Out Of Focus: An Adams Grove Novel Part 21

"Tell me about Jake."

Kasey grinned. "He was three at the time of the accident, but if you asked him, it always looked like four. He had trouble getting his fingers moving in all the right directions to show his age. He's four now."

She pushed the dishes to the side and leaned her forearms on the table. "I know some people think I'm crazy for believing he might still be alive, but I know he is. I feel it." She brought her hands to her heart. "In here. I just know it." She put her hands in her lap and met his gaze. "You think I'm nuts, too."

"No. I don't. Mothers have a sense like that about their children." He leaned on his forearms, mirroring her posture. "Let me tell you a story. When I was ten, I was riding a mountain bike on the hills by the old pit with some other kids. I fell and broke my leg. We weren't supposed to be on the man-made piles, but you know-boys."

She nodded.

"Anyway, one of the other kids ran home and called an ambulance. When the paramedics wheeled me into the emergency room, my mom was already there waiting. Turned out no one had called. She just knew. She told me that years later."

He did understand.

"You're kidding?"

"Happened again a few years ago. I was shot during what was supposed to be a routine traffic stop. She already knew I was injured, but not dead, when the guys at the station called her."

"I like your mom."

"Everyone does. So...tell me more about Jake."

"Gosh, he's a bundle of energy that never stops. Such a little man tromping around in cowboy boots and a hat like his daddy. He slept in those boots more than once." She paused. "He's just-I don't know-fearless. He's strong and determined-wise for such a little boy."

"Got any pictures?" Scott asked.

"Of course I do." She dug around in her purse for her wallet. She flipped it open and handed him the pictures.

"He looks like you."

"Thanks."

He handed the wallet back to her. "Think you'll like living in the country? It's a lot different."

"Sure. It's quiet. That'll be nice."

Scott snickered. He'd known plenty of folks who thought the country would be nice until they got here. Then all they wanted to do was turn their quiet paradise into the city. They'd complain about the very things that drew them to the wide-open s.p.a.ces to begin with. Scott had first-hand knowledge of how a city girl could have trouble feeling at home in the country.

"Don't be so quick to think you'll fit right in. We don't have good shopping around here, you know."

"I'm internet savvy. The UPS man comes this way, doesn't he?"

He nodded. "Sure. Well, maybe you'll surprise me."

He raised his tea gla.s.s, and she raised hers to meet his.

"Welcome to our little neck of the woods. I hope you settle in and don't regret joining us." He tipped his gla.s.s to hers, then took the last swig of his sweet tea. "I'm having a few people over Sunday afternoon. I'll throw something on the grill. Nothing fancy. Will you come?"

She hesitated.

"I thought you'd like to meet a few of the locals, and I do make the best steak in town."

"True, and making new friends is part of starting a new life." She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks. Deputy Dan won't be there, will he?"

"No. I'm thinking you might need some time to cool off before you see him again."

"You got that right."

He drew a map on a paper napkin, then turned it to face her and talked her through the directions. She pointed out the window of the diner-left and then right. "Okay. So that way, right?"

"Tell you what. I know exactly where you live. Why don't I just pick you up at one?"

"No. That's too much trouble. Plus you'll be getting ready for your guests."

He shook his head. "Nope. I insist. Not a problem. They won't get there until around two. You can help me get ready. I could use an extra hand."

She felt relieved because she didn't know her way around yet, and all the roads looked the same. All trees or all crops.

"Deal."

They shared a smile and a handshake.

"I better warn you," she said. "I'm not too good in the kitchen."

"Thanks for the warning." Scott dug in his front pocket, peeled off the money to pay the bill, and put it on the table for the waitress. "Ready?"

"Yep."

They walked back up the street to the station and around back to where both their cars were parked. Scott had made the deputy retrieve his car from the side of the road while he and Kasey went to dinner.

