Reflection Point

chapter SIXTEEN





“It’s about time,” Zach muttered as the feds finally packed up the last of their equipment and departed the sheriff’s office.

Gabi smiled pleasantly as she told them good-bye, then she shut the door behind them, turned, and gave a fist pump. “I thought they’d never leave.”

Seated behind her dispatcher’s desk, Ginger nodded. “I think Perkins hung around trying to work up the nerve to ask you out.”

“As if.” She sniffed with disdain. “Did you see how much noise he made in the woods? City boy. The only reason the perp evaded us as long as he did was because Perkins tramped through the forest with as much subtlety as an eighteen-wheeler.”

“Not to argue,” Zach said, preparing to do just that. “Is it fair for you to call him a city boy? I thought you grew up in Denver.”

“I went hunting with my dad. That gives me forest trail cred.”

Zach grinned and glanced at the clock. Almost lunchtime. “I think I’ll grab something to eat. You all hold down the fort until I get back, and if we get a call that involves any jurisdiction other than this one, tell them they have the wrong number.”

He picked up his hat and stepped outside into the summer sunshine, pretending not to hear his dispatcher’s knowing comment: “Tell Savannah we said hello.”

Strolling toward Pinyon Street, Zach dragged a hand over his two-day beard and wondered what Savannah would think of his new look. He’d chosen not to shave and worn flannel rather than his uniform shirt just to annoy the stick-up-his-butt, spit-and-polish, citified pretty boy who thought rural meant stupid. Freddy the Fed hadn’t liked it one bit when the network news reporters chose to interview Zach over him. Ordinarily Zach shunned such attention, but after having spent three days in the incompetent’s company, the infantile revenge had been just the ticket and put him in a right fine mood. As did the fact that he now had time to put soap on his grocery list.

“Hey, Zach,” called LaNelle Harrison as he walked past her on the street. “Saw you on CNN this morning. Congratulations on the arrest.”

“Thanks, LaNelle. Just doing my job.” And ever so glad to have his town back to himself. He whistled as he turned the corner onto Fourth and caught sight of Heavenscents up the block.

He stepped up his pace. Savannah sometimes shut the store down for lunch. Wonder what his chances were of talking her into having her sandwich in bed? Maybe if she really liked the scruffy look, he could convince her. Maybe she’d seen the interviews and would consider his fifteen minutes of fame a turn-on.

He bounded up the porch steps and entered the shop. The pleasing scents wrapped around him like a soft blanket on a cool night and he experienced a sense of coming home.

Then Savannah shocked him. Entering the room from the back of the shop, she took one look at him, burst into tears, and threw herself into his arms. “Zach!”

Whoa. She must have really been worried about me. “It’s okay, Peach. I’m okay. It was just a small exchange of gunfire.”

“Oh, Zach. You’ll never believe what has happened. I’m going to have a teenager!”

“Excuse me?”

“My nephew. My family. He’ll be here in three days and he’s going to live with me. Permanently.”

Permanently? But what about my sandwich in bed?

“How am I going to do this?” Her eyes were big brown pools of worry. “I don’t know anything about being a mother. He probably doesn’t even want a mother. I don’t think he’s ever had one. Not before Dad died, anyway. Dad wouldn’t let Gary’s girlfriend move into the house unless they were married, and Gary wasn’t going down that road again. He really got burned the first time. I know how that feels. We Moores just aren’t lucky in love.”

Well, then. So much for CNN and scruffy. “I’m a little bit out of the loop. I’ve been busy. Want to start at the beginning?”

He didn’t like hearing the note of petulance in his voice, but the facts had hit him like a two-by-four to the head. A kid? Now? Just when they were finding their way into a relationship?

She pulled away and shook her head. “Oh, what am I thinking? I’m sorry, Zach. That was rude of me. You’ve had a hard few days yourself. I’m so glad you weren’t hurt in the gunfight.”

“It wasn’t exactly a gunfight,” he muttered.

“Look at you.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. “Mr. Cable News Outdoorsman Hottie. I had five phone calls within three minutes of the interview. You’re the talk of the town. Sarah said women are going to be mailing you their panties.”

“She what?” Now Zach was embarrassed. Mollified, but embarrassed. “Forget about me. I want to hear about your nephew. Start at the beginning.”

