Chapter 41

 

The phone rang in the kitchen. Carol twitched, but stayed flat on the couch.

Paul’s bedroom door opened and he skidded through the living room. He caught the phone on the fourth ring.

Carol rolled onto her side and drew her knees up. She pulled the faded red blanket tighter around her shoulders and stared at the darkened television. Beside her on the floor, Chance snuffled in his sleep.

Paul came back. “Phone’s for you. It’s Joey.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

“Mom, he’s worried about you. So am I. If you don’t take the call, I’ll tell him to come over.”

Carol’s sigh came out like a moan. She pushed up from the couch and shuffled into the kitchen, trailing the blanket.

The telephone receiver felt cold in her hand, hollow. “Hi, Joey. Did you get some sleep last night?”

“Yeah, complete with terrible dreams. How about you?”

“Not much.”

“Mmm. That’s why I waited until after church to call. Do you want to take Chance to the park?”

Carol looked out the window. The rain had stopped sometime in the night, and a weak autumn sun tried to warm sodden tree branches. “Paul can take him out later.”

“Yesterday was a lot to deal with. I thought you might be baking.”

Carol sighed again. It vibrated the emptiness inside her. “Coping mechanisms only go so far. I’ve tried to pray, but it feels like God’s in shock, too.”

After a few seconds, Joey said, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“No! I mean, I’m still in my sleep stuff and I haven’t even showered. Today isn’t a good day.”

“I’ll drive slowly. Paul can let me in if you’re still in the shower.”

“Joey —”

“No buts. Take your time, and I’ll see you soon.”

When he hung up, Carol stared at the phone before dropping it back into the cradle. Joey, so warm and caring. Patrick, dead. She couldn’t close her eyes without seeing his corpse.

On the way to her bedroom for clean clothes, she paused by Paul’s door. “He’s coming anyway.”

Showering eased the numbness a bit, and at the last minute Carol couldn’t face Joey in stretched-out leggings and an over-sized sweatshirt. She left her comfort clothes in a heap on the bed and put on her favourite dress.

As Carol stepped into flat shoes, it hit her. She’d worn this dress the day she went to the gallery with Patrick. Fresh tears started. Okay, she’d let this be a kind of memorial to him. Carol shrugged into a cardigan and went to tidy the living room before Joey arrived.

Joey’s car pulled up as she was folding the blanket. Carol picked up the morning’s empty tea mug and carried it into the kitchen on her way to let him in. Chance raced her. She nudged him aside with her knee and opened the door.

Joey’s eyes flickered from her face to her dress and back again. “You sure clean up nice.” He stretched a thumb to swipe away the newest tear, and pulled Carol into his arms. “You’re safe now, and the danger’s gone.”

“So is Patrick.”

Joey hugged her hard, then pulled back enough to see her face. “He loved you.”

The numb mass that was Carol’s heart couldn’t respond. She reached past Joey to close the door. “So he said.”

“How did you feel about him?” Joey’s voice had gone quiet. “Not that I have a right to ask.”

Carol met his eyes and tried to smile. “I was sorry for him, living in that big house with only his dead wife’s cat for company.” She stepped away from Joey and picked up the kettle. “Paul made me tea earlier, but I need another cup. Can I get you something?”

“Not now, thanks. I had coffee with lunch. There’s that fine line between keeping awake and getting caffeine jitters.” Joey pulled out a chair and sat while Carol started the water.

She reached for a teabag and a clean mug. “I can’t get my head around what Patrick did.” She came to sit opposite Joey. “But in the end he gave his life to save me.” Carol’s voice broke.

Joey covered her hand with his, and the warmth steadied her. When the water boiled she jumped up to make her tea. “I’m glad you came. I still feel lost in the gloom, but at least you got me off the couch.”

“And into the kitchen, but there’s no baking happening! Paul and I will waste away.” Joey rubbed his stomach and made such a mournful face that Carol laughed.

Just as quickly her tears flowed.

“Oh, Carol, I’m sorry! That one bombed big-time.” Joey reached to hug her but she dodged and grabbed a handful of tissues from the box on the counter.

Mopping tears, Carol turned to face him. “It’s okay. Thanks for trying. Hey, I never said thank you for the flowers. Paul put them in water when we got back from the police station. They’re in the living room.”

Joey’s moustache twitched. “You’re welcome. We just dropped them and ran when Patrick called.”

“At least somebody put the stroganoff in the fridge. I know this isn’t how we planned it, but would you stay for supper tonight?”

“You sure?”

“Do I look like I want to eat leftovers all week?” This time Carol almost produced a smile.

“Then yes, please. But you’re still on the hook for our dinner and movie when you feel up to it.”

