Miracles in Disguise (The Trampled Rose Series) (18 page)

When Nathan walked past her, his eyes avoided her and he merely gave her a cool nod.
I take that back, not even a miracle will help us!
She deserved it, but knowing it didn’t make it hurt less.
She had suffered a lot under the cruel hands of David, but this pain hurt worse than anything he could ever have dished out.

With a sigh, she gave Barbara a quick kiss on the cheek that wasn’t bruised.
Another heart I’m going to hurt.
She wasn’t wrong in her prediction. Within a few moments of wrapping up her story, Barbara was sitting up crying. “No, Ms. Talbot! You can’t let him defeat you.”

Kristina was about to say she wouldn’t understand, but one look at her battered face showed how much she did understand.

Before she could respond, Sheriff Charlie Hernandez walked into the room. “Sorry to interrupt you ladies,” he said. “I need to speak with Barbara for a moment.”

Kristina began to rise, but Barbara grabbed her hand. “Please stay!” After a few seconds, she nodded and then sat back down.

“I just wanted to let you know that the trial is set to begin in three months.” Kristina had heard that Bobby’s arraignment had been rushed this morning. No doubt his parent's doing. The sheriff cleared his throat nervously before he continued, “He plead not guilty. And from the smirk he was wearing throughout, I don’t think this trial is going to go through without him, at the very least, dragging you down with him.”

Barbara slapped the coffee table in front of her. “Are you suggesting that I just let him walk away?”

Charlie raised his hands in defense, “No, I’ve wanted him in jail since he attacked Marissa. But I would be wrong if I didn’t let you know what’s in store for you.”

“No offense, Sheriff, but he’s stripped me of so much. My innocence, my virginity, happiness, my future….” Her chin quivered despite her confident voice. "My smile…my carefree smile. What else can he take from me? I refuse to just sit by and let him take anything else from me.”

The sheriff nodded, and after a pause, he added, “He’s also been set free on bail.”

“What?” Kristina and Barbara cried in unison.

“I know, ladies.” He bowed his head as if he’s failed in his duty. “Both me and Deputy LaSalle were there to argue the dangers of setting him free. But the judge is a longtime friend of the Swanson’s. Bobby has been restricted to his parent’s house and has to wear an ankle monitor. But all the same, we’ve arranged for a patrol car to remain outside your house to watch over you.”

Barbara tried to lift her chin, quivering again with suppressed tears, and asked the Sheriff, “Is he going to get away with it?”

Kristina watched the war of emotions flicker across the sheriff’s face, before he finally answered, “The evidence is good and solid. You can buy fancy lawyers,and lean on old friends, but in the end, the evidence and your testimony should be enough to convict him.”

After the sheriff left, Kristina gathered her purse to leave, but Barbara stopped her. “I need you here, Kristina. I know the fear you are feeling. But please, for me, consider staying.”

Kristina looked down at the young girl, despite her show of bravado, she could see her uncertainty. She wanted to stay and help her, but she also wanted to protect Nathan. Instead of answering, she squeezed her hand.

Chapter Twenty-One

As Kristina turned the corner on her street, she saw the lights on Deputy Clemson’s squad car flashing. Pulling up into the driveway, she saw a man being handcuffed on her porch. David! The thought flickered through her mind, but she could easily see that this man was too short and a lot older than David. When Deputy Clemson forced him down the stairs, she gasped as she recognized the man who had been watching them at the Holiday Light Festival.

So he
had
followed Lisa’s family here.
Was this how David found me?

Stepping out of her car, she sent the officer a questioning look.

“Ms. Talbot, I caught this man hanging out near your doorway. I haven’t seen him around, so I thought this might be your husband.”

Before Kristina could answer, the man, red-faced and indignant, yelled, “I told you I am not her husband! I am her husband’s…”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear you at all!”

Kristina laid her hand on the deputy’s arm. “Dennis, this isn’t my husband." Turning toward the man, she looked cautiously at him. “You said you have something to do with my husband?”

Shooting a glare at the deputy, he said, “Mrs. Ellis, I am your late husband’s attorney.”

Kristina nearly fainted at the word
late.
“You mean he
is
dead?”

Confusion cooled the attorney’s heated face. “Why, of course. You were at the funeral.” His words were more of a question than a statement.

“There was a box left on my doorstep with a note from him…Are you sure he is dead?

The man chuckled and said, “I am sorry for the confusion. But I never thought that you would have assumed David was still alive.”

Relief washed over her.
I am free! I truly am free!

“Would you please remove these cuffs so I can talk to Mrs. Ellis?”

With the confusion of the situation fading, hearing her married name sent anger coursing through her. “I go by Talbot now.”

“Very well…Ms. Talbot. I am here to settle the last of your husband’s estate. You left so suddenly, I wasn’t able to properly handle your husband’s last requests.”

After his hands were free, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card that stated he was James Meyer of Brownfield, Arnell & Meyer. “Your husband left some specific requests and stipulations in his will. And I was charged to handle them personally.” Looking at the deputy, he asked, “Can we talk somewhere in private?”

“Only if Ms. Talbot says it’s okay.” Dennis answered for her.

Still shaken by the incidents, she said they could discuss whatever business on the porch. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing of David Ellis’ that she wanted. His inheritance could be buried with him back in New York. “Would you mind waiting here?” She asked Dennis.

Once settled, the man jumped right in. “Your husband left you everything, on the condition, you were not to get married to another man.” Despite his efficient manner, he did blush slightly at these words. "If you remain single, you will then inherit the balance of his holdings.”

