Embroidered Fantasies

Chapter One

Roxanne Sykes stood in the middle of the crowded field and smiled. Such a small feat for most people but such a huge one in her world. There was a time when she’d thought she might never feel happy again.

Her smile faltered. She would not think about him. Not now. She summoned all her mental strength and pushed all thoughts of her ex-husband and her life with him into the dark recesses of her mind. He was in prison and couldn’t hurt her. Not any longer.

She now lived life on her own terms, doing what she wanted, when she wanted. And right now her plan was to enjoy the gigantic flea market spread in front of her like an exotic feast for the senses.

Michael would never have allowed her to go to such an event. Buying other people’s garbage, he called it. Not that her ex-husband had either taste or style. He’d figured a large-screen television and a leather sofa held together with duct tape was the height of decorating.

“Stop it,” she muttered. She didn’t want to think about her ex. The day was warm but not too hot. There was a breeze off the ocean that kept it cool enough to be enjoyable.

She checked her purse for the tenth time. She had one hundred dollars she’d saved in tip money from her waitress job at Joe’s Diner to spend on anything she wanted. It was all for her. Hugging her purse closer to her body, she merged with the crowd.

Artwork was on her list of things to look for today. Over the past year, she’d managed to furnish her small efficiency apartment with flea market and thrift store finds. She’d sanded and painted a bistro table and two chairs, and refinished a bookshelf, coffee table and an end table. She’d also refurbished a davenport, which doubled as both a couch and a bed. She’d collected a variety of dishes and cookware.

Every item she’d chosen had suited one criteria—she liked it.

She took a deep breath and her nose caught several delicious aromas—sugar and deep-fried food. Shopping first, food after, she reminded herself. That was something else that had changed over the past year—she ate whatever she wanted. No more worrying about what Michael was going to say if he saw her eating something he didn’t approve of, which was just about everything. He liked his women model thin.

She’d always been naturally skinny, but for the first time in her life her hips actually had some curve to them. Her chest had never been a problem. She’d always had more than enough in that area.

Squaring her shoulders, she hitched her purse higher and waded into the fray, wandering up and down the long lines of vendors, searching for just the right pieces for her apartment.

Two hours later, she had a purple glass vase and a pink Depression glass bowl tucked safely in the cloth shopping bag she’d brought along to carry her treasures. Still nothing for her walls.

Her stomach growled, reminding her of her earlier promise to feed it. What did she want? There was so much to choose from. She contemplated a hot dog and French fries but she finally settled on a warm, soft cinnamon pretzel and an ice-cold lemonade. She juggled her purchases and food as she continued to roam through the long lines of sellers.

The pretzel filled the empty hole in her belly quite nicely and the lemonade quenched her thirst. When she was done, she located a garbage can and deposited the remains of her snack. It was time to get back to serious shopping.

Some people might find it lonely to shop by themselves. Roxanne loved it. There was a sense of freedom that came from having to please no one but herself. She could come and go as she pleased, spend as much time as she desired looking at an item.

Maybe someday down the road she’d want someone with her, either a friend or, heaven forbid, a boyfriend, but for now, she was more than content with her own company.

She reached the end of a long row of vendors and turned to head back up the other side. An elderly lady was situated on the corner with a smattering of items spread across a rickety table. It was impossible to tell her age. Her hair was snow white but her face was smooth and unlined. There was a timeless beauty about her, which was even more apparent when she smiled. “Morning.”

Roxanne was startled to realize it still was morning, just after eleven. She always lost track of time at the flea market. “Good morning,” she returned.

“What are you looking for today?”

Not wanting to be rude, Roxanne stopped and perused the woman’s items for sale.

“Nothing in particular. I’m searching for something to brighten up my apartment.” The older lady indicated a pile of dusty rugs in the corner behind her. “Maybe you’ll find something here.”

Roxanne didn’t think so but she decided she’d have a quick look to be polite and then move on. “Thanks.” She walked back to the stack of rugs and crouched down. Her purse bounced off her hip as she set the bag with her purchases on the ground. The rugs on top were dusty and old, but as she dug deeper, she found some that had true potential. She could attach hooks to it and hang it on a rod on her wall if she found something she liked. Instant art.

It took her a few minutes to work her way to the bottom of the stack. She had to move a dozen or so to one side to lighten the pile. Dust smudged her jeans and her T-shirt, but she didn’t mind. She’d dressed for comfort, not style. Flea marketing could be dirty business.

