Beach Rental(84)

Breathe, relax. You don’t have to protect Ben any longer.

It was stupid to ever think he needed to be shielded. Ben would’ve known what to do.

She was smart and resourceful. She should know what to do now, but scraps of ideas and fears chased each other around in her brain. She couldn’t pull out anything coherent.

Had she been protecting Ben? If so, this should be simple, now.

Protecting Ben didn’t apply anymore. She’d been protecting her own ego.

He couldn’t have seen her through the windows from so far away. As he came closer to the house, she backed up onto the first step of the stairs, past the corner and out of sight even if he pressed his face to the glass in the door.

Suppose he forced the door? Would the slide bolt hold?

Foolish girl. Living alone, with the dearest bulge growing daily, she couldn’t risk confronting him. Where had her toughness gone?

She had too much to lose now.

After a few minutes, she peeked around the corner. Had he left or just moved out of sight? She fought the urge to run and close the blinds. If she did, she’d be telegraphing she was here and afraid. It wasn't smart to show fear to people like Frankie. The phone upstairs was available to her without risk of being seen. Could she call the police? Frankie hadn’t actually done anything to her.

Was he still out there? Maybe down below, underneath the house where her car was parked? Or on the stairway below the front porch?

He came from behind the partition on the other side of the porch and leaned against the end of it, looking at her side of the house, her windows and her door. The door was more glass than anything else.

She wouldn’t live in fear. Stupid fear. Foolish fear. Get some backbone, Juli. You used to have more grit than was good for you.

Forcing herself to breathe evenly and slowly, she took her coat out of the closet. It was cut full and still buttoned in the mid-section. Frankie wouldn’t be able to see she was pregnant. She put the cell phone in her pocket and kept her hand in there with it. She opened the front door, stepped boldly outside and closed the door behind her.

“Jules. Hey, there.” Frankie grinned and stood straighter.

“What’s up, Frankie?”

He frowned. “You act like I’ve done something wrong, like you’ve got something against me, but I haven’t. I’ve always been a friend to you.”

Frankie paused, either to intimidate her or to draw her into a conversation. Juli didn’t know which, but she kept her mouth shut and didn’t give him either.

“Not even when you refused to invite me in, or introduce me to your friend, and my feelings were hurt, you know? You sent that guy to tell me to stay away.” He moved slowly toward her. “Did I get angry? Did I try to get even?” He stopped. “No, Jules, I didn’t. I was good enough to be your friend when you needed a ride somewhere or wanted some other favor, but not when you’re living easy.”

It was true enough, although she wouldn’t have called him a friend, but more of a neighbor and sometimes a co-worker. “I appreciate what you’re saying, Frankie. I still don’t understand why you’re here.”

“I heard he died. I felt real bad for you. Wanted to know if you needed anything. Figured I’d drop by and ask.”

“How did you know he died?”

“Mrs. White told me. She saw it in the obits. I was gone for a while or I would’ve been around sooner to see you. Offer sympathy and all that.”

“Thanks, Frankie. I appreciate it, but I’m good.”

“I’ll say. Got yourself a nice place here.” He looked around at the house and scenery.

“Thank you.”

“You’re still not going to invite me in, are you?” He looked disbelieving.

She shook her head no.

He tried again. “It’s lonely out here. Cold, too.” He exaggerated a shiver.

He’d kept his hands shoved in his jacket pockets the entire time. It was cold, but Juli had one hand in her pocket, too, and it wasn’t due to cold. They were crossing some sort of invisible barrier where she would say “leave” and he wouldn’t. Then what? He could continue to act good-natured and keep telling Juli what a good friend he was the whole time he was buffaloing her back into the house and forcing his way in. She’d lost her edge and her nerve. She shivered for real.

“Cold out here for you, too. How about one cup of coffee, Jules?” He moved a few steps forward. “A few minutes to shake off the chill and I’ll be on my way. Plus, there’s a little matter of something that belongs to me.”

“Juli, are you up there?” Maia came up the stairs from the parking area below, the stairs leading up the crossover where it met the porch. “Oh, you have a visitor?”