by Sherry Lewis
He tugged off the tie he’d had to wear for an afternoon court appearance and made his way through the crowded lot. He had no idea what he’d say to Abby, but the desire to see her again pulled him toward her. As he reached the car next to Abby’s, he realized hers was empty, except for Erin who seemed to be looking for something in the backseat. When the automatic doors swished open again, Kurt looked up, half expecting to see Abby and Michael coming out of the store.
Instead, Naomi and Jason emerged. Scanning the parking lot, Naomi looked straight at Kurt, but when he raised his hand in greeting, she looked away. Two cars down, Bill was leaning against the trunk of his car, waiting for his wife and son and glowering in Kurt’s direction.
Naomi slowed, obviously reluctant to reach her husband, and when Jason’s footsteps halted, Kurt guessed Bill had been drinking again. Erin was closing her door, clutching a wallet, her face alight. But when she saw Naomi and Jason approaching and Bill waiting, her smile faded.
Bill let his eyes flick over Kurt. “What’s up, Morgan? Want to talk my wife into something else?”
He’d obviously been drinking. “Of course not, Bill.”
“Of course not.” Bill snorted and pushed away from the car. “She kicked me out, you know. My house. I worked hard for that house. Broke my butt for it, and she kicked me out.”
“I don’t think this is the time or the place to go into this.” Kurt took a step toward him, but Bill was already past being rational.
Ignoring her husband, Naomi pushed her cart toward the old Chevy Bill had bought her a few years ago when times were better. Jason followed, but he stole a few covert glances at his father.
“Naomi?” Bill followed her. “I want to talk to you.”
She kept walking.
“Naomi!”
“Mom, please?” Jason tugged at her arm and tried to get her to stop. “Naomi!”
Erin had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, but when Bill’s voice changed, she cringed against the side of the car. Crossing to her, Kurt touched her shoulder tentatively, not wanting to frighten her. She flinched and her arms lifted instinctively to protect her face. If he’d still had any doubts about whether she’d been abused, they vanished instantly.
“It’s all right, sweetheart.”
With an embarrassed laugh, Erin lowered her arms. “I just…I don’t like arguing.”
“Neither do I.”
Erin hesitated, shot a look toward Naomi and Bill, and let her gaze linger on Jason. “I’ll bet he hates this.”
“Probably.”
Jason stood a little apart from his parents, watching them. Though they’d moved too far away for Kurt to hear every word, their agitation was still obvious.
Again he touched Erin’s shoulder. “Go back inside, okay, sweetheart?”
She turned, obviously intending to comply, when Bill’s voice rose to a shout.
“You can’t do this to me, Naomi!”
Erin stopped in her tracks.
“Just leave me alone, Bill,” Naomi shouted back. “Stay away from me and stay away from Jason or I’ll get a restraining order. I swear I will.”
“You’re not going to keep me away from my own son.” Bill looked around, locating Jason and crossing rapidly to him. “You want to leave, fine. I don’t care what you do. But you’re not taking my son.”
Torn between concern for Erin and the need to do something for Jason, Kurt said to the girl, “Wait for me in your car, okay?”
When Erin nodded, he watched her start for the car, then ran through the lot to where Bill stood with one arm around Jason’s shoulder.
As a member of the family, he owed it to Naomi to support her; as her attorney, he owed her complete loyalty. And as Bill’s friend, he didn’t want to antagonize him. But when he looked at Jason’s tear-streaked face, all concern for Bill and Naomi evaporated.
He slowed and approached Bill cautiously, his hands in plain sight, his voice level. “Hey, Bill, what do you say we do this someplace else.”
“Get out of here.”
“I’m not trying to make any decisions here. I’m not taking sides. I just think it would be a good idea for all of you if you went someplace besides the parking lot of the supermarket.”
“He’s not taking Jason,” Naomi shouted. “Let him go!”
Bill sidestepped her, but kept his arm around the boy. “He’s my son.”
Jason tried to hold back a fresh wave of tears, but he lost the battle and Kurt’s heart went out to him.
“You’re not thinking rationally, either one of you,” Kurt continued. “Bill, why don’t you let Jason go. He’s not your prisoner. Naomi—” He snagged her arm as she tried to grab at Jason again. “Naomi, if you’ll quit trying to attack him, Bill will let Jason go. Then we’ll all calm down.”
“Shut up, Morgan.” Bill pulled Jason toward his car.
Naomi tried to follow and screamed for Bill to stop.
Kurt rushed forward, trying to reach Bill’s Mercury first. “Bill, the boy’s not a commodity. He’s your son.”
But Bill reached the car and pushed Jason inside before Kurt got close enough. “That’s right, he’s my son, and he’s staying with me. If she wants to do something about it, let her take me to court.” He climbed behind the wheel and gunned out of the parking lot to the squeal of tires and the smell of burning rubber.
“You let him take my baby!” Naomi screamed, racing toward her own car.
Kurt outran her easily, but he couldn’t hold her without hurting her. She broke away and slipped into her car, following Bill’s car by only seconds.
Kurt wheeled around, trying to orient himself and find the Cherokee so he could follow her and make sure she didn’t get hurt.
