by Linnea Hall
Could Collin do that to Jewell? He thought of her father, the only family she had left. She was the only family he had left. Taking her away from him would not be fair to either of them; and if he did take her away, what then? Could he subject her to the life he led? Even though he had been unaware of the dangers that followed him up until a couple of days ago, moving every few years was a hard life. He had always hated when his uncle moved them. Though now he understood the necessity, when they moved to a new town, he had to make new friends, and he found it difficult to leave those relationships that he had formed behind. Could he ask her to do the same? And what about her father? How much contact could she have with him? Would his enemies go after her father to get to him?
He slowly retreated across the street, trying not to draw attention to himself. He watched her as she cried. “I am so sorry I did this to you Jewell. If I had known, I would have never hurt you this way,” he whispered, as if somehow, she would hear his words. A tear trickled down his cheek. “I love you.” He saw Jewell look up, and watched as Ashley turned to look behind her.
Finally, Jewell seemed to calm down. Ashley pushed her away a little bit and reached up to wipe Jewell’s tears away with her thumbs. He could see Ashley talking to Jewell and Jewell nod in response. Finally, Ashley gave Jewell another quick hug, and they started walking back toward the car. Collin wished he could see Jewell’s face. He hoped that this small gesture of friendship had made Jewell feel better. He silently thanked Ashley for seeing Jewell through this.
It wasn’t until they had turned onto Iberville Street, walking back to the car that Collin noticed that he wasn’t the only one following the two girls. The two middle aged men from the aquarium were also following Ashley and Jewell. While he wasn’t completely certain of this, he found it interesting that they were walking back towards the aquarium from Jackson Square at the same time as Ashley and Jewell.
Collin followed the girls toward Covington. It was easy to follow them back since it was rush hour. Besides, on the Causeway, the cars around you don’t change much, so it would be difficult to determine whether you were being followed, even if you were looking. As Collin cruised two cars behind Jewell and Ashley, listening to the radio, he noticed a black sedan moving quickly towards them, weaving in and out of traffic. It wasn’t unusual, but for some reason, this car caught Collin’s notice. As he watched it move past him, he noticed the two men sitting in the front seat. It was the same two men from the aquarium.
At first, Collin tried not to be concerned, though the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up. After all, this was the only way back across Lake Pontchartrain; but as he watched the car pull into the lane right behind the girls’ car, he tensed, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He pulled around the car in front of him so he could be right behind the car with the two men. It was a long uneventful drive, but when they exited the Causeway, Collin became alert, watching the car in front of him.
As they exited the causeway, Jewell turned towards Ashley’s house. When they turned into the apartment complex, the car with the two men kept driving. Collin debated whether to follow them, or follow Jewell. He chose to follow the sedan. They pulled into a restaurant a couple of miles away. Collin pulled into a parking lot across the street, and sat watching the restaurant. After three hours, Collin was getting tired. Nothing had happened, and though several people had gone into the restaurant, he didn’t know if any of them had anything to do with the men at the aquarium. He thought about going inside, but was concerned that if the two men were Obsidian Knights they may recognize him.
After waiting for three hours for the men to leave the restaurant, Collin started thinking that it may have just been a coincidence that the two men were here. After all, the Causeway was one of only two ways out of New Orleans, and the only one that went north, and they hadn’t actually followed Jewell into the apartment complex. Collin started up his car and drove back towards Ashley’s apartment. He cruised through the parking lot, but when he didn’t see Jewell’s car, he drove back to Jewell’s house. Ashley’s car was parked out front, and Ashley and Jewell were sitting on the porch swing drinking Cokes. He drove past, going the speed limit so as not to draw attention. As he passed, he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Jewell staring at the car. He continued around the curve in the street until he was out of view. He toyed with the idea of driving back around so he could watch the house, but discounted the idea. Ashley was there, so Jewell wasn’t alone. He didn’t know if her father would be home, but he assumed that because they had stopped at Ashley’s house before coming here, Ashley would probably spend the night. He decided to go get something to eat and come back later to make sure Jewell wasn’t alone.
