Robin's Reward (Bonita Creek Trilogy Book 1) (23 page)

“Thank you, Arlene. It means a lot coming from you.”

“I want to ask your forgiveness. Until recently we had no idea about the depth of our son’s cruelty toward you when he broke off your marriage. He told us some horrible things about you, and made it appear
you
were to blame for the marriage’s failure. We’ve learned since it was his choice to dissolve the marriage.”

Thomas’s mother paused to dry her moist eyes before she continued. “I’m not making excuses for our behavior because after all we are adults. Thomas forbade us to have any communication with you at all. We were cowards and gave in to his demands. It’s the reason we’ve avoided you for the past few years. Unfortunately, we took Thomas’s words for the truth. We’re truly sorry for our unkindness.”

Fred spoke so softly his voice sounded like little more than a whisper. “Robin, we’ve loved you like a daughter since you moved to Bonita Creek as a teen. We watched you grow up and mature into a beautiful woman. We’d like to be a part of your life again if you can find a way to forgive us. We’d like to get to know Jeff, too. He’s a fortunate man to have you as his life’s partner.”

Robin’s emotions ran the gamut from deep sorrow to great joy. The Bennetts had always been good to her until the divorce. She’d dreamed of healing the rift in their relationship, but figured Thomas had given them no alternative but to cut off all contact with her.

“I forgive you both. I’ve missed your love and presence in my life. When Thomas abandoned me, I felt like I lost my entire family all over again. Then when my grandma died, I had no one to rely upon except for my cousin, Penny, and my friend Jorie. You two have always been special to me. Let’s put aside the past and renew our contact with each other. We’d be blessed to have you in our lives. Thanks for taking the first step in healing our relationship.”

The three hugged and walked out of the sanctuary arm in arm. Robin led the Bennett’s over to Jeff and introduced them to her fiancé. After a few moments of trivial chatter, the older couple excused themselves.

“Was it what I hope it was? You’re all, I don’t know, glowing.” Jeff said.

“It most certainly was. I’ll tell you all about it later. For now, I’m starved. I’ll treat you to lunch at La Reyna Café, if you want.”

“I want,” he said as he stole a kiss from his bride-to-be when no one was looking.

Robin and Jeff were so wrapped up in each other they didn’t notice an agitated Susan Stinson watching them from her car parked in front of the church. When Susan received the text from a waitress who worked with Jorie at La Reyna Café, she’d wanted to physically damage Jeff or Robin or their property. The waitress, Lydia, had overheard Jorie and Penny talking about Robin and Jeff’s recent engagement. Susan’s anger at the couple had escalated to new heights since the text had come in after midnight. She’d been staked out across from the church for the past two hours waiting for a glimpse of the couple.

Very uncool, Mr. Clarke. Now you’re both going to pay dearly. I don’t care what I promised nosy Pastor White after he caught me sending those emails. I’m a grown woman, and I can do whatever I want. Beware, Jeff and Robin—it’s really going to cost you this time.

Chapter 29

Robin and Jeff filled his remaining days in Bonita Creek day-tripping around the region
. They harvested tomatoes and zucchini from Robin’s gardens, and delivered overflowing baskets to her neighbors and church friends. She patiently taught him how to cook some nutritious meals he could prepare without a lot of time and effort.

One morning, as they were loading Robin’s car with their hiking and picnic gear, Sheriff Snead pulled up and blocked Robin’s driveway with his cruiser. Jeff and Robin exchanged a bewildered look and turned toward the sheriff. His expression was strained.

“Good morning, Sheriff Snead,” Robin said.

“Folks.” He tipped his hat.

“Is anything wrong?” Jeff asked.

“Yes.”

“What is it?” Robin asked.

“We’ve received a trespassing and vandalism complaint about Jeff here. Apparently, he spent some time this past weekend slashing a neighbor’s tires.”

“
What
?” Jeff shouted. Robin patted his forearm.

“Let me guess. Susan Stinson filed the charges, right?” Robin asked.

“How did you know?” The sheriff answered Robin’s question with a question.

“Because she’s been bullying me since ninth grade and has moved on to harassing us both the past few months. She made this up. Jeff didn’t do anything to her tires.”

“Actually, she has a video showing Jeff on her driveway doing something with the tires. When I got over there this morning all four tires had been slashed. I took photos and fingerprinted the wheels for evidence.”

