From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone (34 page)

Chapter Twenty-four

“How are you still partners?” Maggie had a sick buzz in her head. She moved back two steps, really looking at Richard, trying to understand what he said.

Richard rubbed the base of his hand across the center of his forehead.

“Oh for God’s sake, Richard!” she yelled, gripping her fist and stepped toward him. She hit his arm hard and swore again.

“You tell me everything right now. You want us back together? There has to be trust. I’m not some weak woman who’s going to melt into hysterics. I need to know right now. What the hell’s going on?”

He turned his back and raised his fist in the air before facing Maggie. “We still own the property together. And if you forgot, I dumped a large chunk of cash into that development project.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but only a squeak came out. She looked down at the ground and struggled to grasp some intelligent words from her brain over this betrayal.

“Don’t give me that wounded pride thing of yours, Maggie. This is the real world, and I can’t make him disappear.”

“Why didn’t you sell?”

“How am I going to sell when the market’s in the toilet? Tell me, huh, cause I’d sure like to know.” Richard leaned in toward her with a fiery energy that had Maggie considering maybe there was more to it than he let on. “He owns half the property. He won’t buy me out. I already tried. Do you honestly believe I’d intentionally stay in business with him? Come
on
Maggie, do you
really?
”

She felt tears burn her eyes and felt horrible. What burdens did he carry? She looked at him with fresh eyes. He too struggled. But Richard always did it in a way to shelter her. He handled, he dealt, but she couldn’t let him do this anymore. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Look at you.” He grabbed both her arms and ushered her up the steps and into the house. Not once did she fight him as he placed her a few inches from the wall mirror in the dining room. “Do you see those gray circles under your eyes? You’re still tired, and each day you fight your way above water to regain a simple thread of sanity. I watch you. And every day, I see you struggle to not sink back into that pit of nothingness. Two weeks ago, you functioned on pills to get you through the day. Then more pills to put you out of your misery at night. To shut out those voices, judgments, recriminations and doubts, of should’ve, could’ve, or would have done something, anything different that horrible day. You relive the nightmare of our little girl being ripped away over and over again. So much so, you couldn’t even be a mother to Ryley. You existed. You cooked. You cleaned. You went through the motions of the living, but you were dead inside. And you never saw Ryley’s pain or mine. Now why would I tell you my problems when you were oblivious to anyone around you? Come on Maggie, explain it to me. Because I’d really like to know how I could have counted on you to confide in.” He lowered his voice to just above a whisper, and there was no mistaking the punch in his words. “Would you have used it against me?”

She closed her eyes. His warm breath brushed her cheek as he stood behind her and held her tight. “Oh Richard, I’m sorry.” It took every ounce of courage she could muster to raise her eyes and meet the scrutiny reflected back. “You’re right. I was too wrapped up in me. And the ugliness. You brought me out of the darkness. You sat with me. You took over handling everything. Maybe I wasn’t capable of dealing then. But you need to let me in now. I still ache, and that nightmare still finds a way in when I least expect it. But I won’t slip back and hide. I promise you and Ryley. I’m pulling me together. I won’t break, and I need you to be able to trust me and talk to me.”

“You didn’t answer my question. Would you have used it against me?”

Sadness lurked in the deep blue eyes reaching him through the reflection. Tears slid and traced a single path straight down her cheek. “Yes.”

Chapter Twenty-five

“I need to pick up Ryley.” Richard backed up and put distance between them.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, I need some space.” Hurt and something vulnerable seemed to hover over him. How had she missed it? She grabbed his arm and held tight when he tried to walk away.

“I’m being honest with you, Richard. I was so out of it, I would have used anything as I fought to keep my head above water. It wasn’t intentional. I was in survival mode. And I wanted to hurt you.”

“I guess that’s where you and I differ, Maggie. I would never have considered using that against you.”

“Richard, you played dirty. You cancelled my credit cards. Cleared out the bank account. You took my SUV. I had to fight to get what little I had.”

Richard reached down and lifted her hand off his arm. “I was trying to freeze you up, so you would come home. That was different.”

“No, Richard; maybe in your eyes. But not mine.” He squinted. She was sure he’d respond.

But then his mouth tightened, and he shook his head. He backed away and pushed open the screen door. “I got to go. Ryley’s waiting.”

This time, she didn’t push her case. She stayed right where she was. Richard was intense at times, and he kept all those hidden dark feelings bottled up inside and stashed away in some secret alcove. Their trust, faith, and belief in each other was fractured. Maybe she shouldn’t have told him the truth. Of course he didn’t trust her not to use whatever connection he still had with Dan against him, to get what she deserved in the divorce. And it hurt beyond anything imaginable to have that ugly truth dumped between them. So now what? How could she break through the steel wall and rebuild the trust they once shared?

