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Chapter 211
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
TRUST ME Chapter 212
“What’s the matter?” Papa asked from somewhere behind her.“Just take it easy, honey,” Nana said nearby. “Papa, get that bag out of the back, the one we brought with the bread and watermelon.” The sound of the back hatch opening and then closing sounded far away as the nausea took control of Sandra’s actions, yet within a few moments her grandmother was by her side, easing her down to the running board of the old Bronco.“Here,” she said, pushing a piece of homemade bread into Sandra’s hand. “Eat this, you’ll feel better.” Sandra obeyed and began nibbling on the chunk of bread as Creighton wiped the sweat off her brow with the handkerchief Papa handed him.“It will pass in a few minutes,” he told her gently. “What’s going on?” Papa asked. “What’s the matter with her?”“Oh Papa, can’t you guess?” Nana scolded. “She and Creighton have been together for two months. You add up the signs. The mood swings, the increased appetite, always tired, the nausea.”“Sandra!” her grandfather gasp
TRUST ME Chapter 213
“But you still thought we had feelings for each other.”“Are you trying to start another argument?” he asked her with an amused frown creasing his brow.“Only if the making up is as good as this afternoon.” Creighton laughed as he pulled her closer to his side while they walked up to the table, they had left a short time ago. Nana and Papa smiled brightly as they approached, pushing the plate of homemade bread, pies and cookies in front of the two, before leaving with Craig and Nellie to get the barbeque. Creighton watched them leave then looked at his wife who was cutting the peach pie, placing two slices on paper plates for them.“You were trying to make me jealous as well,” he accused her. “Craig? He isn’t exactly your type.”“No, he’s Nellie’s type.”“I guess we still have a lot to learn about each other,” he said, watching as she dipped the spoon into the container of whipped cream and placing a dollop onto each piece of pie.“You can think of it this way. There’s a lot of fun,
TRUST ME Chapter 214
“It was my dad’s,” she said. “I got my mom’s earrings and that case. Open it. I want you to have it.” Creighton wanted to push it aside and pull her to him, comforting the memories that danced on her delicate face, but instead he did as he was told and lifted the lid. Inside was a small keychain with a crystal hanging from the end, and inside the gem was a single grain of wheat, preserved for all eternity. He looked up at her and frowned.“My dad used to say that all it took was a single grain of hope to grow a life of love and happiness,” she told him, tears shining in her eyes. “That’s what I want you to have. A single grain of hope.”Creighton sat the case aside and stood up, pulling her against his warm chest, holding her tightly for several long moments. He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t begin to explain how much this simple gesture meant to him, or how much he needed to hear her say these things. When he pulled away, his eyes matched hers, both filled with unshed tears of
TRUST ME Chapter 215
Papa drove the old Bronco into town, explaining to Creighton the ritual that took the farmers away from home on a daily basis. They pulled into a parking stall at the small restaurant where Creighton had taken Sandra every morning since arriving in Kansas. The parking lot was full of trucks and SUVs. Not like it usually was during the breakfast hours.“Gathering for coffee is a tradition,” Papa began as he shut off the engine. “We meet every morning, mid-morning and mid-afternoon to talk about the weather, crops, politics and just small-town gossip.”“Sounds interesting,” Creighton smiled as he closed the car door and walked into the restaurant. “Farmers typically meet at a local pub back home for the same reason.”He was surprised by the number of people who greeted him by name, as he took a seat with Papa at the same table where he had shared breakfast with his wife earlier that morning. He recognized several of them from the picnic the night before, and shared polite conversations
TRUST ME Chapter 216
They washed up in the old sink before relaxing in the quiet old house. Creighton and Sandra had spent the better part of the next day inventorying the items in the barn and discussing what they should do with them. Papa and Nana had left a short time before. It was Papa’s bowling night and he usually met his team ahead of time for a few beers while Nana went to the local church to set up for bingo, leaving them alone in the house. Creighton was amazed at how life just seemed to go on. No further thought of the disaster that shook their lives the day before. It was one event he did not want to go through again, and one reason he was not allowing Sandra to be out of his sight.He looked around the kitchen as he leaned against the counter, drying his hands on a small towel. It really was a pleasant house, with a feeling of love and happiness that greeted anyone who entered it. He could imagine what it was like for Sandra to grow up here. It wasn’t much different than his own childhood ho
TRUST ME Chapter 217
“The town hasn’t stopped talking about you and Nelson,” Michael said with a smile.“I’m sure Nelson will be the headliner for many weeks to come,” Creighton said, watching his young bride as she joined them.“How does it feel to be home?” Harold asked Sandra, taking an oatmeal raisin cookie from the plate in front of him. “It’s great, though my home is now in England.”“You’ll always be a child of two worlds,” Michael added, taking a cookie and biting into the soft, sweet treat. He looked up to Creighton and smiled again. “Are you ready to do business?”“Depends on what your commissioner says,” he replied. “And only if there have been no short cuts or special privileges offered.”“No sir,” Harold remarked, taking a drink of his coffee. “Your people had everythin’ in order before ya even arrived. All we had ta do was fill in the blanks and stamp our approval.”“Has it been approved?” Creighton asked, leaning back in his chair.“Like I said yesterday,” Michael stepped in. “You have tak
