Amanda's Touch [D.A.R.E.ing Women] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by LeeAnn Masters

  She continued, “I’m offering to look over anything you might want me to and let you know what’s transferrable or not, how much of a penalty you might take based on your decisions, and basically guide you through your options. If you don’t want me to look at them, that’s fine too, you are all certainly entitled to your privacy, but if I can put anyone at ease I’ll be happy to do it. I can also call in the portfolio advisor who assists in handling my nest egg and let you talk to him yourselves and determine what is best for your future. I can guarantee he is honest and trustworthy. Will you allow me to do that for you? I firmly believe you can all walk away from this with very little loss, if you move soon.”

  John agreed to let Amanda view his and Claire’s portfolio, if she would let him see hers first. Amanda shot an amused glance at Zack, whose face turned a mottled red in his embarrassment of his father’s words.

  “Sure, let me pull it up online and you can feel free to browse through it.” She knew he wasn’t asking to check the credibility of her experience, he was asking as his son’s father. He wanted to know if she was a gold digger. Won’t he be surprised, and humbled, Amanda vindictively thought.

  She logged into her account and showed Zack and his father how to navigate through it. Then she left him and his family to it and headed to the kitchen to get some water. She needed to take her antibiotic again, and she wanted to sit down and get some peace and quiet. It seemed like the past four days she’d done nothing but run, and damn she was tired. She smiled softly, thinking about the late night activities she and Zack had engaged in. No wonder she was exhausted. After taking her medicine she sat at the kitchen table and laid her head down on her arms, thinking she’d rest for a little while. They’d come find her when they were ready.

  “Amanda?” A soft inquiring female voice called from behind her, breaking into her light doze. It was Zack’s mom.

  Yawning, Amanda raised her head and covered her mouth while mumbling an apology. “Claire? You guys ready for me?” She stretched, trying to wake up, but feeling overwhelmingly worn out. She wondered if the antibiotic was having an added effect in making her sleepy. This couldn’t be a worse time for that, she thought. She had obligations to meet, she could sleep later.

  “Yes, they’re ready for you. But…” Claire hesitated. “I wonder if you could do me a different favor?”

  Amanda eyed her curiously through blurred eyes. “Whatever you need, Claire. What can I do for you?”

  “You said, you can see things, people’s pasts, when you touch them or their personal objects, right?” Claire questioned hesitantly. “I was wondering if you would be able to read Joshua’s for me. I need to know what happened to him. I need to know for sure.”

  Her voice, a mixture of sadness, regret, and embarrassment, caused Amanda to stand up and take the woman in her arms. Hugging her she asked “Are you sure, Claire? At the very least it will open up old wounds. At the worst, well…you may find out something you didn’t really want to know.”

  “I have to know, Amanda. I can’t stand not knowing if what the military is telling us is true. I’ve been left with these gaps that can’t be filled in since he’s been gone. It hurts to think about him, and it hurts not to. I have to know what happened to my child. Can you understand that?” Claire’s eyes filled with tears.

  “Of course I understand, and yes, I’ll do that for you. However, you need to understand that I can’t promise what I’ll see and hear, but I’ll do what I can.” Amanda just hoped it would be enough.

  Looking up from the woman’s fraught countenance she found Zack leaning against the door jamb, arms crossed over his chest, observing them with a combined expression of worry, grief, and frustration. Either whatever he’d heard from their conversation hadn’t made him happy, or his father still had him upset, or he was still angry with her decision to get involved with the Tabotts. Quite frankly she didn’t care, she was just tired of his attitude.

  “Let me go answer everyone’s investment questions first.” She raised an eyebrow at Zack. Were they ready?

  He jerked his head toward the family room. “They’re waiting.”

  Zack hadn’t been lying when he’d told Amanda he hadn’t snooped through her investment portfolio the previous Friday. He had actually closed it out as soon as he’d realized it had nothing to do with anything work related, so he hadn’t appreciated her halfhearted attempt at humor, and stab at his honor, when she’d claimed he’d already seen it. He did appreciate her wanting to make his family comfortable during a very stressful time, though. The fact that she allowed his family to look through her personal information to help them get their feet under them was going beyond the call of duty.

