Out of the Storm (13 page)

Eric’s life dealt with the tangible. Facts, logic, reality. Things he could see, measure, and touch. In the world Eric knew, everything made sense. But someone had thrown him a curve in the dirt because none of this did. The brother he’d demonized since childhood was suddenly a stand-up guy. The perfect father.

Eric was being pulled into a vortex with a mysterious girl who seemed wedded to contradictions and mystery. Yet despite his attempts to keep her at arm’s length, he felt more and more drawn to her. And tonight—the frightening revelation about her mother’s death. Was it possible? Could there be some connection that…

Suddenly, something drew Eric’s attention. He held his breath. His senses were sharp, alert to anything out of the ordinary. His life and that of his team had depended on it. Now, as he stood, looking out his bedroom window, Eric heard a noise. But not outside. It came from Ashley’s room. Sound travelled easily through the thin walls. He closed his window carefully so he could hear more clearly. Ashley should have been sleeping. She had been. Eric crept to the wall and listened. There was a voice—barely audible but there was no doubt. It
was
Ashley. Her words sounded muffled at first, difficult to understand. Was she talking in her sleep? As he drew closer to the wall his question was answered. He caught a few words. “Going okay—all set—and good-bye.” Unless she had a friend hiding under the bed, Ashley had a cell phone.

Eric tiptoed to the door and peered into the hallway. Ashley’s door was closed. He waited, but there was nothing more from her room. Silence. A faint squeak signaled she was getting back under the covers. He walked to his own bed and lay down. Every time he thought this was a bad dream, that his imagination was playing tricks, something happened to snap him back to reality.

Thirty minutes later, he still lay wide awake. Knowing he needed to rest, to give his mind respite, Eric took a second sleeping pill from the bottle on the night table and pulled up the covers. His eyelids grew heavy and fell shut. His sleep was deep and dreamless again.

****

“Uncle Eric.” It was Kylie at the door. Eric looked at the digital clock on his night table: 6:50 a.m.

“Yeah,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Momma and me been fixin’ breakfast.”

“Huh?” He opened the door and caught the smell of bacon cooking. “Okay. Be right there.”

Eric rushed through a shower, brushed his teeth, and combed his hair. He was down the stairs in ten minutes. Ashley moved around the kitchen like a veteran, humming while she scrambled some eggs. She looked completely innocent, even energetic, upbeat. No evidence of lost sleep. What was happening? Why would she be talking on a cell phone? And to who? Ralph? Someone else in this strange drama? But then, he rationalized, everyone he knew had a cell phone today. Was he overreacting? Did that make Ashley a criminal? Of course not, but why talk in the middle of the night? He thought about the back pack and Buzz’s suspicions, wondering why she refused to simply tell him the truth. But watching the intoxicating smile she wore and following her lithe movements around the kitchen he decided to ignore his suspicions.

“Didn’t know if you liked ’em scrambled, poached, or sunny side up so I took a chance.” She blushed.

“Scrambled is fine.” He watched her. No. Nothing out of the ordinary.

He heard her singing softly with the radio. She caught him staring and her blush grew. “Sorry, I found a country station. Just love this song. It’s from a movie. Song’s called ‘Give in to Me.’”

As she spoke the title her eyes held his and a shy smile showed at the corners of her lips.

Eric cleared his throat and let his eyes drift.

“It sounded nice,” he told her. And it did. As he watched he saw a pretty girl making him breakfast. Nothing sinister or suspicious. It was hard to reconcile this Ashley with the hard, gloomy person she became when pressed.

“Now, why don’t you and Kylie sit down? Let’s enjoy our breakfast.”

Eric stood and pulled out Ashley’s chair. He was about to reach for the toast when she cleared her throat and took his hand firmly, then Kylie’s. “Thank you, Lord, for the food we are about to receive, this beautiful spring mornin’, and the fine company.” She stole a look at Eric, released his hand, and gave him a nod.

The conversation flowed easily. Eric felt surprisingly comfortable.

Ashley beamed, announcing she’d been right about the ball game. “Heard on the Cape radio station that the Red Sox won eleven to two,” she said, wearing a superior look.

He nodded. Putting this casual table chatter together with last night was difficult. Who and what was Ashley? The sweet, almost naïve girl he wanted her to be, the one he liked and was attracted to, or the other Ashley—the girl who kept secrets and skulked around his house with a cell phone and who knows what else in that heavy backpack…

“Uncle Eric,” Kylie interrupted. “The lady in the livin’ room—in the picture. Was she your wife?”

