The Touch (Healer Series)

  The

  Touch

  Allison Rios

  Copyright © 2012 Allison Rios

  Editor: Nanette Funke Goode

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 061566587X

  ISBN-13: 978-0-615-66587-0

  DEDICATION

  If you’ve ever thought yourself too old or too busy

  to accomplish your dreams, I hope you reconsider.

  Life is short, but there is always

  plenty of time to take a chance.

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgments

  1 The Drive

  2 The Town

  3 The Caretaker

  4 Old Friends

  5 Broken Hearts

  6 Protector

  7 The Visit

  8 Grims

  9 Soft Spoken

  10 One Dance

  11 Stories

  12 Plotting and Planning

  13 One Touch

  14 Reality Refined

  15 Look But Don’t Touch

  16 Good Into Evil

  17 This is Why

  18 A Mother’s Love

  19 Beginning of the End

  20 A World of Sacrifice

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  To my amazing husband, I have no words (surprisingly) to say how much your love and encouragement mean. Every day with you is a great one.

  To my sweet children X and Squish – may you always remember

  that you can make your dreams come true and continue to build new ones. This will make life a never-ending adventure.

  To my wonderful friends and family for their continued support in my writing endeavors, especially P.O., C.R., D.E., M.J.P., K.B., J.M., J.S., J.O., S.G. and M.G.V., R & M.R., Dad and the Breakfast Mamas. To have you in my life is a true blessing.

  To J.D. – thanks for the push!

  To my very patient and fun editor Nanette for long hours spent working. You believed in this from the start and I believe you are destined for great things, dear friend.

  To my mother: although you are in heaven, you always remain in my heart and soul. Thank you for your everlasting belief in my writing.

  To D.B.U., thank you for your time and answers to inquiries about writing and publishing. You are an amazing author.

  To J.S. and A.K., thank you for serving as our cover models.

  To those who inspired some of the characters, I hope you always keep in mind how great I think you are. Don’t ever let life bring you down; you deserve the world.

  To all who read this book – thank you so much for the opportunity to take you on one of my daydreams.

  And finally, to my Grandma Lylis: thank you for sharing your love of poetry with me and taking an interest in my writing. If it weren’t for you, this book wouldn’t exist. Spring is in the air, Gram.

  Spring Again by Lylis Allison

  The last long days of winter, The time, indeed, seems long,

  That one has viewed a blade of grass Or heard the birds in song.

  The world is somehow brighter With the coming of the spring;

  The plants begin to nod to us They fairly dance and sing.

  When nature opens wide her arms The thrill is everywhere -

  The joy we feel to be alive When spring is in the air.

  1 THE DRIVE

  It was a welcome break from the chaos and noise of city life, where every moment blended into the next in a hurried frenzy. Everyone rushing here or there in finely tailored suits and dresses, each looking to make their next good impression on clients in hopes of becoming the next Wall Street millionaire.

  He hadn’t fit in well as a city boy since his dreams and aspirations were slightly different and a bit slower-paced. He had been drawn there for the simple fact that there were a lot of people; people he could reach and perhaps assist. If he could do that, he felt that it would make all the disorder in his life seem worthwhile.

  His sporty red car rambled down the old, crumbling road. The pavement’s cracks made for a bumpy ride and if the state was fixing roads then they definitely hadn’t spent any money on this one. Potholes scattered both sides of the road and he was just a misjudgment away from a flat tire and a dented rim.

  Trees surrounded him on either side of the road and created a tunnel of sorts. Where the tree’s branches opened up the sun shone in and created a kaleidoscope effect on the road with the dancing lights. The wind through his hair felt different than it had in the city, perhaps because it was cleaner. Or perhaps just because he didn’t feel the same pressure and angst that he had felt while living there. He felt a sense of freedom here, far away from the constant push and pull of the city.

  His hands gripped his steering wheel, the black rubber covering now crumbling from years of wear and tear in addition to the nervous hands of a troubled soul writhing on it.

  If the scenery was any indicator, he was right. The lush green trees clouded the sky as they came together across the road to meet in the middle, the wind whispering a welcome. Greenery grew on either side of the road, dotted along the way with wildflowers in intense shades of pink, purple and yellow. Every once in awhile horses were out at pasture, and he hadn’t seen another car in ages.

  He pulled over for a break to stretch his long legs after hours in the car. Pulling out his old, folded paper map, he estimated his location and the length of time until he arrived at any destination. As his tanned fingers traced the street on the weathered paper, his backside resting on the leather seats, he heard the first sounds of an engine other than his since about 100 miles back. The dented red pickup drove up, slowing as it neared him. The tires kicked up some dust on the tattered road as it pulled to a stop in front of him.

  “Hey there stranger, need some help?” a soft voice asked in a very powerful way.

  It was clear she was an in-charge type of person with that sweet southern look that you saw in movies. She hopped out of the cab and onto the ground, making her way over as she sized him up. Her eyes were as bright as the lights over a baseball field at night, and could lead a man to feel as much about them – as if he could find a second home in them.