  As they’d navigated through her online portfolio his father had given a long low appreciative whistle of her earnings and savvy. At age twenty-eight, Amanda was already set for life. She could easily live off of her interest alone each year, if she chose to, and live in great comfort, too! He, his father, and sisters had been stunned. Zack now understood the glimpse of the patronizing smile Amanda had tried to hide from him. She was loaded! Her portfolio made Zack’s look like a child’s piggy bank. If Amanda could do for them what she’d done for herself, they wouldn’t need to worry beyond the initial transfer of funds. They’d easily be able to make up their losses.

  Despite the tenseness in the air over their untenable situation when his father whispered, “Son, you need to marry this little gal,” his sisters had broken out into gales of laughter.

  “Did you know she saved Emma’s life?” Cara unexpectedly remarked. As everyone swung to look at her perplexedly she explained. “When she was my rehab patient following the accident…” Cara swallowed hard as tears came to her eyes. “One day as I touched her to help her get on a piece of equipment to work her leg, she turned to me and very urgently said, ‘I know you probably won’t believe me, but you need to listen to me carefully. Just do what I’m telling you. Do it now.’”

  Cara went on “Do you remember last year, when Emma had that close call on Rich’s balcony at his apartment?” Everyone nodded. Yes, they weren’t likely to forget that Emma had nearly taken a header from Cara’s ex-husband’s twelfth floor balcony when the railing had rusted loose.

  “Amanda’s the one who told me I had to call right away, to get hold of Rich to get Emma off of that balcony. He didn’t even know she’d slipped out the sliding glass door. He had no idea she was out there alone to begin with. He was in the kitchen making the girl’s lunch. He grabbed her just as the railing gave way from her weight when she climbed onto it.”

  She examined their expressions of astonishment and fear for what could have happened to the little girl. “I never told anyone that she was the one to save her. I figured everyone would think I was insane for even considering what she’d told me, but I wasn’t taking any chances with my daughter’s safety. I ran to the phone and called Rich, who did think I was being irrational, but when he saw her on the balcony, alone, he dropped the phone and bolted to grab her. Just a few more seconds and Emma would have been dead. Amanda didn’t even know I had children. We’d never discussed them.

  “So what I’m trying to say is I believe her when she says Tabott is embezzling. I believe her when she says she can help all of us through this. And, I believe her if she says we can trust in the advisor she wants to introduce us to,” Cara finished.

  Zack’s view of Amanda was beginning to change radically. He’d thought his role was to be her savior, her knight in shining armor. Today she’d turned his world view on its ear. She’d been the one to do the saving, and he was finding himself disgruntled at the notion, when by all rights he should feel grateful to her instead. What’s the matter, Zack? Does your ego need some stroking, buddy? he sarcastically asked himself. He just didn’t like feeling helpless, and this whole day had been exactly that and it galled him to no end.

  As everyone had agreed with Cara’s assessment of their situation he’d slowly realized his mother was not with them. Fig
uring he’d find her with Amanda he’d gone to search them out. He arrived in the middle of their conversation about Joshua. He’d figured it was only a matter of time until his mother asked Amanda to read some of Josh’s belongings, but he hadn’t figured it would be so soon.

  Amanda looked over his mother’s shoulder at him and he could see the strain that the day had placed on her and began to worry. She was very pale and had circles under her eyes, and he was reminded of her injuries and infected leg. The girl would never heal if she didn’t get adequate rest. Then he gave himself a mental slap as he remembered he was the one who’d kept her up last night. And that, well, she had kept him up last night too, though he hadn’t minded.

  Watching her with concern he’d indicated for her to join them in the family room. His mother preceded her through the door and as Amanda passed him he stopped her and pulled her into his arms.