“Kylie! Please.” Ashley gave her daughter a stern look and shook her head.

“It’s all right.” Eric nodded. “Yes. Her name was Elaine.”

“She was
so-o-o
pretty. Looked like an angel,” Kylie exclaimed with wonder.

“Thanks, Kylie. Yes. She was very pretty.” He sighed. “And very nice.”

Ashley studied the table, cleared her throat, and stood. “More coffee?”

“No, thanks. I’ll grab some on the way to the marina.”

Eric stood and left the table.

“That was too good. I hate to leave. You know, I was thinking.” He found Ashley’s eyes. “Since you girls will be here alone for a few days and the phones have been acting up, I could pick you up a cell phone. You know. Just in case.” He studied her face—a mask of pleasant innocence.

She shrugged. “No need to bother. We’ll get by. Always have.” Ashley looked at Kylie and smiled. “Haven’t we, honey?”

Kylie nodded. “Yes, Momma.”

Ashley walked Eric to the door. “Will you be home for lunch? I’d love to fix you something.”

“Probably not. I usually grab a sandwich or soup somewhere. Busy time of year.” He shrugged.

“Oh.” Ashley looked hurt. She exhaled. “All right, then. Call if you change your mind.” She touched his shoulder gently. Her smile seemed different. It was soft but radiant. Something special he hadn’t seen before. Shy with a hint of…temptation? “Please. Don’t worry ’bout us. We’ll be fine.”

He headed to the Jeep, scanning the street. Empty.

“Remember…like I said, if you change your mind—’bout lunch,” she repeated, calling after him.

“All right. And you call me if
you
need anything. If you have a problem with the phones you can go next door. The lady’s name is Virginia. Just explain you’re visiting for a while. She’s very nice.”

Ashley nodded.

Eric waved. As he watched her and Kylie wave back, he hoped she could explain last night’s conversation. Did it warrant an explanation? Would he ask her about it? It was hard to watch her—the pretty young woman with the tempting smile that stirred him in so many ways—and imagine she was part of some sinister conspiracy. But as Eric put the key in the Jeep’s ignition, he couldn’t shake his uneasiness.
Too little sleep and too many gangster movies, Eric.
His memory replayed flaming cars in
The Godfather
and
Casino
.
What the hell are you thinking?
He laughed at his foolishness, turned the key, and the engine fired up.

****

Bobby stopped by the office, grinning broadly. “Well, where is she—the mystery girl?” He looked skeptical. “You’re not fooling me. She’s a complete hottie, and you’re keeping her to yourself.”

Eric shook his head and smiled. “Not a chance.” He shrugged and raised his eyebrows. “She seems to have a good head on her shoulders, so you may get to see her sooner than I thought.”

Bobby gave him a sly look. “I still think she’s hot, and you’ll make up some excuse at the last minute so I”—he paused for effect—“do not get to meet this woman.”

Eric was about to give it back to his friend when his cell rang. He checked the number and answered on the first ring. “You got it. Be there in ten minutes.”

Bobby shrugged then gave him a smug expression. “It was her, wasn’t it?”

“Nope. It was Joey. I’m taking your advice. Meeting her at the Kreme and Kone for a burger.” Eric gave him a sarcastic smile, picked up his windbreaker and headed out the door. “Try not to break anything while I’m gone!”

Lunch was an inquisition. The Mid-Cape was an insular community and rumors spread like a fresh breeze across the Sound. Joey had heard rumors about Ashley and her surprise arrival. She wanted to know everything that had happened since Friday night.

“Ricky. Don’t shut me out. Please…honey.” She reached across the scratched Formica and squeezed his hand. “What happened over the weekend?”

“Okay.” He nodded and gave her the sanitized version—referring to Ashley as a young girl who lived with his brother. Eric wanted to avoid jealousy. He neglected to tell Joey that Ashley was a pretty twenty-four-year-old that slept in the next bedroom.

The afternoon was quiet. No news, no calls, no more mystery. Thank God. Louise was coming over to take the girls out for another shopping spree. As he turned down his street he searched for signs of anything unusual. The long gravel road was empty. He pulled into his driveway and put the Jeep in park. As he headed toward the house, he could hear the faint sound of singing coming from inside. Sweet harmony. Pretty. Sounded like one of those Christian stations his dad used to listen to. “Amazing Grace” floated on the light breeze blowing through the house and out the kitchen window.

