The Friendship Star Quilt (28 page)
Read The Friendship Star Quilt Online
Authors: Patricia Kiyono,Stephanie Michels
Anne clicked on the hyperlinked name of the new facility. It opened a page about the facility on the Michigan Department of Corrections website. She skimmed the address, name of the current warden, and general information until she came to the middle of the page. “Cooper Street,” she read, “also serves as a centralized staging point for prisoners transferring to the Camp Program and as a release facility for prisoners who are about to parole⦔
Parole? Oh no! Jeffrey was going to be paroled already.
How could it be? Her ex had been sentenced to seven and a half years, but was getting out â or at least was being prepared for release â after a little over two years. Were the prisons so overcrowded that something as serious as embezzling taxpayers' money was dismissed this lightly? And what would happen if he got paroled? Would he search for her? He had threatened to kill her during the one visit she'd made to him before his trial. He blamed her for ruining his life. But he'd been the one who'd secretly filed for divorce, planning to dump her for the wealthy heiress he claimed he'd met on one of his business trips to DC. They'd actually met in Atlantic City, where they'd gambled and partied and blown through nearly a couple hundred grand in taxpayers' money over the course of a year.
But Anne hadn't known anything about it until much later. During the year he was fooling around, he'd kept Anne shut off from everyone, with no cable or phone. She'd had no inkling about what her husband had planned. They'd still shared a bed when he felt like it, but more and more often, he'd slept in the guest room â a room carefully decorated and maintained for the guests they'd never had. Anne shuddered, remembering how scared she'd been when she'd realized she was pregnant. Isolated as she was, she hadn't been able to see a doctor to confirm it, but weeks had gone by since her last period. Finally, she'd had to tell him. At first, he'd pretended to be pleased, and his parents had been delighted at the thought of an heir. His mother had sent over some of Jeffrey's baby furniture for the nursery. But it had been a sham as she'd discovered when the police had come for Jeffrey. The aftermath still haunted her dreams at night. His actions had scarred her mind far worse than her body.
What would she do if he found her again?
Blood rushed to Anne's head, and her heart raced as her body went into fight or flight mode. She gasped and gulped air as if she'd just run a marathon. When the room started to spin, Anne realized her accelerated breathing had brought her to the verge of hyperventilating. She fought against the panic attack. She couldn't allow â wouldn't allow â Jeffrey to do this to her. Never again.
Leaning back in the chair, she rested her hands in her lap, closed her eyes then focused on the meditation technique she'd learned after leaving the hospital. Anne filled her mind with a picture of a beautiful, sunlit beach and forced herself to take slow, deep breaths. She let the peaceful scene push everything else from her mind as she imagined the warmth of the sun on her skin and the sound of the waves lapping the shore. After a few minutes, her tense neck muscles relaxed, and her panic receded.
Fear remained, but it always did. Anne had lived with it since the earliest days of her marriage to Jeffrey. She'd learned to control it and become stronger than it. The death of her unborn child had made her stronger still. Except for her panicked flight from the quilt shop after receiving the anonymous letter at Valentine's â which she'd been able to pass off to Brad and her friends as having gotten sick â Anne never allowed herself to lose control. She had changed so much different from the naïve and frightened girl Jeffrey had married. This quiet interlude in Grandville had allowed her to regroup and build her finances in preparation for this inevitable day.
What will you do about Brad and Jennie?
The thought of leaving them cut Anne to the quick, but a part of her had known the day would come when she'd have to flee and start over again. She just hadn't realized how hard it would be. Still, she wouldn't put Brad and his daughter or any of her new friends in harm's way. Leaving was her only viable option, but first she needed to plan. To do it successfully, she had to know what she was up against.
Opening her eyes, she glanced once more at Jeffrey's picture on the screen. She'd been young and naïve when she'd met him, but how had she not recognized the man's arrogance? Even dressed in an ugly, blue-and-orange prison uniform, he appeared smug and ever so haughty. Anne shivered and forced her eyes away from the picture. She quickly scanned the file, searching for tidbits to help her plan her next move.
There! The entry in the box called Earliest Release Date said Jeffrey wasn't eligible to be paroled for almost three more months. Three months gave her plenty of time to finish up projects here, sock away every cent she could, and find the next place to hide. This time, she wouldn't leave the destination to chance. She'd find somewhere far away. Maybe down south or out west. Parolees couldn't leave the state without permission, and those who posed flight risks usually were required to wear a GPS monitoring device, weren't they? Jeffrey, with his parents millions backing him, definitely should be classified as a potential flight risk.
But what if he found her? What if he somehow already knew where she was? The flowers! Good grief, what if he'd sent those horrible, blood red roses on Valentine's Day? What if he had people watching her?
Feeling the panic again, she took a deep breath, held it then exhaled to calm herself. She would not let Jeffrey harm her or those she loved. She'd started over twice before in her life, and she could do it again. If she was being watched, the best thing would be to act as normal as possible while she planned.
