Sweet Tea and Secrets (35 page)

“So?”

“So I broke the law, that’s what.”

“Don’t you worry about that. No one is going to fault you for anything except maybe bad judgment. I’ll see to that. But you’ve got to report this,” Carolanne said in her lawyer’s tone.

 
“We’re calling Scott. Bradley can’t just slap you around. That’s assault. We’ll have his ass in jail tonight.” Carolanne, always cool in a crisis, dialed the Sheriff’s office and brought Scott Calvin up to date.

There was a lot of nodding and yes-ing and I know-ing on Carolanne’s end of the call. Jill walked into the kitchen and sat at the table, relieved to have Carolanne there with her now.

Carolanne ended the call and joined Jill in the kitchen. “Bradley won’t get anywhere near this place without them spotting him.”

“What if something happens to Garrett?” Jill rubbed her hands up and down her arms, chilled at the thought.

“He’s in the hospital. Nothing will happen to him there. Scott, will make sure of that. Go jump in the shower. I brought wine. This is definitely a wine night.”

Jill climbed out of the chair. Every muscle and joint in her body ached from her encounter with Bradley and all the searching in the attic.

After Jill showered, she and Carolanne finished off the bottle of wine, talking until the wee hours and rereading all the letters between Pearl and John Carlo. They went to bed, but every time one of them almost fell asleep the other would say something and conversation would start again. Finally, they gave up the idea of getting any rest and got up to go to Garrett’s house to get Carolanne settled in before it was time to pick up Garrett from the hospital.

Carolanne followed Jill in her rental car. Once there, Jill took folded sheets and a set of fresh towels from the closet and handed them to Carolanne.

“Aren’t you just the regular lady of the house?”

“Weird, huh? If I’d never gone on that job interview, never met Bradley, I’d probably be the lady of this house right now and none of this would’ve happened.”

“You don’t know that. Don’t do that to yourself.” Carolanne followed Jill into the bedroom and they quickly stripped the bed and remade it.

“You sure you don’t mind staying here?”

“Not a bit. Now go get Garrett.”

Jill promised to check in with Carolanne later to see what she’d been able to find on the internet about the treasure. Daydreaming and praying for answers, she arrived at the hospital in no time.

At seven o’clock in the morning, Jill walked through the automatic doors at the hospital. She wasn’t surprised to find Garrett already dressed and sitting in the chair, one knee bobbing impatiently, chomping at the bit to get home.

She kissed him three times on the mouth, like they always used to, and then hugged him. “I’m so thankful you’re okay.”

“I’m fine.” His voice was calm and strong.

“Garrett. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. We don’t know that Bradley was behind this, you know.” He reached for her hand.

“I know it was him. I should have told you my suspicions. He’s so jealous of you.”

He pulled her close. “Even if you had told me, it wouldn’t have changed anything. Who would have thought someone would poison a fruit basket?”

“You could have died.”

“But I didn’t. I’m fine, and I’ve got you.”

“Yes. You do.” She’d only been fooling herself since she’d left town. Garrett was everything she’d always thought he was. How she wished now she hadn’t believed all the things Bradley had said to make her lose faith. But he’d been so convincing at the time.

The doctor released Garrett with a list of instructions. When the nurse insisted he be taken downstairs in a wheelchair, he was not happy, but the nurse wasn’t about to give in.

“Hospital policy,” she said, sternly patting the back of the wheelchair. Amazing how much power a blue-haired nurse could wield over a man.

The nurse helped Garrett into the passenger’s seat of the truck. Jill jumped behind the wheel and started the engine. “You’re a sucker for old ladies, aren’t you Malloy?”

“Want to be my old lady?” He rolled his lips around his teeth and pretended to talk like an old man, winking wildly.

“You look like a pervert.”

He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “You like it? This could be your future, baby.” Suddenly he straightened, dropping the playfulness. “What happened to your cheek?” He reached toward her.

She’d done her best to camouflage the purplish swelling, but the sunlight streaming through the windshield blew her cover. “You don’t want to know.”

“What happened?”

A flicker of apprehension coursed through her. “Bradley came by. He wants the Pacini Pearls.”

“He hit you? I’ll kill him. Are you okay?” He reached for her cheek again.

“I’m fine. It barely hurts.” She brushed his hand away. “I tried to give him the ring, but apparently that’s not the treasure he’s looking for.”

“That’s all we found. If that’s not the treasure, what is?” he asked.

“I have no idea. I’ve gone back through the notes I found in the attic. I can’t figure it out, but he’s threatened to hurt you if I don’t hand over the pearls.”

“I’ll kick his ass, let him—”

“Stop it, Garrett. This is no time to be macho. He’s dangerous. He all but admitted, almost bragged, that he’d gotten to you once. He was responsible for the break-ins at Pearl’s. Somehow he got you to buy Clyde. Oh my gosh, there’s so much to tell you. He’s a master of deception.”

“I’ll kill him.” Garrett balled his fist and punched the dashboard.

“Calm down. Scott doesn’t think he’ll come back around. He has an alert out for Bradley’s car just in case, though.”

“You just passed my turn,” Garrett said.

“I’m taking you home with me, where I can be sure you follow the doctor’s orders.”

“I knew you wanted me.”

“Don’t push your luck, Malloy.” She tried to hold back the grin as she pulled in front of Pearl’s house. She ran to the other side of the car to help Garrett, but he was already out and heading for the porch.

Garrett moved a kitchen chair outside so he could watch as she played with Clyde in the backyard. Clyde limped a little, but his scorched paw wasn’t slowing him down much. She tossed the ball and he took off like a jet to get it. He ran in a circle around the whole perimeter of the backyard before bringing the ball back and setting it at her feet, eager to do it all again.

