Vanished In The Night

Natalie Cross, her best friend in high school and the one person she trusted implicitly. Two weeks ago, she’d offered to let Kaylee move in with her, but as a lawyer with one of the most prestigious law firms in Nashville, she wasn’t around much. While she had a home in Wrangler’s Corner that had been in her family for several generations, she kept an apartment in the city for her late nights and early mornings.

Kaylee had yet to make up her mind, but she was leaning in that direction. She would have her own place and help her friend out by keeping up with the house. It might turn out to be a fabulous arrangement when she was ready to move out of her father’s house. Which was going to be soon.

Especially if her father’s marriage went through. She shifted to pick up the baby from his bassinet beside her bed and noticed the bruises her attacker had left on her upper right arm.

But she was safe.

And she had a beautiful baby boy, thanks to Dr. Joshua Crawford. A man who hadn’t hesitated to help. So very different from most of the men she’d crossed paths with. Men like her dead husband. Or the man who’d stalked her until he’d finally made his move and tried to kidnap her.

The thought of her stalker sent her brain spinning back to the man who’d tried to grab her yesterday. If she hadn’t gotten a good look at him, she would have believed her stalker had returned. But that was impossible. Thanks to the quick action of a neighbor, Patrick Talbot had been arrested the night he’d attempted to kidnap her and was now in custody awaiting trial.

Kaylee shuddered, not wanting to think about the man who’d made her life miserable for a little over six months. She still didn’t know what it was she’d done that had focused his attention on her. But that had been over for weeks now, and she didn’t have to worry or think about him again until it came time for her to testify. With a determined effort, she pushed him out of her mind and turned her thoughts to her father.

He’d been in for a visit and had seemed distant, quiet. He’d stood over the bassinet, looking down at the baby with one of the strangest expressions Kaylee had ever seen. Then he’d wished her well, excused himself and slipped out the door. She supposed she should be glad he’d at least come by.

With a mental shrug, she dismissed thoughts of her father and stroked the downy-soft cheek. “You need a name, don’t you?”

She’d not wanted to know the gender of the baby before he was born. As a result, she’d decorated only a little after she’d moved in with her father. And while she’d had offers of help from Mrs. Crawford, she simply couldn’t bring herself to accept it—or the fact that the woman would be marrying her father in three weeks.

Yes, her father was known for his drinking issues, but as far as she could tell, that was in the past, just as he claimed. Since she’d been living in his home, she hadn’t seen a drop of alcohol in the place.

Of course, she didn’t know what he did when he left the house.

But could it possibly be true?

Then again, he also had a lot of money from some smart real-estate investments, and while people judged him for his drinking—not everyone believed he’d quit—they sure didn’t mind taking his money. Or marrying him to get it. Women tended to overlook his questionable past while trying to get their hands on his cash. However, he’d ignored them all.

Until Olivia Crawford.

Kaylee couldn’t stop the tide of resentment. Toward both her father and his fiancée. Nor could she stop the guilt. She knew it wasn’t right, but what was she to do about it? Pretend it wasn’t there? Pray for God to change her heart? She probably should. After all, she’d known Mrs. Crawford practically all her life, and if the woman wasn’t marrying her father, Kaylee would adore her. So, what was her problem? Why was she so out of sorts about this marriage?

Because she believed Mrs. Crawford had proved that she was just like every other woman in town and out to grab her father’s fortune. Then again, why did she care? If he was so blind, what did it matter to her? She sighed. Because he was still her father and she had a responsibility to look out for him even if he didn’t return the sentiment. And, in a way, she felt like she should look out for Mrs. Crawford. Her father was no prize catch, that was for sure.

A knock on the door jerked her from her conflicted thoughts. “Come in.”

The door swung open and Joshua stepped inside. Kaylee’s heart stalled while he shut the door behind him. When he turned back, his warm blue eyes met hers. “Hi.”

* * *

“Hi,” she said. Her eyes dropped down when the baby stirred.

Joshua watched in awe as the little one’s eyes opened and blinked at his mother. His mouth rounded into a small O before his lids dropped again. Joshua’s heart filled with an emotion he couldn’t name and wasn’t sure he should examine too closely. In fact, he should push it far, far away. Hadn’t he learned his lesson when it came to attractive women with children? “Don’t get involved” had been his motto for the past two years. Why was he actually reconsidering that?

