Picking Up the Pieces

by Maryann Jordan

  Jade found seats with some of their friends and soon the two were settled, enjoying the food and camaraderie. She noticed the smiles the others sent her way and knew they were happy to see Lance out as well.

  He glanced over, distracted by the melted butter dripping on her fingers from the corn. She popped them into her mouth, sucking the deliciousness and he shifted in his seat, mesmerized at the unwitting, sensual movement.

  Appraising her plate, she realized her eyes were too big for her stomach. Leaning over, she whispered, “I’ll never be able to eat all this.”

  “Is that why you already ate the piece of cherry pie?”

  Elbowing him in the side, she said, “You’re not supposed to notice things like that!”

  Chuckling, he replied, “I’ll remember that. But, seriously, what you don’t eat, I will.”

  She soon moved her leftovers to his plate and watched in amazement as he dug in. As he finished, he leaned back, placing his arm on the back of her chair, his fingers gently rubbing her shoulder. She settled to the side, her body fitting neatly next to his.

  “How are you doing?” Katelyn asked, sitting across from them, curled into Gareth’s side.

  “I’m fine,” she replied. “I confess that I gave a small interview to a Baytown Gazette reporter this morning. I hated to do it, but she was rather insistent. God, I even let her take a picture, which I regret. But, I figure it’s just a little town newspaper…no one will ever hear of it.”

  Music began at the other end of the tent and many of their friends moved to the dance floor. Just as she was about to suggest they leave, Lance asked, “Would you like to dance?”

  Surprised, she nodded, a slow smile curving her lips. Standing, he led her to the grassy space just outside the tent, where the shadows mingled with the inside lights. Tucking her close, he held her tightly, her head nestled underneath his chin, and they swayed while the music swirled around them.

  16

  Stepping into her car after the school day, Jade’s phone vibrated with an incoming call. She sighed, hating to hear what her mother had to say now.

  “Hi, Mom,” she greeted with little enthusiasm.

  “Hi? That’s it? Just hi?” her mother asked. “Your father almost had a stroke at the breakfast table this morning! Estelle had just served the coffee when guess who showed up on the morning news? Oh, yes, indeed. There’s a picture of our daughter…a rather unflattering picture, I might add…on the news telling us you discovered a dead body on the beach!”

  How in the world did I end up on the news the day after I gave an interview? Or at all for that matter?

  “Mom—”

  “No, Jade. There is no excuse for you not warning us about the possible bad press.”

  “Bad press? Mom, I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just the one who discovered the unfortunate person—“

  “You should have called and warned us. Your father could have had someone keep your name out of the press. Now, we have done nothing all day but field calls from our friends wanting to know what is going on with our daughter.”

  Sighing, Jade lifted her eyes in silent prayer for her mother to end her tirade, but knew she would have to run out of steam before that happened.

  “And furthermore, your father wants to know if you have finally come to your senses and decided to come back home. That lovely job at the private school you attended is still available.”

  “Mom, I have no intention of leaving, but even if I did, the school year has started—”

  “That doesn’t matter. With your father’s pull, any new teacher they hired could be pulled out and they would let you in.”

  The idea that her parents would so callously have another teacher fired just so she could come back incensed her. “Mom…for the last time, that’s not happening. Listen, I have to go. Tell Dad I’m fine and I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Disconnecting before her mother had a chance to berate her more, she tossed her phone back into her purse.

  “Did you see the news?”

  Grimacing at the sound of the strident voice, the man looked around, making sure no one could hear his phone conversation. “Yes, yes I saw it.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “Me?” he bit out, failing to keep his frustration out of his voice.

  “Your partner fucked over our arrangement and now you are left to clean things up. The chain continues, you know. You still haven’t gotten what I’m owed and now I’m on the radar since I haven’t been able to pay the next man up.”

  “I don’t know what else to do,” he said, fear curdling his stomach.

  “I suggest you take care of the latest problem.”

  “But we don’t know if it is a problem,” he protested, bending over, fear now beginning to cripple him.

