Home Is Where the Heart Break Is (9 page)

Nico stared at the phone like it was on fire. Reluctantly, he took it from my fingers and pressed the keypad.

“Oh and don’t freak her out,” I added.

He looked slightly annoyed. “Thanks.”

Nico broke the news gently and I got on to assure her I was fine. She was going to meet us at the hospital.

I probably could have hobbled into the hospital, but Nico volunteered to carry me and who was I to say no.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and nuzzled the side of it as he carried me inside. “You smell good even drenched in river water,” I said sleepily.

He squeezed his hard arms around me.

The gauze on my leg was soaked, but it felt like the bleeding had stopped. The nurse behind the window looked up and her eyes widened. She stood and buzzed us straight inside where she met us with a wheel chair.

I frowned down at the chair. “Can’t he carry me to the room?” It was selfish of me because the poor guy had carried me all over in the last half hour, but I didn’t want to leave his arms.

“Sorry, hospital policy.”

Nico lowered me to the chair and they wheeled me to a room.

Mom must have flown down the winding road because she showed up in record time looking pale with worry. She hugged Nico as soon as she saw that I was not dead or hooked up to life support. We sat and waited for the doctor to come in and stitch me up.

Color was finally coming back to Mom’s face. “How did this happen?”

“It was pretty simple actually. My inner tube had a leak, and halfway down the river, I capsized. Then my leg hit a rock.”

“I thought the Tube Shack always checked those things before they rented them out.”

“I guess it’s just like a tire on your car. You never know when it’s going to blow,” Nico said.

Mom reached over and placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you, Nico, for pulling her out of the water and getting her medical attention.”

He nodded and restrained a smile. His phone buzzed just as a nurse walked in. She scowled at him and pointed to the poster on the wall that warned no cell phones.

“It’s Chase. I’ll go call him.” Nico walked back in ten seconds later. “Turns out I didn’t need to call him.”

Chase had the same distraught expression that he’d worn two nights before in the waiting room. He rushed over to the bed and grabbed my hand. “Oh my god, what happened, Jessa? I was hearing all kinds of horrible stories about you nearly bleeding to death, nearly drowning, nearly losing a limb. The story got worse as it passed along the flotilla of inner tubes. By the time it reached me, I’d heard--” His words broke off. He was truly upset, but then he had been through a lot in the last few days.

Nico clapped Chase on the shoulder. “Dude, did you forget how crazy this town gets with gossip? Her inner tube sank and she cut her leg on a rock. There was a point where it seemed she might be heading toward hypothermia, but we got her warmed up in time.”

Chase still looked anxious. “I’m fine, Chase. Please stop worrying. You’ve been through enough.”

“How’s Cindy?” Mom asked.

“She’s better but it’s a long road back for her, unfortunately.”

“Where’s Susie?” The look on his face made me regret asking.

Chase looked down to try and hide that he was upset. “She was cold, so I dropped her off at her house.”

The nurse walked back in with a silver tray of scary looking instruments and a couple of syringes. “I just remembered how much I hated getting stitches last time. In fact it is now fresh in my mind. I still can’t believe I’ve been to this hospital twice since I’ve been back to Pinecliff.”

“Her mom can stay, but everyone else needs to go out to the waiting room,” the nurse said.

Both Chase and Nico looked reluctant to leave. “You guys go home. You’re still wet. You are the best friends a girl could have. I love you guys.” The strain of the night had gotten to me and tears burned my eyes.

Mom walked over and put her hand over mine. “Why don’t you two go home and change and drop by the house in a couple of hours. I’ll make you hot cocoa like I used to make for you three when you were pretending to do your homework.”

“That would be totally cool,” I said. “If you can, that is?”

Chase’s facial muscles relaxed for the first time since he’d walked in. “As it happens, I’m free tonight and I would love cocoa.”

We all looked at Nico.

“Will there be marshmallows?”

“Do you mean besides me?” I asked.

He walked over and kissed my forehead. “Duchess, you were anything but a marshmallow today. I’ll see you back at your house in a few hours.”

