Sarah Smile (Halos & Horns

by Lori Leger

  Tanner’s mouth opened, then closed, and opened once more, though nothing came out.

  “Pfft. Must be a woman.” Roz spoke with finality.

  He glared at her satisfied expression. “What makes you say that?”

  “Only one thing could ever leave a self-absorbed letch like you speechless—and that’s a woman.” She crooked her head to look up at him. “How close am I?”

  “You’re … warm.”

  “Ah, come on, now, Doc. God hears even the whisper of a half-truth.”

  He rolled his eyes and looked away before releasing a loud sigh. “You’re sitting right on the top of a roaring bonfire.”

  Rozalyn clapped her hands triumphantly. “And here I thought my instincts were beginning to dull.”

  The elevator doors opened and Tanner waited as Roz disappeared for a minute into the nurse’s lounge then reappeared carrying an ancient steel thermos and one cup.

  “Man, that’s vintage,” he said, eyeing the faded green bottle full of nicks and dents, as they seated themselves on a bench in front of the window.

  “Was my daddy’s,” she said, lifting it for a quick inspection. “Just cause something gets old and ugly, it doesn’t mean it’s not useful. You kids are way too ready to throw out something you see as ‘outdated’ just to get a newer version of the same thing. What a damn waste.”

  Tanner accepted the cup from her and waited for her to uncap the thermos. “I can’t argue with that, Roz. I’m on my fifth smart phone when the first one did everything I needed it to.”

  She poured some of the dark brew into his cup while nodding. “Smart phones, tablets, computers, mp thingamajigs or whatever the hell they’re called…all a bunch of bull shit, if you ask me. My granddaughter told me the other day she’d shoot me a text when she was ready for me to pick her up from her dance class. I told the little fart I’d be there at four p.m. and she’d damn well better have her butt there waiting for me, or I’d leave her like a no good husband.”

  Tanner tried to stifle his laughter. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind she’d have done exactly that.

  “She’s ten years old and typing on that little key pad like she came out of the womb attached to it. Last time she came for a visit I ripped it out of her hands and told her to pick up a damn book.” She threw her head back and laughed. “Thought my high falutin’ professor of a daughter-in-law would have a hissy fit over that, but they all put the damn things away until I’d had my visit with ‘em, by God.”

  “Yeah, they’ve become extensions of us all, unfortunately. And texting—ugh, it’s the worst. They don’t even use whole words anymore, Roz. Everything’s a shortcut, like LOL for laugh out loud.”

  She filled the thermos cover with coffee and took a sip. “Unless you’re a senior, then it’s short for ‘Living on Lipitor’. BTW means ‘Bring the Wheelchair’.”

  Tanner sputtered and choked on his coffee as Roz continued.

  “You like that, Doc? How about WTF for ‘Wet The Furniture’ or DWI for ‘Driving While Incontinent’? You want me to stop so you can catch your breath?”

  Tanner held up his hand and gasped for air. “Yeah—please!” He coughed several times and finally managed to sober. “Where do you come up with this stuff, Roz?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

  “Try me.” He took another sip of the strongest coffee he’d ever tasted.

  “My eighty-two year old mother said her boyfriend emailed it to her.”

  Tanner jerked upright at her answer. “No!”

  Roz nodded enthusiastically while lifting one hand high in the air. “Hand to God! She went down to the YWCA and took a class on basic computer and internet skills. Sat next to this man from Vinton and they’ve been emailing and Skyping each other ever since. Hell, I don’t even know what it means to Skype somebody and I don’t think I want to know, either. It sounds downright nasty to me!” She placed her hand on Tanner’s arm. “Are you gonna make it, Doc?”

  Tanner, still doubled over with laughter, finally managed to take a deep breath and speak. “Stop…Roz…You gotta stop!”

  She chuckled. “You probably think I’m making this stuff up, but I swear I’m not. It’s God’s honest truth or may he strike me dead!”

  “Oh, I believe you, and one of these days, I’d really like to meet your mother.” He wiped tears of laughter from his eyes.

