The Guarded Widow

by K M Gaffney

  As she glided through the hallway toward the kitchen, James and Luke exchanged mischievous glances and stifled snickers as they took aim, preparing to fire their new foam super striker rocket launchers at her full head of blond hair.

  “Oh boys, you know it takes much more than that to distract your Aunt Maddy,” their mother cheerfully declared as she placed dirty breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. Then she chuckled in amusement as Maddy showered her two youngest nephews with hugs and kisses, knowing the boys hated it.

  “Ack! No Aunt Maddy! No kisses,” they screeched, struggling to get away.

  Olivia leaned a hip against the kitchen counter and studied her younger sister.

  Maddy was seventeen months younger than she, although more often than not, to Olivia it felt more like a ten year difference.

  “She has a whimsical air about her,” their Grandmother Spangler would always say of Maddy while Olivia’s own feet were, “always firmly planted on the ground.”

  She’s so beautiful, Olivia mused, as she watched her sister glamorously blow kisses to Tommy and Michael. Initially both boys rolled their eyes, but at their mother’s arched brow they sent a verbal greeting to their aunt.

  Olivia was always considered tall at five feet eight inches, with features warranting the words “pretty or attractive”. Her hair was light brown with a touch of natural body and her hazel eyes often were shades closer to green than brown. And it pleased her that even after four children; she still had a shapely figure.

  In comparison, Maddy was a “stunner or gorgeous” with voluptuous curves, wild blond curls, and cool blue eyes. Her lush sensual mouth could pout spontaneously, rewarding her with just about any desire. Especially, men. Maddy excelled at desiring and acquiring men.

  Regardless of our differences, Olivia thought, I couldn’t have made it through the last couple of years without my free spirited sister. With Tom’s family deceased and our Dad so far away, Maddy has always been there when I needed her.

  So she skirted the dishwasher to hug Maddy, and then lead her over to a wrought iron kitchen stool where they could talk while she finished the dishes.

  Maddy took a seat, surveying the house.

  “Sometimes I can not believe how organized you keep your life,” she gushed. “One would never believe you have four active young men in this house, it always looks so kempt.”

  With a flip of her hair, Maddy admitted, “I haven’t managed to keep my small house this clean in months and I have only have me and the dog.”

  Olivia grinned, chuckling aloud.

  “Well, I still have to crack my whip at times. But overall, they’re pretty well trained now.”

  “Your son’s wives will thank you someday,” Maddy quipped as she popped a leftover piece of bacon in her mouth. “Is there any coffee left?”

  Olivia opened the cupboard door and pulled out an oversize coffee mug. After filling it, she placed it down in front of her sister.

  Maddy smiled with pleasure.

  “Mmm, it’s just the right size. I should have plenty of caffeine running through my veins while I mind the boys today.”

  “I want to thank you again,” Olivia replied. “James and Luke had their trial run on Tuesday night. I had left them alone for an hour with Tommy. Believe me, they are not ready yet.”

  After pouring her own cup of coffee, she sat down. “We have to leave in half an hour, but I wanted to thank you for giving the boys a heads up for the anniversary date. It was interesting, the day ended up providing enough drama to deter depression.”

  Maddy narrowed her eyes.

  “Really? Does Jeff Masters have anything to do with that?” she asked, coolly.

  “Absolutely not!” Olivia groaned with disgust. “Has he been running his mouth again? I keep telling him that I won’t go out with him, but he just doesn’t get the picture.”

  “Maybe you should just give him a try. Sort of like a first date, to break the ice on dating again,” Maddy suggested.

  “I would never encourage him like that,” Olivia said with a frown. “He’s been asking me out since tenth grade. Furthermore, I’m not interested in dating anyone while I’m still raising my sons.”

  “So you’ve stated numerous times before. Well, if it wasn’t Jeff providing drama, then what else could have happened in your exciting life?” Maddy sarcastically asked as she reached for more bacon.

