Tony: Alvarez Security Series (6 page)

A week later,
Sherrie found herself back in her car with nothing in her rear-view mirror but highway. Mr. Marks had called her in and told her that he was forcing her to take a break.

“Listen to an old man, my dear. I’ve buried loved ones before and you need to take some time for yourself. I talked to my wife and we agreed that we’d like you to get away. We’ve got a little cabin that’s less than two hours from here that’s in the mountains. It’s kind of rustic, but we keep it stocked and with a few of your own groceries, you’ll have everything that you need.”

After much protesting on her part and insisting on his, she acquiesced. Her girlfriends had all come by the day after the funeral to check on her but right now seeing them only brought to mind what she did not have. Family. They were all married, some with children.
I love them but right now, I just need to get away.

After packing for a weekend trip, she loaded her car with luggage and some food. Glancing at the gray sky that matched her mood, she put the directions in her GPS and started out. After a while, she gave Jennifer a quick call to let her know where she was going.

“Sherrie, are you crazy? Haven’t you heard the weather reports?” Jennifer asked with concern.

“I haven’t really had the TV on this week,” Sherrie had to admit.

“Honey, there’s a snow storm coming. In fact, it’s heading our way right now and you’re heading for the Blue Ridge Mountains where it’s going to hit before Richland.”

Sherrie sighed, a moment of indecision flitting through her mind. “Jennifer, I’m going on. I just need to get out of town and I’ll be fine. Once I get there, I’ll just sleep and read. That’s all I need right now.”

“Oh, honey. Please be careful. I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be. It’s not like I’ll be out in the weather. I’ll be snug in a cabin and can just weather the storm.” Giving a snort, she added, “Kind of like I’ve been doing my whole life.”

“Sherrie, just make sure to take care of yourself, let me hear from you, and stay warm. And when you get back, we’ll talk.”

She smiled. Jennifer was a social worker who worried about everybody and being her friend was comforting as well as fun. “Fine, as soon as I get back, we’ll get together.”

With goodbyes and promises to be careful, they hung up. Sherrie leaned forward looking at the darkening sky. Glancing back to the GPS, she should only have thirty more minutes to drive. Flipping on the radio to distract her, she found a country station and listened to songs of lost loves and found loves. Her mind, as always, went back to Tony as she tried to accept that he fell into the ‘I’ll never have love’ category.

*

As soon as
Jennifer hung up the phone with Sherrie, she called Gabe.

“Hey gorgeous,” he answered.

“Honey, I’m sorry to bother you at work, but it’s about Sherrie.”

“What about Sherrie? Is she all right?” he asked, glancing up at his co-workers, his gaze focusing on Tony whose attention was riveted on him. “Hang on, babe. I’m putting you on speaker.”

“I don’t know that I should be worried, but she’s been so quiet this past week. I know that’s normal, but I couldn’t get her to talk about her feelings, or her grief, or her sister at all. Now her boss has offered her his cabin in the mountains as a retreat to get away from it all for a bit.”

Gabe, a confused look on his face, said, “Babe, I think that sounds good. It may be just what she needs.”

“Honey, she’s going there now. Right now. She hadn’t listened to the news or weather and I told her a huge snow storm was coming but she went anyway. What if her electricity goes out? Or she’s stuck there for a week?”

Tony’s voice cut in. “Where’s the cabin?”

“I don’t know. She said it belonged to her boss, Mr. Marks. Should I try to call him?”

Tony’s eyes cut over to Lily, his computer guru, and understanding his look she immediately began to search.

“Hang on, baby. Lily’s checking,” Gabe said. “How did she sound?”

Jennifer sighed. “It’s been two weeks since Charisse died and I know that Sherrie is grieving. I wished she would talk to me, but I get the feeling that she feels like none of us would understand. Or that she feels like she’s a bother to us. Nothing could be further from the truth, but she has been on her own for so long I don’t think she knows how to open up. I checked with Suzanne and she said the same.”

At the mention of his wife’s name, BJ nodded. “Yeah, Suzy says that Sherrie has just pulled back into herself.”

“Got it,” Lily announced, having located the cabin’s address.

Tony was already standing as Lily jotted it down. “Jennifer, don’t worry. I’m heading out now,” he replied. He left the conference room to grab some items from his office, while Gabe finished the conversation with his wife.

As Tony walked back in, he saw the eyes of his brothers-in-arms staring at him. A man of action, he was not used to needing to explain. “I…I—”

Gabe stood, followed by Vinny and Jobe. “No need to explain, sir. She needs your help. Whatever you need from us, you have.”

Tony nodded curtly then turned to walk out of the door. He stopped, his back still to his group. Hesitating. Turning back around slowly he looked at his men, his employees…his friends. “This…she’s…more than a mission,” he finally admitted. Both to them and to himself.

The group smiled in unison. “Yes, sir,” Gabe said. “You need us, you just let us know.”

