Carol's Image (30 page)

She listened for a moment to the strong heartbeat of the man who loved her, knowing that somewhere there really was a guardian angel who brought them together.

“I hear your heartbeat,” she whispered into the night.

“It beats for you, angel,” came the promise.

C
arol and Tom celebrated the news of their engagement with friends and talked with Rob and Laurie about the girls’ living arrangements. Tom wanted Carol to move in with him, and Rob thought it was a perfect time for Laurie to move in with him as well.

The next couple of weeks were busy as the girls made arrangements to move out of the apartment. “Can you believe the lease is going to be up right at the time that we decide to move on? No extra payments!” Carol said with glee, filling up boxes with her clothes.

“I know! Thank goodness because Christmas just about wiped me out. I need to save some more money for a while.”

“Yeah, I’ve got the wedding to plan and save for. With Tom’s house paid for years ago by his parents, not having to make a rent payment will go a long way for the wedding.”

Laurie looked over at her friend, wondering how to ask what was on her mind.

Carol noticed and knew exactly what Laurie was thinking. “You’re wondering about my parents, aren’t you?”

Laurie laughed and nodded. “Yes, I was. Have you guys talked to them at all?”

“Funny you should ask because we are driving there today to tell them.”

Laurie sat down on the bed next to Carol. “How are you with that? How do you think they will respond?”

Looking thoughtful, Carol just shook her head. Sighing deeply and turning to her best friend, seeing concern in her eyes, she simply said, “I have no idea. I mean it won’t go well…certainly not like in the movies where the family all jumps up to congratulate everyone.” Laughing ruefully, she continued, “And not even like when we called Tom’s parents the other day and I could hear the screaming coming from Tom’s phone!”

Wrapping her arms around Carol, Laurie pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry, sweetie.”

“Oh, don’t be. It is what it is. And the most important thing is that they no longer have the power over me to make me doubt myself. I have Tom. I have great friends. I have a great job. And I now have a future with a man I love. If they can’t be happy about that, then it is their loss.”

Hugging again, the two friends continued to pack until Tom arrived to pick up Carol.

*

Pulling into the driveway of the Fletcher estate, Tom allowed a moment to envision Carol growing up in the opulence. Everything looked pristine. The lawn, perfectly manicured. The house, palatial.
Cold, unfeeling, no joy.
Glancing to the side, wanting to see her reaction, he noticed her eyes traveling around as though she were seeing it for the first time. “You okay, angel? I won’t let anything happen to you, you know?”

Turning her gaze back to his, she smiled. “I know,” she replied softly. Reaching out to link her fingers with his, she continued, “Funny, but this place no longer seems to have any hold over me. I don’t feel ill…just a little nervous about how this will all go down. But honey,” she said, pulling his gaze back to hers. “At the end of the day, I get to go home with the man of my dreams. So whatever their reaction is, it’s fine. I’m fine.” Inhaling deeply, she glanced back to the house.

The door opened with the butler announcing that they would be received in the family room. Following him, Tom caught Carol rolling her eyes. Smiling, he reached down to link his fingers with hers again. Walking into the family room, he was struck with the difference between this room and the house he grew up in.

The Fletcher’s family room was as pristine as the rest of the house. No newspapers or magazines cluttered a coffee table. No TV remotes were seen. In fact, as his eyes quickly scanned the room, there was no TV. There were paintings on the walls, but no family photographs to be seen. The room held no personality. No warmth. No love. His eyes immediately took in Carol’s parents sitting formally in two chairs facing the sofa near the massive fireplace. The fireplace that held no fire.

His eyes cut sharply down to Carol, taking a visual pulse of how she was doing.
Not putting up with any shit today. They start somethin’, I’m shuttin’ it down.
Her face held a smile that did not reach her eyes, and he could feel the tension radiating off of her body as his hand slid up to her shoulder.

Mr. Fletcher rose from his chair, formerly greeting his daughter. “Carol, you are looking well.” Moving forward to shake Tom’s hand, he added, “Mr. Rivers.”

Carol moved forward to place a kiss on her father’s cheek and then walked over to the chair where her mother sat stiffly, leaning down to kiss her mother’s cheek as well.

As she moved back, Tom stepped forward immediately replacing his hand on her shoulder and guided her back toward his embrace. She glanced up at his face smiling, recognizing that he was protecting her. That realization made her smile even more. A real smile. One that reached her eyes and touched his heart.

“Carol. Tom. And what do we owe the pleasure of your company today?” her mother’s formal request dripped with sarcasm.

Her father’s voice interrupted, “Please, won’t you sit down?” He motioned to the sofa across from his chair.

Settling his large frame onto the sofa, Tom wrapped his arm around Carol, giving her his physical support, but hoping that she felt his emotional support as well.

Carol reached over to take his other hand, linking her fingers through his. Together, strong. United. One.

Looking her parents directly in the eyes, Carol spoke softly, but firmly. “Mother, father. We wanted to come by today to tell you that we are formally engaged and plan to marry in May. We, of course, would like your blessing, but will be married regardless.”

The momentary silence in the room was deafening. Her mother’s eyes cut quickly down to Carol’s hand, noting the ring.

“Are you pregnant?” her cool voice asked.

Tom jerked forward, but Carol calmly placed her hand on his leg, giving a little squeeze. “No, mother. I am not pregnant. We are quite simply in love, want to be together, and have decided not to wait.”

