Read Between the Tines

by Susan Sleeman

  "Yes, Mrs. Canfield," Lisa said like a compliant schoolgirl.

  I looked up. Lisa gave a small wave and rushed across the room. She scratched the words on the board with a large chunk of white chalk. How was I going to get her alone? The only ways I remembered to get out of a classroom was to go to the bathroom or the nurse. Not fond of needles, the nurse was out of the question so the bathroom it was. I waited for Lisa to finish her punishment and write her order for dinner then leaned close.

  "I need to talk to you. Now. I'll ask to go to the bathroom. You ask a few minutes later and meet me in the hall."

  Lisa nodded, her eyes alive with the same excitement we had when we used to ditch class.

  Mrs. Canfield walked the aisles and collected orders, commenting on the writing skills as she picked them up. Mine received a tsk. Adam's a glowing wow and a rather sultry smile for a schoolteacher. Not that I blamed her. The deep navy shirt he wore brought out his trim shape and enhanced his coloring. He smiled back, showing even and very white teeth. He tipped his head to the left giving me the urge to snuggle in the crook of his neck, an urge I had no right to have with the big secret hanging over us.

  Mrs. Canfield clapped her hands to settle a low hum of voices. "Now class, who would like to take the orders to the office?"

  My hand shot up as if it had a mind of its own. She let her gaze wander over the students, stopping at each one and thoroughly scouring them with narrowed eyes. No way she'd pick me. I'd already been in trouble with her twice. She'd probably choose Adam whose angelic face beamed at her. I frowned like a pouting first grader and waited

  She held out the stack of papers. "All right, Paige. You may go. Mind your manners."

  Not giving her a chance to change her mind, I grabbed the papers, gave Lisa a small jerk of my head toward the door and rushed out of the room. Breathing like an escaped felon, I leaned against the wall. I'd had enough of this night and wanted to bail, but I couldn't. I had to stay to talk with Adam.

  Lisa popped into view and skipped toward me. Put her in a plaid skirt, white blouse and knee socks and you'd have a typical schoolgirl.

  "Over doing the student thing, aren't you?" I asked, my tone laced with cynicism.

  "But it's so much fun." She grinned and looked about ten.

  "As fun as going to the dentist." I slipped my arm through hers. "C'mon. We need to get these delivered and get back to class before Attila comes looking for us."

  She giggled. "You trying to prove you still know how to ditch?"

  I shook my head. "I needed to tell you to keep quiet about Karen. I haven't told Adam yet."

  She stopped and faced me. "You haven't told him. Are you nuts?"

  "No need for the lecture. Hazel took care of that this afternoon. I plan to drop the bomb after dinner."

  "Aren't you worried? Seems like you've waited too long. He'll be good and mad."

  Great, even my best friend thought this was the last date I'd ever have with Adam. "There's nothing I can do about that now. So just keep quiet. Okay?"

  She nodded although it was halfhearted.

  "Besides you have nothing to feel so superior about. When were you going to tell me about working at the police station?"

  "Oh, that. Didn't I mention it?"

  "You know good and well you didn't. I would've gone ballistic, and you would've remembered."

  She waved off my concerns. "You go ballistic all the time. I wouldn't remember a specific episode. This was a simple oversight. After Mitch asked me, I forgot all about it. And if it's the radio show you're all bent about, I can still do it in my lunch break. No biggie."

  Lisa was as transparent as plastic wrap. If she were lying, I'd know it. She was telling the truth, and I was disappointed. If she'd kept this from me, I'd feel better about my own deceit. Deceit I had to remedy tonight and couldn't do until after dinner. I needed to get these orders turned in.

  "You're right, no biggie. You better go so we don't come back to class at the same time." I waited for her to turn around before making my way to the office. The secretary took my pages, gave me a pink paper to return to my teacher and dismissed me with a warning not to dawdle in the hallway.

  I didn't plan to. The sooner this night was over the better as far as I was concerned. Near the classroom door, my cell vibrated. I checked caller ID. Karen.

  While pulling the phone free from my pocket, I took a few steps back so teacher dearest wouldn't hear my conversation.

