by June Kramin
“Don’t, Annabelle.” Hunt looked up as Mandy walked over. He didn’t know her well enough to gauge the look on her face. He straightened up. “Hey, babe.”
Annabelle turned around. “You must be the lucky Mrs. Blaine.”
“That would be me.”
Annabelle stretched her hand out. “Hi, I’m Annabelle. An old friend of Hunt’s.”
Mandy accepted her hand. “Nice to meet you.” Hunt cringed at her expression. Crap. She remembered the name. “Do I need to give you two a minute?”
“No. I’m sorry. Don’t mind silly old me, lonely and weepy for an old friend. My husband is overseas and I’m home visiting my mom.”
“He’s in the war?”
“Marine. I thought being married to a cop would be bad.” The look on her face revealed she immediately regretted her words. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Mandy said. “I’m ex-FBI. I know what you mean.”
“FBI?” Her eyes went to Hunt. “Hunter Blaine. You’re outranked.” Annabelle laughed and Mandy joined in. Her laugh stopped abruptly when the little boy came running up again.
“This one, Mommy?”
“Another fire truck?”
“My ladder is broked.”
“Broken, sweetie.”
“Can I? Please?”
“All right. Let’s get going.”
Mandy stopped her. “Do you have plans tonight?”
“No. Just hanging out with my mom.”
“Why don’t you two join us at our reception at the Legion? It’s going on now, actually. We’re being fashionably late.”
Annabelle looked up to Hunt, whose expression was that of pure shock. “Hunt? That okay?”
“Uh…sure. Of course. Bring your mom, too. I’m sure my mom would love to see her.”
“I will. Thanks. See you there in a bit.”
After she walked away, Mandy turned to Hunt. He tried to stall what he figured was coming. “I see you found something.”
She gave the dress a once-over. “This will do. So...”
“I didn’t know she was in town. I swear.”
“And the hug?”
“Like she said. She was getting weepy.”
“Over her husband or you?”
“Don’t do this, Mandy. I didn’t ask to see her. I didn’t want to see her. Why did you invite her tonight?”
“Just trying to be polite. She sounded lonely.”
“Of all times to try to prove you’re tough.” He turned to walk away but she stopped him. “I’m not fighting with you about this. Least of all here, Amanda.”
“Amanda? No babe?”
“Stop it.”
“We need to check out and get going.” Mandy hurried to the register. Annabelle was walking out and waved at them as she left.
“Hey, Hunt,” the elderly woman at the register said. “This your pretty new bride your mom was bragging about this afternoon?”
“This is her. Don’t know how I was able to get her to say yes, Karen. Mandy, this is Karen. You might as well say she’s my aunt.” The women exchanged pleasantries. “You coming tonight?”
“I’ll be done with my shift in an hour, then I’ll be there.”
“See you then.”
Amanda was quiet until they climbed in Hunt’s truck and settled Hannah in her car seat.
“Please don’t let this ruin our night.”
“Was that your son?”
“What? No. I told you she didn’t have it. That’s what you’re pissed about?”
“I’m not pissed, just in a little shock I guess. Your tender hug with someone you supposedly hate caught me off guard. Then when the child ran up…I didn’t know what to think.”
“Shit, Mandy.” Hunt scooted over the bench seat and held her tight. “We’ve been broken up for over five years. The kid had to be three. I’m sorry. That thought didn’t even occur to me.”
“I’m being an idiot.”
“No, you’re not. I’m sure you felt like I did, only I had it a little worse. I knew what Gerard had done to you.”
“Shhhh.” Mandy put her fingers over Hunt’s lips. “Let’s not do this. This is our night. Let’s start from scratch. I’ll try not to get jealous over every ex-girlfriend of yours that shows up.”
“Not a long list, babe. I told you, I didn’t keep it local for a reason. I really wish you hadn’t invited Annabelle.”
“It’s history, Hunt. Maybe I was being selfish and wanted her to know what she gave up.”
“You’re the devil, woman.” He laughed and gave her a kiss.
“And you married it.”
Chapter Forty-Three
As soon as they reached the American Legion, Hannah woke up. She wasn’t pleasant about it either. She started wailing immediately.
“I’ll get her fed and dressed, Hunt. You go in. I’ll find you.”
“I can wait.”
“I’m fine. Really. You go have a beer. I’ll be no more than fifteen minutes. Just leave the heat on please.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.” She kissed him, crawled over the seat and picked Hannah up out of the car seat. Mandy unzipped her coat, lowered the neck of the dress and Hannah greedily attached to her breast.
“I’ll come out if I don’t see you in fifteen minutes.”
“You think I’m going to make a run for it?”
“Absolutely.”
She laughed. “Nut job. I promise I’ll be in.”
He leaned over and kissed her again. “Fifteen.”
“Maybe twenty. I want to change her tights, too.”
“Do whatever you need to do, babe. See you inside.” Hunt finally closed the door and walked into the building. Mandy sunk low in the seat trying to stay out of sight. Hunt’s windows were pretty heavily tinted, but she wanted to be sure not to be giving a free peep show to any passersby.
