She was a strong, independent woman. A survivor. And life was filled with ups and downs.
Tossing the half-eaten pancake back on the plate, she began to clear the table. That was when she saw her phone, now fully charged and blinking at her.
There were two text messages from Lina, asking if she was okay. Stacey tapped out a quick reply. “Doing great. Loving the view.” There was no point in saying anything more than that.
One from her agent, asking about the book. “In writer heaven. Great progress. You will be pleased.”
And six missed calls from her doctor.
Elena Hamilton was the latest in a series of specialists she’d been assigned to, a nice woman in her forties that had a very capable air about her. Stacey tapped the callback icon and took a deep, calming breath.
“Dr. Hamilton’s answering service.” The sing-song voice echoed across the line.
“This is Stacey Mallory. Is Dr. Hamilton available?”
“Is this an emergency?”
How the hell was she supposed to know? She wasn’t the one who called six times. “No, just returning her call.”
“Dr. Hamilton is away at a conference this week. I can leave a message for her to call you,” The musical voice told her.
“Okay,” Stacey agreed, leaving her mobile number with the service. She could wait. It wasn’t like she was going anywhere.
* * *
Johnny flicked his booted foot, downshifting as he made the final turn into the town proper. He’d been driving around for a while, but the farther away he got from the cabin, the worse he felt.
Yeah, he might have overreacted, taking off like he had, but it was better than telling Stacey the truth. That he’d woken up with crazy thoughts, thoughts that would have probably earned him a good laugh. Grown men didn’t start talking about their fucking feelings and shit after two days, no matter how good the sex was.
He’d thought maybe she’d felt something too, but it wasn’t as if he was going to come out and ask like some chick. His plan had been more subtle: to spend the day with her, doing something other than rocking her world, as kind of a test. The way he figured it, if there was something going on there, he would get the same vibes out of the sheets as in.
Then she’d gone and made that crack about babysitting, acting all nonchalant and shit, insinuating... well, he didn’t really know what she’d meant by that. But as he’d driven down the mountain, something started niggling at the back of his mind. Why would something so ridiculous even cross her mind?
By the time he’d checked out the third job site, he thought he might have figured it out. Lina. Stacey must have thought Lina sent him up to the cabin. It was the only thing that made sense.
Johnny straddled his bike and whipped out his mobile, intent on getting some answers. It went right to vmail, so he called Kyle. Lina’s husband was even more protective of her than he and Michael had been, so chances were, she was with him. Good man, Kyle.
“Johnny, man. What’s up?”
“Is Lina with you? She’s not answering her damn phone.”
“Yeah, hang on.”
“Johnny?” Lina said into the phone. “Sorry, I forgot my phone at the house. What’s wrong? Is Stacey okay?”
“You haven’t talked to her?”
“No. I called earlier, but her phone went right to voicemail. Aren’t you at the cabin?”
“That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. Can you meet me at Daideo’s in ten?” Daideo was what they called their maternal grandfather, Conlan O’Leary. Johnny could kill two birds with one stone by meeting Lina at the diner – satisfy the gnawing ache in his stomach and get some answers.
Lina murmured something to Kyle; Johnny heard Kyle’s low, rumbling response. “Sure. Kyle says he won’t be done for a while yet.”
“Cool.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were seated in the prime corner booth reserved for family. Johnny placed his order for his usual – bacon cheeseburger with the works, fries, and large soft drink. Lina just requested a Sprite.
“Not on a diet, are you?” Johnny teased.
“No. I picked up subs earlier and Kyle and I ate in the shop.”
“Since when did that ever stop you from raiding the bakery case?”
“Since I just don’t feel like it,” she snapped. “Now quit stalling and tell me what’s going on.”
Johnny narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he got the distinct impression Lina was hiding something. He had more important things to worry about, though.
“Why would Stacey think I was babysitting her?”