She told Scott goodbye and started her Porsche, relieved to hear the hum of the engine. Driving these country roads at night was a daunting new experience. There wasn't a streetlight beyond the small town, and she'd never driven these roads in the dark before. It seemed much darker here than the surroundings of the farm in Pungo, but then when she first moved to Pungo she remembered feeling that way, too. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

Okay, little animals, no darting out in front of my car.

The mailbox with PHILLIPS in reflective lettering came into view. She let out a long sigh. She'd thought to put Rolly on the box, but since she never took Nick's name, it seemed a little creepy to do it now. At least, that's what Riley had said when she'd shared the idea with her.

Kasey pulled into the driveway and got out of the car. After a few steps, she realized that it was so pitch black she couldn't see her way to her front door. This place brought a whole new meaning to the word dark. She made a mental note to check the timer on the garden lights and to leave the porch lights on.

Inching her way back to her car, she fumbled with the key to get it into the ignition. The headlights brightened a path to the door. She unclipped the house key from the key ring and ran to the house and unlocked the front door. She turned on the porch light, then headed back to turn off the headlights.

Something scampered in the bushes.

In an all-out sprint, she ran to retrieve her car keys and then raced back as fast as she could. She slammed the door behind her, heaving deep breaths. When had she become such a sissy? Or gotten so out of shape? She squeezed her left side to alleviate the cramp, probably from the heavy dinner she'd just consumed.

Adrenaline surged through her veins as her anxiety rose with each creak and noise from the darkness outside. She tried to shake her skittishness by flipping on the lights in every room and turning on the television.

"There. That's more like it."

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Kasey had fallen asleep watching television. She woke to bright suns.h.i.+ne and birds chirping outside and every light in the house still on. That felt ridiculous now.

She turned off the TV, and got up to make some coffee.

Being arrested hadn't been the least bit funny at the time, but after the nice dinner with Scott, she'd begun to see the humor in the chain of events. She'd always been a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of a girl, but not once had she ever been in real trouble. Riley and Von would get a big laugh out of this. Grem would've had an all out hissy fit if she'd known Kasey had flirted with a criminal record. Thank goodness she hadn't had to call Grem for bail.

Welcome to Adams Grove.

She started the coffee, got her laptop from her office, and sat at the kitchen bar. After all the action of being on tour, it felt weird to sit still with nothing going on around her. She checked her email, then went to Cody Tuggle's website. One click on the events page and she saw that they were in Florida tonight.

Good place to be the last week of January.

She got up and poured a cup of coffee, then sat back down. After a show, Cody didn't wind down until after nine in the morning. He'd be up. She picked up her phone and dialed his cell number.

"Hey, Kasey. I'm so glad you called."

His enthusiasm reflected her own. Their friends.h.i.+p had grown so much over the last few months. "Not a bad time?"

"No. Everything okay?"

"Yes. Everything's fine. I was just thinking about y'all and thought I'd check in. I do have some news."

"About Jake?" Cody sounded hopeful.

"No. Nothing there yet, but I moved."

"Moved? You just got home."

"I know. It sounds crazy, doesn't it?" She explained the whole story-from Chaz Huckaby to the house. Cody seemed to understand her immediate connection to the place.

"I think you did the right thing. You sound good. Real good."

"It's just a little hard to embrace all the quiet after the pace of the tour."

"You can always come back," he said as if the answer was obvious. "I do have a seat on my plane that's empty."

"I'll keep that in mind. I'll email you the mailing address and phone number in case there's anything we need to handle on the book. If you ever get back out this way, stop on by."

"By the way, I need to thank you."

"Yeah? For what?"

"I have some news, too," he said.

"What's that?"

"Annette tracked down Lou for me. She's divorced. I'm thinking about giving her a call."

Kasey smiled. "True love. You know it when you feel it. Good luck."

"Thanks." His voice softened. "I'm glad you called. We've missed you around here. Keep in touch, will you?"

"Count on it." She hung up feeling connected in a good way.

