Bringing Maddie Home(9)
Author: Janice Kay Johnson

The floors were broad planks of chestnut. Low built-in bookcases formed a long seat beneath one wall of windows. The ceiling-high river rock took up most of another wall, with an ancient slab of wood inset as a mantel. He’d hung a Navajo rug above it instead of a painting.

Nell disappeared to use the bathroom while he poured the coffee in the kitchen that opened to the huge living room. When she reappeared, he saw the stress on her face that she’d been trying to hide.

She added both cream and sugar to her mug, then perched on a stool at the breakfast bar. Colin sipped his own coffee and watched her.

“My parents have a house right on the river.”

“I know. You remember it?”

“Not exactly.” She stirred, gazing into her coffee as if seeking patterns in tea leaves instead. “I looked them up online, then used Google Earth to see the house. I guess I’ve retained enough fragments that the house didn’t surprise me.”

“It’s not far from the park.”

“So it makes sense that I was cutting through on my way to wherever I was going.”

“Yes. Except that it was dark and you hadn’t told your parents you were going anywhere.”

Her eyes, strangely blind-looking, met his. “Are you sure about that?”

“No. But if they were lying, they’re good at it.”

“You saw them? That night?”

“Yeah, I did. The detective who was initially taking the lead asked me to accompany him when he went to talk to them. Of course we hoped it would turn out you’d made it home on your own. That you’d bumped your head, your mom or dad had taken you to the E.R.” He paused, remembering. “Instead, they were both home. They didn’t believe you’d gone anywhere. Your father went out to the garage to see if your bike was there, your mother went upstairs to your bedroom. I remember when she rushed back down, I saw your brother standing at the top of the stairs looking scared.”

“Did you talk to him?” She was focused intently on him.

Colin shook his head. “Later, I’m sure detectives did. That night we were finding out whether you were home or if they’d heard from you. Letting them know about the bike and the blood.”

She touched the side of her head. “My hair was matted with blood. It was all over my shirt. I’d puked, too, in the trunk. I was a mess.”

“I don’t suppose you saw a doctor.”

“I didn’t dare.” Her brief smile didn’t fool him into thinking she was happy thinking about this. “I have a scar. Sort of a ridge. Probably because I didn’t get stitches or maybe my skull was fractured and it knit funny. Not that it matters, since it’s hidden by my hair.”

“Let me see it.”

She looked startled; it had come out sounding more implacable than he’d intended. “Um…” She reached up and sifted through her hair. “It’s right here.”

Colin circled the end of the counter, standing close enough to her he could slide his own fingers into her shiny brown hair until he felt the thickened ridge of a lengthy scar. He traced it end to end, feeling rage rising in his chest, but other emotions, too. Her head was tipped to one side to give him the best access, but she watched his face sidelong. He could see how fine-pored her skin was. The curve of eyelashes was something he’d never noticed on a woman before. Her hair was fine, almost childlike in texture, and having it slip through his fingers as he gently withdrew his hand was a more sensual experience than he’d intended. A scent he suspected was uniquely hers made his nostrils flare, too. He couldn’t easily identify the herbs, but thought there was a hint of mint. And beneath it, woman.

He smoothed her hair behind her ear, saw that his fingers had a faint tremor and withdrew his hand sharply. He retreated around the breakfast bar again, leaning a hip against it so that she couldn’t see the way his body had responded to the closeness.

Maddie, he told himself desperately.

“I don’t suppose you saw the gas station where you made the great escape.” He said that as much to refocus himself as because he wanted to know.

So much emotion swirled in her eyes, he knew the answer even before she spoke. He almost regretted asking.

“Yes. I…watched for it. It wasn’t that far north, between Redmond and Madras. It’s awfully dry out there, but there is an orchard and a vineyard somebody is irrigating. I can show you where it is, if you care.”

He nodded. “Eventually. Not right now. I’m sorry, Nell. That must have been rough.”

