Twisted Echoes Read online

  For now, she’d seen what he needed to show her. He could show her but not make her understand. That she had to do herself. He hoped she hurried. He worried their time was short and that the other one might once more grow strong.

  A cloud passed before the sun blotting out the bright sunshine. The sudden change seemed to draw the woman back to the here and now. She shook her head as if to clear it of cobwebs. She slipped her shoes back on her feet, tied the laces, and stood. With her back to the ocean, she once more began to run down the lonely quiet road.

  For several minutes, he stood watching until he could no longer see her as her long legs moved with a strong, steady stride. The urge to do something more was strong, yet there was nothing more he could do. For now, he’d done all he could. It was in her hands. As the cloud began to move past the sun, he stepped further back into the shadows of the shady tree until he became one with them.

  *

  Renee ended the call and slowly put her phone on the table. Tears pricked hot at her eyes. Yesterday, when she’d witnessed her life going up in flames, she’d felt a whole heck of a lot more philosophical about the unfortunate tragedy. After all, what she’d lost were just things. She had her dog and she was alive and well. That was all fine and dandy until now. Suddenly, she didn’t feel quite so Zen. The vastness of what had been destroyed was beginning to dawn on her.

  Her insurance agent was kind and helpful…to a point. It didn’t matter that she’d been a responsible client and paid her premiums on time each and every year. It didn’t matter that she’d never been in trouble; not even a speeding ticket. Nope, none of it made a darned bit of difference when it came time to put the policy into action. It seemed a business burning down was suspect regardless of how squeaky clean the proprietor might be. Until the Seattle Fire Investigator cleared her from intentionally setting the fire that destroyed her home and business, she was screwed. No place to live, no business to run, no income to live on.

  “What is it, Twinkle?”

  Despite the overwhelming urge to burst into tears, she actually managed to put on a smile. The childhood nickname helped ease the tightening in her throat. It spoke of unconditional love, and she needed that right now. “Red tape, Mom. From the sounds of things this whole fire mess is going to take longer than I thought.”

  Quickly closing the distance between them, her mother wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You know you can stay with me as long as you need to, Twinkle. I know Lorna will tell you the same thing.”

  She kissed her mother’s cheek. “I do know and I appreciate it. It’s just that all of a sudden I feel incredibly powerless. Who knew that losing everything would set me adrift like this? I never realized how attached I really am to my stuff. Makes me sad on a bunch of levels.”

  “Stuff we can replace. You and Clancy are irreplaceable, and I, for one, am glad you’re here with us for a while. Even so, honey, it makes sense. It isn’t just stuff that you lost; it was your home and your business. If you didn’t feel like you’d been punched in the stomach, I’d be worried about you.”

  “Well, in that case you sure don’t have to worry about me. I do feel like I’ve been on the losing end of a prize fight.”

  “It’ll all work out. You just wait and see. In the meantime, you just stay here with us.”

  “I can’t help the feeling that I’m imposing on Lorna’s hospitality.” She liked being here, and she liked being around Lorna. At the same time, it was an incredible imposition and that she didn’t like. It was one thing to come visit for a couple of days. It was something entirely different to show up with no expiration date and with a dog in tow.

  “It’s a nice kind of imposition, and honestly, I think it will be good for her to have someone a touch closer to her own age around. She’s a little lost herself. Maybe you two can help each other. I know she can definitely use someone to talk to, and you’ve always been a wonderful listener.”

  “She doesn’t seem very lost, and at least she has a home.” Her aura had a touch of disharmony but not enough to make Renee think she was in any kind of crisis. She’d have been able to see that.

  “Trust me, Twinkle, she’s a lost soul at the moment.”

  Mom might be right except she wasn’t the one who could ride to the rescue. How could she help anyone when she couldn’t help herself? She had dumped every dime of the divorce settlement into the building and the shop. At the time, it had seemed so perfect—a rite of passage from her old life into the new. As usual, Bryan declared she’d lost her mind. Not that she blamed him. If the shoe had been on the other foot, she might not have taken the divorce, and the reason behind, nearly as well as he did.

