She closed her eyes, pulling in images of Jilly and Eb on the other side of that door. No more Alex. Never again.
Maybe one day she’d have it in her to feel sorry for him, for his daughters, for Matt. But not tonight.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Tadie tried to keep the good side of her face turned toward Will as he hugged Jilly and then reached for her. He’d driven all day through both wet snow and pounding rain, but exhaustion obviously hadn’t dulled his vision.
“You bang into something?” he asked, holding her off so he could look.
“Seems like I did. Now, sit down and let me feed you.” She shook her head so he wouldn’t ask more questions and mouthed, Later.
“Hey, Will,” Rita called from the couch where she was watching television.
“How’re you doing? You guys have a good Christmas?”
“We did,” Rita said.
“I was sorry to miss church. Jilly said she had a fun time.”
“She was a big hit. Made friends with some of the children too.”
Tadie set a plate of curried shrimp in front of him and turned back to the sink. She was fussing with the pans when Jilly grabbed the chair next to her father’s and blurted, “Daddy, you missed all the excitement. The police came while I was sleeping. They took the bad man away.”
Tadie winced at Jilly’s words. She took a moment to dry her hands before turning.
Will emptied a spoonful of chutney carefully next to the rice, set the spoon on its plate, and looked up, his head tilted slightly. “What happened?”
She chewed on her lip. “We need to discuss this later. Please?”
“You’re all right? Both of you? Is that what you ran into?” His voice increased in intensity as he spoke.
“Mr. James came, Daddy. Rita went and got him. He had a big gun, but he didn’t want me to see it.”
“Mr. James had a gun? Tadie, what the—“
Tadie laid her hands on Jilly’s shoulders. “Honey, I think your daddy wants to eat his dinner now. Rita and I will tell him all about it later, after he has digested his food. It would be better.” She spoke this last to Will, hoping he’d be satisfied.
His brows tented, but he didn’t comment, merely pulled a pouting Jilly to his side. “I hear you bought a fancy dress to wear on Saturday.” While Jilly regaled him with details of their shopping trip, he shoveled in the food like a man who was either starving or wanted the whole thing over with. Tadie tried to keep out of his way, but once, between bites when Jilly glanced away, he raised those brows again and mouthed at Tadie, A gun?
After his dinner, Will announced that he’d be right back, looking pointedly at Tadie as he herded Jilly upstairs to bed. Tadie rinsed his plate and said over her shoulder to Rita, “You’ll help him understand, won’t you?”
Rita shook her head. “Girl, you’re going to have to pull this one off on your own.”
“You came to my rescue last night. Won’t you do it again?”
“Think about it. That would just embarrass you—and Will—even more.” Rita turned off the television. “Honey, you’ve got a good man. Just give him the story and let him cuddle you a little, make him feel like a rescuer.”
Will passed Rita at the kitchen door. “I’m glad you and your father were around to come to Tadie’s aid.”
What Tadie wanted to do right then was rest in his arms and listen to his tales of the trip and the things he’d done in readiness for their honeymoon on board the boat. The idea of being mistress of the Nancy Grace thrilled her. The idea of confessing everything to him did not.
“Come over here,” Will said, leading her to the couch. “Now. Spit it out.”
She first told him Hannah’s story of Alex with his hand in Matt’s safe. Then she tried to make light of the two episodes she’d survived. Will’s fists balled, and a vein throbbed in his temple.
“I’d have killed him.”
“I know.”
He took a while to unclench both his fists and the tightness around his mouth. When he finally spoke, his voice was more controlled, but held hints of what seemed a puzzled sadness. “Why didn’t you tell me about the first episode? Why did you wait?”
“Because I didn’t want you all upset that you couldn’t be here.”
“I would have come. I’d have left everything on the boat until later. The rest wouldn’t have happened if I’d been here.”
Perhaps this was the worst thing, making Will feel this way. “I’m sorry. It never occurred to me he’d come back.” Or that not calling Will would hurt him. She’d been so used to coping on her own.
