Legend (Arizona Vengeance #3)(63)

Princess has wandered off without telling her parents where she went. She has a big adventure meeting new neighbors around the pond while her parents are sick with fear. She runs into dangers—a crafty old fox for one—and she starts to get homesick.

Yeah…the story is completely there but I can’t move it from my head to the surface of the iPad. I tap my digital pencil against my temple, hoping to jar something loose.

And…nothing.

Blowing out a huge gust of frustration, I set the pencil down and lean back in my office chair. I converted one of the upstairs bedrooms that look out over my backyard into an office. I set my drafting board in the middle of the room but put my regular desk right up against the window so I could look out over my little backyard sanctuary. If Legend thinks my front yard is “busy” with color, my backyard simply overwhelms. But I love it and it brings me happiness. It also normally sparks my creativity by appealing to the artist in me but I’m getting nothing today.

    I’m worried sick about Legend because he’s worried sick about Tacker. He’d managed to make a quick call to me after the accident happened. Legend is the epitome of strength under duress. He’s proven that time and time again over the last two months and yet he couldn’t hide the tremor in his voice when he told me that Tacker intentionally drove his truck into a concrete wall.

My heart was sick and my stomach pitched as well. The extent of his despair has clearly been underestimated by all, and I know more than anything, Legend is feeling guilt for not seeing it.

I couldn’t tell him that, though, because the phone call was short and it wouldn’t have made an impact. I tried to give him my thoughts when he came home last night, but he wasn’t interested in talking. He was frustrated that he was turned away at the hospital and was grumpy to say the least. I’ve come to know enough about Legend as far as when to push and when to let him be.

Last night his only interest was getting in bed and going to sleep. He did this only after pulling me into his body tight and practically smothering me as he drifted off to sleep. His embrace loosened but I didn’t move away from him, making sure even in slumber he knew I was by his side.

This morning he got up early and asked if I could watch Charlie until Lucy arrived at 8:00 a.m. He wanted to get in an early workout before practice.

    I kissed him tenderly at the door and he pressed his palm against my cheek for a moment while we stared at each other. I got a small smile from him and then he was gone.

Charlie and I hung until Lucy arrived. Lucy and I shared a cup of coffee while I helped her fold a pile of fresh out of the drier burp rags then I came home so I could get some work done.

That was almost two hours ago and the only productive thing I’ve done so far was take a shower and brush my teeth.

Maybe I need to just step away and do normal stuff.

I head downstairs and unload the dishwasher. I wipe the counters down even though they don’t need it. I just vacuumed yesterday and dusted the day before that, so my house is pretty tidy.

I consider doing a load of laundry but immediately push that thought aside as I just did it on the day I dusted.

Baking.

Maybe I should make cookies or something.

My hips yell at me that it’s a bad idea.

I consider my options for perhaps getting out of the house and socializing but the truth is, I don’t have any close girlfriends. My sister, Amy, and I are close but she has a job that doesn’t just let her walk away for an impromptu cup of coffee or lunch with her sister. She’s an orthopedic, same as my dad, and they practice together.

My mom is out of the question, as she’s just as busy. She has a general medical practice and she’ll be elbow deep in patients right now.

For a moment, I gloat. While I know my parents and sister have a true passion for what they do in life, I have a career that lets me have freedom to do so many things that they can’t.

    Like just get in my car and head to Starbucks for a coffee and a Cake Pop. My hips yell again that’s a bad idea, so maybe just coffee. While I have to admit to being concerned that Lida could still be watching me and could accost me again, I’ll never be the type that will be held prisoner in my own home because of those fears.

Yes, I think I’ll go to Starbucks.

And then maybe the grocery store to make dinner for Legend tonight. He has mentioned going out for a bite, but I do like cooking and it’s an opportunity to get him over to my house. We spend 90 percent of the time at his place just because all of Charlie’s stuff is there. In fact, he’s never slept in my bed at night since we started seeing each other.

I walk to the back patio door that leads from the kitchen to outside and make sure it’s locked. I nab my purse off the counter and fish out my keys.

Just as I make it to the front door, I realize I forgot my cell phone in the kitchen. I trot back and grab it, shoving it into my purse. Back through the living room, through the foyer and to the front door where I swing it open. I take a step over the threshold and come to a dead stop because there’s a gun pointed at my face.

Following the slender arm outstretched toward me, my eyes land on Lida’s face.

Demented is the only word that comes to mind as I take in the dark circles under her eyes and the paleness of her skin. Her pupils are huge and her hair is a mess of knots and tangles, as if she rolled out of bed this morning and forgot she had a brush. Her clothes are wrinkled and stained.