Holiday Homecoming Secrets

by Lynette Eason

She shook her head. “But I got the feeling he wasn’t happy with your friend. As I was walking out, I heard him say something like, ‘Stay out of things that don’t concern you. It could be dangerous for your health.’”

  Jade shot a glance at Bryce. “That’s basically what he told us this morning right before the shooting.”

  “Which means he got shot because you were nosing around.”

  “Again, no. If he got shot, it was because he was involved in something he shouldn’t have been.” She paused. “If he was the target.”

  “Mrs. Swift?”

  Jade turned at the new voice to find a woman in scrubs and a surgical cap standing behind them.

  Tony’s wife stood. “Yes. Is he okay?”

  “I’m Dr. Grey. It was touch and go for a while there, but right now your husband’s stable. He’ll be in the ICU for tonight at least. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. A scant inch more to the left and that bullet would have hit his heart.”

  She gasped and paled. Jade placed a hand on her arm. “But it didn’t.”

  “No, it didn’t. You’re right. Should he make it through the night, he’ll have a long road to recovery ahead of him.”

  Mrs. Swift nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Someone will be out to let you know when you can come back to see him.”

  The doctor left, and Jade turned back to the woman. “Can you think of anything else? Any other connection between your husband and Frank Shipman.”

  “No. Nothing.”

  “If you think of anything, will you call?” Jade held out her card.

  Mrs. Swift took it. “Yeah, sure. Excuse me.” She walked toward the restrooms, and Bryce turned to Jade.

  “Now what?” he asked.

  “I’m not quite ready to leave yet. Do you mind if we go down to the cafeteria and talk for a bit? I’ve got some questions for you.”

  He followed her down to the restaurant, where she ordered a coffee. Bryce did the same and they found a table.

  Jade took a sip and tried to find the words that had been burning a hole in her tongue ever since she’d seen Bryce in the old mill. But first... “I shouldn’t have jumped on you about the whole responsibility thing. I’m sorry.” She drew in a deep breath. “If having children isn’t something you want to do, then I shouldn’t make digs about it.” And she shouldn’t, but trying to tell him about Mia was wearing on her. However, she needed to know more about his feelings in order to see if there was a chance that he might change his mind. She’d feel much better about revealing his status as Mia’s father if he was even on the fence about having children. But if he stayed adamantly opposed... “Tell me why you don’t want kids, Bryce. I don’t think I’ve ever actually asked.” A pang of remorse hit her. She’d just assumed that he didn’t want them interfering with his life plans. But maybe it was more than that.

  “Mostly because of my parents. My father in particular. He’s so controlling and cold. I never felt like he loved me—or Kristy.” He swallowed and looked away. “It was almost like he couldn’t. And I just... I just... I can’t take a chance on being the same way with a child of my own.”

  “I remember how he was. I guess I just don’t understand what makes you think you’d be anything like that when you don’t have one ounce of his temperament.” She paused. “And Kristy doesn’t seem to have any issues when it comes to loving her children.”

  He rubbed a hand over his head. “Trust me, I’ve noticed that. Now, what other questions do you have for me?”

  Jade frowned and debated whether she wanted to drop it. Finally, she decided it wouldn’t accomplish anything. And besides, she had other answers she wanted. “I know we already talked about this a little bit, but can you just clarify why you didn’t call me? Me. Specifically me. I thought we were friends. I thought we would at least keep in touch, but...” She spread her hands at a loss for words.

  He looked up and sighed. “I didn’t call anyone, Jade. I was in a bad place for a long time after the explosion.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “I...it was...hard. Three months into serving, our convoy was hit with an IED. I had a long recovery. Surgery, physical therapy and more. I just couldn’t cope with it all, I guess, so I traveled.”

  “Traveled? Where’d you go?”

  “Anywhere the bus went. I saw a lot of the Middle East, Europe, and even made my way to South America at one point.”

  “But you talked to Frank, right?”

  “Every so often. He was my link to this other life that I felt no longer existed for me.”

  She gaped. “No longer existed?”

  Another sigh. “You have to understand. I was dealing with a lot.”

  “And that prevented you from picking up a phone?”

  He shut his eyes for a moment. “Yes. It did.”

  Jade didn’t know what to say or how to react, so she sipped her coffee. Coffee she no longer wanted. Say it. Tell him. “Bryce, there’s something you... I need to say... You have...” She stopped. “I told Frank to ask you to call me. Why didn’t you?”

  His gaze locked on hers. “What?”

  “I told him I needed you to call me. That’s why I’m so...well, angry.” And hurt.

  Bryce frowned. “Frank never told me to call you.”

  She gaped. “I told him several times. And each time he promised he would—and had. When I asked him why I hadn’t heard from you, he always gave me a pretty good answer why you hadn’t called. Why would he lie about that?”

  Bryce shook his head. “I have no idea, unless...”

  “What?”

  “Unless he thought he was protecting me in some way.”

  “Protecting you? From what?”

  He raked a hand over his buzz cut. “From stress. Added pressure. From... I don’t know.” He paused, looked away. “I thought you’d hate me after that night. Your grandmother had just died and you were grieving. You looked to me for comfort and I...” He trailed off, swallowed and met her gaze once more.

