27100817 Gina Wilkins Date Next Door

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C h ap t er O n e

N ic ol e S aw ye r d id n t h av e t o b e p sy ch ic t o k no w i t w as n t g oo d w he n B ra d b eg an t he c on ve rs at io n

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w it h, We h av e t o t al k. P ai nf ul exp er ience l et h er p redi ct h is n ex t w or ds . Th is i sn t abo ut y ou i t s

me.

A t t we nt y- se ve n, N ic h ad b ee n d ow n t hi s r oa d e no ug h t o k no w w he n s he w as b ei ng d um pe d.

A f ew a wk wa rd b ut s ti ff ly c or di al m in ut es l at er , s he s to od o n t he p or ch o f h er n ea t f ra me h om e a nd

w at ch ed B ra d s f la sh y r ed p ic ku p d is ap pe ar d ow n t he s tr ee t o f h er q ui et n ei gh bo rh oo d. S he w as g oi ngt o m is s t hat t ru ck , s he t ho ug ht w is tf ul ly . I ts s eats w er e com fo rt ab le, and t he s ou nd s ys tem w as t ru ly

excel lent . S he h ad enj oy ed r id in g aro un d t ow n i n i t, l is teni ng t o t he cou nt ry m us ic and class ic r ock t hey

h ad b ot h f avo red.

A s f or t he d ri ver un fo rt un at el y t heir m ut ual t as tes i n m us ic h ad n t b een eno ug h t o k eep t hem t og et her.

T he y d b ee n t ryi ng f or a lm os t e ig ht m on th s, o n a nd o ff , t o m ak e i t w or k. B ra d h ad f in al ly a dm it te d d ef ea t

t he d ay a ft er s he ha d c an ce le d y et a no th er d at e f or wo rk r ea so ns .

S he d id n t r ea ll y n ee d h im , h e h ad a cc us ed h er r eg re tf ul ly . A nd i t t ur ne d o ut t ha t h e n ee de d t o b e

needed.

B ec au se s he k ne w he wa s r ight , s he h adn t bot he re d t o a rgue wi th hi m. Thou gh he ha d t ri ed t o b e

t ac tf ul , h e h ad n t b ee n e nt ir el y a cc ur at e w he n h e d s ai d i t w as n t h er b ut h im . I t w as a lw ay s a bo ut h er ,

she thought in resignation.

A c ar d oo r s la mm ed i n t he d ri ve wa y n ex t d oo r, a nd s he g la nc ed t ha t w ay . H er n ei gh bo r, D r. J oe l

Brannon, stood beside his practical, ecologically friendly little sedan, studying her curiously. He must be

planning to go back out that evening, she thought, or he would have parked in his garage.

Sh e wonde re d f le et ingl y i f he ha d a da te , a nd i f s o, wi th w hom. Not t ha t it wa s a ny of he r bus ine ss , of

course.

Nic? Everything okay? he called out.

J oel cou ld n t h av e b een m or e o pp os it e f ro m t he l on g, l ean , b lack- hair ed cow bo y w ho h ad j us t d ri ven

a wa y. N ot p ar ti cu la rl y t al l, h e s to od p er ha ps f iv e f ee t t en , a nd h is b ui ld w as m or e s tu rd y t ha n l an ky . H is

h ai r w as a s ha de s om ew he re b et we en l ig ht a nd m ed iu m b ro wn , a nd h e k ep t i t c ut s ho rt b ec au se i t t en de d

t o c ur l w he n i t gr ew o ut. Hi s ey es we re ha ze l a nd hi s nos e j us t a l it tl e s nubbe d, but he ha d a s tr ong c hi n

and a v er y n ice m ou th b rack et ed b y s hall ow d im pl es .

N ic h ad o nc e c om me nt ed t o h er b es t f ri en d, A is li nn F la he rt y, t ha t J oe l r em in de d h er a l it tl e o f M at tDamon. Aislinn hadnt seen the resemblance.

B ecau se h e w as s ti ll w ai ti ng p at ient ly f or an ans wer, s he p ro dd ed h er self t o s mi le and r ep ly , I m f in e,

Joel. Thanks for asking.

G la nc in g i n t he d ir ec ti on i n w hi ch t he r ed t ru ck h ad d is ap pe ar ed , h e a sk ed , Ho w s C ow bo y B ra d?

Cowboy Brad, she replied prosaically, is history.

H e w in ce d. I m s or ry . A re y ou s ur e y ou r e a ll r ig ht ? D o y ou w an t t o t al k?

D ra wi ng a d ee p b re at h, s he s ho ok h er h ea d, f ee li ng h er l oo se d ar k b lo nd p on yt ai l b ru sh h er n ec k w it h

t he m ov em en t. Th an ks , b ut I m on d ut y t oni gh t. I t hi nk I d r at he r j us t t ake a f ew m in ut es t o m ys el f


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before I have to change and head into work.

Su re . B ut i f yo u ne ed a ny th ing a t a ll , y ou k no w w he re t o f in d m e.

S he no dde d a nd t ur ne d t ow ar d he r d oor , a wa re t ha t J oe l h ad m ea nt t he of fe r s in ce re ly . H e h ad be com e

a t ru e f ri end dur ing t he s ix mont hs or s o s inc e he h ad m ove d ne xt do or t o t he ho us e w he re s he d gr ow n

up.

I t h ad a lw ay s b ee n e as y f or he r t o ha ve m al e f ri en ds . I t w as t ry in g t o t ur n t ho se f ri en ds hi ps i nt o a ny th ing

m or e t ha t s ee me d t o b e b ey on d h er c ap ab il it ie s.

J oe l s tr ai gh te ne d t he k no t o n h is t ie a nd s tu di ed t he r es ul t i n h is b ed ro om m ir ro r. H e w as m ak in g a

s pe ec h t ha t e ve ni ng t o a c iv ic g ro up t ha t m et o nc e a m on th a t t he W es te rn S iz zl in R es ta ur an t. A j ac ke t

a nd t ie s ee me d t o b e t he r eq ui re d u ni fo rm , t ho ug h h e p re fe rr ed p ol o s hi rt s a nd k ha ki s.

S hr ug gi ng i nt o h is j acket, h e l oo ked at t he s il ver- fr am ed p ho to gr ap h o n h is d ress er . Yo u alw ay s d id l ik e

r ed t ie s, he s ai d a lo ud t o t he s mi li ng y oun g w om an i n t he p ic tur e.

H e d idn t f ee l f oo li sh t al ki ng t o a ph ot o. H e d b ee n d oi ng i t f or s o l on g i t w as s im pl y ha bi t no w.

T ur ni ng a wa y f ro m t he d re ss er , h e h ea de d f or t he d oo rw ay , g la nc in g o ut t he b ed ro om w in do w o n h is

w ay p as t. T he l ig ht s w er e o n n ex t d oo r, b ut N ic h ad p ro ba bl y l ef t f or w or k a lr ea dy . S he u su al ly l ef t a

f ew l ig ht s b ur ni ng w hen s he w or ked n ig ht s, b ot h f or s ecur it y p ur po ses and b ecau se s he d id n t l ik e

r et ur ni ng h om e t o a d ar k h ou se .

