by Jenna Harte
“You okay?” He reached a hand to me.
I sat up, but the world spun. “I think so . . . I don’t know.”
“Stay there—”
“No. Please, I want out.” I didn’t want to spend one more second in the trunk.
His gaze assessed me, and apparently, he didn’t think I was in any state to climb out. He reached in, scooped me into his arms, and carried me toward the sheriff’s SUV sitting on the side of the road with lights blazing.
“Call for the ambulance for both of them,” he said to the deputy attending to Ellie.
“She killed Al.” I rested my head on his shoulder. It reminded me of when I was a little girl and my father would carry me to bed. I didn’t tell Sergeant Scowl that as he probably wouldn’t want to be compared to my father.
“You can tell me all about it in a minute.”
I lifted my head. “You got my call?”
“I did. Sort of.” He set me on my feet, keeping one arm around me as he lowered the back gate of the SUV. Then he lifted me to sit on the ledge. “It was on my voice mail, Unfortunately, it was too muffled to understand.”
“We were gardening.”
He frowned. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
I thought that was an odd question. Did he think the finger we found was mine? “We found Al’s finger.”
He put his hands on his hips, his brows pulled together in a single line. “Where?”
I huffed out a breath. This was hard enough; I didn’t need Sergeant Scowl to be so dense. “In the garden. We were tending Marla’s garden.” Then I remembered Vivie. “How is Vivie?”
“She’s fine. A little banged up, but okay.”
“Good.”
“I’m going to let you take it easy right now. After you’re checked out at the hospital, I’m going to want to know how you got into all this.”
I nodded. “Yes. I know.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Vivie and I were in the same triage room at the hospital. She had scratches and a sprained wrist. I was a little worse for wear. I had a broken hand, and the bump on my head required an overnight stay in the hospital. I freaked out about that a little bit because I wasn’t sure how Aunt Rose would take the news. The nurse assured me she’d contact my aunt.
“Let her know I’m not in dire straits, okay?”
The nurse patted my non-injured hand. “Okay.”
While I waited to be admitted, Sergeant Scowl came in. I let Vivie take the lead, being glad for once that I wasn’t the center of Sergeants Davis’ attention. After she shared her side of the ordeal, I told mine. It wasn’t that much different. The only variance was she escaped at the front gate and was able to get help from a man driving into the gate coming home from work.
It turns out, Sergeant Scowl had been on the way to Monticello Heights when he came across Vivie at the gate. As he explained his story to us, he had that look on his face that he usually had when talking to me that said, how much longer am I going to have to deal with you?
Apparently, my call had gone to his voicemail, but he couldn’t decipher the message. All afternoon he’d been looking for us, and he’d even stopped by Marla’s, and then questioned Ellie. It wasn’t until he’d gotten a call from Tracy, who’d heard from Randy that Vivie hadn’t been home to meet the kids after school, that Sergeant Scowl began to get worried about us.
“At least Randy and Tracy knew you were missing and hadn’t run off,” I said to Vivie.
“Even they know I’d never leave my kids.”
“How did you figure out about Ellie?” I asked him.
“If both you and Mrs. Danner were missing, that meant you were poking your noses into Mrs. Naylor’s murder, so I was heading back to her house. We arrived at the entrance to Monticello Heights and saw Mrs. Danner and a good Samaritan, who explained that you were in the trunk of a sedan heading up into the hollow. When we knew Mrs. Danner was getting help, me and Deputy Scott pursued the car driven by Mrs. Tappen.”
“Thank goodness you were there.”
I couldn’t have agreed with Vivie more.
When Sergeant Scowl was done, Vivie and I were left to ourselves.
“I bet I look a mess.” Vivie’s comment was very Vivie-esque; shallow, and yet perfect. It was proof that we survived and would be okay.
“You’ve looked better.” I grinned at her.
“Yeah, well, I still look better than you.” She was smiling, letting me know her remark was teasing, even though it was probably true.
“That’s a given.” I ran my fingers through my thick, curly hair.
“Oh God, Vivie.” Randy came barreling into the triage area. “Are you okay? What happened?”
Before she could speak, he’d grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. I never thought I’d feel warm and fuzzy where Vivie and Randy were concerned, but as I saw the genuine fear in his expression and love in his eyes, I did an inward “aw.” I loved fairy tales and happy endings, and it looked like Vivie and Randy were going to have theirs. At least for the time being.
“She tried to kill me.”