Chapter 15

Fortunately, I’d only needed four stitches. The doctor had been more concerned about bacteria from the river entering my blood stream than blood leaving my body. He’d prescribed an antibiotic and a mild painkiller which he insisted I would need once the local anesthetic wore off.

I took a hot shower wearing the rubber stocking the hospital had given me to keep my leg dry and then tucked myself under the same quilt on the couch as the night before. The scent of cocoa drifted out of the kitchen, and I closed my eyes and relaxed back just as someone knocked at the door. Chase and Nico had arrived together.

Mom let them inside.

“Did you two drive together?” I asked excitedly.

“Nope,” Nico said, “just a coincidence.”

It was stupid but I was disappointed. I don’t know why I had it in my craw that they needed to become close friends again. Slowly I was coming to the conclusion that I was deluding myself. But at least they were both here with me now.

They flanked me on each side, and I gave them each a piece of quilt to share.

Mom placed the steaming cups of hot chocolate on the table in front of us. She stuck out her hand. There was a small pill on her palm. “You’d better take this. That numbness is going to wear off soon.”

I popped it in.

“I’m going to walk to the end of the road and get the mail,” Mom said. She turned and then looked back at the three of us. “It is so darn cute seeing the three of you together on that couch. I guess this time I don’t have to tell you to finish your homework.” She looked at Nico. “But please keep your shirt on.”

It was rare to see Nico look embarrassed, but there was no way he saw that one coming. She was my mom and even I hadn’t seen it coming. She walked outside.

Chase nearly spilled his cocoa as he turned to look at both of us. “What the hell was that about?”

“Nothing.” I blew on my cocoa, but I could still feel Chase’s curious gaze on me. “Nico came over during the storm last night and he was wet so he took off his shirt.” My head was already feeling the effects of the stressful day and the pain medication and I laughed for no apparent reason. It just seemed to bubble up and out of my mouth. I took a sip of the cocoa. “Ooh hot, hot, hot.” I waved my hand in front of my mouth as if that could help cool my tongue.

“Hey, Chase, remember when you used to take big gulps of your steaming cocoa to burn your tongue on purpose?” Nico asked.

“Oh yeah. Whenever my mom was cooking something gross and I didn’t want to taste it. I personally think it was a brilliant plan. And it worked. I’ve eaten a lot of Brussels sprouts, but I still, to this day, have no idea what they taste like.” He stared into his cup for a second. “Now that I think about it, it was kind of crazy.”

Another bout of laughter erupted from my chest then I caught my breath. They were both looking down at me. “I guess I’m not used to pain pills.”

“This could get pretty damn entertaining.” There was a glint in Nico’s brown eyes.

Mom walked back inside carrying some mail in her hands. I might have been feeling a little light in the head but I could see that she was thinking hard about something.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” I asked.

She shook her head. “It’s nothing.” She laid the mail on the little kitchen table but something had her distracted. Finally she looked at us. “It’s the strangest thing. I’m sure it means nothing, but I found this in our mailbox.” She was holding something red.

Nico stood to see what it was. He took it from her hand and turned it over in his palm a couple of times. “What the hell,” he said quietly.

“What is it?” Chase asked.

Nico exchanged a look with my mom then he turned around. “Jessa, try not to panic . . .”

“Well, now that you said that, I’m panicked. What is it?”

Chase and I leaned forward to see what he had in his hand. It was a red patch and there was a long nail stuck to it. Dizziness struck me, and Chase reached out to keep me from falling forward. I leaned my head back against the couch.

The same nausea I’d felt earlier when I’d seen my bloody leg returned. The tears threatened to return as well. Nico sat down next to me and Chase held my hand. Mom pulled up a chair. Her mouth was pulled tight in a frown.

“I don’t get it. What does it mean?” Chase asked.

“A couple of days ago, Jessa received a letter telling her to leave town. There was a dead black widow in the letter.” Mom looked at the red patch on the table. “And now it seems that someone may have caused her tube to sink on purpose.”

“What the hell is wrong with this town?” Chase asked angrily.

“Someone really hates me.” I tried to hold back the tears but after the river incident and the stitches this sent me over the edge.

Nico put his arm behind my neck and pulled me against him, but his silence meant he was just as shaken as me. When he did finally speak, I wished that he hadn’t.

