House of Shadows Page 15

  Mom and I sat at the table, and prepared to chat.

  “So what’s new with you?” Mom asked.

  “Just the usual, classes, studying, spending time with Miles, and our friends. You were right about Jenny, I’m glad you suggested I meet her last year.”

  “Well good, I figured she’d have to be nice, her mom is such a good friend,” Mom replied.

  “I’m really excited about Thanksgiving this year. Polly’s heard from almost everyone. There are a few who can’t come, but most of our family will be there.”

  “I’m looking forward to it, too!” Mom declared with enthusiasm. “No cooking, no cleaning, it’ll be a regular vacation.”

  “Oh, it will, Mom. You have no idea. Life at the Bannerman estate isn’t like life anywhere else.”

  “Well, I can’t wait,” said Mom. “I’m looking forward to seeing the estate again, and getting a visual of where your wedding and reception will be.”

  “So what’s new with you guys?” I asked, breaking off a piece of coffee cake. Was it ever good!

  “Well,” Mom said, excitement simmering just below the surface.

  “Your father and I…”

  I almost dropped my fork as I stared back at my mother in horror.

  “Please. Mom. Tell me you aren’t having ANOTHER baby.”

  My siblings and I were so spread out, they had Tryon when I was seventeen. There was no telling with them. Miles and I weren’t planning on having children until after we graduated from college, but still—I’d like as much distance between my babies and my parents’, as possible! I just would!

  “No!” Mom waved the idea away. “What we’re looking at, is buying a house.”

  Mom was beaming.

  “Mom, that’s awesome! I’m amazed! How is that even possible?”

  “You remember how the Bannerman Foundation cut us a check for Doreen’s past medical expenses? Think of how much that was, Anika. It’s made a big difference in what we can afford to do.”

  “Miles is the greatest guy in the world,” I said.

  “Your Dad’s not so bad himself,” Mom smiled. “But I agree with you, Miles is something very special. Your Dad and I have enjoyed getting to know him these past few months.”

  Mom sipped her latte.

  “Oh, that is sooo good.”

  “It’s pumpkin spice,” I said. “If I could eat just white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, and drink pumpkin spice lattes, I think my stomach would be happy for the rest of my life.”

  Mom laughed.

  “I wonder how long a life it would be, on that diet!”

  “I don’t know, but a happy one!” I laughed too.

  “There’s more news, Anika, I can’t believe I almost forgot. Uncle Mark invited your Dad to join him as partner, in the business. It turns out they work so well together, and the company has grown by leaps and bounds since your Dad started working there. That means higher pay for your Dad, so with that and the check the Bannerman Foundation gave us to compensate for Doreen’s past medical expenses, that’s why we can buy a house again!”

  I hugged Mom. I was so glad for them. They had to start over with next to nothing, when Dad was laid off from his job. I could only imagine how hard that was for them. A sick child, one under the age of two, and not being able to send me to college, even though they’d been saving for it since the day I was born.

  Mom brought up some of the houses they were looking at online. I loved seeing the carefree happiness in her eyes. She always stayed strong for the rest of us, and that couldn’t be easy. If anyone deserved to get a break and have good things happen, it was Mom.

  When I saw Miles later that day, I hugged him hard and didn’t let go. He hugged me back, for a while.

  “What’s going on?” he finally asked.

  I looked up at him, tears in my eyes.

  “You are the most wonderful guy in the world,” I declared.

  I kissed him then, and left him puzzling over what he’d done this time.

  Miles and I sat at the kitchen table, watching the door as Jenny opened it.

  “Hi Gina,” Jenny said. “Come on in.”

  Gina stepped inside, and saw Miles and I. She looked surprised.

  “Let’s sit,” Jenny said. She chose to sit by me.

  I had a feeling Miles and Jenny worked this out in advance. With one on each side, they had a slight chance of tackling me and keeping me from going psycho cop on Gina, which is exactly what I felt like doing.

  Miles’ hand tightened on my knee, and he gave me a please-don’t-do-anything-crazy-at-least-until-we-have-the-information-we-want look.

