Tangled Truth

By Dixie Land

When Grace Garret makes an unannounced after-hours stop at her husband Andrew's law offices, their lives begin a downward spiral that leads to a nightmare of betrayal, decades-old secrets and murder!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781597054638

Book preview

One

Grace felt Andrew Garrett’s shoulder brush hers as he moved his chair closer at the conference table in the law offices of Daniels and Daniels. The nearness of him set her heart racing. Grace Carson stared at Andrew’s ruggedly handsome profile as he read through the first page of the brief she had prepared for him.

This is excellent, he said, turning to face her. Hiring you was the best move Walt could have made. I feel fortunate that he assigned you to me. His cool blue eyes rested on hers.

Thanks, she said. His closeness unnerved her. Grace felt the heated flush in her cheeks when he smiled at her. She had always been a blusher, and she hated it. Her mother told her long ago, Redheads blush, get used to it. I did. Besides, it’s a very feminine thing. Men like it.

Andrew didn’t seem to notice. He returned his attention to the brief, and Grace’s mind drifted back to the day she was hired. She felt extremely blessed to have landed this position so quickly. It was her first interview after college, and Walter Daniels Sr. had hired her on the spot when she met with him two weeks previously. Three other young women had entered and exited his office before they called her name. One applicant was still waiting when she was escorted into Mr. Daniels’ office. He finished talking with Grace and asked her to wait while he spoke with his partner. When he returned, he offered her the job.

After her orientation, she was assigned as the assistant to Andrew Garrett, the newest member of the prestigious firm.

Grace, did you hear what I said?

Andrew’s voice brought her back to the work at hand. I’m sorry. What did you say?

I said let’s take a break and grab a quick lunch. My treat.

Oh. Okay, yes. That would be nice.

Andrew closed the folder. I’ll drop this off in my office and meet you at the elevator in five minutes.

Okay, Grace said, glancing at her watch, still feeling flustered. In spite of the cooperative spirit that prevailed in the office, she still felt insecure in this new job. There was so much to learn, and she wanted desperately to live up to Mr. Daniels’s expectations. Now, Andrew’s good looks and natural charm intimidated her, too. The office scuttlebutt was that since he joined the firm six months ago, he was the most eligible bachelor in the entire six-story building which housed two other law offices and three corporate satellite headquarters. Yes, he’d caught the attention of a number of the female employees in the complex.

Grace left the conference room, went to her desk and removed her handbag from the locked drawer. She made a quick stop in the restroom. Before leaving, she glanced in the mirror. She ran her fingers through her short strawberry-blonde bob and smoothed it. She pinched her cheeks and reapplied lipstick. The door swung open, and one of Walt Daniels Jr.’s secretaries, Judy Reston, joined her.

Hi. I wondered where you were. Several of the girls and I are going to the deli for lunch. Would you like to join us? Judy had been warm and welcoming from Grace’s first day on the job.

Thanks. I would, but I already have lunch plans.

Judy grinned at her. Anyone I know? You could still join us.

Andrew Garrett, Grace said as she reached the door.

Judy let out an Ooohhh, how’d you manage that? Her brown eyes danced.

Grace thought Judy quite pretty with her auburn hair and dark brown eyes. They complimented her vivacious personality.

I didn’t really manage it, Grace replied. We were going over a brief, and he suggested we break for a quick lunch together.

Way to go, girl! That’s a first.

Grace smiled and shook her head. See you later, she said as she left Judy. She headed for the exit door then on to the elevator.

Andrew was there waiting. If you like sandwiches, I thought we’d go to the deli. The food’s great, and it’s just around the corner.

That sounds good. She smiled at him. As she stepped through the open elevator door, she began to feel more relaxed.

AT THE RESTAURANT, they didn’t have to wait for a table. While they were giving their order, Judy and two others from the office were seated at a booth across from them. A moment later, Judy called out, Hey, you two, over here. She waved. Fancy meeting you here, she said then giggled.

Grace smiled and waved back. Andrew did too, then quickly returned his attention to Grace. I suppose it will be all over the office that we had lunch together. He smiled at her. But that’s okay with me. Their order arrived shortly after.

That was the first of many shared lunches. Soon after Andrew began asking Grace to dinner, she knew she was falling in love with him. They became engaged six months later, and Grace resigned from Daniels and Daniels. She wanted to concentrate her full attention on planning their wedding.

GRACE? DID YOU HEAR what I said? You seem so pre-occupied.

