Under Currents (9 page)

She shifted her attention to Ally and Scott. They fished with their cousins from the bank. When Frank Grear came up the side steps of the deck, she glanced at her mother.

“I invited him,” her mother said boldly.

Julie glared at her mom.

I should get my kids and leave now.

But she didn’t. Scott and Ally had been looking forward to this all week.

“Hey, Julie,” Frank said, removing his hat. He grinned slyly as he waited for her reaction.

She feigned interest in what Ally and Scott were doing, pretending not to hear him. The man had somehow weaseled an invitation from her mom. Her dear mom would love to see her married again.

“Nice day, little cool maybe.” Frank made his way across the deck and stood beside her. “I hope it warms up.”

He was referring to her attitude not the weather. She’d told him several times she wasn’t interested in dating him. But Frank refused to take
no
for an answer and continued to let people believe she was his.

Well, I’m not.

But you’d like to be Caleb’s.

She pushed the thought from her mind but couldn’t help remembering the kiss they’d shared and the way her body had yearned for more. While she might get used to being ostracized by her family and the community, she couldn’t put that burden on her children, nor did she want to be the one responsible for splitting her mother’s family right down the middle.

“Ever find out who slashed your tubes?” George asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “I ordered surveillance cameras and security lights. I need to drive over to Poplar Bluff and pick them up. Can you help me install them?”

“Just let me know when,” answered George, gripping a Bud in one hand with his other draped around Cora.

“Sounds extreme,” her father stated.

“I also have a man coming to give me an estimate on a fence.”

“That seems a bit expensive,” Cora remarked.

“What else can she do?” Jimmy added. “She can’t sit back and let someone ruin her business.”

“I’d rather she take the precautions at her house with Caleb McGregor living next door,” Frank said casually.

“You got that right,” Uncle Bob contributed.

“He doesn’t bother us. We rarely see him.”

“He murdered our Amy, and I won’t rest until he burns in hell.” Aunt Noreen’s forehead wrinkled in a frown.

Let it go.

Julie couldn’t resist defending Caleb. “It was a terrible
accident
. And he’s sorry.”

From the angry expressions on their faces, she expected their heads to explode.

Oh, crap. I’ve really muddled things now.

“It wasn’t an accident!” Noreen scowled at her. “He had plenty of time to turn the boat. Plenty of time, and he didn’t.”

Her uncle sighed. “And ten years isn’t enough time for what he did. He has the rest of his life. What does Amy have?”

Her brothers passed off questioning glances before shifting their gazes back to her. Everyone on the deck stared at her, especially Frank, who seemed to be trying to read between the lines.

Her father removed his cap and rubbed his head. “Julie, you been talking to Caleb?”

“Yes. Ally wandered into his yard and introduced herself. I ran out to stop her. I mentioned Amy was my cousin. He told me how sorry he was. End of story.”

“You stay away from that bastard.” Her uncle squeezed the beer can until it was a clump of aluminum. “I hate the sonofabitch.”

“It’s not like I’m going to invite him to dinner.” Of course after he’d replaced the tire swing, the thought had occurred to her.

Her mom’s face appeared troubled. Her dad stood and patted his stomach. “Let’s eat. Food’s getting cold.”

Julie’s mom pulled the rope on an enormous black cast iron bell anchored to the deck wall, and the children responded immediately to the clanging. They dropped their cane poles and ran toward the house.

My little darlings are starving.

After Scott and Ally joined the others at the table with their food, Julie returned to the kitchen and fixed her own plate. Her appetite had dwindled to nothing since Frank arrived. The smell of the ribs only nauseated her. She made her way outside and over to the picnic table.

Frank sat across from her kids. Her aunt and uncle and father and mother sat at one end while her brothers and their wives occupied the opposite end. Between them, her brothers’ kids took every available seat, leaving her no option but to sit by Frank.

By his cunning grin, it looked like he’d planned it.

Well, if this doesn’t beat all.

When she’d first met Frank, she liked him. He’d been charming and was attractive, but it didn’t take long to see the wolf under the sheep’s wool.

Everyone made small talk between bites. So far the subject of Caleb hadn’t resurfaced again, and she hoped it wouldn’t.

