Abound in Love

by Rosemarie Naramore

  “Well, anyway,” Dan said, “I’m taking the evening off. The kids are going to stay with me tonight. They’re going to forget what I look like if I don’t spend more time with them.”

  “Do you want me to drop them by your place?” Thomas asked, indicating the patrol car with a nod.

  “Naw, I’ve cleared it with my sergeant,” Dan said. “He gave me permission to pick them up.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll go and get Krissy. I think she’s upstairs.” He glanced at Laura for confirmation.

  She nodded. “She’s doing homework.”

  He left them to retrieve her. Dan watched Laura with imploring eyes. “Laura, will you talk to her? Please?”

  She was uncertain what he meant initially. “You mean, Candace?”

  He nodded. “She won’t talk to anyone else. Maybe she will talk to you.”

  “Dan, I’m probably the last person Candace is going to confide in.”

  “That’s not true” he said adamantly, shaking his head. “Before she… Well, she talked about you all the time. She was desperate to see you—to make amends. She always said…” He sighed. “She said you were a ‘better’ person than her, and that, if she had known ‘then’ what she knew ‘now,’ she would have done things so differently. She said she wished she could get on a plane, so she could talk to you…”

  “Why didn’t she?” Laura cut in. “Get on a plane, that is.” Suddenly, the old hurts came to the forefront. Candace could have apologized at any time over the years. She could have gotten on a plane. She could have picked up a phone. She could have apologized.

  It was as if Dan read her mind. “She wanted to,” he told her. “She wanted to more than anything, but she was afraid…”

  “Afraid of what?”

  “Afraid you would, as she said, ‘give her what she deserved.’” He stopped speaking when little Krissy appeared in the doorway.

  “Daddy!” she cried, obviously delighted to see her father.

  “Hey, there, Pumpkin.”

  Krissy turned toward Laura. “I’m going home with Daddy,” she announced, obviously pleased. “Wait, I thought Kenny and me were going out to dinner with Mommy and Aunt Laura.”

  “Not tonight,” Dan said. “We’re going to let Aunt Laura and Mommy visit.”

  Krissy looked terribly disappointed, but queried, “Are we ordering pizza, Daddy? And watching the Disney Channel together?” He nodded and she grinned, clearly placated. “Okay, bye, Aunt Laura. I’m leaving.”

  Laura chuckled at the quick-turn in her mood. “You’re going to have to hug me first,” she said, with a mock-frown.

  “Oh, Aunt Laura, as if I would really leave without hugging you first.”

  Laura pulled the little girl into an embrace. “I love you,” she whispered into ear. “Tell your brother I love him too.”

  “I will. I love you too.”

  Thomas cleared his throat and spread his arms. “Hey, you’re forgetting somebody.”

  Krissy shook her head, as if her uncle simply wore her out. “I could never forget you either, Uncle Thomas,” she said with an exaggerated sigh.

  A moment later, as they watched the kids drive away with their father, Laura uttered a prayer. “Please, Lord, be with them…”

  Chapter Seven

  “Have fun tonight,” Laura urged her brother, as she ushered him out the front door. “And tell Macy ‘hello’ for me.”

  “Will do,” he said with a grin and a salute. The salute reminded her of Dalton. Thomas reminded her of Dalton. The truth was, just about everything in Battle Ground reminded her of Dalton.

  When she heard the sound of a car’s engine, and then the crunch of gravel, and spied the patrol car pulling up, she knew who was behind the wheel.

  Dalton.

  He was probably coming home for something to eat. She held the door open as he strode up the steps, a broad smile creasing his face. “Hey, Laura.”

  “Hey, yourself.”

  He glanced behind him. “Was that Thomas I just passed on the road?”

  “Yes, he’s going on a date with Macy.”

  He gave a relieved smile. “That’s great. I know the two of them haven’t had much time together lately.”

  “Yeah, I figured as much. He was awfully foul-tempered when he got home from work today.”

