Lost & Found Love

by Laura Browning

  Every eye was on him, and Joe blushed.

  Evan snorted in exasperation. “The first thing you and Tabby must do is control the blushing, for God’s sake. It instantly makes you appear like you’ve done something wrong.”

  “Evan,” Holly said. “You will not use the Lord’s name in vain in my house.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said meekly. If Joe hadn’t been feeling so much like he was on the hot seat, he might actually have laughed.

  “I had gone to Tabby’s house the night before with two soft drinks. The light was on in her studio, and I wanted some company. When I got up there, she was upset and painting in an absolute frenzy. I’m sure it’s still in her studio. It’s one of her students. The one she believes is being abused.”

  Jake and Sam both went on alert. “Did she report it to her administrators?” Sam snapped.

  “The day before she was put on a leave of absence,” Evan snarled, “but we’ll come back to that. I’ve already set wheels in motion on my own investigation.”

  “Anyway,” Joe went on, “The whole situation reminded her too much of her own childhood. She showed me the scars.” He swallowed. “I calmed her down and helped her to bed. She asked me to stay with her. I did, but not in any sexual way. She was under the covers. I slept on top of them, fully clothed.”

  Stoner grimaced. “I appreciate the fact you did the honorable thing, but it still looks bad.”

  Joe saw how somber everyone’s expressions were. This was not going well. The silence hung heavily as they realized it would indeed come down to perceptions.

  “I vote on the gentle art of arm twisting,” Holly said, breaking the silence.

  Stoner arched a brow. “I like you. You’re like a Santa’s elf who’s gone to the dark side. Okay. Who’s owed favors or has any dirt on a school board member?”

  And so the lists began. One for the school board and one for the church council. “We should start with the church council, since that meeting’s tomorrow evening,” Holly reminded them.

  “Jim Tarpley won’t vote to fire me,” Joe said. “I don’t believe John Gatewood will either.”

  “Underwood is a yes we won’t be able to change. He’s the one behind it,” Stoner said. “Who’s he most likely to influence? We’ll have to get to them first.”

  As they made up the list, among Evan, Stoner, Sam, and Jake, they covered all but one council member. Surprisingly, Jenny was the one who spoke. “That one’s mine. I can’t say why.”

  Stoner arched a brow. “Arm twisting with patient confidentiality? Isn’t that unethical?”

  “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” Jenny shot right back. “These folks are messing with my family. Besides, I won’t have to say anything as soon as he realizes Tabby’s my sister.”

  Joe gaped at all of them as he listened to the private sins of his church elders being discussed as if they were common knowledge. Of course, in Mountain Meadow, they likely were.

  “Okay, then. Who’s going with Joe to make the speech?” Evan looked around the table.

  “What speech?” Stoner asked.

  “The ‘let he who is without sin’ speech,” Holly clarified.

  “I will,” Jake volunteered. “No one expects a speech from me.”

  Holly smiled. “Combined with the phone calls this evening, that should be enough to save Joe’s job. Then we can work on improving his and Tabby’s image.”

  Stoner nodded. “Okay. Let’s move on to Tabby. Making it public that she’s Evan’s sister will help. She’s already agreed to the name change, so we can begin working on the legalities Monday. Catherine can also work on some of her friends in the community. That will help build the idea that she’s not a stranger, that she belongs here and always has.”

  “I don’t hear how you’re helping,” Sam commented.

  Stoner’s jaw clenched. “I think we can all agree I’m not much of an asset. Besides, as soon as it gets out she’s my daughter, a lot of disapproval will shift to me.” He shrugged. “I’m used to it.”

  “I believe we should host a showing of Tabby’s work at the Country Club,” Catherine said into a silence that had become strained.

  “Her painting of Joe is brilliant,” Evan offered.

  “A lot of her work is disturbing,” Joe told them. “In fact, Tabby believes that’s what spurred a lot of the abuse she lived through. It will make a few people uncomfortable. But I have to agree—everything I’ve seen her do is brilliant.”

