by Anne Patrick
This morning had essentially gone the same way. Jo had risen early and fixed breakfast for the two, and then after writing a note that said she had to run errands, she'd left the house and driven around aimlessly for two hours until her doctor's appointment.
"You're coming along just fine, Jo," Dr. Reinhart announced when she'd completed her examination. "Unless you start feeling some discomfort, I don't see any reason why you can't continue to work up until your due date, providing you don't do anything too strenuous."
"Really?" Jo rose on both elbows. "But in the beginning you told me I might want to consider taking maternity leave three to four weeks prior to my due date."
"Because of your age I had anticipated problems, but everything seems normal, so as long as you feel comfortable, I don't foresee any problems. Of course most women would take advantage of the situation and milk it for all it's worth, conserving their energy for when the baby is born."
She wished she had that luxury, but with Harland Briggs still on the loose, it was out of the question. "Thank you, Doctor Reinhart. You don't know how happy you just made me."
She patted Jo's hand and gave her a wink. "Just don't overdo it, Jo."
"I won't," she promised.
The good news carried her throughout the day. She had even considered stopping in at the high school to visit her mother when she picked up Bailey, but opted for a phone call instead, and invited her to dinner.
"You're in a much better mood today," Bailey commented as they took a break from their shopping spree for a Coke and an order of fries.
"I got good news from the doctor today. She said I could continue to work up until my due date."
"Dad isn't going to like that."
"No, I don't suppose he will." She wasn't looking forward to that conversation in the least.
"Is everything okay with you and Dad?"
Refusing to lie to the girl, she met her gaze. "We have a few problems were working on, but we're going to get through them."
"What kind of problems?"
"Nothing serious, just some issues I have to sort through."
"Am I one of them?"
"No, Bailey." Jo reached across the table and took her hand. "I'm sorry for the way I left, for leaving things unresolved after we spoke. I should have called you, but I was afraid I'd only make matters worse."
"That's okay, it's no big deal."
"It's a big deal to me. I love you, Bailey. I couldn't love you any more if you were my own flesh and blood. I know I could never take the place of your mother. I wouldn't want to. But in my eyes as well as my heart, you are my daughter. Nothing is ever going to change that."
The teenager smiled. "I know. I've been acting pretty stupid lately."
"We both have," Jo said and they laughed. Relieved they'd managed to move on, she gave Bailey's hand a gentle squeeze before turning it loose. Then knowing it was getting late, she started to stand, but as she did, the baby gave a swift kick prompting her to sit back down.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just give me another minute or two and we'll go look some more."
"I'm sorry I'm being so difficult about the dress."
"Don't apologize. I remember how important it was to have just the right dress for my prom. It's a magical night and you want everything to be perfect."
"This isn't going to turn into a speech about sex is it?"
Jo laughed. "No. I'll let your father handle that one. I'm just here to help with the dress."
"So who was the lucky guy who took you to the prom?"
"Actually, I never made it to my prom. Kyle Freeman, the quarterback of the football team, was supposed to take me, but due to some unavoidable circumstances, I wasn't able to go." It sounded much better than spending prom night in jail because she stole her father's police cruiser on a dare.
"Quarterback, huh? That explains how you got hooked on football. I just thought you watched the games on the count of Dad."
"No, it was Kyle who taught me the love of the game. He had an arm like you wouldn't believe. Took the team to state three years running and went on to play college ball at Washington State."
"Did he make it to the pros?"
"No, he was killed in a car accident his junior year," she answered softly, as the memories drifted back to her. "There'd been a bad snow storm earlier in the day, and when the temperature began to drop, the highways were a mess. While crossing a bridge, the car hit a patch of ice and we lost control. He was thrown from the car on impact and died before the paramedics arrived."
"How horrible, you must have been devastated," Bailey commented.
Jo grew silent for a moment. She was still in high school when the accident happened, yet the memories were as vivid as if it'd happened only yesterday. "I was the one driving."
"Oh man. I'm sorry, Jo."
She shook her head; somewhat surprised she was even talking about the night that had changed her forever. "It happened a long time ago, in another life time."
"What do you mean another life time?"
Jo smiled at her confused expression. "I died that night as well. According to the paramedics at the scene, I didn't have a heartbeat when they first arrived. My spleen had ruptured on impact and I was literally bleeding to death internally."
"Wow. What was it like; I mean do you remember anything?"
"I didn't see any bright lights or tunnels if that's what you mean. It did change my life though. Until that night, I was a mess. I hated school, hated my parents worse. Other than Kyle, the only thing I cared about was partying."
"Was the accident your fault? I mean were you drunk or high?"
"No, though a lot of people around here, including my own parents, thought I was at the time. The truth is I hadn't smoked any weed for over a month before the accident. Kyle had made me promise to quit. He told me I'd never get into a good college with my grade point average and he wanted me to join him in Washington the following year."
"And you kept your promise to him."
