Still Waters (16 page)

Who was she kidding? Her life had been out of control since the day she jumped in the lake to save Bandit. And the man standing beside her seemed to have a lot to do with that.

“You okay?” Jake’s voice broke into her troubled thoughts and Tiffany tried to smile up at him.

“I was just thinking you’re right. My parents will understand that I’m tired.”

Tiffany could tell Jake didn’t believe her. A soft knock prevented him from saying so. When her mother and father opened the door, Tiffany didn’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed.

“We’re back,” Patti Anderson entered the room with the
same cheerful good humor Tiffany remembered from childhood, “Sorry about that. Hopefully the milkshake hasn’t melted much.”

“It’ll be fine, Mom.” Tiffany knew she sounded as tired as she felt but couldn’t muster enough energy to sound any different.

“Are you okay, honey?” Her father approached, bending down to kiss her cheek.

“I’ll live.”

“Of course you will. I just worry about you.”

“I know.” Tiffany could feel Jake’s steady gaze from the position he’d taken at the door, but refused to glance his way.

“Good. Now, you need to get some rest and I need to speak with the sheriff. Mind if I leave you and your mom for a bit?”

“Dad, I—”

Before Tiffany could finish her mother cut in, smoothly taking away any choice they were pretending she had. “You two go on ahead. I’ll meet you downstairs after I make sure Tiffany is settled in.”

Biting back further protest, Tiffany said good-night to Jake and her father, watched as they walked out the door and turned to her mother. “Traitor.”

“Tiffany Lynn, how could you say such a thing?” The twinkle in Patti’s eyes belied her serious tone.

“Because it’s true.”

“No, it’s not. Your father isn’t going to give Sheriff Reed the third degree. He’s going to apologize.”

Tiffany almost laughed but the pain medication was wearing off and she hurt too bad. “Come on, Mom. You know how Dad is.”

Patti sat down in the chair next to the bed, placing the
milkshake and magazines on a small table. “Yes, I do. He loves you and he’s worried.”

“I—”

“Tiffany, we came in here expecting you to be asleep and saw a good-looking stranger kissing you. Your father was shocked.”

“And you’re not?”

“A little, but I figure you’re old enough to know what you’re doing.”

“Thanks.”

“Besides, I know I’ll get all the details once you’re feeling better. Right?”

“There aren’t any details.”

Patti didn’t argue, though Tiffany could sense she wanted to. “All right. You look really pale again. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I just need to sleep.”

“Then I’ll go and leave you to it.”

“Thanks. I love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, Tiffany.”

Tiffany watched her mother walk out the door and wished she could leave with her. The antiseptic smell of the hospital made her slightly queasy, and being confined to bed made her feel vulnerable. She wanted to sleep, but anxiety kept her awake staring at the door.

She’d lived through some bad days in her life, but none could compare to the one she’d just survived. In a list of the top ten things she’d rather not repeat, Tiffany figured the last twenty-four hours ranked number one.

Except for maybe the kiss.

And that was something she refused to think about. Instead she pictured the quilt she was making, and tried to grasp hold of the peace she felt when she worked on it.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Tiffany spoke the words aloud, embracing the message and trying to let it soothe her. After a few moments she began to relax and, despite the pain, let sleep carry her away.

T
hree days later, Tiffany sat in silence at her kitchen table, enjoying the solitude of her empty house. Though she’d been released from the hospital with strict orders to rest, the past few days had been filled with visitors and an endless stream of phone calls. Now, early Monday morning, Tiffany hoped her friends and family would be too busy with hectic work schedules to stop in and check on her. She needed some time alone.

With her feet up on a chair and a cup of coffee in her hand, Tiffany watched dust motes swirl in the first rays of morning sun. Tom would be arriving shortly and Tiffany had a list of small jobs for him to do. She didn’t even want to think about the growing list of jobs she had to accomplish herself. Though owning her own business had many advantages, it kept her busy. Sometimes too busy.

