by Jenn Cowan
“Everyone is talking about Cat and Jana fighting over Liam, but stabbing Jana over it and during Josh’s funeral.” She shoots me a sympathetic smile then notices Travis holding my hand. “What’s going on here?”
I rip my hand from his. “Nothing. Travis was upset. We’re friends.” I’m rambling so I clamp my mouth shut.
Allison eyes me suspiciously, but thankfully, drops it and focuses back on Travis. “Cat’s such a sweet girl. How could she stab Jana in the back? I mean taking any woman’s man is kind of like stabbing someone in the back.” She shoots me a glare then continues, “I’ve never known Cat to be so violent, but she’s seemed distant lately. Maybe everything with her mother this year just caused her to snap. It’s just awful. Poor Brooklyn. She’s putting on a brave face at the luncheon, but I can tell she’s barely holding it together.”
“What?! Brooklyn’s at Josh’s luncheon? Her daughter’s in the hospital. Why is she there?”
“The doctor told her it could be awhile before she could see Jana. Something about getting her stable and of course stitching her up. Thankfully, the knife didn’t hit any major organs. I can’t believe Cat didn’t even call for help. She called Autumn. Thank heavens Autumn had sense enough to call an ambulance.” Allison rolls her eyes. “Anyway, Brooklyn forgot her purse when she rushed out of the church so she came back for it and stopped into the luncheon to fill everyone in on what actually happened.”
“And how does she know what happened?” Travis growls.
Allison frowns. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“I mean, was Brooklyn at the spa? Did she see what went on?”
“Well no.” Allison bites her lip. “She’s just relaying what the police told her and I think she didn’t want to be alone. Her husband’s in Japan or was it China?” She bites her lip as if trying to recall the insignificant detail then continues, “Anyway, since everyone’s at the luncheon, she went there. The poor thing. She’s telling everyone about how she’s tried to reach out to Cat all year after April died. She even encouraged Jana to take her under her wing, of course, now she regrets it because Cat stole Liam and now…” Allison stops talking when she finally notices Travis is about to explode.
His fists are tightly clenched at his sides and his chest is rising and falling rapidly. By the look on his face, no one should cross him. He doesn’t say anything as he takes off in the direction of the church… on foot.
“Travis! Travis! Where are you going? You’re not going to cause a scene, are you? Brooklyn’s been through enough today. She’s my friend. You can’t just…” Her words are lost on him. She turns to me and blinks. “He’s going to the church, isn’t he?”
I nod.
“We have to stop him. This isn’t right.”
I purse my lips and contemplate for only a moment letting Allison realize on her own, the impact of her words on her relationship with Travis, but I’m not sure she’ll get there. “Allison, do you really think Cat attacked Jana?”
Allison jerks back as if she’s stunned by my defense of Cat. “We-well, the evidence… Brooklyn said Cat was arrested. She had the knife in her hand. The police say she’s in custody.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes at the lack of tact and protocol of small town officers. Of course, some loose lipped cop released details to their wife and she’s spread it all over town. I repeat the question because I couldn’t care less about the evidence, “Do you really think Cat attacked Jana?”
Allison opens then closes her mouth. “I-I don’t know.”
I shake my head. “Then you don’t deserve to be her stepmom or to marry Travis. He needs you right now. Not for you to accuse his daughter, but to believe her innocence no matter what the evidence or anyone says. You’ve already proven whose side you’re on and it’s not his.” With that I take off toward Travis. Hobbling over the snow in heeled boots and a dress is not ideal, but with no car, I don’t have any other options. “Travis, wait!” I call after him. The wind whips my hair and burns my cheeks as I half run/walk after him. “Travis!” I’m huffing and puffing by the time I reach the town hall. I fling open the door and am greeted with a bunch of voices getting angrier by the second.
Travis and Brooklyn are practically touching noses while everyone else is in a circle around them. I think a few of the high schoolers are videoing it on their phones. Great. This needs to end now.
