Willow (12 page)

“I don’t know but we will find out.”

We didn’t have time to discuss anything further as the bell rang. When we got up to leave it felt different between us, deeper, and in that depth, I felt lighter. It was as if sharing a secret had lifted a burden and brought us closer. As we were about to part ways, I whispered in his ear, “Thank you Reece.”

He paused and looked down at me and drew me in for a hug. In that moment, in the warmth and safety of one another, we felt what words couldn’t say.

Chapter 16

Amber had been very sick but she was recovering. She was at home recuperating when Tavia and I stopped by with flowers, movies and cupcakes. Amber lit up when we entered the room. I bent down to hug her and ended up climbing in bed with her where we interlocked our arms. Tavia looked down at us, smiling tenderly.

“I have something for you Amber,” she said, extending a small box.

“Tavia!” she cried. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Girl, just open it,” Tavia laughed.

We watched as Amber opened the small white box to find a smaller gray box inside. When she opened it we gasped as light reflected off the pretty charm, which was shaped like an Eagle.

“To add to your bracelet,” Tavia said. “Consider it an early Christmas present.”

“Thank you!” Amber exclaimed.

“You see things more clearly than a lot of us do, hence the Eagle,” Tavia explained.

I attached the charm for her and then we all gathered on the bed, gossiped, and playfully argued over what movie to watch. A few hours later, while Tavia and I were preparing to leave, Amber reached out to me.

“It’s true,” she whispered. “What Reece said is true. He told me he talked to you.”

Surprised, I hesitated. “What...does everyone know but me?” 

Amber looked from me to Tavia and cleared her throat.

“Tavia, would you mind waiting in the living room for a minute?”

Tavia raised her hands and said “No problem.” Turning to me she said, “See you in a bit. I’m going to go say hi to Miss Stacey.”

Sensing the seriousness of Amber’s request Tavia closed the door behind her. In the silence that followed I could see that Amber looked uncomfortable so I adjusted a pillow behind her head and sat down next to her.

“We were scared for you,” she began. “We didn’t know who had you. Reece was afraid to stop too suddenly, not knowing what was taking place in the bed of his truck. I kid you not Willow, we saw what they really are. We saw them fight. Lacey ripped that man, the one they called Justin, to pieces! I couldn’t stand to watch. Reece was holding me and I just wanted it to stop. A motorcycle drove up behind us. The driver tapped his lights. Reece was sweating by then and put his head on the steering wheel but he was still holding me. For once I didn’t know what to say to him…”

Amber’s voice trailed off briefly as she readjusted herself in her bed. “Lacey ran up to our window and she looked monstrous, but at least she looked human. She was naked. I was so scared of her! She asked if we were alright. Reece said he wanted to know where you were. She said we could follow her dad home and that you would be there.”

“Her dad?” I asked.

“Levi,” Amber said.

It was too weird. Levi didn’t look old enough to be Lacey’s father.

“What about the blonde she was with earlier?”

Amber motioned to her water bottle and after I handed it to her she took a sip, and then another.

“He came for her and they were going to dispose of Justin’s body.”

I stayed quiet, knowing Amber had more to tell.

“While we were following Levi, Reece and I didn’t talk about what happened. I have never seen him so concentrated before. Believe it or not, I was afraid to talk to him. I was afraid of
many things
that night...”

“I’m glad you came for me,” I said. I reached for Amber’s hand and held it.

“I know it happened but sometimes it doesn’t feel real at all,” I added. “What do you suppose happened to the one they called Darius? He seemed to be the leader.”

“I don’t know…” Amber murmured. “They said he was taken care of, whatever that means. Willow…there must be a reason for your involvement.”

“Me...But I haven’t done anything!” I stated with alarm.

“I know…none of this makes any sense.”

Amber looked down at the water bottle in her hands and sighed.

