The River Valley Series

by Tess Thompson

  Chapter 27

  A week later, on a Monday afternoon, Annie and Drake were at his river spot watching Alder jump from the rock, careful not to touch one another in front of the boy except for the moments he was under water. At one such point, Drake leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.

  “You smell like one of those fruity drinks they serve in Hawaii,” he said.

  “That sounds good.”

  He reached into the cooler and pulled out a turkey sandwich wrapped in plastic and handed it to her. “Eat this?”

  She took it from him and unwrapped it, taking a bite, knowing he worried about her.

  “I have to go out of town this afternoon,” said Drake. “I won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Overnight? But why? Where?”

  “Just some business I need to take care of.”

  She felt the anxiety start, rising from her belly up to her chest. Why would he leave? What business could he possibly have? “But we’ll be here alone.” She pulled the plastic wrap over the uneaten sandwich and threw it into the cooler. “You should close the cooler. Things can go bad in this heat in a matter of moments.”

  “No one can get in here. You two will just have to stay put.” He took her sandwich out of the cooler and tossed it onto her lap. “Eat this.”

  She didn’t say anything, swallowing air despite the ache at the back of her throat, and tossed the sandwich back into the cooler. “I’m not hungry.”

  “It’s nothing for you to worry over.” He closed the lid of the cooler without meeting her gaze. “Just something I have to take care of.”

  “And none of my business. Is this how it is again? More secrets?” She got up from her chair, hot and angry, and waded into the river.

  He followed her into the water. Alder waved to them from the rock. “You guys coming in?”

  “In a minute, bud,” Drake called out to him. To her, he said, his voice low, “Don’t be mad. It’s not what you think.”

  “What do I think exactly?”

  “That I’m bailing on you.”

  “I just want you to tell me the truth.”

  “I always do. I always will. It’s just this one time I can’t. But it’ll all be clear soon.”

  She waded farther into the water and dove deep, letting the cool water wash over her. But it did nothing to soothe her broken nerves. He was leaving her. Maybe he’d never come back. Why had she allowed him in?

  When she swam to the surface he was still standing in the same spot. “Annie. Please. You’re overreacting.”

  “Am I?” She pushed wet curls from her face, talking quietly so Alder wouldn’t hear them. “Or is it that I shouldn’t trust you?”

  He shook his head, his expression both frustrated and miffed. “You can choose to trust or not. I’m the same man this afternoon as I was this morning. You can count on that.”

  “If you’re leaving, we should get back up to the house. It’s noon already.”

  Looking helpless, he turned towards the shore. “Fine. But I’m telling you, it’s not what you think.”

  * * *

  Later, after a shower, Annie sat on the chair in her sitting room, combing through her wet hair, her mind reeling, when there was a light knock on the door. “Can I come in?” asked Drake.

  “Yeah.” She remained sitting.

  “Are you still mad?” he asked as he entered the room.

  The truth was, she wasn’t. She was scared. “No,” she said, her voice breaking. She brushed aside the tears that slid from under hot eyelids.

  He knelt by her chair and took her free hand. “I’ll be back by this time tomorrow. I promise. You’ll both be safe here. This is why I timed my trip for your days off.”

  “But I thought you couldn’t go places.”

  “Sweetheart, that was before. You’ve changed everything. That’s all you need to really know.”

  He said goodbye to Alder in the house and Annie walked him to his car. He held her tight for a moment. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  It was close to dinnertime when Sharon called Annie on her cell phone. “Is it okay if I come by?” asked Sharon.

  “Drake’s not here.”

  “That’s fine. I want to talk to you, actually. I’m like two minutes from Drake’s driveway.”

  “Buzz me when you get there and I’ll let you in,” said Annie, stifling a sigh. She didn’t feel like company. And she’d promised Alder meatball sandwiches and a movie. Maybe Sharon wouldn’t stay long.

  A few minutes later, Sharon sat in the kitchen, her hands fluttering atop the counter. “I need some advice.”

  “Really?” Annie had a feeling she knew what was next. Mike.

  Sharon turned slightly pink and looked down at her hands. “Here’s the thing. I like Mike. I mean, really like him. And I think he likes me. But I don’t know for sure. You see, we’ve spent all this time together. He’s taken me to dinner and for drives and walks and everything but he has yet to kiss me. Or even hold my hand. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Have you thought about trying to kiss him?”

  She shook her head, looking mortified. “I’m too afraid of rejection.”

  Annie cut thick slices of freshly baked French bread and, after painting them with olive oil, put them in the oven. “I don’t know if it’s my place to say this, but I know for a fact Mike likes you.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. He told me a month ago. At the party we had here.”

  “Then why hasn’t he tried to kiss me?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he’s afraid of rejection, too.”

  “Maybe.”

  “So you need to do it yourself.”

  Sharon got up from the counter, pacing back and forth. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had feelings for someone? I didn’t think it was possible after I lost my husband.”

  “When do you see Mike next?”

  “Tonight.”

  “Make your move.”

  A determined look crossed her face. “Yes. Dammit, you’re right. I’m going for it. Tonight.”

