by Dena Blake
“Kelly Hammond.” She pulled a blank form from her briefcase and filled it out. “Let’s see what we can find out about you.” She grabbed some cash from her wallet and went back inside.
Chapter Nineteen
The office had been slow this morning, and Amelia’s thoughts had wandered too many times to JJ Davis. She’d wanted to talk to Julie several times, but each time she’d wandered into her office, she wasn’t there. Fran hadn’t seen her leave and had no idea where she was. Amelia had thought she’d possibly gone for coffee, but when she didn’t materialize back in the office within twenty minutes, Amelia ruled that out. Instead of waiting for her sounding board to come back, she’d decided to take a drive and get some fresh air. She ran by the flower shop, picked up her usual order, and headed to the cemetery.
Amelia sat on the small worn patch of grass in front of the marble stone and laid the single red rose on the small ledge at the base. “Your flowers look nice. Mr. Wright’s been taking good care of your spot. I know he keeps telling me to call him Steve, but I still remember him as the shop teacher and just can’t seem to do it.” She reached over and rearranged the fake spring mix in the vase on each side of the headstone. “I have something to tell you, and I hope you’ll be happy for me.” She looked at the ground, pulled a blade of grass from the turf, and rubbed it between her fingers. “I’ve been kind of seeing someone new. She’s not like the other girls. She’s smart and sassy, not afraid to challenge me. There’s something different about her, and I can’t seem to keep her from my thoughts.”
She sat quietly for a few minutes. “I’ve always asked you to bring your daughter back to me someday, but instead you’ve brought me someone else.” She blew out a breath. “I have to believe you have. I’ve never felt like this about anyone besides your Jillian. It’s absolutely wonderful and positively terrifying to let myself feel like this again.” She brushed a few blades of fresh-cut grass from the base of one of the vases. “Please don’t let her break my heart.” She closed her eyes, faced the sky, and let the sun warm her cheeks. All she could do was hope JJ felt the same way.
“I’m not sure how soon I’ll be back. If I’m going to give my new someone a chance, I need to let your daughter go. You’ll always have a special place in my heart. You were my parents when my parents weren’t. I’ll always love you for that.” And she would. If it weren’t for Joe and Judy McIntyre, Amelia might never have made it past her senior year, and she definitely wouldn’t have gone to college. When Amelia had received the news from the probate lawyer that she’d been named as an heir in the McIntyres’ will, she was stunned. They’d provisioned enough money to pay for both her and Blake’s educations to the colleges of their choice. After that, she knew what her path in life would be, with or without Jillian. Up to that point, she hadn’t known such generosity, and until the McIntyres’ house had been donated last year, she hadn’t since. With tears streaming down her face, Amelia pushed herself from the ground and left the cemetery.
* * *
Julie gripped the steering wheel as she drove to the house. She’d called the school, and they’d told her JJ had taken the day off. Hopefully, everyone would already be gone to their respective activities and she’d be able to talk with JJ alone. Julie wasn’t expecting JJ’s abuser to be a cop. Hell, she wasn’t expecting JJ to be Jillian. That put a whole new light on the problem. Julie had been a little rattled yesterday when she’d discovered JJ Davis was actually Jillian McIntyre, a ghost from Amelia’s past. A very prominent ghost at that. The feelings Amelia held for Jillian were strong and had been a demon to contend with throughout their marriage. It was one of the very reasons it had ended. You can’t expect someone to give themselves fully to you when they’ve left a piece behind, and Amelia had left a big chunk with Jillian. It was her own fault. Julie had known about Amelia’s first love when she went into the relationship. Ridiculously, she’d thought she could fill the hole Jillian had created. She’d underestimated the size of the colossal crater the implosion had left. The jagged edges had only grown sharper as time passed.
