Torn (33 page)

“
Please, Mags. I
can’t.”

“
Sure, okay. Talk. Tell me
everything, and don’t leave a single detail out.”

“
I’ve met someone.” Katie
exhaled, a mix of anxiety and excitement in her voice. “And I need
your advice.”

“
Are you serious?”
Maggie’s voice raised an octave. She cleared her throat before
continuing. “Are you sure you’re not rushing into something? Or is
this a rebound-type-thing? I’ve heard those are good and necessary,
as long as you know your boundaries.”

Katie tapped her fingers along the
edge of the chair as her friend ranted. “I’m not sure of anything.
All I know is he’s mysterious, exciting, sexy as hell, and he’s
trying to help my heart heal.” She took a deep breath in, filling
her lungs for another round. “He’s a little older, and confident .
. .”

“
Oh my God, Katie, go
on.”

“
He’s an orthopedic
surgeon,” Katie was careful not to give her location away in case a
certain someone decided to try and reach her. “For a hospital here
in town. He’s originally from Argentina—I wish you could hear his
voice.”

“
He sounds like a dream.
So what do you need my advice about?”

“
I don’t know. He makes me
feel things I’m not . . . familiar with. I look forward to being
with him, he excites me, but—”

“
He’s not
Branson?”

Katie flinched. “No . . . he’s not.
He’s the exact opposite.”

“
But it sounds like you’re
into him?”

“
Yeah, I’m just having a
hard time letting go.”

A dull ache radiated through Katie.
She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged an arm around her
legs. She needed to turn her focus back to Aidan before she was in
fetal position on the floor, sobbing. Swallowing the lump in her
throat, she shook her head, trying to erase the thought of
Branson’s intoxicating blue eyes. “Aidan makes me laugh. He brings
me flowers and he took me to an art show.” Katie sighed, happiness
eating away at the sorrow.

“
I’m happy for you, Katie.
I don’t understand what’s happened or why, but I’m on your
side.”

“
Thanks, Mags. I can’t
tell you how I’ve missed talking to you.”

“
Me, too. Listen, Katie,
you should know, Bran—”

“
No! Please, Maggie, I
can’t,” Katie groaned. “It’s too painful.” She was sure Maggie had
news of Branson moving on with another woman, or moving away.
Whatever it was, just the mention of his name sent a searing pain
through her chest. “How’s your job? Tell me all about
Gavin.”

Katie felt a lot better after talking
to Maggie. She sounded happy and blissfully in love. Although she
was still confused about Aidan, Maggie had convinced her to follow
her instincts and live on the edge for once. Katie had missed out
on so much living during their high school and college years, there
was nothing wrong with playing catch up.

***

It happened after dinner at Owen’s—a
romantic upscale restaurant in Nag’s Head. Aidan ordered filet and
lobster tail while Katie enjoyed scallops marinated in tequila,
sugarcane, and drizzled with Key lime vinaigrette.

“
Let’s get dessert to go
and watch the sunset,” Aidan suggested.

Katie was delighted things were going
so well. She could feel herself healing as she obeyed the good
doctor’s orders and had started running again. Although Aidan
wasn’t the best tennis player, he was able to volley back and forth
with her, reviving her passion for the game.

Aidan laid a blanket on the sand and
set the slice of Key lime pie between them. As the sun descended
behind a few wispy clouds, swirling muted pastels across the sky,
Katie felt it. She had experienced the lustful stirrings every time
Aidan had kissed her, but laying back against him with his strong
arms enveloping her in warmth and safety brought a whole new
feeling. She decided Maggie was right, she needed to let go of the
past and move forward with him. A thrill danced along her spine as
she felt the freedom of her decision.

Aidan kissed the tender area inside of
her wrist before looking into her eyes. “Spend the weekend with me
in Cape Hatteras.”

“
Will Sarah and Penny be
there?”

“
No, just the two of
us.”

“
Okay, I’ll
go.”

***

On Thursday, the beach behind Aidan’s
house was crowded with a group playing volleyball and several
twenty-something’s enjoying beer and loud music. Aidan encouraged
Katie to enjoy the sun while he quickly made rounds at the
hospital. He laid a towel over the lounge chair behind the house
and told her to make herself at home. “I won’t be long. I’ll pick
up lunch for us on the way home.”

Katie lay there, watching the
volleyball game with the drink Aidan had made for her. It wasn’t
the best piná colada she ever had, but it would do. Katie sipped
the concoction, watching the team on the left dominate and finally
win the game.

Feeling relaxed and a bit uninhibited,
Katie rolled over onto her stomach and untied her bikini top. She
dozed off and on as the sun blissfully warmed and bronzed her skin.
She awoke with a start when she felt someone stroking her hair.
Careful not to expose herself, she turned her head. “Oh, hi. You’re
back earlier than I expected.” Katie smiled and tied her top before
sitting up.

“
Come inside. I brought
lunch.” Aidan wrapped the towel around her, protectively covering
her. “When I think about those men ogling my girl . . . fantasizing
about your naked body . . .”

Katie giggled and bumped his hip with
her own. “You’re silly. No one saw anything except a bare
back.”

“
Maybe, but they
envisioned more.”

“
Well, I can’t be held
responsible for that. Bikinis don’t leave much to the imagination.
Would you have me wear a turtleneck next time?”

“
Would you?” He
laughed.

“
I have to admit, I like
your jealous streak.” She winked. “What would you like to
drink?”

“
Water,
please.”

Katie brought two water bottles to the
table and sat down. She felt the beginnings of a headache, and
tried to stifle it by rubbing her temples.

“
Aren’t you hungry?” Aidan
asked, watching Katie pick at her salad with her fork.

