Stopping Traffic (A Back to School Romance) (Love at The Crossroads)

by Simmons, Pat

  “You’re not bad on the eyes either. I think every woman who came within one foot of us did a double take.”

  “I would like for us to become a couple, so that will take away the mystery of our status.”

  Candace was silent for a few moments. He wondered what she was thinking about his continued forwardness. “I would like for us to get to know each other better. Maybe the next time we go out, I can get a babysitter for Lindsay.”

  Yes, Royce pumped his fist in the air. Wiping the grin off his face as if she could see him, he schooled his tone. “Whatever makes you comfortable,” he said to please her.

  “What do you think about us double dating with your brother and Solae?”

  He didn’t. They were going from having her child as a chaperone to his big brother? Unnecessary. Royce groaned inwardly. Her hesitation about him seemed so foreign compared to the other two women he’d dated with children. They always tried to be a step ahead of him. They didn’t want their children around at all.

  “Okay, I’ll talk to Hershel to see when we’re both off together. That could be a week or more. I know I don’t want to wait more than seven days to see you again.”

  “I’m cooking spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tomorrow… While I want to take this new relationship slow, I really don’t want to wait that long either.”

  Thank you Jesus! “What time is dinner served?”

  “About five-thirty.”

  “I’ll be there at five-twenty to set the table if you want…and I’ll bring a French loaf and a treat for Lindsay.”

  “You plan to bribe my baby?” she teased.

  “Absolutely. I have no shame.” Minutes later, Royce disconnected with a smile.

  The next evening, Royce hummed as he shaved in preparation to have dinner with Candace and Lindsay. Next, he stretched a black turtle neck over his head and biceps. Instead of jeans, he chose black slacks. Noting the time, Royce hurried so he could pick up the French loaf, juice and cupcakes for Lindsay and a bouquet for Candace.

  Half an hour later, Royce stood on her small porch, ringing her doorbell. He heard Lindsay’s squeal of excitement before Candace opened the door. Her beauty had him tongue-tied. It took a few moments for him to recover. “Hi…for you.” He handed her the flowers.

  Lindsay stood on the sidelines, waiting for her goodies. Royce handed her a bag with a half dozen cupcakes. “Yay. Mr. Royce. Mommy, I got cupcakes,” she said excitedly, leaving them to their own thoughts as she surveyed the icing.

  After stepping inside, Royce handed her the other bag and shook off his jacket. He couldn’t help scrutinizing her shapely figure outlined in a long sweater dress. It was a casualty of being one-hundred percent male, but he didn’t allow his eyes to linger. That was the power of the Holy Ghost.

  “Hmm. Something smells good.” Royce glanced around, admiring again the décor that he had already seen. She was a master at blending colors he would never have imagined worked together.

  “I hope you like my homemade sauce.” Her eyes twinkled as she headed toward the kitchen that appeared, so far, to be the largest room in the small bungalow.

  “I’m sure I will, or I’ll acquire a taste for it.”

  She stopped and playfully nudged him. “Do you always say the right things?”

  “Not always, but I’ve learned to speak from my heart.”

  “You’re a fascinating man,” she said over her shoulder as she turned off the stove and pointed to an overhead cabinet. “The plates are there. You can wash your hands in the sink.”

  He did as he was told before grabbing the three plates. Lindsay stood at his side eagerly waiting to help set the table. “I hope that works in my favor.”

  “It already has.” Blushing, Candace placed the dish on the table that was loaded with simmering spaghetti and topped with a layer of Parmesan cheese.

  Royce didn’t know a salad could look so inviting with the green, red and yellow vegetables peeping from the serving bowl. Soon, they were gathered around her kitchen table. It was an impressive oak wood table for four. Too nice for a kitchen, but she used it for everyday purposes as if she wasn’t concerned about a child’s marks and dents.

  Come to think of it, Candace’s house was tastefully decorated with very little that hinted that a child lived there except for a few children’s books or DVDs. She was neat—a good sign.

  “Do you mind saying grace?”