  He stepped past her and into the house. He came to a stop. “Where are the kids?”

  “With their dad.”

  “That’s good to hear. Poor Dan’s been working so much O.T., he’s in dire need of a break, and those kids are in dire need of an evening with their father.”

  “From what I understand, they could use some time with their mom too.”

  He only nodded gravely in reply.

  “Did you come home for something to eat? I’d be happy to fix you a sandwich.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t have time. I actually stopped by to get my gloves. It’s so cold out there tonight. I’ll just go get them. I’m on the way to a call and need to get moving.”

  Laura closed the door and sat back down on the couch. She checked her watch. It was after six and she hadn’t seen nor heard from Candace.

  She turned toward Dalton, when she heard him coming down the steps. “Candace isn’t here yet?” he asked, as he tugged on a pair of black gloves.

  “No. But she didn’t mention what time she was coming. I probably should have asked.”

  “Well, I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” he said dubiously.

  “You actually don’t sound very sure,” Laura said, narrowing her eyes and studying his face. He was so handsome—even more so as a man of thirty-one than he had been as a teen. The smoothness of his face had aged into an even more appealing combination of masculine angles and rugged lines. She was drawn to his sky blue eyes, the straight nose, strong jaw and firm, well-shaped lips.

  Laura suddenly wondered if he was dating anyone. As a teen, he had had his fair share of admirers. Girls had flocked to his good looks, but Laura knew he was more than a handsome face. Despite his inclusion in the ‘it’ crowd, she remembered Dalton had had many friends in every tier of high school popularity. He had always been kind to others.

  Perhaps she had been drawn to him as much for this reason, as for his looks. At least she hoped she hadn’t been so superficial as to fixate on his outward appearance. She gave herself a shake, when she realized she’d been staring intently at him.

  She missed the smile that tugged at his lips, since she turned toward the front window when a pair of headlights illuminated the living room.

  “And there Candace is now,” Dalton said, still smiling. “Well, you ladies have a good evening. I need to get moving.”

  “Be safe,” she told him, as she rose to open the door for him.

  He paused at the door and caught her eye. “I will.” He left the house and passed Candace at the base of the porch stairs.

  “Howdy, Dalton,” she said.

  “Candace. It’s nice to see you.” He strode to his car.

  Candace noticed Laura at the top of the stairs. “Hello, are you ready to go?” she asked with what sounded like forced cheer to Laura’s ears.

  She briefly searched her sister’s face. She looked exhausted. “Yes, I’m ready. Are you sure you’re feeling up to going out? You worked all day, didn’t you?”

  “I did, but I’ve been looking forward to tonight.” She gave her an imploring look.

  “Just let me grab my coat. Would you like me to drive? Or follow you?”

  “I’ll drive,” Candace said. “There’s no need for both of us to drive—with gas prices being what they are.”

  “You’re right about that,” Laura said.

  Once in Candace’s car, Laura eased against the seat and took a steadying breath. She hadn’t been alone with Candace in years. She couldn’t remember the last time it was just the two of them in a car together and driving off to talk. If memory served, it had never happened.

  “How do burgers sound to
you?” Candace asked, as she drove down the driveway and to the main thoroughfare back to town.

  “Anything is fine,” Laura answered.

  The two attempted to make small talk as they headed into town, though Laura sensed Candace felt as awkward as she did. It was strange that two women—sisters—who had grown up together could scarcely find anything to talk about. But then, they had had so little in common as kids. Did they have anything in common now?

  In town, Candace drove into the parking lot of a national fast food chain. She made an apologetic face. “I hope this is okay. I’m kind of on a self-imposed budget these days and…”

  Laura waved her hand dismissively. “This is fine. But I’d be happy to take you out this evening.”

  Candace shook her head. “No, I invited you. This is my treat.”

  She parked the car and the two women entered the restaurant. “Do you know what you’d like?” Candace asked.

  “Well, let’s see…” Laura studied the menu board above.

