“I’m sorry to hear that, but thanks for your offer of help. If you don’t mind, I wouldn’t mind staying with your friend. At least until I can figure out insurance, get a new car, and go back to Tennessee.”
Back to Tennessee. That was right. Charity was only here for a brief period.
Joshua couldn’t let himself forget it, either.
CHAPTER 11
Charity stared out the window as she and Joshua drove down the street. It was still black outside, though she suspected that anytime now the sun would begin to peek over the horizon. The town seemed dead at this time of night; it looked almost peaceful at the moment.
Everything seemed surreal, like it hadn’t really happened. How could someone have burned down her house? Was this connected to the fact she’d seen Andrea earlier? It had to be.
But how? Why?
Had Andrea caught her house on fire?
It was just too much for her to comprehend.
“You feeling okay?” Joshua asked beside her.
She nodded, not sure that she was feeling okay at all. But what else was she supposed to say? “I just need some sleep.”
“That’s understandable.”
They pulled to a stop in front of a Victorian house right on the edge of the quaint downtown area of Hertford. “Unfortunately, you’re not staying there. You’re staying there.” He nodded toward a smaller house behind the large one.
“It’s . . . cute.”
“It’s nice. Right on the river. Come on. Let me introduce you to Daleigh.”
As Charity climbed out of the car, she couldn’t help but think the name sounded familiar. Was it someone from her past? She didn’t know. But anxiety built inside her with every step closer she came.
They climbed the steps of the small house, and before Joshua even knocked, a woman pulled the door open. She was stunning with long brown hair streaked with blonde highlights and naturally tanned skin. The woman still looked beautiful, even though she’d apparently just woken up, based on the robe she wore and her tousled hair.
“You must be Charity,” she said, extending her hand.
Charity reached for it but faltered. “Daleigh McDermott?”
The woman smiled, white teeth sparkling. “That’s me.”
Daleigh McDermott was one of country music’s rising stars. She had at least three CDs out and had headlined some major national tours. Charity had no idea Daleigh lived in Hertford.
“I have all your CDs. I . . . uh, I don’t know what to say. I had no idea.” She was staying with Daleigh McDermott? She felt flustered at the thought.
“Don’t worry. I promise, I’m just a regular person. At the most, I’m a little strange sometimes, but nothing special.” She offered a goofy smile and waved her hand. “Come on in.”
“Don’t let her popularity scare you,” Joshua said. “She’s really down to earth.”
Charity stepped inside the quaint little cottage. It was small, but warm and inviting with white walls and a simple, minimalist design. Several artifact-like items decorated the space—masks from Africa and exotic-looking paintings and a colorful rug.
“It’s not much, but I’m staying here until I get married. My sister lives in the big house beside us.”
“Congratulations. When’s the big day?”
“Only a month away. Wedding planning has been crazy. Plus, I just got back from the tour I was on. I’m still recovering.” She paused in the living room. “I have a spare bedroom, but I keep my equipment and instruments in there, so you’ll be rooming with some guitars, keyboards, and amplifiers. Hope that’s okay.”
“You’re being more than generous by letting me stay here. I’ll take whatever I can get.”
Charity realized she had no bags to unpack. All her things were destroyed. First thing on her agenda, she’d call her bank and try to figure out a way to access her account. Then she’d figure out a way to drive into town and buy some more clothes.
The thought dragged her down. This really was more overwhelming than she’d initially anticipated. She literally had nothing right now—no identification, no money, no car, and no house.
She’d hit rock bottom before, but right now she couldn’t imagine sinking any lower. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She had no choice at this point in her life except to accept the help of strangers. It was something she wasn’t good at doing, not by any stretch of the imagination.
“Charity, could I talk to you a minute before I go?” Joshua asked.
She nodded, her throat constricting. “Of course.”
They stepped outside. Since her clothes were burnt and smoky, the hospital had let her use some sweatpants and a faded pink “Hatteras Island” T-shirt. It wasn’t the most flattering look, by any means. Not that she was trying to impress anyone, especially not Joshua. At least she’d taken the time to pull her hair back into a semi-neat ponytail and made sure all the ash and grime were gone from her face. The smell of smoke still lingered on her, though, almost as if her skin had absorbed it.
They walked over to a small pier and dock that overlooked the Perquimans. Spanish moss draped across the tree limbs, and the dark water gently lapped the shore. A full moon shone in the distance, the gentle orb reflecting into the ripples of water below.
The scene looked so serene. Too bad nothing inside Charity felt the same way.
“Charity, there’s something I wanted to tell you,” Joshua started, shoving his hands into his pockets. The moonlight hit his face, bathing it in a soft glow.
He was handsome, she reflected again. She’d tried to ignore it. She’d tried to ignore his kindness, even. But the fact remained that he was like someone who’d stepped out of her dreams. The thing was that she’d worked her entire life to ensure she didn’t follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her mom had turned to men for her every comfort. She’d gone through them like tissues. Or, should she say, they’d gone through her mom like a dog going through the trash.
