Forgotten Lullaby (19 page)

“I remember his voice,” Emma said. “Soft and soothing. His pleas made me fight to come back.”

Kate finger-combed Carly's fine hair. “I know you have problems, Emma, but still, I can't help but be jealous. You have the perfect family.”

“I know. And I want us all to be together again.” Emma shivered, remembering the other voice in the hospital, the one from the person who'd wanted to kill her.

Kate wagged a finger at her. “Uh-oh, you've got that stubborn look about you.”

Emma laughed. “I'm not going to lose Grant over this. I'm going to win him back.”

The doorbell rang. Kate went to answer and escorted Dan McGuire in.

“Hi, Emma,” Dan said. “I didn't know you were going to be here.”

“I'm catching up with my sister,” Emma said.

“She's staying overnight. Grant had business to take care of,” Kate said. Emma shot her a grateful smile for glossing over the truth.

“I hope you're feeling better, Emma.” Dan's easy smile made her relax. There was no way her old high-school friend would hurt her.

“I am. I'm barely limping now.”

“That's good. Did Kate tell you she finally agreed to go with me on a buying trip?”

“No, she didn't, but that's great,” Emma said, noticing Kate's blushing face.

“Yeah, I thought I'd stop by and see if I could talk her into dinner.”

Kate immediately made an excuse, but Emma shook her head. “You two go ahead. Carly and I are going to turn in early.”

“I don't want to leave you alone,” Kate argued. “Not until the police catch that creep.”

“He has no idea I'm here. If he did, I would have gotten some kind of weird message by now,” Emma said, handing Carly a toy bear. “I feel perfectly safe in your house, Kate, especially with that policeman outside.” She ushered them toward the door. “Besides, it'll do me good to be alone. Maybe I can come up with a plan to win my husband back.”

Before Priscilla sinks her claws into him,
Emma added silently. Grant might have remained faithful to her so far, but she recognized the signs of a lioness on the prowl—Priscilla obviously wanted Grant, and she'd probably resort to almost anything to win him.

A shudder coursed through her. Would Priscilla resort to killing her?

 

A
LL AFTERNOON
Grant stewed over his conversation with Pete. Whereas once he'd disliked the man, now he felt sorry for him. Pete had been through hell. Grant couldn't blame Pete for drowning his sorrows in work; hadn't he been doing the same thing this week with Emma gone?

He pushed open the front door of his house, the squeaking almost eerie as he waited for the sounds of his family to greet him. The wonderful sounds of Emma's voice and Carly's cooing that made the house a home, not just empty rooms. But the silence closed in around him, reminding him Emma and Carly were gone. When he flipped on the light, he froze. Someone
had been in the house. His heart pounded as he listened. Was that someone still there?

As he scanned the living room, a sick feeling rose in his stomach. The wall of family photographs had been destroyed. Shattered glass from the frames littered the floor, and pictures had been torn into shreds. Then he glanced at the mirror above the fireplace and staggered against the wall when he read the message scrawled in lipstick:
It is time for Emma to die.

 

S
OMEONE WAS IN HER ROOM
.

Emma opened her eyes, her heart fluttering into her throat. Darkness bathed the room. A shadow loomed above her, large and powerful, and she opened her mouth to scream. The sound died in her throat when the shadow pushed a pillow over her face and pressed. She kicked and writhed, bucked, and tried to swing her fists. The pillow was pressed harder. She clawed wildly, but finally the pressure over her mouth and nostrils would no longer allow the intake of air. Darkness began sucking her in and her limbs went limp. Her attacker was winning….

As soon as Grant phoned the police, he dialed Emma. The phone rang and rang, and he paced the room, wondering why she wasn't answering. Maybe she was already asleep. Where was Kate?

Warner showed up within minutes and ordered a team of officers to dust for fingerprints.

“I'll be surprised if we find anything.” Warner's gaze rested on the message scrawled with lipstick. “Have you talked to your wife?”

