Always Yesterday

by Jeri Odell

  At the end of her jog, Delanie followed her daily ritual of dropping by her parents’ house. Her mom always gave her “granddogs” a biscuit and Delanie a glass of water. They’d visit for fifteen or twenty minutes while Marilyn Cooper started dinner. Some nights Delanie would stay and join them; but Tuesday nights she always ate with a group of her friends, and then they’d all go to the singles’ Bible study together.

  Delanie sat at the bar on the edge of her mother’s kitchen, watching her peel carrots. “Mom, what makes one man’s kiss so different from another’s?”

  “The shape and skill of his lips.” Her brow was raised, and she wore a deadpan expression.

  Delanie rolled her eyes at her mom’s quick wit. “No, I mean the reaction we as women have inside.”

  Her mom laid down her peeler. “I’m no expert, but I think it’s that old mystery called chemistry.” She drew her brows together in an attempted stern look. “And whom have you been kissing?”

  “Believe me, no one I want to be kissing, at least not the sane, down-to-earth side of me.” Delanie took a sip of water before expounding. She filled her mom in on the events of the past two days. “But when he took me in his arms and his lips met mine, there was no place on earth I’d rather have been.”

  “Honey.” Her mom’s tone rang with parental concern. “Be careful. You’re skating on thin ice.”

  Delanie nodded—that much she’d already figured out.

  Her mother continued. “I don’t believe in ‘missionary dating,’ going out with a guy to ‘save his soul.’ Only once in my life have I ever seen it work out. Most of the time it ends in heartache and sometimes disaster.”

  “I know.” Delanie glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to run, Mom. I’m supposed to meet the girls in barely an hour.” She jumped up, opened the sliding glass door, and whistled for her dogs. They’d been out back, playing with her parents’ black lab, Rambo.

  She kissed her mom’s cheek and headed for the entry hall. “I’ll be praying, honey!” her mom hollered as Delanie shut the front door.

  An hour later, after taking a quick shower and feeding her dogs, Delanie pulled into Mayberry Landing—a casual galleria filled with boutiques. Because of its name, the place always reminded her of the Andy Griffith reruns she’d watched with her grandparents as a child, though much more upscale than his town had been. She parked in front of Walden’s Coffeehouse. The quaint mini-mall also carried her far away from her job and downtown Reno.

  Entering the wood-planked coffeehouse, she saw Jodi, Kristen, and Courtney already seated at their usual corner spot with their dinners in front of them. On her way to the table, she stopped at the counter and ordered a hot veggie wrap and a mocha ole to drink.

  As she approached the table, she heard Courtney say, “He kissed me.”

  “Not you, too.” Delanie sat in the last remaining chair. “Who kissed you?”

  “Dr. Gorgeous,” Kristen interjected. She shoved a long strand of chestnut hair behind her ear.

  “Wait.” Jodi pointed at Delanie. “You said, ‘Not you, too.’ Does that mean you were kissed today, as well?” She scrunched her forehead, her dark brows pulling together. “Spill.”

  Delanie decided to dodge the moment as long as possible, not even sure why she’d said anything. “Sounds like I arrived right in the middle of a kiss between Courtney and Dr. Gorgeous. Let her finish, and then I’ll tell you my saga about me and Detective Dangerous.”

  “Detective Dangerous sounds simply dreamy, dahling.” Courtney winked at Delanie. “But I’m certain he can’t compete with my gorgeous doctor whose kiss sends me into orbit.” Courtney used a corny accent, and they all laughed at her antics.

  “Do tell us the tale of the gorgeous doctor and the nurse who’s been swept off her feet by a single heart-stopping kiss.” Kristen was always the romantic.

  Courtney blushed. “Who said anything about a single kiss?”

  “You kissed him more than once?” Amazement tinged Jodi’s question. “How well do you know this guy?”

  Kristen cocked her head. “Better than she did yesterday.”

  “Let’s rewind,” Delanie said. “I missed the beginning of this story, and I’m going to need a recap. So please, nobody say a word until I get back with my dinner.” The guy who took her order had just called her name, and her food waited on the edge of the counter.

