The Complete Tempest World Box Set

by Mankin, Michelle

  “Everything’s gonna be ok,” I said quietly as much for his benefit as my own. “We just have to hurry to catch a plane.”

  “Ok. Mommy.” He peered up at me while biting his lip. “Where are we going? Is Justin going with us?”

  My eyes hardened. “Not this time.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Justin

  I knew something was wrong as soon as I let myself back in the apartment. The quietness was palpable. A quick walk through confirmed the dread that encircled my heart.

  Bridget and Carter were gone.

  There was no trace of them. Housekeeping had already been through. The bed was freshly made. No books on the side tables. No juice boxes on the counter. No Lego models on the shelves.

  It was as if they’d never been there at all.

  I threw open their closet door. It contained only the new clothes I had purchased for her. Most were still on the hangers their tags still intact. A few lay in a neat pile on the floor. The ones she’d worn. They were freshly laundered and folded, and there was a note on top addressed to Lace along with a check made out to me.

  I carefully set the note on the dresser. Then I took the check and ripped it to shreds. Just like her leaving me like this without saying a word had done to my heart.

  I stood in the center of their bedroom for a while, worry mingling with anger that had me teetering on the ledge. Eventually I dropped onto the bed and glanced at my expression in the mirror. After a couple of deep breaths, I coaxed myself back from the brink. My brain came back on line. I pulled out my cell and tried her number. Even though I got the recording, the sound of her voice made me feel better.

  I left a message: Babe, come back. I realize Antonia must’ve said something really terrible to you to make you leave. Whatever it was, it’s not true. I love you. You know I do. Talk to me. We’ll work it out. I’m worried about you.”

  After that I left a flurry of messages with everyone I could think of: Lace, Bryan, Bridget’s boss at the coffeehouse, Maurice Trigg, even the principal at Carter’s school. And then a threatening one on Antonia’s voicemail that probably wasn’t a good idea considering her uncle’s connections to the Italian mafia. But fuck it. I was beyond furious with her.

  The next step involved some detective work. I stormed down to the lobby and stirred everybody up. The manager called the staff that had been on duty earlier. The doorman remembered putting Bridget and Carter in a cab to the airport. So I made phone calls to Vancouver International and to every one of the airlines. Total dead ends all of them. I went ahead and booked a flight to Orlando.

  I was going the hell after her.

  There was a loud banging on my door just as I was cramming the last of my things into an overnight bag. I swiped my wallet and passport off the dresser and opened it. Lace and Bryan were standing out in the hall.

  “What the hell is this?” Lace asked, shaking the note in my face. Bryan put restraining hands on her shoulders while watching me carefully.

  “How could you?” Lace whispered.

  “I didn’t.” I pushed past them, hefting the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder.

  “Come again?” Lace put a hand on my shoulder.

  “Antonia’s a liar.” I sighed. “But I don’t have time to stop and explain. If you want to talk right now, you’ll have to ride with me to the airport. My flight leaves in an hour. I’m going to Florida and I’m bringing them back.”

  • • •

  Three thousand miles and three fruitless days of searching later, I was back at Orlando International, staring out at the tarmac despair washing over me as I watched the baggage handlers putting luggage on conveyer belts. I couldn’t stomach the view inside. Too many happy families, the way it’d been for us just days ago. A growing sense of helplessness was pressing on me, pushing me closer and closer to the tipping point.

  I realized now why I’d never put my heart out there before. Because of shit like this. From the pinnacle to the pit. It hurt like hell, and was so much like the way I’d felt after my mom died that it was giving me nightmares and flashbacks.

  All the days I’d been down here had been a waste. I had nothing to show for it, except for a threat of a restraining order from Maurice. He’d found my strong arm tactics and bullying attempts to extract information from him and his staff a tad over the line.

  Her cell number had been cancelled. Her checking account closed out. She’d quit her job and pulled Carter out of school. They’d vanished into thin air.

