“You’re stronger than you think. You haven’t been able to strangle the love you have for Nick either. It’s still there if you look for it.” Bree smiled. “Sermon over. I hope you forgive me for interfering.”
“I love you. You can say anything to me. I might get mad, but I know you care.” Eve stood and hugged her. “I’ll think about what you said.”
She’d be lucky to ever forget it.
23
THE SMALL WHITE BUILDING DIDN’T LOOK MUCH LIKE A church to Bree. Kade parked their Jeep beside it. They’d left Eve and Nick waiting for the home study guy to show up. In spite of Eve’s trauma the night before, they wanted to move forward to settle Keri’s custody issues.
Bree glanced at the group’s headquarters. It squatted in the thick overhead trees like a pale mushroom with its rounded roof and dingy white paint. The windows were fly streaked and dusty, and the yard around it was overgrown with weeds.
“I’m not sure about this,” Kade said. “I don’t see how they could have anything to do with planting my shovel at the scene.”
“Just humor me, okay?” Bree opened her door and got out. She met Kade at the front of the vehicle. He took her hand, and they went toward the front of the building. This place gave her an uneasy feeling. The idea of a Thursday afternoon meeting was kind of weird too.
Will met them at the front door. His slacks were pressed and spotless, and he wore a jacket with no tie. His easy smile told her he intended to forget that she’d challenged him over the hunting episode, and the arrogance raised her hackles. As if he was forgiving her, though he was the one who broke the law.
She didn’t return his smile, and his dimmed a trifle, then came back full wattage. Bree could feel Kade bristle, and she squeezed his fingers. “Let’s find a seat.”
“Sit here,” Will said, leading to a row of ladder-back wooden chairs near the middle of the room.
Bree and Kade stepped into the row and sat. Will took the chair on the aisle. Bree glanced around the room. A banner hung above the battered podium at the front of the room: SUPERIOR—NOT JUST A STATE BUT A WAY OF LIFE. Deer heads and black bearskin rugs hung on the walls.
She leaned over and whispered to Kade, “Are they pushing for secession from Michigan?”
“Looks like it.”
There was always some talk going on above the bridge about breaking away from the trolls and forming their own state. Bree didn’t see it ever happening. The UP depended too much on Michigan’s infrastructure.
A man stepped to the podium and held up his hands. “Welcome to our visitors. I think we’re about to get started. My son will come and play for the singing.”
A young man who looked like a younger version of the leader stood and went to the front, where he picked up a guitar and began to strum it. Bree joined in on the verses of “As the Deer.” At least she’d heard the song before. The people in the room—about forty—were mostly young adults in their twenties and thirties. There were quite a few teenagers too. Everyone clapped in time to the music and swayed in their seats.
“Now for our announcements,” the older man said. “Our supplies for the winter are growing, but we need more meat laid up.” Will began to frown and shook his head, catching the man’s eye. The man smiled weakly. “Um, let’s move on to other business.”
Bree felt Kade’s arm tighten under her fingers. He moved her hand off his arm and stood. “If you were about to say what I think you were, let me say right now that I’m a ranger. There is no legal taking of animals right now. If you’re going to lay up meat, it needs to be store-bought.”
Mutterings rippled around them. Bree saw several resentful glances sent their way. She tugged on Kade’s arm, and he sat back down.
“Thanks for that reminder,” the leader said. “On to other business. I heard from the Superior Coalition. They’re going to send a speaker for our meeting next weekend to report on the status of the movement. Secession would be best for Job’s Children as well as for the whole area. For one thing, Yoopers understand living off the land and being self-sufficient.” His gaze touched Kade. “At least most do.”
Bree was tempted to get up and walk out, but she wanted to know exactly how this group figured into what had been going on.