Chapter 34
Jewell waited for Ashley as she picked out some pajamas and clothes for the next day. Tommy wouldn’t be home tonight, and Ashley had convinced Jewell that a sleepover would be fun. Ashley stuffed everything in a bag, and they drove back to Jewell’s house.
“Do you want a Coke?” Jewell asked, opening the fridge.
“Sure. Let’s go sit out on the porch. It’s not too hot with the sun going down.”
They took their Cokes to the porch and sat on the swing, watching cars drive by. One, a silver Mazda, caught Jewell’s attention.
“What?” Ashley asked, looking at the car.
“I don’t know. Something about that car…It’s weird, like, I don’t know. Like I wish it would stop at the house.”
“Do you know who it is?”
“No, that’s what makes it so weird.” She watched as the car disappeared out of view. She shrugged, and both girls went back to their Cokes, and talking about their favorite fish at the aquarium.
When Ashley left the next morning, she didn’t notice the silver Mazda that passed her as she turned onto the main road.
Collin kept his face turned toward the road but watched the Corolla as it passed. Ashley was the only one in the car, and she didn’t seem to notice him as she watched for oncoming traffic before turning onto West 21st St. Collin moved slowly past the blue ranch house where Jewell lived. He didn’t see any lights on in the house, but that wasn’t surprising, because the morning sun was so bright. He pulled to the end of the street, and turned around parking at the corner where East Saint Mary met West Saint Mary, partially concealed by the landscaping on the corner. He watched as Jewell walked to the end of the driveway to collect the newspaper. She was wearing an old pair of sweatpants, and the collar on her t-shirt was so stretched out that it fell off one shoulder. Collin’s heart raced as he watched her. When she turned, looking in the direction of where Collin was parked, he could almost see the sun reflecting off the clear blue of her eyes, just as the light bounces off a mountain lake. For a moment, he thought that she could see him, but after too brief a moment, she turned and walked back into the house.
Jewell shrugged as she turned back to the house. She felt like someone was watching her, but instead of feeling worried, it made her feel safe. She put the paper on the couch, then went into her room and saw the book Twilight that she had started reading before she met Collin. She had never finished, somehow she had lost interest after Collin entered her life. She picked it up and flipped to where she had left off.
“But I’m not saying goodbye,” I pointed out.
“Don’t you see? That’s what proves me right. I care the most, because if I can do it” - he shook his head, seeming to struggle with the thought – “if leaving is the right thing to do, then I’ll hurt myself to keep from hurting you, to keep you safe.”
Jewell slammed the book shut and dropped it on the floor. Absolute drivel, she thought kicking the book under her bed. Or maybe he’d leave because she was cramping his style. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the wall before grabbing a load of clothes to wash.
“You look like you’re feeling better.” Her father remarked when he she walked through the living room.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the way you acted with Collin, and well, the way he acted with you. I really thought…” His voice trailed off. Jewell knew what he thought. He had met her mother when he was eighteen and she was seventeen. He always said that it was love at first sight. He told her that everyone has one true soul mate, and when you meet each other, your hearts sing and there is perfect harmony between you. Yeah, she thought, my heart was singing alright, but apparently I was off key!
“Yeah, well,” she shrugged, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I guess he wasn’t the one.” She finished in a choked whisper.
Her father reached out and patted her leg. “Sometimes honey, it seems right, but the puzzle pieces don’t quite fit, and no matter how hard you try to make them fit, the picture is never complete.”
“Thanks for the Zen wisdom there dad.”
“Anytime kiddo.” Her father smiled at her. It made her think. There were so many people around her that really truly cared; why couldn’t she stop thinking about this guy who was obviously too good to hang around?
“I’m going to bed, Dad. I’ve got to work tonight.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Not likely, she thought bitterly as she turned toward her room.
