“I do trust you,” she insisted. And she actually did. She trusted him. It couldn’t have surprised anyone any more than it surprised her.
And getting away from the shop seemed to help her feel a little less anxious. And that surprised her, too. She’d thought she felt safe there. And she had. But ever since Bobby invaded her space, some of that feeling had faded. She’d found herself watching for him constantly.
They turned right, traveled down a black-top road, past several houses, and turned right at a fork in the road. There was no other traffic. The area seemed to be mostly trees with a house every half mile or so.
He turned into the driveway of one of those houses and pulled around the circle drive to the front door.
“Whose house is this?” she asked.
Giving her no more than a glance, he hurried around the back of the car to open her door.
To Tabitha, the brick, several story house looked like a mansion built into the side of a mountain. She stepped out onto a brick driveway that faded into the front steps leading to the front door.
The house was relatively new and compared to the downtown strip of historical houses she’d gotten used to in downtown Estes Park, exceptionally modern.
“I want you to meet my family,” he said, taking her hand.
Her breath hitched. His family?
She glanced down at her jeans and sweatshirt and back up at the fancy new house. Then she pulled back. “Oh, no.”
“It’s ok.” he said, glancing down at his own similar attire. “It’s informal.”
“But Adam, I don’t know.”
“I told them about you,” he said. “They already love you.”
She laughed. “I don’t believe that, but ok,” she said as she let him lead her up the stone steps.
He stopped and knocked at the door. She looked at him questioningly.
“I don’t have a key to the front door,” he said. “I usually use the back door.”
“Why?” She started to ask as the front door opened.
An elegant middle-aged woman, slim with short blonde highlighted hair opened the door. Tabitha bit back the urge to flee, but when the woman smiled and held out her hand, Tabitha’s initial trepidation faded. “Hello, I’m Gloria Patton - Adam’s mom.”
Glancing at Adam, she took the woman’s hand and allowed her to pull her inside.
“Adam has told us all about you,” she said.
Tabitha glanced questioningly at Adam. He merely shrugged.
“Honey, they’re here,” she announced as they approached the kitchen.
A gray-haired man stood up from the kitchen table and smiled as they approached. “Hello there,” he said. “I see you’ve met Adam’s mom. I’m Jerry. Richard’s dad.”
Tabitha immediately felt at home.
“Have a seat,” he insisted, pulling out a chair for her.
She sat at the little kitchen table, with wooden chairs that had blue seat pillows on them. Through the matching blue curtains, she could see the river. “It’s beautiful here,” she said.
“I fell in love with it the first time I saw it,” Mrs. Patton, said. “It’s a good thing it’s on the water, otherwise I would have had to work a little harder to convince Jerry to build here.”
“You had it built yourself?”
“Oh yes. We picked out everything from the ground up. It was hard work, but we got it the way we wanted it. Of course, we’re always finding something to change or replace.”
Jerry nodded with an exaggerated suffering expression. “It seems like every day.”
“What can I get you to drink?” Gloria asked.
“I’ll get it Mom,” Adam said, pulling glasses out of the cabinet. “Coke?” he asked, glancing at Tabitha.
“Okay,” she said.
“How is Aunt Allie doing?” Gloria asked. “I was so sorry to hear that she had fallen. She’s just the most delightful woman.”
“She’s great. She’s actually back in the shop for the first time today.”
“That is just absolutely wonderful.”
“It’s the only way I could get Tabitha out of there for a little while,” Adam said, handing Tabitha a glass with coke fizzing on ice and keeping one for himself.
“Thanks,” she said. “I should go call and check on her.”
“Go ahead,” Gloria said. “Do you have a cell phone with you?”
“Yes,” she nodded and pulling her phone from her bag, glanced around uncertainly.
“You can use the front parlor,” she gestured toward the front of the house.
There were so many rooms, Tabitha didn’t know which room was considered the parlor, but she moved away from the kitchen nonetheless and dialed Aunt Allie’s number.
