Lily of the Valley in May (7 page)

Joel gazed at her for a moment, and then sat and pulled Faith into his arms properly. She stiffened, going as rigid as a board, before her sobs overtook her completely. He held her tightly and rocked. He would be there for her like she'd been there for him earlier. “Talk to me.”

“I'm sorry.” Her voice sounded muffled against his chest.

“Don't be sorry. It's what friends do.” His hand moved slowly over her back. “It's just a flower.”

“Not just a flower…”

“Black lily of the valley is rare and very expensive,” Elliott said. “They have to be custom made.”

Joel glanced up at him, noticing the way Grace bit her lip. There was a lot more going on here than either of the women was saying. It had to be the ex-boyfriend. He looked back at Faith. “Is it this bloke you mentioned? The one out the front in the red car?”

She shook her head. “Yes—no, no not him…”

Elliott looked at Grace. “Hon, if there is something going on here, we need to know.”

“It's not up to me to tell.” She took a deep breath. “Faith, let's go make some tea. I need to talk to you a minute.”

Faith slowly got up. “'K.”

Joel watched the two women leave and sat back on his heels. He glanced up at his brother in despair.
I don't know what's going on here,
he prayed.
But please give me the wisdom to help her with whatever it is and let her accept the help.

5

Faith got the cups out of the cupboard, wrestling with her feelings. “I can't tell him.”

“You have to, especially now. He can't understand unless you explain
.
You have to trust someone and they know something's going on. I'm not going to lie to Elliott for you. That's no way to enhance any relationship. Same goes for you and Joel, even if you are only just starting to date each other.”

“Rick said tell no one.”

“He said tell no one so Damien wouldn't find you. He's found you so keeping schtum no longer matters. Now ring Rick. He needs to know anyway.”

“I already rang Rick from the car. He's on his way down. There was a black flower left at the church. That's why I was leaving. It's safer if I just go.”

“Joel is offering to take you away. You'd be who-knows-where for a month, but he has to know the truth.”

“OK.”

Five minutes later they carried the cups of tea into the lounge. Faith prayed silently.
Lord, please give me the right words. I don't want to upset him any more than I already have.

Joel sat on the couch, next to Elliott. Grace handed them tea and then sat on the floor leaning against Elliott's legs.

Faith perched on the edge of the chair, her fingers clutching the cup. “You have to promise that it won't go any further than this room.”

Surprise touched Joel's eyes. “That sounds very cloak and dagger. Could almost be a plot straight out of one of my books.”

She glanced at Grace, then back at Joel and Elliott. “I really should drag in the guy from outside.”

Joel narrowed his eyes. “OK, but what's the guy outside got to do with this? You said a few minutes ago it wasn't him.”

“He didn't send the flowers. He's a cop. He's watching the house.”

Joel and Elliott exchanged glances. “What kind of trouble are you in, Faith?” Joel asked.

Faith put the cup down. “The worst kind. Six years ago I got involved with Damien Jenkins. I knew him from school, and we hung out a fair bit as kids. We became engaged late last year. I realized too late he was involved in criminal activity. He broke several laws—it doesn't matter what, but” –she sucked in a deep breath— “the end result was me witnessing him kill someone—a priest from the church where I sang in the choir. Then, Damien tried to kill me as well, only the bullet hit my shoulder instead. Damien thought I was a lot worse off. My brother Rick sent me here to keep me safe. Well, actually, I chose to come here, Rick wanted me in protective custody. Damien's meant to be in prison, but he must have found out where I was.”

Grace's foot touched hers. “All of it, sis,” she said gently. “You can't start to heal until you admit all of it.”

Joel looked at her. “Whatever it is, Faith, she's right. We won't judge you for it.”

Faith studied her cup, not wanting to see the looks on their faces. “Damien hit me—he said he loved me and would never do it again. The marks never showed. When I tried to break up with him, he threatened to hurt my family as well.”

Joel sat beside her and slid an arm around her shoulders, hugging her. He pulled back as she flinched. “That's not love, Faith.”

