Heartwishes Part 33

On the other hand, what if he did what Tris had hinted at and asked her to marry him out of a sense of duty? What kind of marriage would that be if he spent his life feeling that he'd been forced-or tricked-into marriage?

Gemma got up and as she showered, the idea that she was expecting a baby seemed like a fantasy. She didn't feel in the least ill, and wasn't there supposed to be morning sickness? She put her hand on her stomach. "Are you so determined to be different that you're going to make me ill in the evenings?"

She got out of the shower, dressed, ate a solid, good-for-you breakfast, and started to work. She was writing about what she'd found out about the first Shamus Frazier, and as she wrote, she nearly forgot her life-changing news. In the quiet of the library, she could put aside her concerns about her future.

At one point, she couldn't resist looking at what was possibly the Heartwishes Stone. It was such a small thing, a little oval cage, no bigger than the tip of her little finger, and inside was the tiny rock that glistened when she held it up to the sunlight. Could this little object really and truly grant wishes?

Even though she told herself it was wrong, she clasped it in the palm of her hand and said, "I wish that my baby lives a long and happy life." She opened her hand to see if the Stone was changing color as it had when Nell had it around the neck of her teddy bear, but the necklace was the same.

"This is ridiculous," she said as she put it back in its lead case, and closed the top of the compact. As she'd told Tris, she put it in the little basket that was near the bathroom sink and held her other cosmetics. It was hidden in plain sight.

That afternoon young Shamus showed up at her door. She didn't get up to open it, just motioned for him to come in. He went directly to the kitchen and made a couple of sandwiches for them, then sat down to draw.

They had developed a routine where they said little to each other, and she knew that Shamus liked the silence that usually surrounded her. She'd seen that the inside of the Frazier house was more turbulent, more active, than she liked, so maybe it was the same for him.

"I'm going to have a quiet child," she said, then glanced up at Shamus. She hadn't meant to say it out loud, but he didn't seem to have heard. He just kept sketching on his big pad.

Later, she nodded toward his wooden art box on the table. Gray duct tape was all along the bottom, and it was very ugly. "Why don't you leave that here and I'll see if I can fix it?"

He nodded once but didn't look up. Whatever he was drawing today was certainly absorbing.

She went back to trying to put her copious notes into a readable form. Twice she found herself looking at the names of the family she was writing about. The Fraziers seemed to love to stick to the old names, but she couldn't bear to saddle her child with "Peregrine." And what about the girls? Would Alea want her to name the child Prudence? Gemma rea.s.sured herself by remembering that Mrs. Frazier had named her daughter Ariel.

As Gemma was musing over this, Shamus left, raising his hand in farewell, and closing the door after him. She saw that he'd left his art case behind, and peeping out from under it was a piece of paper. Since Shamus rarely let anyone see his drawings, Gemma was overcome with curiosity. Getting up, she went to the coffee table. When she picked the drawing up, what she saw so jolted her that she sat down heavily on the couch.

Shamus had drawn Gemma sitting under a big tree like the one at Merlin's Farm, and she was reading. She looked absolutely absorbed in her book, oblivious to her surroundings. It would have been a completely accurate portrait except that there were three little boys, each one the spitting image of Colin, near her. One was swinging by his hands from a low tree branch. The second one was wearing a sheriff's badge and cowboy boots, and looking like he was about to arrest the boy in the tree. The third one, wearing a diaper that looked decidedly soggy, had constructed an obstacle course of rocks and twigs, and was running four tiny cars over it.

Gemma could only stare at the picture in open-mouthed astonishment. But then, she leaned back on the couch and couldn't help laughing, as the drawing looked very true to life. She could envision herself in just such a position, absorbed in her reading as her children occupied themselves.

"Whatever made him draw this?" she whispered, and remembered her comment about having a "quiet child." It seemed that he had combined that with Mrs. Frazier's very vocal desires for grandchildren, and Mr. Frazier's frequent statements about wanting a child to inherit the ancestors' pa.s.sion for wheels. Add to it that Gemma kept her hand protectively on her stomach most of the time and that she went to the bathroom every few minutes, and it looked like Shamus had figured out her secret. In a single picture, he had put his parents' Heartwishes with what Gemma had accidently told.

Gemma carefully stored the drawing in a portfolio and went back to work, but every half hour or so, she'd look up, smile, and shake her head in wonder.

At six, she received a text message from Colin and her heart leaped. So this is what it's like to be in love, she thought, then told herself she was being silly. It was too soon for that. But then, wouldn't it be better if she were in love with the father of her child?

Could you meet me asap at Merlin's Farm by the summerhouse? Mike and Sara aren't here. It's just us.

Gemma could feel her heart beginning to race and her mind filled with all sorts of possibilities. Did "just us" mean that he wanted a tryst, a secret a.s.signation? Merlin's Farm, with its atmosphere of spirits long gone, was about as romantic as it could get. There they'd have privacy. They'd be away from his family, and the people who would talk about them.

