Listen to Your Heart

by Becky Harmon

Steph rubbed her face and popped another Cherry Sour into her mouth. She shivered at the tart taste as she did every time she crushed the little balls with her teeth. She read the final letter Dorothy had sent to Jemini again. It was almost like Dorothy knew she was running out of time. It wasn’t like the other letters. This one begged for Jemini’s forgiveness and asked her to consider giving Riverview another chance. Not to give her another chance, Steph noted, but for Jemini to visit Riverview and to consider what the town had to offer. She picked up her phone and dialed Jemini again. As had been the case all evening, voice mail picked up on the first ring. She wanted to leave another message, but what else could she say? Irritated that Jemini wouldn’t answer and at herself for continuing to call, she tossed her phone on the table.

  She wouldn’t allow herself to pursue Jemini any farther, even though she wanted to. She had spent countless hours today recalling the events of last night. She had been looking forward to spending many more evenings with Jemini, but it clearly wasn’t meant to be. If Jemini wasn’t ready for a relationship or had felt the need to run, then Steph wasn’t going to chase her down. Jemini had to come back on her own.

  A flash of light outside the window caught Steph’s eye, and she stood quickly, flipping off the lamp. Her eyes followed the beam of light and she was glad to have her pistol still resting in the small of her back. She quietly opened the front door and walked down the steps, moving toward the flashlight. The closer she got the clearer the voices became and the angrier she was.

  “Two steps to your right,” a male voice said.

  “Yep, right there,” another male voice said, but this one she recognized.

  She heard a hammer pounding on wood and she quickly walked toward them. “Richard, what the hell are you doing?” she demanded, confronting the real estate agent.

  “I’m…we’re…I have every right to be out here.”

  She shook her head. “You might have permission to be on the property but not to sneak around after dark.”

  Her anger soared even higher as she saw the property stakes Richard carried. She fought to rein it in before she pummeled Richard for his stupidity.

  “Ms. Rivers is going to want to hear what Cliff has to say.” He motioned at the man with him. “He’s raising his offer. She won’t be able to refuse now and you should hear what he has to say as well, since he’d like to buy your house too.”

  “Richard, I’m going to ask you nicely to leave. If Cliff has a legitimate offer for Ms. Rivers, he can make it tomorrow during daylight hours, but I’m telling you right now I will not be selling.”

  She appreciated that Cliff had remained silent, and she watched them traipse back through the trees toward the road. Apparently they hadn’t even pulled into the driveway, which explained why she didn’t see them arrive. She followed them until she heard the car start and pull away.

  Her anger was beyond the boiling point as she walked back to Dorothy’s and locked the front door. Apparently Jemini had given Richard permission to survey the property and everything she had said about not selling had all been a hoax. One big lawyer lie. She couldn’t think of a reason for Jemini to deceive her, but with her not answering her phone, it was getting harder and harder to make excuses for her. She wanted answers and she wanted them now. Jemini needed to explain why she ran and why she gave Richard permission to survey the property if she wasn’t going to sell.

  She climbed in her truck and began to drive. The farther she got from Riverview the crazier she realized this was. She didn’t know how to find Jemini in Chattanooga. She did have the address for Jemini’s law practice, but by sitting in the parking lot all night until they opened in the morning she would only embarrass herself. Confronting Jemini at her practice was not what she wanted either. She was thinking about calling Cassie to help her organize her thoughts when she realized Jemini must have used her home address when she checked in at Lake View.

  She reached for her phone to call Cassie. It wasn’t in her front pocket. That’s when she remembered tossing it on the table in Dorothy’s house. She pulled off the road and leaned her head against the steering wheel. Sometime in the last several days, she had fallen in love with Jemini and lost her mind, not necessarily in that order. She didn’t go anywhere without her phone and now she was driving to Tennessee without it and in possession of a concealed weapon.

  First things first. She needed to tell Jemini how she felt. She pulled back on the road until she reached the next convenience store where she bought a throwaway cell phone.

  She dialed Cassie. She was prepared to leave a message since she didn’t think Cassie would answer her phone this late, especially one from an unknown number.

  “Hello.”

  She could hear the annoyance in Cassie’s voice, but she pushed forward. “Cassie, it’s Steph. I’m very sorry to call this late but I need a favor.”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you have Jemini’s home address?”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I’m not sure. She’s avoiding my calls, and I just found Richard traipsing around in the dark marking the property lines at Dorothy’s place.”

  “Where are you?”

  Steph hesitated. “I’m on my way to Chattanooga.”

  “Tennessee? Hold on.”

  Steph could hear Kathleen talking in the background as Cassie explained the situation to her.

  “Steph.”

  “Hey, Kathleen.” She braced herself for Kathleen to begin the scolding for her stupidity.

  “We have Jemini’s address. I remember checking her in. Just give me a minute to get to the office and I’ll get it for you.”

  She waited silently, pulling a pen and paper from her glove box.

  Kathleen read off the address.

  “Thanks, Kathleen.”

  “I spoke with her this morning when she checked out and she was really happy. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I can’t imagine that she’s running from you.”

