Where One Road Leads

by Cerian Hebert

  “You think he’s using it to clear his conscience?”

  Krista studied the check, the donation Ricky said he wanted to contribute to ‘a wonderful cause,’ according to the accompanying letter. Three zeros followed the five. Was it that easy for him to write a check so large? She considered herself financially comfortable, yet she still couldn’t write that number so casually. Of course, there’s nothing casual about this.

  She shook her head. “No, I don’t. I think it’s a dig. He wants to get to me. I might pay him a visit. It’s probably long overdue.” She forced a smile. It didn’t come easily or even honestly.

  “Honey, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” Patricia warned.

  “I’m not going to hide from him.”

  Patricia laid a staying hand on Krista’s arm. “Please, think about it first. He may be playing games with you, but he can get nasty.”

  “Yeah, I’ve already had a taste of that. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  Krista tucked the letter and the check into her purse. Tonight she’d go over there after dinner, when he’d most likely be home. Maybe if they had this confrontation, he’d back off. She didn’t have any interest in revenge. That wouldn’t take away the years of pain she’d endured. She wanted him to leave her alone.

  She wasn’t so confident when she stood at his door several hours later. A beautiful house, it must’ve cost a fortune. No wonder he wasn’t pleased to see her back in town. The tide could’ve easily turned against him all those years ago. This might never have been.

  Krista steeled her nerves and pressed the doorbell. She waited for a minute or two, which seemed more like five, before someone opened the door.

  As if he expected her to show up, Ricky leaned causally against the doorframe. It was the first time she’d seen him close up since they appeared in court together years ago. Regardless of his polished and confident appearance, she could still see the same cocky boy she remembered way back when.

  He gave her a flashy white smile and his dark eyes gleamed. “I was wondering when you’d drop by and say hello. Come on in.”

  Krista hesitated. She really didn’t want to go in, but the only way to win Ricky’s respect and make him understand he didn’t intimidate was to accept his invitation.

  “Thank you,” she replied coldly and walked past him into the foyer, her back stiff.

  “Come into the living room and meet Rachel.”

  “I’ll only stay a moment.”

  She followed him out of the foyer and into a large living room. A woman, as polished and elegant as Ricky, sat on the sofa, her legs tucked beneath her. She unfolded herself and stood, a sweet smile spreading slowly across her pretty face. Krista felt an immediate dislike.

  “Rachel, this is an old friend of mine, Krista Faye. Krista, this is my fiancée, Rachel.” Ricky introduced them smoothly. “Krista is the mastermind behind the youth center.”

  Like his woman didn’t know everything going on at the mill.

  Rachel smiled as if she hadn’t heard. “Congratulations on a successful venture,” she said.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re looking terrific, Krista.” Ricky took hold of her arms and turned her to the light. “You can barely see the scars at all.”

  He sure knew how to put on a show. To toss out this ‘long lost friend’ crap with a grin on his face, as if he were giving her the biggest compliment of her life.

  “It is incredible, isn’t it?” she replied dryly. “Now for why I came.” She pulled away, dug into her purse, and withdrew the check. “I wanted to return this to you. I appreciate your generosity, but we can’t accept this. The center is fully funded by a private company. I’m sure there are other organizations far more deserving, groups that would get much more use from it.”

  She didn’t think she surprised him too much. Still, he managed an expression of vast disappointment, his dark brows raised, head cocked to the side. “There must be some good this money can do, Krista. Perhaps some equipment? Really, it’s not much to Rachel and me. I’m sure it could cover a child’s tuition. Listen, why don’t you keep the check and think on it for a while?”

  Rachel slid up behind Ricky and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Please say you will. It would mean so much to us. We don’t want you thinking badly of Ricky.”

  Krista narrowed her eyes. Just how much did Rachel know about Ricky’s activities? Enough, she supposed, to know her future husband was up to no good.

  “Why don’t you keep it instead?” Krista suggested. “Consider donating it to a good cause that needs the money more than us.”

  “But we want you to have it.” Ricky offered a frown as fake as his smile. “I prefer to keep the money in Quail Ridge, Krista. Besides, I get the distinct feeling you think I’ve somehow wronged you.” He reached out and put a hand on Krista’s shoulder, his fingers tightening slightly in a way that could be considered comforting, but Krista only found the contact threatening.

  She took a step back from it and Ricky’s hand fell to his side.

  If she’d pissed him off, he didn’t show it. “We used to be friends,” he added. “I’m sorry what happened that night put an end to it. I never wanted to see you go to prison.” He indicated the check Krista held. “I was hoping this would be a way to . . . well, to make things better.”

  “Better?” Krista laughed shortly. “You think you can erase those years with a check?”

  “Really, I’m sure Ricky’s intentions were good,” Rachel protested softly.

  Krista’s attention flicked to the other woman. She really didn’t have a clue. Without bothering to answer, she glanced away and sent Ricky a narrow glare.

