Eyes of a Stanger

by Rachel Ann Nunes

  “Well, that was the last pill. I’m taking something else from now on—if I need to.” Autumn rolled her eyes. “As it is, you two are probably never going to let me live this down.”

  Bret noticed Autumn said nothing about her tears for Winter. He’d have to tell Tawnia later so she wouldn’t leave her alone too long.

  “So,” he said, approaching the women, “you were going to tell us about the firefighter’s kiss?” His stomach tightened at the thought, though he knew she had every right to kiss anyone she pleased.

  “It was nothing.” Tawnia avoided his gaze.

  He arched a brow. “Actually, I think you said amazing.”

  “The date was amazing. Or at least flying in the helicopter. I never imagined how beautiful the lights over the city were at night. The only bad part was seeing the bri—never mind.”

  “What about the kiss!” Autumn said in apparent agony. “Tell me about that.”

  Tawnia glanced at Bret. “What kiss?”

  Autumn groaned. “The one you were doing just a minute ago in this apartment. Don’t tell me you didn’t! I heard the silence. The long silence. It was all I could do not to peek! Must have been some kiss.”

  Tawnia said nothing. Instead, she studied the antique figurines on the coffee table.

  Sighing, Autumn turned to Bret. “She’s not going to tell me anything with you here. You know she’s not.” She came around the couch and started pushing him toward the door with her good arm. “Thanks for staying with me tonight, Bret. I really appreciate it. Next time I’ll take you out, okay? It’s the least I can do.”

  “Wait a minute.” Bret wanted to hear about the kiss too. Had Tawnia fallen for this guy? What was so great about him anyway? He was old, for crying out loud. Just because he was a firefighter with a build to match and obviously knew how to impress a girl didn’t mean he was a good person. It didn’t mean his kisses were amazing.

  They had reached the door, and somehow he already had his suit jacket over his arm. Autumn was looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to leave. Tawnia gazed at him from the other side of the couch, biting her bottom lip. She was beautiful. Her hair was slightly windblown, her face flushed, and that red dress did fabulous things for her figure. It was all he could do not to march around the couch and kiss her himself.

  He’d show her amazing.

  “Good-bye, Bret,” she called.

  Hot fury came over him for no reason he could determine. He fought it down. Why was he being so stupid? He turned toward the door.

  “Oh, wait!” Tawnia walked around the couch to where they stood. “I don’t know if it means anything, but I thought I should mention it. Orion”—she reddened at his name—“had a drawing in his wallet of his daughter that looked like that other drawing you had.”

  Bret blinked. “His daughter is Sheree?”

  “I thought she was dead,” added Autumn.

  “No, the girl isn’t the same. The drawing was similar. Maybe the same artist or the same style. Something. I couldn’t see a signature.”

  Bret fought down his disappointment. “Well, I suppose that doesn’t make a lot of difference if it’s not the same girl. Hanks could have drawn pictures of a lot of people.”

  “I take it you’ve had no luck identifying the girl?” Tawnia asked.

  “No luck at all. But I gave a copy to a guy who works for the county, and I’m hoping he finds someone who knows something.”

  Autumn frowned. “I showed all my customers today. I forgot to give Jake a copy, though. He could be showing it too.”

  Bret reached into his jacket pocket where he had folded the last two copies. “Here, take one of these. But I really wonder if we’ve hit a dead end with her. Might not find anything unless the police and FBI are brought in.”

  “Hanks hasn’t said anything yet?”

  “No. But he’ll have to soon. Rumor is they’re bringing in a lie detector.”

  Tawnia whistled.

  Autumn’s expression was intense. “Good. I hope they find the jerk responsible and lock him up forever.”

  Bret gazed at Tawnia and Autumn, noting again their similarity. But he could tell them apart immediately, and not only from the flushed and dreamy look on Tawnia’s face.

  Amazing. He could do amazing.

  Tawnia bent to pick up the red high heels by the door and started back to the couch.

  “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Bret said to Autumn. Then he did what he should have done earlier. He put his arms around her and gave her a long, hard kiss.