  I sighed and gave him a fine-but-you’re-going-to-have-to-hang-on-tighter-than-that-if-you-want-to-stop-me-from-jumping-over-this-table-and-throttling-that-girl look.

  Miles let go of my knee and put his arm around me, opting to hang onto my shoulder, instead.

  Gina started to sit in the chair on Miles’ other side. Trixie body-blocked her, then sat beside him like a guard. Gina backed up a step, and sat one chair over.

  Trixie looked at me, and I swear—that dog winked.

  “Thanks for coming, Gina,” Jenny said.

  “So what’s this about, anyway?” asked Gina.

  Jenny studied Gina before she answered.

  “Gina… are you trying to break up Miles and Anika?”

  Gina looked shocked. Because she was guilty, or surprised? Or both?

  “Here’s the thing, Gina…” Jenny put her hand on Gina’s arm. “I’m just going to be honest, because… I don’t know any other way to do this.”

  Jenny gave her a look of sympathetic pity, before continuing.

  “It’s clear to everyone that you have a crush on Miles—Anika’s fiancé.”

  Gina looked uncomfortable. Well she should!

  “A number of times we’ve each noticed you attempting to come between them,” Jenny said. When Gina started to speak, Jenny held up her hand. “I could give examples, but I don’t think that’s necessary.”

  Jenny looked both stern and compassionate, at the same time. She was definitely the good cop.

  “Someone has been going to extremes to give Anika reasons to doubt that Miles is committed to her. We believe it’s because someone doesn’t want them together… that someone thinks they’ll have a chance at Miles, if they can destroy their relationship.”

  I couldn’t quite read Gina’s expression. I focused, trying to figure it out.

  “Something that happened recently causes us to wonder if you’re responsible,” finished Jenny.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gina said defensively.

  “I love Anika, with all my heart,” Miles said firmly. “Nothing, not anything, will change that. The only place I ever want to be is by her side. If I couldn’t be with Anika, I wouldn’t choose to be with someone else. I’d choose to be alone.”

  “I trust Miles, and nothing that anyone says or does is going to change that,” I declared.

  What was that girl thinking? I couldn’t figure it out.

  Gina sat silently, a closed, sullen look on her face, mixed with something else I couldn’t interpret.

  “Did you pay someone, or get a friend, to go up to Captain Kirk at the Halloween party and accuse him of being with her the night before, and to tell Giselle that Miles was an unfaithful fiancé?”

  “No!” said Gina.

  Jenny, Miles and I, looked at each other.

  “Do you know who’s been trying to break up Miles and Anika?” asked Jenny.

  “Why would I?” Gina retorted resentfully.

  “Gina…” said Jenny the good cop. “You’re the only person that thought Miles was going to the Halloween party as Captain Kirk, and Anika as Giselle.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Gina’s confusion looked awfully genuine.

  “We don’t either, but we’re trying to,” Miles said. “Did you tell anyone what costumes you thought we’d be wearing to the party?”<
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  A thought washed over Gina’s face, but she quickly dismissed it.

  “What?” I demanded.

  “I don’t know,” she said sullenly.

  “Who else knew, Gina?” asked Jenny gently.

  “I may have said something at work, everyone was talking about the party,” she said dismissively.

  “Who were you talking to?” asked Miles. “Who heard you?”

  “I don’t know,” she said irritably. “It was the office staff, and whatever students happened to be there at the time. Student Services is a busy place.”

  “So you have no idea who would have done that, no idea who would want to make Anika think she can’t trust Miles?” Jenny asked.

  “No, I don’t!” Gina exclaimed in agitation.

  Jenny, Miles and I, looked at each other again.

  “I’m leaving,” Gina muttered, as she got up and walked toward the door.

  “Alright Gina, I’ll walk out with you,” said Jenny, and she followed her into the hall.

  “That doesn’t exactly help, does it,” Miles frowned. “It could be anyone on campus. Anyone who happened to be in the office that day.”