But instead of the Cherokee, he saw Erin’s tear-streaked face pressed against the window of Abby’s car, her slender body shuddering with heartbreaking sobs. As he approached, she opened the door and flew into his arms.
“I hate him,” she whimpered. “I hate him.”
“I know, sweetheart. But it’s over now.”
“No, it’s not. He stole him. And he’s never ever going to give him back to his mother, is he?” Erin pulled away and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.
“Do you know Jason?” Kurt asked.
Erin shook her head.
Kurt pulled her close to him again. “That man was his father. He’s not going to hurt him.”
“He stole him. And he’s not ever going to give him back.” Erin buried her face in his neck and her sobs increased. He’d intended to console her, but he’d obviously said the wrong thing and upset her more.
“I don’t know what happened to you back home, Erin, but I know something did. You don’t have to tell me about it, but remember, you’re away from it now.”
“I want my mom,” she said softly.
“Okay. She’s right inside the store.”
“No.” She shook her head, drawing away again.
“Yes, sweetheart. I’m sorry you had to see that, but you’re safe here.”
“But my mom—”
“—is fine. Let’s go inside and you can see for yourself.”
Erin pushed him away angrily. “She’s not my mom. My mom could be dead for all I know, and Aunt Abby won’t even let me call her to find out.”
She turned and ran from him, leaving him staring after her in stunned disbelief.
Abby reached the front door just in time to see Erin break free of Kurt and race toward the store. Tears streamed down the girl’s face and her fear transmitted itself to Abby.
Kurt stood beside her car and watched until Erin reached her, then walked slowly back to his Jeep.
Abby held Erin tightly. “What happened?”
Erin gulped back her tears and shook her head, but didn’t answer.
“Did he hurt you?”
Again, the girl shook her head. Pressing her face to Abby’s shoulder, she began to cry again.
Blind panic blotted out reason. Hold
ing Erin so that she could see the girl’s face, Abby demanded once more, “What happened?”
“Nothing!” Erin cried. “I’m all right.”
Abby silently cursed herself for letting Erin out of her sight. She should never have sent her into the parking lot alone. This small town and the people here had lulled her into a false sense of security, but obviously she couldn’t let down her guard for a moment.
“But why were you running from Kurt?” Abby insisted.
Erin wiped her eyes with the back of her palm. “I wasn’t running from him. I just wanted to get back here before you started to worry.”
Abby knew it wasn’t true, but Erin had already closed the door between them. Pushing her now wouldn’t produce the truth. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah. I’m sure.” Erin managed a tremulous smile.
It should have made Abby feel better, but it didn’t. Something dangerous had happened out in this parking lot—she’d have bet her life on it.
She watched Kurt pull onto the street and glanced at the sky, wondering if the sun had gone behind a cloud, since she felt a chill. With a shudder, she hugged Erin again. “Come on. Let’s find your brother and get out of here.”
KURT WATCHED the group of women across the gymnasium anxiously. For two days he’d been waiting to speak with Erin again. And for two days he’d missed Abby and the kids at pageant rehearsals and Little League games. But today he’d left work early and come to the school when he knew they’d be here. Abby hadn’t acknowledged him, but neither had she run away.
When Theresa and Abby led a group of children from the room, Kurt knew this might be his only chance. Unsure how long he’d have before Abby returned, he looked around for Erin. But she’d disappeared.
How had he missed her leaving the room?
“Kurt?”
The soft voice behind him startled him. He whipped around, coming face-to-face with Erin.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked.
“Sure, sweetheart. I wanted to talk to you, too.”
She looked wary. “What about?”
“Suppose you tell me what you wanted first. Then we’ll see if I still have anything to say.”
She appeared to consider that, nodding finally as if satisfied. “Can we go outside?”
“Sure.” He followed her out the door into a darkened corridor that led to the playground behind the school.
With her shoulders back and her head high, Erin looked different, but when she faced him in the bright sunlight she lost her confidence. She didn’t speak for several minutes, so Kurt took the initiative.
“What can I do for you, Erin?”
“You won’t tell, will you?”
“Tell?”
“What I said to you the other day. You won’t tell anybody, will you?” The words escaped her in a rush.
“I don’t think so.”
Panic twisted her features. “You have to promise.”
Kurt hunkered down until his face was level with hers. “I don’t think I’ll need to tell anybody without your permission. But I can’t judge that, sweetheart, because I don’t know what’s going on. Can you tell me?”
Erin shook her head. “Promise you won’t tell Abby what I said.”
“If you’ll tell me what’s going on with the three of you so I can be certain you’re not in any danger, I’ll promise you.”
Tears puddled in Erin’s eyes and she looked away. “I can’t.”
The sun beat down on Kurt’s back, scorching his neck and arms. A mosquito droned near his ear before the sound was drowned out by the sudden shouts of a group of children nearby. He waited, drawing on his well of patience, hoping that Erin would reconsider her refusal to confide in him.
Tears slipped down her cheeks and her shoulders sagged as if under a great weight. “I’m not supposed to tell,” she said weakly.