  “You don’t think I’m crazy?”

  “Not crazy, but maybe in love.”

  “I’m not ready to say that out loud yet.”

  Kathleen laughed. “You have the rest of your drive to get to that point, and you better be prepared to speak since you are making the drive.”

  “I hear you.”

  “Call us when you get back.”

  “Thanks again.”

  She typed Jemini’s address into her truck’s GPS system and pulled back out on the road. She had two hours to decide what she wanted to say to Jemini. Would she be able to tell her that she loved her? She wanted to, but she couldn’t be sure if Jemini would want to hear it.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jemini dialed Steph’s number and listened to the line ring before voice mail kicked in. Apparently it wasn’t turned off anymore, but now Steph wasn’t answering. She was definitely driving back to Riverview after she met with Karen. She had to see Steph and make sure everything was okay between them. She climbed out of her car and met Karen at the door of the restaurant. The smell of fresh baked bread and melting cheese assaulted her when she walked in the door and she decided very quickly she needed more than coffee. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten.

  They were seated in a dark blue plastic booth, and she was thankful she had taken the time after leaving the hospital to change back into jeans. Even through the denim she could feel the cold of the plastic bench. Although the temperature outside had cooled from the heat of the day, the diner appeared to still have the air conditioner on. She picked up the menu, and her eyes found the source of the wonderful smell that filled the room. Today’s special was grilled cheese and tomato sandwich on fresh sourdough bread.

  The waiter, a college student, bounced between tables and his open course books on the counter. His blond hair was thick with hair gel, making it stand up in the front. The thin strand of hair above his lip contradicted his pudgy baby face and his smile was contagious. He was attentive and quick, returning with
their drinks before he took their food orders.

  “Is Ken retiring?” Karen asked as soon as she ordered today’s special too.

  Karen had dropped the formalities years ago when she was alone with Jemini, but she would respectfully revert to Mr. Thompson and Mr. Myers if anyone else was present.

  “Officially he is, but he’s probably still going to be around for a while. His son is going to join the firm too.”

  “He’s been around a lot lately and everyone likes him so that won’t be a hardship.” Karen’s eyes studied Jemini. “Will I still be there?”

  “That’ll be up to you. I told them I’m leaving. I’ll travel back and forth until all of my cases are closed, but I won’t take anything new.”

  “You plan to open a practice in Riverview?”

  She leaned back as their food was placed on the table. Was she going to take the Florida state bar and open a firm in Riverview? She hadn’t really given it much thought, but of course she would. She would probably have to return to general practice since the need for a child advocate in a small town probably wasn’t enough to support her and Karen both. In Chattanooga, she had been available anytime night or day, and she wasn’t sure what she would want now. She needed to talk with Steph before she made too many decisions. One thing was definite, though: she was moving to Riverview.

  “Yes, I’ll be opening an office. I just don’t know what I’ll be doing yet. Have you thought about coming with me?”

  Karen cut her sandwich in half and took several bites before speaking. “I want to go with you.”

  She smiled. Having Karen along for the ride certainly made things easier for her. “I’m glad to hear you say that, but come for a visit first. Make sure it’s really a place you could call home.”

  “Okay, but I’m ready for a change. I haven’t planted a flower in almost twenty years. Or even looked out my window at a blade of grass. I’m tired of concrete and asphalt.”

  “I’ll need you to stay here until all of my cases close. Maybe six months or even a year.”

  “You’ll be driving back and forth?”

  “I will. Robin’s going to buy my condo, so I’ll need to move out right away. I’ll get a hotel room if I need to stay more than a day at a time.”

  She could see Karen was struggling with something she wanted to say. It was odd to see her at a loss for words, and she always valued Karen’s perspective. She encouraged her to speak her mind whenever possible. “What’s bothering you?”

  Karen pushed her half-eaten sandwich away and stared into her caramel-colored coffee. “Why now? Why move there after your grandmother has passed away?”

  She wasn’t sure how much information Karen needed or even wanted, but she knew she was trying to understand. She could certainly see how crazy it all would look to someone on the outside.

  She waited for Karen to meet her eyes before answering. “My grandmother forced my mother to leave, but later she had a change of heart. Unfortunately I didn’t know that until this week.”

  “Would you have gone back if you knew that before she died?”

  She took a deep breath. Karen always asked the hard questions. Yes. The answer was a definite yes. She would have made the trip to see Dorothy. Clearly her mother wasn’t able to forgive Dorothy’s words or actions, but she did. Dorothy had deserved a second chance, and she probably would have given her one. In any case, she truly believed she could leave all of that in the past now. Riverview was where Steph lived and she wanted—no, she needed—to be where Steph was. It was time to come clean with Karen.

  “I met someone. Well, I got reacquainted with someone I knew years ago.”

  Karen narrowed her eyes. “Please tell me that you aren’t turning your life upside down for a woman. And one that you barely know.”

  Jemini smiled. “It’s not like that.”

  “Not like Robin? Here for now and gone on a whim.”

  “She’s nothing like Robin. She’s very special to me and I need to be close to her. I want this more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.”

  “And she feels the same way?”

