No Magic Moment (Secrets of Stone Book 4) (28 page)

By the time
I returned to the condo and got everything packed, two more hours had passed, giving Alfred time to show up with the keys to a loaner car from Killian. It was his control freak suggestion but I’d readily agreed, thinking it best that Andre didn’t take me to Julian. Beside the fact that I didn’t know how long I’d be staying, I couldn’t ignore the real possibility that Declan, or anyone he’d hired to follow me, would be looking for the 750i. Lucky for me, that also meant the chance for a joy ride in my favorite of Kil’s older cars: a Maserati Coupe. Though it was ten years old, it was in cherry condition with barely any miles on the engine.
Yesssss
.

It had been awhile since I’d driven myself anywhere. I relished the freedom of being behind the wheel. This machine was, after all, the baby sister of the one and only Ferrari, and I was in the mood to really romp it up the mountainside.

There wasn’t a lot of traffic on the road once I cleared the city. Turning the radio off and listening to the engine purr allowed my mind to drift—but also to focus.

I expected Michael to be furious when he saw me. Any other reaction would actually be surprising—but as I told Di, I wasn’t afraid of his anger. Above all things, it was never directed
at
me, but
because
of me. That should’ve been weirder than it was. It even made me smile. I reflected on his gallant ways, always ready to slay the dragons that posed a threat to me. On top of that, he had a wit that went on forever and a sex drive that persisted—well, farther than that.

Thinking of him without interruption made my nerves electric, my breasts all girly-tingly and my sex a damp puddle. Yeah. Michael Adam Pearson really could be a girl’s dream guy—present time frame the one huge exception, of course.

The next focus of my navel gaze wasn’t so pleasant—but why the hell not? I hadn’t ruminated about Andrea in a long time. And love her or hate her, the woman had taught me to go after what I wanted in life.
See something you want, darling? Then march up and take it. Nobody gets the silver platter the easy way.
In essence, that was exactly my goal now—only I wouldn’t qualify Michael as a “thing” I “wanted.” He was a piece of me. A need. My glue.

Would Andrea be proud, anyway? Probably not. I’d given up on seeking that rare validation, wherever it was hidden. Now, with her criminal intentions coming to the forefront of all her lifelong manipulations, her approval was no longer something I even wanted.

By the time I pulled into Pearson’s Apple Farm, the sun had nearly set, and all was sleepy and quiet. A few chickens and a pair of squirrels scampered aside as I slowly drove down the dirt road to the house. The front porch light was on, illuminating Diana on the wide swing, rocking gently back and forth. A ceramic carafe of my favorite spiced cider waited on the side table, along with two mugs. My mouth already watered, having smelled it from a hundred yards away. Thank God I’d called after clearing the turnoff so she knew I wasn’t far.

As soon as I put the car into park I jumped out, happy and excited—welcoming the vision over the last time I’d seen her. Those memories would haunt me for the rest of my life but to see her now, standing and smiling and opening her arms to embrace me…
tears.
Of course, dammit. The stinging heat filled my eyes and spilled onto my cheeks, and I didn’t try to hide or wipe them. Happy tears deserved to be shed for what this woman had been through.

“Margaux!”

I laughed. “You, my lady are a sight for my very sore eyes.
No
. Stay there; I’m coming!” I hurried up the porch steps so she wouldn’t walk any farther than she needed to.

“Dammit. Don’t you start now, too.” She put up a brave front but it was easy to see the ginger care in her movements.

“Shut it,” I rebounded. “You don’t have to be the hero for me. Don’t push yourself, especially if you-know-who is around. He’ll yell at me for that, as well.”

We both giggled while sitting down. Di winced as she settled back into the swing. She’d strategically placed two cushions to make the wooden bench more comfortable.

“Would you be more comfortable inside, Di? It’s already getting a bit cold.” Massive understatement. I zipped up my leather jacket and did my best to downplay a shiver.

She waved me off. “Gosh, no. This fresh air feels fantastic. The doctor said I should get up and move around. I really want to sit out here, if you don’t mind. Just for a bit longer.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do. Your wish is my command. I don’t say that to many people so you should take advantage of it.” I tilted my head thoughtfully. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever said it to anyone.”

