Shannon sat in the rocker with one knee drawn up to her chest and her chin resting on her knee. She was grateful that Abe hadn’t said a word about Jake’s truck being parked outside her place all night. She felt on the verge of tears ever since Jake’s hasty departure a few hours earlier, and the slightest thing just might cause the dam to break. After helping Helen get washed and dressed and feeding her breakfast, Shannon returned to her apartment. She wouldn’t be needed again until lunch.
Now she sat and rocked, staring at the sofa and remembering the feel of Jake’s arms around her. The feel of his body skin-to-skin with hers. A warm hum rolled through her. She barely knew this man and, yet, felt like she belonged with him. Things had heated up so fast between them. She knew she shouldn’t trust that, but she wanted to. She wanted to trust Jake.
She stretched her legs and then stood. Maybe it was time to relax and act like she belonged in this town. She was tired of running and hiding. Even Jake told her she looked nothing like the photo of the former Heather Carlson. As soon as Bailey was awake, she’d take Abe up on his offer and take the car for a spin around town. Maybe they’d stop at the café for lunch. She remembered seeing a second hand shop in town. Perhaps she could find a stroller and a playpen there for the baby.
Bailey woke in a good mood and smiled as Shannon strapped her into the car seat. Shannon climbed into the driver’s seat, moved the seat forward, then looked in the rear view mirror. The car seemed to fill the entire garage. She’d never driven anything this big. She eased off the brake at the same time she stepped on the gas. The car leaped backward. She hit the brake again, then slowly backed out of the garage, checking both side mirrors to make sure they remained intact.
She stopped once she was clear of the garage and pressed the remote to close the door. Abe stood on his back porch watching her with an expression that was a mixture of amusement and concern. She smiled and waved. It didn’t take long for her to get a feel for handling the larger vehicle. Parallel parking would not be on her agenda today.
After parking in a lot behind Yesterday’s Treasures, she removed Bailey from her car seat and headed into the store. Twenty minutes later, she left pushing Bailey in a stroller and guiding one of the employees to the car to put a folding playpen in the trunk. She left the car parked there and cruised the main street, browsing shop windows.
The café was busy, but she managed to find a small table for two and pulled the stroller up beside her.
Millie came toward her with a menu in hand. “She is such a sweet baby. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Iced tea, please.” She grinned, realizing the waitress didn’t recognize her as Jake’s brunette friend.
When the waitress returned, she set down the tea and pulled an order pad from her pocket. “What can I getcha?”
Shannon ordered a grilled chicken salad. It felt good to do something normal. Seated by the window, she watched people stroll by while she ate. She felt as if she’d been set free from some invisible prison.
When Millie returned with her check, she studied Shannon for a moment. “Do I know you?”
Shannon shook her head. “They say everyone has a double somewhere.”
“I guess that’s it. I love your hair, by the way. I’ve often thought of having mine cut short.”
“Thanks. The salad was delicious, by the way.” She handed Millie cash that included a healthy tip—recompense for her little white lie.
Outside, the sun shone brightly and the temperatures had risen into the upper seventies. Shannon donned her sunglasses and took her time strolling to the parking lot. On her way to the car, she glanced down at Bailey and ran smack into some guy with a camera. They were the only two on the sidewalk and the contact made her immediately suspicious. He apologized, she told him she was fine and kept moving so he couldn’t get a good look at her. She hated feeling suspicious of everyone.
She had one more stop to make for groceries, then she’d head home. Abe had told her not to worry about lunch, that he’d take care of it. She wanted to make something special for dinner and share it with the couple. When she reached the turn for the apartment, though, she kept driving. She needed to see Jake. He’d never brought Bailey’s stuffed lamb to her. She could use that as an excuse, but she had to see him, to gauge his reaction at seeing her. It would only take a few minutes.
~ * ~
Jake couldn’t get Shannon off his mind as he drove back from Seattle. He’d been such a coward that morning. The only way he could’ve gotten out of her apartment faster would have been to jump out the window and onto his truck. He needed to apologize and explain himself. That was the catch, though. There were things he could not explain. That was a rule of the program and also something about him that, if she knew, could put her at risk.
He was surprised to realize the guilt he felt had more to do with Shannon and less to do with the fact that he’d broken a major promise he had made to God and to the Church. Distance had not made his heart grow fonder for his priestly vocation. If anything, he’d slipped far too easily into a new life that took him away from that vocation.
And then there was Shannon. Making love to her last night had been surreal. Their first time, he’d felt like a teenager. Unfortunately, he’d responded like one, too. Embarrassment still heated his face. He was pretty sure he’d redeemed himself the second time, though. Sex was pretty much like riding a bicycle, once he got past his nervousness. She was beautiful and had felt so good in his arms. It was the first thing that had felt right to him in a long time.
There was no way of knowing when he could be completely honest with her, offer her the kind of life she deserved. How was he ever going to look her in the eye again? Everything had been fine. They were friends, he was helping her out. He wanted to kick himself for letting things go too far. Now he’d ruined it.
When he saw the old Buick parked in his driveway, he recognized the car as Abe’s. He’d barely stopped the truck and shut off the engine before jumping out. Something must have happened to Shannon. The he heard Bailey’s cooing and looked up to find Shannon and the baby sitting on the deck.
“Hey,” he said as he approached.
“Hey.”
Jake climbed the steps and stood for a moment, grinning at Bailey in her little yellow dress and matching sun bonnet. “She looks cute. New dress?”
