Somewhere in My Heart (5 page)

Billie had Chris' harmonica sent to the jail house.  What hurt the most about this whole deal was that she couldn’t say good bye or tell anyone where she was going.  But, she left notes for Andy, Maria, and Bobby.  She asked them to look out for Chris the best that they could.  She also thanked Andy for his hospitality and kindness all week. The agents sent someone to pick up her things and carry her to the airport.  Billie was thinking about her plans once she arrived there.  She just had to go to Maui. She wondered if Ricky would be at his place, or if he went back to Nashville, since Lydia's funeral.  That would be her unfortunate luck.  There were many possibilities awaiting her.

The days flew by on the calendar, but to Billie, it was taking its time.  She was going crazy over Chris' trial.  It was almost as bad as the infamous Trial of the Century.  She wanted to call Maria and talk to her.  One day, she received a call from the agents that sent her there.  They didn’t sound too hopeful.  She wanted to know when she could return to Tennessee.  They told her it would be at least another month.

It was almost July.  Billie had seen just about all of the sights.  She had not seen Ricky's beach house.  She finally found a way to see it.  It was private land, but she waited until it got dark before she went.  She stood behind some palm trees to make sure the coast was clear.  The beach was deserted, but she could see the lights of his house.  She was about a thousand feet away from it.  She tried to get a better look.  She sat down close to the water and just gazed off in to the distance.  For a moment, she looked up at the stars.  Then, she heard a noise behind her.  She turned around to see what it may have been, but saw nothing. She stood up and then saw someone in a trench coat.  She wondered whether or not she should start running. 

It was Chris.  She asked him what he was doing in Hawaii, and in disguise.  He replied, “I am here to get you back.  After all, it was because of me that you ended up here in the first place.  I had it all arranged.” Billie was thrilled to see him, but questioned why he had her sent there. 

She asked, “You had me sent here? It is amazing how you had power while you were in jail.” 

Chris responded, “It only takes money and a few connections.  I am innocent.  Ben was the one who strangled Lana.  I knew that bastard was guilty from the first day that I met him.  He used my letter to frame me.  They found the second half that he did not know about and that cleared me.  He gave himself away.”

Billie informed, “I know what was in the first letter, what was in the other one?” 

He admitted, “I only told her, how I was over her and was getting on with my life.  Just telling her it was as much of my fault as hers for our divorce.  I am looking ahead and I’ve stopped looking behind.  I had accepted her with Ben.  It looks like that was the only thing that I was wrong about through it all.  I mainly did all of this so I wouldn’t  lose you, Billie.” 

She whispered, “I’m just glad you are out of jail.”  She didn’t know what to stay about his last comment. 

He begged, “Does this mean we can get back together?” 

Billie declared, “I don’t think it can work again.” 

He then said, “Has anyone ever told you that you think too much?” 

Billie added, “You know, I used to look for a man that had the same IQ that I had.  You never really qualified until now.  I was going to say that I did love you, but we are not in love with each other.  Do you understand?” 

He bargained, “I understand perfectly.  I’m no good since I have been arrested and put in jail.  You’ve always told me that I am a good guy, but I do bad things.  Am I down to my last life?  What do you say when it is over? Don’t know if I should say anything at all.” 

Billie instructed, “You just told me about looking ahead, I think it is time for you to do that.  Get a fresh start.” 

He argued, “Maybe that’s not what I had in mind. I came here to take you back to California with me.” 

Billie replied, “Not to sound like a witch, but over my dead body."

He snapped, "Nice choice of words."

Billie didn’t know why he had to be so bitter.  But to him, he was being the same way.

Billie tried to walk away, but Chris grabbed her arm.  He said, “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.  It’s the first time I haven’t known what comes next in a few months.  It was always you, you came next.” 

Billie acknowledged, “Chris, I am sorry.  Especially for all of the time you spent in jail.  Even for all of the times you thought you just didn’t matter to me.  But, things happen. Things that are unfinished have a way of changing on you when you’re not looking.  I mean, you want to go back to them, you want to relive them.  But, they are either untouchable or gone. It’s nobody’s fault.  I want you to know something.  It was the last thing that I remember before I left Nashville…how horribly painful it was for me to leave you.  I thought it would kill me.  Every hour seemed like a year.  I don’t know why I didn’t get on a plane and come back to you, witness protection be damned. I don’t regret any of it.  For all of the pain and foolishness it brought to us both.  But please try to forget about me.” 

Chris grunted, “Put yourself in my shoes, I've been through too much to be given a virtual Hallmark card right now.”  He obviously was not taking the split well.  Or he was pretending.  The soft approach was not working.  He was only making jokes.  So, Billie had to come up with another idea.  She tried to convince him that she found someone else.  She made up a story and he said, “Don’t let him fool you.” 

She claimed, “I’m not going to let you fool me.  You really have some nerve coming here to take me back with you.  How prehistoric.” 

