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23
Holt
My family seemed to understand our need to leave. Maddy looked a little overwhelmed by the hugs from not only the children but all of the adults as well. I didn't have to know much about her family life to recognize that she wasn't used to being the recipient of so much affection, but my family was one to lavish it out, and both of my parents made sure to tell Maddy that she was welcome to their home anytime. Poor Buddy stood at the driveway and barked until we were out of sight. Damn traitor.
The ride home was fairly quiet, other than agreeing to a time we'd leave for work in the morning and when we'd meet up to come home since there was no bus near my complex, and I didn't want her walking alone. Someday soon she was due for a driving lesson, but I kept that thought to myself since I knew she'd fight me on the idea of borrowing my brother-in-law's car that Carol had offered for her to use until Rick came home.
We were both a little lost in thoughts. She had a lot to absorb tonight. I only hoped she was truly willing to let me in. Not only would it possibly provide me some clues as to who might want to cause her harm, but I had a feeling she wa
sn't used to anyone believing in her and choosing her side. And for some reason, I wanted to be that person for her.
Once back at my apartment, I locked the doors and checked all the windows, even though I lived on the third floor.
"Do you really think all that's necessary?" she asked.
"I'm not taking any chances. Someone was willing to commit a felony to get to you, Maddy, and they didn't care who else might get hurt. I'd say that's about as serious as it gets." I finished my security check and paused at my mini-bar. "Speaking of, I think it's time."
She sat stiffly on the edge of the couch and although she tried to hide them between her knees, I saw her fingers twisting with each other. "Do you want a drink?"
She shook her head. A nervous laugh escaped her tight lips. "Are you hoping it will make me talk more?"
"No, I want you to tell me because you trust me." I poured some of my favorite Scotch and settled on the couch.
Maddy twisted on the couch, so close to the edge I thought she might fall off. "Do...do you need to take notes or something?" she asked.
I picked her hand up and squeezed it. "Maddy. I'm here as your friend. Yes, I may use my contacts to help you, and yes I can offer you some legal advice if you need it, but for now, that's all secondary, okay?"
Long lashes blinked at me. "I'm not sure where to start."
Oh, her eyes. There was so much vulnerability in them as she looked to me for guidance. I wanted to tell her to forget about everything and pull her into my arms while we watched a movie...or while I refreshed my memory about how her curves felt in my hand or against my body.
I managed to stick to the task as hand. “Well, let’s start with the basics. Is there anybody who’s threatened you?”
Her mouth turned down. "Well, there was that day you picked me up from prison. Do you think Sharon Regis could be behind it?" Her voice trembled slightly.
Thinking back to the day I had my first introduction to the 'grieving widow,' I'd seen how verbally hostile she was, but I wasn't convinced she had the gumption to back up her words. "I don't know, but she's on my list of possibilities. She was really angry the day you were released, and she did threaten you, but I’m not sure it was her. Could there be anybody else who would want to hurt you? Did anyone else cause you problems while you were in prison? Any former boyfriends?"
She shook her head. "I've never had a boyfriend, and I don't think I made any enemies over the past six years."
I was amazed. "You never had a boyfriend? Not even before..." I didn't like to keep pushing her conviction in her face.
"I was sort of focused on schoolwork," she said, pink coloring her cheeks. "Besides, the boys never really paid much attention to me. I was shy and quiet. They liked the girls who were more likely to hang out with them behind the bleachers, if you know what I mean."
I did. "I would have totally hung out with you behind the bleachers," I answered, grinning at the thought.
"Except you would have been with girls like Claire, not me." Her tone wasn't accusing but full of something else. Maybe regret?
Claire's name threw cold water on my feelings immediately. I'd hardly given Claire a thought all day except when Maddy mentioned her in the truck at my folk's house. I realized I was rubbing circles on the back of her hand that I still held. Guilt crept into my heart, and I withdrew my hand.
But it still didn't answer why some other guy didn't want her. "So why were you so driven in school that you didn't pay attention to the boys?"
Reaching for the throw pillow beside her, she cradled it to her chest and rested her chin on top. "My dad was the town drunk, Holt. People never saw Madelyn or Charlotte, my older sister. They always saw Madelyn and Charlotte, Jacob Stone's girls. We always lived under his shadow, at least when we were young. People never expected anything good out of my dad. He couldn't hold a job for longer than a few months, couldn't pay the bills, and couldn't get past his pride if anyone tried to help us. So while there were some people who felt sorry for us and would drop off food and clothes when he wasn't home, a lot of people transferred their opinion of him on to us."
"I can't imagine how hard it was to grow up like that." It was true. Sometimes growing up we'd been shown some tough love, but there was never any doubt my parents were always there for us, no matter what we did.
She shrugged. "You get used to it after awhile. Charly, that's what I call my sister, was able to find her own spotlight eventually." She raised her eyes to mine. "She could always be found behind the bleachers, with anyone. She was the fun, fast, and flirty one. She thrived on the attention she got from the boys. And so then, most people thought I'd follow in her tracks – as the next town slut."
I frowned at the presumption. "Obviously, you didn't. So what were you like?"