  “It is a problem. It’s your problem. And I’m no longer willing to let your fuck-up become mine. So, deal!”

  With that, the phone connection went dead, but he continued to hold his phone to his ear as though some guidance would appear. Nothing happened…silence was all he heard.

  “Ms. Lyons, my mommy saw your picture in the newspaper but told me she couldn’t tell me why!” Chad announced.

  “I know, I know!” Sandy cried. “I bet you’re getting married.”

  Grimacing, Jade forced a smile on her face. “Uh, no, I’m not getting married. The newspaper just picks out people to do interviews, that’s all.”

  She hated lying to the children, but in the past few days, her quiet life was turned upside down. News of the body on the beach had circulated the town and her part in the discovery became known. The small Baytown Gazette that interviewed her apparently released all the news as fast as possible, reaching beyond local posts and airwaves. She was not only mortified to see that they had her picture in the local paper, along with the interview, but also to hear that it had reached as far as her parents. She had little information to give people and certainly kept her comments to just the facts, but nonetheless, she found the small-town notoriety embarrassing.

  “My mom said you were on the news this morning, too.”

  Eye wide, she said, “What? I don’t think—”

  A knock on the classroom door interrupted their discussion and she realized it was time for the students to go to lunch. Hurrying them out the door, she hastened to the teachers’ lounge. As soon as she walked in, she was peppered with questions.

  “Here’s our celebrity,” Bill quipped, a smile on his face as he patted the table next to him, offering her a space.

  “What are you talking about? Did something else happen?” she asked one of the teachers who also mentioned seeing her on TV. Her nerves were rattled as it was, she wasn’t sure how much more she could take. “I was only interviewed by the Baytown Gazette.”

  “The TV stations always pick up human interest stories from local papers. It’s making its way across the networks.”

  Rolling her eyes, she gave the other teachers her abbreviated version, not wanting to discuss the details of her find, especially at the lunch meal.

  Bill fiddled with his phone for a few minutes finally declaring, “Here it is. It’s only about thirty seconds of fame, but nonetheless, it’s all about you.”

  As he turned his phone around for all to see, she was assaulted with the photograph of her, taken by the Gazette, as it flashed across the screen behind the perky broadcaster from the Virginia Beach station, saying, “Last Sunday, a Baytown Elementary School teacher received an unexpected surprise when she was on the beach searching for sea glass. Jade Lyons, a second-grade teacher, was alone on the beach, picking up sea glass, when she stumbled upon a human body washed up on the shore. The local police are still investigating the death and we will bring you the updates as they are reported. According to the Baytown Gazette, who interviewed Ms. Lyons, she often searches for sea glass and finds all sorts of interesting things on the shore. She uses the sea glass for art projects with her students, but admits the find the other da
y is one she hopes will not occur again. And now for the weather—”

  She stared down at her lunch feeling as though her privacy had been invaded, but she realized it was her own fault for granting the Baytown Gazette an interview. Excusing herself, she left the lounge and hurried back to her classroom. Depressed, the afternoon did not provide the same energy she was used to, the minutes ticking by slowly.

  While her students were at music class, she checked her email, seeing one from her mom. Fighting the desire to bang her head on her desk, she opened it. Yep…just what I expected. Sighing, she read as her mother berated her once more for working in the backwaters of the Eastern Shore where crime must be at an all-time high since she discovered a dead body. Did she not think how embarrassing it was for them to have her name to be in the news? God only knows how many of their friends would see it. She should leave immediately and her father would arrange for her position to be opened at the private school near them.

  Not asking if I’m okay…just worried about their reputation…still. Even after our phone call.

  Clicking delete, she decided to reply would only make a bad day worse. When the school day was finally over, she bolted to her car, one destination in mind.

  Pulling out of the school’s parking lot, she drove toward town before turning onto Turner’s Lane, the road that would take her to Lance’s house. She had no idea if he was home, but the desire to see him was overwhelming.