  An amazing kiss.

  Maybe.

  Autumn had to catch her breath when the kiss was finished. She smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

  Bret sauntered from the room, but as he closed the door, he looked over his shoulder and saw Tawnia staring at him with a blank look on her face. Completely emotionless. He’d seen the look before when he’d told her he couldn’t stop thinking about Christian. On the day he’d called it quits between them. She had looked exactly this way, and the expression had haunted him because it so contrasted with the vibrantly alive woman he had come to care about. He’d told himself it was because she hadn’t really cared or because she knew he was right.

  Now he wasn’t so sure.

  Chapter 19

  Tawnia stretched in Autumn’s bed, looking around the room with leisure since it was a Saturday and she didn’t have work. The room was an odd mixture of child and adult. Autumn must have saved every favorite toy she’d ever owned—dolls, stuffed animals, and boxes of games. The most interesting display was a doll with a pink watch that sat on a shelf in the middle of a train set. The adult Autumn seemed to enjoy pottery with odd colors or pottery with faces. One clay coffee cup had a frog sitting in the bottom. A huge, beaded macramé wall hanging decorated the wall behind the bed. The room was full, vibrant, and alive. Almost too smothering for Tawnia. So different from the uncluttered way she ran her life.

  A tap on the door came, followed by Autumn’s voice. “Tawnia? Can I come in?”

  Tawnia sat up. Now would come the talk. Last night after Bret left, Tawnia had felt too tired to share the evening with Autumn. Something inside her had wanted only to curl up in the bed and stop thinking.

  “Come in,” she called, but Autumn was already pushing the door open. She was dressed in army pants and a brown shirt made of stretchy material.

  “All you’re missing is army boots,” Tawnia said, pushing herself to a seated position. “You going somewhere?”

  “The store. It’s not closed on Saturday.” Autumn grimaced. “That’s one drawback of working for yourself.” She sat on the end of the bed, drawing her bare feet under her as she always did. Tawnia felt a little self-conscious in her pale pink nightie. As far as she knew, Autumn either wore her clothes or her underwear to bed. She immediately repented of the thought. After all, Autumn had been through a lot in the past week, and sleepwear wouldn’t be high on her list of priorities.

  “How’s the arm?” she asked.

  “Fine. Only seems to hurt at night.” There were deep circles under Autumn’s eyes, as though she hadn’t slept.

  “You should have woken me if you needed something.”

  Autumn shook her head. “It wasn’t that. Not really.” She fell silent, as though thinking. Her eyes lifted to Tawnia’s. “I saw your face when Bret kissed me. You still have feelings for him, don’t you?”

  Tawnia felt her face coloring as she answered slowly. “I don’t think it really matters. Bret told me in no uncertain terms that he couldn’t have a relationship with me because of his brother.”

  “You were with him when he died.”

  “It was our first date.”

  “Was he cute?”

  Tawnia smiled despite her growing urge to cry. “Adorable. All the women at work wanted to go out with him, and he went out with a lot of them. Never lasted. I don’t know why. He wasn’t a lot like me . . . or Bret. He was a lot like, well, the wind or something. He drift
ed a lot. But he was happy.” She snorted. “Most of this I learned afterwards, from Bret. The truth is I didn’t know Christian that well, but Bret seems to think I would have been the lucky girl to marry him. For Bret, even being with me was betraying his brother.”

  “And what do you think?”

  “I think Christian would have introduced me to Bret and that would have been that.”

  “Christian would have stepped aside?”

  “I don’t know. I could be totally wrong. Christian did have a way of making life seem wonderful. I felt free when I was with him—and that was actually a little scary at times. But in the end, it really doesn’t matter. He’s dead. It was a horrible accident, but I can’t make choices for the rest of my life based on what might have been.”

  Autumn sighed. “You should have told me you liked Bret. I wouldn’t have let him kiss me.”

  “Like I told you, it doesn’t matter.”

  “You’re wrong. Bret may have looked like he was kissing me last night, but it was you he wanted.”

  “That’s not true!”

