Where She Belongs (30 page)

S
helby placed a platter of deviled eggs in the refrigerator then lingered at the kitchen window facing the oval. The stones from the creek made an almost perfect circle beneath the outstretched limbs of the oak. Within the circle, AJ knelt and struck a match while Paul Norris squatted nearby. Jillian, Seth, his sister Mandy, and the girls gathered near one of the picnic tables, snacking on grapes and apple slices.

After the match's tiny spark flared on the dry kindling beneath the logs, AJ coaxed it into a sizzling flame. Paul must have said something humorous because he laughed as he added more kindling.

“They got the fire going.” Shelby gathered a few tomatoes and faced the table where Renee Norris stirred a homemade vinaigrette dressing. “My first.”

Perhaps my last
.

She dismissed the thought, resolving once again to focus on the present. Neither the unknown future nor the difficult past would intrude on today's festive mood. That's why she hadn't asked AJ if he'd contacted the sheriff's office about the photographs, though she suspected he had. Ever since he arrived, he had avoided being
alone with her. Though that wasn't difficult considering how much Elizabeth and Tabby monopolized him.

She retrieved a knife from the counter and sat at the table to cut the tomatoes into juicy red slices for the hamburgers.

“I remember coming here for church cookouts when I was a teen.” Renee's easygoing smile and twinkling brown eyes brightened her attractive features. The mother of two teenagers and a jewelry designer, she participated in frequent 5Ks to maintain her trim figure. “You've done so much with the place in such a short time. Your grandparents would be pleased.”

“I had a lot of help. Including your husband. I can't thank Paul and Seth enough for cleaning out that horrid attic.” She almost gagged at the memory of the carcasses. “Though now, that floor may be cleaner than this one.”

“I heard stories.” Renee wrinkled her nose and chuckled. “I wasn't surprised Paul took on something like that, but I was thrilled when they'd finished. He had to burn their clothes.”

“Why did he do it?”

“That's the kind of man he is. A good neighbor.”

“There's more to it than that.” Shelby dipped a baby carrot in the vinaigrette and took a bite. “Um, this is good.”

“Thanks.” Renee funneled the vinaigrette into a tall cruet. “It's an old Norris family recipe. His grandmother won a blue ribbon at the county fair with it.”

“I can see why.” Shelby absentmindedly rotated another carrot between her fingers. “Paul told me once he owed my dad a favor, but he wouldn't say what it was. Do you know?”

Renee's eyes became solemn, but her smile didn't fade. If anything, a serene glow lit her expression. “I do.” Her tranquil sigh seemed to momentarily transport her into the past, then she gazed at the window.

Shelby followed her gaze. From their vantage point seated at the table, Shelby could see the oak stretched across a perfectly blue sky. Because the house stood several feet above ground level, they
couldn't see anyone, but Shelby could tell Renee's thoughts were preoccupied with her husband and children.

“I didn't mean to pry,” she said apologetically.

“You're not.” Renee put the topper on the cruet and set it aside. “We are the family we are because of your dad.”

Shelby mentally repeated the words. “I don't understand.”

“It's an old story. Paul and I dated in high school. I became pregnant.” She shrugged. “We both had college scholarships. Dreams for the future. And parents who wanted the best for us.”

“What did my dad do?”

“He asked Paul to imagine ten years had passed. To think about his profession, his home, even what kind of vehicle he would be driving. To dream his perfect life.”

Intrigued, Shelby leaned on the table, her chin resting in her palm. “How did that help?”

“To my great joy,” Renee said as she unconsciously patted her heart, “Paul realized that his only perfect life included me. Ten years, twenty years, forty years. It didn't matter how far into his future he tried to see. I was his constant.”

“His constant.” Shelby's heart flipped with longing and mild envy. “I love that.”

“I've loved it for twenty-two years.”

“Twenty-two? But Seth is only . . .”

“He's eighteen.” Renee leaned against the table. “I miscarried a week before we were going to be married. So, because our parents wanted it, we waited one more year.”

“Then lived happily ever after?”

“Mostly, yes. Not that we haven't had our share of problems and heartaches. But we've faced them together.”

“You're very lucky.”

“Not lucky. Blessed. And all thanks to Adam Lassiter.”

“He gave you good advice.”

“The best. We use it whenever we have a big decision to make. Usually we only go a few years into the future. Seldom more than ten.” Her smile flashed. “But it does seem to give us needed perspective.”

“And it got my attic cleaned,” Shelby joked. Perhaps her dad's advice would work for her too. Where did she want to be in ten years if she couldn't be at Misty Willow? Elizabeth would be almost seventeen, Tabby thirteen.

