Erica Spindler - Cause for Alarm

What was it? She reached a hand out, snatching it back as realization dawned.

A cry raced to her lips, and she swung away from the bed. Her gaze landed on her dresser, on the garments spilling out of her top drawer. Heart pounding, she inched slowly across the room, picking her way, as if the carpet itself might be contaminated.

Not garments, she saw. What was left of her underwear and nighties. They had been ripped to pieces.

John. He'd found her.

"Julianna?" Richard called out. "Babe, I've got lunch."

"Richard!" She scrambled for the door, yanking it open, then slamming it shut behind her, not wanting him to see what John had done. "Richard!" she cried again when she saw him. He turned and she launched herself into his arms. "Thank God you're here."

"You're trembling." He held her away from him, searching her expression, his concerned. "What's wrong? What's happened?"

She shook her head and pressed herself close again, unable to look him in the eyes. She longed to tell him about John, longed for him to comfort and reassure her. She didn't dare. If he knew the truth-about her, about John- he might not want her anymore. And she couldn't bear to lose him.

A partial truth, she thought, clinging to him, working to calm herself.

"Julianna?" he prodded. "Babe?" Again, he eased her away from him, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Talk to me."

Julianna's eyes flooded with tears. "Back in D.C., there was this man, an awful man. He's the real reason I came down here. To get away from him." Her throat closed over the words, and she struggled to clear it. Richard waited, watching her intently. "He's a bad person, Richard. If he finds me, he'll hurt me. I know he will."

"And you think he's found you?"

"Yes. I…I came home and I-" She caught his hand and led him to the bedroom. She showed him the bed, then the lingerie drawer.

As he surveyed the damage, Richard's expression became thunderous. "How do you know this old boyfriend of yours did this?"

"I don't, I just assumed… Who else would do something like this to me?"

"It could have been any sick bastard off the street. Some guy who's seen you around, followed you home and broke into your place. I don't like this."

Her teeth began to chatter. She grabbed her robe off the hook on the closet door and slipped into it.

"Were your doors and windows locked?"

"I think so…I don't know. The front door was, because I unlocked it when I got home."

They checked them all and though the rear door was locked tight, they found several windows unlocked. Richard took care of them, then they returned to the living room. "From now on, I want you to be really careful. Get yourself a can of mace, and don't go out alone at night. Be aware of anyone who seems to be following you, or anyone who seems to be hanging around. Let's say you notice a guy at the market, then see him again at the gas station, report it to the police."

"The police?" she repeated. "Do I have to?"

"Yes." He looked her in the eyes, the expression in his deadly serious. "I'm going to leave, Julianna. Then I want you to get dressed and call the police."

Her eyes filled with tears. "You're going to leave?"

"I can't be here when the police arrive. Considering the circumstances. You understand, don't you?"

She nodded miserably and hugged herself. "I'm scared, Richard."

He drew her back into the circle of his strong arms, fitting her cheek against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. "We'll get this worked out, babe. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."

"Promise?" she whispered, lifting her gaze to his.

Richard cupped her face in his hands. "You have no reason to be afraid, Julianna," he murmured, bringing his mouth to hers. "Never again."

"Welcome back, Kate!" Blake, Marilyn and Tess called in unison as she walked in The Bean's front door early Monday morning. The maternity leave she had given herself was officially over and although she had continued managing from a distance and had even worked an occasional day here and there over the past six months, today marked her first day back full-time.

Kate stopped dead, surprised and overwhelmed. Her employees had strung a banner above and behind the counter area that announced She's Baaack! A Mylar balloon decorated each table, a bouquet of them bobbled beside the register.

Her three employees hurried across to greet her. Marilyn took Emma, Tess grabbed the overflowing diaper bag and Blake took her arm. "Come on in, honey," he said. "The surprises have only just begun."

They led her to the back of the café. They had turned the furthermost corner into a play place for Emma, cordoned off with accordion-style baby gates and filled with bright-colored toys. The tile floor had been covered with a big patchwork rug; above the area hung a sign that read Baby Central in primary colors.

All three of her employees starting talking at once.

"We all went together-"

"Some of the regulars, too-"

"-and bought the baby gym, fun saucer and Johnny jump-up."

"I made the sign," Tess said.

"We wanted to do something for you and Emma and thought this way-"

"Working would be so much easier-"

"For both of you." Marilyn beamed at her. "We're so happy you're back, Kate. We've really missed you."

Kate turned to her employees, tears stinging her eyes. "I don't know what to say. You guys are the best."

"Glad you think so," Blake said, grinning, "because we're not done yet." He caught her hand. "Now, for your office."

"My office," she repeated weakly.

Giggling like kids, they led her to her office. There, they'd installed a portable crib and a big, old rocking chair.

"The chair was my sister's," Marilyn murmured. "She said you could use it as long as you like."

Kate shook her head. "This is too much, guys. Really, it is."

"Richard helped us."

"He knew about this?"

"Oh yeah." Tess laughed. "He gave me and Marilyn carte blanche at the baby store. It was really fun. I was born to spend other people's money."

From out front came the sound of knocking. Then a call of, "Hello. Anybody here?"

Blake looked at his watch. "Oh, man, look at the time. We opened ten minutes ago."

"Should have opened ten minutes ago," Kate corrected, already heading for the front of the café. "Please tell me the menu boards are done and that the coffee's already made." They weren't. From that moment on, they played catch-up. As the day progressed, many of the regulars made an appearance to welcome Kate back and make a major fuss over Emma. Deliveries ran late, the cappuccino machine went on the fritz, and a mother-and-toddler group came and let their children run amok.

In other words, business as usual. Kate decided it was really good to be back.

When they had a quiet moment, Marilyn sidled up to her. "How are things with Richard?"

Kate considered all of her employees friends, but she and Marilyn were particularly close. They often discussed their lives, using one another as a sounding board. Some time back, Kate had confided to the other woman that Richard was having trouble adjusting to parenthood.

Kate smiled, happy that she could honestly answer that things were good. Though he had been gone from home a lot-frantically busy between securing support for his bid for D.A. and handling several weighty cases at the firm- when he was home, he was attentive and loving. To her and Emma. She had found it heartening to see him finally responding to his daughter. Being affectionate with her. More often than not he came home with some trinket for the child, a stuffed toy or bow for her hair, a rattle or picture book. Kate smiled to herself. He had even taken to bringing his wife a little something-flowers, a special bottle of wine or dessert she enjoyed.