“It should have.” He had a strange edge to his voice.
She shook her head. “No, I’ve known Alex all my life. I couldn’t imagine he’d try again. We all assumed he’d left town after Matt threw him out of the house.”
“Tadie, be realistic. He was thwarted and angry and was bound to blame you for it all. You could have at least called the police to report him.”
“I guess I should have.”
“You put yourself and everyone else at risk.”
She had. She’d risked Jilly. And Rita. She’d wanted to be strong. In control.
My God. She could have gotten Jilly killed. The sick feeling that rose in her throat nearly overwhelmed her. She shuddered and covered her face as the tears formed and fell. “I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry.”
He drew her close. “We’re in this together, Tadie. You and I. We’re a team. We don’t keep secrets.” He hesitated. “And you can’t leave me out of the decision-making process like you did on this. I deserved to know.”
“You did. You do. I’m really sorry.”
She hadn’t let him be a man, the man. She’d emasculated him, hadn’t she?
She pushed herself up. Sniffing and swiping at the tears that hadn’t spilled onto his sweater, she said, “I’m not used to relying on anyone. I mean, other than James and Elvie.” She looked over at him. “Can you be patient while I learn how to do this team thing?”
“I’ll try. But you do have to figure it out, you know. It’s what marriage is about.”
She nodded and swiped at more tears. “I get that.”
“Good. I’m trusting we won’t have to worry about Alex again. Not if he’s behind bars.”
“I’m trusting he’ll stay locked-up for a good long time.”
He pulled her back into an embrace that left her breathless and in no doubt about the kind of teamwork she could look forward to after Saturday. “I love you, Tadie,” he whispered when they came up for air.
“Mmm,” was about all her lips could manage, and it took a few minutes for her breathing to slow. She longed to pull him back for more, but figured she’d better lighten the mood and get all the rest said.
“You won’t believe the picture James made, aiming those two barrels straight at Alex’s privates. When Alex begged to cover himself, James told him not to diddle with the evidence.”
“Diddle?” Will repeated. “No way.”
“That’s what James said. And he kept telling Rita and me to turn our eyes away. It wasn’t seemly, us not being married women.”
“Good for James. Of course, I wouldn’t want you looking even if you were married,” he said, pinching her chin. The scowl had vanished with their kisses, and finally humor lit his eyes again.
Tadie playfully swatted at his hand. “Clay Dougherty—the detective, an old friend of mine—got pictures. He couldn’t keep a straight face once they’d taken Alex off. It seems Clay doesn’t remember Alex all that fondly.” She pursed her lips, remembering high school and how stupidly in love she’d imagined herself. “I wish someone had clued me in when I was seventeen.”
“You probably wouldn’t have paid attention.”
She snuggled back on his shoulder. “Probably not. Anyway, just so you know, they hauled Alex off before Jilly woke up.”
“I’m glad of that. Think of the nightmares she might have had otherwise.”
“
I know. It wasn’t a pretty picture.”
Will kissed her forehead. The scene had ended on a ridiculous note, but what if rescue hadn’t come?
“You want to know another funny thing?” Maybe telling him this bit would get them back to the fun part of the evening and off this horrible topic for good.
“Tell me.”
She sat up, but couldn’t look at him. “Alex really wasn’t very good at it.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, don’t you think a true rapist would have found his victim’s subjugation exciting, instead of, shall we say, deflating?” She bit her lip, peeked at Will, and described the moments when Alex tried—and failed—to make things happen.
Will howled as he yanked her back into his arms. “Only you, Tadie. Only you would think like that the day after an attempted rape.” Tadie felt his rumble of laughter until he took a deep breath and said, “You, my darling girl, are a treasure. If I’d been standing in James’s position, I don’t think I’d have just pointed the gun. Castration is too good for Mr. A. Morgan.” Touching her chin with gentle fingers, he lifted it so he could examine her face. “You sure you’re okay? He didn’t hurt you too much?”