And, if the number of messages on her work line were
any indication, the following week was destined to be one where she barely had time to breathe, let alone rest.

For now though, she had a few minutes to herself and planned to enjoy them. With the windows open and the sweet smell of summer drifting in on a warm breeze, Tiffany nursed her coffee and thought over the weekend with all its twists and turns. Certainly having a broken arm and a concussed head didn’t seem a blessing, but the outpouring of love and friendship had reminded her of all she had to be thankful for.

And, of course, there had been the kiss. If Tiffany was honest with herself she’d admit Jake’s kiss had been on her mind a lot the past few days. She knew he offered nothing but friendship, and it was a good thing she did, as his sweetly passionate kiss had hinted at commitment and love. Two things Jake had said he could never offer.

Running her hand through hopelessly tangled hair, Tiffany pushed thoughts of Jake out of her mind and focused on more important things. Like how she was going to fix her hair one-handed. Though the pain in her left arm was tolerable, it still ached and throbbed. A soft cast had been applied, and once the stitches were removed from her forearm, it would be replaced by a hard cast. For now though, Tiffany was careful not to bump or jostle the arm and kept it in the sling the hospital had provided.

Glancing at her still-swollen appendages, Tiffany wondered if it would be safe to use the hand, then wiggled her fingers, winced and gave up on the idea. She’d brush her hair the best she could and leave it down. Forcing herself to action, she pushed to her feet and went to get ready for the day.

Tom arrived earlier than she’d expected, the doorbell and Bandit’s bark announcing his arrival as Tiffany searched
through her closet for a pullover blouse to wear with the only skirt she owned that didn’t have a button to contend with. Grabbing the first thing her hand touched, she threw on the shirt and rushed down the stairs to open the door.

She knew immediately that something was wrong. “Tom. What is it? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You look like your best friend just left town. I thought we agreed that wearing a smile was part of the job description.”

Tiffany’s attempt at levity fell on deaf ears. Tom’s expression remained solemn, his gaze darting away as he spoke. “I need to talk to you about that. The job, I mean.”

“Come in. I have juice in the fridge and some bagels if you’re hungry.”

“No. No thanks.” Tom scuffed a toe against the porch floor. “Look, I really appreciate you giving me the job and everything but I can’t work for you anymore.”

“What? Why?”

“I told my dad I’d help with his deliveries. He asked before but I didn’t want to be on the road so much.”

“What’s changed your mind? Not this I hope.” Tiffany pointed at her arm.

“No. I just think my dad could use some help.”

“Tom, I—”

“I need to go. My dad’s waiting.”

The young man turned to walk away but Tiffany reached out and touched his shoulder. “This is about what’s happened to me. I know it is and I feel awful about it.”

Tom turned back and looked Tiffany in the eye. “Don’t. Don’t feel bad. You’ve been kinder to me than anyone else I know. Nothing that’s happened is your fault. Things just got out of hand this summer and I need to get away for a while until things cool off.”

Tiffany swallowed a lump that was two parts joy and one part sorrow. “You’re a wise young man, Tom. I’m proud of you.”

“Not wise yet. But I’m learning. Thanks for giving me a chance.”

“You proved yourself and if you decide you want your job back when school starts give me a call. We can work out the details.”

A horn blared loudly and Tom glanced at his father’s truck parked at the end of the driveway. “Dad’s waiting. I gotta run. Maybe this fall though, I’ll be back.”

Tiffany watched Tom run down the porch steps and along the driveway. She felt empty, depressed by the thought that, to protect her, Tom had quit a job he enjoyed. Bandit stood beside her and whined softly as the truck drove away. “Don’t worry, boy. He’ll be back when school starts.”

Suddenly Tiffany was tired. Too tired to think about driving around town updating computer systems and answering well-meant questions about her health. Shivering despite the warmth of the morning, she walked back into the house and went into her office. Though she handled most of her business alone, she had several contractors lined up, waiting for overflow jobs. Two of them had worked for Tiffany on other occasions and she called them, then faxed over lists of jobs and addresses for the week to come.

