Four hours later, after Dan and Jacob had gone to bed, Dan remained asleep as Tammy came out to him and smiled down at him lovingly, gently stroking the side of his face.
****
I couldn’t resist that stab at Jacob. Who did he think he was fooling? It was no secret he and Robin were involved. Anyone could tell just by the expressions they gave each other.
A few weeks ago, I had been in the shower. I came out only to catch a glimpse of Jacob and Robin slipping into his bedroom, closing the door behind them. I had to try very hard to suppress a giggle, hearing Jacob mumble from behind the door, “We have to make this quick, before Lyn gets out.” I stood there listening as Robin moaned and Jacob panted. A few minutes later, Jacob groaned in what had to be a pleasurable climax. I then walked out to the kitchen where I grabbed a cup of coffee and smiled to myself before Lyn returned.
Of course, I certainly couldn’t hold anything against Jacob considering what I had done with his best friend. A smile returned to my face, remembering that amazing night. He had been so amazing, bringing me--
Dan was now moaning, bringing me back to the present. Quickly removing my hand from his cheek, I went back down the hall.
****
Oww…What the-“ Lyn caught her balance haphazardly, gripping Jacob’s bureau to her right, causing a few things to fall, as she ran into one of his shoes on the floor, stubbing her toe.
What was she doing up? She finally regained her balance, taking her hands through her hair and leaving them there. A glance at Jacob’s bedside digital clock told her it was half past one in the morning.
She turned and quietly went into the front room, seeing Dan asleep on the sofa and her brother lying inches away, snoring. She frowned tiredly, turning back around.
Twenty minutes later, she was back in bed and fast asleep.
Chapter 4
Brian sat at his computer at the Springwood Daily, gazing at his recent status update on facebook. “Getting ready to cover the Christmas festival!” It was only about four hours away. He took a sip of his coffee, logging out of the site.
He had gotten all his work done early, including the updates for Springwood Central—which he had been informed would be his last. The school had appointed one of it’s seniors who wrote for the school’s newspaper, The Central Buzz, to take care of that position. It was all part of an internship the girl had earned. He was happy to let Meg Little take over, too. It was less guilt he had to feel, doing a job that used to be his girlfriend’s.
He smiled as he thought about Lyn. He had already gotten her Christmas present, a diamond bracelet with pen and book charms on it. It was supposed to be for teachers, but he thought it was fitting for a writer as well. He had also made dinner reservations at a very nice restaurant for them on Christmas Eve. He prayed they could keep them.
He just wanted to do everything he could to make this an incredible Christmas for Lyn.
****
“Aw, babe…that looks so great.” Justin stood on his crutches, gazing at the little tree Camryn had brought over and set up. She had bought some lights and ornaments for it too.
“Well, this is our first Christmas together, and we sort of had this apartment land in our laps, so…I thought it was only fitting to do this.” She smiled at him.
Justin smiled back. “Not to mention what a hell of a year it’s been. We need to have some good cheer.”
They put some ornaments on the tree together, until Camryn stopped. “We need some Christmas music. Do you suppose Lyn has some?”
“Uh…I don’t know.” He replied. Camryn had already disappeared down the hall to look. When she didn’t reappear for quite a while, he called out for her. “Cam?”
There was no response. He maneuvered down the hall and spotted her in the closet just standing there, staring at something.
“Yo, Cam! What is it?”
She turned to look at him, saying nothing. Of course, she didn’t need to. She walked up to him, handing him the vandalized remains of some old family photos.
****
Lyn had changed into a Christmas sweatshirt and jeans, and pulled her hair back into a barrette that had jingly bells on it. She was spreading lip gloss across her lips when she heard the phone ringing. She quickly blotted her lips before rushing to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Lyn. Toby’s having some car trouble, so is there any way you can pick me up on your way to the festival?”
“Oh. Yeah, sure.”
“Great. I hate to trouble you. I know you’re actually working on a story tonight and all.”
“It’s no trouble at all, Dan.” She replied, touching up the lip gloss, and ignoring the weird feeling in her heart.
“Thank you. You’re the greatest. See ya.”
He hung up, and she breathed out a huge sigh, closing her eyes. She was supposed to meet Brian outside City Hall where Jacob was going to officially begin the Christmas season in Springwood by cutting the ribbon to the entrance of the festival and turning on all the Christmas lights, decking out downtown Springwood. Then, city workers and volunteers dressed as elves were to hand out candy canes to everyone as they entered. It was a long held tradition in Springwood, dating back to when Lyn was just a toddler. She smiled, remembering her dad carrying her into the festival then hoisting her on his shoulders so she could look at the ten foot tree in the middle of Springwood City Square. Then she’d get to see Santa, of course, and tell him what she wanted.
Those were much happier times. Before she knew the truth about her real father.
She got so lost in her memories she almost didn’t hear the doorbell. She hurried over to it as they began rapping against the door. She opened it to see an impatient delivery guy.
“Package for Jocelyn Barnes.”
Her expression grew bemused. “Really? A Christmas gift already?”