I t w as a s ha me a bo ut h er b re ak up w it h t he m an J oe l h ad n ic kn am ed C ow bo y B ra d, t ho ug h h e c ou ld n th on es tl y s ay i t w as a s ur pr is e. H e h ad b ee n p re di ct in g t hi s o ut co me a lm os t s in ce t he d ay h e d m et h is

neighbors on-again, off-again boyfriend.

Br ad w as a d ec ent gu y w it h t he t ype o f da rk go od l ook s a nd l az y s mi le s t ha t s ee me d t o a pp ea l t o m os t

w om en , b ut h e and N ic cou ld n t h av e b een m or e m is matched. T ho ug h o bv io us ly att ract ed t o h er

fresh-scrubbed sweetness and vibrant personality, Brad had been visibly frustrated with Nics stubborn

i nd ep en dence and d eepl y i ng rain ed s el f- su ff iciency. H e p ro babl y w ou ld n t adm it i t, b ut B rad w as a v er y

t ra di ti ona l ma n wh o w oul d be ha ppi es t wi th a wom an who s aw hi m a s a pr ot ec tor a nd a he ro.

O ff icer N icol e S aw yer w as n t t hat w om an .

W an de ri ng i nt o h is l iv in g r oo m, J oe l p ic ke d u p a s ma ll s ta ck o f n ot e c ar ds f ro m t he c of fe e t ab le a nd

s li pp ed t he m i nt o h is i ns ide j ac ke t p oc ke t. T he re w as n o ne ed t o go ov er hi s s pe ec h; i t wa s a s ta nd ar d

s pi el a bo ut r ai si ng s af e a nd h ea lt hy c hi ld re n. H e h ad g iv en i t a do ze n t im es b ef or e. A g la nc e a t h is w at ch

t ol d h im he s ti ll h ad a bo ut t en m inu te s b ef or e h e n ee de d t o l ea ve . N ot l on g e nou gh t o d o a nyt hi ng m uc h

e xc ep t p ac e t o k il l t im e.

H e f ou nd h is t ho ug ht s t ur ni ng t o N ic a ga in . H e w on de re d h ow s he f el t a bo ut t he b re ak up . A s w el l a s

J oe l t ho ug ht h e u nd er st oo d B ra d, h e c ou ld n t q ui te s ay t he s am e a bo ut N ic .

H e l ik ed h er v er y m uch. S he w as b ri gh t, amu si ng , g en er ou s al mo st t he i deal n ei gh bo r. T hey h ad o ft en

s at o n h er f ro nt p or ch o r h is o wn , t ak in g b re ak s f ro m y ar d w or k a nd s ip pi ng i ce d t ea , c ha tt in g w it h t he

ease of longtime acquaintances.


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Y et t ho se cas ual con vers at io ns h ad r ar el y t ur ned p er so nal. T hey d s hared g en er al i nf or mati on abo ut t heir

f am il ies and chi ld ho od s b ut h ad n t d el ved i nt o o ld w ou nd s. T hey t al ked m os tl y abo ut l ocal g os si p and

politics, about their jobs as a pediatrician and a police officer, about sports or television programs they

both watched.

H e k ne w s he l iv ed i n t he h ou se w he re s he d g ro wn u p. A nd t ha t s he d l iv ed t he re a lo ne s in ce h er w id ow ed m ot her m ov ed t oE ur op e eig ht een m on th s ear li er t o l iv e w it h N ics o ld er b ro th er , w ho w or ked

i n a n A me ri ca n e mb as sy . N ic k ne w J oe l h ad g ro wn u p i nN or th C ar ol in a a nd Al ab am a a nd h ad m ov ed

t oA rk an sas aft er a m ed ical s ch oo l class mate o ff er ed h im a p ar tn er sh ip i n a f ledg li ng p ed iatr ics cli ni c.

H e h ad t ol d h er h e d c ho se n t o b uy t he h ou se n ex t d oo r t o he r w hi le d ri vi ng a ro un d a im le ss ly l oo ki ng f or

a n ei gh bo rh oo d t hat f el t ri gh t t o h im . S he h ad n t t eased h im abo ut h is m et ho d o f h om e s ho pp in g; i t

s ee me d t o h ave m ade s ens e t o he r w he n h e s ai d t ha t h e d s ee n t he For S al e s ign i n t he ya rd o f t hi s hou se

a nd h ad m ad e a n of fe r t he n ext m or ni ng .

N or ha d s he a sk ed, a s qu it e a f ew o the rs ha d, w hy he wa sn t i nt er es te d i n l ivi ng i n a m or e up sc al e,m on ey ed a re a sa y, o n a g ol f c our se o r i n a ga te d l ak es id e l ot . Ni c s ee me d t o u nd er st and t ha t h e d

been looking for a private retreat, not a showplaceand for now, that was here.

J oe l s ti ll c ou ld n t s ay w he th er N ic h ad b ee n i n l ov e w it h h er c ow bo y o r h ad j us t c on si de re d h im a

pleasant diversion from the demands of her job. He suspected the latter, but since she wasnt one to

s ha re h er d ee pe st f ee li ng s, h e c ou ld n t s ay f or s ur e.

H e h op ed s he ha dn t b ee n b ad ly h ur t. N ic wa s t oo ni ce a pe rs on t o ha ve h er h ea rt b ro ke n. H is

doctoring skills didnt extend to repairing that particularly painful condition.

H e ha dn t e ve n be en a bl e t o f ix hi s own.

An d t he n h e h ad t he n er ve t o o ff er m e t we nt y do ll ar s t o t el l h im w ho s g oi ng t o w in t he f oot ba ll g am e

Monday night. Twenty dollars!

With indulgent amusement, Nic watched her friend Aislinn Flaherty furiously pace the living room.

A is li nn s n ear- bl ack h ai r w as escap in g i ts n eat u p- tw is t, s o t hat l on g, w is py cur ls b ou nced aro un d h er

i nd ig nant f ace. T he m id calf -l en gt h t iered b ro wn s ki rt s he w or e w it h a b el ted cam el -col or ed t un ic t op

w hi pp ed aro un d h er s hapely l eg s w it h each f or cefu l t ur n.

A is li nn m ad e a h ab it o f d ress in g con serv at iv el y alm os t t o t he p oi nt o f b land ness , b ut h er eff or ts w er e

pretty much wasted. She was still striking enough to draw more attention to herself than she would have

liked.

Wh at d id y ou s ay t o t ha t o ff er ? N ic a sk ed a s i f s he d id n t a lr ea dy k no w.

I t ol d h im t ha t i f I w er e p sy ch ic w hi ch , o f c ou rs e, I a m n ot I w ou ld h ar dl y s el l m y s er vi ce s s o

c he aply. And then I told him that if I ha d be en p sy ch ic , I d h av e kn ow n b et te r t ha n t o a gr ee t o a bl ind

date with him.

