Ellie nodded. "I was rentin' it for a while, but it's empty as my pocketbook right now."
"Not for long. I'm going to call that investigator from my office. Eliza, you think about what you want to pack."
Once Jed had left the room, Cooper tried to organize the multitude of varied thoughts swirling around in her brain. She tried to form a picture of Vance Maynard, the handsome philanthropist executive, killing Brooke and then shoving Reed Newcombe off a bridge. She found that she was able to envision Vance in the role of villain with greater ease than she expected, especially when she recounted his false smile and his smooth talking the night of the Little League game. She also remembered the brief but intense anger on Vance's face when he had spoken to Reed before driving off in his Porsche.
Savannah suddenly stood and cleared her throat. Cooper ceased thinking about Vance and took her friend's arm. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Savannah answered. "But we should get a move on." She turned toward Eliza. "We shouldn't be here when Investigator McNamara arrives. He specifically asked us to stay out of this affair and I doubt he'd be pleased to see us here when he comes to speak with you and Jed."
"She's right," Cooper added. "Hopefully, Jed's information will put an end to the entire investigation anyhow." She smiled at Eliza. "I can't wait to let the other Sunrise members know that Jed's safe at home. They've been so worried about you."
Eliza held out her hands in supplication. "Please don't tell the folks at Hope Street about Jed just yet. I'd like some time to organize ourselves for a long stay in a small cabin with only a battery-powered TV before it gets out that my husband didn't actually run off with some piece of two-bit trash." She grinned. "It'll wound my pride somethin' awful for folks to think that he's been cheatin' on me, but it's better than facin' a cold-blooded killer." She plucked at a loose thread on her sleeve. "It's not that I don't have faith in the police, but we're not brave like you folks. We're gonna crawl under a North Carolina rock until this storm blows over."
"It won't be easy, but we'll keep the happy news about Jed's return to ourselves for now," Savannah promised Eliza.
Jed reentered the room and immediately went to his wife's side. "I've called in the cavalry." He kissed her round cheek and then backed away. "Forgive me, dear. I must smell like a barnyard. I'm going to get cleaned up and then I'll accept your offer of coffee. I'm too full for raisin bread, I'm afraid. The investigator will be here in thirty minutes." He looked at Ellie in appeal. "Think you can brew us a fresh pot in that time?"
"Do I?" Ellie squealed. "I've got in more in mind for you than just coffee, Jed Weeks. I'd like to put ten pounds back on your bones 'fore that cop steps foot in this house, but I reckon we should let you ease back into it, so we'll just start with liquids. Go get some soap on your skin. I'll meet you in the kitchen." She gave Cooper and Savannah brief hugs. "I'm mighty grateful that Eliza's made such fine friends as a result of this mess," she said and then hurried off to start the coffee maker.
"Ellie's right!" Eliza exclaimed. "How can I ever thank you both? You came to bring me comfort and you end up finding my husband--and that poor dear man had clearly lost his way." Eliza put her hands over her heart as she spoke. "And please don't tell me what you did was nothing. You brought my Jed--my best friend, my truest love--back to me. You've taken the darkness from my life and brought me light."
Savannah smiled. "That wasn't our doing, Eliza. We were guided by a power greater than ourselves." She embraced the larger woman. "Anytime you want to come to church, you've got a group of friends to sit beside you. You hear? "
"Thank you," Eliza whispered and then turned to Cooper. "Can't I express my gratitude in some way? Please think of something. I'm beggin' you."
Cooper paused and then an idea came to her. "How do you feel about dogs?"
"I love them," Eliza answered, somewhat perplexed. "Jed and I were thinking of adopting one...well, before things got all turned around, that is."
"I know of a sweet dog that really needs a home, but he's missing a leg. Are you okay with that?"
Eliza thumped her own useless limbs and laughed.
"Are you kiddin'? He sounds perfect! We'll pick him up on the way to North Carolina. I hear there's a forest filled with squirrels and rabbits where we're headed." She winked playfully. "And if that dog's bum leg keeps him from catchin' furry creatures, Jed will just shoot 'em in the leg--even things up a bit."