“What is it?”
“When I got to your house, the doors had all been nailed shut.”
“What?” Shock rushed through her. Had she heard him correctly?
As if reading her thoughts, he nodded. “It’s true. There were nails around the doorframe that prevented you from getting out.”
“So someone . . . someone wanted to . . .” She couldn’t even finish her sentence.
“Someone wanted you either hurt or dead.”
Her hand went over her mouth. “I can’t believe it. I knew people didn’t like me. I had no idea someone would take it this far.”
“You have any idea who might be behind it?”
Andrea came to mind. But no way would Andrea ever do something like this to her. They’d been best friends.
Unless Andrea wanted some kind of revenge on Charity for leaving her in the woods that day.
She had to stop thinking that woman had been Andrea. There had to be another explanation. That was all there was to it.
“Charity?” Joshua asked.
She shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to voice the thoughts aloud. She’d sound crazy.
“I suppose you could take your pick. As you know, Mr. Whitaker isn’t very fond of me. He has a whole legion of followers he may have been able to influence to do his dirty work.”
He nodded. “I’ll look into it.” He shifted. “What about women? Do you know of any specific women who have a grudge against you?”
The question surprised her and made a sick feeling gurgle inside. She briefly thought about mentioning Andrea, but she couldn’t do it. “No, I can’t say I do. Why do you ask?”
“Because the footprints leading from the shed to the house . . . they belonged to a female.”
***
Joshua stared at Charity, watching her reaction carefully. She was definitely ill at ease. There was something on her mind. But he could see the walls coming up around her. She didn’t trust him.
“I don’t know what to say,” Charity said. “Are you sure t
he footprints weren’t mine?”
“They were for a size eleven shoe. Your feet are much smaller.”
She rubbed her lips together and shook her head, as if fighting some kind of internal thought. Even in the oversized clothing she wore, she looked lovely. Her eyes had the soft hue of someone who could be trusted. But her body language said otherwise. She was uptight and jittery and jumpy.
“What are you thinking, Charity?” Joshua wished he could get inside her head long enough to figure the woman out.
“Andrea wore size eleven,” she whispered, her gaze fluttering up to meet his. “She always said she hated her feet; that they were too big.”
Andrea? What did she have to do with all of this? “Certainly there are other women who wear that size as well. It’s just a coincidence.”
She nodded but didn’t look like she believed him. “Of course.”
There was definitely something she wasn’t saying, Joshua realized. But what? And why?
Charity White was a real mystery, one he found himself wanting to solve.
“Obviously, your friend didn’t return from captivity just to burn down your house.”
Her face went pale, but she nodded and cleared her throat. “Anyway, Andrea used to always tell me that I had to face my fears. Apparently that’s exactly what I’ll be doing here in Hertford—whether I like it or not.”
He nodded resolutely, unsure what else he could say. “You’ve had a long night, and I should probably let you get inside. You need your rest after what happened.”
“You’re going to drop this, aren’t you? You’re like everyone else. You think I had something to do with Andrea’s disappearance.” A slight tremble shook her voice.
He stared at her another moment. His gut told him he could trust her. However, the last time his gut had told him to trust a woman, he’d been terribly wrong. His life had been shattered because of it.
Finally, he shook his head. “No, I’m not going to drop this. I want answers just as much as anyone in this town.”
***
“Can I get you some hot tea?” Daleigh asked when Charity said good-bye to Joshua and wandered back inside.
Charity nodded. “Something warm sounds great.”
Everything that had happened just seemed like a nightmare. And yet here Charity was now, being shown an unreasonable kindness. Wasn’t that the way life worked? It was like Andrea had told her during their last conversation: bad things happened in fairy tales, but only as the launching pad for great things.
What if her friend had been right? But how would anything great ever come from Andrea’s disappearance?
Charity only hoped she could convince Joshua that something really was going on. Without someone on her side, she’d never find any answers. Maybe she should just tell him that she’d seen Andrea standing in the woods staring at her.
He’d think she was crazy. But what if he didn’t?
She’d chickened out earlier and been unable to open up. Once she put that information out there, there was no going back. There was a good chance he’d no longer be on her side, and for the moment, it felt so good to have someone who believed her.
She couldn’t forget about Bradley, though. He’d seemed trustworthy at first and proven her desperately wrong.
Charity took a seat on the couch and raised the mug, taking a sip of the warm liquid.
“It sounds like you’ve had quite a night,” Daleigh started.
“That’s to say the least.” Charity stared into the swirling flames and shivered. No amount of warm tea would erase the memories of almost dying in her mom’s old house.
“Well, I don’t know everything that’s going on. But I will say that it’s a good thing you have Joshua on your side. He’s a good guy.”
Against her better instincts, Charity found herself wanting to know more about Joshua. “How do you know him?”
