Sanctuary Buried WITSEC Town Series Book 2

by Lisa Phillips

  “Your hair is red.”

  Frannie giggled and touched the side of her hair. “I was wondering if you were going to notice.”

  “I noticed how good you look, but I only just realized what was different.” He wanted to kick himself. “So, yeah. I’m a guy. We knew that.” He felt his cheeks warm and bet it didn’t look nearly as good as when Frannie blushed.

  She chuckled more, and he crossed the room to stand in front of her. “I really like your hair, Frannie.”

  It was red with some blonde and rust colored stripes. She’d curled it so it was sort of wavy and hung around her face.

  “Nadia Marie did it this afternoon, so take your fill because it’s never going to look this good again. It never does, no matter how hard I try to recreate what she did.”

  Matthias wanted to stand this close to her for longer, but if he did then he’d end up doing something impulsive—like kissing her. He’d have to apologize, and she’d think he felt guilty when the likelihood was he wouldn’t regret it in the slightest.

  “So what were you thinking you wanted to do with this place?”

  Frannie looked aside, biting her lip. “I’m still figuring that out. I think I want another option for somewhere to stay, like if I have to work late and be back early then I won’t have to go home if I don’t want to.”

  Matthias found a folded table and perched on the edge trying to act as unassuming as possible, which was difficult considering how big he was. “Is everything okay at home?”

  Frannie shrugged. “I just need some space sometimes.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “I’m sure you can. I only have one sister and my mom. You have three sisters and your brother. Your mom is really cool, though.”

  “When she’s not complaining to all of us about the fact she only has the twins for grandkids. Apparently there should be a whole lot more by now, even though Sofia’s barely twenty and Maria’s the only one who’s married.”

  Frannie chuckled. “I can see Diego wanting to spread his wild oats around town, but that’d be a little awkward if he starts building a family, or multiple families, that way.”

  Matthias groaned just thinking about it. “I’d like to argue he’s more mature than that, but it’s probably not true.”

  Thinking about Antonia and Sofia made Matthias want to swing by their nursery tomorrow. His sisters were a lot like Frannie, except that they created gardens instead of cake. If there was a problem they’d keep it to themselves in order to avoid the drama of asking for help. He had to pry everything out of them, but at least if he went and paid them a visit he’d be able to look in their eyes and know for sure whether everything was fine. He hadn’t had the chance to speak to them at the twins’ party, and they could lie way too easily over the phone.

  He looked around again. “So you’re looking to turn this into a real living space?”

  Frannie tipped her head to the side, motioning at another door he hadn’t looked in yet. “In there is the bakery office, so that’s clean and usable at least. The kitchen can be cleaned up, but I can cook most things downstairs. I’d like to get some furniture, and maybe a TV out here and for the bathroom to work. The second bedroom would be a good place to have for storage, since I can get a pull out couch in the living area to sleep on.” She shrugged. “I don’t need much more than a studio apartment would give me.”

  Sanctuary wasn’t a town for those accustomed to a certain level of affluence in their lifestyle. He knew from around town, and who her mom was, that Frannie had grown up rich. Her father had been some kind of big-wig, and it was obvious her bakery was doing well. But he didn’t think she was in this for the sake of raking in bundles of cash. Not if she had to save for a lock, or to fix her oven.

  “I can take a look at the oven for you, too. If you want.”

  “That would be great. But aren’t you busy—” She hesitated, like she was searching for the word. “—branding cows, and stuff like that?”

  Matthias pinched his lips together to keep from laughing. Yep, she was a city girl. “We only raise cows for food. We don’t have to brand them because you only do that when you want to claim them as yours, like if you’re going to sell them. There aren’t any other ranches in Sanctuary, so if there’s a cow inside these mountains then it’s ours. We do count them a lot, though, to make sure none got lost in the woods. And we have the other animals to take care of.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “I’d like to help you out, Frannie. However much you want to use this apartment, it’ll just be nice for you to have personal space. Like you said.” He nodded. “I’ll come by tomorrow with my tools and get started with a look at your oven. Then we’ll clear some of this stuff into your second bedroom.”

