Always the One

by Tara Randel

  Derrick needed to get outside to keep an eye on the students as they left the building and make sure they successfully got to their rides, but something held him back. His gaze landed on Tommy. Dejected, and probably embarrassed, he shoved his hands in his pockets and stood near the cage. He looked about as unsure as anyone could look. No sign of the bossy kid now. Taking pity on the boy, Derrick joined him.

  “So, cleaning up Sally’s you know, huh? That’s a thing?”

  “It’s gross,” Tommy cringed. “We take turns. Sally is our class project.”

  “I see. And has she gotten loose before?”

  Tommy looked down and shuffled his feet. “Yeah.”

  “On your day?”

  A long sigh. “Yeah.”

  “You sure she got away all by herself?”

  Tommy’s head shot up and guilt glittered in his eyes.

  Derrick crossed his arms over his chest and spread his feet out in an authoritative stance. “Tell me the truth.”

  “I hafta take care of my dog every day at home. Dad says it’s my job. I don’t wanna pick up you know twice a day.”

  Derrick hid a smile. “Is Sally getting loose your way to get out of pet duty?”

  Tommy shrugged. His unrepentant look reminded Derrick of his youngest brother. Growing up, Dante had charmed his way out of unwanted tasks without the slightest compunction.

  Derrick leaned over. “You must be someone people feel they can trust if you have two animals to care for. That’s a good quality to have—especially in law enforcement.”

  Interest gleamed in Tommy’s eyes. “Really? Do you think I could be an officer when I grow up?”

  “First, you have to take your job seriously. You need to be fair, respect everyone and keep your eyes open. What good would I be if I was standing guard outside the school but focused my attention on playing a video game on my phone? Anyone could get past me.” He shook his head. “Don’t be afraid of responsibility. Take pride in it, even if you make mistakes.”

  “So you’ve never messed up?”

  “Didn’t say that. But I’ve learned from my errors.” His gaze darted to Hannah for a second before moving back to the boy. “Just do better next time.”

  “I can. I promise.” With that, Tommy trotted off, his good mood restored.

  Derrick strode across the room. “I need to take my post out front.”

  Hannah reached out and laid a hand on his arm. Heat shot over his skin and it was all he could do not to swoop her into his embrace.

  She met his gaze and he read the gratitude there. “I don’t know what you said to Tommy, but thanks. He’s a little rough around the edges sometimes and I have to work with him.”

  “He seems like a good kid. Misguided, and a little overly enthusiastic, but at this age, they’re not very sure of themselves.”

  As if she suddenly realized her hand still rested on his arm, she removed it. He immediately missed her warmth, a link to the easygoing relationship they’d once shared before misunderstandings and disappearances got in the way. “You were always confident.”

  “Nah. I had you fooled.”

  Her brow wrinkled. “I doubt that.”

  “Oh, you think you know me so well?”

  Her smile faded. “I used to.”

  And just like that, the emptiness from the years apart burrowed deeper. Even standing this close to Hannah, he couldn’t tamp down the pain that had been his companion since she’d left without a word.

  “In fairness to Tommy,” she said, never once catching on to his sadness, “the latch hasn’t been working properly. I’ve been meaning to get it fixed...”

  He pushed away his despair. Hannah and her family had had it worse than him all these years. After she left, his family had rallied around him, he went to college and worked his way into a good career. Unlike her, Derrick hadn’t been forced to leave everything he knew and loved, unsure of the future. “You’ve had a lot on your mind.”

  “Yes. I worry about Mom.”

  “You should cut yourself some slack.”

  Anger flared in her eyes. “Look, you can’t just blow in to town and understand what I’m going through.”

  “I’m not...” He ran a hand over the back of his neck. Smooth, Matthews. “I was only making an observation.”

  “Which I don’t need to hear.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

  During their conversation, the students had gotten boisterous again. Hannah blinked as if just realizing they were standing in a classroom full of fidgety children ready to go home.

