Matter Of Trust

by Lisa Harris

  Thoughts of Ty vanished for the moment. There was a job to do, and it was up to her to run things in a professional manner. “What’s wrong?”

  Jenny set the containers on the counter and frowned. “One of our suppliers called ten minutes ago. He can’t get the strawberries he’s been promising me all week. Off season or not, the bride wants chocolate-covered strawberries.”

  “Then we’ll give her something even better.”

  “What?”

  Kayla rested her hands on her hips. “Is it too late to make those chocolate mousse dessert puffs we served last week? They were a huge hit and not too hard to make for an up-and-coming caterer like you.”

  Jenny grinned as she glanced at her watch. “I can have them ready by four, which should give us plenty of time.”

  “Good. I’ll help you unload the van, then finish setting up here while you take care of the mousse. What about the other staff?”

  “They’ll be back here in a couple of hours with the rest of the food. Everything’s on schedule.”

  “Great.” Kayla headed for the van.

  “Wait a minute, Kayla.” Jenny started to follow then stopped. “Are you okay about all of this? I mean a wedding probably isn’t on your top ten list of jobs you’d like to take right now with all that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours.”

  Kayla shrugged, wishing her friend hadn’t brought up the subject. “I can’t exactly turn away business because I can’t win at romance.”

  “I saw him on the news last night.”

  “So did half the state of Massachusetts.” Kayla hurried out the back door and shivered at a gust of wind. Tonight’s predicted snowfall would either add a romantic touch to the wedding or cause havoc in getting the guests here. She was fervently praying for the former.

  Jenny hurried outside behind her. “I think he’s innocent.”

  Kayla braced her hands against the van door before popping it open. Why couldn’t everyone just drop it? The last thing she needed right now was a distraction. And thinking about Ty was a distraction. He was out of her life, and nothing anyone said or did was going to change that. “How can you have spent the past few months believing I was making another mistake and now, when I finally see the truth, you decide the man is innocent? Don’t do this to me, Jenny. I can’t handle it.”

  “I expected you to believe him.”

  Kayla felt her blood pressure rise as she grabbed a large container of cut-up fruit. “What I think doesn’t change the reality of what happened.”

  “What if he was set up?”

  Kayla froze. “What are you talking about?”

  “I was over at Chloe’s last night. Nick’s looking into this angle. There have been too many strange things happening. The phone calls you received, the woman at the restaurant, Ty being followed and his house gone through—”

  “What? He never told me about that.” Kayla swallowed her irritation. She piled another container on top and hurried back into the church.

  “Just hear me out, Kayla.” Jenny grabbed the groom’s cake and followed on her heels. “Nick’s theory is that someone, namely Richard Abbott, is trying to scare Ty. He might not fight back if he knew they were watching him and could get to you.”

  Kayla spun around and planted her fists on her hips. “So what do you think I should do? Call him and tell him everything’s okay?”

  Jenny seemed to ignore the hint of sarcasm in her voice as she set the cake down on the counter. “I think you need to pray about it, but Ty was at Nick and Chloe’s house last night as well, and in all honesty I think he’s more upset about losing you than the upcoming trial. And you have to admit, no matter how professional you try to be, you’re just as miserable. I don’t know what’ll happen, but my gut tells me there’s more going on here than we can see from the surface. Ty might have been a workaholic in the past, and while it might have affected your relationship it’s not a federal crime to be a jerk. Richard Abbott, on the other hand, apparently has a few skeletons in his closet that they’re looking into. If the theory’s true, I know even you wouldn’t want Ty to take the fall for some rich man and his lawyers. And you certainly won’t want him to go through this alone.”

  Kayla felt her lungs constrict, and she fought to breathe. What if he was innocent and she wasn’t there for him?