  “You didn’t take advantage, Bryce. We’re both responsible for that night.” And she really didn’t want to talk about that.

  He seemed to sense her discomfort. “Why did you want me to call you?”

  “I... It’s... I’m... Because...” She stopped. Why oh why couldn’t she simply say the words? But no, this wasn’t the place to blurt it out. Her mind was still spinning that Frank hadn’t passed on her request for Bryce to call her. “I think it’s time to get out of here.”

  Confusion pulled his brows together. “What is it?”

  “Nothing. At least right now. I can’t think straight. Come on, please. We need to see if Heather’s heard anything from Frank.”

  “She would have called if she’d heard anything.” He dropped his gaze to the cup in his right hand. “I have a bad feeling about him, Jade,” he said softly. “And I don’t like or want that feeling.”

  She blew out a low breath and blinked back a sudden surge of tears. “I know. I have the same feeling.”

  He looked up. “I want to believe he’s alive.”

  “Well, he’s not dead until...we discover differently. That’s why I wanted the cadaver dog out there.” She pressed fingers to her tired eyes, then dropped her hands. “Ready?”

  “Ready for you to tell me whatever it is you’re finding so hard to spit out.”

  She flinched. “This isn’t the time or the place.”

  He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “All right. I can wait. What now?”

  “It’s getting close to five o’clock, and I still need to buy a Christmas tree and take it home while we wait to hear from Heather or...someone who’s seen Frank.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  * * *

  Bryce rode in silence while Jade drove to a Christmas tree lot on the outskirts of town. He absentl
y watched the sun sink behind the horizon while he tried to sort through the fact that Frank hadn’t told him Jade was trying to get in touch with him. He couldn’t fathom that, but he also didn’t see Jade lying about it. She’d been honestly perplexed and angry. And definitely hurt.

  Unless he was right in his thinking that Frank thought he was protecting Bryce in some way, it made no sense that his friend wouldn’t have passed on Jade’s messages to call her.

  But the whole protection angle didn’t sit right with him. He shook his head, wishing he could just ask Frank what he’d been thinking.

  And why had Jade wanted him to call her anyway? He’d figured she’d never want to see or talk to him again after that night. Maybe he should just ask her like he wished he could ask Frank.

  He slid a glance at her and noted her slim but strong hands on the wheel, the confident way she drove and the frown pulling her brows to the bridge of her nose. Instead of broaching subjects that made them both uncomfortable, he took the safe route. “How are you going to tie a tree on top of this SUV? Do you have some cables in here?”

  “I do.” She shot him a sideways glance. “Which is where you come in since you have the honor of accompanying me.” Her tone was light, teasing, but her gaze was serious as it went to the side mirror, then the rearview one.

  “Where I come in? How do you figure?”

  “I’m going to let you help get it up there.” Once again, she checked the mirrors. He did the same and noted traffic, but nothing that warranted her vigilance.

  “Oh.” He tried to figure out how he would do that with one good leg. In his mind, he pictured the process and thought he might be able to do it without looking like an idiot.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Nothing. The kids didn’t want to pick the tree out themselves?”

  She laughed. A real laugh that shot straight to his heart. “I asked them that, but they said no, it was too cold and they’d be content with just decorating it.”

  “Huh. Those sound like some interesting kids you’ve got living with you.”

  “Ha, you’re telling me.” He caught her sideways glance. She opened her mouth, then shut it, did another mirror check and frowned.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Just being careful.”

  “You see something I need to be concerned about?”

  She looked again. “Not right now.”

  “Okay, then what were you going to say just a minute ago?”

  Jade shrugged. “I was thinking about asking if you’d like to come help decorate it, but it would entail hanging out with the children.”

  He sighed. “I don’t dislike children as long as they belong to other people. And I’d love to come help decorate if I can bring my dog.”

  “You have a dog?”

  “I do, but don’t worry. She’s well trained and great with kids.”

  “Then both of you are welcome to come,” she said, pulling into the lot. “Assuming we find a tree under all that snow.”

  “We’ll find one.”

  She got out of the SUV and pulled on her gloves and hat. Bryce slammed the passenger door shut and rounded the front of the vehicle, noting the rows and rows of trees. The sun had completely set, blanketing the area in darkness, but the lights strung from post to post created a festive air of anticipation. A gust of wind whipped around her and she shivered. “I think I’d like to make this a quick shopping trip,” she said.

  “I’m with you.” He pulled the collar of his coat tighter around his neck and slipped his gloves on.

  “Howdy folks.” An older man in his early seventies who looked immune to the cold approached. His thick red-and-black-plaid hat was pulled low over his ears, and he had the matching Sherpa-lined coat buttoned to his chin. “I’m Clay Foster. Let me know when you find what you need. I’m a little short on workers tonight, but that doesn’t seem to matter.” He looked around. “Not many people want to get out in this.” He clasped his gloved hands together, then rubbed them. “Shorter trees are to the left. Taller to the right. When you find the one you want, just let me know. I’ll be in the office in front of the heater.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Jade said.

