Treasure on Lilac Lane: A Jewell Cove Novel (8 page)

Jess’s fingers tightened on the scrap of cloth in front of her. That night she’d left Mike, but no matter what Josh said, Jess had felt so stupid. She’d refused to let anyone else see just what her life had become. Instead, Josh drove her to the shelter and held her hand as she’d called their mother and explained that she and Mike had broken up and she was visiting friends for a while to clear her head. He’d made sure that Mike was really gone, and once the visual evidence of that night was gone from her face, she’d returned home. Started getting on with her life.

Sort of.

“Jess, are you okay?” Summer’s voice came from beside her, deep with concern. “You’ve gone really pale.”

Breathe. In, out. In, out. Jess forced a smile and slipped the thimble from her finger. “Sorry. I’ve got a bit of a headache. I felt a little woozy there for a minute.”

“We can stop for today. Maybe you need to lie down? Or maybe it’s the fine detail of the stitches bothering your eyes. Do you want to take something for it?”

Bless her, Summer was in mothering mode and it was hard for Jess to say no. Mike had no power over her now. Never would again. She’d repeat it to herself until she believed it, just as she’d done in the years since she’d left him. And it would be okay.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to make some tea or something.”

Summer popped up from her chair. “You need to relax. Let’s leave this for now and go up to your loft. You can chill out and I’ll make the tea.”

What Jess really wanted was to be alone, but she could hardly throw Summer out. Truth be told, she was tired. The foot traffic was picking up again and she had added extra evening classes. During the day she’d been working on replenishing her stock—something she didn’t have much time to do over the summer months. Yesterday she’d spent the whole day on candles, which sold briskly when the autumn set in. There were still the necklaces for the wedding to make, too …

They climbed the stairs to Jess’s loft—her living space above the store and workroom. It was a huge area, the entire second floor divided into a single bedroom, bathroom, and common-area living room and kitchen. She’d kept the colors deliberately light and restful—creamy white and pale aqua with the smallest splashes of taupe and apricot in the decoration. The floor was natural maple hardwood, adding to the impression of light and space. An array of Jess’s candles and seashells were arranged atop a glass-topped coffee table. The same wall of windows faced the harbor, with white roman blinds pulled open now but ready to drape down for privacy as needed.

Jess preferred to keep them open as much as possible.

Just being here brought her stress levels down. Summer instantly went to fill the kettle sitting on the stove and told Jess to sit.

Jess obeyed, sinking into the soft cushions of her sofa. From there she directed Summer to the cups and tea bags, leaned back, and gratefully closed her eyes. It made sense if Summer thought she had a headache, but truthfully she was just trying to calm down and not have a panic attack. She’d already felt her head go light, her leg muscles tighten up, the telltale tingling of her scalp. It didn’t happen often, not anymore. The mention of Mike Greer was enough to set it off.

“You like milk, Jess?”

“Just a little, yes, please.” She opened her eyes, feeling slightly more in control. “Thanks, Summer. I don’t know what came over me.”
Liar
, a voice in her head accused, but she ignored it. She’d learned how to cover a long time ago.

“Please,” Summer chided, bringing over a steaming mug. “You’re always taking care of everyone else, Jess. Sometimes you need looking after, too. How’s the head?”

“A little better, thanks.” She sipped at the hot tea … delicious. More of the tension drained away. Summer, for all her quirky appearances, was a nurturing soul.

“I really love it up here, Jess. It’s like having the beach right in your apartment.”

“That was the general idea.” She smiled faintly. “Thanks for this. I think I needed the sit-down.”

“Tessa’s got the store and you’re right here if she needs anything. You should have a nap. You’ve got that burning the candle at both ends look about you.”

“I might do that.”

“In that case I’ll let you go. I want to stop by the soap shop on the way home. I’m out of lavender oil.”

Summer took her mug to the kitchen and came back, giving Jess’s hand a squeeze. “Take some time for yourself, sweetie. You deserve it as much as anyone else. See you later.”

When she was gone Jess sighed and put her mug on the coffee table and slid down on the sofa, pulling a cream-colored throw over her. Maybe just a short nap. Just for a few minutes …

*   *   *

Darkness filtered through the windows as Jess jerked awake from a nightmare, sitting up abruptly. Her breath came hard and fast; sweat trickled down her temples and she pulled her knees into her chest while she tried to get her bearings.

