Rory: Hope City, Book 7

by Maryann Jordan

  She dropped the curtain and turned, her gaze landing on Ocee still sitting in the middle of the floor, staring at her expectantly. “I’ll bet you’re hungry, aren’t you?” She walked on bare feet to the back of her small townhouse, moving directly to the refrigerator. Filling the cat’s food dish, she leaned against the counter and stared. He finished quickly, and as he moved away to lick his whiskers, she was reminded that she’d had nothing to eat since lunch. When she’d stopped at the pub, it was only for a drink, and then she’d planned on coming home, getting takeout on the way. Now, it was hours beyond when she would have normally eaten, but the idea of food was not interesting.

  She reached into the cabinet and pulled down some crackers, nibbling on a few just to quiet her rumbling stomach. Not caring whether it was wise or not, she poured a glass of wine and carried it upstairs, flipping off the lights downstairs as she moved through the rooms.

  As she ascended the stairs, the shakiness returned to her legs. The strength of her irritation at Rory had fled, and the memories of the evening at the Celtic Cock moved to the forefront of her mind. She stepped into her bedroom, her private oasis. The headboard of her queen-sized bed had come from her grandmother’s house. Warm wood polished over the years. She purchased expensive sheets, loving the soft feel, but the quilt that rested on top was also from her grandmother. The nightstand held a stained-glass lamp, emitting gentle light as well as shards of color across the walls.

  She set her goblet of wine onto the nightstand before going into the bathroom. She avoided looking into the mirror, quickly undressing and stepping into the shower after piling her thick, long hair into a messy bun on top of her head. Too tired to deal with washing her hair tonight, she scrubbed her body, hoping she could scrub images of the past from her mind as well.

  She dried with a thick towel, moisturized her face, then caught a glance of her reflection in the mirror as she reached up to turn off the light. Staring, her gaze roamed over her face. She knew she’d been blessed with looks, both accepting the curses and benefits of attractiveness.

  As a teenager, she’d been so foolish, thrilled to be the cheerleader the high school athletes wanted to date. Raised to be a polite lady, she’d never fallen into the trap of being a mean girl, but she still used her looks to full advantage when getting the most handsome boy to ask her to prom.

  College hadn’t been much better. She dressed well and went to class in full makeup, knowing the appreciative glances from some of her professors probably helped her grades. Parties where she laughed and danced, drank and chatted, sure that everyone she met was friendly. She winced and flipped off the light, moving directly to bed. Under the covers, she sipped her wine, her book lying unopened on her nightstand as darker memories crept from the edges of her mind to the forefront.

  She closed her eyes and could see the face of the woman from the Celtic Cock, expression slack and words slurring. Staring at that face, it morphed into her own. One from the past. A vision she couldn’t seem to escape. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she was barely aware of the tear that dripped off her cheek.

  11

  Rory pulled into the driveway of his parents’ house, staring up at the huge, two-story brick home that he was raised in—and had recently moved out of again. Glancing to the side, he spied the Kings’ house, and untold memories of the two families growing up together filled his mind. His mom still fixed a large Sunday noon meal and loved nothing more than having all or as many of her children who could make it around the table. He recognized several of the cars already parked in the driveway, so he knew he wouldn’t be the only one at the meal.

  Stepping through the front door, talking and laughter came from the back where the large kitchen that led into the family room was located.

  “Uncle Rory!”

  He scooped up his niece, Colleen, offering her a hug and kiss. Placing her feet back onto the floor, she scampered off and he bent to kiss Colleen’s mother, his sister, Tara, before shaking hands with Tara’s husband, Carter. Sean came down the hall toward him and the two brothers greeted each other with handshakes and backslaps. “Did Harper come today?”

  “Yeah, she’s in the kitchen with Mom.” Sean held his gaze before glancing around to see that they were alone, then dropped his voice. “Heard you were at the Cock the other night. You okay?”

  “Yeah. I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything, have you?” Sean was an arson detective, but their brother, Kyle, and Carter were detectives with the narcotics division.

