In Your Dreams

by Kristan Higgins

  "Right. A bit terrifying, isn't she?" Tom grinned. "At any rate, they've got a group of at-risk kids. The usual lot--hoodlums and the like--and she's looking for a chemistry tutor. I help out with math from time to time."

  "Did Honor tell you to ask me?"

  "Spot-on, mate. She said it might be good for you."

  Honor. Always trying to run the world (and succeeding much of the time, he'd admit). But the thought of being around teenagers other than his niece and maybe Charlie, Tom's stepson, gave him pause.

  They'd all know Josh Deiner.

  "Levi's deputy runs the program. Emmaline Neal. You two are friends, aren't you?"

  Jack looked up. "Yes. We are."

  "I'm surprised she didn't ask you herself."

  Jack wasn't. "I'll talk to her."

  "Brilliant. Thanks, mate!" Tom clapped him on the shoulder and went off, whistling.

  *

  EMMALINE PEERED AT the faux hostage taker. "What did she do that made you mad?" she asked.

  "She took the last Twinkie. Those were for my apocalypse shelter. Now what will I have for dessert?"

  "Atta girl, Shirley," said Jamie, the badass instructor. "Sounds crazy, class, but I swear, you can't make this shit up."

  Em tried not to smile, but damn! This sure beat out Consciousness and Form in Eighteenth-Century England, which she'd had to take her junior year. (She'd gotten a B-. She was fairly sure she'd be getting an A in Crisis Negotiations). Jamie, who was a negotiator with the state police in Buffalo, was filled with stories, curses and good advice. "Em, what's your response to Crazy-Pants here?"

  "Stole your Twinkies, huh? That's not good," she said. "I love them. Thought I'd tear my hair out when they stopped making them. Good thing they're back on the shelves, right?"

  "She's establishing empathy, people, and creating a bond between herself and the hostage taker. Keep it up, Neal!"

  "You know, I can get you some more Twinkies," Emmaline said. "I can bring them inside and we can talk."

  "I can't risk that," Shirley said. "There are zombies everywhere." The rest of the class snorted.

  "That's okay," Em said. "I'm really fast. And I don't want you to go without Twinkies."

  "Fantastic, kids," Jamie said. "We have to call it a day, but good job, everyone! Your homework is to read chapters four through six and deal with your in-laws without losing your cool. Think you can handle that?"

  "If ever there was a time to barricade myself in a room with a gun," muttered Ingrid, a cop from Ithaca.

  Jamie came over and leaned against Em's desk. "You're doing great in this class," she said. "You ever think about working for us?"

  "I've only been a cop for nine months," she said.

  "So? Think about it," she said. "There'd be more chances to climb the ladder than in your department."

  That was true. Levi wasn't going anywhere.

  The state police handled the big stuff for a town like Manningsport--if there was an actual hostage situation, for example, it'd be the job of the local police force to keep everyone calm until the staties got there and took over. Homicides, kidnappings, bank robberies--not that they were commonplace occurrences--were handed over to the big kids.

  It was a thought. She wouldn't leave the Manningsport Police Department anytime soon, but maybe someday.

  She radioed in when she was ten minutes from town, got a request from Everett to pick up donuts. Before the station had moved to the new emergency services building, it had been right on the town green, spitting distance from Lorelei's Sunrise Bakery. Everett had dropped ten pounds since the summer and much mourned the move.

  Faith Cooper was inside, hands on her pregnant belly. "Hey, Faith," Emmaline said.

  "Hi! How are you, Em? How was the wedding?"

  "It was great. I, uh, I owe your brother something nice. He was a champ."

  "Well, if you're giving out presents, don't forget me," Faith said with a smile. "It was my idea, after all. So he was a good date?"

  "Very good." So, so good. The memory of Jack on top of her, kissing her, made her left knee buckle. But then it was Faith's turn at the counter, and so Emmaline was spared further conversation.

  Didn't stop the thoughts from coming, though.

  *

  "WIPE YOUR FEET," Carol Robinson ordered Jack as he walked into the police station. She looked up. "Oh, it's you, Jack. How are you, sweetheart? Still feeling famous? How's the Deiner boy?"

  "Hey, Mrs. Robinson," Jack said. He'd gone to school with one of her sons and had fond memories of her chocolate chip cookies. "You look beautiful in that color."