Di laughed, brimming a smile to my lips. I poured us each some cider then closed my eyes, damn near orgasmic, as I took a sip.

“The best,” I murmured.

She bit her lip like a delighted little girl. “I also brewed up some sun tea. We can have some later tonight, after we go in. I’ll even put some bourbon into yours. I don’t dare indulge, considering the drug cocktail I’m already on.”

“No way,” I countered. “I can’t imagine anything making your iced tea better. You have to divulge your secrets. Second to lattes, I’m addicted to iced tea, and I just can’t nail down your lemon/sugar combo.”

“I’d be happy to show you how I mix it up. Not tough.”

“Good!” I folded my hands around the warmth of my mug. “So what did you do today? Did you have therapy?”

She shook her head. “Had a reprieve. Those boys at Alpine PT are the meanest bastards in town.”

I patted her knee. “They just want you to recover, like we all do.”

“I know, I know. I hear it every day. And I get it…I do. Every day I’m stronger is another day of beating back Declan.” Defiant gold glints appeared in her eyes. “The second I can move better, Michael and Carlo are going to take me down to the shooting range, too. I’m going to get real skillful with that handgun.”

“That’s a perfect idea.”

She angled a nod toward me. “You should do the same, honey.”

“Damn straight.” I sighed in resignation “I’ve really been meaning to, but then get busy doing something else and forget. I know, I know; not a great excuse.”

“Couldn’t agree more.” She took a purposeful drag on her cider, glancing in approval as I pulled out my cell and made an event on my calendar for the following Monday.
Look into firearms training.

After stowing the phone again, I pushed out a deep breath. “And as for the giant elephant on the porch with us?”

Di snorted. “He isn’t back from work yet. Some nights he won’t return until seven or eight, depending on when he leaves the office. He usually calls at the turnoff, just like you did.”

Another smile broke over my lips. “Who do you think taught me that trick?”

“Figured as much. And that goofy grin you have right now? I had one just like it, thinking the same thing when you called.” She grabbed one of my hands. “He’s a good man, Margaux. He loves you…and he misses you something bad right now, too. I see it tearing him apart.”

“You—you do?” Hope glimmered a little brighter in the center of my chest.

“Of course. I know, with all of his heart, he thinks he’s doing the right thing.”

“Has he come out and talked to you about any of this? About the way he feels being apart from me?”

Her features, as tender as a medieval Madonna already, softened in compassion. “Not in so many words…but I’m his mother. I
know.
I just know.”

I tempered my reaction. Lines like the mama-knows-all thing always struck me as a lot of hooey but I wasn’t going to trash her rights to the feeling. “I don’t want to put you in the middle of this. If it’s uncomfortable, we can just talk about your PT and iced tea and the farm and shit. I love it here, Di. I love
you
, and I want you to get well—but I love your son more than anything I’ve loved my entire life. I really don’t want to leave here without him this time.”

“
Honey
.” She stroked a couple of fresh tears off my cheekbone. “I know. I know.”

I firmed my jaw, needing her to see I had more to force out. “But if he tells me to go, I will. I can no longer make him look at something he’s not willing to see.”

“He thinks he’s doing right by you.” She lowered her hand to my knee, patting in emphasis. “He truly does. He’s making you safe by keeping you away from
us
. And Margaux, I won’t lie; some of his anxiety is well-founded. Until this Declan situation is settled, the man is a viable threat to our world. Michael just can’t face the idea of going through all of it again…of finding you in the same condition I was in.” Her lower lip trembled. “He said…that he thought I was dead.”

I pulled in a rickety breath. “Yeah. He did.”

“He also told me that he thought he was dying, too.”

I dropped my head. “Shit.”

“Then afterward, having to sit there and do nothing, unable to tell the doctors or police that he knew who did it, when they asked over and over and over. Hell, they all still probe me about it now. ‘So you didn’t see who did this?’ they ask. ‘Not one time? You didn’t see what they were wearing, a tattoo, a scar, anything?’” She grunted and poured herself more cider. “They make you feel like you’re stupid, a victim. Do you know how bad it makes me feel?”

I pushed out my haughtiest sniff. “I know how pissed it would make
me
feel.”