  He nodded and wandered back to the fifth wheel he’d called his office.

  Bryce looked around. “This place is huge. You could get lost in here.”

  “Maybe once we’re in the middle of the trees, they’ll shield us from the wind.”

  “Good idea.” It helped, but not much. Bryce followed her from one tree to the next, noting she looked at her phone every few minutes. “Nothing about Frank, huh?”

  “No.”

  “I don’t know whether that’s good or bad?”

  “Both,” she muttered.

  Good in that they hadn’t discovered a body. Bad in that no one had found Frank. Her phone rang, and she swiped the screen. “Heather? Are you okay?” She listened for a moment, then nodded at Bryce. “I understand. Yeah. And nothing? Right. Thanks. Stay in touch.”

  “What’d she say?”

  “That she hadn’t heard from Frank, but that she learned he’d stopped by their church yesterday around lunchtime, asking to talk to the pastor who was going to marry them.”

  “About what?”

  “She didn’t know and neither did the pastor—which is where she’s been. She turned her ringer off to talk to him and didn’t notice my call until just now. Anyway, the pastor wasn’t there when Frank dropped in so the church secretary, Donna, scheduled an appointment for tomorrow at ten in the morning.”

  “Wedding ceremony questions or something else?” Bryce muttered.

  “No one but Frank knows that right now, but at least we know where he was later in the day after you talked to him.”

  A particularly hard gust of wind broke through the line of trees, and Bryce shuddered. He was freezing. And he didn’t want to admit it, but his leg was killing him. He started to say something and noticed her attention to a particular tree. “That one?”

  “Yes. This one. It’s perfect.” She checked the price and grimaced but waved to Clay. He nodded he’d be there in a minute, and Bryce breathed a sigh of relief. The tree wasn’t that big and shouldn’t be too hard to handle even with his damaged leg. She rubbed her temple, and he noted the strain around her mouth along with the tight jaw.

  “Head hurting?”

  “Yes. I think I need to take more ibuprofen.”

  “Y’all need help?”

  Bryce nodded to the worker. “That’d be great.”

  “I’ll pay while you guys get the tree taken care of, if that’s all right,” Jade said.

  “Great,” Bryce said. At least if he fumbled the tree, she wouldn’t be around to witness it.

  He looked at Clay. “Ready?”

  “Let’s do it.”

  * * *

  Jade headed for the office, pulling her wallet from her purse and doing her best to ignore the increased pounding in her head. Pounding caused by more than her physical injury. His words continued to echo even as she tried to plan to tell him about Mia—which was part of the reason she wanted to invite him to help with the tree. He didn’t mind children as long as they belonged to other people.

  Would she be doing the right thing in telling him about Mia when he clearly wasn’t interested in being a father? Would the knowledge do more harm than good? Just because he deserved to know didn’t mean it was the best thing for him to actually know.

  Her main concern was what was best for Mia. She had to put her first. But she should at least introduce Bryce to Mia so she could see them together and then make a decision about telling him. She groaned. What an absolutely horrid plan.

  A crunch of a footstep on snow from behind her brought her to a halt, and she turned. The snow-covered path was empty. For a moment, she stood there, examining t
he area. Only the row of trees greeted her, and the shiver that swept through her had nothing to do with the cold. After the attack at the mill, then the shooting at the range, she was jumpy.

  Jade picked up the pace and wished the office wasn’t so far away. She replaced her wallet and slung the purse over shoulder, then removed the glove from her right hand. She glanced around once more, noting the empty area. It was late, and most families who’d visited had done so during the daylight hours. Clay had been right. Not many people wanted to get out in this weather, not to mention the dark. She reached for the weapon that rested in her shoulder holster.

  Just as her fingers curled over it, the lights flickered, then went out. Darkness covered her. A rush of footsteps pounded behind her. As she turned, she pulled her weapon, and something wrapped around her throat. Squeezing. Warm breath panted against her right ear.

  Panic flared. Her gun tumbled from her fingers and she grasped at the cord around her neck. With no time to scream, her only thought was she didn’t want to die like this. Jade kicked back and connected with a shin. The person gasped and let out a low grunt. For a moment, she could breathe and managed to shove a hand up under the cable milliseconds before it drew tight again. Her frantic brain registered rubber. Not wire.

  Adrenaline racing, she curled her fingers around the vise and pulled, but the person behind her was strong and using Jade’s own hand to press against her throat to cut off her air. A squeak escaped from her and she jabbed back with her opposite elbow, despairing when she hit nothing. Stars started to dance in front of her eyes. Please God! I don’t want to leave the children. Please!

  “Jade!”

  Bryce!

  “Hey, Jade! Where are you?”

  Then she was free. She sank to her knees, gasping, dragging in deep breaths of cold air. She scrambled to her feet, hand searching for her weapon. Her fingers brushed over it, and she snagged it as a light bounced off the ground and into her face. She held up a hand to block the glare and spun to look in the direction the person had gone, but the darkness was complete. Dizziness hit her and she sank to the ground once more, coughing.

  “Jade, what happened?” Bryce was there, hands on her shoulders.