When he reached the porch the music stopped abruptly. He heard muffled voices as Ashley and Kylie appeared from the living room, faces flushed. Both looked down. Their lips were pushed tightly together.

“Did someone sew your mouths shut?” Eric asked, resisting a smile.

“I’m so sorry.” Ashley began, hand fidgeting through her thick hair as her eyes darted around. “I had no right to play that beautiful instrument. I was just cleaning it and got fiddling with it and playing a few notes and…and we got carried away.”

Kylie stared at the floor peering up, wearing a guilty frown. She nodded.

Suddenly it dawned on Eric. “That was you two playing and singing?”

Ashley and Kylie both nodded, stealing looks at each other.

“Sorry,” they whispered in unison.

“For what?” Eric approached them and grinned. “That was wonderful. Elaine would be happy that someone was using her piano. And your singing.” Eric shook his head. “I thought it was the radio.”

Kylie let a smile emerge. Ashley followed slowly.

“You mean it?” Ashley said curiously. “You don’t mind us playin’ and singin’?”

“Mind? Of course not.” Eric pushed them down the hall and pointed. “I’d like to hear more.”

Eric scanned the room and beamed. “Look at this place.” The girls had straightened and cleaned everything in the house.

“Thanks.” Ashley glowed when she saw his expression.

While they waited for Louise to arrive with more groceries, the two girls put on a concert any choir would have been proud of. Kylie had a sweet, shrill soprano. Ashley sang a pleasing alto harmony. She played Elaine’s beautiful Baldwin with grace and ease.

Eric was so swept up in the tiny musicale that it took Lu’s applause from the doorway to break the trance.

As they headed back to the kitchen to help prepare supper, Louise looked the place over and wore a smug expression that recalled her final words from last night.
I told you so
was written all over her face.

Chapter Sixteen

Despite the unanswered questions, Eric signed the documents necessary for Ashley and Kylie to live with him. The remainder of the week settled into a pattern. Eric was determined that he was going to get back into fighting shape.

They went to bed early every night. Eric rose at 5:45 each morning, stretched for ten minutes and then went for a run. By the end of the week, he was up to thirty minutes. And from the first morning he had a constant companion: Rusty. As soon as he opened the door the little spaniel would go out to “do his business” as Ashley called it. That first morning he sniffed around Eric’s running shoes and licked his ankles. He refused to go back into the kitchen. So like it or not, Eric had a running partner. And despite his stubby legs the slender pup kept up like a champion.

When Eric and his furry little friend returned every morning Ashley was already up, singing her way around the kitchen, while she fixed him a large breakfast. She made dinner every night while Kylie assisted. Eric continued to marvel at how happy and well-adjusted they seemed.

Eric kept asking himself why Ashley and Kylie had made the long trek, trying to find some rational explanation for what Lip and Buzz had told him. Lip was away, but Eric had talked to Buzz again. His friend drew another blank—nothing more to offer. Eric knew he should do something, but he had no idea what. Were the heavy backpack, the hidden cell phone, and Ashley’s apparent lack of a personal history worth raising a fuss over? Probably. Had there been anything else to raise a question or deepen the mystery, he might have confronted her. But the simple truth was that Eric enjoyed the girls too much. So, though it went against all his training, experience, and intuition he remained silent.

And with each passing day, Eric thought less and less about the girls’ strange arrival and fell more and more under their spell. He loved Kylie’s giggling and the cozy, familiar way she clung to him when something scared or upset her.

And though he tried to avoid the truth, after only a few days, Eric had become Ashley’s willing captive. There was nothing about her that didn’t attract him. Her accent was as warm and smooth as maple syrup. Eric could listen to the intoxicating drawl endlessly. And the new clothes she and Louise bought fit like they’d been tailored for her. He found it difficult to avoid following her lithe figure while she glided across the kitchen like a TV chef. He beamed as he sat at their kitchen table, watching her make breakfast. Each time she’d pass Ashley would tickle her daughter. And there was the way her eyes held his, the slight tilt to her head and the way she studied his face with a look of wonder when he talked…Eric thought she felt the same attraction he did.