The Reunion: Claire's Rebuilding Contract (Starting Over Series) (4 page)

“Hi. Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Yes. Just let me grab my purse,” she said.

As they drove into town, Claire wondered what Ellie was referring to. Was she out on a date with a serial killer or something? Surely Ellie would have told her that. Was he a cheating scoundrel? A sex offender? A thief? The town drunk? Claire ran through every imaginable scenario in her head.

“Are you okay? You seem quiet…” Jack finally said.

“Huh? Oh. Of course. I’m fine. Just a long day at work,” she lied.

“I don’t know how you do what you do. Having all of those sick kids around all day would make me germophobic,” he said with a laugh.

“Sometimes it does. I see more vomit than I need to,” she said with a giggle. “I’m sorry. I’ve never said the word vomit on a date before.” They both broke into hysterical laughter. Claire realized she was being silly worrying about his “infamous” past. She decided to just enjoy herself like she had planned for two days.

Jack drove past all of the restaurants in town and then off a side street. When they came to a stop, Claire realized that they were at the golf course.

“We’re going to the golf course?” she asked.

“Sort of. Come on…” he said as he jumped down and opened her door.

He unloaded some things from the back of his truck, and they walked a short distance. When he finally stopped, they were staring at a beautiful lake. He had set up a whole picnic area complete with a red and white checked blanket. They were just outside of the golf course property.

“Whose lake is this?” she asked looking at the beautiful sunset in front of them.

“It’s mine,” he said with a smile as he took her hand and pulled her down to sit beside him on the blanket. When they sat, he continued holding her hand.

“Yours?” she asked surprised.

“Yes. Even contractors can make good money too, Claire,” he said a little offended.

“I didn’t mean…”

“It’s okay. I just get that a lot. People think I can’t possibly make good money when I drive a truck and wear dirty boots and jeans,” he said looking across the lake. She realized that she probably had judged him.

“I’m sorry. Hollywood has clouded my thinking, I guess.”

“What was that place like?” he asked as he released her hand and opened a bottle of wine.

“Fake mostly. I had some good friends there eventually, but I’ve never seen so many fake boobs and butts and cheeks and eyes…” she rambled with a laugh. “I never quite fit in with my real body and my dark hair. I was surrounded by every man’s dream - the busty blond.”

“That is not every man’s dream, Claire.”

“Oh no?”

“Nope. I don’t even date blonds,” he said.

“Why?”

“I’m just not attracted to them. See, you are the perfect woman to me. You are stunningly beautiful, great smile, witty, intelligent. You are a genuine package of wonderful qualities. Nothing fake there,” he said handing her a glass of wine.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Thank God for those things,” he said pointing his glass at the sky.

Claire laughed at his comment. There was nothing fake about him either. She got the feeling that if she looked up “genuine” in the dictionary, his photo would pop up.

“So, how long have you owned this place?” she asked.

“About nine years. I bought it after my wife died. I needed to get away, and that’s hard to do in such a small town. So, I bought a home with acreage as my own little getaway,” he said looking off in the distance over the lake. “I parked at the golf course tonight because it was easier walking access to my lake. I didn’t want you to have to hike and get cold.”

“Thanks for thinking of me,” she said.

“That’s all I seem to do lately,” he admitted.

“Really?” She was surprised at his honesty sometimes. Men weren’t normally like this - at least not the men she had dated.

“Yes, really,” he said with a smile.

“Listen, Jack… I know you must have women fawning all over you in this town. Why don’t you date more?”

“I just don’t like the dating scene. There are not many women to choose from around here. If I had a kid, I would have already met you at the doctor’s office, I bet,” he said with a sly grin. “But, I had to summon a tornado to get a date with you instead.”

“Thanks a lot,” she said sarcastically as she bumped shoulders with him. He was rock solid and barely moved. A real man, she thought. Finally.

“The reality is that I have felt more alive since I met you a week ago than I have in almost a decade. I don’t want to scare you off by saying this stuff, though,” he said looking away again.

“You are most definitely not scaring me off, Jack,” Claire said. In a moment of courage, she leaned over and kissed him gently on his cheek. His skin felt warm and rough against her lips.

Jack turned into her and met her lips with his. She ran her fingers through his thick hair and pulled him closer. He put his hand on her waist and tightened his hold on her. For a moment, it was just the two of them lost in each other.

“Sorry. I got carried away,” Jack said as he pulled back to catch his breath.

“No need to be sorry,” she said smiling as she pecked him one more time on the lips.

“I forgot something in the truck,” he said as he looked around to survey the food. “I will be right back, okay?”

As Jack left, the temptation to know more about him overwhelmed her. Why was he infamous?

She pulled out her smart phone and looked back to make sure he was far enough away. She pulled up the Internet and began her search. It didn’t take long before several old news stories popped up.

