by Brenda Novak
With a sigh, David raked a hand over his face, feeling the roughness of his unshaved chin. He shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be doing this. He should be home showering so he could head into the office and finish catching up on everything he’d missed during the past few weeks. He should be home, going through the motions of moving on with his life. Regardless of how little he wanted to face it, his marriage to Gabrielle was over for good. The real question wasn’t whether he loved her enough to do what was best for her. The real question, at least for him, was whether or not he loved her enough to let her go.
“Shit,” he said and, instead of pulling over to let the police car pass, he slammed on his brakes and angled his SUV to block the road.
THE CALL, when it came, caught Gabrielle cleaning up after breakfast. Allie was playing at her feet, tossing utensils from the kitchen drawers onto the floor. Gabrielle didn’t bother to stop her, even though the clanging made her nerves raw. Right now, it was more important for Allie’s attention to remain focused on other things. Right now, Gabrielle needed a chance to cope with the fact that Tucker and Landon were gone, David was angry with her, and she was going to be seeing her real mother in just a few hours—at a time when she already felt emotionally exhausted.
Maybe she should call and tell Naomi she couldn’t make it, she thought. She wanted to meet her siblings, but not today. Today was one of the worst days of her life. She wasn’t herself, and doubted she could deal with anything stressful on the heels of this morning. But what if Lindy had canceled something important to be present? What if Naomi had already gone to a great deal of work?
The phone interrupted her deliberations. Tucker hadn’t promised her any future contact. He’d told her to forget about him. But she couldn’t help feeling a stab of hope that he might be trying to reach her. Flicking the soap from her hands, she reached for a paper towel and started for the living room just as the answering machine came on.
“This is Gabrielle. Please leave your name and number, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
Knowing Tucker would hang up rather than leave a message, she reached for the handset, then stopped abruptly when she heard Sergeant Hansen’s voice.
“Hadley, are you there? If so, I suggest you pick up.”
She did nothing.
“Hadley, I have David here with me. And he’s in some trouble.”
David? Gabrielle’s mouth went dry. How could David possibly be in trouble? Tucker had thought he would go to the police, but she couldn’t understand how that could get David in trouble.
“Gabby? Pick up. I need to talk to you.”
It was David this time. Gabrielle’s hand suddenly felt clumsy, but she forced it to work well enough to bring the phone to her ear.
“David, what’s going on?” she asked, fear pouring through her veins. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
She wanted to ask him if Tucker was okay, too, but with Hansen so close, she didn’t dare. “What’s going on?” she said again. “What kind of trouble are you in?”
“I called the police and followed Tucker, just like you told me to, but I’m afraid they didn’t get him, and now they’re trying to blame me.”
She gripped the phone a little tighter. “I don’t understand.”
He went on as though she’d asked him something else. “I don’t know what happened, exactly. I’m guessing my tire must’ve hit the soft shoulder, because just as the police were coming up behind me, something spun me across the road. Next thing I knew, the police car rammed into my back rear panel, and that hung things up pretty good.”
“You were in a wreck? Were you hurt?” Gabrielle asked anxiously.
“No. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but Tucker got away. And now Sergeant Hansen thinks we’re somehow in league with the escaped convict we just tried to help him catch. He wants to ask you a few questions, okay?”
Gabrielle didn’t know how to answer him. In the end, she didn’t have to, because Hansen came back on the line. “What the hell kind of game are you two playing?” he demanded.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.
“David called me this morning, said Tucker showed up at your place, trying to overpower you and escape with some money and food.”
“That’s true,” she said, knowing that all she could do at this point was trust David.
“So what happened?”
Oh, boy… Taking a shaky breath, she curled her free hand into a fist, hoping she could safely navigate her way through this. “Um…David showed up just in time to scare Tucker off,” she said, praying that her story matched David’s.
“So why didn’t you call in?” Hansen asked.
“I had to stay with my baby daughter. David was the one who was following Tucker. Didn’t he tell you where you could find him?”
“He told me all right. I dispatched a couple of cars, but then your ex-husband got in the way and let Tucker escape again.”
Gabrielle took solace from the fact that Tucker was still free—and wondered what on earth had happened. David was an excellent driver, certainly not the type to make such a stupid mistake. “I’m sure it was just a simple accident,” she said, even though she wasn’t sure of any such thing.
“So how’d Tucker know where you live?”
“It wouldn’t be hard to figure out in a town this size. Anyway, he probably assumed I live alone and thought I’d be an easy mark.”
“Tell me something.”
“What?”
“Why is it that, with Tucker, all roads seem to lead back to you?”
“It’s just a coincidence,” she said.
“You know what, Hadley?”
“What?”
“I don’t believe in coincidence,” he said. Then a dial tone suddenly hummed in Gabrielle’s ear, and she sagged onto the couch.
DAVID ARRIVED at the trailer less than an hour after Gabrielle had hung up with Hansen. By then, Allie was down for a nap and Gabrielle was pacing the floor, still wondering what had happened this morning. And worrying what Hansen was going to do about it.