And then her focus was back on him. “What are you doing here?”

He tried to read if she was glad, angry or simply indifferent in the question, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. “I hope it’s all right. I just came to check in on you.”

“Of course it’s all right. But why?”

Heat surged into his cheeks and he shrugged, hoping she wouldn’t notice. “Because I wanted to make sure you and the baby were okay.” He should have stayed away, but he simply hadn’t been able to. He was overreacting and being silly. It wasn’t like he planned to marry the woman. He was just concerned.

Get a grip, Joshua.

“We’re fine. In fact, we’ll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. You didn’t have to come by.”

Joshua sighed. She didn’t want him there.

“But for some strange reason, I’m glad you did,” she said softly.

His heart lifted in spite of the sermon he’d just preached to himself about staying uninvolved. “You are?”

“I am. I’m so grateful. If it wasn’t for you, I would have given birth in the back of—” She swallowed and looked away. “Well, let’s just say I’m grateful and leave it at that.”

He took her hand, wondering if all of his preconceived notions about this woman were false. Had he judged her too quickly?

She shivered. “Why is your mother marrying my father?”

He paused. “So, you’ll talk to me about it?”

“Of course I’ll talk about it. If you’ll help me stop it. Or at least figure it out.”

He frowned. “Why do you want to stop it? My mother is a perfectly fine, upstanding lady.”

“I sure thought she was. So, why would she agree to marry someone like my father? He doesn’t exactly have the best reputation in town.”

Her question threw him. “Ah... I don’t know. I’ll be sure to ask her when I see her.” He didn’t bother telling that had been priority number one before he’d had to alter his plans to fight off her attacker and deliver her baby. He nodded to the infant. “What’s his name?”

“I haven’t decided.”

He lifted a brow. “Well, you can’t just keep calling him Baby. Or Bubba.”

“Bubba?” A smile curved her lips. “I’ve not once referred to him as Bubba, I assure you.”

Whoa. Her smile packed a punch. He cleared his throat. “What’s wrong with Bubba?”

“Not a thing. Bubba is a perfectly respectable name for those who choose it. I’m just not calling my child that, so don’t start.”

He shrugged. “I’m kidding, of course. Why don’t you have a name picked out, though? What about naming him after his father?”

She flinched and her eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t name him after his father if it were the only name left on the planet. I want my son to grow up to be good and honorable, to be a man who respects women and loves God. I’ll name him after someone who deserves it.”

Okay, then. There was a story behind those words.

Joshua eased into the chair beside her bed and held out his arms. “Sounds like things a good mother teaches her child. What did your husband do to make you so mad at him?”

She hesitated, then placed the baby in his arms. “He found someone else.”

“Ouch.” He knew the feeling. “Yes, that would do it.”

“And then was killed while he was sleeping next to her.”

He jerked and stared at her. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Wow. Who killed him?”

“The woman’s husband. He was found guilty of murder and is now serving a life sentence.”

Okay, so he probably should stop feeling sorry for himself. She’d been through much worse than he. Joshua settled back into the chair and held the infant in the crook of his arm. “I’m afraid I have no idea what to say to that one.”

A sigh slipped from her. “There’s nothing to say.” Silence fell between them and he adjusted the blanket over the tiny arm. “You’re good at that,” she said softly.

“I like babies.”

* * *

And she liked the image of him holding her son way too much. She almost snatched the child from him, but instead, sighed and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, she found Joshua staring at the baby with one of the most gentle, caring expressions she’d ever seen on a man.

“What’s your name?”

He looked up, confusion in his eyes. “Joshua.”

“I know that. I mean your full name.”

“Joshua Duncan Crawford. But don’t you dare call me JD.”

“Why? You like Bubba better?”

He laughed.

She thought about it. “I like it. I think I’ll call him Duncan.”

“What? After me?”

She held his stunned gaze. “Why not? You’ve shown him more care and gentleness than anyone else in his short life. A life he still has because you intervened today. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather name him after.”

