Breathless (9 page)

“Stirring up a bunch of unwanted dirt on other people won't do any good.” Riley shot her a stern look. “You stay here and be a friend.”

Sheryl pushed her lip out into her usual teasing pout.

“I can see it now, all the gossips banding together, trying to figure out who's making prank calls to Lydia.” Warren rolled his eyes. “By tomorrow, everyone will be fully aware of the pastor delivering you to your front door. Of course, with this bunch, they'll have you married and with child.”

Lydia laughed as she hugged Warren's neck. “How will I survive without you? Whenever things are bad, you're there to make me laugh.”

“You'll be fine, Lydia.” Riley placed his hand on the small of her back. “Call me, anytime. Sheryl, I do have a job for you.”

“Goody, what's that?” Sheryl gushed, clapping her hands.

“Use those art skills of yours, and assist the lady in redecorating this house. Lighten it up a little, it feels like a cave in here. Also, try to talk her into removing those rings.”

A lump rose in Lydia's throat as she stared down at the one true symbol of her life with Justin.

“And remember, call if anything happens, no matter what time,” Riley ordered.

“I will, and don't worry, I'll be fine.” Lydia forced a smile then turned to her two friends.

“Let's retreat to the kitchen for those wonderful muffins Warren brought this morning.”

“Sounds great. I'm starving.” Sheryl pushed Warren toward the kitchen.

“I have no intention of leaving now.”

Lydia placed an apple-cinnamon muffin on a plate for each of them. “It's the job you've always dreamed of.”

“And teens could use some clean video games to play,” Sheryl added.

“It doesn't matter.” Warren pushed his cheesecake toward the center of the table. His lips puckered as he stared down.

“Why not?” Sheryl placed her hand on Warren's arm. “Are you nervous about the job?”

“It's not that. I'm not about to leave with Lydia being threatened. If something happened once I left, I'd never get over it.” Warren toyed with his fork.

“You would feel bad if you stayed and something happened to her,” Sheryl said.

“I can't leave when some guy is out there preparing to do God knows what.”

All this talk about what would happen next caused Lydia unease, but she forced her voice to remain even. “I won't hear another word about it.” Lydia took Warren's hand in hers. “You're not going to let this creep stop you from living your life. This is a job of a lifetime, and you should take it. As much as I'll miss you, it'll be good for you to go. I couldn't be more proud.”

“Besides, Ms. Right could be waiting there for you to arrive.” Sheryl smiled. “If you stay, you'll miss out on meeting her.”

“My days of meeting Ms. Right have passed by.” Warren stuffed the final portion of muffin into his mouth.

“Well, with Seattle being so liberal, maybe you'll meet Mr. Right.” Sheryl giggled.

Warren bumped her with his elbow. “I'm afraid I don't swing that way.”

“We'll stay in touch by phone and computer, so if anything happens you'll know.” Lydia hated the thought of him losing such a golden opportunity because of her.

“Yeah. Besides, it'll give us somewhere new to vacation.” Sheryl beamed. “I'm proud of you, too. I'll bet you'll be running the company before you know it.”

“I doubt that, but I'll mull it over,” Warren said.

“Good. Now let's get down to the real business.” Sheryl grinned. “Give us the scoop on the evening with the hunky new pastor.”

 

****

 

Matthew stretched his neck as he pulled in front of Anna's. The tan sheriff's car was parked out front with Riley leaning against the hood, his shoulders slumped. Matthew invited him in, but he declined.

“I still have some paperwork to do. Sorry I'm late. There was a hit and run off Newberry I had to attend to. In a town this small no one gets away with anything. Yet two young boys stealing daddy's pick-up decided to go for a joyride. Half the block saw them when they sideswiped two cars.” He paused before asking, “Did you think of anyone who could have been watching you and Lydia?”

“No, but then again, I didn't look.” Matthew noticed Riley's worried expression. “I plan to change that from here on out.”

“Probably wouldn't have been easy looking past her anyway,” Riley said.

“No, it's hard to detect anything else when she's close by. She's definitely what my daddy calls a breath-taker.”

“That she is.” Riley half-laughed, yet it did nothing to soften the angles on his face. “Apparently you seem to have gotten her attention, too.”

“You don't say.” Matthew wanted to jump and kick his heels but decided against it.

“Take it slow though. She feels she's cheating on Justin by being attracted to you.” Riley leaned against his car. “The calls only add to her distress level.”

“I can imagine.” Matthew propped himself against the cruiser next to Riley. “The worst part is you watch everyone differently than you did before, unsure if they're the person making the calls.”

“Spoken from experience?”

“I knew a lady in L.A. whose teenage daughter had been stalked. Creep started by calling, then he began leaving pretty raunchy notes on her car. I decided to follow her, to try to catch the guy. It turned out to be some neighbor older than her mother.”

“I imagine you had a talk with him and convinced him to stop.”

“Unfortunately, he fell into my fist while we discussed the situation.” Matthew leaned toward Riley. “It happened a few years before my Christian days.”