  Carol beamed, her questions forgotten. "Call me Carol," she said. "Why are you still single, Jack? Oh, wait, I forgot. You got divorced. Do you want to marry my daughter?"

  Levi emerged from his office and handed Carol some papers. "Stop matchmaking," he said to her. "Come on in, Jack."

  Levi's office was tidy and bureaucratic-looking, except for rather a lot of pictures of Faith. And an ultrasound of the mini Cooper. "How's my sister?" Jack asked, always a little uncomfortable talking to the guy who slept with her. Curse of the brother.

  "She's good. Another few weeks to go."

  "You nervous?"

  "Terrified." Levi smiled. He'd make a great father. Levi was one of those guys who was born to be a family man.

  Jack sat down. "You heard anything about Josh?"

  Levi's gaze dropped to his desk, then went back to Jack. "No change. I check in with his parents every night."

  "That's good of you."

  "Sorry to hear about the lawsuit against you."

  Jack shrugged. "I understand." Couldn't blame them, either. You left him for last. The one who needed you most...

  "So what can I do for you?" Levi asked.

  "I'm here to see Emmaline, actually. Is she around?"

  Levi started to answer, then stopped. His eyes narrowed. "Did you sleep with her?"

  Guess he was a cop for good reason. Jack didn't answer.

  "Be careful," Levi said. "She's like a sister to me."

  "And my sister's like a sister to me."

  Levi gave a begrudging nod. "Point taken. Em should be here soon. She was at a class in Penn Yan and has a thing tonight with her at-risk kids, but she said she'd stop by."

  "That's what I wanted to talk to her about. The kids. Heard they need a chemistry tutor."

  At that moment, Emmaline came in, tossed a box of donuts on Everett's desk and said something that made him laugh.

  A jolt went through Jack. Emmaline was in her uniform and wore a bulky jacket, a gun, a radio and a few other things on her belt. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and her cheeks were pink from the cold.

  And she was smiling.

  Until she saw him, that was, and the smile dropped. "Hey, Chief."

  "Deputy," Levi said. "How was the class?"

  "It was fantastic. I get to taze someone next week."

  "You and that Taser. Enjoy."

  "I will." Her eyes flickered to him. "Jack. How are you?"

  He stood up. "I'm fine. I'm here to see you, actually."

  "Got a complaint to file?"

  "No." He waited, and her cheeks got even redder.

  "Didn't you two go to a wedding together?" Carol asked. "Are you dating? Levi, I'm leaving. It's almost five, and the neighbors are coming for dinner."

  "Lucky neighbors," Jack said.

  "Oh, you!" Carol, who was about a foot shorter than Jack, wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a hug. "Come visit me sometime."

  "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?" Jack countered.

  "I've thought about it," she said. "I might be a tiny bit old for you. Ask Emmaline instead. She'll go out with you."

  "Is that true, Em?"

  "In your dreams," Em said.

  Damn, she was cute.

  "I'm leaving, too," Levi said. "Jack, see you around." He left, holding the door for Carol. Everett was clicking through some pictures, his cheeks b
ulging with donuts.

  Jack looked down at Emmaline, who was fidgeting with her jacket zipper. "Hi," he said.

  "Hi." Tone not encouraging.

  "I hear you need a chemistry tutor for your group of kids."

  "How'd you know that?"

  "Tom Barlow."

  "Right." She folded her arms across her chest. "We do. You in?"

  "Yep. You could've asked me yourself."

  "We meet every Tuesday night in the church basement at Trinity Lutheran. If you can't make tonight, come by next--"

  "I can make tonight."

  She gave a nod. "Okay, I have to run home, change, walk my dog and eat something. See you there."

  "Or I could come with you. Meet your dog." Watch you change. "Come on, Emmaline. I thought we were friends."

  She didn't answer.

  "Look," he said quietly. "The truth is, I like talking to you. I like being with you. My life is kind of a mess right now. I can't sleep, my ex-wife is hanging around and now I'm screwing up at work. So yeah, I have...issues. You were right. I'm not looking for a relationship, but I could really use a friend."

  "Okay," she said almost before he finished. "I'm sorry if I was rude the other night. I can do friends."

  "Thank you."

  The blush flared again. "You won't thank me when you see what I have for dinner."

