Under Currents (6 page)

“That’s a great idea. Of course you’re invited.”

“What can I bring?”

“Just an appetite. There’ll be plenty of food. I won’t mention to Julie that you’re coming. It might be best if you just show up. It’s this Saturday at five.”

“I’ll be there.” Frank hung up the phone. He grinned as he thought about Julie’s own mother blindsiding her. No doubt, she’d eventually surrender. If she didn’t come willingly to his bed, he’d come up with a different plan.

Chapter Four

Cold water splashed around his face, and blood trickled down his forehead. People screamed and cried. Strong hands lifted him from the shallow water and placed him on a stretcher. Darkness spread through his mind like spilled ink, blotting out the images and sounds in his head.

Caleb slowly emerged from the hazy fog surrounding the dream. The same dream he’d had for years. Could it be a memory?

He sat up disoriented and stared around the room, once again expecting to see bars. Then he realized he was a free man, but he’d never be free of the day his life had changed. The day he’d gone from being a carefree college student to a convicted criminal.

Damn it. Damn it to hell.

If only he could remember the accident clearly. He wanted the details from his own perspective—not Devin Vincent’s account of it. Why in the hell couldn’t he remember?

He swung his legs over and placed his feet on the floor. After a long stretch and yawn, he stood and stumbled into the small kitchen where he brewed a pot of coffee.

He stepped outside onto the back porch with his coffee cup in hand and sat on the top step. Fog hovered over the river in the early hours of grayness before the sun rose. The river water flowed silently while birds chirped. In the distance, a bullfrog croaked for a mate.

“Too bad it’s not that easy for me. Just croak and get laid.” He chuckled, then sipped his coffee.

His thoughts drifted to Julie. After pushing away an image of what she would look like nude, he mused over the threats made against her. He didn’t think the son-of-a-bitch behind it would stop. Whoever was doing it would turn up the heat the closer it got to the deadline. How could he protect her and her kids without jeopardizing his parole and ending up back in prison?

Hell, he had to stop obsessing over Julie. She was too good for him. She deserved a whole-lot better than him.

Caleb put his cup away and grabbed a sweatshirt. He headed upstream in his grandfather’s aluminum fishing boat. As he had every morning, he killed the motor and rammed against the bank surrounded by wilderness. He stared at the spot where Connie and Amy had been plowed over with a speedboat.

Maybe something in his brain would snap and release the captive memories. The water rippled by, and dragonflies hovered just above the water’s surface. Turtles on a log plopped into the water. He closed his eyes and tried to force the memories, but his mind remained a haze. “Shit. This isn’t working.”

Frustrated, he cranked the engine and headed home.

He pulled upon the concrete ramp and climbed out, then secured his boat. He walked toward the house but stopped. Julie crouched near a bush in his yard.

What the hell is she doing?

His gaze lingered on her shapely bottom. He eased toward her, then paused when she raised her camera into position. Two hummingbirds gathered around the blooms on his shrubs. She snapped the picture just before the birds buzzed away.

He walked up behind her. “You’re trespassing.”

She stood quickly facing him. “You’re not serious are you? I hope you’re teasing.”

“I’m serious, and it’ll cost you a decent cup of coffee.”

“I have some made. Let’s go.” When he hesitated, she added, “No one’s around. And the river’s quiet today.”

Walking behind her, he stared at her hips swaying side to side. Images of hoisting her against him invaded his thoughts, taunting him mercilessly. Agony. “So what’s with the bird pictures?”

“I photograph them. I’ve actually sold prints to publishers for magazines and calendars.”

“Hell, I’m impressed.” He opened the backdoor and waited for her to step inside before following. Her kitchen smelled like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and brewed coffee. “How long have you had this interest?”

She laughed as she removed two cups and two saucers from the cabinet. “I started when I was twelve. What else does a nerd have to do with her time? Besides, birds have always fascinated me.”

“Bet Jeremy didn’t think you were a nerd.”

“He did until I returned from college one semester for a visit.” She poured the coffee and handed it to him. “He didn’t even know who I was at first. At least you recognized me. Would you have remembered me if I hadn’t have helped you cheat?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. You tried to hide your looks in high school.”

