What Lies Within (6 page)

She slid from the car, the cell phone to her ear. “Fine. Then what would you call that idiotic remark you made to him about his still being around?”

The silence drew out. “You heard that, huh?”

“Yes, Annot, I heard it.” Kyla reached the back of her car and peered down at the bush.

Nothing.

The kitten was gone.

Pain—sudden and blinding—shot through Kyla. Piercing her heart.

“Kyla? Are you okay?”

The alarm in her sister’s voice told her she’d somehow given herself away. “I’m fine. Just”—she pressed trembling fingers to weary eyes—“frustrated.”

More silence. “Look, I’m sorry, Kylie. I guess I’m just ambivalent when it comes to Mason.”

Why hadn’t she come back sooner? Why hadn’t she at least called the Humane Society? “He’s a fine man.”

“But is he the
right
man? That’s what bothers me.”

“What matters, my dear sister, is whether or not it bothers
me
.“ Kyla let the overwhelming emotions fill her tone, welcomed the outlet even as she knew Annot didn’t deserve her response.

“I’ve seen you two together, and I’ve listened to your voice when you talk about him, and there’s just …”

Kyla closed her eyes. “What? There’s just what?”

“Nothing.”

The word fell like a stone. How horribly appropriate. “Annot—”

“No, that’s what there is. Nothing. No longing. No sense that you can’t wait to be with him. No
passion
. You need a man with passion.”

“Our passion is doing just fine, thank you.”

“Oh?” Long pause. “Anything I should know about?”

“Don’t be absurd, Annot. You know me better than that.”

“Exactly. Which is why I know Mason is fine as a friend, but he’s just not the one. Not for you, Kylie.”

Kyla didn’t cry. Hadn’t done so in years. And yet as she stood there, listening to her sister’s voice, her eyes burned and filled.

Think of something else. Tell Annot your name isn’t Kylie …

She didn’t have the energy to try to stop her sister’s use of the childhood nickname. What was the point? Annot gave everyone nicknames.
Annie
rather than
Annot, Dan
in place of
Avidan
. Even her dog was everything from Kodi, the animal’s actual name, to Beast, Monster, and—Kyla’s personal favorite—Kodi-o-dio. And that was fine. For Annot.

Kyla chose to hold to the true names they’d been given. Out of respect.

Not, no matter
what
Annot said, out of rigidity.

“So how’s life down south?” Annot lived in Medford, which was three hundred miles south. A nice area, though a bit too arid for Kyla. She much preferred the lush green of the Portland area.

Unfortunately, her sister didn’t take the distraction bait. “Don’t you ever get tired of it, Kylie?”

“Of what?”

“Being so sedate.”

At least that made Kyla laugh. A little. “Are you calling me dull?”

“Well. Yeah. I mean, think about it. You and Mason are both so unaffected by life. So controlled.”

You should see me now
. She pressed two fingers to the bridge of her nose. This conversation was going nowhere. Just like her life. And that had to change. “Was there a reason you called?”

Another pause. Then a sigh. Her sister could communicate
volumes
with one sigh. “Two reasons. First, I wanted to know how the opening went.”

“Fine.”

“You don’t sound very excited.”

Kyla stared at the clouds studding the sky. “It’s a mall, Annot. It’s not like I built something that will change anyone’s life.” Her own words struck her, and she straightened her back, brows furrowing, realization nudging at her.

“Anyway, the second reason I called is to let you know that Jed and I are getting married.” Delight lilted across the phone waves.

“Yes, I know. You’ve been engaged for almost seven months now.”

By all rights, the two should already be husband and wife. They’d planned to marry back in December.

It surprised everyone when they, hand in hand, had gathered the family in Annot’s living room and Jediah explained. “Annie and I love each other, but God has made it clear we should take our time.” He looked at Annot, and the love in his features was undeniable. “This is going to last all our lives. We need to do it right.”

Kyla’s mouth had fallen open. Something she seldom allowed but couldn’t stop this time. “You’re taking time to
think
about something?”

Annot laughed. “Yes, Kylie, as out of character as that may seem. But hey, isn’t it about time I was sensible about something in my life?”

“Yes, it is.” Kyla had smiled at their brother, Avidan, and he winked his agreement.

Kyla drew her focus back to the phone call. “So, you’re getting married is supposed to be news because …?”

“Because we’ve set a date.”

“Oh, Annot! Really? When?”

Her sister’s laughter trilled. “Now
that’s
more like it. You need to get excited more often, sister mine.”

“Just tell me the date, brat.”

“December 21.”

Kyla grabbed her purse and tugged her day planner free. “That’s barely three months away!”

“It’s a good deal more than we’d have had with our original plan.”

