Secrets in a Small Town

by Nicole Stiling

  She bent down to retrieve a glass from the cabinet below but stopped. The wine stopper lay carelessly next to the decanter. Savannah wasn’t sloppy. Ever. She froze, looking around the room cautiously. Nothing else seemed out of place. “Damn it!” she yelled, breathlessly.

  A moment later, Micki opened the door. “What’s wrong?”

  Without looking up, Savannah answered. “He was here again. Look.”

  Micki went to the bar, searching. “What am I looking for?”

  “The top is off my decanter.”

  Micki nodded slowly. “Okay, is there any possibility that you left it off? Maybe you got distracted and forgot to put it back on?”

  “No, no possibility. I never do that. Never.”

  “I believe that. I can’t imagine he would be so reckless. Unless he wanted you to find it.” Micki sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, lost in thought. “Dump it. Let’s have a glass of wine. I’m going to check the house real quick.”

  Savannah swept the gin off of the bar and carried the near-full decanter to the kitchen. As it glugged swiftly down the drain, tears ran along with it. It was so unfair, all of this.

  “Hey,” Micki called a few minutes later. Savannah was still standing at the sink, the empty bottle next to her on the counter. “There’s nobody here. No sign of a break-in. You were only gone for El’s soccer game today, right?” She paused. “I don’t know how he’s doing it.” She reached out and gingerly put her hand on Savannah’s back.

  Savannah turned her head, overwhelmed by sadness and mystification. She saw Micki on the precipice of leaning in to touch her, to wrap her arms around her. But then she didn’t. Savannah knew she didn’t come off as someone who would appreciate random hugs of comfort, so she couldn’t blame her reluctance. But if she were being honest with herself, Savannah would have welcomed it. Micki moved closer and ran her hand up and down Savannah’s back lightly before pulling it away altogether. That was protocol when someone was upset, so that was probably the only reason Micki had touched her. Protocol.

  “He was in my house again, Micki,” Savannah said quietly. “In my house, where my daughter lives. This is not okay!” Savannah wiped angrily at the unwelcome tears.

  “I know. The locksmith is coming tomorrow at eleven. I’ll make sure it’s something impenetrable, okay? We’ll turn this house into Fort Knox if we have to.”

  “This shouldn’t be happening. I don’t understand.”

  “When I find him, Savannah, if I can’t catch him, I’ll kill him. No one should be made to feel this way. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you and Eliana are safe.”

  Micki knew saying that she’d kill him was about four hundred shades of wrong, on every level, both personal and professional, but she didn’t care. Not at all.

  Chapter Twelve

  After a fairly quiet dinner where Eliana kept her head down for the better part of it, she and Micki finished the movie while Savannah worked at her oversized desk. When her eyes began to cross at the endless sea of budgetary proposals, Savannah stood in the doorway of the living room, watching Eliana and Micki. Micki was sprawled out on the couch; Eliana was at the other end with her feet pressing into Micki’s shins. Funny, she thought, as the usual feelings of exclusion and jealousy weren’t there. Just a sense of…peace, even amid the chaos. Micki looked up and saw her, gave her a smile. “You heading upstairs?”

  “Soon. I was just going to have one more glass of wine, and then I’m done for the night.”

  “I’ll join you,” Micki said, giving Eliana a little clap on her calf as she rose from the couch.

  The study was warm and rich by design. Savannah loved the deep reds and browns that accented the cherry-stained hardwood floor. She’d had the merlot area rug special-ordered with hand-crafted drapes to match. The study was where Savannah liked to center herself after a long day at the office or after a grudge match with an ingrate. Either way, the room helped to calm her.

  Micki thanked her for the wine and took a seat on the love seat; Savannah sat across from her on the wingback and crossed her legs. She let out a sigh and threw her head back against the chair.

  “You okay?”

  “Just tired. In many ways.”

  Micki nodded. She cleared her throat. “If this is crossing the line, just tell me—”

  “Like I wouldn’t?”