I looked at her, so frail, so sweet, and wondered how someone like her could be so calm about everything that had happened. I thought of Haven and what he had said the last time we were together. Then the image of Lacey fighting on top of Reece’s truck came into vision. That beautiful girl was a killer and her father didn’t look much older than her. What about Lauren? She was his sister but she was old enough to be everyone’s grandmother. It was too much, too implausible. I didn’t want any of it to be true, I just wanted things to go back to the way they were.

Chapter 17

Thanksgiving fell on an unusually warm day and I helped Anne as she carefully packed the dishes we were bringing over to the Anderson’s. On the kitchen nook facing the bay window we set out two picnic totes. I had baked fresh white bread and assembled a holiday tin filled with homemade cranberry biscotti, brownies and butter cookies. Anne, with a tip from Reece, made candied yams - one of Jericho’s favorites. After putting the dish carefully in the bottom of her tote, she asked me to see to Pandora. Panda usually stayed inside but since it was unusually warm, Anne saw no problem with leaving her in the back yard. After shaking out her blanket and putting it back in her dog house, I sat down on the back step and played with her for a few minutes. It was Thanksgiving, I had no right to feel sad, and yet, I was. Pandora sensed the melancholy and was gentler than usual.

“You read me very well...don’t you girl?”

She looked at me and I believed we were seeing the same thing.

“Remember last Thanksgiving? Who would have known that it would be our last one with dad? I can still see him cooking in the kitchen. He was wearing a red flannel shirt and he was making a pie. He had decorated the table…for just the two of us,” I smiled in poignant remembrance. “And you of course.”

Pandora dropped the Frisbee and licked my hand.

“Did we make use of the time we had? He was so healthy, so young. I should have been more of a daughter. I should have been with him when he died…”

My voice seemed to catch in my throat. I swallowed and tried to keep from crying.

“It isn’t fair. He should be here,” I mourned.

“Didn’t you know,” an unknown voice announced from a short distance. ”In life there are no guarantees.”

Startled, I stood quickly and looked for the source of the voice until I saw him…the fair hair, the youthful face. He was standing by the side of Anne’s house. I knew him, or rather, I recognized him. He was the same young man who had been at the bonfire with Lacey.

Seeing my bewilderment he attempted a smile. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was walking and heard you. I’m Tristan.”

I frowned. “And I’m leaving…”

“Don’t be like that,” he said, drawing a growl from Pandora.

“I think you’re rude,” I chastised. “You shouldn’t spy on people.”

I opened the door and ushered Pandora inside.

“I live nearby,” he gestured to the south of Anne’s house. “I guess you can say we’re neighbors, and we have seen each other before.” He smiled again.

“Goodbye,” I muttered as I hurried inside. I couldn’t get away from him fast enough. My heart was pounding. I felt as though I had spilled secrets to a stranger, and unwillingly at that.

“You look beautiful Anne,” Jericho said as he took in the sight of my beautiful and elegantly dressed Aunt. She was radiant in a simple black turtleneck and colorful scarf. Her hair was down and curled in soft, auburn waves. She accepted his kiss on her cheek and motioned for me to set my tote on the table but Reece took it from me before I could. I smiled at the sight of him. He was wearing black and looked like he had put some extra effort into his appearance. He pulled out the bread and spotted the tin. He removed the lid and peeked inside. “What’s this?” He asked as he pulled out a brownie.

“Now these…these are my favorite,” he said before taking a bite.

“I thought you might like them,” I said reaching for one myself.

“I do,” he agreed as he winked at me.

While Jericho and Anne busied themselves in the kitchen I looked around the Andersons place. I could feel Reece watching me as I admired the cozy log cabin. It was a great room with the living room, kitchen and dining room combined. There were stairs leading into a loft and mismatched pieces of furniture but nothing looked cheap or out of place. I was drawn to the mantle above the fireplace where there were several photographs in various sizes. Always one to be drawn to photographs, I turned to smile at Reece as I saw him much younger and sitting on a pony. Reece smiled wide enough that I could see his straight, even teeth. He shook his head and looked down shyly. The next photo was one of Jericho, Rebecca and Reece. They were sitting in a field with the sun setting behind them. Rebecca was holding Reece while Jericho held her. Rebecca had shoulder length hair the same color as Reece’s. I turned once more to look at him. He was looking at me too, thoughtfully this time.