  Delanie returned to the table and took a sip of her hot mocha, loving the soothing feel of the liquid sliding down her throat. Between her fast but hot shower and the warmth of her beverage, she’d finally relaxed some after her exchange with Eli a few hours prior.

  “Do tell, Courtney, and start at the beginning.” Courtney reminded Delanie of a model—tall, long, and lean. Her blond hair was always perfect, never a strand out of place, and her blue eyes resembled the sky on a clear day. Courtney never lacked for male attention.

  “We have a new doc who just transferred into intensive care. He is such a hunk, and he’s into me!” She made the statement as if it were a big surprise.

  “Duh! They’re always into you, Courtney,” Jodi reminded her, shaking her shoulder-length brunette hair in exasperation.

  Courtney daintily ran her hand over her sunshine-hued locks, and her beguiling smile showcased perfect teeth. “That is so not true. I’ve been trying for months to get Pastor Paul’s attention. He never even notices me, so I’m moving on.” It was an honest assessment. He seemed to be the one man on earth who was unaware of her, and his indifference made Courtney want him all the more.

  Delanie asked, “How long has Dr. Gorgeous been on staff at St. Mary’s?”

  “He started yesterday.” Courtney studied her napkin as she rolled it up into a tiny wad and avoided eye contact with any of her friends. She surely knew they’d disapprove. They’d been down this road with her before—numerous times. Men were Courtney’s weakness, and no matter how many times she tried, she couldn’t seem to remain objective or Christ-centered when a new guy strolled into her life.

  Delanie held her tongue. How could she say a word about kissing a man she barely knew when she’d done that very thing earlier today? But honestly, she would have loved to give Courtney a good shake.

  Jodi, however, had no qualms. “You made out with a man you’ve only known two days! What happened to the commitment we each made at the singles’ conference last month? We all agreed to get to know men as friends before we let the physical aspect get in the way and confuse the issue.” Jodi’s brown eyes held a challenge as she glanced from Courtney to Delanie.

  Delanie knew Jodi’s message was directed at both her and Courtney. Guilt stabbed at Delanie’s heart. She released a long, slow, audible breath. Eyeing each of her friends around the table, she knew they’d be disappointed in her, as well.

  “And who kissed you?” Jodi’s expression was confused. “I didn’t even know you were dating.”

  “I’m not,” Delanie mumbled, mentally preparing for her turn at the stake.

  Kristen chimed in, “I just saw you at church on Sunday. You also met someone in two days?” She played with her large hoop earring.

  “It was work—part of an undercover assignment.” Delanie knew her justification sounded weak and pathetic.

  Courtney said nothing. She’d spent an inordinate amount of time stirring her soup, not even glancing up. Her feelings were probably hurt; but truth be told, if this wasn’t a repeated pattern, they’d all have been more supportive and less judgmental.

  Two curious friends tossing out questions a mile a minute brought Delanie back to the present. She briefly gave them an overview of the past two days.

  “So the kiss meant nothing to you—just an unpleasant job assignment?” Kristen raised her brows.

  Delanie felt her face grow warm. “Therein lies the problem—it wasn’t as unpleasant as I wish it had been.”

  Courtney made eye contact and smiled. “Boy, girlfriend, do I know what you mean. Heart-stopping, orbit-sending, incredible. I couldn’t st
op at just one—didn’t even want to.” Her face flushed with her excitement, and her gaze rested on Jodi, daring her to say another word.

  Delanie shrugged. “Eli’s kiss was amazing, but I don’t want to kiss him, not ever again. He’s not a Christian, and I can’t risk falling for him. The attraction is already there, but I know I’ve got to be firm in my resolve. The pleasure of his kiss isn’t worth risking my future. I want a husband like my dad—a guy sold out to the Lord—and I want a father like that for my kids.”

  Both Jodi and Kristen nodded in agreement.

  Courtney spoke up. “But if he has feelings for you, maybe he’ll start going to church, hear about God, and give his life to Jesus.”

  Delanie wondered at that moment if Dr. Gorgeous didn’t follow Christ and Courtney was only justifying her own relationship.