He opened his mouth then shut it. Opened it again. “What about your father?” he finally said.

She shook her head. “No.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then I’m honored,” he said softly. He lifted the baby and gazed into the sleeping face. “Nice to meet you, Duncan.”

Kaylee thought she might burst into tears. His tenderness, his care...yes, Duncan was the perfect name for her son.

Joshua continued to talk to the newly named baby, and she let her eyes drift shut. Just for a moment. Then she’d take Duncan and feed him.

When she woke, the sun was down and the dark night snuggled up against the windowpane. The chair beside the bed was empty. She turned to check on Duncan and gasped at the empty bassinet.

In place of the baby, someone had left a white box. A box just like the one she’d received before she’d left her job in Nashville.

Terror struck. Her stalker was back. And he’d taken her son.

Kaylee threw the covers back and lowered her feet to the slippers someone had so kindly placed next to her bed. With trembling fingers, she snatched the robe from the end of the bed and tossed it around her shoulders.

She rushed to the door and threw it open—only to come to a halt. “Mrs. Crawford?”

The dark-haired woman turned from speaking with two of the nurses—with Duncan in her arms. Kaylee pressed a hand to her pounding heart and walked over to her. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, I worried you, didn’t I? I’m so sorry.” She immediately handed the baby to Kaylee, who gathered him close and inhaled his sweet scent. Her knees trembled and tears gathered at the back of her throat.

But Duncan was safe. Her stalker was in custody. He hadn’t left the box. She could relax. The fact that she’d immediately reverted to her jumpy, nerve-racking, stalker days frustrated her. But that box...

The woman placed a hand on Kaylee’s shoulder and squeezed. “You were sleeping so soundly, I hated to wake you. Joshua had to leave. Clay called him and asked him to come in to discuss the attack on you in more detail. As he was leaving, he introduced your little man to me. Then he started to fuss, so I picked him up and fed him his bottle.”

“Oh. Well, thank you.” Kaylee had needed the sleep, definitely felt better because of it, but the last thing she wanted was for this woman to form an attachment to her child.

But at least Mrs. Crawford wouldn’t hurt him.

Kaylee chided herself for her initial fear. If anyone had taken her baby through the hospital doors, all kinds of alarms would have gone off.

She sighed. The day’s events had rattled her more than she wanted to admit. “I’m going back to my room. Thank you for stopping by.” She turned to go.

“Kaylee?”

Kaylee stopped. “Yes?”

“Could we talk for a few minutes?”

Mrs. Crawford was one of the last people she wanted to talk to, but she didn’t want to be rude, either. “Sure.”

Kaylee led the way into her room and sat on the bed.

The white box mocked her. Mrs. Crawford had probably left it there when she’d taken Duncan to feed him. The fact that the box was the same as the one from her stalker was just a coincidence. Kaylee’s back stiffened. She had no desire for gifts from the woman she considered a gold digger.

Mrs. Crawford took the chair her son had vacated sometime earlier. “We have a lot to talk about.”

Kaylee pulled her gaze from the box. “Like what?”

“Well, for one—” Mrs. Crawford said, “—I know you adored your mother and I could never take her place. I wouldn’t even try, but can we at least be friends?”

Taken aback, Kaylee sank her teeth into her bottom lower lip as she considered her response. “Mrs. Crawford, why did you agree to marry my father?” she finally asked.

Mrs. Crawford blinked. “First, please call me Olivia. And I agreed to marry your father because I love him.”

Kaylee gaped. “But why? He’s so totally unlovable.” Except for his money, Kaylee truly couldn’t see the draw to the man. “I’m his daughter, and I can hardly stand to be around him.” And yet, he’d allowed her to move back into her old room and have one of the spares for the baby. Of course, that was a temporary arrangement, as she planned to move out as soon as it was feasible—especially if he was truly getting married again—but he’d let her.

Olivia crossed her legs. “How long have you been gone from Wrangler’s Corner? It’s been a few years, yes?”

“Four years. I left shortly after high school because I couldn’t stand to be in the same town with him. He’s overbearing, controlling, manipulative—”

“Yes, he was all those things—and he readily admits it.”

Kaylee snapped her mouth shut. “Since when?” she finally managed.

