by Kris Jett
Jessie was never angry at her sister though. At least not in the beginning. She took the chance that she was stepping out of place and asked, “Wynn…what’s going on?”
Wynn’s eyes cast downward and she gripped her mug of tea so hard her knuckles started turning white. Without meeting Jessie’s eyes, she whispered, “I need your help.”
Chapter Sixteen
The room was so silent Jessie could hear her kitchen clock ticking away. Wynn needed her? After all this time? Wynn had ignored every attempt Jessie made to reach out to her over the years. Phone calls went unanswered. E-mails never returned. Even when Wynn was pregnant with Melody and Jessie gave it one last good shot at a reconnection, Wynn just acted as though she didn’t exist. That she didn’t have a second sister. Jessie was sure her mom had talked to Wynn about their disconnect over the years but it never helped. The Fosters were one hell of a stubborn family. Nobody ever backed down.
One of the most hurtful times for Jessie was after Melody was born. Jessie had driven a few towns over to one of those giant malls with the endless rows of high-end stores. She went into a fancy baby boutique and bought the prettiest, ruffliest, pink dress she could find, complete with a tiny matching headband and slip on shiny Mary Janes. She mailed it to Wynn with a short note of congratulations on the new arrival. About two weeks later the package came back unopened. Return to sender.
Jessie looked at her niece. Melody had finally gotten ahold of Joplin and had her in a bear hug. Joplin squirmed and strained, trying to flee.
“Cat!” Melody squealed.
Jessie’s eyes returned to her sister’s face. She really did look distraught. “What’s wrong, Wynn?” she prompted. “Is that why you came back to Snowy Ridge? I figured you were just broke.” Jessie immediately regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. “I’m sorry, I mean, it’s totally understandable if you’re broke. I can’t imagine raising a baby on your own. The daycare alone has to be a nightmare. And what about that ex-husband of yours? Does Eric give you child support?”
Jessie knew she should stop rifling off questions at her sister and just listen but she couldn’t help it. All of these years of trying to get her older sister to forgive her and now she was sitting here in her apartment and she actually needed her. There was a range of emotions surging through her. Anger over all the time Wynn had ignored her, confusion over what she could possibly need her help with, and hope that whatever this is, it could mean she might actually get one of her sisters back.
“I’m sorry,” Jessie said. “I’m being nosey. I’ll be quiet now and you just tell me what you need.”
Wynn absentmindedly ran her hands through her hair over and over and Jessie briefly wondered if that was why it was looking so thin. Maybe Wynn was pulling it out. Jessie reached out and gently touched Wynn’s wrist. As if she’d just realized what she was doing she scrunched up her nose and clasped her hands in her lap.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind telling you. Um, Eric is a tool. A responsible one though. He’s never late on child support anyway. He never asks to see Melody. I told him we were moving back in with Mom and all he said was send me the address so I know where to send the checks. It’s kind of sad, really.” Wynn let out a strange, strangled sort of giggle.
Jessie was horrified. How awful. How could Eric not want anything to do with that precious little girl? She glanced at Melody, all giggles and bliss amplified. She had the face of a cherub and seemed like she’d bring joy to anyone she encountered, especially her parents. Even Jessie’s cat was giving into her whims. Melody had discovered Joplin’s basket of toys and was now lining them up in a circle around her while Joplin stood perfectly still.
“She’s fine,” Wynn said quickly. “I mean, I think she is anyway. She doesn’t really know the difference. It’s not like Eric was ever around.”
“Not even when she was an infant?”
Wynn laughed. “Mom never told you the story then?”
Jessie gave her sister a questioning look. “No. I mean, I know you married, moved to St. Louis, had the baby and divorced sometime after that. Mom wasn’t really chatty with the details though.”
Wynn reached for a thin mint and chewed on it thoughtfully. “Mmm, these are better than I remember.” She reached for a napkin out of the small holder in the center of the table and wiped at her lips.
Jessie waited for her to continue.
