by Tonya Kappes
“I am done with this situation, Liz!” Jenna screamed, glaring at them with burning eyes.
A sudden chill hung on the edge of Jenna’s words.
“No. I am done with this situation.” Cole headed towards his truck.
“What about me? I don’t get it.” Liz pleaded between the two of them. “Why can’t I have both of you?”
“You want to know why?” Jenna’s anger was thunderous. “Why don’t you tell her? You’ve been pretending to be this wonderful man. Why don’t you tell her Coleman Michaels? Dr. Michaels?”
Cole stopped. He didn’t turn around.
Liz waited.
She rubbed her hands on her arms to ward off the chill. She couldn’t figure out if the goose bumps were from the falling snow or the chilly conversation.
“You’ve been dying to tell her. Go ahead, Jenna.” He muttered with his back still turned to them.
He brushed the snow out of his hair before putting his hands in his pocket to get his keys.
Liz needed him to turn around. She needed to see his eyes.
“Tell me what? I’ve been trying to get it out of both of you for a month now. Jenna, you are my best friend. Please tell me.” She knew she might be able to get it out of Jenna.
Jenna turned to Liz with a look of disgust, fear and pain. She began to shake with uncontrollable sobs.
“Your precious Dr. Cole, killed my husband. You murderer!” Jenna ran at Cole with her fists in the air.
She reached him and began to pound on his chest. He stood there, not defending himself, just staring at Liz; his broad shoulders heaving with ragged breaths.
“I hate you. You’re a drunk!” She continued to hit him. “They should’ve never let you out of prison!”
She sank to the grass around Cole’s feet.
Cole turned and silently walked to his truck. He stopped for a second after he opened his truck door. Liz wanted him to say something.
Anything.
He got in and drove off.
Like an injured animal on the side of the road, Jenna lay in the cold, wet snow while large snowflakes began to blanket her.
What have I done? Liz bent down and put her hands on Jenna’s shoulders.
“My God, Jenna. I am so sorry.” She picked her up. “It’s cold out here. Let’s go in the house where it’s warm.”
“I am so sorry.” Liz whispered in Jenna’s ear over and over. The pain radiated throughout her entire body. She couldn’t imagine how Jenna felt. “Let me help you.”
“I should’ve told you before you got involved. I just thought that without my approval you’d. . .” Jenna’s voice trailed off.
“I would’ve avoided him if you had only told me. I would never want to be involved with some one that has hurt you the way Cole did.” Liz was having a hard time believing what she had just learned.
Tramp was eagerly jumping on them when they walked into the house.
Liz patted him down. He didn’t like anyone being upset. Countless times, Tramp had come to Hayes’ or Liz’s side when they were upset.
Many times over the course of the year, she had questioned her move to Grandberry Falls, but Tramp always was there to lick her back to reality.
“Now you know.” Jenna sat down on the bench in the kitchen.
Cole’s spot, Liz sighed.
Liz let Jenna gather her composure while she fixed a pot of coffee and put cookies in the oven.
“I know that the last thing you want to do is relive what happened with Dan, but I need to know. I need you to tell me everything.” She still couldn’t believe it had been Cole.
The agility brochures Cole had brought over fell to the floor as she grabbed the tissue box off the edge of the counter.
“Why, Liz? Are you in love with him?” There was a fear in Jenna’s eyes that Liz never seen before.
The idea of telling Jenna the truth scared her, but she needed to be honest. If that meant losing her best friend and lover, well, she was willing to take the risk.
“Yes Jenna.” Her memories of him were pure and clear. “I am in love with him.”
A look of disgust crept across Jenna’s face. “You are in love? How could you fall into the arms of a murderous drunk? How could you lay next to a man who killed two innocent people,” her voice dripped with hatred.
Liz was almost too scared to answer her.
“He isn’t the person you describe. He has been so kind to Hayes, Tramp and, for that matter, me. I have never seen him drink a drop or even noticed it on his breath.” Liz wanted her to understand.