Andrew’s words were the same as the day he first invited her to lunch. Grace turned in the passenger seat to face her husband. I’m sorry. I was just thinking back to our first days together. Sometimes it seems only last week instead of twenty years ago. And I must say they’ve been wonderful years, Andrew.

Yes they have, darling. They’ve flown by, haven’t they? When we’re happy and busy, life has a way of catching us in its whirlwind and gusting us along.

They had just dropped their twins off at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and were heading home to Winston-Salem to begin a new phase of their lives.

Grace sighed softly. I’m really going to miss Allie and Drew, you know. I’d have given anything if they had chosen Wake Forest. But I understand. They wanted to get away...and that’s an important part of college, too.

Chapel Hill isn’t so far, honey. They’ll come home, and we’ll visit. I’ve ordered season tickets for the football games. I did tell you, didn’t I?

"You did, and I know. But I think my life is going to change more than yours. I’ve been so hands-on-wrapped-up in them for so long.

He glanced her way and smiled. He reached for her hand and gave it a little squeeze. What will you do with all your leisure, Mrs. Garrett?

I’ve been so busy getting them ready to leave, I haven’t thought much about it. I suppose I’ll catch up on my reading, continue my volunteer work at the assisted living home and spend more time with my sisters and your mother. She and I haven’t had as much time together the last couple of months, and we both remarked on the phone last week that we’ve missed it.

Grace’s own mother had entered a nursing home last year suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Moving Helen Carson there had been one of the most difficult decisions Grace and her two sisters had ever been forced to make, but it was what their mother needed. They all loved their mother deeply, but she and Grace had always been closest. Now Grace volunteered at Whispering Pines every week without fail.

Grace found it so tragic that this lovely, physically fit, once mentally strong woman should have been afflicted with such a debilitating disease. Grace’s sister, Hope, visited weekly but didn’t have the time to devote that Grace always managed to find. Cara, the youngest, stopped in nearly every week. Grace had come to love the other residents in the unit, too. She often thought she should have pursued a career in nursing rather than law. But then her life would have been altogether different. She wouldn’t have met Andrew and she wouldn’t have Allie and Drew.

Grace. You’re pre-occupied again.

I know. She laughed softly. You now have my undivided attention!

Let’s go out for a romantic dinner and then home for an even more romantic evening. I want to celebrate the twenty most wonderful years of my life. He had stopped the car and turned to face her.

They’ve been the happiest of mine, too.

Andrew took her in his arms and gave her a long, lingering kiss. I love you, he whispered against her lips.

When he released her, she said, That sounds wonderful. She leaned into him and kissed him again.

They had a delicious meal at Noble’s and afterward went home, put in a CD of romantic instrumental music and danced on the intimate candlelit patio outside their bedroom.

Grace smiled up at Andrew. I think I’m going to enjoy it being just the two of us. How about you?

Andrew’s answer was a kiss. Then he lifted her and carried her into the bedroom and laid her gently on their bed. He lay down beside her and gathered her into his arms.

Much later as they lay on their backs holding hands, Andrew asked, Would you like to get away to the beach house for a few days?

That sounds wonderful!

It might do you good. I know how tired you’ve been lately. You could just relax and catch up on your rest, maybe make it a long weekend.

Grace propped herself up on her elbow and looked down into her husband’s deep blue eyes. You mean just me? You wouldn’t go along?

I can’t get away right now. I’m going to be putting in a lot of hours and thought you might enjoy a few days at your favorite spot. The trial for the Bentley case has been tentatively scheduled to begin the end of next week, and I’ve had a few last-minute surprises that have thrown a curve into this whole case. I’ve asked for a postponement, but haven’t heard back yet. We’re scrambling right now, and I need more time.

Do you want to talk about it?

He let out a heavy sigh. Not really. I get enough of that at the office. We’re working on it. These cases are never easy. When all the facts are in, I’m sure it’ll all wash out. But right now, I don’t have as much confidence in the defense we were preparing as I did when we began.

Then, no. If you have to stay, I will too. How can we start this new life of ours together if we’re apart? She ran her fingers through his short dark hair and kissed him lightly on the forehead.

Andrew chuckled. Makes sense, he said. He drew her into his arms and they drifted off to sleep, feeling happy and satisfied.

ON TUESDAY, GRACE WENT to the nursing home for an outing with her mother, the social director, Shelby, and two other volunteers. Brenda and Naomi volunteered as much as Grace and they had become friends. Today, sixteen residents had signed up to go to the Olive Garden for lunch.