I elbow my way through the crowd and catch a glimpse of my mother and Josh’s parents heading out the back door. I hesitate because Abby looks absolutely distraught. This isn’t how Josh’s luncheon should have gone. I quickly grab the two teenagers’ phones, who are videoing the scene and dash toward my mom. The teenagers are protesting and chasing me, but I don’t stop until I reach Abby. “Are you okay?”
My mother gives me a quick once over. “Did you walk here?” She takes in my muddy tights and boots. “Your dad said you both were going to the station to check on Cat. How is she?”
I shake my head and try to catch my breath. I’ve really got to start working out again. “Long story.” I glance over my shoulder at the two teens, who are milling around behind me, kicking the snow. At least they know better than to approach us. I’ll deal with them in a minute. “Are you okay? I’m sorry I missed the funeral. I wasn’t feeling well then Cat…”
Abby holds up a hand. “It’s fine, Autumn.” She gives me a small smile. “One of the things Josh loved about you is your willingness to help those who need you. He always talked about you solving cases and that you were going to be the death… of him.” She gulps. “He was always worrying about you. When he found out Celeste tricked him into marrying her, he was sick over it. He only ever wanted to marry you.” She snorts. “I told him to date around to get you to realize your feelings for him. Not marry someone.” She sighs and studies at me for a moment. “Did you ever love him… as more than a friend?”
Her words throw me for a moment. I’ve only recently realized my feelings for Josh and never even got to tell him. “Yes. When he got in the car accident. I knew in the hospital then found out he was married to Celeste.”
She blinks and frowns. “That was in October. You didn’t love him before that?”
I bite my lip. I can’t lie to her. I mean I’ve always loved Josh, but never wanted to cross the friendship line. Once we went there, we couldn’t go back and I never wanted to lose him. Except now, I have… forever and he’ll never know how I truly feel. “I’ve always loved Josh. He’s my best friend.”
She scoffs. “Friends. He’s loved you since high school, Autumn. You’ve been so hung up on Travis, you couldn’t see what a great guy you had right in front of your face and now, he’s gone. My baby boy is gone... because of you.”
I jerk back like she slapped me. My jaw goes slack and I can practically feel my heart cracking in two.
“Josh is gone because you didn’t marry him years ago when he asked. If you had, he would be here right now and you two would be owning the spa with a couple of kids running around.”
I blink. “W-what? Josh never proposed.”
She nods, furiously. “I gave him my mother’s ring. The one you love with the sapphires around the ideal diamond. He asked for it after you two graduated from massage school. Said he was planning to propose at your celebration dinner. Show you he was serious about you and that he loved you more than a friend. He thought you were finally over Travis and he had a chance.”
My stomach churns because I remember that dinner. Josh was acting funny that night. Kept spilling his drink and was barely eating. Josh was always eating so for him to not eat was strange, to say the least. I kept asking him what was wrong, but then Travis showed up on a date with some girl from out of town and I obsessed about it all night. I wasn’t over Travis and I ruined a chance with Josh. “He never asked.”
She blinks again. “He didn’t? He told me you weren’t ready to get married yet.”
“I-I… he never asked.” Was all I could think to say… again.
�
�Because you were hung up on Travis. It nearly killed him when you and Travis started working together again. He was afraid you would get back together. My boy suffered so much because of you.” Her words are like acid against my skin.
“I-I never knew how he felt. If he’d only told me.”
She snorts. “Like you would listen.” She spins on her heels and stomps toward her car.
Brian stares after her with his jaw hanging halfway open then shoots me a frown before following after her.
I turn to my mother with a lump in my throat and tears streaming down my face. “He never told me. I didn’t know. If I had known…”
“If you had known what, Autumn?” Her words are like ice. “I don’t blame Abby for being upset with you. We talked all the time about you and Josh getting married. I tried to give you hints. Hoped you would figure it out for yourself. What did the boy need to do, hang a neon sign above his head so you’d notice him?”
