Shadows from the Grave (5 page)

“You know, if this had to happen, now is probably as good a time as ever,” John mused.

Annie, who had sat down beside him, turned to look at him. “How so?”

He shrugged. “Well, we’d moved all the records out of the building and into the temporary offices while the foundation was fixed and the new filing system was installed. Those files are the most important things in the office. Essentially, they’re the practice more than anything other than the people. Losing them would be hard to recover from. Plus, you weren’t home when the fire started, and who knows what might have happened if you had been? If this had happened in the middle of the night, or at any other time, the loss could have been much worse than what it’s going to be.” He sighed. “I don’t know if Sammy’s going to feel as lucky, though.”

He was referring to Sammy Bolen, who owned the real estate company. Just last fall, Sammy’s son Taylor had been killed in a car accident that had left her brother-in-law, Reese Bolen, paralyzed from the waist down. “This is going to be another hard blow for her.”

“If you all will excuse us, we’re going to go check on things, try to get an update,” Jason said.

Annie watched Jason and Chase walk away, then turned back to John. “The last few months haven’t been easy for a lot of people in this town.”

“No,” John agreed. “They haven’t. And somehow, I don’t think it’s going to get any easier in the weeks to come.”

“I know it has to be hard for you, watching this,” she said, gesturing at the fire. “Especially after your dad... Anyhow, I’m sorry, John.”

John nodded. “It’s not been a great week. That’s a fact. It could have been worse, though I’ll take the blessings where I find them,” he said.

~ * * * ~

While Annie and John talked, the brothers set out toward where the fire chief was standing.

“Have you talked to Mom and Dad this morning?” Chase asked.

“Yeah, they’re on their way, actually,” Jason said. “What a week, brother. I’m sorry your trip got cut short.”

Chase shrugged. “Is what it is.” They both jumped when a loud crack sounded, and a yell went up from the firefighters. The roof of the second building had collapsed. Chase looked back at Annie, who had covered her mouth with her hand. “Damn it,” he cursed. “They aren’t going to be able to save her shop, you know.”

“I know. As hard as this next week is going to be for us, the next several weeks are going to be harder for her,” Jason said. “I’m not sure your arrival this morning is going to help.”

Chase scowled. “What do you mean?”

Jason met his gaze straight on. “You two looked awfully cozy when you showed up here a little while ago,” he remarked. Chase’s frown deepened, but he didn’t speak. Jason continued. “Look, I love Annie to death. I’m glad you have whatever it is you have with her. She’s good for you, and I think you’re good for her, but I don’t want to see either of you hurt. All these months, you’ve been swearing there was nothing between you but friendship, but now? You show up here together, and it’s pretty obvious you both just rolled out of bed. If you think I’m the only one who’s noticed, you’d better think again. Take a look around, Chase.” He did what Jason suggested, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the people in the park. While most of them were watching the fire, there were more than a handful keeping close tabs on the Hudsons and Annie.

“Ah, shit.” Chase shook his head. “I can’t stop people from talking, Jason. What do you think I should do? You know she’s been babysitting Murphy. Besides, it’s nobody’s business if Annie spent the night at my place or not.”

“I know, big brother,” Jason told him as he touched Chase’s shoulder. “And as much as we tease you and Annie about it, I know the gossip bothers you both.”

His gaze snapped back to Jason’s. “Why? What’s she said about it?” he asked. Jason just quirked an eyebrow, and Chase could tell his reaction had pleased his brother. “Never mind. Why is our private life suddenly a problem?”

“Just be prepared that showing up here together like you did is probably going to start a new set of rumors. And warn Annie, okay? Most everyone is watching you two with bated breath, enjoying the chase; forgive the pun. But not everyone is pleased you’ve been so effectively taken off the market.” Jason smiled. “For what it’s worth, I think the two of you are a good match.”

“Off the market? What am I, a slab of meat?” Chase asked, offended. “And who says I’m off the market?”

 “Oh, big brother, every move you make these days tells the world.”

~ * * * ~

When the second roof collapsed, Annie’s heart fell into her shoes. “Oh, God,” she whispered. “It’s all going to go up.”

John reached out and patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Annie, I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t speak, so she just nodded. All she had worked for the past ten years was literally going up in smoke right in front of her, and there wasn’t a damned thing she could do to stop it. Nothing anyone could say or do was going to stop it, and there was no ‘making it better.’ Not right now. Annie and John both knew that.

She made a concerted effort to look away from the burning buildings, and when she did, she saw Charlie Clark hurrying toward her across the park. Annie was still getting used to the idea of Charlie being her brother. It had only been since his marriage that the two of them had really connected. Annie was the result of an affair Charlie’s father had conducted, and her relationship with Charlie had been contentious in the beginning.

“I see Richard and Jackie. I’m going to go talk to them,” John said as he stood up. “Hang in there, Annie. Let me know if you need anything.” He headed toward his brother and sister-in-law, giving Annie and Charlie some privacy.

“Annie, thank God,” Charlie said as he reached the table where she sat. To Annie’s surprise, he reached out and enveloped her in a hard hug, and she felt tears prick her eyes. “You okay?”

Clearing her throat, she answered, “I’m fine. I don’t know about the shop, though. Lauren didn’t come down here, did she?”

Charlie shook his head and sat beside her. “No way,” he said. “She wanted to, but I managed to talk her out of it… barely.” Lauren, Charlie’s wife, was eight months pregnant with their first child. As he spoke, his cell phone rang, and he gave a short laugh. “That’s probably her.” Confirming that it was, he answered the phone. “No, she’s right here. She’s okay. Hang on.” With a smile, he handed Annie the phone.