TRUST ME Chapter 218
“It’s Kansas, Nana, it’s always hot.”“Why didn’t you turn on the fan?” Papa asked in a scolding tone as he walked over to the window air conditioner and flipped on the switch. The room fell into a friendly chatter as they relayed the events of their day with each other. Creighton helped Sandra season the pork chops and place them on the pan for broiling then positioned the potatoes in a baking dish. Papa stepped up beside his new grandson to get a cup of coffee and smiled, leaning in to speak softly as Sandra relayed their plans for her belongings to her grandmother.“The barn door is open,” he whispered, causing Creighton to frown and glance out the window to the barn behind the house, seeing the closed door. “Zip up man, don’t want the old woman catching on, do you?” Creighton turned a deep shade of red, turning his back to the room as he stood in front of the sink again, and pulled the zipper to his pants up.“Well, since you’ve already started supper, the least I can do is hel
TRUST ME Chapter 219
“Oh, honey, she’s just emotional. It’s a part of her new condition,” Nana assured him turning back to the task of finishing their supper.“Get used to it Crey,” Papa said, pouring a cup of coffee. “They do this…a lot.” Creighton smiled and kissed Sandra’s cheek, easing her away from his chest slightly.“Is that what it is?” he asked in a soft whisper, watching her nod.“I’m sorry,” she sniffed. He took the handkerchief Nana reached out to him and dried her tears for her.“It’s half my fault, if I remember correctly, though it has been a while since we were reminded of the event.”Papa cleared his throat and Nana turned the faucet on a bit stronger to drown their conversation out, as Sandra leaned her head into Creighton’s chest to hide her embarrassment.“Now, will you relax?” he asked, an amused tone echoing in his words. “I’m not trying to move your grandparents out of their home.”“I’m sorry,” she sniffed. “I should never doubt you.”“Just remember that,” he chuckled softly. “I m
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Sandra hung up the phone with a slam, then glanced to her grandparents who were sitting at the kitchen table. She was starting to get angry with all the rejections and dead-end avenues. She called Davies and told him she wanted him to get the plane ready to go to France, only to be told the police had restricted his flying. They were concerned that whomever it was that had killed her husband would try and sabotage the jet.She was getting frustrated and felt like she was being held back. If she didn’t know better, she would think she was being placed under lockdown. She could understand the police’s concern, but she had more men around her then they had at Fort Knox, and she would be willing to take all of them with her if she needed to.“I can’t leave the house, I can’t go to France, I can’t even gather eggs,” she grumbled as she joined the older couple. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t sit here and wait until doomsday to find out what happened to my husband.”“Honey, you’re going
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The room was warm as the setting sun shone through the blinds. Two detectives sat on the sofa, watching as the man continued to pace the floor. Trying to keep him calm was growing increasingly harder with each hour.Creighton could only assume the horror his family was going through, not to mention Sandra. They had been having difficulties, but this made all of that seem trivial. He had to call her, he had to contact her somehow and let her know he was alive, but the police were refusing to allow him the chance. They had to keep him concealed for the time being, though it was steadily becoming impossible. The man was acting like a caged animal, anxiously trying to find a means of escape.“How much longer do we have to sit here?” he growled, looking to those gathered around.“We need you to remain patient for a little longer,” a bald-headed man told him. “Monsieur Ashford, we understand what you’re going through…”“Like hell you do,” Creighton snapped. “I have a pregnant wife at home w
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“I know she’ll be happy when it’s over,” Emma said, returning to the room, her eyes red from the tears she’d been wiping away. “She can’t let Brandon go to school, and she has to keep the children inside instead of letting them go out to play.”“I’m sure they are going stir crazy,” Cathy said with a frown. “Especially Grace. That little girl is used to having the freedom of the farm to run and play.”“The only good thing is the weather,” William told them. “It’s been really wet, and she doesn’t like getting her dresses dirty.”“Sounds like her aunt,” Andrew said with a soft chuckle.“Maybe we should take this meeting over to my sister’s,” Cathy suggested with a sideways grin.“Let me call Derek and Kristin,” William said, standing and walking to the phone on the wall. “They wanted to know what you found out.”“Just have them meet us at Sandra’s,” Andrew told him. “We can discuss this all there.”“I thought Sabrina and Irena would be here,” Cathy said, looking at Emma who was wrapping
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Parker and Harvey held off the reporters for as long as they could alone, then eventually had to call NHT’s security. Within a few short hours, there were enough burly looking men to scare off anyone trying to get near the house. Sandra kept her children inside, though it really wasn’t difficult. The rain had eased by supper, but just like the past several days, it picked up again this morning.Max growled as he laid of the entry. The noise of cameras clicking, and the soft hum of voices mingled among the breezes of the day. She had tried to watch television, but every station was reporting on the accident. Eventually, she had no choice but to surrender and put on Grace’s favorite princess movie. At least it kept them from listening to those who insisted that there was no hope in finding any answers this soon.Sandra drew a deep breath as she wiped the moisture from her forehead. She had decided to keep herself busy and baked two apple pies, along with nearly a hundred sugar cookies.