Jill noticed Garrett fidgeting, getting restless. She tossed the ball one last time and headed over to join him. Garrett stood and gave Jill a friendly peck on the forehead as he grabbed his keys off the counter. “I’m going to run by my office.”

“Let Elsie handle things,” Jill said. “You just got out of the hospital.”

“I’ve been in bed for two days. I’ve got a company to run.”

“Will you let me drive you?” she asked.

“I can drive.”

She watched him as he moved toward the door.

“I won’t be long. I just can’t sit here.”

“You should really take it easy.”

“I’ll be fine. Keep your phone handy and you call me first, then Scott, if that Kase nut shows up. I’m just a few minutes away.”

Garrett was definitely on the road to recovery—the same old hardworking Garrett she’d always known.

As she watched his truck motor down the lane, her heart swelled with a feeling that she’d thought she’d lost for him. But she knew now she’d never lost that love. Being with Garrett was what made her whole. She’d even admitted to Carolanne that there might be an ounce or two of reality to those paperback love stories. Maybe the fairy tale was out there if she didn’t interrupt it by trying too hard.

Jill tugged on the old freezer door to see what she could find to whip up for dinner. She decided that she’d bake a couple of Spratt’s pork chops, cut an inch-and-a-quarter thick, like Pearl had always requested. The hard frozen package clonked when she set it on the counter.

Cooking for Garrett was good for her ego. He gobbled up everything she cooked like she was his own personal Paula Deen. Jill picked out a tomato pudding recipe from the recipe box. A perfect choice since Pearl had planted so many tomato bushes and the tomatoes had all ripened at one time. Tomato pudding and some macaroni ‘n cheese would make for a colorful entrée.

For dessert, she decided to whip up one of Pearl’s famous chocolate pecan pies.

After a quick run to the store, Jill went to work on the pie. While the pie baked, she worked on the other recipes. Her timing was perfect. Everything was ready to go into the oven when the pie timer buzzed. The crust had browned just right. She took in a big whiff of chocolate as she set it on the counter to cool. Pearl would be proud.

She tossed her apron over one of the kitchen chairs, then put on her tennis shoes to spend some time with Clyde in the yard. Clyde loved it when she weeded. He’d either roll in the discarded greens, or grab a mouthful and run around the yard. He had endless energy and was always at her side. Jill and Clyde had built a quick bond and the huge dog was great company.

After a couple of hours of weeding, Jill decided to quit. Tired, but feeling a sense of accomplishment, she hit the shower.

Jill relaxed under the shower stream until she depleted the hot water supply. She shut off the water and grabbed a thick thirsty towel from the towel bar outside the shower, but paused at the sound of someone humming.

A knot formed in her stomach, until she realized she recognized the tune.
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
had always been one of her favorite songs. She held the towel to cover herself and ripped back the shower curtain.

Garrett stood there with a big old grin holding out a towel for her. Clyde sat by his side.

“Who do you think you are?” Jill snatched the towel from his hands.

He gave her an exaggerated pout. “We were just tryin’ to help.”

“You’re my thorn, trouble maker.” She popped him on the butt and shooshed them both out of the bathroom. “You two get lost. You’re in my private space.”

“What are you going to do about it, big shot?” Garrett pulled her close.

She squirmed, trying to wriggle from his arms. “That’s not fair.”

“All’s fair in love and pie.”

She grinned and settled into his grasp. “You saw the pie.”

He kissed her neck. “I did. Chocolate pecan pie, my favorite. Did you make it, or was it left over from Pearl’s funeral.”

“Like there’d be any leftovers?”

“That’s what I thought when I made it,” he said.

She arched back to look him in the eye. “You made a chocolate pecan pie for Pearl’s funeral?”

He nodded.

“So did I,” she admitted. She gave him a sidelong glance of disbelief. “Really? You made a pie?”

“Don’t look so surprised. I spent a lot of time with Pearl and she couldn’t do everything she used to. There were some benefits to helping her cook. I learned a lot.”

“And ate a lot, I bet.” She patted his tight tummy.

“Like I said. Spending time with Pearl had its benefits.”

“Well, I made the pie for tonight, and I’m sure you’ll find it scrumptious.”

He leaned close and ran his tongue up her neck, then circled her earlobe. “As scrumptious as you?”

Jill shrugged her shoulder in response to the tantalizing chills that melted her like butter in his hands. “Stop.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’ve got to work fast. Don’t want to give you a chance to change your mind and go back to old what’s his name.”

She pulled the hand towel off the towel bar and snapped it at him with a pop. “You’re feeling better.”

Garrett scrambled out of the bathroom calling Clyde to follow.

She dried her hair then went to join Garrett in the kitchen. The dining room table was set, candles flickering, and Garrett had already dished up the meal she’d prepared.

“Nice work, Malloy,” said Jill.

He stepped out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand and handed her a glass of wine.

She took the wine from him and sipped from the glass, her eyes never leaving his. “Cheers.” She lifted her glass to him. “The table looks lovely.”

“Clyde did it.”

She leaned over and held the big dog’s chin in her free hand. “You’re a smart boy.”

Clyde rewarded her with a single kiss on the cheek.

“He loves me,” she said smugly as she stood then took another swig of the wine.

“I hear that’s going around.”

She clinked his glass. “Good wine.”

“You should like it. You bought it about three years ago when we were at that little vineyard.”

“The one where they bottled by hand?”

“That’s the one.”

She remembered that wonderful trip. She and Garrett had picked the perfect weekend for a mountain escape. The fall leaves had put on an incredible show. They’d hiked a trail to a magnificent waterfall and sat on the rocks until it nearly got too dark to hike back. The powerful surge of water crashing down from hundreds of feet above had been deafening and peaceful at the same time. They’d pitched dozens of coins into the churning water, wishing on every dream they’d ever had.