Cooper laughed uneasily, uncertain whether Eliza was joking or not.
17
So man lies down and does not rise;
till the heavens are no more, men will not awake
or be roused from their sleep.
If only you would hide me in the grave
and conceal me till your anger has passed!
If only you would set me a time
and then remember me!
Job 14:12--13 (NIV)
Cooper hadn't spoken to Nathan since they had exchanged banal chitchat during the Sunrise Bible Study meeting. The evening after discovering Jed Weeks in the woods behind his house, she wanted to call and tell Nathan about her exciting day, but when she actually picked up the phone, doubt assailed her before she could dial his number. After her experience with Drew, she wanted to be certain Nathan cared for her before she trusted him completely. Cooper decided to wait for him to contact her for a second date and if he did call, she'd assure him that Eliza was well, as she had promised to keep mum about Jed.
When she returned from work the next day, the only new message on her answering machine was from Trish, asking Cooper to take her place Saturday morning in visiting Lynda Newcombe at Reed's room in the critical care unit at Henrico Doctors' Hospital. Apparently, Trish needed to show a couple from out-of-town half a dozen houses in a single day. In exchange for Cooper taking over her hospital duties, Trish offered to pay a visit to Rose instead.
"And I'll stop by Babies "R" Us on the way and bring that little granddaughter of hers a whole shopping cart full of goodies," Trish added as extra incentive.
Cooper returned the call and left a message on Trish's voicemail that she'd be glad to visit Lynda, though in truth she hated hospitals and hadn't been to one since her high school field hockey accident.
Next, Cooper went through her mail, which was comprised of bills, catalogues, and coupons for services she would never need, such as outdoor lighting or garage organization. At least her Visa bill was shrinking, though with agonizing slowness.
Glancing outside her window, Cooper surveyed the sun-bleached garden and Grammy's comforter hanging heavily on the laundry line. The three-legged dog, soon to be adopted by Eliza and Jed, slumbered in a small circle of shade on the patio. Cooper sighed. The evening stretched before her, feeling more lonely than usual.
In search of distraction, she phoned her sister.
"I was just going to call you." Ashley seemed pleased that Cooper had contacted her first. "When do you want to go shopping?"
Cooper frowned. Her interest in revitalizing her wardrobe had waned a little following Nathan's lack of follow-up since their date Saturday night. "I dunno. Maybe I'll wait awhile."
"For what?" Ashley demanded. "Your clothes are
never
going to be in style. They're too androgynous. You need some color and some shape in your wardrobe," she insisted. "And don't worry, I'm just going to make suggestions. I won't be pushy, I promise."
"Yeah, right," Cooper responded uncharitably and then regretted taking her dating woes out on her sister. She thought about the camaraderie between Eliza and El-lie and how she had vowed to spend more time with Ashley. "I'm sorry. I know you've got good intentions. Let's go this weekend. We can have lunch. I've got to see someone in the morning, but I'm free after that."
"Let's add a pedicure to our outing." Ashley giggled. "Mama's told me all about how vain you've gotten about your
purty
toes. Oh, now don't get your hackles up," she added when Cooper didn't respond. "I'm just so thrilled that you're primping like a
real
girl. How are things with Nathan?"
Cooper confessed that she had no idea where she stood with her fellow Bible study member.
"Don't you fret," Ashley commanded. "When you show up for church on Sunday, you'll be in an outfit that'll knock his socks off."
"It might take more than a new dress to figure out how he feels," Cooper argued woefully.
"It won't be the clothes he notices, Coop. It'll be your confidence," she explained. "When you feel beautiful on the inside, it shines through. That boy is going to be
totally
blinded by you! Oh, here comes Lincoln. He's home early. See you Saturday."
As it turned out, Cooper saw Nathan earlier than she had anticipated. He called shortly after Ashley hung up, just as Cooper was dumping a fistful of uncooked linguine noodles into a pot of boiling water. Reaching for the phone with one hand, she upended a small jar of Ragu into a saucepan and set the gas flame on low with the other.
