"Is he more than a friend?"
"Ugh!" Tesha hung up.
Adam sat back with a smirk. She loved him. Then he sat forward. Or did she just kick him to the curb. He picked up the cell phone and called her back.
"Yes, Adam." She didn't sound mad. "I'm busy, it's almost time to serve lunch."
"I'm sorry."
"Just so you understand. I know we have to get to know more about each other and it will take some time. But I'm telling you right now. You cannot threaten any person who happens to be male who I talk to."
"Understood." He couldn't help it sounded more like a growl.
"See you Friday night." She made a kiss sound and hung up.
Flashes of lights blinded him. Adam ducked behind something, what it was didn't matter. What mattered was that he was back. The sounds of crossfire and helicopter blades thudded and cracked. His hands trembled, but he managed to clutch to the fabric of the injured man's uniform. Whoever he dragged was heavy. It proved impossible to pull him to safety behind the barrier. He tugged and heaved, his heart pounding. Then the soldier was gone.
The helicopter blades became distant and he screamed in panic. They were leaving him behind. His hands were red with blood when he looked down to look for a weapon. There was only blood. So much blood.
Blind, Adam scrambled from his bed and crawled to the corner of the bedroom. He hugged his knees to his chest and began to rock forward and backward. They'd be coming to get him, kill him. He'd failed his mission.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Tesha checked through the window once again. Other than a motorcycle, which she knew belonged to Jensen and another convertible, which she assumed was Jensen's guest there were no other new vehicles. Lights blazed from the other side of the house. They were filming. It was almost ten o'clock at night and they were still working.
Once the shooting was done, Vanessa Morgan and the other two actors who were staying at her house would trudge in and after picking at some snacks, they'd go to bed.
Her cell phone had been silent all evening, no news from Adam. No call, text, or message. She'd called and sent him a text to see if he was all right, but he'd not answered. Each time she imagined the worst, that he'd been in an accident between Nashville and Lovely, she was reassured since Jensen was not notified. The actor would not hesitate to come and inform her.
The oven timer dinged and she checked the last batch of snicker doodles. Most of the actors didn't eat more than raw vegetables, but the rest of the crew would appreciate a warm cookie or two before bed.
The kitchen filled with the cinnamon aroma of the cookies as she slid each one onto a cooling rack. Once this was completed, she'd shower and go to bed. In the morning Adam would arrive and explain the reason for his not coming as planned.
"You don't look good at all." The next afternoon Cassie studied Tesha, who ignored her and continued to scrub the baking pan. "Have you slept?"
Tesha blew out a breath and slid a look to the two execs in her kitchen, paperwork and all sort of other office supplies scattered across the long dining room table. "I did not sleep well. Have a lot on my mind." She wiped her hands on her apron. "As a matter of fact. Would you mind finishing up alone? I need to go over to the other house."
The expression on Cassie's face relaxed. "Sure."
Jensen sat on a new couch, his head bopping along with whatever music he listened too. When Tesha signaled that she wanted to talk to him. He pulled the headset off and stood. "What's up?"
Other than two men in the kitchen staring bleakly into their cups of coffee, there was no one else around. Tesha wondered if they were filming a portion that did not require Jensen at the moment. "I feel silly coming to you about this, but I'm worried about Adam. He planned to come this weekend, but hasn’t."
Jensen frowned and pulled out his cell phone from his back pocket. "I got a couple texts from Caden, but haven't had a chance to read them." He held up a finger. "Hold on."
His eyes widened. "Damn."
"What?" Tesha's heart lodged in the vicinity of her throat.
"He says he wrecked the Porsche again."
Her voice made a strangled sound. "Adam?"
Jensen looked up at her as if he'd forgotten she was there. "No, Caden. I'm going to kick his ass."
Tesha wanted to kick him in the knee. "What about Adam?"
"I have no idea. Let me call." For a few minutes Jensen walked in a circle, one hand on his hip while saying a lot of "uh-huh's" and "okay's." Finally he hung up and turned to her. "Adam's in the hospital. A clinic. He didn't want anyone to call you and tell you. So I'm not supposed to tell you."