Grant shook his head. “I phoned but there's no answer.”

“I'll call the guard outside her door, make sure he checks on her.”

“Thanks.” Grant sighed with relief. He had a bad feeling about things. The destruction this time seemed so much worse, as if the person had gone completely crazy.

The sick feeling rose in his stomach again and he tasted bile. He needed to hear Emma's voice for himself to be sure she was all right.

 

E
MMA REFUSED TO LEAVE
her baby behind. And Grant…he would never know how much she loved him.

A surge of renewed energy kicked in. She shoved her attacker, sending him toppling backward. Then she screamed, slid to the end of the bed and hit the floor at a dead run. Her attacker lunged after her, but she barreled through the door yelling for help.

Seconds later the door to the apartment opened and the light came on. Kate dashed toward her, flushed and out of breath. “What's wrong, Emma?”

“He…someone…tried to kill me,” she gasped. “Where's Carly?”

Kate grabbed Emma's hand and they ran into the room where Carly was sleeping. Someone pounded on the apartment door and Emma picked the baby up, holding her tightly against her chest.

The pounding grew louder. “Police, ma'am. Let me in!”

“Thank God,” Kate said, heading for the front door. Emma glanced into the bedroom where she'd been attacked and saw the curtains flapping in the breeze. Her attacker must have escaped through the opened window. “I think he's gone.” She sank onto the couch, trembling.

Kate checked the peephole, then let the policeman in.

“Call Grant,” Emma pleaded as the tears began to stream down her face. “Kate, please call Grant.”

 

G
RANT SAW THE ALARM
on Warner's face and his heart almost stopped beating.

“What's wrong? Is Emma okay?”

Warner hung up and gestured toward the door. “She's all right, but she wants you, Grant. Someone attacked her.”

Ten minutes later Grant raced into Kate's first-floor apartment, his fear almost choking him. He pounded on
the door, yelled his name and the door swung open. Kate greeted him soberly and moved aside. Emma was sitting on the sofa in a thin cotton robe, her hair tangled, her cheeks pale, her eyes wide with shock. She clutched Carly in her arms. The policeman stood in the corner looking grave. He instantly apologized to Warner.

“Sir, whoever it was came in a back window. I couldn't see him from the car.”

Grant cast him a furious look, then strode toward Emma. Still holding Carly, she stood up and stepped forward into his arms. He held both her and the baby, his eyes suspiciously moist.

“You two are coming with me,” he said against her hair.
And I'm not ever letting you go again.

 

A
N HOUR LATER
, after Emma had given the details of her attack to Warner, the police escorted them to a hotel. The questions Warner had asked bothered her, in particular, who'd known she was at Kate's? Grant, of course. Martha. And Kate. And Priscilla and Pete. Also Dan McGuire, who'd been at Kate's earlier. But none of them would want to kill her, would they? Then she remembered her earlier suspicions about Priscilla. If Priscilla wanted Grant for herself…

Kate checked into a separate room while Grant booked a suite for Emma, Carly and him. After they settled Carly in a crib, he turned down the bed and faced her. She tried to give him a brave smile.

Since he'd arrived at Kate's, Grant hadn't left her side. He'd held her and encouraged her during all the questions, and from the expression on his face, her story scared him as much as it did her. When she'd asked to go home, he'd told her about the break-in at the house.

Exhausted, she stumbled toward the bed. Grant
caught her and pulled her to him. She wondered if she'd ever stop shaking.

“Shh, it's okay now, sweetheart. We're safe here.”

“I just want you to hold me,” she whispered.

“I'm going to hold you, Emma, all night. I'm never going to let you go again.”

He helped her remove her coat. Beneath it she still wore her nightgown, and he insisted she lie down, then he shucked his clothes except for his boxers, pulled her into his arms and brought the thick comforter up over them. She heard his chest heaving for air and realized he was struggling with his own emotion; she ran her hand over his biceps wanting to assure him she was fine. “I'm glad you're here, Grant. When I thought he was going to k-kill me—”

“Shh, don't,” he said hoarsely.

