Loree Lough - Saving Alyssa

“There’s ice cream in the freezer,” she said, interrupting his tirade. “What’ll it be? Ice cream sandwich or chocolate marshmallow swirl?”

He glanced at the clock. “Ice cream. At ten-thirty. You’re kidding, right?”

She started for the fridge. “If we’re gonna be up all hours, rehashing our sad pasts, I want something to sweeten the atmosphere.”

“Our sad pasts,” he echoed. “If that means you expect me to spill my guts about what happened between Victoria and me...”

“I’m going to get it out of you sooner or later,” Billie said matter-of-factly.

“You still a fan of the evening news?”

“Are you still a jarhead?”

She knew what he’d say, and Troy didn’t disappoint: “Once a marine, always a marine.”

But ten minutes into the late-night news, he was dozing, one arm crooked over his face as he sprawled on the couch. The scene reminded her of happier times with her twin brothers. “Lost my job,” he said at last, without moving.

“No way. Why? Your boss loved you! I was there, remember, when he announced you were the new regional manager. Is he having money troubles?”

“No, he’s doing great. I’m the one who’s having troubles. Not money troubles, but...” Troy levered himself up on one elbow. “I just couldn’t live the lie anymore.”

“What lie?”

“Don’t get me wrong—I care about Victoria—but I’m not in love with her. I know you believe she thought of me as nothing more than a paycheck, but she’s really a great gal, and deserves to be with someone who’s crazy about her.”

He sat up, leaned both elbows on his knees and clasped his hands in the space between. “So I sat her down and told her the truth, then gave the boss two weeks’ notice. No big surprise...she gave me the weekend to clear out.”

Billie sat beside him. “Why do I get the impression all of this happened a long time ago?”

“Not that long,” he said dully. “Just two weeks.”

“You left the house two weeks ago?”

He nodded.

“Troy! Where have you been staying all this time?” She gave his shoulder a sisterly punch. “And why didn’t you call me!”

“I’ve been in a hotel. And don’t give me that ‘why didn’t you go to Mom and Dad’s’ nonsense. You know the answer to that even better than I do.” He heaved a deep sigh. “As for why I didn’t call you, I could say it was because I didn’t want to heap my troubles on top of yours, but that would be a lie. Truth is...I’m ashamed of myself.”

“Why?”

“I let things go on way too long. I kept telling myself that once she got to know me— really know me—she’d break it off. Who knew she’d do the old head-over-heels thing?” He groaned quietly. “She deserves better. A whole lot better.”

“So it’s really over between you two?”

“Yeah.” He hung his head and whispered, “Yeah, and it’s best for Victoria.”

For the first time since they’d entered adulthood, Billie felt more centered and mature than her big, rough-tough marine brother.

“Sorry I misjudged her,” she admitted. “Sorry I wasn’t there for you, too.”

Billie slid an arm around his waist and simply held him, and after a moment, Troy disentangled himself and got to his feet.

“You sure it’s okay if I crash here for a while?”

“Stay as long as you need to. Tomorrow I’ll give you a copy of the front door key.” She looked up at him. “Have you told Mom and Dad where you’ll be?”

“I’ll call them tomorrow.”

Billie stood, too. “And what about Victoria? Does she know where you are?”

He nodded. “She’s going to call once the house is sold.” Troy gave a halfhearted chuckle. “Ironic, isn’t it, since I only bought the place because she was so crazy about it.”

It seemed to Billie he must have loved Victoria, at least at first.

“I guess she’s taking a page from your book, Billie—sell, move forward, don’t look back.”

“And so should you. Whether you want to admit it or not, what you did was a gesture of love.”

“How so?”

“Some guys might have waited until after the wedding, when a child or two might be involved. She’s hurt now, but someday she’ll realize how much more it would have hurt if you hadn’t been honest.”

“How’d you get so smart?”

“Runs in the family, I guess.”

Troy yawned and stretched. “Well, I’m beat. Think I’ll turn in.”

“Good idea. You know what Mom says....”

“Things always look better in the morning,” they said together.

Laughing, Billie gave him a shove. “See you tomorrow, then...y’big softie.”

“Better watch it, tough girl. I still have fifty pounds and eleven inches on you.”

At the guest room door, he kissed her forehead. “You’re a lifesaver, kid.”

“Guess that runs in the family, too.”

Troy nodded.

“If you need anything,” she said as his door swung closed, “make yourself at home.”

“Thanks. I will.”

The latch clicked as she whispered, “Sweet dreams.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“SWEET DREAMS,” NOAH whispered, pulling Alyssa’s door closed.

He headed for the kitchen, taking care to avoid the loud squeak just outside her room. Three years ago, she could sleep through her mother’s book club meetings, his late-night phone calls, even thunderstorms. Since her mom’s death, it seemed his daughter slept with one eye open and one ear cocked. He understood that, because Jillian’s murder had all but turned him into an insomniac.

A gentle early autumn rain pecked the windows as he checked the back door, which had leaked like a sieve during the last downpour. So far, so good, he thought. But just to be safe, Noah tucked several towels near the threshold. Tomorrow, after dropping Alyssa off at school, he’d walk over to Kaplan’s Hardware for weather stripping.

He grabbed a beer from the fridge, then popped a CD into the stereo and settled into his well-worn recliner. He dimmed all the lights except for the one beside his chair, and as Bonnie Raitt’s haunting, husky voice filled the room, the mood was set.

Noah pried open the brass clasp on the manila envelope. Inside, three smaller envelopes held letters from his parents, his brother and sister.

A quiet knock at the French doors startled him. It didn’t surprise him to see Max through the slight opening between the curtain panels. What did surprise him was that he hadn’t heard her climb the long narrow staircase that led to the apartment.

When he opened the door, she pointed at the porch swing. “Oh, man, I’ve always wanted one of those! Is it new?”

“Yes and no. Taylor’s was having a sidewalk sale, and Alyssa went crazy over it.”

Max hung her leather jacket on the hall tree as he dropped the envelope onto the coffee table.

“And of course,” she said, making herself comfortable, “you couldn’t say no.”

“I just popped a beer,” he said. “Want one?”

She tucked long, copper-red curls behind her ears. “Sure. Why not. I’m off duty.”

He went into the kitchen for a bottle, and when he returned, Max was admiring the porcelain-faced baby doll he’d bought on the same day as the swing.

“I don’t remember seeing this before.” She thanked him for the beer, then leaned the doll in the sofa’s opposite corner.

The recliner creaked when he dropped onto its seat. “It kinda came with the swing.”

Max took a swig, then shook her head.

“What?” Noah said.

“You’d better learn to say no, that’s what, or that adorable kid of yours will be so spoiled by the time she’s sixteen, you’ll find yourself working a second job to pay for her pink Corvette. And a pony. And—”