Kristina sat back in the porch swing, inflamed by her husband’s nerve. Even from the grave, David was trying to manipulate her.

“I don’t want his inheritance.”

“I thought you might say that. Mrs. Ellis…Talbot, I apologize ahead for being so blunt, but I know how your husband treated you. I understand your anger, but it is quite a substantial sum.” The man’s eyes were filled with compassion as he said, “I saw you with the young pastor. It is evident how much he cares about you. However, you only have to remain unmarried for five years to claim the inheritance. If you two can just wait to be married…”

Kristina’s heart clenched as he referred to Nathan’s feelings. But David had ruined it…

“I don’t want it. I don’t want it now or in five years.”

“The inheritance is valued at over $14 million.”

Kristina paused. David had always handled their finances, but still…$14 million. “He was a pastor. How on earth did he amass such a fortune on his salary?”

Confusion briefly flickered across the man’s features. “Well, you must know that the bulk of it comes from your four homes.”

“Four?”

“Aside from the home you all lived in, there’s the condo in New York City, the beach house in Charleston, and the estate in San Antonio.”

The color drained from her face as she recalled the “conferences” David frequently attended, which were always held in those cities. She hated to ask, but she felt compelled. “And the rest of the money?”

He shuffled through his papers. “His parents left him a sizable fortune when they passed and he seems to have tripled that amount over the last four years with some smart investments.”

He handed her a copy of the sheet he was reading and she scanned through a list of companies. Though vaguely familiar, she handed it back to the man. “I want nothing of this. For five years he controlled me, abused me, and manipulated me.” He voice softened a bit as she thought of Nathan. “David Ellis has stolen enough from me. He will not have another moment of my life under his control.”

He stared at her for a moment. James Meyer was a man accustomed to controlling his emotions and facial expressions in the court room, but he was obviously struggling to maintain control now. A flicker of guilt and sadness passed over him, but Kristina didn’t want his pity. She stood to let him know she was done with this conversation.

After a moment, he regained his composure, “Well then,” standing, he shook her hand, and said, “I will return in a couple of months with a form for you to sign.” Kristina watched him shoot a scathing look at Deputy Clemson as he walked to his car and drove off,

“Thank you, Dennis.” Kristina said as she joined him in the driveway. “I appreciate you watching over me like that.”

“You want me to hang out here a couple more days, just in case?”

“No need,” she sighed with relief. “There’s no longer a threat."

Kristina walked in and deactivated the alarm. She sunk down into the sofa as the emotions and reality of what had just happened began to sink in.

Anger was the first emotion to assault her. She wondered if he had planned it - if David had instructed his attorney to drop off a package with the note a couple months after his death. David always loved to manipulate her with fear…and he had done it again. But this time, he had ruined her relationship with Nathan. Her past was out, and just as she had feared, it had ruined her future.

Maybe…her heart whispered with hope.

She thought back to his cold nod today at Barbara’s house. No, there would be no
maybe
. She had hurt him and there was no turning back to the way they were. She had been free from David, but enslaved by her fear…and that fear had led her to hurt a wonderful, kind and decent man.

On legs that felt like lead, she walked into her bedroom and looked at the suitcases that lined the wall.

She was supposed to leave tomorrow, but now she could stay. Her heart should have leapt for joy at the thought, but instead she imagined enduring the cold, indifferent nods from Nathan as they passed each other in the hallways at school or as she went to church. She would stay until the trial was over; she would stay for Barbara. But then she would leave.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Nathan sat in his truck, keys in the ignition, foot poised over the pedal…but not moving anywhere. This was the third time this week he had hopped in his truck with the intention of visiting Kristina.

Last Sunday, after visiting with Barbara, he had stopped by Deputy Clemson’s car outside of the young girl’s house. “Don't you worry, Nate. I caught that guy lurking around Kristina’s, and I’ll catch anyone trying to come near Barb’s house too."

“You caught Kristina’s husband?”

“No,” Dennis laughed. “I thought it was him, too. It turned out to be some lawyer. Guess her husband’s dead after all; she said she didn’t need me there anymore.”

Nathan had walked away, mumbling a halfhearted goodbye. She was free…

Hope skipped through his heart. But as he reached for the handle on his truck, the truth slammed him in the pit of his stomach.

She hadn’t come to him.

She claimed she was keeping a distance to keep him safe. Now that the threat was gone, she should have come to him. He had gone home that day and wrestled with the idea of dropping by. He had continued to wrestle with the idea throughout the week. This morning, the Go-to-Hers were winning out.

Now, as he sat in his truck, his mom’s words rang through his head.
She has to let God take down her wall, and heal her hurt. You can give her all of your love, all of your peace, and all of your hope. But unless she gets it from God first, yours will never be enough.

It was those words that made him take his foot off the pedal, keys out of the ignition, and exit his truck. Unless she came to him without fear, unless she trusted God, his love would never be enough.

The weight of that truth hung around his neck and slowed his steps as he walked into his empty house. David barked at his quick return. He rubbed his dog fondly behind the ears, sinking into his sofa. Stretching out, he lay there staring at the ceiling, and David rested his chin on Nathan’s chest. The dog's large brown eyes reflected his owner’s sorrow. He let out a whimper, echoing the sadness in Nathan’s heart.

“I know, boy. But we got to let her go.”

The dog half moaned, half whined. Nathan followed suit with a similar sound.

He wondered…he shook his head. He had hashed out the what-ifs. But they all led back to the same dead end - he could do nothing until she was ready to trust.