To Protect and Serve

by Pat Adeff

  As the doctor spoke, he pulled out a deck of cards from his pocket. Glances were exchanged all around while they waited to see what the doctor was going to do.

  “Do we each pick a card and high card pays the ER bill?” Kate teased the doctor.

  His eyes cut to Kate and a mysterious smile appeared on his lips. “No, but that’s an interesting idea. No, I just wanted to show you something.”

  Then Dr. Darren Coburn, ER doctor extraordinaire, did something that Nancy had never seen a doctor do before. He did magic without the use of needles, drugs or x-rays. He proceeded to charm everyone into smiling by doing a feat of magic wherein he had Kate pick a card and

  write her phone number on it. Then he made the card disappear, only to reappear under the battery in her cell phone! It was phenomenal.

  Once Kate had examined the card in wonder and declared it was her original card, Dr. Coburn put the card in his pocket and returned to business.

  He handed all the follow-up papers to Kate and also handed her what appeared to be his business card. Nancy was shaking her head in wonderment while she came to her feet.

  Everyone gathered up their belongings and left the hospital after Nancy dealt with the admittance desk and gave the hospital the insurance information. Christy and Jackson were put in the backseat of Nancy’s car, while Kate and Joey followed them to the house in his car.

  Arriving home, they all walked into the living room where the bowl of popcorn had been upended all over the carpet and the tea cup was on its side with a small wet stain next to it. The four young people looked at Nancy and she glanced back awkwardly.

  “I guess I was a little excited when I got your call. I’ll clean it up.”

  “Nope, Mom. You sit down with Christy and Jackson. Joey and I’ll get it.” Kate was in charge for the moment. It felt good to have someone else giving the orders for a while. Nancy sank wearily onto the couch and counted her blessings while she gathered in her kids.

  She thought of calling Jonathon, but realized that all he’d do was ask her twenty questions and tell her everything she’d done wrong. She wasn’t in the mood right now. She’d call him tomorrow and let him know how everyone was doing.

  Maybe.

  CHAPTER 6

  “Just a minute!” Nancy shouted to whoever had just knocked at the front door. She closed the dishwasher door and was wiping her hands with a kitchen towel when she opened the door.

  Then she just stared.

  Broad navy-blue shoulders filled her field of vision.

  Mirrored sunglasses glinted in the sunlight.

  The badge flashed as strong hands reached up to pull off sunglasses.

  Dark blue, almost obsidian eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. The eyes cut to Nancy’s hand where the kitchen towel had just slipped from her fingers and fallen to the ground.

  Nancy pulled herself out of whatever spell she’d fallen under and reached down for the towel at the same time the officer reached down. They ended up bumping shoulders. Nancy started to fall sideways but was stopped when she felt strong warm hands grab her shoulders and help her stand upright.

  Feeling her face flush (another hot flash, thank you!) she reached up to sweep the hair out of her face. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she breathed out.

  “Not a problem. Are you all right?” He removed his hands from her shoulders and she suddenly wished he hadn’t. Then reality took over and she realized that she’d been staring at the Kevlar vest covering his chest. She shot her eyes back up to his and watched his gaze warm.

  “Here, let me.” He bent over and picked up the kitchen towel, handing it to her.

  “Thank you.” She managed a smile, but lost it as soon as she realized that this was a police officer at her door.

  “The kids...” she started with a worried look.

  “They’re fine. At least as far as I know.” He hooked the sunglasses onto his shirt pocket. “I’m Officer Saunders. Doug Saunders.”

  Nancy just looked at him blankly. (Okay, and perhaps sort of dreamily too.)

  “I was the officer who talked to you over the phone from the site of your daughter’s motorcycle accident last week.” He seemed to grow younger before her eyes.

  “Oh! Yes, of course. Sorry about that. I didn’t recognize your voice. Although we only spoke for a few minutes. Actually it was just a

  few seconds, not minutes. And it was over a cell phone. Thank you for helping them. How are you?” Shut up Nancy. You’re babbling.

