Taking Tiffany (21 page)

HE’D LIED TO Jain on their date. He told her he’d been heartbroken before, just like she had been at the time. She’d broken up with Braydon and was hurting. He wanted her to move on past the pain; he needed her to. He loved her like no other and knew there would never be another woman for him. Ever. Then, the unthinkable happened. Braydon won her back, and they were married within months.

He let the cold, dense feeling of hatred for Braydon flow through him as the toxic memories swamped him from all reasonable thought.
Jain was his!
He worked with her every day, with a common goal, a cure for ALS. She was beautiful in her determination.

He’d become an expert at hiding his true feelings, but it started to wear him down. Working with Jain in the lab every day was a combination of heaven and hell. She was so close, but he could never touch. He could make her laugh, but he wanted to cry. They shared almost every emotion, except for love. She loved someone else.
But Braydon didn’t deserve her
. 

He’d been in agony, and it wasn’t getting any better. That was when Deanna approached him. At first, she wanted to know all about his work with Jain and their common goal to find a cure for ALS. As time progressed, the questions started to get more personal. How did he like working with Jain? Did he like Braydon?

Everyone knew about Braydon’s reputation. He used women. He was a playboy and a scoundrel. Why couldn’t Jain see it?
She’s too good for him, so pure
.

Deanna wondered aloud if he would like to put Braydon in his place. She must have seen the light in his eyes when she asked that question. He still remembered her smile. Yes, she had a plan, she’d said. She had her own reasons, which she wouldn’t mention, but it hadn’t mattered at the time. He would do his part which was to make sure no one knew Tiffany had gone missing for a day. Deanna’s job entailed getting the ransom note to Braydon, handling the bank connections, and transferring the money to secure accounts.

But now, Deanna held a gun and threatened Tiffany. He’d done this to himself, he knew that. He’d let love twist him into someone he didn’t recognize. He had nothing left to live for.

He did have one thing, though. One thing he could do.

He would save Tiffany.

Todd

“WE NEED TO get into the house undetected,” Braydon whispered to our group.

“First, let’s try to get an idea which part of the house they’re in. We still don’t know if Erik is alone in there with Tiffany. I don’t want to spook him or anyone else into shooting. Tiffany could get caught in the crossfire.” I didn’t care about myself. If it meant dying to protect her, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

All in agreement, we split up into two groups. The Thompson security team left to canvass the west side of the property, and Braydon and I headed to the east.

I gave a head tilt toward one of the back windows. Both Braydon and I slipped the Colt 45s we were given from the security company into our back waistbands. It felt both odd and reassuring. I was glad my mom had insisted I learn how to handle and shoot a gun when I was younger. Though I hadn’t been to the range in years, I hoped it was like riding a bike, because Tiffany’s life might depend on it.

“I thought I saw movement in the smaller back window, east side.” Braydon motioned with his head.

Some surrounding shrubs provided a shield from the house. Crouching, we made the path through the dense foliage while keeping out of sight.      

Once we were within a hundred feet, I dared a glance at the window again and almost doubled over with relief. It was Tiffany. She was alive. I bent over and took a few deep breaths. Sweat poured down my face and made little plopping noises when they landed on the dark green leaves of the azalea bush.

“You okay?” Braydon asked.

“Just catching my breath. Did you see Tiffany? She’s okay. I saw her.” I must look a mess. “I’m not falling apart. Don’t worry. I’m good. Let’s go get her.”

We approached the back window slowly. I’d only seen Tiffany, but that didn’t mean she was alone. We were close enough to see the inside door flung open and a woman with a gun pointed at Tiffany.
What the hell?
Tiffany stiffened and, with her shoulders back, she followed the woman out the door.

“We’ll need to circle around to the front of the house. We’ll be able to see what they’re up to from the bushes that surround the picture window,” I whispered to Braydon.

***

Tiffany
 

WITH FEAR AND dread, I looked into the cold, hard eyes of hatred. Deanna Collier, my second mom all through high school, motioned me into the living room with her gun. When had she changed? As a single parent, she always appeared to keep it together. She seemed to revel in her soccer-mom life, always wrapped up in every aspect of Fletcher’s upbringing. Now, looking back, maybe she’d been too involved.