"Yes. Even though the accident wasn't my fault, I still felt guilty. I mean here I was, this pothead barely squeaking by in school, and he had pro scouts looking to recruit him. It had a pretty sobering effect on me. The way I saw it, I was given a second chance, and I owed it to him not to waste it."
"Did you ever set the record straight? I mean with your parents…does Grandma know the truth?"
"I don't know if she does or not. We've never talked about it. As a matter of fact, until today I hadn't even thought about it for months. This pregnancy is having some pretty strange effects on me."
"Yeah, I've noticed." Bailey grinned and Jo laughed.
"So tell me about your prom date. Tommy is it?"
"Tommy Jackson." Bailey smiled as she twirled the straw in her drink. "He's a senior. He's not on the football team, but he was awarded an academic scholarship to Oregon State."
"Really, well, that's impressive. Does he know what he wants to do yet?"
"Electrical engineering. He's really into electronics."
"And of course he's cute," Jo teased.
"I think so." She glanced briefly at Jo before returning her attention to the straw. It was long enough for Jo to realize she was wrong in her earlier assumption about her stepdaughter being more interested in driving than boys. "And he's sweet. He's not like most of the guys at school who only care about hooking up." She looked at Jo again. "You know what I mean?"
"Yes, I know what hooking up means. Tommy sounds like a very nice young man…and you sound a little smitten with him."
"Smitten. Seriously?"
"Okay, so I don't know all the teenage lingo. Sounds like you like him a lot."
Bailey shrugged. "I guess so." She then grinned. "Are you sure you're not doing recon for Dad?"
"I swear; you are so much like your father." Jo shook her head and grabbed her purse. "Come on; let's go find you a dress. There are a couple more shops I want to try. I think they'll have just what you're looking for, and
hopefully within our budget."
*****
"You paid how much for her dress?" Austin's voice echoed through the house two hours later, causing Jo to grimace. She had hoped they'd be done arguing before her mother arrived for dinner, but the likelihood of that happening was growing dimmer by the minute.
"Three hundred and forty-nine dollars," she repeated reluctantly.
"Are you kidding me? I could buy a whole wardrobe for that."
You're telling me. His taste in clothes was about as bad as her mother's. "You're not going to the prom, your daughter is. You don't realize how important Friday night is to her, Austin. It's not only her first date, it's her first prom," she attempted to explain. He stepped back and away from her, still shaking his head. "I know it seems like a lot of money to spend on a dress she'll only wear once, but…"
"Wear it once. She's liable to be buried in it once I get my hands on her. I can't believe you let her talk you into this."
Jo stared at him, unnerved by his words.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Did you hear what you just said?"
"It was a figure of speech, Jo. What's gotten into you?"
"Well, gee, let me see, I've witnessed the brutal rape and murder of five teenagers, all of them approximately the same age as Bailey so my guess is that has a lot to do with my behavior lately."
"Jo, I--"
"Look, never mind, I'll pay for the dress myself when the credit card statement comes. It was my idea. I wanted her to have it so I'll pay for it."
"I don't care about the money, Jo. It's you I'm worried about."
"Well, don't because I'm fine. As a matter of fact, the doctor gave me the okay to continue working up till my due date." Might as well get him good and mad.
To her surprise, he offered no rebuttal.
"If we're finished here, I've got to get dinner out of the oven. Mom will be here any minute."
Knowing how he hated it when she got in the last word, she figured he would follow her into the kitchen, but instead she heard his footsteps retreat upstairs.
*****
"It was a delicious dinner, darling," Liz McDaniels commented when they retired to the living room for coffee.
Jo joined her on the sofa. "Thank you, I'm glad you could make it on such short notice."
"You make it sound like I live the life of a socialite. If I wasn't here, I'd be home grading papers."
Having set aside her aspirations of teaching school to raise her children, Liz had waited until Jo was a teenager before reentering the work force. Now, twenty-three years later, teaching seemed to be her only passion in life. "You should get out more, Liz. Maybe take some art classes or something," Austin suggested. "Jo told me you used to love to paint."
"You sound like Billy. He's always trying to get me to participate more in the community or take classes, but as I told him, I gave up painting once the kids came along. With the two of them underfoot, I barely had time to think, much less pursue outside activities."
Austin noticed Jo biting her lower lip and knew immediately her mother had hit a nerve. He had suspected that many of her reservations about the baby loomed from the fear that she would be forced to give up her career with the FBI, and he cursed himself for not having been more open with his feelings on the subject. Until she had accepted the Briggs case, he had all but made up his mind that he would do whatever it took to insure she would still be able to continue in the job she loved. Watching her the past few weeks though, seeing the toll it was taking on her, he was beginning to have second thoughts.
"So, have you two settled on any names yet?"
"Eli James or Iris Elizabeth," Austin answered when Jo didn't.
She turned to Jo. "I'm honored. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Jo then smiled and pointed past Austin.
"Oh my heavens."