  She wasn’t tall, yet wasn’t short either. Her body was full, healthy. The skin peeking out from her tank top was tanned, the light shade of the first days of summer. As she walked on up to the car without giving away a sense of fear, AJ figured she was a bit fearless, approaching a stranger on a seemingly abandoned road.

  “You look a little lost.”

  “Maybe.” He almost thought to say a person can’t be lost if they don’t know where they’re going in the first place because that was the truth behind his driving.

  “Is that a paper map?”

  “Yes it is, ma’am,” AJ replied, smiling up at this dark haired woman who, with the sun glinting off her hair from behind, almost seemed to be an angel.

  “People still use those?” Her sarcastic smile bordered more on cute than annoying. She was in utter disbelief that someone would actually use something like an ancient directional tool in the age of technology.

  He looked back to wrinkled paper. “I think I’ll be just fine. I’m looking for a place to stay, maybe for a day, maybe for awhile. Figured I’d find a town somewhere along the road and the map says there’s one about a few miles up.”

  “It is indeed. That’s where I’m heading, too. It’s called Lee. You’re welcome to follow me if you’d like.” She paused and raised an eyebrow as she looked him over again, her hands crossed over her body, resting back on one heel as she sized him up. “Don’t you have a GPS or something?” she laughed. “It’s easy to get lost out here.”

  “I don’t,” he replied, still smiling. “Do you?”

  “I don’t either. Cell phone?”

>   “Nope, I like the quiet.”

  “Me too.”

  “Then why are you giving me such a hard time about it?” he joked back.

  “I’ve lived here all my life,” she replied, her brown hair caught in the breeze and zipping up alongside her face as it blew. “The only GPS or assistance I need is internal. You’re a stranger. I’ve never seen you around these parts. You can get pretty lost up here and before you know it, you’re 200 miles out of the way.”

  “You sound like you know from experience,” he said.

  “I may have gotten lost a time or two, but I always found my way back home,” she replied, glancing towards town. “Hell, I might still be lost. You just never know.”

  Her laugh was contagious, and he couldn’t help laughing with her. Partly due to the fact that this was the longest conversation he’d had with someone in years.

  “I’m hoping for the same,” he said, a piece of him eager to find a home to build his life around. Maybe Lee would be it.

  “Name’s Addie.” She tipped down the front of her straw hat, parts of it frayed and worn, as if she were a cowboy in a black and white western film. “Addie Jenko.”

  “AJ,” he replied, nodding his head. “Last name McCallister.”

  She hopped back up into her cab, her hand hanging out the window. She slapped the side of her truck a couple times and motioned for AJ to follow her. He settled back into his car and followed suit into her dust, heading towards the future.

  He looked beyond her truck as the first mile passed and was able to see the horizon of the town that he might potentially call home, at least for awhile. Surrounded by trees and golden fields, the buildings were old and the traditions older. It looked beautiful from the outset. Buildings dotted the countryside, far enough apart to allow for acreage and income from growing food for the country; close enough to share camaraderie with your neighbors.

  Just outside of town, Addie pulled over and signaled for him to do the same. She hopped down off the truck and bounced over to his car before he had the opportunity to get out.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” she said, leaning against his car and looking towards the town. The scene looked like it had been taken right out of history, as if the last two decades hadn’t even happened in this quiet little place.

  “Sure is.”

  He was trying to get a read on her. No ring, no jewelry at all. She seemed confident and a bit quirky - outgoing to say the least. The focus was going to give him a headache later. He found himself not caring.

  “I was born here. Grew up here. Met the father of my little girl here.”

  Married, he thought.

  She paused, looking back down at him. “My mama died here, my grandma lives here. All in all, this town is my life.”

  She looked in at him, grasped his window frame with both hands and lowered her head down to his level. The smile faded from her face and took on a seriousness he hadn’t seen on many women before.

  “My point is I don’t know you, AJ McCallister, or what you’re here for. What you should know is that if it’s for any reason that could stir up this town, you might as well keep on driving through, because where I come from we don’t take kindly to strangers that pose a threat to our way of livin’. If you’re here and plan on maintainin’ a low profile, doing good deeds and helpin’ your neighbors, then welcome to Lee.”

  Her face loosened up again into a smile, and she leaned back a bit, folding her arms across her chest.

  “Understood.”

  She was intimidating with her self-assurance. AJ leaned towards his window.

  “I’m not here for any trouble. All I want is a quiet place to start over, pass my days. I won’t be a bother to anyone.”

  “Good,” she said with a huge grin. “I knew I liked you. And I’m pretty good at reading people.”

  As she spoke, the words melded into each other. He could see her lips moving, yet the world was devoid of any sound. A ringing in his ears started, and then faded, as she brought her face back down near his.

  “Hey, you there?” She waved her arms in front of his face, bringing him back to reality. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” he said, trying quickly to recover and regain control of his mind. “Just zoned out for a second. Sure is beautiful out here.”