After reading the full report, Julie wasn’t wondering why Jillian had come all the way to Oklahoma to escape her psycho ex. She was worried Jillian had left breadcrumbs Kelly could use to find her and how it might impact Amelia. From what Julie had read, the woman was not only crazy, but she was also dangerous. She had to figure out how she was going to approach Jillian McIntyre, aka JJ Davis, with this newfound information and how she was going to tell Amelia.
She pulled up behind Jillian’s car in front of the house and collected her thoughts. No matter what she did at this point, it would probably go badly. She just didn’t know how badly. Julie had just stepped on the porch when the door swung open.
Jillian stopped mid-step out the doorway. “No one’s home. I’m the last one out.”
“Just the person I need to see.”
“Like I said, I’m on my way out. I have an appointment, and I don’t want to be late.”
“Oh yeah? Where?”
Jillian looked at the small piece of paper she was holding in her hand. “Edmond.”
“Edmond can be pretty confusing. How about I give you a lift?”
“That’s not necessary. I can find it. But thanks.” Jillian slipped by her and down the steps.
“What kind of an appointment could Jillian McIntyre possibly have in Edmond, Oklahoma?”
Jillian stopped and turned to face her. “What did you say?”
“I want to know what kind of business you need to take care of in Edmond, Jillian.” Julie stepped down to the walkway. “Yes, I know who you are.” She moved closer. “Why are you here, Jillian? More importantly, why are you pretending to be someone else?”
Jillian slung her bag onto her shoulder. “Okay, if we’re going to do this, let’s go, or I’m going to be late.” She turned and headed toward Julie’s car, holding the slip of paper up in the air. “I need to be at the television station by ten. Can you get me there?”
Julie snatched the paper out of her hand and looked at the address. “Yep.”
Jillian hadn’t expected her cover to be blown so soon, especially by Julie, of all people. The woman was sharp, suspicious, and well versed in all things Amelia. How could she pacify her without giving her all the details?
“Talk,” Julie said as she pulled away from the curb.
“I’m here because of Heartstrings Foundation. I think what Amelia and Blake are doing is wonderful, and I want to help out.”
“I don’t buy it. You could’ve made a donation from New York.”
“I wanted to see what it was like in person. We have history.”
“I know. So why the fake name and the makeover?” She could see now that Jillian was wearing colored contacts.
“I wasn’t sure how I’d be received. Davis is the name I always use when I’m not being me.”
“What about all the questions you asked me the other day?” Julie wasn’t letting up. Jillian was going to have to give her some valid information.
“Okay. I’ll be straight with you if you promise not to tell Amelia who I am.”
Julie shook her head. “I’m not making any promises.”
“I’m here doing a story on the Heartstrings House Foundation.”
“There are plenty of other foundations. Why Heartstrings House?”
“Because it’s my foundation.”
Julie’s head snapped around. “What?” The car veered into the next lane, and Julie quickly jerked it back.
“I donated the house, and I fund Heartstrings House anonymously.”
Julie glanced back at the road. “Are you investigating Amelia?” Then it dawned on her that they could all be suspect. “Are you investigating me?”
“No, but I don’t understand why there’s no money.”
“I told you the other day. Maxine handles the funding.”
“Okay. Then tell me about Maxine.”
“Maxine. That’ll take more than the few minutes
we have left in this ride.”
Jillian could see the TV station sign in the distance. “Just the highlights, then.”
“Single. Beautiful. Extremely sexy. Dangerously high maintenance.”
“Sounds like you’ve had firsthand experience with her.”
“She almost broke me, and she never has gotten along with Amelia. She blames her for our breakup.”
“Is she seeing someone now?”
“Currently dating a petroleum engineer.” Julie pulled into the studio parking lot and rolled into a parking spot close to the door.
“Plenty of money there, huh?”
“You would think.” She killed the engine and looked at Jillian. “Somehow I get the feeling I’ve given more information than I’ve gotten.”
“I’m an investigative reporter.” Jillian pulled her lips into a smile before she got out of the car. “I’m good at what I do.”
