“We had a fine day.” Meg gave her warning, as if Cammy fibbed. But she wasn’t fibbing. “How was your day, Vance?”
Meg was pretending to be happy. Cammy could tell.
Daddy put his hands on his hips but didn’t say anything right away. He just stared at Meg.
Then, finally, he said something. “You about ready to talk to me now?”
“Sure, if you’re ready to choke down your pride.”
“Choke it down, Daddy. Hurry!”
A little smile curved Meg’s mouth as she lifted her big black school bag and slung its thick straps over her shoulder. “Good night.” She headed for the door.
“Wait, Meg, don’t go. Please don’t go.” Each word hurt as it left Cammy’s lips. They felt like they were being ripped from her heart. She started crying. “Please don’t go. . .”
Daddy knelt beside her wheelchair and set his large hand on Cammy’s shoulder. “Shh, punkin.”
“Daddy, don’t let her go. Please don’t let her.”
He glanced over his shoulder, and Cammy looked through her tears toward the door.
But Meg was already gone.
Chapter Twenty-five
Some birthday.
Meg stood at the back of her empty classroom, watching the rain streaming down the windows. What a lousy day. The worst birthday ever. Mom would probably make a correlation between the dismal weather and birthday and call it “bad karma,” but Meg wouldn’t know; her mother hadn’t called or e-mailed. Meg kept checking her messages. Dad hadn’t tried to reach her, either. And this morning Grams didn’t so much as utter a single “happy birthday” as she poured their coffee.
Meg felt forgotten. Worse, she still felt wounded by what happened between her and Vance.
Turning from the windows, Meg’s gaze fell on Cammy’s seat. She hadn’t been in school this morning, and when Meg checked with the office, she was told that Vance phoned in the absence saying Cammy had a doctor’s appointment.
Had she been so distraught last night that she’d had to see a physician and miss school? Meg couldn’t bear the thought. She shouldn’t have made such a hasty exit yesterday while Cammy was in tears, but she’d been upset herself, and Vance had done nothing to comfort either one of them.
And now, it appeared, he wasn’t returning her calls.
Fine. She’d just keep trying to reach him.
She walked around her desk and plucked her cell phone from her purse, which she’d tucked inside her larger school bag. For the fourth time today, she pressed in Vance’s phone number and, once more, got his voice messaging system. Again, she left a message.
Then she pushed the END key and dropped her phone back inside her bag, unconcerned that it missed her purse and landed among her papers and other school supplies.
Seconds later, Kent walked in. “Still here? It’s after four.”
“I’m just getting ready to leave.” She felt his stare as she zipped her bag.
“Why such a heavy frown?” Kent strode farther into the room and perched himself on the edge of Meg’s desk.
“I’m worried about Cammy.”
“Cammy?” Concern marred his blond brows. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. That’s just it. She wasn’t in school today. The office noted a doctor’s appointment. I don’t believe it was pre-scheduled, and I can’t get a hold of Vance.”
“Hmm. Well, I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“No, Kent, it’s something.” Meg felt her throat constrict with day-long suppressed emotion, but she did her best to gulp it down.
“Meg? What is it? You can tell me. We’re friends.”
She thought she could use a friend right now. “Remember that University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital Web site?”
Kent nodded. “I remember it well.”
“I requested information and gave it to Vance, but he wouldn’t even consider the idea of taking Cammy in for a free eval. And then—” She waved a hand in the air, wishing she could dismiss the whole thing from existence. “Well, there’s that issue, along with some others, which Vance and I can’t seem to agree on. There’s a rift between us, Cammy noticed the distance, and last night she got really upset. Unfortunately, I was too upset myself to be of any consolation.”
“Why, Meg, you make it sound as if it’s over between you and Vance.”
“You mean our relationship?” She tossed her hands in the air. “Who knows? I feel so confused. I also feel terrible, thinking I might have had a hand in emotionally bruising Cammy.”
“Bruises heal, and Cammy is a resilient little girl.”