“Oh, crap,” Lina murmured. That’s when he saw it – the hopeful, matchmaking gleam in Lina’s eye. His sister was a hopeless romantic. No wonder Stacey questioned his presence at the cabin.
“Yeah, oh crap,” Johnny sighed. “Seriously?”
Lina bit her lip. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s not my fault you decided to go to the cabin. That was Fate.”
“Fate, my ass. You know I like to crash there sometimes. You couldn’t have mentioned that your friend was staying there?”
“Maybe I did and you just weren’t listening,” she sniffed.
“And maybe you didn’t and was hoping I’d just happen to wind up there.”
Lina said nothing for several moments while the new server, a young woman named Bailey, brought their food and drinks. Lina thanked her, then snagged a French fry from Johnny’s plate and pointed it at him. Oh yeah, she wouldn’t look him in the eye. He knew guilt when he saw it.
“Sounds like it was a good thing you did though,” Lina said.
“Yeah,” he agreed, thinking of Stacey huddled and trembling under the covers. “What’s the deal with that?”
“That’s not my story to tell. If you want the details, you should ask Stacey.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think she’s too keen on talking to me right now.”
Lina pinned him with a fierce glare. “John Daniel Connelly. What did you do?”
“Me? Why do you assume I did something?”
“Because I know you and I know Stacey. What did you do?”
In between bites of burger and fries, Johnny gave her the G-rated version. Lina’s eyes were glittering when he paused long enough to swallow and take a drink of soda. They weren’t quite as bright, though, when he wrapped up the story with his abrupt departure earlier that morning.
“She thinks I sent you up there,” she said with a frown. “Why didn’t you set her straight?”
“How the hell was I supposed to know that’s what she thought?” Johnny argued.
“You couldn’t, I guess,” Lina conceded. “But I still don’t understand why you left.”
“Because...,” he started. How was he supposed to explain it to Lina without sounding like a total pussy? She was so into those damn romance novels, believed in all that croie stuff. If he said anything about the crazy thoughts that had been running through his mind, Lina would latch onto it with both hands, and he didn’t know if he was ready for that. He was having trouble wrapping his own mind around it.
“Because you really like her,” Lina finished for him slowly, realization dawning, “and it bothers you that she thinks you were just there to perform a service.”
“Jesus, Lina. Perform a service? Really? I’m not a man-whore.”
Lina raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth lifting in the trademark Connelly smirk.
“Okay, maybe I am,” he admitted. “But it wasn’t like that. Not with her.”
Her smirk faded quickly. “Then you’ve got to set her straight.”
“How can I set her straight when I can’t even explain it to myself?”
“It’s simple,” Lina said, waving her hand. “Just go up there. Grovel a little. And if you can’t say it, then show her.” The smirk was back. “You know, Johnny-style.”
“Shut up about that shit, will you?” he said, but he was smiling a little too.
“Seriously. And for the record, I think what she said was kind of a test.”
Johnny shook his head. For as long as he lived, he would never understand the way women thought. “A test?”
“Yeah. She wanted you to deny it. Because I bet she’s feeling the same thing you are, and it’s freaking her out, too.”
Chapter Twelve
She must have dozed off at some point, because the sun was setting in a glorious array of colors when the loud ringtone startled her. Rubbing against the stiffness in her neck, she checked the caller id.
“Dr. Hamilton.”
“Stacey?”
“Yes.”
“I am so glad you called,” Elena Hamilton said in her crisp, brisk voice. “I’ve been trying to reach you for days. The results of your latest tests came in.”
Stacey clutched the phone. The tests. Yet another reason she had agreed to fly across the country to see Lina. If she wasn’t at home, she wouldn’t have to face the results of the tests.
“Stacey? Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m here. I’m on vacation, so I haven’t been checking my messages regularly.”
“Where are you?”
“Northeastern Pennsylvania. Visiting a college friend.”
Dr. Hamilton expelled an audible breath. “I’m at a conference in Philadelphia this week. Do you think we could meet?”
