by Jenn Cowan
16
“We lost them. How is that possible?” Travis paces back and forth in front of his SUV. Snow is falling around him and his yelling is making smoke come out his mouth like a fire breathing dragon. If he could breathe fire, I’m sure he would right now.
I cross my arms and snuggle into the heated leather seats in his SUV. One minute we’re chasing the suspects down Pine street, they turn left then vanish.
Poof.
Gone.
No abandoned buildings to hide in.
Nothing but a few houses. All of them look empty this time of day. No lights on. No smoke coming from the chimney’s. How could the SUV just disappear?
Travis is yelling again. His arm not holding the cellphone is waving around like a band conductor.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out.
Josh.
I hit decline and tuck it away.
It rings again. I ignore it. The car falls silent for a moment then the ringing starts again.
I sigh and take it out.
It’s Bethany.
“Hello?”
“Autumn, thank goodness.” She sounds out of breath. “I was at the police station and just heard about the shooting. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“And the Mayor?”
“He’s at the hospital.”
Silence.
“Bethany, are you there?”
Her voice comes out in a squeak. “Is he dead?”
“He was shot, but I’m optimistic. I’m going to have Travis drop me off there shortly.”
“You’re with Travis?”
I cringe. I shouldn’t have mentioned that. Bethany thrived on gossip. Word would get around we were driving to the hospital together and the next thing you know, we’re engaged and planning a June wedding. “He was the officer at the scene. I didn’t have my car so he offered to give me a ride.”
“Where’s your Jeep?”
“At home.”
“Why? Where’s Josh?”
I sigh. “He’s probably at his house.”
“You mean you don’t know.” She sounds appalled.
“I’m not his keeper. Josh is free to go and do whatever he wants and so am I.” I must have been talking loudly because Travis turns and cocks an eyebrow at me. I smile and wave. He turns back around and continues his conversation.
“I’m not trying to upset you. It’s just. You and Josh. Everyone just assumes…” her voice trails off.
“Assumes what?”
“Nothing. It’s silly.”
“No, what? What does everyone assume?”
“Assumes you two are a couple. Dating. Secretly. We’re all waiting for the official announcement and the wedding date.”
“Our wedd-what?” I gasp. Actually, I start hyperventilating.
Travis chooses that moment to end his call and get in the car. He stares at me while I’m gasping into the phone, about ready to pass out from lack of air. My throat is closing in and I cough to get some air.
Bethany calls my name a couple of times. I find my voice and say, “I’ll have to call you back.” When I hang up, Travis pounces.
“Who was that? You look like someone told you Santa Claus was real.”
“It’s nothing.” I tuck my phone away.
“Autumn. Please don’t shut me out.”
I shake my head, not ready to talk about it. “Silly town gossip,” I mumble.
He nods and thankfully doesn’t push the subject. “I need to go question the Mayor. He’s out of surgery and should be able to talk soon. Do you want me to drop you off at your house or do you want to go to the hospital?”
Going home wasn’t an option. I couldn’t face Josh right now and know he’d be waiting for me. “The hospital. I want to thank the Mayor for saving me.”
Travis stares ahead, but doesn’t put the car in drive. “I saw you.”
“Saw me what?” I turn to study his profile.
“You and Josh.”
I scowl. “What?” I was in no mood to hear about me and Josh again.
“It was the night of the party. We were taking a break, but you smiled at me earlier in the day so I thought maybe you were ready to get back together. Maybe you finally decided to forgive me for drag racing those kids from Villsboro with you in the car.”
I huff and mutter, “You almost killed us running that red light.”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “I was a dumb teenager, what can I say. My ego got the best of me…still does sometimes,” he smirks then continues, “I came over to apologize for the one hundredth time and see if you would go to dinner with me before the party. You were in a yellow sundress, swinging in your backyard swing. Your copper curls blowing in the wind. You were gorgeous.” His eyes are staring straight ahead as if he’s lost in the memory. He gulps then continues, “Josh was pushing you. You were laughing and looking back at him. You never looked at me like that.”
I frown. “Like what?”
“So, carefree. So, in…so in love.”
I almost throw up in my mouth. “I’ve never—,”
He cuts me off, “You were laughing so hard at something he said you fell out of the swing. I dropped the sunflowers I bought for you and started to rush toward you, but he caught you then he…he kissed you.” Travis turns to me. Tears are in his eyes.
My eyes grow wide. “On the forehead.”
Travis closes his eyes and turns away from me. “You don’t have to lie about it, Autumn. I know what I saw.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What exactly did you see?”
He caught you in his arms and held you close to his chest. I saw him drop his head to yours.
I snort. “He was telling me how clumsy I am.”
Travis shakes his head and frowns. “I saw— I mean I’m pretty sure.”
I cross my arms and raise an eyebrow. “You saw my best friend catch me after I fell out of the swing because I am that klutzy. He made fun of me and kissed my forehead. End of story. I had dinner with my parents then waited like an idiot for you to come pick me up. When you never showed, I assumed you weren’t ready to get back together. The next morning, I woke up to the news of you and April…” I can’t bring myself to say it. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I need air. I push open the car door and step into the cold.