After switching breasts, Mandy was startled by a face at the driver’s window. His hand was cupped to it and the man was peeking in, but if he could see her and Hannah, his face never gave it away. She gasped when he tried the handle and sighed in relief when she discovered Hunt had locked her in. The last thing she wanted to do was panic for no reason, but after the person circled the truck twice, she called Hunt. He answered on the first ring.
“What the matter? You need help?”
She watched as the man finally walked away. Now she felt silly. “Um…no. I’m fine. Sorry, I guess I butt dialed you.”
Hunt laughed. “You almost ready?”
“Just getting her dress on. I’ll only be a minute. Sorry.”
“You miss me. See you in a few.”
As Mandy dressed Hannah, she kept looking up for the man, but he never reappeared. It was just her imagination getting away with her. Hunt’s truck was a white Toyota 4-door. She could see three others that looked like it from where she sat. No doubt someone had too much to drink and was trying to get in the wrong vehicle. “Shake it, Smith,” she said, scolding herself. “I mean, Blaine.” She opened up the door and backed out of it.
When her feet hit the ground, hands gripped her waist and she screamed.
Hunt laughed and spun her around. “You scared the shit out of me, Hunt!”
Hannah cried at the screaming and yelling. Hunt took her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Just helping you down. You okay?”
Running her hand over her face she said, “Fine. Sorry.” She crawled back in front and turned off the truck then removed the keys and climbed back out. “Let’s do this.”
The night went over better than Mandy imagined. Hunt’s friends were very friendly and happy that someone had finally managed to get him to settle down. They didn’t pry for details about how they became a couple and how they managed to carry on the relationship with no one knowing about her or Hannah. Everyone that laid eyes on the baby said there was no denying she was Hunt’s and raved about her beauty. Mandy was glad her daughter adjusted well to being handled so much. She really hadn�
�t been exposed to too many other faces up to this point in her life.
Hunt’s mother was cheerful the entire night and eagerly introduced Mandy to everyone, showing her off as her daughter-in-law. That was unexpected and warmed Mandy more than she knew. Maybe she had judged her unfairly. She also took Hannah for most of the night and insisted she and Hunt dance a few songs.
“This is something we never covered, babe. You’re not too bad on the floor.”
“I was about to say the same about you.”
Hunt shrugged. “It’s foreplay.”
She giggled and waited for a kiss. “I’m ready to go when you are.”
He pulled a garter out of his pocket. “Roy gave me this, and Mom has a bouquet for you. We have to do the rituals. You game?”
“Of course.”
Chapter Forty-Four
After making a presentation out of removing Mandy’s garter belt, Hunt sent it into the crowd like a sling-shot. One of his single firemen friends caught it and hurried out to the dance floor.
“This means I get to kiss the bride right, Hunt?”
“That’s up to the bride, Jon.”
Jon had a few inches on Hunt. Mandy took ahold of Hunt’s hand and stepped up onto the chair she was just sitting on to bring her closer to his level. She now stood taller than him, but the action got the desired laughs from the crowd. He took that as a yes. Jon placed his hands on her hips and planted his lips on her. He dipped her backward, again causing roars of laughter from the group of friends. When he finally stood Mandy up again and stepped back, Hunt placed him playfully into a head lock. After a few pictures, the two shook hands and Jon left the floor.
Hunt was about to help her down when his mother came out onto the floor with a bouquet of white and red roses for Mandy. She announced that the available ladies should gather where the men were previously. When they were ready, Mandy turned around and tossed it over her shoulder. When she turned back around, a woman around Hunt’s mother’s age was holding it up like the torch on the Statue of Liberty.
“Who’s that?” she whispered to Hunt.
“Annabelle’s mom.”
The woman walked over to the two of them and stood in front of Hunt. “Try to dip an old woman like that and you’ll have me in traction, boy.”
He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek then introduced her to Mandy, who greeted her with a warm hug. “Very nice to meet you.”
“You too, dear. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to beat my daughter for letting this one get away.” She tenderly took Mandy’s hands. “You have a keeper here.”
Mandy smiled back. “I know.”
Again they posed for a few pictures and the woman wandered away. The music played right away again and Hunt pulled Mandy in close to him. “You almost ready to go?”
“I’m ready when you are. I don’t want to rush out though. Everyone is having such a good time. I really like your friends, Hunt.”
“Well, hopefully we’ll get to that one-on-one time soon. I’m sure this is a blur for you now.”
“I’ve actually always been pretty good with names. I think I’m doing okay.”
“You think so, huh?” Hunt pointed to a heavyset man talking with two women. “Who’s that?”
“Jimmy. He runs the bank.”
“And her over there?”
“Peggy. She runs the hair salon on First Street.”
“And those two?”
“Jerry and Jerri. How could I forget a couple with the same name? Must be hell when someone calls for them.”
“You are good at names.”
“It’s important for me.” She leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her.
“Is something bothering you? You seem a little…distracted. You sure you’re okay?”
“The night is wonderful, Hunt. It’s just…never mind. It’s not even worth mentioning.”