  Jenny moved in front of Kayla. “What does your heart say? Not your head or the facts. What does your heart say?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Kayla set the food down on the counter and clenched her fists at her sides. It wasn’t fair. How had things gotten so complicated? She needed some time to think … and pray. She caught Jenny’s gaze. “I know we’ve still got a lot to do, but you’re right. I need some time to pray. Thirty minutes. An hour tops.”

  Jenny smiled and nodded. “You got it.”

  Kayla walked down the center aisle of the auditorium toward the prayer room, stopping on the thick carpet to finger a red satin bow that hung on the end of one of the pews. Those setting up for the wedding must have gone to lunch because the sanctuary was quiet now. A quiet that would be replaced this evening with the joyful presence of family and friends of the couple pledging to spend the rest of their lives together.

  She made her way toward the prayer room, feeling a sense of despondency grow with every step. Sunlight filtered through the stained glass window above the front baptistery, casting a golden glow over the large brass archway decorated with white organza and roses. Candles graced the front pews adding to the romantic feel of the room.

  Had it only been a few short weeks ago when she had tried on a satin gown in the shop with Jenny and dreamed of her own wedding day in this very church? She thought she’d been given a second chance for love with the man who’d captured her heart. All she had left now were the shredded remnants of her heart … and lost dreams of what they could have had together.

  What do I do now, Lord?

  There were no answers this time, only the steady pounding of her heart.

  Her heart.

  Words spoken to her by her mom and friends flooded through her mind. What does your heart say, Kayla, not your head?… What if he’s only trying to protect you?… He’s stood by you during your mother’s illness…. Ty’s innocent….

  Ty’s innocent.

  But was he? Kayla pressed her fingertips against her temple. Was God using her friends and family to show her the truth?

  Kayla slipped into the prayer room and sat down on the empty wooden bench. “I don’t know what to do, Lord. I don’t know if I can go through the rejection again if I’m wrong.”

  She fought to clear her mind, searching for the words as she spoke aloud. “What if he is guilty? That means he’s lied to me, and even if he is innocent he never told me the truth about what was happening. Trust will always be an issue between us.”

  Kayla drew a tissue from the box beside her and blew her nose, wondering if Nick’s theory had any merit. Even if Ty was innocent, the case wasn’t going to disappear tomorrow. Abbott must be desperate to end things. Stock prices for the company had already dropped significantly as shareholders awaited further news from the government’s investigation. And in the meantime Abbott would have the financial backing to do whatever it might take to frame Ty.

  She held her head in her hands. Sixteen months ago Ty’s true character had come out—even when she didn’t want to see it. But things were different this time. Hadn’t Ty proved he wasn’t the same man? That he’d truly decided to follow Christ?

  Convicted, she picked up her cell phone to call Ty.

  “Kayla?”

  She turned to the door, but all she could see was a dark silhouette of a man. The figure lunged toward her and grabbed her arms. The cell phone flew out of her hand and slammed against the wall. She tried to scream, but instead a blistering pain shot through her head, then darkness.

  fourteen

  Ty sat on the edge of the twin bed and stared at the colorful wall decal of Winnie the Pooh. N
ick and Chloe had been gracious enough to give him a quiet spot in Brandon’s room where he could spend some time thinking and praying. The thought of sitting home alone had become anything but appealing.

  He clasped his fingers around the edges of the mattress, still wondering when he’d wake up from this nightmare. Four months ago he’d walked out of the executive office suites of Abbott Financial Services, certain he’d be able to find a way to help convict the company’s crooked CEO. Somewhere along the line the tides had shifted, and now he was the one with the Securities and Exchange Commission, along with a half dozen other entities, breathing down his neck

  This wasn’t the way things were supposed to play out.

  I don’t understand, God. I gave my life to You, and now I’m looking at the possibility of spending the next twenty years in prison for something I didn’t do.

  None of it made sense. Not that he’d ever believed becoming a Christian guaranteed a happily-ever-after life, but what happened to ask and you will receive or come to me, all who are heavy burdened? Between his relationship with Kayla, her mother’s stroke, and the fallout from Abbott Financial, he’d worn out his knees spending time in prayer. And for the first time he was beginning to wonder to what avail.