True enough. That would have given them a week. “Okay, then, December 21 it is.” She set her day planner on the seat beside her. Her sister’s wedding. Now this was something that mattered. “You’ll tell me what you want me to do and when?”

“You mean other than be my maid of honor?”

Kyla bit her lip against the sting at the backs of her eyes. How did Annot do that? Know exactly what to say to tug Kyla’s heart to life? “I’d love to. Thank you.”

“Yeah, like I’d ask anyone else, goofball.”

“You’d better not. Anyway, let me know when you want to get together to talk about things or try on dresses, or whatever.”

“Will do. And Kyla?”

“Yes?”

“Get some rest. You don’t sound right.”

“Annot—”

“I won’t say another word. I promise.”

Kyla couldn’t hold back the wry smile as she bid her sister good-bye. Annot not say another word?

Now
that
would be a miracle.

FOUR   

I
t was a miracle nothing had happened so far.

He stood back, concealed by the concrete building, and watched what was happening across the street. Frustration warred with apprehension in his gut.

That ladder rung should have given way by now. He’d been here the last two days, waiting. It shouldn’t have taken this long. He’d chosen the old extension ladder because it was tall enough to do the trick, but not so tall the accident could kill. He chose a middle rung, about five feet up, and made a perfect cut. Just enough to weaken the rung but not so obvious anyone would notice. Lucky for him the construction crew was using the ladders owned by the church as well as their own aluminum equipment.

Wood ladders were far easier to sabotage.

Another construction worker climbed the ladder in question, and he held his breath. But the worker made it to the top of the ladder without event.

Foul thoughts flew through his mind, curses against whatever guardian angels hovered nearby. Sure, it was a church. But that shouldn’t matter. Accidents happened everywhere, even on so-called holy groun—

A loud snap and a man’s alarmed cry jerked him from his dark reverie. Anticipation wrapped around his heart, making it pound as he leaned for a better view. Ah, success!

The worker lay on the ground, writhing in what clearly was agony. Chaos erupted as his fellow workers ran to his side.

“Call 911! Now!”

Music to his ears.

He slipped behind the building, leaning against the cold concrete, and smiled.

“I’m done.”

Fredrik Tischler looked up from the ledger he was studying to peer at the tall man standing in the doorway of the church office. He hadn’t known James Lawton long, but he liked what he knew of him. He’d worked hard these last few months, keeping his construction crew past sunset more often than not.

Speaking of which … Fredrik glanced past the contractor at the still-sunny day outside. He frowned and almost questioned James, but reason seeped in. The crew deserved to get off a little early once in a while. He waved a hand. “Fine. We’ll see you first thing tomorrow.”

“No.” The contractor’s tone hardened. “Not done for today.
Done
.”

Sudden understanding brought Fredrik to his feet. How such a man, a professional, could be saying this was more than he could take in. “You’re quitting?”

Lawton buried his large hands in his pants pockets. “I’m sorry—”

“But we only have two more months to finish the project!”

“Mr. Tischler, I’m sorry. But we can’t keep working with these conditions.”

“Please—”

Words spilled forth, frustration evident in the clipped tone. “No. I just sent another man to the hospital.”

“Oh no.” Fredrik pressed his hands against the desktop, steadying himself. “I heard the sirens but didn’t know they were coming here.”

“This man has worked for me for five years. Never been injured on the
job, not once. And now he’s the fourth man injured on this job.” He shook his head. “If that weren’t enough, every order for supplies has come back wrong, no matter
how
careful we are with the measurements. It’s not my guys. I
know
it’s not.”

“I know, but—”

“Tools have gone missing. Permits have been delayed or lost. Vehicles have been broken into. And these accidents …” Lawton clamped his jaws on the tirade.

“Mr. Lawton, please—”

“No, I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to do a good thing here. I respect that. I wanted to be a part of it. Really. But I won’t put my guys at risk any longer.” He held out a folder Fredrik hadn’t noticed before. “Here’s everything you need to give the new contractor.”

Fredrik took the folder, then did the only thing he could. He held out his hand.

Lawton hesitated for a second, then accepted Fredrik’s hand. “I’m sorry, sir. I really am.”

Fredrik believed him. “You do what you must, sir. With such there is no arguing.”

Lawton turned and walked toward the doorway, where he hesitated and turned back, concern heavy on his features. “You’ve got somebody working awfully hard to keep this project from happening. Are you sure it’s worth the cost?” He didn’t wait for a reply. He just walked out of the office.

Fredrik stood there, folder in his hands, mind spinning. Finally, with a weighted sigh, he laid the folder on the desk and picked up the phone.

Father, we need a miracle
.

“I see you’re praying again.”

Fredrik turned as Willard walked toward him. “I’m Jewish. I’m in a temple. I should do something else?”

With the ease born of long friendship, the white-haired man came to stand close beside Fredrik.