by Cross, Daryn
She sighed. “Sorry. It’s just that I’m concerned about Roxie. She was supposed to meet me for lunch and never showed. I got a voice message from her saying she was having an encounter and then she giggled. I have no idea if it was of the third kind or a man swept her away. Let me tell you, aliens are easier to believe.”
Crandall tried to keep from smiling. “That’s not very nice to say about your own sister.”
She shook her head. “I am such a sorry representative for kinship, but honesty made me tell you the naked truth. Mama told me never to lie. It’s true as the mole on her neck, honey, my sister looks like Ugly Betty on her worst day compared to Angelina Jolie. The only time the woman ever had a date was when I paid Clyde Forrester to take her to the Senior Prom.”
“Come on, Trix,” Zack chuckled. “Roxie is a widow if I remember correctly.”
Trixie slapped her hand down on the table. “That was a miracle. I’m surprised we didn’t witness the second coming. My only explanation is the man had a death wish. After he married her, he went off to war the next day.” She shook her head again. “And when that didn’t kill him, he jumped out in front of a tractor-trailer on his first leave. Honest to God, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear the man did all of it just to keep from ever coming home to her. Better to go out as a hero or even an accident victim than die as a stupid horny fool.”
Crandall held her sides she was laughing so hard. “You aren’t being serious?”
Trixie grinned. “Not about most of it, but she is homely. And now she appears to be missing. That woman never misses a good meal. Of that fact I’m dead right as a door nail. This has to be serious and I doubt it’s because of a man.”
Zack whistled low as Trixie got up and went over to wait on a customer. “She’s right when she says Roxie normally doesn’t stray too far away from home. The woman gives homebody a new definition. She’s either there or at her bridal shop. The woman’s knitted more sweaters than the local knitting mill. If she did hook up with Xavier Washington, it concerns me, and not because he’d do anything physically wrong to her.”
“Why?” Crandall put down her napkin.
“She’s Briny Bay’s very own Mouth of the South.”
“I thought Trixie was the town gossip.”
“It runs in the family.” He smirked. “Their mother had a thing about names with an ‘x’ in them, at least for the females. Maybe she met Xavier Washington. He has an ‘x’ in his name.”
At his sudden lurch, Crandall glanced up into his face. “What’s wrong?”
“I just realized if she did, maybe that’s the reason he didn’t show. It’s not a good thing, not a good thing at all.” He growled the words in a low tone like before your best guard dog lunges at a menacing intruder.
“I don’t understand.”
“If he contacted her, he had to be milking her for information about me.”
She cocked her head sideways. “Do you have a secret only hometown residents would know?”
He stared at her, his lips flat in a thin line. “Didn’t you have one? Whatever you do, don’t listen to what the creep tells you without asking me about it afterwards.”
Curiosity smacked into her like throwing cold water on her face. Crandall wondered what Xavier could discover that had Zack this nervous.
****
That night after dinner, which they’d had out since Miriam Graham was avoiding Crandall, they’d retired early. Crandall was exhausted, but after she lay in her bed for more than an hour, sleep still eluded her. She had a lot to be thankful for. The day had been relatively uneventful. She’d breathed a sigh of relief when Xavier hadn’t shown up for the competition. So what if she’d lost? She didn’t even care at this juncture. What she hoped for was a quiet exit from town still feeling great about Zack and especially about herself. This time, she thought she’d get her wish. With that much put to rest, she finally gave in to the reason for her insomnia.
Knocking on Zack’s door, Crandall almost reconsidered her move. He was probably already asleep. He wasn’t like her, all stirred up with sexual feelings. There wasn’t any way he would be as silly as to think they could really get together now. Who was she kidding? She turned to leave. He probably didn’t think about doing what she just did and….
The door opened, and he grabbed her wrist without one word, pulling her inside and sliding her back against the door once he’d closed it. His hands propped on both sides of her against the door, his mouth descended to hers. She could still taste the Crème Brule they’d had for dessert as he kissed her. Sweet, and wonderfully filling. He’d now mastered the contours of her mouth, knew all her sensitive areas, hit everyone like a maestro as his hands left the door and grazed her body in the best places. She moaned against him and felt no need in trying to say a word. It seemed their bodies could speak for them without words.