Chris played it cool for a while and tried to pull one over on her.  He estimated, “I know how much I’ve hurt you in the past and I understand if you want to hurt me back.” 

She announced, “I don’t really care much to bother.” 

He predicted, “This new guy in your life is capable of hurting you much more than I ever could.”

Billie agreed, “You are right.  He is very dangerous.  The most dangerous thing about him is the way that he makes me feel.” 

Chris vowed, “If it’s danger you want...”

The brutal side to Chris was surfacing.  He may have been innocent of murder, but he was about to be guilty of rape.  Billie tried to fight him off of her.  He was very strong; apparently he had been working out in jail.  She didn’t know if he was intending to hurt her or not.  Someone must have known how she felt because suddenly, he was being pulled off of her.  It took some strength to do it, but it wasn’t from Billie.  Chris took off running, before he was able to be confronted.  Billie was so shook up that she fainted.

When she woke up, she was in a hospital.  She asked a nurse what happened and how she got there.  They couldn’t recall who brought her in, since they didn’t ask for his name.  She had to know who it was that saved her.  Billie decided to label the mystery man as her hero.

Once Billie was back to her normal self, she returned to the scene of the crime.  Next to the ocean, Billie felt small.  Insecurity, doubt, and foolish pride were washed away in the presence of the sea.  Hours passed and calm refilled the fragile vessel of soul, healing the broken ties from Chris.  Billie walked, reminiscing about Bobby and her severed, short lived courtship with Mr. Brady.  Far off, there was a movement.  She noticed a dark speck steadily moving up the beach.  It was growing larger, finally detectable.  It was a man on a horse.  Not just any man either.  Was this pure coincidence?  She was prepared for anything, but was frightened of his approach and the first impression she had to make.  He came to face her, towering over her and said, “This is a private beach.”  His voice seemed to be many things; an accusation, a caution, a promise, an invitation?  His dark eyes flashed at her beneath his gentle eyebrows.  She decided against the strong approach.  She didn’t want to sound like a crazed fan, or embarrass herself in front of the one and only Ricky Todd.  She wanted him to think she was an ordinary person and not someone in love with him.  Before she had the chance to say one word, she was saved by the bell. 

A familiar voice said, “We are so sorry.  It is my fault.” 

Billie knew right away that it was Mr. Reid.  She was surprisingly happy to see him.  When she went up to him to speak, Ricky asked her, “Are the two of you lost?  Do you need directions?” 

Mr. Reid laughed, “No, we are in the right place.” 

Billie looked at him and said, “We are?” 

He whispered, “I’ll explain later.  Just follow my lead.” 

Ricky challenged, “You must be here for an appointment I set up yesterday.  But, why didn’t you just come up to the house, like normal people?” 

Billie tried not to laugh, as her boss attempted to explain that one.  He began, “I apologize, it’s just that it is our first time in Hawaii, and we just wanted to look at the ocean.”  That answer seemed to fool Ricky. 

He approved, “Ok, just follow me to the house.”

Billie was at a loss for words.  They walked with Ricky to the house and then waited for him to put his horse in the stable.  Billie nudged Mr. Reid.  He cried, “What is the matter with you, still speechless? I don’t think I have ever seen you like this, and I mean never!”

She demanded, “Are you going to tell me what you are up to, or do I have to guess?” 

Her boss assured, “I think I have finally found a story that you will love, more than any of the ones in the past. Which by the way, the last one was a bit wild.  We had to print an extra million copies of it. You deserve this plan.  I know how much you love Ricky Todd.” 

She whispered, “How did you know that?” 

He admitted, “I am your boss.  I have known the entire time that you have worked for me.  I also know that he was the one to inspire you to become what you are today.” 

Billie then asked, “How come you have never told me this?” 

He replied, “It just never occurred to me to bring it up in conversation.  I found out when I talked to one of your ex-supervisors.  He told me how you were always talking about him and going to Nashville.  If you only knew how much I would love to tell Ricky what he has created.” 

Billie bargained, “Then, why don’t you?”

He insisted, “He can’t know who you really are or this plan will not work.” 

Billie inquired, “What is this plan you speak of?” 

Mr. Reid said, “You are about to become a big replacement, as his new Manager.”

Before Billie had the chance to say anything to him, Ricky showed up again. They went in to discuss things.  Billie was not sure what she was supposed to be saying. All she could hope for was that it would be as close to the truth as possible.  Mr. Reid did most of the talking, at first.  He was pretending to be like her assistant.  This was almost unbelievable.  Why was she taking part in this charade?  Couldn’t Ricky see right through it?  Billie played her part very well.  She wondered if she could get away with it after all.  She could almost not stand it, the thought of being around him all of the time.  She was getting excited about it. The good side was, she could get to know the real Ricky Todd.  Once the interview was over, she talked to her boss about it some more.  She wanted to know what he had to gain from all of this. He wouldn’t tell her straight, but she would probably find out sooner or later.