Cold Hunter's Moon (34 page)
Read Cold Hunter's Moon Online
Authors: K. C. Greenlief
When Lark, Joel, and Molly walked into the Park Falls Country Club, they were greeted by Ann and John. John was smiling from ear to ear. Ann wore a big grin along with a small cast on her arm, a floor-length, dark burgundy velvet skirt and a matching sweater studded with pearls. When she saw Lark, she stepped away from John and embraced him in her best imitation of a one-armed bear hug.
“It's so good to see you,” she said, stepping back to look him over. “How have you been? I haven't seen you for the last two weeks.”
Before he could get a word in edgewise, John came over to shake his hand. “Where the hell have you been? I haven't seen your Jeep around town lately.”
“I went home to see my family over Christmas,” he said, blushing at the attention.
Joel introduced Molly to the Ransons and the five of them were standing around talking and joking about the antics of the Grenfurth children when another group of people came around the corner. Molly and Joel moved into the ballroom after receiving instructions from John
on how to find their table. Before Lark could follow, John pulled him into conversation. They were interrupted when Ann called to them.
on how to find their table. Before Lark could follow, John pulled him into conversation. They were interrupted when Ann called to them.
Lark looked over to see what she wanted and his heart fell to his knees. As she walked over to them, he found himself making a detailed study of the paisley pattern in the carpet.
“Look what blew in from Wausau.”
“Hello, Lark, how are you,” Lacey said, smiling up into his face and reaching out to shake his hand.
“Great, and you?” Lark asked, with just the hint of a smile despite his rapidly beating heart. Lacey was a vision in a long, dark green cut velvet skirt and matching jacket with a black, low-cut lace camisole underneath. Her hair was in masses of curls around her face and hanging down her back.
“Wow, you look fantastic,” John said, giving her a hug and then stepping back to look her over. “In fact, you look almost as good as my wife.”
“He's living proof that love is blind,” Ann said, taking John's arm. She glanced down at her watch and scanned the entrance of the club. “It's past time to start dinner and it looks like no one else is coming. Let's go eat. By the way,” she said over her shoulder to Lark and Lacey, “don't even think about slipping away after dinner. We've got music and dancing planned, although that'll be hobbling for me.” As she walked into the dining room, Lark noticed that John's hand under her elbow provided support; she was still walking with a slight limp.
John led the way to a table for six consisting of the Ransons, Joel and Molly, and Lark and Lacey. Dinner passed in a fog for Lark, seated between Ann and Lacey. Although he made polite conversation with Lacey about the Patterson/Foltz case, the continued bad weather, and the Green Bay Packers, he couldn't bring himself to get into more personal issues. Lacey was also seated next to Joel, who kept up his usual banter with frequent gooses from Molly to watch his mouth. During conversation lulls, Ann kept Lark busy talking about his family.
The lights went down after dinner and the DJ started playing a mix of holiday carols, oldies, rock, and country. In no time, everyone was dancing. Ann only danced about once an hour, claiming that her leg cast made it difficult. While everyone else danced, she had a delightful time talking to the people who stopped by their table. Lark, a very good dancer, found himself having fun, dancing with several women he
knew from Big Oak. Much to his relief, he and Lacey were rarely at the table at the same time.
knew from Big Oak. Much to his relief, he and Lacey were rarely at the table at the same time.
Shortly before eleven, Ann and Lark were talking when Lacey and John came back to the table. When Ann refused to dance to a fast song, Lacey stepped in to dance with John again.
Ann leaned over to Lark so she could be heard over the music. “What's going on with you and Lacey?”
Lark was thankful that the room was dark so Ann couldn't see him blush. “Nothing's going on. Why do you ask?”
“Yeah, right.” Ann snorted. “Nothing's going on. Here's a news flash. You can cut the tension between you two with a knife.”
“Ann, I think you're imagining things,” he said, staring at the dance floor to avoid her eyes. “We worked together on your case. There isn't anything more between us.”
“Excuse me, but that's nothing but pure bullshit.” Ann craned her neck around to look at him, forcing him to look in her eyes.
“You're right, this is bullshit,” he said, exasperated. He picked up his empty beer bottle and attempted to drink out of it. “Shit,” he said, getting up. “Would you like something else to drink?”
“No, and you don't need anything else either.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him back down in his seat. “We're going to finish this conversation.”
“You're way out of line here,” he said, his voice stern. “Despite your good intentions, this isn't any of your business.”
She hesitated, breaking eye contact to watch John and Lacey on the dance floor. She took his hand in both of hers and looked into his eyes. “You're probably right, but I care very much about you and Lacey so I'm making it my business. Since you've seen me nearly naked and almost broken emotionallyâI'll take the risk and wade into this. If I'm wrong, I'm sure you'll forgive me.”
Lark groaned but didn't move away from her.
“At the risk of sounding sappy, we both know how short life can be. Love and happiness are rare commodities, truly to be cherished when you're lucky enough to find them.”
When Lark said nothing, she plunged on. “I'm so sorry that I never had the chance to know your wife. Joel tells me she was remarkable and that the two of you were very much in love.”
“I don't want to talk about this,” he said, staring out at the dance floor.
“Someone that remarkable would not want you to be alone. She would want you to find someone to love and have children with.”
“So you say,” Lark mumbled, looking down at the table.
“I know it,” she said, her hands tensing around his.
When she said nothing more, Lark looked into her eyes and found them sparkling with tears.
“Just hear me out,” she said. “When I was out in the marsh, I nearly gave up on being rescued. I got to the point where I thought I was going to die. I remember looking up at the stars and marveling at how bright they were despite all the snow we were getting.” Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I remember wishing that I could see a falling star so I could make a wish. I know it sounds trite, but you had to be there to understand.”