He was dressed only in briefs, nothing else, and as he opened her robe and stared down at her naked body, he grinned. Yet, he still didn’t say a word. Instead his head dipped to her breast as her body flattened against the door panel. Squirming she moaned low, her hands splayed at each side of his chest. He had just enough hair to really turn her on, and all the muscles taut from working out. The man was the best hunk of sex she’d ever seen.
His hands dipped lower between her legs, fingers flicking against her clit and making her want him to enter her immediately. It was always like this, he had her at fever pitch within sheer minutes of contact. Yet this time, she didn’t want him to bang her against the door.
“Make love to me this time,” she murmured in his ear. “All the bells and whistles.”
He straightened and stared into her eyes. Green pools, pools that she could dive into and never come up from, stared back at her. He gathered her in his arms, cupping her body against him and carried her to the bed. This was the first time a man had ever done that, and she relished in feeling totally female.
As he laid her carefully on the bed, she stared up at him. Oh shit, the man was gorgeous. She had to admit what she hadn’t before. She loved him inside and out. He was everything she’d ever wanted and right now it seemed she was everything to him.
As she spread her legs, inviting him, he smiled. “Crandall Drake. I love you. For your body, absolutely. But for you as a person, for your mind and your soul. You make me whole.”
“Oh Zack, I love you too. I can’t help it and I don’t want to. You are in me like my blood. I don’t think I could ever deny anything you did.” She tears of happiness came down her cheeks as he slowly removed his briefs, took a condom off the nightstand and crawled onto the bed to seal their declarations of love.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Where are we anyway?” Xavier asked, as he stared at the four walls of a small shelter. “The guy’s not leaving us here all night, is he?”
“Do you think we were abducted?” Roxie asked. “If so, why? I don’t think either one of us has anything someone would want.” She gave him a sly wink as her eyes dropped to her crotch. “Not everyone, anyway.”
Xavier held his hands out if front of him. “Roxie, we have time to explore that, believe me. I’m not cutting you off without a reason. I just have to check things out more first.” He strode over and tried the door again. “It’s locked from the outside. From the sound of it, the door’s chained.” He turned back to Roxie. “If Graham is behind this, I swear to God I’ll get even.”
“Zack?” Roxie blinked. “You didn’t say you knew Zack, just that you were getting a story about him.”
“Well,” Xavier said, clearing his throat and straightening his tie, “I was just going by what you told me. Any man who would divorce his wife under those circumstances has to be a low SOB.”
“No, honey.” Roxie placed her hands on her hips. “You’ve got it all wrong. You see, Susan Graham was loose at more than one seam. Why, I remember when I fitted her for her bridal gown she just about had a nervous breakdown. Now I know a lot of brides are a bit emotional when th
ey’re preparing for the big day, but I swear to heaven that girl wasn’t interested in getting married. She was just after Zack’s money. I mean, have you ever heard of a bride who’s truly in love setting fire to her veil right there in the bridal shop?”
He frowned. “It does sound a bit extreme.”
She nodded. “You said it. To tell the truth, when she up and left him six months later it didn’t surprise me, nor did it surprise me when she cleaned out his local account first. It’s a good thing the bulk of his money was in a bank in Charlotte. We didn’t know, of course, that she was pregnant, any more than Zack did. All that information didn’t come out until three years ago.”
She shook her head and stared down at the ground. “I don’t know when she decided she’d rather not live, but considering she had a daughter only seven at the time, I’d say the thought of taking your own life is a selfish thing to do. Damn if she didn’t even fail at that. That poor little girl. Lost her maternal grandparents right after that in a car accident. Car went up in flames. It was horrific. No wonder the little thing didn’t speak for months.”
He stared at her and felt his mouth gaped open. “Are you telling me Susan Graham is still alive?”
