CHAPTER THREE
Derek studied the beautiful woman sitting across from him, instantly registering her discomfort and something else…could it be fear?
When he’d arrived in town and spent the first night in his father’s hospital room, it had been Tessa who’d woken him up to ask if he’d like a pillow and a blanket. He’d known immediately who she was. Those blue eyes of hers hadn’t changed a speck since that first day all those years ago in school. He’d seen them many times on the sidelines of the football field when the cheerleaders would celebrate a touchdown or whip the crowd into a frenzy to motivate the team. Never once had they expressed panic like they were at this precise moment.
Tessa cleared her throat and quietly disconnected the call she received without making a comment to the caller. She took her time opening her purse and depositing her phone inside, almost as if she needed a moment to compose herself whilst ridding herself of an unwelcomed memory. He resisted the urge to ask if anything was wrong. He reminded himself that she wasn’t any of his business.
“Becky’s returning with your bill.”
Derek had made the statement rather subtly, lobbing the ball back into her court. He couldn’t prevent glancing down at Tessa’s plate as Becky picked it up in exchange for the small tray that held the check in her hand. Her stated observation that Tessa hadn’t been eating matched the small discoloration underneath her eyes indicating she wasn’t sleeping too well either. He wasn’t going to ask why, and she most likely didn’t want to tell him anyway. After all, it wasn’t like they’d kept in contact after high school.
There were very few friends from his school days who he’d made the effort to stay in touch with over the years. A decade was a long time to still consider someone a friend after they disappeared into the shadows. He imagined that there were only a few older men in town who even understood who he’d become after doing what he’d done in the name of his country—old men with even older stories of places far away and whispers of secrets only a fellow Marine would truly comprehend.
“Um, I was thinking about my conversation with your mother last night.” Tessa dutifully signed the receipt, leaving a nice tip, and then set the pen on the tray with the appropriate piece of paper. She reached for her wallet but abruptly stopped. Had she finally noticed the tremor in her hand? “I’m not sure if she mentioned it, but she thought it would be a good idea if we attended the reunion together. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can go due to some previous plans I made.”
“Really?” Derek asked, replying instinctively while playing out the hand. He could have kicked himself, but that didn’t stop him from going down that road. “I was actually looking forward to it. It’s not what I came to town for, but it will be nice to catch up with some old friends. Speaking of which, how have you been? We haven’t had a chance to talk at the hospital. I didn’t want to interrupt your work.”
Tessa appeared as if she wasn’t quite sure what to say to his question. He’d put her on tilt, but what she didn’t know was that he’d incidentally done the same to himself. He tried to disguise the slight hitch with an easy smile.
What the hell was he thinking, bluffing at a pot he didn’t want to play for when she’d already shown her desire to fold?
Derek didn’t want to attend the damned reunion, which technically had been a week-long thing for his fellow classmates. He certainly didn’t want to borrow someone else’s problems when he had plenty of his own, considering his father was in the hospital and his unit was overseas in harm’s way without him.
“I’m one of the bunch that didn’t really leave, except for nursing school, that is.” Tessa ran her finger over the edge of her debit card, back and forth numerous times, demonstrating an involuntary habit. She didn’t even blink when her cell phone rang, clearly caught up in other thoughts. He wasn’t that surprised when she didn’t answer it. Her smile was tight as she finished describing the last ten years in ten words. That was quite an accomplishment. “I bought a house over in the Chestnut Village development. How about you?”
“You already know that I joined the service after high school,” Derek offered up, noticing that her ringtone stopped abruptly after five chimes. The call either went to voicemail or the caller had given up altogether. He could keep up this pretense all day, but he ultimately decided that he wanted to know what was going on despite his reservations. No woman should be so scared that she was afraid to answer her own phone. “Mom and Dad have a good thing going with the family business, but they couldn’t afford to send me to college back when I had no idea what the hell I wanted to do. The Marines gave me time and possibilities. I could have easily gotten out after my first contract, but I’d formed close bonds with my friends and we had our unit. I grew to appreciate the Corps and trusted that I could survive another contract. I currently have one year left on this enlistment before I’m faced with another decision of which way to go.”
“Because of your father’s health?” Tessa asked, evidently confident in her ability to reach for her wallet without dropping it. “He is doing so much better and could very likely outlive all of us, so you might want to keep that in mind the next time he wants to throw a football around or chop a cord of wood. He won’t like it if you take it easy on him.”
She unfastened the front of her billfold and then slid her debit card into the appropriate slot. Her blue eyes glanced up, waiting for his response. He’d been so busy watching her delicate hands handle the leather that he hadn’t bothered to answer her question.
“Yes, my father’s health will be a part of any decision I make.” Derek rubbed his shoulder where his last injury in the field had damaged his rotator cuff. It hadn’t been enough to interfere with his ability to complete this deployment, but he could just imagine what kind of damage his body would sustain in another five to ten years. Would he even have a chance at a relaxing retirement after having served twenty plus years? “The requirements of my assignment aren’t so easy on the body. Many guys fold up their tents long before they hit twenty. Let’s just say I’m weighing my options carefully, just as you’re doing with me escorting you to the reunion tomorrow night.”
