Chapter One
Later that night after eating dinner, Rick stood with his brothers, stunned after hearing what his father had to say.
“There’s trouble in your marriage,” Brian repeated, echoing his father’s words. “What do you mean by that , Dad ? ”
“Yeah, Dad. What’s going on? You and Mom get along fine,” Rick muttered.
Not answering, Dad continued sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, his eyes not meeting theirs.
What in the heck was going on here, Rick thought to himself. Something just seemed so off. His parents had just celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary a few weeks before.
It was kind of strange that Mom was still at work though.
“When’s Mom coming home?” Rick asked, feeling panicked but trying not to let it show.
“Later tonight,” Dad answered, his eyes meeting Rick’s. “She’s packing up her stuff at the office.”
“Why?” Eric asked. “Come on, Dad. Tell us what’s going on.”
“It’s nothing,” Dad replied. “There was some trouble at the real estate office late this afternoon, so they’re closing up the office for a couple days.”
But Rick’s eyes were still on Dad. While Brian was the hothead of the family, and Eric was kind of a dreamer, Rick had always had good instincts. There was definitely some kind of trouble, but Dad would never be someone to lie without a good reason. Whatever was happening, Dad wanted the three of them to think that what he was saying was true.
Dad heaved a sigh. “Boys—let’s get the kitchen cleaned up for your mom. Okay? We can talk more about it during the next week. It’s been a rough day. Your mom and I have had a lot of issues to deal with.”
They all remained quiet during the next half hour as they straightened the kitchen. It would be light for at least a couple more hours, so Rick decided he needed to get away from the house since Dad had gone upstairs to his room, apparently wanting to be alone for a while.
Rick looked at the kitchen clock, turning to Brian. “I’ll be back in a couple hours or so. I think I’ll take a quick ride to the beach and hang out for a while with some friends.”
“Sure,” Brian answered, punching him lightly on the arm. “I might get out of here for a while myself.”
“Until Dad’s ready to talk, there’s not much we can do,” Eric agreed. “I’m supposed to give Anya a call. She was only scheduled until six tonight at Sander’s Floral.”
“What about you, Eric? What hours are you working during the next few days?” Brian asked.
“I’m not on the schedule again until Tuesday morning,” Eric replied.
Eric worked at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn Café, bussing tables, washing dishes and even filling in sometimes as a cook.
“Let’s all be home by ten,” Brian said. “I’ve got to go to work early in the morning anyway.”
Both Rick and Eric nodded their agreement.
During the summer, Brian was a lifeguard at the beach at Dragonfly Pointe, where Rick was heading now. The concessions would be open until ten and a lot of his friends would be hanging around. Come to think of it, there was an outdoor concert tonight at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn, featuring Brian’s friend’s band, Blue Moon . The ride back and forth to the beach on his bike would give Rick some time to think.
Another twenty minutes later, Rick was coasting down the hill leading to Beach Road on his mountain bike. Soon, he’d have his license, but unless Rick and his brothers could afford to split the cost of a fourth vehicle, the three of them would all have to share the spare truck, which might be hard since Brian would need to drive to attend school at the junior college during the fall since it was outside of town. Dad was covering the insurance, and that was more than enough. There was always the school bus, but since everyone played sports or had a job, it was hard to keep any kind of schedule when it came to using the truck. When baseball season was over, Rick would ride his bike back and forth to Dragonfly Pointe for the job he had waiting at the beach concessions.
He could hear the music as soon as he approached the Inn. But instead of parking there, he decided to leave his bike locked up at the park beside the beach and make his way along the path below the cliff that led to the Inn. Rick wasn’t ready to face his friends right now. He just needed a place to think. There was a spot along the shoreline where he could sit and listen to the music and go for a quick swim. The gazebo where the band was performing was located high above the lake.
It was a warm night, so there was a long line at the concession stand. Ice cream sounded good, but when he returned to pick up his bike, he’d grab something then, he decided, wrapping the rope lock for his bike around the trunk of a pine near the park so it was close to the path.
Since he was wearing his swimming trunks with a t-shirt, and had a towel in his backpack, Rick had everything he needed, making his way along the path past the park and climbing down over a low rocky outcrop toward the trail.
The brush was overgrown, so Rick had to shove his way through a lot of tangled branches to follow the trail. He couldn’t blame the owners of the Inn for foregoing the maintenance since the cliffside was dangerous to those who weren’t experienced hikers. There had been trouble here off and on through the years and there were plenty of other places to hike around the Inn as well as along this lake and the other three that connected.
It was a perfect evening weather-wise, and Rick nearly forgot for a moment about the tense situation waiting at home. The eerie light radiating from the setting sun danced across the lake like fire as he made his way down the path to approach the water’s edge.
When he reached the rocky outcrop of the landing where he usually liked to hang out when he wanted to be alone, Rick was surprised to see a familiar purse, heels and black leather skirt piled in a heap a few feet away from the path near the water.