I glanced over her shoulder at Erik. He put his finger to his mouth, warning me to remain quiet. He didn’t know I’d heard everything. I gave him a slight nod. I wanted to communicate that, no matter what happened, I wouldn’t blame him. He wasn’t innocent in this, but he certainly didn’t want to hurt me.

“You don’t have anything to say for yourself?” she taunted.

I shook my head. I didn’t want to say anything to inflame her. The gun was pointed at me, and Erik was too far away from her to grab it. He slowly inched his way toward me.

“You should have taken the second chance I offered you at Jain’s baby shower.” Her expression was sour, like she’d eaten something tart. “Instead, you chose Todd Jameson. He has more money than Fletcher; was that it?” she asked.

“No!” I blurted out. 
Damn. I needed to keep my mouth shut.

With narrowed eyes and a tic in her right cheek, she challenged, “Fletcher wasn’t good enough for you?” as she pointed the gun at my chest.

She was looking for an excuse to shoot me. Erik kept edging closer.

Waves of hatred washed over her expression. “I won’t have to listen to your mom brag about you anymore.”

When her finger moved to the trigger, a series of blurred actions seemed to happen in slow motion. First, a loud shot blasted as the gun fired. At the same instant, Erik yelled, "No!" and dove at me in a rolling tackle that sent us both flying to the floor. I landed on top of him and looked up in time to see glass raining down on me as the picture window exploded into shards of glass that spread around the room. Familiar wavy, brown hair followed the crash with a tumble and somersault through the broken window.

Todd
.  

He jumped up, raised his gun toward Deanna, and ordered, “Stop!”

 Deanna lifted her arm and aimed for Todd.

No!
I began to get up but I heard another loud boom. I ducked in an attempt to avoid more gunfire. When I braced my hands on Erik’s chest to move, they landed in a sticky pool of blood.

Adrenalin pulsed through me like a runaway train.
Oh, Erik!
His eyes were hazy and unfocused. “Braydon!” I yelled. “Erik needs help!”

My eyes darted around the room frantically searching for Todd. 

“Stay down for a minute,” Braydon had crawled over to me, his gun still up, as he scanned the room.

Two more men I recognized from my dad’s home security came through the broken window with guns drawn.

“You help Erik, I need to find Todd,” I said.

“No!” he shouted. “You stay here.” Braydon reached over and took a tight hold of my arm. I ripped out of his grasp and went in the direction Todd had gone as fast as I could.

Braydon yelled, “Mason! Back up Tiffany.”

I ran into the kitchen as Todd finished restraining Deanna to a chair. He stopped when he saw me, blinked a few times, “Thank God” whooshed from him.

“Todd! You’re okay.” Relief and gratitude rushed through me and relaxed my tightened muscles, but every inch of me seemed to turn to jello instead. 
Don't pass out now!
 My legs started to fold right before Todd grabbed and held me close, keeping me upright. He rubbed my back and said over and over, "I thought I'd lost you."

He stepped back and placed his hands on each side of my face, examining me and asked, "are you okay?" while kissing every available surface.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the living room. "I'm okay, but Erik's been shot! We have to go now.”

Todd turned to Mason, one of my dad's security men, and asked, "Can you keep an eye on Mrs. Collier? If she tries to escape, shoot her."

He turned back to me. “I called 911 before we entered the house. The police and ambulance should be here soon.”

"He saved my life, Todd."  My lips trembled.

“Let’s go!” He put his arm around me and rushed back to living room. Erik was still on the ground while Braydon leaned over him pressing a blanket over his wound.

“Is he going to be okay?” My heart sank. Tears stung my eyes, and I couldn't seem to catch my breath. He didn't look good.

A loud pounding came from the front door. “That’s probably the police. I need to get it.” Braydon said and gestured to the blanket. “Hold this down firmly to apply pressure. It’s all we can do until help arrives.”

I welcomed any way to help. I took Braydon’s place and applied as much pressure on Erik's wound as I could. Todd leaned over and assisted with the compression. He asked, "Are you all right? You look pale. I can take this."

"No!" I said through my tears. "I promise, I can do this." I wouldn't let Erik down after he'd taken a bullet for me. 