“Escorting?” Tessa’s face transformed as she smiled at his use of an antiquated word. Derek returned the gesture, pleased that he could momentarily brighten her day. “Your mother would be so proud that you turned out to be such a gentleman.”
“That she would,” Derek said with a laugh, tapping his fingers on the table. He’d yet to grab something to drink or eat, but it could wait until he had his answer. “And Mom would be really disappointed if we were both to skip the reunion after all her efforts. So what do you say? Would you allow me to escort you to our ten-year high school reunion? It sure would give the people of Catfish Creek something to talk about, along with months of debate and conjecture.”
Tessa’s grin faded somewhat when she glanced down at her purse, most likely thinking about the call she’d just received. Derek understood the importance of timing, hoping that he hadn’t overplayed his hand. Luck and good timing had certainly saved his life a time or two. Now? He had no doubt that Tessa would retreat and decline his invitation if he brought up anything else beside the reunion.
“You do know that it’s a masquerade ball, right?” Tessa asked, almost as if she were giving him one more opportunity to check or fold. There wasn’t a chance in hell of that happening, so he shrugged his good shoulder as if that tidbit of information didn’t faze him in the least. Inside he was cringing, wondering who the hell thought up such a senseless idea. “Still want to waste your time?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Derek replied with another smile. He had to remind himself why he was doing this, but that was easy when some of the tension eased out of Tessa’s shoulders. There was something about her that made him want to wrap her in a protective embrace. This hadn’t been the way he’d initially pictured this conversation going, but he wouldn’t back out now that he was committed. He reached for the pen on the tray and scribbled his number on a napkin. “Here. Text me your address and I’ll pick you up at twenty hundred hours. It’s probably going to take me that long to find something appropriate to wear.”
Tessa took the napkin and folded it in half. She tucked it inside her purse and then hesitated, as if she realized what had just taken place. Derek met her gaze directly, willing her to tell him what was wrong so that they didn’t have to continue this charade. She most likely didn’t want to spend her entire evening with people she didn’t want to speak to on a regular basis out of personal choice. Contrary to what he’d expected, she didn’t say anything else but a soft goodbye as she quietly left the table and walked out the front door of The Grange.
Derek shifted in his seat, watching Tessa over his shoulder as she made her way out. He didn’t move from his seat until the door closed behind her, still thinking over what could possibly have her so much on edge. Of course, there was another option that may yield the very information he was curious to know. He eventually stood and made his way over to the bar.
“Derek Spencer,” a raspy voice stated from behind the bar. Frank Dallas was leaning back against the ice machine with his arms crossed in front of him. His salt and pepper hair was a bit shaggy, much like his place of business. He was tall, lean, and always had a grin on his face. He most likely had been watching the whole scene unfold. He was continually tapping into the endless stream of gossip that flowed through this place on a daily basis and might have a word or two of advice for an old family friend. “It’s been a long time, boy. How is your dad doing?”
The Grange didn’t get too busy until after the five o’clock hour. The Hamburger Shack was where most of the born-and-raised residents went for lunch, leaving the chain restaurants for those newcomers who liked the bigger menus with huge portions and even higher prices. As it stood, there were maybe a half-dozen customers lingering inside the bar, especially seeing as the typical lunch break was quickly coming to an end. Four of the patrons left in the place were currently playing pool in the back, whereas the other two were run of the mill regulars. The dance hall in the back was completely empty and not even the overhead lights were shining on the floor.
“Dad’s recovering nicely. Thanks for asking. He’s being discharged tomorrow morning.” Derek took a seat at the bar, nodding toward the taps. He wasn’t picky about his beer and would take whatever full-flavored brew Frank kept on tap. “Can I get a draft and my usual?”
“I figured your old man wouldn’t stay down for long.” Frank reached for a chilled glass sitting in the cooler behind the bar, tilting it forty-five degrees so that the amber liquid had a perfect half-inch head of foam. It wasn’t long before the ice-cold beverage was set in front of him. “Ben never did like leaving his butcher shop in the hands of anyone else. Not even family.”
“Denny is keeping things running and doing a fine job, given the circumstances.” Derek didn’t bother to grab the one-sided menu that was off to the side, having already decided that he wanted a greasy burger with all the fixings. His mother and those salads she was making him eat on behalf of his father was more than he could stand. “How has life been here in good old Catfish Creek?”
“Now you know very well that isn’t what you wanted to ask me,” Frank said, giving Derek a sideways look as he walked to the small, square window located toward the back. “Burger with all the fixings and a double order of steak fries?”
Derek nodded his consent, not surprised that Frank had gotten his order right after all this time. There were limited options on the menu, and Derek had always been a person of routines. He tapped his finger on the hard wood of the counter, debating with himself if he should continue the conversation regarding Tessa. He could still back out with no hard feelings.