Aunt Allie answered the phone, but didn’t have time to talk. She was talking with customers and setting up sales. Tabitha could hear the excitement in her voice and began to have a better idea why her aunt was so successful.
“Don’t even think about rushing home,” Aunt Allie said. “You need some time away for yourself. I have plenty to keep me busy down here until you get back.”
Tabitha promised to take her time and disconnected. She took a moment to take in her surroundings. The house was large, spacious, and elegant. Tabitha had been brought up in a middle-class house. Though the house had always been clean, it had always been a little crowded and never had that look of elegance. Her mother did the best she could with what they had and the result was a home that was inviting and warm.
Tabitha had never thought a house this big and elegant could also be warm, but it did have that air about it. A grandfather clock stood welcoming in the foyer, with its steady ticking. A little table on the other wall held a simple crystal vase with a fresh spray of red and white flowers.
The house was decked out for Christmas. A tree, twice as tall as the one in Aunt Allie’s store stood in the living room. Tabitha couldn’t begin to imagine the work it must have taken to decorate it. Four stockings hung in front of the fireplace. The house was inviting.
But more than anything else, it was Gloria and Jerry. And, of course, Adam. She felt honored that he’d shared his family with her. It sharpened the pang of missing her own parents, but it was bittersweet. It reminded her of that content, safe feeling.
Putting her phone in her pocket, she went back to the kitchen, and stood, just for a moment, watching the Pattons. They looked so content and happy.
Tabitha hoped that one day she would have a home like this of her own.
The apartment she’d shared with Bobby had certainly never felt comfortable. She shook her head. Now was not the time to allow that image to come forth.
“How is she?” Gloria asked, when she saw Tabitha standing there.
“She couldn’t be happier,” Tabitha said as she joined them. “She’s selling to customers.”
“She does have a knack for it.”
“I think she knows just about everyone in town.”
“I’m sure she does. She’s never lived anywhere else, I guess.”
“No, I don’t think she has.”
“Good,” Gloria said. “Then you’ll stay for dinner?”
Tabitha glanced at Adam questioningly. He shrugged and she couldn’t help but smile.
It turns out she and Adam weren’t the only ones invited to dinner. It was only a few minutes later that Adam’s brother arrived.
“Tabitha, I’d like you to meet Morgan - my younger son,” Gloria said.
“So this is the one my big brother’s been making all the fuss about,” Morgan said as he took her hand and kissed the back.
Adam shot him a look. “Tabitha, keep your guard up. Morgan is a ladies’ man. He’ll try and charm anyone.”
She laughed. “Are you trying to make me like him?”
Adam scowled. “Mom, I told you this was a bad idea.”
Gloria just laughed. “As you can see, Tabitha, my sons are a little competitive when it comes to girls.”
After dinner,
she offered to help with the dishes, but Adam suggested they get back to help Aunt Allie up the stairs. Tabitha found that she didn’t really want to leave, but Aunt Allie needed her.
Everyone hugged her goodbye.
“Anytime you want to have a good time, just ditch my brother and we’ll go have some real fun,” Morgan said after they hugged.
“I’ll keep that in mind as one of my options,” she said.
“And you and I will talk later,” Adam said to his brother.
“You come back anytime,” Gloria said, “with or without Adam.”
“What is this, some kind of conspiracy?” Adam asked, laughing.
Later, Tabitha would have sworn that this was a planned dinner - perhaps even a conspiracy - starting with Aunt Allie. Nonetheless, she had an absolutely wonderful time. During dinner, listening to the lively conversation that could happen only with family, she even forgot about Bobby. And forgot to feel on edge.
But as they drove away and got closer and closer to Aunt Allie’s, Tabitha’s trepidation increased.
By the time they pulled into the back parking lot, their conversation had quieted. Tabitha had spent the drive through town staring out the window, silent. Adam had given up on conversation.
When they came to a stop in the back parking lot, Tabitha jumped out, not waiting for him to come around. He caught up with her halfway to the door.