"Hey, you," Nathan greeted her. "Sorry I haven't caught up with you in a few days, but I just got a new client--Virginia Credit Union--and have been burning the midnight oil this week. How did things go with Eliza?"
Stirring the meat sauce with a wooden spoon, Cooper reported that Eliza was holding things together with the help of her sweet sister, Ellie. As she elaborated on Ellie's culinary skills and how clean and organized the Week-ses' house had become, Cooper added some minced garlic as well as fresh basil and oregano from her mother's herb garden to the pan. She inhaled the aroma contentedly as Nathan talked about his day. Seeing her own smile reflected in the toaster, Cooper knew that the flush on her cheeks had little to do with the fact that she was standing over a pot of bubbling tomato sauce.
"By the way, I switched my volunteer day with Quinton," Nathan said. "His nephews are in a karate tournament on Saturday so he couldn't make it to see the Newcombes in the hospital. Maybe we could catch a movie once I'm done there."
Cooper looked toward the ceiling of her apartment and mouthed,
Thank you, Lord
. She then told Nathan that she was taking Trish's place on Saturday.
"Perfect," said Nathan. "Now we can go to that matinee we missed last weekend. You still game for that flick about the international espionage ring?"
"Sounds great. I love action movies," Cooper replied. After hanging up with Nathan, she transferred the steaming noodles from the pot to the colander, then feverishly dialed Ashley's number.
"I hope you're free on Friday," she hurriedly told her sister. "How about I take you out for a girls' night instead of our Saturday lunch date?"
"Only if there's a good reason." Ashley pretended to pout. "You're going to drag me to one of those burger joints, I just know it. You eat more red meat than a lion."
"We can eat wherever you want. And I
do
have a good reason." Cooper told her sister about her previous phone calls.
"Sweet mercy!" Ashley declared. "I've got to form a plan of attack. You'd better leave Thursday
and
Friday open. We'll do nails, clothes shopping, find you some decent perfume, and get you waxed again. Maybe you should get your legs done this time. A girl can never be too prepared." She paused for breath. "And don't worry about Saturday. I've got the
most
adorable new pink and green argyle golf sweater that I'm just dying to wear to the club. Now I'll have the chance to show it off at the Eighteen Holes for Autism Awareness Benefit Game."
After digesting the complicated event title, Cooper said, "I didn't know you played golf. I thought tennis was your game."
Ashley snorted. "I'm not
playing
, silly. I'm just driving around a golf cart filled with coolers of champagne. It's going to be hot out there, you know, and people'll write bigger checks after they've had a few."
"That's a pretty shirt," Nathan complimented Cooper after meeting her in the hospital hobby.
Smiling, Cooper repeatedly smoothed down the fabric of her green floral tie-back tank top. She was unaccustomed to wearing such a form-fitting shirt and had almost refused to purchase it, but Ashley insisted. Her stylish sister said that it was the perfect accompaniment for the pair of white capris she had convinced Cooper to buy, claiming that their stretch fabric accentuated Cooper's trim legs.
"I wish I had a sweater," Cooper mentioned as she and Nathan boarded the elevator for the critical care unit on the fifth floor. "Why are hospitals always so cold?"
"Maybe they're trying to prevent the germs from multiplying," Nathan said as he pressed the already lit elevator button for the third time. "I've got to tell you, Cooper. I'm not very comfortable in hospitals. I never know what to say and the second I visit someone here, I'm already thinking about when I can leave."
"I don't think anyone likes to come here. I mean, unless you're having a baby, you're not really at the hospital to celebrate anything."
Nathan touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I forgot that you lost an eye in a place like this. I'm so used to your two different colors that I don't really notice anymore. I guess I just see you."
Cooper's neck grew warm. "That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me, Nathan Dexter." She reached over and squeezed his hand. Nathan smiled and raised her hand to his lips. He brushed her palm with the faintest of kisses, sending a flutter of heat through Cooper's arm. As the elevator doors opened, he reluctantly released her.