“He’s friends with my fiancé, Ryan, but we all go to church together, as well. It takes a lot to impress me, but Joshua has always been there for us in tough times. I think that says a lot about a person.”
“I’ll have to agree with that.”
She leaned closer. “Look, I was in a tough spot not too long ago. Felt like everything in my life was going wrong. But somehow, with time and God and good friends, everything worked out. I don’t know what’s going on in your life, but I pray the same will happen with you.”
A smidgen of hope burst through Charity. Maybe she shouldn’t lose hope.
Even more, maybe she should start praying again.
CHAPTER 12
Charity had slept in until almost noon and then had dragged herself out of bed in order to take care of the aftermath of the fire. Daleigh let Charity borrow more clothes and had left breakfast out for her on the counter. Charity didn’t know how she’d ever repay the woman for all her kindness.
Charity munched on some homemade granola before sitting down to call the insurance company. The representative gave her a list of tasks that needed to be done in order to process the claim, including making a list of everything that had been inside the house. The task was daunting.
It was at that moment she realized how dire the situation was. Maybe this was God’s way of telling her she shouldn’t be here.
If not God, then someone else in town was sending a message loud and clear.
Just then, someone knocked at the door. She pulled a wayward hair behind her ear as she answered.
A smile spread across her face when she saw Joshua. “Hey there.”
He returned her smile. “Hey, Charity. I was going to head over to your place and put up some caution tape. I realize you don’t have a car and wondered if you wanted to come with me.”
“You’re a lifesaver. Literally.” He really was like Prince Charming, the way he continually swooped into her life at just the right moment. “I’d say let me grab my purse before we go, but I literally have nothing. It’s only thanks to Daleigh that I have clothes and a toothbrush.”
“This would be overwhelming for anyone.” He opened the door and waited for her to step out.
“I guess this just answers my question as to whether or not I should sell the place. There’s nothing to keep now.”
“I didn’t realize it was ever an option. You sure you don’t want to move to good old Hertford? You could rebuild a nice little house on that property.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing for me here.”
His smile dipped. “There’s always peace and quiet.”
She remembered their conversation the first day. She supposed—hoped, perhaps—the old property might seem like the ideal spot for someone. It had for Joshua. “That property doesn’t exactly bring back feelings of peace for me.”
She climbed into his cruiser, and a moment of silence fell between them. Her mind raced. Instinctively, she felt she could trust Joshua, maybe even enough to tell him about seeing Andrea.
But she’d thought she could trust her last boyfriend too, and she’d been wrong. She had to be careful.
It only took a few minutes to reach the house. Charity flinched when she saw the place. There was nothing left, only some charred framework, puddles from the fire hoses, and the vague feeling that her childhood had been erased.
If only it was that easy.
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” Joshua said, parking his car in the driveway.
“That could have been my grave.” She shivered as she said the words.
“Thankfully it wasn’t.”
“Thankfully,” she repeated.
Joshua held up some caution tape. “We need to put this around the perimeter of the property, as a precaution in case anyone gets nosy. I’m sure the insurance company probably mentioned it to you.”
She nodded. “They did. They also mentioned putting wood over the windows. It appears that won’t be a problem.” There were no windows and barely any walls.
With Joshua’s help, she set out stakes and wrapped the yellow tape around th
e damage.
Despite all the bad memories this place had, a part of her still felt sad. This was her last tie with her childhood. She felt like a person without a family, without a home, without any safety nets. The thought did something strange to her.
“You doing okay?” Joshua asked, rolling up the rest of the tape.
Charity nodded slowly. “Everything went downhill for my family after my dad and my grandmother were killed in a boating accident. My mom went off the deep end afterward. She was never the same. She turned to drugs and men. She was just absent.”
“I’m sorry, Charity.”
She’d surprised herself by opening up. Now that she’d started, she might as well finish. “She couldn’t hold a job. Went to jail once for driving under the influence. I almost went to foster care, but Andrea’s family took me in.”
“So at one time Ron Whitaker accepted you?”
“He did. The Whitakers were like the family I always wanted. I thought they were perfect.”
“Even Mr. Whitaker?”
She shrugged. “I mean, sure, he was distant. But he helped fix my bicycle when it broke. He gave me advice on boys—mostly that I shouldn’t trust them. He helped with a science experiment when I couldn’t figure out how to make it work.”
“Sounds nice.”
“Then there was her mom. She was the one I talked to about boy problems—you know, when I didn’t listen to Mr. Whitaker’s advice. She helped me get ready for junior prom or showed me how to put on makeup. That day that Andrea disappeared, I not only lost my friend. I lost my second family.”
“You’ve had a lot of loss, but you also have a lot of strength because of it.”
“Strength? I don’t always feel strong.”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I guess I am. For another week or so, at least. After that, I’m done. I’ve got to let this go.”
“I want you to find the answers you need, Charity.”
She smiled, a real smile. “Thank you. So do I.”
***
Gone by Dark (Carolina Moon Book 2) Page 8