At the very bottom of the mound she hit the jackpot. A small tapestry, not bigger than about two by three, came into view. It was medieval in style. She pulled it closer and bent to examine it. A small castle sat in the middle of the piece, surrounded by craggy mountains and a thick forest. It appeared dark and forbidding, yet she couldn’t look away.

It was the two men in front of the stone structure that caught her attention. They weren’t dressed in armor as she’d half expected them to be, but were naked from the waist up. No, that wasn’t quite true. They were wearing thick armbands and wristbands, which emphasized the massive muscles that corded their arms and chest.

Roxanne shivered as a cloud moved over the sun, momentarily obscuring it. She glanced over her shoulder, feeling as though someone was watching her. The elderly lady was serving another customer and everyone else was minding their own business.

It was only her imagination.

Her gaze was drawn back to the tapestry, or rather the men in the center of the piece. They each wore leather boots that came to just below their knees and tight leather pants that molded to their thighs. They were impressive, to say the least.

Each man had an enormous sword strapped to his waist. That was more like it. In a medieval-style tapestry, you expected to see a castle and men with swords. The colors were a bit faded but she liked the piece.

She picked it up and started to cough when a cloud of dust poofed up. Okay, maybe it wasn’t faded but dirty. She could work with that. Clutching it in her hands, she turned to the lady selling the items. “How much?” The woman squinted at the tapestry and shook her head. “You sure you want that old thing? There are nicer tapestries in the pile.” Roxanne’s hands tightened around the cloth. Now that she’d decided on it, she wanted it badly. “No!” Appalled at herself for yelling, she softened her voice and offered a smile. “I like this one.”

The woman smiled. “If you’re sure. There are no refunds.”

“Positive.” Roxanne picked up her shopping bag and headed toward the woman.

“How much?”

The elderly lady chewed on her bottom lip for a moment and Roxanne prayed she had enough money left in her purse. “Ten dollars.” Roxanne felt like celebrating, but a year of bargaining at flea markets and tag sales had taught her not to show her emotions. The price went up whenever a seller knew how badly you wanted something. Usually, she haggled. Today, she dug into her purse and drew out a rumpled ten-dollar bill. “Here you go.” She handed the money to the woman and stuffed the tapestry into her bag. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Concern was etched on the woman’s face. “Are you certain you want that particular one?”

Roxanne nodded and hurried away before the woman changed her mind. As she flowed back into the crowd, she thought she heard the woman whisper “good luck”.

Clouds continued to roll in, obscuring the sun. Roxanne shivered and decided to call it a day. She’d gotten a few items for her apartment. She’d come back again next week and try again.

That was part of the fun. The search for buried treasure. The never knowing when you’d find something you absolutely loved.

She walked to the edge of the grounds and was lucky enough to catch a bus almost immediately. She had to transfer once, but in record time she was exiting the second bus and starting the ten-minute walk to her apartment. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she didn’t think it was due to the pretzel she’d eaten. She couldn’t wait to get home and examine her newest finds, especially the tapestry.

The first raindrops hit her face just as she reached her destination. The four-story building was faded pink stucco with white trim. It had probably been beautiful once.

Today, it just looked worn and more than a little tired. But it was home.

She hurried up the short set of stairs and opened the door to the lobby, ignoring the chipped tiles and the peeling paint. The elevator was out of order—again—so she took the stairs. Thankfully, she only lived on the second floor. She pitied the folks who lived on the fourth.

Unlocking the door to her apartment, she pushed her way inside. It always gave her a small rush of pleasure no matter how many times she entered. She could see the entire place at a glance. A small table was situated to the left just inside the door and it was there she dumped her keys and purse. To the right sat the davenport, which was facing a bookshelf that was pushed up against the wall. A coffee table sat in front of the davenport and a small chair sat on the far end of what she called her living room.

Barely five feet from the end of her davenport, her bistro table and two chairs sat beneath the only window in the place. The kitchenette was off to the left. It was tiny, but she’d painted the entire room a cheerful yellow that made it seem brighter.

The only other room in the place was the bathroom. It was big enough for a bathtub, sink and toilet, with barely enough room to turn around. It was snuggled between the kitchen and the front door.

Roxanne kicked off her shoes and went straight to the kitchen table, carefully setting down her shopping bag. She drew out the newspaper-wrapped glassware first, unwrapping the purple vase and the Depression glass bowl, admiring the way the light caught the colors.