“Chase, don’t get pissed, but do you think Susie would be trying to get Jessa to leave town?” Nico asked.

Chase’s entire body tensed and he squeezed my hand harder. “How am I not supposed to get pissed about that, Nico? You’re basically asking me if my girlfriend is a psycho.”

“She hates Jessa. Let’s face it.”

Chase sat forward and heat radiated from his body.

“Nico, we can’t just start accusing people. We have no proof,” Mom said.

“You’re right. Sorry, Bro,” Nico said. “I won’t bring it up again.”

But even with my senses now dulled by the pain pill, I could sense that Chase was still wound tightly from the Nico’s accusation.

“What about Regina?” Chase asked.

I now felt like the filling in a tension filled sandwich. I looked up at Nico. “Well?” I asked.

“What reason would she have to hate you? She knows I don’t have feelings for her.” Nico said.

“You may not care for her but according to everyone else, both up the hill and down the hill, she has not given up on you. Jessa’s arrival has definitely put a hitch in her plans,” Chase said.

“Terrific,” I said. “The list gets longer.”

Mom patted my knee. “Don’t be so dramatic, Jessa.”

“Dramatic?” My voice was several octaves higher than normal. “Must I remind you that I now have stitches in my leg, and that’s only because I was lucky enough to survive the black widow attack.”

“All I know is don’t go anywhere alone anymore,” Nico said. “If you’re not with your mom or aunt you need to be with me,” Nico said.

“Or me,” Chase added.

“Right, or Chase,” Nico amended.

“Are you kidding me?” I asked. “That is going to suck. It’s like being a little kid again.”

My mom’s face was smooth with concern. She looked at Nico. “Do you really think she’s in danger or is someone just trying to scare her?”

“I wish I knew,” Nico said.

“Should we tell the police?” Mom asked.

That was all I needed to hear. I pulled the quilt up over my head. “You guys are scaring the crap out of me,” I mumbled through the blanket.

“Yeah, maybe we should just let this be for tonight. She’s already had a bad day.” Chase said.

I lowered the blanket and blew the air off my face. “Thank you, Chase.”

“Besides,” he continued, “I don’t think the police can do anything without any real evidence. A rubber patch, a nail, and a dead spider are hardly conclusive.”

I pulled the blanket back up over my head. If it hadn’t been for the medication dulling all my senses, I’m pretty sure I would have fallen completely apart.

The cocoa party that had been intended to bring my spirits up, had ended with everyone feeling rather sullen. The pill and day’s events had hit me hard enough that bed was the only place I wanted to be. Chase left first and Mom shuffled off to bed, leaving Nico and me alone for a few minutes.

I walked him to the door, bleary eyed and light-headed. The giddy feeling was only compounded by his nearness. Clumsily, I threw my arms around his neck and with heavy lids I blinked up at him. Even through my foggy state of mind, he made my heart race ahead of its usual pace.

He lifted my chin up with his thumb and forefinger. “You are totally buzzed, Duchess.”

“You’re telling me. I keep waiting for my head to float away from my body. But my leg feels pretty damn good right now.”

“Well then, at least the meds did the trick.” He kissed me, and I melted weakly against him. The drugging effect of the medicine was nothing compared to the feel of his mouth against mine. “Do you think you can make it into bed on your own or should I carry you?”

I contemplated his offer for a moment. “I have to admit the highlight of my day was being in your arms, but I’m sure you’re tir--” A gasp escaped me as he lifted me into his arms and carried me to my bedroom. He lowered me onto my bed and leaned down to kiss me once more.

“Remember, don’t go out alone,” he commanded. The admonishment and reminder of shitty part of the night was now fresh in my mind again.

“You should have ended it with the kiss,” I said glumly.

He looked back at the door. “I could pick you up and start all over again.”

“Too late.”

“Sorry, Jessa. I’m just worried about you.” He looked truly upset.

I reached forward and took hold of his hand. “I love you, Nico.”

“I love you too, Jessa.”