Randy took her face in his hands. “I’m sorry Vivie. About everything. The other women, especially Tracy. I was stupid and jealous and . . . you have to forgive me.”
Vivie studied him. “What do you think Sophie? Should I?”
I thought back to what she said when we were stuffed in the trunk of the car careening to our deaths.
Randy jerked his head to me. “You saved her, didn’t you?”
“No. We saved each other.”
“If you want your job back, it’s yours. Name your price.”
That lifted my spirits, so it was a shock to me when I said, “Thank you, but no.”
“What about me?” Vivie pouted, apparently not liking the attention Randy was giving me.
“You’re everything. The kids and I need you.”
“Do you love me?” She had that coy nearly snarky expression. I think it was just a cover. I think she really wanted to know.
“Yes. I’ve always loved you. Ever since high school.” He took a deep breath. “Do you love me?”
She sighed. “I can’t seem to help myself.”
He gave her lopsided grin. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes.” She smiled.
“Let’s get you home. We can show each other how much we love each other.”
I rolled my eyes. Randy was never far from thinking about intimate play. But if Vivie was game, who was I to judge? Me, if AJ walked in, I’d probably have to tell him I had a headache, because I did.
“We’re ready to take you to a room, Ms. Parker?”
I was disappointed that I had to stay, but I understood that it was better to be safe than sorry where head injuries were concerned.
“Do you need someone to tell your aunt?” Randy asked me.
I shook my head. “The nurse said she would. My car is at your house and I don’t know how I’ll get home tomorrow.”
“Won’t AJ come get you?” Vivie slipped off the exam table and into the crook of Randy’s arm.
“He’s out of town.”
“I can get your car here tomorrow,” Randy said.
“No driving tomorrow,” the nurse said.
I cut her a look. “Why not?”
“You’ll be feeling the effects of the accident and be on medication. You need someone to give you a ride.”
“We’ll take you home tomorrow, Sophie, and I’ll arrange to get you your car to you.”
I stared at Randy and wondered how long the niceness would last. For both of them. Not wanting to count them out, I nodded. “Thank you.”
I was settled into my room when Aunt Rose came barreling through the door with Carl Jackson, looking prim and distinguished, behind her.
“I would have
been here sooner, Sophie, if this big lug behind me hadn’t driven slower than a snail in molasses.” She cut him a searing glare.
I couldn’t believe she’d ask him to drive her. My heart went all mushy that she’d call her nemesis to drive her here to check on me. “I’m glad you made it. You didn’t need to come. I’m going to be fine.” I looked to Carl. “Thank you, Mr. Jackson, for driving her.”
“Pah, he owed me.” Rose leaned closer to study me. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Well, you’re not dead. That’s what Betty said. She called and said, ‘Rose, Sophie died in the trunk of Ellie Tappen’s car.’ Of course, I didn’t believe her. Why would you be in Ellie Tappen’s trunk?”
I took Aunt Rose’s hand. “I’ll tell you all about it when I get home.”
“You get your rest, Sophie.” Aunt Rose patted my hand.
“Do you need a ride tomorrow?” Carl asked me.
“We’ll have to stay the night if you want him to drive you,” Rose said. “It will take him all night to drive home.”
Carl simply smiled at her. I began to wonder if maybe their banter was a form of foreplay . . . well not foreplay, but related to an attraction, not a dislike of each other.
“I have a ride tomorrow, thank you.”
Aunt Rose gave my hand a squeeze. “After you tell me about Ellie Tappen’s trunk, you can tell me why you’re unemployed.”
True to their word, the next day Vivie drove me home while Randy brought the Brown Bomber to my house. The nurse was right in that I wasn’t up for driving, or even being upright. Turns out getting tossed around in a trunk like clothes in a dryer is more painful the second day.
Aunt Rose took care of me, only fussing a little bit about how I was always getting into trouble. Because I’d been hurt, she didn’t seem that upset about my not having a job. She even commended me for turning down Randy’s offer.
“Even so, you have to get a job soon, Sophie. I don’t run a charity house.”
Fortunately, the next morning I got a call from the library. Not only was I reinstated, but also, they’d offered me a 30 hour per week job running the children’s section and doing programing. I’d have kicked up my heels if I wasn’t afraid I’d fall and hurt myself more.
I also got a call from Marla’s attorney who confirmed Sergeant Scowl’s information that I was getting some money. Fifteen thousand to be exact. However, it would be awhile before it came because her estranged husband was contesting the will.