  Ty picked up a throw pillow from the bed and flung it against the pale blue wall. Admittedly part of this whole mess was his fault. How much had he lost because of his decision to keep things from Kayla? In an attempt to shelter her from the truth he’d pushed her away, losing any trust that had been gained between them.

  He glanced around the small room that looked like a scene straight out of Pooh Bear’s Hundred-acre Wood and felt the heavy ache of loneliness. Losing his career and facing jail time were difficult enough to comprehend. Losing Kayla was even worse. He’d imagined them with children five years down the road: a boy and a girl, or maybe two of each. He really didn’t care as long as they could be a family. That was all he’d ever wanted.

  I don’t understand, Lord.

  He gazed at the Bible lying on the edge of the bed but didn’t pick it up. He’d spent half the morning searching for a word of encouragement to hold on to. Some promise that offered relief in the light of losing everything. But nothing had spoken to him. Instead, resentment began to take root. Leaning on Christ was a day-by-day challenge he was still working to get right. And with the way things were spiraling out of control it was getting harder by the minute.

  A knock on the door jerked Ty from his brooding. “Come in.”

  Nick entered the room carrying a tray of food. “Chloe thought you might be hungry.”

  Ty glanced at the covered dish and glass of milk and felt his stomach churn. “Not really, though I do appreciate the offer.”

  Nick handed him the tray despite his disinclination. “Take my advice and eat what you can. Facing what seems to be an uphill battle might take away your appetite, but you can’t afford to get sick.”

  Ty offered him a wry grin. “Did Chloe tell you to say that as well?”

  Nick laughed. “Apparently you know my wife.”

  “Enough to know I’ll never be able to repay her … or you.” Ty set the tray in his lap and felt a twinge of appetite return as he took off the cover and the savory aroma filled his senses. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes would go a long way to keep up his stamina. “Both of you have gone far beyond the role of lawyer and hostess.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Nick leaned against the doorframe. “I would have done the same for someone else. Well, I might not share my wife’s meatloaf with just anyone, but hey … what are friends for?”

  Ty took a bite and smiled. “I can see why you’re not keen on sharing your wife’s cooking.”

  “And we’ve got some cherry cobbler as well if you’d like to join us in the living room.”

  “I just might do that.” Ty took a second bite then held up his fork. “Can I ask you a spiritual question first?”

  “You bet.” Nick slid into the rocking chair, pushing the footstool aside with his heel.

  “I’m sure Chloe told you Christianity is a new thing for me.” Ty stabbed at a green bean, then frowned. “I guess the bottom line is that I’m grappling here as to how to justify God’s presence in my life when I’m in the midst of losing everything I have.”

  Nick blew out a long breath. “I’d say that’s a question man’s tried to work out for centuries. Where’s God in the midst of pain?”

  Ty nodded, certain there wasn’t going to be a simple answer to his problem. “I feel as if God has abandoned me and expects me to figure things out on my own.”

  Nick leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this, but before Brandon was born, Chloe had a miscarriage. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. Realizing I’d never be able to hold the child we’d waited and prayed for was hard. Watching Chloe suffer was even worse. She went through a time of severe depression, and I was helpless to do anything about it. I asked myself some of the very same questions you have to be asking yourself right now.”

  “So what did you do?”

  “I was forced to answer one challenging question. Did I believe God was in control of everything, including His plans for my family? The truth was, if God wasn’t in control of everything, I had no reason to continue to follow Him. In the end it boiled down to a simple matter of faith.”

  “We live by faith and not by sight.” Ty poked at the mashed potatoes with his fork, finding the words hard to come to terms with. “That’s a tough concept to grasp. Especially for someone used to dealing with concrete numbers and facts.”