  I was exhausted, my eyes burning. What if I never saw them again? I couldn’t allow myself to think that way. It was hard enough already. The worry was so crushingly oppressive at times that it took all my strength just to keep moving forward.

  I heard the final boarding call for my flight back to Vancouver. I shuffled down the sky bridge and found my seat. My fingers white knuckled the armrests the entire five hour flight. Not because I was afraid of flying, but because I was so close to shattering into a million sharp edged pieces.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Justin

  “You look like shit, JJ,” Lace judged after only a moment’s study out in the hallway the next morning. It was probably true, given that I hadn’t slept in days.

  I was running on empty.

  I was flying on fumes.

  Bryan came out from the studio. I’d been in there earlier warming up with them, but had taken a break, trying to scrape my shit together. “Mary’s ready, dude.”

  Yeah, I knew. She’d been sitting in the back of the room, tapping her nails on the screen of her iPad for the past ten minutes. Like I needed any more pressure.

  “Give us one more minute, Bry.” I could feel Lace’s eyes on my face.

  “Ok.” He kissed her and clapped me on the shoulder.

  “I’m so sorry, Justin.” She threw her arms around me. Lace wasn’t free with her affection, so I hadn’t been prepared for the uncharacteristic display. My throat clogged up, emotions swimming close to surface threatening to drown me. “I thought for sure you’d have found her by now.”

  “So did I.” I drew back from her embrace. “I’ve got to get in there.”

  Shit.

  “You can do this,” she encouraged, but the look in her eyes said she wasn’t so sure. Neither was I for that matter.

  I followed her into the studio straight to the mic stand. No use messing around. I went right into the set and gave what I had, which wasn’t very much. The words seemed devoid of any meaning, my voice as hollow as I felt inside.

  Mary gave Beth a narrow eyed look. I tried to plow on ahead, making a fucking travesty of “Girl behind the Glass.” I choked out the lyrics before Bryan picked them up and finished the song.

  I unclipped my guitar from the strap, putting up my gear with sharp precise movements and avoiding eye contact. No one spoke, but I could feel the tension crackling in the air. I was halfway down the hall when I heard her call my name. I squeezed my eyes shut, muscles tensing, and turned around to face the music.

  “That was awful.” Hands on her suited hips, the Black Cat CEO unsurprisingly did not appear to be pleased.

  I nodded. “It was.” I totally agreed.

  Mary Timmons was a good half foot shorter than me, but there was no doubt in my mind that she had the upper hand at the moment. Her light colored eyes flashed with annoyance. “Tell me I wasn’t wrong to take a gamble on you.”

  “No,” I said without much conviction. I ran a hand through my hair, knowing I was on the verge of irreparably damaging my career. “I’ll do better on Friday.”

  “That’s only a few days away, Justin.” She crossed her arms, fingers tapping on a forearm. “Has no one heard anything from her then?”

  I stared at her dumbfounded.

  “Don’t look so surprised. Of course I know about Bridget and Carter. I run a record label, not an insurance company. Drama is part of my business.” She cocked her head to the side. “Beth’s already made a few phone calls. I’ve got
a private investigator working on it as well. We’ll find them. In the meantime, I want you to do whatever you need to do to get your head together. This is Tempest’s first gig with you at the helm. Don’t mess it up.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  Bridget

  The baying of the buffalo soothed me as I washed and hung up the last of the milking equipment. I took the bandana off my head and used it to wipe the sweat from my brow.

  If only I could wipe the memory of him just as easily from my mind. I missed him. Everything about him. His gentle touch. His poetic words. His enticing voice. His alluring arsenal of smiles.

  I closed my eyes, forcing back the tears.

  Again.

  When I opened them, I spotted Don over in the far corner of the barn. He had his cell to his ear, probably calling in a feed order. I’d noticed the supply was getting low. I waved my hand to let him know I was going in. He nodded his understanding but his face wore a troubled frown.

  I was miserable. I don’t think I was fooling anybody with my fake bravado, least of all myself.