Chapter 16

I’d woken with a searing pain in my leg and a pounding pain in my head. I wanted badly to stay in bed, but Mom had insisted that I go into the shop with her because she wanted to be able to keep an eye on me. She’d acted as if my stitches and headache were her only concern, but I knew the nail and patch she’d found in the mailbox were the true source of her uneasiness.

I’d drifted in and out of sleep the night before, and during my periods of wakefulness I’d assured myself that I was surrounded by enough people I loved and trusted to be safe no matter who was threatening me. I’d come back to a town I left years ago and had returned to find that my two best friends were just as awesome as ever. And the more time I spent with Nico, the more I realized how much I cared for him. When we were younger, the feelings of love had meant an unbreakable friendship and now they meant so much more. I’d never felt this way about anyone.

I sat in Sadie’s backroom with my leg on a chair. It seemed to help. I’d decided that I was done with the pills. They’d eased the pain, but they also made me feel dopey and that was the last thing I needed.

Sadie set me a task of sorting old buttons by color and size which made me feel rather silly and useless, but it was all I was good for at the moment. I was admiring an oval button that looked like an old-fashioned cameo when my phone rang. It was Chase.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

“I’m good, Sweetie. How’s your sister doing?”

“She’s still in the hospital for observations. We’re all supposed to meet with the counselor at the hospital to talk about things.” He paused. “I’m not really sure what we’re supposed to discuss. I just wish they’d figure out a way to help her.” Poor Chase had never suffered physically from the effects of an eating disorder but he had mentally, and it had taken a toll on him. He loved his sister, but I think there were times when he was truly angry with her.

“Jessa,” he said suddenly.

“Yeah?”

“Susie would never do anything to hurt you.” It was obvious he’d been beating himself up about it, and the strain of it came through the phone. “I know she’s jealous of you, but she would never do anything like that.” He laughed weakly. “Besides, she’s petrified of spiders.”

“Chase, please don’t give it another thought. I know it’s not her, and I hope that by the end of summer we can get to know each other so she won’t dislike me so much. I’d really like to get to know her.”

“Thanks, Jessa. I’ll tell her that. She’s super stubborn though.”

“Just give it some time, Chase.”

“I’ve got to head down the hill to the hospital. Call if you need me.”

“I will and drive safely, Chase. Bye.”

Nico called right after I’d hung up with Chase.

“Hola, my knight in shining armor.”

“How’s the leg?”

“Ugly and red and I guess I’m going to have a scar.”

“I like a chick with a scar. Maybe we should get you a couple of tattoos too.”

“Yeah, and why don’t you run that one by my mom to see if she’ll pay for it?” Something had been scratching around my mind and I finally decided to ask it. “Nico, when did you get the tattoo with my name?”

There was a long pause. “Right after the tattoo artist moved in with my mom. It seemed like a good way to keep a part of you with me.”

“I was always with you.” My throat tightened around my words.

“I know you were, Duchess.” Another round of silence drifted through the phone. “I’ll pick you up for lunch.”

“See you then.”

Mom and Sadie kept popping their heads into the back room to check on me, and each time I assured them that I was fine. Between the mind-numbing task of button sorting and my lack of sleep the night before, my lids felt like they had tiny weights attached to them. I decided to stretch out on the small sofa and take a quick nap. Only it was far from quick. The next thing I knew Mom was shaking me awake to let me know that Nico was out front.

Nico was leaning against his truck as I stepped out of the shop. Everything about him, his broad shoulders, his lazy smile, every glorious inch of him, sent my heart into a frenzy.

He pushed off the truck and opened the door without a word. We didn’t have to talk. Just being together was like speaking a million words to each other.

I yawned and stretched my arms forward. “I took a super long nap. I’d just planned to lay down for a few minutes and the next thing I knew, you were outside.”

“The medication?”

“No, I didn’t take anymore. I just kept waking up last night and thinking about everything.”

“It’s never good to think dark thoughts when you’re lying in bed. They’ll give you bad dreams.” He stared absently at the road, and it was obvious he was thinking about his childhood. I couldn’t even fathom all the restless nights and grim thoughts he’d had as a kid lying alone in his dark bedroom.

“Actually I was trying not to dwell on dark thoughts last night,” I said. “I was thinking about us a lot.”