“Gorgeous.” She set the glassware next to the sink. She’d wash them later. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out the tapestry, almost afraid to look at it. She’d been so drawn to it at the flea market. She hoped it was as good as she remembered and she didn’t end up with buyer’s remorse.

She unrolled the fabric slowly and the picture came into view. The warriors were still there, standing stoically in front of their castle. The colors were muted and she nibbled her bottom lip as she examined the tapestry. The edges were strong. The threads weren’t frayed or unraveling. Should she take the risk and try to clean it?

She really didn’t have a choice. There was no way she could hang it on her wall like it was. Decided, she ran some water into the sink and added a dash of laundry detergent. It was mild and she prayed it wouldn’t damage the fabric. She dipped the bottom corner into the soapy water and rubbed the cloth lightly.

“Yes!” Pleasure filled her as the dirt flowed away, leaving several shades of green in its place instead of muddy brown.

Excited, she continued to clean the tapestry, taking her time so as not to damage it.

There was no telling how fragile it was and the last thing she wanted to do was ruin it.

She changed the water several times, letting the dirt and grime flow down the drain.

Her thumbs rubbed over the design. She paused when she realized her thumbs were caressing the chests of the two warriors. Her cheeks got hot and she released the tapestry. It fell into the water with a heavy plop, sending a splash of soapy water over her shirt. “Damn.” She ignored the spatters down her front and plucked the fabric out of the sink. She squeezed out most of the water before holding it up to the light.

The colors were vivid, the scene almost alive. Birds and several animals were visibly cavorting in the forest where previously they’d been hidden by dirt and grime.

The stones of the castle were still gray, but a shade lighter than she’d originally thought.

The mountains were still tall and forbidding.

An icy shiver raced down her spine as a sense of foreboding swamped her. A second later, the phone rang. Roxanne gave a small shriek, slapping her wet hand against her chest. Her heart jumped and began to beat faster. She took a deep, calming breath as the phone rang again.

She set the tapestry on the counter and rubbed her right hand over her jeans to dry it before reaching for the ringing phone. It was probably just her boss wondering if she could come in early. She told herself that even as a sense of dread washed over her. She picked up the phone and tentatively spoke. “Hello.”

“Roxanne, it’s Stacy Emerson. I was hoping you were home. I didn’t want to leave a message.”

Her heart stopped. When it resumed beating it was a heavy throbbing in her chest.

She hadn’t heard this voice in almost six months. Stacy had been the prosecuting attorney in the trial that had landed her ex-husband behind bars. They’d kept in touch for a few months after the trial ended, their calls dwindling as they both went on with their busy lives. Roxanne’s fingers tightened around the receiver and her throat got tight, making it almost impossible to talk.

“Are you there, Roxanne?”

“Yes.” The word came out as a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. “I’m here, Stacy.” Maybe it wasn’t bad news. Maybe it had nothing to do with her ex. Yeah, and maybe she’d win the lottery tomorrow too.

Stacy sighed. “I just got some news and I thought you should know.” She paused and Roxanne’s stomach tightened, the pretzel she’d eaten earlier threatening to come back up. “Michael Talbot was released from prison today. Overcrowding in the facility and good behavior on his part. This was his first offense and that went in his favor as well.”

Bitterness swamped Roxanne. His first convicted offense, but not the first offense.

Michael Talbot was used to getting his own way and didn’t mind using his fists to get it. It had taken her two long years to get the courage to leave him. It had taken him half killing her to finally get her to press charges. In spite of all her pain and suffering, here he was, a free man after only a year behind bars.

“Roxanne?”

She realized she hadn’t said anything to Stacy. “Umm, thanks for letting me know.”

“I’m really sorry, Roxanne.” She could hear the other woman’s frustration. “I pushed for a longer sentence, but there were no previous charges or convictions.”

“I understand. It’s okay, Stacy. Really. You did everything you could and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

“You don’t live in Nevada anymore. You’re in California. He doesn’t know where you are.”

But he would find out. Roxanne knew that. She’d seen the promise in his eyes when he was led away from the courtroom that last time. She knew that look and knew what it meant. Michael wouldn’t be happy until she was dead. Maybe a year in prison had made him rethink things. After all, if she died, he’d be the prime suspect and he’d get a lot more than a year in prison.