  “I don’t,” Royce told her as he reached for their hands. When Candace gently rested hers in his, he imagined that her gesture was a quiet admission that she was putting her trust in him. “Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I thank You for the cross at Calvary. I thank You for this fellowship with two beautiful ladies.” He paused when he heard Lindsay giggle. “Lord, please sanctify this food as You do our lives and bless it for our nourishment in Jesus’ name.”

  They all said amen in unison.

  The conversation during dinner was child-friendly, which he expected, but a few times he caught Candace’s glances that let him know she wished for privacy.

  After a second helping of everything, Royce pushed back from the table and patted his stomach. “That was good ba—” He caught himself.

  “Thank you. It’s good to know that at least one other person, besides Solae and Lindsay, appreciate my culinary skills.”

  “Yes, and to show my appreciation, you can invite me over any time after my thirty-hour shift has ended.” Standing, Royce took the liberty of gathering his plate and hers while Lindsay played with the remains of her salad. “Do you want me to wash?”

  She seemed surprised by his offer. “Why, thank you, but no, I have a dishwasher.”

  “Mommy, can I be excused and watch TV? I finished my homework.”

  “But I haven’t check it, baby.”

  “I’ll do that,” Royce said. He wanted to insinuate himself in their lives as a prerequisite to something more permanent. Candace was the one—he had no doubt about that—but he had to wait for her to come to the realization that he was more than her stepping stone back to the dating life.

  “Oh, okay. Thank you again. Lindsay, go get your folder, sweetie. When they were alone, she stepped closer. “I don’t know where this is going between us, but don’t play with my child.” She lowered her voice even more, “Lindsay doesn’t know anything about loss and she better not learn it from you.”

  The lioness with the fiery darts in her beautiful brown eyes issued her warning, but he had his own. “Then make yourself comfortable, Miss Clark, because I don’t plan to lose.”

  Candace’s steam seeped out as Lindsay ran back into the room. She retreated to the sink where she rinsed the dishes without saying another word. Great, maybe his honesty had worked against him this time. Although he checked Lindsay’s schoolwork with care, his mind never stopped wondering what Candace could possibly be thinking.

  He found out less than an hour later when she walked him to the door. “I really like you and I’ll admit that I’m attracted to you, but I can’t go this fast…”

  He folded his arms and stared. If she was about to end something before it started, then Royce wanted to make sure he steeled himself against the disappointment, so he could bounce back with more vigor to fight for what he wanted.

  “I can’t pray on this alone. I need you to pray right alongside me.”

  He liked the challenge in her eyes.

  “I want you to slow down, but my heart likes the speed you’re moving, so…” she paused. “If you’re available Sunday morning, I would like to invite you to our church and maybe afterward you could join us for dinner.”

  That was asking a lot coming off a three day shift, but Royce was going to make it work. “I’ll get off Sunday at eight. I’ll shower, dress and be here to get you and Lindsay by nine-thirty.” It was going to be a long day, but Royce wanted her, so he had no problem proving his worth.

  CHAPTER eighteen

  “Turn on channel five,” Solae said with urgency in her voice.
“Quick.”

  Candace continued to scan her closet for something to wear to church the following day. It would be the first time Royce would accompany her and Lindsay and she wanted to look her best. “Why?” Her friend could be so dramatic at times.

  “They’re talking about a huge fire in North County!”

  Candace shook her head. Solae had it bad. Since dating Hershel, she had definitely turned into a fire chaser. She now owned two fire scanners because the first one didn’t provide a large enough coverage. Her friend was hooked on anything about fires—TV shows, books, or movies. The woman seemed to sniff out smoke before the flames got going good. “Okay?”

  “Engine House Eight is on the scene of a four alarm fire. More equipment is being requested…some firefighters have been injured!”

  Candace’s body froze as her heart pounded out of control. Now was a good time to be concerned. That was Royce and Hershel’s firehouse. She couldn’t get out the closet fast enough to get to her television. She reached for the remote and clicked on the flat screen in the privacy of her bedroom.

  It was a good thing Lindsay was in the living room, watching a cartoon show. Thank God she didn’t allow Lindsay to watch the news. Her daughter would probably be beside herself like Candace was now if she thought something happened to Mr. Royce.

