The Broken Road (The Broken Series) (3 page)

Charlie’s
eyebrows rose as he silently encouraged me to go on.

“I
wanted to end things after the third date. We had stopped by his office after
lunch that day. When he introduced me to his colleagues, he referred to me as
his fiancé. As soon as we left his office I demanded to know why. He told me it
was nothing. He claimed that fiancé meant sweetheart in French. He grew up in
some French boarding school, so he primarily speaks French. I thought it was
possible we were applying the label in different ways. Still, it bothered me.
He insisted I was overreacting, but I knew something wasn’t right. I felt like
he was handling me.”

I
took a deep breath and continued. “Despite the red flags, I decided to wait to
end things until after New Year’s Eve, since we already had dinner reservations.
I was shocked when he proposed that night, especially after he had insisted I
read too much into the whole fiancé thing. I refused to accept the ring. I told
him I couldn’t marry him… that I didn’t even
know
him. I told him he was
moving way too fast and that I just wanted to be friends. He cried… like
really
cried.” I honestly didn’t see that one coming.
Who proposes on the fourth
date?

Charlie’s
eyes narrowed. “Let me guess… he wouldn’t take no for an answer?”

I
looked down at the application materials, which were still in my hand. I was a
bit embarrassed to be discussing Michael with my boss; but Charlie was much
more than a boss. He was like a second father to me. I shoved the application
material in a FedEx envelope and pushed through. “I cut the evening short. He
called me repeatedly that night. I talked to him the first few times. He tried
to change my mind, but I stood firm. I gave up justifying my decision after the
third phone call. He said he didn’t want to live without me… that he
wouldn’t
live without me. He begged me to go with him on a trip somewhere…
anywhere.
He thought we just needed time to be together... to work things out. I told him
to stop calling. I told him I didn’t want to see him again. He wouldn’t stop,
so I just let the answering machine pick up. He just kept hanging up and
calling right back. After a while, I began counting how many times he called.
He stopped somewhere around eighty.”

Charlie
said nothing. He simply shook his head.

I
looked back down at my hands. “I thought he had given up for the night, but he
came over to my apartment around midnight and began pounding on the door. He begged
me to let him in. I didn’t know what to do. It was late, but I was so scared I
called Kimme. Her husband, Dan, came over, but by the time Dan got to my place,
Michael was gone. Dan insisted I call the police while he walked the
perimeter.”

My
voice cracked as I recalled what happened next. “After hearing what happened,
the two police officers who came to my house split up. One officer stayed with
me while the other one went to Michael’s apartment. A few minutes later, the
officer who went to see Michael radioed the officer with me. He recommended I
get a restraining order and find someplace else to stay for a few weeks… someplace
Michael didn’t know about. Dan insisted I stay with them. The police officers
followed us the entire way. They said they wanted to make sure we weren’t being
followed. I don’t know what Michael told that cop, but it couldn’t have been
good.” I shivered as I trailed off. “After everything I went through with my
ex-husband, I just can’t be around someone like that. I won’t risk going down
that road again.”

Charlie
pushed off from the door. “Be careful, Kri. I don’t like this guy. New Year’s
Eve was over five weeks ago, and he’s sitting out in that parking lot right now.
That tells me he has no intention of respecting that restraining order. I know
it’s a public parking lot, but what business could he possibly have here? Get
your computer shut down and pack your stuff up. I’m walking you out to your
car.”

I
smiled shakily. “Thanks, Charlie, but I'm going over to the Windbag with Kimme.
We’re having dinner and drinks with Ann and her posse tonight. Dan, Mac, Justin,
Jerry, and Doug will be there. No one’s going to mess with me with all those
guys around.” I shut my computer down and reached for my purse and the FedEx
envelope as I walked around my desk. I gave Charlie a quick hug. “You should
join us.” Charlie never joined us.

