send Dave home, but
she hated hospitals, and spending six hours in one was more than enough to
handle. Now that her father was out of danger and Clare had calmed down, Susan
needed some space.
She found Dave in the lobby and
followed him out to the car. One red rose dangled from the driver-side door
handle. Someone was following her. How else would he know she was at the
hospital? She couldn’t handle this right now. Between her father, Clare, and
now this, it was just too much. She hated this helpless feeling. Was she
turning into a wimp?
Fortunately, Dave drove home.
Susan sat next to him, trying not to think. Not an easy thing to do. She couldn’t
help thinking about her father, and the way Clare fell apart.
Even though she was the youngest,
she had always been the calm one in a crisis, the one to pull things together,
to find a solution — mostly to handle Clare’s hysterics. Even over something as
simple as arranging a surprise party, Clare fell apart. Of course, up to now,
the crises had all been minor things like planning a party for their parents’
40th anniversary party two years ago, not a serious illness.
How would they all handle things if
their father died? Or their mother, for that matter. Their parents had always
been there for them. They took it for granted. But her parents weren’t getting
any younger and one day, they’d receive that fatal call, hopefully not for a
long, long time.
Dave walked to her door, unlocked
it, and after checking for messages, kissed her goodbye. “Try to get some
rest.”
Emotionally charged and exhausted
all at the same time, she locked the door, picked up Bella and curled up on the
bed, her mind going in a thousand different directions. Between Jack and Jill,
and now her father, she wasn’t sure which way to turn.
Relieved her father was going to
be okay; she focused on her relationship with Dave. Something told her he’d
accept her career. Maybe their relationship could develop into something more.
Half of her hoped so, as she closed her eyes and let sleep overcome her.
* * *
In the morning, Susan visited her
father again, although she couldn’t stay long. He looked much better and was
even sitting up in a chair. Unfortunately, other commitments required her
attention, Dave being one of them. When he left last night, they agreed to
finish off the pot roast. Of course, if her father wasn’t better, she’d never
consider leaving. Maybe it was selfish, but with everything going on, she
needed some time to herself. Well, with Dave, that is. She still had to figure
out their relationship and how far she wanted to take it. For now, she was
content just to be with him.
At home, Susan cleaned her small
apartment, ran some errands, and couldn’t wait to see Dave. He called to let
her know he was on his way so she could heat up the roast, and came in a half
hour later.
After dinner, her thoughts turned
to the phone calls.
For some reason, the calls had
stopped. There had been nothing for a couple days. Maybe Ernie assumed
correctly that if someone else’s byline appeared on the story, he’d leave her
alone. She wondered if the killer contacted Hill. She sighed.
“What?” Dave asked.
“Hmm? Oh nothing, I just wondered
about the killer. I’m enjoying the reprieve, but that monster is still out
there.”
Susan had grown accustomed to the
companionship of Detective David Morgan, and thoughts of it continuing, after
this case ended, played in her mind. He came in and out at odd hours, and since
she didn’t adhere to a normal schedule, anyway, he fit right in. Plus, he
respected her career and didn’t belittle her chances of making a full-fledged
reporter.
She snuggled deeper against him
and closed her eyes. For now, she’d take what she could get. The future would
take care of itself. She fell asleep in his arms.
* * *
Dave let her sleep, enjoying the
warmth of her body. It felt right. He was getting in over his head, but he
didn’t
she hated hospitals, and spending six hours in one was more than enough to
handle. Now that her father was out of danger and Clare had calmed down, Susan
needed some space.
She found Dave in the lobby and
followed him out to the car. One red rose dangled from the driver-side door
handle. Someone was following her. How else would he know she was at the
hospital? She couldn’t handle this right now. Between her father, Clare, and
now this, it was just too much. She hated this helpless feeling. Was she
turning into a wimp?
Fortunately, Dave drove home.
Susan sat next to him, trying not to think. Not an easy thing to do. She couldn’t
help thinking about her father, and the way Clare fell apart.
Even though she was the youngest,
she had always been the calm one in a crisis, the one to pull things together,
to find a solution — mostly to handle Clare’s hysterics. Even over something as
simple as arranging a surprise party, Clare fell apart. Of course, up to now,
the crises had all been minor things like planning a party for their parents’
40th anniversary party two years ago, not a serious illness.
How would they all handle things if
their father died? Or their mother, for that matter. Their parents had always
been there for them. They took it for granted. But her parents weren’t getting
any younger and one day, they’d receive that fatal call, hopefully not for a
long, long time.
Dave walked to her door, unlocked
it, and after checking for messages, kissed her goodbye. “Try to get some
rest.”
Emotionally charged and exhausted
all at the same time, she locked the door, picked up Bella and curled up on the
bed, her mind going in a thousand different directions. Between Jack and Jill,
and now her father, she wasn’t sure which way to turn.
Relieved her father was going to
be okay; she focused on her relationship with Dave. Something told her he’d
accept her career. Maybe their relationship could develop into something more.
Half of her hoped so, as she closed her eyes and let sleep overcome her.
* * *
In the morning, Susan visited her
father again, although she couldn’t stay long. He looked much better and was
even sitting up in a chair. Unfortunately, other commitments required her
attention, Dave being one of them. When he left last night, they agreed to
finish off the pot roast. Of course, if her father wasn’t better, she’d never
consider leaving. Maybe it was selfish, but with everything going on, she
needed some time to herself. Well, with Dave, that is. She still had to figure
out their relationship and how far she wanted to take it. For now, she was
content just to be with him.
At home, Susan cleaned her small
apartment, ran some errands, and couldn’t wait to see Dave. He called to let
her know he was on his way so she could heat up the roast, and came in a half
hour later.
After dinner, her thoughts turned
to the phone calls.
For some reason, the calls had
stopped. There had been nothing for a couple days. Maybe Ernie assumed
correctly that if someone else’s byline appeared on the story, he’d leave her
alone. She wondered if the killer contacted Hill. She sighed.
“What?” Dave asked.
“Hmm? Oh nothing, I just wondered
about the killer. I’m enjoying the reprieve, but that monster is still out
there.”
Susan had grown accustomed to the
companionship of Detective David Morgan, and thoughts of it continuing, after
this case ended, played in her mind. He came in and out at odd hours, and since
she didn’t adhere to a normal schedule, anyway, he fit right in. Plus, he
respected her career and didn’t belittle her chances of making a full-fledged
reporter.
She snuggled deeper against him
and closed her eyes. For now, she’d take what she could get. The future would
take care of itself. She fell asleep in his arms.
* * *
Dave let her sleep, enjoying the
warmth of her body. It felt right. He was getting in over his head, but he
didn’t
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