Surrendered

by Jennifer Sienes

  I’ve no doubt of that. “Maybe you could give me a few pointers.”

  Her girlish giggle follows me out of the dining hall.

  The evening passes in a blur. I text Katie every chance I get, and by the fifth time, her response is a short and sweet Ditto. By the time ten o’clock hits, my feet hurt and I’m counting the minutes until closing. It only took a few short months to lose the muscle memory that made this job seem like a snap.

  Thirty minutes later, I blow out the last candle and pick up the pile of tablecloths I’ve collected from the dining room.

  Jeanine comes from the kitchen, apron in hand. “What else do you need, Tess?”

  I glance around the room. There’s nothing left that can’t wait for the morning. “We’re good, J. You and Sarah go home. Is Maris still here?”

  “She just left.”

  “Thanks for doing such a great job.”

  She smiles. “It was fun working with you again. I know you have bigger and better things to do, but we miss you around here.”

  As she turns to leave, I frown. What will become of this place? Maybe Maris would be interested in running it. Or she and Julia. They’d be quite the team.

  “Hey, Tess.”

  My heart jumps into my throat, and I whirl around to face the interloper. Hand to chest, I bark out a relieved laugh. “Tony. You scared the daylights out of me.” What’s got me so jumpy tonight?

  He gives me a crooked smile. “Sorry. Just came in to clean up. How’s Katie doing?”

  I tighten my hold on the tablecloths. “She’s good. Have you seen her?”

  His quirks an eyebrow. “Can I?”

  “You may.” I laugh when he rolls his eyes. “She gave us quite a scare.”

  “So I heard.”

  “Well, I’m going to dump these and head home.”

  “See ya, Tess.”

  “You too, Tony.”

  I step into the alley, phone in hand, and hug my coat around me. As I walk, I thumb Katie’s cell number. The storm’s slowed to a drizzle, and a whiff of smoke from a nearby wood burning stove makes me think of Thanksgiving. Only a few short weeks. The holidays won’t be the same this year without Dad. And maybe, without Jake.

  Katie picks up the call. “You’re kidding, right? How many times are you going to text or call?”

  “Last time, I promise. I’m heading home.”

  The weak streetlight leaves the alley cloaked in shadows, and I shiver. The sooner I get home, the better. I pass Tony’s motorcycle parked against the building and step into the lot. My car’s in the far corner. It didn’t seem so far away when I parked it earlier.

  “You’ll be here in five minutes. You couldn’t wait that long?”

  She’s right. I’m being an old woman. Why can’t I shake this feeling of impending doom? “So, I’m a little overprotective. Sue me.”

  Her sigh reaches me. “What’s going on Tess? This isn’t like you.”

  “Nothing.” There’s no sense in worrying her with my paranoia. “You put a scare in me the other day. I’ll get over it in a day or two.” I reach into my pocket for my car keys, round the car to the driver’s side, and point the fob to unlock the door.

  “I guess I can live with it for a little longer.”

  Someone steps out of the shadows and heat shoots through my body, snatching the air from my lungs.

  Stephen Fields. Even in the dim light, shadows cloaking his face, I know it’s him.

  “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  Everything freezes. Run. But my legs won’t work. Scream. But only a guttural moan escapes my mouth.

  The phone and keys slip from my fingers and Katie’s tinny voice floats from somewhere near my feet. “Tess? Are you still there?”

  Chapter 40

  Jake

  Nagging questions and the steady slap of the windshield wipers are all that keep me company on the drive home from San Francisco. Home. When did I start thinking of Tess’s house as my home rather than a prison sentence? With a jaw-cracking yawn, I take the last turn, which puts me in front of the O’Shay place. Been fighting sleep for the last half hour. Crawling into bed never sounded so good.

  Then again, those what-if questions just might keep me awake. What if I can acquire a position with Marshall Hospital? With the promised letter of recommendation—glowing was the term the Chief of Staff used regarding said promised letter—I just might have a future here with Tess.