  “Hmm, for starters I received a letter in the mail from Viccerroy Malpractice Group, the company Tom had worked for. I guess I just thought it was odd that after almost two years they’re mailing me a letter, asking if Tom had left any files or information on past clients here at the house. It wasn’t at all sensitive or apologetic, but very straightforward and to the point. It was also poorly composed, as though it was written in a hurry.”

  “What?” Maddy scowled. “Other than some measly floral arrangement sent to the funeral home, they were of no help to you, Olivia. So why help them?”

  “I did respond that way initially, but then later I felt guilty about it.”

  Maddy reached out, lightly grasped her sister’s hand, and then waited for Olivia to make eye contact with her before speaking again.

  “You don’t need to shoulder a heavier burden than you already have. Let that multimillion dollar insurance company take care of their clients themselves. You have zero responsibility to them.”

  Nodding her head in agreement, Olivia glanced up at the clock on the kitchen wall.

  “Michael, we need to leave in fifteen minutes! Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes, Mom! My bag’s in the hall,” he shouted back from the family room.

  Olivia returned her attention to Maddy.

  “The second occurrence probably isn’t even worth mentioning but it was odd timing…”

  Frantic shouts and hurried footsteps erupted from the hallway, interrupting her train of thought.

  “Mom! Mom!” was being cried out, repeatedly, as Luke and James barreled into the kitchen, falling over one another in a desperate attempt to reach their mother first.

  “We just saw someone in the woods behind our house,” Luke breathed out, his eyes wide with fear.

  “Yeah,” James whispered, trying to regain his composure. “He looked like he was poking around where he wasn’t supposed too. We’d just raised the attic window to fire the rocket launchers out and he saw us. I think we spooked him.”

  Their mother slowly narrowed her eyes at her two youngest sons.

  “Now, why in the world, do you two think it’s safe to be opening the third floor windows and firing anything out of them?”

  They just stared back at her, blankly, before uttering the words children have spoken for generations when asked why they did something inappropriate.

  “I don’t know”, they both sing-songed, simultaneously.

  Maddy intervened by placing a comforting arm around each of the twin’s shoulders. Then she winked at Olivia.

  “Let’s see if we can figure out what conjured up the image of a man in the wild imaginations of two seven year olds.”

  She grinned at her older sister before waving a hand at Tommy, motioning for him to follow them upstairs.

  “Leave the mystery to me,” Maddy called out as they climbed the staircase. “Go and relax at Michael’s game. You can tell me your other exciting news when you get home.”

  “Michael, I’ll be waiting for you in the car,” Olivia announced, trying not to let the boys’ suspicions get to her.

  However, after stepping out the front door, she slipped around the stone corner of the house and completed a quick assessment of the rear yard from her wrap around porch.

  Everything’s fine, she assured herself as she walked down to the SUV. The boys just have vivid imaginations at this age. Although I am glad they interrupted us, I don’t think I’m going to bother mentioning my run in with that cop to Maddy. I was just really distracted by his good looks.

  Michael ran out of the house and bounded down the steps. A
fter sliding into the passenger seat, he immediately leaned over to switch the radio to his favorite station. Olivia barely noticed, still caught up in her own thoughts.

  It is normal after all. I might be a mom, but I’m still a woman, she reminded herself as she glanced over at Michael who was drumming his fingers on the dashboard and singing.

  Once they reached their destination, they hurriedly entered the school and headed for the gymnasium.

  Any red blooded woman, who hasn’t been with a man in over two years, would start ogling police officers who wear a uniform like Officer Rafferty does.

  As they entered the gym, Olivia had just finished placating herself with this soothing rationalization when she saw the tall, broad shouldered referee who would be overseeing Michael’s game.

  Hungrily, she perused the dark blond hair and strong, devastatingly handsome profile, until, as though sensing her presence, he slowly shifted his gaze to hers. Surprised by the physical impact of his piercing blues, she halted her stride and stood still as his eyes skimmed over her, slowly, from head to toe. Shivering in response to his obvious study of her, Olivia dryly conceded that Officer Rafferty probably looks good in any type of uniform. I just need to ignore him, she decided, intending to watch her son’s basketball game without any more misdirected interruptions.

