by Maggie Ryan
"I'm taller,” she crowed.
Sharon couldn’t help but smile. They walked back home together. Megan bounced up and down on Tom’s shoulders and Bobby chatted incessantly about the demolition. Tom patiently answered all his questions. Sharon noticed that a large part of the snow had melted from the sidewalk and water was running in rivulets down the gutters of the street. She could hear the sound of it as it rushed into the town’s drainpipes.
“In a few more days, there’ll hardly be any snow left,” she commented.
“One can only hope,” replied Tom.
Chapter 7
Several days had gone by and he could still barely get any work done. Tom shuffled paperwork from right to left, then back again. If Sharon only knew how much he had thought about her over the years. His mind drifted to the first time he’d ever noticed her. She was in ninth grade and had just made the cheerleading squad. They were practicing near the football field. The girls were all dressed in sweats and had their hair pulled back in ponytails. He watched as Libby McPhearson, the “head” cheerleader, put the squad through their paces. Sharon’s face was all aglow from jumping around. She was concentrating so hard on learning those cheers. He laughed to himself. Those girls took that silly stuff way too serious. They sure looked good doing it though. Especially Sharon.
She was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid his eyes on. The wind ruffled strands of her long blonde hair as it whipped past her head. The afternoon sun highlighted wisps of fine baby hair that had escaped her ponytail. “Go, team!” Sharon executed a perfect jump and landed lightly on her feet.
“Come on, man. Quit lookin at the cheerleaders. It’s time for practice.” His friends lightly punched him in the shoulder and he followed them on down to the field.
His cell phone startled him out of his daydream. He picked it up and looked at the number. It was Sharon! Despite himself, his heart took a little leap.
“Hi.”
“Hi, Tom. I’m sorry to bother you, but I didn’t want to call 911, and I didn’t know what else to do.”
He immediately stood. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing’s wrong, really. Well… I’m a little embarrassed to be calling you like this.”
“What’s wrong, Sharon? You’ve got me worried.”
“Oh gosh, now I feel like a real idiot.”
“Sharon! If you don’t tell me what’s wrong right now, I’m coming over in my squad car, siren squalling and lights blazing.”
“You’re not going to believe this.”
“Sharon!”
“There’s a stray kitten stuck up in a tree in my back yard. It’s a little grey and white tabby, and I went out to the garage to get something, and heard the poor little thing mewling. I tried climbing the tree, but it’s so scared, it just climbed higher, and now I can’t get to it at all. I have a ladder, but it’s too heavy for me to lift. Oh, geez, listen, I’m sorry I bothered you. This is too cliché, even for me. I guess the thing will come down by itself if it gets hungry enough.”
Tom was already out the door and getting into his car. “I’ll be there in five minutes.”
He pulled up at the curb and there stood Sharon at the bottom of a huge oak, trying to coax a tiny kitten down from its perch, high above the ground. It was so small he could barely see it. In this weather, he was sure the poor little thing wouldn’t survive long up there. He put the car in park and got out.
Surveying the scene, he put his hands on his hips and commented, “What a dilemma. Bet you never imagined you’d be calling the chief of police to get a cat out of a tree did you?” He couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear. She smiled back. He crossed the road to her yard.
“No, I have to say I never imagined that. I’m so sorry to bother you. My neighbor’s at work.”
“Nonsense, search and rescue is what we do best.” Sharon giggled. He liked the sound of it. “All right, where is that ladder?”
She led him to the garage. “Right this way. It was here when we moved in. I guess it belongs to the landlord. I can’t manage it.” She pointed to a large ladder mounted on hooks sitting securely against the back wall. Tom walked over to it and gave it a shake.
He lifted it off the hooks and brought it down to the floor. “The landlord probably uses it to clean out the gutters and such. It’s perfect for what we need.”
“Here.” Sharon offered. “Let me help.”
“Little Bits, you get out of the way. You’ll only get hurt.”