“Erin, look at me.” He took her shoulders gently and waited until her eyes met his. “I’m not going to hurt you. I don’t want you to break a promise you’ve made to Abby or anyone else. But I really think you ought to tell me what’s going on. I think the three of you are in trouble and I’d like to help you.”
“You can’t help. Nobody can.”
“Try me.”
Erin didn’t answer.
“Abby’s not your mother, is that right?” No answer.
“You called her Aunt Abby.”
A small nod.
“Where’s your mother?”
“At home. In Tempe.”
“Why is Abby pretending to be your mother? To protect you from something?”
Again a timid nod was his only answer.
“From your father?”
Erin jerked away, her eyes wide. “How did you know?”
“It’s all right.” Kurt held up one hand in a soothing gesture. “It’s all right. I don’t know him. I’m not going to tell him where you are. But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Are your mother and father divorced?”
“Yes.”
“And your father—”
“Don’t keep calling him that. He’s not my father anymore. The judge told him he couldn’t even know anything about us. But he told my mom that if she took us away, he’d kill her and he’d get us back somehow.”
Kurt’s stomach clenched at her fear. “But he doesn’t know where you are.”
She shook her head slowly.
“Because Abby’s been hiding you from him.”
“But if he finds us, he’ll probably kill her. And he’ll kill my mom, too. And he’ll take us away and nobody will ever know where to find us.”
Kurt pulled her into his arms and rocked her gently until her sobs subsided. “First of all, Erin, you’re not a baby. If he came and took you, you’re big enough that you’d be able to contact somebody and let them know where you were, right? Do you know anybody’s phone number? Your grandparents, maybe?”
She gulped and nodded.
“Good. If nothing else, you could dial 911 and get help. So even if the worst happens, you’re not helpless, and neither is Michael.”
She looked up at him with new interest and gave him a tiny smile.
“But from what I’ve seen of Abby,” Kurt continued, “she’s not about to let him get you. Anybody who thinks they’d be able to take you away from her doesn’t know what he’s up against. And I’m here to help you, too. I want you to remember that.”
“Okay.”
“Are you still worried about your mother?”
“Yes. I don’t even know if she’s all right.”
“Does she have anybody with her?”
“My grandpa and grandma live there. They’re supposed to call somebody and let us know if anything goes wrong, but maybe they’re not all right, either.”
“My guess is that everybody’s fine, especially if you haven’t heard from them. Whose idea was it to bring you up here?”
“Abby’s. She came back to Arizona just after my mom got out of the hospital.”
“From Baltimore.”
Erin looked surprised. “Yeah. She’s lived there forever.”
“So she came back to take care of you?”
“No. She didn’t even know what was going on until she got there. Mom never told anybody until he broke three of her ribs and she had to go to the hospital. Abby just came to stay with Grandpa and Grandma for a little while. She said she needed to think about whether or not to quit her job. Anyway, she was supposed to be on vacation until all this happened.” Erin paused and took a deep breath, looking around for the first time. “We’ve been out here a long time, haven’t we?”
“A few minutes, I guess.”
“I’ve got to get back in there. Promise me you won’t tell Abby that I’ve told you?”
“I promise I won’t tell unless I need to. In case you’re in danger or something, okay? If something goes wrong, I may need to tell Abby what I know. She’ll never tell me the truth.”
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Erin shrugged, but looked unconvinced. “I guess that’s all right.”
“It will be. I promise that. Now you go back inside. I’ll come in through the front door in a few minutes.”
“Okay.” Erin sprinted for the door, looking back over her shoulder as she pulled it open. “By the way,” she said, “she’s not married.” Slipping through the open doorway, she disappeared into the building.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WHEN THE TELEPHONE rang, Abby folded the morning edition of the Patriot and placed it carefully on the counter. As she reached for the receiver, she smiled at the blurry headline photo. A local paper certainly didn’t demand the same level of professionalism as those in larger cities.
“Hello?” She half expected to hear Kurt’s voice on the line. After the scene at the FoodWay the other day and the way he’d watched them at rehearsal yesterday, she’d been waiting for him to contact her.
Instead, Zelda’s voice warbled across the line. “Abby, how are you dear? Is everything all right at the house?”
Abby looked at her watch and suppressed a sigh. Ten minutes before she needed to be at the school for dress rehearsal.
“…I had thought I’d see a little more of you than I have. Now, I don’t mean anything by that. I know how it is. You get busy with one thing and another, and you can’t be bothered with an old lady…”
Did the obligations of renting this house include visiting the landlady? If she lived to be a hundred, Abby would never get used to small-town protocol. “I’m sorry—”
“Now don’t you apologize, dear. If anyone should apologize, it’s me. I really could have checked with you sooner about the house, even though your coming was spur-of-the-moment. Kurt mentioned a broken screen door and a leaky sink when I saw him a few days ago. Did he ever get over there?”
“Yes, he fixed them both.”
“I’m so glad. I wouldn’t want your stay in Pine Cove to be unpleasant. But I really called to ask you about the Fourth of July celebration tomorrow. You are coming, aren’t you? Breakfast in the square. A parade down Front Street. Dinner at the school yard and fireworks after dark. There’s absolutely no excuse for not coming.”