Meg couldn’t argue, but the remark didn’t make her feel any better. She abhorred the thought of Cammy getting bruised in any way, shape, or form.
Several moments of silenced lapsed.
“Something else bothering you?”
She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. “Well, yes, if you must know, it’s my birthday and no one remembered.” It sounded childish to her own ears, but the whole caboodle made for one heap of misery.
“Your birthday?” Kent brought his cleft chin back in surprise. “Why didn’t you say so?”
“Because I didn’t want anyone to make a fuss—except, the people I care about should have known. Does that make sense?”
“Sort of.” Kent arched one brow. “Meg, I think you need a night out. Let’s drive into Lexington. We’ll have dinner, champagne.”
“Kent, I—”
He lifted a hand as if anticipating her refusal. “Nothing romantic. It’ll just be two friends enjoying a night out, celebrating a birthday.” His smile appeared both easy and sincere. “Besides, I could use some fun myself. I’ve been working overtime here at school trying to organize the boys’ soccer team, and my plans for Thanksgiving fell through.” His tone took a rueful dip. “I had hoped to fly back to Minnesota and see my kids, but that didn’t work out. My ex-wife is bent on revenge, and she’s keeping my children from me. Needless to say, it makes for a lonely holiday.”
Meg usually wasn’t a sucker for a sob story, but for whatever reason, this one plucked a sympathetic chord with her. Perhaps because she felt so hurt herself.
“All right, let’s go out.”
Kent’s countenance brightened. “Great.”
“As friends.”
“Purely platonic.” He stood. “We’ll take my car. Ready to go?”
“Ready.”
Meg followed him out of the classroom, turning off the lights and locking the door behind her. In the parking lot she stopped by her Civic. After extracting her small purse, she tossed her school bag into the backseat.
Leah hailed them from across the lot. “See y’all later.”
Meg waved and watched her climb into the four-door sedan. Her father sat behind the wheel, ready to drive them to the airport to meet Dave.
“Good luck tonight.”
Leah waved back.
Meg had to smile. She could practically feel her friend’s exuberance.
“Let’s go, Meg.” Kent tugged on her elbow. “I don’t enjoy standing out in the rain.”
“Me neither.”
Together they scurried to his Corvette and climbed inside. As he started the engine, Kent began to sing. “‘Kentucky rain keeps falling dow-ow-own.’”
Meg smiled. “Not bad, but you’re no Elvis.”
“Alas, the story of my life.”
“Right.”
Her smile grew as he accelerated out of the parking lot, and she thought maybe this wouldn’t be such a rotten birthday after all.
Every clock in Loretta’s house suddenly announced the time: nine p.m. She stopped her pacing of the kitchen floor long enough to glance at Tom. “I can’t imagine where Meg could be.” She’d only said that a million times since six thirty, when Meg was supposed to have arrived. But she was nowhere to be found. The guests arrived, waited, ate at Loretta’s insistence, and then left. Only Vance, Tom—and Meg’s mother, Tricia—remained.
Trici
a!
Loretta stared through the patio doors to the screen porch, where her former daughter-in-law inhaled deeply of her cigarette. What a stink her arrival caused. Imagine flying all the way from Arizona for Meg’s birthday and not telling a living soul you’re coming!
“Guess the surprise is on us, eh?”
Loretta glanced back at Tom. Once again he’d read her thoughts. “I’m getting worried. Do you think Meg got wind of her mama’s coming to Miracle and took off someplace?”
Tom leaned his back up against the counter. “Meg wouldn’t run. She’s not afraid of her mother, although, I gotta say, the woman is a formidable creature.”
They both looked out onto the porch once more and then at each other.
Vance entered the kitchen. “I tried Meg again. Don’t know why she’s not answering her cell.”
“I’m worried.” Loretta couldn’t help repeating herself.
“We’re all worried, Retta.” Tom rubbed his whiskery jaw. He, indeed, appeared as troubled as she felt.