  Her broad smile reached all the way to warm brown eyes set in a face crinkled with laughter. “I never thought I’d be saying this to you, but I’d like you to meet her one day, too.” She cocked her head curiously, pointing a finger at him. “Something or somebody has grabbed a hold of you. Now, what I want to know is why you’re here on a big Saturday night instead of out acting the dog you normally are. Time to fess up, Doc.”

  Tanner took another sip of the strong brew then gave her a shrug. “No big deal, Roz. I wanted to check on a couple of patients.”

  “Like that adorable little girl who fell off the jungle gym this morning?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, she’s doing well; and the mother in that car accident two days ago …”

  “You can’t save everyone, Doc.”

  “I know, but it’s hard to accept sometimes.” He cleared his throat loudly. “Anyway, I couldn’t sleep and found myself with nothing better to do. I decided to see if there was anything interesting in the ER tonight. Turns out, there was.” He sipped at his coffee again, feeling Roz’s penetrating gaze on him, studying him, and searching for flaws, no doubt.

  Roz spoke, her voice soft and penitent. “I’m beginning to think I’ve been too hard on you in the past.”

  He laughed and gave his head a slow shake. “Trust me, Roz. Whatever bad things you thought or said about me, you can bet your ass I had it coming.”

  “Maybe so, but that was the past. My old grandma said she could feel when people were changing for the better. Said their edges of their auras weren’t as sharp. I never knew what she was talking about `til now. I can see it in you. Mind you, you aren’t there, yet. You’re still battling some demons, but you’re getting there, Doc. You’re getting there.”

  Chapter 5

  Sarah eased the nursery door shut quietly behind her, breathing a sigh of relief when neither of the twins woke up crying again. She trudged wearily to the living room, throwing herself onto the cushy sofa for a short nap. Teething babies sure could put a strain on everyone within the range of them, and Sarah was no exception. Within seconds of settling into the soft cushions, the doorbell had her jumping up to answer it before it woke the twins again.

  “Can I help you?” she asked the man who stood with his back to her, dressed in a crisply ironed burgundy shirt, tucked neatly into his dark blue, belted jeans. The sunlight caught light brown hair in a clipped short and neat style. He turned slowly and spoke.

  “Hey, Sis. Long time no see, huh?”

  Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth as she took a step back. “Oh my God! Mitchell, is that you?”

  He beamed at her, his face tanned and lined from years of serving in the war torn, middle-east’s arid desert heat.

  “Do you have another brother I don’t know about?”

  She flew into his open arms, laughing and crying simultaneously. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

  “I thought I did,” he said, squeezing her tightly.

  “Well, sure, a few months ago, but then they cancelled your leave.”

  “I told you I’d get here, didn’t I? What’d I tell you about doubting me?” He held her at arm’s length. “Man, let me get a good look at you, sis. You’re too thin.”

  “You’re the one that’s too thin! Don’t they feed you in the Marines?”

  “I eat plenty. It’s sweating my ass off over there that keeps it from sticking.”

  Sarah frowned, remembering pictures he’d sent through the years, all dressed in his camouflaged fatigues with full body armor and backpack. It didn’t even take into account the weaponry he had to haul
around, and all in dangerously debilitating heat.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” She stepped back to get a good look at him. “No new wounds or scars you neglected to tell me about?”

  “Nope, I’m still managing to dodge trouble.”

  “You’d better, you’re the only family I have left and I worry about you.”

  “I know you do, and to tell you the truth, I have a decision to make…stay or go.”

  Her eyes clouded with tears at the thought of having her big brother permanently home. “Are you seriously considering leaving the military?”

  “It’s one possibility, Sis,” he said, pulling her to him for another hug. “The only thing I know for sure is that I’ve got some heavy deliberating in my future.”

  Tanner filled a paper bag with hot-house tomatoes and paid the vendor before adding it to his wire handled basket. He turned in time to see Sarah leaning over a pile of cantaloupes, a smile plastered to her face as she closed her eyes to sniff the melons. Judging from the amount of items in her basket, she was obviously satisfied with the city’s first farmers’ market of the year.

