In the Eye of the Storm (10 page)

“We were just about to clean up. Class is over in twenty minutes.”

The class grew very excited as Beau stepped up to the front of the room. Kate introduced him and for the next twenty minutes, he answered question after question. Kate was surprised how much second grade boys seemed to know about baseball. And she was surprised how much Beau seemed to know about second grade t know what onhe wasboys. Of course, he had been one at one time.

“So I have some balls and some shirts.” He pulled a permanent marker out of the bag and went to work signing a ball for each child. She watched, in awe, as he personally handed out the balls and T-shirts. The kids were in heaven.

“So you’re David Pendleton, huh?” He got to David’s desk and appeared to take a good look at the kid. David stared up at him with huge eyes, clearly at a loss for words.

“You’ve got a good build for baseball. You play?”

David looked surprised and shook his head. “I have a good build?”

“Yep.” Beau crouched down to his height. “I was about your size in second grade. A little awkward when I ran the bases but I started hitting pretty good toward the beginning of third grade. You practice or play on a team?”

David shook his head a second time.

“Well, you should. Practice every chance you get. That’s how I got where I am today.” Beau ruffled David’s dark hair and stood up. “Team work’s where it’s at, guys. Remember that.”

The bell rang and the kids all got up and headed to the coat closet to get their things.

Beau tossed an extra ball in his hand as he turned toward Kate. She just stared at him.

“That was really nice, what you did there. Do you think it did any good?”

Beau shrugged. “I don’t work miracles. I just gave the kid a little positive reinforcement. See where he goes with it.”

Kate smiled. “Thank you.”

He waved her thank you away. “I like visiting schools. Kids are fun. They aren’t old enough to really want anything from you yet except a ball or a shirt.”

“Speaking of which, tell me you didn’t buy those.”

“Don’t play the money card again, Kate. It’s getting old.” He wadded up the black plastic bag and tossed her the last ball. “I saved one for you.”

Luckily, she caught it. She looked down and noticed he had signed it. “Is it worth any money?”

He laughed this time. “Not unless I get my ass to the World Series again.”

She set the ball on her desk. “What changed your mind about coming here?”

“I don’t know. I guess when you were talking about that David kid I started thinking about what I remember about being that age. I was good at most sports from a young age, but I remember Joey being awkward for a while. He got teased. It’s hard for kids growing up.”

She figured that was true enough. “Well, I’m glad you came, whatever the reason. Is my car done?”

“It’s out front. You’ll have to give me a ride home though.”

“Fair enough.” She grabbed her things and followed him out of the classroom. It felt good to step outside into the late afternoon sunshine. The temperature was cool but the air was crisp and clean. It was refreshing.

Her Explorer was parked in the front row of the parking lot. She went to the driver’s side and he tossed her the keys. She was about to get into the vehicle when she noticed the deep scratch all the way down the driver’s side his forehead against hersan just of the SUV. She let out a gasp.

“What’s wrong?” He walked around to see what she was looking at and cursed. “What the hell? That wasn’t there a few minutes ago, I swear it.”

Kate looked around, knowing that Wick was there somewhere. Her hands went clammy and she dropped her keys.

“Kate?” Beau’s grip was on her shoulders, shaking her. She looked up at him dumbly. He spoke and she barely heard the words. “You’re white as a sheet.”

“He’s out there somewhere.”

“Who? What are you talking about?”

“Wick. He’s been following me. He left me a note in my classroom this morning.”

Beau swore, his eyes scanning the parking lot around them.

“He was at my house yesterday when I got home. He wanted another date and I told him no.” She suddenly felt cold all over. Wick was clearly unstable. And he was fixated on her.

“Okay, I want you to take some deep breaths. You look like you’re about to pass out.” He picked up her keys and took her purse, setting it inside her car. Then he tipped her chin up so she looked at him. “Is that why you were so jumpy last night—because he was following you?”

She slowly nodded her head.

“Why in the heck didn’t you say something? I would have followed you home.”

“I didn’t actually
see
him last night at the store. I just felt like someone was watching me.”

He swore again. “Okay. We’re going to call Trey and see what he says. Just sit tight for a minute.”