“I did
not
slash her tires! She asked me to check the air pressure in her tires a few months ago before I knew what kind of trouble she was. She said it had to be done at night when the tires had cooled down which at the time I thought was weird. I was trying to be a good neighbor. I didn’t damage her tires, sheriff. You’ve got to believe me.”

“You didn’t tell me about this, Jeff. I guess this is another one of your lies of omission.” Robin’s voice reflected her fury. Bright red stains appeared on her cheeks.

Jeff turned to his fiancée and spoke quietly. “I didn’t tell you because this happened before you and I even thought about dating. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I’ll have to take you down to the station for a formal statement, Jeff. I’m sorry, but I can’t ignore the evidence.”

“I understand. Are you going to handcuff me?”

“No. You can take your own car. Robin can come with you.”

“I don’t have a car on this trip. Can you give me a lift, Robin?”

“I think I’ll stay here,” Robin snapped. “You’re on your own for this one.”

“Thanks for your support.” Jeff’s voice was shaky.

“I’ll give you a ride in my cruiser—the front seat,” Sheriff Snead offered.

The couple exchanged a heated look but spoke no more before Jeff walked out to the curb to the cruiser.

“Don’t bother coming back here today, Jeff,” Robin tossed out.

“I’m sorry about this, Miss Bennett,” said the sheriff. “I’m only doing my job.”

“You haven’t done anything wrong, Sheriff Snead.”

The sheriff opened the passenger door for Jeff, and walked around to the driver’s side.  With a tip of his hat the sheriff settled into his car and drove down the street toward the station.

Why didn’t you learn your lesson with Thomas? You’re going down the same path with Jeff. They’re deceitful, sneaky, liars.

Suddenly Robin’s inner voice spoke to her clearly.
What if Jeff is innocent of any wrongdoing? What if he was just trying to be neighborly? What if he is telling the truth—again? You’ve driven a wedge between you and Jeff based on the word of
Susan Stinson
.

Robin paused, holding her head in her hands.

“I’ve really messed it up this time,” she said aloud as she ran inside to get her purse and car keys.

Jeff needed her understanding and support more than ever right now. Robin’s place was at her future husband’s side, and she knew it.

~*~

Robin found Jeff, the sheriff, and a deputy in a soundproof conference room. A video camera was pointed directly at Jeff. She stood at the window of the room trying to figure out what they were saying. Jeff looked over at her and raised his eyebrows in wary surprise. Robin smiled slightly. After almost an hour, the sheriff opened the door and waved Robin inside.

“Jeff’s story is consistent with the video Susan took and the other evidence—except for the slashed tires. She had the video date and time stamped for last night, but it’s easy enough to accomplish if you know what you’re doing.”

“Wouldn’t that be good for Jeff?” Robin asked.

“Not necessarily. Now I have to convince Susan Stinson we’re on to her and get her to drop these charges.”

“Maybe you can talk to the desk clerk at the motel where I’m staying,” Jeff said. “He saw me come in last night around eight o’clock because I stopped by the front desk to check for my messages and mail. We talked for a few minutes about baseball, and then I went to my room.”

“Would he have noticed if you left in your car later?” the sheriff asked.

“Probably. I always park right in front of the office window because there’s a bright light there. It’s a big-city habit of mine. The clerk’s name is Chuck.”

“I’m going to follow up on this personally. You two go home and try not to worry. Stay in town until this is over, please. It’d be best if you didn’t share our conversation with Chuck at the motel.”

Robin and Jeff both nodded their heads in agreement.

“Oh, and stay away from Susan Stinson. She is
bad news,
very
bad news; but you didn’t hear it from me.”

Jeff stood and shook the sheriff and deputy’s hands before turning to Robin.

“Thank you both for your understanding.” Then he turned to Robin and asked, “Can I hitch a ride back to the motel from you, please?”

Her fiancé looked so forlorn and shell-shocked, Robin’s voice caught before she could speak past the lump in her throat.
What did you expect after you deserted him in his time of need? Get a clue, Robin.

“I’ll take you home—back to my place.”

As they walked to the parking lot Robin had to jog to keep up with Jeff. He had his head down and was walking much faster than normal.
You’ve blown it sky high this time, Robin.

“Jeff, wait for me. I want to talk to you.”

“There’s nothing to say right now, Robin. We’ll talk later.”

Once they were in the car and on the way back to the cottage the tension between them became stifling. Jeff’s jaw was clenched. Silence filled the interior of the car. Robin pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition. Jeff slammed his door and hustled up the front steps.

