by Lorenz Font
She turned and swept her arm across the bed, half expecting it to land on his solid body. The other half expected him to be gone, just like he’d said. I’ll hold you until you fall asleep. And sure enough, he was gone.
The glow of the rising sun flowed through the glass window, a sharp contrast to the sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach. The unforgettable desire still hugged her like a clinging vine, but now it was time to face the dreary prospect of what lay ahead of her.
Pain, loss, and regret were bound to follow—she had known they would. But not so soon. She had hoped for more time to bask in the afterglow of the most wonderful night of her life.
Sarah frowned at herself. What had she expected from him, anyway? Did she imagine Greg would sweep her off her feet and whisk her to paradise? Those daydreams only came true in movies. Sarah knew better than to hold her breath for a happy-ever-after with her prince. She would forever be a girl from Beaver—a squaw, as Greg’s father had called her.
Having been cloistered in Beaver all her life, she’d been sheltered from the harsh realities of racial divisiveness. As much as she believed that black, white, or brown were the same, people outside Beaver were much, much different, as she’d discovered for the first time last night. Sarah had recognized the cosmic divide between her and Greg from the very start. She had known this from the very first day. When she’d cut away his expensive clothes to operate on him, she could tell he was someone special. He was from far away world that was not meant to cross hers. Another planet, whose orbit was always out of reach.
Last night, their orbits had connected, and for a brief moment, she’d experienced ecstasy and starlight. But now, his axis had already moved away from her again. Had she been foolish enough to fall for Greg? Every fiber of her being screamed the undeniable answer.
He wanted her close—that much he’d told her. She’d forgotten the real reason he wanted her around. Medical necessity had pushed him to find her, together with the possibility that his doctors might need to ask her questions. She’d been living under his roof for over two months, and his doctors had yet to summon her. It didn’t quite add up, but she’d been too comfortable to say anything and risk rocking the boat. If there was one thing that terrified her, it had to be the idea of not seeing Greg anymore.
She took the pillow and covered her face with his scent. Pathetic. Homeless. Unwanted and shunned by her father and the tribe. Reeling from the previous night’s passion, wanting more, and so in love with Greg it hurt. How pathetic. After inhaling Greg’s lingering scent, she tossed the pillow aside and got up just as her cell phone rang.
She recognized the number right away. Could it be? Holding her breath and wishing with offering up a fervent prayer that her father was coming around, she picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Sarah, it’s me.”
“Lily? Lily! Oh my, how did you get my number?”
“Your father gave it to me so I could—and I’m quoting him on this—‘talk some sense into that friend of yours.’ ” Lily’s harsh tone surprised her.
“He told you about our phone conversation?” Sarah moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
“He did. I know your father can be stubborn, but he hasn’t been the same since you left. Sometimes I think he regrets everything he said and did, but he’s just too proud to admit it.” Lily sighed.
“He kicked me out, Lily. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain. He kept telling me to be true to myself while I was growing up, and I was. And this is what I get.” Sarah gripped the phone tight in her hand while she experienced the pain of his rejection again. She missed her father. He was her only family, and it pained her to be away from him, no matter the circumstances.
“I know. I think he’s suffering deep inside. It’s just his pride getting in the way …” Lily paused before shifting to another subject. “You know, after you left, there were outcries from a few elders about what you did. Mr. Vittrekwa, who we thought would share your father’s opinion, questioned your father’s decision. And you know how Old man Vittrekwa gets when he speaks his mind.”
Sarah laughed. She was well aware that Mr. Vittrekwa often opposed her father’s views, despite their lifelong friendship. Even if Mr. V voiced his displeasure about the behavior of kids these days and the encroachment of modern technologies, she remembered him saying, “If we can’t beat them, we might as well join them.” She also recalled heated arguments between her father and his friend about where their little tribe was headed and the best way to accept the ever-changing tides.
“I know. I’m glad he stood up for me. But that’s not going to help me at all. Father made his decision, so I’m where I am now.” Sarah closed her eyes.
“So, where are you?” The old, curious Lily was back.
“I’m in New York City …” She left the words hanging, unable to decide how to begin telling Lily about her and Greg. There’s no Greg and you. There’s just an arrangement … and last night. She pulled herself up short, pushing back the slow ache building inside her.
“With him, right?” Lily dove straight to the crux of the matter.
Sarah groaned. “It’s a long story, Lily.”
“Well, I have nothing but time, so spill.” Sarah imagined Lily placing her legs on the desk, crossing them at the ankles, and leaning back against the chair.
Without much coaxing from Lily, Sarah related the night of her abduction, their first meeting, Greg’s threat, and the eventual arrangement he’d proposed. Then, she fast-forwarded to their dinner, his wife, the movie, and the accident. She left out his father’s racist comment, as well as the special moment they’d shared last night. There were some things she’d rather not discuss with anyone, even with her best friend.
“Are you telling me this man you saved had you kidnapped and threatened to throw you in jail if you don’t cooperate with him?
Sarah nodded before she remembered Lily couldn’t see her. “Yes.”
“And the same guy enrolled you in one of the most prestigious schools in the country?” Lily’s voice now had a dreamy lilt to it.
