by Clare Revell
Oops. She hoped her mistake with his name would go unseen, but Luke put a hand over hers. He’d noticed it.
“Probably not. So, what shall we do?”
“Re-write it from another angle. Use your thesaurus?” she asked, trying to remember writer’s terminology.
He shot her a grateful smile, visibly calming. “Yeah, but not today. I don’t write on a Sunday.”
“We could all go for a walk?” Carole suggested.
Luke shook his head. “It’s too late, not that Sara can walk far, anyway.”
“I can hobble.” Sara knew full well he’d not let her even step outside the front door.
“You need to rest today.”
She rolled her eyes at the firmness in his voice. “Yes, sir. What about a board game, then? There’s a couple in the sideboard.”
Carole smiled. “Sounds good. We play a lot on those long winter nights when there’s nothing on the TV.”
Sara finished her coffee and smiled. “That’s every night, then. Six hundred channels and nothing worth watching.”
She put her cup down as Luke went over to the sideboard and took out a few games. He set them where she could reach without stretching too far. They chose a spelling game and began. The game was fast and furious, with much debate over his American spellings.
He won the argument every time, though, by pulling out his cell phone with its built-in dictionary and showing it to Sara. Technology. She lost to technology.
****
After tea, Dave and Carole left to go to the evening service. Luke saw them out, and as he came back into the room, Sara stood. Obviously, she didn’t want to be in the same room as him. “Where are you going, Sara?”
“I’m going make a start on the memory book.”
“OK. I’ll be in here if you want me.”
“I thought I had to be watched twenty-four seven.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “And I thought you said you weren’t a child. We’ll compromise. I want the door left open.”
“Fine.”
Left to himself, Luke pulled out the printouts he’d done and started going through them, making notes as he went. He’d rather be out on the streets hunting down this guy, than babysitting someone who didn’t attempt to hide the fact that she hated his presence. The sooner he went through this and collated it with what he already knew, the sooner this would be over, and he could go home.
He took a deep breath. Only it wasn’t that simple, was it? He liked her. He liked her a lot. Oh, she was as stubborn as a bull and fought like a grizzly bear, but there was something about her that made his heart sing and his stomach fill with butterflies. He’d never felt like that about anyone before. Well, there was his tenth grade crush on Annabel Fremantle, but that didn’t count.
Neither did his college romance with Jennifer Dingle. That had ended before it’d had barely begun, when she moved on to another. Since then, he’d sworn off women and concentrated on work. Until Sara, who was work, got thrust upon him. He shifted in his chair. He’d known her less than a week. She wound him up like there was no tomorrow, and he was falling for her.
Even if things were different, and he wasn’t her bodyguard, she wouldn’t be interested in him. She was in love with her dead husband. She was carrying that man’s child. Sara was off limits, pure and simple. Only it wasn’t, was it? His emotions weren’t simple, and they sure weren’t pure when it came to the woman whose life rested in his hands.
****
Sara sat in front of the computer and logged onto the Internet. She sent an e-mail to the group she belonged to, apologized for her long absence, and let them know she was back. She glanced towards the door. Not seeing Luke anywhere, she clicked on the chat site she used before any of this happened.
Scrolling down the page, she noticed there were people she knew in the room and quickly typed a message. A new name came up on the screen, one she recognized from the group e-list. She’d met him before Jamie ever appeared on the scene. She typed, “Hi Oscar. How are you?”
“Hey, you. LTNS. Talk on instant message?”
Sara glanced over to the door again. Surely he wouldn’t begrudge her speaking to an old friend for a couple of minutes. “Sure.”
She reloaded her web-based email and changed the chat function to visible. Almost immediately, the message appeared from Oscar. “So where have you been, Charis?”
“Nowhere much. Broke my leg and needed surgery to fix it.”
“Thought you were enjoying married life so much you’d forgotten me.”
“Just didn’t have any net access.” Sara minimized the screen as the door opened, and Luke stuck his head around it. Guilt flooded her. She shouldn’t be doing this. He’d turn the Internet off or password protect it if he knew.
“Coffee, Sara?”
“Please.” She waited until he had gone before pulling the screen back up.
Oscar’s message blinked. “How is married life then?”
She read what Oscar wrote and sighed. “Not what I had expected.”
“Oh? Problems already?”
“Kind of…it’s complicated. I have to go.”
“Talk again soon, yeah?”
“Sure. Bye.” She signed out and started typing up what she knew about Jamie. After a few minutes, her eyes started to water and felt very heavy. Suddenly they closed, and opening them was too much effort.
****
Luke came in with her coffee. Seeing her slumped over the keyboard, he put down the cup and ran across the room. Had she fainted again? “Sara?”
There was no answer. Luke put a hand on her neck and felt for a pulse. Relief flooded him as he found it strong and steady, and her breathing was deep and regular. She must just be sleeping.
He couldn’t leave her there all night. He swung her into his arms and carried her up the stairs. Laying her on the bed, he covered her. He gazed down at her. Why did she find this so hard and fight him every step of the way? Didn’t she see this was for her own good?
