He glanced over at her, wondering at the fragile smile that touched her lips. How did it happen? In a seemingly insignificant tug, a half a moment, she was right back in the center of his life. Forcing Daisy to the edges was like trying to push the sun out of its orbit.
Parking in the gravel next to the house, he set the brake and turned to Daisy. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.” She didn’t move. Holding up the little bear, she pointed at the purple markings. “Funny, these look like fairies. At least to me.”
Lane took the floppy-limbed creature and squinted. “Maybe.” Then he sucked in a sharp breath of surprise.
“What?”
“Her mom had a fairy tattoo, I think.” He was almost sure he’d seen it once when Jasmine’s mom had worn a tank top on a hot summer day a few years ago. The next summer she’d been too sick to get out much. By the winter, she had passed away.
Daisy cleared her throat. “Watching you give her this bear is going to be the best thing I’ve done all summer.”
They followed the broken flagstone path to the front door, stepping over a scooter and scattered sandals. Lane knocked and the door swung open. Brenda’s bright blue eyes went wide. “Is everything okay? Has there been an accident?”
“No, no. But we have a surprise for Jasmine.” He wiggled the bear and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Come on in!” She was giddy with excitement, untying her apron and calling out to the kids in the room. “Somebody go get Jasmine. She’s in the tree house, reading.”
A blond haired boy ran out the back door, yelling for Jasmine. Several comfortable couches, mismatched chairs and brightly colored posters furnished the living room. Two little boys zoomed cars around a cardboard track and an older girl sat at the long wooden table, a schoolbook open in front of her.
Seconds later, Jasmine appeared, book in hand. “Hi, Officer Bennett! Hi, Daisy!” Her gaze dropped to the bear in Lane’s hand and she let out a squeal. “Where did you find her?”
“Up in the stacks at the library.” Lane grinned as Jasmine grabbed the bear and stared into her black button eyes.
“Kayla, did you read them all?” She looked up. “That’s probably why she came back. She read all the books and she was done.”
Lane glanced at Daisy and tried not to laugh. This little bear had quite a secret life. “I thought she was a Warrior Princess.”
“Uh-huh.” Jasmine nodded her head, curls shaking with the rhythm. “And when there aren’t any bad guys to take care of, a warrior princess reads a lot.”
Brenda reached out and gave Lane a tight hug. “Thank you so much. You have no idea what it means to her. You two want to stay for supper?”
“No, we’ve got to get back. Daisy left her friend at the library under Nita’s control. Who knows what we’ll find when we get back.”
She wiped her eyes, nodding. “You tell me when you need something, anything. If you had any kids I’d offer to babysit.”
“Well, I’m sure Jamie could use an afternoon off sometime.”
“Deal. I’ll let her know she can pick the day and the time.” Brenda looked over at where Jasmine sat on the couch and lowered her voice. “Breezy said she’s had nightmares every single night since Kayla went missing. That bear is her safety net, the thing that makes her feel like the world isn’t so impossibly big and scary.”
“Her own Warrior Princess,” Daisy said.
“Exactly.” Brenda shot her a smile.
Lane walked over and knelt down in front of Jasmine. “You keep track of Miss Kayla, okay?”
“Sure, but she does what she wants sometimes.” Jasmine hugged the bear close. “I’m glad she’s home.”
They walked out of Brenda’s house, leaving the chatter of the kids behind them. Lane took a deep breath of the afternoon air. “Smells like rain.”
“Again.” Daisy looked up at the darkening sky, green eyes assessing. “I’d be upset by the weather if I hadn’t just witnessed the best part of my summer.”
He opened the truck door and waited for her to slide in. He wanted to agree but Jasmine couldn’t come close to Daisy’s acceptance of Rocky’s apology, as awkward as it was. He didn’t want to think too long about which would rank higher: Jasmine’s bear, Rocky’s apology, or their impromptu kiss. As a human being, Rocky and Jasmine should be higher on his list. As a warm-blooded male, he was afraid the kiss might have a definite edge.
