"If he wanted to hurt me, he could follow me in my car. As long as I'm doing what he expects me to do, he'll have doubt. I'm not so sure he's up to anything. Maybe I'm blowing this all out of proportion."
"Alright. We'll do it your way . . . but be careful. Is his mother and daughter there?"
"No, they went shopping."
"Oh great. I'm off of here. Don't keep him waiting. Nothing makes a man get mad faster." With that, she hung up.
Lisa opened her door and motioned to Yancey, who immediately returned to the car. Once he was seated and started the engine, she thanked him, but he didn't respond.
By the time they got to her car, her palms were sweating. Yancey didn't get out, but he did wait until she had her car started before he turned his car around and headed back to the house. She could have left then, and might have if curiosity hadn't gotten the best of her. It wasn't easy to walk away from him - especially now. If he was angry, he certainly wasn't acting like he usually did. Maybe he was happy to get rid of her. In which case, she needed to get her things and leave.
At the house, she turned her car around and parked so it faced the drive, ready to leave at a moment's notice. Yancey was in the kitchen, getting a cold drink from the refrigerator. He didn't look at her when she walked through. He had spoken earlier of last night. She looked at him. "Do you think I'm a tease?"
He glanced at her and then turned his attention back to the can in his hand. He popped the top. "Fix lunch. Mom will be back soon." Without another word, he walked out the door and down the trail.
Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she prepared lunch. His silence was worse than his anger. She had been a fool to think there was anything between them. Right now all he wanted out of her was absence. Fine, he could have it. As soon as she finished preparing lunch, she'd pack and leave.
Sarah came home as she was putting the tuna salad into the refrigerator. Lisa went out to help her carry things into the house. Tammy was in the back seat asleep, so she carefully unbuckled her and carried her to the house while Sarah brought in the shopping sacks. Tammy didn't wake up. The warmth of her body; the way her soft breath felt against Lisa's neck; the baby smell of her. It was all overwhelming. Lisa carried her to the nursery and gently laid her on the youth bed. She kneeled beside her, stroking the soft curly hair. Today would probably be the last time she would see her. It was a heart-rending thought. She lifted the tiny hand and kissed it, tears filling her eyes again. She gently replaced the hand and pulled the covers up. Standing, she turned to leave the room. Yancey was standing in the door watching. She kept her eyes on the floor as she walked by him.