She shrugged. “Far as I know, not that anybody talks about it much. I guess her name would’ve shown up in the obits if she’d bit the dust. As I hear it, the woman’s in a medical-induced coma, so it’s not like she’s talking. After she shot herself in the head, I guess they thought it was merciful to keep her unconscious. I think they should’ve just pulled the plug.” She sighed. “I don’t think she’ll live much longer. Last I heard, and I heard it only because it was one of Miriam’s weak moments, Susan had already had some organ failure issues. If it weren’t for Zack’s money, I doubt she’d still be alive. Can you believe he pays the bills? I guess he does it for Meredyth.”
He nodded. “I see what you mean about Zack. This will be a really great tear jerker for the paper. I have it dedicated to memory. Now, since we can’t get out of here, maybe I’ll just take you up on your previous offer.”
****
As the first rays of light woke Crandall, she realized she was still cupped beside Zack in his bed. She heard Miriam downstairs as she turned on the morning news and jerked out of Zack’s arms, sitting up.
“What’s wrong?” Zack asked, still laying sprawled under the covers and looking better than any man had a right to.
“Miriam’s up.” Crandall scrambled out of bed, grabbing her robe.
“Come on sweetheart,” Zack groaned. “Are you really thinking of leaving when you’re flashing that gorgeous ass at me?”
She turned and stared at him. “You’re an ass man?”
He grinned. “I like all your parts. You just so beautifully displayed your ass a minute ago.”
She shot him a warning glare. “Look, I don’t like Mother Hubbard prowling around downstairs. I’m scooting for now.”
“Party pooper.”
She bit back a laugh as she exited the room.
Minutes later, dressed and having prepared herself for incoming stepmother attacks, Crandall entered the kitchen to see Miriam watching the news at the free-floating kitchen counter, a huge mug of coffee beside her. “Good morning.” Crandall strode past her and grabbed a mug next to the coffee pot. “I trust your night went well?” She began to pour a cup from the carafe.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, it did.”
At the woman’s sigh, Crandall turned with her mug filled to the brim. Miriam’s cheeks were pink, and there was a softness to the woman’s features she hadn’t seen before. “It must have been a very nice night.”
Miriam nodded. “Gerry took me out to dinner. There was this band playing, and we danced and danced.” She sighed again, picking up her mug and rubbing it. “My husband didn’t like to dance, but Gerry says he always did. He told me I was another Ginger Rogers and he was trying hard to be my Fred Astaire.”
Crandall arched her eyebrow. “Gerald Brooks took you out?”
Miriam nodded. “You sound surprised. Older people go on dates too.” She grinned. “They do other things as well.”
No way was she going to touch that comment. The thought of Gerry Brooks in the buff was enough to make her want to spew. Crandall gulped the coffee in her mouth and felt the fluid burn down her throat. She sat down across from her former nemesis. It seemed the love bug had allowed the woman to declare at least a momentary truce. “Do you think you’ll see him again? I understand he lives in Chicago.”
Miriam nodded. “He says he stays at Hilton Head during the winter and just flies back and forth when he has to. Hilton Head’s only one state away, not that far at all.”
“But this is May,” Crandall reminded her. “There are quite a few months until winter.”
“I’m sure he’ll come down in the summer. It’s not that humid on the water. If he doesn’t, I can fly there, you know.” Miriam took a slow sip from her cup. “That will give Zack some quality one-on-one time with his daughter. He needs it, you know.”
Crandall nodded. “I think you’re right. That’s why I was surprised she went to her friend’s house when he was in town.”
Miriam stared down at the counter. “I’m afraid I made that decision. I did it because you were here.” She glanced up. “I was wrong. You aren’t just a fly-by-night flippity-gibbit like I assumed. You’re a strong woman and a good influence on him. I can see the difference in his mood when you’re around.”
As the doorbell rang, Miriam turned. “I’ll be right back.” She strode into the other room.
Crandall sat at the counter and sipped her coffee. Wow, she thought they’d just become friends. Maybe this whole thing was going to work out after all.