I didn’t tell AJ about my ordeal because I didn’t want him to worry while he was working. He and Bull were gone two more days and arrived together to visit me. Actually, Bull stopped by to see Aunt Rose, bringing her a box of Buckeye Candy and asking if she could make the peanut butter fudge and chocolate confection. At that point they disappeared into the kitchen.
AJ and I went outside to the porch. I sat on the love seat and moved for him to join me. He chose to remain standing. He leaned against the rail and crossed his arms. It was then that I realized the friendliness earlier was a farce, because he glared at me.
“AJ?”
“Were you going to tell me?”
“Tell you?” Had he heard about my ordeal? Then I realized I had bruises, a cast on my hand, and I walked a little hunched over like an old man. “About my accident? Yes.”
“When?”
“When I saw you next. Now.”
He studied me, and I was worried I’d messed up, although I wasn’t sure how. “Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because you were working. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
He turned his head to the side as if he was gathering his thoughts or maybe just trying to get his anger in control. When he brought his attention back to me, he said, “Did you hear the part when I said I love you.”
I smiled. I blamed it on the drugs I was on that I felt warm from his comment when he was clearly mad at me. “Yes.”
My smile must have disarmed him, because with a shake of his head, he came to sit next to me. “Sophie, what do you think this is between us?”
“Love?” I wasn’t sure what he was asking and was afraid to get the answer wrong.
“This isn’t just dating or hooking up for me.”
I smiled again. “I’m glad.”
“Are you? Because if we’re in a relationship we need to communicate. If you’re in the hospital, I need to know. Right then. You didn’t call. Is this because you’re afraid to need anyone? Are you going to push people away and end up like your Aunt Rose?”
I took offense to that. “Aunt Rose is just fine and happy where she is.”
“And she’s alone.”
“She’s not alone. She has me.”
He nodded. “So, you do want to keep me away.”
“What? No.” Why was love so confusing? “I didn’t call because you were working. I was respecting that you need to focus on your job. You were out of town anyway. There was nothing you could do. And I wasn’t seriously hurt—”
“You were nearly killed.”
“I wasn’t.”
He turned away, and again, I had that feeling like I was going to lose him. The memory of his discussion with Becca came back to me.
“Is it serious?”
“Yes.”
“Marriage serious?”
“Maybe. Probably.”
I also remembered him thinking I wasn’t as committed to our relationship as he was. Is that where this new round of anger came from? It was time for me to come clean.
“AJ.”
He turned back to me and I cupped his face with my non-injured hand.
“I love you too. And I don’t see this as just dating. I want to see where this goes.” I took a deep breath. “All the way if that’s where it leads. My not calling wasn’t because I didn’t think you should know or didn’t want you to help me. It was because you were several states away working and I knew I’d see you in a day or two. If that was the wrong choice, just tell me and the next time someone tries to kill me, I’ll call you first thing.”
He laughed and dropped his forehead against mine. It hurt like heck, but I didn’t flinch because I liked it when he was close to me.
“No more almost getting killed Sophie. I don’t think I can survive it.”
“In that case, there’s no problem, right?”
He lifted his head. His bright blue eyes shining. “Right.”
“You know, for someone who’s all upset because you love me so much, you don’t have a good way showing it.”
He quirked a brow.
“You haven’t even kissed me hello.”
He gave me a lopsided grin. “You’re right. I’m not a very good boyfriend.”
“You can make it up to me.”
I expected him to kiss me. Instead he pulled me into his lap.
“Aunt Rose doesn’t like hanky panky.” I ran my fingers through AJ’s auburn hair.
“Aunt Rose is busy right now.” He didn’t let me respond as his lips captured mine. Warmth spread through me. Not just because of AJ’s scorching kiss, but also because all was right with the world. In that moment, sitting on Aunt Rose’s porch, I was safe, I had friends, I had a job I really loved, and I had a man who loved me. If that wasn’t a fairy tale come true, I didn’t know what was.
Jenna Harte loves to write about crime and passion. She is the author of Death of a Debtor, the first book of her Sophie Parker Coupon Mystery series featuring a fairy tale loving, coupon clipping sleuth. She also writes the Valentine Mysteries, the first of which, Deadly Valentine, reached the quarter-finals in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award in 2013.When she’s not telling stories, she works by day as a freelance writer, blogger and online entrepreneur. In her free time, she loves coffee, chocolate, books, and YouTube. She is an empty-nester living in
central Virginia with her husband.