  "Karen," I greeted her with a cheerful tone even though my insides were churning from thoughts of my upcoming conversation with Adam.

  "Someone broke into my house. Thankfully we weren't here." Her tone was more indigent than scared.

  "I'm sorry to hear that," I replied as if surprised, even though I'd already heard about it at the police station. "Can you still stay there?"

  "Mom already had the locks changed and super heavy deadbolts installed."

  I would be afraid to stay there after a break-in, but I didn't want to tell her that. If she and Yolanda had the courage, more power to them. "I hope they didn't take anything important to you."

  She scoffed. "Not really. Just took my computer. Didn't even mess the place up like you see on TV. The officer seemed to think they were looking for something in particular and since they took the computer that was what they wanted."

  "And what do you think?"

  "I think I'm glad I gave you Gary's laptop. That's probably what they were after. And that's why I'm calling. Have you had a chance to look at it?"

  "Some, but not enough to share any breakthroughs with you. I plan to spend the night scouring it for information."

  "You'll call if you find anything that you think these thieves might have been after?"

  "Yes, of course," I said and ended the call. I rushed down the hall and into our room. Mrs. Canfield was sitting at her desk and the students chatted as if they were in a real restaurant. I delivered my note.

  "Good," she said. "I've handed out word puzzles to complete while dinner is being prepared. Yours is at your desk. You may talk quietly while working."

  While Perry and Adam conversed, Lisa seemed enthralled with the topic. I slipped into my chair. Hopefully they were still discussing sports. I listened, expecting baseball, but when I heard the discussion of Perry's job offers and the potential move, I sat back with a sigh and listened to Adam extol the virtues of big city life. Lisa joined in, her face animated when she spoke of the possibility of living in Portland. I wanted to say, I'd been there done that, but this wasn't my decision.

  The moving conversation continued through dinner. My stomach had tightened over the thought of losing Lisa and probably losing Adam once dinner ended, and I ate very little. No one seemed to notice. Not even Momma Lisa. Over a large slice of cheesecake I couldn't eat, I tuned them out and stared out the window. How was I going to start the conversation with Adam? I mean, how did one admit keeping something from someone and still expect the other person to remain enamored? Was this a lesson my mom forgot to teach me? No, her lesson would be how not to hide the truth from your significant other in the first place.

  Lisa clasped my hand. "Why didn't you tell me about Daisy?" Her tone was all testy and irritated.

  Really, what had I done now?

  "About what?" I asked.

  Perry looked up with a fork of creamy dessert ready to pop into his mouth. "Your little Daisy wasn't totally honest."

  Huh? Daisy? What happened to the moving topic and the discussion about all the fun things there was to do in Portland?

  "Paige doesn't know about this yet." Adam set his fork on his plate and pushed it away. "I heard about it in my meeting with Lawson this morning." Adam slid his chair to face me. "Lawson found evidence on Gary's computer that Daisy had seen him more than she admitted. They were in the process of filing a harassment lawsuit against five men in the office."

  "So that's what they meant by harassment," I muttered.

  "What?" Adam asked.

 
I said that out loud? I had to watch what I said. "What did the guys do?"

  Adam leaned closer. "You're not going to believe this, but they used a code to announce on the PA system when a beautiful woman came into the office. Once the men heard the location, they'd hang around and ogle the woman until she left."

  "I've heard of that happening in stores but not in an office," Lisa said.

  "Yeah, well it allegedly happened at Pacific Pickles. Daisy couldn't identify the men so last Thursday Gary promised to put in a hidden surveillance camera. When Daisy came to pick up her paycheck on Friday, he'd catch the men in action."

  "Did he do it?" Perry asked, his voice as excited as I felt inside.

  "Daisy's convinced he did, but Lawson found no evidence of it."

  I perked up. The clue I'd been waiting for. This was how Nathan Jacobs saw Daisy every week. I was certain he was one of the freaky five. One of the men who had a great reason for killing Gary. I leaned forward. "If this is true and Gary had a case against these guys, one of them could have killed him to stop him from proceeding. We just need to find out who they are."