The weather was chilly, but not as frigid as the first week of February could be. Kasey spent all day Sat.u.r.day taking pictures and getting to know the new property by snapping off rolls and rolls of film. She'd test out her new darkroom developing the film. She looked forward to that.

The landscape, trees, the goats, and anything that came in view of her lens was fair game. She made a mental note to drive into town and get a book on birds. She'd caught several on film. Beautiful ones. But she had no idea what kind they were, and some things were just more convenient to have in book form rather than having to Google around on the internet.

She liked exploring the place, although it would have been more fun with Dutch by her side. He was good company, but Von convinced her that the old dog would be better off with the familiar surroundings and the constant attention of the 4-H-ers who frequented the Rocking R. It killed her to leave him behind, but the fifteen-year old-dog probably wouldn't do so well being uprooted. It was the right thing to do for him even if it was hard for her.

It was after five when she came back into the house. She turned up the heat and took a warm bath. Wrapped in her favorite robe, she popped popcorn for dinner.

Accepting Scott's invitation to his cookout tomorrow had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now she wished she hadn't accepted. She couldn't go empty-handed. Nick had stocked several bottles of wine in the rack, but wine didn't seem like the right thing to take. She hadn't stocked the pantry yet, but then her cooking skills weren't that good anyway. She didn't want to embarra.s.s herself in front of her new neighbors. Maybe she could backtrack her way to the market in the morning and pick up something.

She climbed into bed, exhausted from the fresh air. A dog howled in the distance and she wondered if it might be a coyote. Not that she'd ever heard a coyote howl, except in those spooky Halloween soundtracks. Taking in a couple of long, cleansing breaths, she reminded herself she was safe here, and tugged the covers over herself.

Kasey's body clock woke her at seven. She stretched herself out full-length pointing her toes under the sheets. The extra-high mattress required a leap to the floor, as had the one she and Nick had shared before. The height had been no problem for him. He'd been tall. The bed was so high she literally had to climb in and out. She jumped to the ground and raised her hands over her head in an exaggerated gymnast's flourish, as if she'd nailed the landing.

Nick used to tease her about her bed dismounts, shouting out scores as if he was a judge on Dancing With the Stars. He'd built a little stool to keep next to the bed, but she liked the bouncy dismount better. He pretended to spot her sometimes, just so he could cop a feel. As if he needed an excuse for something they both liked anyway I miss you, Nick.

If Nick and Jake were here, this house would be full of comforting boy howls and playful banter. Instead, it was quiet.

Will I ever get used to the quiet?

Kasey made a cup of coffee, sat at the table in the corner of the kitchen, and looked out over the pastures, fully aware that Nick had this view in mind when he designed this s.p.a.ce. She closed her eyes and squeezed her coffee cup. Tears tickled her bottom lashes. She felt the familiar warmth of Nick in the room. She blinked and shook off the thought. It was still too hard to go there-the wounds still too fresh when she missed him as she did now.

If she was going to find something suitable to take to Scott's cookout, she needed to get busy. She got dressed and drove to town without one wrong turn. There weren't large quant.i.ties of anything in the little market, but to her surprise there was most anything you could want, including some things you wouldn't expect-like fis.h.i.+ng poles and waders.

Deviled eggs would be easy enough. She could probably pull that off. She'd made them a couple of times. But if she didn't peel the eggsh.e.l.ls off just right, all the eggs would be gouged. That would be embarra.s.sing with people she didn't know-even with people she did.

She was a photographer, not a cook. She was good at creative stuff. Grem sure as heck never cooked, and it wasn't something Kasey had ever learned to do. She spotted the waders again and had an idea. Tossing them in the cart, she picked up a few other things and headed to the register, pleased with her purchases. On the drive home, the feeling of accomplishment lifted her mood. She still had plenty of time before Scott picked her up at one.

As she approached the house, she was surprised to see a man leaning against a car in her driveway, his legs and arms crossed, waiting.

Chapter Twenty-Three.

Kasey pulled her car to a stop next to him.