“Sadly, I agree.” David kneaded the tight cords of his neck.
Joey shifted, a moan escaping his lips. His eyes fluttered open, then closed for a moment. “Thirsty.”
David moved to the pitcher and poured a cup of water. “Here you go.”
Joey reached for the drink, his hand shaking. David steadied the child’s hold and helped him take a couple of sips.
“We just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. Everyone at the refuge is praying for you and hopes you’ll be home soon.” Roman withdrew a snapshot from his front shirt pocket and gave it to the boy. “I thought I’d bring a picture of Bolt for you. He misses you already.”
“He does?” Joey stared at the photo of the potbellied pig in his pen.
“Yeah, he’s moping around. Hasn’t tried once today to get out of his pen. Right before Peter and I came, I had the door to his stall wide open and Bolt just stood there staring at me as if he was waiting for you to come.”
Joey tried to laugh but winced.
Peter stepped up beside Roman. “Jacob tells me we can pick you up tomorrow afternoon. They want to run a few more tests in the morning, but then you’ll be free to come home.”
Joey blinked rapidly when Peter said the word home.
“And the kids in your cottage signed this card for you.” Peter laid it on Joey’s lap. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
After Peter and Roman left, Joey opened the card, confusion entering his eyes. “They care,” he murmured through swollen lips.
“Yeah, a lot of people care about you.”
Joey reached toward the side table to put the card next to the photo of Bolt, his movements slow, pain glazing his eyes.
“Hey, I can do that for you.” David plucked the card from Joey’s grip and placed it upright, so he could see the front of it, then David propped Bolt’s picture up against the pitcher.
“Thanks,” Joey mumbled and closed his eyes.
Silence fell between them, and David thought Joey had drifted off to sleep again, but when the door opened, the kid’s eyes eased open. David glanced toward the entrance. Andy hobbled into the room with Lisa following him.
Andy planted himself next to the bed. “You look like you’ve been in a fight and lost.”
“You didn’t do too good yourself.” Joey cocked a grin that instantly disappeared.
David’s gaze snared Lisa’s. Nothing in her eyes indicated she regretted her earlier anger. “How are you doing?” David asked Andy, wanting to ask Lisa the same question.
“I’ll recover. It may take a little longer than last time.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Joey mumbled, averting his gaze to the end of the bed. “Thanks for trying to help me.”
“No big deal.” Andy shifted his weight to the other foot, then back.
Joey looked back at him. “Yes, it was. To me. I don’t think anyone’s ever done something like that for me.”
“We’re friends. Friends help each other.”
Joey tried to say something but ended up swallowing hard several times. “I’m also sorry about putting those pills into your drink. I wanted you to get into trouble. You always thought you were better than me. That you would never stoop to my level and have anything to do with drugs.”
Andy straightened, sliding his gaze to Lisa, then back to Joey. “I won’t. But I’m not better than you—just different.” He grinned. “And you play a mean game of basketball.”
“Maybe next year I’ll get back on the team.”
“I hope. We could use you. Anyway, I just needed to make sure you were okay,” Andy said as his mom came up behind him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
“We both wanted to make sure you were all right.” Lisa avoided eye contact with David, keeping her attention totally on Joey.
In that moment David realized that she might never talk to him again. He also realized Lisa Morgan was the best thing that had ever happened to him and he couldn’t let her walk out of his life without a fight.
Lisa squeezed her son’s shoulder. “We don’t want to stay long, but we’ll check on you at the refuge.”
Andy started to turn away when Joey asked, “Why did you do it?”
Andy stopped and peered back at him. “Because it was the right thing to do. I couldn’t stand by and watch them seriously hurt you or worse.”
“But the things I did to you.”
“That’s the past. Over. Done.”
One corner of Joey’s swollen lips lifted. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. See you tomorrow.”
As Lisa and Andy made their way toward the door, David rounded the end of the bed. “Wait, Lisa. Can I speak with you?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Not tonight. It’s been a long day.” Her words, spoken in a flat tone, emphasized their earlier encounter outside the exam room.
David watched her walk out of his life. Lord, I could use Your help here.
* * *
“What are you doing here?” Lisa asked as she opened her front door wider to allow Hannah into the apartment.
“Before I pick up Joey, I thought I would stop by and see how Andy is doing.”
“He’s not here. He wanted to go to school this morning. He wanted to make a statement about drugs not winning.”
“Then I guess he’s okay.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but he wouldn’t stay home no matter how much I tried to get him to.”
Hannah hiked her purse onto her shoulder. “How are you holding up?”