  “Then why was he so mad at you for kissing Orion? And for saying it was amazing?”

  “He wasn’t mad.”

  Autumn sighed again, this time more loudly. “We can talk about this later. I have to get to work.”

  “I could go with you.” Facing the day in this overstuffed apartment wasn’t appealing to Tawnia. “I’d be interested to see how you spend your days.”

  Autumn grinned. “I’d love to have you. Saturday is usually my biggest day. Of course, it may shock the customers when two of us show up.”

  Tawnia pulled her feet from the blanket and swung them to the carpet. “That reminds me. I was going to call the adoption agency, if they’re open.”

  “We won’t be that busy. You’ll have time.”

  “So does this mean I finally get to meet Jake?”

  “Yep, dreadlocks and all. Just don’t get any ideas romantically,” Autumn added. “Two men seem to be more than you can handle.”

  “One man, you mean. And Orion is nice, if impractical.”

  Autumn bounced from the bed. “Girl, I should have gone on that date. It’s right up my alley. I would have relished every minute and not given a thought to how much it cost or what Orion planned for a future.”

  Tawnia was tempted to say Autumn could have the next date, but she wasn’t ready to give up on Orion yet. There was something about him that appealed to her—and not just the way he kissed. “I think,” she said, as she picked up the bag with her toiletries to take to the bathroom, “that Orion is looking for something permanent.”

  “Well, he is the marrying type. After all, he did marry once before.”

  Was she implying Bret wasn’t the marrying type? Well, it didn’t matter, because as Tawnia had told herself a hundred times before, Bret didn’t want her.

  • • •

  Jake was better looking than Autumn had let on. Tawnia had thought dreadlocks would make him look like a gangster, but the small, chin-length locks were close to his head and very neat. His dark, handsome face was enough to make a woman’s heart beat faster. That is, if she didn’t already have more men than she could handle at the moment.

  Jake’s face lit up as he spied Autumn, and he did a double take as he saw Tawnia behind her. “My sister told me you two looked alike, but this is crazy.” He walked around them, eyeing them up and down until Autumn punched him with her good arm.

  “Stop that! You have a customer. Didn’t you hear the bell?”

  Jake glanced toward the door that joined the two shops. “They can wait. It’s not every day I get to see two women as beautiful as you.”

  Autumn rolled her eyes. “That reminds me. I forgot to show you this the other day.” She pulled out a copy of the drawing from her bag. “Ever seen this woman before?”

  Jake glanced at it, his face becoming serious. “I know her. I mean I’ve seen her quite a few times down at that club I go to. Danced with her once. Her hair’s something else, but she’s definitely not the sort of woman I like. Too much makeup and way too fresh. You know the kind. You’ve probably seen her there yourself one of the times we’ve gone dancing together.”

  “I guess I don’t notice the women much.”

  “You’re too busy dancing, that’s what. But what’s this girl got to do with anything, anyway?” Jake adjusted his position to get a better view of the customer in the herb store.

  “I can’t tell you, except that it’s related to the bridge bombing.”

  Jake stared at Autumn, his customer forgotten. “Did you just say bombing?”

  Autumn glanced at Tawnia helplessly. Tawnia shrugged. “That’s what she said, but it’s a secret, Jake. At least so far. We know an engineer who’s working with the FBI on the case. You can’t tell anyone.”

  “Please don’t ask me any more,” Autumn added. “I’m going to be in trouble for saying that much.”

  Jake studied her for a long moment before speaking. “Okay, babe, have it your way, but I’m here to talk to if you need me. If you want to find that woman, you should go to the club tonight. Saturdays are big. She’ll probably be there.” He walked to the adjoining door with a lazy grace that fascinated Tawnia, pausing at the double doors. “That reminds me,” he added, “there was some reporter here just before you arrived. Said he was trying to find the woman whose father was still missing. Told him I’d call the police if I saw him here again, but you know reporters. Let me know if you need me to run someone off. You’ll have to be careful now at your place.”

  “Looks like you should stay with me for a few days,” Tawnia said as Jake disappeared.