“Since he got out of rehab and turned his life around.”

The woman kept throwing bombshells at her. “Rehab? What rehab?”

“That’s what I meant by we have a lot to talk about.”

“I’ve been home for two weeks and I haven’t seen any indication that he’s a changed man—except I haven’t seen any alcohol in the house.” And he hadn’t completely avoided her. But she hadn’t really given him the opportunity to prove that he’d changed. She simply left the room whenever he entered.

“That’s one indication then, isn’t it?”

Kaylee gave a grudging nod. “He came to the hospital and didn’t even hold Duncan.”

But she had to admit, her father hadn’t yelled at her once since she’d been back.

Olivia frowned. “It’s probably just because he’s unsure and nervous.”

Kaylee laughed. “He hasn’t been unsure or nervous a day in his life.”

“Not when he was drinking. The alcohol gave him some kind of a false bravado, but now...give him a chance, honey. Give us a chance. We just want to be here and love you and Duncan. Please?”

“I would actually love to believe that’s true, but—” She cleared her throat of the sudden lump that had formed. “I guess the best I can do is to try and reserve judgment. For now.”

Olivia nodded. “All right. We’ll take that. For now.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a small box. “It’s not much, but this is for Duncan.”

Kaylee frowned. Another gift? “But didn’t you leave that box?” She pointed to the one in Duncan’s bassinet.

Olivia frowned. “No. Why?”

A tremor ripped through Kaylee. She forced herself to breathe. “Okay, if you didn’t, then who did?”

“I don’t know, hon. It wasn’t there when I came in to see you—and when I picked up Duncan.”

Kaylee felt sick. Her first instinct had been right. Maybe.

“Do you want me to hold Duncan while you open it?” Olivia asked.

“No.” Kaylee forced a smile. “It’s all right. Someone must have popped in while I was sleeping and left it.” Natalie, maybe? Maybe, but the box reminded her of previous “gifts.” And Natalie had already given her a gift.

“All right,” Olivia said. “I’ll see you later.” She rose, walked to the door, gave Kaylee one last smile and slipped out.

Kaylee leaned her head back against the pillow and let a few tears slip out. What was she going to do? Olivia Crawford was a very nice woman. At least, that was the way she came across. So, she was either a very good actress or she sincerely meant every word she said.

Time would tell.

She swallowed and looked at the box again. Telling herself she was being silly, that one of her father’s friends or Natalie had left it, she held Duncan in the crook of her right arm and, using a fingernail on her left hand, lifted the lid to the pretty white box. She slipped it off and stared at the gift.

A dozen black roses stared back at her.

THREE

Joshua paced his mother’s den and raked a hand through his hair. “How can you do this? Don’t you know his reputation?” He’d had to wait on her for two hours before she’d come home only to zip in, change clothes, kiss his cheek and head back out. He’d given up and gone to bed at eleven thirty. She’d come home sometime after midnight.

This morning, he refused to let her out the door without confronting her. “Just tell me. Please.”

“I’m not blind or deaf. Of course I know his reputation. But it’s in his past. He’s not the same person he was two years ago.”

“So you keep saying.” He heard the sarcasm in his voice and couldn’t do anything about it.

She stood. “Yes. He’s changed. You don’t think people can change?”

“People like Garrett Martin? No. No, I don’t.”

“Then you need to spend some time in prayer. You can go to your room now.”

Joshua’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“You heard me. I’m a grown woman. I can make my own decisions about who I will and will not marry.”

“And I’m a grown man. You can’t send me to my room.”

“My house, my rules. Just like it’s always been.” She stared at him. He stared back.

And finally dropped his eyes. “Mom, I don’t want to fight with you.” And he wouldn’t disrespect her. “All right, tell me. What is it about him that you love so much?”

She sighed. “We’ve been friends for a long time. He and your father were friends as well, you know that. Garrett Martin is a good man. Deep down. He loved Stella so much. When she died, it nearly killed him. He pulled away from everyone, including poor Kaylee, and poured himself into his work.”

“And poured alcohol down his throat.”