Julie glanced down at the plate of food she’d taken— ribs, beans, coleslaw, and potato salad. She thought about how much Caleb would enjoy the meal.

She had to stop thinking about him, forget the years of idolizing him. It wasn’t just an old crush that made her want to reach out to Caleb. He was a lost soul who was lonely and distressed by his past.

“Ally, how did you get that bump on your forehead?” her mother asked.

“Scott pushed me too hard, and the rope popped, and I hit the ground.”

“Did not,” Scott said.

“Did too.”

“The rope snapped, goofball. Mom said it wasn’t my fault.”

“Dad, these ribs are great,” Julie said in desperation, hoping to change the subject before Ally said too much.

“They should be. George loaned me his secret sauce.”

“Sell that recipe and make some money,” Julie said in a light tone, looking at George. She breathed a sigh of relief hoping she’d swayed the conversation away from Caleb.

“I’ll get over there sometime this week and put a new rope on the tire,” her father said.

“Caleb already did,” Ally said, as though talking about her best friend. “And he helped me fly my kite.”

Julie wanted to slide beneath the table. Vanish. Totally
disappear
for a couple of years. No one took a bite or said anything. Their penetrating glares indicated their disapproval. Why try to deny it? It’d just make matters worse. “Yes, he did. I didn’t ask him to do it.”

“Caleb said my new name is Knothead,” Ally said, making her Aunt and Uncle’s faces turn red and contort with outrage.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” Frank raged, his eyes bulging.

“Okay, don’t jump to conclusions. He was working in his yard when the rope broke. He ran over and picked her up, then brought her to the backdoor. That’s it.”

“He’s trying to come on to you,” Frank insisted. “You’re eatin’ it up too.”

“He is not. He’s my neighbor. What was he supposed to do? Leave her on the ground and let her scream or bleed to death?”

“I’ve warned him to stay away from you,” Frank said.

“You did what?” Julie scowled at him. “When?”

“After I saw him leave your house, I followed him into town and had a little talk with him. I’ll break every bone in his body if he ever steps foot in your house again.”

Before she could reply, Ally stood, her flushed face strained with anger. “Don’t you hurt Caleb. I like him. I want Mommy to marry him, not you. He gave her a hummingbird and made her happy.”

Thank goodness Ally didn’t mention the motorcycle ride.

“Ally, for heaven’s sake. The man’s an ex—“

“Mom, I’d rather the kids not know.”

“Not know that there’s a killer living next door,” her Aunt Noreen said, pointing her knife at Julie. “Are you crazy?”

“Caleb’s a killer?” Scott’s face paled and appeared in shock.

“Julie, you let Caleb come into your house?” her father asked.

“Yes, when he carried Ally inside.” She wouldn’t mention the times when he brought his laundry over or picked it up.

Ally had just split the earth wide open. And the shockwave would match that of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Her brothers and their families stared at her with condemning eyes.

She couldn’t stop the fire that burned within the very core of her being for Caleb—a fire that had to be doused soon or there’d be nothing left of her common sense. She should face the reality that there wasn’t any kind of future with Caleb. Romeo had a better chance of fitting in with Juliet’s family than Caleb ever did with hers.

She glanced at her kids to see how the argument was affecting them. Neither seemed interested in finishing their food. Both wore disheartened expressions. Caleb was their hero. Now her family had tarnished that image.

“How long did he stay?” her mom asked.

“That’s it. We’re leaving.” Julie stood while holding the plate of food in her hand, the entire time planning to give it to Caleb. 

“Oh, Julie. We’re just concerned for you and the kids,” her mother said, trying to smooth things over.

“Well don’t be. Caleb has been nothing but polite. He’s not after me. And I’m not afraid of him. The man is haunted relentlessly by what he did. He still can’t believe that he did something so horrible, but it was an accident. You need to try to forgive him and let go of the hatred in your heart.”

“My own niece is defending the likes of him.” Aunt Noreen looked at her as if she were a traitor.

“He’s my neighbor. That’s all. He’s not a threat to the kids or me. Be more concerned why someone is trying to destroy my business.”

“I’m following you home.” Frank walked around the table and stood no more than a foot away from her.

