Her mother took Heidi’s hands in hers. “Please tell me what’s going on Heidi. I have the feeling you’re in some type of trouble, and I want to help.”
For one crazy instant, Heidi felt the need to pour out the whole ugly story to her mother. Instead, she shook her head,
and pulled her hands away. “No trouble, Mother. I’m planning my wedding. That’s all.”
Her mother stared at her for a minute, ran her hands down Heidi’s curls, then cupped her chin. “Every motherly instinct in me says you’re lying. I just wish you’d talk to me,” she whispered.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Where’s Heidi?” Michael’s gut clenched as he heard the same question for what seemed like the hundredth time that week.
“She moved back to Oklahoma City,” he said through gritted teeth, and continued to wrap the package for Katherine Russell. He pulled the string so tight, she would probably need a sword to open it.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I loved seeing her smiling face.” Her eyes grew wide as she noticed the package Michael held out to her. “I’m sure you must really miss her.”
Michael grunted his answer and turned his back, climbing the two steps to the prescription area. Once the door closed behind Katherine, silence descended. The worst times of the day. With the stillness, came anger. In the three weeks since Heidi had left, he’d gone through shock, pain, sadness, and now anger. Outrage directed toward himself.
How could he have let himself care again? Not only care, but fall deeply in love and plan a future. With the one woman who made him feel whole again. He checked his watch and pulled the ring of keys from his pocket, and strode to the door. Once he secured the door and flipped the “closed” sign, he ran his fingers through his hair.
What would he do with his evening? Another visit to The Blue Belle Saloon? He winced, and his stomach rolled a warning regarding his last visit. The day Heidi left.
The morning after his drunken spree, he’d had no idea why he awoke on Jesse and Tori’s couch. A brown knitted blanket covered him, and except for his shoes, he was fully dressed. He sat up and groaned at the little men who’d invaded his head during the night, and pounded away with their not-so-tiny hammers. He gazed around the room with painful eyes, wondering why Tori allowed so much sunlight in her parlor.
“Good morning.” Michael winced at Jesse’s booming voice. Didn’t he know about the little men? Most likely not, because Jesse smiled, looking fully rested, and ready for the day. He’d dressed in his lawyer suit, his tie correctly centered on his shirt, his hair slicked back.
“Mornin’.” Apparently a frog had taken up residence in his throat as well. God, what he wouldn’t give for a glass of water.
Jesse strolled into the parlor, and sat in the dark green damask chair next to the fireplace.
He laid a polished booted foot over his knee, and straightened his jacket. “Want to tell me what happened?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Why didn’t Tori have a sink in the parlor?
“Three people stopped by last night to tell me my nephew sat in the Blue Belle Saloon, drinking himself into oblivion. Since my nephew doesn’t drink much, as a rule, it kind of made me a bit curious.”
“Drop it, Jesse.”
His uncle leaned forward. “What happened with Heidi?”
“Nothing.” Michael moved to stand, and sat back down when his stomach protested. Vehemently.
“So she’ll be at the drug store today, waiting for you?”
Michael shook his head, and then clasped it with both hands as the room turned into a carousel. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Jesse slapped his knees and stood. “All right. I won’t force you.” He headed toward the door, and turned. “I would think you’d remember how much trouble your aunt gave me years ago.”
“This is different. Just leave me alone.”
Michael collapsed onto the couch, and only duty to his customers forced him to crawl away from the sofa and leave. The long walk from Jesse’s house in the cool, crisp morning air cleared his head enough to get through the day.
Despite the ever present pain, he’d not visited the saloon after that. Most nights, he walked for hours after supper, trying to tire his body so he could sleep. The walks rarely helped.
He ran his palm down his face, and headed for home.
****
Heidi sat in the parlor, the only sound her thudding heart and the ticking of the grandfather clock. Across from her Clarence pulled out his pocket watch, flipped the gold lid open, glanced briefly, then closed it. “I’ll be leaving early tonight, my dear.”