She had to question herself.
Could I be wrong?
Had her gut and feelings mislead her? As much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn’t.
“My best friend, sleeping with the enemy.” She slowly turned her head and growled, “I thought you were my best friend.”
“I am. I asked you several times to tell me and you never would.”
“I told you that I thought you would come around.” Jenna said.
“Please, Jenna. Help me understand the type of person Cole Michaels really is.” Liz wanted to hear the entire story. She needed to move on.
Jenna recalled the busy morning of the accident.
“Cole and Dan became friends in college. I introduced him to Sarah. She was my childhood friend. We had gone on many double dates together.” She paused. “He moved to Grandberry Falls and opened his clinic after veterinary school. Sarah was so happy. After I had Samantha, we went on vacation with them. Cole was a drinker. You know---we’d get together and have a few drinks.”
The more Jenna talked, the man she was describing sounded less like the Cole Liz knew. Everyone in town embraced him. Even Hazel, Jenna’s mom, didn’t have anything bad to say about him.
Something just didn’t add up.
“Sarah called to tell me that Cole had been bellied up to the bar at The Thirsty Turtle all night and she was going to go get him. She wanted to bring him over here for a mini-intervention.” Jenna stopped to take a drink of her coffee.
Her thoughts filtered back to the day she’d met him. All the people crowded around him in The Trembling Cup were patting him on the back, laughing.
She closed her eyes.
She could still hear the laughter coming from the crowd. She remembered wanting to know who was in the middle of them.
Jenna continued, “I hadn’t gone to the store and we didn’t want Samantha here for the intervention. Dan drove her to mom’s farm and stopped by The Buy and Fly to grab a container of coffee.” Jenna started to cry all over again. “I can’t believe I didn’t have any coffee. Stupid coffee.” Jenna’s voiced trailed off.
“Oh, Jenna.” Liz buried her head in Jenna’s neck and began to cry with her friend. “Thank you for telling me.”
They sat there in silence, holding each other. Liz replayed the story over in her head, trying to imagine the Cole that she knew was drunk and reckless—she couldn’t.
“Who is Sarah?”
“He never told you?” The glare came back into her eyes. “He couldn’t even let her legacy live on. Unbelievable.” Jenna shook her head. “Sarah is his beautiful and faithful wife. He married my best friend. He killed my best friend.”
Liz recalled the part of the story where Jenna said something about double dating and vacation, but had been completely focused on Cole being the drunk driver.
Liz got up.
Confused, she aimlessly walked around the kitchen, bending down briefly to pat Tramp.
Tramp loved Cole.
“That man killed his wife and his best friend. He went to prison, lost his vet business, and is now back living his life as if nothing happened. He walks around this town, going in and out of restaurants and teaches obedience classes leaving his past behind. He should’ve been put to death.
Liz felt like she was going to be sick. She let this man into her son’s life, her bed, and worst of all…her heart.
Jenna looked like a rag doll when
she peeled herself off the bench.
“Liz, I’m going to go. I’m exhausted.” She looked up with puffy eyes. “I never wanted you to get hurt. I guess I never realized how close you two were.”
Light specs created an illusion of a person sitting in the leather chair. Liz rubbed her eyes, trying to get them adjusted to the light.
“It’s not your eyes.” Cole’s voice boomed into the thin air across the room. The light came on to show that her eyes hadn’t been deceiving her.
All the anger, pain, and sick feelings came back to Liz as her mind flooded with memories of the night before. “Get out. Hayes will be home soon and I don’t want to have to tell him that you’re a murderer!”
“I couldn’t leave behind what we had. I can’t sleep tonight without telling you how sorry I am that I got you wrapped up into this mess.” There was sadness in his eyes.
“What we had was sex. It was nothing. We had nothing.” Liz bolted toward the bedroom door, opened it, and walked away to let him leave on his own. She knew if she had stayed in the room, she would not have been able to control her anger.