Still cautious, Braydon stooped and rushed through the room, weaving around the furniture. He straightened and looked through the peephole before opening the door. Jain came through first and threw her arms around Braydon, letting out a sigh of pure joy. “Thank God in heaven!” she cried. 

My dad came through next, took one look at me, bent over and placed his hands on his knees. His breathing sounded erratic.

“Dad. I'm not hurt.” I assured him.

He stood, took one look at Todd and said, "You kept your promise." Todd gave him a quick nod and continued to help me apply pressure to Erik's wound. There was so much blood!

Jain stiffened when her eyes locked on Erik's limp, pale body. “Oh, no, what happened? Is he …”

Panic washed over me at her reaction. I continued to apply pressure to his wound, but I couldn’t pretend he was okay and I couldn’t hide my fear. “He never intended to hurt me, Jain. He saved my life. It was Deanna Collier. She tried to kill me and she hurt…she hurt.” I couldn’t finish, my body wracked with my sobs. “…please, can you do something for him?”

Jain walked toward us tentatively, as if she was afraid of what she’d see. As her eyes welled with tears, she sat carefully next to Erik and took his hand.

Erik

THE BULLET HIT the right ventricle chamber in my heart, just below the atrium. I knew what would happen next. I would bleed out before the ambulance arrived. Not able to move, I heard shouting, and then heavy pressure on my wound as someone put a cloth over it. I wanted to tell them not to bother—it wouldn’t work. I’d be dead before they loaded me into the ambulance.

Thank you, Erik. Thank you for saving Tiffany.

Was that…Jain?  I couldn’t open my eyes, but I felt a hand in mine. It
was
her. I tried to speak. I wanted to tell her I was sorry. I’d let her down. She’d have to finish our research on her own, without me.

 She spoke into my ear, “Don’t worry, Erik. I’ll find the cure. I promise.” Was she crying?

Don’t cry, Jain.

“You saved Tiffany’s life.” She squeezed my hand, and I felt at peace. I would miss her so much, but I wasn’t alone. I could go, knowing Jain forgave me. All the hatred flowed out of my body and was replaced with the pure, white light of love.

Todd

 
Two months later

THE COMFORTING SMELL of old books and leather filled my nose. I hoped the warm and soothing atmosphere of the Thompson library would quell my nerves.

“You wanted to ask me something?” Tiffany’s dad asked.

I swallowed, but my mouth went dry. I felt close to choking.

“Yes. I did, Mr. Thompson.”

“After everything we’ve been through, after you saved my daughter’s life, you still won’t call me Jerry?” He grinned.

“Yes. I’ll call you Jerry after today.”

“What happens today?”

“Today is when I collect my debt.”

“Your debt?” he asked

“Do you remember when you told me, if I brought Tiffany back to you, I could have anything I wanted?”

Confusion lined his face until it dawned on him, then his smile reappeared, larger than ever. “I couldn’t ask for a better son.”

I’d expected a little tussle, maybe a few more hoops, but his immediate approval meant more to me than I could have imagined. My throat tightened again. This time it wasn’t from nerves.

“Does Tiffany know?” he asked.

“She will in a few minutes.” I tapped the little box in my right coat pocket. I couldn’t wait to officially make her mine.

I turned to leave.

“Oh, and Todd?”

“Yes, Jerry?”

“You can call me Dad.” He chuckled and added, “One more thing. I want grandchildren, lots of them.” He gave me a push out the door. “Go get your girl,” he commanded.

That was an order I wouldn’t refuse.

***

  Angela

Two months later

IVY’S LITTLE FACE shone bright with welcome. I put my suitcase on the bed in our little hut. I’d been gone for two months, getting my life squared away. I wouldn't be returning back to the States, at least not anytime soon. My life was here now, with Ivy and my new family.

I sat on the worn quilt and pulled Ivy onto my lap. “I’ve missed you so much!”

She put her arms around my neck and began to cry.

“I promise, Ivy, I won’t leave again. I’m making it legal, like I told you. I’ll be your mom for real.”

“For real?” she repeated.

“Yes. That’s why I’ve been gone, you know. It’s the only reason I left.”

I would have taken her, but it would have taken longer to get her a passport than to get the adoption. I’d expected more obstacles—but, with the help of an attorney friend of Dottie’s, they had it almost complete. Once the adoption finalized, I could schedule her operation.