  Ready to call out to her, the greeting froze on his lips as a guy walked over to inspect her choices. Before long, he said something that had her throwing back her head in hysterical laughter. The mystery man threw his arm around her shoulders casually and turned her in the opposite direction.

  “Tanner Collins…Calling Doctor Tanner Collins!”

  He turned to see a busty, dark-eyed beauty staring up at him, arms crossed, booted foot tapping impatiently on the concrete. His mind worked frantically, trying to remember her name.

  “I called out your name a couple of times, but you were too engrossed in the dark blonde over there. Who is obviously one half of a couple,” she added.

  Too gorgeous to question whether or not he’d slept with her, Tanner tried to focus on the when and where of it. Knowing the answer would come to him soon, he stalled for time with a generic greeting that never failed.

  “Well, hello, beautiful! How’ve you been?”

  Her ear-to-ear grin revealed a beautiful set of deep-set dimples and straight, white teeth.

  Dimples…Dimple…Dimpled Darlene.

  “Tell me the truth, now. Do you even remember me?” she asked, one brow lifted at a provocative angle.

  “I absolutely do remember you. How’ve you been, Darlene?”

  “That was quite impressive, Tanner, but you can’t fool me. I saw that panicky look guys get when they’re suddenly face to face with a woman—desperately trying to remember her name and whether or not he slept with her.”

  “That’s flawed reasoning, hon. I never doubted for a second that I’d spent some quality time with a looker like you.”

  “Oh, Mr. Smooth, just as I remember you,” she said.

  “It’s the only way I know to be.” He caught Sarah staring at him, her face a study of what she must be thinking of him. He swore silently, knowing it had to be anything but reputable.

  “We’re not done yet, Sis. I’ve been dying for some fresh tomatoes,” Mitch said, perusing the contents of her basket. “I just saw some fabulous hot house tomatoes over this wa…”

  Mitch took two steps forward before he realized he’d left Sarah behind. He turned back to see her gaze locked on something, or someone in the direction they were heading. Spinning around slowly, he studied the clean cut man, deep in conversation with a shapely brunette. The guy glanced in Sarah’s direction and froze, looking like he’d just been caught fraternizing in the enemy camp.

  “You know him?” Mitch asked her, generally curious.

  She nodded. “He’s just a friend. I’m gonna go sit in the car with this stuff. You get your tomatoes and meet me when you’re done.”

  Mitch made his way back around to the other couple. He picked through a bunch of bright purple eggplant, remembering how much he liked them fried in cornmeal. He bagged a few of them before meandering over to the tomatoes, in the hope of picking up tidbits of conversation. He heard just enough to know they’d slept together in the not too distant past. The woman left, leaving Sarah’s mystery man alone and searching the market, he presumed for his sister.

  Mitchell cleared his throat to call attention to himself. “She’s waiting for me in the car.” Sarah’s ‘friend’ swung around, obviously taken off guard.

  “Excuse me?”

  Mitchell extended his hand. “Mitch Hebert, Sarah’s brother. And who the hell are you?”

  “Tanner Collins,” he said, taking Mitchell’s hand in an equally strong grip. “I’m a friend of Sarah’s.”

  “Really? You don’t seem the type to be friends with my sister.” He could tell he’d offended Collins by his subtle head-cock.

  “What type do you think I am?” Mitch would have had to be deaf not to hear the challenge in Tanner’s question.

  “You are entirely too much of a lady’s man, buddy. From the conversation with the leggy brunette, I don’t see you turning it down very often.”

  “Eavesdrop much?”

  “If it keeps my sister from being hurt, you can bet your ass I’ll do more than that. Listen, I don’t know how much you know about Sarah, but she’s gone through a rough time. She doesn’t need anybody who won’t be totally honest and loyal to her.” He took a step closer. “You got that?”

  Tanner’s back stiffened noticeably. “I know exactly what she’s gone through. If this is big brother’s way of telling me hands off—” He clutched his hand into a fist and let it fall loosely to his side. “It isn’t necessary.”