Tricia slid open the patio doors and stepped into kitchen. She was dressed in faded blue jeans that might as well have been painted on, and a brown-beaded, long-sleeved shirt that hugged the rest of her slim body. In Loretta’s opinion, she resembled the likes of a teenager with that burgundy-colored hair hanging past her shoulders and those bangs in her eyes. Who’d guess, unless they looked real close into her face and saw the lines of time, that the woman was pushing fifty?
“I called Meg. Still no answer.” She glared at Loretta, Tom, and Vance. “I want to know where my baby is.”
“We’d tell you if we had a clue.” Loretta pulled out a chair and lowered her weary frame into it.
“She probably got bored silly and realized I’ve been right all along: It was a mistake for her to move out here. Meg’s got a lot of living to do. No offense, but a girl gets stifled here in Miracle.”
“On the contrary.” Loretta squared her shoulders. “Meg is perfectly happy here, Tricia. She’s got a good job, friends. . .”
“Oh, yeah? Then where is she?”
Loretta just couldn’t imagine.
“And just so you know, I plan to do everything in my power to convince Meg to go home with me. The plane ticket is her birthday present. She’ll jump at the chance to leave. You just watch. I didn’t go through all the trouble of leaving this little nothing town and showing her the wonders and opportunities in the world just so she could come back and fall in love with some—hillbilly.”
From out of the corner of her eye, Loretta saw Vance shift his stance. Loretta grimaced, thinking Tricia always did know how to chop a man to pieces with that razor-sharp tongue of hers.
A knock sounded at the front door, and before Loretta could stand to her feet, Vance had answered it. Leah Lawton and a man in army fatigues stepped into the house.
“Hi, everyone. This is Sergeant Dave Spears.”
He smiled a greeting before setting down a large, brightly wrapped gift on the coffee table, right next to the twenty-seven fat red roses that Vance had purchased for Meg.
Leah made the introductions and, in turn, Loretta introduced Tricia. Poor Leah looked so shocked, a body could’ve knocked her over with a feather.
“Meg’s mom? Wow. Nice to meet you.” Recovering, she glanced around the room. “So, where’s the birthday girl anyway? Is the party over already?”
“Party never started.” Vance kneaded the back of his neck. “Meg never showed.”
“What? But I saw her after school. She and Kent left in his car. I just assumed he was distracting her for an hour or two until it was time for the party.”
“Kent?” Loretta pushed her brows together in consternation. “Kent Baldwin? Why, I didn’t think to invite him. Meg’s not particularly fond of the man.”
“Oh, boy, then I spoke out of turn.” Leah grimaced. “I mentioned the party to Kent days ago. I mean, we’re all friends. I just took it for granted that—” Her gaze slid to Vance. Glimpsing his smoldering expression, as Loretta did also, she swallowed the rest of her explanation.
“So let me get this straight.” Vance’s tone sounded soft, restrained. “Baldwin knew about the party, and Meg left Fairview with him. But they never showed up here.” He nodded. “Hmm. I’m beginning to get the picture.”
“Now, Vance, Meg wouldn’t choose going somewhere with him over a party with us.” Loretta couldn’t imagine it.
“But Meg didn’t know about the surprise party.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the corner of the wall.
“You’re right. She didn’t. We’ve all been so careful not to breathe a word about it—”
“Even Cammy didn’t spill the beans, which is pretty amazing.” In spite of the situation, he grinned.
Loretta lowered herself onto the sofa. Tom stoked the glowing embers in the fireplace and then sat down beside her.
Leah found a place in the armchair, while Dave claimed a seat on the large, square ottoman.
“Listen, I have no idea what you’re all talking about or who you’re talking about.” Tricia lifted her purse off the end table and tossed her head. “And I’m far too tired to figure it out. I’m going back to the Holiday Inn Express in Danville. When Meg shows up, I expect a phone call.”
Tricia stomped out of the house.
The room felt silent.
Inching forward, Tom cleared his throat. “So, Sergeant Dave, what do you think of Kentucky so far?”
