ESCAPE INTO ROMANCE- 4 Book Bundle

by Patrice Wilton

  “Yes, certainly. I’d also be happy to teach her a few moves to protect herself. In a few hours she could learn enough to save her life.”

  “Really?” Barbara asked in surprise. “I thought it would take years.”

  “No. A couple of hours will do the trick. And all women should know these life-saving skills.” Jan eyed her two friends. “But the lady in question needs to know there are other facilities to help her. There’s an Aware program, that can and will develop a protection plan strictly for her.”

  “That’s great information. I’ll pass it on.” Maddi played with her cinnamon stick, dipping it in and out of the cappuccino. “How was everyone’s week? Do we have anything new and interesting to report?”

  Barbara answered. “I was called into school because my son got into a fistfight and skipped class. As if that was bad enough, Bill’s been hounding me about making a decision. Said, either get my ass home, or he’ll file for divorce.”

  “I can’t blame him,” Maddi said. “He’s been patient with you long enough.” She patted her friend’s hand. “Come on, Barb. I really think your marriage is worth saving, and you need to be there for your boys.”

  “Traiter,” she said, looking hurt.

  “I’m not. I love you, but I also love Bill and the boys. No marriage is perfect, but yours is not all that bad.”

  “Maddi, I thought you of all people understood. I’m tired of having an absentee husband and father to my kids. He’s never there for us. It’s an empty marriage.”

  “Then end it. But do something.”

  Jan listened to the two of them, but didn’t offer an opinion. She didn’t know Bill, so she wasn’t in a position to say whether or not he was worth keeping.

  Maddi changed the subject. “I met another dud on Romance.com. He didn’t look anything like his picture. I don’t get it!” she snapped. “Do they think we won’t notice they’re a whole lot older, their hair is gone, and they’ve gone to fat?”

  “Why are you doing this?” Barb asked. “The right guy will come along when you’re not even looking.”

  Jan nodded. “You’ve been a dating fool for months now, and it’s time to give it a rest.”

  “No. I’m not ready.” She looked into her friend’s face. “Yes, I’m having fun dating, but I also keep hoping your hotel buddy will make contact. I say all the right things in my profile, hoping to entice him.”

  “Maddi! Are you crazy? I had no idea you were doing anything so stupid.” Barbara glared at her. “He’s not worth it. I don’t want to see you getting hurt.”

  Jan nodded in agreement. “Leave it alone, Maddi. We’ll catch him, eventually. Meanwhile, he hasn’t contacted Barbara, so she’s probably in the clear.”

  “Wait a minute. Just now, I remembered something,” Barbara whispered. “He had a gym bag in the room. It had a name on it. Something like the Gold’s gym but that wasn’t it. Let me think.”

  “Now you remember,” Jan muttered. “Think hard.”

  “Yes.” Her eyes lit up. “It was Goals gym. You know the one that advertises, “set your goals, shed those pounds, start feeling better about yourself.”

  “Hey, I know the place,” Maddi said. “Why don’t we check it out?”

  Jan shook her long, bony finger at her. “You stay away from that place. You understand? I’m deadly serious. It’s dangerous. Meeting someone from Romance.com in a public place is probably safe enough, but trying to make contact with a known felon is work for a police officer.”

  “I’m a grown woman. I can handle myself, and I’m not foolish enough to go somewhere with him.” Maddi looked at Barbara for support. “It’s no different than if I went to any public place at night. Creeps are everywhere. It’s just bad luck to run into one.”

  Jan flexed her muscles out of habit, not even thinking about impressing the girls, although it did. “Life has certain risks of course, but you’re talking about seeking out a criminal, and I won’t allow it.”

  Barbara shook her head. “No way are you going to the gym. Not without me.”

  “Girls, forget it. It’s too risky.”

  “We’re not letting him off the hook.” Maddi gritted her teeth. “He’s dead meat.”

  “You’re not going alone.” Barbara sighed, giving in. “The old theory, safety in numbers.”

  Jan raised a hand. “You know this is crazy. We shouldn’t even be thinking of this. But if we’re going to do it, let’s be smart about it. I can get to the gym a couple nights a week.”

