“These are nice benches,” Rachel said, running her hand over the smooth wooden armrest fashioned out of a wagon wheel. Then she looked up into the night sky and the glittering canopy of stars above them. If she wasn’t facing possible assault charges, it would be a perfect moment.
Hank sat next to her, staring daggers at Tad, who had been deposited on the other bench by the bouncer and ordered not to bleed on it.
Tad muttered to himself as he sat with his head tipped back and a handkerchief held to his bloody nose.
“You got what you deserved,” Hank told him. “You should never put your hands on any woman like that—doesn’t matter how much you’ve had to drink. I just wish I’d gotten to you first.”
“Leave me alone,” Tad grumbled, turning his back to them.
Rachel stared up at the sky, enjoying the peace and quiet out here compared to the raucous crowd inside. “I guess our plan didn’t work out too well.”
Hank chuckled. “I guess not. So tell me, where did you learn to headbutt like that?”
“My dad taught me.” She smiled, remembering all the defensive lessons he’d given her. “He used to be a bouncer at a dance club when he was young, so he knew a lot of moves. He always told me the key to a good headbutt was to aim for the bridge of the nose with your forehead, because it’s a soft target. Hitting forehead to forehead just risks knocking both people out.”
“I’ll try to remember that.” He placed his arm loosely around her. “I’m just glad you’re all right. When you disappeared…”
She leaned into him. “You thought my stalker had gotten to me?”
“Yeah,” he said, his voice rough. “And I didn’t like that feeling one bit.”
Rachel looked into his blue eyes. “I’ve been telling you that I can take care of myself. Now do you believe me?” She smiled at him. “Like they say, you can take the girl out of Philly, but you can’t take Philly out of the girl.”
His mouth curved up in a half smile. “I guess I should have listened to you. I just wished you’d have let me handle it.”
“And risk you’re getting another head injury?” she said in disbelief. “No way. I was trying to protect you.”
“But that’s my job.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “You keep saying that, but it’s not part of our agreement.”
He started to speak, but an older woman with silver hair and bifocals bustled up to them. She looked about seventy and carried a large tote bag with the words Bluebonnet Book Club printed on it. “There you are.”
“Grandma Hattie, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“Well, I heard you were at it again, Hank. So, what happened this time?”
Hank hitched his thumb in Tad’s direction. “That guy started it.” Then he motioned toward Rachel. “And she finished it, so I’m completely innocent.”
“Well, that’s a first,” Hattie said, then smiled at Rachel. “Hello, I’m Hattie Holden, Hank’s grandmother. I’m always happy to meet the young ladies in my grandsons’ lives.”
“Hello,” Rachel said, standing up to introduce herself. “I’m Rachel Grant.”
Hattie beamed at her. “Dr. Rachel Grant. I’ve heard so much about you from my dear friends, Edith Cummings and Midge Berman. In fact, folks say you’re the best therapist in the county.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.”
Hattie clucked her tongue. “Oh, honey, now don’t be modest. You should always let your light shine bright.”
Rachel laughed. “Okay, I’ll try to remember that.”
Then Hattie reached into her tote and pulled out a decorative glass bottle filled with a dark liquid. “Now if you two will excuse me, I need to deliver this to the bartender. He’s always gets a bottle of my homemade blackberry cordial if he calls me when one of the boys are in trouble.”
“You’re still bribing people around town with your cordial?” Hank asked in disbelief.
“I sure am,” Hattie told him. “It started when you turned twenty-one, and here I am fourteen years later, still sticking to my end of the bargain.” Her blue eyes twinkled as she looked at Rachel. “My boys might all be grown now, but they still keep me on my toes.”
The flashing red light of a police car appeared in the distance and Rachel watched it pull into the long driveway leading up to the tavern.
“You two take care now,” Hattie said as she made her way inside the building.
Rachel turned to Hank. “I like your grandmother. Let’s just hope we don’t go to jail tonight.”