Julie watched from the control booth as Jillian recorded the lines. Her voice slow and even, she didn’t miss a beat. She was very good at what she did. Julie had called the office and told Fran she wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t be in today. She hadn’t planned to take the day off to help Jillian, but it was a good opportunity to gain more information. Julie had tried to hit Jillian hard and heavy on the way there. She’d wanted to see her reaction, but she’d found the tables turned on her.
The control-booth door opened, and a fiftyish-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair came through the door and stood next her. “Hi.” He stuck his hand out. “James Cochrane. I’m the station manager here.” Julie shook his hand and returned her attention to Jillian in the studio.
“She’s doing very well,” James said.
“Seems to be.” Julie glanced over, wondering why he was here.
“Not even one mistake,” he said as he watched Jillian.
“Is that unusual?” Julie asked.
He nodded. “I’ve never seen anyone speak so smoothly. I wish I had someone like her here.”
“Do you have an open position here at this network?” Was it possible Jillian would move back to Oklahoma to be with Amelia?
“Not currently, but for her, I’d create one.” He seemed very impressed.
“Do you think she’d consider it?” Julie suddenly had hope for a good outcome to this situation.
“I doubt it. No one comes to a market like this from New York. She has a job most people only dream about.” His smile flattened.
“I guess you’re probably right.” Her hopes dashed, Julie shook her head. Jillian would be crazy to leave her job in New York.
“When I heard she was here at the studio, I thought I’d at least come down and meet her. Maybe take her to lunch.”
Julie smiled. She’d thought lunch would probably be a good idea after this, but not with the station manager. She wanted an opportunity to get to know Jillian better without someone else in the mix.
Jillian finished the last lines of the voice-over. The session had gone smoothly and, hopefully, would be air-ready from here, with no other editing necessary. She couldn’t help but laugh at Julie, all bundled up in a blanket as she sat against wall waiting for her. It might have been seventy-five degrees outside, but it was only a little above sixty in the studio. Even though the situation between her and Julie was contentious at best, she was thankful Julie had been her chauffeur this morning. She’d managed to garner some useful information from their conversation and hopefully had gained a little of Julie’s trust as well. Plus, she would’ve never found the studio with the directions her assistant had sent to her cell phone. The only hiccup today had been the receptionist, who didn’t recognize her right away with her blond hair. With a phone call to the station manager and Julie’s reinforcement, she seemed to accept Jillian’s explanation of trying to remain incognito while she was here on assignment and eventually let them inside.
When she stepped out of the booth, a tall, well-dressed man with a huge smile approached her. “Hi. I’m James Cochrane, the general manager here at the station.” He reached out and took her hand.
“Oh, yes. My producer said he spoke with you about using the studio. Thank you so much for accommodating us.” Jillian winced as he shook her hand with an iron grip.
“You’re very welcome.” He stared at Jillian for a moment, then said, “May I get a picture?”
“Of course,” Jillian said. It was the least she could do.
He took out his phone and handed it to Julie. She snapped a couple of pictures, and they chatted a little about local opportunities and markets before James looked from her to Julie and then back again. “It would be my pleasure if the two of you would accompany me to lunch.”
“I’m afraid we have to get back to Norman.” She tilted her head and glanced at Jillian. “We have a previous appointment. Right, Jillian?”
“Right.” She offered the station manager her hand. “Perhaps another time.”
He took her hand and squeezed it gently before handing her his business card. “Just let me know when, and I’ll come to you.”
“That’s very sweet. Let me check my schedule, and I’ll get back with you.”
As they left the studio, Julie whispered in Jillian’s ear. “Do people fall all over you like that all the time?”
“Not always, but it happens.”
“Ugh, that’s ridiculous.”
“That he’s falling all over me or that he thinks I’d consider moving to a small market like this?”
Julie stopped mid-step and turned to Jillian. “Would you?”