  “No, but I’ve given Harper strict orders not to go back.”

  “And how did she take that?”

  Sean grimaced. “Okay, let’s say that ‘orders’ didn’t go over so well. But we agreed that she’d only go when in the company of others, and they’d never leave their drinks unwatched.”

  Carter stepped forward into their huddle and shook his head. “It’s not my case, but I heard they haven’t made any headway. All they had was a generic description, and the guy made sure to not face any of the security cameras.” He glanced around as well. “Tara’s concerned about Caitlyn and Bekki King being there a lot, too.”

  “Rory, I didn’t know you’d come in,” his mother said, gently elbowing the other men to the side to offer a warm hug, ending their conversation. She leaned back and smiled. “I’m so glad you got to come today.”

  Her brown hair had silvered, cut in a style that swung just above her shoulders. Her smile was easy, readily given, just as her hugs were. “Are Kyle and Kimberly coming?” he asked.

  “They’re coming later. They hope to make it by dessert.”

  “Hey, Rory!” Caitlyn walked from the kitchen, a platter of rolls in her hand, grinning at him as she made her way into the dining room.

  “Hey, stranger,” came a soft voice from behind. Turning, he saw Erin smiling at him. Wrapping his arms around her, they hugged tightly. Sharon clapped her hands, calling the family to the table. Making his way into the dining room, Rory was finally able to greet his dad. Still tall and well-built, Colm, a retired FBI agent, greeted him with a hearty hug. “Good to see you, son. Let’s get to the table before your mom fusses and the others grab all the food.”

  The meal was a lively event, much like those he remembered growing up. The conversation centered around the family members, their jobs, their activities, and even the Kings next door. By the time the meal was over, he felt like he’d caught up on all the news and gossip. As dessert was served, his brother, Kyle, came in with his fiancée, Kimberly, joining in the fun.

  As they began to clear the table and take the plates back into the kitchen, he managed to fall in line next to Harper. Catching her eye, he whispered, “Will you have a moment before we all leave? I have something I wanted to ask you.”

  “Of course!” She glanced around and said, “There’s plenty of people to clean up. We’ll step outside.” She set her plate down, sent a smile toward Sean, then followed Rory out onto the back patio.

  Harper was pretty, soft-spoken, and nurturing, all a good match for his brother. She turned and waited expectantly. Suddenly tongue-tied, he lifted his arm, crooked his elbow, and squeezed the back of his neck with his hand.

  “Rory, what’s on your mind?”

  Sighing heavily, he said, “Sandy.”

  Harper startled, her chin jerking back slightly. “Sandy?”

  “I was with her the other night—”

  “Sean told me. At the Celtic Cock. Yes, I know.”

  Nodding, he hesitated before plunging in again. “I noticed she was shaken by what happened. I drove her home to make sure she got there safely, but… well…” His voice tapered off, and he looked at Harper, somehow hoping she’d understand what his unvoiced question was. No such luck.

  Cocking her head to the side, Harper said, “Thank you for taking her home, Rory. I’m not sure what you’re looking for, though. I’ve talked to Sandy since then, so I’m aware of what happened.”

  His shoulders slumped, and he dropped his chin t
o his chest, staring at his boots for a moment. Finally, gaining his courage, he lifted his head. “I got the feeling that she was more shaken about the events than just what she witnessed. I wondered if… if there was something that had happened to her… uh… you know, before…”

  Harper held his gaze for a long time. Her tongue darted out and licked her lips, appearing to consider her words carefully. “I’ve known Sandy since we became freshman roommates in college, and there’s very little we don’t know about each other, good and not so good. But I’m afraid, Rory, that any specific questions you have about her past would need to be answered by her.”

  “Yeah, I get it. I just felt kind of helpless. Like there was something I wanted to do but didn’t know what it was.” If he hoped that Harper was going to offer him consolation or platitudes, she didn’t. Instead, she continued to hold his gaze.