  Micki tilted her head in acknowledgment and continued. “Where is Eliana’s father?”

  Savannah uncrossed her legs and sipped her wine. She thought about telling Micki to mind her own damn business but for some inexplicable reason, didn’t really want to.

  “He’s in New York. We had a brief fling while I was working at the Times building. He was, still is, as far as I know, an SVP on the business side of the newspaper. Tomás and I hit it off, spent a few nights together, and became a contraceptive failure statistic.” Savannah shrugged. “I told him that I was pregnant, and we agreed that I would raise the child alone. I had no interest in a shared parenting partnership with someone I barely knew. Thankfully, neither did he.”

  “You ‘hit it off’? Huh. Does he pay child support?”

  “No. I don’t want it. Or frankly, need it.”

  “Did you ever consider not having her?” Micki asked, tucking both legs beneath her.

  “No.”

  Savannah didn’t elaborate, and Micki didn’t push.

  “Does Eliana know about him?”

  “Yes. She knows who and where he is. I told her if she ever decides that she would like to contact him to tell me, and I’ll arrange it. Thus far, she hasn’t had any real interest.” Savannah paused. “She’s just about the only perfect thing that’s ever happened to me without endless planning and design.”

  Micki nodded. “I hate to ask this, but do you think he could be a suspect? Maybe decided he wants to be a part of your lives after all this time and is going about it in a really creepy way?”

  Savannah shook her head emphatically. “He’s married. No children. I’m sure he expects a call from me someday. He’s been very good about keeping his address and contact information updated through my office. I’m grateful he’s kept up his end of the bargain.”

  “Wow. You don’t hear about too many arrangements like that. Is Eliana okay with it all? She doesn’t ask a lot of questions?”

  “Not anymore. Everything she’s asked, I’ve answered. I don’t see any reason to withhold anything from her. It’ll just cause her to resent me later on. This is her normal, and as far as I know, she’s content. But enough about me. Do you have any family around here? I never see you with anyone but my babysitter and my assistant.”

  Micki smiled, took a sip of her wine. “My sister lives in Concord. My parents live in Jacksonville. We talk about once a week, sometimes more. They’re good people. Dad’s a custodian for an elementary school; Mom works part-time in a flower shop. They decided they just couldn’t take the cold anymore, so they moved to Florida. We’re pretty generic, I guess.”

  “Generic can be a very good thing.”

  “I suppose that’s true. The less drama, the better.”

  “Why did you come here?” Savannah curled one leg underneath her thigh. “I mean, Winter Valley isn’t exactly a tourist destination.”

  “I was tired of the city. I never really felt like I gelled with the constant busyness of it all. The noise, the lights, the traffic. It just wasn’t me, even though I’d had big dreams of being part of a SWAT team or something when I first joined. I realize that Providence isn’t LA or anything, but I wanted to live in small-town USA. So, I saw the ad for a deputy in the paper, which I thought was odd because who advertises in the paper anymore, but decided to check it out anyway. And yay for you, here I am,” Micki said, holding her arms out above her head.

  Savannah couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes. Yay for me. You didn’t leave anyone behind? No friends, partners, associates?”

  “Well, sure. I had friends, but we still keep in touch. Partners, like romantic part
ners? No. I dated here and there, but nothing ever really came of it. My last relationship was Stacey, from Country Carpet? She was in sales. Not sure if you know her.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Well, it didn’t end well. She accused me of being standoffish when it came to us. She was probably right. I mean, she was definitely right. But I just didn’t feel it with her, you know? Which I know is trite. Not every relationship is lightning and strobe lights, and there’s nothing wrong with that. She was great, really sweet, and super thoughtful. I tried but…failed, I guess. I’ve had relationships, but I guess I just haven’t found the one. I don’t think I’ve ever fully given myself to someone. It just hasn’t felt right. I think I read somewhere that everyone has three great loves, but that sounds kind of daunting, to be honest.”