God, it had been so real. Like he was right there, back in the Greer summer cottage where they’d moved in together. Sheltered by the woods on three sides and with wide open water on the other, the property was secluded and private. More like isolated. A prison. Over the years, Jess had learned a lot about abusive relationships, about the emotional and psychological damage that came with living with someone like Mike. But at night, she just remembered the sight of his face twisted with ugly anger, the sound of his hand hitting her cheek echoing through the air the millisecond before the numbing pain struck.

Jess smoothed her hands over her face, trying to shut the memories out and focus on the present, but in the dim light of her living room, she could still feel Mike’s hands circling her neck until she saw black and gray blotches. Not long enough for her to lose consciousness. Only long enough to keep the fear pounding through her veins, just the way he wanted it.

She trembled all over and couldn’t stop. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she fought to banish the images from her mind. She was in her home. She was safe, and Mike Greer was long out of the picture. But his family had just moved home, and his mom was sick. There was no way one promise made years ago was going to keep him away for good.

Shoving her damp hair back from her face, she rose unsteadily, went to the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of water. Then she picked up the phone and dialed.

“This is Josh.”

“Hey, brother.” Her voice came out slightly shaky. Damn.

“Jess. What’s wrong? You sound funny.”

“I’m okay. Just a bad dream.”

“Aw, honey. You want to come over?”

Josh lived in a house just down the street from Sarah and Mark. But Jess didn’t want to risk seeing anyone else, not in her state. “No, it’s okay. I just … it’s the reason for the nightmare that I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Yeah?”

“I heard today that the Greers moved back. Karen has cancer. And Brian has asked the kids to come home.”

Josh let out a long breath. It sounded like a whistle in Jess’s ear and she closed her eyes. After their dad had died, she’d relied on Josh. He was so much like their father. Caring but tough. Reliable. Just talking to him helped immensely.

“You worried about him coming near you?”

There was a long pause, and then she whispered, “Just hearing his name made me melt down, Josh.”

Josh cursed under his breath. “We should have had him arrested back then. Do you want to tell Bryce? I doubt there’s anything he can do about it, but it wouldn’t hurt to have him know.”

“No!” Jess tried to temper her voice and not panic. “You’re the only one who knows what happened that night. And I want to keep it that way. Please, Josh.”

“Jess…”

“I just … I don’t know what I want. To give you the heads-up, I guess. To … to tell someone rather than keep it inside. This way if I show up on your doorstep, you’ll know why.”

“You can come stay here,” he suggested. “I doubt he’ll be in town for long if he shows up at all. I could always use a roommate.”

She thought of Josh’s hours, and his dislike for housekeeping and cooking. “Thanks, but no thanks. At least not for now. Talking to you has helped.” Besides, she’d fought hard for her independence, moving out, taking night courses in business, and opening the shop. She wasn’t about to give that up at the first sign of trouble.

“If he causes any grief—and I mean any at all, I want you to promise me that you’ll talk to Bryce about it.”

“I’d rather keep it quiet.”

“Promise me, Jess. Mike Greer is a manipulative asshole who thinks he can have whatever he wants. I convinced him otherwise once, but I don’t trust him and neither should you.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t. Not for a second.”

“So promise me.”

“I promise. You’re a good brother, Josh.”

“Of course I am. And remember—you’re not in this alone. You never were. And I can guaran-damn-tee you that you’ve got backup in me, and Tom, and Bryce, and even Rick if it comes to that. The slightest whiff of trouble and you go to any one of us, okay? We’ve got your back one hundred percent.”

Her throat closed over a wad of tears. “Okay,” she whispered into the receiver.

“Love you,” he said, making her even more weepy.

“Love you, too,” she said.

After she hung up the phone, she went to the bathroom and ran a hot shower, scrubbing away the sweat and the lingering dregs of the nightmare. Too bad she couldn’t scrub away the memories of the past, too. But they were there to stay. She ran the puff over the puckered scar on her belly and swallowed the tears that clogged in her throat, refusing to let them out.

He’d marked her for life.