They watched as two young female officers emerged from the police car and started walking toward them.
“We’re not going to jail,” Hank assured her. “Tad put his hands on you first, so it was self-defense. And I,” he continued woefully, “didn’t even land one punch.”
By the time the police finished taking all their stories, Rachel was relieved to discover that Hank was right. Rachel declined to press charges against Tad, figuring he was suffering enough from a cracked nose and bruised ego. So the cops let them all go.
While she was waiting for Hank to let his grandmother know what happened, Tad walked over to her and held out his hand.
“I just want to apologize,” he said meekly. “I had too much to drink and lost control. It won’t happen again.”
Even though he’d been a jerk, she gave him a little credit for owning up to his bad behavior. Reaching out to shake his hand, she said, “I’m sorry, too. I hope you heal quickly.”
“Thank you.” Then still clasping her hand, he leaned in close enough to whisper in her ear. “You’re a fool if you think Hank Holden is into you. Parker Loomis told me his wife and another friend of yours secretly hired this guy to protect you from some stalker. “ His gaze moved over her. “Looks like Holden’s collecting some fringe benefits along with a paycheck.”
Rachel jerked her hand away from him, then watched Tad turn on his heel and saunter away toward the parking lot. She sank down on the bench with a sick, hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“It can’t be true.”
But then she remembered how she and Hank first met—and how easily he’d agreed to her deal. Why would a sexy veterinarian agree to fake a romance with a woman he barely knew?
But that’s my job.
She closed her eyes, realizing he’d spoken those words to her only a few minutes earlier. If only she’d known he’d meant it literally.
“Hey, I saw Tad talking to you,” Hank said, walking up behind her. “What was that about?”
“Nothing important.” She turned to face him, suddenly feeling very tired. “I just want to go home.”
On Sunday afternoon, Rachel lay on the tweed sofa in her office while Gina played therapist. She was angry and hurt and confused. Part of her understood why her friends had lied to her, but that didn’t make it right.
“So tell me how you feel about Russell returning to your life,” Gina asked her.
Staring up at the ceiling, Rachel saw a dead bug in the fluorescent light fixture and vaguely wondered if Russell would want it for his upcoming birthday.
Or maybe a bug zapper. A gift that kept on giving.
“How do I feel about Russell?” Rachel mused. “I’m not sure. I was angry with him at first, but maybe I’m the one at fault. Maybe I don’t see things as they really are.”
“That doesn’t sound like you.” Gina thumbed through a mercenary magazine in her search for a perfect hit man. “You’re the most reality-based person I know.”
“Yes, that’s how every girl wants to be described. She’s reality-based and has a great sense of humor.”
Gina peered at Rachel over the top of the magazine. “What’s wrong with you today?”
“I think I’m having trust issues.” Rachel started wondering if she should seek counseling. Maybe that would help solve the mounting problems in her life. Perhaps Dr. Craig would take her on. She’d inherited several of his patients, so he might have room for her in his caseload.
“What kind of trust issues?” Gina asked, setting the magazine aside.
She shrugged, feeling petty and too hurt to care. “I guess issues about trusting myself and my judgment. I don’t think I’m a very good judge of people. For instance, I never thought Hank would invite my ex-fiancé to stay with him. Who does that?”
“Hank’s a nice guy. Have you seen the website for his vet clinic? He rehabilitates injured wildlife and trains therapy dogs.”
“Yes, he looks very good on paper. And in person, if I’m honest.” Rachel picked up the yellow sofa pillow next to her and wrapped her arms around it. “But help me figure out why he’d offer a room in his house to a complete stranger.”
Gina didn’t quite meet her gaze. “I don’t know? Loneliness?”
“According to Lacie, the man needs a revolving door on his house just to keep his girlfriends from bumping into each other.” Rachel shook her head. “No, I find it suspicious. I think he’s up to something.”
Gina cleared her throat. “Rachel, listen. I have to tell you something and I don’t think you’re going be happy about it.”