  “I wanted to do this politely, Ricky, but you leave me no other choice. Apparently I have to be blunt and to the point. I know what you’re trying to do and it can stop right now. I didn’t come back here to Quail Ridge to clear my name, or attempt to convince people of what really happened that night. In fact, it didn’t even come to my mind until you made it an issue.” Krista glanced briefly at Rachel. “Does your girlfriend even know what happened that night and how you and your father threw me to the sharks?”

  “This is ridiculous,” Rachel muttered, still partially behind Ricky. Irritation marred those otherwise pretty features, wrinkling her forehead, pulling her lips down in a grimace.

  Krista regarded Ricky curiously. “She doesn’t know about what really happened, does she?”

  Ricky’s smile transformed from smooth to steely. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m not sure I like your accusations.”

  Shrugging, Krista dropped the check on the end table. “It doesn’t matter. Just stay away from me.”

  She strode from the room, her back straight and head held high. She expected either Ricky or his fiancée to follow her, yet she made it out to her Jeep without any further confrontations. Raw nerves had her rattled inside, but her confidence returned as a sense of pride washed through her.

  Finally, Krista felt more like the person she used to be before returning to Quail Ridge.

  Two more days remained until the opening and Krista had been running around like a headless chicken, rifling through a stack of papers in search of the caterer’s phone number. She shoved some bills aside with one hand and grumbled to herself. What sane person needed to go through this?

  Saturday night would be the gala, as Cameron had called it, for the adults; a formal event, requiring a dress Krista hadn’t even started shopping for. If only she could have ducked out of the whole event for the night. But Cameron and Gretchen would’ve dragged her kicking and screaming to this thing, fancy dress or no.

  Sunday would be more her speed, when the center opened to everyone. First, she had to get through the stuffy part. No, she thought as she shoved another stack aside, first s
he had to get through the damned party planning, wishing she had Gretchen at her side. Gretchen could’ve done a fast, flawless job with this.

  “Just go to Nashua and get the dress,” Patricia ordered. “I’ll hold down the fort here.”

  “First I’ve got to make sure the caterers are all set and O’Dell’s is delivering the tables at noon . . .”

  “And I’ll be here. I know where the tables go, I know where the chairs go. Heck, I know where everything goes. And I can call the caterer and make sure everything is right on track.” Patricia pointed toward the door. “Now please go. Don’t put this off until the last minute.”

  Krista shot her a tight grin. “I hate to break this to you, but this is the last minute. Fine, I’ll go. I can tell you won’t leave me be until I do.” She collected her jacket and purse.

  “Before you do, I need to ask you something.”

  Krista paused. “What is it?”

  “John wants to come with me Saturday night. I wanted to make sure you’re okay with it.”

  Her eyebrow rose. “Of course it’s all right. My goodness, he doesn’t need my permission. I thought we were all straight on that.”

  “I know, but he’s still feeling badly.”

  Krista smiled. As far as she knew, Patricia didn’t have any idea about the encounter on the ridge with John. A few days after, she’d gone over to their house and talked things out. While they weren’t back to the same comfortable relationship, they were at least on their way to repairing things.

  “I want both of you there. This is for Liz as much as anyone else, after all.”

  Patricia nodded, relief clear in her eyes. “I’ll let him know. I’m glad this is past us now.”

  “Same here. Now I’m going to brave the Nashua traffic. I’m becoming so spoiled by the lack of traffic here in town, I’ve forgotten about city driving. I’ll manage and I won’t come home until I have a dress.” She gave Patricia a painful smile.

  Although dress shopping was the last thing in the world she wanted to do, getting this trip out of the way had to be done.

  She hit the mall first, figuring she’d have a better chance of finding something appropriate there. The stores were packed with holiday clothing. Finding something that would suit her needs wasn’t as easy as she hoped. Maybe she made it too difficult, being so picky. She’d gone through five stores before desperation set in.

  She had to leave the mall and continue the search to another store before she hit her jackpot. The tiny boutique didn’t offer much selection, but when she found the velvet dress, in a gorgeous emerald green, she prayed it would fit.

  It clung to her figure, with a neckline that gave a hint of cleavage. The sleeves reached her elbows. Enough to cover the scars that marred her shoulder and bicep. Perfect for the occasion. Even Gretchen would approve. To Krista, high fashion meant designer jeans and a new football jersey. She was amazed she was able to find anything on her own.

  As she replaced the gown on the hanger, Krista caught sight of herself in the three-way mirror. And flinched. But for once she didn’t avoid looking at the remnants of the accident. Even now the scars were constant reminders of her loss.

  Hardly anyone had seen them, not even Cameron during their brief affair, except for the one on her arm. Only the scars on her face were visible to the world. The marks on her body were her secrets.

  Transfixed, she ran a finger on the long white line that ran along her hip to her thigh, then eyed the one that marred her belly.

  She didn’t know how long she stood there, hypnotized by the sight, by the memory of when those scars were fresh, until voices in the store pulled her from her reverie. Quickly she looked away and yanked her jeans back on. Better to pretend the scars weren’t there.