Miriam walked back in holding a manila envelope. “There was a young man at the front door who said he was supposed to deliver this to you.”
Crandall stared at the delivery and frowned. “I can’t think what it would be. The office hasn’t called about anything.” A sense of foreboding filled her. Was this another one of Xavier’s tricks? Saying a silent prayer, she opened it and read the cover letter. As she made her way through it, the words froze her blood. She shivered as she pulled out the photos behind it and leafed through them. The next to the last one was a newspaper article about a woman in a bridal shop, her veil on fire. The last one was worse, also of a woman, but it was difficult to make out any features. The woman was on a ventilator. The board on the wall indicated it was just two days before today.
Tears streamed down Crandall’s face.
“What’s wrong dear?” Miriam sat down across from her and leaned over to pat her arm. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”
Crandall shook her head. “No. No ghost. This person’s real. I wish she weren’t, but wishes don’t count, do they?”
“What’s in the envelope, Crandall?” Miriam asked, her voice rising an octave. “What has upset you so?”
Crandall stood, her legs wobbling beneath her. “Miriam, could you please have my things upstairs sent to me? I’m just going to grab my purse and laptop and leave. I have to get out of here.”
“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to Zack first?” Miriam asked. “I’m sure he’ll be out of the shower anytime now. He’ll want to know what’s wrong.”
Crandall shook her head. “I don’t want to talk to him right now. In fact, not ever. Show him these.” She threw the envelope down on the counter. “He’ll understand.”
****
“Well, I have to hand it to you, considering the circumstances, if you hadn’t taken over, everything would’ve been ruined.” Xavier glanced over at Smith and grinned.
Smith snickered. “If it hadn’t been for Mrs. Tolbert, I wouldn’t have been able to deliver. But she did it all working from Charlotte. I don’t know how she tracked down Zack’s ex-wife, or even how she got the pictures. You have to admit, they were real tearjerkers. Especially the one from the newspaper of her burning the veil. Mrs. Graham must’ve been a
real psycho before she shot herself in the head. I’m glad I never came across her while she was in her crazed state. However, the pictures did the trick, because they shook Crandall to the bone. I’ve never seen anyone leave the house so fast that she didn’t even bring her luggage.”
“And according to you, Zack wasn’t too far behind. I wish I could’ve seen it.” Xavier chuckled. “There’s nothing like two lovers who have separated for the last time.”
“How could you be so sure?” Smith cocked his head sideways and stared at Xavier. “Surely true love can triumph over one misunderstanding.”
“That’s true.” Xavier nodded. “However this isn’t the first time. If my counting is correct, there’s been at least three times the two of them have misunderstood each other. After three times at bat, you strike out.”
Smith tapped his chin. “I don’t know. I think they’ll give it another shot.”
Xavier pulled his wallet out of his jacket. “How much do you want to bet?”
****
Tom sagged back against the seat of the golf cart and sighed.
Magic, already positioned for his swing, stopped and looked back. “What’s wrong, boy? You look like you just lost your best friend.”
“Maybe I have. Up until now this job had been fun. Now it’s turning into a nightmare. I don’t understand what happened in North Carolina. Maybe I don’t understand any of it. I don’t even understand why we started on the island. None of this is going as the first time did. I feel like a failure.”
Magic walked over to him and patted him on the back. “Some things are not as they seem at first. You’ll see this was the best thing for both of them. Did you read Jane Eyre like I told you to?”
Tom shook his head “I have to admit I didn’t get around to it. I figured that I would understand the book better and it’s similarity after the whole thing was over. What was it about anyway, can you tell me?
Magic’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Tom. “I told you to read it for a reason. If you had, perhaps you would understand what’s going on right now. You’d understand what it’s like to be at the depth of sorrow for a love lost, lost forever so it seems, only to discover it was still there in front of you. See all that one desires that is true and pure he can have, despite the cruelties of life. If you’d read it, you’d realize that only through true surrender to a love that cannot be denied, do you find it again. You would understand that this will end up the right way.”