  * * *

  After Sharon left, Annie made meatballs from a mixture of ground pork and beef and sauce she had in the refrigerator from days before. After Alder gobbled down two of them, she put him to bed even though it was an hour before his usual bedtime. For once he didn’t protest, greedy as he was for another chapter of Huck Finn. “Can I stay up as late as I want, Mom, if I’m reading?” He settled back onto the pillows, holding the book in both hands.

  “Sure.” He’d fall asleep when he was tired enough. She sat on the side of the bed, playing with his hair. How had he grown so big? It felt only a day ago that he was a toddler with chubby cheeks and soft, pliable limbs. And when had he lost the baby smell? If only she could remember the exact moment.

  “Mom, where did Drake go?”

  “He had some business to attend to. He’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m not worried.”

  “You’re not?”

  “Nah. Drake Webber is the type of man who does what he says he’s going to do.” He paused, thumbing the pages of the book. “And you shouldn’t worry either.”

  I hope you’re right, she thought, avoiding eye contact. Why had he said this? Did he know about them?

  “Goodnight, sweetie.”

  “Goodnight, Mom.”

  She wandered into the front room, where Jane Eyre was sitting on the coffee table. But she didn’t want to sit on the couch without Drake. Maybe a glass of wine would relax me, she thought. Take my mind off Drake. In the kitchen, she poured a glass from a chilled bottle of white and went to her sitting room, with Jane tucked under her arm. She had just managed to get lost in the story when she heard her cell phone ringing. Drake. She picked it up without looking at the number.

  “You lonely with your boyfriend out of town?” Marco. Her heart thudded. Her mouth went dry.

  “What do you want?” sh
e whispered.

  “You know what I want and I plan to get it. Hiding out there on rich boy’s mountain isn’t going to save you forever. One of these days you’ll slip up and I’ll be there.”

  She hung up the phone, her breathing shallow and her heart pounding. “Please don’t call back,” she said out loud.

  The phone rang again. Drake Webber.

  “Hi.” She began to cry.

  “What’s happened?”

  “He called.”

  “Dammit.”

  “He knew you were out of town.”

  “How could he possibly know that?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know.” She sobbed, rocking back and forth. The book tumbled to the floor.

  “Listen to me. I’m coming home. I’ll be home in three hours if I leave now.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’ll tell you when I get back.” He paused; there was a shuffling sound like he had shifted the phone from one ear to the other. “You’re safe at my house. Just remember that. I’ll get there as fast as I can.”

  * * *

  At midnight, she heard Drake’s key in the front door. Annie greeted him by throwing her arms around his neck. He slammed the door shut with his foot, dropped his bag, and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry,” he said into her hair. “I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

  “Why did you go, Drake? Please just tell me the truth.”

  “I will.” He ran his thumbs under her eyes. “Have you been crying all night?”

  “Yeah. On and off. First about you. Then Marco.”

  “You shouldn’t cry about me ever again.” He took her by the hand and led her down the hallway to her room, where he closed the door and locked it. He pushed her gently towards the bedroom. Once there, he took a pair of her pajamas from the drawer and tossed them to her as she perched on the side of the bed. “Put these on and get into bed.”

  She stood in the middle of the room, suddenly so tired she couldn’t think how to get from dressed to undressed to donning pajamas. “Come here,” he said. She went to him, standing between his legs and resting her hands on his thighs. “Lift your arms.” She did so, and he tugged off her T-shirt, kissing her collarbone and trailing up her neck until she shivered and gave him all her body weight as if she might gather enough of his strength to see a way forward. Just that. Forward momentum. Into bed. Into Drake’s arms. Into another day. “Take off your shorts and put on these pajamas,” he said.

  After she changed, he held back the covers and she slipped between them. He discarded his own clothes and, wearing just his boxer shorts, joined her in bed, turning off the bedside lamp. In a few moments, her eyes adjusted to the light. She made out the lines of his face as she turned to face him. He moved to his side and rested his arm in the curvature of her waist.

  “I went to see Esther’s parents.”

  “Oh,” was all she managed to say.

  “I’ve stayed in contact with them, of course, but don’t talk to them that often. Just on Esther’s and Chloe’s birthdays and the anniversary of the day they were killed. They’re wonderful people but it’s really painful to be around them.”

  “Why now?”

  “I wanted to tell them about you.” He moved his hand to her hair, playing with a curl. “They were very kind and happy for me. It’s hard to explain why I needed to do this but I did. I had one other bit of business as well, which is a surprise for you but the timing has to be right.”

  She moved closer to him, pressing into him. “I’m sorry I overreacted. It’s just…” She trailed off, uncertain what to say.

  “It’s just you don’t trust me.”

  “Right.”

  “You will.” He kissed her neck, wrapping his arm tighter and pulling her against his chest. “Now go to sleep. It’ll all look better tomorrow.”

  Chapter 28

  Eight days passed with no further contact from Marco. On a Thursday night, Billy dropped her in Drake’s driveway. Her stomach fluttered, knowing Drake waited inside for her. He would have a glass of wine for her and they might sit on the couch talking or maybe just head straight for bed. When she entered the front door, however, she was surprised to find Mike and Sharon sitting on the couch talking with Drake.

