Mirror Image
Page 21
They walked out to her car, and Jass removed his arm from her shoulders to hand her inside. He got settled behind the wheel, and when they moved out onto the road, he reached over to put his hand over hers.
She laughed sleepily.
He glanced at her. “What’s so funny?”
“You made such a fuss about me driving with one arm. Now you’re doing it.”
Laughing, he squeezed her hand. “Do you mind? Sometimes it takes a while for an old dog to learn new tricks.”
“New tricks?”
With a shrug, he admitted, “Well, you know, like admitting he’s wrong about something. That’s not easy for a guy, you know.”
Nodding, she said, “I know. I’m the one who didn't tell the truth. I should be the one to tell everyone.”
He shook his head. “I assumed you were my wife, and told everyone who you were, so it's partly my fault, too. I'll tell them.”
Laurie shrugged. “I’m too tired to argue. I know we can’t go on living a lie. Especially after Denise told me how much you hated lies.”
He frowned. “She told you that? When?”
“At her birthday party. Well, actually, she was telling Cathy, since she assumed I was LaRae and already knew, of course.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why were they talking about that?”
Laurie yawned sleepily. “I don’t remember. Something about the fight you and Ken were having about reprogramming the computers in Denver for security. And you hating dishonesty ever since your mother lied to you about who your father was.”
“I see. Well, they are right. I don’t like dishonesty.” He glanced at her, then back at the road, frowning. “But I’m not hung up on it. My mother and I made peace about it long ago. I can see your dreams of Susie being in danger were right. I mean, things turned out the way you worried they would.”
“I wish they hadn’t,” she said with a long sigh. “I know you thought my dreams were a symptom of paranoia, not a warning. But they were so real, Jass, I just couldn’t take a chance. They seemed like a warning to me.”
Jass shrugged. “Maybe they were a warning. Maybe you’re psychic or something. I’ve heard of that. Laurie, I don’t care how you knew, I’m just so glad you were here watching over her.”
“So am I, Jass.”
She leaned her head over against his shoulder. She wrapped her fingers around his hand, needing to touch him, to feel the comforting warmth of his arm under her face. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I failed, Jass. Can’t you see? I was so upset about Aunt Martha’s death I didn’t pay attention to Susie. I wasn’t watching her close enough. She went outside alone at dusk to walk Trixie. She could have been raped or killed, and it would have been all my fault.”
Jass turned to stare at her, then back to watch the road. He shook his head. “No, Laurie. It would still have been Harold’s fault, not yours. He’s responsible for his actions, not you. No one can be on guard every minute.”
Laurie heard his words and nodded sleepily. She was pleased he didn’t blame her. But she just couldn’t believe what he said was true. She was sure she had failed Susie and Emy, too.
No, Emy was dead. Wasn’t she? Emy was only alive in her dreams. Laurie was too tired to sort it all out, now. Her eyes closed and she slept the rest of the way home.
When they arrived, Jass woke Laurie, and helped her into the house. She smelled faintly of pine needles, and there was a trace of mud on her hair. He carefully undressed her, helped her shower and tucked her into bed, then got ready for bed and lay down beside her.
What a day this had been. He reached up to smooth back her still damp hair. He marveled that he loved her so much, so soon. She was Laurie and not his wife. She wasn’t Susie’s mother, yet she had tried to protect Susie like a she-tiger guarding her cubs. What a woman.
He had to have her. He had to make her his wife. Would she stay with him after the way he had treated her? He cringed when he remembered what a heel he’d been. Sighing, he reached up to snap off the lamp. He’d make it up to her if she’d let him. Sliding down under the covers, he put his arm around her possessively and fell asleep, too.
***
Laurie’s dream returned, but this time it wasn’t scary. This time it was daylight. The sun was bright, and soft music was playing. Emy faced her and smiled approvingly.
“You heard my message and you’ve made me happy. You did well, Laurie. I know you’ll be a good mother to your son, too.”
Joy seemed to surround them in a warm glow and glorious music swelled around them. Emy looked pleased as she faded away.
Laurie sighed happily in her sleep. She turned over and cuddled close in Jass’s arms.
When she awoke, she was alone.
In the shower, she remembered the dream. Was it true? Had Emy helped her? Suddenly she was sure it was. She stood still, reliving the dream, letting the water splash over her.