Her smile was wry. “I told myself it was like visiting the hospital where you were born. I’m different from most people, though, because I remember.”

“You cut your own umbilical cord.”

“Exactly.” Cradling her mug in both hands, she inhaled, then sipped. Hiding behind it, he thought. When she reemerged, her expression was merely inquiring. “Did you find a place for me to stay?”

He tensed. She might hate this idea, but his instincts told him to keep her close. Having taken a leave of absence from the library, she was free to stay for a couple of weeks to a month, at least. “I made a reservation in case you insist,” he said. “But I have a better idea.”

Her wariness became more pronounced.

“There’s a small apartment above my garage. Bedroom, bath, tiny kitchenette. It’s been empty since I bought the house. I’d feel better if you stayed here, at least until we’re sure nobody is disturbed by your reappearance.”

Her eyes searched his. “You really think somebody might be?”

“I have no idea,” he said truthfully. “We don’t even know if you were being kidnapped, say for ransom, or the driver of that car thought you were dead and was heading somewhere to dump your body. The fact that you were so convinced it wasn’t safe to come home is the part that unsettles me. If you knew the person who attacked you…” He shrugged.

Nell bent her head, once again hiding, this time behind fine brown hair that fell forward. Colin waited, not taking his eyes off her.

“If only I remembered,” she said in a small voice.

“The trouble is, even if memories start coming back, that particular one may not. After head trauma, people often forget the event that caused it and frequently the day leading up to it.”

“I remembered something on the way here.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Nothing important. It was going through Bend and seeing the signs for the turnoff to Mount Bachelor. I knew suddenly that my family skied. I didn’t really enjoy it because I was always cold and I wasn’t very good. I think my brother raced.”

Colin nodded. “He did. I searched old newspapers after I saw you in Seattle. I wanted to get more of a sense of your family.”

“Felix.” With the tentative way she said the name, Colin could tell she was trying it on her tongue. As if she hadn’t said it aloud before.

“Have you met him?” she asked.

Colin shook his head. “Your parents kept him out of the public eye. He never appeared at press conferences. After that first night, I never saw him again.”

She nodded.

“Would you like to see the apartment?”

On her nod, he took the key from the hook in a cupboard and led her across the frozen, crunchy ground to the detached garage with a peaked roof that echoed the roofline of the main house. The locked door opened to the foot of a staircase that was enclosed and a little claustrophobic. Better than an exterior staircase that would have been treacherous in winter.

Being optimistic, he’d turned the heat on a couple of hours ago to take the chill out of the air. The apartment was pretty bare-bones—he winced at that description. Livable, though, with a double bed, dresser, small table and pair of chairs. He had gone so far as to stock the kitchenette with extra dishes and pans and even a minimum of silverware from the house.

“It was unfinished up here when I bought the house,” he said, looking around.

“Have you ever rented it out?”

Colin shook his head. “No. I guess, in the back of my mind, I thought…”

Understanding softened Nell’s face. “That Cait might want to come home.”

Startled, he turned his head to meet her eyes. There wasn’t another person alive who could have guessed why creating this apartment had mattered to him. He’d revealed one hell of a lot of himself to her, and she’d done some reading between the lines, too.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “At least I thought I should have someplace for her, if she ever needed me.”

That sounded asinine even to him. By the time he had bought this house and had the dormer added and the apartment finished, his sister had been twenty-four years old. An adult. Long past thinking of her big brother as a refuge, assuming she ever had. He’d held on to his delusion too long, he thought now—and not for the first time. But today, his chest had lightened at the idea of Nell staying here. At being able to look out his bedroom window at night and see a light up here.

At being able to provide her with a refuge.

“If you really mean your offer…” Nell’s brown eyes shimmered as if tears threatened.

“I do. I’d be happiest if you would.”

She took a big breath and swallowed. “Then I’d love to. I’ll try not to…to lean on you too much, but knowing you’re there makes me feel a lot less scared.”