  If she’ll have me.

  What if she can’t forgive my duplicity? Where will I go then? The Bay Area holds no appeal. But nowhere does without the fiery Tess O’Shay to complicate my life.

  Another yawn, and I climb out of the car.

  “Jake!” Katie’s flying down the front steps in nothing more than a t-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. Her bare feet don’t seem to touch the ground.

  “What the heck…” The sheer terror in her eyes stops my heart. Two strides and I meet up with her. “What is it?”

  Eyes shimmering with tears, she claws at my arm. “It’s Tess.” Her words come out on a sob. “She called and, and—”

  “What?” I clamp my hands around her shoulders. “Spit it out.”

  “I don’t know.” She shakes her head. “She called to say she was coming home, but the line went dead.”

  My heart rate slows. Could be anything. A dropped call. Accidental disconnect. “Did you call her back?”

  “It just goes to voicemail.”

  “How long ago?”

  “About five minutes.”

  I glance down the street. “She’ll be here any second.” Please, Lord, bring her home.

  “There was someone with her.”

  I whip around. “Who?”

  “Some guy. I heard him say something about waiting for her, then it sounded like she dropped the phone.”

  Fields. What if it was him? “Call 911.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the restaurant.” I throw an arm toward the house. “Go. Call. Tell them it’s a possible attack.”

  I don’t wait to see if she obeys.

  * * *

  Tess

  Oh God, please do something! Stephen Fields steps closer. Why can’t I run? Why can’t I scream?

  “How dare you go to my wife with your lies?”

  Not lies. Truth. My heart’s pounding so hard I can barely hear him. Fear squeezes my chest. I can’t breathe. I can’t think.

  “What gives you the right to ruin my life? To come back after all these years.”

  Ruin his life? I ruined his life? “No.” The word, a full-throated scream in my head, comes out weak. Pathetic.

  “No? ‘No’ what?” He takes another step forward, his shoes like sandpaper on the wet blacktop. “You do realize no one will believe you. After all these years, you think you can claim rape and they’ll take you seriously?”

  How can I outrun him if my legs won’t work? I step back and my heel comes down with a crack. My phone. It’s useless. Dear God, what do I do?

  He’s a bully.

  Yes.

  How do you deal with a bully?

  Run?

  “It’ll only make you look like a fool. Your word against mine.”

  Not run. Fight. Stand tall. Look in his eyes. Don’t back down.

  I draw in a deep breath. I can’t do this alone, Lord.

  I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

  “You’re a…” I swallow, then fight for another breath. “You’re a liar.”

  He freezes, his mouth half open.

  “And you’re wrong. Plenty of people believe me, including your wife.”

  He raises a hand, finger pointed, and stabs it at me. “Listen, you little—”

  “No. You listen.” Heat rises up my neck and my fingernails bite into the palm of one hand. What would it feel like to plant it in his disgusting, smug face? “You accuse me of lying when it’s been you all along. And maybe you would have gotten away with it if it was just me. But it wasn’t
.”

  He clenches his fists but doesn’t come closer. “You’ll never make it stick.” Is that fear in his tone?

  “I wouldn’t count on it. Once it hits the papers, more victims will come out of the woodwork. How many women have you violated in the last ten years? Five that I know of.”

  He backs up and opens his mouth, but a car careening into the parking lot cuts off his words.

  Jake.

  Thank You, Lord.

  Stephen Fields sprints down the alley as Jake’s car screeches to a halt, sirens wailing in the distance.

  He tumbles from the driver’s side, his eyes on Fields’ retreating back. “Is that him?”

  “It was him.” I run to Jake and throw myself at him with all the decorum of a child demanding attention. “How’d you know?”

  His strong arms wrap around me, and he hugs the air from my lungs.

  “You’re shaking. Are you okay?”

  He barks out a laugh. “Am I okay? Don’t you think that should be my question?”