“So, I’m the reason Josh is… gone?” My throat is thick and I can barely swallow.
My mother’s fierce features soften and she squeezes my hand. “No, honey, but if you had paid attention, Celeste wouldn’t have sucked Josh in and he wouldn’t have gone to the ends of the world to undo it. It cost him… everything.” She gives me a quick hug then hurries after the Parkers.
I’m numb. What just happened? How did everything get so messy?
13
“Travis is in jail!” I stare in horror at my father. I never thought I’d hear those words… ever.
“Just to cool off,” my dad assures me. “The captain thought he needed a safe place to get his act together. Brooklyn’s threatening to press charges so this is to keep her happy as well.”
“Press charges for what? She tripped over her own two feet. I saw it.” I silently scold myself for taking those teenagers phones. If I hadn’t, they would have caught the whole thing on video and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
“According to Brooklyn, Travis grabbed her arm and yanked her back.”
I scoff. “He did no such thing. She turned to walk away and tripped over her own two feet. Travis clasped her arm to keep her from falling to the ground.” I pause and mutter, “He should have just let her fall.”
My father smirks.
I sigh. “The whole town saw it. Why isn’t anyone standing up for him?”
My father shakes his head. “The town is torn. Everyone is saying they didn’t see anything so they don’t have to choose sides. It’s Travis’s word against Brooklyn’s.”
I open my mouth to protest because I gave my statement about what happened, but the police are discounting my statement because Travis and I are “close”, whatever that means.
My father holds up a hand to stop me. “I know you gave your statement, Autumn. Things are a little chaotic right now. No one knows who or what to believe. The town is torn between Travis and Brooklyn. No one wants to believe Cat attacked Jana, but the evidence shows otherwise.”
I rub my temples and check my phone. It’s almost ten o’clock. All of my calls and texts to Abby have gone unanswered. Even my own mother is ghosting me. My father is remaining neutral, but I think he’s taking my mother’s side without actually saying he’s on her side.
“Let me take you home, Autumn. Tomorrow’s Christmas. Your mother will have your favorite vegan cinnamon rolls for breakfast.” My father stands and holds out his hand.
It’s tempting, especially the thought of cinnamon rolls for breakfast and sitting by the Christmas tree opening presents with my parents, but I can’t. Cat’s here. She’s going to spend Christmas in jail. Not to mention, Travis is in jail. There’s also no way I can go home and face my mother after earlier. Staying the night in the plastic chairs in the police station seems like a much better option. “You go. I’m going to wait until Cat gets to go home. Why hasn’t Travis posted bail?”
“Technically, she hasn’t been charged with anything yet. They’re waiting for Jana to wake-up so they can get her statement.”
I frown. “So why are they keeping her?”
“Brooklyn’s out for blood. Cat’s safer here and so is Travis.” He sighs and rubs his eyes. “We need to hurry up and solve this case, but first, we need sleep.” He motions for me to get up.
I bite my lip.
“Cat’s sleeping. She probably won’t be up anytime soon. They’ll keep her safe.”
I stifle a yawn. “Okay.”
“Come on, kiddo.”
I nod and get to my feet as the doors to the police station slam open.
Allison storms through them with a look of determination on her face. Her mascara is streaking down her cheeks and her red locks are a mess. “Where is he?” she yells at the young officer behind the desk.
He freezes and blinks. “Um. Who?”
She slams her fist on the counter. “Travis. Where is he?”
“Um.” He makes eye contact with me with a panicked look.
Allison turns to see who he’s staring at and zeros in on me. “You!” She points a finger at me.
My eyebrows shoot to my hairline and I hook a thumb at myself. “Me?”
She stomps over to me and gets right in my face. “You. You did this.”
I frown. “Did what?”
“First you get rid of Josh and now, you’ve turned Travis against me. You still love him, don’t you? You give Cat a job to get closer to her. You’re all she talks about. I was fine with it. Even thought you were a good influence for her. But it was all a ploy to get closer to Travis. He’s always dropping by to check on her and you. You have him checking on updates about Josh. Acting like you love Josh when you’re really in love with Travis.”