Chapter 35
“Hey Jewell,” Ashley called as they walked toward the locker room. Ashley ran to catch up as Jewell waited by the door. “A bunch of the nurses and some of the interns are going to IHOP for breakfast. Can we go?”
“You can, I don’t really want to.” Jewell responded.
“But no one’s going that lives on the other side of the pond to take me home. Doug’s going,” Ashley commented suggestively. Douglas Haim was one of the interns. He had always shown an interest in Jewell, and until Collin had come along, she had certainly shown an interest in him; tall, dark, and handsome; definitely an interest.
Jewell’s heart hurt. She never thought that having your heart broken would physically hurt. She tried to smile through the pain, but couldn’t feel anything but the ache in her chest. “Fine, but only because you want to go, not because anyone else is going.”
“Cool!” Ashley sounded excitedly. “Ray Baskin is going too.” Ashley was practically jumping up and down; Ashley had her eyes set on Ray the first time she saw him. He was another example of tall, dark and handsome but in a rugged way. Ashley and Jewell changed quickly and walked out to the car. Security was starting to loosen up a little since that weirdo hadn’t shown up in almost two weeks. Jewell was glad that people weren’t watching her the way they had been.
Jewell didn’t really know where IHOP was so she let Ashley drive. Jewell was pretty tired anyway; she had had a really rough night. She leaned her head against the window. In the rear view mirror, she saw a silver Mazda in the lane a few cars back. She sat up in her seat and turned around. As she did, the car slowed, letting several cars move in front of it. There was something about it; she had the same feeling that she had when she saw a similar car drive past her house, and the same feeling of being watched that she had felt this morning when she went to get the paper. Of course, there had been no Mazda this morning…or maybe there was and she just hadn’t seen it.
“What’s wrong?” Ashley was looking at Jewell out of the corner of her eye.
“Nothing. I guess I’m just hungry.”
“Give me a break Jewell. Who do you think you’re talking to?” Ashley responded indignantly.
“Okay fine. It’s just that, lately I feel like I’m being watched.”
“What, you mean like that weird guy with the leg brace?” Ashley sounded worried.
“No, this is different. It doesn’t feel bad. It’s sort of like…” She paused for a moment, trying to think of how she could explain it. “Well, have you ever been sleeping, and in your dream you feel like someone’s watching you, so you wake up but it’s just your mom watching you sleep?” Jewell paused again “And, you know, that safe, warm fuzzy feeling you have as you close your eyes and drift back to sleep, knowing she’s watching you?”
“Yeah, I guess I kind of know what you mean.” Ashley shrugged.
“That’s what it feels like. It kind of frightens me, that feeling of being followed, but at the same time, I feel really safe. I keep wondering if it’s Collin.”
“Jewell, Collin is gone; you need to face that fact. Maybe we should just go home.” Ashley started to slow the car, taking her foot off the accelerator.
“No, it’s fine.” She tried to give Ashley a smile. It was so hard not to let Ashley just take her home, but Jewell knew how much Ashley liked Ray so she let Ashley drive her to the IHOP.
*
Collin could barely see Jewell in the passenger seat of the Focus. He saw her lean her head against the window, but when she suddenly sat up and turned back to look toward his car, he quickly took his foot off the accelerator and slowed down so that he was several cars back. Had she seen him? Did she know it was him? Probably not, she definitely wouldn’t recognize the car, and he didn’t think she would’ve recognized him so far back. He had much better eyesight than she did, but he really only knew it was Jewell in the passenger seat because he knew the car, and the passenger was blonde, while the driver was brunette; probably Ashley.
Then Collin started to think about what his uncle had told him. Someone had been stalking Jewell to get to him. Was he scaring her? Did she think that he was the stalker? He watched as the Focus pulled off onto the service road at the Bullard Avenue exit. If he knew Jewell, they were probably heading to IHOP. Rather than following them, he drove past the exit. If she had seen him, when he didn’t follow, maybe she would feel better. He exited at Paris road instead, and took the service road back towards Bullard Avenue. He pulled past the IHOP and saw Jewell’s car parked in front. Pulling around back, he parked his car near the dumpster where it couldn’t be seen from inside the restaurant.