  Jenny patted his hand. “You’re in love with her, so you’re biased. Stoner’s an art connoisseur. Maybe you should show him what’s in her studio so he can decide if we should move forward with plans for a showing.”

  “Yeah, but he’s also her dad,” Holly said. “We need someone to offer a second opinion who doesn’t know anything about art and has no vested interest.”

  Jake laughed. “Why didn’t you just say Sam and be done with it.”

  Holly pouted at him. “I was trying to be nice.”

  “That’s okay,” Sam grumbled. “Y’all go ahead. You think just because I split my time between the sheriff’s office and my farm that I don’t get any culture. I’ll have you know I picked up one of those beach scenes that matched the colors in my orange-flowered couch over at the flea market last weekend.”

  When Jenny, Stoner, and Catherine gaped at him, Sam laughed. It was a rare sound that made everyone’s jaw drop. “Just kiddin’. My couch is brown leather.”

  Jake and Holly shook their heads.

  “Now the final order of business,” Stoner said and looked right at Joe. “When can we announce your engagement?”

  The room went silent, but all eyes turned to Joe. “As soon as I can get her to say yes.”

  Jenny tapped her fingers on the table. “While you gentlemen check out the paintings, why don’t Holly, Catherine, and I head over for a womanly visit with Tabby. I think we can help her see the light.”

  * * * *

  Walk? Tabby was beginning to think the surgeon Jenny had brought in was a sadist, but Jarrett Campbell’s lean cheeks creased in a smile as he patiently said, “Yes, Tabby. You heard me correctly. I want you up moving around. I won’t ask you to run a marathon, climb Mount Rogers, or even walk unassisted. It will be a little awkward for you because of the shoulder issue, so that’s going to preclude crutches. Your best bet for now is to have someone walk with you to provide support, since even a walker is not possible. In a couple of weeks, you might be able to use a cane.”

  Tabby was staring at him, horrified by what she was hearing. A couple of weeks before she could use a cane?

  “As for the shoulder, I’ll want that immobilized for three weeks, then we’ll begin physical therapy. Three months from now, you’ll probably not even realize it was injured.”

  “Three months?” Tabby whispered blankly. She swallowed thickly. “Dr. Campbell?”

  He was looking at the incision critically. “Hmm? Your sister did an outstanding job with this. She’s wasted as a GP. She should have specialized as a surgeon at a larger hospital.”

  “Jenny’s not wasted,” Tabby said stiffly. “She’s needed. She listens, and she heals people inside and out.”

  Jarrett Campbell’s gaze snapped to hers, a strange expression crossing his normally intense face. “Is there a criticism in there, Tabby? I’m one of the top orthopedists in the country. I heal.” He covered her incision and sat down in the chair next to her.

  “You had a question, Tabby?” When she blushed, he chuckled. “Do women even do that anymore? Blush? Now what was your question?”

  “Joseph and I want to get married. Can we…I mean…how long will it be before we can…you know,” she stumbled in acute embarrassment.

  He raised his sandy brows in cynical amusement. “Have sex?”

  Tabby nodded, her mortification now complete.

  He frowned. “Is he a vigorous lover?”

  Tabby’s mouth droppe
d open. “I—I don’t think…”

  “None of my business, huh?” Now he was smiling.

  Tabby looked away and blinked away the angry tears in her eyes. “Never mind. I’ll ask Jenny,” she mumbled.

  He laid his hand on top of hers where she plucked nervously at the cover on her bed. “I’m sorry.” He sighed. “I get so used to dealing with jaded, cynical people. I can honestly say I’ve never encountered a couple as modest as you two. It’s refreshing.” He removed his hand.

  “I can’t give you a timeframe. There’s certainly no reason why you couldn’t go ahead with the ceremony, but you may want to wait on truly consummating it until you’re more comfortable moving around. Certainly, you’ll have to wait for the incision to close.”

  This time it was Jarrett Campbell who paused and looked uncomfortable. “Look, maybe you should talk to your sister about this. There are ways to show your love for each other without,” he paused and cleared his throat, “without engaging in active intercourse.”