After an enjoyable meal at an upscale Italian restaurant, Meg and Kent walked back to his place. The rain had stopped hours ago, so they had decided to leave Kent’s Corvette parked at the condo and walk to the restaurant. He’d wanted to shower and change clothes before dinner, and Meg thought it was a reasonable enough request. While she waited, she roamed his new digs, smiling at the colorful metal bunk beds he’d erected for his kids in the second bedroom and admiring the grand piano in the living room. Next, she’d settled into the plush white sofa and paged through a finance magazine while trying not to think about Vance or worry about Cammy.
Kent took her hand now as they crossed the lot of the Fayette Center, a large shopping and restaurant complex, but she pulled out of his grasp. She’d been thwarting his advances all night, and it was starting to get old.
“Did you enjoy your meal?”
“Yes. It was excellent.”
“And the champagne?”
Meg arched a brow. Kent had consumed almost the entire bottle by himself. Still, he’d gone out of his way to make Meg’s birthday special, and she appreciated it.
But she’d still rather be with Vance right now.
They jogged across the wide, busy avenue, heading for the condominium complex in which Kent lived. It was conveniently located across the street from the mall. Taking in her brightly lit surroundings, Meg noted a coffee shop down the block and a twenty-four-hour restaurant on the corner.
“I see you no longer have to pass the tar store when you want your morning java.”
“Darntootin’ I don’t.”
She grinned at his retort.
Within minutes, they stood at Kent’s front entrance. He fumbled with his keys and Meg realized he was intoxicated. Next she wondered just how drunk he was and how long it would take until it wore off enough for him to drive her home.
He unlocked the door, allowing her to step into his condo first.
“How about a nightcap?” He moved toward the portable bar at one end of the expertly decorated room.
“How about some coffee?” She eyed him, watching his every move. He wasn’t swaggering or slurring his speech. Maybe he hadn’t consumed as much alcohol as Meg thought.
But despite her suggestion, Kent poured himself a brandy.
“I need to get home.”
“Let’s allow our food to digest a while first.”
“Half hour. Tops.”
“Okay.”
Meg sat on the couch and pulled one leg beneath her.
“Did you have fun tonight?�
�� He lowered himself down beside her.
“I had a very nice time. Thanks for dinner.”
“Happy birthday.” He leaned over and kissed her, but Meg turned in time so his lips touched her cheek.
“Will you quit already?”
He chuckled.
“Friends, remember?”
“That was a friendly kiss.”
She couldn’t help a laugh as she rolled her eyes. “You’re pathetic, you know that?”
“And you have a beautiful smile.”
She regarded him with skepticism. “Thanks.”
He downed the brandy, then set his empty glass on the table. He lazed back, and within seconds Meg found herself wrapped in his arms. One hand moved down her back, the other roved upward. “You’re a lovely woman.”
His mouth sought hers, but Meg managed to slide out of his embrace. She stood, feeling a little breathless from the rush of defenses.
Now she was angry. “You jerk. You promised you’d keep your hands to yourself.”
“I did no such thing.”
“Maybe not with those exact words.” She pointed an accusatory finger at him. “But we agreed this wasn’t a date. We went out as friends.”
Kent pushed to his feet and stepped toward her, unbuttoning his white collared shirt. “I’ve wanted you from the day I met you.”
She shook her head. “Back off.”
He held his arms out in a helpless gesture. “What’s wrong with two friends enjoying each other?”
“It’s not real, that’s what’s wrong. I don’t know about you, but I want forever, not a succession of one-night stands.”
“Who’s to say it won’t be ‘real’ between us? Let’s find out.” He came nearer, and Meg took a step backward. She didn’t feel frightened, just extremely irritated.
And betrayed.
“You know what you’re problem is? You’re not a promise-keeper, Kent.” She suddenly remembered how he’d vowed to speak to Vance about the new rowing machines at school, but forgot. Cammy had been so disappointed. It was only much later that Kent finally got around to discussing the matter. “You only think about your own immediate gratification and never stop to think about the future and how your selfish actions might impact others.”
Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky Page 24