  "We?" Adam raised his right brow.

  Great. Open mouth, insert pointy dress shoe. "Well, I mean, someone has to find out who they are."

  Perry reached for his soda and winked at me. "Someone who's a little more subtle than you were at the police station today."

  Adam's eyes tightened. "Were you at the station today?"

  I forgot Perry had a police connection. I was busted. So busted. But I couldn't be. Not here in front of everyone. It would be bad enough to confess when we were alone, but I couldn't tell Adam what I'd done with onlookers sitting around.

  "The plants needed water," I said and looked at my lap.

  "And that's the only reason you were there?" Adam asked, his tone all suspicious

  "Hey, what's the big deal with being down at the station?" Perry asked. "Gotta go where the clues are if you're gonna find the killer for Karen."

  I glanced at Lisa who gave me her I-told-you-so look then turned to Perry. I'd have to reconsider the plant name I'd given him. I'd dubbed him a yarrow plant for its ability to stem bleeding, but he had just cut me to the quick, and I was bleeding profusely.

  By the time I turned back to Adam, his face had tightened, his eyes were narrowed and his hands clenched. I'd blown it big time.

  "You're investigating Gary's murder?" Adam asked, as he stared at me in disbelief.

  "Yes," I whispered as if whispering would keep him from getting mad.

  "How could you lie to me like that?" Adam's raised voice turned the other diners' heads in his direction.

  "I didn't lie," I said softly. "I just didn't tell you about Karen. I was waiting for the right time."

  He stood and glared down on me. "No need to worry about finding the right time anymore. You and I are out of time."

  I watched him storm off and knew I'd really screwed up. There really was nothing I could say in my defense, or absolutely nothing I could do to save this relationship. It was over.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I sat at the table, my head hanging, my hands wringing. I'd blown things in the past but never anything this important. Lisa slid closer and wrapped her arm around my back. Fortunately, even though she could have, she didn't say I told you so.

  Actually, I wasn't so sure I was fortunate. If this wasn't such a major bozo move, one where Adam would never talk to me again, she would have opened with an I-told-you-so look. The fact that she didn't meant I really was in a sorry place. One I might never recover from.

  She gave my shoulder a squeeze. "You can't just let him run off like that. Go after him. Explain why you did this. He'll understand."

  "Do you really think so?" I asked.

  She nodded. Her face was clear and bright, full of hope. Yes, I would go. I jumped to my feet and glanced at Perry on my way past. At the sight of his doubtful expression, I lost a bit of my hope. He knew Adam better than Lisa did and his expression told me he didn't think Adam would respond favorably.

  So what? My relationship might be over, but I wouldn't give up without trying to repair the mess I'd made. I ran down the hall and out the front. Down steps, warning Adam of my chase when the clacking heels tapped on each step.

  I charged into the parking lot and dodged cars. The night had grown cold and I shivered in my lightweight top. I didn't care. I could freeze but nothing would stop me. I caught up to Adam as he opened the driver's door on the sleek black BMW that I loved to ride in, sinking into the comfortable leather seats.

  "Wait," I said between drawing deep breaths. "Let's talk about this, Adam." I sucked in another huge breath.

  He peered at me for a long, quiet stretch of time. Sadness oozed from every pore. Good, he was sad. I could work with sad. Mad, maybe not so much.

  "What's there to talk about?" he finally asked. "You lied to me." His jaw snapped shut and clenched tight. Maybe he was mad, too.

  What did I say to ease his anger and restore his faith in me? I had to let him know why I did what I did. Yes, that's it, explain the situation Karen's grief put in me. "In my defense, I didn't exactly lie. I just didn't mention Karen wanted my help." What? Where did that come from?

  "Same difference. You weren't forthcoming and that's as good as a lie." His jaw clenched and released. Clenched and released.

  I'd try again. Acknowledge his right to be mad. "You're right. I have no defense. But we need to talk things out."

  He shook his head and climbed into his car. "Like I said. What's there to talk about?" He pulled the door until the leather I loved so much connected with my behind.

  "Please let me tell you why I did it."