Dr. Hamilton wanted to meet with her? That couldn’t be good. It had to be bad. Very bad. No one thought twice about giving you good, or even nominally bad news over the phone. It was only the horrific, crush-the-last-of-your-hopes-and-dreams type of news doctors had to tell you in person.
When Stacey didn’t answer, Dr. Hamilton spoke again. “Please, Stacey. This is important.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“I think it would be best discussed in person, and as soon as possible,” the doctor replied obliquely.
Shit. This was not good. Stacey took a deep breath to steel herself. She could do this. She could do anything. She would face this head on, chin up. If she’d learned anything from the past few years, it was that ignoring bad news didn’t make it go away. It was quite poetic, in a tragic sort of way. The world was all about balance. The best two days of her life had to be paid for somehow, right?
“All right,” she sighed. It was probably better than sulking around Lina’s cabin for the next few days. Chances were, she wasn’t going to get much more accomplished here anyway.
They arranged a time and place. King of Prussia, three p.m. the following afternoon. At least there was a huge mall there. Stacey could find distraction by spending exorbitant amounts of money on a whirlwind shopping trip.
After hanging up with Dr. Hamilton, Stacey was restless. Now that she’d committed to the meeting, it couldn’t come fast enough for her. There was no way she’d find sleep tonight. The most she could hope for was maybe losing herself in her current work in progress while she awaited the dawn, but that hadn’t worked well earlier.
What if Johnny came back? Not that there was much hope of that; it was already past sunset. He’d been gone the entire day and should have cooled down by now. If he wasn’t here already, he probably wouldn’t be.
That was probably a good thing. No awkward goodbyes. No uncomfortable conversations about why she was leaving earlier than planned.
Somehow they had avoided talking about her “challenges”, though she had a sneaking suspicion he had obtained the cliff notes version from Lina, especially after he had come to her during yesterday’s storms. He didn’t have to know the gory details or the stark truth – that there was only a ten percent chance she’d ever regain the full use of her legs. Or that as a result of the accident, the likelihood of her suffering a fatal aneurism was shockingly high.
God knew what else she was about to find out.
Yeah, it was definitely better this way. To leave with the memories of two spectacular nights, before these damned inconvenient feelings took a greater hold and made it harder to walk away.
She chuckled bitterly at the irony. She couldn’t walk. And rolling away was just so much less tragically romantic.
Before she could change her mind, she dialed Lina’s number. It rang several times before the voicemail picked up. “Lina, this is Stacey. I, um, well I was going to ask you to ... oh, nevermind.”
She huffed into the phone, frustrated. Why wouldn’t the words come when she needed them? She’d been on the New York Times Bestseller list four times, for God’s sake!
She took a deep breath to steady herself. “Something came up, and I have to leave. I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye in person, but don’t worry, okay?” She paused for a moment, trying to think of a way to minimize the damage. No matter what she said, Lina was going to feel hurt by her abrupt departure.
“I love you, Lina. Try not to be too mad at me. You’re the best friend a girl could ever ask for, and these last couple of days... well, they’ve been some of the best. No regrets.” She added that last part just in case Johnny was around to hear it. He didn’t have to know everything, but Stacey did want him to know that, at least.
Stacey disconnected before she said anything else. Everything happens for a reason, she reminded herself. Lina wasn’t home because she wasn’t supposed to be there. If she had been, and Stacey had asked for a ride, it would have led to questions, maybe some crying.
Definitely crying.
It was better this way. Let Lina think what she wanted. Stacey had ignored her calls and letters for a very long time, after all. Lina wouldn’t be that surprised. Hurt maybe, but after all was said and done, Stacey would write her a long letter of explanation and hope she understood.
Using the browser on her phone (thank God for modern technology!), Stacey found a local limo service. At least she didn’t need to worry about money, she thought wryly, packing her few belongings as she waited for the driver. She hoped he had a good GPS, or he’d never find her up here. It was costing her plenty to get somebody to drive up into the mountains this time of night, but that was one benefit to being a wealthy recluse – the money was always there when you needed it.