The man shrugged, thrusting a digital device at her to sign. He then traded it for the box, swiftly handing it over. She held the box in her arm as she closed the door. She stared at it.
As far as she could remember, she hadn’t ordered anything. If her brother had, it certainly would have come in his name.
She heard the clock chime, and realized she needed to get going. She quickly set the package in Jacob’s bedroom before leaving.
****
Jacob had just taken care of a few last minute details on the phone in his office before heading downstairs to the main lobby of City Hall. Their own tree was there in the lobby with ornaments that Springwood Elementary students had made adorning it.
Tents lined Springwood Square which surrounded City Hall. He glanced outside at the people already milling around.
He glanced at his watch. Only twenty minutes until the ribbon cutting.
He moved on through the front doors of City Hall, out into the chilly night air.
****
Brian was already near the long red ribbon marking the entrance of the festival where several local vendors had set up booths. Camryn and Justin were also there. Jacob slowed as he approached them, not seeing his sister.
“Lyn’s not here yet?” he asked.
“She’s on her way. She called me about ten minutes ago. She had to fill up the gas tank and stop and pick up Dan.” Brian informed Jacob.
He nodded as he scanned the crowd for Robin next. She had told him she’d try to make it, but she had gotten a cold just a few days ago. He hadn’t heard from her all day.
“Hey, it’s snowing!” Camryn cried out.
He looked up to see light flakes falling. Then suddenly, the speakers placed around the festival crackled to life as Christmas music began playing. As if on cue, the crowd moved nearer to the ribbon.
Jacob smiled at them all until his eyes fell on a familiar face. One he hadn’t seen in over ten years.
****
Leslie stood there smiling back at him, watching as he welcomed them all to the Springwood Christmas festival, knowing her presence affected him as he cut t
he ribbon. She let a few people go ahead of her, knowing Jacob would no doubt plow over a few of them just to get to her.
She took in the wonderful aromas of cinnamon bread and gingerbread men that lingered in the air. She herself used to attend this festival every year. Even once with Jacob.
Now he was mayor. If only his father could have lived to see it.
She winced at that thought. She wasn’t going to think about any of that right now.
A man brushed by her rudely, causing her to drop her purse. “Ugh!” she cried out, leaning over to pick it up.
But before she could grab it, another pair of hands beat her to it. She rose up to face Jacob, who smiled warmly at her.
“My God, it is you,” he went on. “It’s great to see you again.”
****
Dan kept looking at his watch, standing just inside the door of Cyber-Fix. It was six o’clock, and Lyn hadn’t shown up yet. Toby had already left, his mother picking him up a half hour ago, while Dan finished closing up the shop.
He sighed and considered calling her again. That’s when he spotted her car pulling up outside along the curb.
“Finally!” he said, shutting off the lights quickly as he headed out to her car.
****
She watched as he exited the building, making sure the entrance was locked before coming over to the car. She smiled, a wicked gleam in her eye, as he got in.
“Hey, Lyn. Thanks for picking me up. I was getting a little scared there for a minute,” he said, laughing a little as he buckled up.
“Aww, Dan…there’s no reason to be scared.”
He turned to her as she pulled away from the curb. A streetlight shone on her face, revealing an expression that made him freeze. “Lyn?” he questioned, cautiously.
She turned to him with a smile that turned his insides upside down. She shook her head. “Nnnnoooo, I’m not Lyn. Come on, Danny. I know you were pretty toasted that night, but you’ve got to remember me!”
****
Brian paced at the place where the ribbon had been cut, still waiting on Lyn. It was twenty minutes past six, and there was no sign of her. In fact, he didn’t see anyone. Jacob had taken off soon after the ribbon cutting, and Justin and Camryn were nowhere in sight. Brian found that impressive, considering Justin was on crutches.
He was getting worried. He knew Lyn would not have missed this intentionally. Which left him to believe Tammy was involved. Anger began to consume him as he took out his cell phone, dialing her number.
****
“Mmmm…this hot chocolate is amazing.” Camryn said as she sipped from the Styrofoam cup on the free bench they’d found near the huge Christmas tree. Justin remained quiet, staring at the colorful lights on the tree. She turned to him, sighing. “So…when do you want to show those photos to Jacob?”
Justin took a deep breath. “I’m torn. I know I should let him see them as soon as possible; and yet—it’s Christmas. Why bring it up?”
She shrugged. “They were just…a little scary. Whoever did that had a lot of issues against your dad.”
He frowned. “What do you mean? Lyn would have never messed up those photos like that. She probably doesn’t even realize they were vandalized. She loved our father more than anything. No, this was Tammy’s doing.”
It grew silent between them for a few moments.
“I’m going to get a refill. You want anything?” Camryn asked.
He shook his head, but as she got up, he stopped her. “Cam—I’m sorry. You’ve got to bear with me. There’s a lot of me still getting used to having a sister who can turn into a whole other person in a matter of seconds.”
She only gave a small smile and nodded. “I know.” She said, before walking off.
Chapter 5
Dan was speechless as Tammy smiled mischievously behind the wheel.