Luke crossed the room and pulled the curtains, shutting out the sea. He pulled the door closed behind him and went back downstairs. He closed down the computer and picked up Sara’s coffee, taking into the kitchen. He dumped it in the sink, washed the cup, and set it on the side to dry. He grabbed the phone.
He glanced at his watch. Was ten-thirty too late to call? He dialed the number and waited while it rang.
A sleepy voice answered. “Hello.”
“Hi, Dave, it’s Luke. Did I wake you?”
“It’s fine, Luke. What’s up? Is Sara all right?”
“She’s sleeping. I’ve disturbed you. I’m sorry.”
“Luke, it’s half-past ten. Ye wouldnae be calling this late unless something was up.”
“You’re my partner. I thought I should talk to you about an issue.”
“So talk.”
“It’s Sara.”
“What about her? Thought ye said she was all right.”
“She is. Thing is, Sara is homesick and lonely. I was wondering if it’d help if we got her aunt up to stay for a couple of weeks.”
There was a pause, and then Dave cleared his throat. “It’s no normal procedure.”
“I know, but Sara misses her so much and worries about how she is. With the baby coming, she needs her family around. The stress is wearing her down. Besides, maybe if I do something for her, she’ll cooperate a little more.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Maybe get her aunt tae visit for a few days or we arrange a call on a secure line. I assume I’m right in thinking ye like Sara?”
“Dave, I barely know her. It’s my job to protect her. I can’t let anything happen to her. My feelings don’t come into this.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Luke shook his head. Are my feelings that transparent? I’ll have to work on it. I would plead the fifth, but that would only confirm it. “No comment.”
“I’ll see ye in the morning. I’ve arranged for a ca
r tae sit out front o’ the house. DC Collins by day and DC Brooks by night. They’ll shadow ye any time ye and Sara go out, but I’ll make a point of being there, as well. Goodnight.”
“Thanks, Dave. Goodnight.”
Turning off the lights, Luke went up to bed, checking on Sara first, pleased she was sleeping and was at least relaxed for a little. “Why do you have to fight me on this? It’d be so much easier if you worked with me here.”
Luke sighed and closed the door. It wouldn’t be easy on him later on, though, when this was over. He would miss Sara Nemec. He’d miss his wife.
11
Just before ten o’clock on December fifth, Sara sat in the waiting room of the maternity block. It didn’t matter which hospital department she was in, they all smelled cold, clinical, and depressing. She glanced at Luke who sat next to her. An uneasy truce existed between them.
Sara had immersed herself in her art. If she couldn’t go to the beach, she’d paint it instead. She had to admit Luke was working hard, spending hours on the files and the phone, with Dave in and out all day long.
Dave sat the other side of her. He’d driven them here in the car the police had allocated Luke, showing him how the clutch and gears worked. Luke was going to drive back, never having driven what he called a backwards car before.
Her thoughts turned to the man she’d seen outside the chalet—the reason she was here. Although she’d seen Jamie die and cremated him, part of her wondered if it actually was him. If so, why had he run off? Why hadn’t he come back for her? She nudged Luke. “Do you believe in ghosts?”
“Ghosts? No. Why?”
“Just wondered. What about doppelgangers? You know, they say for every person on the planet, there’s someone exactly like them. A twin, an evil one if you like.”
Luke grinned. “Evil twins? You watch way too many horror movies. I’ll have to put a stop to that.”
Sara pulled a face at him. “I’m trying to be serious here. Dave, what do you think?”
Dave shook his head. “I’m staying out of this one.”
“You want to be serious, Sara, then we’ll be serious.” Luke put on a serious expression. “Why do you ask?”
Sara shook her head, stifling a smile. The guy was incorrigible—with a sense of humor that matched hers to a tee. “I was thinking about that night in Winterton when I saw Jamie outside the chalet.”
“Jamie?” Dave asked incredulously.
“You know, the leftenant gave me the same look when he caught me up. Mind you, I was chasing this guy across a field wearing pajamas.”
Luke grinned. “Now here’s a question. Why was the field wearing pajamas?”
Dave snorted with laughter.
Sara glared at them. “Can’t anyone take me seriously here? I’m not some crazy widow who sees her dead husband on every street corner, and don’t tell me it was a field and not a street corner, either.”
“Sorry, Sara.” Luke adopted a serious expression again, making her want to hit him playfully. Did he realize how cute he looked?
“Yeah, and I would have caught him, except you stopped me. No one believes me, but I know what I saw.”
“You saw his ghost?”
“Ghost, doppelganger, him, I don’t know. He, or someone like him, was standing right there, staring in at me.” She twisted her rings on her finger. “You think I’m crazy?”
“Being pregnant does strange things to a woman.”
Sara raised an eyebrow. “You know this how?”
“I’m an uncle eight times over.” Luke laughed. “Jodie kept signing her maiden name all the time. Not to mention the disgusting combinations of food she ate. Amy, Darren’s wife, sleepwalks. He found her having an animated conversation with a potted palm once.”
“I see. Well, I’m sure the palm tree was a very good conversationalist, but I didn’t imagine Jamie. He was there.” She broke off as the nurse called her name. She pulled herself up on the crutches.