"Where is he?" Tesha asked through clenched teeth.
"Cornerstone," Jensen replied with rounded eyes. The actor would never make a good spy in real life. He folded rather easily when faced with an angry woman.
Through the red haze of fury, Tesha began checking things off her mental to do list. Breakfast items were cleared off. Lunch items prepared and ready to be set out. Mrs. Miller, Carol, and Debbie were due at any minute to serve it. She had plenty of time for murder.
Cassie was sliding her large tote onto her shoulder when Tesha walked back into her house. "I have dash to my shop," Cassie said holding up her car keys. "I have four dozen cupcakes to decorate and deliver for a ladies' tea two towns over. Her wide eyes took in Tesha's scowl. "What are you doing today?"
"I'm going to Nashville to kill Adam. Maybe stop on the way back and pick up ten gallons of butter pecan ice cream."
"Oh." Cassie seemed at a loss as to whether to believe her or not. "Do you need an accomplice?"
Tesha chuckled in spite of her sour humor. "You're a great friend. Thanks for the offer, but this is a one-woman job. I'll call you later."
Somewhat mollified, Cassie left. Tesha changed from her stained kitchen smock to a clingy white t-shirt with the words "I Love Pink" in bright pink letters and the emblem of a heart on the front.
An hour later she motored her small truck to the clinic in Nashville.
Cornerstone Treatment Center was a midsize nondescript one story building flanked by a parking lot and what looked to be a fenced in park. The trees behind it were tall, shading part of the clinic's roof. Tesha pushed the heavy door open and stepped into a cheery front room. A young receptionist looked up from her monitor and smiled. "Good afternoon. How can I help you?"
"I'm here to see Adam Ford," Tesha didn't smile back. Her mood had gotten worse instead of better on the drive. How dare Adam keep this from her, leave her high and dry after making plans to spend their first weekend as a couple together. Above all, why would he tell his family to keep it from her? It angered her that he expected her to be on some sort of permanent stand-by.
The woman typed something into a computer and looked up at her. "Name?"
"Tesha Washington."
She looked to her monitor and back at her. "Mr. Ford has a green light. He's in Room 14. Down the hall on your left," the woman told her already looking back to her monitor. "Please knock softly a couple times first. Some of our patients need a warning before someone enters."
Green light? Tesha looked down the hallway. Every doorway had a shingle type display with lights. Most were green, a few were red.
Upon approaching the doorway, Tesha hesitated. What if his family was in there? They were not at the "meet the parents" stage yet.
She rapped twice on the door. No answer. She pushed the door open just a bit and peeked in. Adam was asleep. His wrists and ankles were bound with what looked to be leather bindings. A gasp escaped from her throat. If she was angry before, now she was enraged. How dare they do this to him?
He woke up when she was working on the second wrist. His free hand stopped her. "You can't do that." Adam's words were a bit slurred, she wondered if they'd drugged him.
"I can and I will. How could your family allow this?"
"I don't want to hurt you." Adam seemed to struggle to keep his eyes open. He studied her face. "Why are you h
ere?"
She shoved his hand aside and finished releasing his wrist. "Why did you tell your family not to contact me?"
He looked away from her to the wall. "Go home, Tesha. It was a mistake. I can't be in a relationship. I'm still a mess."
Her rage immediately receded at the fat tear that slipped from the corner of his eye, down the side of his face and dripped to the pillow.
"Please, leave." His voice was softer. His head lolled to the side.
"He'll be out for a while. I administered a sedative to keep him from struggling against the bonds." A doctor spoke matter-of-factly from the doorway. "Doctor Mitchell." The physician came toward her and held out his hand. "I assume you're his Tesha."
His. "I'm not so sure I'm ‘his’ anything right now." She held Adam's hand, couldn't release it. She'd never seen so much pain, what she'd seen in Adam's eyes would stay with her for a long time. "What happened?"
Doctor Mitchell eyed the unfastened restraint, but didn't move to restrain Adam's wrist again. "He had a pretty bad episode. His family couldn't get him to snap out of it, so they called me."
