Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey (33 page)

Monday, Johnny Novacek showed up to collect
the rent. Marcia was anxious to ask him about Jake.

“Hello, Mr. Novacek. How is Jake?” Marcia
handed him an envelope.

“He’s fine. In fact he’s doing great, Mrs.
Wilton.” He turned hooded eyes to her.

Marcia attempted to smile but the stab of
his words went right to her heart.

“Good. I’m glad he’s all right.” Tears
formed in her eyes and she looked down. “Please say hello to him
for me.” Her voice shook.

When she turned to go into the house Johnny
put his hand on her arm.

“I lied. He’s terrible. I asked you not to
hurt him but you did. You’ve destroyed him. You don’t look like
you’re doing any better than he is. Why don’t you marry him?”

“Didn’t he tell you?” Marcia leaned against
the door jamb for support.

Johnny shook his head but his gaze didn’t
meet hers. She knew he was lying.

“Then I can’t break confidence.”

“Great! Two stubborn people in love and too
dumb to find a compromise.”

“Why do you care? You must be thrilled your
father isn’t hanging around with ‘that whore’ anymore.” She flung
the words at him with her last bit of strength.

Color spread into Johnny’s cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I guess I…misjudged you. I
didn’t think you could really love my father. I was wrong. You say
you love him but you won’t marry him?”

“I love him. But I want…I need to have a
baby. He doesn’t want to have another child. He wouldn’t bend.”
Marcia closed her eyes at the recollection of their fight.

“You want to have a baby with a
fifty-year-old man? You’re crazy.”

“Exactly what he said.”

“A baby is a big responsibility.”

“I’m thirty-eight years old…not a child. I
can’t control this need. It’s primal, it’s basic…and even more so
when you love someone. Jay and I never got around to having
children because by the time we were ready, he was sick. He was
sick for five years. And I’ve always felt…always felt…why am I
wasting your time? You don’t understand and probably couldn’t care
less.” She turned toward the house, ending their conversation.

* * * *

When he got home, Johnny went up to the
apartment over the garage.

“Hi, Dad.” Jakub was cleaning up his
breakfast dishes.

Jakub raised his hand in greeting. He looked
tired.

“I saw Marcia today.”

“You did? Why? How does she look? Is she
okay?” Jakub sprang to life.

“To collect the rent. She looks pretty
terrible. She’s skinny and tired-looking. I don’t imagine you’d
want to jump into bed with her now.”

“What’s wrong? She sick?” He put down the
dishtowel he was holding.

“She’s heartsick. She misses you, Dad. Why
don’t you go back to her?”

“You want me to go back?” Jakub cocked an
eyebrow at his son.

“You’re miserable, she’s miserable. Your
reason for splitting up is stupid.”

“Why stupid?” Jakub put the dishes back in
the cabinet, one by one.

“Look, if she’s crazy enough to want to have
a baby with a fifty-year-old man, let her! Look how well I turned
out. You’re a good father and grandfather. You’d be good to her
baby. Every woman has the right to want a baby, Dad.”

“You want me to go back to Marcia? You
sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.

“I think about it.”

But two weeks later Jakub was still living
over the garage and still thinking about Marcia…too stubborn to
make the first move.

* * * *

Rehearsals for the talent show were in the
Amphitheater, where all theatrical productions and concerts took
place; it seated two thousand people in tiers with orchestra,
mezzanine and balcony sections. Built using stainless steel, glass
and wood, the imposing structure was the newest building on campus.
Lara practiced there every afternoon for an hour before Andres
showed up. Peter accompanied them on the piano.

The Tuesday before the show, Carter Wills
showed up at the administration building at four o’clock. Of medium
height and build, he was nondescript. He met Jonesy who looked him
up and down before she called Callie. Callie met with him in her
office. He sat tapping his foot and avoiding Callie’s gaze.

“You didn’t bring any equipment, Mr. Wills?”
Callie cast a questioning look at him.

“Call me Carter. I leave it in the car until
I know where we’re taking the shots. Hate to carry that heavy stuff
all over campus, know what I mean?” Carter started to sweat.

“Which way to the theater?” His pulse
jumped, sweat collected on his forehead.

