Genesis: A Harte's Peak Prequel (16 page)

Maggie wished she'd thought of that instead of acting like the tragic widow, but the words stuck in her throat. Anyway, it was hard to get a word out with Kimberly.

“I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, but it's been tough for Jack since my husband passed away. Robert was like the big brother Jack never had.”

Everything began to click into place for Maggie, from his attachment to the cigar to the crinkly worried forehead. Her heart hurt for Jack, a man who obviously kept his feelings under lock and key. He'd been grieving, just as she had, and as Lexi still grieved.

“It must be so hard. For both of you.” Maggie struggled with the right words. In her experience, words were useless in this situation, but they had to be given anyway.

“I'm only telling you this because I can see that you and Jack, well, let's not kid ourselves. Something is going on between you two. I know Jack, and I think I can tell when he's a goner for a woman.”

“What makes you say that? We're friends. That's all,” Maggie protested, feeling her cheeks burn.

“If you say so. Anyway, women are often the ones to decide these things. And I'm so glad to hear that.”

Not exactly what she'd thought Kimberly would say, and she fought not to be offended. Maybe she wasn't the best option for Jack, but she could think of a lot worse women he could date. “OK.”

Kimberly laughed. “That came out wrong. Oh, goodness, I really do have to stop talking so much. This is where I miss Robert the most. He'd give me a soft nudge, and it would be my hint to stop talking. What I meant is that Jack needs to come back home, and I wouldn't want you to get hurt.”

“I wouldn't want that either.” Maggie frowned.
Believe me.

“But you won't be, since, as you told me, you two are just friends. So no matter what I think Jack might be thinking, and believe me I do mean might, I still haven't managed to read his mind. There's no future for the two of you. Right? So maybe you'll help me convince him to go back?”

“Now?”

“No, not right now. I'm sure he has to give his notice at the station, give his thirty day notice for the rental. You've probably seen he doesn't have much to pack. Something tells me he's ready to leave at any moment. He just needs a little push.”

Maggie swallowed. “And you think I should be the one to give him a push?”

“You're his friend, aren't you? There's one thing I know for sure: Jack won't be able to move on until he has closure. And that's waiting for him in Virginia.”

“Sure. I'll talk to him, and if I can find a way I'll tell him he should go back.”

Which as it so happened, was the last thing she wanted to do.

 

 

 

 

11

 

Outside, Jack took a deep breath and let his constricted airway fill up.

The sun hid behind a cloud, but it was only late March. Soon the sun would be out in full force, and the last of the snow banks would be gone.

What he needed was a hike or a run, but he couldn't very well take off right now. He had Kimberly to think about, inside making friends with Maggie, telling her who knew what. He should go back inside and implement damage control, but what was the point? Sooner or later Maggie would have to know he was a failure, and maybe it would be better if it came from Kimberly.

A torn basketball net on a worn out backboard stood on the front of Maggie's driveway. How had he never noticed that before?

Within seconds he'd run back home to get his ball, and when Chief whined for him at the front door Jack let him come out, too. Chief sat on the edge of the driveway and watched the first of several shots. The tightness in Jack's chest eased. When he glanced to the sidelines, Lexi stood next to Chief, hands thrust in her jeans pockets.

“He doesn't like it when you ignore him,” Lexi said, bending to pet Chief.

“Too bad.” Swoosh. Nothing but net, or at least what was left of it.

“He should be my dog, not yours. I think he loves me more, too.”

“Probably right.” The smug look in her eyes made him throw the ball in her direction. “Catch!”

“Wait. What?” She reacted quickly and caught the ball before it bounced.

“Hey, pretty good reflexes.”

“I haven't played in a long time.” She threw the ball back to him.

“Did you forget how?”

“I didn't forget, weirdo.” She threw him another one of her wish-you-were-dead glares.

“Why not prove it?” He hurled the ball back in her direction again.

She caught it and dribbled. “I used to play on a team. My dad was the coach.”

“You probably know your stuff then.”