When she saw her ex-husband, she wasn’t sure how to greet him. The past few weeks hadn’t been easy on their relationship. They’d parted on bad terms this morning, something terrible had happened afterward, and now…and now they were entering brand-new territory.
He walked into the trailer, looking tired.
“You okay?” Gabrielle asked, perching on the arm of the couch as she watched him.
He nodded. “Where’s Allie?”
“Napping. What happened this morning?”
With a long sigh, he sat in the chair opposite her. “I realized something.”
“What’s that?”
“That I love you more than I thought.”
He wasn’t making a play for her. Gabrielle could tell by the tone of his voice that a significant change had taken place. “You want to explain that?” she asked.
He shook his head, glanced around the trailer as though he might never see it again, and stood. “No. I’m going back to Phoenix, Gabby, where I belong. Can I have Allie next Saturday?”
“Of course.” Gabrielle stood, too. “You have partial custody.”
“Good. I’ll send my child support this week.”
He started for the door. She caught him by the arm before he could step outside. “Aren’t you going to tell me what happened with Tucker and Hansen?”
“Can’t you guess?”
“You called the police after you left here.”
The look on his face told her she was right.
“So what changed your mind?” she asked. “Why’d you let him go?”
“I didn’t want to send a man to prison because of my own jealousy. And I finally realized I’d already lost you, anyway.”
She brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. “You haven’t lost anything, David. You’re still my dearest friend. You always will be.”
He smiled, and it was
the old smile, the one Gabrielle had long admired. “I hope Tucker’s able to clear his name. Maybe then the two of you can be together. At least part of me hopes that,” he amended.
Gabrielle felt profound gratitude for having known David, for his friendship and longtime support. “David?”
“Hmm?”
“Thanks.” Standing on tiptoe, she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“For what?”
“For being you. And for helping Tucker. I’m glad you weren’t hurt pulling that little stunt.”
“So am I.”
“Any chance I could tag along with you and Allie this Saturday?”
“I don’t think so,” he said. “I thought I’d take Allie and the new woman in my office on a picnic. Shauna’s been hinting she’d like that,” he added with a grin. “It might be a little tough to explain why I’m bringing my ex-wife along.”
She laughed. “I could tell her what a good guy she’d be getting if she was ever lucky enough to land you.”
He held up a hand. “Let’s give her a chance to figure out that kind of stuff for herself, okay? It might be a while before I’m ready for anything serious.”
“I understand. Call when you have a little time to spare, then, and we’ll catch a movie or something.”
“Sure.” He stared down at her for several seconds. “Goodbye, Gabby,” he said, and Gabrielle knew from the way he said it that he was saying goodbye to their past.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
TODAY WAS A DAY for change. Gabrielle knew that already. David had finally understood that she wasn’t coming back to him; he was finally moving on. Thinking about all the adjustments that would be necessary in their relationship made her feel strangely bereft, even though she was determined to help him stay the course. With time, he’d find a wife, and Gabrielle would embrace her, too, if she was open to the friendship.
But it wasn’t just David. Her life was changing in other ways. Last night she’d made love with the only man to whom she’d ever been able to commit her whole heart. Today she’d lost him. Now, as she stood on the curb of her mother’s house holding Allie and gazing at all the cars jamming the drive, she wondered how the people she was about to meet might affect her future. Was she doing the right thing by coming here—and today of all days?
She didn’t know, but she couldn’t cancel on such late notice. Good manners wouldn’t allow it. More than that, Naomi Cutter still intrigued her. Despite her conflicted feelings about the past, Gabrielle wasn’t ready to walk away.
Shifting Allie to her other hip, she adjusted the flowers and wine she was also carrying, and approached the house.
She didn’t even have to knock before Hal threw open the front door. “Come on in,” he said exuberantly, taking the flowers and the wine and waving her inside as though they knew each other well. “Everyone’s excited to meet you.”
His welcome bolstered her. Squaring her shoulders, she stepped inside to face a roomful of people. Lindy was leaning against the wall, smiling expectantly. A lanky young man of about twenty lounged on a chair placed in front of the television, loosely holding a remote in one hand, which he immediately used to silence whatever program he was watching. Her brother? A middle-aged couple sat together on the couch. They clasped hands as soon as they saw her, as though enthralled by the moment.
Her mother came from the kitchen wearing an apron.
“Here she is,” Naomi said. Her voice sounded as upbeat and happy as Hal’s, but Gabrielle could tell she was far more nervous. “Hello, Gabrielle. I’m so glad you could make it.”
Gabrielle’s smile shook, and she wished she had more emotional reserves for this encounter. “Hello.”
“Everyone, this is Naomi’s oldest daughter, Gabrielle Hadley,” Hal announced.
“Or Gabby for short,” Gabrielle interjected, feeling self-conscious with so many new people. “And this is Allie, my baby.” She turned so everyone could get a better view of Allie.
“She’s darling,” Lindy said to no one in particular.
“Gabby, this is your sister, Lindy,” Hal said.