“I
can’t. Georgie is cooking something special tonight. I’m going home.” His face
lit up like it always does when he talks about Georgie. He glanced at Kimme as
she joined us in the hall. “Give me a minute to collect my things, and I’ll
walk you ladies out.” He strode into his office.

I
was on edge by the time we left the building. There was no sign of Michael, so Kimme
and I parted ways with Charlie.

Kimme
chatted me up as we drove to the Windbag, but I could tell she was nervous. She
kept looking in her rear view mirror.

I
pretended I didn’t notice.

The
Windbag Saloon was nestled in Helena’s historic Last Chance Gulch. The place
had served as a brothel in the old days. Now, it was one of the best restaurants
in town. I loved the intimacy of the place with its dim lighting, exposed
brick, and weathered wood walls. The Windbag made the best burgers in town, and
they served their Mud Pie drizzled with Bailey’s Irish Cream if you knew enough
to ask for it.

I
waved at the bartender as we walked into the restaurant. The entire gang had
already commandeered a table near the back of the bar. Justin stood and pulled
a chair out for me. Kimme dropped into the chair next to Dan. We didn’t bother
placing an order; it was only a matter of minutes before the waitress brought a
glass of Merlot for Kimme and a Chianti for me.

I
was halfway through my glass of wine when my thoughts returned to the
fellowship application. I had the best friends. I loved the people sitting around
this table.
How could I possibly live any place else?
I did an internal
eye roll. Only one person would be awarded the position from thousands of
applicants.
No way was that going to be me.

*
* * * * *

“It’s
a wrap!” the director shouted. Three cameramen smiled in relief. We had just
finished filming four episodes back to back.

Thank
God.
My head was pounding.
How did I ever let Charlie rope me into hosting this
television show?
Filming was beyond stressful, especially when you were
trying to juggle three different camera views. I knew Aging Horizons was a good
tool for educating and empowering the elderly; and I knew people were watching
the show. Strangers recognized me on the street, and senior citizens were
calling for more information about some of the topics we covered. Still, I
hated being in front of the camera.

I
smiled at the guest speaker I had just finished interviewing. “Thanks for
agreeing to be on the show, Rick. You did a great job capturing the importance
of advance directives and living wills.” We stood and shook hands.

Rick
smiled warmly. “I'm happy to help. Let me know what you decide about hosting a
show on estate planning next month. I can make another appearance or recommend
another attorney for you to interview.”

“Thanks,
Rick. As soon as we firm up our topics for the next few shows, I’ll let you
know. I really appreciate all your help.” I gathered up my things as Rick
turned to leave.

“Hey,
Kri.” Al Marx, the Channel 4 Sports Broadcaster, stood smiling down at me from
the spot where Rick had previously stood.

I
smiled. “Hi, Al. How are you?” I couldn’t help but like Al. He reminded me of a
giant teddy bear… very friendly, always smiling, and kind of cuddly looking. He
was a little goofy, but I suspected he was a lot of fun to hang out with.

“Good.
Good. Hey, I'm covering the basketball game over at Carroll College tonight. Do
you want to go to the game with me and catch a late dinner afterwards?” Al
looked at me a bit sheepishly. A nervous smile hung suspended on his face.

Huh.
I was a little surprised Al was asking me out. I didn’t even realize he knew my
name. Everyone knew his name. How could they not? He was on the local news
every night. I shifted nervously. I didn’t have anything planned for tonight,
which was kind of a rare thing. “Uh, sure.” I cringed as I thought about how
unintelligent that must have sounded. Filming those four shows back to back
must have sucked more brain cells out of my head than I had previously thought.
“Do you want to meet at the game?”

Al
was grinning now. “No. I live over by you, so I’ll swing by and pick you up.”

I
stilled. Very few people knew where I lived. I didn’t want my ex-husband
finding out where my apartment was so I wasn’t exactly advertising my location.
“How do you know where I live?” I asked quietly.

That
sheepish look slid back over Al’s face. “I see you walking your dog on my way
to work.”