“Yeah, my dad taught me how to play.” She angled the ball and aimed. Didn't make the shot.

He caught the rebound. “Try again.”

A few pointers and reminders and Lexi made a basket, the first of several. Once she made the first one, she wasn't much interested in letting him have the ball back. “Just one more shot.”

She threw the ball and it rolled around the rim before it fell through the net. Lexi jumped and Chief howled. “Yes! Chief, boy, that's a three pointer. I told you I didn't forget.”

“Good job. But there's no way you can do that again. Lucky shot.” OK, so maybe he wanted her to stay out here a little bit longer especially since she so closely resembled a human being for once.

The challenge did the trick, as Lexi kept at it, bumping into Chief every now and then since the dog had somehow gotten the idea that he was a player in this game.

Stopping before she took a shot, Lexi glanced at him. “Why are you out here when it's your friend inside? Shouldn't you be in there, too?”

“Maybe I don't feel like talking.”

“You won't need to talk much with that lady. She does all the talking.”

In spite of himself, Jack laughed out loud. Amazing that Lexi had so quickly dialed Kimberly. “You have a point.”

“I'm going to see my grandparents this weekend.” Lexi said, and made the shot.

“Yeah?” He recovered the ball and made his own shot. Maggie had stuck to letting Lexi decide, but he had to wonder if she was happy about the decision.

“So I won't be around to take care of Chief.”

“He'll live.”

“He'd better.” She threw him a death stare. “But I was thinking that maybe you and my mom could hang out a bit.”

Jack stopped mid-dribble and stared. “What?”

“She could take care of Chief for you, too, you know.”

“I know.”

“I don't want her to be lonely while I'm gone.” Not only did she sound human, but her voice now dripped with a word he might have never associated with Lexi Bradshaw before today: compassion.

“You don't have to worry about your mom.” He met her eyes. If there's one thing he knew about kids, it was that they tended to feel responsible for everything that went wrong. Since they were the center of the universe and all that, it was an easy mistake to make.

“I know I don't. Everyone tells me that. But they don't know her like I do. She gets sad sometimes.”

“I believe you.” He's seen that lonely ache in Maggie's eyes even though she did a good job of disguising it.

Lexi blinked. “Thanks. But will you do it?”

It wasn't exactly arm twisting to be asked to hang out with Maggie, and surely, the kid realized that. Was it lying when the lie was told to reassure someone? He wondered what God would have to say about that as he prepared to tell a big one.

“You're asking a lot, but if you insist, I'll hang out with your mom while you're gone.”

 

****

 

Somehow, the night passed even though Maggie didn't spend much of it sleeping. Instead, she went over and over the conversation she'd had with Kimberly. Something important had been left unsaid, but it hadn't been her place to pry. When, and if, Jack was ready, he'd tell her why he'd chosen to move three thousand miles away and give up being a marshal.

What horrible thing could he have done? Kimberly obviously didn't hold him to the same high standard to which he held himself. She saw him as the same warm person Maggie saw. A man who, if anything, might care a little bit too much.

Somehow, she was supposed to help convince Jack to go back to Virginia when for the first time in a year she felt alive again.
Lord, please help me to stop being so selfish. I need to think of what's best for Jack. Even if it's not me. Of course it's not me.

Kimberly was also up early, and had already put the hideaway bed away and folded and stacked the sheets and blankets. “My, you're up early. You an early riser, too? I hope I didn't wake you. My flight leaves at ten, but you know how it is at the airport. And then, of course, it's not like there's an airport anywhere near Harte's Peak. Also, I need to return the rental. All right, sorry if I'm rambling, but flying makes me nervous.” Kimberly took a breath.

Maggie smiled and started the coffee. “So you're driving yourself back. But is Jack coming over, I assume?”

“He should be here any minute. In fact, I'm surprised he's not here already. Listen, I'm sorry if I came on too strong yesterday. I get the feeling you don't want Jack to go back to Virginia after all.”

