Second Chances (123 page)

Jamie had finally given up on trying to talk to Brian and departed around midnight.  She was worried about him, but Brian just wanted a few minutes to himself.  He needed to be alone.  He stood and stretched.  For the last hour he had been online booking the earliest direct flight available to Boston.  Still, he wouldn’t be there until after ten.  Then he had busied himself with locating a private investigator for when he landed.  That had proven more difficult.  He had no idea who to begin with, and he wouldn’t be able to hire anyone until morning anyway.  Making a short list, complete with their addresses and phone numbers, Brian tucked it into his wallet.  He had a small duffle bag ready near the door.  Optimist that he was, he had even packed a few of Sarah’s outfits.  He set his alarm for six, knowing that would allow him plenty of time to shower, dress, and make the contacts he needed to before he left for the airport.

Hang on, Sarah,
he urged. 
I’m coming to get you.

Sarah woke with a jolt at six.  She hadn’t woken up that early in quite some time.  She knew that her breakfast wouldn’t be arriving for almost two hours.  She wasn’t hungry, but on the bright side, she wasn’t nauseous either.  Trying to steel herself for whatever the day had in store, she began with her new ritual.  Sarah rubbed her lower abdomen for a moment and hummed to herself, then stopped and waited.  She wasn’t disappointed.  The little one sharing her body swam around causing delicate little flutters that made Sarah’s heart dance.  Finding no excuse to prolong the inevitable, she threw back the covers and slowly came to a seated position.  Minutes after she made it to the window to stare longingly at the yard now painted in fall colors, the door opened, startling her.

Evan held her breakfast tray in his hands.  And he wore a smile that positively chilled her.  “I saw you rubbing your stomach,” he said smoothly. 

Her eyes widened and her mind raced as she tried to prepare a response for whatever he was about to say.  “Oh, I…”

“I know, Sarah,” he said casually.  “You were hungry.”

She bit her lip.  “Thank you.  You are so…perceptive.”  She sat down on the bed as he placed the tray in front of her.  “My word but this is a lot of food.”  And that was when she spotted the second set of silverware and her heart sank.  She would prefer dining in a pit of vipers to sharing a meal with this…poor excuse for a human being.

“I thought I’d join you for breakfast,” he said cheerfully, completely oblivious to her true feelings.  “And then I have a little surprise for you.”

She tried to read his thoughts, tried to see what he had in store for her, but he was so dark.  Trying to explore his inner workings was not only challenging, but also emotionally draining, and fruitless.  Ever since he first revealed his presence and she had shown her true feelings, he had grown guarded, more so than most.  And for some reason his barriers were virtually impenetrable.  It was unusual that she had even been able to hear him in the night.

Cocking her head to one side, Sarah said quietly and with more concern than enthusiasm, “That will be nice.”

For the next half hour, Evan prattled on endlessly about his life.  He told her of the wonderful and exotic countries he had visited, hinting that he would love to take her on a vacation.  Sarah had merely smiled politely.  Then he had spoken at length about his career plans.  Sarah had feigned interest and encouragement.  All the while he dropped thinly veiled hints that all of his future plans included her.  And at that, Sarah merely picked at her food.

She had studied Evan to see what he was eating from the plates, certain that he wouldn’t risk drugging himself.  That was how she decided that the scrambled eggs were safe, and the bacon.  What she really wanted was some of the milk and a warm apple fritter, but Evan hadn’t touched either of those items, despite having foisted them upon her.

“I’m watching my waistline,” she lied, in an attempt to explain her avoidance.

He put one hand over hers.  “I’m watching it, too, and it is fabulous,” he said flirtatiously.

Fearing she might become physically ill at his touch, she pushed the tray away.  “I’m really full,” she explained.

“Well, sit back and relax,” he said with a flourish as he removed her tray.  “I’ll be back in just a moment with your surprise.”

“Okay,” she said quietly.  She really wanted a shower, but with Evan lurking around, she didn’t dare.  She glanced at the clock.  It was only seven thirty.  She sighed.

En route to the airport, Brian was working his way through his call list.  Anna was first.  “I’m not waiting anymore,” he said when she picked up.  “I don’t have the patience necessary to deal with the detectives.  I’m on my way to Boston.”