Adam looked so strong, virile, and heartbreakingly handsome in his slumber. A lock of hair across his drawn brows, his full lips slightly parted. Tesha faced the doctor. "I should leave."
"No, it may do him some good that you're here. I don't suggest you listen to anything he says while drugged. Although I don't recommend patients undergoing PTSD counseling to enter into a relationship, I think losing you would affect him negatively at this point."
"Do you know what brought this on?"
Doctor Mitchell's smile came across as fatherly. "If I did I couldn't tell you. But no, I don't know. Sometimes a certain memory will trigger them. Other times, they just happen without a reason."
The doctor made a note on the clipboard. "If you need anything push that button." He motioned to a round-lighted button on the wall with the words "Assistance Needed" in bold letters under it.
Tesha moved to sit in an overstuffed chair in the corner of Adam's room. She checked emails and played a game on her cell phone for several hours.
A couple walked in. They looked to be in their early fifties. The woman had beautiful grey hair, cut in a stylish bob. The man, clearly a Ford with dark salt and pepper hair and blue eyes had his hand in the small of the woman's back.
"Hello," the woman went to Tesha after looking at the still slumbering Adam. "I'm Miriam, Adam's mother." She smiled at Tesha with obvious curiosity.
Tesha stood, oh boy, she'd not meant to meet them yet. She smiled back. "I'm Tesha Washington. His..."
"Oh yes, Jensen told us all about you. You're the girl Adam is seeing."
She meant to say, his neighbor.
"Jensen talks too much," Adam grunted from the bed, having woken at hearing his parents enter. His sullen gaze tracked the people in the room.
The older man nodded at Tesha, his eyes warm. "I'm Roman Ford, the patient's father."
"Dad..." Adam groaned and put his hands over his eyes. "My head hurts. The lights are too bright."
Mariam Ford, moved with brisk efficiency. She lit the lamp next to Adam's bed and then flicked off the room lights. "There, now we can get to know your girl. We've not heard much about you yet." She reached out and patted Tesha's shoulder. "It's wonderful to meet you, Tesha. I'm glad to know you are giving our son a chance."
At once she felt at ease. She'd wondered at their reaction upon meeting Adam's mix-heritage girlfriend. It relieved her they hadn't batted an eye.
"Adam is great." Tesha snuck a look at her "boyfriend" who eyed her in return, his expression curious. "He and I have a lot in common."
"That's wonderful," Mrs. Ford smiled broadly. "What do you do?"
They continued to chat for a few minutes, mostly Tesha and Adam's mother, Mr. Ford and Adam watched a television show.
"I was just about to leave, I'll let you have time with Adam." She reached for her purse but his mother stopped her.
"Please stay a minute. I need to make a quick phone call." She looked to Adam's confused father. "Come on Roman, let's give them a minute."
Tesha neared the bed and pulled at the sheets for something to do with her hands and searched his face in an attempt to gauge his thoughts. "I'm going to know how you're doing whether you tell me or your brothers do. It's up to you. And I will come back the day after tomorrow to see you."
His expression was a mixture of hope and shame. "I promise to call you."
"And for the record," Tesha continued. "I won't have you breaking up with me every time we hit a stumbling block. If after a while we decide we're not suited or compatible, then I will accept it." She leaned over him and placed a kiss on his cheek. "I care a lot for you, Adam."
Adam reached up and caressed her face. "I wish things were different. That I was normal." He jutted his chin forward. "I’d rather lose you than ever hurt you."
It was just her luck that the man she'd fallen in love with now wanted nothing to do with her. Tesha lowered until they were eye level. "You need to find a better reason to break up with me."
She straightened and turned on her heel and exited the room. Just outside his parents stood. How much had they overheard? Roman Ford gave her a stiff nod and went inside while his mother lingered.