“Hey,” he said, taking her elbow. “Tabitha. Wait.”
“I can’t,” she said, pulling away from him. “Something is wrong.”
“Ok,” he agreed as he followed. “We’ll go together to check.”
Within seconds she was at the door.
“Wait,” he said, putting out his hand. “The door’s open.”
A tendril of fear shot through her. Though the door was open only a crack, she knew she had made certain to lock it on her way out.
Adam eased forward and nudged the door open. They listened intently, but were met with nothing but silence.
“We should call the police and let them go in,” Adam whispered and pulled out his cell phone.
Tabitha shook her head and stepped inside.
“Dammit, Tabitha,” he said, taking her arm and pulling her back.
The front door bell tinkled and they both froze. Tabitha swallowed hard. The store had been left open.
Then laughter rang out. It was Aunt Allie... and Claire.
The blood rushed to Tabitha’s head and she collapsed back against Adam.
Chapter Sixteen
Adam caught her against him, putting his arms beneath her knees and picking her up. Slamming the door closed with his foot, he carried her into the shop.
“Oh my! What’s happened?” Aunt Allie was on her feet and rushing forward.
“She’s okay,” Adam assured her. “She just needs to rest.”
“What wrong with her?” Claire asked, hurrying to adjust a couple of throw pillows for her head.
“Too much stress, I guess,” Adam said, not wanting to tell them that they had been about to call the police. Placing her gently on the couch, he cushioned her head with the pillows and tucked the blanket that Aunt Allie handed him around her.
“Poor thing’s been working too hard,” Aunt Allie said. “This is all my fault. Go on and lock up,” she added to Claire.
“It’s no one’s fault,” Adam said, though when they were alone and Claire had gone home, he would tell her about Bobby’s return, whether Tabitha liked it or not.
This had gone on too long.
Blinking, Tabitha opened her eyes, “What happened?” She asked.
“You fainted,” Adam told her.
“No, I didn’t. I just lost my balance,” she started to sit up.
“You just lie there,” Aunt Allie said. “And get your balance back,” she added with a knowing glance at Adam.
“That’s right,” he said. “Just take a minute.”
She closed her eyes. Adam sat on the couch next to her and took her hand in his. “The back door was open,” Tabitha said.
They all three looked at each other, but no one said anything.
“Aunt Allie,” Tabitha asked, opening her eyes. “Did you leave the back door open?”
They had to strain to hear her.
“No,” her aunt answered. “I haven’t been outside. Claire, have you been out back?”
“I ran out to my car, but I locked the door as soon as I was back inside.”
Tabitha’s gaze locked onto Adam’s and he was mesmerized by her dark emerald green eyes. “Claire, would you get her some water?”
After Claire had left, she motioned Aunt Allie to come closer. “Bobby’s here.”
“Bobby? Where is he?” Aunt Allie said with a gasp and put her hand to her throat.
“He’s been here. In the store.” She brought her arm out from beneath the blanket and raised her sleeve. “He did this right under Claire’s nose and she didn’t even know it.”
“But how? When?”
“It’s his specialty.” She lowered her sleeve and put her arm back under the blanket. “Two days ago,” she said as Claire came back and handed her a bottle of water.
“If you don’t mind, Aunt Allie,” Adam said. “I’d like to search the house. Just to be sure.”
Aunt Allie nodded. “Claire, why don’t you go ahead and close the blinds? It’s only thirty minutes until closing anyway.”
While Claire was up front closing the blinds, Aunt Allie perched on the coffee table in front of Tabitha. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked.
Adam had never seen the older woman with such a ferocious expression.
Tabitha shook her head. “I guess I hoped he’d just go away.”
Aunt Allie leveled a steely gaze on her niece. “You of all people should know that he does not just go away,” her words, though quiet, came slowly as though to accent each one.
“Allie, don’t be too hard on her,” Adam said, squeezing Tabitha’s hand.
“No,” Tabitha said, her eyes tearing. “She’s right. I’ve put you all in danger. Because I didn’t want to deal with it.”