  Again Karen dug into the crevice of doubt in her mind. What was Steph thinking? It was clear that Steph didn’t want her to leave. Didn’t that say everything she needed to hear?

  “I believe she does, but I’m not going to speak for her. We’ve barely had any time to talk about the future. Let’s forget I mentioned that. The town of Riverview is quaint with a grassy circle right in the middle of town. Things move slower there, and it doesn’t take long for the people to grow on you.”

  Karen shook her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you. Impulsive is not a word I would use to describe you. I can’t wait to see this town. And this woman.”

  “Why don’t you come down Friday after work? I’ll reserve you a cabin at the resort. They have a cookout every Friday, and you’ll be able to meet my friends. Then on Saturday I’ll show you around.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Are you headed back tonight?”

  “Yes,” she said without hesitation, standing. “Right now.” She needed to see Steph. She didn’t want to think that anything was wrong between them, but she needed to make sure Steph knew why she had left with only a voice mail.

  She paid the bill and gave Karen a hug before climbing into her car. The lights of Chattanooga disappeared in her rearview mirror as she turned south following Interstate 59. This was the third time in a week that she had made this drive to Riverview, but this time felt different. Her mother had taught her at a young age to be cautious about love, and now for the first time in her life she was listening to her heart. She was going home.

  * * *

  Steph watched the lights of Chattanooga grow closer as she followed the mechanical GPS voice toward Jemini’s condominium. It was almost midnight and for the billionth time in the last few hours, she wished she had her phone so she could call her. Had she been thinking when she spoke to Kathleen earlier, she would have asked for Jemini’s number as well as her address. Jemini probably wouldn’t answer an unknown number so late, but she could have left her a message. She certainly could not call Kathleen again.

  She maneuvered her truck through the city streets, pulling into a parking garage below Jemini’s condo. She parked in visitor parking and signed in at the empty desk, giving Jemini’s condominium number. She thought about waiting for the security guard to return so she could call first, but she didn’t know how long that would take. She was here now, and she wanted to see Jemini. She crossed to the elevators and pressed the up button.

  She could hear the music coming from Jemini’s condominium as soon as the elevator doors opened. She couldn’t believe the neighbors were tolerating this. She hesitated at the door. Jemini didn’t seem like the kind of person who would disrespect her neighbors especially at this hour. Well, at least she knew Jemini was awake.

  She had to knock several times before the door was opened. A woman with spiked black hair opened the door, releasing the barrage of sound. She could see several people behind her but not Jemini, and no one seemed interested in her.

  “I’m looking for Jemini Rivers.”

  The woman shook her head and leaned seductively against the door. “She’s not here, but maybe I can help you.”

  “Do you know when she’ll be back?”

  “I’ll ask Robin. She lives here.”

  The woman disappeared to find Robin, but Steph didn’t wait. She’d heard enough. Robin lived here in Jemini’s condo. Jemini had never mentioned that there was anyone in her life, but she shouldn’t be surprised. At that moment, she realized that she had never asked. Maybe because she was afraid of the answer. How stupid was she? Sure, Jemini and Robin could be roommates, but she wasn’t going to wait around and ask. She was already humiliated enough. It had been a stupid idea to drive here. Jemini had never mentioned anything about her life here and now she knew why. She had driven all this way to talk to her, but now she didn’t even want to see her
. She climbed in her truck and headed back to Riverview.

  * * *

  Disappointed that Steph’s truck wasn’t in the driveway, Jemini unlocked Dorothy’s house and went inside. She didn’t know if Agnes was a light sleeper so she tried to be as quiet as possible. She had tried to call Steph several times during her drive, but her phone continued to ring and then pass to voice mail. Steph’s phone was on, but she was choosing to not answer it. She would leave her a message to let her know she was at Dorothy’s. If Steph wanted to see her when she finished at work, then she could come here.

  She dialed the number one last time and jumped at the ringing phone behind her. Steph’s phone lay on the kitchen table surrounded by little red balls of candy. She couldn’t believe she had gone to work without it. Surely as soon as she realized she didn’t have it, she would return for it, even if she wasn’t finished working yet. Jemini slid her phone back into her pocket and carried Steph’s phone onto the porch. She sat down in one of the rockers to wait for Steph.

  She saw the lights on the road before they even turned in Rivers Pass and she stood. She wanted to race across the driveway and throw herself into Steph’s arms, but she made herself wait patiently on the porch.

  Steph parked beside her car but seemed to hesitate as she climbed out. Jemini couldn’t read her face in the dark so she waited until Steph was beside her before talking. “Did you get my message?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry it took so long for me to get my phone charged.”

  Steph’s mouth twitched in a slight smile. “Your battery died again?”

  She nodded. “And I went to the hospital before picking up my charger.”

  “Hospital?”

  “One of my law partners had a heart attack, but he’s going to be fine. That’s why I had to leave so quickly.”

  Jemini could see relief in Steph’s face. “I tried to call you once I got it charged, though.” She held up Steph’s phone.

  “I got distracted and then left in a hurry.” Steph took the phone and slipped it into her pocket.