Ivy’s life began so poorly, I was determined to make the rest of it as normal as possible. We would remain here, at the orphanage. I’d started my journey in Romania empty. But the beauty of this place captured me, giving me the faith and the roots I needed, but never had. All my happiness was tied here—Dottie, Jerome, and all of the children. I would give back instead of taking. My life’s journey would mean something, and I knew it would as long as I remained here.

I spent the better part of my two months back home making amends to the people I’d hurt—high school friends, college friends, acquaintances. They were all surprised, but none more than Tiffany. I contacted her first to clear the way to Braydon and Jain. I’d treated them—especially Braydon—horribly. I didn’t expect their forgiveness, but they both deserved an apology at the very least.

It took two hours and many pictures of the orphanage and Ivy to convince Tiffany I didn’t have an ulterior motives to meet with Braydon and Jain. She remembered the old Angela, the young girl who wasn’t filled with selfish pride. Finally, she said she’d try to arrange a meeting.

Both Jain and Braydon were tight-lipped when I entered the café where they agreed to meet me. I walked in and sat across from them.

“There’s no excuse I can give you. All I can say is, I’m profoundly sorry,” I started.

“Tiffany feels you’ve changed. It’s hard for me to believe. This cruelty of yours has run long and deep,” Braydon responded.

“You’re right.” I told him. “I’ve done some awful things. I plan to spend the rest of my life making up for it.”

Jain asked, “What prompted your change?”

Only one word came to mind. “Ivy.” Actually a second. “And Stefan,” I added. Pure and simple love changed me.

I told them all about life in Romania, how I was supposed to teach the children, but they’d ended up teaching me. Life didn’t need to be complicated. At first, I explained, I had been confused. How could these children be happy with so little? I’d always believed in the “more is better” philosophy. But I’d learned that more just meant more. It didn’t bring peace, or joy, or happiness.

I also expressed my admiration for them. Against all odds, they’d found their way back to each other. I felt a pang of guilt when I talked about it.

My mind wandered back to Stefan again. I needed to practice what I preached.

Forgiveness.

I apologized again, and they wished me well. I accomplished what I’d set out to do. The burdens from my past lifted from me, leaving me with a lightness and a clarity. I knew what I would do.

Stefan either called or texted me every day since I left. I hadn’t responded yet. At first, they were messages that asked forgiveness. He felt bad for thinking I was capable of putting Tiffany’s life at risk. I thought I could forgive him for that. He occupied a front row seat when I’d first arrived to Rau Sadelui. Upon reflection, I couldn’t totally blame him for his knee-jerk reaction. But, I’d been a different person when I arrived. The hard part for me was knowing it might happen again down the road. If something went wrong, would he always doubt me? If I forgave him, could I forget? Could he forget? That was the question I’d struggled with during my two months away.

He didn’t make it easy to forget him, though. He tried to contact me by phone for a week. Then the text messages began. At first, I couldn’t figure them out. But after the fifth one, it dawned on me. He used passages from the book he’d given me as a gift. Quotes from Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy came every day without fail. With each message, my heart started to thaw, and a smile would form on my lips. Stefan would change a few words around to suit him, but the meanings in each quote were clear.

“Till this moment I never knew myself”

“I am heartily ashamed of myself, Angela”

“He felt depressed beyond anything he had ever known before”

“It is wonderful, for almost all his actions may be traced to pride;-and pride has often been his best friend”

“Dearest, loveliest Angela. By you, I was properly humbled”

"What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous”

“How hard it is in some cases to be believed! And how impossible in others!”

The past couple weeks, the same messages came through, but the tone was different.

“In vain, I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will no longer be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you”

The last one:

“I love you. Most ardently”

***
 

I WOULD SEE Stefan today. The doubts were gone. If he still questioned my integrity, so be it. I’d prove him wrong. Every single day
.

Ivy left to eat lunch in the cafeteria with her friends, so I remained seated on my bed and waited, not so patiently, for him to arrive. After a few minutes of tapping my feet and fidgeting with the buttons on my shirt, a strong knock sounded on my door.

This was it.

I opened the door, and, sure enough, Stefan stood there, looking even more glorious than I remembered.
Studying him, I noticed the tightness of his jaw, now covered with dark stubble. His wavy, black hair looked as if he’d been rubbing it, perhaps from worry, making it stick out at all angles.

