What Echoes Render Page 14

  “Sounds nice. I’m about to go in and rummage up some scrambled eggs and toast.”

  “Hmm, sounds good. I hope you at least get some coffee with that gruel?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, lots of it.” He paused and then in a rush went on. “Any chance you’re free for dinner this week? I’m open after Monday night, but back on shift Friday night.”

  “Oh,” she said.

  He knew a “no” was coming, but at least he could hear what sounded like real regret in her voice.

  “I wish I could. But this is the last week of school for the boys, and with Matt graduating next weekend, we have a ton of events and parties over the week.”

  “That’s okay, believe me, that’s something I understand.” And he did. It had been an amazing time when Miranda had graduated the year before. Something he didn’t want Jesse to miss a minute of.

  “But the boys both go away the week after. James is headed into Boston for a math camp and Matt is headed down to, of all places, the Jersey Shore for an extended senior week. Maybe sometime that week?”

  He smiled to himself. “Yeah, that would be great.”

  They said their good-byes and David slipped his phone back into his pocket. Turning to head back into the station he almost walked into Dominic, one of his teammates.

  “Who was that?”

  The question was nosy, but Dominic was a nosy guy. Not out of malice by any stretch, and he could keep a secret like no man’s business, but being the youngest of seven, nosiness came with the territory for a guy like Dominic.

  “Nothing,” David answered, walking toward the station door.

  “Really?” Dominic grinned. “’Cause it didn’t sound like nothing. It sounded like you were asking someone out? I’m like a brother to you, you know you wanna share the details.”

  “Yeah, we’re one big happy family here. But everyone has their secrets, right, Dominic?” They actually kind of were like a family, one big obnoxious, teasing family.

  A look of surprise flashed across Dominic’s face, then he grinned to cover it up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Hathaway.”

  “Oh yeah? Does red hair, about yea tall,” he held up a hand to the height of Dominic’s shoulder, “ring a bell? Cute as a button.”

  “Sorry,” he said, following David in. “Still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I saw you two cuddled up at Maggie’s last Thursday. She was wearing a wedding ring, and since you’re not married, I’d say we all have our little secrets.”

  “Shit.” Dominic actually went a little pale, making David feel a bit sorry for him.

  “Look, Dominic, I’m not going to tell anyone, and while I don’t condone it—at all—you’re a grown man, it’s your decision.”

  “Her husband is a bastard.”

  “They always are, Dominic.” He had heard similar stories before, even been suckered by them a time or two.

  “Meaning?” Dominic asked.

  “Meaning nothing. You’ll figure it all out yourself.” And David walked away. Leaving Dominic standing there looking concerned, like maybe he was missing something he shouldn’t be.

  Maybe the woman’s husband really was a bastard, but David would wager he was probably just neglectful and the wife was hoping to shake things up a bit. The fact that she hadn’t bothered to take off her wedding band or diamond had tipped him off. And after all his years on the job, he could spot a firefighter groupie before she even thought of giving him a come-hither look. Who knew? Maybe Dominic’s date was telling the truth; maybe she wasn’t using him. But he wouldn’t bet on it.

  Still, the conversation brought home one of the things he didn’t like about his job. He didn’t like everyone being up in his business all the time. It wasn’t that he had anything to hide, but those first few years on the job when he’d been a single, twenty-two-year-old dad with a four-year-old daughter, he’d endured a lot of ribbing and teasing from his teammates in California. Good-natured ribbing, mostly. And his team had eventually become like family to Miranda, but it had been a lot for him to deal with at such a young age. There were times when he just wanted to leave his private life at home. Not have it dragged out into the open.

  Over the years, when he’d dated on and off, the teasing never got to him too much because there was never anyone serious. Not that he was thinking that he and Jesse had something serious going on now, he just felt the need to keep it to himself. He didn’t want his teammates asking about her or demanding details from him. He didn’t want to do that this time, not with her.

