Michelle Major - Her Accidental Engagement

“You were on your knees,” he said slowly.

Julia swallowed. “I lost a contact.”

“You don’t wear contacts.”

“How do you...? Never mind.” She bent to retrieve the bag of worthless matches.

His finger brushed the back of her arm. “What are you doing out here, Jules?”

Something about the sound of her name soft as a whisper broke through her defenses. She straightened and waved the letter at him. “I have a meeting in town and needed some fresh air to collect my thoughts.”

“At the salon?”

She shook her head. “No. Hair dye doesn’t require much mental fortitude. I have a real meeting, with an attorney.”

He didn’t ask for details but continued to watch her.

“It’s about Charlie,” she offered after a minute. “About my custody.” To add to her humiliation, she choked on the last word.

“You’re his mother. Of course you have custody.”

“I know.” She lifted the letter. “But Jeff and his parents think—”

“Who’s Jeff?”

“My ex-boyfriend.” She sighed. “Charlie’s father.”

Sam’s eyes narrowed. “The one who’s never set eyes on him?”

“He’s a college professor and travels the world doing research. His dad runs an investment firm in Columbus, Ohio, and his mom is a retired cardiologist. They’re rich, powerful and very intellectual. The whole family is off-the-charts smart. I guess they have...concerns. For Charlie’s future and my ability to provide the right environment. Jeff wants a new custody arrangement.”

“Have Jeff’s parents met Charlie?”

“No. They called a couple of times after he was born. They didn’t approve of me when I was with Jeff, and since he didn’t want anything to do with the baby...” She paused then added, “I let my mom deal with them.”

That made him smile. “In my opinion, Vera is also off-the-charts smart.”

Julia ignored the shiver in her legs at his slow grin. Her mother, Vera Morgan, was a pit bull. But also keenly intelligent. Everyone in her family was smart. Everyone but her.

“Jeff’s mother is here with their family attorney to meet me. To make sure everything’s okay—that Charlie is in good hands.”

“Of course he’s in good hands.” Sam’s voice gentled as he repeated, “You’re his mother.”

“I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my life, made a lot of mistakes. Jeff knows the sordid details and I’m sure his parents do, too.” Emotion clogged her throat.

Sam was not the man she wanted to have see her like this. She made a show of checking her watch. “What I could use is some damage control for my reputation. White picket fence, doting husband, pillar of the community stuff. It’s a little late for me to join the Junior League.” She shook her head. “Anyway, thanks for your concern today, but as you can see, I’m peachy keen.”

“You shouldn’t talk to anyone until you get an attorney of your own.”

“Frank Davis said he would help me, but I hope it won’t come to that. I’m sure the Johnsons want what’s best for Charlie. I should at least hear them out. That boy deserves everything this world has to offer.” She gave a humorless laugh and started back toward the road. “What he’s got is me.”

As she moved past Sam, his hand reached out, but she jerked away. If he touched her right now she’d be a goner, and she needed to keep it together. For Charlie.

“You’re more than enough,” he called after her.

“From your lips to God’s ears, Chief,” she whispered and climbed up to her car.

* * *

“Who are you and what have you done with my father?”

Sam shifted in his chair at Carl’s, Brevia’s most popular restaurant, still reeling from his unbelievable afternoon. From the bizarre encounter with Julia he’d been called to a domestic disturbance that ended up being a chicken loose in Bobby Royall’s kitchen. It had made him almost thirty minutes late to dinner with his dad. Now he wished the bird hadn’t been so easy to catch.

Joe Callahan adjusted his Patriots baseball cap and chuckled. “It’s me, son. Only better.”

Said who?

His father had been a police officer in Boston for almost forty years, most of which had been spent working homicide. Joe Callahan had dedicated his life to his career, and his family had suffered from the on-the-job stress and risks he took daily. Although it wasn’t intentional, Sam had modeled his own life after his father’s. Sam had put his job before everything and everyone in his life—just like Joe.

Recently, though, Joe had begun conducting programs for police departments on emotional awareness. Sam had resisted his father’s repeated attempts to help him “get in touch” with his feelings. But now Joe was here and impossible to ignore.

“The boys down at the precinct loved my seminar. At least four of ’em were in tears by the end. I got thank-you notes from a half-dozen wives.”

“That’s great, Dad.” Sam took a long drink of iced tea, wishing he wasn’t on duty. A cold one would be mighty helpful tonight. “I don’t see what that has to do with me or your unexpected visit to Brevia.”

His father pulled a flyer out of the briefcase at his feet and pushed it across the table. “While I’m down here, I thought we could organize a workshop.”

Sam glanced at the pamphlet. His stomach gave a hearty gurgle. Law with Love, Presented by Retired Police Captain Joseph Callahan. A picture of Joe hugging a group of uniformed officers filled the front page. Sam couldn’t remember ever being hugged by his craggy, hard-nosed father. Holy mother of...

“I don’t know. It’s only me and one deputy on the force.”

Joe tapped the sheet of paper. “It’s for firefighters and paramedics, too. We could bring in neighboring towns—make it a regional event. Plus civil servants, city council. You’re looking at a long-term reappointment, right? This could make quite an impression as far as your potential.”

At the mention of his possible future in Brevia, Sam lost the battle with his temper. “My potential as what? I’m the chief of police, not the hug-it-out type.”

His father’s sharp intake of breath made Sam regret his outburst. “Sorry. You know what a small town this is and—”

Joe held up a hand. “Don’t apologize.” He removed his bifocals and dabbed at his eyes with a napkin.

“You aren’t going to cry,” Sam muttered, disbelieving. “You don’t cry.”

“Yes. I am going to cry. To take a moment and feel my pain.”

Great. This was the second time today he’d brought someone to tears.

After a loud nose blow, Joe’s watery gaze met his. “I feel my pain, and I feel yours.”

“I’m not in pain.” Sam let his eyes drift shut. “Other than a raging headache.”

Joe ignored him and continued, “I did this to you, Sammy.”

Sammy? His father hadn’t called him Sammy since—

“When your mother died my whole world collapsed. I didn’t think I could live without her. I didn’t want to. It broke me a little more every day to see you and your brother that sad. I did the only thing I could to survive. I shut off my heart, and I made you do the same. I was wrong. I’m here to make it right again.”

Sam saw customers from the surrounding tables begin to stare. “It’s okay. Let’s go outside for a minute.”

Joe followed Sam’s gaze and shook his head. “I’m not embarrassed to show my feelings. Not anymore.” He took another breath, this one steadier. “Ever since the incident with my ole ticker.” He thumped his sweatshirt. “They say facing death can make you reevaluate your whole life.”

“It was indigestion, Dad. Not a real heart attack. Remember?”

“Doesn’t matter. The change to my heart was real. The effect on my life was real.” He readjusted his glasses. “I want the same change for you. I want you to be happy.”