Shadows in the Night

by Kelsey MacBride

  Heather leaned over and wrapped her arm around Evelyn’s shoulder before giving her a big squeeze. “Okay, then we both did a great job.” The women chuckled together, and Charlie helped Heather take the remaining supplies into the house.

  After putting Evelyn to bed, Heather made her way back to her room to nap. As she stared at the white ceiling above her bed, her thoughts drifted to Michael. There was no doubt in her mind he was jealous of her interaction with Charlie. While she wasn’t happy with the way he handled his emotions, at least it showed he cared about her. Her thoughts drifted back to the many times they almost kissed. She could sense the electricity in the air as if they were two live wires, where the slightest touch would skyrocket her emotions into uncharted territory. Her body shivered at the thought. She was thankful she had resisted her desires, something she had plenty of practice to perfect over the years. Maybe it was God who had kept her desires in check, preserving her for the right man who would come into her life. Her thoughts drifted back to Michael, wondering why God had put him in her life. She knew there had to be a good reason and that God would reveal it at the right time.

  God, did you put me in Michael’s life to lead him back to you? Was I sent to witness to Evelyn?

  The questions swirled around in the back of her mind until a shadow of darkness approached, and she drifted off to sleep.

  Dinner that night was uneventful, and Heather was glad it was free from drama. The three of them enjoyed the dinner Miss Jamie had prepared, and they laughed about how nerdy Michael was during his high school days. Heather caught Michael glancing at her several times during dinner, and she knew there was something on his mind, something he would probably share with her when they were alone. When dinner was done, Heather took Evelyn to her room and got her settled into bed with a movie.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Heather.”

  The girl’s statement was simple, but her sincerity touched Heather’s heart. She loved Evelyn as if she were her own daughter. There hadn’t been a single night since she first stepped foot into the Robbins household where she didn’t pray for her recovery or Michael’s. She brushed a hand across Evelyn’s cheek.

  “Well, I’m glad to be here too.” She smiled at the girl. “I knew God had a reason for bringing me here, and that’s to help you get better.”

  Evelyn scrunched her lips together. “Do you know how long it’ll take for me to get well?”

  A gentle sigh escaped Heather’s lips. “It’s hard to say, sweetie. The doctors are doing the best they can to help you get well faster.”

  “Can’t God make it go away faster? Like the miracles we read about in the Bible?” Evelyn gazed at her with hopeful eyes.

  “Yes, God can heal you. But we just don’t know what God’s plan or timing is. He asks us to trust Him and to make sure our hearts are right with Him. No matter what happens in the future, you’ll be in Heaven someday.”

  Evelyn’s eyes saddened. “I’m afraid, Heather.”

  Heather scooted next to the girl and wrapped her arm around her. “Afraid of what?”

  “Afraid I’ll never get better. Afraid I’ll—” Her voice trailed off as a tear rolled down her face.

  “Shhh ...” Heather enveloped Evelyn between her arms and rubbed her back. “Everything will be alright. You will get better, and I’m not going to leave until we beat this thing together. We need to trust in God’s promises, right?”

  Evelyn’s head nodded into Heather’s bosom.

  “Good. Now, we’re going to pray, and then you need to get some rest.” They bowed their heads, and Heather prayed. “Lord God, Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless Evelyn, and to guide her doctors, myself, and all involved in her care, so that they may do for her what she needs. We ask you to comfort her and to bless her with your healing hand. We ask that, as you promised through Isaiah, you may rise up our spirits as if on the wings of eagles, so that as we journey through this difficult time, our souls will grow neither weary nor tired. Please, Lord, we ask that you not give us a cross heavier than we can bear, and that you walk with us, holding our hands, as Evelyn continues to heal. We ask all this in the name of your Son. Amen.”

  Though the prayer was brief, Heather found Evelyn fast asleep when she opened her eyes.

  Just as well, the prayer was as much for me as it was for her.