It was easy to tell Miriam Ford had been a beautiful woman when young because now she remained striking. Where Roman was tall and broad, she was slim and delicate. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Good for you not putting up with that lame excuse from him. Jensen said he's never seen him more taken with a woman." Her eyes softened when she looked to the interior of the room. "I can't begin to understand what my son is going through. But I hope you continue to be patient with him. Of all my sons, Adam is the most loyal, most honorable, of the best temperament. Well, he was before this. And even through this, he rarely lifts his voice, rarely complains."
What the woman said was true. She admired Adam as well as loved him. Tesha wondered what it would be like to see Adam lose his temper. She almost smiled. It would probably be sexy.
Adam's mother hugged her goodbye and Tesha was filled with resolve to fight for her relationship.
She walked through the lobby and once again the same receptionist sat behind the counter. Tesha neared. "Can I send something to be delivered to Adam?"
The woman assured her she could and Tesha left. On the drive back she mused what to do about the current situation with Adam. Sure she could leave well enough alone and move on. After all, she didn't need the complication of a relationship like this. Once she got a good night’s sleep, it would be easier to think and ponder what to do.
There was a loud honk and Tesha realized she'd been stopped at a green light lost in thought.
Relationships were so much work.
Chapter Twenty-Six
It was eight in the morning and the house smelled wonderful. A batch of biscuits was ready and Tesha circled around the counter to get them out of the oven. She dashed to open the French doors when Cassie stood out there with a basket full of vegetables. It was Saturday and her friend usually went to the Farmers Market early to pick up fresh produce for the lunch spread.
They made a good team. Tesha would miss Cassie once the whole movie production was over. "Good morning," Cassie shook her head. "I tried to get in through the front door, but you didn't open it when I knocked with my elbow. It hurt. Couldn't knock properly and hold all this crap." She went to the counter and plopped the basket down.
"I'm sorry. I rushed through a shower while the biscuits baked. What about your key?"
Her friend shot her a peeved look. "I couldn't find my key ring, had to grab the spare this morning. I need to get better organized at home. The shop is ship shape, this operation the same. But my poor house suffers. It's a big mess."
Tesha hadn't seen Cassie so flustered before. Decided it was best to let her be. Everyone had one of those days. "Once this is over, how about I come over and help you organize? I'm pretty good at it
."
"Would you really do that?" Cassie's eyes shined. "I'm not sure what's wrong with me. I'm so emotional today."
What was wrong with Cassie was that she went to the cupcake shop every day after they finished serving lunch and there was no telling how many hours she put in there. She was burnt out. "Why don't you take today off, Cassie. I’ll call Debbie to come over and help out, she's always offering."
"I'll leave as soon as breakfast is over." Cassie sniffed. "I think I need a nap."
Vanessa Morgan and two other actors traipsed down the stairs and straight to the table. Tesha and Cassie went to work pouring coffee and serving breakfast.
An hour later, Tesha walked out to her garden and watered the plants while Kylie ran around in circles barking at the water hose. The puppy yelped when water hit her rump and Tesha let out a chuckle.
Just then the gate flew open and Cassie, who'd gone to Adam's house, ran past her into the house. "I'm leaving now."
Although she'd only caught a glimpse of her friend's face it was enough. Tesha dropped the water hose and rushed in behind her friend. Cassie wiped tears away as she grabbed the basket and her purse. Then let out a soft sob.
"What happened?" Tesha took her by the shoulders. "Why are you crying?"
There was mad crying and there was hurt crying. By the way Cassie was gulping for air, someone had hurt her feelings. She let out a shuddering breath. "It's not important. I'm just so tired otherwise my feelings wouldn't be hurt." She pulled a tissue from her purse and blew her nose with a loud honk. "That man is an arrogant ass."
Tesha looked over her shoulder. There wasn't anyone else in the house. "Which one?"
Shoulders rounded Cassie let her head fall forward. "Jensen Ford said he couldn't imagine anyone making a living baking cupcakes. He then proceeded to say that a cupcake business is the stupidest thing he's ever heard of." She hiccupped and wiped her eyes. "At least I didn't start crying until I got here."
Even Heroes Cry, Fords of Nashville, Book 1 Page 16