  So, stepping into a hot shower, he made a decision. He’d do everything in his power to keep whatever was developing between him and Jesse private. And if that meant not talking to her when he was on duty, then so be it. It felt a little draconian, but he knew in his gut that it would make things easier. Not that it was all about him, but he just didn’t want to have to endure all the talk; he wanted to be able to enjoy getting to know her and not have to explain everything to everyone in the station. He just hoped that, when it came down to it, she would understand.

  ***

  Jesse parked Matt’s car on the other side of Matty and Dash’s barn. She grabbed the bottle of champagne she’d purchased the day before and climbed out. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t bother locking her car, but today she made a point of it. Turning toward the house, she saw a man stride out from behind the barn.

  Stepping back on instinct, she held on to her keys. He froze, took in the situation, then held up his hands in an effort to show he wasn’t a threat.

  “You startled me,” she said.

  “You must be Jesse.” He took a few steps toward her, moving slowly so as not to startle her any more. “I’m Caleb Forrester, Kit’s brother.”

  He took another few steps closer and she knew he was telling the truth. He wasn’t as tall as she’d thought he might be and his hair was blond, a strong contrast to Kit’s auburn color, but he had the same startling gold eyes as his sister.

  She smiled and held out her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Caleb.” He moved all the way over to her now and took her hand in his. He had an intense look about him, in the set of his shoulders and the way he stood on his feet, that he looked to be trying hard to hide.

  “Did it get too . . .” She debated what word to use so as not to offend him. But then, judging by his eyes, she bet little actually did offend him. “Normal in there for you?” She gestured toward the house. “You look like you’re out here pacing.” Like a lion or tiger, she thought. His eyes certainly matched the description.

  A smile teased at his lips and he shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I’m not all that used to civil society.”

  Jesse smiled. “I’d say we’re not all that civil, but it would be both a cliché and a lie. We can, though, on occasion, carry on an interesting conversation or two. And you should be glad that I’m the only one with kids. At least this way you won’t have to hear about school politics.”

  “And are there a lot of school politics?” he asked as they made their way up the drive toward the house.

  “We’re a small town. If someone doesn’t say ‘bless you’ when someone else sneezes, it becomes a political issue. But with Kit and Matty around, we usually end up talking books or writing.”

  “And are you a writer?”

  “I would like to think I have a good story or two in me, but what I don’t have is time, skill, or interest. I leave that to the pros and I’ll stick with running my hospital.”

  “And the PTSA and the children’s health cooperative for the county and the pancake breakfast for the volunteer fire department. Don’t let her fool, you, Caleb,” Matty spoke as she opened the door and took Jesse by the arm. “She’s a woman of many talents and even more energy.”

  Jesse looked at her friend, who was steadfastly avoiding eye contact, then to Caleb, who was looking back at Jesse, studying her.

  “I don’t doubt it for a minute,�
�� Caleb said, meeting her gaze.

  For a moment, her heart sank. She really didn’t want this brunch to be about setting her up with Kit’s come-and-go brother. But then she saw the glint in his eye, as if he were inviting her to have a little fun at everyone else’s expense. He wanted her to know that he wasn’t taking them seriously, so she shouldn’t either. She gave a small dip of her head to show that she accepted his invitation and he smiled.

  “Champagne anyone?” she asked, holding out the bottle.

  “I thought Matty told you not to bring anything.” Dash, Matty’s husband, stepped forward and took the bottle from her hand. “But I have to say, this is better than what we have, so I’m glad you did.”

  Jesse was about to offer to open the champagne when a cacophony of toenails pounded across the floor and five dogs came bounding into the room. Matty had not only inherited her brother’s house after his murder the year before, but also his canines. Along with all his other animals—cats, rabbits, chickens, cows. Luckily, Dash was a vet, and in his opinion, there was no such thing as too many animals.

  “Didn’t you lock them downstairs?” Dash asked as he popped the cork.

  “I did, but Isis has opposable thumbs and knows how to open the door,” Matty replied, referring to the beautiful ridgeback that was hanging back and keeping an eye on everything. Jesse smiled as Dash handed her a glass of champagne, moving about like there wasn’t three hundred pounds of dog in his kitchen. Caleb had hunkered down and was giving Bob, the yellow Lab, some love.