  “I’m sorry, Mandy. I’m sorry for everything I’ve said and done today to upset you. And I’m sorry about anything my family has done to make you uncomfortable.” He was gratified by her instantaneous response.

  Amanda waved his apologies aside with her good hand and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning into him and resting her head against his chest, allowing him to support her for a short while. She relaxed against him and stayed there for a minute or two just listening to sound of his heart and enjoying the scent of his skin, a combination of soap, cologne, and simply his own delicious self. When his arms tightened around her and his chin rested on the top of her head she smiled to herself, wishing they could stay like that.

  Keeping one arm around her he said, “Come on, babe, we need some advice and we’re hoping you can help us all out.” He was rewarded with a sparkling smile and a wink.

  An hour later she’d conducted a basic review of everyone’s records and made notes for each of them, including Zack, to help them improve their earnings. She’d gone through each person’s stocks, bonds, and CDs. She’d told them what to hold on to, what to cash in, where to reinvest their funds, and given them an estimate of what losses they might take. She asked to be excused for a minute to call her advisor. Considering it was a Sunday evening they’d all looked at her as though she was crazy. She’d laughed and told them it would just take a minute.

  Zack followed her out to the kitchen again as she pulled her cell phone from her rear pocket. She looked at him inquiringly as he followed on her heels.

  “What’s up?” She seemed a little put out at his presence.

  “I was curious how you plan to take care of this business on a Sunday night.” He watched as she blushed dark pink.

  “I’m just going to call Paul and ask him to come over tomorrow to meet with all of you, here.”

  Zack’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What pull do you have that you’re going to accomplish this on the Fourth of July?” he persisted.

  She blew out a big huff of air between pursed lips. “Zack, please,” she looked away. “It’s only a phone call. Can’t you give me a moment’s privacy?” She tried to inject some irritation into her voice but knew Zack caught her nervousness and secrecy instead.

  Getting annoyed she stated, “Leave me alone to make this call or I’m not doing it.”

  She shooed him away toward the door. He left but he wasn’t happy about it, his retreating footsteps were almost stomps. Just in case he decided to come back in, she walked out the back door to the yard and strolled to the very edge of the property to make her call.

  On the second ring Paul answered. “Amanda! Happy fourth weekend! How are you?” His caller ID had identified her. She explained the circumstances of Zack’s family, what she wanted Paul to do for them, and then asked him nicely to visit the next day to help get them straightened out.

  “Um, Amanda, just a reminder, it’s the fourth tomorrow, ya know?” Paul whined.

  Amanda threw her hands up in the air wishing Paul was here so she could strangle him. “Paul…” Her gentle voice carried an edge of warning.

  “Okay, okay! What time do you want me there?” he quickly backpedaled.

  She told him ten the next morning would be fine, what she wanted him to bring, and ended the call by telling him, “Paul, they are not to be told. Are we clear? Some of them may pressure you for answers, but they are not to be told. It could be misconstrued, in any variety of ways, and I don’t need any more problems with Zack, or his family. They are also not to be pressured to invest with your company. You are only to clarify their options. If they choose to go with your company that’s fine, just make sure they know they have other options beforehand.” After she’d obtained his promise to be discreet she headed back in. She had a reading to do.

  Zack felt uneasy about Amanda’s secrecy. What the hell was she up to? He attempted to listen in through the swinging kitchen door but when he heard nothing, realized she must have escaped out the back. Moving through the kitchen he saw her make her way across the lawn to the far side of the property. What didn’t she want him to know? This made absolutely no sense at all.

  To his consternation he realized once more how little he knew about her. Watching her, he saw her gesturing with her hands in her attempt to convey her message and she didn’t appear too happy. Zack saw the stubborn expression she frequently presented to him cross her features, followed shortly thereafter by a sweet smile and knew she’d gotten her way. As she walked back toward the house he quickly ducked back into the family room.

