Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2) Page 6

  Patrice began to pace in front of Julia, muttering to herself. "It could be true, but why would they leave this place...more like she's lying...but then Anna would have gotten upset by the publicity...still..."

  Julia thought fruitlessly of the pepper spray in her purse, along with her cell phone. She didn't think Patrice was going to just leave her here. Her life might be ending tonight.

  As she watched the pacing woman, her attention was caught by the door knob on the front door. It was turning slowly. Filling with hope, she quickly averted her eyes to look at Patrice's face. No, she hadn't seen it. But, she might. Best to divert her. Julia took a deep breath. "Okay, if I tell you what I know, will you let me go?"

  Patrice jerked around and peered at her suspiciously. "I knew you were lying. No deals here! You just tell me what I want to know. Where are they?"

  Julia bowed her head for a moment and then looked into Patrice's twitching eyes. "They told Holly, Anna's sister, they were going down to Barbados. They wanted someplace sunny. They've been down there for a month."

  Patrice stood perfectly still searching Julia's face. As she did, Julia saw the door open out of the corner of her eye.

  "I swear it's the truth, I swear it. Now will you let me leave?"

  "Let you leave? Oh, I don't think that's in the cards for you. You know too much."

  She began to move toward Julia, right as Cody ran through the door and knocked Patrice to the floor. The knife clattered away and Julia scrambled to go pick it up and set it on the kitchen counter. Cody got up and was holding a squirming Patrice by the arms, when a man in uniform barreled through the front door.

  "Sheriff Jones, thank God," Cody said with relief.

  The sheriff quickly had handcuffs on Patrice, who was crying and saying how Cody and Julia had attacked her. Cody showed the sheriff the knife she had held on Julia.

  "Miss Tremaine? We need for you to make a statement down at the station," Sheriff Jones said.

  Julia whispered, "It wasn't the biggest knife in the kitchen. I wonder why not." Then blackness took her as she slid to the floor.

  * * * *

  "No, Sam there's no point in you guys coming back here. There is nothing you could do except stir up even more publicity. Stay where you are."

  Julia heard Frank's voice as she woke up. Had she fainted? Yes, she had. There had been a woman, Patrice, holding a knife on her. Now she remembered. Cody turned to her quickly when she made a sound.

  "You're back with us, good." He smiled at her. "And don't even think about getting up. Just rest there. You've had a big shock tonight."

  "You're telling me," she said and was dismayed at how weak her voice sounded. She took a deep breath. "At least let me sit up. I'm not an invalid."

  He helped her up and then sat down next to her on the couch.

  "Did anything happen while I was out?" she asked.

  "They've taken Patrice away. Believe me, she'll be under lock and key until they can get her back to the institution she was in. Sheriff Jones said for you to stop by the station tomorrow if you're up to it, to give your statement. Do you want a shot of brandy or something?"

  Julia started to shake her head, and thought better of it. "Yes, if there's something available, it would be great."

  Cody got up and went to a cabinet she hadn't noticed before. Inside were bottles of liquor. She watched him pull a snifter out of the cabinet and pour a little brandy inside. When she took it from him and held it up to her nose, the fumes seemed to clear her head.

  "This is the woman who hurt Sam last year?"

  "Yes. When Dad called me away from here earlier, he'd just found out she escaped from the place she was locked up at, and they were afraid she was after Sam and Anna. Then I realized she'd of course come here, looking for them. I was afraid I'd be too late."

  "I was stunned when you arrived. I thought I was going to die. You had a hero's timing, rescuing the damsel in distress."

  "Hey, I didn't--"

  "Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm aggravated with myself. I couldn't remember any of my self-defense moves. My mind went blank when she tackled me as I came in."

  "You kept her talking. That was crucial or she would have noticed me. I heard the Barbados lie. Very well done. You could have told her they were in Italy."

  "No I couldn't. You all have been great to me. No way would I repay that by giving away where they really are--what if you hadn't arrived?"