He glanced sideways at me. “Oh yeah?”

“Yep. I realized that even though I’ve had a rather crappy start to my stay in Pinecliff, there’s one thing I’m certain about.” I looked at him. “I’m thrilled to be back with you. I think deep down I’ve always known we’d find each other again.”

“I’ve always felt the same way.” He released a short laugh. “I used to tell myself that once I got my shit together and once I’d saved up enough money, I would find you. Unfortunately, getting my shit together took me a lot longer than I’d expected. There were some definite self-made road blocks in the way. Funny thing is-- this year I’d decided I could finally go through with my plan.” He smiled at me. “And then you came to me.”

“If I hadn’t moved away for awhile, do you think we would have stuck together through those early teen years? I mean junior high years are sort of yucky. I know I was a total butt pain to my mom.”

“We might have hit some rough spots, but I think we’d still be together. I know, at least for me, there’s never been anyone else but you.”

“I’ve never given my heart fully to anyone else either.” I unbuckled my seatbelt a second and leaned over to kiss his cheek. Then I sat back down and buckled up.

“I don’t know about you,” he said, “but after last night, I’ve been having a strange craving for burritos. Let’s get some and park over at the haunted forest to eat them.”

“Sounds good. I’m finally feeling hungry again.”

The smell of the food made my mouth water as we climbed the steep dirt road to the small turn-off in front of the haunted forest. The official name of the place was Sutter’s Grove, but stories of ghost sightings had always floated around Pinecliff. So the locals always referred to it as the haunted forest.

“I’d forgotten about this place,” I said. “Remember when we were in sixth grade and Chase’s dad drove us up here after we’d gone out for Halloween.”

Nico parked the truck. “Oh yeah, you thought you saw a pair of red glowing eyes watching you eat your candy apple.”

I lifted my chin. “Excuse me, but I didn’t think it-- I actually saw them.” I pointed to where an old marker showed the edge of the trail. “They flickered like the eyes of a Jack-o-lantern, and they were right over there.”

Nico handed me a burrito. “If you say so.”

“I saw them, so think what you will.” I scooted back against my seat and took a bite of my food. We munched in silence for a moment then I decided to bring up my conversation with Chase. “Chase called to check on me this morning.”

He swallowed and took a sip of soda. “How is his sister?”

“Fine, I guess, but he had to go to the hospital for a family meeting.”

“Bummer.”

“Yeah. He wanted to assure me that Susie had nothing to do with the threats.”

“I’m sure he did. I still don’t trust her,” he said.

“I don’t think it was her and please don’t ever bring it up to Chase again. The fact that he was still talking about this morning means it really hurt him when you accused her.”

“All right, all right. I won’t ever remind him again that she’s a witch.”

“Nico, stop it. Really. It’s not helping.”

He looked at me. “Why are you so mad?”

“I just don’t want to upset Chase.”

“Fine. I won’t bring it up again.”

I handed Nico the last half of my burrito to eat.

He took it happily. “See, we were meant to be together. You only eat half of everything and I prefer to eat one and a half of everything.”

“That is rather convenient and less wasteful.” I opened the door to the truck. “I think I’m going to wander around out there for a bit.”

“Don’t go too far. Remember the legend says that they never found Frank Sutter’s body. He could still be out there somewhere.”

I leaned back in. “With the dead spider and the nightmarish river trip, do you really think you need to try so hard to scare me? Believe me I’m already freaked out enough.”

“Sorry, Duchess. You’re right.”

I closed the door to the truck and headed toward the trail head. Tourists rarely came up to this trail, and sometimes I wondered if the rumors of it being haunted kept them away. More likely it had to do with the steep, unpaved road leading up to it. This afternoon was no exception. There were only two other cars parked in the clearing, but there was no sign of the people. I wandered along the path which was not being maintained as well as other hiking trails. Pine cones and dead pine needles littered the shady path.

I decided to collect up a few pine cones. The stitches pulled against my skin as I walked, but I refused to think about the incident.