  “I’m glad she knows she has no chance with you, though,” I said. “Why some girls want to set their sights on guys that are taken, I’ll never know.”

  Miles suddenly looked at me.

  “Blondie could be a student I suppose, but considering her age… she might be classified staff. There’s a possibility she works at the college.”

  “She might work in Student Services,” I finished his thought. “I was pulled out of class to take that call in the Student Services office.”

  “Where’s your laptop?” asked Miles, rubbing his hands together.

  “In my room. I’ll get it,” I called over my shoulder. I was halfway there, already.

  I grabbed my laptop, and hurried back to the kitchen table. I sat down and turned it on, then brought up the college website and the Student Services page.

  “There it is,” Miles said, pointing at the link to the Staff Bio page.

  I clicked on it, and a list of photographs and job descriptions came up. We looked intently at all of the photos, trying to determine if any of them belonged to Blondie or the girl at the party.

  “That’s the woman that talked to me after I took the phone call,” I said.

  We scrolled down the list.

  I shook my head. “I don’t see them, do you?”

  “No,” Miles said, turning away from the screen and toward me. “Blondie surely wore a disguise, though. She was too over the top to be real.”

  “Okay, so I guess we’ve dead-ended… but let’s be on the watch for anyone on this staff list when we’re out. If we see the same face more than once, they’re going to move up on the suspect list.”

  “Agreed,” Miles said. “Together, we’ll figure this out.”

  Chapter 12

  It was Thanksgiving week. Miles and I, and our canine buddies, drove to the estate as soon as our last class was over.

  We sat on the front steps of the castle, as the dogs ran around the grounds and stretched their legs, enjoying the freedom they didn’t get while living in an apartment and having to settle for leash walking, runs, and the occasional trip to the dog park.

  The air was fresh, washed clean by last night’s rain. A gentle fall breeze blew, but the sun shone bright, compensating for the chill in the air.

  “I can’t wait to see everyone, and for them to meet you!” I said to Miles, grabbing his arm as I bounced up and down.

  “I can tell,” he smiled. “I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family, either.”

  “Polly seems to be doing better,” I commented, glancing over my shoulder.

  “She does,” agreed Miles. “I don’t know what’s changed, but it’s a relief to see her looking less stressed.”

  “Here they are!” I jumped up and pulled Miles to his feet.

  I dragged him down the steps as three vehicles pulled into the long driveway, and stopped in front of the house.

  “Hi, everyone!” I called out, as car doors began to open.

  It was a flurry of excitement as everyone piled out. My parents and Doreen and Tryon, were first.

  “Hi, Mom and Dad!” I said as I hugged them both, then said hi to my brother and sister.

  “Miles, it’s always wonderful to see you,” Mom said. She hugged him, and so did Dad.

  I turned to my extended family.

  “Miles, this is my Uncle Mark Riley,” I introduced them, as the two shook hands and exchanged greetings, then I turned to the pretty thirty-something brunette beside him. “And we haven’t met, but you must be Jill Meyers.”

  “Hi, I’ve heard so much about you, Anika,” said Uncle Mark’s new girlfriend. She stared in astonishment at the castle behind me. “And you too, Miles.”

  “It’s great to meet you both,” he said, as I led him to the next car.

  “Oh, Anika! It’s so good to see you,” said my Grandma, as she hugged me. She was looking well, her curly gray hair framing her face beautifully, as always. I knew what Mom would look like one day, given enough years.

  “It’s great to see you, Grandma!” I hugged her back, then turned and reached for Miles’ hand. “Miles, this is my Grandma Thompson.”

  “It’s good to meet you,” Miles smiled, as Grandma put her hands on his shoulders and studied him.

  “So you’re responsible for how happy our little girl is these days,” she said, then hugged him. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Miles.”

  Grandpa walked around from the other side of the car, and I hugged him. He was looking well, too. Other than his silver hair, he looked just like he did when I was about Tryon’s age.

  “Miles, this is my Grandpa Thompson,” I introduced them.

  “It’s great to meet you, sir,” Miles said, as they shook hands.