“Liz, I’m not leaving until you talk to me.” Cole’s voice was muffled by the door.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
She could hear him pacing back and forth in front of her bedroom door.
“Liz, I am not leaving.”
She felt like he didn’t deserve a response. She had no energy to talk with him about this. It was late. She had a headache, not only in her head, but in her family room.
SIXTEEN
“An older sister is a friend and defender - a listener, conspirator, a counselor and a sharer of delights. And sorrows too.”
~Pam Brown
Liz kept her distance from Jenna the rest of the week. She buried herself in work and took on more clients than she should have. Jenna called a few times to check on the status of the benefit, but there was nothing to report. The benefit came together just like the pieces of a puzzle.
Cole had not tried to contact her and she hadn’t run into him in town. She avoided all the places he might be. She decided to put obedience classes for Tramp on hold until after the New Year. She planned to just walk Tramp and continue to use the commands she knew. She even went to the library to pick up an obedience book.
Christmas was just as low-keyed as the week before. Hayes was excited to have his cousins over to his new house. Dinner was delicious.
“What’s going on with you?” Kristen put a stack of dishes in the sink.
Grabbing one dish at a time, Liz soaked it and then scrubbed it. She handed each clean one to Kristen who stood waiting with a clean towel.
“What do you mean?” Liz didn’t want her family to know anything about her life.
It would only give them more ammunition when they told her she had made a mistake moving to Grandberry Falls.
“I can tell. Everything spotless. You look all put together.”
Liz looked at Kristen like she was crazy. “Do I always look sloppy?”
“No. You look like you did when you were about to tell us that you were getting a divorce. You’re distant, like you’re trying to put a show on for your family.” Kristen sat the towel next to the sink. “You also have that nervous laugh.”
Liz placed both hands on the edge of the sink. She braced herself. She couldn’t believe she was about to tell Kristen about Cole.
“Kristen, I’m in love.”
“That’s great sis!” Kristen looked surprised.
After the divorce, her family worried about her. She didn’t let anyone see her upset. She didn’t talk about it. She took the divorce in stride. They didn’t know about the break-downs in her room after she’d put Hayes to bed.
“No, Kristen. It’s not great. It’s bad. Real bad.” Liz gulped for air.
“Why? Don’t tell me he’s married.” Kristen snickered, but stopped when Liz didn’t join in the batter. “Oh my God, Liz. Tell me he isn’t married.”
“Worse. A murderer.” Her misery was so acute that it was a physical pain.
“What is going on? Are you in trouble?” Kristen took Liz by the shoulders and turned Liz to face her directly.
“It’s nothing like that.” Liz reassured Kristen.
Kristen sat with Liz, drawing in every detail while Hayes kept their parents busy with all his new gadgets.
Liz felt confident in confiding to Kristen. She knew that her sister had her best interest at heart.
“Have you heard what he has to say?” Kristen asked after hearing all of what Jenna had told Liz. “He has to be hurting just as much as Jenna. He lost a wife and a best friend.”
“The problem is that he never told me. All those times we were intimate and he never had the respect to tell me.” Liz knew that Kristen didn’t have the answers she was seeking. “I knew there was a secret and I still let my desires take over. I feel so dumb.”
“Jenna should’ve told you. Aren’t you blaming her too?” Kristen made a great point. “She should’ve told you the first day at the coffee shop. ‘That’s my husband’s best friend. He killed him and his own wife.’”
Liz listened to Kristen. The more she talked, the more sense she made. She did want to know Cole’s side of the story. From that moment on, her relationships with Jenna and Cole would never be the same.
“Mom, Jack just called and wants me to come over and see his new puppy.” Hayes put his hands together as if he was praying. “Please? He wants me to show him some commands like we do with Tramp.”
Liz put her hand on his head. “I don’t know buddy. It’s Christmas night and our family is here. Besides, I bet Jack’s parents want to spend Christmas with him.”