“We went shopping.”
He sat on the chair next to hers. “So, out and about in town today, huh?”
“Yeah. You know Millie at the café didn’t even recognize me with this cut and color.”
“You do look different.”
She grinned. “In a good way, I hope.”
“A good way.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“Jake, I…” Shannon began.
“I was going to…” he said. He nodded. “You go first.”
She glanced down at her hands clasped together in her lap. “I wanted to stop by to get Bailey’s stuffed lamb. She misses it.”
“Oh. Sure. I’ll get it.” He strode to the back door, unlocked it and retrieved the stuffed animal from the living room. Handing it to Shannon, he said, “I’m sorry. I meant to bring it to her.”
“Thanks. What were you going to say?”
“Nothing. Look, do you want to come in and have something to drink?”
“Uh…maybe for a minute.”
He picked up the baby’s carrier and held the door for Shannon to go ahead of him. As she passed, her arm brushed against him and her scent wafted around him. He felt intoxicated, the way he’d felt with her last night. But for her sake, he had to back off, let her go.
~ * ~
Anthony Baker, dressed in khakis and a blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a camera hanging around his neck, did his best to look like a typical tourist. He glanced at any woman carrying a baby or pushing a stroller. She had to be here somewhere.
There weren’t that many people out on the streets. He browsed shop windows, staring inside to scan the customers. He’d driven out of town to the house he’d tracked the call to, but no one was around. This town wasn’t that big. Heather had to be here somewhere or someone had to have seen her. But so far, no luck.
What the hell? He’d had a good night at the casino and his sister was paying all of his expenses. He might as well take his time and relax a bit. The redhead he’d met at the casino bar said she’d be there again tonight. If he played his cards right…. Anthony laughed at the pun. He could get lucky all the way around.
He leaned close to look through the window of a book store and, when he turned around, bumped into a cute blond. “Sorry.”
“I’m fine.” She lowered her head and kept walking.
He looked after her as she continued down the sidewalk pushing a baby stroller. She crossed the street and walked to an older model Buick with Washington plates. Heather drove a newer Chevy. He turned and headed back toward his motel. He probably should report in, give Corinne something to nibble on so she didn’t cut off his expense account and call him home.
“Hey, Sis.”
“Hold just a moment.”
He could hear her issuing orders to someone and then heard a door close. “Do you have good news for me?”
“There’s not much to this town. It won’t take me long to find her and the kid.”
“You need to wrap this up fast. Are you sure she’s there?”
“As sure as I can be. I’m watching the house she made those calls from. I’ll have her in a day, two tops.”
“Do not screw this up. I want them both back here so we can settle this. Once she knows just how serious I am about getting that baby, I think she’ll see the wisdom of making a deal. If she resists, handle it.”
“Tell me something. What does Mark think about your plan?”
“I don’t give a damn what he thinks. He’ll do exactly as I say or I’ll expose him for the cheating bastard he is. Besides, I think it’s only justice that he spend the rest of his life with this child right in his face. Don’t you?”
His sister’s coldhearted response made him shiver. If she wasn’t family and held the purse strings, he’d walk away right now, find a nice place near the beach, maybe Miami, and watch the girls play beach volleyball. “I’m sure you’ll see he gets what he deserves.”
“You find that girl and her baby, bring them back here. Now! I have to go. I have a meeting with my pro-life constituency.”
Anthony stared at the phone before ending the call. Pro-life, my ass. He wondered if Mark knew Corinne’s past, the abortion she had right after high school. And what would happen if her “constituents” found out? There was a definite advantage to having all the inside dirt on Governor Corinne Baker Hastings.
He glanced at his watch. He could stake out the house for a couple of hours and, if nothing materialized, he’d head to the casino for a little fun.
On his first cruise past the cabin, he saw both a truck and a car in the driveway. The damned mountain road provided no place to pull over and park. He needed to keep the car out of sight anyway. A half-mile down the road, he came to a sign for a scenic overlook. He pulled in and started his walk back toward the cabin. He found a larger tree that could hide him and still allow for a clear view of the vehicles and the cabin. He recognized the Buick. Probably another wild goose chase, but he’d wait and watch for a bit.
Twenty minutes later, the woman came out of the house carrying the baby carrier. She placed the baby and carrier in the car, then turned toward the man standing on the deck. He couldn’t tell what they were saying, but it was clear she wasn’t happy with him. She got into the car and slammed the door. The same chick he’d bumped into in town.
The guy just stood on the deck, dragging a hand through his hair. Poor schmuck. He didn’t have a clue what to do. Anthony had to chuckle. Then the guy raced toward the car waving his hand, and the car stopped.
It took Anthony a moment to realize his car was nearly half a mile away and he’d need it to follow her. He jogged to the overlook and was just ready to pull out when the Buick cruised by. The woman was sure taking her time, not driving like someone who’d been angry a minute ago. He followed her back into town. She turned off the main street and, two blocks later, pulled into a drive. The car slowly disappeared into a garage and the door closed. He parked on the street at the side of the house and watched. The blond emerged from the garage, carrying the baby and a couple of shopping bags up the stairs on the side of the apartment.
This had to be Heather. Yeah, she’d changed her hair. But she’d been at that cabin where he’d traced the phone calls to and she has a baby about the right age. He’d just have to hang around for a few more days, watch her and see what he could find out. Satisfied that he’d found his prize and she wasn’t going anywhere, he pulled away from the curb and headed to the casino.