“No, you’re not.”

Her dad and brothers left the table and joined her.  No doubt, they sensed this could turn ugly.

Thank God for family.

“Maybe you have plans with Caleb once the kids are tucked in bed,” Frank suggested.

Julie slapped him.
Hard
. “Don’t you dare insinuate such a thing. Not in front of my family or kids. Since you insist on making an issue out of this, I’ll tell you the truth.” She paused catching her breath. Despite the rage building in his eyes, she continued. “If I were ready to share my life with a man, it wouldn’t be you. I don’t feel anything for you except disgust.”

“You bitch.”

“Here now, Frank. Don’t speak to my daughter like that. I think you should leave.”

Her brothers flanked their dad on each side, standing with their legs apart and arms folded, ready for any confrontation.

Frank shoved past them and headed out the gate, slamming it behind him.

Julie’s stomach twisted in knots. What had she done to Caleb? Frank loved to use his position as a policeman to bully others, not to mention she suspected he was corrupt and underhanded. She wouldn’t put anything past him.

Julie covered her food with an extra paper plate, then turned to her father. “I’m leaving. Sorry I ruined your cookout.” She glanced at her mother. “I don’t know why you invited Frank.”

“I had my reasons.”

“I don’t like those reasons. Don’t do it again.”

“I’ll walk you out,” her dad said.

“Sure. Scott and Ally get in the van."

Her children ran ahead of them. Julie and her dad strolled along the side of the house around to the front. “I hope Frank cools down. If not, I’m afraid he’ll go after Caleb.”

“He’s a hot head all right.”

“Oh, Daddy. Caleb has been nice that’s all. I’m afraid of what Frank might do.”

“You seem rather fond of McGregor. You still carrying that torch for him?”

“You knew?”

“It would’ve been hard not to know the way you wrote his name on everything and cried the day they sentenced him.”

“I was a teenager. I’m different now, and he’s different. He’s wonderful to the kids and helpful. To be honest, with the threats I’ve received, I’m glad he’s next door. I know he’d do anything to protect Ally and Scott. Please don’t tell Mom.”

“Wouldn’t think of it. That’d be like sticking my nose in a hornet’s nest. Speaking of your mom, I didn’t know about Frank being invited.”

“I knew Mom was behind it.”

“Getting back to McGregor, don’t get too friendly with him. It’ll destroy this family. Do you understand, Julie?”

“I understand the consequences.”

Why hadn’t she just promised him not to become involved? Julie’s heart and mind battled over her answer—her mind reminding her how damaging a relationship with Caleb would be while her heart yearned for his love.

On the drive home, Scott sat in the seat beside her while Ally slept in back. “Who did Caleb kill?”

“Two girls—my cousin Amy and another girl. It was a boating accident. He was convicted of manslaughter and sent to prison.”

“What’s manslaughter?” Scott asked.

“Well, there’s first and second degree murder, that’s when the person intended to kill someone. But manslaughter is when you didn’t plan it, like an accident that you caused.” She wasn’t sure how much he understood, but she hoped he realized Caleb hadn’t wanted to do it.

“Oh.” He rode for a moment, then sighed. “Mom, you know what Ally said about you marrying Caleb?”

How could she ever forget?

“What about it?”

“You wouldn’t, would you? I mean marry someone who killed another person.”

“No, I wouldn’t. Not if I thought they were guilty,” she added, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Scott nodded. His little face lightened in relief.

“Scott, let’s talk about your secret.”

“Can’t.”

“Why not?”

“You told me not to.”

“Let me just ask one thing. Who are they keeping the secret from?”

“I reckon the whole world.”

“But if you had to think of one person, who would that be?”

“Uncle Bob.” Scott made the motion to zip his lips. “My lips are sealed.”

Too bad. It was just getting interesting.

Once home, Ally colored and Scott watched a movie in the den.

Julie transferred the food to one of her plates and heated it in the microwave. She took a peek at her kids before slipping out of the house like a rebellious teenager.

She knocked on Caleb's backdoor, set the plate down, and hurried down the steps. She hid in the shadows beside the house. A moment or so ticked by before he flicked the porch light on and retrieved the plate. She waited until his door closed before making her way home.