  Slowing down to make a sharp turn in the road, she noticed a dark pick-up in her rearview mirror, traveling too close to her back bumper. Unable to view the driver’s hair color with a cap pulled low over his head and his face was obscured with sunglasses. Observing how close he came to her bumper, made her angry.

  “Back off, buddy,” she grumbled out loud, tapping her brakes a few times. Suddenly the truck whipped into the other lane to pass. “Fine, fine. Just go on.”

  The truck pulled alongside her and then slowed to her speed. She turned her head to look at the driver, but the side windows were tinted dark. Suddenly the truck swerved back into her lane, sideswiping her vehicle and running her off the road. Slamming her foot on the brake, her scream mixed with squealing tires as she lost control of her car and collided into a tree.

  The sound of glass shattering and metal crunching was drowned out by the airbag hitting her full force, knocking the breath out of her. Gasping as the pain across her chest intensified, she sat motionless for a few seconds. White powder had billowed out, causing confusion as she continued to fight to breathe. Her lungs burned but as she coughed, the pain in her chest was so intense that she lifted a hand to her mouth in an effort to quell the spasm.

  Looking up, she watched the truck as it careened down the road until out of sight. Anger and fear mixed with shock.

  “Oh, God, oh, God,” she whispered, barely able to catch her breath.

  As she glanced downward, she realized the seat belt still held her tightly in place. Good, but painful. Lifting her gaze again, she observed the hood and front driver’s side of her car was crumpled and shards of glass were covering the insides.

  Her purse was on the passenger floor and, as she lifted her hand to unsnap her buckle, shaking ensued, making the simple task almost impossible. Finally free, she tried to lean forward to grab her purse, but the sharp pain in her chest had her quickly moving back to a seated position.

  Adrenaline coursed through her veins causing her stomach to churn. I’ve got to get out! Another sharp pain, this time from her left foot, jolted through her as she attempted to move in that direction. Blinking against the sting in her eyes from the airbag powder, she could see her foot was caught in tangled metal. Feeling faint, she closed her eyes, fighting tears.

  “Miss, miss, are you all right?”

  Vision blurry, she saw an older man rapping on the passenger window. Tears began to flow as the enormity of the situation struck her.

  “I need…someone hit me…I need to call…”

  The man reached into his pocket and placed a call to 9-1-1. She listened as he gave the information to the dispatcher, a sob hitching from deep inside, the movement causing pain. She covered her mouth with one hand, trying to stop the wail from bubbling forth. The man hustled around her car and reached in to unlock her passenger door.

  “Do you think you can get out, ma’am?”

  She jerked her head, too afraid to move any further, when she heard the siren. Thankful she was just a mile from the main center of town, she winced, each breath hurting her chest. Looking up, just as another tear slid down her cheek, she watched as Zac alighted from the ambulance, directing the volunteer firefighters in the firetruck.

  Hurrying over, he peered through the passenger door. “Jade, honey. We’ll get you out.” Barking orders over his shoulder, he turned back to her. “We’re gonna have to take you out from this side, but we’re gonna make it safe first, okay?”

  More sirens filled the air, soon followed by shouts, before Mitch’s face appeared where Zac’s had been. She stared, numb, trying to focus on his words.

  Mitch stepped back, allowing Zac to move in again as they covered the passenger seat with thick blankets so she could be maneuvered out with a lessened chance of more cuts. He stalked over to Ginny, who was on the phone. Looking down, he asked, “Lance?”

  She nodded and he moved to Grant, who was standing on the street looking at the tire marks.

  Zac climbed into the passenger seat and fastened a neck brace, stabilizing her head. Then he tried to gently shift Jade so that she could be pulled from the open door.

  “My foot is stuck. The metal is all crushed.”

  “One second, I got you.” Zac slowly moved her leg until he was able to get her free, working carefully so that he caused little additional pain. Just as he and the other firefighters slid her body from the car onto a waiting gurney, she heard another vehicle squealing around the corner.