“He bother her again?”

“Nope.”

“I'm worried about the radiator. When I told her, she tried to stay strong, but the fear was evident.” Riley stared at the ground. “It would be too much of a coincidence not to assume it's the same person.”

“I agree.” Matthew's jaw tightened. “We've got to catch him before he moves it up another notch.” He kicked dirt with the toe of his boot as a smile stole over him. “Especially since she finds me attractive.”

“I believe I said you've got her attention, yet I can't figure out why.” Riley then added, “Do me a favor. Be careful with her. She's been through a lot.”

“I realize that.” Matthew knew if he chose to move forward with any type of relationship with Lydia, he would have to take the secret of her brother's death to his grave.

“There isn't a man in this town who wouldn't hope to win her,” Riley said. “Even some of the married ones.”

Warren's feelings for Lydia hadn't bypassed Matthew. The long lost stare gave it away. Lydia would only think of him as a friend, nothing more. Of course, Jimmy's reaction earlier showed his feelings also. And Phyllis remarked that James also could have an attraction to her. A list of suspects rose in Matthew's mind. He caught himself giving Riley a sideways glance.

“Including you?” If Riley told him he cared for her, no matter his feelings, Matthew would step aside if his friend asked him to.

“No. Lydia and I became close friends when her husband was sick. I know she's a special lady, but she's not for me. I would just hate to see her hurt again.”

“I have no intention of hurting her.” Matthew knew that wasn't true. Once he told her about killing her brother, he'd bring her more pain than she was feeling now. As much as he wanted to keep it secret, he knew she would eventually find out.

“I know. But whoever this guy is, if you're the one who catches her attention, there's a possibility you'd be putting your life in danger. There's no way she could go through that again.”

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

Lydia had surprisingly slept well the night before. No phone call disturbed her. She woke anxious to attend church, and to see Matthew again. The sun glowed through the windshield as she pulled into the parking lot.

Arctic fingers grabbed her above the wrist as she stepped from her car. She tore away and spun to confront Jimmy Newman standing behind her. His addiction to crack cocaine had taken a terrible toll on what used to be wonderful looks. His once perfect white smile now held spaces between blackened teeth.

“Hello Jimmy.” She tried to calm the panic that had risen.

“How are you doing?” The pair of blue jeans he wore hung off his hips, and a faded t-shirt with the image of some band painted on the front hung to mid-thigh. He looked near death with his thin face.

“I'm doing fine.”

Sadness filled her for what he'd become. His voice rasped from too many cigarettes. His formerly bright eyes were now dull round orbs sunk into their sockets.

“Last night I overheard my dad talking about them calls you been getting. It's funny how the people around here are. They seem more concerned with what you and the pastor are doing than somebody scaring you.” Concern came into his tone. “But I'm not like them. I care about you. I hate the idea of anybody hurting you.”

“Riley's been looking into it. Hopefully, he'll discover who it is.”

“If I find him, I'll take care of him for you.” An intense look advanced into Jimmy's eyes as the roar of a motorcycle sounded.

Lydia attempted to hide her elation as Matthew pulled up. He made an imposing figure stepping from the bike, his tight leather jacket covering his torso.

“You're kind of hooked on him, aren't you?”

“He's a nice man, but we haven't known each other long.” A frown climbed over Jimmy's face. She didn't mean to hurt him. “What we had when we were kids will always be special to me. I still remember how you looked in your tux for the prom.”

“You were the prettiest girl there. All the boys were jealous 'cause you came with me. You're still the prettiest girl. There's no way I could win you now. I'm just a bum.”

She patted his forearm. “Focus on yourself and stay off those drugs. That's where your attention needs to be.”

Every time she saw Jimmy, it brought up the remembrance of her brother. Charlie was the person who got Jimmy hooked. Lydia recalled the first time she caught him selling to Jimmy. She threatened to go to the sheriff. Charlie left town that night, then ended up dead. Guilt floated through Lydia for chasing her brother away.

“Lydia.” Matthew walked up behind them. “Jimmy, please join us for the service?”

“I ain't gonna listen to your preaching.” Jimmy lifted the side of his lip in a sneer. He faced Lydia again. “He'll never care for you like I do. No one will.” He turned and walked away.

Lydia watched Jimmy pick something up from the sidewalk before he crossed the street. He placed the item in his mouth and then lit a match catching fire to it.

Matthew held her by the arm, a distressed look in his eyes. Could he be as worried about Jimmy as she was?

“It's sad. He used to be the most popular kid in school. Now look at him.” Before Lydia entered the church building, she turned and watched Jimmy wander away from them and God.

 

****

 

The whispers began as soon as they entered the sanctuary. Murmurs continued even after Matthew's sermon on gossip.

“Lydia.” James Newman, III crossed the aisle and sat beside her. “I saw you talking with Jimmy before you got interrupted.” His jaw was taught as he glanced in Matthew's direction.

“He looks pretty frail,” she whispered.

“How about joining us for lunch? You two kids can get reacquainted.”

