Heartbeat, page 16
Sean gave Amalie a quick hug. “Got a tissue?”
She nodded.
“Then wipe your eyes and blow your nose. Big brother is about to give us a ride home and get you out of the cold.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, and dug in her coat pockets until she found a couple of wadded-up tissues and did as he suggested.
“You even blow your nose cute. It sounded a little like a mouse squeak.”
Amalie shook her head. “I may die from the ardent love words that you speak.”
Sean was satisfied. He’d shifted her focus from the shock.
“And here comes Aaron,” he said.
“I remember him, too,” she said. “The boy with the Mohawk.”
Sean laughed. “That was him at the age of ten. He’d just found out we had an indigenous ancestor. And since he wasn’t into growing his hair long, he opted for that cut, even with Mom standing there telling him we weren’t any part Mohawk.”
“Better than getting shaved bald because of gum,” she said, and then Aaron was out of the car and opening the door.
When Aaron saw her, he realized this was the woman Wiley told him about. The one who knew about the lost tooth in the mashed potatoes. Instead of offering to shake her hand, he just hugged her.
“Amalie. Welcome to the family.”
“The boy with the Mohawk,” she said. “Thank you. I’m happy to be here.”
Aaron grinned. “I was going through my indigenous phase. Hop in the car. You can sit up front with me close to the heater. You’re cold as ice. Little brother won’t mind the back seat.”
Sean gave his brother a look. They both knew the leg room in the back seat of a cop car was next to none and he was going to have to fold all six feet five inches of himself in and like it.
But Amalie wasn’t having it.
“No. Sean is not getting in the back seat. He’s too tall. He just ran a marathon to get to that crash, down a ravine at full speed, and came back the same with that baby, then back down again to the woman who was trapped. Get in the front seat, Sean.”
Sean looked over the top of the cruiser and grinned.
Aaron smirked. “You probably don’t deserve her, but congrats anyway, bro. You’ve got yourself a fireball.”
The drive back was quick. Amalie was listening to the brothers’ patter, hearing the respect and love in their voices. When they pulled up in the driveway, she started to get out, then realized this was where people rode who got arrested, and she had to wait for one of them to open the door to let her out.
It was Sean. As soon as she was clear of the car, he shut the door, then leaned in the window.
“Thanks for the ride, Aaron.”
“Sure thing. Good thing you two went for that walk,” Aaron said.
Amalie watched as he backed out of the driveway and sped away. “I’m selfishly glad you chose a different career path,” she muttered.
“So am I. Now let’s get in where it’s warm.”
They shed their coats as soon as they were inside, then Amalie turned the thermostat up a notch for quick heat.
“I’m going to make coffee,” she said.
He looked down at his hands. “I need to clean up.”
Amalie frowned. “Is any of that blood yours?”
“No,” he said, and headed for the bathroom.
She went to the kitchen to wash up at the sink, then started the coffee. The house was quiet and warm, and a far sight from the trauma they’d just witnessed. The baby’s screams were still echoing in her ears when shock finally set in. Her legs went weak, and then she was sliding down the side of the island and into the floor. She hugged her knees, lowered her head, and closed her eyes, waiting for the room to stop spinning.
And that’s how Sean found her.
Within seconds she was off the floor and in his arms.
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” she kept saying, as he was carrying her down the hall. “I was just waiting for the room to stop spinning.”
“Hush now, darlin’. You just had a whole episode of PTSD, and we both know it. You’re in shock, and you’re freezing cold. Let me help you.”
She quit fighting the inevitable and went limp as he sat her on the side of her bed, then pulled back the covers. Before she knew it, he was kneeling at her feet, removing her shoes, then tucking her into bed, clothes and all.
“Don’t go,” she whispered.
“You couldn’t make me,” Sean said, then kicked off his boots and lay down on top of the covers, curled up around her and pulled her close.
For Amalie, it was like being engulfed within a cocoon. She’d never felt this safe. Or this loved. She closed her eyes.