So w ha t y ou r e s ay in g i s t ha t y our d at e d id n t g o ve ry w el l, N ic d ra wl ed , s mo th er in g a g ri n.


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A is li nn s ho t h er a l oo k o f r ep ro val. Th is i sn t f un ny , N ic. I t w as a m is er ab le eveni ng .

R el en ti ng , N ic s ho ok h er h ea d. So rr y. I d id n t m ea n t o m ak e l ig ht o f i t. B ut y ou h av e t o a dm it b ot h o f

u s h av e h ad s om e p ret ty d is as tr ou s d at es l at el y.

A ct ua ll y, N ic h ad o nl y b ee n o ut t wi ce s in ce h er b re ak up w it h B ra d i n J ul y, t hr ee m on th s a go . N ei th er

o ut in g h ad b een s uccess fu l eno ug h f or a s econ d d at e w it h eit her g uy . S in ce avail ab le s in gl es w er e p rett yh ar d t o f in d i n a t ow n t he s iz e o fC ab ot , Ar ka ns as , h er s oc ia l l if e w as n t l oo ki ng t oo p ro mi si ng f or t he

foreseeable future.

Tell m e abo ut i t. P lo pp in g o nt o N ics b ro wn l eath er s of a, A is li nn cro ss ed h er arm s o ver h er s hapely

c he st a nd po ut ed. I s hou ld h ave know n b et te r t ha n t o l et Pa me la s et m e up. She t hi nks i t s s o f unn y t o

t el l every on e I m w el l, d if ferent . B ut I t ho ug ht I h ad con vi nced h er t o q ui t s ay in g t hat.

Yo u k no w P am el a. S he t hi nk s i t s coo l t o cl ai m t o k no w an h on es t- t o- go od nes s p sy ch ic.

A is li nn s ig hed g us ti ly . S he h ad b een t ry in g f or alm os t all h er t went y- ei gh t y ears t o con vi nce every on e t hatshe had no supernatural abilities. She just had feelings sometimes, she always added earnestly. Feelings

that had an uncanny record of coming true. Nothing more than somewhat-better-than-average intuition,

s he s aid .

Having known Aislinn since kindergarten, Nic thought the truth lay somewhere in the middle. She

couldnt explain it any better than Aislinnbut she had learned to take her friends feelings seriously.

A is li nn s ho ok h er h ead i mp at ient ly . En ou gh abo ut m y l ou sy d at e. H ow are t hi ng s g oi ng w it h y ou ?

N ic u nb uc kl ed h er h ea vy u ti li ty b el t a nd w ea ri ly s et h er w ea po n a si de . S he h ad g ot te n h om e l es s t ha n

t went y m in ut es ear li er , arr iv in g j us t i n t im e t o g reet A is li nn , w ho h ad b een i nv it ed f or an eveni ng o f p izzaand gossip. Long day.

The Castleberry break-in? Aislinn asked sympathetically.

Ye ah . W e f ou nd e vi de nc e t ha t i t w as M r. C as tl eb er ry s n ep he w w ho r an sa ck ed t he p la ce . K id s a n

a dd ic t w it h a r ec or d o f B a nd E , b ut C as tl eb er ry c ou ld n t b el ie ve t he b oy w ou ld r ob t he o nl y r el at iv e

w ho ha s s to od u p f or h im du ri ng t he p as t f ew y ea rs . I t hi nk I f in al ly c on vi nc ed h im t ha t t he re s n o r oo m

f or l ov e o r l oy al ty w hen d ru gs t ak e o ver s om eo nes l if e.

I h ad a f ee li ng i t w as a m ale r ela ti ve . I gue ss I wa tc h t oo m any of th os e TV c ri me s hows , de spi te youm ak in g f un o f m e f or i t.

Yeah . P ro babl y. S tr et ch in g, N ic r os e f ro m t he chair s he h ad f al len i nt o t o l is ten t o A is li nn s accou nt o f

l as t n ig ht s u ns uccess fu l d at e. Wh y d on t y ou o rd er t he p izza w hi le I chang e o ut o f m y u ni fo rm ? H el p

y ou rs el f t o s om et hi ng t o d ri nk I v e g ot s od as and w in e i n t he f ri dg e.

I t wa s one of t he ma ny be nef it s of be ing f ri ends for s o l ong, s he t hought as she e me rge d f rom a

t en -m in ut e s ho we r a nd c li mb ed i nt o a p ai r o f p ur pl e p la id c ot to n d ra ws tr in g p an ts a nd a l av en de r b ab y

T -s hi rt . S he d id n t h av e t o s tand o n f or mali ty w it h A is li nn o r b ot her t o ent er tain h er every m om en t.

L eavi ng h er col lar- leng th n at ur al ly b lo nd -and -b ro wn h ai r t o d ry i n a t ou sl ed b ob , s he s li d h er f eet i nt o

purple slippers and wandered into the kitchen to rejoin her friend.

A is li nn s at a t t he ki tc he n t ab le w it h a g la ss o f w hi te w in e a nd t he m or ni ng n ew sp ap er , w hi ch N ic h ad n t


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y et h ad a c ha nc e t o o pe n. I t d id n t s ur pr is e h er t ha t A is li nn h ad b yp as se d t he h ea dl in es a nd w as r ea di ng

t he c om ic s tr ip s i ns te ad . A is li nn t en de d t o s hy a wa y f ro m c ri me r ep or ts . S he n ev er s ai d w hy , e xa ct ly , b ut

Nic suspected it was because Aislinn got too many unsettling feelings when she read those grim

accounts.

So d id y ou f in is h t ha t m on st er c ak e t od ay ? s he a sk ed , o pe ni ng t he r ef ri ge ra to r t o t ak e o ut a d ie t s od a

for herself. The funky blue one?

It isnt blue. Its aquamarine.

Wha te ve r. N ic c ar ri ed h er s od a t o t he t abl e a nd h el pe d h er se lf t o t he s po rt s pa ge s a s s he t oo k a c ha ir

acr os s f ro m A is li nn . It l oo ked b lu e t o m e.

Tr us t m e. T he b ri de w ou ld b e v er y u ps et i f t he c ak e s he o rd er ed t o e xa ct ly m at ch h er b ri de sm ai ds

h id eo us aqu am ar in e d ress es cam e o ut t oo b lu e. I t m at ch es exact ly . A nd , y es , I f in is hed i t.

Ho w m an y h ou rs di d y ou pu t i nt o t ha t o ne ?

Mo re t ha n I w an t t o c ou nt , A is li nn r ep li ed w it h a g ro an . I n ev er a ga in w an t t o s ee a no th er a qu am ar in e

frosting rose.

Th e cak e r eall y s ho ul d h av e b een h or ri bl y u gl y, N ic com ment ed as s he g lanced o ver t he f oo tb al l

s co re s. Bu t s om eh ow y ou m ad e i t l oo k r ea ll y n ic e at l ea st , f ro m w ha t I c ou ld t el l w he n I s aw i t

yesterday.