She squeezed his arm, then traced her finger over his cheek. She felt moisture on his face and realized he was crying. “All I could think about was Carly and not seeing her again…” Her voice broke and she felt him swallow hard against her cheek. “And you, Grant. I kept thinking that I might never see you again, that you might never know how much I love you.”

He rocked her in his arms. “I love you, too, Emma,” he whispered roughly. “I love you, too.”

As soon as Emma heard the words, the tension drained from her and she closed her eyes. As long as Grant loved her, everything would be all right.

 

H
E WAS GOING
to make everything up to Emma, one way or the other, Grant thought, stroking her hair as she slept fitfully beside him. He was going to prove to her how much he loved her. She whimpered and snuggled closer and he held her protectively, the anger and fear
churning together, roaring through his veins. He couldn't sleep. There was no way, not tonight, not when he'd almost lost her. Again. If he had to quit work to keep her safe, he would. He could always find another job, but he could never fill the empty place in his heart or bed with another woman. Because there was only one woman for him. His wife, Emma.

To hell with her memory loss. The past didn't matter. It was the future that was important. And he was damn sure going to spend his with Emma.

 

“G
RANT, ARE YOU SURE
you can't convince Emma to stay with Kate again so you can make this meeting?” Priscilla whined on the other end of the phone line. “You said the police will have a guard posted at your house.”

“I'm sure, Priscilla. Pete can handle it.”

“I thought you hated for Pete to sit in with your clients. Do you want to lose this account to Pete?”

“Look, Priscilla, things have changed. I almost
lost
Emma four times and I'm determined to not let that happen again.” He smiled at the bathroom door, wondering if Emma would mind if he joined her in the shower. “Besides, I want to spend time with her. We're going to work things out.”

“You are?” Priscilla sounded shocked. “You mean she's moving back in with you?”

“I mean we're trying to put our marriage back together,” Grant said, uneasy with Priscilla's attitude. Ever since Warner had asked who had known Emma was at Kate's, something had nagged at the back of his mind. Pete and Priscilla had known. But Priscilla had been coming on to him, and she'd left angry the other day.

“Grant?”

“I think our marriage will be stronger this time,” he said, jerking himself back to the conversation.

Priscilla hesitated. “Are you sure that's what you want, Grant? You know we'd make a great team.” Her soft sigh hinted at a more personal relationship. “I wish you'd give us a chance. We have a lot more in common—”

Grant had to set her straight. “I love Emma. She's my wife.”

“I see,” Priscilla said in a clipped tone. “Well, I think you're making a mistake, Grant, but I guess Pete and I can take care of business.”

She was miffed, Grant realized as he hung up. Maybe Priscilla had read more into their relationship than he'd intended. But he couldn't worry about her. He had plans to make. He wanted to spend the week wooing his wife. By the time Saturday rolled around, she'd have some wonderful new memories to replace the horror of the past few weeks. And she'd be back in his bed forever. And he hoped he'd be back in her heart, where he belonged.

 

“H
E'S SENT YOU
a carnation every day?” Kate asked.

“Yes, isn't it romantic?” Emma sighed dreamily, trying to focus on her budding romance with Grant, instead of the guard posted outside her door. “Monday we went to a movie. Tuesday we went to dinner at this new steak house. Wednesday we drove up to the mountains for a picnic.”

“Wow, he's really pouring it on strong.”

“He said we were going to start a new memory book.” A blush climbed Emma's throat, and she real
ized she was practically gushing. “What about you and Dan? How's it going between the two of you?”

A wry smile crossed Kate's face. “Actually it's going pretty well. When he found out about your attack, he was upset. But he was also worried about me. So he's been staying over.”

“You're sleeping with him?” Emma asked, surprised.

Kate shrugged. “Hard to believe, but we're not. I'm still kind of leery, but he's so sweet. He said he didn't mind waiting.”