  “Or like a lawyer forced to deal only in evidence?” Nick leaned back in the chair and shook his head. “We want something we can hold on to, but God’s ways are never man’s. I made myself look back at other times in my life when God’s presence was unmistakable. He didn’t leave me then, and every day I choose to believe He won’t leave me now, either. Listen—I know you’re not looking for a sermon here, but Hebrews says we’re to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Nothing you experience here on earth can begin to compare with the reward of heaven Christ has in store for us.”

  Ty set the tray on the bed beside him and tried to digest everything Nick said. “I can’t say my faith has been holding steady these past few days.”

  “The Bible also says we are blessed when we persevere under trial, because we will receive the crown of life God has promised to those who love Him. It’s worth it, Ty.”

  “Deep down I know it’s worth it.” Ty looked up and caught Nick’s gaze. “But what if the court convicts me? I’ll have lost my job, my reputation, and Kayla….”

  He squeezed his eyes shut at the reminder. Losing Kayla would always be what hurt the most.

  “I don’t know, Ty. All I can do is promise to do everything in my power to ensure the truth becomes known.” Nick rocked back in the chair. “Have you thought about calling Kayla? She has to be frantic.”

  “The message she left on my answering machine made it quite clear as to what role she wants me to play in her life.” As much as he didn’t want to admit it, things were over between the two of them, and he respected her enough to step out of her life if that’s what she wanted.

  Nick cocked his head. “What’s the old saying? It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind? I wouldn’t give up on her yet.”

  “More wisdom from Chloe?”

  Nick’s boisterous chuckle filled the room. “If it were up to her, she’d plunk the two of you down in a locked room together and keep you in there until you work it out. She hates seeing her friend hurt. And besides that, I’d say she’s developed a bit of a soft spot for you for some reason.”

  Ty let out a deep sigh, wishing he could say the same for Kayla after all that had transpired in the past twenty-four hours. “It’s nice to know a couple of people are in my corner.”

  “We’ll get you through this.” Nick stood and clasped Ty’s s
houlder. “Keep your eyes fixed on Him. He’ll never leave you.”

  “I’ll keep reminding myself.”

  “And for the record.” Nick stopped in the doorway. “I think Chloe’s right about Kayla. Sometimes you have to take a chance. It’s not as if you’re going to lose anything.”

  “You’ve got a point there.” Ty grabbed his cell phone out of his back pocket and stared at the number pad. “Maybe it is time I took that chance.”

  By the fourth phone call, Ty felt the lump of concern in his chest begin to swell. Where was Kayla? He’d called her cell phone, but no one had answered. Next he tried her mom’s house, her office phone, and even Jenny.

  He stalked down the narrow hallway and into the living room where Nick was working through some files at his desk. “Something’s happened to Kayla.”

  Chloe jumped up from the floor where she’d been reading a book to her boys and moved beside her husband. “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t know for sure.” Ty rubbed the back of his neck wondering when the nightmare of the past twenty-four hours would disappear. “I can’t get a hold of her, and no one has seen her.”

  Nick took off his reading glasses and swiveled the chair away from the desk. “She’s probably running errands for tonight’s event. She mentioned it yesterday.” He looked to his wife. “What was it?”

  “They’re catering the Walker/James wedding.”

  Ty leaned against the half wall that separated the living room from the entryway. If something had happened to her because of his involvement with Abbott, he’d never forgive himself. What if subtle warnings had just escalated into a calculated attempt to silence Ty?

  Beads of sweat collected on his forehead. “What if Abbott got to her?”

  Nick shook his head. “There’s no reason for Abbott to call attention to himself at this point. If he’s guilty he’s got you where he wants you. His best move is to stay out of things, and he’s smart enough to know that.”

  Ty wasn’t convinced. “I spoke with Jenny a minute ago. She’s at the church, and she hasn’t seen Kayla for the past four hours. You know Kayla. She’d never leave a job without telling someone where she’s going. Even Jenny’s getting frantic.”