Visibly pleased, Aislinn smiled. Thanks, Nic.

T he d oo rb el l r an g, a nd N ic p us he d a wa y f rom t he t ab le . Th at l l b e t he p iz za . I l l g et i t.

G lancin g o ver t he r ecip es i n t he f oo d s ecti on o f t he n ew sp ap er , A is li nn n od ded abs en tl y.

Five minutes later, Nic entered the kitchen again, eying her friend quizzically. Were you especially

h un gr y w he n y ou o rd er ed ? S in ce w he n h av e w e e at en t wo p iz za s i n o ne n ig ht ? A nd w hy i s t he s ec on d

o ne p ep pe ro ni ? W e a lw ay s g et m us hr oo m a nd b la ck o li ve o r e xt ra c he es e.

A is li nn f ol ded t he p ap er and s hr ug ged. I j us t t ho ug ht w e m ig ht n eed ext ra t on ig ht . I f t here are any

leftovers, well divvy them up for cold pizza breakfasts tomorrow morning.

Sounds goo d t o me . N ic f igur ed i t wa s a goo d t hi ng s he l ike d c ol d pi zz a f or br ea kf as t, s inc e i t wa s a

s af e b et t here w ou ld b e l ef to vers . P ep pero ni w as n t h er f av or it e or A is li nn s , eit her, f or t hat

m at te r bu t i t w as f oo d, w hi ch p re tt y w el l f it h er c ri te ri a f or a m ea l. S he d n ev er b ee n a p ic ky e at er .

She ha d jus t s et t wo pl at es on t he t able whe n s ome one ta ppe d on the ba ck door . She kne w t ha t t ap. A

s mi le s pr ea di ng o n h er f ac e, s he m ov ed t o r es po nd .

As s he ha d g ue ss ed , J oe l Br anno n s to od on h er do or st ep, hi s o wn s mi le a b it we ar y bu t a s i nf ec ti ous a s

ever. T here w er e s li gh t s hado ws b en eath h is clear h azel eyes, evi dence t hat h e d b een w or ki ng l on g

hours latelynot that there was anything unusual about that.

Hi, Joel.


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He y, N ic , h e r es po nd ed i n h is p le as an t, d ee p S ou th er n d ra wl . I b ro ug ht b ac k y ou r c ar v ac uu m.

T ha nk s f or l et ti ng m e b or ro w i t. I m b uy in g o ne t o r ep la ce m y d ea d o ne t hi s w ee ke nd .

Accepting the small appliance from him, she nodded. Youre welcome.

H e g la nc ed p as t he r a nd n ot ic ed h er f ri en d s ti ll s it ti ng a t t he k it ch en t ab le . Oh . H i, A is li nn. I t s n ic e t o

s ee y ou again .

Hi , J oe l. Ha ve yo u e at en? N ic a nd I w er e j us t a bou t t o ha ve s ome p iz za a nd w e ha ve mo re t ha n

e nou gh i f y ou w an t t o j oi n us .

T ho ug h h e l oo ked t em pt ed , J oel s ai d, I w ou ld n t w an t t o i nt ru de.

We r ea ll y d o h av e t oo m uc h j us t f or t he t wo o f us , N ic a ss ur ed h im w it h o nl y a g la nc e a t A is li nn . Yo u

woul d be doi ng us a f avor t o e at s ome of t hi s pi zz a.

We ll , s in ce y ou p ut i t t ha t w ay H e c lo se d t he d oo r b ehi nd h im a nd s ni ff ed t he a ir a pp re ci at ive ly .Hmm. Smells like pepperoni. My favorite.

N ic d id n t e ve n b ot he r t o l oo k a t A is li nn t ha t t im e. S he s im pl y r ea ch ed i nt o t he c ab in et f or a no th er p la te .

A ft er a t en- hour da y a t w or k, i t f el t go od t o r el ax w it h w ar m pi zz a, c ol d wi ne a nd a c oupl e of a tt ra ct ive

w om en even i f o ne o f t hem m ad e h im n er vo us and t he o th er f requ en tl y m ad e h im crazy .

J oe l g la nc ed a t A is li nn F la he rt y th e o ne w ho m ad e h im n er vo us . A nd i t w as n t j us t b ec au se s he w as

d ro p- dead g or geou s w it h h er g lo ss y b lack h ai r, f lawl es s f ai r s ki n, r ich cho co late eyes and cur vy f ig ur ethat her bland layered clothing couldnt conceal.

H e ha dn t s pe nt m uc h t im e w it h h er , k no wi ng h er o nl y b ec aus e s he w as a f ai rl y f re qu en t vi si tor t o h is

next-door neighbor, but there was something different about Aislinn. He couldnt explain it, exactly. He

act uall y l ik ed h er b ut s om et im es w hen s he l oo ked at h im , h e h ad t he u ns et tl in g s en sati on t hat s he cou ld

s ee r ig ht t hr ou gh h im . M uch m or e t han h e w as com fo rt ab le r ev eali ng .

N ic , o n t he o th er h and , w as s o d if fe re nt f ro m A is li nn t ha t i t a ma ze d h im s om et im es t ha t t he y w er e s uc h

g oo d f ri en ds . T here w as n ot hi ng i n t he l eas t f ey abo ut p ract ical, d ow n- to -ear th N icol e S aw yer . B lu nt and

i mp at ie nt , N ic w as a g oo d c op , a g re at n ei gh bo r a nd a l oy al f ri en d bu t n ot s om eo ne h e w ou ld w an t a san enemy.

A is li nn i nt er ru pt ed h is t ho ug ht s w it h a f ri en dl y s mi le. Ni c and I h av e b een d oi ng all t he t al ki ng t hi s

eveni ng , J oel. I m afr ai d w e h av en t g iv en y ou m uch o f an o pp or tu ni ty t o s ay any th in g.

I ve b een t oo b us y eat in g, h e r ep li ed , i nd icat in g h is n earl y emp ty p late. I m is sed l un ch t od ay and I

was starving.

Th en i t s a g oo d t hi ng w e or de re d s o m uc h, i sn t i t? N ic c om me nt ed, g la nc in g a t A is li nn a s s he s po ke .

A is li nn s hr ug ge d, b ut s he d id n t l oo k a wa y f ro m J oe l. Wa s i t a r ou gh d ay f or y ou ?

Mo re l on g t han r ou gh . T heres a v ir us r un ni ng t hr ou gh s ev er al o f t he l ocal d ay -car e cen ters , s o m y


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w ai ti ng r oo m w as f ul l o f crank y, d eh yd rated k id s.

N i c s ho ok h er h ea d. Yo u ve j us t d es cr ib ed m y w or st n ig ht ma re . I d a lm os t r at he r f ac e a n a rm ed c ra ck

add ict t han a r oo m f ul l o f s ick, w hi ny t od dl er s and t heir h ys teri cal m ot hers .