“
I’ve got a terrible
headache. I’d really just like to take a bath and climb into
bed.”

“
I’ll run a bubble bath
for you and get some Motrin.” Aidan started to rise from the
table.

“
I’d like to go back to my
place, change into my pajamas.” Whether it was the sun or the
crappy piná colada Katie’s head was pounding and the only remedy
for this kind of throbbing was sleep.

Aidan drove Katie home and walked her
inside. He found some Motrin and brought it to her with a glass of
water.

“
Thank you. I think I’m
going to skip the bath and climb right into bed.”

Aidan kissed her on the forehead. “Do
you want me to stay?”

“
Thank you, but I’ll be
okay. I just need to sleep this one off.”

“
I’ll pick you up
tomorrow. I’m doing rounds early, so I should be here around
noon.”

“
Mmm hmm.” Katie nodded.
“Can’t wait.” Every word spoken sent her heartbeat into her
ears.

Aidan helped her out of her clothes
and into bed, covering her up. As he turned to leave, he flipped
the light switch off. “I’ll lock the door behind me. Goodnight.” He
opened the front door to leave, but changed his mind and locked the
door. He went into the kitchen, ran a washcloth under cold water,
and placed it on Katie’s forehead. Aidan removed his shoes and
pants and slipped into the bed next to her.

“
What are you
doing?”

“
I’ll sleep here tonight.
If you need anything, just ask.”

Thirty-Four

After Branson learned that
Katie had gone away for the summer, he concocted a plan. In the
dead of night he came back to the Harrington home and searched for
the hidden key he watched Katie use and put back so many times.
Amongst the landscape rocks along the walkway, edging the roses,
was a hide-a-key rock. Everything about the rock mimicked the
others, and to the naked eye, no one would know it was a fake. He
counted back from the front porch to the third rock on the left,
and lifted it up.
Thank God!
The key was there.

Entering the Harrington home while
they were gone felt wrong and intrusive, but he needed answers. The
house wasn’t completely dark as lamps set on timers illuminated the
living room and one of the guest bedrooms. He searched the house
for any clue of where they might have gone, starting with Katie’s
room. For a few moments, he sat on the edge of her bed, holding a
picture of the two of them. It was the day they got engaged. Katie
had insisted on having Gram take their picture in the exact spot by
the cliff. Her arms were wrapped around this neck as they gazed
into each other’s eyes. The smile on her face revealed everything.
She was insurmountably happy and in love.

Branson set the picture down and
searched her room for any clues to where she might be. An unsent
note to Maggie, a journal entry, or a receipt left behind. Nothing
was found, except painful memories of how happy they once were.
Next, he swept through the office, methodically checking each piece
of paper and replacing everything exactly the way he found
it.

The last room he checked
was the kitchen. A small junk drawer containing pens, a calculator,
roll of Scotch tape, and an envelope full of receipts was searched
thoroughly, but offered no leads. Branson plopped into one of the
barstools and leaned over, resting his head on the granite
countertop.
Damn! Where are you,
Katie?
Tapping his fingers along the hard
stone, he tried to think of what he missed. Traveling back to the
last vacation he took with his parents, he thought of their
routine.
Packing list, airline tickets,
mail . . . no, they always stopped the mail. Lamps on a timer, hire
one of the neighbor kids to take care of the plants . . . emergency
numbers! Gram must have left an emergency number for the caretaker
I spoke to.
He walked to the far side of
the kitchen, to the built in desk, and glanced at the contents
surrounding the phone. “Yes!” he exclaimed, finding a pad of paper
with emergency numbers listed.

Finding a scrap piece of paper, he
jotted all three numbers down and made sure everything was back in
its place. It was late, and he’d have to wait until morning to
call, but at least he had hope to help him get through the night.
Before he reached the front door, he dialed the first number.
“Hello?”

“
I’m sorry to disturb you
at this hour, but I need to reach the Harringtons.”

The call was a dead end as the
neighbor didn’t have any details of their travel plans, their only
job was to watch the home from a distance and be willing to call
authorities if a water line broke, or someone tried to burglarize
the place.

The second number he dialed appeared
to be a cell phone. Branson’s heart beat against his chest, not
knowing if Gram or Katie would answer. Instead a man
answered.

“
Hello?”

Branson’s throat constricted and he
remained silent.

“
Hello? Is anyone
there?”

“
Yes,” He cleared his
throat. “My name is Branson Stone. I’m looking for someone and I
thought you might—I found your number and I wonder if you know the
Harringtons?”

“
What’s your concern with
them?”

“
I’m Katie Harrington’s
fiancé and I need to find her. Please, I know you don’t know me,
but I’m in love with her and I need to find her. If you know where
she is, I’m begging you to tell me.”

“
Are you in
York?”

“
Yes.”

“
Meet me at the Maine
Diner in twenty minutes.”

Branson entered the diner and found a
booth by the window. The place was unusually crowded for ten
o’clock at night.

“
What can I get for ya?” a
waitress asked, chewing her gum like it was trying to get away from
her.

“
I’ll have a cup of
coffee, black.”

Branson sipped the coffee and waited
for the faceless, nameless stranger. He looked around the noisy
diner and watched waitresses in matching T-shirts and aprons rush
around delivering food and refilling drinks. He wondered how the
man he talked to would recognize him. He wasn’t the only lone
stranger in the diner. Would he go table to table
asking?

The bell above the entrance notified
him of an approaching customer. A man with salt and pepper hair
walked through the door, bringing a gust of wind in with him, and
approached the table.

“
Branson, I’m Pete.” He
took a seat across from Branson. “I’m an old friend of the family.
I can help you find Katie.”