  He gazed into her eyes, and she saw approval in his. "You did good."

  Her eyes dropped. "Well, thanks. So did you."

  Frank came to stand in front of them, while Julia took a sip of the brandy. It warmed her whole body.

  "Julia--what you must think. We tell you to come here for the restful atmosphere and then this happens."

  "It's not your fault, Frank. It all turned out okay. I'm grateful for the rescue by Cody."

  "Yes, well, good job son. Ah, here's Doc Watson."

  The man was coming into the living room, and Cody jumped up to talk to him. Julia wondered if it would bother her to stay here now. It just might. At least tonight it would.

  As if he had been reading her mind, Frank said, "You come home to my house tonight. I've got plenty of room. No need to stay out here with this fresh on your mind. Stay at my place as long as you want."

  She looked up at him gratefully. "Thank you. I think I'll take you up on your offer."

  Cody said, "This is Doc Watson, Doc this is Julia."

  She nodded to the doctor who took hold of her wrist. "Good to meet you, young lady. Heard about you just today. Heart rate a bit fast, but that's to be expected. I think you need a good night's sleep and you'll be okay in the morning. Although, your face is probably going to bruise. She hit you there?"

  Julia nodded. "Just a hard slap--I'll have a bruise?"

  "Probably. You've got that kind of fair skin. You go stay at Frank's house. And make sure you eat three healthy meals tomorrow. You could stand to put on some weight."

  She grimaced. "Yeah, Doc, I've heard that already. Working on it."

  He gave her a surprisingly gentle smile. "You'll do." He walked away and spoke with Frank.

  Cody said, "I'll drive you back to the house. Why don't you get some clothes together?"

  She nodded and stood up slowly. There was a moment of lightheadedness then she was fine. She packed a small bag with necessities and a couple of sets of clothes, jeans and sweaters. She tucked her laptop into the bag on top of everything. Who knew? Maybe she'd actually look at her email tomorrow.

  * * * *

  Cody waited for her in the living room and realized his hands were in fists by his side. He looked up to see his father watching him.

  "You okay?"

  "Yeah, a little keyed up still is all."

  "Time to calm down a bit, especially if you're going to be driving."

  Cody nodded, took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You're right. It all happened so fast, Dad. She was going after Julia with a freaking knife and I--"

  "You did what was necessary, Cody, and you kept Julia safe."

  Cody stared at his father's face and the approval he saw there let him finally relax. "I never expected to see Patrice again, that's for sure."

  "Thank goodness you thought of her coming out here, son. Now you take Julia back to the house and get her settled in. I'll stay here until the officers are finished, and I'll lock up."

  "Okay, Dad. This whole thing seems kind of unreal. See you later." He walked to the bedroom where Julia had finished packing. They said good bye to Doc Watson and Frank, and headed out to the car. "Julia, I have your purse. You left it in the car."

  "Yeah, I realized that when I thought of my pepper spray. But I don't think she'd have given me a chance to use it."

  They got in and drove away, both quiet with their thoughts. Cody wondered if this would scare Julia away from Sully Point. "Are you going to head back to the city after this?"

  She turned to him looking puzzled. "Why would I?" />
  "Isn't that obvious?"

  "You mean what just happened? Well, yes, it's bad. But I'm used to bad stuff happening in the city. It's not the safest place to live. I've been mugged twice in the past five years. Didn't make me leave the city. This won't make me leave Sully Point."

  Cody was surprised at the amount of relief he felt when she said she'd be staying.

  They drove up to the house, where all the lights were on since Frank and Cody had left in such a hurry.

  "It looks welcoming. I like this house," Julia said as she got out of the car.

  "I never thought about it, it's always been home. Come on, you can pick out which room you want to stay in tonight."

  They put her things in Holly's old room and then returned downstairs. Cody fixed them some coffee and they both sat at the kitchen table. What was left of the pecan pie was sitting there and Cody grabbed two forks, handing one to Julia. "Dig in."

  The taste of the very sweet pie seemed like an antidote to what they had come from.

