Linda Warren - The Right Woman

Russ brushed past him. “I will, and I don’t need your help.”

Daniel didn’t respond. He didn’t feel he had to.

Russ stopped and turned back. “Thanks for the apology.”

Daniel nodded and watched in silence as Russ and Joel walked away. He hadn’t mentioned that he was quitting the force. It wasn’t any of Russ’s business. He was quitting. For the first time, the word played in his mind. He’d never quit anything in his life and the words suddenly stuck in his throat. He was quitting.

His phone buzzed and he wiped the thought away.

“Daniel, it’s Ethan.”

“Hey, Ethan, how the hell are you?” He’d never felt so glad to hear his old friend’s voice.

“Fine. I was hoping you had time for lunch.”

“Sure. I’m free.”

“You might change your mind when I tell you where I’m at.”

“Try me.”

“McDonald’s.”

Daniel laughed. “You have Jassy with you.”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me which one and I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

Within ten minutes he was pulling up at a McDonald’s. He found Ethan in the kid’s area watching Jassy on a slide.

He shook Ethan’s hand. “It’s good to see you. Let me get some coffee and I’ll be right back.”

He returned with a steaming cup in his hand. Sitting, he pulled his coat tighter around him. “It’s cold out here.”

“Try telling that to my daughter.”

Daniel watched Jassy as she played with another little girl. “Man, she looks just like Serena.” And Sarah. Don’t think about her.

“Yeah. Isn’t she beautiful?”

Daniel shook his head in amusement. “You still have that lovesick quality in your voice just talking about Serena.”

“Life’s been pretty wonderful lately,” Ethan admitted.

Daniel took a sip of the hot coffee. “So how’s the rest of the family?”

“Fine. Molly’s happy being a wife and mother again. Travis is in Nashville and it looks like he’s finally going to get a record deal.”

“Last time I saw him he was singing with this woman who had an awesome voice. They were getting a lot of attention here in Dallas.”

“It was like a domino effect. Someone saw them and told this guy from a record company, then he came down and invited them to Nashville. They’ve been there about six months.”

“Hope it works out for him.”

“Me, too. He’s been dreaming about this since he was fifteen.”

“And Walt? How’s he?”

Ethan leaned back. “Now that’s a whole other story. My father has been seeing Mrs. Alma Ferguson about five years now. The other night I caught him sneaking in at five in the morning. I told him I didn’t understand why he didn’t just spend the whole night. He’s in his seventies and as long as he practices safe sex I was okay with it. He did not appreciate my sense of humor and he had a few choice words to say about respecting my elders. So I’m just letting Pop do his thing. He’s happy. Mrs. Alma’s happy. And I’m staying out of it.”

Daniel twisted his cup. “I hope when I’m that age, I’ll still be thinking about women.”

“Anyone in particular?”

Suddenly Daniel saw blue eyes and red hair.

“Daniel?”

“What?”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “You seem a bit out of it today.”

Daniel ran both hands through his hair. “I’m quitting the force.”

“What!”

“I’m tired, Ethan. Tired of crime. Tired of the bad guys always getting the best of us. I lock a bastard up for selling drugs to kids and he’s back on the street within a week doing the same thing. The revolving door never stops and I’ve had it.”

“I hate to hear that. You’re one of the best cops I’ve ever worked with.”

“Your sister-in-law has a different opinion.” He shouldn’t have said that, but it seemed to slip out. Stop thinking about her.

“Sarah?”

“I guess it all comes back to Rudy Boyd and all the lives he’s destroyed.”

“But you got him, Daniel. He’s on death row waiting for an execution date.”

“That won’t change things for Sarah or Greg.”

“You can’t blame yourself.”

“I do, though. I should have been aware of what Greg was doing.”

“You trusted him—like I’ve trusted men under me. Greg broke that trust, not you.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t help me to sleep better at night.”

“Daniel…”

“Daddy, Daddy.” Jassy crawled into Ethan’s lap. “Did you watch me, Daddy?”

“I’m always watching you.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Do you remember Daniel?”

Jassy nodded and said, “Hi.”

“You have the most beautiful blue eyes,” Daniel said, mesmerized by their brightness.

“I got my mommy’s eyes,” she told him.

“Sarah has them, too.” He didn’t even realize he’d spoken the words out loud until he saw Ethan’s face.

“Mommy and Sari are just alike, but Daddy and me can tell them apart. We know Mommy, don’t we, Daddy?”

“You bet we know Mommy.”

Daniel stood. “I’d better go.”

“Why don’t you come back to the house with us? Serena would love to see you.”

Daniel shook his head. “Thanks, but I’ve been working on a case and I have some loose ends to tie up. After I see the lieutenant on Monday, I’m flying to France to see my parents.”

“Sarah will be there,” Ethan added with a sheepish grin as if he knew exactly what was on Daniel’s mind—a woman he couldn’t get out of his head.

“Ah, Ethan, I think you’re reading me like a book.”

“I recognize the signs.” Ethan got to his feet with Jassy in his arms. “Take some time. Don’t give up a career you love out of guilt, and stop blaming yourself for things you have no control over. Most important, talk to Sarah.”

Daniel didn’t tell Ethan he already had. He didn’t want his friend caught in the middle. He’d deal with the situation in his own way.

“I’ll think about it,” he said, reaching over to kiss Jassy’s cheek. “Kiss your mom for me.”

“No.” Jassy frowned. “You can’t kiss my mommy. Only Daddy kisses Mommy.”

“Jasmine Marie,” Ethan scolded gently. “That’s not nice.”

“I’m sorry.” Jassy hung her head.

Daniel touched her soft cheek. “It’s okay and I promise to never kiss your mommy.”

“Okay.” Jassy glanced up at him, her eyes bright again. “I kiss Sari for you. Sari needs lots of kisses.”

Daniel’s stomach tightened at the innocent words, but he felt the simple truth in them, too. How nice it would be to kiss Sarah Welch. He shook Ethan’s hand and strolled away, a slight curve to his mouth.

Only in my dreams, Jassy. Only in my dreams.

SARAH HAD A GREAT TIME. She relaxed and enjoyed her afternoon with her twin. They talked, shopped, laughed and made fun of each other with sisterly love. In the mall, they ordered a decadent chocolate-fudge sundae then spent two hours in a beauty salon getting a pedicure and a manicure. Sarah also had her long hair cut into a casual style that hung around her shoulders.

They ignored the many stares and glances they received, but they were secretly amused. Two identical redheads were an eye-catcher.

Since she was on call, she had to take a couple of phone calls, but other than that they had the afternoon to themselves. Later, she went by the hospital to check on Brooke. Her family was there, so Sarah knew she was okay.

They picked up food to cook on the grill for dinner and Ethan played chef, then Jassy put on a show with her jumping and flipping. Sarah and Serena talked until after midnight and Sarah felt herself opening up, confiding and exposing the destructive emotions inside her. All this time and she’d thought she was fine. It took Daniel’s words and Brooke’s question to make her realize she was far from a full recovery.