Chapter Twenty-Five

Since the event, as she and Jared now called the kidnapping debacle, Jody hadn’t been comfortable leaving the privacy of their home. To maintain her sanity, she had willingly retreated within herself both physically and mentally.

All business duties and responsibilities had been turned over to her capable staff to keep Fur Baby Groomers afloat. Even though Fur Baby was Jody’s only means of support, at this point, she had no other choice but to stay away. These days fear had proven to be her guiding force. Trepidation lived with her and mooched off of her just as an uninvited house guest would. No matter what she tried, she couldn’t get rid of the depression. The idea of going back to her daily routine anytime soon, if at all, was doubtful.

Jody had faith that Cassi and Kim would keep the doors to her precious business open. They would continue to give her furry clientele the best and most caring service possible. As time went by, it became apparent her employees believed she’d had a mental breakdown. When speaking on the phone, the concern in their voices rang through loud and clear. Unfortunately, their assessment wasn’t far from the truth. With each passing day, she removed herself farther and farther from the outside world.

The FBI had informed the Spurls of Jody’s significant involvement in their granddaughter’s recovery from the abduction attempt. Nothing had been withheld. The Spurls wanted to hold a meet and greet to offer their gratitude and express their appreciation for everything she’d been able to do. Although uncomfortable with the attention, she desperately wanted to see little Mikala. It was important for her to make sure the child had come through the event unscathed. Jody could only remember bits and pieces of those traumatizing hours, believing the intensity of the fear she’d felt had overridden much of her memory.

By her request, Jared reluctantly set up an after-dinner meeting with the Spurls on a Friday evening. They’d made plans to go out of town the same day which offered the perfect excuse not to stay too long.

If Jared had his way, she’d never meet with them. His best case scenario would be to distance her and himself from anything having to do with the event ever again. He feared for Jody and never stopped worrying about something popping up and sparking another freak fest. It wasn’t necessary for him to verbalize how worried he’d been about the potential of her flying off the handle into another crisis. His concern was written all over his face. She loved him all the more for it but started hating herself for putting him through hell.

Stepping up to the front door of the Spurl’s home, Jared’s hand went out to knock. Hesitating, he pivoted and grabbed Jody’s arm. “Are you sure about this? We can always say something came up.”

An intense fear had her leaning toward taking him up on his offer. Before she could back away, the front door flew open and a little girl ran into her arms.

“Jody! Jody! You’re here! You’re really here!” Mikala’s embrace served to soften her heart. The little girl smelled of peaches and cream. If she weren’t mistaken, there was also a hint of chocolate. The sweet child’s scent and enthusiastic greeting helped Jody relax and absorb the loving warmth of the hug. The soul bond they’d developed during the event couldn’t be denied.

Mikala’s chubby hands framed Jody’s face. “I can’t believe you’re really here! Can we sing some of the songs we made up together when you saved me?”

Talking about the event made Jody uneasy. Mikala, on the other hand, seemed to think of it as an ordinary, everyday experience.

“Do you remember…”

“Mikala, darling, let me in there for a hug.” Jessie, the grandmother, almost knocked Jody down to get her chance at an embrace. Sobs wracked the woman, and all Jody could do was hold on as they swayed.

Not liking being the center of attention, Jody tried not to show her discomfort. Apparently she’d failed. “Jessie, let the poor woman go. You’re embarrassing her.” After getting his wife to release Jody, Mr. Spurl put his arm around her and squeezed. “Thank you, dear girl, for keeping our grandbaby safe. Please, come inside and have a drink with us.”

As Mr. Spurl poured the champagne, Mikala found her way onto Jody’s lap. A constant chatterbox, the little girl couldn’t stop talking. To Jody’s surprise, she relayed stories of how they’d kept each other company when they’d been locked in the box together.

As hard as she tried, Jody just wasn’t able to remember much about the actual incident. The experience had been far too distressing. Their demise had been closer than she’d admitted to anyone. If the little girl had died that day, since she had been tethered to her, Jody felt confident she would have died as well.

It frightened her that Mikala had kept those memories. In the end, she chalked it up to there being some reason in the grand scheme of things for that to be so. Jody had learned long ago, not to question the why of things. Someday, the rationale might become clear to her, or she may never get an answer. Only time would tell.