“Autumn, wait.” Travis scrambles around the car and tries to pull me into his arms.
I shrug him off and demand, “Why didn’t you say anything? In the yard, why didn’t you call out to me? Demand to know what was going on?”
Travis hangs his head. “It gutted me. I felt numb. Josh was…is your shadow. He’s always there. You told me you two were a package deal. Assured me you were just friends.” He runs a hand through his red hair again.
I shake my head. “So, you hooked up with April because you thought I wanted to be with Josh?”
“No. I was angry. Started drinking at the party, too much. April offered to drive me home. She was sympathetic. Nice. Understanding. One thing led to another…I woke up with a huge hangover and little re-collection of the night before. When I started sobering up and I began piecing things together…” he didn’t need to finish, I knew the story.
I open my mouth, but have no idea what to say. A silly misunderstanding led to years of pain, even a baby. It’s like a soap opera. The whole thing makes me sad.
“I’m sorry, Autumn.” Travis takes my hand. “I should have handled things differently. Should have talked to you then we would have gotten back together. Graduated and gone off to college together, maybe even have gotten married. Cat would be our daughter.”
I try to swallow the lump forming in my throat. We could have had a life together. Maybe be raising a family together. I gasp for air as a cry escapes my mouth and I reach up to try and smother it.
Travis wraps his arms around me as I sob into his chest. He strokes my hair and tries to soothe me. I feel heartbroken all over again although I’m not sure my heart ha
s ever healed. “I’m so sorry, Autumn.”
“Me too.”
His cell phone goes off. He ignores it, but it rings again. “I better get that.”
I nod into his chest as he reluctantly lets me go, but he keeps ahold of my hand when he answers.
“Cat, slow down. What’s wrong?”
I perk up at the mention of Cat’s name. All I can hear is sobbing on the other end of the line. My heart seems to ache even more. At this rate, it’ll never heal.
“I’m on my way.” He hangs up and pulls me toward his car.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have no idea. She’s just sobbing into the phone.”
I slide into the passenger seat as he shuts the door and hurries around to the driver’s side.
He hesitates for a moment and turns to me. “Autumn, I want you to know…I’ve never stopped loving you.”
I want to tell him I feel the same way, but I’m not sure I do. I need time to think. I simply nod and say, “Cat needs you right now.”
He flips on the siren and for the second time while I’m in his car, he runs every red light in town.
17
I stare at Travis’s house. It’s a three-bedroom white ranch style home with a large front porch. It’s quaint, it definitely suits him. Even has a white picket fence around the front yard.
Travis is out of the car and racing up the stone side walk.
I hesitate. Going into Travis’s home seems intimate, even strange. I’m not sure I’m ready for this then I mentally scold myself for being silly. Cat is upset. I need to be there for her. I push open my door and hurry up the sidewalk after Travis.
We barely make it to the porch when Cat comes running outside. We both freeze.
Travis’s mouth hangs open.
I blink and try to process what I’m seeing.
Cat is standing on the porch in blue and white flannel pajamas. Tears are streaming down her face and for good reason.
Her once red hair is now white like really white. It matches the snow piling up in her lawn. Her pale skin and white hair almost run together.
No one says anything, we just stare at her head.
“It’s so white. The bottle didn’t say it would turn my hair white. I only wanted to add a few blond highlights.” She glances at me, her eyes brimming with tears.
Travis appears to be in shock.
I step forward and take Cat’s hand. “I think we should call your aunt.”
She nods. Her lower lip quivering. “I fell asleep. Left it in too long. When I woke up it was like this.”
I wrap an arm around her shoulder and whisper in her ear, “We’ve all been here.” I shoot Travis a look and he finally snaps out of his trance.
“It’s not so bad,” he offers.
Cat scowls and starts to cry.
I give him a dirty look and he cringes. “In high school, I wanted to have blond hair, remember Travis?”
His face lights up and he starts to chuckle. I love the sound of it. It’s low and deep. Another shiver goes up my spine. Get it together, Autumn.
“It was awful. Much worse than yours.” He cringes again when he sees Cat’s eyes grow wide and tears fall down her face again. “I mean yours isn’t awful. It’s really not that bad.” Travis runs a hand through his hair.
I shake my head and smirk. “Ignore him. He stuck his foot in his mouth in high school too. I didn’t speak to him for a week.”
Cat smiles and wipes her tears.
I squeeze her shoulder. “Your Aunt Regina was a miracle worker. My hair was back to normal in no time and I finally spoke to your father again.”
“Only after I sent you sunflowers and chocolate,” Travis grumbles, following us inside.
“And kept showing up on my doorstep, like a lost puppy.” I sit down on the leather couch.
Cat laughs and curls up next to me. “Do you think Aunt Regina can really fix this?”
“Absolutely. If anyone can, it’s your aunt.” I look up at Travis.
He’s watching us with a strange expression on his face. I cock my head and raise my eyebrows. He snaps out of it and fumbles for his phone. “I’ll call her right now. The shop doesn’t close until six, but I’m sure she’ll make an exception plus…” He peeks outside. “The snow is really coming down. Temperatures are dropping. She’ll need to close up early to make it home safely.” He steps from the room and makes the call.