“I like your place,” I told him.

He shrugged but lit up as something crossed his mind.

“Come with me,” he suggested. “I want to show you something.”

I followed him outside and we walked around the house to a gravel trail that led down an embankment to a modest barn made from logs. Behind it he pointed to a small brown pony. “Buttercup,” he introduced. “You know, after dad’s favorite candy.”

I laughed. “She’s so cute!”

Hearing me, the pony came up to me. “Friendly too!”

“I thought you’d like her. She’s old but she’s sweet.”

He patted her through the wooden fence before turning until his back was resting against it. He bent his head against the breeze and I could feel the penetrating silence take over as he studied me.

“Did I ever tell you that I think you’re beautiful?” He asked while I stroked Buttercup’s head.

I blushed and shook my head. “Beauty is subjective isn’t it?”

I said it as more of a statement than a question. Without looking at Reece I continued to gaze at the pony.

“Kind of like Buttercup…When you first see her you wouldn’t think she’s beautiful but because she’s so friendly, you wonder why you didn’t see it before.”

“I don’t have to wonder with you,” Reece stated, momentarily taking my breath away.

I was leaning against the fence and rested my chin on my arms and looked into the field.

“The way I see it, beauty is mystery - that special something or someone that arouses interest and holds it.”

“Aroused?” He prompted. “Interesting choice of words.”

Without meaning to, I smiled. When I realized what I had done, I laughed out loud and buried my face in my arms.

Reece stood upright and placed his hands on my shoulder, turning me to face him. I froze as he cupped my face. His hands were strong but gentle on my skin. He looked at me with warm, green eyes and I gazed back.

Time seemed to stand still as Reece leaned towards me. The breeze blew his hair across his forehead and he closed his eyes as his mouth descended upon mine. Gently and sweetly I began to respond as our connection caused my emotions to flare. I raised my hands until I was holding his arms. I could feel his fingers grip me tighter and his mouth, searching my own, became hungrier.

My body responded to his and confusion raced through my thoughts. The wind blew around us and whipped my hair and pushed me further into Reece who responded by holding me tight, and on the wind I caught the scent of snow. I opened my eyes and pulled back from Reece.  I touched my lips where I could still taste him and then I turned and ran back to the house hearing nothing but my name on his lips.

We sat through the meal in silence but my face burned as I could feel him scrutinizing me. I looked up to see that this was not lost on Jericho and Anne but they were polite about it and mostly paid attention to each other. Their attraction was mutual, natural and effortless.

“Willow,” Anne called, breaking through my thoughts. “Reece asked you a question.”

I looked up from my plate in surprise.

“Oh…excuse me,” I said lamely. I turned to Reece. “What were you asking?”

He stifled a chuckle.

“I was wondering if you wanted to go Christmas shopping with me on Saturday.”

I looked over at Anne to see her nod in consent.

“Sure, what time?” 

On the way home Anne could barely contain her glow. I was happy for her and frustrated with myself. My thoughts all through dinner and even now kept returning to Reece. Glancing over at me Anne reached to turn the music down.

“What happened to your handsome gentleman friend?”

“Huh?” I asked. “We just had dinner with him.”

She didn’t mean Reece.

I had inadvertently given away who I was thinking of.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I haven’t seen him in a while.”

As little as Haven and I knew one another, too much was left unsaid or unexplained, which seemed to be the basis of the confusion I felt.

“Oh,” she replied. “What about Reece? You two seem pretty close.”

“We’re friends,” I said vaguely. “I’m not official with anyone.” I decided to change the subject.

“Are you and Jericho going on a date Saturday night?”

Anne smiled in response and we talked about him the rest of the way home, which relieved me. If only my feelings towards men could be as certain as hers were regarding Jericho.