“They haven’t come out yet,” she observed. “And we can’t leave until the police get here. We’ll have to make a statement, won’t we?”
“I suppose you’re right,” Allan said with a slow groan.
A single gunshot echoed from the house.
Nothing on earth could convince her to go back into that house now. She tugged Allan toward Gorse’s SUV. They ducked around to the side, keeping low and out of sight from anyone who might come to the door.
“Did you hear that?” Judith exclaimed, hurrying toward them.
Wren grabbed her by the sleeve, pulling the reporter low near the front tire.
“Yes, we heard it,” Allan replied, practically snarling. “Where are the police?”
“This is going to be some story, Mrs. B.” Judith said in an awed voice. “I just might win that Pulitzer Prize after all.”
~*~
Later that afternoon, Allan drove to the park at the east end of town. It had been another long, tiring day. After leaving Dr. Leadill’s residence, following the usual questioning by the police, he’d insisted on taking Wren home, ordering her to take the rest of the day off.
Wren was in a swing on the playground. Pippi scurried to and fro, chasing a frisky gray squirrel.
Allan’s heart jolted at the sight of them. He hadn’t realized how much he cared until he’d come so close to losing Wren forever. His job, his reputation, even his hefty royalty checks—none of these mattered if he couldn’t share the rest of his life with her. His feelings for Wren had taken him by surprise, and he couldn’t quite make sense of it all. One couldn’t see love, couldn’t taste it or explain it with simple logic. It was rather like…like God.
Pippi scrambled toward the jungle gym, apparently giving up her pursuit of the squirrel.
Wren rose from the swing and came toward him. She appeared pale and tired, but the smile in her eyes was still there.
His heart turned over.
“How’d you find me?” she asked.
“Deb told me you’d probably be here,” he replied, taking her hand.
“Did you speak with the police again?” Wren asked. “Did they arrest Dr. Leadill?”
“They did—on a very long list of charges, including shooting Gorse. No, he’s not dead,” he quickly added, noting Wren’s concerned frown. “But he won’t be using his right arm for a while. Judith made a real scoop. You’ll be able to read all about it in tonight’s Courier. I’m guessing she’ll have a lucrative book deal before the year is out.”
Wren turned to watch her daughter on the jungle gym. “This is Pippi’s favorite park. When she was little, she’d chase the squirrels just like she did today. She is optimistic that one day, she’ll actually catch one. She has many fond memories of playing here with Peter.”
Allan took a breath. “Sometime soon I’d like to talk to you about making new memories—you and me and Pippi.”
Wren ducked her head, causing her long hair to cover her cheeks like a curtain. “I am not sure what you mean.”
“I know I can never take Peter’s place in your heart and I don’t want to. I just hope and pray that one day, perhaps, you’d make room in your life—and your heart—for me too.”
“You hope and pray?” Wren queried, raising her eyes to his face searchingly.
“Actually, I’ve taken it up again—praying, although I’m pretty rusty,” he confessed with a wry smile.
Wren stared at him in wonder.
“With all that’s happened in the past couple of weeks, I found myself open and willing to have what you have—a relationship with God.”
“Oh, Allan,” she murmured softly. “That’s wonderful! You know God loves you and welcomes you back with open arms.”
“And you?” he asked, searching her face. “In time, could you welcome me with open arms?” Allan reached for her hand, squeezing it in a desperate clutch. “I love you, Wren. I want to marry you one day—when you’re ready to get married again.”
“You feel sorry for me,” she said, her voice suddenly hoarse.
“I assure you, I don’t,” he argued. “Over the months we’ve worked together, I’ve come to admire you for so many reasons. This whole incident with the asylum has made me admire your strength and courage even more. How can I not love you? You are a remarkable woman. I realize now I’ve spent so much of my life absorbed in the past that I’ve seldom given much thought to the present or the future. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Wren. Will you be my helpmeet? Isn’t that the Biblical term for wife?”
“One of them,” she acknowledged with a smile that tugged at his heart.
Allan raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ll be patient. I know it will take time for you to learn to love me.”
“No,” she said, blushing. “It won’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“It won’t take time. I love you already.”
His heart pounding with joy, Allan slipped an arm around Wren’s waist, pulling her to him. He kissed her gently at first. Wren didn’t pull back, but returned his kiss with fervor. When they separated, he realized he was slightly breathless. He glanced toward the playground.
Pippi, motionless, clung to one of the climbing bars, her long legs dangling. A smile hovered at the corner of her small mouth.
“We’re being watched,” Allan whispered against Wren’s cheek.
She turned to look at her daughter. Pippi’s smile grew into a shy grin. “She likes you,” Wren told him, “almost as much she likes her Uncle Charlie.”
“Then I’m in good company.” Allan smiled down at her. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Do you think she would consent to be our flower girl?”
“She has young cousins who would be extremely jealous,” Wren pointed out, snuggling against him.
“Let them all be flower girls, as long as you consent to be the bride,” Allan said, his pulse quickening.
Her eyes sparkling with tears of joy, Wren looked up at him and said, “I do.”
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