Officer Daddy

by Jacqueline Diamond

  He changed into street clothes, tensing whenever someone entered the locker room. Things were in the wind today, and he assumed he’d get a summons to the captain’s office to receive his share of bad news.

  The summons came, all right. He was on his way out when the chief’s secretary stopped him. “Leo? Chief Walters would like to see you in his office,” she said.

  His gut knotted. Why was the chief involved? As far as Leo was concerned, he hadn’t committed any major screwups. But the captain might see it differently.

  This time, walking through the station, he definitely caught a buzz and a lot of sideways glances. The sooner he got this over with, the better.

  Chapter Twenty

  Nora felt as if she wore a path between the hospital and the medical building on Tuesday. Three deliveries had to be squeezed between patient appointments, and even though her staff allowed a bit of wiggle room in her schedule, she got plenty of exercise jogging to and fro.

  Exercise was good for her baby, but later on she would have to slow down. It occurred to her that performing deliveries and surgery might get awkward when she stuck out to there, both in terms of her stance and of her stamina. On the other hand, staff members catered to surgeons. All you had to do was mention you were hungry or thirsty, and someone fetched refreshments. Too bad that didn’t happen everywhere she went!

  During her spare moments at the hospital, she found the nurses humming with the news about May’s resignation. In the afternoon, Samantha stopped by as Nora was leaving Labor and Delivery to apologize for not keeping closer tabs on the counseling center.

  “It’s not as if you could have foreseen what Ted was up to,” Nora said as they paused in front of the hospital nursery. She enjoyed stopping here to see the infants she’d delivered.

  “No, but I basically left you to fend for yourself, and that’s not right,” the tall pediatrician replied. “I appreciate how you and Leo helped Suzy and her boyfriend.”

  “I had no idea there’d be so much drama in doing a little volunteer work.” Nora studied the tiny faces of the infants, some sleeping, some gazing about contentedly. Delicate hands waved, little bodies wiggled and here and there a cry—muted by the glass—summoned a soothing nurse.

  How amazing that in another seven months, one of those would be hers.

  “Everything in life’s full of drama, isn’t it?” Sam replied. “Hope to see you there again.” With a wave, she was off.

  As Nora lingered for another delicious moment, a young woman in a hospital gown strolled up, holding the arm of her beaming husband. They peered through the observation window, exclaiming over their child.

  “His ears are just like my brother’s,” observed the woman.

  “They’re exactly like my dad’s,” her husband teased.

  “No way! Your dad has weird ears.” The new mom poked him in the side.

  “So does your brother.” He caught her hand. “Come to think of it, so do you.”

  They both dissolved into laughter.

  Envy at their closeness burned into Nora. Where would Leo be in seven months? Here with her? Or somewhere else, perhaps with someone else?

  She turned away quickly. A few steps farther, her phone vibrated, and the readout identified the caller as her father.

  “Hi, Dad.” She strolled into the nearest physicians’ lounge. “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, except for the fact that I’m late for your birthday again.” Dwight Halvorsen’s voice sounded drier than ever now that he’d reached his mid-sixties.

  “That’s become a tradition.” She took a comfortable chair.

  “I’m sending you a present,” he said. “The newly revised version of my biology textbook. It’s dedicated to you.”

  “To me?” Nora hadn’t expected that. “Thanks, Dad. That’s a wonderful birthday present.”

  “Good!” He sounded relieved. “I never know what to buy you.”

  “I’m kind of old for presents, anyway.”

  “You’re never too old for presents,” her father said cheerily. “Also, I have some news.”

  “Really?” Normally, little changed in her father’s world. Until his retirement, he’d taught and worked in his lab, and during the past year, he’d spent his time updating the textbook.

  “Now that I’m done shepherding all those revisions into print, I’ve decided to take on a new challenge. I’m going to spend the fall semester in Tucson, teaching a seminar and working on a research project at the University of Arizona.”

  “Congratulations!”

  “Retirement doesn’t suit me. I have too much drive.”

  “Good! You’ll be happier if you stay active.”

  As they discussed his plans for next fall, Nora reflected on how comfortably the two of them talked about work. They’d always shared a love of biology. Anything personal was another matter. Throughout her divorce, she’d spared her father the painful details, deliberately giving the impression that she and Reese had parted amicably.

  Well, she could hardly keep her pregnancy secret. And she had no idea how to soft-pedal the fact that she was having this baby alone.

  “Dad?”

  He broke off a description of his recent visit to Biosphere 2, the site near Tucson of some innovative biological experiments. “What is it, honey?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “I’m going to be a grandfather?” His voice filled with joy. “When are you due? Can I come out for the delivery?”

  She hadn’t expected that reaction. Awkwardly phrased questions and a stilted attempt at reassurance, perhaps. But not this rush of excitement.

  “Of course. I’m due in November.” Then everything spilled out. How much she’d wanted a baby during her marriage and how devastated she’d been by Reese’s betrayal. Meeting Leo, getting pregnant, trying to figure out their roles.

  Her father listened patiently. When she wound down, he said, “Do you love him?”

  Could this be her father asking such an intimate thing? Amazing. “Yes,” Nora said.

