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

wasn’t one to leave her alone in the kitchen with hot pots on the stove. So much for privacy .
    “Take care of her,” Royce said patiently. “I’ll be available whenever you call.”
    “Thank you for understanding.” She lowered her voice. Gnawing on her lip, she marveled that this was the first time in a long time she really craved the soothing voice of another man.
    “Soon,” she murmured into the phone, then she reluctantly said good-bye before enjoying dinner with Lindsay, but she was definitely looking forward to pizza the next night.

     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIXTEEN
     
     
    Candace woke the next morning counting the hours before she saw Royce again. Solae said she was glowing when she strutted into the office and was downright giddy when she left for her crossing guard duties.
    Lindsay learned that they were going out to eat when Candace explained why she was getting a snack instead of dinner. Her daughter had no clue that they both were about to go on a date. 
    Now with one hour and twenty-nine minutes before she saw Royce, Solae called to add her two cents. “What are you wearing? Never mind.” She tsk ed. “Put on your purple dress and make sure you use your eyebrow pencil and mascara…”
    Solae had gone out with Hershel three times, twice with the boys, but as frazzled as she sounded, one would think this was her friend’s first date. Candace laughed as she slipped into a long printed skirt and black top. “That’s not the look I’m going for on a school night with my Lindsay…”
    Candace strained her hearing. “What’s that noise in the background?”
    “Oh, girl, that’s my EMS and fire scanners,” she stated nonchalantly as if they were commercials between her favorite program.
    “What? When did you buy those?” Candace frowned and stared at her phone. “Solae, why do—”
                  “Hi Aunt Sollie,” her daughter shouted at the mention of her name as she raced into Candace’s bedroom. With her comb and brush in hand, Lindsay flopped on the floor in front of Candace so she could touch up her ponytails. 
    “Okay, so when did you pick up this hobby?”
    “Since Captain Hershel Kavanaugh.”
    “Hmmm.” Candace was amused. What silly thing will I pick up?
    “I just want to know he’s safe when he’s not with me. I told you to trust God, but I should take my own advice, right?”
    Nodding, Candace was careful what she said in front of Lindsay. “So…does he know you have one?”
    “Who do you think helped me pick it out?” Solae giggled. “He thought it was sweet and said he could get me an old one at the station. But I wanted a new one and refused his offer to buy it. If a man wants to buy me a gift, it’s certainly not going to be an all-in-one medical/fire/police scanner.”
    With Lindsay’s hair back in order, Candace sent her into the living room to watch television. “Since he confided in you about his marriage, have you told me about …you know?”
    “Not yet.” She sighed. “I’m batting two for two when it comes to blowing a relationship. I thought I was safe with Eric and Charles, who both professed to love me. When I told them about the excruciating pain I suffered that led to a hysterectomy, there wasn’t enough love to make them stick around.”
    When Solae paused, Candace could feel her friend’s mental and emotional pain, neither of which healed after the procedure. If Royce could want her with her little package, Candace prayed that Hershel or some other man would want Solae just as much, even if she couldn’t have children.
    “Don’t give up. The same God that drew Royce to me when I wasn’t looking is the same God that can send a wonderful Christian man to you. Hopefully it’s Hershel. ”
    “I hope so, too,” she said softly.
    “This is a first for you in a relationship. Maybe it won’t matter to Hershel, since he already has children.” Candace searched for encouraging words. “Let’s pray that it’s