Chapter Nine
Misty was grateful her car hadn’t been damaged, but seeing what was left of her little house had been heart-wrenching, as had been looking at the mess that was the outside of Charlotte’s home. Thankfully, the lot on the other side of her house was vacant, and other than needing their windows washed and siding scrubbed, it and the rest of the neighborhood was fine. Once the local fire inspector finished, Amos’s friend would have a look, and when she knew the cause of the fire, Misty would know whether she would rebuild or get out of town fast. Accepting the condolences of her neighbors had been difficult, but she’d forced herself to remain stoic. As far as they were concerned, it had been an accident; she’d rebuild and be back in no time. She couldn’t let on that anything else might have happened.
As she drove along State Highway 56 outside of Pine Falls, she tried to convince herself that everything would work out. Her nerves were fried, and she’d found herself on the verge of tears so many times today, she was amazed that she hadn’t collapsed and given in to them. Sam, her insurance adjustor, had assured her that the insurance company would cover her losses, and she’d almost wept with relief. In fact, he’d cut her a check for five thousand dollars to cover clothing and sundry items, and she’d only spent half of it.
She looked in the rearview mirror and saw that Debbie was clutching the new doll she’d given her as well as a brand new green blanket. Finding a blanket identical to the one the child loved had been the high point of her day. She knew that Debbie would not readily give up her old one, but she could possibly be weaned from it.
By mutual agreement, she and Amos had avoided discussing the cause of the fire. Along with clothing, personal items, shoes, and toys, she’d bought a couple of cookbooks, including an Italian one, as well as the food needed for tonight’s dinner. She’d also gone into Swenson’s and ordered the basics she’d need for a few days as Nick had instructed. Misty wasn’t worried about being able to provide delicious, nutritious meals for Nick and his assistant, but she was concerned that neither man was ready for the noise generated by two four-year-olds living above them, and if Debbie had a night terror … no, she wouldn’t go there.
She forced herself to focus on her driving. This part of the highway, hilly with several sharp curves along it, was isolated and bordered by forests. She’d have to remember to carry her cell phone, although she doubted she’d get anything but erratic reception along here. Her car, a used import with good mileage, was usually reliable, but she didn’t want to risk a break down along this secluded part of the road without being able to make contact somehow. She’d make a point of having the car serviced in the near future. The mechanic had mentioned that her brake pads would need replacing soon. That was one more item on a long list of expenses. Did it ever stop?
She noticed the posted “no trespassing” signs and chain-link fence about fifteen minutes or so out of town, just as Micah had said. She knew the driveway was only a mile ahead, and she signaled the turn as soon as the lane came into view. She checked to make sure Charlotte was still right behind her.
She pulled up as close as she could to the elaborate wrought-iron gate, which blocked the way, preventing entry to the estate. The gate was attached to two massive stone pillars. One side anchored the gate, the other the fence that surrounded the perimeter of the property. Micah had told her the gates opened inward, so she could get as close as she liked on the way in. A camera embedded in the stone post just above the electronic keypad would reveal the identity of any visitor. Misty reached over and punched in the code Micah had given her earlier. She’d forgotten to ask Nick for it when she’d called and had been reluctant to call again. She noticed the other security cameras and wondered who monitored them.
The gates slowly swung open, and Misty quickly drove down the lane to allow Charlotte to get through before they closed. Sixty seconds didn’t seem like a very long time. Misty trembled with nervousness and excitement, sensing that coming through those gates may have changed her life forever.
She took a deep breath and started down the crushed stone lane that curved into the trees but stopped short, slamming on the brakes, when she saw the building in front of her. My God! It was a Folk Victorian mansion, its woodwork and trim recently painted white and in excellent condition. A wrap-around veranda graced the left side of the house where the main door was, and a screened-in porch faced the tennis courts that had been added on the right.
“Mommy, look!” shouted Debbie. “There’s a playground and everything! Can Christy and I go play? Please?”