  He’d just spent the last few days trying to forget about the attractive, young widow. So when Gavin turned around to glance at the clock above the scoreboard and his eyes were immediately drawn instead, to Olivia Jones, he sincerely disliked it. Not to mention the fact that a sharp surge of pleasure had jolted him, literally. She’s a pretty woman, he thought, and then gritted his teeth. Now his own mind was betraying him.

  As both teams were warming up on the court, Gavin wandered over to meet and greet the coaches. He shook hands with Michael’s coach, Bob Rathton, and then introduced himself to the coach of the visiting team. As he talked, he watched from the corner of his eye as Olivia laughed and smiled throughout conversations with other parents. Annoyed with himself, but seemingly helpless to stop, he noticed as Jeff Masters bee lined over and sat down directly beside her. She seemed to feign a smile when Jeff leaned over her to shake the hand of a man seated on the bleachers below her feet. Oblivious to the fake smile, Jeff kept on grinning at her and lightly touching her shoulder as they carried on a conversation. Gavin curiously watched Olivia narrow her eyes at Jeff Masters, shake her head no, and then attempt to slide a bit farther away from him.

  So Masters must be interested in her, Gavin mused before deliberately tearing his eyes away. What was wrong with him? He needed to get it together and pay attention to the basketball game.

  “Good game, Michael!” Olivia proudly exclaimed as she headed down the bleachers toward her exuberant son, who was grinning from ear to ear.

  “Mom, we won our first game. This is so awesome! Can we go get pizza with the team? Please Mom, please?”

  “Of course we can. I’ll give Maddy a call to let her know I’ll bring home a pizza pie and not to worry with dinner. Go gather up your things and meet me out front. I’ll call Maddy from there.”

  Olivia thrust her hand deep within her purse and began rummaging around for her cell phone as she turned to hurry out of the gym. Unable to locate it, she bowed her head down to focus on searching through her bag. Just as her hand closed over the phone, she rounded the door way and collided with a brick wall.

  Or what felt like a brick wall. The air moving through her chest came to an abrupt halt as Gavin Rafferty reached out and grabbed her. Wrapping both of his large hands around her upper arms he managed to steady her before she completely toppled over backwards from the impact.

  “Olivia Jones,” he drawled out, slowly. “Do you ever slow down or pay attention to where you’re going?”

  She lifted her eyes, met his, and then flashed him a sarcastic smile.

  “Maybe you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time, Officer Rafferty. Now please let go of me, immediately.”

  He held onto her a few seconds longer than necessary, allowing himself the pleasure of watching her eyes snap at him. Then his cool blue gaze leisurely drifted down, lingering upon her full mouth. She’s got a tempting mouth, no wonder Master’s was sniffing around her, Gavin thought before abruptly releasing her.

  Olivia squared her shoulders and tilted her head up to meet his eyes once again.

  “Excuse me, Officer Rafferty, but you’re still standing in my way. You’ve already proven that I can’t walk though you,” she stated tartly.

  “You’re a haughty thing, aren’t you?” Gavin grinned and then with a dramatic sweep of his hand he bowed down to give her clearance.

  “Yes, I am,” Olivia declared with a lift of her chin and strode off.

  “Yes, you certainly are,” he murmured aloud, subconsciously running a hand over his stomach.

  As Gavin walked back into the gym, ready to consult with the next teams’ coaches, he realized he’d be spending the next few days trying for forget about Olivia Jones, again.

  Maddy poured two glasses of wine while Olivia helped the boys find a DVD that was, once again, mysteriously missing from its case.

  “Sheesh, guys! How many times have I told you to put the movies back into their cases when you’re finished with it, instead of throwing it into what ever empty case is available at the time?”