  “Would you like to sit down for a moment?” Candace asked, looking behind her. She pointed at a nearby booth. “If we sit there, we can see the menu and make our selections. I’d be happy to place the order once you decide…”

  Laura headed for the booth. She was actually grateful for the opportunity to sit down. And Candace was right, she could easily read the menu from their table.

  Candace sat down across from her at the booth and smiled awkwardly. “Gosh, it’s been a long time, Laura.”

  Laura nodded.

  “I understand you really like living in Georgia.”

  She nodded again. “I really do. The countryside is beautiful. The summers can get warm, but then, it can get awfully warm here too … during the … summer.”

  “Of course, you have real summers in Georgia, from what I understand. And someone told me you sometimes see sunshine well into autumn.”

  “True,” Laura said. “I do love the south. The people, the sense of history…”

  Candace sighed. “I’ve often considered visiting, but…”

  Dan had mentioned that too. “I wish … you had,” Laura told her.

  Candace drew silent and dropped her head, seemingly intent on studying the tabletop. Finally, she lifted her head and sought Laura’s eyes. “Laura, I wanted to tell you something. I mean, the truth is…”

  “Yes?”

  Suddenly, Candace’s cell phone trilled in her purse. She winced apologetically as she tugged it out and checked the screen. “Laura, will you excuse me for a moment?”

  She nodded, and Candace hurriedly rose and walked several steps away. Laura could just make out a bit of what her sister was saying.

  “How much?” she asked eagerly, and then nodded briskly. “Okay. Yes. I’ll be there.”

  She hurried back to the table. “Laura, I’m … so, so sorry. But I’m afraid I have to go. Something’s come up. Do you think I could have a rain check?”

  “Uh, sure,” Laura said. What else could she say? In truth, she could think of a million replies. For one—‘You asked me to dinner, Candace, and now you’re leaving. What’s more important than visiting with the sister you haven’t seen in nearly eight years?’ Instead, she remained silent, and fixed an understanding smile on her face.

  Candace pulled a ten out of her purse and held it out to her. “Laura, here’s ten for dinner…”

  She shook her head. “No, please. Don’t worry about it.”

  To her surprise, Candace leaned forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She pulled her into a hug and then turned on her heel and dashed out of the restaurant.

  Laura watched from the window as her older sister did an abrupt about-face and re-entered the restaurant. “Laura, I’m your ride.” Her face was rife with indecision. “Is there any way you could…?”

  To her credit, she looked utterly miserable. “It’s okay,” Laura assured her. “I’ll find a way home. I’ll call … Thomas.”

  “Oh, Laura, I will make this up to you. I promise.”

  Laura watched her hurry out of the restaurant and to her car. She started it and sped out of the lot.

  Laura couldn’t help wondering what was so critically important to her that she’d just canceled dinner with her, and left her sitting, actually stranded, at a fast food restaurant in the heart of Battle Ground.

  Lord knew, she missed Georgia.

  ***

  With a weary sigh, Laura rose from the table and left the fast food place. She checked her watch. It was nearing seven. She needed a ride home.

  Unfortunately, Thomas was on a much-needed night out with his fiancée, and she wasn’t about to call him and force him to cut his evening short.

  Briefly, she contemplated walking home, but dismissed the idea. It was too cold, and it would be dangerous walking along the country road in the dark.

  She wondered if Battle Ground had cab service and pulled her I-phone out of her purse. She was engaged in searching the Battle Ground directory, when a police car pulled into the parking lot. She didn’t notice it, until the passenger window rolled down and a voice she recognized called her name.

  She immediately spotted Dalton leaning across the passenger seat and watching her with concern. “Laura!” he called again.

  She forced a smile as she crossed the distance between them. “Hello.”

  He raised his shoulders in question. “What are you doing? I thought you and Candace…?”

  “Yeah, that.” She sighed. “She got called away.”

  “Why are you…?”

  “Standing here? Looking lost?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, since Candace drove us…”

  “She left you standing here, without a means to get home?” he demanded incredulously.