  In my rubber work boots, I trudged carefully though the sludge, taking a deep breath of manure free air when I finally got outside. As warm as it had been in the barn surrounded by the buffalo, it was cool enough outside that my breath frosted. The sun had just begun to peek over the top of the Cowichen Hills. The birds were chirping their good morning. A brisk breeze whipped my hair around my head. It was shaping up to be a beautiful day.

  I wished I could conjure a mood to match it.

  I gave myself a mental shake and made my way briskly up the well-worn path to the house, knowing Carter would be awake soon. I shed my dirty boots and left them on the stoop. I padded through the mudroom in my socks on the way to the kitchen for a much needed cup of coffee. Rheta was there. She paused in the motion of pouring one for herself.

  “You don’t need to do chores, honey. You’re a guest.”

  “I don’t mind, really,” I insisted. “I like helping out. Plus I enjoy being around the animals.” I went to the sink and washed my hands. I didn’t tell her the real reason. That I needed to stay busy to keep from feeling sorry for myself and to take my mind off the constant yearning I felt for him inside. When I finished drying my hands, she handed me a cup of my own.

  “Well, I’m sure Don appreciates the help.” She moved to the table and took a seat on the bench, indicating that I should join her. She immediately pushed a plate of eggs and bacon toward me.

  I threw my leg over the bench but ignored the food. I wrapped my hands around the mug and took a careful sip of the coffee. Extra strong. Just the way I liked it.

  Her eyes narrowed. “You need to eat something.”

  “I’m not hungry.” I didn’t feel much like eating these days. I looked away focusing on the view out the window above the sink. The tree tops were swaying beneath the steady wind.

  “Bridget.” Her warm hand covered my own, her expression revealing her concern. “If you’re going to work so hard on the farm, you can’t keep skipping meals. You’ve lost weight since you’ve been here.”

  “But…”

  “And you’re not sleeping either,” she cut in. “You’ve got circles under your eyes.” Her lips flattened in disapproval. “I haven’t wanted to push, but I just spoke with Avery. She told me that Justin’s been looking everywhere for you. I think it’s time we talked about what happened between you two.”

  I lost my grip on the mug. It slipped out of my fingers and clattered onto the table. I’d worried he might pressure me. That’s why I had come here. To avoid a confrontation. To regroup. But instead of the tranquility I’d sought, I’d found myself sinking deeper into despair. Carter and I should’ve moved out days ago, but I hadn’t wanted to leave. I’d been clinging to this peaceful place like it was my only hope.

  Rheta handed me a paper towel to clean up the spill. She’d been so gracious and patient with me. I owed her an explanation. I pulled in a deep breath and looked her in the eyes. “Mrs. Anthony,” I began.

  She shook her head gently.

  “Rheta,” I corrected myself. Before I could go any further, a chill ran down my spine as the sound of Carter’s voice reached my ears.

  “No, Justin.”

  I scrambled off the bench nearly face planting into the table in my haste to get to him.

  As I rounded the corner from the kitchen, I instantly froze. Carter was on the house phone, twisting the old fashioned spiral cord in his hand.

  “I can’t tell you. Mommy made me promise. She told me some people only love us for a little while, and then they stop.” I could hear in his voice how much he was hurting. Tears filled my eyes.

  “I’ve been following the superhero code just like you taught me.” Unchecked tears coursed down his chubby cheeks. “I’ve been strong and brave, and protected Mommy… but she still cries sometimes.”

  I covered my mouth to stifle a sob. I needed to get him off the phone. I wished now that he weren’t so good at memorizing phone numbers. This was only going to make everything even harder.

  I stepped forward. Carter saw me. His liquid blue eyes widened and his bottom lip trembled. “It’s time to say good bye,” I insisted.

  “Mommy’s here. I have to go… I love you, too. Good bye, Justin,” Carter said softly and handed me the receiver.