“He just wanted me to shut up. And the rest of me is already healing. Anyway, you want to know what I imagined while he was trying in vain to get with the program? It was very naughty of me.” She paused for a moment and watched his brows arch in question. She liked the way they became so expressive.
“Yes?”
She grinned wickedly. “I wondered how Alex would like being someone’s girlfriend while he rots in jail.”
“Much better than castration.”
“But not at all nice.”
“No,” he agreed. “Not nice, but Alex Morgan has proven himself not very nice—in every sense of the word.”
“I suppose I have to forgive him.”
“I suppose you do. I’ll have to work at it.”
“I guess we both will.”
He nuzzled her neck. His words were muffled, or perhaps her hearing had blurred due to the attention he was paying that especially sensitive spot just below her jaw. “I suppose,” he dipped to kiss just below her ear, “I suppose I can manage the forgiveness thing because he’s there and you’re safe and here. Ah, Tadie, so sweet. I’ll keep reminding myself that he obviously came out way on the minus side.” His lips roamed her face before stopping right where she wanted them to, so she could get into the act with him. My goodness, but he was good at this.
She felt her limbs turn to putty. If Will didn’t quit …
He must have realized things were moving rapidly in a direction that would make control difficult, because he stopped, took a few deep breaths, and suggested they watch the lights in the living room and perhaps listen to Handel’s Messiah again. Tadie curled next to him with her head on his shoulder, grateful that Rita had promised to take care of the Christmas decorations while staying at the house until her own wedding in June.
All these weddings. So many changes.
“Beautiful,” Will said, and she had to look up to see what he meant. He watched the flickering lights. “This will be a good place to have our Christmases. A wonderful home base.”
Tadie’s heart expanded. He hadn’t said much about spending time in Beaufort, though he certainly knew she planned to keep the house. “I’d like that. I think Jilly would too.”
“Mmm,” he murmured, his hand stroking her hair, tracing lines down her cheek. “I can’t quite believe all this.”
“I want to pinch myself. Me, getting married.”
“That’s not the amazing thing. It’s that you’re marrying me, especially after the way I behaved.” His hand played along her neck. When he turned her chin toward him, she lifted her fingers to his cheek. “I think perhaps we ought to go off to our own rooms now,” he said, “because all I want to do is kiss you senseless.”
It sounded wonderful. And frightening. “Two more days.” She sat straight and looked at him. “I wish … ”
“What do you wish?”
“I wish I knew—about everything. Is it always good? I mean, what if I can’t?”
He kissed her gently. “You’ll be fine. Have a little faith. We’ll be wonderful together.”
* * * * *
Tadie sat on the side of her bed, brushing her hair and pondering Will’s words. All her adult life she’d suppressed her sexuality. Okay, granted, not always with perfect success, but obviously well enough. The rest of the adult population seemed to take physical relationships for granted. Not even Christians seemed immune to premarital sex.
That thought stopped her. According to statistics she’d read somewhere, the ones messing around with other people’s bodies these days weren’t waiting much past puberty. Maybe that was full circle. Hadn’t girls once been given in marriage in their early teens? According to Bucky, good old Mohammed only required they hit the ripe age of nine—the age of his last wife. No wonder the women in the Middle East had issues.
Okay. She took a deep breath and rubbed her temples. What on earth was she supposed to do on her wedding night? In fiction, everything worked perfectly. He did this, she did that, and everyone was blissfully happy. Tab A into Slot B. But Tadie didn’t think it always worked like that in real life. Otherwise, bookstores wouldn’t stock all those how-to books, would they?
She should have asked Hannah for details way back when. Hannah had tried to share experiences, but Tadie always changed the subject before Hannah had the chance to ask her to reciprocate. Now, she’d just have to wait and see—and try during the next two days not to worry herself sick about it.
They trooped to the courthouse Friday morning for their marriage license. “You’re okay doing this in an Anglican church?” Tadie asked. “Meeting with John Ames?”