Th e t od dl er s w er e w hi ny , h e con ceded, bu t n on e o f t he m ot hers w as act uall y h ys teri cal. A nd I v e g ot

t o a dm it I h av e a bs ol ut el y n o de si re t o s tr ap on a gu n a nd f ac e a n a rm ed c ra ck a ddi ct .

T he ir r es pe ct iv e p ro fe ss io ns w er e t he b as is o f a s er ie s o f r un ni ng j ok es b et we en t he m. J oe l c on ce de d

w it ho ut h es it at io n t hat s he cou ld p ro babl y t ak e h im d ow n d es pi te h er s mall er s ize.

H e w as a s e as yg oi ng a s s he w as i nt en se , a s m il d- ma nn er ed a s s he w as f ie ry -t em pe re d. H e w as n t r ea ll y

i nt im id at ed b y h er , s in ce h e k new t he k in d h eart and g en er ou s s pi ri t b eh in d h er p os tu ri ng b ut h e d id n t

particularly want to make her angry, either.

A is li nn w as s ti ll l oo ki ng at h im n ot r ud el y b ut w it h w hat app eared t o b e con cern . Perh ap s y ou r e j us t

t ir ed , b ut t he re s ee ms t o b e s om et hi ng b ot he ri ng y ou . I s t he re a ny th in g w e c an d o?

H e d id n t k no w h ow s he d id i t. M ay be , a s s he i ns is te d, s he w as s im pl y m or e i nt ui ti ve t ha n m os t p eo pl e,

better able to read facial expressions and body language.

Th er e s s om et hi ng b ug gi ng m e a l it tl e, h e adm it ted, bu t I l l w or k i t o ut .

T he w ay s he s tu di ed h is f ac e m ad e h im w on de r i f s he c ou ld a ct ua ll y r ea d h is m in d. B ut o f c ou rs e s he

cou ld n t, h e ass ur ed h im self a b it t oo q ui ck ly . H er ext rasens or y t al en ts , i f t hat s w hat t hey w er e, s eemed

t o b e m or e p re co gn it iv e t ha n t el ep at hi c. N ot t ha t h e b el ie ve d i n s tu ff l ik e t ha t, o f c ou rs e.

Ni c a nd I a re p re tt y g oo d a t b ra in st or mi ng , s he s ai d. Wh y d on t y ou t ry u s?

Yeah , J oel, N ic s econ ded. Ai sl in n and I are alw ay s d um pi ng p ro bl em s o n each o th er and u su al ly w e

c om e u p w it h s ome s or t o f s ol ut io n. We d be ha pp y t o t al k a bout wha t s bot he ri ng you i f you w ant t o

d is cu ss i t. I f n ot , j us t t el l u s t o b ut t o ut a nd w e ll c ha ng e t he s ub je ct .

He ha d a lw ays f ou nd i t e as y t o be wi th N ic . Co mf or ta bl e. He l ike d t he w ay s he t re at ed hi m. Li ke a

regular guy. Not an eligible bachelor-doctor. Or worsea tragically romantic figure. Women usually

class if ied h im as o ne o r t he o th er , s om et im es an u ncom fo rt ab le com bi nati on . N ic s im pl y s aw h im as h er

neighbor and friend.

M ay be s he w ou ld u nde rs ta nd t he d il em ma t ha t h ad b ee n w ei gh in g on h im f or t he p as t c ou pl e o f

weeks.

W hat h ap pened? s he ask ed encou ragi ng ly . Is i t o ne o f y ou r p at ient s?

No , n ot hi ng l ik e t ha t. I t s th is i s g oi ng t o s ou nd pr et ty s il ly , h e s ai d w it h a n i rr it at ed s ha ke o f h is h ea d.

Try us.

H e l oo ked i nt o t he t wo i nq ui ri ng f aces t ur ned t ow ar d h im and s ig hed.

My h ig h s ch oo l class b ack i nA labama i s h av in g an i nf or mal f if teen -y ear r eu ni on i n a cou pl e o f w eeks .

Theyre attending the homecoming football game, which is against a big rival, and then having several


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a ct iv it ie s a nd a da nc e t he n ex t d ay , f ol lo we d by a f ar ew el l b re ak fa st o n S un da y m or ni ng . I m j us t

dreading it, thats all.

A is li nn s exp ress io n d id n t chang e i n r es po ns e t o J oel s r ev el at io n. N ic l oo ked s ur pr is ed , b ut h e cou ld n t

blame her for that. He doubted that she had expected a mere high school reunion to be his dilemma. But

t he n, s he d id n t k no w t he w ho le s to ry .

A fifteen-year reunion? she repeated.

He no dd ed . Our c la ss s ec re ta ry wa s H ei di P ea rl . H ei di R os en ba um no w. I f i t w er e u p t o he r, w e d g et

t og et her every y ear. T hank g oo dn es s t he class con fi nes h er t o h av in g r eu ni on s o nl y o nce every f iv e

years.

D id you go t o t he l as t one ?

Ye ah . H e f igu re d h is t on e g av e h er a n i nd ic at io n o f h ow a wf ul t ha t h ad be en .

Ni c s hr ug ge d. La st I h ea rd , t he re s n o l aw t ha t s ay s y ou h av e t o a tt en d h ig h s ch oo l r eu ni on s. I m n ot

s ur e I l l g o t o m y t en -y ea r r eu ni on n ex t s um me r. I v e g ot b et te r t hi ng s t o d o t ha n t o s it a ro un d w it h a

bunch of people I barely know now, talking about embarrassing adolescent memories. Aislinns the only

f ri end I he ld o n t o f rom hi gh s chool , a nd s he a nd I s ee e ac h ot he r oft en e nough.

Ye ah, bu t I m k ind of e xp ec te d t o g o. I w as t he c la ss p re si de nt .

Of cou rs e y ou w er e, N ic m ur mu red.

H e g av e h er a m il d l oo k, t he n a dd ed , Be si de s, H ei di w or ks f or m y d ad . T he re a re n t a ny e xc us es t ha t

would hold up to her daily inquisitions.

Sh e s ou nd s k in d o f s cary .

Trust me. Shes terrifying.

N ic chu ck led, t hen s ho ok h er h ead. St il l. Y ou s ho ul d j us t t el l t hem y ou aren t i nt er es ted t hi s t im e.

I w is h I c ou ld .

Why cant you?

You wouldnt understand.

Tr y m e, s he s ai d again .

I t hi nk s he w il l u nd er st an d, A is li nn s ai d, m ak in g h im w on der i f s he h ad s om eh ow alr eady g uess ed h is

quandary. Good intuition, he reminded himself. Nothing more.

T he f un ny t hi ng w as , h e t ho ug ht m ay be N icwo ul d u nd er st an d. O ne o f t he f ew w om en i n t he

s mall -t ow nA rk an sas p ol ice d ep ar tm en t w here s he w or ked, s he w as w el l accu st om ed t o t ry in g t o m eet

everyone elses expectations.