“That would depend on a few key factors.” What a total lie. At this stage in Jillian’s career, it would be career suicide to consider moving anywhere outside of New York.
“What factors?”
“Salary and creative freedom, among other things.”
“By other things, you mean Amelia?”
“Yes. Amelia.” Amelia had become a big factor in Jillian’s life, whether she liked it or not. If it came down to it, she hoped Amelia would come to New York with her.
“You still own a piece of her heart, you know.”
Jillian stopped, let the information wash through her. “She told you that?”
“Didn’t have to. You were there every day of our marriage.” She pulled open the car door and slid into the driver’s seat.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’re not going to fucking tear her heart out again.”
“Hurting Amelia isn’t something I would ever set out to do.” Falling in love with her again wasn’t either. Jillian leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes. “If she’s told you anything about us, you know the choice to leave wasn’t mine.”
* * *
Julie was conflicted. Amelia had mentioned her first love but never divulged any details of the relationship. Finding out she was a famous television journalist had been a complete surprise at the time Amelia had told her, and Julie wanted to know more of their history. “I’ve heard her story. Why don’t you tell me yours?”
“Falling in love with Amelia blindsided me. When I was younger, I followed my sister around most of the time. She’d dated Blake in high school, and that’s how I first met Amelia. My sister was always annoyed at my presence, pushed me off on Amelia every chance she could. Amelia was so sweet to me. At first, I thought she was just being polite. Then we started hanging out together without Jamie and Blake.” She shook her head and let out a heavy breath. “I was so young. I had no idea what love was or how it felt. All I knew was, when we were apart, I wanted to be with her, and when we were together, I wanted to be closer.”
Julie watched Jillian intently as she glanced up and stared out the windshield. From the smile on her face, Julie knew she must have been thinking back to the time she and Amelia spent together, and a sudden spark of jealousy shot through her. Julie had never heard any of this from Amelia, and it made her gut twist. She almost reached over and took Jillian’s hand but stopped herself.
&nb
sp; “Our first kiss rocked my world. I was excited and terrified all at once. I had no idea it was normal to have such feelings about another girl.” She reached forward and turned the air-conditioning up a notch. “When my parents were killed…” She stilled herself, and Julie could see the tears gather in her eyes. “I was lost. I couldn’t live at home. Living with Amelia was out. Her parents would’ve never let that happen.”
“So you just left?” Julie’s voice was more accusatory than she’d meant it to be.
“It wasn’t like I had a choice. I was only sixteen. My grandparents took me and my sister to live with them in New York.”
“You could’ve stayed in contact. Why didn’t you?”
“I tried to call a few times, but her dad was such an ass.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I guess he found out we were more than friends somehow and wouldn’t let me talk to her. After that, I sent letters. I suspected he intercepted those as well, but my grandmother had a hand in keeping us apart too. I never heard from Amelia again.” She put her hands to her face and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Julie squeezed Jillian’s hand. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that.” She didn’t want to feel sorry for her, but she’d have to be made of stone not to feel something.
Jillian straightened her shoulders. “I’m okay. I went on with my life.” She moved her hand from beneath Julie’s. “I’m sure you’ve heard all of this from Amelia.”
Julie nodded. “Yeah,” she said. But she hadn’t heard any of it from Amelia, and it made many things so much clearer.
Jillian turned and stared at her with huge, red-rimmed eyes. “I need you to keep this to yourself for the time being. Will you do that?”
Julie studied her for a moment, debating her next move. “What are you hungry for?”
“I’m actually not very hungry at this moment.”
“I’ll keep your secret for the time being.” Jillian’s story had gotten to her, and Julie wasn’t happy she’d let it happen. She put the car into gear, looked over her shoulder, and backed out of the parking space. She glanced at Jillian as she turned back to the windshield, and Julie could see the gratitude in her eyes. “There’s a new Mexican place downtown. We’ll stop there.”