn’t have to lie to her. He didn’t want to have something else he would have to ask her forgiveness for. But he knew the time would come when he would have to tell her he was with a government agency and he worked out of their LA office. When that became necessary, he hoped he would be retiring.
“We should be heading for Red Rocks,” Jake said as he paid the bill. “We have assigned seats, but I want to get there a little early so we can get decent parking.”
As they drove to Red Rocks, Kate thought about all Jake had said. When he talked to her, he had been serious and intense, concentrating on what he was saying. He had not once teased her during dinner. She knew she was attracted to him. She realized he had changed a lot in the last few weeks. He made her feel secure and confident when he was around. She loved his sense of humor and if she were honest, she loved his teasing.
But there was the problem of Jennifer. Her daughter hadn’t met Jake yet. Would Jennifer like him? Would he like her? They were similar in some ways. They both had a great sense of humor, they both liked to tease, and they both loved their music.
As they drove into the parking lot of Red Rocks, she decided she would think about it later. Tonight she wanted to enjoy the performance of Cats and her time with Jake.
When Jake opened the passenger door for her and she stepped out, he took her hand. It was the first time he had touched her since the night of Connie and Dallen’s dance when she had gone to his cabin. She couldn’t help but feel thrilled. It was such a relief not to worry about the women at the spa or the women in Washington, D.C.
Jake presented the tickets to the attendant at the top of the amphitheater and they were shown to their seats.
“Jake,” Kate said, “what wonderful seats.”
He smiled and squeezed her hand.
The amphitheater filled up quickly after that and soon the orchestra began to play the encore for the performance. Suddenly the stage was lit by spotlights and the show began. Kate was enthralled with the music and the actors in their cat costumes.
When intermission came, Jake suggested they go for a little walk and holding out his hand, he guided her up the steps.
“Did you know the play is based on T. S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats?” Jake asked as they stood near the refreshment stand observing the lines of people.
“If I ever knew it, I’m afraid I’d forgotten it,” Kate said. “It’s been too long since I studied literature in college.”
When the last notes of the music faded and the stage went dark, Kate couldn’t help but regret the evening was almost over.
“Did you enjoy it?” Jake bent his head to whisper in her ear.
“I loved it,” she said, looking at him with shining eyes. “Thank you for bringing me.”
As they merged with the crowd, Kate could feel Jake’s hand on her back and she couldn’t help but think he certainly knew how to make her feel special. She tried not to think about all the practice he must have had.
They made the turn onto the highway to Mountain Springs. In the quiet and warmth of the car, Kate took the opportunity to pursue the subject of Jennifer.
“Jake, I would like to talk to you a little more about Jennifer.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s obvious from what you’ve told me about your niece you have an understanding of the emotions of young girls.”
“If they’re all basically the same, then I guess you could say I have,” he agreed.
“Jennifer is totally attached to her father. As I’ve told you before, she doesn’t believe he had anything to do with the murder of the blackjack dealer from Vegas.”
“That is understandable. We all want to think our parents are perfect and it can be very disillusioning when a child finds out one or both parents have some faults.”
“I agree with you. And until Walt is ready to admit to her he is guilty, she is going to hang on to her belief in his innocence.”
“True.”
“I don’t know how long that will be.”
“You’ll just have to be patient. I don’t think that is something you can rush. Sh
e has to be allowed to take her time and find out for herself. But I do believe it is important for you to let her make her own decision on what kind of relationship she is going to have with her father. It can’t be based on how you want her to feel about him.”
“I understand, but it may be hard for me. I must admit when he was first arrested I was extremely angry and said some terrible things in front of her.”
“I’m sure you were very hurt.”
She was quiet for a moment, mulling over what Jake had said. She couldn’t help but be surprised at his wisdom, which must have come from watching his sister go through a divorce. She hadn’t realized he had such a serious side. Until tonight, it had seemed Jake was all about teasing.
“I took Child Psychology in college,” she said. “It is very important for teenage girls to have a good relationship with their father. I have begun to worry because Jennifer is not going to have that.”
“I don’t agree with you. If you’ll let her see her father, I’m sure if he cares about her at all, they will work out something between the two of them. There will be visits, letters, and telephone calls.”
“But Jake, she needs a good role model for a father,” she objected. “Even if they do all the things you just mentioned, he will never be a good role model. And that’s what worries me.”
“Kate,” he interrupted in a gentle voice. “You must know how I feel about you. I don’t know what kind of a role model you consider me, but I’m willing to try. I assure you, I plan on doing my best. I promise you, she will never see me smoking or drinking and I’ll try to keep a curb on the swearing.”
“Jennifer is used to going to church. Would you be willing to take her? I know I should be going to, but I have to admit I got a little bitter when Walt was arrested. I thought I had always lived a good life, and I couldn’t help but wonder why this was happening to me.” She stopped and glanced at Jake, whose face was lit by the lights from the dashboard. She could tell he was listening intently.
“I had the feeling people were talking about me. It was pretty hard going to church and holding my head up. Then when I moved to Mountain Springs, I didn’t bother going. I used the excuse, I was too busy getting the lodge up and running. But after Jennifer comes home, I have told myself I will get started again.”
“I’m sure it will do us all good.” Jake smiled.
“You will go with us?” Kate asked.
“Of course. You must know there’s not much I wouldn’t do for you.”
Kate was silent. She knew Jake was attracted to her, but she was only beginning to understand how deep his feelings went. On the other hand, she knew he needed to do it not only for her, but for himself.
“At least, Jennifer’s grandma has been taking her to church, so she isn’t being affected by my not going. But I have promised myself, when she comes home, I will start again.”