“Gee, what could it be?” She tossed the pillow aside and stood up. “Is it that my best friends hired a guy behind my back to protect me and never said one word about it?”
“Oh, no!” Gina grimaced. “How did you find me? Did Hank tell you?”
“No, Hank didn’t say a word. He had no problem keeping that secret from me.” She swallowed hard to keep her from trembling. “It was Tad.”
“Tad?” Gina crinkled her brow. “Tad the flosser?”
“Yes, we saw him last night at the Wildcat Tavern. We almost got arrested too, but that’s a story for another time.”
Gina leaped from her chair and rounded the desk. “Rach, please forgive us! Molly and I have been feeling so guilty about keeping this from you. We never meant to hurt you—just the opposite. We were scared that horrible stalker was going to do something to you.” Tears shimmered in her brown eyes. “We didn’t know where else to turn.”
Despite her disappointment, Rachel knew Gina’s regret was genuine. And looking back on her own disregard of the potential danger, she could understand why they did it.
Then she blurted out the worst part. “I kissed him, Gina. Several times. It was supposed to be fake, but…I liked it. I liked it way too much.”
Gina stared at her. “And that’s bad?”
“Yes!” She began to pace in front of the sofa. “Because you and Molly were paying him to kiss me. Maybe he hated it.”
“Seriously?” Gina smiled. “You’ve been messed up since Russell left you. You’re one of the most confident women I know, but not around men. Not anymore. I think you rejected all those blind dates before they could reject you.”
She stopped pacing and sat down on the sofa. “I can’t think about that right now. I have a stalker threatening to kill me.”
“What are you going to do about Hank?”
Rachel sighed, feeling torn in so many directions. “I don’t know yet.”
“Well, he’s hired through the end of the week.” Gina sat down next to Rachel and draped one arm around her shoulders. “So why don’t you make him earn his pay?”
The next morning, Rachel walked into her office building and down the lobby that led to the Craig Clinic, resisting the urge to look over her shoulder.
While driving to work this morning she’d noticed a white Ford Taurus in the lane behind her for a few blocks before it pulled off onto a side street. Her common sense told her there were plenty of white Tauruses in Pine City and one of them might belong to her stalker.
But then she’d remember the last line of that creepy verse, I’m coming for you, and knew she had to be vigilant. But not vigilant enough to let Hank stay over the past two nights to keep watch. She’d firmly told him that she could watch out for herself and Georgie was there to warn her if there was trouble.
He’d finally agreed, but hadn’t sounded happy about it. For all she knew, he’d parked outside her house last night. But the few times she’d checked, his pickup truck had been nowhere in sight.
And Georgie hadn’t barked at all last evening. Instead, she’d cuddled right next to Rachel on the sofa, as if wanting to comfort her. It was difficult to stay angry at a man who had such a sweet dog. But it didn’t help her feel less embarrassed by the whole situation.
She opened the door leading into the Craig Clinic and smiled at Steven who sat behind the reception desk.
“Good morning, Dr. Grant,” he said, looking more solemn than usual. Then he leaned forward and whispered, “They’re waiting for you in your office.”
She stopped a moment and looked between him and her closed office door, a sinking feeling in her chest. Then she squared her shoulders and continued the rest of the way down the hall.
When Rachel opened the door, she saw Dr. Craig, Noah, and Jenna standing in the center of her office. They turned to face her and she could tell by their expressions that she wasn’t going to like what they had to say.
“Good morning,” she greeted them, hoping for the best. Walking to her desk, she set down her purse and briefcase, then laid her coat over the office chair. “This is a surprise. Did I forget a meeting?”
“No.” Dr. Craig cleared his throat. “Rachel, we need to talk about your situation.”
She rounded the desk to join them. “I see.”
“As you have probably guessed,” Dr. Craig continued, “we’re here about the threat you received on live television last Thursday. And, of course, we’re very concerned for you.”