  “I need to settle the class down.”

  He nodded. “I’ll see you later?”

  If she heard his question she didn’t respond, instead focusing on her students, leaving him to wonder if she wanted to shut him out for good. The same question he’d asked for years—had she kept her location a secret on purpose?—was still relevant, even though he’d finally found her and learned what had caused her departure without a word. A tight knot of hurt lodged in his throat. Just because he was standing in the same building as her didn’t mean Hannah wanted the reunion he’d envisioned.

  “Way to go,” he muttered as he strode through the halls and out the main door into the frigid afternoon air under the cover of a gloomy sky.

  Forty minutes later he was back at Hannah’s classroom door. Lynny, the woman he’d met at Hannah’s house was leaning against the desk, her hands gesturing as she talked. There was an ease in the posture of the two women that spoke of the friendship between them. While Hannah was tall and slender, Lynny was about a head shorter with more of a gymnast’s body, her merry blue eyes, bright blond ringlets and sunny smile showcasing her sweet nature.

  Hannah’s back was to him so he couldn’t gauge her mood. He needed to apologize, because Hannah was right. He had no right to tell her what to do.

  He hesitated, something he wasn’t used to. Then Lynny’s gaze met his and her eyes went bright.

  “So,” she said, still addressing Hannah but loud enough for Derrick to hear. “This out-of-towner. You two know each other how?”

  “We dated in high school.”

  “Nice that he showed up when you could use a pair of extra hands around the house.”

  Hannah waved her off, unaware Derrick was behind her. “I’m taking care of everything just fine.”

  Lynny’s smile was wry. “I seem to remember the back door sticking every time you attempt to open it. You can’t make it budge without working out at the gym first.”

  “Like I’ve ever worked out.” Hannah chuckled. “I’ll get to it.”

  “How about fixing the garage door opener? The water softener?”

  “I don’t care if my water’s soft,” Hannah said as she rounded the desk, collecting a stack of papers. “And I park in the driveway.”

  “Well, you won’t bother your landlord.”

  “Because I can take care of it myself.”

  “Stubborn.”

  “Capable.”

  Hannah noticed him at last and froze.

  Busted.

  He slowly moved into the room. “Safe to come in?”

  With a sigh, Hannah tidied the papers. “Yes. Sometimes things get a little crazy around here. Sorry I lost my temper.”

  Lynny’s eyes went wide. “You? Lose your temper? You’re the poster child for calm and collected.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  “Anna, since I’ve known you, you’ve handled your mother’s health crisis and maintenance of the house, all the while teaching full-time, and you’ve never once lost control.”

  Hannah sent a guilty glance his way when Lynny used her “new” name. “I can’t let my mother down.”

  “But you expect to do everything?” Derrick asked, venturing farther into the classroom.
r />   “Not everything. I ask Jonathan to help.”

  Lynny snorted.

  “What?” Hannah asked, her eyebrows rising in surprise.

  “I can’t remember a time when he’s helped you. He’s always got,” she finger quoted the air, “‘important things’ going on at the gallery.”

  “He’s busy.” Hannah shrugged. “Besides, Mr. Bartholomew lends a helping hand when he can.”

  “He is a sweetie,” Lynny agreed, then noticed Derrick’s blank look. “He’s the neighborhood handyman.”

  Derrick would have him vetted as soon as he could. He’d already had a friend check into Lynny and there were no red flags. So sue him, he was concerned about Hannah’s welfare and would do whatever it took to keep her and her mother safe.

  “And now you have me,” he said, puffing out his chest. “I’ve been known to pick up a hammer from time to time.”

  “You were handy,” Hannah said, her lips curving in a smile that made his heart gallop. “But from what I remember, you escaped unless the work had to do with a building project.”

  He shot her his most charming grin. “Allowed for more time with you.”

  Hannah rolled her eyes.