  “Sure is.” She looked around, proud of her home and of the life she’d built for herself – despite the fact that she didn’t love everyone included in the entire Lee package. “Okay. Well, I have to get going to get my little girl. Is there anywhere I can help you find?”

  “Nope,” he replied, taking off his cap and tossing it on the passenger seat, right onto his old fashioned paper map. “I’m sure I’ll find something. I’m just going to walk around a bit in town.”

  “Alright. Don’t be a stranger. It was nice to meet you AJ.”

  “Same here.”

  She reached out to shake his hand, as it was the way she had been raised.

  “Sorry,” he replied. “I don’t want to be rude. My hands are a little dirty and sticky from my trip.”

  She drew back her hand and bit her bottom lip. He was different than the guys she’d known her whole life here in town.

  “You’re a strange guy.”

  She turned, tucking her hands into her back jeans pockets and moving back towards her truck. As quickly as she had come into his life, she was gone in a trail of dust into the rustic little town.

  **************************************************

  He pulled up in front of a little restaurant or café, though he was not sure which you’d call it in a town like this. He wandered in, settling in an old-fashioned chair at the counter, like he had been dropped right into the 1950’s. While the café itself looked old and outdated, the food was the most delicious he had smelled in years.

  A waitress appeared, her attire seemingly transported from the same era, approached him with a towel draped over her shoulder and her apron riddled with the day’s menu items. He imagined if he was given a minute, he might be able to guess what they actually were. Her hair was curled perfectly and sprayed tightly into place with a brightly colored flower tucked behind one ear.

  “May I take your order?” she asked, following it up directly with, “You don’t look like you’re from around here.”

  She leaned her elbow on the counter, one eyebrow raised as she slowly looked over the newbie. It made AJ somewhat nervous, as if he were facing a final exam again.

  “I’m not, ma’am.”

  He looked up to meet her gaze and found himself in a staring contest. She wasn’t giving in, either.

  “Just looking for a fresh start.”

  “You in some kind of trouble?”

  He was beginning to realize people were not subtle in this little town. They wanted answers and every little detail about exactly who a person was and where they were from. The city had never bombarded him with this closeness as people kept largely to themselves and didn't intrude upon stranger’s lives. He quickly considered the possibility that this might not have been the best place to move and be obscure.

  “Not at all, just a bit tired of city life. Thought I’d try a change of pace. Took out my map, closed my eyes and touched it and this is where my finger rested. Well, this general area anyway. Someone pointed me in the exact direction of Lee and said it’s a pretty nice place. I thought it might be as good a place as any to move.”

  “You picked a good one, honey,” she replied, smiling now. “We don’t get many outsiders in here. The ones we do always find they love it. It’s a nice little town. People don’t leave. So what are you eating?”

  “What’s good?”

  She gave a hearty laugh and a few other patrons chortled at the newbie’s awkwardness.

  “Everything’s good. I’m the chef! Been cooking since I was a toddler.”

  “Then surprise me.”

  It appeared as though every woman in Lee was a bit bold. She took his menu and headed back to the kitchen
to whip up something homemade for the city boy.

  As he ate, he was pleasantly surprised at the conversation she struck up with him. He imagined in his mind the places and people she spoke of through her detailed descriptions. She was so vibrant, which appearances alone would have never shown. She seemed to be a really big part of the heart of town; an amazing woman who once had a very wild side. She appeared to know everyone too, and wasn’t shy about sharing the details of their lives. She’d do well working at a gossip magazine. She could get the scoop on just about everyone.

  That type of scrutiny was exactly what AJ hoped to avoid. He wanted to maintain a low profile and noted that staying away from this café might be a good idea for the time being.

  He pulled out his wallet for the bill, and she pushed it back.

  “This one’s on me. It isn’t often I get some new company and conversation in this place. Come back again and you can pay for that one.”

  “It was delicious. You were right – you are the best cook for miles. Thanks.”

  He tucked the wallet back into his pocket, and turned back to her.

  “Any suggestions on where I might stay?”

  “Depends. What are you looking for?”

  “Somewhere to rest is fine for the time being. Long term, I think I want to find myself a little house to live in.”

  “Stay up at Cottage Creek Inn. Go south down the main street, then make a left and a right at the first streets you come to. They don’t get many guests at the bed and breakfast, so they’ll be thrilled to have you. Next to me, Helen serves up the best cooking you’ll ever taste,” she said with a wink. “Tell them I sent ya and they’ll be extra good to you.”

  “Will do, thanks again.”

  He pushed his arm into his old blue jacket, not bothering to try and zip it since the zipper was hanging by a thread.

  He made his way to the Inn and found it in pristine condition taking him by surprise because according to his waitress, there wasn’t an influx – ever – of guests to the town. He couldn’t imagine this little bed and breakfast would bring in much revenue. The beautiful Victorian style house was painted yellow with white trim and baby blue shutters. The front porch was expansive, wrapping around the house and providing ample rocking chairs for enjoying the warm southern evenings.