  “I’m fine. How are you doing?” His killer smile made him look like a kid.

  “Oh, um. I’m fine. Thank you for asking. How are you?”

  Grinning he replied. “I’m still fine.”

  Nancy realized that she was acting like a complete idiot. Then it dawned on her that she was wearing her rattiest tee-shirt, cut-offs and tennies. Her “cleaning house” outfit. Yep, faded navy tee-shirt, tan

  sagging cut-offs, and old white tennies which were filthy. Not to mention no make-up and her hair flying everywhere.

  She was very aware of the difference between her unfashionable attire and the officer’s precisely creased uniform.

  Then she chastised herself. This man wasn’t there to flirt with her. Did she really think that real life was like the movies? He probably wasn’t even there to see her. He needed to see Jackson and Christy. Yes, that must be it.

  “They won’t be back for a while.” She managed to pull herself together.

  “Who?” He genuinely looked puzzled.

  “The kids. That’s who you’re here for, right?”

  “No. I’m not. I need to give you some information and find out what you want to do about it.”

  Okay. The conversation had now gone into left field and Nancy was clueless about what he was talking about.

  “You’re looking for me?”

  “You’re Mrs. Adams, right?”

  “Mrs. Adams is my ex-mother-in-law. I’m Nancy.” Nancy winced and suddenly hated how the witticism she’d used ever since the divorce now sounded a little bitter. Wiping the towel across her forehead, she managed a small smile, “Sorry. An old joke, beyond its expiration date.”

  He smiled back.

  “May I come in?”

  “Oh! Of course. I’ve been keeping you out here in the hot sun. What was I thinking? Of course, come in.”

  She stepped back into the entry hall and he followed her inside, filling the small entry space and emptying it of all oxygen.

  “Would you like some iced tea? Coffee?” Nancy indicated to him to have a seat in the living room as she turned left into the kitchen to retrieve beverages … and breath.

  “I said would you like...whoof!” When she hadn’t gotten an answer, she had reversed direction to call into the living room and had suddenly run into a wall. A warm, masculine, broad-shouldered wall. Armored in Kevlar.

  Once again, warm hands wrapped around her shoulders as she gained her footing.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this! I am so sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” Nancy swiftly stepped back as he dropped his hands. Again a feeling of bereftment. She was starting to realize exactly how long it had been since she’d been close to an adult male. ANY adult male.

  “Coffee? Tea?” She almost giggled as she squelched the urge to say “Me?”

  For heaven’s sake! What HAD gotten into her?

  “Coffee. If it’s no trouble.” He leaned his hip against the counter next to the coffee pot and adjusted the volume on his radio, while he spoke into his lapel mike. As his lips moved, Nancy noticed how nicely chiseled they were. Then she noticed that his eyes were watching her looking at his mouth.

  Nancy spun around to the sink so fast, her hair went even wilder than it was before. She studiously filled the pot with water, put a new filter and grounds into the coffee maker and pushed the button, while he finished speaking with the police dispatcher.

  Nancy was extremely aware of his proximity, and took a step back before looking up into his
face.

  He didn’t seem to be affected in the least. Well, of course not. He was here on official business and was probably much younger than her. Oh well, the fantasy was fun.

  “So. What can I help you with?” Nancy was all business as she led him into the living room to wait for the coffee. If she had seen the way his eyes traveled from her neck to her heels and back up again, and his small suppressed smile, she would have realized that maybe he wasn’t feeling entirely businesslike.

  As they sat at opposite ends of the couch, he pulled out a small notepad and flipped through the pages looking for his notes. Nancy admired how masculine and strong his hands were. Well! she thought. I guess I’m not dead yet.

  Officer Saunders looked up and his eyes met Nancy’s.

  Just as he started to speak, the front door burst open with the girls and Jackson and Joey right behind them.

  “Mom? You okay?” Both Kate and Christy wore concerned looks on their faces. “We saw the police car out front.”