An hour later she had called her most pressing clients and informed them of her week’s vacation. Most knew what had happened and didn’t question her. The few who did were satisfied with Tiffany’s explanation and the replacement contractors she’d lined up.

Pacing the floor of her office, Tiffany felt at loose ends. Though she knew taking a week off was the right decision, she couldn’t imagine how she would spend her free time.
One-handed quilting might be possible, but she doubted the finished product would be worth her effort. She supposed she could tackle some of the smaller renovation projects for the house, but could muster little enthusiasm for the idea.

Shrugging off her restlessness, Tiffany grabbed a copy of a computer magazine off her bookshelf along with a quilting book she’d been meaning to read, shoved her feet into a pair of neon-pink sandals and headed for the door. “Hey, Bandit. Wanna go outside?”

Her companion raised his huge head and looked at her a moment, as if trying to decide if getting up was worth the effort. Then he lumbered to his feet and followed her outside.

Tiffany supposed she should be nervous about leaving the house, but she figured Bandit would bark if a stranger got too close. She also figured it would be too easy to give in to fear and stay hidden inside. She wouldn’t give her assailant the satisfaction.

Besides, the sky had turned to the purest summer blue, the heady aroma of blossoms lay heavy on the warm air and Tiffany couldn’t imagine spending the day indoors. Walking across her backyard, she approached the old gazebo warily. The ladder still lay on the ground, though someone had propped it against the gazebo. The same person had removed the piles of clipped foliage from the surrounding area and Tiffany was able to access the old structure with little difficulty.

Her heart beat a little faster as she made herself comfortable on the swing. It seemed a thousand hostile eyes followed her movements, and she had to force herself to stay put. All around her, birds chirped and insects chattered, playing a symphony in the overgrown grass.

Surely they would fall silent if someone lurked behind a
tree. Tiffany glanced at Bandit. He’d made himself comfortable in the shade of the swing and seemed completely at ease. She needed to follow his example. After a few calming breaths she opened the magazine and began to read.

She was bored to tears in minutes.

The book proved more interesting and Tiffany’s fingers itched for paper and pencil to jot down ideas. She was mentally piecing a Jacob’s Ladder patterned quilt when Bandit lifted his head and barked. Startled, Tiffany dropped the book, her heart pounding frantically as she looked around. She didn’t see anyone, but Bandit’s second bark and his joyfully wagging tail, told her someone was coming. And that the someone was a friend.

A moment later Jake rounded the corner of the house and started across the yard. Tiffany watched his progress, thought about getting up, and decided she was just too comfortable to move. Instead she waved her hand and called out to him. “Over here.”

Jake waved back, his long-legged stride quickly eating up the distance between them. Dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, his hair slightly mussed, he looked comfortable and at ease. As he climbed the two steps up into the gazebo, he smiled, motioning toward Tiffany’s feet. “Nice sandals.”

“A gift from my niece.”

Jake’s gaze moved from the sandals to the book lying on the ground and then to the discarded magazine. “Sorry to disturb you, but I had a few questions to ask. I rang the doorbell. When you didn’t answer, I thought I’d check out here.”

“No problem. I was just relaxing. Doctor’s orders.”

“I’m surprised you’re following them. The last I heard, you were bound and determined to ignore Brian’s advice and head off to work today.”

Curious, Tiffany sat up straight, moving her legs so Jake
could join her on the swing. “Who have you been talking to?”

Jake sat down. “I stopped by Becky’s Diner this morning and ran into your mom and dad. Your mom told me you kicked them out of the house so you could get ready for work. Were they here all weekend?”

“Yes. My parents and half the population of Lakeview.”

“Doesn’t sound very restful.”

Tiffany thought about the past few days, then shook her head. “Nice, but definitely not restful. I finally put my foot down and told my parents they needed to go home so I could get back to my normal routine.”