  She kissed the girl’s forehead, and as she did, a tear rolled off her cheek and into Evelyn’s ear. The sleeping girl squirmed for a second before her body remained still. Heather studied the rise and fall of the girl’s chest as she slept peacefully beneath the covers. Seconds later, tears began to flow freely down the nurse’s face as she struggled to make sense of Evelyn’s situation. Why God, why? The question chased around in her mind like a never-ending carousel. Heather couldn’t help feeling guilty for questioning the Lord. Why did such a young and innocent child have to suffer so much? But she knew early on in her nursing career that life wasn’t fair.

  Heather stayed with Evelyn for almost half an hour until she could no longer keep her eyes open. With a deep sigh, she slowly gained her feet and lethargically made her way to her room where she climbed into bed and quickly fell into a deep slumber.

  A few hours later, Heather abruptly woke from her sleep, her heart pounding as if she had just run a mile. She took a deep breath, realizing it was only a dream and let her head sink slowly into her pillow. But she couldn’t fall back asleep. Images of the previous dinner flashed across her mind, and she walked with a purpose over to Michael’s study. She had seen the mounting tension in his eyes at the dinner table that evening and knew it would only be a matter of time before he confronted her with his concerns. She decided it was best if she broached the subject first, clearing any misunderstandings before things got out of hand. The light to his study was on as she trod softly up to the study. She knocked loudly, and he called out for her to enter.

  “What’s up, Heather?” There was coolness to his voice.

  “Unless I’m wrong, it seemed like you wanted to talk to me at dinner. So here I am, Michael. But if I’m wrong, please excuse me for interrupting you, and I’ll be on my way.”

  Michael straightened his chest and cleared his throat before gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. “Please, have a seat.”

  Heather perched herself on the edge of the chair and placed her hands in her lap.

  “You were right.” His lips turned slightly into a smile. “I did, I just wanted to see how you were doing. If everything is going okay.”

  Heather could sense the hesitancy in his voice. “Everything’s fine. Why do you ask?”

  He ignored her question and kept his gaze fixed on the papers on top of his desk as he gripped his hands together. “And Mr. Mann ... how is he?”

  Heather knew his question didn’t stem from a genuine concern for the man’s well-being, but from another secret motive. A motive driven by a deep seated insecurity that she might desire another man. She knew Michael wanted to know about her personal life, and Heather decided it was time to test how much he actually cared about her.

  “Mr. Mann?” Her voice grew lighter. “He seems well enough, I suppose. A very interesting person if you ask me. He’s traveled the world for work and has so many fascinating stories to tell.” Heather kept a straight face as she smiled inside. “As for me, well ... I’ve never been happier.” From the corner of her eye, Heather could see his hands wrestle even tighter.

  “I see.” A grimace formed on his face.

  “I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time, now that Evelyn’s getting a bit better.” Heather felt a twinge of guilt mixed with pity as she watched Michael clench his jaw. She knew he was boiling inside, and she didn’t have the heart to continue torturing him any longer.

  After a few seconds, Michael forced the air from his chest and relaxed his jaws with a smile. “I know your birthday is this weekend, and I wanted to give you your gift early.” He pulled a large brown envelope from his desk and set it on the table in front
of her.

  Heather’s eyes grew wide. “How did you know that? I haven’t said a word to anyone ...” She was surprised that he knew it was this weekend and had the thoughtfulness to buy her a gift.

  “Well, I performed a background check on you, and I spoke at great lengths with your agency before you were hired, so I already had a lot of information about you.” Michael watched Heather’s brows lift with concern. “Don’t worry; I do it with all my new employees. But that’s not the only reason I wanted to celebrate your birthday. It’s because I really wanted to get you something special.” He gave her a half smile.

  Heather mirrored his smile. She could tell Michael’s demeanor had softened like the other night when they almost kissed. It wasn’t often she found him in such a relaxed state, and she wished he could be like this more often.

  “That was so thoughtful of you, Michael. You didn’t have to buy me anything. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure if it would be appropriate for us as employer and employee.” She pushed the envelope back across the table. They both waited in awkward silence as thoughts of their last intimate encounter teased their minds.