He heard her sigh.  “I figured as much.”  She took a sip of her morning tea.  “I have very mixed feelings about this, Brian,” she began quietly for fear of prying ears.  “I want desperately for Sarah to come home, but at the same time I don’t want you to endanger your life.”

“I’ll be fine,” he said firmly, exuding more confidence than he truly had.  He glanced at the clock.  “Listen, I’ve got to go.  With any luck, Sarah and I will call you later.”

He pushed the button that dropped her call and scrolled through his phone book to place the next one.  His department chair answered after nearly four rings. 

“This better be good, Waite,” he said groggily into the phone.  “You know it’s nearly midterms.”

Brian rolled his eyes.  “I know, but I need to take a few days off.”  He waited several seconds for the grumbling to cease and for the man to come to his senses.  At last the implication seemed to strike home.

“This is because of Sarah, isn’t it?”  The dean was suddenly ripe with interest.

“Of course,” Brian said seriously.  “But please don’t breathe word of this to anyone.  I need secrecy to pull this off.”

“Take care of yourself,” his mentor advised.

“I will,” he responded.

Once he checked in at the airport, he found himself a quiet corner to make the rest of his calls.  For this he dug deep into the wallet. 
The early bird catches the worm,
he thought. 
Let’s see who’s awake and ready to work.

Wrapping her robe tightly around her body, Sarah paced back and forth restlessly while she awaited Evan’s return.  After nearly fifteen minutes, he pushed the door open and entered with James at his heels.  “Just the towels for now, James,” Evan directed.

The older man nodded and headed to the bathroom with an empty basket.  He came back with a heaping load of laundry to do.  Before he could make eye contact with Sarah, Evan spoke once more.  “Next trip, grab her clothes.  We need to switch out her wardrobe for one more fitting the season.”

“Is that my surprise?”  Sarah asked quietly.  “Is it the fall clothes?”  She bit her lip anxiously.  She could tell that James had wanted to get her attention, but he slipped past before she was able to discover what had him in turmoil today.  She wanted to read his thoughts but they were so jumbled and erratic that all she could pick up on were his feelings.  Whatever was going on, James was overwrought with concern for her.  She frowned as she tried to remain calm and keep her wits about her.

“No, my dear,” Evan said grandiosely, “the fall clothes are a necessity.  Now this is your surprise.”  He produced a portable DVD player from behind his back.  Gesturing gallantly, he said, “Have a seat.”

Numbly, Sarah did as she was directed.  Apprehensive because of the gleam in his eyes, she slowly took the equipment he offered her.

“It’s already loaded.” 

She looked at him warily.  It was like watching a train wreck.  She could see that something terrible was going to happen, yet felt powerless to stop it.  The events had to merely play themselves out and she would have to prepare for a great deal of devastation and destruction in the meantime.

“Go on,” he urged.

Pushing the play button, Sarah realized what she was watching immediately.  Evan had taken videos of her with her family, and with Brian.  The first clips were from the loft.  Brian and Sarah were walking in together, arm in arm.  She could see Brian looking at her with pure unadulterated love.  She gasped.  She had nearly forgotten how it felt to have him look at her like that.  Her heart beat furiously in her chest.  They were walking into the living room area.  She remembered this night.  It was one of the first times that she had visited after admitting that she wanted to give a relationship a try.  Their kisses were soft at first then grew more passionate.  Sarah hugged herself tightly.  Her eyes watered as she found herself fixated on the screen.

Soon Brian was scooping her up in his arms and making his way to the bedroom with her.  She was mesmerized by the way Brian touched her, she could almost feel it if she closed her eyes and imagined hard enough. 

In the next instant the scene changed.  Now she was at the farm house with Chloe.  They were outside.  Sarah was gardening while Chloe played.  They were so carefree and happy.  Chloe ran over to her mother and soon enough they were twirling around, spinning madly until they fell on the ground in a dizzy giggling heap.  Moments later, Jamie arrived on the scene.  The sprinkler was turned on for Chloe to run through while the adults talked animatedly on the porch.