Her intake of breath was priceless. “No one’s called me that in fifteen years! I’m not sure the moniker fits anymore.”
“Certainly it does. Now, step out of the way.” She opened the garage door for him, and he carried the ladder out of the garage, across the yard, and to the tree. Looking up, he could see the tiny kitten squalling away. It was hunched over on an upper branch, its tail whisking back and forth in distress. Every time it went, “meeew, meeew,” he could just see its sharp little teeth.
Tom adjusted the ladder and leaned it into position. He stood at the bottom and scratched his head. “I don’t know if this ladder is going to be tall enough for me to get to it. I can’t climb on those upper limbs. They won’t support my weight.” He looked over at Sharon whose eyes were actually beginning to well up with tears. “Now, Sharon, for heaven’s sake, don’t cry. We can always call the fire department and have them bring the cherry picker over.”
“Oh gosh, don’t do that. Then I really will feel like an idiot.” She looked up at mewling little fur ball. “We can’t just leave it up there.”
“No, we can’t. I’ll tell you what. I’ll climb to the top, and just see how far I can get. Maybe the little thing will come to me?”
“All right. I’ll stand here and hold the ladder for you.”
Tom nodded and began his trek. The ladder was sturdy, and he’d placed it in a good position. About halfway up, he looked down at Sharon and did a little wave. She was biting her lip and looking up in concern. “Almost there, don’t worry.”
“Be careful.”
When he reached the top, the kitten began to squall even more as it tried to readjust its position on the precarious branch. He reached out. It was just beyond his fingertips. There was still the very top step left on the ladder. He didn’t want to use it, but he’d come this far, he was going to get that cat. Gingerly placing his foot on the top of the ladder, he used his left hand to hold onto a branch. Leaning right, he quickly snatched the kitten up, not giving it time to move away. Holding it in the crook of his arm, he secured the downy fluff ball inside his jacket. Thankful for his thick shirt, he could just feel the pinch of sharp little claws against his chest. Miraculously, the kitten didn’t struggle too much, though it continued to mewl. By the time he began to make his trek back down the ladder, he heard the kitten’s meow turn into the low vibration of a purr.
“Where’s the cat?” Sharon was looking all around and squinting up into the tree. “Did you get it? I don’t see it. What happened?”
Tom gently patted the small bulge in his jacket. “It’s right here, safe and sound. Let’s leave it alone for a few minutes to give it a chance to recover.” Sharon’s mouth popped open in surprise. She stood close to Tom and looked down his coat.
“My gosh, the thing has its eyes closed.” And indeed, it did. It was also purring away.
“I guess I’ll have to drop it off at the shelter. It’s a shame, too. Most cats get euthanized. There are just not enough people who want them. Sure would make Megan a nice pet. Little girls really like kittens.”
Sharon huffed. “Oh no you don’t.” She stood looking from Tom’s face to the lump in his jacket. “Don’t even think it.”
“You thought enough about that kitten to call me to come rescue it.” He could tell she was beginning to cave. “Megan would love that thing.”
“Yes, she sure would.”
“They don’t eat that much.”
“No, they don’t.”
Sharon wa
s twisting a strand of hair around her finger. Tom remembered that worried gesture from high school. She opened the back door for him. “I hate for you to take the poor little thing to the shelter. I’ve got a box left over from moving. I’ll make it a little bed. Then, I’ll decide what to do with it.”
“Good idea.” He tried not to be too enthusiastic. He didn’t want Sharon to know how much he really did want Megan to have that cat. What was wrong with him? It was just a silly little cat. But Megan was such a sweet little girl.
“Thanks for your help, Tom. You always seem to be around at just the right time.”
He smiled and chuckled. “Kinda why I went into law enforcement in the first place. I like helping people… and kittens.” Sharon laughed.
She found a box and some old towels. She got two small bowls, one for water and one for food. A can of tuna served as the kitty’s first meal. Tom took it gently from his shirt and looked under its belly. “It’s a girl.” He lightly set it down in the box where it immediately began to delicately lap up water with a tiny pink tongue. Then it got down to business eating the tuna.