“No. He asked me.” There was a pleading look in his eyes. A pleading look she wasn’t good at saying no to.
“Don’t stop him going on our account.” Liz’s mom put her hands on Hayes’ shoulders. “We need to get back to Cincinnati before dark.”
“Please?” Hayes bounced up and down.
She didn’t want him to go for selfish reasons. She didn’t want to be alone on Christmas night.
“We do have to get going.” Kristen confirmed squeezing Liz’s hand.
“Okay, fine.” Liz gave in holding up two fingers. “Two hours is plenty. Besides, I want to snuggle with you tonight.”
That was all Hayes needed to hear to rush her out the door.
Jack’s house wasn’t too far from Cole’s house. And before she knew it, her car had a mind of its own. Or so she wanted to believe.
Slowly she turned the car into Cole’s gravel drive, hoping to see if there were any lights on. She wondered if he had family, or someone to spend Christmas with.
She noticed the out-of-state license plates on both of the cars parked in front of her. It was Christmas. She was sure that he was celebrating with family.
She sat there for a moment looking at the beautiful old sleigh sitting in front of the house. Two of Cole’s horses were attached, waiting for someone to join them. Lights twinkled along its side, giving it an old fashioned Christmas feel. Liz had only seen sleighs like that in pictures in her fancy design magazines.
Quickly, she put the car in reverse before anyone seen her.
“What am I doing here?” She looked in the rear view mirror while backing up. “I don’t belong here.”
“Wait! Elizabeth, wait!” Cole was waving her down from the porch.
Only her mother called her Elizabeth.
She stopped the car and got out. They stood face to face.
“Liz, I can’t believe you are here. Please come in.” His gaze was as soft as a caress. “Merry Christmas.”
She swallowed hard, trying to come up with an answer.
“I want your side of the story.” She had an agenda. She needed answers.
“I will tell you my story. But please, not tonight. It’s Christmas.” He placed his hands on her arms and rubbed them up and down to warm her.
Her body tingled from the c
ontact. There was no doubt he had captured her heart and soul.
“I can’t stay. You have company.” But she was entranced by the silent sadness in his eyes.
“It’s Sarah’s family. I’m sure Jenna has told you all about Sarah,” Cole said. “I want you to meet them. It’s our first Christmas together since the accident.” His voice trailed off.
What kind of people would spend Christmas with the man who was responsible for the death of their sister? Something just didn’t add up.
“Please come in. They all know about you. . .us.” His hands brought her closer. “I need you.”
Without a word, she followed him into the house. Her mind was screaming for her legs to stop, but they continued to move forward.
“I will answer any question you want.” He opened the door for her.
The house was filled with decorated live Christmas trees. They helped to create a warm glow and smell to go along with the freshly baked apple pies resting on the wood-burning stove. A lovely lady and child were sitting next to the fireplace reading a book. A couple of people were having coffee at the kitchen table while others were gathered in the family room watching television.
Liz ran her hands across the countertop, remembering the first time they made love.
Everyone smiled as Liz entered the room.
“You must be Elizabeth.” An older lady stood and greeted her with a hug. “I’m Cole’s mother-in-law. We are so glad to finally have him home.” She placed one hand on Liz’s arm and one hand on Cole’s arm.
Liz was unable to speak. She nodded.
“I’m Sarah’s sister, Amy.” She extended her hand. “Cole has told me so much about you. I didn’t think I would be meeting you tonight.”
“I didn’t know I would be stopping by.” Liz said.
Cole handed her a mug of coffee. He was catering to her again like he had over the past couple of months. She could tell he wanted her to be comfortable around Sarah’s family. They were his family, regardless of the past.
Liz enjoyed the company, even though there were still several unanswered questions. A couple of months before, she had been picturing a big Thanksgiving here. She’d never dreamed she would see that picture come to life at Christmas.