  *

  OKAY, SO THIS was...nice, Em thought as they left the police station. Her kids' group did need a science tutor. And if Jack wanted a friend, well, hell, she liked him, too. She could handle friendship. She'd love to be friends. Naked friends.

  No, no, none of that, she cautioned herself.

  Jack was looking for a distraction. He had just admitted he didn't want a relationship. Friends with clothes on, that's what they'd be.

  They left the building, and Em broke into a run. Levi was crouched on the sidewalk, talking to someone on the ground. "Chief?" she said, drawing her radio. "Everything okay?"

  Ah.

  Hadley Boudreau was scenically arranged on the ground, her dress hiked up, just shy of slutty and just enough to show that she was wearing thigh-high stockings, the tops of which were lace. And really. It was eighteen degrees out. Full battalion makeup, perfectly applied. Em had never been able to pull off red lipstick, but Hadley sure knew what she was doing.

  "Just trying to convince Ms. Boudreau to go to the hospital and get this checked out," Levi said, giving Em a significant look.

  Em glanced over her shoulder at Jack. "I think this belongs to you," she said to him, then looked back at Scarlett O'Hara.

  And like Scarlett, Hadley Boudreau had a way with men and a calculating look in her eye.

  "I think my pride's hurt more than anything else, Chief Cooper. Jack, I was driving past and saw your truck, figured I'd catch you and then the next thing I knew, I'm ass over teakettles here on the ground."

  "Imagine that," Jack said, his tone sawdust-dry.

  Good for him.

  Hadley started to move, then pursed her cherry lips in pain.

  Em tried not to roll her eyes. She wondered how long it had taken Hadley to arrange herself so just the right amount of thigh was showing. "Can you put any weight on it?" she asked.

  "Oh, Chief!" Hadley said. "I heard you're married to Jack's sister! She's the sweetest thing. I always thought of her as a kindred spirit."

  Em sure as hell hoped not, for Levi's sake. She clicked on her radio. "Gerard, get your lazy ass out here. We have a casualty in the parking lot."

  "Roger that," Gerard said.

  Hadley sliced a look Em's way. "I don't mean to inconvenience anyone," she said, an edge to her perfectly lovely husky voice.

  "They're right here. No inconvenience at all," Emmaline said.

  "I just need a hand up. Jack? I feel like an idiot already--don't make me lie here all the livelong day."

  "Let's wait for the professionals," Jack said.

  The door opened, and Gerard ambled out. Then, catching sight of a fallen and very beautiful female, he accelerated into a gallop. "What've we got here?" he asked, kneeling next to Hadley.

  "Might need to be amputated," Emmaline said. Levi raised an eyebrow at her. Right. She was in uniform and was therefore required to be nice to idiots.

  "I just need a little help," Hadley said. "I'm sure you're a wonderful paramedic, Mr. Chartier--" Gerard's name was stitched on his jacket "--but Jack and I used to be married. He can help me." Her tone was firm and friendly.

  Jack sighed and went over. Emmaline followed. "Up you go," he said, offering his hand to his ex-wife.

  "Maybe if you didn't wear three-inch heels in the snow, you wouldn't trip," Emmaline observed.

  "A lady always wears heels," she said, seizing Jack's hand. He pulled her up, and she collapsed against him. He caught her right on cue.

  "Oh, dang," she said, tears filling her big brown eyes. She gave an awkward hop.

  "That looks pretty bad," Gerard said. "Definitely a sprain, judging from the bruising. Let me take you to the hospital for an X-ray."

  "No, no, it's just a sprain. Um...Jack, I hate to ask, but would you mind driving me home?"

  "Yeah, Jack. Would you mind?" Emmaline echoed.

  He gave her a look.

  "Get an X-ray," Levi said.

  "No, no, I'll just get on home and pop it up on some pillows. Ice, compression, elevation, right, Mr. Chartier?"

  "Call me Gerard. And, yes, exactly," Gerard said, smiling at her like a proud teacher. The guy was such a flirt. "Throw in some Motrin and call it a day."

  Well, Em had to give it to Hadley. Anyone could fake a fall in a parking lot. It took real commitment to actually injure yourself.

  Hadley deigned to glance at her, and Em saw the gleam there. And Hadley knew she saw it, based on the twitch of lips. Watch, listen and learn, Yankee. This is how it's done.