  Officer Saunders rose and shook hands with the four kids. “Hi, I’m Doug Saunders. I just came by to ask your mom some questions.”

  “Oh! I remember you. You were at the accident.” Kate said.

  “Oh, yeah! Thank you for your help.” Jackson reached out and shook hands with the officer.

  Everyone relaxed. “Can we join you?” Kate set her backpack down on the floor.

  Nancy turned to the officer and raised her eyebrows in question. He smiled at Nancy nodding his approval and everyone sat down. Nancy looked over in time to see Christy and Kate share a look. She frowned at

  them and they both turned blank faces to her, as though the look had not happened.

  Just then the coffee pot beeped that the coffee was done.

  Nancy jumped up. “What do you take in it?”

  “Just black if it’s good, but lots of cream and sugar if it’s not.” Officer Saunders had a sense of humor.

  “Oh, it’s good. I’m actually very good in the kitchen.” Nancy suddenly turned and fled into the kitchen. She couldn’t believe that she’d just said that. It sounded like she was trying to be suggestive. She wasn’t! It just popped out of her mouth.

  When she came back into the living room with two cups of coffee, Officer Saunders and the kids were laughing over something.

  Doug stood up and took the coffee cup from Nancy’s hand, took a sip and sighed with satisfaction, smiling at her.

  “This is excellent coffee. Thanks.” He sat back down, gently placing the coffee cup on the short table in front of the sofa.

  Nancy sat at the end of the couch opposite him and again was very aware of how she must appear. She wiped the tea towel across her face again. Where was all this sweat coming from anyway! Oh yeah. Perimenopause. Sigh.

  Doug again referred to the small notepad.

  “The DA is pressing charges for DUI as an adult.”

  “Mom, that means the District Attorney is taking the guy to court as an adult for driving under the influence.” Kate translated.

  “Honey, I know what it means. Remember? I worked part time for an attorney before I had you.”

  Nancy remembered that time clearly. Her boss, Brad Harris had hired her knowing full well that she was planning on getting pregnant. He offered her the job, as well as the health insurance, and was reluctant to see her leave at seven months into the pregnancy. She organized his office for him, he covered her medical expenses. Jonathon was working

  freelance at the time and hadn’t had insurance. Brad and his wife still kept in touch through Christmas cards every other year or so.

  “Although you don’t really have a say in the DA’s filing, I wanted to let you know about it.” Doug was leaning forward and looking around at everyone.

  “How old was the guy?” Christy asked.

  “Seventeen. He’ll be eighteen tomorrow.”

  “What happened?” Nancy felt sorry for the kid even though he’d caused the accident.

  “He was drunk and didn’t see the light. His parents have all but disowned him. They’re embarrassed at his behavior.” Doug watched to see Nancy’s reaction.

  “Oh, that poor kid. Where is he now?”

  “Out on bail, pending trial. He’s living with his aunt.”

  “Does he understand the consequences?”

  “He’s not talking much. I don’t think he’s being callous, just quiet.”

  Doug put away his pad of paper, stood up and adjusted his heavy belt. It looked like it weighed at least 25 pounds. “Anyway, I just wanted to let you know what was happening. The DA will expect your kids to testify against the boy.”

  Nancy looked at her girls who were looking back at her.

  “Isn’t this going to ruin his life, if he’s prosecuted as an adult?” Kate was always able to cut to the chase.

  “Probably. It all depends on how hard the DA presses.” Doug made eye contact with all four of the kids.

  “Is there anything we can do?” Christy was the one who took in every stray dog, cat, or fellow student needing help. Nancy found a

  different young person sitting at her Sunday dinner table almost every week.

  “I think he deserves everything he gets!” Joey was hard-nosed about a lot of things, and this appeared to be another one. Kate pushed his shoulder.

  “Joey! Have some compassion. He’s younger than you! And it sure doesn’t sound as if his parents care at all.”

  Joey shoved his hands into his pockets and looked sullen.

  Nancy figured that Kate would end the relationship this weekend if not sooner. Kate didn’t tolerate inhumanity very well.