Misty stared at the fenced-in area. There was indeed a playground, and the men were just finishing putting it together. There could be no doubt Nick had bought this for Debbie. Her eyes misted at this kindness, and she swallowed her tears of gratitude. “The men haven’t finished fixing it, honey. See? They’re still working on it. You can play on it tomorrow.”
Although Debbie stuck out her bottom lip in her famous pout, she didn’t argue the point, and Misty was grateful. She didn’t know how much more she could take.
Charlotte had stopped behind her, and in her rearview mirror, Misty could see that she was as much in awe of the house as Misty was. She looked back at the mansion. She could see that the roof had four gables, three fancy, red brick chimneys, and a brand new green metal roof. In the right corner of the house was a three-story hexagonal tower. She followed the driveway around to the far right side of the house and stopped under the carport, a new addition to the structure, no doubt put there to make loading and unloading a car easier.
There were three additional buildings on the property: a converted stable that no doubt was now a garage, a smaller house that was either a mother-in-law suite or a groundskeeper’s home, and a boathouse down by the water. Three cars were parked nearby. She recognized Micah’s SUV.
No sooner had she stopped the vehicle than a door opened, and a young, black man came out to meet her. She got out of the car just as Charlotte pulled in behind her.
“Hi, you must be Misty,” the man said, coming down the back steps. “I’m Nathan, Nick’s assistant; I’ll help you carry your stuff in.” The house door opened, and Micah and Laura stepped out onto the porch.
“Welcome to “Homes of the Rich and Famous,” Micah joked. “You’re going to love it here. Let me help with that, too. Nick’s on the phone.” Laura unbuckled Debbie from her seat.
“I know you called it a mansion, but I really hadn’t expected this.” Misty shook her head.
Nathan had opened the trunk of the car and was lifting out the suitcases. She felt guilty because she knew they were heavy. She’d been careful with what she’d purchased, but her car was still crammed full of things. The new clothing, shoes, jewelry, and other necessities had been transferred from their bags into the four suitcases in the trunk. She’d felt badly about dragging Amos from store to store, but she’d needed work clothes and shoes, things she couldn’t necessarily get at the large department or discount stores she’d visited. With the changing season, they’d needed both summer outfits and warmer clothes for the cool spring days she was sure would come. Debbie’s new toys littered the back seat, along with a box holding a new pink trike that would need assembling. On the passenger seat, a box full of supplies for tonight’s dinner waited to be carried in. Misty looked back and saw a giant of a man assisting Charlotte.
“Who’s that?” she asked Laura, momentarily worried she hadn’t bought enough food.
Laura looked up. “That’s John. He’s the gardener and one of the security people who patrol the grounds. He lives over there in the cottage with Bill, the other security guard, and Bill’s wife, Katrina. You’ll meet them later. Kat looks after his meals along with theirs. Did you see the cameras on the way in? Apparently there are some all around the estate, and she monitors them. Nick just had the cameras installed recently.”
How recently? she wondered. Other than the o
ne in the gatepost, those I saw looked brand new. She reached for the box of groceries and followed the others up the stairs.
Like many houses built at the turn of the century, the back door led directly into a mudroom that opened into the kitchen. An enormous upright freezer was plugged into the far wall in the mudroom. It could hold a year’s worth of frozen items, she was sure.
Misty carried the box of food into a modern kitchen that would be any cook’s delight. The more she saw of the house, the more overwhelmed she felt.
“I thought you could make the meals down here rather than in your apartment,” Nick said, coming up to her as soon as she was inside, startling her. “The kitchen upstairs is fully functional as well if you want to bake or something.”
“How do you do that?” she blurted, her nerves frayed.
“Do what?” he replied.
“How do you know exactly where I am, and don’t tell me it’s my scent because the patchouli soap and lotion went up in flames.”