He angled in behind the wheel and cranked the key. Glancing at Daisy’s profile, letting his gaze slide from her bright hair to the curve of her cheek, something occurred to him. All of those good things included the woman sitting next to him. He realized that when Daisy left Liberty, all the best parts of his life just might leave with her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I was hoping you’d need an assistant coach next year.” Toby shifted his feet, nervously waiting for Lane to answer. He’d come all the way downtown to the police station to ask.
“Maybe I do.” It was true he spent a lot of time running back and forth. It would be great to have a gopher. “You don’t want to try out for the high school team next year?”
Toby shrugged. “I wasn’t that good. I just liked to play.”
“You made some excellent plays this year. I didn’t think you should give up so easy.” He leaned forward, frowning. “Did someone tell you that you wouldn’t make the team?”
He stared at his feet. “Yeah. Pat Feller said there was no way I’d get picked.”
Lane sighed. At fourteen, Pat Feller was experienced in telling other kids how they’d never succeed and they better just move out of his way. He sort of wondered what Pat’s home life was like. Maybe he got that same speech from his dad. Whatever the issue, the kid needed to get his nose out of everyone else’s business.
“As far as I know, the coach’s name isn’t Pat Feller.”
Toby laughed. “True.”
“So, how about I save you a position as assistant coach and you try out for the high school team. If it doesn’t work out, then I’d be glad to have you help the little guys.”
He nodded, expression light with relief. “I’ll do that. And thanks.”
“Not a problem.” He watched Toby walk back through the office area to the main doors. He’d slouched all the way in, shoulders hunched in his ratty sweatshirt. But he left in a more confident mood and Lane sent up a quick prayer of thanks. Toby had enough on his plate without kids like Pat Feller telling him he was destined to fail. He could never understand the bully mentality.
He stood up and grabbed his coat. “Butch, I’m headed down to Nancy’s. You want anything?”
Lifting his head from the paperwork on his desk, he nodded. “Buttermilk cinnamon twisty thing.” He grabbed a dollar from his pocket but Lane waved it off.
“My treat. I need some doughnuts to keep my spirits up. This rain is starting to get to me.”
“Me, too. But I’d think you’d be plenty happy.” Butch winked.
“How so?” Even as he asked, Lane knew the answer. Just knowing Daisy was a few blocks away made him feel warm inside. Of course, that was only when he didn’t allow himself to think too deeply about that ticking time-bomb called ‘summer’s end’.
“Sounds like you’ve charmed a certain someone into coming to dinner. I heard it from Jamie down at Pack-n-Produce last night. Of course, Daisy didn’t get enough time to really get to know me the other day or she’d be turning you down flat in favor of Butch’s fine, home-cooked cuisine.”
Lane snorted. There was no privacy this town. “I’m afraid to ask what you would consider fine cuisine. Ramen noodles? Sloppy joes?”
“Hey, I have ramen noodles in five different flavors. She could choose which type of ramen noodles she wanted. Heck, she could even have them all. That’s a five course meal, right there.”
Lane shook his head and walked out the door. Pulling the hood of his police issue raincoat over his head, he trudged down the sidewalk to Nancy’s Bakery. The cold drops
gathered on the brim of his hat and fell onto the end of his nose. He’d always been the kind of person who loved to walk in the rain. He and his grandpa would sit on the cabin porch and listen, not speaking, perfectly content with each other on a rainy afternoon.
His mood matched the weather for one reason. Every day that passed was one day closer to Daisy leaving for Fresno. At the same time, every day that passed he found himself caring more and more for a girl that was leaving town forever. The combination left him emotionally exhausted. He would love to step off the merry-go-round but his heart wasn’t exactly under his control.
Up head, he saw Jason Postlewait. It had been years since he’d felt his gut clench at the sight of the man who had let his brother die. Jason had been just a kid, but he’d made a fatal mistake. One construction sign, one flashing light, and Colt would be here today. Lane stopped to shake hands.
“How about this rain?” Jason asked. His blue eyes were narrowed against the falling drops and his glasses were covered with a layer of water. Lane noticed Jason hadn’t asked how he was. They both avoided that question.