Austin followed her gaze to the stairs where his daughter stood. He smiled as he watched Bailey glide into the room. The floor length lavender and white lace dress was without a doubt the prettiest dress he'd ever seen, and his daughter looked like an angel wearing it. He hadn't realized until that moment just how beautiful she was. A realization that made him reconsider his earlier idea of having her and her date followed the night of the prom.
"What do you think? Dad, isn't it the most beautiful dress you've ever seen?"
"Yes it is," he admitted. Then turning to Jo and catching her quirky I told you so smile, he chuckled.
Liz stood and gave her granddaughter a hug. "You're going to be the prettiest girl there."
"Thank you, Grandma." Bailey leaned over and hugged Jo, lingering several seconds.
Though Austin couldn't hear all his daughter said, he heard Jo reply, "It'll be okay."
"What, don't I get a hug?" Austin asked as Bailey brushed past him.
"You don't really deserve one," she whispered in his ear as she hugged him.
"What did I do?"
Bailey motioned toward Jo with her eyes. "Sometimes I wonder if she doesn't understand me better than you do," she whispered before walking back toward the stairs.
He stared after his daughter, feeling definitely outnumbered. Figuring they could all use a refill, he went into the kitchen and returned with the coffee pot.
"How is work going, honey?" Liz asked of Jo. "Are you…"
"I'm fine," Jo snapped, surprising both him and her mother. With a brief glance his way, her earlier smile vanished. "I wish everyone would quit worrying about me. I'm fine, and the baby's fine."
"I was referring to the case you're working on, how it was coming along."
"It's coming along just fine. Briggs I can handle. He's merely a reminder of what my child has to look forward to when he comes into this world," she said, looking as if she might burst into tears any moment.
Austin set the glass pot down on the coffee table and started toward her. "Jo."
"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't mean…please excuse me, I need some air."
Austin tried to grab her as she brushed past him, but she was too quick. Turning back to his mother-in-law, he was surprised to find her smiling. "You poor man," she said as she stood and approached. He was even more surprised when she gave him a hug. "Don't worry, dear, it won't be much longer."
He barely managed a smile as he walked her to the door.
"My mood swings were just as bad when I was carrying Billy. I was so insecure. Being an only child, I knew little to nothing about taking care of a baby."
*****
Austin pondered his mother-in-law's words long after she'd gone, wondering if Jo maybe felt the same way. A little on the arrogant side, Jo never let on her insecurities. Whatever troubled her, he was determined to get to the bottom of it and went in search of her. He found her outside on the deck talking on the phone.
"How far is that from the where the last abduction took place…any witnesses…are you sure?"
Another abduction meant they weren't going to get anything resolved anytime soon. He sat down in a lounge chair and waited for her to hang up.
"Okay, I'll call and let you know what flight I'll be on." Jo tossed him a quick glance before hanging up.
"I gather you have another missing girl?"
"Yeah."
"When are you leaving?"
"Monday morning," she answered, staring off into the darkness.
"You're not leaving till Monday?"
"They've got things under control, besides Isaac said he'd shoot me if he saw me before then."
At least Isaac was keeping to his word. He seemed just as concerned for her as Austin was. "Have you been talking to him about your visions?"
"He hasn't given me much choice in the matter."
"At least you're talking to someone."
"Don't start, not tonight."
"What's wrong with you, Jo?"
"Nothing is wrong with me."
"Then why are you so angry?"
"I'm not angry."
"You just went bal
listic on your mother," he reminded.
"Why should that surprise you?"
"Would you just be honest with me, please?"
"Okay, you're right. I do have a lot of anger in me, but I can't help it, Austin. Before, I could at least run as a form of release, and now, since I can't get Briggs out of my head long enough for us to enjoy making love, I don't have a whole lot of options left."
He fell silent, her words scaring him. He could only imagine what it was like for her. It was bad enough to experience everything the victim felt, but to be a participant in some of the most hideous crimes imaginable, he just couldn't fathom what it would be like.
"We could try bowling," he suggested and finally got a smile for his effort.
"The last time we went bowling, I dropped the ball on my foot and nearly broke my big toe."
"Okay, scratch bowling, I've got a better idea." He stood and took her hand.
"Where are you two off to?" Bailey asked as they paused in the foyer to grab Jo's purse.
"Finish up the dishes, we're going out for the evening," he informed, opening the door for his wife.
"If Isaac calls tell him to call me on my cellphone," Jo said as she went out the door.
He shook his head at his daughter. "If Isaac calls, take a message."
"Gotcha. Have fun."
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
The parking lot of Malibu's on Route 16 was packed as Austin maneuvered his Cherokee into the first available space. The newest addition to Claremont had just opened its doors the month before. Jo remembered, having read about their grand opening in the paper prior to her departure. Just what the town needed, another watering hole for the farmers and tourists.
"This is your brilliant idea? You're bringing me to a bar." She turned in the seat to face him. "We don't drink, Austin, and you always get mad when I beat you at pool."