  Frannie sputtered. “Oh, okay.”

  “You don’t want me to do it?”

  “It just…uh, tomorrow? That might be—”

  “Moving too fast?” Matthias felt his lips twitch. Could he help it if he wanted to jump into this? Frannie had handed him the perfect opportunity to spend more time with her. He wasn’t going to dig his heels in.

  He stepped closer to her then, succumbing to the temptation of seeing whether her hair was as soft as it looked.

  It was.

  “I’ll go as fast or as slow as you want me to, Frannie.” He paused, watching as her eyes flared. Here with her it was like they were the only two people in the world—a fact which could cause him to easily go against his convictions. “But not tonight.”

  He stepped back.

  “Excuse me?”

  Matthias stuck his hands in his pockets, like all that hadn’t just happened. Like his heart wasn’t racing. Like he didn’t want to kiss her until she got that breathless look again. “I have somewhere to be tonight. I’m going to be in Andy and Shelby’s play this season.”

  “You are?”

  “Sure.” He shrugged, like it should’ve been obvious a rancher would also be an aspiring thespian. “My name came up, and I didn’t think I could get out of it this time.”

  “I’m going to be in it, too.”

  “Serious?” Matthias reacted like this was a complete surprise. In reality, the minute he’d seen Frannie’s name on the list he’d jumped at the chance. “Much Ado About Nothing, right?”

  “I couldn’t believe they decided to do it. It’s my favorite Shakespeare play.”

  “It’s a good one?” He would have read it, but he was in the middle of a Carl Gabriel novel, and he didn’t cheat.

  She grinned. “The best.”

  Matthias rocked back and forth on his boots. “Want to walk over to the Meeting House together?”

  “Sure.” Frannie motioned with the letter. “Let me just toss this on my desk for later, and I’ll be right out.”

  **

  The chairs in the Meeting House were still set up from church the day before. Andy and Shelby Evangeline sat at the front. Shelby had on her usual floral cotton dress she’d sewed herself, and Andy wore an ugly brown pair of slacks with a mustard colored shirt. The strands of his hair that remained were combed over the top of his head from ear to ear.

  Frannie chose a folding chair halfway back and Matthias sat beside her. There were about fifteen people scattered around. She wanted to focus, but all she could think about was how close Matthias was. They’d gone from passing acquaintances to nicknames and whispered sweet words in two days. It wasn’t her headache muddling her thoughts anymore. Tias’s closeness, the rich scent of his aftershave and the fact he grinned every time their eyes met was succeeding at it just fine.

  Shelby stood, her blonde perm jiggling with the movement. “Welcome, welcome everyone!”

  Andy removed the spectacles from his breast pocket and unfolded them to perch on his nose. “Thank you all for—”

  Nadia Marie squeezed in front of Matthias and slumped into the seat beside Frannie. She grinned, out of breath, and whispered, “Hi.”

  Frannie grinned back. “Hi.”
r />   Nadia Marie leaned forward. “Hi, Matt.”

  He leaned forward too. “Hi, Nads.”

  Nadia Marie giggled.

  Andy cleared his throat. “As I was saying—” He narrowed his eyes at Nadia Marie. “We’re glad you’re all here, supporting community arts in Sanctuary. Shelby and I have enjoyed every one of the one hundred thirty-three plays we have put on since we arrived in town over thirty years ago. You all know how this works, although some of you haven’t performed with us before. If you’re new, welcome.”

  He paused, his smile lighting on Frannie. “We’ll start every meeting and rehearsal with a prayer. You will all receive your assigned part and a copy of the script tonight. We have six weeks before opening night. Bolton Farrera has kindly offered to assist us in building the set.”

  Both Nadia Marie and Matthias reacted. Nadia, clearly surprised Bolton would be part of the play, while Matthias snorted at Andy’s explanation of the ranch boss “offering” to help. Frannie decided he’d probably found out Nadia Marie was involved.