  "This is damn good pie," Julia said. "I'm glad I can eat whatever I want, because this is practically sinful."

  "You never modeled?"

  "Nope. I'm only five feet nine inches which is still a bit on the short side for a New York model. I spent time around them, however, in the ad business. They watch every little bite they eat. That would drive me nuts."

  "Does it seem weird to you, here we are eating pie, after what happened tonight?" Cody asked.

  "I don't know. I think it seems like the way life is--strange and curious and wonderful and mixed-up, all at the same time usually."

  "Have you been reading Sam's books?"

  Julia said, "How do you know that?"

  "Because what you said about life, sounded kind of like what he says in his books."

  "Ah. Yeah, I read the first one. I should have brought the second one with me from the house."

  "Never fear. Anna put a set here in the house for Dad."

  They ate more pie.

  "I've been thinking about something your father said the last time I was here. Is it true you stay friends with old girlfriends?"

  Cody grinned at her. "Yes. Why? Does it sound strange?"

  She nodded, black hair spilling over one shoulder. "I think it is kind of strange--a good strange. In my experience, not many men seem able to do that."

  "It's not complicated to do. The thing is--I love women. I think they are fascinating, beautiful, and the reason we men are here on the planet." He stopped, rather appalled at his own words.

  Julia gave him a quizzical look. "I don't think I've ever met a man who came right out and said that. Do you have a particular type of woman you go for?"

  "No, I like them all. I like the way women's minds work. Way more complex than a man's."

  "I see. Only interested in our minds then?"

  He laughed. "Maybe not only your minds."

  She laughed too, and he saw the last bit of tension leave her face. He decided it was worth making a fool of himself with this talk if it eased the rest of her night. "Now you have to tell me, what's your type?"

  "Hard to say. I haven't had a date in a year."

  "What? That can't be true."

  "But it is. I sort of swore off men after a messy break-up. Just haven't gotten around to dating anyone since."

  "That's an interesting coincidence. I recently swore off dating--for the past three months."

  "And why did you do that?" She sipped her coffee and her dark blue eyes searched his face.

  "Because I realized I wanted--" He stopped.

  "You wanted what?"

  He sighed. "I wanted to find 'the one'--you know, the one person meant for me."

  "I'm not sure I believe in finding 'the one' anymore. Isn't it just a myth?"

  Cody got up and took the empty pie plate to the sink. "Not according to my Dad and to Sam and Anna. I'm hoping they're right."

  "Maybe they are," she said and then yawned widely. "I'm suddenly very sleepy."

  "You go on up and get to bed. I'll stay down here until Dad comes back. You won't be alone tonight, okay?"

  She smiled at him and stood up. "Thanks, Cody. And thank you for saving my life." She walked to him and gave him a quick soft kiss on the side of his face. She left the kitchen, and he heard her run up the stairs.

  His hand stole up to touch his face. The feel of her lips on his skin had electrified him. He sat at the kitchen table staring at the wall and thinking until his father arrived.

  * * * *

  The following day, Julia woke up feeling a bit dragged out. She knew part of it was due to waking repeatedly in the night. She supposed you couldn't be held hostage at knifepoint and not have it bother you on some level. Once up, she dressed in blue jeans and a lime green sweater in hopes of the color lifting her mood.

  She followed the smell of coffee down the stairs and into the kitchen where she found Frank, cracking eggs into a frying pan.

  "I thought the coffee might get you down here," he said with a cheery smile. "Ready for breakfast?"

  "If it's not too much trouble, sure." She got a mug of coffee and sat down at the kitchen table. Within minutes, Frank slid fried eggs onto a plate with sausages and set it before her. Biscuits were next, taken hot from the oven and put into a basket in front of her.

  "There's butter as well as strawberry jam and peach preserves, so help yourself." Frank sat down and buttered himself a biscuit. "I've already had my eggs. You go right ahead and eat."

  She needed no other encouragement, scooping up part of an egg with half a biscuit. The food was delicious, and she felt energized by the time she was done.