Dilham Husband Eyed As Prime Suspect in Murder of Wife

Claire’s breath caught in her chest. How could this be? He was sitting here with her, about to eat a meal he prepared. She trusted him implicitly. How could he not be in prison if he murdered his wife? Did he go and come out already? Wouldn’t Ellie have told her this? Was she in danger?

Before she had a chance to dig further into the other stories, he was back holding another cooler in his hand.

“I forgot dessert,” he said with a grin.

Claire sat motionless, unsure what to do. She wanted to ask him. To confront him. But, all she could think about was getting out of there. She had to protect herself and her daughter from any threat of harm. Her daughter had been through enough with her own father.

“Jack, I am so sorry. Ellie just called and said Aven is not feeling well. I am going to have to get back home.” In a moment of clarity, she came up with the perfect lie.

“Oh. Well, I am sorry Aven is feeling sick. Of course, we can leave. Let me just pack everything up…” he said as he began to gather up everything. Someone was feeling very sick, but it was Claire.

“Can I come in with you?” Jack asked as they pulled into her driveway.

“I’d rather you didn’t. I don’t know if she might be contagious or not. Thanks for the evening. I enjoyed myself,” she said as she quickly opened the door and jumped out. “See you around.”

As Claire trotted to Ellie’s front door, she felt a sense of relief and immense guilt. Jack could never kill anyone, could he?

“What are you doing home so early?” Ellie asked as Claire appeared in the living room.

“Just missed my girl…” Claire said as she hugged Aven from above where the little girl was playing on the floor.

“Claire, what’s really going on?” Ellie asked as she pulled her into the kitchen.

“Jack. You said he was infamous. So, I looked him up online and saw he was suspected in his wife’s murder?”

Ellie’s mouth dropped open. “You didn’t believe that, did you? Surely, you read the whole history of the case?” Ellie asked.

“Well, no. I couldn’t because Jack was right there…”

“Oh, Claire. You have misjudged him, honey. Jack didn’t murder anyone. That was just the typical early news story you read. Sit down,” Ellie pointed at her breakfast table.

“Ellie, what’s going on?”

“Okay, Jack was married to Rebecca. He thought she hung the moon when they met, but everyone tried to tell him she had a dark past. She was from a really rough family and had struggled with drugs herself. One day, Jack came home and found her hanging in the closet completely naked and bound.”

“Oh, my God…” Claire said with her hand over her mouth.

“At first, they said it was a suicide. As the police investigated further, they said there was no way it was a suicide. There was foul play, and of course they look at the husband first. Eventually, Jack was exonerated because gas station surveillance tapes showed him there at the time of the murder. When all was said and done, it turned out that she was running an escort service from their house. Some man that she had slept with murdered her, not Jack. He’s infamous because he was all over the news proclaiming his innocence for weeks, Claire. He didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry if I misled you,” Ellie said with a look of apology in her eyes.

“It’s not your fault. I should have just asked him, but I was scared. Ever since Cameron, I feel like I may not be the best judge of character,” Claire said running her fingers through her hair. “Well, at least no harm was done. I told him Aven was sick and I had to come home.”

“Good…” Ellie said before she was interrupted by Aven in the doorway.

“Mommy, a man is here to see you,” she said pointing behind her into the living room.

Claire walked out into the living room and saw Jack standing there. What was he doing?
 

“Jack…” Claire said.

“Hi. Can I see you outside for a minute?” he asked with no expression on his face.

“Sure…”

Claire walked out onto the front porch and waited for him to speak.

“Your daughter doesn’t look sick, Claire,” he whispered without looking at her. “Did you just not enjoy being with me? Was it the kiss?”

“Of course I enjoyed it, Jack… I just…”

“You don’t have to explain. I know what you did, Claire,” he said looking at her in the eyes. “You left your phone in my truck.” He held out the phone and she could see that the Google news story was still displayed on her screen.

“Jack, please let me explain…” she said as she followed him to his truck.

“I thought you were different, Claire. You know, I was exonerated over nine years ago and there are still people in this town who think I had something to do with my wife’s murder. I was a victim of that crime too, yet I had to start all over. A whole new business. A new house. A new life. I get judged almost everyday. I guess that’s why I thought you would understand, because you’ve been through it. You’ve been plastered on tabloids and judged just like I have. But you are no different than the rest of them,” he said as he climbed up into his truck.

Claire wasn’t letting him go without a fight. She ran around and grabbed the passenger door, but it was locked. Standing on the running board, she banged on the window with her fist. Jack realized she wasn’t joking, and he certainly could not drive away with a woman hanging on the side of his truck.

“What?” he asked as he rolled down the window.

“Unlock the door, Jack,” she demanded. He finally relented and she climbed in.