Her mother seemed thrilled to see her. She met her in the hall as Grace entered the unit. Helen threw her arms around her daughter. Grace! I was hoping you’d come! I’m so happy to see you. It’s been so long.

Grace kissed her mother, and they walked toward Helen’s room arm-in-arm. Actually, it had only been two days. On Sunday, Grace and Andrew had visited Helen and had taken her out to lunch.

Aside from forgetting the Sunday visit, Helen seemed quite good today. She ate well, interacted with the other residents and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the outing.

On Wednesday, Grace called Hope to plan a girls’ day out. They agreed to meet for a late lunch and follow it up with a few hours of shopping. Both were avid bargain hunters unlike their younger sister, who absolutely hated it. Grace thought it was probably because she’d been dragged on so many shopping sprees with the older girls and their mother when she had no choice that, when she could say no, she did. She had also rebelled about her name, Cara Faith. While she lived at home, she went by Faith, but the day she moved out she became known as Cara. She thought her mother’s choice of calling them Hope, Grace and Faith, over the top.

After a leisurely lunch at the Village Tavern, Grace and Hope headed for the mall. It was a thoroughly pleasant and relaxing afternoon. By the time they finished it was nearing 7:00 p.m.

I need to get home and heat up some leftovers for Gil and the girls, Hope said, glancing at her watch. I had no idea it was this late.

We got a late start.

Do you think Andrew will be home for dinner, or would you like to come home with me and take potluck?

Thanks. But I think I’ll call the office and see what his plans are. He’s had to work late quite a bit recently. The tentative day for the trial to begin is next Thursday, but he’s trying to get it postponed.

Sounds good. Hope kissed her younger sister’s cheek. Have a good one!

You, too. They parted.

Grace called the house not expecting Andrew to be there. She had no messages from him. She dialed his private office, and he picked up on the second ring.

Hello, darling. She had known he’d answer even though it was after business hours. Andrew had caller ID.

Hello, yourself. I just left Hope and thought I’d call and see how late you expect to be.

Since I have the office to myself, I should be able to finish up before long. Maybe another hour at most.

They said good-bye.

Since she wasn’t far from his office, she decided to drop by. She’d wait for him to wrap things up, and they could stop somewhere for dinner on the way home.

Gathering storm clouds moved swiftly across the sky, partially obscuring the hot, late August sun as Grace pulled up to the large brick building that Andrew had built to house the law firm of Garrett, Morrow and Hughes. Hopefully one day another Garrett would be added to the sign. Grace could see the lights burning in Andrew’s office window. She had to use her key at the main front entrance. When she reached the door of Andrew’s private offices, she knocked and waited a moment. With no answer, she turned the knob and the door swung open. The front room was empty, but she heard voices coming from the room beyond. Strange, she thought he was alone. She stepped over to that door, knocked lightly and pushed the door open.

In an instant, the carefree mood of the day vanished, and Grace Garrett knew what she had just witnessed would change her life forever.

Two

Grace turned and fled from Andrew’s office, hurt and stunned. She ran to the main entrance of the building. Before leaving, she looked back down the hall. It was empty. Andrew hadn’t followed her.

Somehow, she managed to drive home without having an accident. Her mind raced. Just when their lives had reached the stage of being able to devote more time to one another, why? Had she been too occupied with Allie and Drew, and her mother? She had never seen any indication Andrew was dissatisfied with their life. They’d always been devoted, shared everything...had no secrets from one another. As for the twins, he was as wrapped up in them and their events as she. He loved her mother too, almost as much as she did. He often dropped in on his way home from the office to visit her. What would she say to him when he came home? Would he even come home tonight? Why? Why hadn’t he followed her out of the office? Why had he told her he was alone? How could this be happening to them?

She stepped into their home as the skies opened up and rain poured down. Her two-year-old poodle raced to greet her. Grace reached down and lifted him. He wiggled excitedly in her arms as he licked her cheek. Oh, Shadow, she whispered. Grace pressed her cheek against his silky fur and sobbed.

Almost an hour passed with no phone calls and no Andrew. Grace’s stomach churned. She went into the bathroom and was sick. When she returned to the bedroom, she stepped into the closet, pulled out a suitcase and began to pack. She’d go to the beach house to reflect, to try to figure this out, to decide where to go from here. Instantly, the thought of her mother crossed her mind. No, she couldn’t leave. Her mother needed her. She’d be devastated if Grace didn’t visit her several times a week.

Within moments she heard the front door close and then footsteps at the top of the stairs. Grace quickly