  Tommy rolled his eyes at Michael while they rummaged through the piles of DVD jackets and James and Luke sat on the sofa, squabbling over who gets to hold the popcorn bowl.

  “Please don’t spill it! I’m not making anymore,” Olivia informed them. She opened the last DVD case, found the coveted movie, and then slid it into the DVD player. Before she walked off, she adjusted the volume on the television.

  “I want to be able to hear your Aunt Maddy, so keep the volume where I want it.” Michael, already intending to adjust the volume, quickly snatched his hand away from the remote.

  Reverently nestling glasses of white zinfandel within their palms, Olivia and Maddy escaped to the front living room. After settling in on opposite ends of the couch, they both sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the serene quiet.

  “We never found the mystery man who was supposedly wandering around your property today,” Maddy quietly stated with a smile. “But the story did keep us entertained for hours as we investigated in the woods.”

  “I’m sure they were enthralled,” Olivia said, feeling distracted. “I’ll bet even Tommy was thrilled to play that game.”

  She sipped her wine and realized, since seeing him earlier at the game, her mind was now dominated by thoughts of Officer Rafferty.

  “Are you planning to share the other little tidbit of news that you’d mentioned earlier today?” Maddy asked as she twirled a blond spirally curl around her finger and wondered why Olivia was frowning.

  “Hmm? Oh it was nothing,” she quickly responded. “So what’s going on in your life, Maddy? How are things at Cool Springs Elementary School?”

  “Oh, it’s as fascinating as ever. Believe me, when you’re a kindergarten teacher life is never dull. But since you asked, there is a new long term substitute teacher for fifth grade. His name’s Thad Wolfe and he’s very handsome. I thought of you immediately when I met him.”

  Maddy smiled and sipped again, noting that her sister wasn’t fully listening.

  “Hmm? Oh really, Maddy?” Olivia absently responded, currently lost in the memory of a careless collision with mocking blue eyes.

  “Yes. I think he’d appreciate someone showing him around town one evening,” Maddy slyly whispered and then grinned when Olivia murmured, “That sounds like a good idea.”

  Yes, it truly does, Maddy thought.

  A victorious smile graced her elegant face as she sipped her wine and congratulated herself on arranging her sister’s first step back into the world of dating.

  Chapter Three

  After completing her last patient’s prophy on her schedule, Olivia set about cleaning a
nd preparing her operatory for the next business day. Anxious to finish up and head home, she sighed when the cell phone in the pocket of her scrub pants vibrated, alerting her to an incoming call. In a gesture that was second nature, she succinctly pulled off her gloves and read the display on her phone.

  “Hi Tommy,” she quipped, mentally running through a list of what needed to be completed yet.

  “Hey Mom, you’re not going to believe this. We’re locked out again. I know I returned the key to the porch last night like you told me too, but it wasn’t there when we got home from school,” Tommy explained, his teeth chattering. “We’re cold. It’s really cold out, Mom.”

  That’s odd, Olivia thought, her mental checklist suddenly forgotten. She flipped off the lights to her room and hurried down the hall toward the time clock.

  “Listen, I’m heading out the door right now. I’ll be there soon, Tommy,” Olivia assured him as she walked out to the parking lot.

  In the background, she could hear her other sons groaning and complaining about the cold.

  “Drive careful, Mom.”

  Since Tom had died, whenever the boys knew she was traveling anywhere, they always reminded her to drive carefully. Those three words still made her heart ache, even after almost two years.

  That’s very odd, she thought again as she steered the SUV onto the busy street, heading toward home. I distinctly remember checking on the key this morning. A heavy lead foot allowed her to gun down the last road nearest the entrance of her driveway, in record time. Turning in, she sped down the long winding lane and as the house came into view she could see the boys bouncing around on the front porch.

  Tommy rushed down to meet her on the sidewalk as she hastily strode toward the house.

  “Mom, I know…”

  His sentence was cut off by his mother’s vigorous hug and soothing words.