  Savannah nodded. She was surprised that Micki was being so open about her relationship. It was the first time they’d talked about anything so personal. It was actually sort of nice, having someone feel as if they could confide in her.

  “But anyway,” Micki continued. “That’s how I ended up here. Total chance. I just happened to pick up a paper when I was at my brother’s house visiting. It was spur of the moment, really. I’m just glad all of that time in the police academy didn’t go to waste. Even though working for a private agency pays way more money. Hint, hint. At least now I’m like a superhero, basically.”

  “Can I have a brownie?” Eliana asked, poking her head in through the slightly open door. She held up the bakery package that Micki had bought for dessert.

  Savannah looked at her watch and jumped up from her chair. “No! I’m surprised you haven’t passed out yet. I didn’t realize it was so late. Upstairs, now.”

  Both Micki and Eliana grumbled at Savannah’s direction that it was bedtime. Micki followed up the stairs behind Eliana as if she was lumped in with the parental instruction. They commiserated about the unfairness of bedtimes and late-night snack denials.

  “Night, El. Night, Savannah.” Micki yawned, closing the door to her bedroom softly. Savannah followed Eliana into her room to tuck her in.

  “Are you sure you’re okay with this arrangement?” Savannah asked, fluffing her blankets and kissing her on the forehead.

  “Yeah, I love having Micki around. She’s fun.”

  “Okay.”

  Eliana frowned. “What’s the matter?”

  Savannah stood, hands on her hips. “Nothing. Well, the same thing we were discussing earlier. I’m just concerned about the bad guy that’s out there. But I feel a whole lot better having Chief Blake in the house with us,” she admitted. There was something freeing about saying it out loud. She did feel better with Micki in the same house. Even though Savannah prided herself on constantly going it alone, there was something to be said for relinquishing a little bit of that solitude.

  “Me, too. She does that, you know.”

  “Does what?”

  “Makes people feel better. Like, they don’t have to worry anymore, that everything will be okay. Even if it’s not right now, she can make it okay.” Eliana’s heavy eyelids began to close of their own accord.

  Savannah sighed heavily. “Yes, I suppose she does. Good night, sweetheart.” She squeezed Eliana’s hand before pulling her door, leaving it open only a sliver. She straightened her blouse and cast a long glance at the guest room door. For a fleeting moment, Savannah considered knocking and asking Micki to join her for one more drink, even though exhaustion was ready to take over. The thought of lying down in her room alone made her feel vulnerable. She couldn’t ask Micki to stay up with her all night, so she decided there was no time like the present. She switched off the hall light as she closed her bedroom door.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The sway of the trees. The crunch of the gravel as a car drove down the street. The light patter of raindrops on the balcony outside her bedroom. The creak of the floorboards settling.

  All of those things kept Savannah from sleeping. She would start to doze, lightly, and something would startle her. Something as innocent as Eliana shifting positions in her bed. She refused to admit defeat and turn her light on or scroll through her phone. She just lay there, looking up at the shade of the ceiling, gray and crackled in the faint light of the streetlamp.

  The lightest knock on her door drove Savannah to a sitting position immediately. Her heart pounded. “Eliana?”

  “No, it’s me,” a voice whispered. Her door cracked open just enough for Micki to fit her head through. Her face looked almost angelic in the haloed light. “Are you okay? I was having trouble sleeping; thought you might be, too.”

  Savannah relaxed and felt her tightened muscles let go. “Yes, I am. It’s much too early to get up, but much too late to take anything to help me sleep.”

  “Do you want to talk?”

  “No, I’m very tired. I just need to turn my brain off for a little while.”

  Micki nodded. “Same here. Okay, well, good night.” She started to close the door again before Savannah stopped her.

  “Micki, wait. Would you mind staying in here tonight?” Savannah chewed on her lip. Her mouth had spoken before her mind had processed exactly what she was asking.

  “Oh,” Micki said, blatantly shocked. “Yeah, um, yeah, definitely. Let me just…let me get the blankets from my bed.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Savannah’s heart beat wildly. She threw the comforter down at an angle on the empty side of the bed. There was no going back now; the invitation was out there, hanging in the air like a pregnant thunderhead. She had no idea what the fuck she was doing, but there she was, doing it.