“I heard your footsteps. Since I’ve heard the others already, yours are new, but don’t kid yourself. Your scent is still there.” The smile he gave her was warm and intimate. She blushed. He had such a gorgeous smile. He leaned toward her. She licked her lips.
“Welcome home,” he said softly, and she thought he was going to kiss her. Her heart raced at the possibility.
The sound of running feet and the door slamming ended the emotionally charged moment.
“I take it this is Debbie?” He squatted to greet the newest arrival.
Misty looked down at her daughter, who clung to her leg, frowning and giving Nick the once-over.
“Debbie, this is Mr. Anthony. He’s letting us live upstairs in this nice house. Remember I told you he can’t see? Honey, you’ll have to touch him to get his attention, and be careful not to leave any of your toys lying around to trip him.”
Please God, don’t let her say anything embarrassing, she prayed. Debbie let go of Misty’s leg and cautiously approached Nick. With the curiosity of a four-year-old, she touched his cheek and then his eyes. To his credit, Nick didn’t flinch.
“If you can’t see, how can you play on the climber? There are all kinds of things you could hurt yourself on out there.” Debbie reproached him, sounding so much like her mother that Misty had to suppress a laugh. “I can see. Can I play on it?”
Nick laughed, the sound warming Misty and adding to the emotional tension affecting her.
“I got the playground equipment just for you.” His words confirmed Misty’s assumption. “You most certainly can play on it anytime you like, but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow because the men haven’t finished putting it together.”
“Can they put my new trike together, too? Mommy forgot to buy tools,” she whispered as if such an oversight wasn’t to be mentioned.
Nick chuckled. “I’m sure there are a few tools around here. I’ll bet Bill or John can put it together in the morning. Will that work?”
Debbie nodded and then said yes.
Nick stood. “Would you like to see your room now?” he asked. Debbie nodded again, and Misty started to tell her to speak up, but when the child put her hand in Nick’s, the words she’d been about to say stuck in her throat. The trust on her daughter’s face amazed her.
Charlotte and Christy entered the house, and Misty could see her friend was as surprised and shocked as she was.
“And to think I was going to get a room at the Moonlight Cabins.” Charlotte shook her head. “Mr. Anthony, I can’t thank you enough for having us here.” Christy crossed the floor and took Nick’s other hand. Misty swallowed, praying she could keep her emotions in check until she was alone. “Call me Nick.” She heard the underlying emotion in his voice as he looked down, unable to see the small girls who flanked him. “This is Misty’s home now; her friends are always welcome. Stay as long as you need to. Nathan, have the cars been emptied?”
“Yes. Everything is upstairs. John is just taking Charlotte’s bags up. Bill’s moving the cars to the garage. He’ll bring the keys back as soon as he’s done. If you’ll follow me, ladies, I’ll take you up and show you around.”
What Misty had assumed were folding doors to a pantry opened, startling her. John came out, nodded to her, and then turned to Nick.
“Mr. Anthony, I’ll get back to work. Kat and Bill will be over around eight, just before shift change.” He looked at Misty. “I’m John. Nice to meet you, Ms. Starr.” He turned and left the room.
Misty stared at the man’s back as he exited the kitchen. Nathan chortled. “He’s shy. I think that’s the longest speech I’ve ever heard from him. Come on, let’s go up.”
According to Nathan, who seemed to be the spokesman, the original owners had installed the old-fashioned elevator, which had an iron gate instead of sliding doors, and Nick had had it modernized. The lift fascinated the girls, who’d never seen anything like it. Nathan pressed the button for the second floor.
The elevator climbed slowly and stopped at its intended destination. An automatic door opened, and Nathan pushed back the gate. Misty looked into a room with floor to ceiling windows that looked out onto the river and caught her breath.
“I’ve died and gone to heaven,” she whispered, grabbing Charlotte’s hand.
“Amen to that.”
