The House on Sandstone Read online

  When she'd returned a few years later, she'd been amazed at how settled the new neighborhood already seemed. Small children raced on scooters and tricycles on the sidewalk while young mothers congregated with their strollers at the ends of driveways.

  It was here that Carly first recognized the redhead.

  Justine Hall–now Justine Sharpe, according to the newspaper announcement her mom had sent–was one of the women gathered below. Though more than fifty yards away, the tall figure was unmistakable to Carly. She was heavier now than she'd been in high school–quite a bit heavier–and she was obviously pregnant, and due pretty soon. From Carly's position in the woods above, she watched unseen as Justine left the group, gripping her lower back in noticeable discomfort as she pushed a baby in a stroller up the street toward the large house on the corner.

  The moment had been bittersweet for Carly. She'd hoped Justine was really happy and that she'd married a man who would love her and appreciate the wonderful person she was. And she'd been thrilled at the joy Justine must have felt at having children. But a part of Carly's heart had broken that day…the part Justine Hall never knew she held.

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  Shaking those memories from her head, the blonde woman veered onto the new path that led to her old hiding place on the hill. As her mom had said, it wound down the other side now. A small wooden footbridge forded the creek at the bottom, directly across the street from Justine's two-story home. Unable to resist the urge, she lit another cigarette and started down the hill, stopping when she reached the bridge, her eyes peeled for any sign of activity in the house.

  Carly had no idea how long she stood on the bridge, leaning casually against the rail as she smoked one Dunhill after another. Her mind wandered back twenty-five years to their time at Leland High School, and emotions long-buried simmered to the surface. Justine wasn't really responsible for this nostalgic longing; she was merely symbolic of all the times Carly's heart had been awakened, only to be abandoned when she gave in to the pull. It had happened three times in her life. And she wasn't going to let it happen again as long as she was still pulling up roots every two years to move with her job to a new country. That was just asking for trouble.

  A pair of headlights startled her, and she realized that she probably looked pretty suspicious out here staring at the house in the dark. The smart thing to do was to head back up the hill and go home, but Carly's feet wouldn't move once she realized that the SUV was turning into Justine's drive. Mesmerized, she watched as a young man hopped out and pulled something bulky from the back, carting it to the front door where he rang the bell and waited. Moments later, a slender woman appeared at the door, plainly visible in her bathrobe from the light from the porch.

  It was Justine. And she was more beautiful now than Carly had ever seen her.

  **********

  "Where do want me to set up this time?" The muscular young man indicated his padded folding table. When he'd been here last August, they'd set the massage table in a private area of the patio out back.

  "I made a space in front of the fire, but if you think you'll be too warm there, we can put it across the room."

  "What's important is that you're comfortable, Justine. I'll set up wherever you like."

  "Okay, then follow me. Do you want a bottle of water or something?"

  "Sure. Tell you what…I'll get things ready first and you can wrap up in a towel and get situated on the table while I go into the kitchen and get something to drink."

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  The young man quickly went about his work, locking the table legs, folding the towels, and placing the oil bottles on the hearth to warm. When he disappeared into the kitchen, Justine slipped discreetly from her robe onto the table face down, awkwardly positioning the oversized towel so that it draped the length of her nude body.

  Jon announced his return and began to warm the oil in his hands. Starting with her feet, he squeezed and pulled each digit until it relaxed fully. From there, he dug his thumbs into the long muscles of her calf, separating the tightened fibers as she moaned softly in near ecstasy. Bit by bit, he worked his way up the hardened hamstrings, tucking the towel so that one cheek of her buttocks was exposed. Runners like Justine were a challenge sometimes, but as he pressed the trigger points deep in her gluteus, the contractions released.

  "Do you stretch these out when you finish running?"

  "I didn't today. I tried to squeeze in an extra circuit and lost track of time."

  "Cooling down is a very important part of conditioning."

  "I know." She felt guilty confessing the lapse to her massage therapist. But then, Justine felt guilty about almost everything. That was her nature.

  Jon finished with that leg and moved to the other side, repeating the process one muscle at a time, culminating again in the release of the trigger points in her buttocks. Finished for now with her lower body, he pulled the towel down to her waist and gently began to spread the warm oil across her back.

  Justine worked hard to quiet her busy mind. The hectic day, the flirtatious encounter with Dr. Coulter, the call from JT…all of these bombarded her thoughts, but she pushed them away, trying to concentrate on the feel of Jon's hands on her body. This was a physical closeness that she craved…the simple touch of another human being…an affirmation that her senses would respond. With his strong hands, the therapist was moving her body and spirit in a manner that was sensual but not sexual.

  "Okay, let's have you turn over now," Jon whispered softly.

  Justine had almost dozed off while he kneaded the muscles in her back. She got her bearings and turned, careful to keep herself covered as Jon held the towel in place. She'd been reluctant at first to trust a total stranger with such intimate contact, but Jon had always been the consummate professional. They didn't talk much; instead, he had encouraged her to go to a peaceful place in her mind.