I gasp. “W-what are you talking about?”
Allison scoffs. “Don’t act all innocent. Brooklyn told me all about it. Even Mrs. Parker blames you for Josh’s death.”
Pain shoots through my heart at her words. I choke and clutch my chest because it physically hurts.
“That’s enough.” My father cuts in, grabbing my arm. “Are you alright, Autumn?”
Allison pauses for a moment, her eyes suspicious. “Brooklyn said you were a good actress in high school, guess you’ve continued it into adulthood. I thought we were friends, Autumn.”
“We are,” I croak out.
She snorts. “Then why did you make Travis call off our engagement?”
My jaw drops. “What?”
“Don’t act so surprised. You made him do it.”
“Allison, I haven’t even spoken with Travis since before the luncheon incident.”
“You chased him to the church.”
I throw my hands up in the air. “Because I didn’t want him to do anything stupid.”
“Because you love him.”
I roll my eyes. “Because he’ll lose his job and not be able to take care of Cat.”
“With all the evidence stacked against her, Cat’s not going anywhere.”
I gasp. “Take that back.”
Allison crosses her arms. “No. She attacked Jana and needs to pay for her crime.”
I lean closer to Allison, feeling my anger getting the best of me. “Take it back.”
“No.”
My fists ball at my sides. “Take it back, now.”
“No.”
I’m about to lunge at her when my father steps between us.
“That’s enough, ladies.” He pins Allison with a steely glare. “Cat has not been charged with anything yet and you know what they say, innocent until proven guilty. Travis isn’t taking any visitors right now so you need to go home. When he gets out, you’ll have your chance to talk to him about your relationship. He’s going through a lot right now and needs a fiancée who has his back no matter what. I think you should go home and think about your stance on this case. Accusing your fiancee’s daughter of attempted murder is not supportive.”
Allison blinks and seems to be considering what my dad’s saying then she turns on her heels and stomps out the door.
My heart’s still pounding in my chest and I’m fighting the urge to go after her and shove her face in the snow.
“Breathe, Autumn,” my father says, softly. “I wonder if I should have you locked up for your own safety too.”
“Will they put me in with Cat?” My voice is hopeful.
My father shakes his head. “I was joking, Autumn.”
“I’m not. Will they?”
“Autumn, I’m not having my daughter thrown into jail.”
I clasp my hands together and beg, “Please.”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “No. Your mother will murder me then I’ll have to come back from the dead to get you both out,” he jokes.
“She doesn’t have to know.”
He gives me a doubtful look. “It’s Daysville. Everyone will know even before the jail door slams shut.”
“Then tell her it’s to help Cat. I need to see her.”
“She’s sleeping, Autumn. You can visit her in the morning.”
“But she’s probably scared. What if she wakes up in the middle of the night and needs me?”
My dad shakes his head again. “Travis is in the cell right across from her. You’re not her mother, sweetie.”
I flinch at his words.
He squeezes my arm and sighs. “I’m not going to change your mind, am I?”
I shrug.
“Fine. Let me see what I can do.” He approaches the desk and requests to see the captain. Within minutes, I’m on my way back to the holding cells.
The captain stops outside the door and turns toward me. “You sure about this, Miss Fisher. The pit’s not comfortable. It’s a couple of concrete benches, a wool blanket and a feather pillow. There’s a draft in one corner and a toilet in the other. We don’t get many prisoners, but we do keep the men and woman separate. Guys on the left and gals on the right.
I nod. “Thanks for letting me stay, Captain.”
He quirks an eyebrow and smirks. “Don’t think anyone’s ever thanked me for putting them in jail.”
I smile. “Probably not, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing Cat’s in here.”
He pats my shoulder. “She’s lucky to have you. Poor thing. This year’s been a struggle for her. We all know Cat didn’t do this, we just have to prove it.” He pushes open the door and gestures for me to go inside.