“Not to the extent that everyone thinks. Yes, he got a DUI shortly after Stella’s funeral. And yes, four years ago, the pastor found him passed out in the back pew of the church. Garrett was mortified and it was his wake-up call. Pastor Hall got him into a six-month rehab program. Your father and I visited and supported him. Encouraged him. When he got out, he wrote a long letter about how much our friendship meant to him. And then your father died, and Garrett was there for me.”

“I remember him at the funeral.”

“Yes.”

“I’m just having a hard time wrapping my mind around this. Kaylee is, too. I guess I just don’t understand how it happened.”

She smiled. “It happens for older people the same way it does you young people. The late-night chats, after-work dinners and Sunday-morning worship services have all led to something more. Something special. He needed someone and I was there as a friend. When I needed a friend, he was there. And now...it’s just more.”

“He needed someone, huh?”

“Yes, he did.”

“And that someone had to be you?”

She tiled her head and studied him. “No, it didn’t. It could have been anyone, but I chose for it to be me.”

“Mom—”

“Drop it.”

“I’m not dropping it. Not by a long shot.” He paused. “What about Kaylee? Garrett pushed her away to the point she may never want anything to do with him again.”

Sadness flickered. A real grief that shot pangs through him. “I know. That’s Garrett’s one remaining relationship he wants to repair, but is so unsure how to go about it.”

“I don’t know how to help there. Kaylee only returned home because she was desperate and alone.”

“I know, but the fact that she was willing to move in with him gives him hope that this will provide them another chance to get to know one another and allow him to make up for his neglect as a father.”

“I really hope it works out. If not for him, then for Kaylee. I think she needs him.”

“Of course she does. He needs her, as well. Anytime there’s discord or conflict between a parent and their child, it causes that parent severe inner turmoil.” She raised a brow at him.

He met her gaze. “I’m sure it does the same to the child.” With a glance at his watch, he sighed. “I have to go. Clay texted and said he was going to go by and talk to Kaylee before she’s discharged from the hospital. He asked me to be there.”

“You?”

“Well, I did fight off the guy that attacked her.”

“I know.” She frowned. “You could have been shot.”

“But I wasn’t.” He grabbed his keys from the end table then kissed her cheek. “I love you. We’ll talk later.”

“Talk or argue?” she called after him.

“Probably both.” He climbed into the SUV, slammed the door and started the vehicle.

The hour’s drive to the hospital passed quickly for him and he soon found himself on Kaylee’s floor. Her door was open and he could hear Clay’s voice coming from inside the room.

“You didn’t think you needed to tell anyone that you had a stalker?”

“No. I mean, I thought it was all done. He’s in custody. How could it be him?” Kaylee said.

Joshua stepped into the room. “What’s this about a stalker?”

“Kaylee had one back in Nashville,” Clay said. “Looks like he’s returned to finish the job.”

“Finish what job?”

Clay read from a piece of paper in his gloved hand. “‘You thought I was gone, but I’m not. I would never abandon you. I’ve had a lot of time to plan it all out. I know we can be very happy. I know you think you don’t want to be with me, but I’ll show you how much you can love me—and how much I love you. I hope you like the black roses. Red roses are so cliché, so I decided to be different. Different just like our life together will be. We have so much to look forward to. See you soon, my darling.’”

Kaylee held the baby against her shoulder. She’d read the words and had debated what to do. If Patrick Talbot wasn’t sitting in jail, she would have no doubt who could have sent the “gift.” She supposed he could have had someone, like his brother, do it for him, but as far as she knew, Patrick’s family didn’t have a lot to do with him. At least, that had been her understanding. She’d spoken to his brother and sister and they’d been severely grieved at his actions. Stalking with letters, then escalating to breaking into her home and trying to take her. If not for the quick actions of her neighbor, Kaylee wasn’t sure how that would have ended. Although, she had a pretty good idea. She shuddered.

After opening the box, she’d left three messages with the detective who’d handled the case and he still hadn’t returned her calls. Then she’d tried Patrick’s lawyer and he hadn’t answered, either. Her last call had been at three o’clock this morning when she’d finally contacted Clay Starke and explained the situation. The sheriff had arranged protection on her room for the remainder of the night and promised to be at the hospital first thing this morning. She’d been waiting for him when he’d walked in.