  The noise from Solae’s scanner arsenal blared in her ear. Everything was so garbled up, Candace couldn’t make out anything until a dispatcher’s voice silenced the chaos, “All companies, evacuate the building. Structure unstable. Evacuate the building,” the woman repeated it several times as if she was a recording.

  Channel five captured the spectacular flames as the backdrop to a cloudless night sky. In the midst of the fireworks display, responders began carrying out three firefighters. None of them were walking on their own.

  “Are you seeing it?”

  With her jaw dropped, Candace stared. She had forgotten that Solae was even on the phone. She felt light-headed as paramedics began to pull off the head gear and administered oxygen to the injured firefighters. “Why don’t the cameramen zoom in closer!” She needed to see and make sure Royce wasn’t hurt.

  Everything seemed to move in slow motion as medics began to load the firefighters into waiting ambulances. Patting her chest, Candace held her breath. “Lord, please let Roy…” That would be so selfish. “Jesus, save them and comfort their families. Please let them be okay in Jesus’ name. Amen,” she said in a whisper, but Solae seconded the amen.

  “Mommy, can I have a snack?” Lindsay asked from the other side of her closed door.

  Racing to the door to keep Lindsay from coming in, Candace answered, “Ah, sure baby. One snack,” she said to get rid of her. Otherwise, there was no way she would allow her daughter a snack so close to bedtime. Her knees weakened as she sank onto the edge of the bed, hoping she judged the distance to catch her weight, or her bottom would land on the floor.

  Between the dispatchers instructing police to block streets along the ambulance routes to the hospitals and video from the station’s chopper capturing the urgency, Candace was overwhelmed. “I can’t watch this.”

  “I know…hold on. Hershel’s calling me on my cell. Hello?” Solae voice faded. Seconds later, she gasped.

  “What?” Candace tried to get her friend’s attention. “Solae!”

  Solae sniffed. “Okay. Keep me posted,” she said on the other line, then there was silence.

  “What? What’s wrong? Is it—”

  “I’m on my way. Royce has been injured.”

  Candace willed herself to stay composed and not lose it, at least until Solae got there. “Okay,” she remembered saying. She withheld her sobs and silently mourned for the unknown. “Lord, not again.” She thought about Daniel and all they had meant to each other in their short marriage and then Royce and what could have been.

  Ask in My name and I will do it, God spoke John 14:13.

  Sliding to her knees, Candace moaned and mumbled her requests. When she was no longer able to form her words, an explosion of tongues escaped her mouth until she submitted to the Holy Ghost to speak intercessory prayer for the injured firefighters. Soon, she felt Lindsay at her side praying in her innocent childish way, not knowing her anguish. But her presence was comforting.

  Candace’s spirit began to quiet minutes before her doorbell rang.

  “Mommy, doorbell.” Lindsay tapped her shoulder.

  “Thank You Jesus for what You’re going to do in Jesus’ name. Amen,” she finished before getting to her feet and following her daughter out her bedroom.

  Seconds after opening her door, Candace fell into Solae’s arms. Mindful of her daughter, she held her tears at bay.

  “Aunt Sollie, you want to see the picture I colored?” Lindsay asked.

  “Sure baby, let me talk to your mommy first, okay? How about you color three more pictures for me to hang on my refrigerator?”

  “Yeah. Okay.” She raced off to do her godmother’s bidding.

  Candace dragged Solae to her bedroom. Once they were behind closed doors, she impatiently waited for an update. “What did Hershel say? Is Royce…is he alive? Is he going to be okay?”

  Solae shhed her with her hand and guided her to her bed to sit. “Hershel called me while I was on the way here. He told me to tell you that Royce is okay. None of the firefighters’ injuries are critical.”

  “What does okay mean?” Candace snapped. “What hospital is he in? I need to see him for myself.” She was working herself into a frenzy until she grasped hold on one of Solae’s soft prayers. Her spirit relaxed and she began to pray again.

  “I need to go see him, Solae.”