  “In case you were wondering, Caleb, Isis does not have opposable thumbs. The door jam bent out of shape when the dogs were roughhousing one day and it doesn’t close very well,” Dash supplied.

  “I don’t know, opposable thumbs sounds so much better,” Caleb replied as he gave the Lab one more rub, then rose. When he declined the glass of champagne Dash was offering, Jesse wondered if it was because he didn’t drink at all or just didn’t drink champagne.

  “I’m thinking about getting a dog,” Jesse commented as Matty ushered the four-legged mob out the door. “What do you think, Dash?”

  “A specific breed or just any dog?” Dash asked.

  “Just a dog. Something big, though. Or something that will grow into something big. Do you ever come across puppies that folks are trying to give away?” she asked.

  Dash motioned his guests toward the back porch where the table was set. It was another beautiful spring day and Jesse took a moment to appreciate the gentle warmth of the morning as everyone sat.

  “I do.” Dash replied. “Usually, farm dogs that get pregnant before their owners have a chance to get them fixed. I’m also on the board for the shelter so I see plenty of dogs there, too. Are you looking for companionship or protection or something in particular?”

  “Just a dog,” she said quickly. Too quickly, judging by the curious look Matty gave her as she set out a truly amazing spread of food before sitting down herself. Raised by her Puerto Rican mother and wealthy DC socialite grandmother, Matty cooked an extensive repertoire of dishes, all of which made Jesse’s mouth water.

  Jesse shrugged, hoping to seem casual, and then played the empty-nest card. “The boys will both be out of the house soon. I thought it might be nice to have some company, that’s all. I’m not in any hurry, but if you wouldn’t mind keeping your eyes open, Dash, I would appreciate it.”

  Dash agreed, like she knew he would. Unlike Ian, who had a fairly intense personality, Dash was about as laid-back as a person could get. That wasn’t to say he was lazy, not by a long shot, but very little bothered him, and being raised in a close family with long ties to the valley, there was very little he wouldn’t do to help out a friend or neighbor.

  He was good for Matty, too. Jesse had seen some of the subtle changes in her friend since she’d arrived in town almost a year ago. She had liked Matty from the start—her strength, fire, and sense of humor were hard not to fall in love with. But coming from a rough background, Matty was a woman with a big heart and even bigger trust issues. With help from Dash, she was starting to give her warmth and affection more freely. Most of which was being given through food, Jesse judged now, looking at the gorgeous brunch laid out on the table before her.

  “What time did you start cooking this morning?” Kit asked, obviously thinking along the same lines. Caleb hadn’t said much of anything; sitting to her right, he was eyeing the table like he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it all.

  Matty waved a dismissive hand in the air. “I figure after the week Jesse has had, she deserves a huge, overindulgent meal. Start, please,” she added, gesturing to the food.

  “What kind of week have you had?” Kit asked as she helped herself to a couple of eggs layered over fried plantains.

  Caleb’s eyes fell to Jesse, silently asking the same question.

  She shrugged and tried to wave this off as well. “I had a little car accident on Friday. I’d say it’s not a big deal, and in the grand scheme of things, since no one was really hurt, it isn’t a big deal. But it did shake me up a bit, that’s all,” she said, taking the platter of eggs and plantains from Kit.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come over and kept you company or brought you food or, even better, some whiskey,” Kit said.

  Jesse smiled at her friend’s remark. “I know you would have, Kit, but it wasn’t that big a deal. Seriously. I was, and still am, a little sore. My car is in the shop. But other than that, things are fine.”

  Kit stared at her for a long time. Jesse’s eyes flitted to Caleb and for a moment she wondered if he knew more than what was being said or if the intense expression he wore was just normal for him. A little confused by his reaction, she looked away, but not before she saw a small frown form on his lips.

  “Wow, add that to the bomb last week, and you have had a rough time,” Kit finally spoke, taking a long sip of her champagne.