Ju dg in g f ro m p as t exp er ience, h e s ai d, t ry in g t o cho os e h is w or ds car ef ul ly , if I g o, I l l b e g reet ed w it h


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c lo yi ng s ym pa th y a nd t re at ed l ik e s om e k in d o f t ra gi c h er o. I f I d on t g o, e ve ry on e w il l b e e ve n m or e

con vi nced t hat I m an emo ti on al b as ket cas e.

Yo u? A b as ke t c as e? N ic s e ye s w er e w id e w it h s ur pr is e b en ea th h er f ri ng e o f b lo nd -s tr ea ke d b an gs .

Yo u re, l ik e, t he s an es t, m os t n or mal g uy I k no w.

Ye s, w el l, I w as n t i n s uc h g oo d s ha pe t he l as t t im e m y c la ss g ot t og et he r, f iv e y ea rs a go . M y w if e,He at he r, ha d di ed onl y a f ew mont hs e ar li er , a nd I We ll , I gue ss I wa sn t r ea dy f or a r eu nion of a ll my

old high school friends.

Heat her w as i n y ou r class ? A is li nn ask ed , h er s li gh tl y h us ky v oi ce w ar m w it h com pass io n.

H e n od de d. We w er e t yp ic al h ig h s ch oo l s we et he ar ts . W e w en t t o t he p ro m t og et he r, w er e v ot ed

cu test cou pl e, t hat s or t o f t hi ng . W e att en ded d if ferent u ni vers it ies, b ut w e s t ay ed t og et her d es pi te t he

o dd s again st l on g- di st an ce r el at io ns hi ps . T hen I w en t t o m ed ical s cho ol and s he t o g radu at e

s ch oo l ag ai n, d if ferent s ch oo ls , d if ferent s tates. W e g ot eng ag ed d ur in g C hr is tm as b reak o f o ur t hi rd

y ears b ut w ai ted u nt il w e f el t f in an ci al ly r eady b ef or e w e g ot m ar ri ed .

H e t oo k a s ip o f h is s od a b ef or e a dd in g t on el es sl y, Si x m on th s l at er , s he w as k il le d i n a c ar a cc id en t.

B ro ad si de d b y a s em i w it h b ad b ra ke s.

C h ap t er T wo

N i c h ad k no wn , o f c ou rs e, t ha t J oe l w as a y ou ng w id ow er . H e h ad m en ti on ed o nc e t ha t h is w if e d ie d i n

a c ar a cc id en t, b ut s he h ad n t a sk ed f or a ny d et ai ls , n or h ad h e v ol un te er ed a ny .

H e h ad n t b ee n i n a ny r el at io ns hi ps d ur in g t he m on th s s he h ad k no wn h im , a nd s he h ad w on de re d i f h e

w as s ti ll g ri ev in g f or t he w if e h e d l os t. N ow t ha t s he k ne w h ow l on g J oe l a nd H ea th er h ad b ee nt og et he r, s he u nd er st oo d e xa ct ly h ow h ar d t ha t l os s m us t h av e b ee n f or h im .

I m s or ry , s he s ai d, n ot k no wi ng w ha t e ls e t o s ay .

I t s ee me d t o b e e no ug h. H e n od de d. An yw ay , I m ad e t he m is ta ke o f a tt en di ng t he r eu ni on b ef or e I d

completely worked through my grieving, and it was arough experience. Too many painful reminders,

t oo muc h e mot io n a nd s ympa thy f rom my c la ss ma te s. I wa s a me ss by t he t ime i t w as ove r a nd I di dn t

do a ve ry good j ob of h idi ng it .

Th at s u nd er st an dabl e, s he ass ur ed h im . It w ou ld h av e b een a d if fi cu lt o rd eal f or any on e.

H e s earched h er f ace as i f t ry in g t o t el l w heth er s he r eall y d id u nd er st an d. A pp ar en tl y s at is fi ed w it h

w ha te ve r h e s aw t he re , h e n od de d a ga in . Th e t hi ng i s, t ha t w as f iv e y ea rs a go . I v e c om e a l on g w ay

s inc e t he n. I v e ma de p ea ce wi th my pa st . I ve m ade a good l ife f or mys el f he re a nd I c ons ide r m ys elf a

generally happy guy.

Th at s t he i mp ress io n I v e alw ay s h ad o f y ou . A ct uall y, s he con si dered h im t he m os t l ai d- back and

eas yg oi ng m an s he k new. S hed o ft en env ied h im h is abi li ty t o t ak e t hi ng s i n s tr id e, h an dl in g t he p ress ur es

o f h is j ob w it h a pp ar en t e as e.

It s not a n a ct , he a ss ur ed he r. Tha t s r ea ll y t he wa y I f ee l, f or t he m os t pa rt .

Th at s g oo d t he n, r ig ht ? S o y ou r o ld f ri en ds s ho ul d b e p le as ed t o s ee y ou d oi ng s o w el l.


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J oe l s qu ir me d a l it tl e i n h is c ha ir . I m j us t no t s o s ur e t he y ll s ee i t t ha t w ay. I m a fr ai d t he y ll s ti ll v ie w

me as the ma n I was r ather tha n the one I ve be come.

A legitimate concern, Aislinn agreed.

N ic s hr ug ge d. So d on t g o. S en d y ou r b es t w is he s t o a ll y ou r o ld f ri en ds , t el l t he m y ou r e d oi ng g re atbut youre too busy with work to join them this time.

Th at w ou ld p ro ba bl y b e b es t, o f c ou rs e

B ut i t i sn t w hat y ou w an t t o d o, A is li nn t rans lated f ro m h is exp ress io n. Wh y n ot ?

L oo ki ng r at her s heep is h, h e r ep li ed , I t hi nk i t s a p ri de t hi ng .

If t he re w as a ny th in g N ic c ou ld u nd er st an d, i t w as a pr id e t hi ng . S he h ad b ee n a cc us ed o n p le nt y o f

o ccas io ns o f h av in g ent ir el y t oo m uch p ri de f or h er o wn g oo d.

C om pr eh en si on cli ck ed i n h er b rain . Yo u d on t w an t y ou r o ld f ri en ds t o t hi nk y ou can t h an dl e ano th er

r eu ni on . Y ou r e afr ai d i f y ou d on t g o, t hey ll t hi nk i t s b ecau se y ou r e s ti ll t oo w ou nd ed and v ul nerabl e.

T ha t s w ha t y ou m ea nt b yb as k et c a se .

W i nc in g a l it tl e a t h er c hoi ce o f a dj ec ti ve s, h e n od de d. I g ue ss t ha t s i t. T he o nl y w ay t o c on vi nc e t he m

t ha t I m r ea ll y oka y s ee ms t o be t o s how up a nd pr ove i t. B ut w el l, it s ti ll w on t be e as y.