“Maybe we should go this Sunday and get acquainted,” he suggested, smiling down at her.
“You would do that?” she asked.
“I have a feeling we already know most of the people who will be there.”
Chapter 9
Although Jake offered to go with her, Kate made the decision to drive to Lava Cove alone to pick up Jennifer. Hesitant for Jennifer to meet him, she was sure they would hit it off but she wasn’t ready for Jennifer to know how she felt about Jake.
Kate was certain her daughter would pick up on her feelings. Maybe it was because she was an only child and Kate had spent a lot of time with her. Unfortunately, she had often confided her feelings to Jennifer, particularly about Walt. She regretted now that she had done so.
She tried to relax as she drove down the canyon to the airport, but her back ached from the tension of knowing Jennifer would be meeting Jake. She had to admit her worry wasn’t just about Jennifer meeting Jake, but about her wanting to visit her father when she returned home.
Kate need not have worried about her daughter meeting Jake. He totally charmed Jennifer and she was amazed at how well he appeared to identify with a twelve-year-old girl. One day when Jennifer was talking on the phone to a friend in Lava Cove, Kate caught Jake and asked him.
“I have a niece, Patty, my sister’s daughter,” he explained. “I have been around her off and on since she was born. But when she was in her teens, her father moved out and filed for divorce. It was a very tough time for her. Her mother became depressed and spent a lot of time in bed. I was going to Georgetown University at the time. I began to spend every spare minute I had with her. Now, I’m proud to say, she is following in my footsteps and is studying law at Georgetown.”
The more she learned about Jake, the more impressed she became. Not only had he been a Navy Seal, which took an incredible amount of determination and physical strength, but he had gone to law school and become an attorney.
When Kate told Jake Jennifer had not changed her mind about wanting to see Walt, he reminded her, “We had this talk the other night. You must let her see him. He is her father. I still believe, after meeting your daughter, you need to allow Jennifer to decide for herself what kind of relationship she is going to have with him.”
Kate knew Jake was right. She replied, somewhat reluctantly, “All right, I’ll take her up to Salt Lake for a visit, but I don’t want to see him. Unfortunately, according to the visitor’s packet I received from the prison, I have to be with her at all times since she is a minor.”
“Okay, we’ll have to plan accordingly.”
“We?”
“Yes, we,” he said firmly. “There is no way I’m going to let the two of you go up to the Gunnison State Penitentiary alone.”
Kate couldn’t help but feel grateful Jake was willing to accompany them. However, she wasn’t sure if she should take him up on his offer.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” she said slowly.
“Why not? If you’re worried about what Walt might say, he won’t even know I’m there. I’ll wait out in the car while you and Jennifer go in.”
“I guess that will work. When will you be free?” she asked.
“How about tomorrow?”
“Fine by me. The sooner, the better. I just want to get this over with.”
Jake studied her face in silence. “You know this may not be a one-time visit.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, but the first visit is going to be the hardest. I don’t think Jennifer has any idea what it’s going to be like.”
“Have you tried to talk to her about it?”
“Yes, but since I’ve never visited there, I’m not sure what details I should be giving her.”
“Since I’m an attorney and have visited a few prisons, would you like me to talk to her?”
“Would you?” Kate asked. “You must know how much she admires you. I think it might go a little better coming from you.”
A few hours later, Jake caught Jennifer alone watering the plants, a chore Kate had insisted she take over.
“Jennifer,” he said, “did your mother tell you I will be driving you and her up to Salt Lake to see your father?” Jake knew when Kate talked to Jennifer about visiting her father, she always called it ‘going up to Salt Lake.’ The state prison was actually located in a town called Gunnison about three and a half hours from Mountain Springs, but Kate never called it prison or Gunnison, it was always ‘going up to Salt Lake.’
Jennifer was surprised. “No, she didn’t. When are we going? Can we go in your Jeep instead of Mom’s car? That would be such a blast.”
“It’s a three and a half hour drive up there and I think it would be a little uncomfortable. How about we save the Jeep ride for another day? I have to go down to Lava Cove in a couple days and if your mom and you would like to ride along, we can take the Jeep. We’ll have lunch while we’re there. How would that work?”
“When can we go to Salt Lake?”
“I told your mom I would be able to go tomorrow.”
Jennifer clapped her hands. “I can’t wait to see my dad.”
“I’d like to talk to you about your visit. I don’t want you having any surprises.”
“Surprises?”
“Visiting someone in prison is a little different. When you first go into the prison to see your father, you have to go through a security check and you might be searched. It’s a little bit like it was when you flew to see your grandma in Colorado.”
“Why?”
“Sometimes people try and take things into their friends or family in the prison that the authorities don’t want them to have.”
“Like what?”
“Knives, guns, anything that could be used to make a weapon.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Some men in prison don’t want to take the responsibility for the things they have done wrong. Sometimes they try to escape.”
“Daddy would never do anything like that. Besides, he’ll be out soon. He didn’t really do what they said he did.”
“Even if he is innocent,” Jake said calmly, “there are still certain rules that will have to be followed.”
“All right.” She grinned. “I won’t take in any guns or knives.”
Jake smiled. “Another thing, since you’re a minor, your mother will have to stay with you at all times.”
“That’s not fair.” Jennifer threw down the hose. “She hates him and they will probably get into some kind of argument and ruin everything.”
“I don’t believe your mother plans on having a conversation with him. She is going in with you only because the prison rules require it.”
Jennifer stormed over to turn off the water and for a moment Jake was afraid he had upset her. But she only asked, “Can you take me down to the General Store? I want to buy my dad a present.”
Murder in Mountain Springs Page 11