  Well, the lack of reasons was a better way to put it. She’d given him nothing definitive to hold on to because at the time she’d not been able to voice it herself. All she’d known was that it was time to walk away. She loved him and probably always would, except it wasn’t the kind of love he needed and deserved. Any passion she worked up was hollow and insincere. For years, she’d tried to want the same things he did, wanted to crave his touch and long for his kisses.

  It never happened. Somehow, when they were together it was more like being with a close friend than the love of her life. After a while, the lie was too heavy. She couldn’t carry it anymore, and she had to come clean with him. He’d been shocked and hurt—at first. When he’d had a little time, he seemed to be brighter, lighter somehow. It was as if her lie had been a burden unconsciously weighing him down as much to him as to her. They’d divided up their assets, signed the papers, and started fresh. He with a lovely uptown attorney and her with a brand new vocation.

  Of course, he still had his attorney and she had nothing. Even though she’d let go of denial and embraced what her heart had known all along, love eluded her. Karma appeared to be giving her one well-deserved big bitch slap. For every action there is a reaction, and perhaps for her it just took a little while.

  Her mother interrupted her whirling thoughts by taking her face between her hands. “Stop thinking and just accept. You will stay here until things settle down and it will be fine. I promise.” She kissed Renee on the tip of the nose, making her smile. “Let’s make the best of a bad situation and enjoy the gift of time together.”

  “Okay,” she agreed and kissed her back, on the top of her nose. Moms always knew best, right?

  *

  All right, Lorna was either going crazy or something was totally messed up with this place. At the house, she’d been exhausted and could write off what she’d seen as her too-tired mind working in strange ways. Not exactly the case at the moment. She was up, alert, and feeling damned good. All around her were clear skies, bright sunshine, and fresh air. What was she going to blame it on this time?

  She was pretty sure she wasn’t crazy…although wasn’t that what all crazy people say? Still, stress aside, she was as stable now as ever. Her broken heart hadn’t sent her so far over the edge that she was seeing and hearing things. Anna’s cruelty didn’t have that kind of power over her.

  So, if it wasn’t her, it had to be the house. At least that’s where it all started, and now it appeared it was stalking her.

  Or at least that’s how it felt. First at the house. Now out here on the bluff. It was a little like a miniseries that was broadcast exclusively for her. Lucky Lorna.

  Not.

  The really scary thing was something about what she was seeing and feeling gave her the creeps deep down into her soul. It was more than just thinking she was losing her mind. First of all, it was too real. It had a depth and substance to it that made it feel alive. Secondly, the woman made her heart ache each time she gazed on her face. Especially today. The rage mixed with agony was something Lorna could relate to. She’d felt the same way when Anna left her. Powerless and alone, she’d wanted to scream and sob at the same time. Nothing made her feel better. No one could help her. If she’d had a bluff overlooking the ocean, she’d have been there too letting the power of the sea carry
her sorrow out with the tide. Until the man showed up to drag her away, the young, sad woman had longed for release of the sea. Lorna had felt it as deeply as if it had been her own desire.

  And what was with that guy? She’d instantly hated him with an intensity that made no sense in the logical world. It was as though he’d been a real living and breathing man harshly gripping her arm and spewing his hateful words in her face. It didn’t make sense to hate an apparition, and yet that’s how she felt.

  Shake it off. Dwelling on this was stupid. She was probably just imagining things anyway. Her imagination had always been vivid, and these visions or dreams or whatever in the hell they were most likely were nothing more than her creative imagination working overtime. Besides, it was going to take a while to settle in and blow off the stress of her former life. This was time for new beginnings, and the sooner she made peace with that, the sooner her life would settle into what was ultimately going to be her new normal. She was looking forward to the new normal.