She hurriedly put on some makeup and ran to her car. On the short drive there she imagined lying in his arms and telling him about finding the Heartwishes Stone. And later, as they lay under the stars, she'd tell him about the baby. And then what? she wondered. She hoped he'd be overcome with joy, that he'd lift her in his arms, twirl her around, and they'd talk about their future life together. Happiness is what she wanted and needed.

As Gemma pulled into Merlin's Farm and drove toward the barn, she laughed at herself. For all her protestations of wanting a career and independence, when it came down to it, she wanted to be Cinderella and have a big, strong man rescue her.

She saw Colin's Jeep parked near the secluded area that held the little lattice summerhouse, and she pulled in beside it. The moment she saw Colin she knew he hadn't invited her there for a tryst. He looked worried, as though he had something truly awful to tell her.

"Hi," he said as soon as she got out of the car. He put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a perfunctory kiss.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Jean," he answered.

Gemma had to work to keep from rolling her eyes. He had invited her to this beautiful, romantic place, but it looked like she was going to have to discuss his ex-girlfriend.

"What about her?" Gemma asked, trying her best to be an adult. She congratulated herself on not shouting, "What does Dragon Lady want now?" She sat down on the gra.s.s and looked up at him; Colin stayed standing, looking too nervous to sit down.

Colin told her about searching old files and finding out that many years ago a young thief had left behind a willow branch tied with a pink silk ribbon.

"So he's restarted his career?" she asked. "Do you have photos of this man?"

"Yes, but there's more. He went on to commit some major robberies all over the world. Banks, the Romanian consulate, a couple of penthouses in Hong Kong. He's scaled buildings using suction cups. He can open any safe made."

"I guess a screwed-on bedpost was easy for him."

"Very easy." Colin was looking at her as though he had something important to tell her, but he didn't seem to want to say it outright.

"Why would a professional thief come to Edilean?"

"He's Jean's uncle."

Gemma refrained from saying curse words and tried to keep her face calm. She wasn't going to give in to her anger at her baby news being overridden by Jean's criminal relative. "I take it you weren't told about the uncle."

"Not a word. Jean said she was an only child of only children."

"I can see why she didn't tell a man who loved law enforcement that she had a notorious thief for an uncle. Maybe she didn't know him."

"Ha! He was under surveillance while she was in law school, and he spent a lot of time with her. According to the files I read and the pictures I saw of the two of them, they were inseparable for years. She traveled with him. I knew she'd been places all over the world, but I just found out that she went with her uncle, a man who-" He couldn't seem to find the right words to describe Jean's concealment of this part of her life.

Gemma knew she should offer him sympathy because his former girlfriend had lied to him, but she couldn't do it. If he was really over her-as he said he was-would it still make him this angry to find out that she'd hidden things from him? But she kept her thoughts to herself. "So now you need to find her uncle."

"Yeah, I do."

"What does Jean say about all his?" She held her breath, hoping that he'd say he hadn't spoken to her, that he was letting his deputy, Roy, ask the questions.

"Jean says she hasn't seen him in years, but I think she's lying." Colin stopped pacing to look down at Gemma. "That's what I want to talk to you about. I don't believe all of this is a coincidence."

"All of what?"

Colin waved his hand. "You, me, Jean, her uncle, the robberies. I think there's a reason it's all happening at once."

"What's your theory?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"I think Jean told her uncle that she and I broke up. Knowing her as I do, she probably told him it was all my fault. I'm beginning to think the robberies in our little town are an attempt at revenge."

"But if he knows Jean, maybe he can figure out the truth about you two. And there might be another reason he's here." She told him of how Tristan had found what he believed to be the Heartwishes Stone. "I still don't know how everyone in town found out about it. Did you tell anyone?"

"I didn't have to. That legend is known by a lot of people. It wouldn't be a leap for anyone to go from you looking at the old papers to wishes being fulfilled. I guess Tris told you about his brother-in-law."

"Yes," Gemma said, "but I didn't know he told others."

"Jake was suddenly brought home from a war and got a job here in Edilean, all in a couple of weeks. People notice that sort of thing."

"And Sara's twins," Gemma said. "It seems to me that a Stone that grants wishes would be enough to attract an international thief."

"I'm afraid so," he said. "All this makes what I have to say even more difficult."

His tone made the hairs on Gemma's neck stand up. "What do you want to tell me?"

"If Jean's uncle is committing these crimes in retaliation for my having broken up with his niece, or he wants what you're researching, I'm concerned about you. If he's anything like Jean, I think he'll go after whatever he wants without worrying about the repercussions."

She was trying to conceal her disappointment about how far away from what she'd thought this meeting was going to be to the reality of it. "Since you're the one who caused Jean pain, maybe her uncle wants to show you up to the whole town. Possibly make you an object of ridicule."

"To humiliate me?" Colin said. "That's possible. But now I'm concerned that he wants this Stone and may think that you have it."

She could tell where he was headed. He wanted the two of them to stay apart for a while. But Gemma didn't want to do that. "Do you think Jean could have instigated the robberies?" Gemma asked. "Maybe Jean asked her uncle to do something that would embarra.s.s you."

"I don't think so," he said, but he wouldn't meet her eyes.