Even when nothing else was.
* * *
When Johnny finally made it back to the cabin, it was late. His conversation with Lina continued to run through his mind. The more he thought about it, the more he thought she might be right. No woman could be that responsive if she hadn’t felt it, too, right?
Besides, he had to make sure Stacey was okay. There was a gnawing, uncomfortable feeling in his gut that told him something was wrong.
And it wasn’t just his own regret.
His heart sank when he reached the cabin and saw nothing but darkness. There was no sign of light or life anywhere. Hoping against hope that she was sleeping safe and sound, he entered noiselessly, flipping on as few lights as possible. He strode directly to his bedroom first. He didn’t need to turn on the light to know that she wasn’t there. He would have felt her presence, but there was nothing. Only the faintest residual scent of cherries that told him she hadn’t been gone that long.
A quick search of the rest of the first floor revealed that her laptop was gone, as was her suitcase and assorted travel bags. Then it hit him. Hard, like another sucker punch to the gut. Stacey was gone.
And by the looks of things, she was not coming back.
Damn it.
Johnny sank down into the sofa, his eyes going to the makeshift ramp, and the pieces started falling into place. After Lina had dropped her little bombshell “test” theory, she’d gone on to explain how Stacey had built walls around herself after the accident. That she’d cut herself off from everyone and everything, including Lina, until just recently.
Lina had seen her visit as a sign that maybe some of those walls were starting to crack.
Like a bolt of lightning, realization dawned. He had done more than just put a little crack in the wall. He’d taken a sledgehammer to it, and it was teetering on the brink of total colla
pse. That was why she’d said what she did. Because she wanted to know which side he’d be on when the wall came crashing down.
Only instead of saying the words she needed to hear, he’d walked away. Stormed out with cruel parting words. He’d seen the look in her eyes when she’d asked him if he was leaving. Half of her was shouting “I told you so”, while the other half was gaping in stunned disbelief. She wanted to believe in him, but was afraid to.
Jesus. How many people had given up on her?
Unable to sit still, Johnny got up and paced over to where she’d sat writing until the storms had her running for cover. Right in front of the window, looking out over the lake below. It was a spectacular view.
It was also where she’d sat earlier that morning, watching him leave. Yeah, he’d seen her against the window in his rearview mirror as he was pulling away. Her hand had been splayed against the glass, her facial expression... lost. That image would haunt him for the rest of his days.
Rage built up inside of him and he struck out at the solid oak support beam. Blood pooled around his knuckles – surely he’d dislocated a few – but it did little to curb his anger at himself. He whirled around, ready to take another shot when something caught his eye. Bending down, he picked it up and turned it in his hand. Stacey’s flash drive. It must have fallen out when she packed up. He absently tucked it into his pocket.
The sounds of Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart” rang out from his mobile, even as Lina’s number popped up on the display. “Yeah?” he said, more gruffly than he’d intended.
“Johnny? It’s Lina. Listen, I know it’s late, but I just got in and there’s this message on my voicemail from Stace...” Johnny gripped the phone so tightly he was afraid it would crumple in his hand. “Johnny, I’m worried.”
“I’m on my way.” Johnny was out the door before he even had his phone back in his pocket.
Chapter Thirteen
Stacey sprawled out on the king size bed in her luxury suite at the high-end chain hotel. It was located only a few minutes from King of Prussia, so she had plenty of time to kill before her meeting. Surprisingly, once the driver picked her up it had only taken about two and half hours to get here. He was a younger man, professional, but a bit put out at her request to drive her all the way to the southeastern corner of the state when the closest airport didn’t have a puddle-jumper available. A two-hundred dollar tip and a free room of his own for the night went a long way toward appeasing him, though.
Johnny (Connelly Cousins #2) Page 9