He got out of his car and pulled up the hood on the short sleeved cotton hoodie he was wearing. He knew that he wasn’t exactly inconspicuous, but he hoped that if Jewell saw him, she wouldn’t recognize him. Walking into the restaurant, he saw a large group of doctors and nurses sitting in the rear of the restaurant in a separate area. He asked to sit near the kitchen where he could watch, but would not likely be noticed.
Collin sat in the seat that was most obscured from the group in the back, but with a clear view of the exit. He asked for pancakes and coffee when the waitress came for his order then sat with his head down as if inspecting the menu. He occasionally raised his head to look toward the group. Jewell was sitting with her back to him, but each time he saw her, his heart started to pound and his hands began to shake. Watching her with her friends made him long to join her; to sit next to her, holding her hand, smelling the subtle scent of honeysuckle. He wondered if anyone else noticed it. He wanted to look into her blue eyes; he wanted so badly to tell her how much he loves her.
Jewell leaned closer to Ashley “Someone’s watching,” was all she said. She didn’t need to say any more. Ashley understood exactly what Jewell was talking about. She stood up and started to leave the table.
“Where are you going?” Ray, who had been staring at Ashley ever since she arrived, asked curiously.
“I have to go powder my nose. It’s important for a woman to keep herself beautiful.” She flashed her most dazzling smile at him.
Although she knew exactly where the bathroom was Ashley made a circuit of the restaurant so she could survey the other people. She walked slowly to the hostess at the front of the restaurant, casually surveying the other diners. “Excuse me,” she asked the hostess, “can you tell me where the restroom is?” She looked at the people waiting to be seated.
“It’s right over there, dear.” Ashley looked to where the hostess was pointing.
“Thank you.” Ashley turned, again surveying the people in the restaurant. She went to the restroom, and then walked back to the table, passing the kitchen instead of walking along the front of the restaurant. She tried to look, without looking, at each
diner as she walked past. As she approached the kitchen, she had to turn to squeeze past a waitress who was placing a plate of pancakes in front of a single diner. She tried to look around the waitress, but saw only that it was a man; based on the well-defined muscles on those very perfectly sculpted arms.
When she came back to the table, she flashed Ray her smile as she slid into her seat next to Jewell. Ashley leaned toward Jewell, placing her hand in front of their mouths to keep her voice from carrying. “I didn’t see anyone that looked familiar. Weirdo isn’t here, at least.”
“Thanks Ash. It’s probably just one of Sheriff Payne’s deputies still following me around.”
“You sure you don’t want to leave?” It was obvious that Ashley didn’t want to.
“No,” said Jewell, almost too quickly as she glanced between Ashley and Ray. “I mean, it’s like I said. I can feel it, but it’s not creepy or anything. I just wish I knew who it was. I’ll call Sheriff Payne later and ask him about it.”
The group stayed for another thirty minutes or so before they started to disperse. Everyone was tired from a long night, and most of them had to be back at work later that day. Ray and Doug lingered along with Ashley and Jewell. As they turned toward the door, Jewell saw a man wearing a hoodie with the hood pulled up hurrying out the door. Immediately, her heart beat quickened and her skin tingled. She grabbed Ashley’s arm.
“What?” Ashley asked, looking at Jewell’s face worriedly.
“He’s here, that was Collin. Come on.” She started dragging Ashley toward the door.
“Jewell, not again. I don’t want to sound negative, but it’s been a week. And besides, don’t you think that if he wanted to see you he would just come up and talk to you? Why would he be stalking around and hiding from you?” By the time she finished, she was practically yelling at Jewell across the restaurant as Jewell ran out the door after the stranger.