I followed the trail of fallen pine cones into a small copse of trees about twenty feet off the path. There were some nice ones that hadn’t been destroyed by feet or long-teethed animals yet. Something skittered behind me, and I twisted back just as a gray squirrel went racing up a tree trunk. I was humming to myself, using my foot to sort through the pinecones when an arm grabbed me around the waist and I dropped my collection.

Nico turned me around to face him.

“You might have let me know you were about to grab me.” I pressed my hand to my chest. “My heart is about to pop out, and I dropped my pine cones.”

“Now what’s the fun of grabbing you, if you know I’m about to do it?” He pulled me against him and kissed me. We stood in the center of the tall, fragrant trees, being warmed by the ribbons of sunlight that managed to wind their way through the evergreen canopy. There was something so familiar and yet so excitingly new about these intimate moments with Nico. The feel of his mouth on my lips and skin made every inch of me tingle. Being tucked in the security of his arms and with my head reeling from the pleasure of it; it was easy to forget the horrid events of the previous day. All that mattered was that I was with Nico.

My lips were raw again by the time we’d left the circle of trees and headed back to the truck. “Why does the lunch hour go so fast when the work hours seem to just plod along,” Nico said as he slid back into the driver’s seat.

“It is a strange phenomenon, isn’t it?”

“Scientists should figure out a way to change that.”

We pulled back onto the main highway. A lot of people were driving into Pinecliff for the weekend, so it looked like we’d be stuck in traffic.

“Great, my dad’s going to throw a fit,” Nico said.

I fell silent. There was nothing I hated to hear about more than his father’s ugly temper. Unfortunately, I’d seen it in action plenty of times when we were kids. I’d always considered him to be a crazy man. Nico seemed to sense my concern.

He reached over to hold my hand. “Hey, he doesn’t dare hit me anymore. It kills him, I know, but now he’s a lot more afraid of me than I am of him. The most he’ll do is tell me I have to stay late to make up the time.”

I smiled weakly and nodded. “I’m glad to hear it. Hey, speaking of later on, my mom has to help Aunt Sadie tonight. She told me I should ask you to come sit with me at home so I’m not alone.”

His eyes opened wide. “Really?”

“Why would I make that up? Do you want to come?”

He looked over at me for a moment. “What do you think?”

“Nico!” A car had slammed on the brakes in front of us and Nico did the same. We lurched forward and something small and heavy slid out from under the seat and hit the back of my heel. Once we’d come to a full stop, I leaned down and reached for it. It was a small box holding something heavy. I held it up in front of my face and stared at it.

Obviously not wanting to take his eyes off the road for long, Nico glanced over then turned back to watch the traffic. “What is that, Jessa?”

“It slid out from under your seat,” I said quietly. “It’s a box of nails.” My throat felt dry as I spoke and there was a sharp pain in my stomach.

Silence filled the cab of the truck for a long moment then Nico spoke. “They aren’t mine. I don’t know where they even came from.” There was nothing in the sound of his voice to make me doubt him and yet a sick feeling overcame me. The nails in the box looked exactly like the nail we’d found in the mailbox.

“You don’t think I had anything to do with the river accident?” The terrible urgency in his voice made it feel like someone had just reached in and punched me in the heart.

“No, I-- I don’t know what to think, Nico.”

“Are you kidding me?” He gripped the steering wheel harder and was now passing cars in the opposing lane at top speed. I gripped the edge of my seat.

“I’m just confused. I-- I . . .” Truthfully, I didn’t know what to say or think. Tears streamed down my cheeks as he sped along the winding highway.

“God, Jessa, I promise you, I don’t know where those nails came from. Why would I want you to leave town? I’ve only ever wanted you to come back.” His voice was breaking, and the sincerity of his tone should have convinced me but the whole incident was so bizarre.

“Who would have put them in your truck?” I asked shakily.

“I don’t know,” he yelled. “Dammit! I have no idea how that box ended up under my seat.” I willed myself to peer up at him through teary eyes.

The anguish in his expression made my tears roll faster. “Jessa, you’ve got to believe me.”

“I believe you.” But even as I heard the words I’d spoken I knew there was some doubt in my tone. “I just need to be alone for awhile. Everything is happening so fast with us, and I’m confused by it all.”