She did, and as she talked, stress ramped back up in her voice. Hearing the story, Zach couldn’t blame her. The responsibility she was taking on was overwhelming.

It was also something he’d need to think about. The idea of falling for a woman was one thing. Falling for a woman with a kid was something else. Not that the idea of children bothered him. He wanted a family someday. Someday soon, to be honest. But to be fair to himself, to Savannah, and to the boy, TJ, he needed to move forward with care.

So maybe he wouldn’t try to talk her into a nooner after all. Damn the bad luck.

A customer entered the shop, interrupting Savannah’s story. She asked Zach, “Have you had lunch?”

“No.”

“I can offer you a chicken salad sandwich if you’d like to wait until I’m through with this customer and close up.”

“Sounds great.”

“Go on into the kitchen and make yourself at home.”

He did and decided to peruse her refrigerator. Spying the chicken salad, he made sandwiches for them both, then fixed himself a glass of iced tea. Savannah made delicious, traditional southern sweet tea that hit the spot. Inny came in through the doggie door to say hello, which made Zach miss Ace. He hadn’t seen much of his dog in the past week. Maybe after lunch he’d make a run out to the house and bring Ace to the office for the afternoon.

Events of the past week were on his mind when Savannah entered the kitchen a few minutes later. He wanted to hear more about her nephew, but first he had something he wanted to get off his mind. “There’s something I need to say to you, Savannah.”

Wariness washed through her expression, so he quickly pressed on. “I’m sorry I disappeared on you after the Fourth. That’s not what I intended when I brought you home.”

“I’m sure you didn’t intend for a felon to go crazy in the forest, either.” She approached him, rose on her tiptoes, and planted a quick kiss on his mouth. “Thank you for the sentiment, but it’s unnecessary.”

“Good.” Zach took advantage of her nearness and wrapped his arms around her. There was nothing quick about the kiss he gave her.

Or about the nooner he ended up getting after all.

He asked her out to dinner before they both returned to work, but it was quilt group night, and as the newest Patchwork Angel, she didn’t want to miss one of the few meetings held during the summer season. Instead, they made a date for the following night, which also was Zach’s first day off since the Fourth.

He spent the next morning catching up on neglected chores and taking Ace on a long walk around the lake. That afternoon he accepted an invitation from Jack Davenport to join him and Cam Murphy up at Jack’s estate, Eagle’s Way, to watch a Rockies game. For the first time in a very long time, he looked forward to his day off being almost over with.

He took Savannah to dinner at the Yellow Kitchen, and they had a delicious, romantic candlelit meal. He didn’t miss the thumbs-up Ali gave her when she went to the ladies’ room or the smile Savannah flashed in return, and it pleased him. Savannah had made friends with his friends in Eternity Springs. One of these days she’d learn she could trust them with the truth about her background, but that was an argument for another time. First she had to navigate the turbulent waters of the next few weeks.

The subject of her nephew had not come up over dinner, but as they waited for dessert to be served, he asked, “Do you want to talk about TJ?”

She took a sip from her water glass. “Actually, I’d just as soon not. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, and I can use the distraction. Not that you’re merely a distraction,” she hastened to add. “That sounds insulting.”

“Hey, I’m happy to be a distraction.”

“In that case, I have a big favor to ask. Is there any chance that you could go with me to the airport tomorrow?”

Zach didn’t hesitate. “Of course. I’ll be happy to go. One of the perks of being the boss is getting to jerk around my subordinates’ schedules.”

“Thank you.”

Relief filled Savannah’s eyes, and the smile she gave him was so bright he thought he might need blinders. He sat gazing at her until Ali approached their table carrying their dessert order. “One piece of double chocolate cake and two forks.”

“Yum,” Savannah said. “I’ve heard wonderful things about your double chocolate cake.”

“From Sarah, I expect,” Ali said with a laugh. “It’s a recipe I found, but she bakes it for me. She does have a magical touch. You two enjoy.”

Savannah took a bite of cake, and, watching her, Zach was lost. He’d been mesmerized by her smile; the way she ate chocolate cake totally seduced him. She licked her fork. She purred with pleasure. She smacked her lips and swooned.

He went as hard as that piece of petrified wood he’d found up on Murphy Mountain during his first summer in Eternity Springs.

