The Rum Runner
Page 23
Chief Murphy came out of his office, holding a cup of coffee.
“You’re looking quite dapper, Mr. Chapman. Do you need the services of the police department?”
He was toying with him, Hank knew he was.
“I was hoping to find Alice Grady here.”
Murphy grinned, apparently deciding not to tease him anymore. “She’ll be back shortly. She is out on patrol.”
“So she got her wish.” Hank felt inordinately proud of her.
“She did.” The chief seemed proud as well. “You’re welcome to wait for her.”
He didn’t think he could sit here quietly and wait for her to show up. “Where does she usually patrol? Maybe I could find her?”
“Interrupting my officer on duty?” Murphy tried to sound stern, but Hank had the feeling he didn’t object too much.
“Just to say hello, of course.”
“She can usually be found somewhere between Main Street, New Street, and Second Street.” Hank was already heading out the door and the chief called after him, “She gets off duty in an hour. I don’t want to hear of a crime spree because my officer was otherwise occupied.”
“Yes, sir,” Hank said, barely paying attention to what was said. He could drive up and down the streets looking for her, but that seemed awkward. Instead he walked down Main Street, a spring in his step. He spotted her almost at once, coming out of Christensen’s. She didn’t see him and turned to walk in the other direction.
He hurried to catch up with her. Finally, when it felt he was within shouting distance, he called her name.
She turned, and her whole face lit up when she saw him. She ran toward him, and he ran toward her, and they met in front of the post office. He swept her up in his arms.
“I’m back.”
“I missed you.”
He kissed her, and she kissed back, but then they both came to their senses and realized they were standing in the middle of Main Street and she was still on duty and in uniform.
“I get off work in an hour,” she said, trying to maintain some bit of decorum.
“I’ll wait for you. I’ll drive you home.”
“That’s hardly necessary.” She smiled. “It’s only a couple of blocks.”
“Let me take you to dinner.” All this waiting and he had to wait even more. It was more than he could bear.
“I’d like that. Come by the house around seven?”
He didn’t know if he could hold out until then. He wanted to be spending all his time with her. He wanted her in his arms.
“I want to bathe and get dressed. I can’t go out with you looking better and smelling better than me.” She touched his hand. “We need to talk.”
Those words felt like a punch in the gut. But there was no reason it had to be bad that she wanted to talk to him. After all, he wanted to talk to her too. He forced a smile.
“I’ll see you at seven.”
He went home for the next couple of hours, where Douglas and his mother managed to keep him occupied until it was time to meet Alice.
At precisely seven he stood on the wraparound porch on the house on Green Street. He let the door knocker fall twice and then waited. It only took a moment before Marty answered the door.
“She’ll be down in a minute. I’ve never seen her so concerned with how she looks. You’re good for her.”
Immediately Hank felt himself relax. Things were going to be okay. He looked up to see Alice at the top of the stairs. Everything about her looked absolutely perfect, from her dark red sleeveless dress to her shiny curled bob.
“You look…stunning.”
“Thank you.”
She descended the stairs, and he wanted to take her in his arms at once, but Marty and their mother were standing there, so he decorously took her arm. “I’ve made reservations at Caldwell’s in Perth Amboy. Is that acceptable?”
“Lovely,” she answered.
He helped her to his car. There were a million things he wanted to say to her, but he couldn’t seem to start. They drove in awkward silence. When they parked by the waterfront, Hank helped her out of the car.
“The reservation is for eight. We have a little time. Would you care to walk with me?” He had to salvage this somehow. They had to find their way back to one another.
“That sounds nice,” she answered.
They walked for quite some time before either of them spoke. Finally, Hank broke the silence.
“I was a rum runner.”
“I know,” Alice answered.
She knew? Of course, she knew. She’d brought down Jiggy; naturally she knew he was one of his suppliers. That was it. She wouldn’t want anything more to do with him. It had all been a lovely dream.
“And it doesn’t matter to me. I…” She broke off, as if unsure how to continue.
“It matters to me.” He reached out and took her hand. “After what happened to Tomas, I decided it’s not a good career choice for a family man.”
“A family man?”
“Alice,” he started again with renewed vigor. “I didn’t think I could ever let anyone share my life. I was too messed up. But now I can’t imagine going forward in life without you.”
She leaned against him and his heart beat faster.
“I was wondering…” His voice cracked embarrassingly. “If maybe…you would give me a chance?”
She stopped walking and turned to face him.
“Hank, I’ll give you all the chances in the world if you promise to never leave my side.”
“As long as you want me with you, I’ll be there.” He took her in his arms. He felt whole and complete. Finally, he understood what it meant to really be in love with someone.
The details of their life going forward would have to be worked out, but for now it was enough to know they would go forward together.
A word about the author…
Christine Marciniak has been writing ever since she can remember because she loves to tell stories.
She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children.
christinemarciniak.com
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
For questions or more information
contact us at
info@thewildrosepress.com.
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
www.thewildrosepress.com
To visit with authors of
The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
join our yahoo loop at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thewildrosepress/
Also available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Emily's Song
by Christine Marciniak
Attending her best friend’s wedding, Emily Parks tires of being asked when she’ll marry. At the reception, the most attractive guy she sees is the portrait of the former home owner killed during the Civil War. After a few drinks, she takes a walk to clear her head. When she pauses to admire the full moon reflecting on the fish pond, a mysterious fog materializes, and she tumbles into the water … and into the past.
Samuel Marshall’s life is out of control. He’s engaged to a girl he doesn’t love and is over his head running his father’s plantation. And his best friend wants him to fight in the Union Army. When a mysterious woman appears in his bed, the world comes into focus. She’s refreshing and different, and he’s falling in love.
Everything would be perfect, except the Civil War is about to begin. How long does “ever after” have to last for it to count as happy?
Also Available
Pamina and the Seven Owls
by Fleeta Cunningham
Pamina Woods is determined to make a career as a journalist, but the man she fancies wants to put her in the kitchen. She has the news story of a lifetime, but her editor keeps her at the society desk. She needs to tell the world what she knows, but a gangster will put her in the grave to stop her. She won't put up with anyone else's boundaries, regardless of the consequences.
> Trey Carpenter, a young and seemingly quiet professor from back east, is in charge of arrangements for some aging academics doing summer research with the help of Pamina and her sister. He's ready to fall for the dashing Pamina, but after visiting a notorious speakeasy and witnessing an abduction that results in murder, Pam, Trey, and the professors race across Texas in Trey's bright red car, fleeing the gangster's henchmen.
Ambitious, passionate, and a little reckless, Pam will write her story, even if it kills her, with Trey doing his best to protect her.