He stilled, his eyes darting quickly across the lake, until he saw a head pop up from beneath the water.
Inwardly, Rick sighed with relief. She’d shown a sense of desperation earlier today that had scared him. He didn’t know her well enough to know whether she would consider taking her own life or not, but maybe it would be good to talk with her again tonight to see if he felt any different than he had this afternoon.
Rather than go in for a swim, Rick sat and waited for Shanna to notice that he was there while listening to the music echoing through the air.
Shanna stood, slowly approaching him through the shallow water. All he could make out in the blinding sun was an outline of her body, and what struck him was how thin she was. Pulling his towel from his backpack, he stood, handing it over when she reached the water’s edge.
And then Rick paused, catching a glimpse of the dark bruises covering her arms and wrists.
Obviously noticing the direction of his gaze, Shanna appeared to be daring him to say something before she accepted the towel, clumsily wrapping it around her body. It wasn’t because she was trying to hide anything, She just seemed to be having trouble moving.
“What happened since I saw you earlier?” he asked gruffly.
“Nothing. I took a fall down the bank when I was hiking over here to swim, barefoot.” She lifted her chin, looking defiant.
She obviously wasn’t going to answer more questions.
“I just want to sit and listen for a while,” she muttered. “That’s why I’m here. I love Noah’s music. The band has sure gotten good.”
“You know Noah?” he asked, curious. Noah was probably three or four years older than Shanna.
She nodded. “He’s a friend. He’s given me a ride home on his bike a time or two.”
By bike, she meant Harley, although Noah wasn’t really the badass that everyone thought he was. He lived with his grandparents, and Rick was willing to bet that the money he earned performing was used to help support them. Noah’s grandfather was a disabled veteran who’d lost his leg.
Shanna was safe with a guy like him. Noah was probably looking out for her too.
Since she definitely didn’t want to talk, Rick decided to forego his swim, sitting there with Shanna for the next thirty minutes, listening until the concert was finished.
Whatever was going on with Shanna wasn’t just kid stuff. He sensed that something tragic could be happening and she appeared to have no one to turn to.
He was going to make sure she got home safely. That way, he would have a chance to see what might be going on at home. There had to be something he could do. Anya was just so different from Shanna, and Rick couldn’t help thinking that there had to be a reason why.
With all the turmoil going on with his parents, why was Rick so concerned about someone he’d barely just met?
Because there was something seriously wrong with Shanna’s life, and he knew that she needed help. And even though there wasn’t a whole lot he could do, he had to do something , he decided.
When Noah’s band quit playing, she sat while they waited until the crowd thinned out. Another band would be performing in about thirty minutes. If she was curious as to why Rick was waiting along with her, she sure didn’t show it. After slipping on her skirt and pulling on the cover up over her bikini top, she wrapped the beach towel back around her waist. Standing with her high heels in hand, she started strolling toward the trail, acting like she expected him to follow.
“Hopefully, you’re on your way home,” he said.
“I was going to try and hitch a ride with Noah, but I think that he’s dating someone now,” she admitted. “I’ll just walk. It’s not far.”
Rick nodded. “I’ve got my bike, but I’ll walk along with you to make sure you get home safely.”
“I can take care of myself,” she muttered.
“But you shouldn’t have to,” he answered softly. “Come on. I’ll buy you some ice cream down at the concessions after I pick up my bike. It’s still pretty early. I just need to be home by ten.”
Noticing that she still seemed to be having some trouble walking, he frowned. “Are you sure you’re alright to walk home, Shanna?”
When she hesitated, Rick started walking ahead. “Just take your time and follow me to my bike. Okay?”
Now he was starting to wonder about what other places on her body had been injured, along with how it had happened. Half turning as they finally approached the park, Rick tried not to stare as his eyes traveled along her legs, half covered by the towel she kept wrapped around her tightly, even though she was wearing her skirt. Her upper thighs also appeared to be bruised.
He swallowed. Surely, she hadn’t been…?
“Shanna.” He halted when they reached his bike. “Maybe you need to see a doctor.”
“I’m fine ,” she growled. “The last thing I need is for anyone else to see me like this.”
“Who did this to you? You wouldn’t have that many bruises if you fell. More than likely, you would have sprained your ankle, or something like that, whether you were wearing those high heels or no shoes at all.”
She turned away, hobbling along the path toward the road.
“Stop,” he called out. “If I promise not to ask any more questions, will you let me walk you home? First, I’ll go get us some ice cream, if you’d like to just wait here.”
She paused, glancing back at him. He could see the tears on her face, even though she was several feet away. “I’d like that. If you promise not to ask me anything else.”
“I won’t,” he said reassuringly. “Why don’t you sit here on the park bench? There’s not much of a line over there at the concessions. I’ll only be gone a few minutes. What kind of an ice cream cone do you want? Cones would be a lot easier to eat if we want to start walking. It’s going to be getting dark soon.”
She gave him a wan smile. “Chocolate would be good.”
“Alright,” he answered gruffly, heading along the path, glancing back momentarily to make sure she was actually sitting on the bench.
