Bittersweet Surrender (32 page)

“Hello?” she snapped.

“She's gone. I can't believe it, she's—”

The frantic male voice yanked Carly to attention. “What? Who's gone?” It took a minute for her recognize Jake's voice. Carly shoved herself up in bed.

“Katelyn. I got home just now and she's gone. Not home. No note. Nothing.”

Carly couldn't see Katelyn leaving a note or Jake reading it. “Does she normally leave you notes?”

“Well, since those kids from Chicago have started calling, I've been keeping a tight leash on her. I told her I wanted to know where she was at all times.”

So he was more concerned than he let on. Carly just hoped he didn't use his Marine tactics on his rebellious daughter, or it could spell disaster. She wanted to ask him where he had been. He'd left the coffee shop quite some time ago. Why hadn't he checked on Katelyn? But he didn't need that right now. He needed help and support.

“Okay, Jake, calm down. She's probably at a friend's house. Do you know her friends' numbers so that we could check around?”

A heavy sigh. “I don't know their numbers. I don't even know their names. I think there was a Molly—or was it Sally? Oh, I don't know.”

Okay, now Carly was getting nervous. She swung her feet around to the floor and hopped out of bed while she talked to him.

“Don't panic. I'm sure she's fine. I'll be right over.”

“Carly.”

“Yeah?”

“I'm sorry about all that with C. J.”

“Don't worry about it. I'll be right over.” Carly clicked off the phone and got dressed.

By the time she pulled up to his house, she had worked herself up pretty good. Before opening the car door, she took a deep breath. She had to stay calm for Jake. They'd think of a way to find Katelyn.

She had never seen Jake so out of control. Part of his shirttail had slipped from under his belt and hung at his side. His face was red and blotchy. His impeccable hair looked as though he had just gotten out of the shower and let it dry without ever combing it.

He sank down on the sofa and shoved his fingers through his hair. “What am I gonna do without my baby?”

Carly sat down beside him and put her arm around him, patting his back. “It's gonna be all right, Jake. Let's think this through.”

His head whipped toward her. “It will not be all right.” He jumped up and paced the room. “Why don't you say it? ‘I told you so.' There. I said it for you. I haven't been there for her. I've been caught up in my own pain and just left her to flounder. I knew it, but somehow I pushed it to the back of my mind, feeling that my own pain was more important.”

He slumped into the sofa once again. “She needed me, and I let her down.” Tears filled his eyes and spilled down his cheeks. He rubbed his eyes with the pads of his hands. “God help me, I failed her. She's gone back to Chicago, I'm sure of it.”

“Did you call the police, Jake?”

“Yeah. They said it was too early for them to get involved.”

Carly wanted to be positive, but the fact that Jake didn't know any of Katelyn's friends pretty much left them at a dead end.

“Why don't we check out the coffeehouse and the teen club down the road. She could be there with some friends.”

He brightened. “That's a great idea.” He grabbed his keys and led the way out the door. Once in the car, he turned to her. “Listen, Carly, there's something I should tell you.”

The tone of his voice made her stomach clench. The lines on his face, which she'd barely noticed before, suddenly made him appear ten years older.

“I moved back here for Katelyn.”

Well, that wasn't what Carly had expected. Her ego took a nose dive. So this whole deal had nothing to do with pursuing a relationship with her. She should have known.

“Like I told you, she was getting into trouble in Chicago. In with the wrong kids, all that. I had to get her out of there before they ruined her life for good.” He started the engine and looked back to her. “The other thing is a few months before we moved, the doctor ran some tests on me and told me I had Type II diabetes. That diagnosis made me realize this body isn't going to last forever—no matter what I do to it. I should have told you sooner.” He shrugged. “My body is what it is. Anyway, I needed to get Katelyn to a safe place.”

His words worked as a healing balm that spread into the deepest corners of Carly's soul. His confession made her wonder if he might understand what she'd been through. She wasn't ready to tell him here and now. In fact, she had thought she would never tell him. But now . . .

Just as he started to back the car out, another car's headlights pulled into the drive.

Katelyn.

“It's her,” Jake said excitedly. He zipped the car back into place, shut off the engine, and ran to her. Bruised and disheveled, Katelyn crawled out of her car and crumpled into Jake's embrace.

Although Carly wanted more than anything to stay and make sure Katelyn was all right, she knew Jake and his daughter needed to be alone. So she merely waved good-bye and got into her car as Katelyn poured out her tears and the story of a date gone bad.

As tragic as the whole thing was, Carly felt hope for the two of them. And she couldn't help rethinking how she felt about Jake.

Scott didn't really want to work on a Friday
night, but since Carly and Jake were going out, it gave him time to wind up his work on the books. He'd been slipping in deposits and the profits were beefing up, so maybe he would have a decent check for Carly after all.

He couldn't believe how fast the week had gone. He also couldn't believe Carly would go out with Jake again. Scott suspected Jake had played up Katelyn's disappearance on Monday to his advantage. The guy was a jerk.

He typed the final information into the computer. Taxes would be ready to send in the next week or so. That would be a welcome relief. Things had gotten too far out of hand. At least once he finished, he'd keep it all organized and in good shape. That is, if Carly let him continue working there. If she ended up getting married, he doubted that Jake would want him around.

The thought of Carly and Jake getting married made Scott's stomach roll. He couldn't understand the weird thoughts and feelings lately where Carly was concerned. He must be feeling guilty for Ivy's embezzling.

Clicking off the computer, he stretched back in his chair and let out a hearty yawn.