“I’ll marry you anywhere. But as for attending that particular church? I’ll have to ask your priest a few questions first and then make my decision.”
She’d have to trust God with this too, because she loved John Ames. Tadie watched the clock while Will was gone. Either the interview was going really well, or they were arguing religion. But she couldn’t imagine anyone arguing with John.
Will stepped inside the back door several hours later. “Hey, where are my girls?”
“I’m in here,” Tadie said, stepping out of the pantry with a new jar of pickles. “Jilly’s still up with Elvie and James. She’s learning how to crochet.”
Will took the jar out of her hand and pulled her against him. “And what are you doing?”
“Waiting for you to tell me how it went.” She backed away so she could look at him.
“I passed.” He led her to the couch and eased her down beside him. “We had such a great discussion about all sorts of things that we continued it over lunch.” He looked around. “I take it you ate without me.”
“You knew we would.”
“Once I assured him that I’m madly in love with you, it got serious. I don’t think I’ve ever been grilled so thoroughly on my beliefs, attitudes, and financial status, not in all my thirty-nine years.”
“You poor thing.”
“Not at all. I’m glad you have someone who cares so much about you. In the absence of your father, I think he wanted to make sure I wasn’t after your money or hunting up a mother for Jilly. And once we got past that, we started talking shop.”
“Whose?”
“His. I wanted his take on faith.”
“And?”
“I may have to get used to some of the practices of a liturgical church, but I admit, I’m intrigued.”
Tadie leaned over to plant a kiss on his cheek. “I’m glad.”
“He also made me promise to get you to come more regularly. I said we’d attend whenever we’re in town. We can listen online from the boat.”
“Won’t that be fun?”
Will tweaked her chin and nodded. “And—just to show you what an in I have—he insisted I call him John as he regaled
me with wonderful stories about your father. I wish I could have known your dad.”
“He would have liked you,” Tadie said, poking him in the ribs. “I’d have been jealous. You two would have talked a blue streak and spent all your days examining boats and systems.”
“But, Tadie, honey, that’s what you and I’ll be doing. Didn’t you know?”
Chapter Forty
Will helped Jilly pack her suitcase that evening. “Why can’t I stay with you and Tadie?” she asked, a whine in her voice. “I can see Aunt Liz and Uncle Dan anytime.”
“Because when a man and a woman get married, they need to spend a little time alone to get to know one another.”
“But you already know her.”
“In some ways. Other ways are just for married people.”
“What about Eb?”
“He’ll come with us. Don’t you worry about him.”
“He’ll be okay on the trip?”
“Tadie has already talked to the vet. She has a carrier for him. And he’ll have you once we all get to the Nancy Grace.”
“I hope he likes it.”
“Cats acclimate. He’ll be fine. So, missy, for now, you’ll get to go to Georgetown and have a second Christmas. There are gifts waiting for you there, you know.”
Her eyes lit. “I forgot.” She picked up Tubby and hurried downstairs to see her aunt and uncle.
While Dan visited with Tadie in the kitchen, Liz took Will aside. “This is perfect,” she said. “Nancy, if she’s watching, must be very happy for you and Jilly.”
Will hugged her tightly. “Thank you. You don’t know what that means to me.”
Liz wiped her eyes. “Well, there. I love you both, you know that,” she said, heading toward the kitchen to collect her husband.
Dan shook Will’s hand. “Glad to be here to wish you well, old man.”
Will liked Dan well enough, but the good-old-boy affectations sometimes got to him. Still, he thanked his brother-in-law and happily sent him and Liz off to Hannah’s, where they would spend the night in preparation for the big day tomorrow.
* * * * *
Tadie carried her coffee to the front porch to watch the sun inch up over the horizon into a blue sky. The creek was quiet and still, the temperature a balmy sixty-four. She wanted to capture what might be her last still moment of the day.
Becalmed: When a Southern woman with a broken heart finds herself falling for a widower with a broken boat, it's anything but smooth sailing. Page 34