When the water ran cold, she turned it off and grabbed a towel. Should she try to explain this dream to Jass? No, she couldn’t. He’d never believe it, anyway.
Then Laurie remembered Jass might not even want her to stay. They still hadn’t discussed when they were going to tell everyone she was Laurie. He would probably want her to leave after they did. This was a small town, after all. Everyone would talk if she continued to live with him.
She had no time to worry about it now. There was the wake for Aunt Martha to get through this afternoon and evening. Dozens of relatives and friends would be coming to offer her their condolences. It really didn’t matter if they all still thought she was LaRae. She could handle them just as well as LaRae, since, as twins, they were equally involved. Unless Jass gave her away, she thought, grimacing.
When she stepped into the kitchen, Jass was just hanging up the phone and Agnes was putting breakfast on the table.
“That was Kevin,” Jass said. “They caught Harold somewhere in Iowa early this morning. He had Davie with him.”
Laurie nodded and sat down at the table. “I was afraid he would run. He’d know Susie could identify him.”
“Yes, he’d already left by the time they got to his house last night. They’re taking Davie to Noreen now.”
“But Harold probably won’t be locked up for long,” Laurie said, her voice heavy with worry. “You know that.”
Jass closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead in frustration. “I know. And so do the officers. But they’ve done all they can. Now, it’s up to the judge.”
“What if Harold tries it again when he gets out? I don’t feel safe here anymore, Jass.”
Jass ate his breakfast in silence. He glanced at her a couple of times, as though about to ask her something.
The telephone rang again. Jass talked a minute, then came back to the table. “That was Dr. Henry at the hospital. He says Susie can come home this morning. She’s much better.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Diane’s still here, isn’t she?” he asked Agnes.
“I’m sure she is. She came home last night and I told her about what happened. She’s probably still asleep in her apartment.”
“Good. Then Diane can stay with Susie so we won’t have to worry about taking her along to the wake or funeral. Okay, Honey?” He shot a glance at Laurie.
She nodded. “Yes. I don’t think we should take her, either. She knows about Aunt Martha’s death, and that’ll have to be enough for now.”
“Good.”
“But, Jass?”
“Yes?”
“No one has told her about Trixie.”
He sighed and nodded, his throat working. “I’ll do it before I bring her home. She’ll probably ask about her dog the first thing when we see her, anyway.”
Leaving Agnes behind to deal with the telephone calls from relatives and friends, Laurie and Jass left to pick up Susie.
Somehow Laurie got through the wake for Aunt Martha that day, and dreaded her funeral the next day.
***<
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That night, after she’d tucked Susie in, and she and Jass were alone in the family room at last, Laurie faced Jass. “We must talk.”
“Yes, I know,” he said. He snapped off the television and laid aside the remote control. “We’ve put it off too long, now.”
She sat opposite him and asked the question she’d been avoiding, dreading the answer. “When do you plan to tell everyone? How do we get out of this mess?”
“Let’s let my lawyer straighten out the legal mix-up. He’ll work out the details. I’m sure it’s not the first time a body has been misidentified. It’s not as though you did it for financial gain, or to defraud anyone."
”No, of course not. How about telling them at the coffee after the funeral tomorrow? All our relatives will be together. It’ll be easier to say it once than to try to tell each of them separately on the telephone.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jass agreed. “We’ll work it out, whatever it takes.”
“Thank you, Jass. We must put LaRae’s name on her grave.”
“Buying a new headstone will be the least of our problems.”
She nodded and sighed. California, here I come. She’d have to come back once in a while to visit the cemetery where so many people she loved now lay. “I’ll miss you and Susie.”
He blanched. “Miss us?”
Her lips twisted wryly. “I’m not your wife, nor her mother, remember? I can hardly live with you after everyone knows.”
He paused, then said, “Laurie, I’ve been offered a permanent job in Denver. I’ve decided to accept it.”
Her stomach suddenly felt very heavy. “You’re moving to Denver?”
“Yes. I’ll put the house here on the market. Diane was planning to leave us soon anyway, and Agnes and George can handle getting the house ready to show and supervise the move.”
“I see.”
“Laurie, I want you to move with me to Denver.”
Move with him. No one would know the story except their families. It would mean more lies, more deception, but now with his conspiracy. She swallowed and shook her head. “No. No more hiding, Jass. No more lies.”