Lane shook his head. “I’m worried about the cabin.”
“The dam isn’t in great shape, but I hear it’s holding. Breaching is probably a bigger threat.” Jason’s two little boy’s scampered on the sidewalk, all blue eyes and crazy energy. He called out for them to keep back from the road. They were born after Colt had died, after the accident, and after Jason picked up the pieces of his life, the same way Lane had.
“Your boys sure are getting real big.” The oldest ran up and flashed a gap-toothed grin.
“Yup. Mindy says she’s ready to ship them off to the circus. They’d make some great monkeys.” Jason grabbed his son and gave him a bear hug. The kid squealed and wiggled out of his arms.
“I’d better let you go.”
“Take care.”
He trudged on down the sidewalk, chin tucked down, thinking of how such innocuous words could carry so much meaning. It looked for all the world like two men making small talk but Lane felt deep inside that Jason was his twin, his emotional doppelganger. Lane let a stupid argument come between him and Colt. He’d bear that scar forever. Jason had made a fatal mistake and he’d carry that knowledge until he died.
He glanced back, watching Jason at the corner where he was holding each little boy by the hand. His chest went tight as Jason carefully checked for traffic before crossing the intersection, his boys not bothering to look because they trusted their father so completely. People thought Lane was a saint to forgive the guy, but Lane would never want to trade places. Forgiveness was easy, compared to what Jason had to live with every day. It took grace, courage, and sheer guts to keep walking forward when your mistake had killed a man.
He pushed the door to Nancy’s and the little brass bell tinkled merrily. He inhaled the potent scent of maple, vanilla and strong coffee. The black and white tile floor sparkled and the tables were clean. A few patrons chatted over doughnuts, waving at Lane. He returned the greetings, shaking hands on the way to the counter.
“Lane, honey! I haven’t seen you in so long!” Nancy bustled around the counter and gave him a squeeze. Lane had always had a soft spot for the friendly, middle aged woman. She was soft, round, and smelled like chocolate. He’d always suspected heaven was sort of like a big hug from Nancy.
“Butch was probably headed here later, but I needed to get away from that desk.”
“This rain is really something, isn’t it?” Her dark brown eyes were narrowed in worry. “My husband said he’s never seen the river so full.”
“Forecast says more rain. We need to pray the front moves past us and we can dry out a little.”
“Amen.” Nancy said. Her eyes went to someone over Lane’s shoulder and she grinned. “And here’s Rocky!”
Lane had to laugh at Rocky’s bedraggled state. “You don’t look so happy.”
“My car window got stuck. I had to drive to East Simmons Street with the window down.” His gray hair was dripping down his forehead and one shoulder of his jacket was soaked through.
Nancy giggled, then clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. That’s awful. I shouldn’t laugh.”
Rocky shrugged, his lips tilting up. “It is sorta funny, I suppose. Lane, you want to sit for a bit?”
“I wish I could. I’m just making a doughnut run for Butch and the guys. We’re all going stir-crazy in there waiting for a call out.”
“I hear you.” Rocky grabbed a napkin to wipe his face and stripped off his coat. He turned to hang it on a chair and stopped cold.
Lane followed his gaze and felt his heart contract. Daisy was outside, reaching for the door handle with one hand, struggling with an umbrella in the other. Her face was creased with laughter as Ana dodged puddles along the sidewalk, holding a bright red umbrella over her head. Daisy looked so joyful he wanted to freeze the moment. Especially since the second she opened the door and saw Rocky, that smile would be gone.
The time between her opening the door and realizing her father was standing only feet away seemed to take forever, although Lane knew it was mere seconds. Daisy’s smile slipped and she paused, unsure.
“Hi, Daisy.” Rocky was the first to speak.
“Hi.” She shook the umbrella, eyes down.
Ana stood dripping on the mat behind her, still laughing, oblivious to the tension in the room. “I think I get two doughnuts for enduring that walk.”
Daisy didn’t answer. She took a deep breath, seeming to come to some kind of decision. “Ana, I’d like to introduce my dad, Rocky McConnell.”