“None of this is your fault,” Adam told her.
“Next time anything happens with him,” Aunt Allie said, her voice softened somewhat, though her gaze remained steely. “You’ll tell me immediately.”
“Of course. I won’t make that mistake again,” Tabitha said.
“Oh. He’ll be back,” Aunt Allie said.
Tabitha was silent.
“I’ll go search the house,” Adam said, standing up.
Though he didn’t want to leave Tabitha there, not knowing what Aunt Allie would say to her, the house needed searching. He searched every crook and cranny - the closets, under the bed, the shower. He even looked inside cabinets upstairs. The man could be hiding anywhere. He checked Tabitha’s night stand to make sure the gun was still there. It was.
When he came back downstairs, Claire had gone home and Aunt Allie was waiting for him to help her upstairs.
He stood back before they saw him and watched their interaction.
Aunt Allie, kissed her on the forehead. “I’m sorry,” she said. “This is just so upsetting. I don’t like seeing you in danger like this. I only met him once, at the wedding, but I never trusted that man and I don’t like him hanging around.
Tabitha nodded. “I know. I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to bring all this here.”
“We’ll figure it out,” she said, glancing up. “Ah, there’s Adam.”
As he helped Aunt Allie up the stairs, she confided in him. “That Bobby is an evil man,” she said. “He’s evil and Tabitha can’t see it. I could see it the first time I saw him at their wedding, but she was blind to him.”
“It’s not her fault he hurt her,” Adam said.
“No, but it’s her fault for staying with him after she knew what he was like.”
“She didn’t know what to do.”
“You get out. That’s what you do.”
Ada
m didn’t bother telling her that it was easier said than done.
“You do what took her years too long to do. He’s tracked her down and he’ll hurt her again. He’d kill her if he could. I doubt if he’s killed before, but I wouldn’t doubt he’d do it. In his mind, she’s his and he won’t give her up willingly.”
Adam had no response. He didn’t know what to say. He’d never met the man and he was no shrink.
All he knew was that he wouldn’t be allowing anyone to hurt Tabitha.
“If it’s all the same to you,” he said, easing her onto the side of her bed, “I’m going to sleep downstairs on the sofa tonight.”
Aunt Allie seemed to consider this for a moment. “You care about her, don’t you?”
“About Tabitha? Yes.”
“I hope you aren’t too late.”
“What do you mean?”
Aunt Allie shook her head. “Nevermind.”
“I’m not,” he said. “And I’ll be sleeping downstairs.” With that, he walked away. He didn’t care if Aunt Allie was related to Tabitha, no one, not even Aunt Allie could discourage him from liking Tabitha.
Chapter Seventeen
Tabitha had tried to talk Adam out of sleeping downstairs. She’d at least gotten him to go next door to feed Rover. That had taken him all of ten minutes.
She’d claimed she was still feeling lightheaded and had used that as an excuse to go on up to bed. He’d kissed her on the cheek, but she’d pulled away when he’d tried to kiss her on the lips. She’d felt bad about it, because she wanted to kiss him, but she had to keep her distance. She had some things to figure out.
As she got ready for bed, she’d considered her situation. Aunt Allie was right. She’d put them all in danger. She’d come here with a car and a suitcase. She could leave here with a car and a suitcase. She’d need a place to stay, too, but she’d just have to worry about that later.
She couldn’t stay here. Not now. Not with Bobby here. She repeated this to herself as she took out her duffle bag and began folding her clothes and carefully laying them inside. She’d have to be back in Boulder for the divorce court date. So she couldn’t go too far.
Maybe she’d drive into Denver and get a hotel. She had no ties in Denver, so there would be no breadcrumbs for him to follow. He must have hacked into her credit card information to find her here. She’d go the ATM. Get some cash. She’d pay for her gas and food with cash so if he’d tracked her here with her credit card, the trail would go cold.
A Very Merry Christmas Gift (Winter Kisses Book 1) Page 9