She wandered through the kitchen and caught sight of a doe grazing in her bed of winter kale. Then a fawn trailed after her. She gazed at Maggie through the window. Those bold brown eyes widened, blinked, and in a flash, she darted back into the forest with her baby. And it was pure instinct when she picked up the phone and punched in the familiar number. It was answered on the first ring.

“Hey, sugar.”

“I think Richard’s in trouble. Dan’s back.” She squeezed the receiver, breathing in the stony silence that rippled across the line.

“Where’s Richard now?”

“He went to get Ryley at school.”

He let out weary sigh. “I’ll come as soon as I can, Maggie.”

“Sam, thank you.”

Chapter Twenty-six

“Great dinner, Mom.”

“Yeah Mom, good job.” Richard winked from where he sat across the table as he shoved a fork full of spaghetti and meatballs into his mouth.

Richard had remained distant when he arrived home with Ryley. He hovered in the background with his son. But now he appeared to have shaken off the unease that had lingered. How’d he do that? Maggie was the opposite; she had a hard time shaking off anything hurtful. Her heart ruled her head, so it was no wonder she struggled to let things go.

“While you guys were out having fun, I made blueberry pie for dessert.”

“From scratch?” Richard asked like an excited boy.

“Hmm mmm.” Their eyes appeared to fill with pleasure. After discovering the frozen berries buried in the bottom of the deep freezer, the thought of making one of their favorite pies struck. Now as she thought about it, it was her peace offering. The softness filling Richard’s heavenly blue eyes was a small step in their reconnection. She had to glance away when an awkward feeling of nerves hit, as if she and Richard were dating. So she grabbed her empty plate and started to get up.

“Ryley, come on bud, help me with dishes.” Richard rested a warm hand on her shoulder. “Sit, have some tea, we got this. Then he leaned in and touched her lips with his, leaving Maggie breathless as she sank back in her chair.

A vehicle rumbled down the driveway. Richard lifted his head and wandered to the back door, but Ryley beat him to it.

“Hey Dad, look! It’s Diane.”

“Maggie, did you know Diane was coming?” The way Richard watched her made her think he was suspicious.

“No.”

She pushed away from the table and followed Richard to the door. Diane’s blue SUV parked beside Richard’s truck. She climbed out and waved just as Sam and Marcie came out of the passenger side. Sam reached into the backseat and pulled back out holding Kyla.

“Hey guys. Nice surprise, didn’t know you were coming.” Richard started out the door.

“Richard, how’s it going? We’re completely invading you guys, hope it’s all right.” Marcie sounded a little breathless as she led the way, her long brownish hair hanging in waves over her heavy wool sweater.

Richard wrapped his arm around Maggie’s shoulders and pulled her close to him. She glanced up; Richard’s gaze lingered on hers for a few seconds. The teasing spark there moments ago, vanished.

“You’re just in time for dessert. Maggie made a pie. Got some leftover spaghetti too if you’re hungry.”

“If you have enough spaghetti, we didn’t have dinner yet, and I’m starved.” Sam snuggled Kyla in his arm and hung a diaper bag over his shoulder.

“Maggie, how are you?” Marcie, in scuffed hiking boots, stepped in front of her and pulled her close. Richard moved aside. Arms linked, Marcie led her friend into the house.

“Ryley, you’re doing dishes in here all by yourself? Come over here give me a hug.” Marcie didn’t acknowledge his awkward hesitation when he froze, instead she walked right over pulling him into a strong bear hug, rubbing his back. Stepping back, she held both of his shoulders and studied him, making Ryley beam. “You’ve gotten so big, and you’re becoming as handsome as your father. Your dad said there’s some left over spaghetti, and I’m starved. Lead me, please.”

Marcie had a way of breaking through Ryley’s awkwardness—the awkwardness that had him appearing to blend into the background and then quietly slip away. Maggie could feel annoyance bubble up because it should have been her putting Ryley at ease, not Marcie. And right now, Ryley was happy to help her, so much so, he was beside Marcie heating up the spaghetti. The screen door clattered shut as Diane, Sam, and Richard wandered in.

Diane sniffed the air. “Don’t heat any for me, I already ate.”

Sam and Marcie ate while everyone crowded around the table. Finally the pie was served and Ryley gobbled down his slice. He slipped away from the table so quietly Maggie didn’t know he was gone until she spied his empty spot and dirty plate as she heard the soft click of his door upstairs. She wondered when he’d started this. She rose from her chair to go after him, but Richard laid a gentle hand on her wrist. She looked down into his watchful gaze. He knew.

