22. Found
CHAPTER 22
Found
H eath didn’t want to let his girls out of his sight for an instant. He’d already lost a dozen years with them, and he’d come perilously close to losing Addy forever.
Now, the three of them were snuggled on the couch, with Addy in the middle and Animosh snoozing on her feet.
It was his first introduction to Phail’s Christmas movie tradition. Piper had started it the previous year, but because of someone targeting her, they’d only had one movie. This year, they were doing several, with the first one tonight.
Lia had suggested Addy stay home and not endanger her lungs by going outside. He and Nina had supported the doctor.
Of course, Phail being Phail, the town was now streaming the movie so the three of them could participate from the house.
Sean and Branna had brought a television from the farmhouse so they would have a large screen to view the event. Troy had set up an audio system at the Saloon so they could take part in the games as well.
Branna had left them an envelope from Piper and told them to leave it closed until it was time.
On-screen, Troy and Piper came to the front of the room at the Saloon and the crowd quieted. Troy grinned. “Welcome to the second annual Phail Christmas movie night. We’re so glad to see everyone. And a special welcome to Addison, Nina, and Heath, who are watching online.”
The entire crowd turned to wave at the camera. Everyone called out how glad they were she was okay, making Addy gasp softly.
Nina laughed. “That’s so nice.”
Piper explained the rules. “You’ve all got a Phail card. Nina, go ahead and take those out of the envelope for your group.”
Nina passed them each one of the cards. It was a Bingo card, except with Phail written across the top. Each box held a phrase.
Piper continued. “All the cards are filled with moments that might be from the movie. Some of them are false and aren’t in the movie at all. Every card has at least one winning line. When you see something from your card in the movie, call it out. When you have a complete line, yell out Christmas Phail! ”
When the laughter stopped, Troy continued. “We’ve got hot chocolate and popcorn for everyone. When you get a complete line, you get a candy cane. Are you ready?”
After a chorus of agreement, the movie started. Their friends had come prepared and left them hot chocolate and popcorn for them, as well as the cards.
As the opening scenes came on, Nina laughed. “It’s black and white? That’s awesome. I wonder how old it is.”
Addy held up her Phail card. “I’ve got 1947 on my card. Maybe that’s when it was made?”
Nina leaned forward to look at him past Addy. “Have you seen the movie before, Dad?”
His chest swelled as it always did when she called him that. “Nope. My family never watched Christmas movies.” Actually, they hadn’t done much of anything together.
As if reading his thoughts, Nina reached across and squeezed his hand. “I like that this is our first family Christmas movie as well as the Phail Christmas movie.”
“I like it too. A lot.” His voice was thick and husky, and he watched Addy blink back tears.
When a giant panda balloon came on screen in the Macy’s parade, Nina whooped and unmuted their connection to call out her square.
Addy got a full line with cranky customers and then Nina with slammed door .
He missed most of his spots because he couldn’t tear his eyes off of his girls as they watched the movie. The fear from earlier in the day was settling, but his mind kept drifting back.
By the time the movie family found a house and a future, Heath figured he’d been through the emotional wringer. So many parallels between their lives and those on the screen. Even though their stories were very different, the emotions were the same.
They were still munching on the candy canes that had come in the envelope when Troy wrapped up the session from town. “Don’t forget to come to the Saloon tomorrow afternoon for some games and good food. See you then.”
Nina turned off the connection and turned to Addy. “How are you feeling? Your breathing sounds okay to me.”
Addy smiled. “I’m good. I feel pretty normal. We can go to the events at the Saloon tomorrow.”
Nina rolled her eyes. “That’s not why I’m asking.”
Addy laughed. “I know, but it’s fun to see the teenage eye roll.”
Nina did it again. “Just wait until my next birthday. When I’m a real teenager, I bet it gets even more dramatic.”
She stood up and Animosh jumped up with her. “I’m going to read some and then go to bed.” Her gaze moved to Heath. “You’re staying, right?”
He nodded, so proud of his daughter and her protectiveness toward Addy. “I am.”
Nina grinned. “Good. Good night.” Then she and the dog disappeared into her bedroom.
Heath chuckled and kissed Addy’s hair. “Okay?”
She nodded and turned to face him. “Yes. You and Nina don’t need to worry so much about me. I’m fine.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Then you’re doing better than I am. I was scared completely shitless today.”
She nodded. “Me too, but you saved me. Thanks for that, by the way.”
He kissed her nose. “Anytime, but let’s try to not have to go through that again.”
Addy laughed. “Agreed. I want to hear the whole story, but not tonight. Marcus is going to come out tomorrow morning to take my statement. Let’s leave it until then.”
He nodded. “Let’s bask.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Bask?”
He grinned and gestured around the room. “Bask in the fact that we’re all safe, warm, and happy. We had a family night that was just about perfect. That we can have a Christmas without the worry hanging over us.”
Addy’s smile grew as he finished his explanation. “I like that. Let’s bask.”
A ddy woke surrounded by Heath’s arms and peace. She’d slept without nightmares, and her lungs didn’t ache.
She didn’t think she’d even moved, but Heath’s breath in her ear changed to a murmur. “Morning. How do you feel?”
Addy squirmed back into him, making him groan softly. “I’m feeling alive and happy and almost ready to face the day. How about you?”
He shifted his hand to cup her breast. “I’m feeling pretty alive and happy, too. But I’m not sure we should be?—”
She cut off his words with another squirm. “It’s all about being aware of the heart rate. Keeping it slow and easy.”
Heath growled into her ear and kept his hand moving, driving her up with no difficulty at all. By the time he reached behind him for a condom from the nightstand, she was trembling.