  “Just give me a list and I’ll drop by this weekend with a tool chest.”

  “Don’t you have fed—I mean, security things to do?”

  “Nope. I’m free.”

  Lynny nudged Hannah with her elbow. “If you don’t take him up on his offer, I will.”

  “I can’t impose,” Hannah told him.

  “Impose away.”

  “Who’s being imposed on and for what?” came a decidedly male voice from behind him. Hannah’s eyes went wide, Lynny emitted a strangled laugh and Derrick turned to face a debonair stranger, wondering if he was about to meet Hannah’s boyfriend.

  Tall, dark blond hair with brown eyes and impeccably dressed, he came across as sophisticated. Urbane. The kind of guy who fit into the art world that Hannah loved. No wonder she was drawn to him.

  Hannah hurried over. “Jonathan. I thought you were coming by the house?”

  “My meeting ended early.” He sized up Derrick. “And this is?”

  “Um, this is an old friend of mine. Derrick um...”

  “Fields.” Derrick shot his hand out.

  Jonathan took it, sizing him up. “Jonathan Prescott. Owner of the Prescott Gallery in Carson City.”

  “Anna mentioned you.”

  “Of course, she did,” Prescott said, pulling Hannah into a hug. “We’re engaged.”

  Derrick’s gaze went to Hannah’s ring finger and the sparkling diamond, then back to her red face. “Yes. I’ve heard.”

  Jonathan smiled at Hannah. “And we have a dinner date tonight.” His gaze left hers and met Derrick’s. “To discuss wedding plans.”

  Hannah’s eyes shot wide-open. Why had she reacted with discomfort to her fiancé’s words? Another question to add to his growing list.

  “Well, this is fun,” Lynny said, “but I need to get going.”

  “Always a pleasure,” Prescott replied, even though Derrick got the distinct impression he meant otherwise.

  Lynny perused the three of them with amusement and then she was gone.

  “I’ll leave you to it.” Derrick thumbed in the direction of the guinea pig cage. “I’ll find some tools and fix the latch so there aren’t any more escapes.”

  “Thanks, Derrick.”

  “And I’ll have to stop by the gallery sometime,” Derrick told Prescott. “Check out the artwork.”

  Prescott didn’t mask his surprise. “You know art?”

  It was all Derrick could do not to look at Hannah. “Quite extensively.”

  Prescott opened his mouth—probably to ask how a school guard knew about art—but before he could say anything, Derrick nodded to them both and left the room. He walked away, controlling every urge he had to tell Prescott to take a hike. That Hannah was with him. Except she wasn’t and he had to remember that.

  He’d been trained to size up people pretty accurately, and what he came away with from the encounter was that Prescott was genuinely fond of Hannah. What did Derrick expect? Hannah might have been given a raw deal and had to grow up faster than she’d wanted, but the woman she’d become was anything but naive. Hannah would never date Prescott unless he was good to her. And since Derrick had been out of the picture for such a long time, Prescott had taken his place. Quite a bitter pill to swallow.

  Once inside the security room to retrieve his jacket, Derrick reached into his pants pocket. Removed the red gemstone he kept in his possession at all times and worked it between his fingers. Was it really possible this was one of the four missing stones? As he watched the facets of the stone shine under the overhead light, he vowed to stay in town until he came up with a reasonable answer as to who had sent him the stone. Figure out why he hadn’t been able to let the case, or his feelings for Hannah, go. He gripped the stone in his fist, determined to solve all these mysteries.

  * * *

  ONCE THE ROOM was empty, Hannah pulled out of Jonathan’s embrace and returned to her desk to create some space between them. Why was she so flustered? This situation was out of the normal, yes, but so were the past seventeen years. And this was Jonathan. The man who’d treated her like she was someone special ever since they’d met two years ago. The man who stayed by her side through her mother’s cancer scare. Well, maybe not physically by her side, he did have a business to run, but any time she called, he listened. He brought Hannah her favorite treats when she didn’t have the energy to cook, especially the cinnamon cookies she craved from a bakery near the art gallery or the savory vegetable soup from a trendy bistro she visited whenever she was in town. He made sure to make her mother feel special by bringing her flowers when she was at her lowest. But best of all, he supported her decisions without questioning her abilities. Jonathan. Her fiancé.