“Becky mentioned that Tessa hasn’t been herself lately. I was a bit curious.” Derek wrapped his fingers around the cold mug of beer, accepting his choice. There was no going back, and he might very well find out that nothing of dire consequences was occurring. What had Tessa said? The heat had been getting to her as of late. He understood firsthand how heat could affect someone’s health, so she might very well be telling the truth. “She’s working the cardiac floor at the hospital, handling second shift in my Dad’s ward, so I see her often. I’d hate to think something was off, and I didn’t try to do something to alleviate the situation.”
Frank gradually made his way back from entering in Derek’s order at the computer and talking with the cook back in the kitchen. He grabbed a hand towel and picked up a glass that had been in the drying rack, slowly wiping it down as he seemed to consider how much he should say. He’d always been what Derek would call a caretaker, always keeping an eye out for trouble in his community. His eyes were always watching, his ears were always listening, and he was always the original first-responder to step up at the initial sign of a disturbance. He was also very careful with the words that came out of his mouth. In effect, he was considerate of what he repeated to others and careful not to bias information with his opinions unless he was asked for them by someone he trusted.
“I might have heard something about the police being at her house a couple of weeks ago for a break-in,” Frank finally divulged, turning to set the clean glass down with the others. He then took his time leaning forward and snatching up another, proceeding with the same routine. When he glanced up, there was worry in those eyes usually so full of wisdom. “I’m told nothing was taken, which is all a matter of public record.”
Derek wasn’t sure he’d heard right, but Frank didn’t stutter his words, and he never broke eye contact. A break-in where nothing was taken? That didn’t make much sense.
“I can see how that would be upsetting. It might even keep someone up at night.” Derek ignored the sound of the pool balls hitting one another, as well as the country music drifting from the large JBL speakers positioned on high shelves around the room. Something wasn’t adding up with Tessa’s situation, and Frank definitely had more information to spill. “I take it the police have no idea what the offenders could have been after then?”
Frank slowly shook his head back and forth in response. He didn’t follow up immediately due to Charlie—one of the two regulars—requesting another draft beer from farther down the bar. Derek took a moment to think over what little information he did have, and wondered if Tessa’s anxiety wasn’t warranted. Having someone inside her house without her permission, looking through her belongings, and obviously searching for something personal would undoubtedly cause her to feel very vulnerable.
“I’m sure Tessa has already gotten her car fixed from where someone took a key and purposefully ran it down the door. It’s a shame when others don’t respect someone else’s personal property.” Frank kept walking past Derek’s spot at the bar, heading toward the kitchen window where a plate of food had just been served up for delivery. He grabbed some silverware rolled up inside a napkin before placing both items in front of Derek. “It’s a shame that such random acts of crime happened to the same person, but I’m sure it’s all just a coincidence and is totally unrelated.”
Derek didn’t have to ask any more questions, having gotten the gist of what had Tessa so on edge. Were the multiple crimes truly random, or was a single perpetrator responsible? Frank made it seem other disturbing instances had occurred as well, but nothing that contained violence. Either Tessa was having a run of bad luck, or someone was intentionally targeting her. It was most likely the former, considering that she wasn’t one to attract enemies so easily.
This type of thing wasn’t normally in Derek’s wheelhouse, but he could at least take her to the reunion tomorrow night and give her a break from her worries. Should someone want to poke his or her nose into his and Tessa’s business while they were enjoying an evening together, he was more than capable of reducing the threat in a quick and decisive manner. He breathed a sigh of relief that the situation wasn’t something worse and gave himself a moment to enjoy the view before him.
Food that contained real meat. Actual real food that he didn’t need to add water to in order to reconstitute it or heat in a foiled package with a chemical heater. More importantly, it was food that didn’t require tabasco sauce to make it taste good enough to eat.
Derek dug into the savory, juicy, butter burger. Damn, this shit was better than he remembered. He’d been overseas living off MREs, only to return home and live off greenhouse salads with ranch dressing for the last four days. He deserved this, just as his father had earned his release from the hospital.
He hadn’t realized just how worried he’d been about his father until now, when the tension slowly dissipated from his shoulders. He could only imagine how his mother had suffered, not knowing if she would be walking by her husband’s side as they left the hospital or watching him be carried out to the mortuary’s hearse. The least Derek could do was make her happy by taking Tessa to the reunion tomorrow night.
Derek stopped mid-bite, realizing that he still had no idea where he was going to get a suit that fit properly on such short notice. He grabbed the rolled-up silverware, unraveling the napkin and wiping his fingers on it until the grease soaked the paper. He then reached into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out his cell phone.
His mother had gotten him into this, so she could very well assist him in finding something to wear. Nothing he had with him was nice enough. His mom would no doubt know a tailor who could fit a suit jacket and hem some matching slacks on short notice. What was that old saying? Go big or go home.