  "You're getting nice muscle tone through here," he remarked as he pushed his fingers from her sternum to her shoulder.

  "I've been working on that. I'm glad it shows."

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  "It's very nice…not too pronounced, but definitely firm. Are you working with a trainer?"

  "No. I just go to the classes once a week at the Wellness Center. They help us do our workout charts and diets for the week."

  "That's a good thing you're doing. This is the only body you're going to get, and it's nice that you take care of it. And when you look good and feel healthy, everything in your life is better."

  Justine wanted to believe that, but the facts got in the way. True, she felt better about herself after dropping sixty pounds, and it was nice to be able to tell JT to shove it now that he'd deemed her desirable again. But the rest of her life hadn't exactly followed suit.

  Her job was a dead end; she could count her real friends on…heck, it was just her therapist in Lexington. And her love life was completely rudderless–she had no idea what she wanted in that department, or even if she wanted anything at all.

  But the worst part of her life–the piece that haunted her every day–was that she had screwed up the mother thing big time. Trey and Emmy were fine with JT; he was a good father in spite of being such a snake. And they still loved her, she knew. But losing them had sent her into therapy in Lexington, for which she drove forty minutes each way. That and the medication were all that had kept her from killing herself that first year. With Valerie's help, she'd fought back to wrest more control of her life. Enrolling in the Wellness Center had been the first step.

  "Relax, Justine." Jon flattened the creases on her forehead with his thumbs and pushed them outward. "Let it go." From there, his hands wound through her hair, massaging her scalp with decreasing pressure until he finally pulled his fingertips away.

  At that instant, a small tear leaked from the corner of her eye and trickled into her ear.

  **********

 
"Hey." Carly found her mother in the living room hard at work on a crossword puzzle.

  The din of the TV could be heard from the family room they'd added on twelve years ago.

  "Have a nice walk? Or a nice smoke, I should ask." The admonishing tone was the same she always used when referring to her daughter's nicotine habit.

  "I had both, thank you." The blonde woman took a seat on the couch.

  "Your father's watching TV in the back."

  "If that was meant to be a hint, it wasn't very subtle."

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  Nadine chuckled. She'd always gone off by herself after dinner to unwind from the day.

  Working at the store with her husband all day, she needed time alone in the evening, a habit that had served their marriage well. "Well, honey, you're more than welcome to keep me company. But this isn't your usual routine."

  "I know. I just wanted to ask if you knew anything about…Justine."

  The older woman peered over her glasses to gauge her daughter's look. She knew that Justine Hall had been special to Carly back in high school, at least for a little while.

  That's why she'd sent the wedding clippings; but when she got no response, she assumed that her daughter was no longer interested in keeping up with people from Leland.

  "She's divorced now."

  A swarm of emotions washed over the younger woman as she digested the words. She was at once saddened that it likely had meant a difficult time for Justine. At the same time, she was oddly satisfied that the marriage hadn't been right for the woman after all.

  But mostly, she was irrationally heartsick that she didn't know Justine at all anymore, and she hadn't been there to help her through what was surely a difficult time.

  "Do you have any idea what happened? They've got a couple of kids, right?"

  "There were rumors, but I don't pay much attention to that sort of thing."

  "What kind of rumors?"

  Nadine had in fact heard several rumors, none of them very flattering for either Justine or JT. "I think there were…other people involved…for both of them."

  Other people…. "So you're saying that they were…having affairs?"

  "That's what folks were saying, but like I said, I didn't pay much attention."

  "So what happened when they got divorced? I mean, did they get married again?"

  "JT got married pretty soon after, I think."

  "But Justine didn't?" Details, Mama. I want details. "Is she still seeing the other guy?"

  Nadine pulled off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "Honey, I really don't put much stock in gossip, so I don't know if there's any truth to what I heard or not."

  "What did you hear?"

  "The rumors around town were that Justine had gotten involved with another woman…a doctor's wife."

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  "Do…is there…?" What exactly is the question, Carly? "Did…?"

  "I don't know any more than that, honey. Why don't you ask her how she's doing when you see her tomorrow?"

  "Tomorrow?"

  "At the hospital. She's the one who handles patient complaints at Grace."

  Chapter 2

  "But Monday they're going to tell which one's the father of Courtney's baby. I think it's going to be Juan Carlos, because she went to that art gallery with him when William was out of town."

  "Can't you just tape it and watch it when you get home?" Some days, Justine got the most unusual requests.

  "We don't have a VCR…do you think the insurance would pay for one? I mean, since this is medical-related and all."

  "I kind of doubt that, Mrs. Perkins."

  "And you don't think they could wait and take my gall bladder out in the afternoon? It's over at two o'clock."

  "The surgeons like to work in the morning, when they're fresh and rested. It's better that way, don't you think?" From her seat behind the high counter, Justine caught sight of a blonde head taking a place in line behind Mrs. Perkins.