“I didn’t know how to make myself look better. My mom wanted me to stay a dork to keep the boys uninterested. In her defense, I think she worried I’d become more like Amy.” She opened the cookie jar. “Care for one?”

“Thanks. I smelled them when I walked in.” He took a bite and washed it down with coffee. “So how’d you change?”

“My college roommate taught me how to do my makeup and hair. Choose the right clothes. That next summer, Jeremy and I ended up engaged.”

“I can’t believe he’s gone. He was such a super guy.”

“True, he was. The first year after his death, I kept waiting for him to walk through the backdoor, thinking it all had to be a nightmare.” She paused. “I’ve started clearing his things from our room. This summer I’ll get rid of his clothes.” She glanced at Caleb. “What size are you?”

“In jeans, 34/36.”

“You’re taller than Jeremy. Care for another cookie?”

“Thanks, they’re good.” He grabbed another one. “I left my clothes in my grandma’s attic. Believe me, the things, that didn’t dry rot, stink to high heaven. I’ve rinsed out a few shirts in the sink. When I get a chance, I’ll take them to the laundromat in town.”

“You’ll never make it on your bike. I think trespassing should carry a stiffer penalty. How ‘bout I wash your clothes?”

“No, Julie. That’d be asking too much.”

“You mowed my yard twice. It’s the least I can do.”

Was he taking advantage of her? Probably. But damn his clothes stunk. “You sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. Go get them, and I’ll get a load started.”

Caleb didn’t waste any time returning to his house and dragging two bags of laundry out his backdoor. It looked more like he was hauling two bodies across the lawn to Julie's.

She opened the door wide enough for him to enter. Surprise showed in her expression. “That’s a lot!”

His cheeks warmed like pancakes off a griddle. “I threw in some towels and sheets too. Do you mind?”

“No, of course not. I’ll have them ready tonight.”

“Thanks.” He started to leave. At the door, he paused. “One more thing. After you and the kids went inside the other day, I spotted a boat drifting from the bank. I couldn’t see who was in it. He sped off before I could get a good look at him.  At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I thought it was just someone fishing. Then later I remembered the man talking to Ally at the mailbox.”

“You think it could be the same man?”

“I’m not sure. He was wearing a hat. It might’ve been old man Peel.” He explained how Mr. Peel had tried to run him off the road his first week home. “After the problems you’ve had, I don’t think you can be too careful.”

She paled for a moment. “Could just be someone fishing?”

“Could be. I thought it might be worth mentioning. It doesn’t hurt to stay visual.”

“I will.” Concern overshadowed Julie’s face. “You should go to the police about Mr. Peel.”

“Like they’d care.”

“You can't sit back and let him kill you.”

Caleb didn’t have an answer. He shrugged and decided to change the subject. “I feel like a heel letting you do my laundry. I shouldn't have brought so much over.”

“If you feel that badly about it, mow my yard again.”

“Sure. You don’t have any idea how much I appreciate this. And thanks for the coffee and cookies.”

♦♦♦

That evening, Ally answered the door when he knocked. “Mommy, it’s Caleb.”

Julie appeared through the bedroom door carrying a laundry basket and set it down beside two other filled baskets of folded clothes and towels. “All done. I used dryer sheets. It made them smell sweet. Hope that’s all right.”

“Nothing wrong with smelling sweet.” He grinned, then reached in his back pocket for his wallet. “Let me pay you for the detergent.”

“I wouldn't think of taking your money. Besides you used your gas to mow my lawn.” She turned to Scott. “Help Caleb carry his laundry home.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Scott eagerly lifted a basket.

“Oh, I almost forgot your shirts.” She disappeared to the bedroom and soon returned with six pressed shirts on hangers and handed them to Caleb. “I used a little starch.”

“Ah. . .Julie, you didn’t have to do so much.”

“What are neighbors for?”

Caleb wanted to be more than neighbors. A deep lustful yearning spiraled through him as he thought about taking Julie to his bed and kissing every inch of her body. Torture. Pure torture. He ground his teeth as he buried the thought.

“Thanks. I’ll return the baskets.”

“No rush.” She held the door open for them. “Come right back, Scott.”