  “More than you loved Reese?”

  “Yes,” she said again, without hesitation. “Why do you ask?”

  “I never much liked that man,” her dad said. “Too oily. But if you were happy, I was happy.”

  “You didn’t tell me that!” She’d had no idea her father didn’t care for Reese.

  “We never talk about these things,” he said. “But you’re grown now. I don’t have to protect you from my feelings.”

  “Protect me? I thought I was protecting you!”

  “What on earth gave you that idea?” The pitch of his voice arched with astonishment, like a raised eyebrow.

  “I was always so awkward and clumsy,” Nora said. “In my love life, I mean. I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

  “Embarrass me? I was afraid you’d pick up on how tone-deaf I am about relationships. I couldn’t believe your mother married me and put up with my bumbling manners. The way I forget birthdays and holidays, and wear clothes till they fall apart.”

  “That’s what I’m like, too. Well, not the part about my clothes, but I had zero fashion sense before I married Reese.” His tutelage on how to dress for success was one of the few positives she’d retained from her marriage. “I was this complete social disaster.”

  “You’re the most beautiful, graceful woman in the world! Any man who doesn’t appreciate that doesn’t deserve you.”

  She wished her dad was right here instead of a couple of hours’ drive away in Santa Barbara, so she could hug him. “That’s the sweetest thing you ever said to me, Dad.”

  “I wish I’d said it years ago.”

  “I love you.”

  “That goes double for me. The day you were born was the most wonderful day of my life.” Impishly, he added, “I’m expecting a certain day in November to be a close second, though.”

  They talked awhile longer about his plans to rent out the house and find a place in Tucson. Afterward Nora took a much
-needed trip to the ladies’ room. Washing her hands, she studied her face in the mirror.

  Classic oval. Green eyes. Blond hair tucked into a practical bun. How many times over the years had people told her she was beautiful? She’d never felt that way, though. Now, crinkles formed at the edges of her mouth and pregnancy had given her a slight puffiness.

  To Reese, she probably looked past her prime. But she didn’t see herself through Reese’s eyes anymore.

  Nora liked the wrinkles, because she’d earned them during years of helping other people. She liked her eyes, too. Not because of their color or shape but because they served their function well—to examine patients, to observe friends, to enjoy the sight of babies in the nursery.

  As for her body, so what if it had a tendency to put on weight? Her hands were steady in surgery, and her legs carried her between her office and the hospital. Most important, her womb held a healthy baby.

  Whether she was beautiful or plain, slender or stocky, young or coasting toward middle age no longer mattered. For the first time in her life, Nora truly liked what she saw in the mirror.

  THE CHIEF’S OFFICE OCCUPIED a large corner of the second floor, in the front of the police station. It was twice as large as the captain’s, with a conference table and a view of the Civic Center complex.

  As he entered, Leo saw three other men present: Chief Jon Walters, a fifty-something man with cropped sandy hair, pale eyes and military bearing; Captain Reed and Sergeant Hough. Receiving a nod from the chief, Leo took the only vacant seat in a semicircle around the large desk.

  “Your name seems to come up frequently these days.” The chief studied him levelly. Walters never tried to act chummy with the officers, but was both fair and reasonably friendly. “As you may have heard, Roy Hightower called to withdraw his earlier complaint. In fact, he seems impressed with you.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Leo knew he hadn’t been summoned here for that, so he waited for whatever came next.

  The chief lifted a sheet of stationery. Even at this angle, Leo recognized the Safe Harbor Medical Center letterhead. “I received a letter from Dr. Samantha Forrest complimenting your volunteer work at the Edward Serra counseling center. It seems you went above and beyond in assisting a young man through a crisis.”

  “He’s a good kid,” Leo said carefully. “I was glad to help.” From outside, he heard the vroom of a motorcycle circling the building, but otherwise the soundproofing in here was impressive.

  “One more recommendation.” The chief folded his hands on the desk. “Officer Hartman credits you with identifying the suspect in the situation involving Councilman High tower’s son. She says you broke the case by developing community contacts.”

  Patty could easily have stayed silent and received the credit. After all, she’d written the report, and Leo had no doubt that Mike Aaron had spoken up strongly on her behalf. “We worked on it as a team.”

  “He may not have heard the resolution,” Captain Reed put in. “After Chong admitted harassing the young woman, he apologized to the Nguyen family and offered to make amends by spending four weekends delivering flowers. They’ve requested that we drop any charges. The D.A. has the final decision, but I’m sure he’ll take that into consideration.”

  “No other data was stolen from the computers?” Leo asked.

  “The counseling center and the hospital are still determining that,” the chief said. “They seem optimistic. Oh, and one more thing. Congratulations. You’ll make a great detective.”

  For a moment, Leo didn’t move, because he wasn’t sure what he’d heard. Then the chief came around the desk with his hand extended. Leo scrambled to his feet and shook it.

  The captain and sergeant added their congratulations, with handshakes all around. In a daze, Leo thanked them all. Questions bubbled in his brain but he held them in check. No sense spoiling the moment merely to satisfy his curiosity.

  “I imagine you’ve heard that Officer Horner is our new public information officer,” the chief added.