A young man with curly blond hair strode up the aisle. His blond beard looked more like peach fuzz. Dressed in ragged jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, he stepped to the podium. “Today I’d like to talk about the role of pain in shaping our lives. We should really pray that God cares enough about us to give us pain. Only pain shakes us out of our stupor and wakens us to God’s working in our lives. In fact, when I pray, I usually cut myself with a razor.” He pulled up his left sleeve to reveal red slashes on his arm. “It really puts me in tune with God.”
Bree choked back a gasp. These poor kids. Yes, pain shaped their lives, but God didn’t expect them to cut themselves. He’d send the necessary circumstances to mold them. She moved restlessly in her seat, then glanced to the back of the room.
The door opened, and Patti peeked in.
Bree grabbed Kade’s arm, but before she could explain, Patti ducked back out.
What was Patti doing here? Bree didn’t get it. She tried to focus on the meeting. She wouldn’t have called it a church service by any stretch of the imagination. There was no glorifying God’s work, only a pitiful effort to meet him with self-inflicted pain.
Once the meeting adjourned with a prayer for pain that would show the way, she and Kade bolted to their feet. “Let’s go,” she whispered.
Bree somehow managed to hold her tongue long enough to shake Will’s hand and smile. Kade took her hand, and they made their escape into the sunshine. The rest of the group stayed inside talking in small groups.
“They’ve got it partly right,” she told Kade. “Pain shapes us and molds us. But that cutting thing was too weird for words. And there was no mention of just embracing the pain God brings to our lives and looking for the good that he brings out of it.”
“I agree. They seem misguided, but not criminal.”
Bree told him about Patti’s appearance. “She and Will are both connected to Eve. I can’t believe we’re too far off base to think something’s going on here.”
“Let’s look around,” Kade said.
Discarded candy wrappers and soda cans littered the grounds. “For a back-to-nature group, they sure don’t take care of the environment,” Bree said.
They ducked through thick white pines and headed back toward a rock face. “Someone in town said they live in the old mine shaft,” Bree said. “It should be close by.”
“There’s the opening.” Kade pointed out the gaping hole in the mountain.
“Do we dare go in?”
Kade shrugged. “What can they do except throw us out?”
“True.” Bree clutched Kade’s hand, and they approached the opening framed in rough, weathered wood. “It doesn’t look very safe. It’s hard to imagine an acclaimed dancer living here, but I think his acclaim is long gone. Eve said he came from humble beginnings just like she did. It was something they had in common.”
The opening was about twelve feet wide and eight feet high. The top beam sagged, and the interior was dark. A dozen or so lanterns were clustered on the ground near the opening. Several lighters lay beside them.
“You game to go in?” Kade asked. He picked up a lantern.
“If you’re with me. I wish we’d brought Samson.” She stooped and grabbed one of the lighters and lit the lantern in Kade’s hand.
“I’m surprised they don’t use flashlights or battery-powered lamps,” Kade said. He trimmed the wick. “Let’s go before they start wandering this way.”
Bree followed him into the mine. The hewn rock walls seemed to press in on them. Several tunnels branched off in various directions.
“Let’s try this one,” Kade said, tugging her to the right.
They had to duck to enter the room just off the tunnel. Kade lifted the lantern to illuminate t
he space. Two sleeping bags, a pail upended to serve as a makeshift table, piles of discarded clothing, and several pairs of shoes were in the room.
Bree stepped closer to examine the pictures on top of the pail. “Look, Kade. Patti and Will. And a picture of Eve with Keri.” The whole setup creeped her out, but she picked up the picture of Patti and Will, who was dressed in his leotards. They had their arms entwined, and she was looking up at him with an adoring expression.
It looked recent.
Bree put the picture back. “I bet this is Will’s space. What if he’s Keri’s father?”
“Then why is he so interested in Eve?”
Bree shuddered. “Maybe he’s using her to get to Keri. He asked her where Keri was the other day when we came out here.”
“I think we’d better find out,” Kade said, his voice grim.
EVE GLANCED OUT THE LIVING ROOM CURTAINS. THE SOCIAL worker would be there any minute.
“Quit pacing. It will be okay,” Nick said. “You’ve got your memory back, so you’ll be able to answer all her questions.”