  "I guess. I just hate to miss it after I've been waiting all this time to find out."

  "I tell you what. I'll tape it for you all next week, and when you get out of the hospital, I'll send my son over to your house with my VCR and the tape. He'll hook it all up for you and show you how it works, and he can come get it when you're done."

  "Oh, Justine! That would be perfect. It's Secret Lives from one to two, and if you don't mind, go ahead and tape Central Hospital after that. And then at nine o'clock on Monday night–"

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  "Mrs. Perkins…it would be much simpler if I just did the soaps, okay? I mean, I wouldn't want things to get so complicated that I made a mistake and missed the very show you wanted to see most."

  "I suppose you're right. It's very sweet of you to offer to do this."

  "Well I wouldn't want you worrying about Courtney and Don Jose–"

  "Juan Carlos."

  "Juan Carlos…when you ought to be trying to feel better. Surgery's a big deal, and it's very important to get the right amount of rest afterward."

  "Thank you, Justine. I guess I'll see you first thing Monday morning then."

  "Okay, Happy Thanksgiving."

  "You too."

  When Mrs. Perkins walked out, the embattled patient services director craned her neck to see who was next. "Can I help you?"

  "Hey."

  Justine studied the small smile on the blonde woman who suddenly stepped to the counter. It was a very familiar face, but out of context, it was like a dream or something.

  The hair was different; it was short now, and stylish. Strands of gray made it seem even lighter, but the woman didn't seem old at all, despite the lines of her eyes. "Carly? Carly Griffin?"

  "Hi, Justine."

  The redhead jumped from her chair and swung open the small gate that separated her office from the waiting area. "I don't believe it! Carly, you look fantastic. I mean it. I know it sounds stupid to say you haven't changed a bit, but…never mind. You've changed a lot. Not that you didn't look good before, but…the years have been really, really good to you. You just look…fantastic!" Shut up already, Justine.

  Justine was glad for the big smile that now greeted her; subconsciously, she hadn't expected it. Unable to resist, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Carly's shoulders. She must not have made a complete fool of herself, she thought, or she wouldn't have gotten the fierce hug around her waist in return.

  "You look great, too. Better than great, I'd say. If the years have been good to me, I'd say they've worshipped you."

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  Justine waved off the compliment. "No, no…the years were wicked to me. I just started fighting back is all."

  "Well, it looks like you're winning."

  "You're sweet, Carly…just like always. So what in the heck are you doing back in Leland? Last time I ran into your mother, you were living somewhere in China."

  "Shanghai. That was a few years ago. Then I moved to South America for a couple of years, and I just got back from a job in Israel."

  "Israel! My goodness, you do get around." Justine just couldn't get over how good her old friend looked. Back in high school, Carly had worn her hair long, usually in a ponytail.

  She'd been kind of pudgy back then…and she always wore jeans and work shirts. Now she was trim and… the word is shapely, Justine…and she was sort of feminine…but just barely. "You look fantastic!"

  The blonde woman laughed and blushed, now unable to meet the redhead's appraising eyes.

  Justine finally noticed the Grace Hospital envelope in Carly's hand and suddenly felt like an idiot. This was about hospital business, not about one old friend looking up another.

  Besides, it wasn't very likely that Carly Griffin would be going out of her way to say hello or anything after all these years, especially after how they'd left things between them years ago.

  "Do you ha
ve a…is that…can I help you?" Her professional demeanor crept back into place.

  "Sure. I called yesterday but I guess it was after hours. My mom was in here last month for a cardiac catheterization, but she got billed for a heart transplant."

  "That was you! God, Carly, I should have recognized your voice. And only you would have found all that funny. I swear, you still have that same old dry sense of humor you always had. ‘We can't find a big scar.' And what else did you say? We'd have to swap it back? You always did make me laugh." Shut up, motor mouth.

  "Well, I'm glad I could do that." The big smile was back in place. "So can we get this sorted out? I mean it's just a little paperwork glitch now, but next thing you know, the goons start calling and talking about breaking fingers and stuff."

  "Oh, that kind of thing would never–. You were kidding again, weren't you?"

  "Hey, you never know who has a cousin who ‘knows people'. I just thought it best to get this taken care of before it comes to that."

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  Justine shook her head and laughed. "A cousin who knows people? This is Leland, you silly thing. Everybody knows everybody. Let me have a look at that. I bet I can fix it in two clicks." Indeed, she pulled up the record and re-entered the code, routing the correction back to invoicing for proper billing. "Okay, I can tell you with some confidence that you can safely ignore that bill."

  "They won't come get the house or the furniture store?"

  "I don't think so, but you should probably put them in someone else's name just to be safe." Now it was Justine's turn to tease.

  "Good thinking." Carly buttoned her jacket, signaling her intent to leave. "I guess that's it, then. Thanks a lot."