Sharon stood close beside him and commented, “Poor little thing, no telling how long it’s been since she had any food or water.” As if in gratitude, the kitty looked up, mewled her thanks then went back to eating.
Tom made an observation. “You’ll need to take it to the vet as soon as you can, just to make sure it isn’t sick or has worms or anything.”
They were both leaning over the box watching as the kitten, finally sated, toddled over to a corner, curled up, and went to sleep.
He could smell Sharon’s clean soap and water scent, mixed with a slight floral perfume.
She lightly touched his arm as they straightened up. “You’ve done your good deed for the day, chief.”
He turned toward her. A strand of hair had fallen in her eyes. He brushed it away. “Sharon,” he whispered. She looked up into his face, more beautiful than he had ever seen her. Maturity rested easy on her features. That skinny little cheerleader had grown into a stunning woman. One he’d never been able to get off his mind. He placed his hands on her upper arms. She did not pull away, but leaned toward him.
Reaching up, he bunched the hair at the back of her neck and tilted her face toward his. He took her in his arms, bent down, and kissed her, very, very, lightly on the lips. When he pulled away, a sigh slipped past her parted mouth. He drew close and kissed her again, harder this time. Sharon turned slightly to better accommodate him. His lips began to demand more from her. She met his kisses turn for turn. He wanted more. Slowly he used his tongue to explore. She answered his exploration with one of her own. He traced his hand down her back and spread his palm over the small of her back, pressing her close. She tasted of longing and of promises finally fulfilled.
At last, he pulled back slightly, but still continued to hold her within his arm’s embrace. She nestled against him for a long time. He wished they could stand there together like that forever. Suddenly, a large icicle fell from the back porch gutter, landing on the metal railing.
The clang made Sharon jump. “What was that?”
“Oh, it’s just the sound of a mid-winter meltdown.”
Sharon leaned back and laughed. “A what?”
“A mid-winter meltdown. Best sound in the world. Melting snow and ice, right in the middle of January.”
The squeak of screeching brakes brought their attention outside. Sharon pulled away and walked to the front window. “It’s the school bus. Here comes Bobby and Megan.”
Chapter 8
Sharon opened the front door. He’d kissed her! He’d really gone and kissed her. And what a kiss it was. She still felt flushed as she touched her hands to her cheeks. Her heart did a thumpity thump and a butterfly flew around inside her stomach.
Bobby got off the bus, his backpack hanging by one strap. He turned and waited for Megan who followed close behind. He helped her down the steps. Sharon pushed open the front door and waved. Wilma Munsford, the bus driver, waved back. The children crossed the yard, and tromped through the front door.
“How was your day?”
“Boring,” Bobby replied.
“How about you, Megan?”
“Fine. Do you hab any cookies, Mama?”
“I do. I’ve also got a surprise inside.”
“Wut iz it?”
“It’s in the kitchen.”
Bobby peered through the kitchen door. The second he saw Tom, he ran to greet him. Megan followed, her princess backpack flopping up and down.
Sharon watched as Tom knelt beside the box sitting on the kitchen floor. The kitten was standing on its hind legs with the white socks of its front feet pressed against the cardboard box. “Mew.”
Bobby’s eyes grew round and Megan put her hands over her mouth. She was shaking she was so excited. Sharon had to laugh. “What do you think, Megan? Tom rescued this kitten from out of the big oak tree in the backyard. We wondered if you might like to keep it.”
Megan stood frozen to the floor, her hands still over her mouth. Her big blue eyes began to well up with unshed tears. Suddenly, her face screwed up into a cry, but she didn’t make a sound. A fat tear spilled over and ran across her chubby knuckle.
Bobby gently patted the kitten’s head. “Mew,” it said.
Tom carefully lifted it from the box. “Would you like to hold it?” All Megan could do was nod her head. Tom placed the kitten in her arms and it immediately nestled close and began to purr.