Sean held her, feeling the tension in her body slowly relaxing, and the even rise and fall of her breath. And then he heard her whisper.
“Sorry I’m so screwed up.”
He started to respond and then realized she was talking in her sleep.
“No more than the next guy, you’re not,” he muttered, and scooted closer.
Amalie was dreaming.
The car in front of her spun out, slid into the median and then back into the lane of traffic, and broadsided her. Now she was spinning and screaming, knowing when it stopped, she would either be hurt or dead.
She woke up with a gasp and rolled over, right into the front of Sean Pope’s chest. He raised up on one elbow and smoothed the hair away from her face.
“You’re okay, baby. You were dreaming.”
Her heart thumped. They were in bed together…more or less. She didn’t know whether to panic or strip.
She grimaced. “I live for the day when this memory fades.”
“Constant reminders don’t help, and your experience is still new. Just a little over two years, right? Give yourself a break.” He leaned over and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’ve got you wrapped up like a burrito. Did you finally get warm?”
She nodded. “I never did get that coffee made.”
“Do you want some?” he asked.
“Not any longer. A cold shower, maybe.”
He grimaced. “Our timing is a joke, isn’t it? Graveyard. Snowstorm. Too full of chili. Car wreck. They all tend to ruin the moment.” Then he rolled out of bed and helped her up. “It’s getting late. I have chores to do up on the mountain, and your open house is on Friday.”
“Yes, to both. I’ll open the office Monday morning. After that, I’m at work all week and Saturday until noon.”
He took her in his arms. “I’ll be at your office this Friday at 10:00 a.m. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She slid her arms around his neck. “I’m anxious but excited, and so grateful you’ll be there.”
“A promise is a promise,” he whispered, and then pointed to her bed. “The next time I’m here, we’re gonna wind up in there.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she said. “Be safe, and my best to Shirley.”
One last kiss, and he was gone.
It was nearly sundown.
Time to put this day to rest.
Chapter 11
The next few days passed in a flurry of anxiety and busy work, but on Friday morning, Amalie was at the office by 9:00 a.m. to receive the deliveries of floral and baked goods. She had a small table set up against the wall for refreshments. The floors were shining. The pillows on her sofa were perfectly plumped. And she had an OPEN HOUSE banner outside, hanging below her name.
The flowers came first. Two bouquets. One on the reception desk, and a smaller green ivy on the coffee table in front of the sofa. But to her surprise, other florists began arriving with congratulatory arrangements. One from the bank next door where she’d opened her account, and another from PCG Inc., the company that owned this building.
The baked goods from Granny Annie’s Bakery came next. By the time Sean arrived, she had everything in place and was sitting quietly in one of the chairs beneath the painting of Pope Mountain, contemplating the enormity of how far she’d come. It hadn’t been an easy journey, but she’d do it all over again, just for the pleasure of being part of Sean Pope’s life.
She was disappointed about her ancestry link, but she had to let it go. Whoever her parents were, they hadn’t wanted her before. It made sense that they wouldn’t want to know her now. Maybe it had to do with guilt—not wanting to face someone they’d given away.
Then Sean walked in carrying roses and put them on the reception desk and whistled beneath his breath as she came to meet him, wearing a fitted pantsuit and heels that made her long legs look even longer.
He groaned. “Red and black. Power colors and sexy as hell! Why do I have this sudden need to publicly stake a claim before every single guy in town sees you?”
The smile slid off her face. “Don’t worry. You did that the day you beat up the bullies, and you’re the first man to give me roses, so you’re already doing everything right. Thank you. They’re beautiful,” she said, and kissed him.
As she was turning away to admire the roses, she saw Shirley pulling up to the curb. “Yay! Your mom is here!”
Sean turned. “She brought Aunt Ella!”
Amalie froze. “The one who’s psychic?”
“Yes, and Aunt Ella doesn’t come down the mountain for much these days. Prepare yourself.”
“Oh lord,” Amalie said. “Should I be worried?”