To her credit, Ana recovered in record time, but the flash of shock was all too visible. “Nice to meet you, Mr. McConnell.”
“Thank you. Are you staying long in Liberty?”
“Just another week and a half. My roommate doesn’t like to take care of my cat. Otherwise I’d hang out here all summer.” She smiled, eyes darting from Daisy to Rocky. “Hi, Lane. I haven’t seen the uniform. This is… nice.”
He raised a hand and tipped his hat, not really sure what she meant by ‘nice’. She’d drawn the word out a bit and she was grinning. Either she liked the uniform or she was teasing him. He decided to think positively.
“Thanks. Daisy calls it my ‘hot cop’ outfit.”
Ana let out a bark of laughter and Daisy’s cheeks went pink.
“Are you on lunch?” Ana asked.
“Nope. Just a doughnut run. A cliché that happens to be true. Cops do like their doughnuts.”
“You saying that office will never have large, pink cardboard containers of carrot and celery sticks?” Rocky asked.
“Not likely. But all things in moderation.” Lane patted his stomach, knowing it was only a matter of time before he had to run more and eat less. He was a young man with a young man’s metabolism. But sitting in a patrol car eating fried desserts sure didn’t do much for the arteries.
Nancy came around the counter with the large box. “Tell Oliver that we’re out of the lemon-filled. I don’t want him to think I forgot him.”
“Will do.” He left the money on the counter and nodded to Rocky. “See you later. Not much we can do with the garden today, I suppose.”
“Agreed.” The old man looked like he was doing his best to keep calm but perspiration beaded his brow. Lane couldn’t imagine how it felt to stand so near the person you’d disappointed so deeply. Just like Jason, Rocky was man enough to move forward instead of staring back at the mistakes he’d made, man enough to stand in front of the person who could bury him in justifiable anger. He touched Rocky’s shoulder and walked toward the door.
Daisy stood to the side, letting him pass. Her lips were pressed together and he could see the anxiety in her eyes. This was hard for everybody. Lord, grant them peace. If only he could wipe away the years of pain and hardship. But life didn’t work that way. It was what it was and we were left to make the best of a bad situation.
He paused in front of her, wishing the entir
e bakery wasn’t listening.
“My parents are coming down tomorrow and they wanted to know if you’d like to meet us at church.” He could feel the attention of the two old ladies at the corner table. This was practically the same as getting down on one knee, but his mom would be unhappy if he didn’t pass on the invitation. He wasn’t dumb enough to make his mother unhappy, no matter what other people said.
Daisy looked up, eyes widening. “Oh, that’s nice. Which church?”
“St. Patrick’s, on Alder Street.”
“We went there last week. Do you only go when your parents come to town?” Ana asked.
“Nope. Every Sunday, high noon. I’m in the pew before the bells stop ringing.”
“Ah.” Daisy nodded. “We went to the early service. Ana’s one of those weirdoes who gets up at the crack of dawn.”
“Seven is hardly the crack of dawn,” Ana said.
“So… noon?” For some strange reasons his palms went damp and he lifted a hand to tug on his hat. Daisy’s gaze followed the movement and her lips turned up at the corners.
“Sure. I’ll see you then.” She was still smiling, eyes locked on his when she seemed to remember Ana was present. “We, I mean. Both of us.”
Lane nodded, sent another wave at Rocky and stepped out of the bakery. The soft rain pattered down, dotting the pink cardboard. He could feel a goofy smile plastered to his face but couldn’t seem to wipe it off. Seeing her made his day, plain and simple. If it weren’t for the nagging reality of the summer’s end, life would be about perfect. As it was, this feeling he had for Daisy was bittersweet to the core.
***
Daisy watched Lane walk out the door and wished she could run after him. Hot cop aside, he made her feel safe. It had been annoying in the beginning but his protective stance and gentle words were something she had grown to love. She shot a glance at Ana, who raised her eyebrows. She wanted someone to tell her what to do. She wanted a responsible adult to walk over, put their arm around her shoulders and whisper directions in her ear. But that wasn’t going to happen.
Leaving Liberty Page 19