“What?? Cat got your tongue now, Danny?”
He gulped, trying to calm his racing heart. That’s when he heard the tone of Lyn’s cell. Tammy rolled her eyes, grabbing the phone before squeezing her eyes shut, as if she were trying to fend off a headache. “Damn it, Lyn. Just let me talk to Dan!” she growled.
Dan sat there, wondering who the caller was. He blinked in confusion and fear as they missed the turn that would take them to the festival. Where the hell was she taking him?
Then suddenly Tammy made a sharp turn which jerked him against his hurt arm. He cried out in pain, wincing.
“Dan?” he thought he heard Lyn’s voice briefly. It was tinged with worry, and the tone had completely changed. He tried to raise his head and look up…right before the crash.
****
Brian paced more as he was directed to Lyn’s voicemail. “Lyn, it’s me. I’m getting worried about you. Please call me.”
He ended the call, not knowing what else to say. He was afraid to leave a message for Tammy and risk Lyn listening to it. It wasn’t that long ago they had argued about her alter personality, right after they’d slept together for the first time. Lyn was upset he’d kept the fact that Tammy had tried to come on to him from her. Granted, they hadn’t slept together since, but things were moving in a positive direction once again, and he didn’t want to ruin it.
Brian bit his lip, looking around the festival. The atmosphere was so cheery, festive and warm, so far from how he felt at the moment.
“It could be nothing. Maybe there’s a traffic jam or a long line at the Gas Mart check out. Chill, Brian.” He tried to tell himself.
He glanced at his watch again. He bit his lip again, deciding if he still hadn’t heard from her in another fifteen minutes, he would hunt Jacob down.
****
“So, you’re back in town to spend the holidays with your family?” Jacob asked as they sat down under a tent with hot chocolate and funnel cakes topped with powdered sugar and red and green sprinkles.
Leslie Marlen sat across from him, shooting him a dimpled smile. A woven pink hat covered layered, dark brown hair. She still had the same blue eyes that caught his attention more than ten years ago. “Yeah. My job has kept me pretty busy, but I told myself this year I was coming back.”
Jacob beamed. “So, what do you do now?”
“I’m a dental hygienist’s assistant.” She went on, smiling after reading his surprised expression. “I know. Not what you pictured me doing, right?”
Jacob shrugged. “Who would have seen me becoming mayor?”
She nodded. “Very true.”
Jacob took a sip of hot chocolate before speaking again. “So, are you married? Any kids?”
Her mouth dropped open, presumably to answer him but before she could, Jacob’s cell phone rang.
****
Blue and red lights rotated and reflected off the broken glass which lay scattered on the sidewalk. A police radio barked out reports from the cruiser parked off to the side of the crash scene.
Dan paced frantically while on his cell phone as the officers who had arrived on the scene tried to calm Lyn down. His heart was racing.
“Hello?”
“Jacob, its Dan. Um…” his voice trembled as he continued. God, how did he say this? “We’ve got a problem. You need to come out to Springwood Federal Credit Union.”
****
Fifteen minutes passed, and Brian was now looking frantically for Jacob as he dashed through the festival. It was hard to see him in the heavy throng of people. His heart was beating like a jackhammer in his chest, as he wondered if maybe by some chance Lyn had made it by now. Maybe she had arrived right after he decided to hunt for Jacob.
He swiftly turned around to head back in the opposite direction, just as Camryn ran straight into him…spilling hot cocoa down his shirt and pants.
****
Justin watched as a line formed across from the tree to see Santa. The crowd had grown heavier in just the past few minutes. He tried not to think about those photos, but now, as he still waited on Camryn to return, they remained on his mind like a mental slide show.
The last family photo they had taken while on vacation in particular stood out in his mind. They were all standing on the beach in shorts, tank tops, and tee shirts. A red marker had been taken over their father’s face, giving him devilish horns, and even daring a red line where his crotch was.
Tammy had something against their father. Maybe she saw him as being the enemy instead of Jacob like Davis Cauley had coaxed her to say on his demented video. Of course, at the time of that vacation, there was no way she could have known John Barnes was not her father. The letter Lyn received from their grandmother, hinting at their mother’s affair, was around the time she died…eerily, just a year before their own parent’s deaths.
Justin heard Santa bellowing ho ho ho as several kids squealed with glee.
His thoughts drifted again. Tammy shouldn’t have held anything against their dad. Davis Cauley had her brainwashed to believe Jacob was the bad guy. Besides, their mother had been the one to have the affair. So why did the defacing target their dad?
“Something’s not right. Why would she have done that to dad’s photos?” he asked himself.
****
Lyn sat on the curb trembling as a tow truck was lifting the front of her car up. The front of it was totaled. The glass window of Springwood Federal Credit Union was shattered, and the tree that was on display now toppled over, but luckily that seemed to be the only damage. The police had given her a Breathalyzer test, which she knew—at least she hoped—she would pass. Now the police were talking to Dan as they finished making out their report.
Burned by Deception (The Dark Side of Springwood Book 2) Page 4