Light flickered in Carol’s gloom, small but steady. “Okay.” She picked up her tea. “Let’s go see your roses. Maybe Paul will come out of his room.”

Following her, Joey asked softly, “How’s Paul doing?”

“I think he’s just glad it’s over. He’s shocked, but he doesn’t have any grief to deal with. Thank God. He’s had more than his share already.”

Carol tapped on Paul’s door before they settled on the couch, and eventually he wandered out to join them. When he heard Joey was going to eat with them, he brightened. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but would you guys mind if I skipped out? Tara-Lynn and I were going to get a pizza last night.”

Paul avoided Carol’s stare and looked at Joey. “There’s some stuff we need to talk about, but I didn’t want to leave Mom alone.”

Carol sat a little straighter. “I’ll be okay.”

“Mom —”

Joey raised a hand. “I’ll stay as long as your mom wants me to.”

Paul poised for a second on the edge of his seat, then walked into the kitchen to the phone. Carol raised an eyebrow at Joey. “If we haven’t scared that girl away yet, she’s a keeper.”

Joey nodded and smothered a yawn.

“Coffee time?”

“No, thanks, but could I pour myself a glass of water? After Paul finishes arranging his date.”

A grin ghosted across Carol’s lips. “Guess what I forgot? I made your favourite cookies yesterday morning.”

Joey stared in the direction of the kitchen. “How long do you think he’ll be on the phone?”

Her grin deepened.

After Tara-Lynn collected Paul, Carol heated their supper. She set the roses on the table and turned on the kitchen radio, but she spent more time pushing stroganoff and linguine strands around her plate than eating. “You didn’t have to bring flowers last night.”

Joey smiled. “I wanted to celebrate your step of faith... and our friendship.”

Remembered terror spiked Carol’s pulse. “I’d have gone out of my mind without God yesterday. Nobody knew I was in danger, but somehow He was there. As scared as I was, I knew if I died, He’d look after Paul.”

“And He helped us find you.” Joey’s hand shook as he reached for his water glass. “Patrick’s desperate plan! Tara-Lynn and I prayed up a storm in the car. It was awful not knowing what was going on.”

“Patrick bringing Paul in... that was the worst.” Carol’s chin quivered. She pressed her lips tight but the trembling spread and she started crying again.

“Hey, c’mere.” The care in Joey’s voice made her cry harder.

His chair scraped. Carol pushed back from the table and went into his arms. Joey’s warmth, his steady heartbeat against hers, Bob Seger’s “Against the Wind” on the radio... Gradually Carol’s tears slowed. She leaned into Joey’s embrace, and their steps fell into rhythm with the song.

The music worked into her muscles. By the time the song ended, they were genuinely dancing. Carol felt lighter in spirit than she had for a long time. A tiny bubble of laughter escaped her as they stepped apart.

Joey bowed, eyes twinkling. “Thank you, milady.”

She dropped a mock curtsy. The next song’s opening notes froze her feet en route to her chair. “Honesty.” It didn’t get more appropriate than that. She glanced at Joey. He nodded and held out his arms.

Carol settled her palms on Joey’s shoulders and they moved together in time to the beat. In flat shoes, she wasn’t that much taller than he was.

Their eyes locked. Joey’s kindled, and his arms tightened around her. Their steps slowed.

Carol moistened her lips, anticipation tingling in her veins. She leaned nearer and closed her eyes for his kiss.

Joey pressed a finger against her mouth. He released her and stepped back, his eyes still heated. “Yesterday shook us both, and people do crazy things for comfort. But I can’t kiss you under false pretences.”

False pretences? Carol worked to slow her breathing, to quell the sweet sensation that had her heart racing. She drilled him with a stare. “If you’re gay — or married — I do not want to hear it tonight.”

Joey spread his palms. “Innocent on both counts. A friend could kiss you and forget it, but... I love you.”

He shrugged. “You didn’t need to hear that tonight either. No pressure, no expectations. I know you don’t need a man in your life. I hoped if we kept spending time together, you’d begin to feel something for me.”

Carol gave her head a slow shake. She stared at Joey, trying to sort through her tangled reactions. This man who’d knocked her self-reliance for a loop, who listened and supported and never demanded, loved her. Carol could see it now in his eyes, and it warmed her deep inside.

It took willpower to put a bite in her voice. “I feel something right now, mister.” Joey seemed to wilt, and she couldn’t keep from smiling. “Relief. I thought I was going to lose you.” Carol threw her arms around him and buried her head against his shoulder. Joey’s arms circled her and held tight.

When Carol lifted her head his hold loosened, but she didn’t step back. “I’ll take you up on that invitation to spend time together. Let’s see what happens.”

Carol closed her eyes and brought her lips to meet his. This time Joey didn’t pull away.