I
breathed a small sigh of relief. I could certainly see how that could happen.
“Oh… okay. What time do you want to pick me up?”

Al
smiled. “How about six?” The sheepish look was gone. In fact, Al seemed to be
standing about two inches taller. Was he…
glowing
?

“Six
is fine. See you then.” I smiled at Al as I slipped between him and camera
three on the way out to my jeep. I needed to get my hands on some ibuprofen if
there was to be any hope of dulling my headache before the game.

*
* * * * *

Al
picked me up shortly before six. I had changed into blue jeans, a black knit
sweater, and black boots. He was wearing a gray tweed sports jacket with a
white dress shirt and tie, which he paired with blue jeans and white athletic
shoes. I thought it an eclectic mix of clothes, but he managed to make it work
for him.

As
we backed out of my driveway, Al asked if I followed the teams from Carroll
College. I reluctantly admitted that I didn’t follow their basketball teams... only
the football team. The confession was a tad bit embarrassing considering
Carroll College was my alma mater.

Al
was catching me up to speed with the basketball teams’ long list of
accomplishments when I felt a surge of heat at my core. I felt a moment of
panic as I contemplated whether I had wet my pants. I studied Al with some suspicion.
“Al, do you have… uh… seat warmers?”

He
roared as he slapped the steering wheel. “Yeah. How do you like the heat?”

I
shook my head and grinned.
That sly dog.
I turned toward Al as I settled
into the warm seat. It was already proving to be a very entertaining evening.

*
* * * * *

Al
was a lot of fun to hang out with. I couldn’t imagine a more ideal date for a
basketball game. We went to the Brew House for dinner after the game. We both
ordered wine and Chicken Marsala. The waiter nearly singed his eyebrows when he
set the entrée on fire.

Al
was always hamming it up for the cameras, so I was surprised to learn he wasn’t
goofy all the time. He was really smart, well-traveled, and he knew a lot about
DC. When I told him about the fellowship, he assured me DC wasn’t all bad.
According to Al, some people actually enjoyed living there.

I
walked away from the date with a far better appreciation for Al. I smiled at
him as he pulled his SUV into my parking lot. It was late. Without any street
lights, the parking lot was dark. “I had a nice evening, Al. You’re a lot of
fun to be around.”

“Thanks
for agreeing to go on such short notice. I really enjoyed your company.” Al
returned the smile as he eased his vehicle next to mine. His smile slowly faded.
“Isn’t that your jeep?”

I
turned to look out my window. “Yes. Why?”

There
was a slight edge to his voice. “Did you leave the interior lights on?”

I
shook my head. “I don’t think so.” Looking back at my jeep, I could see the
interior lights were on.
I didn’t turn those on, did I?
It was still
light outside when I parked my jeep. I wouldn’t have had any reason to turn
them on.

“Let’s
check it out,” Al suggested.

My
heart began racing as we stepped out of Al’s vehicle to examine my jeep. I went
to unlock the driver’s side door.

Al
was already on the other side of the jeep. “Hey, Kri? The passenger door is
open.”

I
opened the driver side door, my eyes raking over the interior of the jeep. “My
stereo’s fine.” I looked at Al. “Wouldn’t that be the first thing someone would
steal?” I paused as I dug through the glove box. “My vehicle registration is
gone. Some of my CDs are missing. That’s it.”

Al’s
eyebrows furrowed. “I think we should call the police.”

“Me
too,” I reluctantly agreed.

Al
smiled reassuringly as he eased me toward my apartment. “I’ll stay until they
get here.”

“Thanks,
Al. I’d like that.” I was trying to be brave about it, but I didn’t want to be
by myself when someone had just broken into my vehicle, especially if that
someone was Michael or Tom.

Al
and I walked Cade while we waited for the police to arrive. Al stayed until the
police finished taking my statement. Then he said good night with a hug and a
quick kiss on the cheek.