Bobby scratched the kitten’s ears. “He likes you, Megan.”
“She,” Sharon corrected.
“I can’t beweve it,” Megan whispered. “I just can’t beweve it.”
Sharon thought she saw Tom wipe a tear from his eye. The whole scene made her heart swell until she thought it would burst. She sniffed and blinked her eyes trying to keep her own tears at bay. It was the sweetest thing she’d ever seen. Megan rubbed her cheek on the top of the kitten’s head while Bobby grinned from ear to ear and rubbed his fingers down its back.
Tom stood over them quietly crooning to the cat. “She’s a good little kitten, isn’t she? What are you going to name her, Megan?”
Sharon’s thoughts were in a whirl. If only this could be for real. She felt an ache deep down inside.
“Pickles,” Megan announced.
“Pickles?” Everyone said at the same time.
“Yes, I wuv pickles.” As proof of her declaration, she kissed Pickles on the top of her head.
Tom straightened up as he shook his head. “Well, that may have been the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. You kids take care of Pickles. I’ve got to be going.” Bobby and Megan nodded happily and remained busy with the new pet as Sharon walked Tom to the back door.
“Thank you, Mr. Policeman. You saved the day.”
Tom took Sharon’s hand in his. “It was my pleasure.” He gave it a squeeze. “And I really mean that.” Lightly, he caressed her wrist, then turned to leave, but stopped at the bottom of her steps. “What are you doing this Friday night?”
Sharon self-consciously put her hands in her back pockets and swayed back and forth. “Nothing that I know of.”
“Don’t you think it’s time you and I went out on a real date? How about dinner? I have a favorite little dive I like in Raleigh. Does seven o’clock work for you?”
“I’ll have to make sure Mom can watch the kids.”
“Of course, give me a call.”
“I will.” Sharon closed the door and leaned up against it. Her attention was drawn away when Megan called out.
“Pickles jess scwatched me!”
“Let’s put the kitten down for a while. Pickles isn’t used to being handled so much.” Friday was only three days away but she didn’t know how she was going to wait, even that long.
Her mother picked the kids up directly from school. Sharon was sure Bobby and Megan would spill the beans anyway, so she had gone ahead and told her mother about the date. Her mother had played it
cool, but Sharon knew her too well. She was sure the woman was about to bust.
Sharon looked through every single stitch of clothes in her closet, finally deciding on her best dark-washed jeans and a loose fitting black top that had a few sparkly rhinestones sewed around the neck. It was sexy enough without being obnoxious. I wonder where we’re going. This outfit should work just about anywhere. She decided to wear her hair down and tried to use the blow dryer and a round brush to give it a little curl. She’d bought her favorite nude lipstick that week, deciding it was finally time to try to present herself with a little more panache.
At seven o’clock sharp, Tom’s car pulled up in the back driveway. He always came to the back door. Sharon liked that. When she heard him, she stepped out on the back porch. Instead of his patrol car, he was driving a beautiful electric blue Ford mustang.
“Oh, my gosh! I didn’t know you had a car like that!” She turned to lock the back door.
“It’s my baby.” He crossed the backyard and walked up the steps. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you, you’re supposed to wait for your date to ring the doorbell?”
“I forgot. It’s been awhile.”
He offered her his arm. “Well, it’s high time you got used to being treated like a lady.” His eyes dipped to her toes and then back up to her face. “You look stunning by the way.”
She giggled like a schoolgirl. “Thanks, so do you.” Tom simply looked drop dead handsome. He was wearing kakis and a light blue shirt with a white tee shirt peeking out from underneath. The leather pilot’s jacket he always wore complemented the outfit. He had just shaved. Sharon could smell the scent of shaving cream and there was a tiny nick on his chin.
He escorted her all the way around to the passenger side of the car. “Watch this.” He pressed his key fob and a running board light came on shining the shape of a mustang on the ground right beside the door
Sharon could not believe it. “I’ve never seen anything cooler in my life.”