“Oh, there are plenty of those moments, too. When they command me to push a little harder in my workout…you know, just one more set, a few more reps? But that crap kills me more than physically. It guts my insides every time. Declan Pearson has terrorized us for the better part of my life, and for all of Michael’s. I want him to die, Margaux. If I could kill him right now, I would do it—with my own hands.” She held out her hands, palms up, as if they were frightening organisms from another planet. “And what the hell does that say about me now? One man has completely changed my moral fiber—and it disgusts me. I was a good person. A kind, loving person. Now I’m no less of a monster than he is.”

I raised my arm around her shoulder. It was like she hadn’t drunk the cider. Her skin was cold, her limbs trembling. “Listen to me, Di Pearson. You are brave, strong, and one of the most tender, loving people I’ve ever met. You
are
good and kind, and that evil piece of shit Declan doesn’t deserve the air and space he takes up. Don’t you
dare
compare yourself to him again.”

Her body shuddered beneath my touch. Her voice was just as unsteady. “I’m just filled with such…rage.”

“I’d think that’s completely normal after what you’ve been through. Dammit, you have every single right to feel what you are feeling! Give yourself some slack. You’ve survived a traumatic experience, and you’re lucky to be alive.”

She lifted teary eyes. “Which is what I should be focusing on, right?”

“Oh hell, no!” I
humph
ed, perfectly emulating her feistier moments. “The fact that you want to kill that mother fucker? Well, I’d be consumed with the concept. Shit, I’ll even help you do it. Where can we buy the bullets? No, wait. You have horses, right? Let’s draw and quarter him!”

She burst into giggles, making me grin with silly pride. I gave her shoulders another gentle squeeze and snuck a glance at her pretty features, now noticing the stress that attacked the corners of her eyes and mouth. If she wasn’t already in counseling, maybe that needed to be part of her healing process, too. I couldn’t know for sure and didn’t feel right asking such a personal question.

Ugh
. It sucked that Michael had cut me out of the loop. Some female-to-female bonding time would likely help her right now as well. We’d been sneaking the text messages and occasional phone calls, but Di needed someone to lean on. It was definitely something he and I were going to have to address when we spoke—

If
we spoke.

No. I refused to let the doubts back in. Optimism was the course I’d picked, and I was going to stay true to it. Surely Michael would allow at least a civil conversation.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to go inside and freshen up.”

Di cupped my cheek and smiled softly. “Make yourself comfortable, honey. My home is your home; you know that.”

I hugged her once more. Oh
yes
, I truly loved this woman.

After grabbing my purse, I made my way inside, to the guest bathroom on the first floor. I was suddenly nervous about Michael’s imminent arrival, and primping always calmed me down a bit.

My look was natural and casual after changing from the office this afternoon, a pair of skinny jeans and a red turtleneck, so I just ran a brush through my hair and put on some lip gloss over my berry stain.

I froze with my finger still at my lips.

Someone else had joined Di on the porch. I could make out conversation but not exact words, since all the windows still had their screens in, not changed to the winter storm windows yet. The front door was open, meaning only the screen door stood between me and the outside once I cracked open the bathroom door.

Shit.
Shit.

It was him. My trembling knees told me even before his deep, resonating voice made my heart skip a beat. His baritone would always have that effect on me, no matter where I was when I heard it.

It was show time.

I stepped into the living room on quiet feet, trying to hear what he and Di were talking about before he saw me. Not eavesdropping…merely a creative entrance.

“Holy crap. That’s a sweet Maserati. Do you have company, Mom?”

“
We
do. But how was your day? The drive home?”

“Who stopped by?”

“She’s in the bathroom, baby bear. Sit down and visit with me. It’s so lovely out tonight.”

“Uh-uh. It’s too cold out here for you. Let’s get you inside before you catch a chill. And why are you avoiding my questions?”

“Because you’re paranoid and suspicious about everything?”

“Yeah. Someone else said that to me once.”

“Really? Sounds like a very wise person.”

“Something like that.”

“So tell me about your day.”

“It was fine. Seriously, Mom. Just tell me who’s here. I’m not in the mood for surprises. You know I don’t like that shit.”