  “It’s good to meet you too, Miles,” said Grandpa. He turned to me, and added in a stage-whisper, “You’ve got a polite one. I like that.”

  I laughed and so did Miles, and we led the way up the front steps of the castle.

  Polly waited for us beside the front door, a smile of welcome on her face.

  “Don’t worry about bringing in your things,” she said. “We have staff for that.”

  Uncle Mark, Jill, Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, all looked impressed, then followed us up the stairs.

  “Oh, here comes Aunt Louise and Uncle Tim!” I said excitedly, as Miles held the door open for my family, and they trooped into the castle, pausing frequently to look around in amazement.

  Polly gave directions to two of the staff, for bringing in our guests’ luggage.

  “If you will follow me,” Polly directed, “refreshments will be served in the sun room, then Anika and Miles will lead you on a tour through the estate, and show you to your rooms.”

  Miles and I went back outside to meet Aunt Louise and Uncle Tim.

  “Oh, Anika! It’s so good to see you!” Aunt Louise said cheerfully, as she hugged me tight.

  Aunt Louise was a sweet lady. She was in her fifties, so older than Mom. Her hair was beginning to gray, and she looked grandmotherly. Which was appropriate.

  “It’s so wonderful to see you,” I said, then turned to Miles. “Miles, this is my Aunt Louise Alan.”

  Miles smiled as she hugged him.

  “It’s great to finally meet you.”

  “And you too, Miles,” she said, patting his cheek, as I turned to hug Uncle Tim, who was tall and gray haired, with kind eyes.

  “It’s good to meet you,” Miles smiled, as he and my Uncle shook hands.

  “What great timing!” I said, as another car pulled up.

  I ran over and opened the passenger door, and my twenty-two-year-old cousin, Miriam, struggled to get out. She looked ready to have that baby any minute! Her husband Jeff came around the car, introducing himself to Miles and shaking hands, on his way to help pull his wife out of the vehicle.<
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  “Miriam,” I said to my favorite cousin. “This is my fiancé, Miles.”

  “It’s good to meet you, Miles,” she said, giving him a curious look.

  “I’ve heard so much about you, it’s great to meet you,” Miles smiled.

  Two of Polly’s staff were busy unloading the vehicles, and carrying luggage into the castle.

  Another vehicle arrived.

  Doreen came careening out of the front doors and down the steps, and threw her arms around another cousin, Sandra Lawrence. The two giggled, and ran back to the castle, talking a mile a minute. They were inseparable any time they were together, and could pass as twins. It was so, so good to see how much better my little sister was doing, after spending months on the treatment protocol to alleviate the chronic Lyme she was diagnosed with last year.

  I turned to my Uncle Matt and Aunt Deborah and gave them both a hug, as their four-year-old, Danny, bounced up and down, looking every which way, no doubt wondering where Tryon was. He laughed as Chip and Trixie ran up, and each gave him a lick.

  “Miles, this is my Uncle Matt and Aunt Deborah Lawrence,” I said, as hands were shook, and hugs exchanged. “Don’t worry about your bags. When we show you to your rooms, you’ll find them waiting for you there.”

  “Ooh, la-la,” said Miriam, thoroughly impressed. “Honey, I’m coming to visit you often, after you two are married.”

  I laughed, and Miles and I led the way into the castle and to the sunroom, where the rest of my family talked, and laughed, and got to know Polly, as they enjoyed a beautiful view of the garden. It was filled with an abundance of cold-hardy flowers, and was as colorful now, as it was in the summer.

  One of the staff ushered in another wave of cousins, aunts, and uncles, as they took everything in with wide eyes. I led Miles over, and introduced him to the newcomers. We all snacked on finger foods, and everyone talked and chattered at once.

  I looked around, overwhelmed at what I had. My family… and Miles. Together. Something I never thought was possible, a year ago. As if on cue, Miles put his arm around me, and kissed my cheek. I smiled up at him, and he smiled back.

  Aunt Louise was having an animated conversation with Polly. My Aunt was practically radiating enthusiasm, as she turned and saw Miles and I.