Caleb slid everything just inside his backdoor and hung the shirts on the doorknob before relieving Scott of his load. “Be sure your mom lets me know when she wants the yard mowed.”

“That won’t be a problem. She hates doing it.”

Caleb grinned as the boy scurried through the yard to his own. He waited until Scott disappeared inside to turn off the porch light. Then he carried the laundry to his bedroom. While putting his clothes, sheets, and towels away, he thought about how much he enjoyed being with the family next door.

A deep pain filled his chest as he yearned for everything missing in his life. A family. He couldn’t stop thinking about Julie, Scott, and Ally, wishing they were his to love. But he was a man with a criminal record, with no future and with an unforgivable past.

Basically, I’m a loser.

♦♦♦

Julie had promised her kids they could do a star gaze. 

Friday night, she turned to Scott. “Get the quilt and spread it out in the yard.” She handed Ally a bowl of popcorn. “Can you carry it without spilling it?”

“I’m not a baby.” Ally cradled the bowl in her arms and headed out.

Julie waited for her children to get situated before turning off the back porch light. She switched on the flashlight and made her way to the quilt.

It only took minutes to realize that the trees in her yard blocked their view.  She laid back and stared up but found herself staring through branches.

Well, hell’s bells.

Caleb’s backdoor opened, and he walked out carrying a bag of garbage to his trashcan. Scott spotlighted his dark silhouette with the flashlight. “Hey, Caleb.”

After dumping his trash, Caleb eased over to her yard. “It’s late. You guys sleeping outside?”

“We’re looking for the big dipper,” Ally stated.

Julie sighed. “I’m afraid we can’t see anything with my trees in our way.”

“You’re welcome to use my yard.”

“You don’t mind?” Julie asked.

“No, come on over.”

Once setup in Caleb’s wide-opened yard, Julie returned to stargazing.

Caleb stood next to the quilt. “If you look, straight above you, you’ll see Pisces the fish.”

“It doesn’t look like a fish,” Ally complained. “It looks like my big toe.”

“Well whoever named it, thought it looked like a fish,” he replied.

Julie laughed. “Come join us if you’d like.”

Ally and Scott scooted closer to Julie. He sat down on the far side of the quilt from her. “They’re bright tonight.”

“Where’s Aries,” Scott said.

“It’s a spring constellation. It should be visible.” Caleb laid back and stared at the night sky, trying to find the group of stars. “There.” He pointed up. “See that bright star with a string of little ones.”

“I see it,” Scott said. “Why name it after a ram?”

“A Goddess sent a golden ram down to save two children, so they named a group of stars after it—Aries.”

“What is that cluster of stars?” Julie asked.

“Sagittarius, I think.” He paused. “There’s the big dipper. Way up high.”

Ally clapped her hands. “My daddy said it has chocolate milk in it.”

“Yeah, I believe it does. Your daddy was a smart guy,” Caleb said. “Pass the popcorn.  I can’t see it, but I can smell it.”

“The bowl’s coming your way,” Julie said.

“Thanks.” He scooped a handful, then passed the bowl back.

“How do you know so much about constellations?” Julie asked.

“My grandpa gave me a book on constellations for Christmas one year.”

Julie liked the way Caleb didn’t belittle Jeremy’s theory of the big dipper being full of chocolate milk. He was always sensitive to their feelings.

Her kids lost interest in the stars and chased lightning bugs. She found herself lying alone with Caleb on the quilt.

“I love the way a cotton quilt smells, especially when it’s been in the sun for awhile,” Caleb commented.

“Me too,” Julie said. “It’s one of my top ten good smells.”

“I like the smell of rain on hot asphalt in the summertime.”

“That’s a good one. Hmmm. . .I like the smell of Ally’s plastic pool.”

“I like the way you smell— like a rose garden.”

Julie grew quiet.

She wanted to move closer to him, to be able to feel the heat from his body. But she didn’t. The thought had her hormones exploding like a meteor shower. But what she was feeling was more than lust, she still had a thing for Caleb. Not trusting herself, she sat up. “We’d better get inside. I have to work tomorrow.” She called her kids. “Grab the bowl, Ally. Scott get the flashlight and turn it on.”

“Let me help fold the quilt.” He felt around and grabbed the end corners. “You ready?”