“Yes.” Sarah hated to admit it, but Greg’s behavior had a tendency to give her whiplash. He could be pushy and overbearing one minute, and sweet and compassionate the next. Sometimes hot, sometimes cold. He was a man she had yet to figure out.
“Sounds like a fairytale to me,” Lily commented.
Sarah sighed. It hadn’t all been a girl’s dream come true. “Not by a long stretch, and besides, he and I are like night and day. He’s rich, I’m poor. He’s popular, and I’m a fly on the wall nobody cares about. There’s no way there’s going to be a fairytale.”
“You sound disappointed.” Lily fell quiet, leaving Sarah to question what her friend was thinking. “Sarah … are you falling in love with him?”
“Of course not.” Her denial sounded weak even to her own ears.
If she were honest with herself, this arrangement had spelled trouble from the get-go. Either she’d been too stubborn to heed the warnings or was just plain dumb. She had dug her own grave, knowing the stakes were high and the likelihood of making it out unscathed would be almost impossible. She shouldn’t have accepted help from a man who could make her heart flutter and scare her all at the same time. Sure, she trusted him. But could she trust him with her heart? Even after last night?
“I know you, Sarah—well enough to guess you’re torn between following your heart and doing what’s best for everyone else. Girl, I’m telling you right now. Follow your heart.” Lily paused, no doubt letting her words sink in.
She was right. A long silence followed. Sarah was unable to deny her friend’s observation.
Thank God Lily now decided to pursue another topic. “There is another reason why I called. There’s massive construction happening here in Beaver.”
“What construction?”
“Someone created a generous trust fund for the tribe. The governor mandated that the entire town attend a meeting at the town h
all a few weeks ago. He instructed your father to build a bigger clinic and buy better medical equipment.” Lily paused to catch her breath. “Would you believe the mayor asked for you? God, Sarah, you’re popular.”
“What? Are you kidding me?”
“Would I joke about something like this? And you wouldn’t believe the look on your father’s face. It was almost comical.” Lily squealed in delight at the memory.
After they’d hung up, with a promise from Lily to call again, Sarah discovered that she felt vindicated. Her actions may have landed her in this wild, gray area of uncertainty, but she’d never regretted saving Greg’s life. If given the chance, she’d do it again.
Greg shifted in the uncomfortable chair. He’d been in this room not too long ago, although under much different circumstances. He was more than happy it had nothing to do with Sarah.
Man, Sarah again. How could one woman manage to occupy his mind every waking moment? He shifted in his seat again, restless rather than uneasy about being at the police station again. The root of his discomfort was what had transpired the night before—not that he was complaining at all. He just wished he’d taken his time to enjoy every moment with her and hadn’t run away like a scared puppy this morning.
Yeah, he was scared. Their night together had been too good to be true—it was unexpected and a big mistake. Why had he let it happen? Greg knew the answer. She had asked, and he couldn’t resist giving her what she wanted. He’d wanted it, too.
With an exasperated sigh, he looked around the small room. A calendar with an autumn scene hung on the wall next to an imposing wall clock that made relentless ticking sounds. A tiny window provided entry for the blaring horns of morning rush-hour traffic. The stale scent of sweat hung in the air as a reminder of the numerous people who had waited in this office before him.
Sitting next to him was Tony Anton, his lawyer. They’ve been called in to answer a few questions about Cade McPherson. The bastard had been nabbed late the night before at an Amtrak station on his way to Arizona.
The door creaked opened, and Detective Ramirez walked in with a manila folder tucked under his arm. He gave a quick nod to Tony and smirked at the sight of Greg.
“Thanks for coming in on such short notice.” He sat down and proceeded to open the folder, spreading the contents across the table.
“You’re welcome.” Tony smiled. “So what are we looking at?”
Greg remained stone-faced when Detective Ramirez glanced up and focused on him. “First of all, I can’t say I’m glad to see you here again so soon, but at least, the circumstances are—”
“Just get to the point, Detective, will you?” Greg snapped. Short-fused and not in a good frame of mind, small talk wasn’t up his alley at the moment. This turn of events had messed up his plans. Even with Simon’s urging to drop it, Greg ached for revenge.
Ramirez looked at him with contempt. “You know, I’m curious why you didn’t inform us of Mr. McPherson’s attempt on your life.”
“I’m just trying to move on,” Greg responded. He leveled a steady gaze at Ramirez, hoping the detective wouldn’t see right through him.
“Hmm … if I didn’t know any better, I’d believe you had other things in mind.” It was a simple statement, but Greg could tell the officer was fishing for information. No way would he fall for such amateurish coaxing.
“If you called me in here just to tell me that, you could have called and saved me the trip.” Greg leaned forward and eyed the pictures on the desk.
Ramirez was quick to follow his gaze. “If it weren’t for your mother, we wouldn’t have any idea that an incident had happened at all. I’m amazed how easy to manipulate some of our law enforcement agencies are.” The detective shook his head and watched Greg for any signs of guilt, but Greg kept his mouth shut. He wasn’t planning to divulge the lengths he’d gone to in order to keep all pertinent information on the down-low.