Teenagers!

She got up from the table and peered out the window. Tabby clung to Seth's back as he jogged around the yard. Elizabeth sat with Jillian and Mandy, her slender arm slung across Lila's creamy neck. AJ and Paul, apparently deep in conversation, lounged in lawn chairs near the circle.

Shelby gasped as her restless thoughts and the yearnings in her heart slid together in perfect precision. With blinding clarity, she realized her grandparents' legacy wasn't bound by a place.

Though she had struggled to re-create Misty Willow into the golden home of her childhood, she'd neglected Grandpa and Nanna's most treasured gift—their deep abiding love for each other.

Two souls. One heart.

AJ leaned forward and poked at the fire with a long stick. The inevitable OSU ball cap shaded his features, but beneath the brim were warm brown eyes, an engaging smile, and an adorable Cary Grant cleft. All belonging to a man she'd have been proud to introduce to Grandpa.

As if he sensed her thoughts, AJ gazed toward the house. Seeing her, his smile broadened, and he waved.

Abiding love was the legacy she most desired, and he was the constant she yearned to hold in her heart.

No matter where she lived, at Misty Willow or an African hut or in whatever spacious place God set her feet, she prayed for AJ to be there too.

As AJ poked at the fire, an undeniable impulse drew his eyes toward the house. Shelby gazed at him from the kitchen window. She wore her chestnut hair in a French braid tied with a red ribbon,
and loose wisps framed her lovely features. Though too far away to see the color of her eyes, he sensed the gleam of their emerald depths. She returned his casual wave then disappeared.

He had given her Richard's message when he first arrived without going into details. Preoccupied with preparations for the cookout, she hadn't asked for any, so his offhanded “I bumped into Richard in town” had been enough of an explanation. After that, AJ busied himself with the stones for the circle and building the fire. That is, when he wasn't throwing a tennis ball for Lila or a Frisbee to Elizabeth and Tabby.

Anything to prevent Shelby from asking about the photographs.

“Sittin' by this circle sure does take me back.” Paul's relaxed voice broke into AJ's thoughts. He gestured toward Elizabeth. “That little miss is Shelby's spitting image at her age.”

“You knew Shelby? When she was a child?”

“She practically lived here. Each spring I sold her three or four pigs for 4-H.” He propped his boot-clad foot on one of the rocks and crossed his ankles. “It was a sad time when Thad died.”

“Do you know anything about that? About how he died?”

“My parents still lived at the farm back then.” Beneath the bill of his John Deere ball cap, his forehead furrowed. “I remember my dad saying something once about it all being a bit strange how they said it happened.”

“Shelby thinks so too.” AJ explained about the trough and the photocopies.

“That does sound odd. Mr. Lassiter wasn't one to leave things lying about. And even though at the time I thought he was ancient, he wasn't feeble. I think that's what bothered Dad. He couldn't picture anything as senseless as Thad dying the way they said.”

“The report doesn't leave much room for doubt.”

A silver minivan pulled into the drive. “Here come Jason and Cassie.”

As he stood, AJ turned back to Paul. “Don't mention any of this to Shelby, okay?”

“What is it the kids say these days?” He rose beside AJ. “Duh!”

With a chagrined smile, AJ nodded his gratitude.

“Renee and I have been speculating that you're sweet on our nearest neighbor. Or is it none of my business?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“We see your Jeep here often enough as we're driving by.”

“Her daughters are crazy about my dog.”

“Is that what it is?” Paul chortled. “Sully's grandson and Thad's granddaughter. I bet your granddaddy is just a-spinnin' in his grave.”

T
he arrival of the Owens family sparked a flurry of excitement. AJ unloaded a portable grill from the rear of their minivan.

“Where's Penny?” he asked.

“Stuck at home.” Jason hoisted an ice chest. “She's in heat.”

“Are you going to breed her?”

“Maybe next time. Are you wanting a puppy?”

“Not really. Though I seem to be losing Lila to Elizabeth.”

“Maybe if you're real nice,” Jason teased, “Shelby will adopt you too.”

“Ha-ha. Come look at the stone ring.”

While he showed off the fire circle to Jason, Shelby and Renee came out of the house then disappeared inside again with Cassie and a large picnic basket. Elizabeth and Austin retreated into the old brick meat-smoking structure jutting from the side of the house with Lila following close behind.

The women soon reappeared with veggies, chips, and iced tea before joining the others around the circle. AJ scooted his chair to make room for Shelby's. She looked around with a satisfied smile, then lowered herself into the canvas chair.

“I love today,” she said softly.