A is li nn s eemed t o h av e a s ud den b rain st or m. Wh at y ou s ho ul d d o, s he s ai d ear nest ly , is t ak e

s om eo ne w it h y ou . Y ou k no w, l ik e a d at e o r s om et hi ng . T ha t w ay e ve ry on e c an s ee t ha t y ou r e o ka y,

a nd t he a tt en ti on w on t a ll b e f oc us ed o n y ou .

Take s om eo ne w it h m e? T he s ug gest io n s eemed t o s tart le h im . I h ad n t even t ho ug ht o f t hat.

Wh at b et te r w ay t o d em on st ra te t ha t y ou v e m ov ed o n? N ic a sk ed , s ee in g t he l og ic o f A is li nn s i de a.

S he h op ed s he w as n t c om in g a cr os s a s i ns en si ti ve t o J oe l s l os s bu t h e w as t he o ne w ho h ad s ai d h e d

put the past behind him. And tact had never been her strong point, unfortunately.

J oe l d id n t s ee m t o t ak e o ff en se a t h er w or di ng . I ns te ad h e a pp ea re d i nt ri gu ed b y h er r ea so ni ng . I

w ou ld n t w an t t o m ak e a ny p re te ns e a bo ut a r el at io ns hi p t ha t d oe sn t e xi st . N o f ak e r om an ce s o r

anything like that.

N i c exchang ed a w in ce w it h A is li nn b ef or e r ep ly in g, Oh , agr eed. I ck . J us t i nt ro du ce y ou r com pani on as

a f ri end a nd l ea ve i t a t t ha t. The ot he rs c an ma ke wha t th ey wa nt out of i t.

S ti ll l oo ki ng t ho ug ht fu l, J oe l t oy ed w it h a pi zz a c ru st on h is p la te . It s a g oo d i de a, b ut I w ou ld n t k no w

w ho t o a sk . U nl es s is t he re a ny w ay I c ou ld t al k y ou i nt o g oi ng w it h m e, N ic ?

N ic c ou ld a lm os t f ee l h er j aw d ro p. Yo u w ou ld w an tme t o go w it h y ou?

We ll , y ou w ou ld b e t he l og ic al c ho ic e, h e r ep li ed . We r e f ri en ds . W e h av e a g oo d t im e t og et he r. I f I

a sk ed s om eo ne e ls e, I d h av e t o g et i nt o s ti ck y e xp la na ti on s, w he re as y ou a lr ea dy k no w t he w ho le s to ry .

I h ea rd y ou t el l A is li nn e ar li er t ha t y ou c ou ld u se a f ew d ay s a wa y f ro m w or k. I k no w a tt end in g s om eo ne

e ls e s r euni on i s ha rdl y a n i de al va ca ti on, but I d ma ke s ur e you ha ve a goo d t ime . A nd I d ow e you


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big-time.

He ha d s poke n s o quic kl y t ha t s he d ha d a ha rd t ime f ol lowi ng hi m. But i t a ll c am e dow n to the

r ea li za ti on t ha t h e w as a sk ing h er t o a cc om pa ny h im t o h is h ig h s ch oo l r eu ni on . Th e f ac t t ha t s he h ad

concurred with Aislinns recommended plan didnt make Joels invitation any less startling. I, uh

E mb ar ra ss ed n ow , h e l if te d o ne s ho ul de r i n a s hr ug . Ne ve r m in d. B ad i de a. I c an t b la me y ou f or n otw an ti ng t o h av e any th in g t o d o w it h t hi s.

Well , i t w as o ur i dea, s he con ceded, m ot io ni ng t ow ar d A is li nn , w ho w as w at ch in g t hem i n s il en ce.

Yeah , b ut y ou w er en t v ol un teer in g t o b e t he att en ti on d ef lect or . I u nd er st an d.

Is n t t he re a ny on e e ls e y ou c an t ak e?

Not r ea ll y. L ike I s ai d, I don t wa nt t o g o t hr ou gh a bunc h of e xpl ana ti ons a ga in, nor do I wa nt t o gi ve

a nyo ne t he w ro ng i de a b y a sk in g h er t o m y r eun io n. I t w ou ldn t b e f ai r f or m e t o r is k u si ng a nyo ne j us tf or t he s ake of m y o wn pr ide .

T here w as t hat w or d agai n. Pr i de. T he o ne ar gu ment s he u nd er st oo d b es t .

M ay be s he cou ld n t r eall y u nd er st an d J oel s d il em ma i n i ts ent ir et y, esp eciall y s in ce s he h ad n ev er

v iewed h im as a tr ag ic f ig ur e h er self , b ut s he cou ld u nd er st an d h is n eed t o p ro ve h im self t o o th er

people. Shed been doing that herself for most of her life.

Ok ay , s he b lu rt ed . I ll g o.

Aislinn murmured her approval of Nics impulsive acceptance.

Joel blinked. Umyoull go?

S he n od de d b ef or e s he c ou ld t al k h er se lf o ut o f t he r as h o ff er . J oe l w as a f ri en d, s he r em in de d h er se lf ,

a nd s he di dn t h av e m an y r ea l f ri en ds . F ri en ds c am e t hr ou gh f or e ac h ot he r. I ll g o i f y ou r ea ll y t hi nk i t

w il l he lp y ou o ut . B ut I w ar n y ou , I m l ou sy a t pa rt ie s a nd s oc ia l e ve nt s. Y ou m igh t ve ry w el l r eg re t

a sk ing m e w he n I e mb ar ra ss y ou i n f ron t o f a ll y our o ld s ch oo lm at es .

H is s mi le m ad e a f un ny l it tl e s hi ver r un d ow n h er s pi ne. No t p os si bl e.

It w as n t t he f ir st t im e s he h ad n ot ic ed h ow a tt ra ct iv e h e w as . N ot e ve n t he f ir st t im e s he d f ou nd h er se lf

r eact in g r at her d ramati call y t o t hat att ract iv en es s. O nl y n at ur al , o f cou rs e, w it h h er b ei ng a n or mal s in gl e

w om an and J oel b ei ng s o d ar ned s exy . B ut s he n ei th er exp ected or even w an ted an yt hi ng t o d ev el op

between them.

S he l ik ed h av in g h im as h er f ri en d. A nd f ro m p ai nf ul exp er ience, s he h ad l earn ed t hat n ot hi ng r ui ned a

g reat f ri en ds hi p f as ter t han t ry in g t o t ur n i t i nt o m or e.

T he m en ta l w ar ni ng s s he h ad b ee n t ry in g t o i gn or e s in ce s he d a cc ep te d h is o ff er b ega n t o c la ng m or e

l ou dl y, h ar de r t o d is co un t n ow . A s m uc h a s s he d is li ke d s oc ia l e ve nt s, a s m uc h a s s he d re ad ed a tt en di ng

a r eu ni on o f s tr an gers w ho w ou ld b e s tu dy in g h er w it h cur io si ty , s he w as b eg in ni ng t o w or ry t hat t he

g reat es t p er il i nh er en t i n t hi s s ch em e w as n t m ak in g a f oo l o f h er self o r emb ar rass in g J oel.