  Barbara said, “He’s my scoundrel, so I’m coming too.” She tossed her hair back, catching her diamond ring in her curls. “Hey, I’ll cut this mane. I haven’t had my hair short in so long, I can’t remember.”

  Maddi’s pursed her lips. “Your beautiful hair? No, that’s too big of a sacrifice.” Shaking her head, she added, “We can think of something else, can’t we?”

  Jan lifted a thick strand of Barbara’s hair. “We can save this, don’t worry. But I have to go out of town for a few days, so don’t do anything until I get back.”

  “Where’re you going?”

  “To my parents’ fortieth anniversary party in Seattle. Trust me, I’d much rather be hunting down bad guys then to be there.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Jan hated Seattle. She hated the rain, the slippery streets, the smell of the air, but mostly, the memories. Nothing good had ever happened to her in this town, and she didn’t expect it to now.

  If her sister hadn’t picked her up at the airport, she might have simply got on the next flight back. But Lisa was waiting directly outside the security gate, giving her no chance to escape. She’d grabbed Jan’s one bag, hustled her to her car, and driven off into the night.

  Jan sat beside her in the car, only half listening to her idle prattle. She was thinking about the house where she grew up, and the two men who’d made her life hell. “Did Joey ever get out of jail?” she asked. “The last I heard he was doing five to ten for armed robbery.”

  Lisa was three years older than Jan, and at least forty pounds heavier. She was a big woman, but her plus-size was not restricted to her physical dimensions—it also included her heart. She’d greeted Jan with hugs and kisses and laughter, but she wasn’t smiling now.

  “No. He’s in there for awhile. Hope it’ll do him good.” Lisa shot her a quick glance. “He was a mean son-of-a-gun. Why’d you ever marry him, anyway? With your smarts, you could have done a whole lot better.”

  “I thought he’d take care of me.” Jan smacked her forehead. “What an idiot, I was. He turned out to be worse than Dad.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t keep harping on that. He’s a changed man.”

  “So you say. But you see the best in everybody.”

  “And you see the worst,” Lisa scolded. “My God, if you’re going to wear that face all weekend you shouldn’t have come.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. That I shouldn’t have come.”

  “Well, you did, so make the best of it.” Lisa squeezed her arm. “Gosh, I haven’t seen you since my wedding, four years ago. We have so much to catch up on. You haven’t even seen my babies. Timmy’s three, and Jenny’s nearly a year and a half. The little darlings, I love them to death.”

  “You seem so happy,” Jan admitted. “I’m glad. You deserve it.”

  “I have everything I want,” Lisa’s broad face beamed. “And Jack is a good man.”

  “Before we get home, clue me in. Has the stroke debilitated Dad? Can he feed himself? Or walk, or talk?”

  “He’s getting better. At first he couldn’t do any of those things, but now he’s back on his feet. His speech is impaired, and he kind of shuffles along, but he’s on the mend.”

  “Guess it’s true. Only the good die young.”

  “Don’t start, Jan. You promised you’d behave this weekend.”

  “What is that supposed to mean? I’m not allowed to call him an S.O.B.? Pretend that he’s dear old dad—a candidate for father of the y
ear?”

  “No, just try to make peace. He’s sorry for the things he’s done.” She smiled. “Remember, forgiveness is a virtue.” Lisa pulled into the driveway, and Jan noticed the rundown yard, the tangled weeds climbing up the sides of the house, partially hiding the peeling paint, the obvious neglect and decay. Nothing changed.

  Lisa turned to her, and said, “He’s mellowed a lot, you’ll see. And he dotes on his grand-kids.”

  Jan sat there for a minute, then realized how foolish it was to sit in her parent’s drive and not get out of the car. She’d come this far, a few more steps wouldn’t kill her.

  The door flung open, and her mother stood there with her arms held wide. Jan had little choice but to go into them.

  “Hi, Mom. You look great.” Her mother was wearing a blue sweater and navy slacks, her close-cropped hair was a soft grey, and her weary eyes were awash with tears. She looked tiny and defenseless next to her and Lisa.