  “You will, but not tonight. You can’t drive in this mental state, and I can’t drive you because we’ll have to take Lindsay along and she doesn’t need to see this. I’m spending the night and in the morning you can go to Barnes Hospital while I stay here.”

  At least it’s not the same hospital where Daniel died. Hopefully that was a good sign. Lord, please let me be that praying woman that Royce needs right now. “I don’t know how much sleep I’m going to get.”

  “I know, but we’ve got to trust God on this.” Solae advised.

  You’re right. This can’t be about my insecurities right now,” Candace said, staring at nothing. “This is about Royce.” She stood to get Lindsay ready for bed and to try to get some sleep herself; but come daylight, even without an alarm clock, she would be dressed and en route to the hospital.

  ***

  It seemed as if Candace had spent all night praying instead of sleeping. She showered and put on the first skirt and sweater off the rack. Since makeup couldn’t hide the puffiness under her eyes, Candace didn’t bother.

  The quiet thirty minute drive into the city gave Candace time to think whether or not she wanted to be in a relationship that would probably give her many more restless nights like the previous one. By the time she reached the hospital’s parking garage, she still didn’t have an answer.

  With her pocket Bible and small bottle containing Holy Oil, she got out of her car and willed her legs to be steady as she left the garage and walked through the hospital’s entrance. She stopped at the information desk and asked for Royce’s room number.

  Taking the elevators to the fourth floor, Candace prayed silently, not knowing what to expect. Hershel said he was okay, but a person with broken bones and bruised ribs could be considered okay, too.

  As her heart pounded she forced herself to get out of the elevator. She noted each room number as she walked closer to her destination. Stopping in front of room 437, Candace tapped softly on the door that was ajar before proceeding. When she caught sight of the IV and the monitor her eyes welled up with tears, blurring her vision as she glanced at the sleeping figure in the bed. Sleeping or unconscious?

  The man who always seemed strong and powerful lay quietly with a large bandage on his head. Despite his brown skin, she noticed several abrasions and deep purple bruises on one ch
eek and another on his right shoulder. Royce must have sensed her presence because his eyes fluttered open. He gave her a smile that reached his eyes before his hand beckoned her closer.

  Those threatening tears began to stream down her face. “I said I wasn’t going to cry.” She dabbed at eyes before digging into the bottom of her purse for tissue. She pulled a few out as well as the Holy oil. After squeezing sanitizer into her hands, she clasped his. Royce’s squeeze was so strong that she couldn’t help but smile. “I was so worried about you.”

  “Sorry, baby.”

  The first time he called her that, Royce had mumbled it in his sleep. The second time, he let it slip and she silently questioned it. Now, the endearment gave Candace contentment. Swallowing, she eyed the bandage on his head. “I’ve been praying since I heard the news.” She unscrewed the cap and tilted the bottle on her finger. When she dabbed the oil on his forehead, Royce closed his eyes.

  She followed suit and then bowed her head. Her voice wavered in the beginning, but gained strength as she remembered what her God could do. “Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus, I thank You for protecting Royce and the others. I thank You for the precious blood shed for our sins. Thank You God, for increasing my faith in You. I ask that You command and breathe on his body Your healing power in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  Before she could open her eyes, Royce made an addendum to her prayer. “Jesus, thank You for placing Candace and Lindsay in my life. I know You have a blessing for your servants, a crossing guard and a firefighter and I thank You in advance, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  “Amen,” she whispered again. She reached out to tenderly stroke his jaw. She hoped her touch would be soothing. “Thank you.” He pulled her hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss there, which made her fingers tingle.

  “How do you feel?” she asked, noting he looked as tired as she felt from lack of a good night’s sleep.

  “My head still hurts, but I’m alive. When I noticed the second floor begin to cave in above me, I saw that my comrade was still up there. I tried to reach Allen, but he was standing right on the spot where the floor gave way. I was knocked unconscious by falling debris. My x-rays and CAT scan came back normal, so I’ll probably be released today, thank You, Jesus. Allen has a bruised shoulder. Another firefighter suffered minor smoke inhalation.”