  “Was there anything else you wanted to know?” she asked softly.

  “Her place wasn’t what I expected.”

  Her head cocked to the side again as her brow furrowed. “Expected?”

  “I know her father is the head of Carmichael Financial Associates. I expected her to live in a place that was, well, fancier. Instead, it wasn’t at all what I thought it would be.” A chuckle slid from his lips as he added, “Even her cat wasn’t fancy.”

  A fiery glint moved through Harper’s gaze, and he quickly realized that perhaps he’d overspoken his thoughts. Before he had a chance to explain, she said, “I’ve met a lot of people in my life, Rory, and Sandy is one of the best I’ve ever known. She’s worked hard for everything she has, making her own way. She’s smart, funny, and oh, so loyal. She enjoys having fun with friends and meeting new people. But like any strong, beautiful female, she often has to put up with what people perceive she’s like without really getting to know her.” Shaking her head, Harper continued, “And if you’ve believed stupid suppositions about her from half-drunk guys that were probably turned down by her, then you’re not the man I know you are.”

  Before he had a chance to respond, the back door opened, and Sean stuck his head out. “Everything okay out here?”

  Harper smiled, her face softening as she stared at her husband. “Yeah, sweetie, we’re fine.” Turning to pin Rory with a pointed stare, she lifted an eyebrow and added, “I think Rory’s got what he needs.” With that, she turned and moved back inside the house with Sean.

  Soon, the family members left, but he stayed behind. His dad was camped out in his easy chair, snoozing during a football game on TV. Erin and his mom were catching the afternoon sun on the patio, and he settled into one of the Adirondack chairs near them. He didn’t miss the looks his sister and mom gave each other when he sat down. Chuckling, he asked, “What? Can’t I join you?”

  “Of course you can,” his mom said, her smile warm as she turned her attention toward him.

  Erin stared at him with a speculative gaze. “What’s on your mind, Rory? Not that I don’t like your company, but something is bothering you.”

  He tried to think of what to say that would put him in a better light but came up empty. Instead, he blurted, “I think I made an error in judgment. I listened to some other people state their opinions about someone… hell, might as well call it gossip. Anyway, I’m pretty sure that was a mistake.”

  “That doesn’t sound like you,” Erin said. “I mean, Sean can be a bit judgmental at times. Kyle can be rather hotheaded and tends to say exactly what he thinks, but you were always the one who was easy going. Laid-back. Took life as it came. Accepted people as they are.”

  “Okay, the truth of the matter is that I not only listened to what others said, but I also let the person know.” Scrubbing his hand over his face, he sighed once again. “I was an ass.”

  “I get the feeling that you’re talking about a woman,” his mom said, her gaze intense with interest.

  The silence grew awkward, and he felt the childish need to defend himself. “Hell, I was still living here, knew I had to focus on getting my paramedic licensure, trying to save money. The time didn’t seem right to start a relationship, but by listening to the other people, I didn’t even give her a chance. Figured she was out of my league. But I could tell her feelings were hurt when I shut her down.”

  “Seems like that tells me more about you than her.”

  He winced at his mother’s words.

  Before he had a chance to say anything, Erin jumped in. “Rory, I get where you’re coming from. I mean, I’m still living here with Mom and Dad. I’m saving money, wanting to become an RN, and there’s very little time for a relationship. I don’t know that you made the wrong decision. Or maybe it was just the decision to make at the time, and it’s only in hindsight that you think maybe you gave up too early.”

  As much as he appreciated Erin’s support, he said, “You’re right, it probably was too early. But now, I have to wonder if it’s too late.”

  “You’ll never know if you don’t get in there and find out,” his mom said. “And if you were judgmental, and it turns out that those judgments were wrong, then apologize. Make amends. Try to start anew.” She leaned forward and placed her hand on his arm, giving a little squeeze. “If anyone can make someone feel better, it’s you.”

