Chapter 53
This photo is fresh off my camera. After a little break I played outside for a few minutes with my grand. It's only 32.1 degrees out there, maybe lower, despite the sunshine. How did she find mud? Oh yeah, she's 4 years old. Little kids find everything you don't want found...
Hidden Secrets
Leona Palmer Haag
Chapter 53
Matt lay in bed staring at the ceiling and wondering
why he'd said anything to Jenn Washington. What made him open his mouth and let
the words flow unchecked? He was completely stupid. A pure idiot. There was no
telling how she'd respond.
He couldn't sleep, so he finally got up and went to
work. A few days in the sun while relaxing with Jenn and Katie had nudged his
mind into a different gear. Now all the feelings that had sprung into his gut
bobbed just below the surface like a water-logged toy in a swimming pool. He
tried to convince his mind to concentrate on them. Pull them out. Dry them off.
See what they really were. What they meant.
His stabbing hadn't been random as he and the office
assumed? If so, then perhaps neither was his rescue. What was the real identity
of the woman who found him in the alley? Who was her brother that helped her
nurse him to health?
He had funny feelings about Nick, too. How could he
still be missing without anyone claiming responsibility? Clearly his captors
thought their identity wasn't suspected. Did they feel that they needed to
remain hidden? For how long? Why?
And what about Jenn's sketch of the bat-wing eared
man? Was Angela involved in some way they weren't aware of?
Who was the tomato thief? Did Angela describe her to
Jenn in hopes the details would intermingle with the bat-wing eared man? Was
she trying to throw Jenn off?
Matt's stomach churned. He rubbed it, then gently
touched the scar on his chest. It bulged slightly and tingled—numb in the
center and sensitive around the edges, but the pain was mostly gone. It was the
only physical mark on his body, aside from a wound near his hip from last
summer. Until now, he'd always been protected. One bullet had grazed his calf
many years ago, but other than that, they'd all missed their mark by more than
a dozen inches until recently. A paper cut or two, some fatigue, and sore
muscles had always been his only battle injuries.
Matt returned to his laptop and attempted to solve the
puzzles, but there were no connecting pieces or new clues. It was useless. He
finally shut things down and returned to bed.
"I have to catch a flight home this
morning," Matt said the next morning. He set his bag by the door leading
out to the garage.
Jenn glanced up from cutting bananas over Katie's bowl
of cereal. Her eyes looked tired. Swollen from crying. He crossed the room and
faced her. "I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have said anything. I
wasn't supposed to…"
Jenn held up the sharp knife in warning. "Shut
up, Matt. I don't want to hear anything else today. Not 'sorry', not 'I'll get
fired if you squeal', and definitely not, 'I'm sure Nick is fine'. Just zip it,
okay?"
Matt nodded and went to the pantry to look for
breakfast. He settled on a bowl of cereal and pulled up a stool next to Katie.
"How is Katie bear today?" he cheerfully asked.
Katie dipped her spoon into his bowl and took a bite
and giggled.
"Am I going to get baby germs?" Matt joked
to Jenn.
Jenn glared at him. "Yes. Her slobber is
deadly." She spun away.
Matt ignored Jenn as he ate, but teased Katie as he
shared his breakfast. After the kitchen was cleaned up he announced, "I
think I'll catch a later flight. You, me and Katie are going to church."
Jenn cast him a sarcastic glare. "Not on your
life. I'd rather have my pseudo husband leave town than turn me into a pseudo
saint."
Matt lightly laughed. "Sunday services clear my
head. I’m sure we both want me to think straight during this situation.
Especially you. I'm dragging you along because it might improve your
mood."
Jenn stared at him in astonishment. "I don't
believe in church. You know that. If God cared about me, he wouldn't have
plopped me down in so many rotten situations. Tell me, where was God when Anne
Marie was born? And where was he when I was kneeling at the altar marrying
Danny? And what about the day Nick had a visitor in my home? Did God open the
door and let the bad guy in? Why didn't he leave a note telling us where he
took my husband while he was at it?"
Matt bit back a few hot replies. Jenn was already mad
enough. He softly said, "God was there each time, Jenn. He was letting bad
guys do terrible things just as much as he was letting the good guys do what's
right. He allows each of us the opportunity to…"
"Wrong! He was ignoring me. Flat out. That was as
good as giving Gary license to do whatever he wanted—even kill an unborn baby.
The pastor didn't even suspect Danny was already married. And what about you, Matt?
Where was God when your wife, Rebecca, died? And where was he when you married
superstar Monica? I'll tell you where he was—asleep."
"No, I was asleep, not God. Wear a dress." Matt
turned away from Hurricane Jenn and started counting. He'd probably reach
ten-thousand before he was calm enough to speak to her again.
"I don't have one!" Jenn shouted.
Matt slowly smiled. He'd caught her. That defused the
ignited dynamite. He turned and faced her. "Then wear that skirt hanging
in your closet."
Jenn glared at him. "You can't make me go to
church. It's against the law."
"I know, so I won't make you come with me, but
I'll invite you to come with me and Katie. She needs an outing. They have a
nursery where she can play with kids, sing, and hear stories. She'll love it.
You might unwind a little too. It will be good for all of us."
"Katie stays with me, and we're staying
here."
Matt didn't fight fair. "Katie, do you want to go
to nursery class with me? Huh? Want to sing?" Katie giggled and danced
with delight. Matt scooped her up into his arms and turned to Jenn. "You
might as well take a shower and get ready. Wear that ten-cow wife diamond ring
of yours. It might brighten your mood. It will definitely make me look
good."
Jenn stormed up the back stairs. Matt retrieved his
bag and changed clothes.
End Chapter 53
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