Maybe it was better this way. She'd been in Grandville for over two years. With the Harpers' wealth and connections, she'd known the longer she stayed in one place, the better the chance was she'd be found. Still, she hated the thought of leaving. She had a job and friends here and special people like Brad and Jennie. Tears filled her eyes and her gut clenched. She took another calming breath. She could do this. She'd get another alias, another profession.
Another profession? Who was she kidding? She'd never had any kind of a profession, no degree or formal training. She'd been a clerk in a gas station when she'd met Jeffrey. When they married, he'd told her he needed her at home. Her place was there, taking care of him. Everything else had come in a distant second place to his needs. With no experience, it had been pure luck landing the job at The Stitching Post. Thankfully, her practical grandmother had taught her to quilt.
Thinking of her grandmother reminded Anne of one of Grams' favorite sayings, “Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.”
She squared her shoulders. She could do this. She would start over again if only to protect those she loved.
“Hi, Brad,” Anne called when Brad walked into the shop on Friday afternoon. He was so gorgeous with his dark hair tousled by the blustery winds and his cheeks ruddy from the cold. She drank in the sight of him, making a mental image she could treasure when she left Grandville. “Where's your sidekick today?”
“Jennie's at a classmate's birthday party â a pizza party sleepover with four giggly little girls.”
“Birthday party?” Anne remembered the birthday party the previous fall that had brought Jennie into The Stitching Post for the first time. Had it only been five months ago?
“Don't worry. This mom is super responsible. She'd never leave a child all alone. Besides, they're staying at the house the whole time. I checked.”
Chagrinned he'd been able to read her so easily, Anne ducked her head. “Just call me a worry wart.”
“It's okay to be concerned for people we care about.” Cupping a hand under her chin, he forced her to meet his gaze. “Is everything all right?”
Anne hated lying to him â hated lying to anyone â the strain of living a secret life wore at a person. It had been hard enough just to maintain her façade the past couple of years. Now, she faced the need to pull up roots, leave people she cared about, and start all over again some place new. Sometimes, just the thought of it overwhelmed her. She longed to be able to confide in Brad, tell him who she was, why she had been hiding, and why she had to leave again in a few short weeks. But she couldn't do it. He might try to convince her to stay, and she might not be able to say no. She couldn't risk it. Jeffrey always knew where she was most vulnerable; he would try to punish her by going after Brad or Jennie.
“I'm fine.” Forcing a smile, she rose on her tiptoes to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Honest.”
“I'm glad to hear it, because I need a favor.”
“What is it? More uniforms to be hemmed? Costumes to alter?”
“Uhm⦔ He fidgeted for a moment then just said it, the words tumbling over each other in the rush to get them out. “It's like this, Anne. The athletic boosters are having a fundraiser at the school tonight, and Joe Carter is grilling. His barbecued chicken is positively incredible. I'm not sure how you feel about people seeing us together as a couple, but I'd really like to take you.” He took a big gulp of air. “It starts about six, but people come and go all evening. We could eat our meal there, or we can get take out and eat at my place or in the park.”
Anne loved barbecued chicken, and her mouth watered just thinking about it. But Jeffrey had never allowed Anne to fix it. He'd said it was too messy and smeared your face like a clown's makeup.
“Will you go with me?”
“Together?”
He nodded and pointed at her then himself. “That's the idea. You, me, food. Dinner.”
“Brad, I'm not sure⦔
“What a wonderful idea,” Myra said suddenly appearing beside Anne. “Of course, you should go. You were stuck here all winter while Ed and I were gone. Now, it's time for you to go and have some fun with your young man.”
“Brad isn't â I mean, we aren'tâ”
Brad gave a dramatic sigh. “Alas, Mrs. Hodges, I fear Anne thinks I'm far too old to be called her âyoung' anything.”
“You are not,” Anne protested then felt the heat rush to her cheeks.
“Good, then it's decided,” Brad said. “I've got a couple things to do at the school, but I'll be back to pick you up at six.”
“Wait!” Panic spiraled inside Anne.
Dinner alone with Brad?
“Why don't we just meet there? The school's not far from here and I can use the exercise.”
“No way. It's a twenty-minute walk from here. My mother and aunt would have my head if they heard I'd let you walk,” he said.
“Don't be silly. There's no reason for you to come back here from the school. I'll just meet you there.”
“Ed and I can drop her off,” Myra offered. “We drive right past the high school on our way home.”
“Okay,” he agreed although a bit reluctantly. “Meet me by the cafeteria door, Anne. I'll be the guy drooling over the smell of the barbecue.”
He quickly kissed her cheek then headed to the door before she could offer any further protest. “See you at six,” he called over his shoulder.
Anne puffed out a breath when the door closed. “Oh my goodness, what have I done?”
Myra wrapped her arm around Anne's shoulder and gave a motherly squeeze. “You've agreed to have a pleasant evening with a very nice young man.”
“I thought Jeffrey was a nice young man, too.”
“Stop right there!” the shopkeeper insisted. “You were young, and Jeffrey took advantage of your innocence with his smooth talk and cultured airs. But behind that elegant facade, he was a bully and an abuser.”