  "Better now? You looked a bit pale when you came down here," Frank said.

  "Yes, much better, thanks."

  "What are your plans for today?"

  "I need to give my statement to the Sheriff. This afternoon I thought I'd set up my laptop somewhere and see what's been happening while I've been away."

  "We managed to keep your name out of the story about Patrice that went out to the wire services. All anyone really cares about is it being Sam and Anna's house, anyway."

  Her hand fluttered up to play with the gold chain she was wearing. "I hadn't even thought about my name being involved. But I'm very glad it isn't. No telling what grief I'd get from my mother."

  Frank frowned, but it left his face quickly. "Do you do much work on the computer or just use it for fun?"

  "At my job I use it for certain things. On my own I play around with it. At one point in my life I considered going into computer programming or web design. I remember when I built my first computer. Fun times."

  She watched as Frank leaned forward on the table. "Listen, Julia, you might be just who I'm looking for. My computer at the store is messed up. Around here you have to call the computer store at the mall to get any kind of repair and they charge an arm and a leg. Would you mind looking at it for me? Maybe tell me if I really need those guys or not?"

  "Sure, I could do look at it. How about I stop by after lunch? I can check out the computer then." She was surprised to feel a sense of eagerness at the thought. Computer puzzles, fixing them and analyzing them, had always been something she was good at.

  Frank gave her a big smile. "Terrific. Thanks! I'd better get moving and go open up the store. If you could put your dishes in the dishwasher, that would be great. You have a great morning and I'll see you later." He leaned over and gave her a quick hug, before leaving the house.

  He hurried out the door and Julia sat there thinking how supportive Frank could be. Totally unlike her mother. In fact, she wasn't sure if her mother had ever just given her a quick hug like the one from Frank.

  She sighed, and then got everything into the dishwasher and turned it on, wiping down the counters and cleaning out the sink. She might not be a good cook but she was an excellent housecleaner. Cleaning was one way she dealt with insomnia and stress.

  Finishing up, she went back upstairs and got her purse and
her laptop. She also found the copy of Sam's second book, and tucked it into her bag. The stop at the Sheriff's office took about an hour as they went over every detail of the attack. Finally, everything was in the computer, printed out and signed.

  She drove to the docks and parked. Cody had given her a windbreaker the night before which she put on now. There was a breeze coming off the water, making the day chilly. She walked down until she reached the Bait and Tackle shop. Coming in through the doorway, she shivered at the wave of warmth coming from the wood stove in the center of the room.

  "Hi," she called out and waved to him. He waved back and finished up his phone call, while she found a seat by the stove. The warmth made the room feel cozy.

  Cody came over and sat down opposite her. "You did your statement with the Sheriff?"

  "Yeah. I'm glad it's over with."

  "Any big plans for the day?" Cody leaned back in the rocker and sent it back and forth gently with one foot.

  "I'll be in town." Julia realized she was sitting rather tensely and couldn't figure out why. Then it hit her. "Can I ask you something?"

  "Sure."

  "Were you bothered last night, your sleep I mean?"

  "Yes. I had some pretty bad dreams."

  "Me too. I wasn't sure if it was just me. I wondered how you were handling it."

  His face was serious and he ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back off his face. "I think we'll probably both have bad dreams for a while. We've been through hell. You were held hostage and threatened. My dreams last night were all about not arriving in time. What happened was a violation of the space you're living in, and of your safety. The woman was crazy enough to have done something terrible. You can't expect to come out of trauma with no residual effects."

  "Yes, I suppose so. My dreams of her slashing me, and yours of not getting there to save me--I guess they are ways we're working through the fear of last night." She sat back in the rocking chair and slowly let it rock, gradually relaxing. There was a comfortable silence between them. She didn't feel like she had to talk all the time around Cody. He was good at quiet.

  The bell over the door rang as a man walked into the shop. "Hey Cody, got a minute? I want to know what you think about this setup."