  He looked away, started the car and tugged on the door again.

  Defeated, I backed out of the way and leaned on the Winkles' minivan parked next to Adam. I watched him back out. He'd stop. He wasn't really going to leave me here.

  I watched him drive off, his tires rolling over the rough concrete and onto the street. He would come back for me. I just had to wait. Wait, yes, that's what I'd do. And did, for who knows how long, before it hit me that our relationship had driven off with him. It was over. We were over. I was single again. Alone and single. Probably better this way. I wasn't any good at relationships. I was meant to be a loner.

  If that was true, why did it hurt so badly?

  I stared at the road and willed the tears to come. They didn't. Even my tears had abandoned me. Who or what would leave me next?

  As if they knew I was waiting for someone else to desert me, Lisa and Perry strolled my way. Arms clasped around each other, the sight of their perfect union made me want to barf. Hurl the little bit of dinner I'd just consumed onto the damp pavement. I crossed my arms and waited for them to arrive.

  As they neared, Lisa broke free and with a caring smile aimed in my direction, she put her arm around me. "You okay?"

  I shrugged as if this was of no consequence to me. "Another one bites the dust."

  She shook her head. "Don't, Paige. Don't do that. Don't lump Adam in with the other guys you've dated. He's heads and tails above those other guys."

  "Don't you think I know that? I just can't figure out why he got so upset. He wouldn't even let me explain. He didn't want to talk to me at all." I felt the tears rising to the surface. Maybe they hadn't left me after all. Maybe it was just Adam.

  Perry cleared his throat and looked around as if he was afraid to contribute. He stubbed his toe into the blacktop and shoved his hands in his pocket. This was the often-shy Perry's signal that he had something unpleasant to say.

  "Go ahead, Perry. Out with it?" I snapped with no patience for his hemming and hawing.

  He looked to Lisa for permission before speaking.

  She nodded and he ran a hand over his forehead. "Adam ever tell you what happened with Maddy Switzer?"

  "No, who's Maddy Switzer?"

  "She was his girlfriend in law school."

  Great. I break up with Adam and P
erry wants to tell me all about Adam's past loves. "This isn't helping, Perry."

  Lisa laid her hand on my arm. "Hear him out. It's important."

  "Okay fine. Adam never mentioned this Maddy. He tried to talk about old girlfriends once. I didn't want to know about them. What was so special about this Maddy?"

  "They almost got engaged the last year of school."

  "Adam, engaged?" I blurted out then shot my gaze to Lisa for confirmation.

  "Not quite engaged. Almost. Adam wanted to marry Maddy, but he decided to ask her father for permission before popping the question." Perry's eyes took on a faraway look mixed with pain. "I went with Adam to see Maddy's dad. When we got there, he told us he'd never heard of Adam. Turned out Maddy was engaged to another guy. Had been for two years. Dad had selected him to take over the Switzer Brew Pubs and marry Maddy."

  "And she never told him," I said my heart melting for the way he'd been hurt and for inflicting a similar pain. "So he has trust issues."

  Perry nodded. "I hate to tell you this, but I don't know if he'll ever get over what you did. I know it's not as severe as being engaged to another guy, but you betrayed him nonetheless."

  Perry's words hung heavy in the cool night air. How did I react to this? What did one say when one's betrayal was thrown so bluntly in one's face? Why was I thinking in ones?

  "You know, Paige," Lisa said softly. "You and Adam actually have a lot in common here. He needs to learn to trust people more and you need to learn to trust God. Offer your problems in prayer before going off halfcocked. Then trust God's answer and act accordingly."

  I stared at Lisa, letting my sorrow ooze from my eyes. As usual, she'd pegged me, and, as usual, I was the cause of my problems. I'd tried to trust God this last month, to let him control my life, but obviously, I'd failed. Big time.

  There was nothing more to say so I sent the Winkles home and drove to my apartment alone. Once again alone. Not just for tonight, but for the coming days, weeks, months, years. Okay an exaggeration to be sure, God was with me. Always with me. But I was so hurt that He let me go through this again, I wasn't ready to acknowledge He was present and ready to help.