  Micki stood completely still, her eyes wide and expression confused. Savannah realized that she had just asked Micki to sleep in her bed. With her. That was insane. Irrational. Nonsensical. Strangely enticing.

  “Oh,” Micki said again. “Yeah, that works. Um, are you sure?”

  “If you’re uncomfortable with the idea, please don’t feel obligated. I’ll be fine by myself. It was a silly suggestion,” Savannah said, humiliation threatening to swallow her whole.

  Before it could get any more awkward, which wasn’t possible, Micki opened the door the rest of the way and climbed into the bed next to Savannah. She gently laid her head on the pillow. “Your bed is really comfortable,” she whispered. “I feel like I’m stretching out on a cloud.”

  “I know.”

  Savannah looked down at her flowy silk nightshirt and noticed the base of her neck and the top of her chest were exposed. She wondered if she should change. With Micki in such close proximity, she decided against it. It would probably just call attention to how little she actually had on. She closed her eyes again and felt movement as a leg slowly invaded the space between them, and a knee brushed up against her thigh. Savannah felt the electricity of skin on skin and smirked.

  “Sorry,” she muttered, pulling her leg back to her own side.

  Savannah turned away from her, curling the pillow beneath her as she lay on her side. It was strange, this, Micki lying in bed next to her. But oddly enough, Savannah felt her eyelids begin to droop, an entirely welcome event.

  Micki cleared her throat. “Is this weird?” she whispered, up on one elbow.

  “Yes.”

  A pause. “Do you want me to go?”

  “No.”

  Sensing Micki’s discomfort, Savannah sighed. She rolled back onto her other side so she was facing Micki. Micki lay stock-still, eyes straight toward the ceiling, her golden waves framing her face strikingly. Taking a chance, a big chance, a ridiculous chance, Savannah found Micki’s hand with her own and tangled their fingers together. She held her breath while she waited for a reaction and was only able to release it once she felt Micki squeeze her hand and take hold, rubbing the base of her thumb gently with the soft pad of her own. Savannah felt a rush of relief, a twinge of gratefulness, and a much-needed sense of security as she finally drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Once Savanna
h had finished doling out the necessary phone calls and memos needed for the day, Chloe just stood there in her office, seemingly uncomfortable. Savannah wondered if she wanted to ask if anything else had happened but was afraid Savannah would bite her head off for intruding into her personal business. Again. At that point, Savannah wasn’t even upset about it anymore. She came to the grudging conclusion that Chloe really had only been trying to help, and she’d actually succeeded.

  “Anything else?” Savannah asked, her eyebrows raised.

  “Um, no, not really. How are you?”

  “Fine. And you?”

  “Fine.”

  “Wonderful. Please let me know when the funding report is ready.” Savannah gave her a tight-lipped smile and resumed working on her computer.

  “Have they…sent anything else?”

  Savannah dropped her shoulders and squeezed the bridge of her nose, sighing. She knew why Chloe was hesitant to leave, but she wasn’t overly excited to share the latest details. “Yes. They’ve escalated their game. The chief has been monitoring my house. She has it fully under control. Thank you for your concern.”

  “Any idea who it is?”

  “I’m certain if there are any solid leads, the chief will diligently follow them.”

  “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m sorry that I broke your confidence.”

  Savannah sighed again, deeper this time. She was tired of Chloe walking around the office like a scolded child, crunching through a thousand eggshells. “I don’t like to admit when I’m wrong, as I’m sure you’re aware, but in this case, I will. You were right to involve the police department. You should not have done it behind my back, but I have a tendency to be…stubborn. So as long as we’re clear that nothing like that will happen again, you and I have a clean slate. I’m sorry that I was so hard on you.”

  “Thank you. Thank you. I was scared and trying to do the right thing. I won’t do anything like that again,” Chloe gushed.