There was a slight rap on the parlor room door before it opened. A handsome man swaggered into the room. Sitting next to Jared, she felt his body instantly tense. He squeezed Jody’s hand a little tighter. Before the man could be introduced, Jared quickly stood and pulled her up with him.

“I’m sorry to be in such a rush, Mr. Spurl, but Jody and I have a long journey ahead of us. We really must get on the road.”

Obviously taken aback by the abrupt change in Jared’s demeanor, Mr. Spurl stood. “Of course. But before you go, Agent Jursic wanted to introduce himself to Jody. He’s quite taken with her.”

Before the agent could reach Jody, Jared had firmly placed himself in front of her. “I’m sorry. I don’t think this is wise. We’ll just take our leave.”

Agent Jursic only spoke one word. “Please.”

Hearing the plea in the man’s voice had Jody moving from behind Jared.

“Jody—Ms. Clarke—you probably don’t remember me, but I was there the day you gave us the information that saved Mikala. People call me Jursic. I’ve never believed in psychics before, but what you did that day humbled me. Your gift saved a very special little girl. I’m grateful to you.”

“Thank you, Agent Jursic. I’m sorry, but I have practically no memory of the events that happened that day. I’m not really comfortable with the title of psychic, either. I have abilities that can sometimes be used to help people. Nothing more.”

His expression softened. “What I witnessed that day was truly a miracle. You should know what happened. You should see for yourself. I gave a copy of the video we made for evidence to Mr. Spurl. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind showing it to you.”

“No!” Jared’s voice left no room for discussion.

Jody’s attention turned to the patriarch of the family. “Mr. Spurl, If you don’t mind, I’d like a private moment with Jared.”

“Of course, dear.” He started rustling people toward the door. “Before you came, I thought you might be interested in seeing the events of that day. I’ve got the video cued up on the laptop over there, if you decide to watch.” The door closed behind them with a soft whoosh.

Jared crossed his arms and took a firm stance. “No. It’s not going to happen.”

“Sweetheart, I need to see it. I need to know what happened to me, to you, all of it.”

“Monkey, please, I’m begging you. Please, don’t watch it. It’ll just upset you more.”

“You’re wrong. I’ve been worrying about the events of that day ever since it happened. It’s worse not knowing. Please, Jared. Don’t fight me on this. I have to know.” He remained standing in the middle of the room as she hit the play button.

The truth about what the man she loved had gone through during that traumatic event had to be unveiled and brought out into the open. She had to see for herself if it was as bad from his perspective as she thought it might have been.

The entire time the video played, Jared paced the room. She felt his eyes as they remained steady on her.

The tension in the room steadily grew to the point the stagnant air could be cut with a knife. The area surrounding them became dense, forcing her to strain her lungs just to get a full breath.

The event clearly still deeply affected him. That fact served to intensify Jody’s guilt. Jared had gotten stuck with what she perceived as the short end of the stick in their relationship. She held herself culpable for the immeasurable distress she’d dropped at his feet and, as time went by, continued to cause him.

Since the event had occurred, she’d been grappling with this new gift of hers. Jody knew all the while there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stop it. For her own personal safety, she did, however, feel a great need to curb it in some way. She’d wrestled with that thought night and day.

As the nightmare continued to unfold on the video, it became apparent the risk wasn’t only hers. Jared carried much more of the burden than she did. He’d been very sweet and attentive since that day, never leaving her side. While he hadn’t voiced it, she knew he faced the same fear she did. Without question, another event would happen again. It was just a matter of time before it did.

The video made Jody realize that his fear had been compounded because he might not be there to help her through it the next time. She could be lost, somewhere out there in the great big universe without the ability to find her way home to him. No matter how wrong that way of thinking was on his part, if that occurred, Jared would blame himself.

Instead of her love giving him happiness, he felt the misery of worry and regret over their relationship. Who wouldn’t?

Reflecting on the problem at hand, she realized just how difficult it would be to minimize her risk. She lived in the Phoenix metropolitan area with another four million living people. Add to that number all of the deceased, and her head hurt just thinking about it. With those kinds of numbers, the chances of another event happening very soon had given her more than enough sleepless nights.