  Michael cleared his throat. “We both know I don’t like rules. Besides, it’s not a gift you can give back. I only have one request, and that is that you don’t open it until the day after tomorrow.” A smile formed on his lips. He knew his statement would tease her, forcing her to hold on to the gift for almost two days without peeking, something he knew would drive a woman crazy with curiosity. He pushed his chair back and sat on the desk inches away, close enough where he could feel the warmth of her body.

  Heather caught her breath and remained still as she lowered her gaze to the floor. Why was he teasing her with the gift? Why wait the two days? She tried to make sense of his mysterious request, but all she could focus on was the quickening of her pulse.

  Michael raised her chin with his hand. “Please, let me give you this, Heather.” Heather felt her body relax as her eyes locked with his, and her heart began to soften like clay in a potter’s hands. Her conscious mind struggled to resist his demands. She needed to be strong, to escape his controlling power, but all she could do was nod as if under the spell of a hypnotist. She knew Michael wouldn’t stop until she accepted his gift. It was how he manipulated his business transactions and how he commandeered people to do what he wanted. And now she could feel his power imprison her where she was helpless to escape. Heather lowered her gaze, signaling her submission. She had no choice but to wait the two days.

  Michael retrieved the envelope once more and handed it to her. This time, Heather accepted it without resisting. “Thank you, Michael.” She smiled up at him as he placed his hand over hers. She felt the familiar tingle of electricity down her arm, but this time her hand remained still as she wallowed in the touch of his skin against hers. She sucked in a breath and felt his pulse beat against her skin. At that moment, she knew he was what she wanted in a man and more.

  Michael drew her hand to his lips and pressed his lips lightly against her skin as if almost to tease her. Heather sat like a garden statue as if he had some magical power that could place a spell on her, one she couldn’t break. After a few seconds, her eyes fluttered, and her hand snapped back to her bosom.

  “You’re marrying someone else, Michael ... don’t you think your fiancée would frown on your actions?”

  Michael spoke without hesitation. “You’re not staff, Heather. You belong here like one of the family.” His voice had a serious tone, and Heather knew his words came from his heart. She heaved a heavy sigh and turned her face away. Their relationship seemed to be moving like a whirlwind, and it was all too much for her to absorb. Heather knew she needed time alone to think, to do some soul searching, and to ask God to show her what was the right thing to do.

  She pushed the corners of her lips into a smile. “I’m going to go check on Evelyn, Michael. Thanks again for the gift, even if I don’t know what it is yet.” She waved the package in the air at him.

  “I think you’re going to like it, Heather. At least, I hope so. It’s just a small token of my appreciation for all that you do. You really deserve a lot more.” Michael stood to his feet. “Oh, by the way, just be sure to look surprised when Evelyn gives you a cake and a party this weekend. She’s been planning it for quite some time, and she’s been racking her brain to find the perfect gift for you. To be honest, I’m not even sure what it is ... but she’s very excited about it. She even enlisted Miss Watson’s help while she’s still out of town.” Michael turned his lips up into a smile. “You mean a lot to her ...” his gaze dropped for a second before bouncing back to her eyes. “To both of us. Good night, Heather ... Sleep well.”

  Heather gave him a parting smile before she slipped out of the room and headed upstairs with her gift tucked under her arm. The man was a complete mystery to her, and she wondered if she would ever discover what emotions lay protected inside his heart. There was only one truth that remained clear inside her head, and that was the fact he had captured her heart, something no other man had done in her life. Her only fear was what Michael would do with it. Would he nurture it and protect it? Or would he use it to satisfy his selfish needs before tossing it like a piece of recycled trash?

  Heather found Evelyn fast asleep. She checked the girl’s vitals before retiring to her bedroom for the night. Unanswered questions swirled like a tornado in her mind, and Heather tossed and turned for what seemed like hours before she finally drifted off to sleep. Visions of being married to Michael and living happily ever after with Evelyn filled her mind until a loud noise jolted her from her sleep. Heather’s eyes shot open.

  Chapter 11

  Was the noise part of her dream? Or did the noise come from outside her room?