  Jan kissed her frail cheek. “How’s Dad?”

  “Better. He’s sitting up, waiting for you.” Seeing her expression, her mom’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t be stirring up no trouble, Janette. You’ll see for yourself that he’s not the man he used to be.”

  Jan followed her sister and mom into the living-room. On the worn out old sofa, lay a worn out old man she barely recognized. His left eye and mouth drooped grotesquely, making his speech slow and difficult.

  “Shaneete.” He had trouble saying her name.

  “Dad?”

  “Come…give…hug.” The words were slurred, and his one good eye watered at the sight of her. “How…long…? Four…five years?”

  “That’s right. Since Lisa’s wedding.” She spoke brightly, hiding her shock.

  Her mom came up, and put an arm around her. “You have all night to talk, why don’t you settle in first? And Dad, you look tired.” She led her towards the hall. “Come and see your room. It hasn’t changed since you were a kid.”

  Carrying her bag, she followed her mother down the hall, up the stairs into the room she’d shared with her sister. She stood at the threshold and stared. The walls were still yellow, the border a rim of sunflowers. Her mother had made the two quilts for the twin beds, using a medley of fabrics and prints and colors. There was a patch of calico, a dash of crepe, gingham, brocade, denim and tweed, all stitched lovingly by her mother’s hands.

  Those hands were crippled with arthritis now. They used to corn-roll her hair, wash her face, bandaged her skinned knees. They were there waiting when she took her first step, they taught her to tie laces on her shoes, to ride a bike, to drive a car, to stand on her own two feet.

  Jan took her mother’s hands and kissed them. “It’s good to be home, Mom. It really is.”

  * * *

  The party was held the following afternoon, at a reception hall in town, and seventy-five guests had been invited. Jan was dancing with her brother-in-law, Jack, who was even bigger than her sister. He was a baker, which helped explain their joint girth, but a smooth dancer, and surprisingly light on his feet.

  Laughing at something he said, she didn’t notice how quiet the room became. She looked up to see her father weaving his way through the crowd, one shuffled step at a time. Jack stopped dancing, and Jan watched him approach.

  “May I…dance?” her father asked.

  Jack held her hand out, and her father took it. He put his other gnarled hand on her back, and made a heroic effort to shuffle to the music.

  “Shannette…”Tears rolled down his cheeks. “I’m…so glad you…came.”

  She kissed his cheek, and felt a sudden lightness. All the anger she’d carried around for years vanished, and acceptance took its place. In that instant she realized how much easier it was to forgive, than to live with all that hate.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Jan, Barbara, and Maddi took out a two week introduction to the gym. They agreed to work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday from six to seven, and grab dinner afterwards.

  Barbara wore a terry-cloth turban on her head during the work-outs, no make-up and colored lenses. Having lost ten pounds, she already looked like a different woman. Although, so far it wouldn’t have mattered because in the three visits to Goal’s Gym, they’d been no sign of Lee Waters, or whatever he now called himself.

  Still, they enjoyed the work-out and the chance to meet and catch up on MARS Club news.

  Tonight after a particularly grueling spinning class, they went to PF Chang’s for chicken lettuce wraps. “How are the boys doing, Barbara?” Maddi asked, heaping her crisp iceberg lettuce with a spoonful of the mixture. “Better at school?”

  “Yes, thank you. But they know how to make me feel guilty. They’ve got me doing most of their homework. But I don’t mind.” She smiled fondly. “It gives me more time with them. And sometimes when I stay late, Bill arrives.”

  “And? Are you happy to see him?” Jan asked.

  “It’s really stupid, but when he appears I get these little butterflies. Like when we first met.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Maddi gave her a warm smile. “I’m so glad, honey. I really think it’s time you returned to your family. They love you.”

  “Are you kicking me out?”

  “Nudging, that’s all. Don’t you want to go?”

  Barbara shook her head. “Not yet. For the first time in months I think we have a chance to catch this creep, and make him pay for what he did.”