****

As they drove away from the Spurl’s home, Jody turned toward Jared as much as the seatbelt would allow. Knowing how important this weekend together would be, the decision to get out of town for a break from their worries calmed her.

Reaching out for his hand, she cocooned it lovingly between both of hers. Her worry for him was boundless. Not about his leaving her because she knew now, after watching the video, he never would. Yet, Jody had been horrified to discover that what Jared had gone through during the event was much worse than she could’ve ever imagined.

Her misgivings stemmed from having dragged him inadvertently into her own personal hell. That was unforgivable.

The thought that her abilities left him more troubled than her, distressed Jody beyond belief. Truth be told, with everything that had transpired regarding the event, he’d ended up more anxious than her. Knowing his love for her had saddled him with a whole new set of problems, devastated Jody. Love wasn’t supposed to be fraught with misery. God knows, in a very short period of time, she’d caused him more than his fair share.

Because of her, Jared’s life had been completely turned upside down. Jody saw it in his eyes, in his face, the way he carried himself—he was a constant ball of nerves. No. It goes far beyond that. It was fear. Not for himself but for her, which made her guilt all the worse. She’d made him unhappy, and that fell hard on her shoulders.

Selfishly, she’d allowed him into her life, knowing full well it would be hard for him. Granted, upon reflection, Jody’s life seemed almost mellow back then compared to now. She had no idea the turn her abilities would take. Those so called gifts were the determining factor in making an inescapable nightmare out of both living with and loving her.

Wanting to keep him close, Jody lifted Jared’s hand to kiss it. She’d cherished the time they’d had together. Her eyes started to fill with tears so she shuttered them, not wanting him to know how upset she’d become. She nuzzled his hand with her cheek, getting as much warmth and love from him while she still could.

For the past few weeks, her fear had kept her in a reclusive state leaving her bound to the privacy of Jared’s home. Jody was scared to death she’d touch something or someone and snap the tenuous thread that held her together. If that were to happen, Jared would be left to pick up the pieces of her messed up life. He’d do it in a heartbeat. She knew that. He wouldn’t complain. She knew that, too. But the realization hit that life with her had become a prison sentence serving hard time rather than the happily-ever-after he deserved. Jared had never left her side and never complained about being shut into their own private penitentiary. It wouldn’t be long before he felt like being with her had earned him a life sentence in the deepest, darkest hell imaginable.

The video had sealed the deal. There would be no turning back from the decision she’d finally made. Jared meant more to her than life itself. Jody couldn’t and wouldn’t continue to put him in situations that brought him nothing but fear and heartache. Life with her just wasn’t worth it.

She’d have to find a place to live somewhere away from people. Jody would have to isolate herself—close herself off from the outside world as much as possible. And she’d have to do it all alone. Jared had already given up enough for her. She’d never ask him to leave everything he had built for himself. She wouldn’t ask him to disengage from the life he led or allow him to leave everything he was comfortable with just for her. It wasn’t fair to him. She’d brought nothing but heartache and worry into his life, and he deserved so much more than that.

As she reviewed their relationship, Jody started to realize just how one-sided it had been. So far, Jared had changed everything in his life for her. The fact that she wasn’t capable of doing that for him made her feel like the worst human being on earth. There was no question about it. If she had the power to do so, she’d change in a heartbeat. But the plain and simple truth of the matter was that she didn’t have that power. Just because it wasn’t within her reach to change, didn’t make it any less unfair for him. It had become obvious she’d never be rid of these abilities of hers. And worse, she couldn’t foresee ever being able to enjoy her life with the threat of them hanging so heavily over her head. She wouldn’t be responsible for dragging him down such a detestable path.

As the realization of leaving Jared fermented, Jody felt a ripping pain in her heart as it broke in two. She wanted to give him this last weekend, make it special for both of them. She wanted to make him happy one last time before leaving. Her heart knew it was the best thing for him. He wouldn’t give up on their relationship without a fight. But if she didn’t leave, he’d end up regretting ever having met her. She’d never allow that to happen. When he thought of her, she wanted him to reminisce with love. From the moment the video had been viewed, she accepted the responsibility for the look of complete and utter despair on his face as he’d held her and forced life back into her body. She could never ask him to go through that again. Never.