They exited the elevator and stood in the center of the sunroom next to a gorgeous, round, oak table and chairs. A matching china cabinet on the far wall was filled with gleaming dishes that echoed the colors in the apartment. Crystal glasses of every shape and size filled the top shelves. Misty hoped whatever was in the kitchen cabinets was sturdier, possibly made of plastic, but she doubted it.
Nathan pushed a button on the wall, and the elevator door closed. The door wouldn’t open unless the elevator was at that floor, a safety feature Nick had had put in when he’d renovated the lift mechanism.
The modern apartment, with its open-concept design, looked as if it had come off the page of a home decorating magazine. On the right, the kitchen area was as well equipped as the one downstairs, with gleaming black appliances. Misty cried out when she spotted the laundry area just off the pantry. The stacked washer and dryer were an answer to prayer. She fought the tears that filled her eyes. Giving way to them now would confuse Debbie. Moving into a new home was supposed to make you happy.
The living room, to the left of the sunroom, was decorated in beautiful, rust-colored leather furniture with yellow toss cushions that picked up on the deep yellow walls. Everything was washable and sturdy, as if whoever had picked it out knew a child would live here. The fireplace had been modernized with a gas insert, and a forty-inch, flat-screen television hung above it.
“That door over there,” indicated Nathan, pointing to a small hallway off the living room, “is the door that leads into the second floor of the house. There’s a staircase you can use if you come in the front rather than the back. There’s also a small veranda off your bedroom with a staircase that goes down to the patio and pool area.” He looked at her. “I thought you’d want to know that you had other exits.”
“Thanks,” she said, touched by the understanding in his voice. She turned to look at Nick. Debbie and Christy had appointed themselves his eyes and were describing the room as only four-year-olds could. Nick appeared to be hanging on their every word. The picture of the three of them together melted her heart. This was a man who loved children. He would make a wonderful father.
“Your bedroom is over here,” said Nathan to the girls, and Debbie, Christy, and Nick dutifully followed him down the hall. Misty was sure their shrieks of pleasure could be heard ten miles away. When she and Charlotte walked through the door, she understood what all the fuss was about.
The room was a fairyland in every shade of pink imaginable. The walls were painted a soft gray, with fairytale decals scattered acros
s them, and the matching, twin-sized canopy beds were covered by hot-pink eyelet-lace duvets, with lighter pink pillows on them. The horizontal blind was hot pink, and the lace curtains matched the pillows.
There was a bookcase in the corner with a huge selection of children’s books. On the other side of the room was a dollhouse filled with furniture and a family of dolls. There was a table and chairs set, an art easel, and a baby doll in a carriage. A trunk in the corner contained stuffed animals, and an assortment of princess costumes hung from pegs on the wall. The room was everything a little girl could want and more.
Debbie seemed to know exactly who to thank for her bounty and threw her arms around Nick’s neck, giving him a loud smacking kiss. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she said. “This is the bestest room ever!” She and Christy ran around the room examining each of the newfound treasures. The adults left the young girls to their play, and Nick slipped his arm through Misty’s. Warmth suffused her at his touch.
“Did you know it was me or did you just grab the closest arm?” She tried to make light of it, hoping he couldn’t feel the way her body had responded to his casual contact.
“I knew it was you,” he answered seriously. “I always do. I told you; there are still traces of fragrance on your clothes.”
“I don’t know how or why you did this for her, Nick, and don’t try and tell me that room was decorated like that yesterday, but thank you.”
“Hey, it was a study with a desk. I knew she’d need a bed, so when you said Charlotte was coming I got two. She and Christy can have sleepovers once Charlotte moves back to her own home. As far as the toys go, well, Nathan knew she’d lost everything, so he picked up a few things.”
“A few things? This is more than she had before.”
Nick stopped, let go of her arm, and lifted his hands to touch her face. It was an intimate gesture, more of a caress than using his hands to see her. He put his hands down and put them on her shoulders.
In Plain Sight Page 11