  “Thank you for coming by. I know that you’re probably really busy and all.” Nancy stood and waited for the officer to head for the front door.

  Doug grabbed the coffee cup, tilted his head back and drained it. Nancy hadn’t noticed a man’s throat in a while. Officer Saunders had a very nice throat, and neck, and shoulders…

  Nancy started when Doug spoke again.

  “Thank you for the coffee, Ms. Adams.” He handed her the empty cup.

  Nancy smiled at the fact that he’d emphasized the ‘Ms.’

  As Doug walked out through the front door, he turned back to Nancy who had her hand on the doorknob.

  “You ARE good in the kitchen.” With that he winked, put on his sunglasses, smiled and walked out to the police unit parked at the end of Nancy’s driveway. She could hear him say something into his lapel mike and the static reply.

  Nancy stood there watching him until the black and white unit pulled into the street. As he drove away, Doug waved.

  Nancy smiled and waved back.

  “Nice view!”

  Nancy turned to see both Kate and Christy crowded behind her, smirking at her.

  She shut the door, opened her mouth a couple of times, couldn’t think of anything to say, turned and walked into the kitchen to clean up. Behind her she could hear the girls giggling.

  “He’s cute! Old, but cute.” Kate followed Nancy into the kitchen and pulled a bowl out of the cupboard and filled it with cereal and milk.

  “Better than that! He thinks Mom’s cute, too!” Christy chimed in while she joined Kate at the dining table for cereal.

  “Who thinks Mom’s cute?” Jackson entered and took the chair next to Christy helping himself to the cereal and milk. Christy got up and got another bowl and spoon for herself while smiling at Jackson.

  “I’m hungry, too.” Joey exclaimed after following Jackson into the kitchen.

  Kate appeared to be very busy with her cereal and Joey had to fend for himself. Christy took pity on him and handed him a bowl and spoon.

  Nancy found it disconcerting to be spoken of as though she wasn’t present, but she continued to do the dishes. She found herself smiling while she thought of the way Doug had winked at her. It had been a VERY long time since a male had winked at her! In fact, she couldn’t recall Jonathan ever winking at her. Yet here was a really good-looking guy winking and gri
nning at her. It made HER grin just thinking about it.

  Nancy didn’t notice her kids nudge each other when she left the kitchen and went down the hall to her bedroom.

  So this is what floating on a cloud feels like!

  Nancy went into her bathroom and looked in the mirror.

  Big mistake. Officer Saunders hadn’t been smiling at her; he’d been trying not to laugh!

  Her hair was flying all over. She didn’t have on any make-up, so every wrinkle and pore seemed to stand out. And the only thing she could say about the shirt was that the faded navy at least went nicely with her coloring.

  Nancy sighed to herself and while disrobing and hopping into the shower, made a mental list of what she intended to do about her hair (highlights?), her hands (manicure?) and her face (plastic surgery?) Just kidding.

  However, for the first time in an awful long time, Nancy was concerned about her appearance and wanted to look attractive.

  In fact, it had been so long that she almost didn’t recognize the feeling.

  As she lathered up her hair she started humming an old Shirelle’s love song. Wait… could have been the Chiffons.

  CHAPTER 7

  Doug shut his locker, secured the lock and turned to stare hard at Bill, who had also just closed his locker. Doug adjusted his belt and checked to ensure he had everything in its place.

  Bill Winston was performing a mirror-image of what Doug was doing. It was 6:00 in the morning on Halloween and their 12 hour shift at the Orange Police Department was about to begin.

  With eyes still locked, they both scooped up their caps at the same time and went down the hall to the briefing room. Doug’s mouth was hardened into a straight line. Bill was smirking.

  Grabbing a cup of coffee on the way in, Doug settled behind a desk towards the front of the room and scooted over very reluctantly when Bill joined him at the small table, crowding him to one side.

  “So. Have you made up your mind yet?”

  Doug took a sip of his coffee and didn’t answer.

  “Come on, Doug. It won’t kill you.”