“But the situation is still far from ideal,” Eve said. She walked back into the living room, where Keri sat on the floor fitting wooden puzzle pieces into their frame. The quiet house had her listening for a sound at the door or the creak of a foot on floorboards. She told herself Fraser was watching the house and had it all under control. The Matthewses would be back soon.
And Nick was here. No one would try to hurt her with him hulking around. Her fingers touched the tender spots on her neck.
“It will be okay. We’ll deal with it,” Nick said.
Easy for him to say. He had a good job and knew where he fit in. By now all her dance students would have found other teachers. “Did you sell my studio?”
“No. I’ve been making the payments.”
“Why would you do that if you thought I was dead?”
“You loved that studio and put so much work into making it look nice. I couldn’t stand to let it go yet.” Nick’s steady gaze stayed on her, and he started to extend his hand to her, then dropped it. “I heard a car door.” He went into the hall.
Eve followed him. Her chest felt as though someone were sitting on it.
The man wore an easy smile and carried a briefcase. With thin dark hair and muddy hazel eyes, he was dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. “I’m Mark Haskell with Child Protective Services.”
“Come in.” Nick held the door open and stepped out of the way.
“This way,” Eve said, leading him into the living room. “This is our daughter, Keri.” Intent on her puzzle, Keri ignored her mother’s introduction.
Mark smiled. “Let’s sit down and talk a bit, shall we?” He went to the armchair and sat down. Balancing his briefcase on his knees, he flipped it open and withdrew a file and something to write with. He closed the lid and placed the file on top of the case for support. He clicked the end of the spring-loaded pen.
Eve and Nick sat on the sofa. They answered Mark’s questions about how they came to have Keri and what they knew of Patti’s background.
“Have you talked to Patti yet?” Nick asked.
“Not yet. We have an appointment this afternoon.” He clicked his pen.
Mark’s pen-clicking habit was beginning to annoy Eve. But he seemed to be a nice guy and was clearly listening to them.
Mark wrote down a few more notes. “Now to your circumstances presently. This is your home?”
“Um, no,” Eve said. “I’m staying with a friend while I’m here in Rock Harbor. I actually live in Bay City.”
“I see. How long have you been here? And why is this case being settled here and not in Bay City? You intend to move here?”
As soon as he asked the question, Eve knew the answer. Rock Harbor had entwined itself around her heart and soul. This was where she wanted to raise Keri. But how would that affect Nick? After her talk with Bree, Eve was beginning to see her own role in the failure of her marriage. A tiny seed of hope had begun to sprout, but there was no way it would come to full flower if she didn’t go back home—Nick needed law enforcement.
“I’m going to see about finding my own place here,” Eve said before she could change her mind. She felt Nick’s startled glance. “I’m going to sell my house in Bay City.”
“I see. How long have you been here?”
“Three months.”
Mark paused writing. “Seems a long time for a visit. What’s the history of this decision?”
She was going to have to tell him. Patti would anyway if Eve didn’t. She sighed and plunged into the story. He jotted down notes while she spoke. His expression gave nothing away, and she had no idea if she’d just shot herself in the foot.
“You say you’ve regained your memory now. If I may say so, that seems convenient. Do you have proof of this? What does the doctor say? Is it possible the amnesia will return?”
“I haven’t been to the doctor yet.” Stupid. She should have made sure she had the doctor’s diagnosis. There hadn’t been time, and she hadn’t wanted to leave the house after Gideon’s attack. Her fingers touched the bruises on her neck without thinking.
Mark’s gaze followed her hand. “You’re bruised. Those look like finger marks.” He looked at Nick with accusation.
Nick held up his hands. “She was attacked last night.”
“Attacked? By the same man you fled from?”
“Yes,” Eve admitted. “He broke in.”
“And where was your daughter during this time?”
“Sleeping upstairs with everyone else. He didn’t bother anyone but me.”
“But she was still in danger,” Mark said.