Wynn sighed. “I thought Eric was a great guy. I did. He was gorgeous. Beautiful blue eyes and thick blonde hair. I think that’s where Melody gets it from—his side of the family. Although I suppose the blonde could come from Luci, too. Anyway, Eric had a great personality to match his great looks. Really funny and charming. A good guy. He seemed stable. We were living in this two-bedroom townhouse in the St. Louis area and he had a decent job as a grocery store manager of this cute little market. I was eight and a half months pregnant, swollen face and ankles, the whole bit. One afternoon I got a crazy craving for coleslaw and orange sherbet so I headed over to the store to get some.”
Jessie made a face at the combination.
“I paid for my groceries and asked one of the clerks where Eric was. They said back in the store room and I could go back there and see him. So I waddled my giant pregnant self back into the storage room of the store and guess what I found?”
“I’m afraid to ask…”
“I found my husband screwing an eighteen-year-old bag girl. Right there on a giant stock of albacore white tuna cans.”
“No. Way,” Jessie let out.
“I guess she was hoping for a promotion to cashier.”
“What an asshole!” Jessie exclaimed, and then slapped her hand over her mouth, as she glanced at Melody. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to Wynn. “I didn’t mean to swear.”
“It’s okay, I don’t think she noticed,” Wynn said.
“I can’t believe he did that to you though,” Jessie continued. “That’s so awful.” Memories of herself walking in on her sister Luci having sex with Jason years ago came flooding back to her. The complete and utter betrayal. The horrible feeling that the people you trusted most in the world were actually not on your side and that you were truly all alone. It was complete devastation. And for Wynn to have to go through that while being so pregnant. Jessie shuddered. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. It must have been completely heartbreaking.”
Wynn nodded. “It was. For a long, long time. Especially since I was so confused. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t feel like I could throw him out. I wasn’t even working at the time. So, he stuck around for a while, until Melody was about six months old. We barely ever talked and when we did it was just yelling. Then one day my husband announced he was leaving me for the teen bag girl, fifteen years his junior, filed for divorce, and Melody and I were left alone.”
Jessie shook her head. “Just awful.”
“We’ve done all right though,” Wynn said, trying to sound more upbeat. “I got a job as a receptionist and there was onsite daycare so we managed. It was tough being on my own but I did okay. I really wanted to come back home though.”
“Yeah, of course.” Jessie suddenly felt ashamed of herself for being so angry about Wynn coming home to Snowy Ridge. She was so tied up in her own disagreement with Wynn, thinking Wynn had to still hate her over a guy who was obviously very much ancient history. Wynn had been through a whole lifetime of pain with a man Jessie had never even met: got married, had a baby, had a whole life, since then. Jessie felt silly for thinking her and Wynn couldn’t move past an old fight. They were still sisters and Wynn needed her more than ever now. They could work their way back to being friends.
Jessie stood up and wrapped her arms around her sister. “I’m sorry you went through that, Wynn. And I’m so glad you and Melody are here. Things will get better now, calmer. You’ll see. And you’re so young still. You can bounce back and have a whole new life. You have me and Mom and Luci. Everything will be just fine.”
Wynn nodded
. “Maybe.”
“What do you mean?”
“I still haven’t told you why I need your help.”
Jessie sat back down and studied her sister’s face. She had gotten so wrapped up in Wynn’s story about Eric she’d almost forgotten that her sister had said she needed her help with something. “What do you mean?”
Wynn took a deep breath. “I’m being stalked.”
Chapter Seventeen
Cade was sitting at one of the desks in the corner of the shop, hands clasped, and his chin resting on his thumbs. Balloons were lazily floated in the air, hanging onto their last bits of helium. Platters holding nothing but crumbs and empty coffee cups covered every available surface. Opening day was better than any of the three brothers could have ever expected. Cade should be on cloud nine right now, reveling in their success.