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“No, it’s about assuming you knew what I would want. You did this, claiming it was for us when it was for you. You can’t stand the idea that your little sister has something you never would. It was bad enough when I felt like I was competing with Creighton for your attention, but now I’m watching you compete with Sandra for the mother of the year award.”“Stop comparing me to Sandra!” Cathy screamed. “It’s not my fault she’s perfect. She’s always been everyone’s favorite. I can’t tell you how many boyfriends I’ve dumped after I found out they were using me to get close to her. I didn’t want Creighton, but after he chose her over me, it made me angry. I was competing with her again, and she was too stupid to realize it. He chose that simple, no makeup, no fuss girl over me. She shares his bed, when I’m a better lover then she would ever be. She has his money, his admiration, your parents’ admiration, even my grandparents enjoy spending time with her over me. She even has a perfect body
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“Maybe Michelle heard from him,” the boy said hopefully.“I haven’t spoken with her, but I want to call in the morning. She may know something more than the police do.”The two were silent for a long time as they considered their own thoughts, until Sandra realized the tea was gone. She looked to Brandon who looked like he was finally able to fall asleep, then stood and took the cups to the sink.“Come on, son,” she told him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s see if we can get some sleep.”“Mum, can I come sleep with you?” Brandon asked once they reached the second floor of their house.Sandra smiled and hugged the boy, nodding as he looked up to her.“You can sleep on your daddy’s side,” she told him. “Just don’t tell him I let you in our bed. He may get jealous.”Brandon smiled as he walked with her into the bedroom. Sandra helped him between the covers and tucked him in, then left to check on Grace. The house was silent and soft snores of her little girl could be heard
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Sandra paced her bedroom trying to stop her mind from racing through the events of the day. Derek had come home after his mother called him, insisting on picking up Brandon from school. Sabrina called to say the reporters were going crazy with the news of the Tornado’s fire and that she and Giovanni would be home as soon as they could get there.Irena spoke with her parents and insisted on calling in a prescription for Sandra’s nerves, though she refused to use it. She needed to stay alert and concentrate in order to determine what was going on. The last thing she needed was to surrender to the effects of a drug.After speaking with Andrew, William informed the rest of the family about Cathy’s surgery, though he wouldn’t go into detail. He assured them he would check into the reports from his end and stay abreast of the investigation. Once Cathy felt like traveling, they would drive out to Yorkshire to be with the family.Nana tried to get Sandra to let her stay overnight, but she was
TRUST ME Chapter 413
Sandra opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her bedroom, yet she couldn’t remember laying down. The house was silent and the soft pattering of rain outside reminded her that the dog had made a muddy mess of the entry. Then she remembered her grandfather and William coming over, and slowly began to piece together the last thing she remembered.There had been an accident on the Tornado and three bodies were found. She knew in her heart it wasn’t Creighton. She couldn’t even begin to guess who would have been on their ship, or how it ended up at sea, but she knew her husband wasn’t the one killed. Now all she had to do, was convince the others into believing her.Sandra stepped down the stairs to hear Grace talking to her great-grandfather, the dog running from one room to another as he chased his rope and the smells of food drifting out of the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and saw Papa sitting beside Grace, one of her own books open in front of him as he listened to
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Sandra stared at the two men for a long moment as their words began to sink in. When she spoke with her husband earlier that morning, he was still at the hotel. He didn’t mention having plans of returning to the yacht. Why would he go back there when he told her he was packing to come home?Then she thought about the bodies found. One was female. Who was it? Did Creighton lie to her about not being involved with Garcon’s assistant? Had he gone there to meet with her, perhaps a final rendezvous before coming home to his family?“Did you hear what we said?” Papa asked her.“It’s impossible,” she began, her anger taking over her words. Sandra looked down at Grace who was trying to wipe the muddy water from her little dress. She hadn’t understood what her grandparents were saying. All she cared about was her soiled outfit.“Sweetheart, go upstairs and find a clean dress,” Sandra told the little girl. “Put that one in the hamper and warsh your hands. We’ll make lunch when you’ve finished.