  “That never works.” Jodi’s statement was filled with certainty. “Look at all the kids from our days in the college group who made that decision. Many of them ended up compromising their beliefs and their convictions.”

  Courtney glared at Jodi. “You’re always so sure of your walk, but maybe this time you’re wrong.” She raised her chin, daring any of them to question her wisdom. “He told me if I’d go out with him tonight, he’d come to church with me on Sunday.”

  Delanie’s heart sank, and she had to speak up. “You know it’s a risk at best. Don’t you think Dr. Gorgeous is used to sleeping with his dates?”

  “No. And you should know I won’t do that!” Courtney’s glare shifted to Delanie.

  “Courtney,” Kristen said, “he’s a thirty-something-year-old man who lives in our modern world. In today’s society it’s more accepted and even expected by many. You know that—we all know that.”

  “Court.” Jodi’s sad eyes pleaded with Courtney to listen. “You’ve already come close a few times with Christian guys. If you’re attracted to this doctor fellow, and he has the experience we suspect, how will you resist? He’ll probably know just what he’s doing and how to make a girl putty in his hands. I know you get mad at me for always telling it like it is, but I don’t want you to fall. I don’t want you to settle. I care about you.”

  Courtney rose. “I’m not arguing with you guys about this. I’ve made up my mind. I’m dating Tad, and I will not compromise my moral standards—not one bit!” She picked up her tea glass and soup bowl. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a gorgeous man, so I won’t be at Bible study tonight.”

  As Delanie watched Courtney leave the coffee shop, she fought a huge urge to run after her, tackle her, and beg her not to go.

  “No, he isn’t affecting her decisions, not one bit. She hasn’t missed Bible study in over a year, until tonight. . .” Kristen voiced what they were all thinking.

  Delanie shook her head. “I need you guys to pray for me. I’m in the same predicament. Only it’s my job assignment, so I have no option. Eli and I will be spending eight or more hours a day together, and I realize how vulnerable that makes me.”

  “So his kiss was pretty amazing, huh?”

  Delanie smiled at Kristen. “You have no idea. When he slipped his arms around me, I felt like a bowl of jelly. At that moment every rational thought fled, and all I wanted was to kiss him. The only good thing is that I don’t affect him at all—except maybe he feels disgust.”

  “So he won’t be trying to date you?” Jodi asked.

  Delanie chuckled. “When pigs fly—and believe me, I do see the blessing in that.”

  “That may be God’s protection,” Kristen agreed.

  “I’ve decided to ask him to refrain from kissing me because of my religious convictions. We can play the loving couple without quite so much intimacy.” Delanie raised her chin in determination. “There will be no more lip-locking with Detective Dangerous—absolutely none! I promise you guys that.”

  ❧

  Eli strapped on his helmet, sat astride his bike, and cranked the engine to life. Riding home, he couldn’t get his mind off Delanie, her heroics, or the mayhem she inflicted on his emotions. Tuesday and Thursday nights he tutored his junior high posse, and he was running late. He attempted to focus on them and their educational needs, but Delanie kept sneaking into his thoughts. When he rode up to his apartment, the whole gang—all eight of them—were waiting for him in the parking lot. Removing his helmet, they loaded into his old, dingy-white, fifteen-passenger van—the one he’d bought just for toting them—and they headed for the nearby Burger House.

  Oscar grabbed the other bucket seat in the front, and Miguel sat in the center of the seat right behind them. “So, Eli, how’s that fine partner of yours?” Miguel asked in a teasing tone, and all of the boys chuckled.

  Eli gave him “the look” through the rearview mirror, but he’d obviously lost his power of persuasion.

  “She swept you off your feet again?” one of the boys from the very back hollered. The chuckles increased to loud laughter.

  “Glad you boys can have fun with that whole incident.” Eli knew their banter would be ongoing for the next few months, and he took no offense. He’d have done the same at their age.

  “She’s sure pretty,” Oscar said in low tones for Eli’s hearing only.

  He smiled at the boy and nodded. “Too pretty. Girls like her get us boys into trouble.”

  “Whatcha mean?” Oscar asked.