Should be. But his mind was messing with him. He kept replaying Jessie’s coming into the shop that afternoon and what it meant. Any other time and any other girl he’d have known exactly what the situation was. He’d have thought the girl was flirting with him, wanted to be with him. Jessie went out of her way to come to the shop opening day and bring them coffee. She looked at him like she was truly happy to see him. She said she wanted to see him. But then what was that whole scene with her ex-boyfriend at the bar? She couldn’t want to be with her ex and Cade at the same time. And if she was back together with that guy then Cade had to reign in his feelings now. Before he got hurt.
“That could not possibly have gone any better,” Cooper said, coming out from the backroom with a large black garbage bag in hand. He swiped old napkins and paper plates into the bag as he talked a mile a minute. “Did you see all of the orders I took? And the appointments? I booked three repairs for this week alone. Ed Castal, that tall guy in the green flannel with the gray buzz cut? Said he was going to bring in his whole family’s sleds next week for tune ups. Amazing. I told you this was the perfect place to open shop. Didn’t I tell you?”
Cade stared into space.
Cooper plucked a few empty cups off the desk and leaned down, examining Cade’s face. “Something wrong, brother?”
Cade shook out of his daze and looked up at Cooper. “Huh?”
Cooper chuckled. “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”
Cade sighed and straightened up in his seat. “Sorry. You need help cleaning up? Where’d Cash go?”
“Where do ya think?” Cooper said with a smirk.
Cade looked around and then back at his brother.
“He took off already. Said something about having to hunt down a hottie.” Cooper pulled a partially deflated bouquet of balloons toward him and began popping them one by one, disposing of their latex shells in the bag.
Alarm rang through Cade’s body. He clenched his fists and could feel sweat gather on his back. Jessie. Of course. Cash couldn’t wait more than a few hours before he took off for her pub to make her his latest conquest in a long, long line of women. And would she do it? Cash has talked his way into hundreds of girls’ pants; why should Jessie be any different?
Cade unclenched his fists and rubbed his knuckles, staring at the door. He stood up and shifted awkwardly. He couldn’t stand being here at the shop, knowing his brother was off at Starlight trying to seduce Jessie. It was unbearable. He should have told Cash as soon as Jessie walked into their shop that afternoon to back off. She was untouchable. If he wasn’t so caught up in giving her the cold shoulder, making some sort of point, he would have. And now it was too late.
“Dude, are you all right? Your looking kind of crazy right now. Gonna be sick or something?” Cooper asked.
“Something,” Cade replied.
Cooper tightened his lips in concern. “Listen, I got it here. Why don’t you go on home and relax. It’s been a long day.”
“You sure?” Cade asked. He felt guilty ditching his brother like this but he was having a hard time staying put knowing Cash was out there, chasing after Jessie.
“Yeah, man. We had a great day. Great! You go on and chill. I won’t be here too long.”
“Thanks, Coop.” Cade retrieved his winter coat from the backroom and took off down Main street, headed straight for Starlight.
When he reached the pub, he pushed open the door frantically and scanned the room, his heart beating hard in his chest. What did he think he was going to find? Did he think Cash would have Jessie bent over a table right in the middle of the room while tourists were having their dinners? He knew he was being foolish but his mind wouldn’t put on the brakes.
He took several quick steps into the room, straight for the bar. Every seat was taken, mostly by men ranging in age from thirty through sixty. He reached through two of the men, looking to see if Jessie was behind the bar. The bartender was bent over getting glasses from below and when she stood up he saw a thin blonde with light eyes. Not Jessie. His heart sunk.
“Can I get you a drink?” she said.
Cade looked quickly around the room and then back at the woman. “Um, no.”
“Just stopping in to get warm?” she said with a smile.
The woman had a similar smile and the same dimpled cheeks as Jessie. She must be one of the sisters. He wondered which one, Wynn or Luci? “Yeah,” he said. “Just getting warm.”
“Take a seat over by the fireplace. It’s cozy. And if you do need anything just let me know.”