  Mitch looked to the side, seeing Lance’s SUV come to a stop, seconds before he jumped out, rushing over. Stepping up quickly, Mitch grabbed him by the shoulders. “Easy man, she’s gonna be okay. Has some injuries, but she was wearing her seatbelt and the airbags deployed.”

  “What happened?” he asked, voice hoarse as he moved closer to the crumpled car.

  “Don’t know. She might have taken the curve too fast,” Ginny said.

  As Lance moved to the stretcher, Grant approached Mitch, and said, “Chief, you need to take a look at this.”

  Moving to follow Grant, Mitch and Ginny halted in their steps as Lance reached Jade and she tried to rise from the stretcher, clutching his arm, crying, “I was hit. They followed. They hit me. Ran me off.” Her eyes implored him to listen as Zac gently forced her back on the gurney. “Lance…someone did this to me.”

  Jaw tight, he wanted to cup her face, but the slivers of glass embedded there kept his hand on her side. “Just breathe. Breathe with me, honey. Calm down and breathe. We’ll talk as soon as we know you’re all right.” He shifted his gaze to her left foot, seeing one of the rescue workers putting an air brace there for stabilization.

  Lying on her back, Jade looked up with watery eyes. The breeze blowing the trees above was calm, while all around people hurried to take care of her. Another tear slid down her cheek, but she felt it being wiped away as Lance leaned over, filling her line of vision. His face was ragged with concern as his eyes pierced deep inside her.

  Zac looked over to Mitch. “We’re ready to take her to the hospital. You need anything?”

  He patted Lance’s shoulder, reminding him he needed to talk to Jade. Leaning over, Mitch asked, “Is there anything you can tell us now, Jade? Anything at all?”

  Swallowing, she nodded. “Dark, truck. Dark tinted windows. Driver had a ball cap on his head. Wore sunglasses. Big guy. Followed too close and then tried to pass. At my side, he swerved to hit me and forced me to wreck.”

  “Did you see any part of the license tag?” Lance asked, already fearing the answer. As she nodded, his eyes widen
ed, impressed that she was able to catch anything with everything that was going on.

  “The first three letters were C.A.B. I didn’t get the numbers, but I just remember thinking he drove like cab drivers in some big cities.” Lance’s smile was still worried, but it warmed Jade’s heart as she lifted a hand, clutching his.

  He looked up at Zac as they loaded her into the back of the ambulance and said, “I’m coming with you.” As Zac nodded, he tossed his keys to Grant and asked, “Can someone get my SUV to the hospital?”

  “No problem. If not one of us, Jillian and Katelyn will take care of it.”

  With that, he climbed into the ambulance, taking her pale hand in his.

  17

  Lance kept his eyes on Jade for the entire thirty minute ride to the hospital. Originally located in North Heron County, it had since moved slightly north to Accawmacke County. Zac worked efficiently on her, keeping her smiling with some of his corny jokes, but he still caught the pain in her eyes.

  Pulling up to the emergency room, Lance hopped out, assisting as her gurney was taken from the ambulance, before stepping back to let the hospital personnel complete their tasks. He and Zac stayed outside the ER bay as a nurse assisted her into a hospital gown.

  “I’m sorry, sir,” the efficient nurse said as she left the room, “only family is allowed back with her.”

  “I’m her…” he hesitated a second, about to identify himself as her brother, when Zac interrupted.

  “It’s okay,” he said with a grin. “He’s her fiancé.”

  Both Jade and his eyes widened at the lie, but the nurse nodded and allowed him access behind the curtain.

  Zac leaned over and kissed her forehead, saying, “I’ll check on you later, sweetheart, but I gotta get back to Baytown now.” Turning to leave, he slapped Lance on the back and, with a wink, said, “You can thank me later, fiancé.”

  After a chin lift thrown Zac’s way, his gaze immediately shot back to Jade as the hospital personnel began their procedures. When they reached the part of her information concerning emergency contacts, she hesitated.