  Eli thought carefully about his answer. He didn’t want his negative opinion to taint their young minds.

  “She’s the kind of girl to make a man think about marriage, and because of my job, I decided long ago that I’d never marry.”

  “But lots of cops are married.” Oscar shot a hole in Eli’s excuse.

  “I know, but since I do undercover work, it’s more dangerous. And I have my dad and you guys. My life doesn’t have room for a wife.” Only the empty ache in his heart belied his words.

  When they arrived at the restaurant, Eli stepped to the end of the line, surrounded by his noisy band of boys. An obviously pregnant teen and a man in a suit were in another line, a couple of people ahead of where Eli stood, but they caught his eye. The hair on his neck stood on end. He studied them, straining to pick up bits of conversation. If only these boys would be quiet.

  “How about if you guys go grab a couple of tables? I pretty much know what you want anyhow since your orders never change.”

  The rowdy group boisterously made their way to a spot in the corner. Eli focused on the odd couple in line, trying to figure out if the young woman was with her father or perhaps someone connected to the baby-selling ring. Tilting his head, he tried to catch their words, but the fast-food establishment was too loud, even with his boys across the restaurant.

  After receiving their order, the man grabbed the bag in one hand and the girl’s elbow with his other. As they passed Eli, he heard her say, “That’s a lot of money.” She wore a surprised but pleased expression. Eli resisted the urge to grab her from him then and there. For all he knew, they could be discussing her allowance, though he doubted it.

  They exited out the side door. Eli darted to the back of the restaurant. “You guys stay put for two minutes.” Eight pairs of startled eyes fixed on him, but he had no time to explain. He rushed for the door but caught no sign of the pair. He ran around the building to the other side. Still nothing. How could they vanish into thin air?

  Chapter 5

  Eli entered Sarge’s office at seven forty-five the next morning, and there stood a very pregnant-appearing Delanie. He stopped short—the scene before him felt intimate, something he wanted no part of. She had her hands under the false belly, which only highlighted her “condition,” but it was the yearning he felt that nearly sent him running. He thought he’d settled the issue of family long ago.

  “Eli,” Sarge said, “you’re early.”

  He nodded, but his eyes hadn’t left Delanie. At Sarge’s greeting, her gaze rose and connected with his. She blushed, stood straighter, and let her hands fall to her sides.

  “I
came in early to get fitted with this thing.” She patted the protruding bulge over her normally slender waist. “I wasn’t sure how long it would take and didn’t want you to have to wait.”

  Eli nodded again, grateful for her thoughtfulness.

  Sarge shook some keys, and both Eli and Delanie refocused on the metal ring dangling before them. “An old beat-up Nova. You’ll find it out in the fenced lot with the other police vehicles.” He tossed the keys to Eli, where he still stood just inside the doorway. “Hit the road.”

  Eli’s gaze returned to Delanie, and he knew Sarge was right. She was the perfect girl for the job. In her black capris, snug-fitting pink maternity T-shirt, and honey-hued locks hanging long and straight, she easily passed as a high school teen. Upon his scrutiny she tugged at the shirt, trying to loosen it across her midsection. “This isn’t mine,” she assured him. “I don’t normally wear things this tight, but they thought I should look the part.”

  Once again he just nodded and waited for her to exit Sarge’s office, then closed the door behind them. On the way out of the building, Delanie received a few wolf whistles and joking remarks from other cops in the hall.

  She gave them a sidelong glance. “Grow up, boys.” Her gaze returned to him. “Hey, E, I’ve been doing some checking. My friend Kristen is a paralegal, and she claims Peg’s Diner on Sierra Street, just south of downtown, is a favorite hangout for many of Reno’s attorneys. Do you want to start there? We can have breakfast, watch who comes and goes, formulate a plan.”

  Eli gave her a nod, held the door for her, and then led her to the beat-up black car. He opened the passenger door and waited while she struggled with her new protrusion to situate herself in the seat; then he shut the door. Once he turned the key, the engine roared to life.

  “Nice pipes.”

  He glanced at Delanie, surprised she knew anything about mufflers.