Dead Silence (Stillwater Trilogy #1)(60)
Author: Brenda Novak

“You never know,” she said. “Did you have fun camping?”

Grace thought of Kennedy holding her in the water, his lips on her neck—and heat rose inside her. She’d had fun, all right. In some ways, she’d never felt more complete. But indulging her attraction to Kennedy would inevitably set her up for a disappointment.

“We had a nice time until Joe Vincelli showed up.”

Clamping her hands tightly together, Irene lowered her voice. “Did Joe say anything about Lee?”

“Nothing,” Grace lied. She saw no need to upset her mother. Irene couldn’t do anything about Joe.

“Good. That’s good.” Standing, she picked up her purse.

“You’re leaving?” Grace asked.

“I was on my way to Madeline’s for dinner when I saw you and Kennedy out front. Why don’t you come with me?”

“No, thanks. I didn’t get much sleep last night. I want to soak in a tub, then go straight to bed.”

“Okay.” She breezed toward the door. “I can’t wait to tell Maddy you’re seeing Kennedy Archer,” she said. “Maybe she’ll print something about it in her Singles section.”

“No!” Grace shouted, following her. “Mom, promise me you won’t tell anyone that I went camping with Kennedy.”

“Are you kidding? That’s the best thing to happen to our family in years.”

“I’m serious.”

“I’ll be discreet,” she said.

Grace wanted more of a promise. But it wasn’t as if she planned on seeing Kennedy again. One camping trip couldn’t be construed as much of anything.

“Discreet is fine,” she said. But she was a little worried when her mother smiled eagerly and hurried off as though she couldn’t wait to tell everyone she saw.

The phone rang as soon as Grace climbed out of her hot bath. Wrapping herself in a towel, she hurried to the nightstand in the bedroom.

“Hello?”

“What’s going on?” It was her sister, Molly, calling from New York. “How’re things in Stillwater?”

“I’m not sure,” Grace said. “It certainly hasn’t been anything like I expected.”

“Madeline told me about Jed’s shop. I can’t believe you let her talk you into that. You could be in jail!”

“Don’t remind me,” Grace said with a groan.

“What were you thinking?”

“What would you do?” Grace countered. “She was going, with or without me. I couldn’t let her do it alone.”

Molly said nothing for a few seconds, then murmured, “Well, at least you weren’t caught.”

Grace considered telling her about the Bible and Kennedy Archer. She knew she and Molly could be closer, if only she could lower her defenses. But, in the end, she decided to keep her mouth shut about both subjects. Kennedy was something she couldn’t explain. Their history was too complex. And she didn’t want to draw Molly back into what had happened eighteen years ago. Her sister had been so young at the time, she’d merely huddled in the corner, crying. She was the least affected of the family. To this day, Grace wasn’t sure if Molly completely understood what had caused the events of that night.

Besides, the Bible was no longer a threat to them. “Have you talked to Clay?” she asked.

“Not recently. How’s he doing?”

“Fine.”

“Mom’s really excited you’re back,” she said.

“She is?”

“She called last night to tell me the two of you are getting along better than ever.”

Evidently, it didn’t take much to please their mother. She and Irene hadn’t spent that much time together, but relations, at least on the surface, were smooth, so Irene was satisfied. “Go figure.”

“She still says she’s not seeing anyone.”

“I haven’t found any proof that she is.”

“She was acting strange, even on the phone yesterday.”

“How?”

“Preoccupied. Too happy.”

“Whoever it is, they’re going to great lengths to hide the relationship.”

“And that has me a little worried.”

If Grace wasn’t already so worried about other things, she’d be more concerned. “Hopefully, it’s nothing.”

“Are you okay?” Molly asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Really? Will you be able to stick it out for the whole three months?”

Going back wouldn’t be much easier. Grace thought of the pictures she’d shown various juries over the years. Those images would be imbedded in her mind forever, along with other, more personal images. And it would be difficult to see George. “I’m staying for now.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come out there?”

“Do you have any vacation days?”

“No, but I could try to arrange something.”

“Don’t. Everything’s fine.”

“You’re positive?”

Grace’s call-waiting beeped, saving her from having to convince Molly. “I’ve got another call,” she said. “Can I get back to you later?”

“Of course,” she said and Grace switched over.

“Do you have it?” Clay asked.

“Have what?”

“What do you think?”

The Bible. Of course. Grace released an audible sigh. “No.”

A long stretch of silence met her response. “What happened?”

“He destroyed it.”

“You’re sure?”

“Fairly sure. I didn’t see him do it, but he told me he did.”

“You believe him?”

“He has no reason to lie. What good would it do him to hang on to such evidence? He wouldn’t want to get caught with it.”

“Does he know where you found it?” Clay asked.

Hearing a door open and shut in the background, she imagined Clay locking up for the night. “He asked me, but he didn’t press for an answer. I don’t think he really wants to learn the details.”

Another long silence. “Which means he’s interested in you, like I said,” Clay muttered at last.

Grace didn’t deny it. Kennedy was interested. He’d admitted as much. But whether or not he’d ever openly pursue her with the intention of establishing a serious relationship was another matter. She wouldn’t let him even if he tried. “I think it’s a question of wanting what you can’t have.”