“I’ll wait outside the door with Dave.”
“Expectant fathers don’t do that. They sit there, hold the mother’s hand, and get all weepy at the sight of the unborn baby.”
“You know this how?” Luke asked.
She grinned at him. “Watching too much TV, probably. If I’m honest, I’d far rather you did wait outside the door, but they’ll expect you in there.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.” She followed the nurse into the small room with Luke by her side.
Dave took up position outside the door.
Sara switched her gaze from the exam couch to the crutches. This would be interesting.
“Let me help, hon.” Luke lifted her onto the couch and set her crutches to one side.
Sara lay down and answered the sonographer’s questions about her periods and dates. She still hadn’t said anything to Luke about it being twins. She winced as the sonographer felt for the position of the babies. “Is everything all right?”
“Aye, Mrs. Nemec, everything’s fine. I’m following up what yer GP said in his letter. The gel will be cold.”
Sara turned her head to watch the screen as the picture sprung to life on it. “Wow. It’s a baby.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “No, really.”
Sara could see three arms and two heads. She watched Luke peer at the screen. She smiled as his gaze flew to the sonographer, and his head tilted to the screen. So he’d seen it, too.
He had more than a little concern in his voice and eyes. “What’s wrong with it?”
The sonographer smiled. “Nothing’s wrong with them.”
“Them?” Luke repeated.
Sara moved her gaze back at the screen as the sonographer moved the scanner. The picture changed. There were two babies on the screen as clear as day.
“They’re both fine and nice sizes for yer wife’s due date.”
“Twins.” Sara’s fingers reached out towards the screen.
“Twins?” Luke stared at Sara.
Sara smiled. Was he going to repeat everything? “Yeah, twins.”
“Let me finish the measurements, and I’ll talk ye through what we can see and print ye off some pictures.”
“Thank you.” Tears filled Sara’s eyes. Though she heard their heartbeats last visit, seeing them made them real. “Dr. Scott mentioned there were twins the other day. I hadn’t said because I didn’t know for sure. And I thought seeing them on the scan would be a nice surprise for you.”
“It’s a surprise, OK.” Luke reached out and squeezed her hand. “Do you have twins in your family anywhere, hon?”
Sara shook her head, mindful of the role she was playing. “Not as far as I know. It must be,” she paused, “your side.”
****
Sara left the hospital with Luke on one side and Dave on the other. She smiled, watching their now familiar antics.
Luke’s phone rang. He stood still and pulled it out. “Nemec.”
Sara stopped walking, glancing around as she leant on the crutches. She could smell the sea air and hear the seagulls crying overhead. She glanced at Luke as he hung up. His eyes sparkled. “I got some good news for you.”
“What?” He’d piqued her interest. It must be something really good from the look on his face. As if he was bursting to tell her. That could only mean one thing. “Have they caught Austin?”
“No—better than that?”
What could be better than this being over? “Tell me…”
“I’ve arranged for your aunt to come and stay with us for a couple of days. She’s on her way from the airport now and should arrive in an hour or so.”
Sara squealed with joy and balancing on one crutch, flung her arm around him. “Oh, thank you.”
She kissed him on the lips. Luke automatically kissed her back. As he did so, Sara pulled back and blushed, suddenly aware of what she was doing. She could taste the coffee he’d drank in the waiting area and feel the imprint of his lips on hers. “I…uh, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Dave coughed. “When ye two have quite finished…”
Luke tore his eyes away from Sara. “Yeah, we’re finished. Let’s go home.”
Sara let the two men lead her back to the car. She was walking on air. He’d arranged for her aunt to come and stay. That was the nicest thing anyone could have ever done for her. For a moment, she wished things were different, but they weren’t and wouldn’t ever be.
Sara lowered herself into the back, as Luke held the door open for her. “Thank you.” She grinned as he slid into the driver’s seat. This was going to be interesting. He’d never driven in this country before, so perhaps she could give him some tips.
Luke adjusted the driving mirror and his eyes studied her for a moment. “What?”
“I thought perhaps I should remind you of your cockpit drill, but you look like you know it. That stick in the middle there is the gear stick. The accelerator is on the right. The brake is in the middle. The clutch is on the left and you need to put that down when you change gear else it tends to break the car. I did that once and it wasn’t pretty.”
“I can drive.” Luke poked his tongue out at her.
“Cool. Just remember to drive on the right side of the road.”
Concern, or was it panic, flashed in his eyes. “The right side of the road? I thought you guys drove on the left.”
Sara laughed. “All right then, the correct side of the road.”
Luke shook his head at her and started the car.
****
Luke unlocked the front door and let Sara inside. “Want a hand upstairs?”
“Please. I need to make up a bed for Aunt Mary.” She paused. “I’m sorry I kissed you, I mean…”
“It’s all right, Sara. You don’t need to explain.”
She closed her eyes as he picked her up. His scent flooded her senses. Why did he have to smell so good? The reaction started within her again, but she quashed it.
Luke helped her make the bed.
“Thank you, Leftenant.”
“I wish you’d call me Luke.”