“Listen, I have to run. I have to be in a meeting in five minutes. You take care and call the cops if you see him. You still have a restraining order against him.” For all the good that would do. Roxanne knew firsthand just how useless a piece of paper was. She’d had the restraining order against him when he found her and beat her that final time, landing her in hospital for more than a week. The irony of the situation was that she was still his wife at the time and his health insurance had paid for her hospital stay.

“Thanks, Stacy.”

She hung up the phone and stared out her tiny window. Rain slashed against the glass. A tear rolled down her cheek and dropped onto the tapestry. She’d been so happy only moments ago. Now her life was a nightmare once again. What would Michael do? Would he come after her? Or would he decide she wasn’t worth the effort?

Only he knew, but she had a sinking feeling in her stomach.

“Why?” she cried, burying her face in her hands.

She’d asked that question many times over the past three and a half years. She’d had a normal life once. Had parents who loved her and a fiancé she adored. They’d all been in the car together when they’d been hit head-on by a drunk driver. The other three had died and she’d walked away with a broken arm and a shattered life.

It was less than a year later she’d met Michael Talbot. Charming in a rough sort of way, he was the exact opposite of her slender-built, soft-spoken fiancé, Dan. Michael was six-foot-three, all of it muscle. With his dirty blond hair, blue eyes, tattoos and bad-boy charm, he’d swept her off her feet. He was a mechanic who liked fast cars and motorcycles. He’d breathed life back into her. When he’d asked her to marry him, she’d said yes.

He’d hit her for the first time while they were on their honeymoon. All because she’d spoken to their waiter. Michael had accused her of flirting. She’d been dazed and hurt. Michael had apologized with roses and she’d forgiven him. Life had settled down for a few months after that, but then he’d hit her again, the frequency growing as one year turned into two.

Isolated and alone, it had taken Roxanne a long time to realize it wasn’t her fault that he hit her. It was Michael’s. Furthermore, she didn’t have to put up with it any longer. He’d stripped her of her self-confidence, her sense of self-worth until she was little more than a shade of her former self. The laughing, smiling girl who’d been engaged one moment and left alone the next had turned into a quiet, frightened woman.

She’d looked in the mirror one morning and knew she had two choices. She could leave Michael or she could let him kill her, because that’s what would happen if she stayed long enough. She’d tossed a few belongings into a battered duffle bag and left.

But he’d come after her, finding her in the cheap motel where she’d taken refuge.

Thankfully, the people in the room next to her had called the cops about the noise.

Otherwise, she’d have died that night.

A soft sound, much like a sigh, startled her. She jerked her head up and whirled around. She was alone. “Now you’re hearing things,” she muttered, swiping at her eyes with the backs of her hands.

She looked down at the tapestry. All her early pleasure in the item gone. She traced her finger over one of the warriors and then the other. “Too bad I didn’t have someone like you to protect me.” But that was nothing more than a fantasy. These warriors were nothing more than the figments of someone’s imagination, nothing more than embroidered threads.

Roxanne didn’t hate men. She knew not all men were like her ex. Her father had been a good man. So had her fiancé who’d died at such a young age. But she no longer found it easy to trust men. Who knew what kind of monster hid behind a charming smile? In the year since her divorce she hadn’t dated. She’d been asked several times, mostly by guys she’d met while working at Joe’s. But she wasn’t ready to date again.

Might never be.

There was nothing she could do but continue to live her life on her own terms. If he wanted to find her, he would. No matter where she ran. She would be cautious, but she wouldn’t allow Michael to control her life. Not any more.

Picking up the tapestry, she draped it over the back of one of the kitchen chairs to dry. Then she reached for the purple vase. It was time to clean her other treasures and get them put away before she had to get ready for work. She was filling in a half-shift today for one of the other girls. She didn’t mind and it was extra money. It would also help take her mind off her problems.

Roxanne glanced at the clock and groaned. She had barely enough time to grab a shower and get changed before she had to catch the bus back downtown to work.

Setting the vase aside, she hurried into the bathroom.

The sun peeked out from behind a cloud, the light streaming through the window and catching the colors of the tapestry. It seemed to glow for a split second. By the time Roxanne came back out of the bathroom with her hair wet and a towel wrapped around her, the strange light was gone.

She didn’t give the tapestry a second thought. She quickly tugged on her pink polyester uniform, grabbed her purse and hurried out the door.