Lindy was wearing a sundress and sandals and wore her straw-blond hair pulled back from her face. When she smiled, a dimple winked in one cheek, and Gabrielle could easily imagine a great number of men falling at her feet.
Stepping forward, she reached out to shake Gabrielle’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said. Her words were formal, but they were sincere, and her grip was warm and sure.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Gabrielle responded.
“And this is your brother, Conrad,” Hal went on.
Instead of getting up to shake her hand, Conrad smiled and waved. His actions were deceptively casual, though. As soon as he thought she wasn’t looking, he regarded her from beneath his gold lashes. But there was nothing unfriendly or standoffish about him. Gabrielle felt his curiosity more than anything else.
“And these two people,” Hal announced, turning to the couple on the sofa as though he’d saved the best for last, “are your aunt Margaret and uncle Peter.”
Peter helped Margaret to her feet and they both came forward and embraced her.
“You won’t remember them,” Hal was saying. “Peter wasn’t in the picture when you were little. Margaret’s your mother’s only sibling, and she was just going to college when you were born.”
“So you live in the area, too?” Gabrielle asked as they released her.
“We’re snowbirds,” Margaret answered. “We live in Utah during the summer and Sun City during the winter. We just drove down to stay with your mother for a few days so we wouldn’t miss meeting you.”
“How nice of you.”
“Oh, we wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” she said, a twinkle in her eye. “Naomi was so excited when she called.”
Gabrielle glanced fleetingly at her mother, who gave her a tentative smile. Gabrielle’s worst fear had once been that Naomi would reject her again, that her mother wouldn’t want to be found. But Naomi had called Margaret and Pete and, with hardly any notice, had them drive all the way from Utah just to meet her.
Yes, this was a day for change.
“Hey, Allie,” Hal said, taking her from Gabrielle’s arms now that he’d deposited the wine and flowers on the coffee table. “Wait till you see the new doll Grandpa and Grandma bought for you.”
Grandpa and Grandma. Gabrielle liked the sound of that, but she caught her breath when Hal immediately handed Allie to Naomi. Gabrielle wasn’t sure she was ready to share her daughter with her mother. She still wasn’t sure she could forgive the past—until she saw Naomi close her eyes and hold Allie to her chest with the same kind of relief Gabrielle had known the day she came out of the desert. Tears began to slip down Naomi’s face, and a lump the size of a baseball rose in Gabrielle’s throat at the sight.
“Gabrielle, come sit down and tell me a little about yourself,” Lindy said. “I’ve always wanted a sister.”
Gabrielle blinked rapidly and felt a smile finally come to her rescue.
It was definitely a time for change, and some of those changes were going to be good.
TUCKER CALLED SEAN at work. It had been so long since he’d dialed his neighbor at the accountancy firm that he’d had to rely on directory information for the number. But he had a receptionist from Broadstone and Brinkerhoff, Public Accountants, on the line now. Fortunately, Landon was inside the Quick Mart, shopping for candy, while Tucker stood at the edge of the property, using the pay phone.
“I’m afraid Mr. Marshall is on another line,” the receptionist coolly informed him.
Tucker leaned outside the booth so he could keep an eye on his son through the store window and maintain a clear view of the road behind him. Now that the police knew the make and model of his car, and that he was still in the area, thanks to David, he’d lost his advantage. And he was tired. He’d risked renting a cheap motel room on the outskirts of Tucson last night so Landon would have a bed, a television an
d a bath. But every noise in the place had awakened him—the showers in the neighboring rooms, the cars coming and going in the lot, the dispensing of goodies from the vending machine just down the hall. He woke several times, wondering if the police were at the door. Then he had difficulty sleeping after each interruption, because he’d start thinking about Gabrielle and how it had felt to take her in his arms. He’d remember her smile, the passion in her eyes when she gazed up at him. He’d hear her say, “I’m in love with you….” and at some point he’d have to face that it didn’t make a damn bit of difference whether she loved him or not. He couldn’t have Gabrielle no matter how badly he wanted her.
“Tell him it’s his old neighbor,” Tucker said into the phone. “If he’s still too busy, tell him it’s no problem. I’ll just drop by his place later.”
Evidently, Sean understood the implied threat better than his receptionist did. Maybe he’d checked to find his spare key missing. In any case, he picked up only a few seconds later. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice a desperate half whisper. “Why are you harassing me? I could go to the police, you know.”
“But you haven’t.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not too late.”
“If you were going to the police, you would’ve done it by now. You don’t want to talk to them. Why is that?”
“Hey, what can I say? I’m an old friend—”
“You screwed my wife, Sean. You know something about her death and instead of coming forward, you let me go to prison. That hardly makes you my friend.”
Silence. “Poor Andrea,” he said at last.
“What happened to her?” Tucker asked.
“I don’t know.”
“I think you know something. And I’m going to find out what it is. I’m sending the pictures of you and Andrea to a private investigator, who’s going to take a closer look at where you were the night Andrea was killed. While he’s at it, maybe I’ll have him look at every other detail of your life, too. You won’t be able to take a piss without checking over your shoulder.”