  Tears burn my nose, and a lump in my throat makes it impossible to answer. I nod against his shoulder and breathe in the masculine tang I’ve come to know is all Jake. Where is my strength now? I’m like a puddle in his arms.

  “Thank God I got home when I did.”

  The sirens draw nearer. “The police?”

  “Yeah. Katie called them.”

  “You beat the police here?”

  His mouth moves against my temple. He’s grinning, I just know it. “I had more at stake.”

  Easing back, I gaze into his worried blue eyes. “Thanks for being my hero.” It seems more appropriate than telling him I had it under control. Which I did.

  Two police cars pull in, their lights dancing across the lot as Tony appears.

  “What’s going on?” His head swerves from the police cars and back to us.

  “It’s all under control,” Jake assures him, still holding me tight.

  I step out of his arms and glance down the alley. Fields is history. So, who is that standing by the restaurant door? I blink, and he’s gone. But I could swear…

  “What is it, Tess?”

  I shake my head. It’s the stress. It has to be the stress.

  “Tess?”

  “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

  Rubbing my arms, I lean close to him. I’d feel like a nut job if the officers, now stepping out of their cars, hear me. It’s bad enough Jake’s going to want me committed. “Do you believe in ghosts?” His eyes go wide, and a nervous laugh escapes me. “It was either that, or Dad’s come back to life.”

  He steps toward the alley, eyes scanning the shadows.

  Why isn’t he laughing?

  Chapter 41

  Tess

  Facing your fears is the greatest high in the world. Had I known ten years ago that standing up to Professor Fields would be so freeing, so exhilarating, so…life changing… Even exhausted from the long day and emotional war, I can’t stop grinning. My cheeks ache from it.

  Katie and Jake sit on the couch and watch me like I’ve cracked, but I don’t care. “Music.” I’ll just flip on the stereo… I spin the tuner until the familiar station pops up. Maris’s favorite. “That’s what we need. A little rock ’n’ roll.” The gravelly voice of Tom Petty fills the room. I’m free…free fallin’.

  Katie stands. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you’re okay, but I’m tired and—”

  “Dance with me, Kitkat.” I take her hands and tug her into the middle of the living room.

  She rolls her eyes and shakes me loose. “No way. You want to act like a nut, you’re on your own. Or better yet”—she points to Jake—“dance with him.”

  He puts his hands up. “Not me. I’d rather talk.”

  I scowl. “What a couple party poopers.”

  Katie clamps my cheeks with her hands. “It’s midnight, Tess. I just had surgery, remember?”

  Well, talk about putting a damper on things. “Fine. You go to bed. I forgot how frail you are.”

  She snorts and drops her hands. “Don’t try your reverse psychology on me, missy. Goodnight, Jake.”

  “’Night, Katie. See you in the morning.”

  Now what? Hands on hips, I sigh. “You sure I can’t talk you into a dance?”

  He pats the cushion beside him. “We need to talk.”

  Oh, those dreaded words. If he’s going to tell me he’s leaving, I’d rather wait. Why ruin a perfectly good high?

  “Come on, Tess. You’ve been after me for months to talk to you, now all of a sudden—”

  “You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Since he’s already spoiled the mood, we might as well get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid. “Just say it.”

  His eyebrows hitch. “Is that what you want?”

  I had to fall in love with a doctor. King of the Socratic Method. We could question each other to death and never get anywhere. Fine. I’ll bite. “Is this another version of”—I lower my voice to an alto—“it’s your choice, Tess?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Ugh.” I throw my hands up and drop into Mom’s over-stuffed wing-back. “How can I make a choice when I don’t have all the facts?”

  He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. “You’re right. It’s time we lay it all out there.”

  There is no hint of amusement in his eyes. My heart drops clear to my toes. Do I really want the truth? I lick my lips and rub my hands on my knees. “Where were you today?” There it is—out there. I can’t take it back now.

  Eyes on mine, he doesn’t blink. “San Francisco.”