  They all looked up when she came in. Drake came to her and gave her a quick squeeze. “You won’t believe this,” he whispered in her ear. She looked at him questioningly but he just shook his head. “Come sit down with us. We’re having wine.”

  The first thing she saw when she sat down—Sharon’s left hand. A diamond ring sparkled in the light. She was too stunned to say anything and simply stared, as if mesmerized by the shimmer of the diamond. A very large diamond, she thought.

  Mike laughed at her expression. “Yep. Flew to Vegas. It’s a done deal.”

  Annie looked up at Sharon. “I guess it worked.”

  Sharon nodded, her eyes shining. “I just leaned right in and did it.”

  “And then you just went off and got married?” asked Annie.

  “Well, no, it took us a full five days before we knew for sure,” said Mike. “And then we flew to Vegas. I got the ring there.”

  “I guess I should say congratulations.” Annie stood and held her arms out to Sharon. “I’m so happy for you.” She hugged Mike next. “And you too.”

  “We wanted you two to be the first to know,” said Sharon. “Since Drake brought us together and Annie talked sense into me last week.”

  “Will you move here?” asked Annie.

  “Yes. We’re leaving tomorrow to get my house ready for sale. We’ll be back in a few weeks.” Sharon looked over at Mike. “He’s agreed to help me and then we’ll come back and tackle all our town plans.”

  “Wow,” said Annie. “Just wow.”

  She glanced over at Drake. His eyes were bright, almost burning. What was he thinking of? He met her gaze and then took her hand, holding it tight.

  Sharon, somewhat apprehensively, asked Drake, “You don’t feel strange, do you, because of Gordon?”

  “I loved Gordon. You know that. But I love you, too. And sometimes the living have to get on with living.”

  “Yes,” said Sharon with a pointed expression. “They do.”

  After they left, Annie turned to Drake, wrapping her arms around him. “I’ve never been more surprised about anything, ever.”

  He pulled her close, kissing her neck. “Me either. Now come to bed. I couldn’t wait for them to leave.”

  She giggled, then sighed with pleasure at his touch. “That’s not true. You’re as happy for them as I am.”

  “I am. But I still couldn’t wait for them to leave.” His kissed her, hard, pushing her against the wall, his thigh muscles pressing into her. “Couldn’t think of anything but this all day.”

  * * *

  The dream wakened her a little past two a.m. She sat up, shaking, her naked skin wet. Had she screamed out? She must have because Drake pulled her close. “Sweetheart, I’ve got you,” he said.

  She nestled against him, her mouth at his neck, breathing him in. “Will this ever be over?”

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You have my word. If I have to spend the next twenty years by your side, I will.”

  “Twenty years? Does that mean you’re not going away?”

  “I know you still don’t trust me, but you have my word. I’ll prove it to you at some point.”

  The quiet night was startled by the sound of the coyote’s howl. She sat up. “Oh, Drake, come to the window. I want you to see him.”

  They both stood at the window, searching the yard for the yellow eyes. Once again, two sets appeared. Annie put her hand up to the window. The eyes blinked at her in the darkness and then they were off, trotting together into the forest.

  “Why do they come?” he asked.

  She was quiet for a moment, thinking how to say it in a way that didn’t sound insane. “I think they want out of the fence. We have to turn it off for a day and let t
hem escape. They’re trapped in here.” This was met with silence. “Do I sound crazy?”

  “A little, sweetheart. But I love your kind of crazy,” said Drake.

  “That sounds like one of Tommy’s song lyrics.” She felt him smiling in the darkness.

  “Maybe I should take up song writing,” he said.

  “Let’s not get carried away.”

  “Let’s do. Come to bed. I’ll make you forget coyotes and bad dreams and the ingredients to that rabbit dish of yours.”

  She turned, pressing into him. “You’re so bossy,” she whispered, her lips against his. “But really, we have to let them out. I think the rest of their pack must be outside your fence and they miss them.”

  “No, it’s too risky.”

  “Tomorrow. During the day. Please. It’s Monday. I’ll stay with you all day.”

  “Fine. But you’re not leaving the house. Nor is Alder.”

  “Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I knew you’d understand.”

  “I think we should call Fred. Maybe he’ll guard the gate for us.”

  The next morning, Drake called Fred, who agreed to spend the majority of his day patrolling the area in front of the driveway. This reassured Drake enough that he turned off the fence, although not without protest. In the kitchen, as she cooked oatmeal for their breakfast, he paced between the counter and the pantry. “I don’t understand why you feel like this is important enough to jeopardize your safety.”

  “I don’t know why. It just is. Last night you seemed to understand.”

  “Yeah, well, in the light of day, it seems crazy.”

  “Everything’s locked up. And there’s Fred.”

  “You’re scaring me with all this.” He grabbed her from behind and wrapped his arms around her, talking into her hair. “It’s my job to keep you safe.”

  She went still. His job? “I love you,” she whispered, taking one of his hands and bringing it to her lips.