  With her shoes back on, Lorna stood, did a quick stretch and then hit the road again. It was past time to release a few endorphins—a sure way to banish any lingering feelings of desolation. One of the greatest things about all the workouts was it never failed to elevate her mood. It was a way better alternative to the chemical solution to depression, and that solution was an absolute last resort.

  Two hours later, she’d returned to the house. According to the Garmin on her wrist, she’d just finished up a thirteen-mile loop. Just shy of half a marathon. Her legs were burning in a good way, and sweat drenched her jersey and shorts. Even after the bumpy start, once she got into the run for the first time in months she’d one hundred percent been in the moment.

  Maybe it was the odd experience on the bluff or maybe it was just time to get back into the groove of her training. Whatever it was, a thread of optimism threaded through. She’d found a rhythm that carried her for miles, and it was fantastic. If she could capture this same enthusiasm come Ironman day, there was no way she’d fail.

  Strange vision aside, the outing was a roaring success. Now all she needed was her bike and she’d be back on the Ironman trail. She’d sculpt her body and focus her mind; she’d meet the challenge, all one hundred and forty point six miles. Optimism buoyed her spirits. This was all going to work out.

  Chapter Five

  “About damn time.” Jeremy stopped in front of the big house and shook his head. A mere four wrong turns, twelve miles out of his way, and at least an hour spent trying to find the place, and he was finally sitting in front of the little cottage Lorna now called home. Ha, little cottage indeed. The house was large enough for a couple of families to live in without getting in each other’s way.

  Seriously, it should have been easier to find. Not to mention he’d been here before. Both he and Lorna had spent a little time with their great-aunt, but then again he’d been just a kid. The last thing he’d paid attention to was how they got there. He’d been far more intrigued with the ocean shores and the endless hours of exploring the massive grounds had afforded him. His memories were of a little boy’s heaven. Driftwood, seashells, rocks worn smooth by the ocean. It made him smile even today. Of course, that had been more years ago than he’d like to admit. He might remember the house, but he sure didn’t have a clue how to drive here. It was a lot more complicated than when Mom drove and he rode in the backseat drinking soda, eating chips, and playing games.

  Despite being geographically challenged by the drive, he finally made it and even still had gas in the tank. There was a lot to be said for small favors and all that. Now to find his sister and his mission would be complete.

  Her moving so far away and to such an isolated location was the kind of extreme that might just work. To say she hadn’t taken the breakup with Anna well was sugarcoating it. His always strong, tough-as-nails sister had been crushed. It made his heart hurt as much as hers because he couldn’t do a damn thing to ease her pain.

  On one hand, he was angry with Anna for what she did to Lorna. Among other things, it wasn’t nice. Then again, he’d never thought Anna was the one for his only sibling. It was nothing he could point to and say, “ah ha,” more like a feeling that always nagged at him. He couldn’t help thinking Lorna could do better even if he never would have said as much to her.

  That his feeling turned out to be true didn’t make him feel any better. Lorna was hurting, and if he could make that pain go away, he would. He couldn’t and knew the only two things that could make it better were time and a chance to meet other women. Time was easy enough. Getting her out to meet other women wasn’t going to be so simple, particularly considering where she lived now. Couple that with her clear reluctance to even meet anyone new, and his work was cut out for him.

  The one thing he could do for her was deliver her coveted Cervélo to the front door. She was so looking forward to the challenge of Ironman, and he’d do anything he could to help her succeed. He was the first to encourage her in every aspect of her training, and he’d be the first at the finish line in June when she ran across to the announcement, “Lorna Dutton, you are an Ironman.” He wasn’t crazy enough to ever do the endurance event himself, but he had no problem sharing the moment with Lorna.

  The bike in the back of his car was more than just an expensive piece of gear; it was her pride and joy. She’d worked long and hard to be able to afford it. From both a technical and mental standpoint, it gave her an edge. With it, she’d be able to fly along the coast as she trained for the big day.