“Isn’t everyone?” Nick stood and paced. “Look, we live in a scary world. Terrorists and murderers seem everywhere. But it only seems that way. You can’t stick your head in the sand and pretend they aren’t out there. But you can’t hide out from life either.” He stopped and scooped Keri into his arms.
She reached up and patted his face. “Daddy,” she said.
His face dissolved in tenderness. “The fact is we love her. She’s our world. Patti will never be able to say that. Her own interests are always more important than her daughter’s.”
“According to the court report, she says she’s changed.”
“You’ll have to decide that for yourself,” Eve said. “But we’ve raised Keri for two years. Patti left her at a day care and never went back to get her. From that day until she showed up here last week, we hadn’t heard a word from her. If she really loved Keri, wouldn’t she at least call and inquire about her?”
“I would think so,” Mark admitted. He closed his file. “What is the status of your relationship? Who would have custody?”
“I would. But Nick will see her often.”
“And I’ll pay child support. But frankly, I want my family back again. I haven’t given up on our marriage.”
“I see.” Mark glanced to Eve. “And you, Ms. Andreakos?”
Eve and Nick locked eyes. “I’d like that as well,” she said, unable to tear her gaze away.
Joy lit Nick’s face. He took a step toward her, then stopped. But the warmth in his eyes only grew more brilliant.
“I’d like to observe Keri with you for a few minutes, if I may,” Mark said.
Eve stood and held out her hands for the little girl. “Let’s do your puzzle, baby girl.”
Keri lurched out of Nick’s arms toward her. Eve and Nick sat cross-legged on the floor with Keri between them. Memories of other times like this flooded Eve’s mind, and she forgot about Mark sitting behind them taking notes. Her hand grazed Nick’s, and their eyes met again.
She looked away. They had work to do on their relationship before she was willing to risk her heart again. Trust had to be rebuilt on both sides. She hoped it was possible.
Keri played happily with them, and Eve hoped Mark could see how secure the little girl felt with them around her.
About fifteen minutes later, Mark
cleared his throat. “I think that’s enough for now.” He clicked his pen again and slipped it into his briefcase. His folder followed, and he snapped shut the latches on the case, then stood. “I’ll file my report with the judge next week. I know you all need closure.”
Eve wished she could read his opinion in his face, but he’d undoubtedly had a lot of experience hiding his emotions. “Thank you,” she said. She walked him to the door and closed it behind him.
When she returned to the living room, Nick had picked up Keri and was rocking her. Her eyes were beginning to close, and she nestled against Nick’s chest.
They belonged together. Eve could see that so clearly now. But there seemed to be no easy resolution to their conflicts.
24
NICK LAID HIS SLEEPING DAUGHTER ON THE SOFA AND COV-ered her with her favorite silky pink blanket. He pulled it up around her neck and went in search of Eve.
She was nowhere in the downstairs, and he hadn’t heard her go upstairs, so he glanced out the yellow ruffled curtains into the backyard. She stood out on the farthest promontory that overlooked Superior.
He made sure Keri was still asleep, locked the front door, then stepped out the back door and joined her.
She jumped when he put his hand on her shoulder. “You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said.
“I’m tired of being afraid,” she said softly. “I’m not going to let him terrorize me. I thought about that when you told Mark that we can’t be afraid to live our lives. I’ve been afraid to stick my head out of my hidey-hole. I was just starting to emerge, and he came at me again. I found myself retreating, and I’m not going to do it.”
The waves beat at the rocks offshore. The clouds hung low over the gray water, and the wind blew Eve’s hair into his face, but Nick didn’t mind. He slipped his arm around her waist and watched nature’s show. They didn’t need to talk, not yet. In fact, he wasn’t sure he was ready.
In one breath she said she hadn’t given up on their marriage, and in the other she said she was going to move here permanently. The two didn’t mesh. At least not in his mind. He didn’t see how they could in hers either.
Rock Harbor Series - 04 - Abomination Page 24