Cade nodded. “Thanks.” He walked around the room looking for Jessie or Cash. It was a busy night and there were a lot of people milling around but he didn’t see either of them. He was just about to leave when he felt a slap on his back.
“Hey, man, stop in for a drink?”
Cade whipped around and saw his brother, a few beers in and glassy-eyed, with an arm around a woman with a blonde ponytail shooting out of the top of her head like a fountain. Not Jessie. He breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah. What are you up to?”
“Just hanging with my new friend, Melanie, here,” Cash said, giving Melanie’s shoulders a squeeze. If Cade had to guess, Melanie was probably at least ten years Cash’s senior. Cash leaned in close to his brother’s ear. “She’s divorced,” he hissed.
Cade raised his eyebrows. Cash was a little loud there. “Great. Well, have a good night. I’m heading home actually.”
“Night, Cade,” he said. To Melanie, “That was my brother.”
Cade left the pub, shaking his head. He climbed into his truck and turned the engine on, warming it up. He laughed to himself over what an idiot he’d been. Chasing after Jessie and Cash. What he’d thought had happened. He felt both stupid and insanely relieved. And also shocked that he seemed to care so much about Jessie’s activities when really, weren’t they just acquaintances? Acquaintances who shared a snowmobile ride and an almost kiss?
He was about to pull out of the parking lot when he heard a tap on his glass. It was the bartender. Jessie’s sister.
Cade rolled down the window and the woman leaned in, giving him a flirtatious smile.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“You left in a hurry,” she said. She wasn’t wearing a jacket and Cade could visibly see she was getting cold. And going braless this evening.
“Uh, I had to get going,” he said. “Aren’t you cold?”
The blonde looked down at her chest where her nipples were quite obviously on display and shrugged. “Maybe a little.”
“Well, did you need something?” Cade asked.
She pulled a large black glove out from behind her back and held it up for him. “Thought maybe you’d dropped this?”
Cade looked at the glove and then the woman. “Nope, not mine.”
“Oh. Okay,” she said looking a little flustered. She was so obviously hitting on him and Cade wasn’t responding. He didn’t think she was used to that happening to her.
She tossed her hair back and jutted out her chin, quickly recovering. “You have a good night then. And come back real soon.” She turned slowly and sauntered back into the pub.
> That one was trouble, Cade thought as he backed up his truck and pulled out of the parking lot. Definitely must be Luci.
Chapter Eighteen
“Stalked? What do you mean you’re being stalked?” Jessie was completely floored. Who would stalk her sister?
Wynn nodded and slumped down in her chair. A look of defeat washed over her. “Yeah. I mean, I don’t know what else you’d call it. He won’t leave me alone. And he’s…everywhere.”
Jessie’s eyes darted to Melody and then back to her sister. “Wait, you have a child. Who is this guy? Does he know you have a child?”
Wynn sighed. “He knows.”
Jessie’s head was reeling. She’d dealt with her share of creepy guys in the past. And April, with her vast dating experience, had given her quite an education in how to deal with losers. But never had she dealt with a guy stalking her or had she known anyone who was stalked.
“Are you sure?” Jessie asked.
Wynn gave Jessie a warning look.
“I mean, you must be sure. Of course you’re sure,” she quickly recanted. “Where’d you meet him? At work or something?”
Wynn’s eyes cast downward, like she didn’t want to tell Jessie. Finally, she said, “Online.”
Jessie heart sunk. Not again. She couldn’t get involved with another one of Wynn’s online men. The last time it kept her sister from talking to her for years. When would Wynn learn to unplug? It’s so hard to see crazy online. People only show you what they want you to see. Jessie didn’t know what to say so all she said was, “Oh, Wynn.”
“I know. I was stupid. And lonely. Eric had left me and I was home alone one night with Melody already asleep. I logged online and wandered into a single-parents-under-thirty chat room and Billy and I clicked.”
“So, he’s a parent too,” Jessie prodded.
Wynn laughed. “No. He’s a creep who looks for single parents to flirt with. Maybe we’re easier to prey on.”