“No, but when she leaves, you will have been informed,” he said, and then winked. “I’m going to help Mom get Aunt Ella out of the car. She’s in her nineties.”
Amalie’s heart was in her throat as she watched Sean bolt. He was a giver, and a caretaker, and a provider of all things necessary, and she knew he loved her. She was a little anxious about meeting the mountain elder, but she was holding the door open as the trio entered.
The old woman was tall and thin, with a long thick braid of white hair wrapped around her head, and wearing black beneath a long gray coat. Amalie could see the Pope bloodline in her face.
“Welcome, Miss Ella. My name is Amalie Lincoln. Thank you for coming. Shirley, you are so sweet to come support my new venture.”
Shirley was all smiles as Sean helped Ella out of her coat and situated her on the sofa.
“Don’t fuss,” Ella said, as she settled onto the sofa and then looked straight into Amalie’s eyes. “Come sit with me,” she said, and the moment Amalie’s backside hit the cushion, Ella turned to face her. “I saw you coming in my dreams.” Then she touched the white streak in Amalie’s hair. “The mark of an old wound. Not in this lifetime. From before.”
Amalie was transfixed. Sean was standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder for support, and she hoped to God nobody walked in before this woman had her say. It was like touching a history she’d never had.
Ella kept staring into Amalie’s eyes. “You don’t know your people, but one knows you. Patience. He needs patience.”
Amalie shivered. Oh my God.
“May I?” Ella asked, and held out her hand.
Amalie clasped it and felt a warmth running all the way up her arm.
“We’re connected, but you already know that, don’t you?”
Amalie nodded. Her eyes were welling, but she didn’t want to cry.
Ella touched the scar on Amalie’s chin and then the burn scars on her neck.
“They protected you. It wasn’t your time to die.” She pointed at Sean. “He’s been waiting for something all his life. It was you.” Then Ella glanced over at the painting. “The mountain called you, didn’t it?” Her voice softened. Her drawl deepened. “Be at peace here, Ah-mah-lee. This is where you belong.” Ella saw the tears and knew the longing within the girl. “Don’t be afraid of what you already know how to do. It is a gift given to few. Do you understand?”
Amalie was shaking. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ella gave her hand a soft squeeze. “Not ‘ma’am.’ Aunt Ella will do.” Then she glanced over at the table full of goodies. “By any chance, do those come from Annie’s bakery?”
Amalie nodded. “Would you like some?”
“I believe I would, and I’ll let you choose for me. I like surprises. Sean, I’d take a cup of coffee, if you don’t mind. It’s nippy outside.”
Sean and Amalie headed to the table, their shoulders touching, unaware they were walking in unison, but Ella saw it.
Shirley sighed. “Was I right, Aunt Ella?”
Ella nodded. “They belong together. And she’s got the sight. That wreck turned it on. Nearly dying will do that.”
“This makes me happy,” Shirley said. “The child has grown up alone.”
Ella said nothing, but she already knew Amalie wasn’t alone in the world. She had family. They were still lost to each other, but that would change in the days to come.
The whole family knew how Ella loved her coffee. Two sugars and a splash of cream. Sean was stirring it into the cup, watching Amalie choosing a tiny pecan tart, and a bar cookie filled with fruit, and three colorful meringues.
He leaned closer. “I’m sorry. I feel like Mom and Aunt Ella blindsided you. I didn’t have a clue any of this was happening. Are you okay?”
Amalie’s eyes were bright with unshed tears, but she was smiling.
“I am more okay than you can imagine. It was a gift to treasure. I’ll fill you in later.”
Sean saw the truth on her face and relaxed. If she was good with it, then so was he. After that, it wasn’t long before people began arriving and Sean sat back, watching her turn into Amalie Lincoln, CPA. A woman with a mission.
She was near the door greeting new arrivals, then mingling with the gathering crowd as they admired her office and the painting of Pope Mountain, which had become the centerpiece of her decor.