“I hope you have a lot more like it.” He bit his lip, mentally kick
ing himself for such a stupid response. But if he'd reminded her of the lawsuit, she hid it well. No flicker of worry dimmed the green sparkle in her eyes. Instead she smiled as if safekeeping a secret.

“Me too,” she whispered.

When the charcoal briquettes turned to hot embers, the men gathered around the grills. As the burgers and brats sizzled, the women retrieved food from the house. Soon the picnic tables, festively decorated with the flower-filled pails and flags, were laden with casseroles, salads, condiments, and desserts.

Jason retrieved long sharpened sticks from the floor of his minivan. “Who wants a hot dog?” he shouted. “Let's put this fire to use.”

“I do, I do.” Tabby singsonged as she danced around Jason. AJ took one of the sticks and helped Tabby pierce a hot dog onto its end.

“Where's Austin?” Jason asked, scanning the area.

“I think Elizabeth wanted to show him a book she got from the library,” Shelby said as she put serving spoons in the potato salad and coleslaw. “I'll go get them.”

AJ pulled his chair closer to the circle, then helped Tabby balance the long stick. “Like this, honey.”

“Let me do it.”

“Just not too close, okay?”

A few moments later, Shelby's voice, edging on panic, sounded from the front of the house. “Elizabeth! Austin!”

AJ's throat constricted, and he scoured the area. The children were nowhere in sight. “Jillian, come help Tabby, will you?”

“Sure, Coach.” Jillian gave her stick to Seth and took AJ's place. “Is everything okay?”

“I'm sure it is.” He glanced at Jason's and Cassie's anxious expressions and jogged toward Shelby. Jason followed close behind.

They met up with Shelby near the bay window.

“Are they out here?” Her eyes restlessly searched the huge yard, the nearby fields, the curving road.

“Aren't they in the house?” Jason asked.

“I looked everywhere. Even upstairs.” She shook her head. “They weren't there.”

“How about the attic?” Paul asked as he approached them.

“The door was locked so I didn't go up there.”

“I'll check it out.” He headed into the house.

“Elizabeth was curious about the secret room.” AJ put his arm around Shelby's shoulder. “Maybe they're down there.”

“She doesn't even know where it is.”

“Still worth a look,” Jason said. “Remember how much we liked sneaking down there when we were kids?”

“You and Jason check it out,” AJ suggested. “I'll go around the house.”

“And the . . . the barn?” Tears swam in Shelby's worried eyes.

AJ gave her a sideways hug. “There too.”

Walking the perimeter of the house, he scanned the adjacent pasture and beneath the brush lining sections of the fence. The cellar door remained padlocked and the low windows were still intact. In the barn, he quickly checked the stalls and climbed into the straw-scented loft.

Nothing.

As he descended the ladder, he couldn't resist taking another look at the corner pen where Shelby must have kept her small litter. The trough was gone. Would it have been taken in as evidence?

He deeply exhaled. It didn't matter. Whatever had happened in this barn fourteen years ago wasn't nearly as important as finding Elizabeth and Austin.

Jogging down the drive, he met the others near the picnic table. The children hadn't been found inside the house. He glanced around the oval. “Where's Lila?”

Jason perked up. “Haven't seen her. Which means—”

“She must be with the kids.” AJ whistled, then listened for an answering bark. Nothing. “They have to be around here someplace.”

“Could they have gone to our place?” Cassie asked. “Austin wasn't too happy about leaving Penny at home.”

“They're at the engagement tree.” The fear in Shelby's eyes subsided as she gripped AJ's arm. “Elizabeth told me she didn't want to move away and leave Austin. He's her best friend. I know that's where they went.”

“Just like we did.” Jason huffed out air and glanced at his watch.

“They wouldn't know how to get there,” Cassie protested. “I think we should check our house first.”

“Let's go.” Jason dug his keys from his pocket.

“You go ahead. Shelby and I will head to the creek.” AJ glanced up the drive toward the pasture. “We'll take my Jeep as far as it will go. Everyone has a cell phone, right?”

Seth held out a key. “Take my truck, Coach. You'll get farther.”

“Thanks, Seth.”

“How did they get past us to go up the lane?” Renee asked as they all faced her. “Think about it. We know they went into the house, and we've been out here the whole time. At least somebody has. They couldn't have gone up Shelby's lane without being seen by somebody.”

“They could have gone out the front door,” Paul said, “and up the pasture on that side. Seth and I will go that way. The rest of you stay here in case they come back.”