  I heard Justin calling my name as I set the receiver firmly back in the base. I grabbed Carter and pulled him close, one arm wrapped around his body, the other one crooked around his head holding it to my chest. I kissed the top of his head. “I wish you wouldn’t have called him, but it’s ok, Carter.” My pulse was pounding so loud in my ears that the return ring didn’t register at first.

  Rheta answered it. “Hello.” Her eyes were on me and her brows pulled together. “Yes, she is.” She crooked her finger calling me over.

  I shook my head and backed away.

  “I’m sorry. She doesn’t want to talk…lower your voice Justin. No…Yes, I understand. Tomorrow. I’ll tell her to expect you.” Rheta set down the phone. She gave me a stern look. “Come back to the kitchen. We need to finish our conversation.”

  I shook my head. “I realize now it was a mistake to come out here. I didn’t mean to place you in an uncomfortable position. We’ll pack up and leave right away. I’m so sorry.”

  “Not as sorry as you’re gonna be if you don’t march yourself right back into that kitchen and hear what I have to say.”

  My eyes went large. I turned to Carter. “Go upstairs and play.”

  “I’m sorry Mommy. I didn’t mean to be bad.”

  Damn. His sad regret filled look knocked my battered heart around some more.

  “You aren’t. You’re the best son in the whole wide world. Mrs. Anthony and I just need to talk about important grown up stuff. Go on.” I pushed him gently toward the stairs. “I’ll be up in a minute.”

  “Ok,” he said with a nervous glance back at me before he went up.

  Rheta’s back was stiff when I reentered the kitchen. Sucking it up, I sat back down opposite her at the table.

  “You eat something.” She pushed the plate of food toward me again. “Then you’re going to listen to what I have to say.” When I’d cleaned half the plate, she seemed to be satisfied.

  “Don and I knew something was wrong the minute you showed up alone at our doorstep. But you looked like you needed a place of refuge, and we were happy to provide one. But frankly I’m surprised it took this long for you to be found out.”

  “I can explain.”

  “I expect you will, and I’ll let you in just a minute.” She folded her hands. “Justin told me you think he was with another woman.”

  My mouth went tight. “He was.”

  “He says he wasn’t, and I believe him. Now I realize that I’ve known him for a bit longer than you have, but I think you know him well enough by now.”

  My eyes burned under the critical blast of her stare.

  “Did you ever ask him to expla
in?”

  I shook my head.

  “So you just took off without hearing his side of the story? That seems pretty impulsive.”

  “Yes,” I whispered. When she put it like that, it didn’t sound so good. My eyes dropped to my lap.

  “Forgive me. I don’t mean to judge you. Sometimes I forget just how young you really are.”

  Hearing her gentler tone, I looked up. “Antonia told me that they were…well, you know…while he was supposed to be watching Carter at the pool. And she told me a bunch of other things that made me feel certain that my trust in him had been misplaced.”

  “Hmmm. Sounds to me like she knew all the right buttons to push.”

  I let that sink in. “I guess so.”

  “Well, Bridget,” she patted my clasped hands, “You’re going to have to put some thought into your next move. Your first one was pretty wretched.”

  I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t hide from the truth in her words. Tears burned behind my eyelids as I ran back through the events of that day. I’d been so tired, so easily frightened. Had I been so wrong?

  When I opened my eyes, Rheta handed me a napkin. Feeling adrift in a sea of conflicting emotions, I dried my tears. “How can I be sure?” I begged her.

  “I can’t tell you who to believe, and I can’t tell you what to do. But I will say this. In my experience it’s not often that we can be completely sure when we have to make the big decisions in life. Sometimes we have to go on faith. You have to decide whether you have faith in Justin. But more importantly whether you have enough faith in yourself.”

  Rheta’s convicting words echoing in my ears, the wooden floorboards creaked beneath my feet as I made my way up the stairs.

  I paused inside the doorway to our room. Carter was sitting cross legged on the floor playing with his Legos. I still hadn’t worked out in my mind what I was going to say to him when he looked up, his expression so sad I felt the weight of it settling heavily inside my chest.