To Gemma, it looked like he wasn't going to tell her all of what he was thinking. "So what now?" she asked.

He was looking at her intensely. "Is something wrong? Have I done something to upset you?"

"No. You haven't done anything," she said and knew she was lying just as much as he was. "I'm just concerned for your safety, that's all. What do you plan to do now?"

"I'm going to question Jean some more. I've got to use anything I know about her to get her to tell me the truth. I need to find out what's going on and why. So far, the robberies have been petty, but I worry that they're a prelude to something larger. In one job, four innocent people were killed during his escape."

Gemma was quiet for a moment as her visions of talking with him about having their baby were replaced by scenes of him with Jean. She brought herself back to the present. "You want us to stay apart and make the town believe we've broken up, don't you?"

"I think that's the best for now." He gave her a crooked grin. "I thought about picking a fight with you, one that was so bad that you'd throw me out, but I decided not to risk it. I was afraid you'd not forgive me, then where would I be?"

"The same place you were a few weeks ago," Gemma said. She glanced at her watch. She could feel the beginning of nausea rising in her. If she didn't leave soon, she'd be throwing up, and that was not the way she wanted him to find out about the child they'd created. "I need to get back to work." She got up and started toward her car, but he caught her arm.

"You're angry at me." He seemed to be astonished at the idea.

"I understand about your work and what you need to do." She thought about what he'd just said. "How would you have picked a fight with me?"

"Forget I said that," he said. "Why don't we go somewhere out of town and have dinner and talk about all this?"

Gemma had a grim vision of herself throwing up at the table. "I'll take a rain check. I really do need to go."

"Work!" he said. "I could pick a fight with you about how much you work."

It was her turn to be astonished. "But I thought you liked hearing about all I was finding out about your family. Didn't you?"

"I did. I do," he said. "Although the part about Tris has been hard to take."

"Tris? What does he have to do with the robberies?"

"Nothing that I know of."

"Then why did you bring him up?"

"It's just that I was surprised when he said that you'd told him about my case. He knew many details I'd not even told my deputy. Maybe I should have made you cross your heart not to tell. And of course there's the two of you and that d.a.m.ned Stone! It would have been easy to pick a fight."

Colin was smiling, but Gemma took his words seriously. She'd never before been accused of betraying anyone's trust. "But I thought-" She could feel her face growing red. "You're right. I shouldn't have told about your case. I was in the wrong. I apologize." The nausea was growing stronger and she took a step toward her car.

"Gemma, I'm the one to apologize. It was okay to tell Tris. I do. It's just that-"

When he cut off, she turned to look at him. "It's just that what?"

"Nothing. Forget about it." He stepped beside her. "I'll see you in a few days."

"I want to know what you were going to say."

He looked away from her. "Nothing. I don't listen to gossip."

"What gossip?"

Colin ran his hand over his face. "It's just deja vu, that's all. You spent an entire day with Tris, but I understand. Jean was always out with other men too. I pretended to be above it, but it did hurt."

"Deja vu? Hurt? Other men? What in the world are you talking about?"

"You and Tris, that's what!" he said, as though it were a given.

"What about Tristan?"

"Gemma, I don't want to fight. I asked you to come here so I could tell you the truth, not to argue. You and I have to stay apart for a while because I need time to get all the information out of Jean that I can. And I'm concerned that you may be in danger of some sort of revenge. Plus, there's your knowledge of that Stone."

"Of course," Gemma said. "I understand completely. You're telling this month's girlfriend that you need to spend time with last month's girlfriend. And, by the way, while you're with her, I'm to stay away from other men. The only question is whether you and I are on for next month. Or do you have someone else picked out?"

"Gemma! By everything that's holy you're being unfair! Do you have any idea what I have to put up with because you spend so much time with Tris? His house is very isolated, and half a dozen people told me you were out there with him at night. And he drove you home. Were you too drunk to drive?"

She wasn't about to tell him the real reason for not driving. "If this is what you think of me, it's a good idea that we stop seeing each other. I'm sure your family will be pleased to see you back with your beautiful lawyer girlfriend. And since you seem to forgive her for everything rotten she does to you, I'm sure you two will be very happy together. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go back to work."

"I don't mind at all," Colin said. "I hope you and Tris will be very happy."

"Good! Because it looks like you and Jean are a perfect match after all."

"Maybe we are," Colin said.

Gemma couldn't take any more. She got into her car, slammed the door, and drove off in a flurry of gravel.

Just as angry, Colin drove to his office. He was determined to go back to work. The sooner he got the crimes figured out and arrests made, the faster he could get back with Gemma. If she wanted to, that is.

An hour later, he hadn't done anything. He kept going over their argument and trying to understand it.

After a fight with Jean, Colin had always felt better. They said horrible things, accusing each other of infidelity, laziness, stupidity, whatever they could come up with. They covered every subject, from her leaving the kitchen a mess to Colin's constant moroseness, to Jean's inability to see anything except her own wants and needs.

After hours of spewing venom, they would run out of energy-and out of bad things to blame on the other. They'd take a breath, look at each other, and one of them would say something trivial. Colin would say something like, "You hog the bathroom."