“What do you mean, hiding and lies? Don’t you understand? I’m asking you to marry me. A simple ceremony before the justice of the peace or a big wedding, it’s up to you. If we marry now, all the people in Denver need to know is that you’re my wife, Mrs. Jass Markham.”
Her throat felt too dry to get words out. Swallowing, she stared at him.
“I want you to stay, Laurie. I need you.” Jass’ face held a tense concern.
He looks as though he really cares about my answer. Of course he cares. He loves his daughter dearly.
She nodded and sighed, knowing she wanted them both so much that she’d take them on any terms. “Yes, I know Susie needs a mother. Someone to watch her and care about her. And I’ll try, Jass. Even though I haven’t done a very good job so far.”
“You’ve done a wonderful job. But that’s not what I meant. I mean I need you, too, Laurie. Not just as a mother for Susie. I love you.”
“You love me? For myself? I mean, as me, not as LaRae?”
He laughed, his joy echoing. He got up from his chair and pulled her to her feet. Hugging her, he gave her a lingering kiss. “For you, Laurie. I thought I was falling in love with LaRae all over again, because of how she had changed since coming back to Minnesota. But it wasn’t a changed LaRae, it was you I was falling in love with, Laurie. You, all the time.”
Smiling, she kissed him.
He sobered and smoothed back her hair with gentle fingers.
“I...I don’t know what to say, Jass.”
“Say yes, Laurie. Say you love me, too.”
Laughing, she admitted, “Well, that’s the truth, at least. I love you, Jass.”
He grinned and kissed her thoroughly, then leaned back and looked at her. “Then you will marry me?”
“Yes, Jass. Yes.”
After another long kiss, he put his arm around her, and they walked down the hall toward her bedroom. Easing her inside, he closed the door and began unbuttoning her blouse. He kissed her ear, then trailed kisses down until he reached the soft globe he’d uncovered.
“Mmm hmm.” She moaned and opened her mouth to receive his next kiss. Heat spread through her as his tongue explored.
She undid his shirt buttons, and splayed her fingers over the hard muscles of his chest, enjoying the knowledge she now had the right to him without any more subterfuge or lies. He really wanted to make love to her for herself. That thought was more heady than any she’d ever experienced.
He walked them to the bed, allowing her to slide off his shirt and drop it to the floor. Her blouse and bra followed, and his hands slid over her, exploring her every curve. “Your skin is so soft and silky,” he murmured against her mouth. “I love the feel of it.”
She reached down to unzip him, excitement building in her breast with each kiss and touch. At last they were naked.
The backs of her knees touched the bed and bent of their own accord. He followed her down, careful not to put his full weight on her. He slid his hand over her tummy, saying, “I think I can feel a small mound here, already.”
“Yes. Our son. It’s a boy.”
“How do you know?”
Laurie smiled. Someday she’d tell him Emy had told her. But not right now. She lifted her lips for his kiss.
“I dreampt it.”
The End
About the Author
Edna Curry lives in MN and often sets her novels there among the lakes, evergreens and river valleys. She especially enjoys the Dalles area of the St. Croix Valley, gateway to the Wild River, which draws many tourists who give her story ideas. Besides non-fiction articles, she writes mystery, romance and romantic suspense novels.
Edna is married and is a member of the Romance Writers of America and four of its chapters: Midwest Fiction Writers, KOD, WISRWA and Northern Lights Writers.
Circle of Shadows (half of Deadly Duos #1) was a finalist in RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Contest.
Visit her webpage at http://www.ednacurry.com
Recent or upcoming books:
Dead Man’s Image by Edna Curry Lacey Summers Mystery #2
4/2010 Secret Daddy by Edna Curry Whiskey Creek Press
8/2010 Best Friends by Edna Curry Class Act Books
10/2010 Bear Trap by Edna Curry Class Act Books
7/2010 Runaway Mom by Edna Curry Red Rose Publishing
2/2011 Double Trouble by Edna Curry Class Act Books
5/2011 Dead in Bed by Edna Curry--Lacey Summers mystery-#3 --Whiskey Creek Press
10/2011 Never Love a Logger by Edna Curry Whiskey Creek Press
TBA I’ll Always Find You by Edna Curry Whiskey Creek Press-Torrid
Visit Edna's website at:
http://www.ednacurry.com