  Andy continued talking, gesturing with his long, pale fingers as he spoke. Frannie only wanted to know what part she was supposed to play. She’d told Tias the truth, mostly because she was too freaked by his behavior to do anything but react honestly. Much Ado About Nothing was her favorite Shakespeare play.

  Now she only wanted to know how much stage time she was going to get with Tias and exactly how Andy and Shelby had modernized it. Not to mention they always insisted on messing with their plays so that one of the characters “shared Jesus” with another character—and the audience. Usually it wasn’t too groan-worthy.

  Father Wilson, the town’s multi-denominational minister, stood. His grizzly face never moved, so Frannie wasn’t convinced he actually knew how to smile. He resembled the priest from when she’d gone to church as a child, with a side of “enforcer.” She’d be too scared to make confession with him, worried he’d probably murder her for being such a sinner. It had been years and years since her last confession. How many Hail Mary’s would he make her say for that?

  If Frannie wanted to find out, she’d have to miss work to make the mass he performed every morning. Ten-thirty on Sundays was the more casual, evangelical church service.

  Father Wilson’s words filtered through, sentiments that covered doing everything as “unto the Lord” and asking Him to bless the play. Frannie shifted in her seat. She just wanted to act. Why couldn’t they get on with that? Why did their beliefs have to be part of everything they did?

  Tias’s warm fingers entwined with hers. His skin was rough. He squeezed her hand, but then didn’t pull his back. Apparently he was fine with prayer being a part of the play. He attended Sunday services, and also mass with his family. All of Olympia’s children did. What Frannie didn’t know was why Matthias continued to do it even when he didn’t have to. Frannie had stopped as soon as her father died. He’d been the one who dragged them all to church all the time, like paying homage to God would make him a better person.

  Sins couldn’t be washed away like that. There had to be a cost. It didn’t make sense any other way.

  Father Wilson said “amen,” and Frannie looked up. His gaze locked on her. Tias moved to pull his hand away, but she held on tighter.

  Father Wilson nodded to Andy, walked around the chairs and left. That was when Frannie let go of Tias’s hand.

  Nadia Marie leaned closer. “You okay?”

  Frannie nodded, while Andy read from his clipboard a list of names and what part they would be playing. When he announced Nadia Marie Carleigh would play the part of Hero, the female half of the sweet, misunderstood couple, Nadia made a fist and punched the air. “Oh, yeah.” She leaned in again and whispered to Frannie and Tias. “I gave her a free perm, and she hooked me up.”

  Frannie laughed, even though inside she was a little disappointed she and Tias weren’t going to get to play the tragically in love couple who were messed with by all the other characters. Still, there were good parts left.

  “Terrence Evangeline.” Aaron and Shelby both smiled at their son, who was pushing late thirties and yet still lived at home with them. “You’ll be playing Claudius.”

  Nadia Marie groaned, although she tried to cover it up for the sake of Terrence, who was beaming at her like he’d just won the lottery. Frannie was just glad they didn’t make Tias Nadia’s love interest. That would have sucked if she’d had to watch them fall in love. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? Maybe she wouldn’t be able to do this—not if she had to watch him kiss someone else.

  Frannie bit her lip. That wasn’t why she was here. She wanted to do this because it made her happy, and she needed to do that more. It didn’t matter what her mom and sister thought.

  “Matthias Hernandez,” Andy searched the group until he found him beside Frannie and nodded. “You’ll be playing Benedict.”

  Frannie grinned.

  His gaze was on her. “Is that good?”

  “That’s really good.” While Frannie was going to enjoy watching him be snarky, pretentious, and unwilling to admit he secretly loved…

  “Francine Peters, you’ll be playing Beatrice.”

  Frannie nearly squealed. But that would be unprofessional. Instead she grinned at Nadia Marie so hard her cheeks hurt. Nadia knew what that meant, because the only person Tias would be falling in love with during this play, was her.

  Tias nudged her. “Benedict and Beatrice?”

  Frannie nodded. “This is going to be a lot of fun.” She was going to get to be just as snarky, pretentious and unwilling to admit she secretly loved Matthias back.