  She purchased the gown, matching shoes and stockings, and headed back to Quail Ridge. The afternoon light had already faded from the autumn sky. Sometime during the last few weeks, all but a few stubborn leaves had fallen from the trees. Most had drifted into piles along the side of the road. The branches resembled gray skeletons reaching toward the powdery blue sky. All too soon they’d be covered with snow and it would be a different kind of beauty.

  But lonely without friends. She wondered if she’d be ever be able to call anyone in town a friend.

  One thing hadn’t been done since returning to town, she realized. She turned the Jeep up a hill to the old center of town and Ridgeview Cemetery, the final resting place for two dear friends.

  She drove around slowly until she found Liz. She’d never been there before, never had the opportunity until now. Three enormous bouquets of flowers lay against the rose marble stone. Someone had spared no expense in their remembrance.

  Krista shoved her hands deep into her jacket pockets as a chilly breeze dashed against her body, tugging her hair across her cheek.

  “Hey there,” she whispered to the stone, to the spirit of her best friend. “I know I should’ve stopped by before. And I came empty-handed this time. I’m sorry, next time I’ll bring something. I know you like lilacs, but you’ll have to wait until spring for that. I see you’re not lacking any flowers. They sure are pretty.”

  There was no sound except the wind rustling through the trees. So peaceful. What else could she expect from a small town cemetery?

  “I can’t stay long, they’ll be closing the gates soon. It gets dark really early. I just wanted to say I wish you could be here right now. I bet you’d have a great time at this gala I have to go to. Having you with me would be so much fun. I wouldn’t feel like such a fish out of water. And we could do each other’s hair, like we did for prom.”

  The tears trailing down her cheeks stung in the cold wind. She brushed them away with the back of her hand.

  “I miss you so much, Liz.”

  Krista touched the stone, letting her fingers slide over the smooth surface, then turned to walk away. The sun teetered on the ridge now and she just wanted to be gone.

  She wasn’t ready to face Jay’s grave yet.

  The phone rang and made Krista’s heart thump.

  “Calm down,” she whispered to herself as she eyed the object warily, afraid who might be on the other end. Taking a deep breath, she snatched it up quickly. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Krista.” Cameron, thank God. “Gretchen and I are over at the Black Horse Inn and would love to have you join us for dinner. You free?”

  “It’s seven, Cameron. People around here usually have dinner by six.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen into that small-town mindset,” he joked.

  “As it so happens, I don’t eat dinner much at all. So, despite your comment about how my people live, I’d be happy to join you, but only so I can gab with Gretchen. Certainly not for your company.”

  “You wound me. But if you’ll accept my apology, we’ll meet you in the dining room in half an hour. Please, no jeans and baseball jerseys.”

  “You’re a rat,” she pointed out with a smile. “I’ll be there.”

  She did have some dressy clothes, usually hanging unnoticed in her closet. Krista pulled out a pair of black dress slacks and a white sweater. Nothing fancy. It would have to do. She brushed her hair, applied a light dash of makeup—practice for Saturday night, she told herself—and headed out the door with a goodbye to Gus.

  The inn was only two miles away, a beautiful structure built in the late seventeen hundreds that served as a tavern and stopover point for the coaches traveling through. The owners had retained much of its antique charm. The rooms were well-appointed and comfortable, the restaurant on the main floor one of the best in the state. Getting a reservation this time of the year was nearly impossible and Krista wondered what strings Cameron had pulled to score a room.

  They were waiting in the dining room for her when she arrived. She greeted Gretchen with a warm
hug and the same for Cameron, then turned her attention back to Cameron’s young wife. The stunning blonde from California would’ve made it in Hollywood if the lure of a handsome newspaper man hadn’t brought her to the east coast. She’d never regretted the move and had settled right in to the role of Cam’s wife.

  “So, when did you get here and why didn’t you tell me you were coming in this soon?”

  “We thought we’d get away from D.C. sooner than planned. Gretchen wanted some time to soak in the atmosphere and see if you needed any help. I would’ve sent her up by herself, but I didn’t want to be away from her for that long.” Cameron took his wife’s hand and squeezed.

  “Aw, you’re too sweet,” Krista remarked. “And you’re too lucky, Gretchen.”

  “Yes, I certainly am. So when are you going to find someone to make you as happy?”

  Krista formed a wide-eyed stare. “What do you mean? I have Gus.”

  “No, darling, not the four-legged variety. A husband.”

  “Don’t hold your breath. I don’t think I have any prospects in this area.”

  “What about Officer Burgess? He sure had eyes for you the other day,” Cameron remarked with a wink.

  Krista grimaced. She hadn’t seen Matt since their kiss on the side of the road. That didn’t stop her from thinking of him much too often and in a way she shouldn’t. “There’s nothing going on there. Until recently, he couldn’t stand the sight of me. I don’t think he would consider me for any kind of relationship.”