*

Tony ran to
his apartment to grab some cold-weather gear. He kept his SUV loaded in the wintertime with the necessary items, but he quickly grabbed some warm clothes and made sure his apartment was secure before heading out. Punching in the address in his GPS, he pulled onto the highway heading out of town.

What the hell was she thinking, driving to the mountains with a snow storm coming?
He thought of her usual dress…pencil skirts and heels.
She probably doesn’t own a pair of snow boots.
The idea of her getting stuck in snow before arriving at the cabin had him in knots.

Listening to country music on the radio, he wondered when she became more than a mission. Was it when he rescued her the first time and saw not only gratitude but a sadness hidden deep inside those blue eyes. Or was it when she called him by mistake when she was trying to help Jennifer and it just so happened that his number was the first one on her call list?

Maybe there was not a certain moment, but a combination of lots of little moments over the past year. The way she jumped in to help others, regardless of the safety to herself. The way she had tried for years to pull her sister’s ass out of the fire. Even the way she looked at him when she thought he was not looking. He knew that look. Longing. Wanting. Hoping.

It was the same look he gave her, but for a year was determined to not give in to those desires.
What about Marla? What about taking chances and loss?
Rubbing the back of his neck in frustration, he suddenly realized the snow was beginning to fall. He had tried twice to call Sherrie’s number but it had gone straight to voice mail. Glancing at the GPS, it looked like he could be there in about forty minutes…as long as the storm cooperated.

*

With the snow
making the road hard to see, Sherrie had to admit that perhaps Jennifer was right. She could no longer see the lines of the small two lane that was leading her higher.
Thank God for GPS,
she thought as she pulled off the road onto a gravel lane that winded around through the trees.
Oh, Jesus. I hope it’s here soon.

Finally coming into a clearing that was already filling with snow, she pulled up to the front of a little cabin. The storm had snow falling so hard and fast that she could not get a good look at the cabin’s exterior but decided that she did not care how rustic it was.
Warm, dry, and no critters…that’ll be perfect.

She got out of the car and quickly pulled her suitcase and the bags of groceries out of the trunk. It was cumbersome, but she did not want to make another trip back to the car. Awkwardly making her way to the front steps, she finally reached the porch. Once under the porch roof, she looked back, surprised to see that her windshields were already covered with snow. Finding the key, she unlocked the front door and it swung open. She stepped in, trying to maneuver her suitcase in front of her. Tripping, she landed on her knees on top of her luggage, her long blonde hair falling in her face.

Huffing, she pushed herself up trying to move the suitcase while dropping the groceries onto the floor. Kicking the door shut with her foot, she pushed her hair out of her eyes and looked around.

Oh, my. This is perfect
, she thought, heaving a sigh of relief. When Mr. Marks had offered her the vacation cabin, she never questioned him what it would be like. Jennifer had her wondering what she was getting herself into, but this seemed like a dream.

Small and rustic, it still oozed charm. To the left was a long living room with exposed beams in the vaulted ceiling. The room went the full length of the cabin, with sliding doors leading out to the back. A stone fireplace with built-in bookcases took up much of the left wall. An overstuffed sofa sat in front of the fireplace with two worn leather chairs flanking it. Stepping over her suitcase, she moved into the room. The large window at the front porch let in little light with the storm, but she could imagine that in better weather, the morning sun would stream in. The dark wood floors held braided rugs. She flipped a switch on the wall and the lamps sitting on the end tables lit.

Turning, she saw an old wooden dining table and chairs on the opposite side of the front door and a kitchen further back. Walking into the kitchen, she saw that it was old, but gleaming. She imagined the Marks family when their children were little, running through the house and enjoying vacations here.
Vacations. With family.
Having never experienced a vacation, she felt a pang of envy, but pushed it down, determined to have her first vacation even in the middle of a snow storm.

Rounding back out of the kitchen, she moved further and found two doors. The first one opened into a bathroom, not small but not opulent. A single sink, toilet and bathtub, and linen closet were there. She reached over, pleased to see water rushing as she turned the knob. Quickly using the facilities, she eyed the tub longingly.
First thing on my vacation list—a long hot soak.

Moving to the only other door, she found the bedroom. Quaint, with a queen sized bed, night stands, and dresser, she flopped down on the bed for a moment, reveling in the comfort.
Mine. All mine. At least for the weekend.

Getting back up, she quickly put her grocery items into the kitchen and dragged her suitcase into the bedroom.
One bedroom? I guess the Marks’ children must have slept in the living room.
Imagining a cabin in the mountains as a child, she thought that spending the nights on the pull-out sofa or sleeping bags must have been an adventure.

Turning on the water to fill the bathtub, she poured just a little bath oil in before walking back to the living room to look out at her car in the driveway. It was buried in snow but as safe as she knew how to make it. Going back to the bathroom, she stripped and settled into the tub, letting the warmth and aroma of the scented oil soothe her. Slipping in her earplugs, she listened to the melodic sounds of music, taking her to a peaceful place that she had not known in weeks.