  "This is downright embarrassing," Hadley said, "but I think you're gonna have to carry me to the car, Jack."

  Jack sighed and picked her up.

  Em had the impression there would be many more sprained ankles in Hadley's future. "Have fun," she said, starting for her car.

  "Em, wait," Jack said. "I'll just be a few minutes."

  "Oh, no, you should take care of Blanche DuBois here."

  "It's Hadley," the other woman said sweetly.

  "Em--" Jack began.

  "I don't really want to have a conversation around the body in your arms," she said. "Have fun, kids."

  *

  BECAUSE THE OPERA HOUSE didn't have an elevator, Jack ended up carrying Hadley up the stairs.

  "I really do appreciate this, Jack," she said as he set her down. She leaned against the door frame and got her keys out. "I guess I just forgot how dang slippery it gets around here. Oh, well." She smiled and opened the door. "Would you mind just coming in for a second? I did want to talk to you, after all. And maybe you could grab me an ice pack. I'm so sorry to inconvenience you. Really, Jack."

  Right. If her ankle hadn't been bruised, he would've thought she'd staged the whole thing. It was right up her alley; she'd once confessed to him (while in bed) that she'd crashed her bike on purpose to get the attention of a football player in college.

  She hobbled inside, and Jack closed his eyes for a minute, then followed. He couldn't just dump her here, as much as he might want to.

  Sharon and Jim Stiles kept this apartment for people just like Hadley, folks who'd be in town for a few months at a time. Faith had rented it out when she'd first moved back from San Francisco, and Colleen's husband had stayed here over the summer when his uncle was sick. It was a cute little place, furnished and stocked with china and glasses and that sort of thing.

  Way too easy for Hadley to make herself at home.

  "It's so good to be back here," she said as he opened the freezer and grabbed a bag of peas, since she didn't seem to have an ice pack. "Frankie came up last weekend, and we were both real sorry you weren't around."

  "I was away with Emmaline,"
he said.

  Hadley jerked, then recovered. "Is that right," she murmured, sweeping her hair around to one side. She smiled as he handed her the peas. "Thank you, Jack. Um, would you mind getting a bandage? I think there's a first aid kit in the bathroom."

  He said nothing but obeyed. The bathroom counter was laden with little baskets filled with bottles of perfume, makeup and other girlie stuff.

  Looked like she was planning to stay awhile.

  He grabbed the kit and a bottle of Motrin and went back to the living room. "Here you go. I have to run," he said.

  "Do you think you could wrap my ankle?" she said. "I'm sorry, I just...I'm clumsy. As you could tell, I guess. I feel so stupid. Bad enough to be the town pariah. Now I'm the clumsy town pariah." Her expression was rueful.

  "You're not a pariah," he said.

  "If you say so. I've been getting dirty looks since I moved back."

  Moved back. He didn't like the sound of that.

  "Which I guess is what I deserve."

  He sat down next to her, and she reached under her skirt and pulled off her stocking with a businesslike motion, which surprised him. He would've expected a striptease. Her skin was cold and smooth, the joint fairly swollen. He felt a pang of sympathy.

  "Did you ever tell people why we split up?" she asked as he wrapped her ankle.

  "They figured it out, Hadley."

  "Jack," she began, her voice husky. "If I could undo what I did--"

  "I appreciate the thought," he said. "There. You're all set."

  "I know you're still hurt--"

  "No, not anymore."

  "But the thing is, I've learned so much. I was so young then."

  "Not that young, Hadley."

  "You're right. I was immature. I like to think I'm smarter now, at least smart enough to know you were the best thing that ever happened to me. And it wasn't all bad, was it? Here. Look what I brought."

  She reached over and grabbed a book off the table. One of those photo albums you make online, and on the cover was a picture of the two of them in Central Park. "Remember?" she said. "We had so much fun that weekend. You took me skating at Rockefeller Center. And that dinner we had, at the place with the view of the Chrysler Building, and we laughed so hard? Remember that?"

  "I do, Hadley. You're right. We had some happy times. I also remember the lying, the tantrums, the spending and the cheating."

  "I'd make it up to you."

  "You can't undo something like that," he said.

  "But you could forgive me. And I am so sorry."

  "You're forgiven. Doesn't mean I want to get back together, Hadley."

  "I think you do. I think you're just angry. If you'd give me another chance, Jack, just one..."