She cupped Anne's face in her hands and stared into her eyes. “Honey, the majority of men aren't like your ex. Certainly Brad Carmichael isn't. He is a kind-hearted and caring man, a good Christian and a wonderful father. He would never hurt or belittle a woman â or anyone else.”
“You're right. There is no façade with Brad. He's the real deal.”
Myra wrapped her arm around Anne's waist and walked her back to the quilting circle area.
“Sit,” she said, pointing to a settee then settled beside her and reached for Anne's hand. “Tell me, Anne, have you told Brad about Jeffrey's upcoming parole?”
“No, and promise you won't say anything either, Myra.”
“Your secret is safe with me, dear, but do you think it's fair to Brad? He cares about you. Anyone can see it. Don't you think he has a right to know?”
Anne shook her head, vehemently. “I can't tell him. It would be too dangerous.”
“Dangerous?” The shop owner frowned. “Anne, if you think Jeffrey is a threat, you need to take out a restraining order. I'll have my attorneyâ”
“No! An RO is just a piece of paper. I had one the last time, Myra. All it did was make Jeffrey angrier. He kept raging about it as he pummeled me, said I'd made people stop trusting him. I lost my baby because of him. I'd never forgive myself if he hurt Jennie.”
“You should have pressed charges, honey, and kept him in jail for much longer.”
“Maybe, but he'd have gotten out eventually and hunted me down. I have no doubt he'd kill me.” Anne bit her lip and blinked back her tears before turning to her friend. “He probably still will, Myra. It's why I need to get away just as soon as I hear Jeffrey has been released. I can't tell Brad, he'd try to stop me. I can't risk anything happening to him or Jennie. Please don't tell him.”
The shopkeeper nodded then pulled Anne into a comforting hug. “Ed and I will help any way we can,” she promised.
“I know,” Anne said. “But I don't want Jeffrey toâ”
“Hush! We'll talk about it when the time comes. Right now, you need to scoot out of here and freshen up for your date.”
“But the shopâ”
Myra cut off her protest with a warm chuckle. “I can handle things just fine. Now, go! Shoo.”
Anne headed for the back door. She didn't feel much like going out, but Brad might be suspicious if she cancelled. She crossed the back lot, planning what she could wear for a school function, something neither too dressy nor too casual. Her good jeans would do nicely, and she would wear the rosy pink sweater Brad had complimented on Valentine's Day. She'd been saving it for another special occasion, and dinner out with Brad certainly fit the criteria.
It's not a date,
she reminded herself, as she took a long soak in the tub. It can't be called a date if go by yourself and just meet the person there.
Still, she spent a few extra minutes rubbing on fragrant body lotion then putting on a dab of eye shadow to hide her puffy eyes. Checking her reflection in the mirror, she decided her face still was too pale, so she added a dash of pretty rose-colored lipstick that almost matched her sweater. She reached for her hairbrush. Should she leave her hair down or tie it back? Brad always complimented her when she wore it down, so maybe she should plug in her curling iron.
What are you doing? It doesn't matter how you wear your hair. This is not a date. Brad just wants you to keep him company. It's only a school fundraiser. Go, eat some chicken, then come back home. No big deal.
She felt better once she'd put it in those terms. Grabbing an elastic band, she pulled her long hair into its usual ponytail.
It goes better with my jeans anyway.
Jeffery would have scoffed at her outfit and the barbecue. He didn't go anywhere or eat anything that might soil his immaculate attire. The idea of mingling and eating with “common” people at a local fundraiser would appall him.
“Too bad. It's your loss, Jeffrey Harper,” she said and stuck her tongue out at the mirror. “This girl can't wait to sink her teeth into a nice piece of barbecued chicken.”
She glanced at her watch and realized if she hurried, she'd be in time to help Myra and Ed close the shop. It was the least she could do since Myra had offered to drop her off at the high school. After a final check in the mirror, Anne scooped up her purse then exited her apartment. Thankfully, the dead offerings had ceased since Myra's call to Animal Control. It was nice not to worry about what she'd find on the doormat anymore. She crossed the porch then paused with her hand on the bannister.
Brad stood below her, his foot on the first step. When he glanced up and saw her, he gave her a lopsided grin and rushed up the steps, taking them two at a time.
“Hi. I finished my errands early so I figured I'd come pick you up,” he said. As he spoke, his gaze swept over her. “Mmm, I love the way this sweater hugs you in all the right places.”
Anne's mouth went dry as he backed her up against the door. Then, with his palms resting on the wood beside her head, he leaned into her and trailed a row of kisses from her temple to her jaw. “I've thought about doing this all day.”
“Uhm⦠Myra and Ed are probably waiting forâ”
Mischievously, he quirked a brow and shook his head. “Nope. I stopped by the shop first to let them know I'm driving you after all.”
“Then we should get going,” Anne protested, but her arms wrapped around his neck. She licked her lips. “You said dinner started at six.”
“It's a barbecue,” he murmured, his voice deliciously seductive. “We have plenty of time.”
His face lowered to hers, his brown eyes darkening with desire as his mouth claimed hers. One hand cupped the back of her head while the other slid down her body, exploring her curves. His hips pressed against hers, and Anne lost all thought of dinner.