  But he’s not Derrick.

  She groaned at the inner voice taunting her. She was awful. A terrible girlfriend. And really ticked by the doubts creeping into her heart.

  At Jonathan’s voice she snapped out of her reverie. “I’m sorry?”

  “I said if your mom is up to it, we should go to Luigi’s for dinner.”

  “She’d like that.” Hannah eyed her desk. “I have a few more things to do and then we can leave.”

  “No rush,” Jonathan said, kindness in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to come across so strong, but it was a surprise to find you’d reconnected with an old friend. Especially since you insist you can’t have anything to do with your past.” He stopped a beat. “Did you neglect to tell me about him because you two were more than friends at one time?”

  Her jaw dropped. “Why on earth would you think that?”

  Jonathan’s gaze locked on hers. “I couldn’t miss the way he looked at you.”

  Her stomach twisted. She’d never wanted to keep Derrick a secret from her fiancé, but she was still coming to terms with his sudden reentry in her life. “I meant to tell you. But I was focused on Mom’s last treatment and you’ve been so busy with the upcoming show, I never got a chance.”

  “You must have known for a while. It looks like he’s working here.”

  “First day.”

  “Huh.”

  “I was just as surprised as you are,” she hurried to say, trying to keep her frazzled emotions in check.

  His mouth thinned. In disapproval?

  “Okay, meeting Derrick like this was...awkward,” she allowed.

  With a chuckle Jonathan walked over and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Indeed.”

  Pushing thoughts of Derrick out of her head—well, trying anyway—she returned the kiss. “So, we’re making plans tonight?”

  “Don’t you think we should start?”

  “I suppose. We haven’t set a date
.”

  “Which we need to rectify.”

  Hannah stuffed papers she needed to grade into the tote and gathered up odds and ends while Jonathan strolled around the classroom.

  “Why do I have the feeling you’ve been working on the details without me?” she teased.

  “Two reasons. We need to pick a venue. I think the gallery would be perfect, but then, I’m biased.”

  Hannah agreed. The gallery was elegant and would actually be a wonderful place to exchange vows.

  He turned to face her. “And because as much as I’m concerned about your mother, I haven’t been on the emotional rollercoaster of seeing her go through the treatments. I understand that you’ve had your focus on her—I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He held up a hand to stave her next words. “It’s okay, Anna. Now that she’s finished the treatments, we have to get serious about making arrangements.”

  “Sure.” She took a breath as Jonathan continued walking around the room. “Thank you for understanding. You’re right, the past few months have been a challenge. You seem to handle stress better than me.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “I have perspective.”

  She was glad someone did.

  He continued to amble, stopping from time to time to admire the artwork displayed on the walls. “I see my tutelage has improved your students’ command of drawing.”

  Hannah wasn’t sure most of her fourth graders cared about mastering drawing skills; they were just happy when they got a break from math and spelling. “I appreciate you sharing your passion. I hope some of the kids are inspired to create art.”

  He turned to walk back to the desk and winked. “Sure, they will.”

  She grinned. Jonathan thought everyone in his orbit shared the same exhilaration for art as he did. Granted, she wasn’t immersed in that field as much as she’d one day dreamed she would be, but attending new artists’ showings at Jonathan’s gallery kept her tethered to creative endeavors to some degree.

  Her gaze fell on her open day planner. “I told you I’m taking the class to Styles Museum of Arts and Crafts next week. You should come.”

  “As much as I’d like to, you know I’ve been busy. Discovering two talented artists mere weeks from each other has taken over my schedule.”