“You can’t miss the Amphitheater, Carter.
Take the path on the right from here, past the library, it’s the
biggest building there.”

“Is Ms. Stewart expecting me?” A few beads
of sweat broke out on his upper lip.

What if she remembers me?

“I don’t recall if I told her about you.
She’s very sweet. I’m sure she’ll be happy to talk to you.” Callie
pushed to her feet.

“Thank you.” He shook Callie’s hand then
moved toward the door.

He mopped his brow with a handkerchief.

Callie walked out with Carter, stopping at
Jonesy’s desk.

“Call Ballet News, Jonesy. Check on this
guy. Something doesn’t feel right.”

“I’m already on it.”

* * * *

On his way to meet Lara for rehearsal, Peter
was stopped by Carter Wills.

“Say, could you direct me to the
Amphitheater?”

“There’s nothing happening there now…”

“I’m going to interview Lara Stewart for
Ballet News magazine.”

“Lara Stewart is my fiancée.”

Carter looked at him, fear coiling in his
stomach. Then he calmed down, realizing Peter didn’t know him and
he had nothing to worry about.

“Congratulations,” Carter said, almost
feeling jealous Lara was with this guy. If she hadn’t gotten
pregnant, she’d probably still be sleeping with him.

“Why don’t you come with me? I’m on my way
to meet her there now.”

Damn! This asshole is in the way. Gotta look
like an accident. This is my last chance and I can’t let this jerk
mess it up.

“Hey…great. You don’t mind?” Sweat beaded on
Carter’s forehead again even though it was winter.

“Not at all. You’re doing a story on Lara?”
Peter walked along next to Carter.

“She’s the star, right? Known her long?”
Carter ran his hand through his hair.

“Almost a year.”

“Not before she came to Willow Falls last
May?”

“How did you know when she came to Willow
Falls?” Peter stopped walking.

“Uh…research…research. Been reading up on
her.” His hand fiddled with the zipper of his jacket.

Peter cocked an eyebrow at Carter but
resumed walking. The police had been careful not to divulge the
town where she relocated or when she arrived. Carter read a look of
suspicion growing in Peter’s eyes.

“What made you decide to write about
Lara?”

“A nice fat check from Ballet News. I
couldn’t afford to turn it down.”

Carter’s smile faded. Arts publications
never pay a big fee for a story, any story, they don’t have a lot
of money.
Crap, why did I say that? Did he pick up on
it?

Carter entered the Amphitheater and bolted
for the men’s room.

“Thanks for your help.”

Carter rinsed his face off at the bathroom
sink and applied some Canoe, his favorite cologne to cover up the
smell of his sweat. He took a deep breath then stood with his ear
to the door. He cracked the door open and spied no one in the
vestibule. He walked slowly and quietly to the door of the
auditorium and cracked it open.

Inside he saw Peter sit down at the piano
and Lara warming up on the stage. He saw Peter say something to her
then kiss her. Carter couldn’t hear what he said but Lara smiled at
him and, after the kiss, bounced down the stairs, grinning, heading
for the door.

Carter noticed Peter call after Lara but she
didn’t turn around. He returned to the men’s room, pretending to be
leaving.

When she got to the vestibule, Carter
stepped forward in her path. His voice squeaked then he cleared his
throat.

“Hi, Lara. I’m Carter Wills, from Ballet
News.” He moved toward her.

Lara stood still, her nostrils working. The
strong, sweet smell of his cologne wafted across to her. She closed
her eyes, sniffed the air again, then opened them wide and stared
at Carter.

“You…you…you’re…him…” she stammered, backing
up.

He saw the terror in her eyes and realized
at once she remembered him. He panicked.

“Lara! Come here. Let’s talk, okay?” He
reached for her arm.

She turned and ran across the vestibule, up
the stairs as fast as she could.

“Shit!” he uttered, dropping his briefcase
and sprinting after her.

* * * *

On the stage, Peter stood watching her leave
the auditorium, absently running his hand over his stubbly face.
His cell phone rang. Jonesy’s name lit up on the screen. He
answered it.

“Peter! That guy on his way to interview
Lara isn’t from Ballet News. They never heard of him! I’m sending
the police.” She hung up.

Peter looked up and saw Lara enter the
balcony. Panic rose in his throat and he struggled to push it
down.