  Heather bolted out of bed, and her feet landed with a thud on the floor. It sounded like someone had fallen. Did Evelyn fall out of bed? Or could it be an attacker breaking into the house again?

  Her heart pounded like an African drum as she held her breath for what seemed like minutes, waiting for further signs of an intruder. But only the mournful howl of a distant coyote greeted her ears. She quickly threw on her robe and tiptoed quietly over to Evelyn’s room where she found the girl still fast asleep. Heather forced a sigh of relief, relieved nothing had happed to her.

  But what was the noise she had heard?

  She knew she hadn’t dreamt it, and she was determined to inspect the house to be sure everything was in order. As she pulled Evelyn’s door shut, a shadowy figure approached from the end of the hall. Heather felt the adrenaline surge through her body, and her muscles tightened, ready to sprint down the stairs.

  Was her attacker returning a second time to finish the job?

  Heather could only prepare for the worst and she sucked in a deep breath, ready to scream for help.

  And that’s when Charlie’s face came into view. Air rushed past her lips as the muscles in her body began to relax.

  “Charlie, am I so glad to see you.” Heather placed a hand against her chest.

  “Why, what’s up, Miss Heather?” Charlie strolled up to her with a smile on his face.

  “Did you hear a loud noise just a few minutes ago?”

  Charlie furrowed his brows. “No, ma’am; I haven’t heard anything. Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?” He rested a hand on his metal flashlight.

  “Yes, I’m sure it wasn’t a dream. I just checked on Evelyn, and she’s okay.” Have any of the other guards seen anything unusual?

  “No one’s reported anything unusual to me.”

  “Can you please have them double check the house for The Cove Thief just to be sure?” Heather looked at him with concern in her eyes.

  “Sure, no problem,” Charlie said as he spoke into his intercom.

  “Have you seen Michael ... I mean Mr. Robbins.”

  “I thought I saw him earlier in the study. But the last time I walked past, it was dark inside.”

  Heather felt a nauseating feeling inside h
er stomach. There was something wrong, seriously wrong, and she couldn’t fight the feeling that Michael needed her. “I’m going to look for Mr. Robbins.”

  “Do you need me to go with you?”

  “I’ll be okay. It’s better for you and your men to check the premises for any intruders.”

  “Alright, just be safe. If you see anything strange, just scream for help and my men will be there in a heartbeat.” Charlie handed Heather his foot-long flashlight. “Here, take this, just in case you need to defend yourself.”

  Heather grabbed the light and crept downstairs to the study. The hall outside the study was dark except for the path of light escaping from the half open door. The eerie silence sent a shiver down her spine as she tiptoed toward the door. Heather pressed a hand against the door, expecting to see Michael religiously absorbed with work behind his desk, but before she could push open the door, an ear deafening pop stopped her in her tracks. Heather’s body stiffened as her heart pounded like a cannonball inside her chest.

  Was that a gunshot? Was Michael okay?

  Without hesitation, she barged into the study; her eyes peered frantically into the darkness, looking for any sign of Michael, but he was nowhere to be seen. As her gaze bounced toward the moonlit window, she saw the silhouette of a large man slip out the window.

  Heather opened her mouth to scream for help, but as her eyes drifted to the crumpled body on the floor, nothing came out of her mouth. Her eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped as she saw Michael’s lifeless body lying in a pool of crimson.

  A gasp escaped her lips, and Heather sprang into action, a reflex ingrained from all her years of training as a nurse. She rushed over to his body, and her eyes expanded like a snapping rubber band as they followed his fingers curled around a black handgun to a trail of crimson flowing from his chest.

  “Michael ... Michael, are you okay? Who did this to you?”

  But all Michael could do was flutter his eyelids in response.

  Heather looked with disdain at the weapon in his hand. She had always been anxious around any type of gun. But tonight, she had no choice but to face her fears and do whatever it took to offer Michael the help he needed. She carefully reached out to extract the gun from his hand as if it were a sleeping rattlesnake. But her fingers stopped an inch short as she realized her fingerprints would be all over the weapon.