  Once he got out of the car, he stretched his arms high over his head. Everything sort of went snap, crackle, and pop. Made him sound like an old man. After all the hours in the car, it felt good to work out the kinks and it made him feel a little less like the old guy.

  Man, this place was something. His childhood recollections were of a huge house, and even with the passage of time that brought him to adulthood, it hadn’t really gotten much smaller. It was a friggin’ big house for one single woman. Sweet too. Now that he was here, it made him a little jealous.

  He wouldn’t have had to think twice if Aunty had left it to him. Spokane was a nice place to live, and he loved the boundless outdoor activities the area offered. With four distinct seasons, he was able to play all year round, from swimming in the summer to snowshoeing in the winter He had all the toys a guy could ask for. Golf clubs, a kayak, snowboards, and for his style of cycling, a mountain bike.

  Still, it was spectacular here, and it just plain felt good. The air was filled with the distinct scent of the ocean; the sky was crystal clear and beautiful blue, and the grass with thick and green. Lorna’s decision to move here was a good one. He could think of far worse places to mend a broken heart.

  “Junior!”

  Despite himself, he smiled. He hated being called Junior, and Lorna knew it, which is precisely why she did it. Didn’t matter how old they got, she still liked to poke the bear anytime she got the chance. He’d growl at her for the poke except he couldn’t. The sound of her voice, clear and happy, did something good to his heart. Right now she could call him asshole, and if she did it with that note of joy in her voice, he’d still be smiling.

  He stared into the blue sky and tried to look serious. “I hear something but can’t quite make it out.”

  She threw her arms around him and hugged tight. She was sweaty and smelly. Anybody with half a brain would back away. He hugged her back. “You smell like an old sock,” he said into her ear.

  “Yeah, I do. Now you do too.”

  “Good to see you too, sister.”

  She stood back and smiled. He decided she looked better than the last time he’d seen her. Even though her voice was light and happy, her eyes held a haunted look he didn’t recall seeing before. His hopes for a quick period of healing fell. He’d anticipated that moving here would restore the energetic, beautiful woman she’d been before the Anna debacle. Maybe his hopes had been unrealistic.

  It was more than the look in her
eyes. She was skinnier too. Not her best look. Neither one of them was ever going to be runway ready. The stock they came from was tall and sturdy. Skinny just wasn’t in their bones, and it didn’t flatter her now. He wanted his sister back, healthy and strong. Good thing he had some time on his hands because he had some work to do here. He wasn’t leaving until she was back to being healthy and happy.

  “Got your rocket,” he told her.

  The way her eyes lit up lightened his heart. She kissed his cheek and then ran to the back of his vehicle, grabbing the handle to the hatch and yanking on it. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

  He laughed and helped her get the bike out of the back. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, you say that to all your handsome brothers.”

  *

  Renee didn’t have to ask her mother who the attractive man in the driveway was; he looked just like Lorna. A little younger and, well, a guy, but he still resembled her enough to make the possibility of a mistake remote. Jeremy. She hadn’t seen him for a very long time. The last time she recalled him being here, he’d been a grade schooler playing pirate on the beach. No pirate now, he was tall and handsome.

  She also didn’t have to ask if Lorna was thrilled to see him. She’d been watching her run up the driveway, and while she appeared happy enough, the sight of Jeremy getting out of the loaded SUV had put a glow on her face.

  The joy of reunion was so strong it made Renee smile just watching them. It was infectious even from a distance. No warring siblings in this family. It made her both happy and sad. Happy for them. Sad for her. An only child, she’d always longed for a brother or sister. Both, if she were really lucky. She’d kept that wish locked away in her heart knowing instinctively that her world was different from most of her friends. One great love had been enough for her mother, and though he’d died far too young, he’d left her one child to love. There simply wasn’t going to be a little brother or sister. As a single mother, Mom had given her the best she could, and in the big picture, it had been plenty,