She invited him in when he took her home, thank the good Lord above. The moment the door closed behind them, he pressed her up against the wall and took her mouth in a sizzling kiss. It proved to be the start of one of the most erotic nights of his life, and by the time he finally drifted off to sleep, he’d decided that distraction was one of his favorite words in the English language.

He was pleasantly tired as they headed out of Eternity Springs the next morning, bound first for a quick stop at the Gunnison police department, where Zach needed to deliver a file to a detective, and then afterward for the airport. Yet with every mile they traveled, Zach could see his formerly-relaxed-by-distraction lover grow more and more tense. Concerned about her, he reached out and patted Savannah’s knee. “It’ll be okay.”

The smile she gave him in response was wan. “I’m scared half to death.”

Zach braked gently as he rounded a curve to discover a herd of seven bighorn sheep crossing the road some fifty yards in front of them.

“How cool is that?” Savannah murmured. “This is something I never saw in Georgia or Tennessee.”

“I never saw it in Oklahoma, either.” Zach waited until the sheep had cleared the road and they could continue on their way, then he brought the conversation back to the subject at hand. “I won’t try to tell you that parenting TJ won’t be a challenge, but I will say that I have no doubt at all that you will rise to meet it. That’s what you do.”

“It’s not something I want to do,” she replied with a bit of a pout in her voice. “Why do I have to have more challenges? Haven’t I had my fair share?”

“My dad always used to say that fair is where you show your pigs in October.”

“How am I possibly going to care for a fourteen-year-old boy?”

“With care and compassion and grace. Maybe get him a dog.” He took her hand and held it casually. “I’ve watched you in your shop. You have good instincts with people.”

“My instincts are telling me I’m clueless when it comes to teenage boys.” She hesitated a moment before adding, “The lawyer asked TJ to call and talk to me. He wouldn’t do it.”

That wasn’t a good sign.

Zach had seen kids whose parents were in jail. It could go either way—or right down the middle. It wasn’t a given that he’d be a problem. So what if his maternal grandparents called him a delinquent? Their idea of a delinquent could be a kid who plays video games.

“He was such a sweet little boy. Maybe he’s just shy. I can deal with shy.”

“Maybe he’s just angry about being disrupted again. Sounds like the kid has had a few curve balls thrown his way. And as for shy … you can deal with shy. You dealt with me, didn’t you?”

That got a laugh out of her, just as he had hoped. He went for further distraction when he added, “And may I say once again how much I enjoyed how you dealt with me last night?”

That got the blush he’d expected, too. Her smug look had him adding, “Not to mention this morning.”

“You’re trying to distract me,” she said. “Thank you.”

“I’ve decided that distracting you is my greatest pleasure—in every sense of the word.”

“In that case, talk to me about something else.”

“All right. What would you like to talk about?”

“I don’t know. Maybe … Celeste? I spoke with her quite a bit at quilt group the other night. She is a most interesting person. She likes you a lot.”

“I like her, too. There is something about southern women. My mother would have really liked Celeste.”

They discussed Celeste Blessing, his mother, and Savannah’s grandmother until they passed the Gunnison city limit sign. At that point, Savannah grew quiet. Zach decided to let the conversation lag. She needed this time to gather her forces. For that matter, he did, too.

He had thought long and hard about dating Savannah in the wake of her new circumstances, and he’d decided to have a positive attitude about it. He cared enough about her to be open to the possibilities. His presence during this time of adjustment would be helpful to Savannah and maybe to the boy, too. He’d decided to make a sincere effort to help TJ Moore to adjust. After all, his undercover work in Oklahoma had given him some experience with substance abusers, and he knew tales to tell that TJ might relate to. The boy would need a positive male influence in his life. Zach had always wanted to make his job matter. Now he had the opportunity to do it in his personal life, too.

If Celeste Blessing had been riding in this car this morning, she would likely say that God had put him in this place, with this woman, at this time for the purpose of helping TJ Moore and his aunt Savannah form their family. She might well be right.

They pulled into a parking place in front of the airport terminal. Zach shifted into park and switched off the ignition. He blew out a breath, then said, “I’m ready. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”

He gave her hand a comforting squeeze, then kissed her cheek. “All right, then, Peach. Let’s go welcome young Thomas James Moore to Colorado and his new family.”