He cocked his head to the side, and those beautiful, blue eyes of his bored into mine,
searching, looking for signs of rejection.

What drew my eye, though, was what he held in his hand. I recognized the wildflowers from the east field. He must have picked them from where the foundation was laid for the little home I’d soon share with Ivy.  But those flowers, with their vibrant shades of red, blue, purple, and yellow, had been grasped in his hands for a while. The outer bunch had given up the fight and pitched over the side, covering his hand and wrist.

Stefan wouldn’t give up, though, and neither would I.

Should I make him suffer a little more?
 

I realized the good, stubborn part of me was alive and well. I lifted an eyebrow and said, “That’s as good as you can do?” as I looked at the wilted flowers.

He examined me, my smile and body language. I was right; he did know me better than anyone. A relieved smile formed on his perfectly shaped lips, the ones I was about to kiss. Passionately.

“Yes,” he answered with a grin.

My soul completed its final hurdle.

Forgiveness.

“Well, they’re good enough for me.”

He stepped into the hut, throwing the flowers on the small dresser. Cupping my face in his two strong hands, he brushed his lips over mine and whispered, “Welcome home.”

And there it was. He was right.

I was home.

***

Tiffany

Two Years Later

“I’M BLISSFULLY IN love with you, you know that?” Todd spoke softly in my ear.

 “Mmm hummm. Now let me sleep.” It wasn’t a request.

 We were in our huge, oversized king bed, with the comforters, silk sheets, and pillows in disarray. A deep chuckle emanated from Todd.

“They say romance never dies.” He poked me in my side.

I flipped over and knocked him onto his back, surprising him. I grabbed his wrists and pinned them next to his sides. “You want romance?” I asked. “Now?”

“Yeah.” His grin took up most of his face.

“We’ve had two hours sleep!”

“Coffee?” he asked. “You know, Mrs. Jameson, I’d do anything for you.”

Ever since we married, almost two years now, he’d taken to calling me by my married name.

 “Lucy will think her mom’s name is Mrs. Jameson if you keep that up.” I tightened my hold on his wrists.

“Speaking of Lucy, I think I heard her ask for a little brother or sister.”

“Todd.”

“Yes?”

“A six-month-old baby can’t speak. Also…really? You’re thinking about another baby so soon?”

“Not now, of course, but someday.” He sighed. “I just love her so much.”

Lucy had Todd wrapped around her finger from the moment she was born. When they were together, the bond between them was unmistakable. He spent his days holding, tickling and laughing with her. She was a daddy’s girl, through and through.

I released him and flipped onto my back. We held hands while we both looked at the ceiling.

“I can’t believe it’s two years ago today,” I said. Todd and I liked to hang out and talk for at least an hour before we started our day. Today was no different.  “I still feel bad about Erik.”

Todd turned toward me and smoothed the hair from my face. “I’ll always be grateful to him for saving you. His last act on earth was a brave one. His life wasn’t wasted.”

I scooted closer to him. “You saved me, too.”

“How’s that?” he asked.

“Well, from Deanna, for one,” I sighed.

“I have no sympathy for her. No prison sentence will be long enough as far as I’m concerned.” He paused. “I wonder if they’ll ever be able to prove Fletcher helped his mom with the kidnapping plot.”

“I doubt it, if he was involved, they buried it deep. Deanna swears he had nothing to do with her scheme.” 

“I don’t want to think about him today.” He wrapped his arm around me and asked, “What else did I save you from?”

“You know, from a life of loneliness and cats.”

“We have two cats,” he reminded me.

I put my head on his shoulder. “I meant the combination. I love George and Bailey, but it wouldn’t be the same if I were lonely.”

“I know what you mean.” He placed a gentle kiss on my lips and said, “I didn’t know it could be this good.”

I lifted my eyes and looked into his. My heart thumped in my chest.
How did I get so lucky?

“I love our life together. I couldn’t be happier.” His lips met mine again, this time, the kiss sizzled and sent sparks right to my toes. He gently pushed me onto my back and covered my body with his. Kissing me again, he threaded his fingers with mine and lifted them above my head and grinned. “You’re all mine,” he said.