“I know that now. Grace told me to leave him months ago, but I stayed because I was scared, not because I loved him. Any love I felt for him went the first time he hit me, all that remained was fear.” She wiped her sleeve across her face. “The black flowers are his calling card.”

“We should pray.” Joel brought the whole situation before the Lord, asking His comfort, guidance and protection on Faith, and the rest of them. As he finished the doorbell rang.

Elliott stood. “I'll get it. Joel, you stay here with the girls.”

“OK.”

Faith buried her face in her hands as Elliott left the room. “I'm sorry. I should never have come here.”

“Yes, you should,” Grace said. “We'll keep you safe, it'll be fine.”

“No, it won't.” She looked up, her heart in her mouth, as the door opened. Rick stood there, Elliott behind him. She rose and scampered into his arms. “Rick…”

Rick hugged her tightly. “It's going to be OK. I'm here now.”

“This is my fiancé, Elliott and his twin brother, Joel,” Grace said. “Don't get mad at Faith for telling us. She didn't have a choice.”

Rick frowned. “What happened?”

“Damien sent that. A black lily of the valley, red ribbon with a card—it came here to the house, as well as one to the church.” Faith shoved the card in her brother's face, her voice rising in panic. “See? Somehow he managed it from prison and…”

“He's not in prison, Faith. I called them. I don't have any more details as to why. My DI is looking into it now.”

Her stomach twisted, and her heart plunged into her shoes. The lump in her throat threatened to choke her. “He's going to kill me because I turned him in. He knows where I am. You have to let me leave, before he kills anyone else because of me. I've just put everyone here in danger.” She headed to the door.

Joel shook his head. He caught hold of her before she could run. “No, he won't, Faith, because you and I are leaving here together. Grace can stay with Elliott at ours, or live over the shop.”

Rick raised an eyebrow, staring hard at him. “And you are going to take her where? I want her somewhere she'll be safe.” His tone changed from concerned brother, to police officer.

Joel held Rick's gaze. “I'm due to leave town for a book tour first thing in the morning. Faith is going to come with me.”

“Joel, you've been though too much for me to ask you to deal with my drama too. Rick, we just left Joel's son's funeral,” Faith whispered. “I already said, I can't go with him. I'll find somewhere else to go.”

Joel turned to her. “Under the circumstances it'd be for the best if you did accompany me. I need to get away and you do too. We'll be gone a month.”

“I'd rather she were in protective custody,” Rick argued.

Joel shook his head. “She'll be safe with me.”

Faith shook her head, annoyed with the both of them. “I'm not a parcel to be passed from pillar to post. What about Patches? He can't stay in hotels and planes and so on.”

“Grace and Elliot can take him,” Joel insisted. “You both sleep at ours tonight. Grace moves in until this is over. Only my agent will know where we are.” He looked at his brother. “And Elliott agrees with me. He always does. He'll keep Grace safe, I promise.”

Faith looked at him and nodded slowly, a small part of her glad that the decision was out of her hands. So long as Grace was safe, she'd go.

~*~

Joel looked at Rick. Now he just had to convince him. “It's perfect. No more than two nights in some places. I can give you a list of where we'll be.”

“It does sound like a decent plan, but I would far rather put Faith in a safe house under twenty-four-hour protection, rather than have her gallivanting around the country out in public.”

Joel jerked his head in agreement. “I can see your point, but this Damien fellow isn't going to expect that. He's expecting her to run and hide in police custody. It's what he wants. This way she'll be hiding in plain sight.”

Rick studied him for a long moment then agreed. “I'll have to insist on an officer going with you.”

“Don't you trust me to keep her safe?”

Rick glowered. “With all due respect, Mr. Wallac, I've only just met you. Even if Faith weren't my sister, I'd react the same way.”

“But she
is
your sister.” Joel paused. “And someone I happen to be fond of. Have one of your cops meet us, follow us, whatever, but I promise I
will
keep her safe. We won't be stopping long enough for anyone to trace us.”