  “Well, I think something important came up and…”

  He shook his head. “Laura, get in the car.”

  “But, you’re on duty. I don’t want you to get in trouble for conducting personal business on the job.”

  He laughed without humor. “Hey, you’re a citizen who is legitimately in distress…”

  “I’m not in distress,” she assured him.

  “Well, I am,” he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. “Please, get in.”

  She climbed in and immediately felt claustrophobic in the front compartment of the car. Gadgets galore clogged the space, a rifle mounted left of her leg dug into her thigh, and being petite, she could barely see over the dash.

  “Nice,” she mused, prompting Dalton to laugh.

  “Yeah, you look really comfortable.” He arched his brows in question. “Hey, did Candace feed you?”

  She laughed. “Well, no, we didn’t get around to eating, but I’m a big girl. I can actually ‘feed’ myself.”

  He gave her a rueful glance. “I was going to ask you if you’d like to join me for dinner?”

  “Do you have time?”

  “Even cops get to eat,” he assured her, as he pulled into traffic.

  Laura glanced around her, still surprised at the extensive growth of new business in the small town.

  “The ol’ hometown’s really changed, hasn’t it?” he observed.

  She nodded. “I can’t get over all the new homes. I saw so many new developments as I drove in. And that new interchange off of I-5 is awfully handy, isn’t it?”

  He nodded. “Hey, what sounds good to you?”

  “Whatever works for you,” she said agreeably.

  “I tend to steer clear of the drive-throughs, in favor of buffet-style eating.”

  Laura immediately understood his meaning. “A lot easier to tell if your food’s been tampered with, eh?”

  “Yeah. I just abhor ordering a burger and finding a citizen has spit in it.”

  “Ah, Officer Jance, you do sound awfully jaded,” she told him, smiling sympathetically.

  “You’re in the news biz. You know it happens all the time.” He spoke as if reading a newspaper headline. “Officer finds cockroach in bu
rger.”

  “A buffet sounds delightful,” Laura said with a grin.

  A moment later, he steered his patrol car into a local pizza establishment that offered an evening buffet and salad bar. “Do you like pizza?” he inquired of Laura as he pulled to a stop.

  “Pizza is also just fine,” she told him.

  He was out of the car in the blink of an eye and rounding the car. He reached her door as she was climbing out. “Hey, I was going to get your door.”

  “Sorry. Next time I’ll lag a bit,” she teased.

  Together they walked into the pizzeria, Dalton escorting her along with a hand at her lower back. Though the gesture was anything but intimate, it caused her once again to remember her fondest desire as a love-sick adolescent—to go on a date with Dalton Jance.

  Of course, tonight certainly didn’t qualify as a date. It was more a ‘rescue’ operation. The poor man was both hungry, and stuck with her. What else could he do but ask her to join him? In order to actually get a dinner break, he likely had to take it during lulls between calls. Lucky for her, he’d apparently found her during one of those lulls.

  Sitting at a booth, Laura glanced around the pizzeria. It was crowded with Friday night patrons enjoying a respite from cooking after a long workweek. To Laura’s surprise, she actually recognized many of the faces around her.

  “Do you see somebody you know?” Dalton asked with a smile.

  She nodded and turned to meet his eyes. “I’m surprised. It’s been ten years since I left town the first time.”

  “That’s right. You went off at eighteen, to finish up your junior and senior year in college, didn’t you?”

  Since she had attended community college from the ages of sixteen to eighteen, and earned her Associate’s Degree, she had left for university at age eighteen and completed her Bachelor’s Degree at age twenty. She had returned home then, only to leave soon after to start her job in Atlanta.

  She nodded. “You’re right. You have a good memory.” She smiled at a woman she recognized from church, years ago. “I forget what it feels like to live in a small town,” she mused.

  “It’s nice,” he said, smiling. “People tend to stick around. There’s a real sense of community. It’s a nice place to raise a family.”