  “Yes. He’ll do a great job.” What about Patty? It seemed impolitic to ask, however, so Leo hung on to his patience.

  “Glad to see you moving up. You deserve this,” the chief said.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Out in the hallway, Hough disappeared for some task of his own. “Mike will help you with the transition, starting tomorrow,” the captain said as the two of them walked toward the detective bureau.

  Leo was still trying to absorb the fact that he’d received the promotion. At least now he might ask the question foremost on his mind. “What about Patty?”

  “She’s been informed of our choice. She seemed pleased.” Reed didn’t elaborate. Might as well ask about another matter, as well.

  “What was all that about pressuring Dr. Kendall? Some kind of test?”

  Reed gave him a wry smile. “The reason I decided to assess the three of you is that I had certain concerns about each of you and I wanted to see how they’d play out.”

  “If you don’t mind my asking, what was your concern about me?” Leo kept his voice too low to be overheard by anyone passing by.

  “Anger issues,” the captain said. “I figured if I pushed hard enough, you might blow.”

  “So that’s what you were doing.” Leo didn’t like to think how close he’d come to losing his temper.

  “That’s nothing compared to how attorneys will push you in court. There’ll be a strong temptation to use sarcasm or let your resentment show, but it’s all a game to them. You win by denying them a reaction.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “I have a feeling I’m just telling you what you already know.”

  “Never hurts to hear it again.”

  At the entrance to the bureau, Leo noticed that every desk seemed occupied for a change. No doubt word had spread that promotions were on the line this afternoon. Although he caught a number of sideways glances, no one reacted overtly as he and Reed crossed the large room. Then Leo spotted Patty standing by Mike’s desk.

  Her gaze met his. And she came rushing over, grinning. “You son of a gun, way to go!” She gave him a whack on the shoulder and a big handshake.

  The room erupted with movement. Now that the ice had been broken and the promotion revealed, Leo was engulfed with congratulations and offers to meet for a beer after work at the Corner Tavern. He accepted with pleasure.

  Half an hour later, he finally got a moment alone with Patty in the parking lot. “Thanks for giving me credit.” He studied her plain, honest face with its stubborn square jaw. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

  “Yeah. I’m pleased, actually.” She shrugged. “I’m not saying I’d have turned it down, but Mike was pushing a little too hard in my corner. It wasn’t fair, so I spoke up. Anyway, the captain wouldn’t have given it to me.”

  Leo remembered Reed’s concerns. He hadn’t mentioned specifics about the other candidates, of course. “Why not?”

  “He said I have potential but I don’t guard my tongue enough. He was worried about what I might say in court. And he’s right.” She cleared her throat. “Now that it’s over, Mike offered me a job with his detective agency, like we figured. I said yes.”

  “I hope you aren’t leaving because of me.” It meant a lot to Leo to keep his former partner as a friend.

  “No, and I’m not saying anything officially until next week. I don’t want to rain on your parade.”

  “I hate to see you go.” That was putting it mildly.

  “Hey, it’s not like I’m moving away. The truth is, being a P.I. sounds like an adventure. I can set my own hours and, yeah, there’ll be boring assignments, and there’ll still be paperwork, but it’s less bureaucratic.” Patty glanced over as a black-and-white pulled into the lot. “I’m going to miss patrolling with you.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I’m still invited over to play pool, though, right?”

  “Anytime.”

  “See you at the Taver
n.”

  In his car, Leo dialed the person he most wanted to share this news with. He missed her and wanted to make up for how short he’d been with her yesterday.

  He’d be earning more money now. Still working long hours as the caseload required, but not the rotating shifts that played havoc with his body clock and his personal life. That meant they could spend more time together.

  He’d like that. A lot. This waking up alone got old. And while he wasn’t looking forward to sleepless nights with a crying baby, he’d gladly endure them to experience close, loving moments with little Einstein/Socrates.

  And, especially, close, loving moments with Nora.

  When she answered, the warm tone of her voice felt like a caress. “I got it!” he said, and proceeded to fill her in on the afternoon’s events.

  “That’s wonderful.” She sounded thrilled. “Want to come over for dinner and celebrate? I don’t promise to cook but I can pick up some outstanding Italian food.”

  He laughed. “Great. I promised to meet a few colleagues for a beer. Is seven too late?”

  “I have a few errands to run myself,” she said. “Seven will be perfect.”

  Errands. That reminded him. On his way over, he’d stop at Rose’s Posies and pick up a bouquet. Nora ought to enjoy that.

  Too bad he couldn’t ply her with wine. One way or another, he had to persuade her to let him stay at her place for more than just the occasional overnight visit. Moving in together ought to suit them both. They could still keep it light, still stay friends.

  After what had happened today, Leo was almost certain he had luck on his side.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  On her way home, Nora stopped by The Baby Bump to buy a couple of maternity outfits. She chose trim slacks with expandable tummies; cleverly designed tops that could be unsnapped for nursing; and a flattering pink dress with a scooped neck.

  She deserved pretty clothes. And she intended to enjoy every moment of this pregnancy—those moments when she wasn’t upchucking or soaking her feet.