Maggie started to protest when there was a light knock at the door.
Jack.

Kimberly glanced at her watch. “Like clockwork.”

Already dressed in his deputy uniform, Jack made quick work of grabbing Kimberly's overnight bag over her protests. “Since I can't drive you back, you need to at least let me do this.”

At the door, Kimberly turned to Maggie and winked. “Remember what I said.”

“I will.” Not like she could forget when Kimberly kept bringing it up.

Maggie watched from the doorway as Jack opened the car door, hugged Kimberly, and stood, hands in his pockets, as she drove away out of the cul-de-sac. He turned, caught Maggie's gaze, and marched back toward her. Her foolish heart began to race as though it had any business doing it.

“There goes one of the most stubborn women I've ever met.” Jack frowned.

“She cares about you. That much is clear.”

“I wish she'd stop caring so much.” He shrugged. “Lexi told me about her grandparents and the weekend. She made her choice, I take it.”

“Her decision.” Even if it made Maggie's stomach drop, she'd stepped out in faith. Uncharacteristically, she'd felt a peace about it ever since Lexi had told her.

“It was your decision first. That took a lot of guts, Maggie. I'm not sure I could have done the same.”

“You? Actually, you helped me make the decision.”

“I did?”

“You reminded me that I'd forgiven them, but my actions weren't going along with my thoughts. I had to force the two to get back in step, and it feels right somehow. I need to get her over there this afternoon.”

“You do know that your daughter is worried about you.” His blue eyes locked with hers, making her knees weak.

“She's worried?” She hadn't seen anything from Lexi other than excitement at the prospect of leaving her behind.

“She asked me if I'd hang out with you so you wouldn't be lonely. And of course, she was thinking of Chief, too. You must realize she doesn't trust me with his livelihood.”

Mortified, Maggie covered with a nervous laugh. “I'll call Vera. It's not your job to entertain me.”

“No, you won't call Vera. I made a promise to Lexi, and I intend to keep it. So get ready to hang out with me today and tomorrow. I'll start by driving with you to drop her off.” He walked away smiling before she could protest anymore. Not that she wanted to, because if there was any chance she'd see that smile again she'd have to be crazy not to take it.

 

****

 

The house that had once felt like her prison still looked the same. Richard and Paula's large home was set back from the driveway, a wide and luscious green expanse of manicured lawn surrounded by pine trees between the circular driveway and the house. Eagle Way had been nicknamed Legal Eagle because of the amount of lawyers and judges who made their homes in this small and wealthy enclave of Harte's Peak. It reminded Maggie that the people who lived in these homes were not accustomed to losing.

And though it felt odd to have Jack with them, instead of the coldness and fear she might have expected being here again, she felt covered in warmth. God had promised to be with her, and in His grace He'd apparently sent Jack, too, like the icing on the proverbial cake.

Paula invited them in, did a double take at Jack, but welcomed him anyway. “Richard is just finishing up settlement talks today, so he'll be home late, but we're all ready to leave early tomorrow morning.”

A good thing, because Maggie didn't feel up to dealing with Richard today. Not after their last exchange.

Lexi raced up the winding staircase, presumably to the bedroom she'd occupied when she'd lived here.

“Your room—I mean, the guest room is ready for you,” Paula called after her.

Maggie smiled at that.

Paula was trying, cozying up to Jack, perhaps to make him realize she didn't have anything against him even if Richard did. Paula took him outside presumably to show him her garden.

Maggie stayed back to stare at the oil paintings worth approximately one year's worth of her salary.
Stop judging them. Whichever one of you is free of sin, let him cast the first stone. Oh, that's right, Lord, I'm fresh out of stones.

She could hear Paula in the garden, rattling on about the deer that crept into her garden and ruined the foliage she'd tried so hard to beat into submission. As if the deer hadn't been here first.

The last time Maggie had been in this home, she'd thought her life was over. Nothing and no one would ever make her heart swell again, and she'd have to be content with memories. But, apparently, the Lord had other plans for her.