  Mitch wondered at the man’s tone of utter defeat. “And why is that?”

  “Because, I know my limitations.” Collins adjusted the bag of produce in his arms and backed away from him. “I know I’ll never come close to being the kind of man Sarah needs in her life. She deserves better than me.” With one last nod of acknowledgement, he turned and walked away.

  Mitch stood in the center aisle of the market, staring after Tanner Collins—more curious than ever about the man’s feelings for his sister. In a scenario that should have been cut and dried simple, all he had was a shitload of unanswered questions. He headed back toward the car, thinking the situation called for a little reconnaissance, and who the hell could handle that better than a U.S. Marine?

  Tanner grabbed an apple from the bowl near the register and handed the waitress his card.

  “Did you find everything to your satisfaction, sir?” the woman asked, giving him a look he knew too well.

  “Lunch was fine, thanks—a good start to a long weekend.” He’d been coming to this place for the occasional meal for years, but she’d only been here a couple of months. The café was easy walking distance from the hospital and served as a nice change from where he usually had lunch. After this morning’s hectic schedule, followed by an unusually heavy load of surgeries, he had a craving for something more palatable than bland cafeteria food.

  He gazed at the woman, noting the somewhat modest show of cleavage, and decided she was just the right mixture of down home southern girl and sophisticated vamp. The blonde bombshell was probably working her way through college, and lucky for him, her tastes ran a little more toward men than boys.

  She smiled, lowering her eyelashes seductively as she handed him his receipt, along with a card containing her name and contact info. He sent her a smile, adding a wink to let her know he appreciated the extra attention, especially since he was coming off of a long, dry run in the sexual fulfillment department.

  “Don’t lose that,” she purred, reaching over to flip the card and scribble the name of a club. “The DJ’s slammin’ and the bartender’s my bestie.” She slipped the card in his shirt pocket. “If you’re lucky maybe you can take us both home tonight. My name’s Charley, and I’ll be there by ten.”

  He grinned noncommittally and left the café, debating on whether or not to throw the card away or take her up on it.

  He pictured her, lids lowered and licking her plump, glo
ssed lips and something stirred, tightening in an old familiar way. How long had it been? A month or more since he’d had sex? Sheesh, that was a friggin’ eternity. He shook his head and walked to his silver Lexus, cursing himself and his weakness the entire way.

  Mitchell’s hard gaze followed Collins out the café to where he stood deliberating over the card and, wearing a shit-eating grin, slipped it right back into his pocket. He sympathized with the poor bastard. If anybody knew how hard it was for a hound to ignore a scent once he discovered it, he did.

  Once he removed his shades and caught the waitress’ eye, it didn’t take long for her to head toward the table he’d chosen—corner of the room with his back to the wall. Wearing civvies didn’t stop him from being a cautious Marine.

  “You ready to order now, good looking?” she said.

  He flashed her, what the guys in his unit called his ‘game on’ smile. “Not quite yet, Miss, I’m still waiting on two others to join me, but I will take a coffee while I’m here, and uh, maybe you could suggest someplace where a guy like me could go to listen to some good music and drink a few beers. Maybe find some pretty lady to dance with?”

  “Well, this must be my lucky day, GI Joe. I know just the place.”

  “Guess the shorter hair gave me away.” He waited as she wrote down some info on a napkin. He pocketed the info, hoping it was the same address she’d given Collins.

  “Not so much the hair as the way you carry yourself,” she said, leaving just long enough to return with a cup of coffee. “Free refills,” she said, “And I’ll be there by ten p.m.”

  “Live band or D.J.?”

  “D.J.” she said.

  “Good, I’ll be there.” Confident that he’d be able to start his surveillance on Collins soon, he placed the napkin in his wallet as Sarah and a gorgeous redhead approached the table.

  “Hey, big brother, did somebody banish you to the corner of the room?” Sarah said, glancing at the empty tables around him.

  “I like the corner, Sis, but we can move if it makes you uncomfortable.”