  “To visit your family? Which consists of who, besides a gorgeous sister?”

  “I did see my family.” He shifts and clears his throat.

  I’m the one who should be nervous here.

  “But that wasn’t the real reason. I went to the hospital where I worked.”

  Does that mean…?

  “I met with the Chief of Staff.”

  “About a job?” So he is going back to the Bay Area. To be a doctor? A janitor? What?

  “To ask for a letter of recommendation. He offered it to me when I left, but that was eighteen months ago. I wasn’t sure if he’d changed his mind.”

  Holding my breath, I lean forward. “A doctor?”

  He nods. So why the gloomy face?

  “But that’s not what you want?”

  “It’s not that, Tess. You were right. It’s what I should be doing. After Katie…” He scrapes his hands through his hair. “It’s scary holding someone else’s life in my hands. But then I realized that night, I don’t decide whether someone survives or not.”

  “God does.” How often have I been sure my life was under my control? It was God who was in control tonight. Not me. Had it been up to me, I’d have run. Or passed out. I certainly wouldn’t have had the strength to face Fields.

  Jake’s shoulders are hunched, his head drooping. If he’s come to the same realization, then why does he seem so dejected?

  “What is it, Jake?” I ease off the chair and sit close to him on the couch. So close, our thighs touch. So close, our hearts meld. If only I could comfort him as he has me. I slip my hand in his, our fingers intertwining. “You look like you just lost your best friend.”

  He turns his head, and his eyes latch onto mine. “None of this makes sense without you, Tess.”

  Warmth spreads through me, setting my cheeks afire. Sweet hope. “Who says you have to leave?”

  “Tonight, when you said you saw Sean…”

  He thinks I’m cracked. “It was just a reaction from fear and stress. It’s not like I see dead people all the time.”

  “But that’s just it.”

  “What? Can you get to the—”

  The doorbell rings. It must be after midnight. Who in their right mind would—

  “Get it.” He pulls his hand from mine and shakes his head. “The door, Tess.�
��

  “What if it’s Fields? Don’t you think—”

  “It’s not Fields.”

  It rings again.

  “What, are you psychic now?”

  He shakes his head. Two steps toward the door and Jake’s voice stops me. “Remember I love you.”

  I wipe my hand down my thigh, my eyes going from Jake to the door. Wasn’t a run-in with the professor enough drama for one night? If the look on Jake’s face is any indication, opening that door is analogous to opening Pandora’s Box.

  “I’m scared.”

  He grimaces. “You can’t ignore the inevitable, Tess.”

  My heart pounds harder with each step I take until it blocks my ears and shortens my breath. One hand on the knob, I flip on the porch light and peer through the window.

  Chapter 42

  Tess

  A gasp escapes my lips. A vice squeezes my lungs and chest. It’s not possible. There’s no such thing as a green-eyed ghost. But what else could it be? He stands there, a shameless grin on his oh-so-familiar face. I snatch my hand from the doorknob and stumble back.

  “Uh…” I whip my head around to Jake. Why is he just sitting there? “Do…do you…” Is it me or is the room spinning?

  “Tess?”

  Black spots dance around the room. I’m going insane. That’s it. He’s a ghost, or I’m insane. Did someone turn out the lights?

  “Tess.”

  Crack—sting. Crack—sting.

  “Is she okay?” The ghost speaks?

  “No thanks to you.” Jake’s angry. Why? “Tess. Sweetheart.”

  Sweetheart? Did Jake call me sweetheart? Crack—sting. “Stop hitting.” I slap hands from my face. Why can’t I get my eyes open? They’re heavy as lead.

  “You were supposed to call first.”

  Who? Who was I supposed to call?

  “And you were supposed to keep her safe.” The ghost again. Amazing. He sounds like Dad. Looks like him and sounds like him.

  “How was I to guess that nut job would show up at the restaurant? Knowing Tess, she called him and invited him over. What she lacks in brains she makes up for in nerve.”