Rick took a deep breath. “All right. I'll have DC Blondell meet you at the first hotel. He can provide security at the book signings as well as protecting Faith. I'll need that itinerary. When do you leave?”

“Thank you. We're flying from Heathrow in the morning. I'll get the list for you in a few.”

“Thanks.” Rick turned to Elliott and Grace. “I'll arrange protection for you, too, sis. I'm not discounting Elliott, but I'm not going to take any chances.”

Joel gently took Faith's hand and lifted her fingers to his mouth. He kissed them softly. “See, it's all sorted. Your brother thinks you should come as well.”

Rick held out his hand. “I need your phone, Faith. Don't want him tracking you with it.”

“Don't have one,” she whispered. “It got broken it when he killed Father Haney. I haven't bothered to replace it.”

“I have mine,” Joel said. “But I need that for work.”

Rick looked at him. “I'll need the number, but don't use the phone except for the occasional text. We'll have Damien back behind bars before you get home.”

Faith frowned. “What if he finds me? And then he'll hurt Joel and—”

Joel shook his head. “Hey, we'll cross that bridge if and when we get to it. Besides, I can't let anything happen to my favorite illustrator now, can I?” He tucked her hair behind her ears as Faith blushed. She really was pretty when she did that. “At least I put some color back in those cheeks of yours. Now go help your sister pack and we'll get you next door.”

~*~

Faith and Grace joined Elliott and Joel for breakfast in the kitchen.

Joel stood as they came in. “Morning.”

Faith sat, ignoring the way Grace kissed Elliott before sitting beside him. “Morning.”

Elliott looked at them. “I figured once we've eaten, we'll pack up the car and drive to Heathrow before anyone finds out you're here.”

Grace winked. “Too late. The cops already know we spent the night at your house.”

Joel clicked his fingers. “Darn. Then your sister and I had best run away before they tell the elders, Pastor Jack and Pastor Carson.”

Elliott laughed. “Too late. One of the elders already knows. But his reputation is shot as well because his fiancée also stayed over. Never mind the fact she's moving in.”

Faith looked at Joel. “It's no good asking me to run away with you because I'm allergic to running.”

Joel grinned. “In that case we'll go on a book tour crawl.”

Faith shook her head. “You're silly.”

Sadness filled his gaze. “That's what Bradley used to call me.” He took a deep breath, then covered her hands with his and said grace.

Faith added a silent prayer. She'd never met anyone like Joel. Around him she could be herself, whoever she was. There wasn't much of her left, Damien had seen to that, but perhaps Joel could help her find herself again. And maybe in the process she could help him start to live once more.

After Damien, she'd never wanted another man in her life, not even as a friend. Joel had come unexpectedly and unassumingly offering friendship and that was just what she needed. And now it seemed more, if the kisses on her hand were anything to go by. But then so had Damien, and look where that had ended up. But Joel wasn't Damien. He wouldn't treat her like that. Would he? She hoped not. She was leaving what little safety she had, with a man she didn't really know.
Lord, please don't let this be the worst mistake of my life...second worst mistake
she corrected. The worst had been getting involved with Damien in the first place.

She looked across at Joel as they ate.
Is he the man You sent to rescue me and teach me to live again?

Joel winked at her over his toast. “I'm planning on taking my new role seriously.”

She shook her head. “What new role is that?”

“Guardian of Faith and her luggage. It'll make a good book title one day,” he teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Faith rolled her eyes. “You can put me in a book only if Dirk Shepherd is the hero.”

Joel faked a wounded look. “I wanted to be the hero, but fine, pick Dirk over me. See if I care.”

~*~

Having said a tearful farewell to Grace in the airport car park, Faith followed Joel inside the departure lounge. She let him take the lead and they ran to the gate just as their flight was called. As they found their seats on the plane, Joel lifted the hand luggage into the overhead lockers. She would never have been able to reach them in any case. She shook her head at the awful pun she made, glad for a second that she wasn't telepathic, no matter how useful it would be at times.