  Tabby nodded. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”

  Campbell smiled. “You must love this guy a lot.”

  “You have no idea.”

  He stood and patted her hand. “I’ll have the physical therapist come up here to begin working with you. Push—but not to the point of pain. Are you taking your medication?”

  “As little as possible,” Tabby said. “I don’t like how groggy it makes me.”

  He inclined his head. “I’ll see if we can’t find something else to minimize that.”

  With a smile, he was gone. Dr. Campbell wasted no time. The physical therapist appeared in a few minutes to help her walk down the hallway and back again. After that, she manipulated the muscles in both legs.

  Tabby was encouraged by the therapist’s pronouncement that she expected someone as physically fit as Tabby to make a speedy recovery. Tabby wanted that. She wanted to be whole for her wedding. She swallowed. That could mean months. Plus, he hadn’t even asked her yet. Her mouth drooped.

  The door eased open to admit Jenny, followed by Holly and Catherine Richardson. Tabby smiled wanly.

  “You’ve left Evan and Stoner alone together?” Tabby asked. “I don’t think Jenny will let me donate blood to them yet if it gets messy.”

  “No way. Besides, they’re not together. Evan and Jake are discussing how to proceed with your student,” Jenny supplied, “and Stoner went with Joe and the sheriff. They’re working on getting your studio moved.”

  Tabby’s eyebrows rose. “Y’all don’t waste any time.”

  “Well,” Catherine explained. “There is an ulterior motive. We want you to think about doing a showing of your work. Stoner is a connoisseur, so he went to take a look at what you have.”

  Tabby thought about that for a moment. “I don’t paint Norman Rockwell type art.”

  “Joseph mentioned that,” Catherine murmured, “but honey, no one’s asking you to paint only happy people or pretty flowers. Good art should make us think.”

  Tabby nodded. “Okay. Is this to help Joseph?”

  Holly smiled. “And you. We’ve launched a campaign, Tabby, but we need to know where your feelings stand.”

  “My feelings for Joseph?”

  “How soon can we plan the wedding?” Jenny asked. When Tabby suddenly burst into tears, Jenny’s glance swiveled to the other two women who tactfully withdrew, closing the door behind them. Jenny sat down next to Tabby and stroked her face. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “I asked Dr. Campbell about…you know…making l-love. He said he couldn’t give me a timeframe, but he did say it would be about three months before I was completely back to normal a-and at least two weeks before I could even use a cane. I-I want to be able to walk down an aisle to meet Joseph…not be wheeled there. And what kind of a marriage can we have if we can’t be intimate?”

  Jenny stroked Tabby’s hair. “Do you love Joe?”

  “So much I ache when I’m not with him.”

  “Do you want to marry him?”

  “Yes. I look at him, Jenny, and can’t think of anyone else with whom I’d want to grow old. He makes me laugh. He gives me peace. He sings to me. He’s my best friend.”

  Jenny smiled. “You’re ready. Honey, let me call the other two in so we can all talk about this. There are times in every marriage where a couple has to express their love in different ways. Intercourse is just a piece of that. When Holly and Jake first moved in together, Holly had just given birth. Sex wasn’t possible. But you can touch each other, learn each other’s likes and dislikes. If you go ahead with your marriage, you can go ahead with that as well. As for walking down the aisle? Your physical therapist already said you walked down the hall and back. Stoner will support you, and Joe will be there at the altar to support you.

  “Here.” Jenny handed her a tissue. “Wipe your face. You need some serious girl talk.”

  “What’s that?”

  “We give you advice, and you ignore most of it.”

  Holly and Catherine came back in. As all three shared stories with her, Tabby realized they were right. She could do this. She would do this. Finally, she looked at Catherine. “If Joseph is okay with it… Could we both stay with you until my doctors say I don’t need constant supervision? I need him close to me.”

  Catherine touched Tabby’s cheek. “Of course.”

  * * * *

  Joe slipped the key from above Tabby’s kitchen doorjamb and unlocked the door.

  Sam snorted. “Like that is not the first place a thief is going to look.”

  “Sheriff,” Stoner said softly, “are you comparing my future son-in-law to a thief?”