“Hello?” Annie paused as Lauren asked if she was hurt. “No, I’m okay. I wasn’t home. I was still at Chase’s.” She didn’t see the frown Charlie shot in her direction. She and Lauren spoke for a couple more minutes, then Annie handed the phone back to Charlie. After he hung up, he held the phone for a minute before he slid it back into the case on his belt. To Annie’s surprise, he was frowning, with his eyes on Chase and Jason as they walked back toward the picnic table.

“When did he get home?” Charlie asked.

“Very early this morning, or very late, depending on how you look at it,” Annie said. “Why?”

“I just wondered.”

It took Annie a minute to connect the dots, and when she did, she blushed. “I’m a big girl, Charlie. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing so for a number of years now.”

Charlie shrugged. “I know. I just… I guess I worry. You’re my sister,” he said. “I’ve never had a sister to worry about before.”

“We’re just friends,” Annie said quietly. “That’s all.”

With a sigh, Charlie put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “I know it’s none of my business. I like Chase. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Chase and Jason reached them at the same time as Jackie and Richard. Jackie hurried to embrace Annie. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad you’re okay. How bad is it? Do they know?” She turned to Chase. “When did you get in?”

“About three this morning,” Chase said as he hugged her. “The chief says it looks like they’ve slowed it down, but you’re going to have some pretty heavy damage regardless, Annie.”

“How heavy?” Annie tried to keep her voice steady. She saw the wince Chase attempted to prevent. “That bad, huh?” She drew in a deep breath, suddenly feeling sick. Charlie reached out to her and she grasped his hand tightly. Jackie urged her to bend forward and place her head between her knees.

“Deep breaths, Annie, slow and steady. That’s a girl,” she said as Annie’s breathing calmed. She moved to sit beside her and rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. “However bad it is, we’ll work it out.”

Annie nodded and wiped her wet cheeks with a trembling hand. She accepted the tissue Jackie handed her and slowly straightened. “Sorry about that,” she said, not meeting their gazes.

“You can come stay with us until you get things straightened out,” Charlie offered. Chase started to speak, but Charlie shot him a glare.

Chase frowned and, ignoring Charlie, asked his parents, “What about the guest house at your place? Now that Beth’s moved out, it’s just sitting there.”

Jackie sent Chase a grateful smile. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. You’d have privacy, and it’s furnished. No offense, Charlie.”

“None taken,” Charlie assured her. He turned to Annie. “I just want to make sure you know you’re welcome at our house.”

Annie’s eyes misted over again, and she sniffled. “Thank you, all of you. Charlie, I can’t move in with you guys. You’re getting ready to have a baby. You don’t need me there right now.” She ignored his protests and turned to Jackie. “Are you sure you’re comfortable offering the guest house? I’d pay rent and be just like a regular tenant.”

“That’s not necessary, Annie,” Richard said. “Just take care of the utilities while you’re there.”

Annie shook her head. “No, if I did move in, I’d want a lease. I won’t take advantage of you all like that. Chase, could you draw it up?” She turned pleading eyes to him.

He shrugged. “Sure, wouldn’t take that long to do. You guys settle the details between you, and just let me know what you want to do.”

“It wouldn’t feel right charging you rent, Annie,” Jackie said. “Not with you having to close the shop down until it’s fixed.”

Annie wouldn’t budge. “No. I have insurance, and I’m not a pauper. If I didn’t do things properly, I’d feel like I was sponging off you guys.” She named a dollar amount and continued. “We could do a month-to-month lease, if that’s okay.”

Richard and Jackie exchanged a look, and Richard shrugged. “Sounds like we have a tenant, then. But knock a hundred off that rent.”

Annie started to protest, but seeing that he was as determined to have his way about this as she was about the details, she gave in and stuck her hand out. “Sounds like you do, Dr. H.”

~ * * * ~

By the time the fire was under control, the damage to Annie’s Arbor was extensive. Contrary to the optimistic words of the chief, they hadn’t been able to stop it before it spread into her shop and apartment. Lauren had come downtown and opened The Brown Bag, the café and coffee shop on the other end of the street, to provide food and coffee to the first responders and the business owners. Around one o’clock, she shut down and went to find Annie in the park.

“Let’s call Chase and see if we can get your stuff from his place, and you can come home with Charlie and me for a couple days. Please, honey?” Lauren asked. When Annie turned to her with lost eyes, Lauren sat down and put her arm around her sister-in-law.

“We’ll figure this out, kiddo,” Charlie said. “Will you let us take care of you for just a day or two? Then you can go back to being stubborn and independent.”

“Charlie!” Lauren exclaimed. “Don’t say that.”

“It isn’t a bad thing, all in all,” he replied. “I didn’t mean it like that. Annie, what do you say?”

Annie straightened and sighed. “I say get me out of here, please. We can argue about me staying with you later. Right now, I just want to curl up and sleep.”

Chase stood in front of his bathroom mirror Tuesday morning getting ready for his grandfather’s funeral, trying to focus on the mundane things instead of the bigger picture. For instance, tying his tie, which he had done a thousand times before, was difficult. He couldn’t get the two sides to meet up in a suitable knot. When Murphy jumped onto the counter to bat at the ends for what felt like the hundredth time, Chase snapped. Scooping up the cat, he walked to the bed and gently dropped him in the middle. He tossed the corner of the blanket over him to keep him occupied, then hurried back into the bathroom and closed the door, determined to tie the necktie. Murphy’s distraction lasted about thirty seconds before he was at the door, yowling.