“I’m fine,” she told them. “I’m taking precautions and still working to identity the stalker. The police have gotten involved too, after that last threat was made.”
“Unfortunately,” Jenna said sharply, “it’s not just about you anymore.” Then her tone softened. “Your stalker is obviously escalating and threatening violence. That means, as long as he’s out there, we’re at risk and our patients are at risk too.”
She looked at all three of them. “You didn’t mention any of this on Friday, the day after the interview.”
Noah took a step toward her. “Not everyone watches Pine City People, so it took a while for the word to spread. According to Steven, some patients left messages over the weekend canceling their appointments.”
“And there were more calls this morning,” Jenna added, placing a hand on her pregnant belly. “And they’re not just your patients canceling, it’s affecting all of us.”
Dr. Craig nodded. “And I’ve spoken with our insurer. They advised me that if we have knowledge of potential threats to people or property here, that we must take action to mitigate any possible damages in the future.”
“Damages?” Rachel echoed.
“That means we could get sued,” Noah said. “And even if we win, then the rates we pay go sky high.”
Dr. Craig held up one hand. “Forgive us, Rachel. I know talking about money sounds crass when your life could be in danger. But we have to consider all the implications.”
Rachel had never felt so helpless. And she couldn’t blame them for their concerns, especially if patients were too scared to come to the clinic. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Everyone knows this isn’t your fault,” Jenna assured her. “We are very worried about you. But…”
“We’ve made a decision,” Noah interjected, “that it would be in the best interest of the clinic and everyone involved for you to take a leave of absence.”
“Hopefully, it will be a short one,” Dr. Craig added.
Rachel couldn’t speak, stunned by their decision. She’d sensed something drastic was happening when she’d first walked in the office, but shutting her off from her practice and from her patients hadn’t even entered her mind.
“You can’t do that,” she said at last.
“We can,” Noah countered. “According to the partnership agreement we all signed, the majority rules on matters of safety for patients and staff.”
“And the vote was unanimous,” Jenna informed her.
Dr. Craig walked over to Rachel and gently patted her shoulder. “It’s not forever, Rachel. Just until this man stalking you is caught and contained.”
“And if he’s never caught?” Rachel asked, already knowing the answer. She’d be unemployable at the Craig Clinic or any other practice in Pine City. His threats could go on forever, like a ticking time bomb that never goes off.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Jenna told her. “We’re worried about your safety, but ours as well, and the patients. I’m sorry it’s come to this.”
“So am I,” Noah agreed as he and Jenna walked toward the door. “We all hope it’s resolved soon.”
When just Rachel and Dr. Craig were left in her office, she turned to him. “What about virtual therapy? I could continue to treat my patients from my computer at home.”
He sighed. “I’m sure many of your patients would agree to that type of therapy, but I believe it’s still a risk. If your stalker ever learned the identities of the patients still in contact with you, they could be in danger. I know the chance of that is probably slim.”
Rachel nodded as the gravity of the situation was starting to sink. “But if even one of them was threatened or harmed, I could never forgive myself.”
“Just think of this as putting your career on pause. Between the three of us, we can handle your patient load until you come back.” He looked around office. “Are all of your patient files here?”
“No,” she said, feeling a little numb. “I took several files home with me to catch up on paperwork. I’ll finish those up today and bring them back to you tomorrow.”
“That sounds good.” He sighed as he turned to leave. “Again, I’m very sorry.”
When she was finally alone, Rachel looked around her office. All she’d wanted was her own practice in Pine City. She thought about all the work she’d done to build her clientele and all the people she’d helped. And now it was all slipping through her fingers because of some letters and a creepy phone call.
“No,” she said softly. “I won’t sit by and let it happen.” She walked over to her desk and retrieved her cell phone from her purse to call Hank.
He answered on the first ring. “Rachel, are you okay?”
“Not really,” she said honestly. “We need to talk.”