Savannah swallowed hard but nodded. “We will welcome him to Eternity Springs. It’s a wonderful town, the perfect place for broken hearts to heal.”

TJ gritted his teeth and, concealed by the jacket he’d draped across his lap, dug his fingernails into his jean-clad thighs. This was the first trip he’d ever made by airplane. Flying itself was okay. The takeoffs and landings scared the crap out of him.

Not that he’d let F-wad Fisherman in the seat next to him see it. He’d gone total incommunicado with the a-hole somewhere over Kansas after Mr. Fish made a pissy comment about his earrings. TJ had his reasons for getting his ears pierced, and he didn’t owe anyone an explanation.

A ding ding sounded in the airplane, followed by a man’s voice saying, “Flight attendants, please prepare for landing.”

Oh God oh God oh God oh God. He couldn’t stop himself from looking out the window. Mountains all around. In his mind’s eye, he saw the plane go splat against a rock cliff.

The plane descended. Nausea churned in his stomach. I will not barf. I will not barf. I will not barf.

Wheels touched. Bounced up. Touched again. There was a big whooshing sound, which he knew—at least since landing to change planes in Denver—meant the pilot had applied the brakes. I hope they work. I hope the runway is long enough.

Then he remembered that Savannah Moore would be waiting to meet the plane. Maybe he’d be better off in the long run if the plane did crash.

As the airplane’s tires rolled toward the gate, a familiar rage rolled through TJ. He mentally cursed his father with every vile, vulgar epithet he’d ever heard.

He’d been down this road before.

The first time Dad got sent away, the kindly, criminally incompetent Social Services people sent him to live with foster parents, the beautiful Susan and movie-star-handsome Alexander Rowe.

Or, as TJ now thought of them upon the rare occasions he didn’t try to block them from his mind, the pervs.

Thinking of them made him want the plane to crash.

But he’d survived, and Dad had come home, and life had been good for TJ. He’d been doing okay in school. He’d made the middle-school basketball team.

Then his father got laid off, went back on the booze, and back to jail.

And I lose my home.

The plane rolled to a gentle stop, and the pilot came on the intercom and said, “Welcome to Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional Airport.”

At that, the nausea in TJ’s stomach did another roll. Next to him, F-wad Fisherman rose and rummaged in the overhead compartment for the round tube that TJ figured held his fishing pole. TJ remained seated. He didn’t even unbuckle his seat belt. He’d almost rather face another takeoff than drag his ass off the plane.

Then he was the last one left. The flight attendant stood in the aisle, watching him expectantly. “Son, is everything okay?”

I’m not your son!

He gave no verbal response, but sullenly stood and grabbed his backpack from the overhead bin. The flight attendant gave him a fake smile, then stepped back into her little galley area to give him space to walk by her. Then he was walking up that long hallway thing toward the terminal. His aunt was supposed to be waiting for him at the baggage claim.

Aunt Jailbird. Sister of Uncle Jailbird, Uncle Ran Away, and DUI Dad. For all TJ knew, she’d been best friends with OD Dead Mom.

Did he have great genes or what?

TJ followed the signs toward baggage claim, his spine growing stiffer with every step. If, deep inside himself, the naive kid he used to be nurtured a seed of hope that this time might be different, he refused to recognize it. Approaching the security exit, TJ donned his defenses like a suit of armor. He’d spent years building them, and going through puberty had helped with that. Now when people looked at him, they didn’t see a skinny little kid with blond hair and brown eyes and a dopey grin. They saw a tall guy with a spiked multicolor Mohawk, seven earrings, a nose ring, and a tongue stud. They didn’t see the young, vulnerable kid; they saw the don’t-f-with-me teen. He’d survived Alex Rowe. He’d survived the night the uniforms knocked on the door to arrest Dad. He’d survived the effing airplane ride.

He would survive Savannah Moore and the middle-of-nowhere town where she lived. Eternity Springs. What sort of stupid name was that? Sounded like the name of a freakin’ cemetery.

He saw her through the glass wall that divided the baggage claim from the terminal, and a brief memory flashed through his mind. You want me to push you higher? Really, Tommy?

Really, Auntie. I do! Push me high! High to the moon!

Hold on tight, then, but don’t worry. I’m your auntie Savannah. I will never let you fall.

“Get ready to put your money where your mouth is, lady.”