Out of the Dark (34 page)

It was enough to satisfy Sam.

Their time together passed easily. Sam soon had Jade smiling and laughing as he shared anecdotes about things from his travels and his past. Little by little, Jade was coming to know the man who was her father and to appreciate his wisdom. He’d accumulated great wealth in his lifetime, and yet it seemed to have no negative influence on him. Even though Sam had made it very clear in the beginning, it was staggering to know that one day this would all be hers.

They were just finishing dessert when Jade put down her fork.

“Have you heard from Luke?”

“Not since you did.”

“Do you think everything is okay?”

“Yes. Luke can take care of himself. You like him, don’t you?”

Jade felt the heat rising on her neck, but she wouldn’t lie.

“Yes.”

“He will never hurt you.”

She sighed. “I know that…or at least, I do now. But I’m so flawed.”

“The flaws are only in your mind.”

She was quiet for a few moments more; then she looked up at Sam, unaware of how frightened and helpless she looked.

“Do you think it would be all right if I slept in my old room? Just for tonight? With your room right next door, I wouldn’t feel so—”

“Absolutely,” he said.

“I feel like such a baby, but I’ve never slept alone since—”

“Don’t apologize to me—ever,” Sam said. “Not about that. Never about that.”

She nodded. But there was relief in her voice as she kissed him on the cheek.

“Thank you, Daddy. Maybe one of these days I’ll be as old in my mind as I am in real years. Imagine, being afraid to sleep alone. Isn’t that crazy?”

Sam wished he could answer, or at least smile—anything to dislodge the knot in his throat, but he couldn’t, not without breaking down in tears. She couldn’t know how deeply he hurt for what she’d endured, and he prayed she never would. All he could do was shake his head in denial. There wasn’t anything crazy about Jade.

After dinner, they spent the evening in the library, supposedly watching television, but Jade, growing up without constant access to televisions, had not developed the habit. Instead she’d gotten up from the sofa and wandered over to the book-burdened shelves. Despite her lack of schooling, she was a voracious reader, and when she saw one of her favorite stories, she took it from the shelf and headed for an overstuffed chair beneath a Tiffany reading lamp.

It wasn’t until a commercial that Sam realized Jade was engrossed in the book.

“What are you reading?” he asked, as he got up to get himself a cold drink.

“
The Boxcar Children.
It’s a story for kids, but it’s one of my favorites.”

Sam frowned, trying to remember the story line, but couldn’t.

“What’s it about?”

“There are these children who have no home, and they find and live in an abandoned railroad car. It’s sad and it’s wonderful, all at the same time.”

Sam touched her hair as he passed. “I’ll have to read it when you’ve finished.”

She nodded.

“Want something cold to drink?”

“No, thank you,” she mumbled.

He grinned. She was already engrossed in the story again. It dawned on him, as he watched her turning the pages, that she read very quickly. For having no formal education at all, it was a miracle in itself that she could read, let alone with skill.

The grandfather clock in the corner was striking eleven when the phone suddenly rang. Jade flinched as Sam answered.

“Luke! We’ve been waiting to hear from you. Is it over?”

Luke sighed. “Pretty much. We stopped Jacks—he’s in custody, too. Is Jade still up?”

Sam smiled and handed Jade the phone.

“Luke?”

Just hearing her voice eased the rage he’d been carrying. “Yes, it’s me, baby. Just wanted you to know that it’s over. You’re safe, and I’ll be home as soon as I can.” Then he added, “I love you.”

She sighed. “I love you, too.”

Then Jade stood up and stretched. After hearing Luke’s voice, all her tension had eased.

“I think I’m going to bed,” she said. “Do you mind if I take this up to read?”

“Darling, there’s nothing in this house that is off-limits to you. This is your home, remember?”

She smiled her thanks and started toward the door.

“I’ll be up in a bit,” Sam said. “I’ve got some overseas calls to make. Would you like me to look in on you when I come up?”

“That would be nice,” she said, then waved goodbye as she left with her book.

The phone calls took longer than Sam had expected, and it was after midnight when he finally started up the stairs. He was tired, but his heart was full to overflowing. It was going to take time, but today had been a turning point for all of them. He could tell that something had happened between Jade and Luke. He hoped it was something on which they could build a life together. But even better for Sam, something had happened between him and his daughter. Today she had called him Daddy, and it was as special now as it had been the day she learned to talk.

As he neared her room, his steps slowed. The door was closed, but he’d told her he would check on her, and he wasn’t about to break his word.

The door opened silently on well-oiled hinges. The book she’d carried upstairs was on the bedside table beneath the lamp. She lay facing the door with her knees bent toward her chin and her head tucked near her chest. Even in sleep, she assumed a position of defense—curled in upon herself for optimum protection.

Emotion swept over him as he stepped into the room. The covers had slipped off her shoulders, and although it was hot and steamy outside, the central air kept the rooms quite cool. Carefully, so as not to disturb her, he lifted the covers and pulled them back up. As he did, he noticed she had something clutched in her hands. When he bent down for a closer look, he saw it was the little pink blanket that had been left behind when Margaret had taken her away.

Oh, baby…my sweet, sweet baby…it may take you a while to realize it, but it’s finally safe to grow up.

He turned out the lamp and tiptoed quietly from the room.

Jade never knew when Sam came and went, but sometime toward morning, she began to dream. And as always, it started off the same way: with Solomon coming to the bedroom and waking her up, then dragging her down the hall toward the purple room. Her heart began to pound, her hands started to sweat, and, as always, there was that overwhelming need to pee that came from ungovernable fear.