  One out of three was good enough. The rest was all about the power of theater.

  Andy clapped. “Frannie, Matthias. Why don’t you, along with Terrence and Nadia Marie, come up to the front.” He listed off a few more names. “We’ll run through some lines just to get a feel for how you’ll work together.”

  They all stood. Frannie’s stomach churned as she took her script from Shelby, and they assembled in front of everyone. She was really doing this. She glanced at Tias, and he gave her a nervous smile. Frannie flipped to the right page and silently read through the scene they would be working on. She chuckled, realizing it was the first scene where the men were returning from war and Beatrice was asking after Benedict and trying not to sound concerned as to whether he’d lived or died.

  The Meeting House doors flung open and her mom strode in. Hair poofed out to maximum volume, Mimi strode through the room like her tiny outfit was a gown and this was red carpet, opening night. She saw Frannie and her steps faltered. “You’re in the play?”

  Frannie nodded. Her stomach churned, which wasn’t good since she hadn’t eaten dinner.

  “How…nice.” Mimi sat, smoothing down what there was of her skirt. She motioned with her hand like a queen. “Please, continue.”

  Frannie glanced at Andy, who nodded. She cleared her throat and lowered the papers to her side, her attention on the general store clerk who would be playing the messenger. “If my lord comes, you must prepare a great feast. For he has a healthy appetite, a truly excellent stomach.”

  Matthias, off to one side, grinned.

  The exchange continued, with Frannie and the messenger, the Lord of the manor and Nadia Marie all chirping in remarks.

  “Excellent!” Andy clapped. “We’re going to do well, I feel.” He glanced at the group at large. “I need only Terrence, Nadia Marie, Matthias and Frannie now. I’ll see the rest of you tomorrow night.”

  People dispersed, but Mimi kept her seat. What was she still doing there? But then she got up, ignoring Andy and Shelby and walked straight to Frannie. She snatched Frannie’s script from her hands and looked at the page.

  “Mom—”

  Mimi shot her a scathing look and then flipped pages, finally settling on a scene closer to the end.

  Shelby said in a soft voice, “Mrs. Peters, could you—”

  Mimi shoved the script back at Frannie.
“Let’s do this scene.” She glanced at Frannie. “I’ll show you how to give it some real zing.”

  “Mimi—”

  Her mom ignored her, striding over to Matthias. He took a step back, but Mimi moved closer. She settled two hands on his chest and leaned in.

  Frannie didn’t hear the words. All she heard was a rushing in her ears. Matthias’s ears went red, the same way they had upstairs at the bakery when he was embarrassed.

  “Mom. We’re doing fine.”

  She didn’t explicitly tell her to get out, but it was implied. And everyone else knew that. So why did her mom ignore her?

  “Mom!”

  Mimi spun around, her face contorted with rage. “I’m only trying to help! You need more…” Her wave incorporated the whole of Frannie. “More.”

  Behind her, Nadia Marie smirked and shook her head. “Not with that hair.”

  Mimi’s gaze darted back to survey Frannie’s hair and widened.

  Frannie said, “We’ve only just started. We’ll let you know later if we need coaching, or whatever. Okay?”

  Mimi vacillated, like maybe she wasn’t going to give in. Did she ever? “Fine.” She stormed back to the seats. Apparently, even with the miracle of her backing down, she was still staying.

  Andy motioned to Frannie. “Please begin on page one hundred eighty-seven.”

  Frannie nodded. In the corner of her eye she could see her mom, seething. But she had to do this. If her mom was here during the performance she’d have to get through it. She might as well learn how to deal with her presence now.

  Frannie stepped into the middle of the space. Matthias did the same so that they were face-to-face but not crowding each other like her mom had been. She could smell her mom’s perfume on him.

  Matthias leaned in and whispered, “You don’t need more anything. You are already more everything than her.”

  Chapter 8

  Early the next morning Matthias strode through rows of potted flowers for sale outside the nursery. He acknowledged the guy his sisters and brother-in-law had hired with what the girls called, “the guy nod.”