  Arriving back in the family room she informed them, “Okay, all set. Paul will be here tomorrow at ten to meet with you individually and help you get everything transferred, if that’s what you want. Please be aware that you are not in any way obligated to use the same advisor or company that I do. Paul will simply be here to help you get the ball rolling in whatever direction you choose.”

  She slumped down into the corner of the cream-colored sofa, feeling a little shaky, hoping Zack wouldn’t notice and finding him studying her in confusion. He walked over and sat on the arm of the sofa next to her and began running his fingers absently through her hair.

  “Amanda? Now?” Zack’s mother asked, urging her. Amanda made herself sit up and focus as Claire approached her with what looked like Joshua’s dog tags.

  “Claire! What are you doing?” John asked his wife in reproach. As he saw Claire’s hand reach out to drop them into Amanda’s, John gasped. “No! Honey, don’t do this! You’re only going to hurt worse after. It’s taken you so long to get back on an even keel. Please don’t,” he begged her.

  Claire hesitated for a few seconds and then looked at her husband and said, “I have to know, John. Can’t you understand that? It’s killing me not to know what happened to him.”

  Everyone looked to Amanda as she said, “Claire, I’ve told you not to get your hopes up, remember? I said I would try and see what I could get. I don’t know what kind of information or how clear it will be. You need to be prepared for that, too. Are you sure you want to know?” She asked her again.

  Amanda examined the faces of everyone present, the faces of Joshua’s family, the family of the man she was beginning to fall in love with. Yes, she’d do whatever they needed. If it would help ease their minds she’d put herself through the turmoil and pain. For them. For Zack.

  John got up and hugged his wife to him as Zack and his sisters sat in silence waiting for their parents’ decision. John looked sadly at Amanda and then nodded. He’d do whatever he had to to help his wife, even if he didn’t want it for himself.

  “If any of you are uncomfortable with this, you might want to go now,” Amanda informed them and looked up behind her at Zack. He shook his head firmly. He was staying. Cara and Becca, too, both let her know they were there for the duration. Claire reached out her hand once more as Amanda stretched hers open beneath it, shaking off Zack’s not so helpful ones. He was overwhelming her with his thoughts and worries as she was attempting to focus.

  As her hand closed around the metal dog tags Amanda saw Josh, saw the men in hi
s unit, saw the innocents involved, saw the advancing terrorist paramilitary operation who took all their lives, and she saw hell. As that hell washed over her she felt the overwhelming fear, pain, and terror they had endured. Unfortunately, it wasn’t only Joshua’s pain that consumed her. She was ambushed with everyone’s pain, for Joshua was here, but he wasn’t here alone.

  Amanda’s stomach clenched and she felt a wave of nausea roll through her. Oh God! Oh God! She began to tremble uncontrollably. Then her mind had had enough of the onslaught. The memories became entirely unbearable and her mental defenses slammed shut, closing off everything and offering her a much-needed respite. She welcomed the black wave that consumed her. Clutching the dog tags in an iron grip from which her hand would not relax, she fell toward the floor in a dead faint.

  From Zack’s perspective, he’d reached to place his hands on her shoulders to steady her and she shook him off, which was probably her worst decision up front. Since he’d never seen her do this before, he had no idea how it worked or what she might experience. Dropping his hands, Zack saw her fingers close around his brother’s tags and saw her briefly straighten as every muscle in her body violently contracted and locked in place. Then she began to shudder as he felt the most hideous onslaught of emotions he’d ever experienced before come screaming from her. Horror, terror, pain, rage, grief, all combined in a massive amalgamation the like of which he’d never felt before.

  After a full minute she cried out in utter despair, an agonized sound that sent chills rippling through him from the crown of his head all the way to his heels. He then watched in horror as her body went from rigid to limp in a heartbeat and he couldn’t grab her quickly enough before she collapsed to the floor. Dropping to his knees beside her, he pried the tags from the death grip she had on them and flung them across the room as his sisters and mother gathered around Amanda, and his Mom began to cry.