“Hey, Rick,” Ben Atkinson called out from inside the concessions when he got in line.
There was only one person ahead of him, so he was able to order two cones fairly quickly, grabbing a bunch of napkins while Ben was getting them ready.
“Thanks, Ben,” Rick said as Ben handed them over.
“You’re welcome. I see you’ve got a date,” Ben observed.
“She’s someone who just needs a friend,” Rick admitted.
“Shanna?” Ben nodded. “I agree. Someone has been spreading some pretty nasty rumors about her.”
Rick nodded. “I can’t get her to talk about what’s going on, but at least I can make sure she gets home alright.”
“Good. She shows up here a lot on her own. A few of us have been trying to look out for her. After all, she’s only a kid.”
“Even though she doesn’t act like one,” Rick replied, scowling. “Maybe you’d better give me a pair of those flip flops you have on sale. I think she’s walking barefoot. I’d better get going before she tries to take off on me again.”
Turning, Ben reached to the souvenir shelf for the smallest pair, handing them over to Rick. “I’ll cover the cost of those. Just make sure she gets home safely.”
“Thanks, Ben. Talk to you later,” Rick said, heading back toward the pathway as a couple more customers appeared at the counter.
Looking glum, Shanna was still waiting as he approached.
She gave him another wan smile when she saw the ice cream cones.
“Two scoops, huh?” she said.
Handing over the chocolate cone, he smiled for the first time that day. “Of course, I forgot about having to walk with my bike, so I guess we’ll have to stick around here for a few more minutes.”
“It’s early enough. No one’s going to be home at my house, anyway. Mom’s working and Dad’s out. Anya’s either working or out with your brother,” she said, taking a long lick of her cone.
She acted like it was the best thing she’d eaten in ages.
“When’s the last time you had an ice cream cone?” he asked, taking a seat on the bench beside her.
She grimaced. “I can’t even remember.”
They were quiet for the next few minutes.
When Rick finished his cone, he handed over the flip flops that he’d rested beside him on the bench.
“These are for you too. I noticed that all you had to wear were those high heels that you had on earlier today.”
She nodded, looking down at the flip flops strangely. “I had someone drop me off here, so I wasn’t thinking about my shoes if I had to walk. Thank you. That was really nice of you.”
“You’re welcome.” He figured he’d better not mention Ben since she was trying to lay low. “I guess we can get going now.”
Rick stood, unlocking his bike before attaching his bag behind the seat. “Let me have your shoes. I’ve got room for them in my bag.”
“Sure,” she answered, handing them over before slipping into the flip flops, which appeared to be just the right size.
“I’m not exactly sure where you live. I know it’s somewhere near the mall.”
“A couple blocks south of Main Street. It’s about a mile or two from here,” she admitted.
“It’s been a while since I just hiked anywhere, but I think I can manage,” Rick said.
“Thanks. I really wasn’t thinking about how I was going to get home. I’d rather not be alone since it’s starting to get dark.”
Rick was a little worried about Shanna after they’d walked for a while. She was obviously in pain.
“Make sure you take a hot bath once you get home,” he said gruffly. “It always helps me a lot if I’m sore after practice.”
She sighed. “Truthfully, that’s why I was just relaxing in the lake. I was starting to get a little cold though, just sitting there.”
They were moving more slowly once they finally hit the road that led into town from Dragonfly Pointe.
“We’ve only got a few more blocks to go. I haven’t walked this far in a while myself,” Shanna muttered.
“Hopefully, you won’t have any trouble getting around tomorrow,” he said. “It’s no big deal for me, because I’ve been skiing a lot, besides playing ball.”
“We need to make a left at the next corner,” she said, motioning ahead. “Anya said that you guys have a cruiser.”
“We do. Luckily, my brothers don’t complain too much about having me along with their friends.” He gave her a side glance. “Shanna. You’re probably going to get mad at me again. But do you have any good friends to talk to?”
She closed her eyes. “No. Not anymore.”
There was something defeating about the way she spoke.
“I’ll be your friend, if you need one,” Rick said softly as they stopped near the cul-de-sac at the end of the street. He glanced at the bi-level house, which couldn’t have been built too long ago. Rick didn’t know what he’d expected, but it was surprisingly well kept. “I’ll give you my cell phone number. I don’t have my license yet, so I can’t be helpful there, but if there’s ever anything I can do, even if you need someone to talk to, I’m usually around.”
She hesitated at the foot of a driveway. “Alright.”
Rick pulled a pen and small notepad out from inside the pocket of his bag, jotting down the number and handing it over. “Have you got your own phone?”
She hesitated. “I share service with my dad, so it would be better if I didn’t give you the number. I don’t always carry it with me.”
That made a little sense, Rick supposed, since she was still kind of young. Anya worked and probably paid for her own.
“Goodnight, Rick,” she said.
As Rick watched Shanna walk along the driveway of the house and enter the side door, he realized it was the first time she’d called him by his name.