“And once they were gone you decided to play hooky from work?”

“No, I actually planned to work until Tom stopped by. After talking to him, I realized I was more tired than I thought.”

“What happened with Tom? I noticed he isn’t working today.”

“He quit.”

“Did he say why?” Jake’s gaze sharpened, his demeanor changing from friendly and relaxed to alert in the space of a heartbeat.

“More or less. He told me things had gotten out of hand this summer and he needed to get away for a while. He plans to help his father make deliveries.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure that must disappoint you.”

Tiffany had expected Jake to be happy with Tom’s decision and to tell her so. His words surprised her and she looked away, hoping he wouldn’t notice the sudden moisture in her eyes. “Yeah, I guess it does. I really like Tom. He’s a good kid.”

“I’m beginning to believe that.”

Tiffany turned and met Jake’s steady gaze. “That’s a change.”

Jake shrugged, his shoulder brushing against Tiffany’s. “I judged him harshly. I realize my mistake. I still say most kids like Tom can’t or won’t change, but he’s one of the few that really wants to.”

Jake’s assessment made Tiffany smile. “I guess I shouldn’t say I told you so.”

“But you will?”

She laughed, a weight she hadn’t realized she was carrying suddenly lifted. It felt good to be with Jake. “No. Not this time.”

“You’re assuming there’ll be other times when I’m wrong?”

“I’m sure this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for you.”

“Maybe twice in a lifetime, but not much more.” Jake’s grin did something to Tiffany’s stomach and she looked away, afraid he’d see how much he affected her.

“You said you had a few questions to ask?”

“Right. Sorry. Can you remember anything else about your attacker? You said he was tall. Did you see hair color? Clothes?”

Tiffany tried to force her mind to see more than a hazy memory. “I think his clothes were dark, but his hair might have been light. Blond or light brown.”

“And you didn’t see if he was Caucasian or had a darker skin color?”

“No. It happened too fast.”

Jake nodded. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“I’ve got a good guess. But guessing doesn’t put criminals behind bars.”

“Too bad. I’d feel a lot safer knowing whoever did this to me couldn’t come back.”

“You and me both.” Jake leaned back and stretched, the length of his arm ruffling the edges of Tiffany’s unbound hair. He glanced at the rioting curls and smiled. “I like your hair like that.”

“Yeah? You’re into the windstorm-survivor look?”

“On you, anything would look good.”

Tiffany knew his words were a harmless flirtation but warmth spread across her cheeks. She stood and moved away, hoping distance would force some sense into her. “It’s getting hot. I think I’ll get some lemonade. Would you like a glass?”

“Sounds good. Why don’t I come in and help you with it?”

The coolness of the house helped drain some of the rioting color from Tiffany’s cheeks. Relieved, she grabbed two glasses from the cupboard and filled each with lemonade and ice, handing one to Jake. He took a sip of the cool liquid, watching over the rim as she did the same. “You manage pretty well for a one-armed woman. So, how are you feeling?”

“Better.”

“That’s a relative term. You were so miserable the other night, better might still be terrible.”

His words surprised Tiffany and she stared at him for a moment before speaking. “You’re good at that.”

“What?”

“Hearing the truth instead of what makes you comfortable. I think in the past two days a hundred people have asked me how I am. I’ve told them all the same thing I just told you. You’re the only one who questioned me further.”

“Most people take things at face value. It makes life less complicated.”

Jake’s assessment sparked Tiffany’s curiosity. She was about to ask what he meant when the shrill sound of the
phone cut into their conversation. Tiffany planned to ignore it but after two rings, the answering machine picked up and the gruff voice of one of her clients filled the room.

“Tiffany? This is Matt Culver. I tried to reach you on your office phone with no luck. We’ve got a problem here. I think a hacker has accessed our database and is flooding it. We’re having problems with the system and we need it up and running…ten minutes ago.”