As it turned out, Trey was out in the field. He sent another officer over, who took Kate’s statement and filed a report, for all the good it was going to do. She had no proof that Wick was responsible for the vandalism on her car. And, she had no proof he’d written the nasty note in her classroom.

Beau drove them back to Trey and Kylie’s and they immediately paid Richard a visit. Richard looked less than excited that Beau was now involved in this.

“I think you’re both overreacting,” he said, sheepishly, holding Mittens in his arms tightly.

Mittens did not like Beau, apparently. The minute they’d walked into Richard’s house, the cat had hissed at him. She didn’t think Beau liked Mittens either. He glared at the cat as though he wanted to drop kick the creature across the room. Kate just kept her distance—she’d had run-ins with Mittens before.

“Listen, Rich, this guy keyed her car. Don’t you think that’s a little unstable?”

“Wick wouldn’t key anyone’s car.”

“And he wouldn’t write a nasty note to me or follow me either,” Kate said, irritated. “God, Richard, when are you going to admit that you don’t know Wick well enough to keep vouching for him?”

“I’m not exactly vouching for him. I just can’t believe he would do this.”

“Guys do strange things when their egos get bruised,” Beau pointed out. “I want to know where he lives.”

Richard looked worried. “Why?”

“Because, Richard. I’m going to go over there and give him a piece of advice.” Beau glared at Richard evenly. “She doesn’t want to date him. She doesn’t want to see him at all. That’s her choice. He’s not accepting that.”

“He says he didn’t do anything.”

“And you think heRhe truth?” Kate asked incredulously. “I thought you were my friend too, Richard. Do you really think I would make this up?”

“No,” he said, sighing. “What did the police say?”

“That they would question him, but they have no proof he did anything. Basically it’s my word against his.” Frustrated, Kate swore. “How could someone not see him?”

“People tend to mind their own business unless someone’s screaming bloody murder,” Beau said, leaning back against the couch.

“I’m sorry, Kate. I had no idea he was so unstable,” Richard admitted, a frown on his face. “You know I’d never set you up with someone I thought was dangerous. He seemed like a nice guy.”

Kate knew Richard was telling the truth. She shrugged and gave him half a smile. “It’s not your fault. I know I said it was, but I was just angry.”

“Well, I feel responsible. I’ll make sure when I talk to him to tell him to knock this crap off.”

“Thanks, Richard. I appreciate you believing me.”

“Of course I believe you.” Richard looked at Beau. “You’ll make sure she gets home alright?”

“I’ve got it covered. She can hang out next door until Trey gets home from work. I’m sure he’s going to want to talk to her.”

They left Richard’s and headed to Trey and Kylie’s. Kylie was already there. She gave Kate a hug. “I heard what happened. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Kylie. He keyed my car, not my body.”

Kylie frowned. “Who is
he
?”

“Wick,” Beau said, when Kate didn’t answer. “Apparently he’s been following her. He left her a nasty note too.?s telling t

8

By the end of the week, Kate felt marginally better about things. Wick had apparently disappeared. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since the incident with her car, which he vehemently denied being responsible for, of course. Trey had exchanged a few words with Wick and whatever he had said to the man had apparently done the trick.

Fortunately, Beau managed to buff the scratch out of her vehicle. She was beginning to think he was a miracle worker.

Over the past several days, he’d been around off and on. He’d brought rented movies over the first night. They’d sat on her couch watching a Matt Damon war movie. The next night he’d shown up with take-out and they’d eaten in front of the evening news. She’d been relieved not to be stuck sitting alone. Sleeping had been hard enough. Even though she knew Wick was likely gone, her teeth were still on edge.

It was Friday night now. She was glad she didn’t have school the next day, but yet a little unnerved that she had two full days of sitting at home by herself.

She knew Kylie and Trey were getting their house ready for Thanksgiving. They had relatives coming into town.
A lot
of relatives. Beau was likely helping them get ready. She didn’t want to let his absence bother her, but it did. She’d gotten used to him coming around. They were buddies, she told herself. He
wasn’t
that hot—she
wasn’t
attracted to him. Repeatedly, she reminded herself of these things. But the truth was, he
was
hot and she
was
attracted to him. They hadn’t touched at all since that first night on her front porch—at least not in a sexual nature. He was very good at keeping his feelings in check. Or perhaps he didn’t have any feelings for her. That was another distinct possibility.