My cell phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it. I glance around the room and take in the masculine feel. Beige walls, Leather couches and chairs, dark wood furniture, flat screen on the wall above the fireplace, it was all very Travis. My phone buzzes again.
“Are you going to get that?” Cat moves over so I can get my phone.
I sigh. I know who it is, but pull it out anyway. Josh. I hover over the decline button, but know he’ll call again especially since it’s after four and the sun is starting to set.
“Hello.”
“Autumn, thank God. I’ve been worried sick. Where are you? I heard about the shooting. Are you at the hospital? I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He’s nervous. Josh always rambles when he’s nervous or worried.
A part of me feels bad. I should have called him after the shooting, but I’m still not ready to talk to him. “I’m at…” I pause. He’ll flip out if he knows I’m at Travis’s. “At a friend’s.” I glance over at Cat. She’s pretending not to listen and is studying her white painted finger nails. “She’s having a bit of a crisis so I’m helping her out.”
Cat looks up at me and grins.
I wink at her.
“Oh.” Silence. “I can come get you when you’re done.”
“I’m fine. I’ll get a ride.”
“Look Autumn.”
I cut him off. “I can’t talk right now, Josh.”
Travis enters the room and stops short when I say Josh’s name. Our eyes lock. He shakes his head and heads back into the kitchen.
“When will you be home?” Josh’s question snaps me from my trance.
“I’m not sure. I really have to go.” I hang up before he can say anything else.
“Was that your boyfriend?” Cat asks me. Her voice barely a whisper.
“No, my best friend.”
Cat nods. “So, you’re single?”
I sigh. “Yep.”
“My dad is too.”
I shift on the couch. Is Cat trying to play matchmaker?
Travis clears his throat.
My face flushes as I meet his eyes. He winks at me and I can feel it grow hotter if it’s even possible.
Cat giggles. “You still like my dad, don’t you?”
I open my mouth to protest, but Travis cuts me off. “Aunt Regina should be here any second. She closed the shop early due to the snow and is on her way home.” He moves toward Cat and wraps an arm around her shoulder. “Why did you dye your hair, honey?”
Cat’s expression turns serious and she drops her eyes to her hands then sniffles. “I wanted to look more like mom.”
Travis frowns and glances at me. His eyes filled with questions, but I can tell he’s scared to ask them.
I’m at a loss for what to say. I get it, but have no clue how to handle this. “Cat, your hair is beautiful. Your mom loved your hair.”
“She did?” Cat stares up at me. Her green eyes wide and filled with tears.
I reach out and push her white hair behind her shoulder. “She was always talking about how pretty your hair was and wished she had hair like yours.”
Cat shook her head. “She was always complaining about it. Saying I looked too much like my dad.”
I wipe a tear away from her cheek. “That’s not a bad thing.” I refuse to meet Travis’s eyes. I can feel them on me, but I know if I look, I’ll be a goner.
“Dad is pretty cute, isn’t he?” Cat sniffles and looks at me expectantly.
I nod. “Very.”
Cat smiles and then wraps her arms around me.
I return the hug
and stroke her hair, which smells like ammonia. When she lets go and sits back, I say, “Don’t ever think you need to look or be like anyone else. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
She blushes and whispers, “Thank you.”
A rush of cold air fills the room as Regina bursts through the front door. “Oh Lordy, it’s colder than the Arctic tundra out there.” She stomps her boots on the Home Sweet Home mat and brushes the snow off her red hair then stops short when she sees Cat. “What did you do?” She rushes over and starts running her finger through Cat’s fried hair.
Cat bursts into tears and Regina consoles her while ushering her to the bathroom, completely ignoring us.
Silence fills the living room. Travis looks over at me. “So, you think I’m ‘very cute’?”
I roll my eyes.
He chuckles. “Are you hungry?”
My stomach growls in response.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’. What sounds good?”
Before I can answer his cell phone rings.
“Hold that thought.” He holds up his index finger while he answers the phone. “Detective Mills.” He murmurs a few things into the phone then hangs up. “We’ve got to go.”
“Where?”
“The hospital. The Mayor’s awake. He’s asking for you.”
“Me? Why me?” I stand and slip on my jacket.
Travis shrugs. “Let’s go find out.”
18
I shiver as I enter the hospital. The waiting room is practically empty except for Bobby. He’s dressed in a dark suit. His head is in his hands and he’s staring at the floor.
Travis walks to the desk to inquire about the Mayor so I make a beeline for Bobby.
“Bobby?” I place a hand on his shoulder and he jumps. “Sorry.”
His stares up at me with a blank look in his eyes. Dark circles are underneath his eyes and his hair is sticking up in all directions as if he keeps running a hand through it. “Autumn, what are you doing here?”
“The Mayor asked to see me.”
“He did? Why?”
I shrug. “No clue. What are you doing here?”
“The Mayor. He’s the only family I have left.” He stares at his hands. I forgot his parents died a few years ago. His dad had a heart attack in his hardware store and his mom passed away in her sleep a year later.