  The trio stood, and he first hugged his mom, towering over her but feeling the strength in her embrace. “Thanks, Mom.” She smiled and reached up to pat his cheek before turning and going back into the house.

  He wrapped his arm around Erin’s shoulder, and they walked around the house to his truck. She twisted her head to the side and said, “Look, Rory. I can tell you’re upset, but if this is a woman you’re really interested in, then go for it.”

  “What if she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me?”

  Snorting, she shook her head. “If women never forgave men for being stupid, there’d be no marriages and certainly no sex!”

  Barking out a laugh, he hugged her goodbye and climbed into his truck. With a wave, he headed home, determination filling him.

  12

  Rory glanced at the GPS after the call came in, threw on his siren, and made a quick right-hand turn at the next intersection.

  “Whoo-eee, Lord, let the baby be okay,” Shania said. “I never know whether to be excited or scared when it’s an imminent delivery.”

  Making his way through three more intersections, he turned to the left and scanned the row of brick townhouses on either side of the street. An older woman was standing outside on the sidewalk, waving her hands and pointing up toward the building. “Looks like they put someone out for us.” He parked the ambulance in the middle of the street since every available space next to the curb was filled with parked cars.

  He, Shania, and Bobby jumped out. The other two grabbed the equipment and Rory hustled toward the building where the older woman was pointing and yelling.

  “They called me to come to look after their younger child, but I took one look at Chloe and knew she wasn’t going to make it. I’m the one who called 9-1-1.”

  Hustling into the townhouse, he entered the living room, seeing a small child standing to the side, clutching a bear, her eyes wide with fright. On the floor was the pregnant woman, her husband kneeling next to her. Her dress was already bunched to her waist, and just like the neighbor said, he could see the crown of the baby’s head.

  Shania hustled in and dropped to her knees between the woman’s bent legs. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

  The woman was panting, sweat soaking the hair next to her face. Her husband was on his knees as well and holding her hand, shaking his head. “It took a long time for our first one. We thought we had more time. Her water barely broke, and then suddenly she says she’s got to push!”

  Rory had the IV ready to insert and leaned over the woman, smiling. “As soon as you can catch a breath, I need you to breathe deeply. No panting, just breathe deeply.”

  “What’s your wife’s name?” Shania asked again, prodding the husband.

  �
�Chloe,” he managed to get out.

  “And you, sir? Your name?”

  “Joe.”

  Offering a nod, Rory smiled at the frightened woman. “You’re doing good, Chloe.” Her deep breathing gave Rory the chance to insert the IV line. “Got it.” He affixed the blood pressure cuff on her other arm and clipped the pulse oximeter onto her finger.

  Bobby moved forward and slipped a large, sterile pad underneath Chloe’s hips and legs. Shaking out another one, he had it ready for the baby. Rory glanced down and watched as Shania gently placed her hands on the baby’s head.

  “Okay, now,” Shania said. “On the next contraction give a push. Joe, why don’t you get up there near Chloe’s head, and you can support her shoulders and neck while she’s pushing.”

  A commotion was heard near the door, and Rory twisted his head around, seeing Blay and Bill step just inside. The firemen responded when EMS was called for backup in case anything was needed.

  Once Joe shifted around, Rory showed him how to support her back just in time as she began grunting and bent forward as she pushed.

  “That’s it, that’s it, that’s it, you’re doing good,” Shania encouraged.

  The baby’s head was out, and while Shania supported it, Rory suctioned the nose and mouth. He looked toward Chloe and said, “The next one ought to do it.” He recognized she was in her own world as she began to push once again. Shania maneuvered the baby’s shoulders out, and then the little one emerged fully.

  Rory looked at Joe and asked, “Do you want to cut your son’s cord?”

  “S… son.” The man’s wide-eyed, opened-mouth expression of shock indicated he was not ready.

  “That’s fine, Joe. You just keep comforting Chloe, and I’ll take care of it.” He cut the cord, allowing Shania to shift to the side, placing the baby onto the sterile pad that Bobby had laid out.