*   *   *

As maid of honor, it was Jess’s duty to hold a bridal shower for Abby, and she hosted it on the Saturday night one week before the wedding. She closed the store at five, and at seven thirty about a dozen women would descend on her apartment for an evening of food, wine, and silly shower games. She was also aware that the boys were having their stag night tonight.

Jess put out a few wine bottles and glasses, and then a punch bowl for those who chose not to drink. Her mind automatically drifted to Rick like it seemed to quite frequently these days. She wondered how he was doing in his mother’s house all by himself. And then whether he’d be any trouble at the bachelor party tonight. For Tom’s sake, she hoped not. She was glad that tonight’s party was low-key—just a poker night for four at Josh’s house with pizza and beer. Maybe Rick would be sensible for once.

And maybe she should spend the time getting ready instead of thinking about Rick so much.

She mixed the punch in a large juice container and put it in the fridge—she’d add the soda when it was time to serve, and the berries she’d frozen, too. All around the room she’d put jars of her homemade candles, the scent she called “Wedding Cake” which was a yummy blend of almond, white cake, and vanilla scents. Each jar was tied with navy-and-white ribbons—Abby’s wedding colors—with a small silk sprig of lily of the valley. She’d made miniature jars, too, as favors for all the guests, and had popped into the flower shop for a bouquet to help dress up the apartment. Knowing Abby’s preference for warm fall colors, she brought home an enormous arrangement of miniature sunflowers, red gerbera daisies, orange circus roses, lilies, and wheat. She’d deliberately steered away from the paper streamers and wedding bells, though she’d be sure to keep the bows from the presents and make Abby one heck of a “bouquet.” Every bride deserved that sort of silly memento.

At seven twenty people began arriving. Jess poured the punch, uncorked wine, deposited presents on the glass-topped table, and put her scallops wrapped in bacon under the broiler. Cindy White arrived and brought tortilla chips with salsa and a huge bowl of fresh guacamole. Then came Gloria Henderson, church organist and head of the Historical Society, carrying her Tupperware container of ambrosia salad. Summer swept in, the tips of her hair dyed a new shade of pinkish red and carrying a tray of veggies and dip. Mary and Sarah arrived and added grapes and a variety of cheeses to the feast. Lisa Goodwin, who was one of the last babies to be born at Foster House when it was a home for unwed mothers, came in quietly, a bit shyer than the others. She put her present on the table and then asked Jess for a plate for her crackers and if she had room to heat up her crab dip a little.

The noise in the apartment was rising, ringing with laughter, as everyone filled Abby in on some of Tom’s more embarrassing moments growing up in Jewell Cove. Jess laughed as Sarah started in on the time Tom, Josh, and Rick decided to search for the fabled treasure out at Fiddler’s Rock. Jess had tried to tag along until Rick had implemented a no-girls rule.

Rick. Jess stiffened as the image of the man he was today popped into her head. She should be relaxed and enjoying herself, so why was it she couldn’t stop thinking about Rick and wondering what he was doing tonight? Was Rick laughing with the guys at these same memories? He hadn’t been by the shop for a few days. Why on earth did she keep wishing to spend time with him again? Like in the cab of his truck, maybe? Driving to nowhere in particular?

The thought didn’t sit well, so Jess busied herself in the kitchen. Someone had been gracious enough to take her scallops out of the oven when the timer went off; they were arranged on a shell-shaped platter and put with the other food along with the warm crab dip. Jess grabbed a plate since she’d missed dinner and filled it with goodies, then poured a cup of punch and took it to a stool by the breakfast nook. Abby came over and put her hand on Jess’s shoulder just as she was scooping some guacamole onto a curled chip.

“Jess, this looks lovely. The candles are gorgeous. Flowers, too. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

“It was my pleasure. I was young and living at home when Sarah got married. I never got the chance to throw her a shower; our mom did that. I’m more than happy to do it for you. So, this is your last week as a single woman. How does it feel?”

Abby’s smile blossomed. “Awesome.”

“Well, grab something to eat, and we’ll get some presents going before long.”

“Thank you, Jess. For everything.” Abby leaned over and kissed Jess’s cheek, the gesture so sweet and uncommon that Jess’s eyes misted over for just a moment. On impulse Jess reached out and took Abby’s hand. Their eyes met and Jess felt an odd, strange community with Abby. Like the other woman could see past her barriers.