Sighing, she flipped through the channels and frowned. There really wasn’t anything on she wanted to see. There wasn’t anything she wanted to do. She was bored.

She heard the knock at the door and stiffened automatically.

“It’s me. Open up.”
Beau.

Happier than she’d like to be, she got up and walked over to open the door. He had a sack in his hands, as usual. The man never came empty handed.

“Do you have plans?” He stepped into the house without waiting for an invitation.

“Come on in,” she said, letting the door shut behind him.

He toss question after question. Kats ” K0ed a grin over his shoulder. “I got something for you.”

“What?” She eyed the bag, curiously. It was too large for take-out.

“A Wii,” he said, setting the bag down and tossing his keys on the coffee table.

“A what?” she asked, her eyes narrowed.

“It’s a video game system—a Wii.” He gave her a strange look. “You don’t know what a Wii is?”

“I’ve heard of it,” she said, watching as he pulled the box out of the bag and went to work opening it. “Wait a minute. You can’t give me a Wii.”

“Why not?” He didn’t bother looking at her.

“Because a Wii is expensive. I know that because the kids at school all want one and they’re a lot of money.”

He continued pulling things out of the cardboard carton and setting them on her coffee table. “You are very hung up on money, Kate.”

“That’s because I don’t have a lot of it.” She poked him. “I mean it, Beau, I can’t accept this.”

He straightened and looked at her. “I will take it with me when I leave. How’s that?”

Well that was different, she supposed. That would make it
his,
not hers.

“I don’t know how to play video games,” she finally said, eyeing the machine with mild interest.

“You’ll love it. I got us some games too.” He gestured to the bag. On top of the pile of plastic game cases was
MLB 2013.
It figured.

“Shouldn’t you be helping Trey and Kylie with the house?”

“I did. I cleaned it up good today while they were at work. They’re out to dinner tonight, enjoying themselves.”

“Well, why didn’t you go with them?” she asked, not understanding why he’d rather be here playing a video game.

“Because, Kate, I can’t go anywhere that I stay long or it causes a very unpleasant commotion. I’m trying to remain low key here. Not too many people know I’m in town.”

“Oh.” She watched as he bent over her television and went to work hooking up the Wii. “Well, if you’re staying, you want a beer?”

“Sure, whatever you’ve got.”

She went to the kitchen and uncapped two beers. By the time she got back, he was already sitting on the couch, using a controller to set up the game. She had to admit that once she started playing, she was enjoying it. Of course he beat her to a pulp but it was still fun. Besides baseball, he’d bought a skiing game and some sort of shooting game. They didn’t realize how long they’d been playing until she looked at the clock and saw that it was after eleven. She hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in a long time.

“I should probably go so you can get some sleep.” He flipped the television off and reached for his keys.

“Don’t forget your game,” she said pointedly, knowing he was going to attempt to do just that.

“I’ll get it tomorrow. It’s a pain to unhook.” He gave her a grin and she rolled her eyes. “Do you ever balance your checkbook? s an understatementonhe wasYou must have a hell of a time adding up all your purchases.”

He shrugged. “I have more money than you and me and dozens of other people could ever spend. I do what makes me happy.”

“You do what makes
other people
happy,” she corrected.

“That too.” He stood up. “Are you going to be okay here?”

“I’ll be fine. Thanks for coming over. You’ve got to be getting tired of me by now.”

“If I was tired of you, I wouldn’t be here. It’s been nice having somewhere to go so Trey and Kylie can have some time to themselves. They don’t have the biggest house in town.”

“I suppose not, with three adults staying there. Wait until your whole family descends upon them.”

“Yeah, that’s going to be rough. We all get along fairly well though. Some of them will stay in a hotel anyway. Mama and Mamaw will probably stay with Kylie and Trey. I’ll get a room somewhere for myself. It will all work out.”