  “Don’t let one mistake force you into a bigger one.” Jan’s lettuce wrap fell apart, and she picked at it with her fingers. “From what Maddi says, Bill’s solid as a rock.”

  Maddi nodded. “Good guys like him don’t come along every day.”

  “You don’t have to tell me about the virtues of my husband,” Barbara snapped. “Bill is great, okay, but he’s not perfect. Far from it. If we were back together, we’d still be having the same problem. That won’t change until he retires, and he’s not going to do that for another ten to fifteen years.”

  “Was life so bad?” Maddi asked. “Think about it, Barbara. You have two terrific sons, a lovely home, a kind and caring husband. What more do you need?”

  Barbara pushed her plate aside. “Everyone thinks my life was “perfect” and that I was the “perfect wife.” Chairing all those big events made me look important. But really I was filling in empty hours that got emptier every year, especially once the boys were in their teens.”

  “So stop trying to please everybody, and please yourself. Decide what it is that you want, and go for it. And for God’s sake, stop trying to be so damn perfect. Nobody is.”

  “Here ye. Here ye.” Jan saluted with her glass of wine.

  “And another thing,” Maddi said. “I’m sick and tired of you belittling yourself. You raised a ton of money over the years for a great many foundations. As a matter of fact, I always thought you’d be honored with a title, like Marvel Women of the Year.”

  Barbara choked on her wine. “Sounds like an action figure for a comic-book.”

  “The work you do is as important as your husband’s. You are in every way his equal.” Jan spoke around a mouthful of chicken gook. She swiped the sauce off her chin. “Gosh, this is messy stuff. But good.”

  The girls were too busy stuffing their faces to reply.

  Jan focused on Barbara. “You need to focus your talents on our MARS Club. Maddi has found her niche in counseling, but these women need leadership. They need you.”

  “Right now I couldn’t manage my way out of a wet paper bag.”

  Jan ignored her. “You’ve had plenty of experience in handling major accounts and fund-raisers money over the years, plus I’m sure you handle all the finances at home. Teach these newly divorced women how to handle their financial affairs, because most of them won’t have a clue.”

  Maddi spoke up. “It can be an advisory club.”

  “What do you mean?” Jan asked. “I thought it was about empowering women. Don’t kick the life out of it.”

 
“I’m not.” She laughed. “But I want it to be so much more. Something positive and healing. Not about getting even, but about moving on, and becoming greater than we were before.” Maddi looked at her dear friends, and raised her glass in a toast. “To the women of the Mars Club, may we all grow in knowledge, in spirit, and open our hearts and our minds, and become all that we can be.”

  Jan spoke solemnly. “One more toast.” She raised her glass. “To good friendships, however they’re formed, and where ever they lead.”

  They all clinked glasses.

  “Jan, now that it’s decided that I’m the official MARS club counselor, and Barb’s the financial wizard, you also have an important role to play.”

  “Me? What’s a crusty old cop going to tell these women? If you can’t kick them in the groin, use a Saturday night special?”

  “Jan, give me a break.” Barbara bumped shoulders with her friend. “You’re not as tough as you’d like us to think. And Maddi’s right. You need to help battered women protect themselves.”

  She grinned. “Now, that’s a thought. I’ll see what the department says about teaching self-defense courses.”

  Maddi looked at her friends with pride. “Our MARS Club is evolving into something big. And we three women did it.”

  Barbara got up to use the restroom, and spotted a familiar face. She gestured with her chin.

  “Look who’s here. Mr. Stalker. He’s over there next to the window. Don’t tell me it’s a coincidence. Not three times.”

  Maddi whispered, “He’s a PI, and I think he’s staking one of us out. But who, and why?” She twisted in her seat to stare at him. “Should we go up and ask?”

  “I should have guessed,” Jan said. “He looked a little too slick. How did you find out?”

  “The last time we saw him, I visited the ladies room and passed his table, remember? It looked like he was wearing a listening device, aimed right at our table. Before you ask, I knew this because I read a book where this guy had a shotgun mike, wrapped up in a newspaper. All he had to do was aim the paper in the right direction and he could hear everything being said. Cool, isn’t it?”