“Not as good as Andy. He seems to be shaking off this whole incident. I can’t. I’m so angry with David. I…”
“He did what he thought was best. He’s trained to handle situations like that. You aren’t. Ideally, Andy wouldn’t have been hurt at all if he hadn’t chosen to try and break them up before they did more harm to Joey.”
“So, I should be mad at Andy?”
“No, but let go of that anger. It doesn’t do any good or at the very least direct it at those teens being held.” Hannah flipped her hair behind her shoulders. “What’s the real reason you are so mad at David?”
“Real reason? That’s it.”
“This past month I’ve seen you with him, and it’s clear to anyone who knows you well, you were falling in love with him.”
“No, I don’t…” Lisa’s denial sputtered to an end. “Okay, I was, but it would never have worked between us. Andy doesn’t care for cops.” The incident with Andy brought her back to reality. How can a police officer really love a recovering addict?
“Well, then David is the exception, and I think you know that.”
“You know about my past. I’m damaged goods.”
“And David knows about your past and still hangs around. In fact, he went out of his way to make sure he was a part of your life—and for that matter, Andy’s.” Hannah took her hands. “All I’m asking you is to talk to him. Don’t let it end on anger. You have a lot to offer a man. You have come so far in the years I’ve known you. I’m so proud of your accomplishments.” Her friend hugged her, then turned toward the door. “I’d better get going. Joey’s already called once today. He wants to get out of the hospital.”
After Hannah left, Lisa sank down on the couch and stared at a spot across the room. In her mind she saw again David’s crestfallen expression as she’d told him she didn’t want to talk to him last night. She closed her eyes, but still the picture haunted her. They did need to talk. She just needed to think about how to do it and what to say.
In the meantime, she had to be at work. Pushing to her feet, she hurried into her bedroom to finish getting ready. Five minutes later she gathered up her purse and took out her car keys before heading toward the door. Outside on the second-floor landing, after locking up, she started for the stairs.
At the bottom stood David, his hand on the railing. Their gazes connected.
Before she could say or do anything, he mounted the steps, saying, “I think we should talk. Or at least, I
talk, and you listen.”
“Oh, and I don’t have a say in it?”
“After I have my say, I’ll leave if you want me to.”
“I have to be at work.”
“Call your boss and tell her you’re gonna be a little late.”
Lisa backed up until she couldn’t go farther. “Okay, what do you have to say?”
He gestured toward her apartment. “Let’s go inside. Please.”
She unlocked her door and entered, awareness shivering down her spine. As she slowly rotated toward David, the urge to throw herself into his arms flooded her. She held her ground. Andy could have been killed yesterday. She and David were too different. She’d known that from the beginning.
“I didn’t want Andy to do what he did. I asked him to stay put, and I’d be there to take care of the situation. Knowing how it turned out, I still wouldn’t have said anything to you, Lisa.” When she opened her mouth to stop him, he held up his hand. “Please, let me explain. You knowing wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but it could have put you in harm’s way or even Andy more than he already was. Would you have stayed by the Jeep and waited for me to investigate? Be honest with yourself.”
Would she have? No, she would have charged after David. She shook her head.
“Do you see my dilemma? I couldn’t do the job the way I needed to if I was worrying about you and Andy. I couldn’t take that risk, especially with children’s lives possibly at stake. I didn’t want something to happen like in Dallas.” He took several steps closer. “I want you and Andy in my life. Don’t throw away what I think you and I have together.”
The past few months paraded across her mind—David trying patiently to reach her son, his explanation about the shooting, her confession, the laughter they had shared, the pain, too. She peered deep into his eyes and saw something in them she’d never seen in another man’s—at least not toward her. It was the same look Jacob had for Hannah.
Was she reading him correctly? “What do you think you and I have?”
“You gonna make me say it, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “I want no misunderstandings between us.”
“I love you, Lisa. You have broken down every barrier I put in your way. You wouldn’t give up on me. I want a forever with you. Will you marry me?”
She did what she’d been wanting to do ever since he walked into her apartment. She threw her arms around him and kissed him, pouring all her love into it.
When he parted, leaning back to stare down at her, he cupped her face. “Is that a yes to a forever?”
“I thought you were a top-notch detective. Figure it out.”
Epilogue
“Here I was thinking we should elope. Now I’m glad we didn’t. You’re beautiful.” David caged Lisa against him right outside the double doors into the reception hall of their church as their guests waited for their entrance.
His eyes shone with all the love she’d come to expect from him over the months. Now a year from the date they’d met, they had become husband and wife. “I have to admit eloping began to sound good when Hannah, Whitney and Kelli started planning this wedding.”