In her sleep, she began to struggle and beg, fighting the bed and the covers as he dragged her nearer and nearer. Then, suddenly, she was holding Raphael’s hand and Solomon was gone.

Her heartbeat evened, and the panic she was feeling subsided, even though something still wasn’t right. She wasn’t yet at the part in the dream where Raphael always came to save her. That came later, after all the pain. But this time he was smiling at her, and she could feel the brush of his lips as he bent and kissed her cheek. Because of that, she told herself it was going to be okay.

In the dream, he tugged at her hand impatiently, just as he always did when she dawdled. She smiled as they started to move. Then she saw herself turning around. The door to the purple room was swiftly disappearing, and suddenly it was gone. When she turned to see where they were going, she saw a long narrow hallway with a light up ahead.

“Rafie…where are you taking me?”

He smiled. “Home.”

“But aren’t we already home?”

“Not yet, but we soon will be.”

Jade pulled her knees a little closer toward her chin and let herself fall deeper into the dream.

Suddenly the hallway ended and they were walking out into a light. Before she could ask Raphael where they were, Luke was suddenly standing before them. She felt the smile spreading on her face and the joy growing in her heart and remembered what it felt like to make love to this man.

She turned to Raphael.

“It’s over, isn’t it, Rafie? Now we can all live happily ever after.”

But Raphael shook his head, and to Jade’s dismay, he began to fade before her eyes.

“We can’t live anywhere,” he said. “But you can…and with Luke. He loves you, honey. Trust him enough to love him back.”

Raphael was fading swiftly now. Jade could still see him, but she could also see through him. It was enough to send her over the edge of panic.

“No! Rafie, no! Don’t go. Please don’t go!”

Now he was completely gone. Although she could still hear his voice, there wasn’t a wisp of him left.

“Live your life to the fullest, Jade Cochrane. Live for yourself…and for me.”

Then Jade felt Luke’s hand on her arm and the rush of his breath against her cheek.

“Sweetheart…it’s time to go. Are you ready?”

Jade felt torn between the past and the future, caught between betraying Raphael and following her heart to Luke. She turned to face Luke and saw the love on his face and the truth in his eyes, and still she couldn’t make her feet move.

Then, suddenly, she felt a pressure in the middle of her back, as if someone was pushing her forward. Tears filled her eyes, then spilled down her face, because she knew it was Raphael, still giving her a nudge in the right direction.

In the dream, she reached for Luke’s hand, taking comfort in the warmth and strength of his touch as he led her forward toward the light. She wanted to turn around, to make sure that Raphael was truly gone, but something inside told her not to look back.

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

It was morning.

Despite Luke’s best efforts, the storm front refused to budge, and he accepted the fact that it was going to take him longer to get home. So bright and early that morning, he made a call to Jade.

“Cochrane residence.”

“Hey, Velma, it’s Luke. May I please talk to Jade?”

“Yes. I’ll have to give her a buzz on the intercom. I think she’s in her studio, and my knees aren’t up to those third floor stairs.”

“Studio? Third floor? What’s been going on?”

“Oh, the Mister has been plotting a surprise. He took the two biggest room on the top floor and made an artist’s studio for Jade. She was so pleased. My, but that girl can paint, can’t she?”

“Yes, she can.”

“Okay, hang on. I’ll get her on the phone.”

A few seconds later, he heard an extension pick up, and then the hesitancy in a very beloved voice.

“Luke?”

Just the sound of her voice made him smile.

“Hello, baby…how ya’ doing?”

“I’m good, Luke. Really, I am. I have an appointment with Dr. DiMatto today, and last night I had a dream that was different…even good.” She paused, then added, “You were in it.”

His smile widened. “I was?”

“Yes. You came and took me out of the dark.”

His vision blurred, and he was glad she couldn’t see his face.

“Jade, darling…”

“It’s okay,” she said quickly. “Now tell me about L.A. Last night you were so brief. It was Solomon, wasn’t it?”

He had to gather his thoughts, because he knew she would want to know everything.

“Yes, it was him. He didn’t mean to, but he gave himself away.”

“What’s happening? Can they do anything? It’s been so long.”

“The Feds arrested him. He’ll be charged with kidnapping, and a host of other things that will keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.”

“Was he connected to Frank Lawson’s hit man?”

“I don’t think so. They’re still in the investigation phase, but I’d say not. It’s storming here, so planes aren’t flying. Even if I rent a car, I can’t be there before Saturday at the earliest. Are you all right with that?”

She knew he was referring to her fear of sleeping alone.

“I slept in my old bedroom last night. It’s next to Daddy’s room. Even though I didn’t have nightmares, I knew he was nearby. But I will get better. I
am
getting better. I know and accept that it’s going to take time.”

“I’m with you, baby. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Truly? You know in your heart that I will always be there for you?”

“Yes, Luke. I do.”

“So when I get home, we’ll talk about us, okay?”

She hugged the promise to herself as she leaned against the window.

“Yes. We will talk about us.”

“Tell Sam I called. Tell him what’s going on. I’ll call you tonight when I stop to get a room.”

“I wish it would be here,” she said softly.

Luke groaned. “Not half as much as I do, sweetheart.” Then he glanced at his watch. “Okay. I gotta go. As my granddad used to say, ‘I’m burning daylight.’ Love you.”