“Leave him be.”

Maggie felt like such an outsider. She was his mother and she couldn’t shake the fact he’d erected a wall to keep her out.

When she glanced across the table at Sam and Marcie, they were watching her with such sympathy, she wanted to kick something.

“You’re looking really good, Maggie. I’m proud of you for how far you’ve come. You’ve climbed mountains and persevered over obstacles most people don’t endure in a lifetime. Give yourself a break.” Marcie took another bite of pie. “And this is really good.”

“So what brings you and Marcie over from your little island?” Richard inquired. “Shopping, supplies?” He leaned back and threw his arm over the back of the Maggie’s chair, nudging his dirty plate away with the back of his other hand.

Sam never hesitated when he inclined his head. “Let’s skip all the politically correct small talk, shall we? We’re here to butt into your business. We heard Dan McKenzie’s back, and you’re still his partner.”

Chapter Twenty-seven

“Dammit, Maggie.” Richard slammed his fist down on the table, the small plates and utensils clanking. “Did you phone Sam?” He didn’t try to keep his voice down as he leaned toward her, his face just a few inches from hers.

“Yes I did, Richard. And I won’t stop pushing until I know what’s really going on. Please let me help. You need to get him out of your life… all of ours.”

Richard pushed away from the table and stalked toward the door.

Sam was quick as he gently passed a sleeping Kyla to Marcie, and he jumped up to go after Richard. “Richard, don’t walk out. We’re here to help, that’s all. Look, come back here. This is us, and we
know
there’s something going on. Maybe you’re jammed up, or he has something on you. Whatever it is, we can help.”

Richard circled back away from the door and leaned heavily on the kitchen island, focusing his hard unforgiving glare on Maggie. “I still own the property with Dan. I’ve tried to get him to sell me his half, he refused. Then I tried to get him to agree to put the entire property on the market. He again refused. He has plans, he said. And expects to create a steady stream of income from this property and have a nest egg. We build small affordable houses, sell them to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a house, and rent the land to them. Ready-built homes, similar to a manufactured home park, but they’re houses. He sees this endless stream of income year after year. So no, he won’t sell. So I offered to sell him my half, he refused outright. But the next day, he comes back with a ridiculous offer of five cents on the dollar. I have a lot of equity tied up in that property, and he knows it. So for now, I’m stuck.

“Richard, just give it to him. We can start over.”

He frowned and waved his hand in the air as if he was frustrated he couldn’t get her to understand a simple problem. “You don’t get it, Maggie. We’ll lose this house, this property. And I won’t do that. I had to put a second mortgage on our home. The money we would’ve made by building and selling those homes would have been our retirement. It wasn’t that much of a gamble when we bought it. But the housing market crashed. So until we finish building and sell all the homes, I can’t walk away.”

“How many houses have you built, Richard?” Sam paced the far side of the kitchen.

“So far ten. We have five more to go. And of those ten, we still have five to sell.” Richard’s face appeared to darken.

“Richard, is the property legit? You and I both know anything Dan does has some twist for being not-quite-legal. This whole project of yours sounds off. How can local zoning allow you to build a house and sell just the house, and then charge a pad rent? It isn’t a mobile home park. You can’t move a house if he suddenly gets mad and evicts the homeowner.” Marcie shifted a cooing Kyla in her arms, keeping her voice even and calm. She didn’t bother to look at Sam, but he appeared to be well versed and on board with her assessment.

“It’s all in the construction. By using different framing we can fit within the definition of a modular home. And Dan did get the designs approved by local zoning.”

Maggie didn’t miss the way his eyes shifted. The heaviness in her heart tightened. “You’re lying.”

She had everyone’s attention now. “You don’t think I don’t know when you’re hiding something? I know you, just like you know me. What the hell are you doing, ripping off innocent people now?”

He didn’t say a word; he just walked out the door.

Maggie searched out Sam who stood behind Marcie but was watching the door. “Sam, he’s not telling the truth. That line is something Dan would say. What am I going to do?”

“Maggie, I’ll go talk with him. There may be something else going on, and he may not want you to know. Sometimes a man’s pride and natural instinct to protect his family clouds his good judgment.”

Maggie stood, prepared to follow.

Diane grabbed her wrist. “Maggie, listen to Sam. He’s right. Let him talk to Richard alone. Besides there are some things we need to talk about. One of them is your friend Angie, and your interest in helping her.”