  “Oh get off it, Senator. You know that’s not what I meant. You always twist things….”

  “Gentlemen,” Joe interrupted quietly. “Can we stay focused on why we’re here?”

  “Sorry,” they both said in unison.

  Stoner glanced around the house as Joe led the way upstairs. “This doesn’t reflect what I know of Tabby at all. In fact, she doesn’t seem to belong here.”

  “She bought the house furnished, sight unseen through an Internet auction,” Joe said. “You won’t see Tabby’s influence until we get to her studio.”

  Stoner stepped inside the studio. “She’s prolific. What a great space.”

  Joe hung back as Stoner and Sam wandered around the room. Stoner picked up her sketchbook and flipped through it.

  “Who’s the kid who looks like Holly?”

  “Her brother, Tyler,” Joe said.

  “I see there are dozens of sketches of you, Preacher.” Joe smiled as Stoner continued to turn pages. “And me,” the older man added, his voice a little soft with surprise.

  Stoner had reached the easel. With hands that shook slightly, he undraped the painting. “Oh, God.”

  Joe and Sam came to stand next to him.

  “I guess this must be what you termed disturbing?” Sam said.

  “It’s a self-portrait.” Joe touched the canvas, as if in doing so he could somehow erase the scars Tabby had so realistically painted. “It’s very realistic, Sam.”

  “Yes, it is,” Stoner agreed.

  “Who did that to her?” Sam’s voice was hoarse.

  “The man she thought was her father,” Stoner growled. When Joe laid his hand on his shoulder, Stoner blew out a ragged breath. “That’s why she’s so concerned about Melodie Matthews.”

  “If the guy’s still alive and kicking,” Sam commented, “she might still want to worry about herself.”

  Stoner shifted from examining the painting to staring at Sam. “You think he might try to find her? I got the impression he was probably glad she’d left.”

  Joe shook his head. “She told me one of the reasons her mother wanted her to find Jenny was to have some protection. He apparently threatened to kill Tabby if he ever found her again.”

  “Maybe you should back off putting her in the public eye,” S
am began.

  “Sometimes being in the public eye is the safest place to be,” Joe said. “People know who you are, and that might scare someone like Tommy MacVie away. From Tabby’s descriptions, he sounds like a coward.”

  Sam nodded. “I see your point. Still, I’d like a picture of the guy so my deputies know what he looks like. This art goes public, and it won’t reflect well on him at all.”

  They sorted the paintings into two stacks, those that could be put into a showing at the country club and those that might be too disturbing for their intended audience.

  “I think she has some brilliant work here,” Stoner commented, “but as I was told, I’m biased. So what is your artistically plebian opinion, Sheriff?”

  The tension between the two men was palpable. Whatever had sparked their animosity obviously ran deep. Sam looked as if it would give him great pleasure to flatten the older man. Joe handed Sam another painting, holding it long enough so the sheriff had to meet his gaze.

  Sam’s face was like stone. He slowly exhaled before he spoke. “I think your country club showing stack is right on. I also think your other stack could be set up as a show that should travel nationwide to illustrate the horrors of child abuse and help raise money for its victims.”

  Stoner stared at the big, burly man next to him as if he had never seen him before. “You have depths to you that surprise me, Barnes.”

  Sam looked at Stoner. “And you have a heart inside you that surprises me.” He scratched his head. “You know, if Erin’s turned out anything like Evan and Tabby, you’re a lucky man.”

  Stoner’s expression turned remote. “Thank you. Let’s get these out to Evan’s Tahoe. I’ll see to packing up her paints and brushes if you all will take care of the canvases.”

  It was evening before Joseph cleaned up and drove to the hospital. He was nervous. He clutched a honey colored teddy bear, and in a small silk bag around its neck was the diamond ring Stoner Richardson had handed him in the study of his big house. “It belonged to my grandmother. If you want it for Tabby, son, it’s yours.” It was perfect, and Joseph liked the idea that it was a gift from Stoner as well. His blessing on their marriage, and her own link to her new family.