~*~

Calm down, Clarke, or else you’ll say something you’ll come to regret. You love Robin and she loves you. She made a mistake.
He heard Robin’s rushed footsteps behind him. Without looking up he began speaking.

“That was supremely humiliating,” he said gruffly.

“I know. I can’t believe what Susan did to you,” Robin answered.

“I’m not talking about Susan’s accusations. I can deal with a minor bump in the road.”

“What are you talking about then?” Robin asked.

“You—your desertion and lack of support of me when I needed you most. I’ve tried to be understanding and patient of your feelings about what you went through with Thomas and your father. But what you did to me in front of the sheriff was, well, deeply disturbing. In fact, it’s a game-changer in my eyes.”

“What do you mean a game-changer?”

“I mean if your doubting me and turning against me during a rough patch is what I have to look forward to in our marriage, we may as well break up right now. Your actions earlier were callous and cruel.”

~*~

Robin’s eyes stung with tears. Not tears of sadness, but tears of shame. Jeff’s words were true. She’d been self-centered and obnoxious to bail out on him when he was under attack. Her hands were shaking as she fumbled with her keys. She jammed her key into the lock and swung the door open for him. She turned toward Jeff and said, “Can we continue this inside, please?”

“I doubt it’s worth my time to try to work this out with you, Robin.”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d listen to what I have to say—please.”

“I’ll come in for a few minutes; then I need to be alone for a while.”

“I understand.”

“
Really?
You understand? You haven’t shown you
get
me at all.”

Sarcasm clouded Jeff’s words, and Robin knew she’d hurt him deeply.
Help me to communicate my love and devotion to Jeff. Please help me to be humble and non-judgmental during our talk.

Jeff followed her into the cottage and slammed the front door. Disappointment colored his face and his clenched fists and wrinkled brow showed he’d been pushed beyond all rational thought. Robin could hear his labored breathing.

“Please sit down and relax,” Robin whispered.

“I don’t want to sit down or relax.” Jeff paced around the room in circle.

“I want to apologize for my behavior and unkind words. I spoke without thinking, and I regret I hurt you. Please forgive me.”

Jeff stared at her unblinking.

“Say something!” Robin begged.

“Okay, here goes. I’m tired of being compared to every man who did you wrong in your life. I’ve worked hard to prove my love to you over the past few months. I’m not even close to being perfect, but what you did to me today was—I don’t even know what to call it. It was one of the worst moments of my life. If it happens again, I’m through here. I love you and I want to marry you, but I can’t live expecting to be treated like an unwanted pest when the going gets rough. I have feelings, too.”

Embarrassment surged through Robin. She’d felt like this once before in her life. Her grandmother had caught her in a lie when she was fifteen. Robin had used the portion of her weekly allowance she was supposed to set aside for church offering to buy a tube of mascara she wanted more than anything. When Sunday rolled around and Robin had no offering to put in the collection plate at church her grandmother questioned her about it.

“I lost it,” Robin answered lamely.

“Seems like maybe you lost it at the drug store when you bought the tube of mascara you’ve been wearing to school every day this week.”

Robin was so busted then; now, more than a decade later, she was busted by her future husband. She knew she had to take responsibility for her blunder in front of the sheriff earlier. She lifted her head and spoke with a shaky voice.

“I can’t say anything more than I’m very, very sorry. I won’t do it again. I wish I could take back my words and actions from this morning, but I can’t.”

“Don’t you see? I’m
not
Thomas Bennett or your father. Until you accept I’m a different man, we don’t have a chance of having an honest relationship or happy marriage.”

Robin shuddered at his dead-on assessment of the situation.

“I’m going to leave now before I say something I’ll regret. I need some space to work through this. I’ll text you later.”

He walked out and closed the door. Silence enveloped Robin as the depth of what she’d done and said settled on her heart like a ten-ton weight. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She sobbed her fiancé’s name. Only he wasn’t there to comfort her because she’d driven him away with her disloyal, critical behavior. Emptiness was her sole companion.

~*~

Robin waited for hours to hear from Jeff. He finally sent her a cryptic text letting her know he was fine and would see her tomorrow morning for breakfast. She’d definitely learned something about her future husband during this harrowing episode. He had integrity and backbone. Moreover, she’d learned a lot about herself—none of it pretty. She was acting like a spoiled teen, living in the past, when it came to accepting her faults. This was about her thought processes much more than Jeff. Realization slammed into Robin with crippling force.
Can I repair the damage I’ve done to our relationship?