“Well, you're here mighty late.”

Scott choked back the last of his yawn and flipped forward in his chair. “Carly, hi.”

She flashed a smile, and his gut burned again.

“Hi, yourself.” Dressed in a cute little yellow number, her hair twisted up with a matching ribbon, she walked over to his desk.

Oh no, she didn't. He was not about to get anywhere near this woman. He didn't know what was wrong with him, but one thing he did know, she was causing it.

He jumped out of his seat just as her sweet scent reached him, making him dizzy. He stumbled against his chair and she reached out to grab him so he didn't fall. Her hand was warm, and soft.

Very soft.

Too soft.

“Are you all right? Lately, you seem a little, well, off-kilter or something.”

He tried to swallow but he didn't have a drop of moisture in his throat anywhere.

“Scott? Are you all right?” she asked again.

As discreetly as possible, he shook off her hand. “I'm just in a hurry, that's all.” He felt guilty for fibbing, but the truth was he hadn't eaten all evening, and he was in a hurry to get some food in his stomach. Maybe that would stop the churning.

“Scott, wait,” she called after him as he bolted for the door.

He turned around, breathless. “Yeah?”

She walked toward him and he edged backward. “Aren't you going to ask me how my evening went with Jake? You know how things have been a little tense between him and me, so I thought you'd ask me.” Her lips formed a pout.

“Yeah, uh, okay. How was your date?”

She studied him. “Hey, what's going on with you?” She looked from him to his desk and back to him. “Are you hiding something?”

The words hit him like a two-by-four. He'd better calm down now or she'd start digging. That was the last thing he needed.

He leaned against the door frame, trying to appear relaxed while his insides raced like a superhero on a mission. “Hiding? No. I've just gotten carried away with work and I'm really hungry. Feeling a little shaky, that's all.” That much was true.

“Oh, I'm sorry. That was pretty thoughtless of me. How about I grab my purse and I'll take you out?”

“But you just got back from eating out. And what are you doing home so early?” She looked too happy for the date to have gone bad.

“That's what I want to talk to you about,” she said.

“Listen, Carly. I really want to get home. I'm just not feeling all that great right now.” True again.

Her excitement turned to concern and he felt a little guilty, but he just didn't want to hear about her and Jake right now. For whatever reason.

“Oh, okay. I'm sorry, Scott. Do you need me to drive you home or anything?” She touched his arm again. Why did she keep doing that? It was driving him crazy.

“No, I'll be fine.” He continued to back away till his backside hit the wall. “I'll call you later and you can tell me all about it, okay?”

Before she could answer he gave a final wave and made a beeline out the door.

Befuddled, Carly watched as Scott raced
to get away from her.

“What was that all about?” she said to no one in particular—especially since no one was around. She glanced once more at his desk, stood there a moment, shrugged, then turned off the lights and walked upstairs.

Once there, she called out for Magnolia.

Pinkie came running, the bell on her beaded collar tinkling with every pouncing paw. Carly laughed, bent down, and cuddled her pet. No matter how badly she felt, Pinkie always made her feel better. The dog nuzzled her head this way and that against Carly's face, causing her bow to tilt. Carly clipped it back in place. “There you go.” She placed Pinkie back on the floor and stood up. “So where's Magnolia?”

Pinkie cocked her head to one side, tail wagging furiously, and barked.

“If only I could speak terrier.” Carly looked around the living room for a note, but didn't see anything. In the kitchen, she checked the counter. No note. She decided Magnolia must be out with her friends. She'd been going out more and more lately, which Carly saw as a good sign. Maybe Magnolia was starting to have a life again. She'd been through so much, and Carly was happy to see her socializing these days.

And it had nothing to do with Carly wanting Magnolia to move into her own place. Nothing whatsoever.

Carly headed toward her bedroom. When she passed Magnolia's room, she noticed her door was open. That was unusual. Carly started to reach for the doorknob and close it when she spotted some money on the floor. Magnolia was normally meticulous, but she must have left in a hurry. Carly walked into the room, picked up the ten-dollar bill, and placed it on Magnolia's dresser.

When she turned to leave she noticed the comforter on Magnolia's bed was flipped up and something was bulging between her mattress and box spring. She walked closer to inspect it. A gasp lodged in her throat.

Could it be?

She bent down to get a better look. Her eyes sometimes tricked her this late in the evening. True, it was only nine o'clock, but still. Leaning farther in, her suspicions were confirmed. Money.

Carly knew she shouldn't be in Magnolia's room. She was invading her privacy. But it had started innocently enough. Picking up after her and all. Surely Magnolia would appreciate that if she happened to come home and catch Carly snooping.

Taking a deep breath, Carly listened for any possible intruder—no, wait, that would be her—someone else who might be entering the apartment. Not a sound.

Just to appease her swelling curiosity, Carly bent down and lifted the mattress. She could not believe her eyes. There scattered between the mattresses like a heavy dose of mayonnaise slapped between wheat bread were hundreds of bills in all denominations.

So she is a mattress stuffer! I just knew it!

'Course, she didn't know how much was there. It looked like a lot to have around the house, but maybe not so much compared to bank funds.

Once she managed to close her mouth, she dropped the mattress back into place and retraced her steps out of the room.

Carly was preparing for bed when she
heard Magnolia come in. “Friend or foe?” she called out.

Magnolia chuckled. “Friend.”

“I'll be out in a minute. I'm washing my face,” Carly shouted between cleansing bubbles.