AJ and Shelby climbed into Seth's truck. Sticking the key in the ignition, he glanced her direction. Though wearing a seat belt, she leaned slightly forward as if propelling the vehicle with the force of her energy. “We'll find them,” AJ said. “Everything's going to be okay.”

She bit her lip and nodded. “I'm positive they headed for the willow. I'm less confident they could find their way there.”

“If they aren't there, we'll call the sheriff's office. Get a search party out here.”

“At least Lila is with them. I'm glad of that.”

“Me too. She won't let anything happen to them. Besides, even if she comes back, she can lead us to wherever they are.”

He maneuvered the truck along the lane as it disintegrated into a barely visible track and disappeared as they entered an empty pasture then passed a stand of hardwoods and pines.

“If they came this way, Elizabeth might recognize the woods.”

“Would she go in there?”

“I don't think so, but”—she shrugged—“I don't know.”

AJ drove several hundred feet before the ground became too rough to go any farther. “We'll have to walk from here.” He opened the door, then balanced on the edge of the floorboard. “Lila! Come here, girl.”

Shelby slid out of the truck and joined him. “I'm ready to lock one little girl in her room until she's eighteen.”

“Don't be too hard on her. If I thought it would keep you here, I'd camp out at the 'gagement tree myself.” His phone buzzed as he got out of the truck. “Hey, Jason. Did you find them?”

“They aren't here. We're headed back to your place.”

“We're on foot now, but we'll be at the creek before long.”

As they walked, AJ whistled and called for Lila. When the willow's crown appeared beyond a slight rise, her gleeful bark resounded through the still air.

Shelby gasped in relief, and AJ clasped her hand. Together they sprinted toward the creek.

Elizabeth and Austin stood next to Lila beside the willow's delicate branch. A knapsack lay on the ground beside them. Lila jumped in place, raced to AJ, then wheeled and returned to the children.

Shelby released AJ's hand and fell to her knees in front of her daughter. “Oh, Bitsy. I was so worried about you. What were you thinking taking off like that?”

Elizabeth glanced at Austin. “We had something to do.”

“If you ever do anything like this again . . .” Shelby pressed her lips together and pulled Elizabeth into an embrace.

AJ grasped Austin's shoulder. “How about you, buddy? You okay?”

“Yeah. We just took a walk.” Frowning, Austin fiddled with something in his hand.

“A long one, I'd say. What you got there?”

“Dad gave it to me.” He held out his hand, palm up, to reveal a penknife. “I'm puttin' our initials on the tree. Mine and Elizabeth's.”

“On the engagement tree?” AJ stifled a laugh and glanced at Shelby's stunned expression.

“You didn't.” Her eyes darted from Elizabeth to Austin and back again.

In rare defiance, Elizabeth raised her chin. “I don't want to move again.”

“I know you don't, sweetheart.”

“But now Austin and me will always be together.” She gestured toward the willow. “It's tradition.”

Shelby kissed the top of Elizabeth's head and took her hand. “Why don't you show me? You can come too, Austin.”

AJ pulled out his phone. “I'll pass on the news.” Tapping the keys, he sent texts to Jason and Paul, then ducked beneath the willow's overhanging branches.

Elizabeth traced the rough carving with her finger. E. K. + A. O. in an incomplete heart.

“I need to finish it,” Austin said. “It's kind of hard, though.”

“I can do it for you,” AJ offered, ignoring Shelby's glare.

Austin held out the knife, then took it back. “Will it still count?”

“Well, buddy, that's up to you and Elizabeth. And whatever God has planned for the two of you.” He winked at Shelby. “You're not eloping any time soon, are you?”

“Not until I have a job.” Austin's serious tone matched the earnest expression in his hazel eyes as he gave AJ the knife.

“That's a good plan, buddy.” AJ snapped open the blade and turned to Shelby. “You don't mind, do you?”

Shelby gazed at the heart-surrounded initials of her ancestors, then touched the ragged
E
. “Not much I can do about it now, is
there?” She placed her hand on AJ's shoulder, the slight touch of her fingers burning through his shirt. “But if they get married before she's thirty, I'm holding you responsible.”

“Thirty?”

“Okay, twenty-five.” Taking Elizabeth by the hand, she led her away from the willow. “You and I are going to have a little talk, young lady.”

AJ grinned at Austin, whose squatting posture matched his own. “You sure about this?”

“Elizabeth is my best friend,” he said solemnly. “I heard tell you should marry your best friend.”

“I've heard that too.”

“I figured I better speak up before she moves away.”

“Maybe something will happen, and they won't move.”

“That's what I've been praying about.”

“Me too, buddy.” He cut the bark to finish the heart. “Me too.”