“Are you ready?” Sheryl passed Lydia a gray shawl. “Riley says he'll meet us at the house.”

“Riley? Are you having more problems?” James glanced between the two women.

“No. We're having a small gathering of friends,” Lydia explained. “They're worried I'll rust spending all my time in my house.”

“And guess who else I've invited.” Sheryl grinned. “Matthew. He's agreed to join us.”

“You've gone through a rough period,” James said. “And you deserve a decent man in your life. However, people are already talking about you and Matthew.” He leaned closer and whispered. “It's not pleasant what they're saying.”

“I'm not really interested in what a bunch of nosey people are saying.” Lydia tried to control her curt tone as she rose from the pew. “It's really no one's business.”

“You have a wonderful reputation,” James said as he stood. “I wouldn't want a bunch of rumors to ruin that. Also with the minister being new here, it isn't acceptable for him either.”

“Lydia's reputation will do fine,” Matthew said from behind James. “And if a bunch of cackling old hens are enough for me to lose my job, then it wasn't God's will I have it.”

“I'm just warning you,” James snapped. He reeled around Matthew and stormed out.

 

****

 

Matthew left within thirty minutes of Lydia. He couldn't believe how enthusiastic he was to see her again. No matter how hard he fought it, he cared for her. If he were smart, he'd head home and not steer toward those eyes that could read right through him. Seeing Jimmy earlier this morning, reminded him of Charlie, and how the young man never had a chance to get his life together.

Matthew hesitated and looked over the neatly aligned hedges of her home. He tugged off his helmet and stood. “I really like playing with fire, don't I?”

“Matthew, welcome.” Sheryl led him into the house. “Lydia's out back.”

“What makes you think it's only Lydia I came to see?”

“Because when I mentioned her name, I saw the vein of your neck throb.”

Out on the covered patio, Lydia, Warren, Riley, and Wendy Moreland laughed and talked with one another. Sheryl must have decided to play matchmaker for everyone, including herself.

After Matthew greeted the other guests, he found a seat next to Riley. He couldn't pull his attention from Lydia as she leaned on the railing. Her shoes sat on the concrete floor beside her. She wore a forest green dress and commanded attention without even trying. A silver wrap covered her shoulders as a light breeze cooled the air.

The southern lunch consisted of fried chicken, coleslaw, baked beans, rolls and iced tea. After eating, as Matthew rinsed his plate in the kitchen sink, he noticed Lydia leaning against a rail, staring over the yard.

“Mind if I join you?” A light hint of vanilla came from her direction. He sucked in the new fragrance. “You smell amazing.”

“Thank you.”

“When I saw you with Jimmy, I was afraid he'd hurt you.” Matthew chose not to tell her he had concerns that Jimmy might be her stalker. There were other possibilities and with Jimmy's drug use, it didn't seem likely he'd have the ability to be this sly. “Once closer, I realized you were just talking, and he had no intention of doing you any harm. I didn't mean to intrude.”

“You didn't. I know he has to fix himself. No one can do it for him. No matter what his father seems to think.”

“I gather he believes you could be his son's savior.” Matthew leaned back against the railing.

“He hated it when we broke up.”

Matthew leaned in as she spoke. He waited for her to continue.

“We went out in high school. Dances, driving around, teen stuff. After the senior prom, he drank quite a bit, and we were in an accident.”

Matthew straightened as she talked. For some reason her being injured, even years earlier, bothered him.

“I told him I wouldn't continue to go with him unless he got his act together.” She paused. “I wasn't hurt, but my dad was furious about me having to be driven home by a deputy. If Jimmy hadn't been in jail, my dad probably would have killed him.”

“I'm assuming Jimmy didn't get his act together.” Matthew moved a strand of hair that had blown across her forehead. His urge to kiss her grew.
God
, he silently prayed,
give me strength not to take Lydia in my arms. Unless, of course, it's Your will
.

“In fact, not even a week later he found himself in jail for burglary and drug possession. He received six years, was out in half that. While out on bail he came to see me. I told him I was leaving for college and wouldn't be seeing him again. He went to prison, and I got married. Unfortunately James has it in his head that his son and I are the perfect couple. He doesn't seem to realize it was a high school thing.”

Matthew stood beside her, looking over the yard in silence. It felt natural to Matthew, being with this woman, comfortable enough not to speak.

“Maybe I'm just trying to get him to quit because my brother's the one who first got him to do drugs.”

Matthew's pulse raced at the mention of Charlie. “Jimmy's a grown man. He needs to take responsibility for his actions.” A voice in Matthew's head laughed and said,
“Like you?”

“Do you suppose he'll ever recover?” She looked at him with pleading eyes. Matthew wished he could assure her of Jimmy's recovery, but he knew the odds were against it.

“As long as he's willing, there's always hope.” He pulled her into a one armed hug. “A dad hoping to fix him up with some old girlfriend won't do him any good. Prayer will. God can turn his spirit so he'll want to recover.” Matthew then thought to himself, as long as something or someone doesn't cut his life short.