  From the corner of her eye, Jesse saw Caleb put his coffee cup down. She wished Kit hadn’t brought all this up. She knew it was a topic of conversation, how could it not be, but she wished they didn’t have to talk about it now.

  “It wasn’t exactly a bomb, not in the traditional sense, anyway.” She tried to downplay the situation as she cut into a succulent piece of ham.

  Kit lifted a shoulder. “Yes, it was a bomb. It may not have been the kind of bomb used to take apart a bus, but it was an explosive device.”

  Jesse was just going to leave it at that, but Matty piped in. “So is David investigating that, too?”

  “You know about David?” Kit asked. Jesse all but groaned.

  “Yes, from Vivi and Abigail.” Matty answered as she picked up a cheese-filled pastry, pulled a piece off, and popped it into her mouth. “He was investigating the fire that killed Aaron Greene’s father. How do you know about him, Kit? Have you met him?” she asked after swallowing.

  Kit shook her head and both women looked at Jesse. She looked at Dash and he came to her rescue.

  “Do you understand a word of what they are talking about, Caleb?” Dash asked.

  Caleb shook his head. “I got ‘bomb’ and ‘explosive device,’ but other than that, I’m lost.” Unlike everyone else at the table, Caleb seemed to be more focused on his coffee than his food.

  Jesse desperately wanted to end this conversation. Not only was it becoming all about her, but she really didn’t want David brought into it. She sent Kit a warning glare, reminding her without words that she had no wish to discuss him with anyone. Kit had the grace to look just a tiny bit apologetic. And to make up for it, Kit gave Caleb a condensed version of the explosion, leaving any mention of its investigator out of it. Matty then jumped in and added what she knew about the accident.

  When Kit and Matty had finished their accounts, Caleb turned to Jesse. “I thought you told me you were all civilized out here?”

  “We are.” She sat up straighter, but downed the last of her champagne, nonetheless. “Just a fluke thing, is all.” She hoped.

>   “You have to admit,” Dash spoke, cutting into the potatoes his wife had fire roasted with peppers and onions, “it’s a crazy coincidence that those two things happened to you in less than a week.”

  She thought about mentioning her tires being slashed, but since the conversation had already gone on long enough to make her uncomfortable, she didn’t. “Vivi and Ian think it’s a bit unusual, too. They’re looking into it.”

  “Vivi and Ian?” Caleb asked.

  “Friends,” she said. Then, when he frowned, she added, “They are both local law enforcement. Ian is the sheriff but was an Army Ranger for almost fifteen years. Vivi is an ME, but was a detective and also consults with the FBI as a profiler. Although her specialty is cold cases.”

  Caleb turned and looked at his sister with raised brows. “I had no idea there were so many interesting people around here.” It was clear in his tone that his sister had failed to mention a few things about the people in her life. And he wasn’t happy about it.

  But Kit just met his gaze, cocked an eyebrow, and popped a small, fruit-filled pastry into her mouth. “Imagine what you might learn if you came to visit a bit more often,” she eventually pointed out.

  The two stared at each other for a long moment. There was an underlying tension in Kit that Jesse had never seen or experienced before. Caleb and his sister were obviously very different. And though Kit had said that Caleb did something with or for governments, she hadn’t specified what that was, exactly—Jesse thought it was more likely that Kit didn’t actually know. For a moment, she wondered if he was one of those mercenary or private security types she’d read about but had never been sure actually existed.

  “What do you do, Caleb?” she asked in an attempt the break the tension between the siblings.

  “I beg your pardon?” he said, turning back to her.

  “For a living. Do you work?”

  He took a sip of coffee. “I work for the government. What are Vivi and Ian looking into?”

  Studying his eyes, Jesse got the sense that not only did Caleb want to avoid talking about what he did for a living, but that he knew she didn’t want to talk about what was going on, or potentially going on, with her. It wasn’t exactly tit for tat, but by turning the conversation back to her, he’d given a subtle warning to drop the conversation about him. Interesting.