Ramirez tacked on. “Although the crime happened in Alaska, you and Mr. McPherson are residents of this city, you can file a formal complaint. If you choose not to, we’ll proceed with the complaint your mother filed.”
Greg seethed in silence. He wasn’t sure whether to be grateful to or upset with his mother for ruining his one chance for revenge. “What type of complaint did she file?” Deep down, he felt a small measure of relief wash over him. The mere fact that his mother wasn’t involved with Cade had given him hope and a little more faith in her.
“Attempted murder … and she’s naming your wife as a co-conspirator.” Detective Ramirez leaned forward, watching him like he was waiting for Greg to explode.
“I’d like to speak to my client in private. Could you give us a moment?” Tony spoke at the perfect moment—Greg couldn’t have picked a better time. He needed to regroup.
Ramirez nodded and stood. “I’ll be waiting outside.”
Greg rose from his chair, dying to stretch his aching legs. The muscle spasms were rare nowadays, but stress and fatigue seemed to trigger his attacks, so it was wise to listen to his body’s warning signs.
“Greg, is there a reason to believe your wife is involved?” Tony stood, too, but instead of watching Greg, the lawyer walked over to the window and gazed outside.
Greg hadn’t expected this to happen. He had to act fast before it was too late. “I think there’s a chance she might be involved.”
Tony turned around, leaned on the windowsill, and crossed his arms, deep in thought. After a few minutes, he spoke. “Would you rather proceed with your mother’s complaint, or do you want to file a petition to supersede it? Either way, you must appear in court for this. Since Cade has already been taken into custody, he’ll have to put up bail, and he won’t be able to leave the city.”
Greg toyed with the idea in his head. His new plan was quite daring and downright stupid, but it was doable. Then there were Simon’s words running through his head: Don’t do it, Greg. You’re better off washing your hands of these people.
“Let’s file a formal complaint against Cade.”
“And what about your wife?” Tony coughed to clear his throat.
Greg laughed. “I had to remind myself you’re not my divorce attorney. Let’s leave her out of it for now. You can call Ramirez back in here. I bet the guy is salivating over the shot at such a high-profile case.” Glancing at the scattered pictures on top of the folder, he smirked. Perhaps he should send some thank-you flowers to his mother one of these days. Greg went back to the aging chair and sat down to wait.
Tony chuckled before opening the door. He stuck his head out. “Detective Ramirez?”
Ramirez walked in after a few minutes, carrying a cup of coffee. “So, has your client made up his mind?”
“Mr. Andrews will file a formal complaint against Mr. McPherson,” Tony stated, pulling a notepad from his briefcase.
Detective Ramirez cocked an eyebrow. “And?”
“That’s it. If there’s anything else you need, call Tony.” Greg rose from his chair. “I’m sure we’re done here. If you’ll excuse me, I have some important matters to attend to.” He gave Ramirez and Tony a curt nod and left the stifling room.
As soon as he’d walked out the door, he spotted Simon waiting in the lobby, looking quite uncomfortable around the questionable characters surrounding him.
“Everything all right?” Simon stood, giving Greg a thorough look-over.
Greg nodded. He racked his brain for a Plan B. Fishing out his cell phone from his pocket, he dialed Cassandra’s number. After three rings, she picked up, and Greg felt the immediate urge to clamp his hands around her neck.
Not yet.
“Hey, Cassie, can you meet me at Café Bevier tonight?” He used his sweetest tone, a weapon guaranteed to render his wife helpless.
Simon threw him a questioning glance, but he waved him off.
Greg suppressed the urge to throw up when Cassandra purred a quick assent. Perfect, he thought. Plan B might work after all. Cade might have been out of reach, but C
assandra was well within his grasp. Greg would be a fool to let her off the hook easily.
Sarah heard Greg’s voice in the hallway when she stepped off the treadmill. She grabbed the towel from the rack and wiped the sweat off her face and neck. Strengthening her back had been a slow and painful process, but the daily exercises Dr. Darnell had given her were proving beneficial.
She walked across the well-equipped home gym to the yoga mat and sat down. Glancing at her reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror, she longed to chop off her hair, which had grown quite long. The Gwich’in culture preferred women with long tresses, which in their beliefs connoted femininity. Sarah had been itching to defy that tradition since her teenage years, but she hadn’t had the nerve to follow through. She blew out a rapid breath, noting her hollow cheeks. Despite Matilda’s best efforts to fatten her up, Sarah’s body seemed to have a mind of its own. Food just passed through her without leaving traces of any weight gain whatsoever.
She stretched her legs sideways into a tolerable arch. Then she bent her body while she attempted to reach the tip of her shoe with her fingers. This time, she managed to reach her ankle. Not bad, she thought. Tomorrow, she might even reach another half inch. ‘Gradual improvement’ had been Barry’s mantra. There was no need to push her body to extremes.
She went through the repetitive exercises several times before calling it a day. Her next class would begin in an hour. If she intended to make it to campus on time, she had to move faster. Sarah walked out of the gym just as Greg was coming in.
“Hello.” Greg paused at the doorway.
“Hi.” Her voice sounded somewhat tentative. “You left early today.”