Carol’s father sat quietly, observing the couple in front of him.

“Well, that certainly isn’t enough time to plan a proper wedding. I suppose that is why you are here? To ask for money for the wedding? To ask us to host what should be the event of the season if you were marrying the right kind of man?”

Carol, incensed, answered back. Calmly. Surely. In control. “No, we do not want your money. We simply wanted you to know that your only daughter was getting married. Married, I might say, to exactly the right kind of man. One who doesn’t see me as arm-candy. One who doesn’t want anything from my parents’ position in society. One who sees me for who I am, not what he wants to make me be. Accepts me. Cares for me. Protects me. Treasures me. Loves me. All the things I have never had, ever before.”

Standing, she turned to Tom apologetically. “Come on, honey. This was a mistake.”

Tom rose from the sofa, more proud of Carol at that moment than he ever could have thought to be. Wrapping his mighty arm around her, he pulled her into his warm embrace. Kissing the top of her head, he hugged her tightly. “This was not a mistake, angel. You came to make an announcement, and you’ve done that. You came to show your parents that you are happy, and you’ve done that too. Proud of you, angel.”

With Carol still tucked in his embrace, he looked down at her mother’s stunned face and her father’s silent expression. “You may not care, but know this. I will take care of her. She’s the most important person in the world to me. She is precious, and I will always treat her as such.”

With that, the two of them walked out of the room, out of the house, drove back to their house, and entered smiling. The small living room, warmly decorated, beckoned them. Carol had added her photographs to the walls along with Tom’s. Some of her possessions now mingled with his, creating a home that was theirs. Blended. Together. As One.

Carol, eyes twinkling, ran up the stairs toward the bedroom with Tom right on her heels. Squealing as he caught her, she whirled around in his arms, pulling his face down for a kiss. Passionate. Hard. Wet. Long. Needy. Tongues dueling.

Slowly, the kiss became less desperate. She felt his lips moving gently over hers as though to memorize their shape and feel. Slow. Gentle. Full of promise. Love. Acceptance.

That night, they made love with all the feelings and emotions that the day had brought. Resting in the knowledge that they were truly as one, they worshiped each other’s bodies long into the night.

Lying naked, curled tightly together, she drifted off to sleep with her head tucked safely against his broad chest. His arms encircled her, holding her as though she would slip away if he let her go.

“I hear your heart beat,” she said as she slipped into sleep.

“It beats for you, angel,” came the promise.

T
om, on the phone with Shane, was listening to his friend’s long, continuous flow of cursing. Holding the phone away from his ear momentarily, he caught Jake’s look of irritation, knowing they were all pissed.

“How’n the hell did that judge let that motherfucker out on bail? If ever there was a fuckin’ flight risk, it’s Cal Penski. Fuck!”

Tom finally cut in. “Shane, not a damn thing we can do. Just wanted you to know he’ll probably be headin’ your way. Figure he’s not gonna hang out in Fairfield very long, so he’ll get back to his business in Richland.”

“Can you tail him? Can you keep a man on him?” Shane barked out.

“Legally, no. You know that. But we do know he headed to his mom’s house. Got someone watchin’ the house to see if anyone suspicious shows up. He’s not stupid though. He’s gotta know we are watchin’ so he’s not gonna try to run his business outta his mom’s kitchen.”

With Shane’s cursing and thanks ringing in his ears, Tom hung up the phone. Resting his elbows on his desk, he rubbed one hand over his face while tossing his cell down.

Jake didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. As friends and now partners for several years, they knew each other well enough to know when words weren’t necessary. Both were pissed. Both were tired.

The chief walked over, seeing his two best detectives and reading their mood. “Men, you keep working the case with the Richland police. Make it airtight, and when he goes to trial, we’ll have him.”

Jake looked over at Tom. “You think we can get Bert to keep an eye on him for us. He may be willin’ to be an informant, if he dislikes his brother so much.”

Tom snorted. “You think that weasel’s gonna help us out. After I threatened him to stay away from Carol? No way.”

Jake’s cell rang, and he recognized the PI he put on as a tail for Cal. “Campbell. Got something?”

“Been quiet all morning. Just lettin’ you know that Cal and his mom just got in her car. I tailed them, and it looks like they are at the Lo-Foods grocery store over in the Stop and Shop center. You want me to keep an eye on their car and tail ’em when they get out?”

“Yeah. Just let me know if they don’t go back home. Was Bert with them?”

“Nah. Just Cal and his mom.”

“Got it. Thanks.” Jake hung up then relayed the conversation to Tom.

Tom nodded then leaned back in his chair, stretching his muscular frame, trying to ease some of the tension out of his body. Looking back down at the stack of files on his desk, he sighed as he and Jake continued working, secure in the knowledge that Cal was being watched.

*

Carol and Jon were just finishing their shift when Sofia came in. The three friends had not worked simultaneous shifts in several weeks, and Carol found that she missed their company. Sofia passed them in the hallway, saying, “Got here early. I’ll meet you in the break room when you’re finished.”

Jon nodded and waved her on as Carol was coming out of one of the ER examining room. “You done?” he asked her.

Smiling up at him, she said, “Yeah. Kid needed stitches. Fell off the monkey bars at the elementary school. I asked him who his teacher was. Thought it might be Laurie, but it wasn’t.”