He leaned her back. “Anything that is on your mind is worth mentioning.” Mandy looked over to Hannah. Hunt thought she was looking for an escape to a serious conversation. “What gives, babe?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. When I was out in the truck, I thought someone might be trying to break in.”
“What?” He said it a little too loud and a few people glanced his way. He smiled and waved and pulled her back in and swayed with the music again, as if everything was fine. “What do you mean someone tried to break in? Did they see you?”
“I’m sure he didn’t. He cupped his hand, looking in the window, then tried the handle. When it didn’t budge he walked away. I figured it was just someone drunk and at the wrong vehicle.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I didn’t want to make a fuss. It was probably nothing.”
“Probably, but you still should have told me. Even if it was someone with too much to drink, that’s not someone I want on the road. I’m going to call Luke and get him patrolling out here just to be sure.” He took her by the hand and walked over to his parents.
“It’s about time you gave up that pretty little thing, Hunt,” his father said. “I’ve been waiting for my chance at a dance all night.”
Mandy outstretched her hand to him. “I’m all yours, Dad.”
Hunt walked outside and called Luke. After he hung up, he wandered around his truck. Tracks were easy to see in the light snow, but there were too many. He removed his gun from his glove box and tucked it into the waist of his pants. While he waited for Luke to show up, he wandered around the perimeter of the parking lot and checked the service entrance side of the bar. There were a few sets of tracks going into the employee entrance, but nothing that could make him suspicious. A flash of red on the wall caught his eye and he turned around. Luke showed up and flashed his lights to let Hunt know he was there.
“Find anything?” he asked Hunt.
“I’m not seeing anything but tracks from about a hundred guests.”
“How’s the party?”
“Fine. Sorry you’re on duty. Someone had to be.”
“No sweat. I’m still afraid of your wife, man.”
Hunt laughed softly. Maybe he was too hard on the kid. He’d make it a point to lighten up on him. “I’ll bring her and the baby by someday and give her a chance to apologize face to face.”
“No worries. If you’re happy, the station is a much happier place to work.”
“Will you do a few extra passes over the next hour?”
“You think it’s something to worry about?”
“Probably not. But I especially don’t like the fact that they singled out my truck.”
“Could be one of the Cadence boys. Ralph is still pissed about his car in impound.”
“It was impound it or let him get behind the wheel and kill himself or someone else.”
“I know that. I’m just saying he has a grudge right now. Could be him.”
“Call his mom up and see if you can get a twenty on him. Otherwise we’ll have to assume it was random until we have reason to think otherwise. Hang out and make your presence known for a while. Maybe that’ll deter whoever it was from trying anything else.”
“You got it, boss.”
“Thanks, Jun—er, Deputy.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Hunt and Mandy got in after midnight. They were both amazed how Hannah slept over the music and crowd noises. She had more than her share of attention and being passed around. Mandy was sure she’d sleep like a rock through the night. After hearing from Luke that nothing else suspicious had happened, she was a little more at ease, but something about it nagged at her. She hoped she wasn’t making a mistake not staying hidden. The past couple of years were something she was anxious to put behind her. A normal life with Hunt and Hannah was all that she wanted now.
Both of them too exhausted to make love for the first time since they reconnected, Mandy simply cuddled into Hunt’s chest and drifted off to sleep.
It had been months since Mandy dreamed of the night of Darci’s death.
The nightmare haunted her again this night. This time though, after laying Darci’s lifeless body on the bed, she turned around and picked up Hannah from her crib. She ran to the doorway in time to see Hunt shot in the chest and sent flying back. The ‘No!’ she shouted in her sleep carried into her sleeping body. She bolted awake and Hunt woke up, joining her.
“What is it?” he asked as he gripped her shoulders. She leaned into him, quaking in fear. Hunt held her tight with one arm and stroked her head with the other. His hand brushed the sweat at her scalp. “Nightmare?”
She could only nod yes.
“Want to talk about it?”
She now shook her head no. “It was nothing.”
He leaned back and held her chin. “You sure?”
She nodded again and held her cheek to his bare chest. Hunt leaned back to the bed again, bringing her with him and still holding her tight to his chest.
“Maybe I shouldn’t be pushing you to talk about things. I don’t want to be bringing up any bad memories and causing nightmares.”
“That wasn’t it, Hunt. I promise.”
“Just the same. I give you permission to lay off storytelling this weekend. Let’s explore the house and decide on paint colors and such.”
“We really shouldn’t paint until spring.”
“Can’t stop us from planning ahead. This dump is in bad need of a nice paint job. If you leave it to me, it’ll all be white.”
“No way.” She cuddled tighter into him. “I’ll go pick up some books from the hardware store and show you some fun color combinations.”
“Anything you want, babe. I’ll help paint, but you pick colors.”
“Free labor?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I only paint for sexual favors.”
“Deal.” Mandy let out a content moan.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m always okay in your arms.”
He stroked her back as they lay there and they both drifted off again. Hannah woke them up at six sharp. Mandy zombie-walked to her room while Hunt went down to get coffee going. After entering the kitchen, Mandy handed Hannah to Hunt and went to the coffeepot.