“I was there,” he said, staring down at her.
She ignored him. “When I didn't see one, I decided to wish anyway.”
Lark, unable to stand her tears, picked up a napkin with his free hand and brushed them away. “Ann, don't put yourself through this.”
She went on as if she didn't notice him. “I wished that if I couldn't live, John would find someone wonderful. Someone he loved madly, who would love him and give him beautiful children. When you love someone as much as I love John, and your wife must have loved you, you want them to be happy. Maria would want you to be happy. Don't let her down.”
She let go of his hand and shoved herself to her feet.
“Are you all right?” he asked, getting up to help her.
“Of course I'm all right. I'm alive and here with people I love. I'm going to the ladies' room to fix my face. Think about what I said. You'll never hear it again. You saved my life a couple of times. Let me return the favor and help you get yours back.” She limped off to the ladies' room just before John and Lacey got back to the table.
“Where's Ann going?” John asked as he set drinks down on the table.
“Powder room,” Lark said, staring at her retreating back.
“Lacey,” John yelled over the music as he headed away from the table. “Make her sit down and relax when she gets back, and for God's sake, don't let her get snapped up to dance with someone else. I want to pull off this surprise.”
“What's he doing?” Lark asked.
“He's crazy, simply crazy.”
“I don't understand.”
“I know,” she said, staring into the dancing crowd, her face sad.
“What's he up to?”
Lacey sighed and looked over at him. “He's requested a couple of love songs he knows she likes to dance to.”
They watched John intercept Ann on her way back to the table. Their conversation was very animated, with Ann pulling him towards her and cupping her ear so she could hear him. She pulled away, laughing, and shook her head coquettishly. John shoved his hands down in his pockets and smiled as he rocked on the balls of his feet and said something to her. She laughed, smacked him playfully on the arm, and then threaded her arm through his as they headed towards the dance floor.
“Would you like to dance?” Lark asked.
“No.” Lacey dug her purse out from under the table and stood up.
“What would you like to do?” he asked, a sinking feeling in his chest.
“I think I'm going to cut out early.” She smiled down at him. “It's been so nice seeing you again.”
“It's much too early to go home,” he said, standing up.
She put her hand on his arm and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “Take care of yourself,” she said, smiling into his eyes. “I hope we get to work together again.”
He stood there stunned, watching her walk away.
“Buddy, you're a fool,” Joel said into his ear as they watched Lacey walk out of the room.
“I know,” Lark said, jamming his hands down in his pockets.
“You know,
you know,
” Joel yelled, jerking him around by the shoulders. “Then what the hell are you doing standing here? This isn't a damn rehearsalâthis is your life. Wake up.” He let go of Lark's jacket and gave him an old-buddy punch in the arm.
you know,
” Joel yelled, jerking him around by the shoulders. “Then what the hell are you doing standing here? This isn't a damn rehearsalâthis is your life. Wake up.” He let go of Lark's jacket and gave him an old-buddy punch in the arm.
“Joel,” Molly cried out, hurrying over from the bar with their drinks. “What the hell are you doing? That's it. I'm giving this drink to someone else. You've had enough.”
“Life support, I'm giving life support,” he said as he watched Lark walk towards the hallway. “And just maybe we've had a successful resuscitation.”
Lark walked around the corner and into an empty hallway. He went into the coatroom, ripped his overcoat from the hanger, and headed for the door, stuffing his arms into it as he went. He got outside and realized he had no idea what kind of car she drove. He charged out into the parking lot, slipping and sliding on the patchy ice. He looked for car lights but didn't see any. After scanning the parking lot for what seemed like hours, he walked back in the coatroom. He took his coat off, but just before hanging it up, put it back on. He realized that his best plan was to find Joel and ask him what kind of car Lacey drove. Deep in thought, he walked into the back of a woman, almost knocking her over.
A muffled expletive drifted up from the hood of the woman's coat. He grabbed her by the shoulders, trying to keep from falling himself as he righted them both.
“I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you all right?” he asked as the person turned around.
You're leaving, too?” Lacey asked, a look of astonishment on her face.
“Yes. I mean, no, I mean ⦔ Lark stammered, so shocked at finding her after he thought she'd left that he was nearly tongue-tied.
“I don't think I've ever seen you speechless,” she said, grinning at him, her face surrounded by the hood from her black coat. “It's not an unpleasant picture.” When he continued to stare at her, saying nothing, she grabbed his arm. “Lark, are you OK? Have you had too much to drink? Do you need a ride home?”
“No, it's not that.” His eyes bored into hers.
“Thank goodness you can still speak. I was wondering if you were having a stroke in your old age. I'd better get on the road.” She headed for the door. “I've got a long drive ahead of me. I was going to stay over with John and Ann but I've decided to go home.”
He followed her outside. “Lacey, why don't you stay over and we can have brunch tomorrow. I'll cook or we can go out.”
Her eyes bored into him. She pulled her hand out of her pocket and laid her palm against his cheek. “I can't. It wouldn't be right.”
“Why not?” he asked, taking her hand and kissing the tips of her fingers.
“Because I want something you don't want.”
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I want what they have,” she said, flipping her head back towards the ballroom. “What John and Ann have. I won't settle for less.”
“I want the same thing,” he said.
She rushed on as if she hadn't heard him, staring down at the hole she was toeing into the snow. “I've been dating an attorney in Wausau. He's out of town visiting his family for the holidays, but he'll be back tomorrow. We've made tentative plans for brunch. I just left a message on his machine that I'll meet him at noon, so I need to get back. Call me if you get to Wausau and we'll have dinner.” She patted his arm and stepped off the curb, her coat swirling around her as she walked out into the parking lot.
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