“That's really great, Kate,” Emma said, hugging her. “He must really care about you.”

“It's weird,” Kate admitted. “All this time I've been so jealous of you and Grant.”

“You have? And here I thought you didn't like me.” Grant strolled in, dipped his head and kissed Emma. She wrapped her arms around his neck and met him with enthusiasm. When they finally pulled apart, Kate gave an exaggerated sigh of disgust. “See, that's what I mean. It's enough to make a girl green.”

Emma laughed, and Grant, sinking down beside her, slung his arm around her shoulders. Kate stood, her expression serious. “I know I gave you a hard time, Grant. I guess I was jaded after my divorce.”

“I can understand that,” Grant said quietly. “I'm sorry for what Todd put you through.”

Kate hooked her thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans. “There's…something I didn't tell you guys,” she said hesitantly. “You see, I found out about a year and half ago I can't have children.”

A soft gasp escaped Emma. “I'm sorry, Kate,” Emma said softly. “That must have been hard for you when Carly was born.”

Kate eyed Carly's playpen, twining her hands together. “Yeah, and Todd didn't take it too well.” She shrugged. “Of course I must admit I fell into a depression, and I kept pushing him away. I just couldn't be with him…then he found someone else.”

“That's awful.” Emma stood up and gave Kate a hug. “But it's not your fault. He should have stuck by you.”

Kate brushed at a tear. “I see that now. Especially after watching the way the two of you have handled the ordeal you've been through.”

“He was a lowlife, Kate,” Grant said, hating the man for hurting Kate. “You're better off without him.”

Kate nodded. “Well, I just wanted you two to know, so you'd understand why I acted so weird for a while. I even got desperate and considered adopting a baby by myself—that's why I wanted Dad's money.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “But I'm doing better now. And I'm happy for you two.”

“Thanks, Kate,” Emma said, reaching out to squeeze her sister's hand. Carly whimpered from the bedroom. “Hey, if you ever want to talk, let me know. I'm here for you, Kate.” Then she went to get Carly.

Grant got up and put his arms around Kate. “We're both here for you,” he said in a scratchy voice.

“I'm really glad Emma has you, Grant. I hope one day I have a man like you.”

The comment struck him as odd. But he patted Kate's back, trying to be sensitive to her needs. “You'll find someone someday. Don't be so hard on yourself.”

Her eyes got a strange faraway look. “I know. And I still may adopt a child someday.”

“Good, you'll make a wonderful mother. Carly sure adores you.”

Kate smiled, the bitterness he'd sensed the past few weeks dissipating. “Thanks for saying that, Grant.” She released him and reached for her purse. “I'm going to meet Dan for dinner. I've decided to give him a chance. Maybe there's one other good guy out there besides you.”

Grant shrugged. “I hope it works out, Kate. I'm glad you're moving on with your life. It's the best way to get over your ex.” Kate nodded, then picked up her purse, but the snap came unfastened and the contents spilled out onto the sofa table. In the middle of the smattering of cosmetics lay a small pistol.

Grant froze, remembering her comment to the detective about not having a gun. The bullets from the gun that had shot at Emma were from a .38. He didn't know much about firearms, but it was possible Kate's was the same kind. Then Kate snatched it up and stuffed it back in her purse and left so quickly he didn't have time to ask her about it. Even stranger, she hadn't offered an explanation.

 

“I
CAN'T BELIEVE
you rented a carriage for us.” Emma leaned into Grant's strong shoulder as the horse and buggy took them on a leisurely stroll around the downtown area. Moonlight spilled through the mossy trees, and the stars twinkled merrily as if promising the night would remain clear. Heat lightning streaked the sky somewhere in the distance, and Emma shivered, snuggling closer to Grant and kissing his neck.

“This feels like heaven,” Grant said, tipping up her chin to taste her mouth.

Emma savored the feel of his lips, the clip-clop of the horse's hooves and the swaying of the carriage lulling her.