“I’m the one who talked you into taking a chance and coming home.” He let the leash he’d been keeping on his intensity slide, hoping it wouldn’t scare her. “I’m asking you to let me support you. Having you here…” He shook his head, unable to find adequate words. “It’s amazing.” He sounded a little hoarse. “The fact that you trust me, that means a lot to me, Nell.” Enough already. Ease up, he told himself. He tried for a friendly smile. “I’d like it if you’d have dinner with me. I already have some chicken marinating—I didn’t figure a restaurant would appeal much.”

“No.” While tremulous, her smile was real. “I don’t want to be recognized until I’ve seen my parents, at least. And since you recognized me so easily, other people probably will, too.”

“You’d be likeliest to catch your parents home in the evening,” he pointed out.

She nodded. “I thought…tonight. I’m here. It would be silly to hide out for the next twenty-four hours.”

Colin smiled at her. “Will you let me come with you?”

“A truly gutsy woman would say no.” Even her eyes smiled this time. “Me, I’d be grateful if you would.”

“Good.” He backed onto the landing. “Let me haul your bags up.”

“Oh, I can…”

“Settle in,” he told her. “You’ll need to look around and tell me what I forgot. Maybe take a nap.”

“I can plan my strategy.”

“You can do that, too.”

A minute later, when she popped the rear door to her hatchback, he reached for the larger of the two suitcases.

Elation rose from the incredulity.

Maddie Dubeau was home.

CHAPTER FIVE

NELL KNEW THE house, as she’d known the faces of her parents when she saw them online. This was one of the gracious, older homes right on the river, lawn sweeping down to the rocky bank. Even shrouded by darkness, she knew it was painted white with dignified black trim, and that a huge old weeping willow hung over the murmuring water of the Deschutes. Her father had already strung the Christmas lights, sparkling white. Their Christmas tree, she suddenly remembered, had always been silver-themed. Mom didn’t like garish colors.

Colin pulled into the driveway, set the brake and turned off the engine. Neither said a word. They gazed at the house in silence for a minute, and then he got out and started around to her side. Nell quickly unbuckled and joined him.

Windows were warm golden squares, but the porch light was off. A streetlamp half a block away cast a circle of yellowish light. The temperature had dropped with nightfall. Nell told herself that was why she shivered, but she wasn’t convinced.

I don’t remember that night. I don’t.

But prickles tiptoed up her spine anyway.

Colin took her arm, looking down at her, his face shadowed. She remembered the night he had confronted her at the library and how much he’d scared her. Tonight, he was all that gave her the courage to walk toward the deep front porch.

She knew without looking where the doorbell was.

They stood side by side, listening to the bell toll. Footsteps came faintly, loud enough to allow her time to brace herself for the moment when the porch light came on and then the door opened.

Marc Dubeau stood in the opening, expression impatient. In that first, fleeting glimpse, Nell saw that he hadn’t changed much from the man in her memories. Hair at his temples had turned silver and new lines aged his face, but he was still thin, handsome and fit.

He looked first at Colin, his eyebrows climbing in surprise, and then his gaze flicked to Nell. Shaking only inside where nobody could see, she thought, That’s just like him. Courteous to women, but always assuming men are more important.

Then shock transformed that lean, dark face. His grip tightened in a spasm on the door. “Maddie?” he whispered.

“Yes.” That sounded inadequate. “It’s me.”

“What…?” He closed his eyes and gave his head a bewildered shake. “My God. Come in.” Standing back, he held the door wide-open. “Maddie.” That same note infused his voice. “Captain,” he said to Colin.

Colin had released her arm when they reached the porch, but now he gripped it again, just above her elbow as if to steady her. They both stepped inside, and she knew the entryway, too, with a wide staircase rising from it and arched openings to each side, one leading to the living room, the other a formal dining room. She heard canned voices from a television.