Michael Devon, the manager of Hotel Devon, had been at the bank next door when he saw her Open House banner and, instead of getting in his car, went in. He recognized Sean Pope and nearly everyone else in the room and decided the young dark-haired woman shaking hands with everyone must be A. Lincoln, CPA.
“Welcome to Jubilee,” Michael said. “I’m Michael Devon, of Hotel Devon. It’s always great to see new businesses sprouting up.”
“Thank you, Mr. Devon. I’m very excited to be here. I’m Amalie Lincoln. There’s coffee and refreshments on the far table, and I see someone already trying to catch your eye,” she said.
Michael smiled. “That’s Liz Caldwell, my fiancée. She’s the event coordinator at the Serenity Inn.”
“Any relation to the owner, Ray Caldwell?” Amalie asked.
“Her father…and speaking of Ray, that’s him coming in now. Hope you have a great day,” Michael said, and headed across the room to where Liz was standing.
Amalie hadn’t met Ray, but she knew him on sight and was completely focused on him as he came toward her, barely noticing the well-dressed blond coming in behind him.
“Mr. Caldwell! How kind of you to come. I was a guest at your hotel last fall,” Amalie said.
“So I’ve been told. My staff saw your open house notice in the paper and recognized your name. They assured me I should meet you. You must have been a memorable guest.”
Amalie laughed. “I promise I didn’t have wild parties in my room, but I was there for two weeks. I think they thought I’d moved in.”
Ray beamed. “Wonderful! Wonderful! Anyway, I just wanted to come by and welcome you to Jubilee.”
“I am honored. Refreshments are on the table. Help yourself and visit a bit, if you’d like.”
“Thank you,” he said. He picked up one of her business cards from the reception desk and then moved along.
That’s when Amalie noticed the blond. The moment their gazes met, the woman stepped forward and began talking to Amalie, but she wasn’t looking at her. She was staring at all the scars.
It was something Amalie dealt with all the time, but it still irked her that the woman was talking to her ear and neck, and not to her.
“Nice place you have,” the blond said. “I’m Mary Ingalls.”
Amalie said nothing, waiting for the woman to shift her gaze.
All of a sudden, Mary realized the woman hadn’t answered. She shifted her gaze to Amalie’s face, then flushed when she realized the woman had just called her out on her rudeness without saying a word.
“Sorry, I was…I was distracted,” she said.
Amalie nodded graciously. “I noticed.”
Mary flushed. She’d been caught out and didn’t like that. “Yes, but I won’t interrupt your event today by talking business. I’ll take a card and a brochure with your info, if you don’t mind, and get in touch with you at a later date?”
Amalie didn’t believe her. The woman had no interest in hiring her. She didn’t know what her game was, but she wasn’t going to waste time trying to woo her. Instead, she handed her a card and one of the brochures.
“Coffee and refreshments are on the back table. Please help yourself.”
Mary tucked the card into her purse and smiled again. “Thank you, I will.”
Amalie turned away, and within moments, a reporter and photographer arrived from the local paper to take some pictures for the Sunday edition. She paused to answer their questions for the piece, posed for pictures with several guests, and then left the photographer to snap at will.
At that point, she turned around to look for Sean and saw him watching her. When he gave her a thumbs-up, she smiled.
About an hour into the event, Aunt Ella announced she was ready to leave.
Sean left the party long enough to help get her back into the car, and as soon as she was buckled in, Ella had her last say.
“She’s a keeper, Sean. Bring her to see me sometime. She’s still trying to find her way.”
“Yes, ma’am. You two stay out of trouble. Mom, you know how to reach me if the need arises,” he said.
“We’ll be fine. You go do you,” Shirley said.
Sean waved them off and then headed back inside and quietly replenished goodies on the table and started a brew of fresh coffee. His job today was to stay in the background as backup.
He’d been watching people coming and going with true delight. Amalie’s day was a rousing success. As best he could tell, every person who’d come to the event was a local business owner or a local resident. He didn’t think there was a random tourist among them except maybe for the blond woman who’d walked in behind Ray Caldwell.