  “Think your landlady will go for it?”

  “If we explain the circumstances. Mrs. Gerbert likes you. You know, Jake is really . . . well, hot. Seems nice, too.”

  “Yeah, I guess.” Autumn walked over to the counter where the computer sat.

  “You and he ever go out?”

  “Go out with Jake?” Autumn looked so shocked that Tawnia laughed.

  “Don’t look surprised. He’s got to be near our age. And he mentioned going dancing with you.”

  “That was a group of us.”

  “Well, why not go out with him?” Tawnia knew that if she had been considering dating Jake, her mother wouldn’t approve because of their racial difference, but Autumn’s upbringing had been completely different. The color of the heart was important, not the color of the face.

  Autumn shook her head. “We’re friends. Good friends. I don’t want to ruin that. And he’s been there for me since Winter . . .” She blew out a shaky breath. “Is it crazy for me to think Winter might still be alive?”

  Tawnia didn’t mind the change of subject. That’s how grief was for Autumn, she’d learned. Completely rational one minute and obsessing the next. She’d learned not to take either too seriously. “Not crazy, just improbable—as you pointed out yourself. In your place, though, I think I’d feel the same way. It’s normal.”

  Autumn picked up a few papers on the counter and moved them to new random spots. “I don’t feel normal. I feel lost.”

  Tawnia covered Autumn’s hand with hers. “You have friends. Don’t forget that.”

  Autumn smiled. “What’s your father like?”

  “I don’t know.” Tawnia shook her head, feeling the load of wasted years. “He worked hard, expected a lot of me. Too much, I always thought. But lately I’ve been thinking that maybe I’m as successful as I am today because he taught me how to work.”

  “He wasn’t very loving, was he?”

  “Not in the way I think Winter was. But if I needed something, he was there. Even today, he and my mother would be on the next plane here if that’s what it took.” Tawnia blinked back the tears. It was hard to admit that many of the youthful conflicts with her parents had probably been her fault. “I’m so sorry, Autumn. Sorry about Winter. I wish I’d known him.”

  Autumn sniffed. “Thank you. Now you’d better
go call that adoption place right away. My phone book’s in the back. I’m going to tape this drawing to the back of my computer so everyone can see it, and then I’ll call Bret to let him know we’re going dancing tonight.” She gave Tawnia a mischievous look. “Too bad we can’t invite Orion and make it a double.”

  “Like that’s going to happen any time soon.” Tawnia almost volunteered to call Bret herself, but the memory of his kissing Autumn was too fresh in her mind. How would she feel if they became serious? What if they ended up getting married? In a few days she’d grown so close to Autumn. As close as a sister. She didn’t want to give that up, but seeing Bret every day at arm’s length would be torture.

  Biting her lip at the thought, Tawnia practically sprinted to the back room.

  Taking her cell from her purse, she dialed the number of the adoption agency. After three rings, someone picked up. “Children’s Hope. How may I help you?”

  “This isn’t the answering service, is it?” Tawnia asked.

  “No, this is Lynn Fairchild. I’m a receptionist here at Children’s Hope.”

  “Then you’re open today.” Tawnia felt stupid as soon as the question left her lips. Why else would they be answering?

  “Yes, we’re open every Saturday morning. How can I help you? Are you a prospective parent or a birth mother?”

  Tawnia sank into the ratty easy chair by the fridge. “Actually, I’m an adopted child.”

  “I see. And what can I do for you?”

  “Well, I was wondering if you can give me any details about my adoption.”

  “Name please. And date of birth.”

  Tawnia gave her the information, trying not to hope too much. Autumn peeked in on her, and she shook her head to tell her she hadn’t come up with anything yet.

  “I’m sorry, those records are closed,” the woman said. “I really wish I could help you. I can put a note in your file, though, in case the other party comes in.”

  “What if she’s dead?”

  “I wouldn’t have that information.”

  Tawnia fought down her frustration. “Look, do you have a Mrs. Mendenhall who works for you? I’d like to talk to her. If she’s still working there, I mean.”