“Get away from me! Get away!” Lara screamed.
“Peter, help! Help me!”

Peter ran up the ramp, flung open the door
and took the stairs two at a time, heading for the balcony. Carter
was not far behind Lara.

“Wait, Lara! Wait!” Carter called,
desperation in his voice.

She turned to face him. As he got closer,
she ducked into an aisle and side-stepped to the middle seats. He
turned into a nearby aisle and followed her to the middle.

“You bitch! You’re going to ruin
everything!”

Trying to run through the narrow rows was
difficult for Lara even though she was thin. Carter stayed parallel
to her, across from her barely out of arm’s reach, two rows away.
His face twisted with rage as he saw her slipping through his
fingers.

Lara was in about the middle of the first
row in the balcony, which had a little more room, when Carter
lunged at her. She dodged and he missed, swearing as the wooden
seat back made contact with his thigh. She bolted for the aisle
with Carter a half-step behind. Lara screamed and ran back to the
temporary safety of the middle. Carter slowed down, bobbing and
weaving through the seats after her. He kept a steady pace, hoping
to wear her out. If he was too fast and she changed direction,
she’d give him the slip.

Slowly he approached her, his gaze steady on
hers. She backed away, but he was closing in on her. He stood on
tiptoe and looked over the railing. Lara knew the fall was far
enough to kill her. An evil smile curled his lips as he continued
to inch closer to her.

“Get back, Carter. I know who you are.” Lara
took tiny steps back, her arms out to keep her balance.

“I know you do, Lara. I need to fix
that.”

“Get away from me,” she warned.

The door to the balcony opened and Peter
entered then stopped short. Lara glimpsed him out of the corner of
her eye, afraid to take her gaze off Carter. Carter stopped briefly
and looked up at Peter.

“He can’t help you. It’s too late. You’re
going down.”

“Don’t believe him, Lara.” Peter came down
the stairs as fast as he could.

Carter moved closer to Lara. Sweat broke out
on Peter’s forehead.

Carter gave a false lunge and Lara started,
then teetered a little closer to the low balcony railing.

“Hah! You almost went over and I wasn’t even
trying!” He taunted her.

Lara took off her jacket and darted back and
forth, trying to throw Carter off. Peter continued down the stairs,
getting closer to Carter, but not close enough. Carter lifted his
leg in an attempt to climb over the seats.

“Won’t work, dumbass. She’s too fast for
you,” Peter yelled. Lara knew he was lying. If Carter could vault
over the seats, he’d surely catch her.

When Carter turned to look at Peter, Lara
tossed her jacket over his head and sped away. The jacket covered
his face, confusing him for a moment. He ripped the jacket off and
raced after her closing the gap between them to only a few steps.
Peter was on the other side of the mezzanine, too far away to grab
Carter. He ran through the first row, his long legs bringing him
closer to Carter. Peter was closing in. Lara got to the aisle
seconds before Carter and raced up with Carter right behind
her.

“The row, Lara, go into the row,” Peter
yelled through cupped hands.

Lara ducked into row R and Carter followed
her. Peter climbed over the rows, getting to row R before Carter
reached out to grab Lara. Peter reached for Carter, but Carter
swerved to the right, avoiding his grasp. Peter diverted Carter’s
attention long enough to allow Lara to escape. She scurried down to
the third row and cut in quickly to elude Carter who was gaining on
her. Lara couldn’t watch behind and run forward at the same time.
Lara got to the end of the row and went down toward the front,
turning her back to him. He saw his chance when she rounded the
first row, up close against the railing. Carter took a running leap
and launched himself at Lara to push her over.

“Duck, Lara! Duck!” Peter called to her.

Lara glimpsed Carter flying at her out of
the corner of her eye. She dropped flat on the ground barely below
his grasp. Suddenly there was only air where Lara had been a split
second before. Carter scrambled, his hands pawing the air but
momentum carried him straight over the brass railing, head first.
He emitted a blood-curdling scream as he fell to the floor with a
loud thud.

Police had entered the building just before
Carter went over the railing. Hearing the voices coming from the
balcony, Dave Williams raced up the two flights of stairs in time
to see Carter lunge at Lara and fall. He radioed immediately for an
ambulance.