“You ready to go in and face everyone?”
She laughed. “You make it sound like torture.”
“I’d rather skip the reception and head right for the honeymoon, but I’m afraid if we did, we’d better not come back here.”
“My friends aren’t that bad. Look what your buddies on the police force did.”
“Yeah, I was kinda surprised by the motorcade because I resigned a few months ago.”
“I guess once a police officer, always one.” She snuggled against him and stood on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his mouth. “But I for one am glad you’re working for the school as their drug counselor. You’re perfect for the job, but then I’m biased.”
David wound his arms around Lisa. “No regrets, Mrs. Russell?”
“None, Mr. Russell. I love you,” she murmured right before David gave her a kiss that rocked her to her core.
“Hey, you two, you can do that later. You’ve got some hungry guests waiting for you to make your grand entrance.” Roman threw the doors wide open to reveal the large room filled with friends and family.
Everyone she cared about stood before her. Andy in front with Joey, his brother not far from him. Hannah and Jacob, the two who had saved her. Whitney and Kelli, whom she still got together with on Saturdays.
David faced the wall of people, taking her hand. “An hour. Then we’re out of here. We have a honeymoon to start.”
Dear Reader,
When I decided to tell Lisa’s story, I knew I had to deal with drugs because she had been an addict. It wasn’t something I could gloss over or ignore. Having for many years worked as a teacher at a high school, I know how prevalent drugs are in the schools. It’s not something that can be ignored.
If you think you know of a problem, there are some sites on the Internet that can help: National Institute on Drug Abuse at www.nida.nih.gov, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration at www.samhsa.gov and National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism at www.niaaa.nih.gov. Or you can contact the nearest Area Prevention Resource Center.
I love to hear from readers. You can e-mail me at: [email protected]. To learn more about my books, visit my web site at www.margaretdaley.com.
Best wishes,
Margaret Daley
More Books in the NEW BEGINNINGS Series
LOVES HEALING POWER
Book One
Tess Morgan loves being a pediatric nurse and helping the children under her care. She’d always wanted a large family, but that dream was shattered when her fiancé was murdered while volunteering in South America.
Peter “Mac” MacPherson, a former football superstar, had dealt with his own tragedies—the deaths of his father followed by his wife while she was giving birth to their daughter. His faith sustained him through his grief, but can he help Tess believe again in God and finally find a family—with him?
UNEXPECTED LOVE
Book Two
Dedicated to her high schoolers with special needs, Sadie Spencer was determined to get help for her work program even if it meant she had to be creative to find a way to talk to Andrew Knight who owned a large company that would be a perfect place for her students. She bid on him in a bachelor auction and won a date with him. She was excited she would have a chance to convince him to hire one of her students. But she soon realized that God had His reasons for bringing them together.
Experience had taught Andrew that he didn't need anyone in his life, including God. Until Sadie began to show the successful businessman how much he had to offer her students. But though the walls he'd built around his heart were slowly crumbling, would he ever find the courage to make peace with God so that he could be not only Sadie's hero . . . but her husband?
FINDING LOVE AGAIN
Book Three
Two wounded people, too afraid to trust...
Laura Williams first encounters high school principal, Peter Stone, when he suspends her son for fighting. New to town, this widow and mother of four struggles to hold her family together.
Peter is drawn to Laura and wants to help her and her son, who are hurting, but he's no stranger to pain. It's a daily struggle to overcome his own past. Will these wounded souls find love again, or will rocky pasts destroy all hope for a happy future?
More Books by Margaret Daley
NEW BEGINNINGS Series
Love’s Healing Power
Unexpected Love
Finding Love Again
Heart of a Hero
DARING ESCAPES Series
Into the Darkness
EVERYDAY HEROES Series
Hunted
Obsessed
Trapped
Kidnapped
STRONG WOMEN, EXTRAORDINARY SITUATIONS Series
Deadly Hunt
Deadly Intent
Deadly Holiday
Deadly Countdown
Deadly Noel
Deadly Dose
Deadly Legacy
Deadly Night, Silent Night
Deadly Fires
Deadly Secrets
About the Author
Margaret Daley
Margaret Daley, a USA Today’s Bestselling author of over 105 books (five million plus sold worldwide), has been married for over forty-seven years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling or being with her two granddaughters, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense/mystery thread and corralling her cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at www.margaretdaley.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/margaretdaleybooks
Twitter: twitter.com/margaretdaley
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/238174.Margaret_Daley
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Heart of a Hero (New Beginnings Book 4) Page 19