He lifted her leg to rest on his and slid into her from behind, and she had to turn her face into the pillow to keep her reaction muffled. Heath growled again. “You’re so damn sexy, Addy. I love watching you explode.”
And it wouldn’t take much with that gruff growl in her ear. She pushed back against him, and his hand reached down to find her clit.
Her orgasm sent her flying, and she was glad she’d buried her face in the pillow. Heath kept his body and his fingers moving, and impossibly, her body started to soar again.
“Fly, Addy, fly.”
She flew, and Heath followed her over, burying his face in her hair to muffle his own groan.
When their breathing slowed, Addy turned to smile at him over her shoulder. “That was a beautiful way to start a morning.”
He kissed her sweetly. “Let me grab my stuff and clean up the condom. I’ll jump in the shower before Nina gets up. Then Nina and I can make pancakes.”
Nina added blueberries to make smiley faces on the pancakes. Marcus arrived in time for her to make him a few of his own. “Thanks, Nina. Best breakfast ever.”
Heath insisted on cleaning up with Nina. Marcus motioned to the living room, but Addy shook her head. “Nina, I’m going to give my statement about what happened yesterday to Marcus. He’s probably going to ask some questions, and then he’ll tell us what he’s found out. Do you want to hear all of that, or would you rather not?”
Nina dried a bowl before answering. “Is it okay if I listen? I want to know, even if it’s scary.”
Addy hugged her. “Of course, it’s okay. But it’s also okay to change your mind anytime you want. I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
Nina nodded and sat, pulling her chair close to Addy.
Marcus nodded. “Okay. Why don’t you start by telling us everything you remember?”
She told everything up to getting out of the car on the side of the road. “I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t decide if it was smarter to stay in the car and wait or to head home. With my phone not working, it seemed smarter to move and give myself a chance to hide if I needed to. I grabbed the tire iron out of the trunk and took it with me.”
Deep breath. “It was freezing, but I was bundled up, and the scarf was warming the air before it got to my lungs. My inhaler was in my pocket if I needed it. I was almost home when I heard or felt someone behind me. I turned and swung my tool, but something hit me on the head. Twice, I think.”
“When I woke up, it was cold and dark. I felt like I’d had another asthma attack, and it took me a while to find my way out of the dibiki world.”
Nina leaned into her side at that. “It’s where she’s conscious but not really with it. It’s a good sign that her lungs are processing the air properly again, but it’s a little scary because she’s not herself yet.”
Addy tightened her arm around her daughter and hugged her. “Once I remembered that something had hit me on the head, the fog cleared. It was dark, but there wasn’t any wind, so I knew I wasn’t outside. I was trying to figure out where I was when the door at the top of the stairs opened, and I realized I was in a basement. I was looking for a weapon of some kind when he came down the stairs.”
She controlled the shudder. “I didn’t recognize his voice at first. He said once we straightened out the marriage arrangements, we could go upstairs and have tea to warm me up. He was Jonas, but he really wasn’t. I don’t know much about mental health issues, but I wonder if he’d had some kind of psychotic break.”
She had to stop and take a breath. “Anyway, he talked about how we were meant to be together when Heath came down the stairs and saved me.”
She smiled at Heath, and he shifted his chair so he could put his arm around both her and Nina.
Marcus nodded. “No need to go into that part. I was behind Heath, and I’ve got that recorded.”
Good, she wouldn’t have to recount that part in front of Nina.
Nina sat up to lean toward Marcus. “How did he mess with Mom’s cell phone? And her car?”
Addy squeezed Nina’s hand. “Good questions. I’ve been wondering that myself.”
Marcus nodded. “We had your car towed to Graham’s again. He found a cell phone jammer secured to the undercarriage and some additives put in the gas tank that would let the car run for a bit, but that would have you stopping after a mile or so.”
“He knew my schedule and knew I’d be taking Nina to Kimi’s. He knew basically where I’d be stranded. And with my medical history, he knew it would make me weaker.”
She couldn’t stop the shudder this time. Heath held her and growled. “He’s never going to bother you again.”
She nodded into his chest and tried to reconcile the Jonas she’d known for years with the person who’d planned for her to suffer. “What happened to Jonas? He was always just an awkward guy. A good neighbor.”
Marcus shook his head. “He’s definitely not acting like himself. Once he’s secured in the prison in Montpelier, mental health professionals will examine him. It doesn’t seem like an act to me, but they’ll have more resources to be sure. Either way, he’s going to be locked up somewhere for a very long time.”
That made Addy feel better but worse at the same time. Had she done something to cause Jonas to act this way? Had she encouraged him somehow?
Marcus tapped his notebook. “I can see you thinking from here. You didn’t cause this. Nothing you did or didn’t do would cause Jonas to do these things. He’s obviously developed an unhealthy obsession, but it could be more than that. Whatever it is, it isn’t your fault. No blaming yourself.”
Heath had been mostly silent during the entire conversation. Now, he gently placed his hand under her chin until she looked at him. His fierce gaze warmed her. “Some people are broken. You couldn’t have known and couldn’t have made other choices. His actions are on him. Completely.”
She slowly nodded. “Okay. You’re both right. But I still feel bad for him. He moved here to take care of his mother after his father died. His world revolved around taking care of her. Maybe he broke after she died, and he had nothing to focus on. I hope he gets the help he needs.”
Heath’s eyes lightened. “And that’s what makes you such a phenomenal human being.”
Nina stood from the table. “And on that sappy note, it’s time to get ready to head to the Saloon for some Christmas fun.”