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I t m ad e an i nt er es ti ng and f ru st rati ng d il em ma. B y d oi ng J oel a b ig f av or i n t he n am e o f f ri en ds hi p,

w as s he t ak in g t he r is k o f d am ag in g t ha t r el at io ns hi p t ha t h ad b ec om e s o s pe ci al t o h er d ur in g t he p as t

few months?

D ecli ni ng t he i ce cream N ic o ff er ed f or d es sert , J oel l ef t n ot l on g aft er t he d is cu ss io n abo ut h is r eu ni on .A is li nn l in gered t o h el p N ic clean u p t he r em ai ns o f t heir d in ner.

It w as n ic e of y ou t o a gr ee t o h el p hi m, s he s ai d whe n s he a nd N ic we re a lone .

N ic l oo ked at h er f ri en d s us pi ci ou sl y. Wh y d o I g et t he f eeli ng t hat y ou s om eh ow m an ip ul at ed m e i nt o

agreeing?

I ha d no thi ng t o d o w it h i t. H e n ee de d you r he lp , a nd you c ame t hr ough as you a lwa ys do f or pe op le

y ou care abo ut .

N ic c lo se d t he d is hw as he r d oo r w it h a l it tl e s la m. Be ca us e I m a s uc ke r, r ig ht ?

No . B ecau se y ou h av e a g oo d h eart , A is li nn s ai d l oy al ly . An d b ecau se t heres v er y l it tl e y ou w ou ld n t

d o f or y ou r f ri en ds .

Ye ah, we ll , I mi ght ha ve gone a li tt le t oo f ar thi s t ime . I don t s uppos e you kne w wha t he wa s goi ng t o

ask me to do?

No. I j us t ha d a f ee li ng t he re wa s s om et hi ng you c oul d do t o e as e hi s mi nd and I k ne w you woul d do

it.

Bu t a h ig h s ch oo l r eu ni on , A is li nn . W it h a b un ch o f s tr an gers even J oel d oesn t s eem t oo ent hu si as ti c

abo ut . C an y ou i magi ne h ow awf ul t hat s g oi ng t o b e?

It w ou ld ha ve be en wor se f or hi m t o go a lone . W e c an bo th und er st an d why he w oul dn t wa nt t o b e

t re at ed a s a n ob je ct of p it y. An d you a nd J oe l a re s uc h go od f ri end s t ha t he k now s yo u ll p roba bl y h ave

a g oo d t im e d es pi te t he awk ward nes s o f t he s i tu at io n.

I m s ur e t ha t s w hy h e t ho ug ht I d be t he o ne t o t ake w it h h im . B ec au se w e g et a lo ng w el l w it hou t

h av in g t o w or ry abo ut any com pl icat ed u nd er cu rr en ts b et ween u s, N ic s ai d l ig ht ly , w an ti ng t o m ak e s ur e

A is li nn w as n t g et ti ng a ny w ro ng i de as . An d, o f c ou rs e, h e s h es it an t t o t ak e a no th er d at e b ec au se h ed oe sn t w an t t o l ea d a ny on e o n ap pa re nt ly t ha t s a p ro bl em f or a s in gl e d oc to r.

Especially one who looks like Joel, Aislinn murmured.

A m en ta l i ma ge o f c ro wd s of h op ef ul w om en c ha si ng a ft er J oe l m ad e N ic s co wl . I g ue ss t ha t s w hy h e

w as c om fo rt ab le a sk in g m e. H e c an b e c on fi de nt t ha t I s ee h im a s a p al , n ot hi ng m or e.

Hmm.

N ic f ro wn ed m or e d eepl y. Wh at s t hat s up po sed t o m ean ?

It d id n t m ean any th in g, h er f ri en d r ep li ed i nn ocen tl y. I w as j us t r es po nd in g t o y ou .


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T ho ug h s he w as s ti ll s us pi ci ou s o f A is li nn s t on e th ey h ad b een f ri en ds f or t oo l on g t o d ecei ve each

o th er e as il y Ni c d ec id ed t o j us t l et i t g o f or n ow . F or s om e r ea so n, s he f el t a s t ho ug h t he y w er e e dg in g

a l it tl e t oo clo se t o p ot en ti al ly d an gero us t er ri to ry .

Ma yb e y ou l l h ave a g oo d t im e, A is li nn s ai d a ft er t he s il en ce h ad s tr et ch ed a bi t t oo l on g.

And maybe Ill win the lottery and become the countrys newest multimillionairewhich would be evenm or e m ir ac ul ou s s in ce t hi s s ta te d oe sn t h av e a l ot te ry , N ic s ho t b ac k. Bu t I m g oi ng , o ka y? A nd J oe l

i ss o g oi ng t o o we m e aft er t hi s. B ig -t im e.

I m s ur e h e ll b e h ap py t o p ay u p, A is li nn s ai d, n ow l oo ki ng j us t a b it t oo b la nd .

O nc e a ga in N ic d ec id ed t o l et t he c om me nt p as s w it ho ut r es po ns e.

Yo u re s ur e y ou d on t m in d d oi ng t hi s? O n t he F ri day m or ni ng o f J oel s r eu ni on , h e s to od w it h o neha nd on t he ope n t runk o f hi s c ar, s tudy ing N ic s f ac e. He h ad j us t pl ac ed he r ba g in si de wi th hi s o wn,

but he was giving her one last chance to change her mind about accompanying him to his hometown.

S he s et tl ed t he i ss ue b y r ea chi ng up t o pl ac e h er ha nd ne xt t o hi s, pus hi ng d own to c los e th e t runk wi th a

d ec is iv e s na p. It s t oo l at e t o c ha ng e o ur p la ns n ow . I v e a lr ea dy a rr an ge d t o t ak e o ff w or k t od ay . I m

not expected back until Monday morning.

St il l, yo u c oul d d o s ome thi ng w it h you r t im e of f t ha t wo ul d b e m or e f un t ha n b ai li ng m e ou t of a j am.

Du de , we ve h ad t hi s c on ve rs at io n a doz en t im es i n t he pa st t wo w ee ks . N ow ge t i n t he c ar b ef or e you

talk me into changing my mind.

C hu ck li ng r ue fu ll y a t h er t on e, J oe l o pe ne d t he p as se ng er d oo r f or h er , t he n w al ke d a ro un d t o s li de

behind the wheel. I really do appreciate this, Nic.

Lo ok , s he s ai d, s na pp in g h er s ea t b el t. le t s j us t a gr ee t ha t y ou v e a lr ea dy t ha nk ed m e e no ug h, o ka y?

T he re s n o n ee d t o k ee p d oi ng s o a ll we ek en d.

Ok ay . B ut I a m g ra te fu l, h e a dd ed i n a m ut te r.

She sighed heavily, making him chuckle again.

T hey l ef t h is car i n t he p ar ki ng d eck at t heLi tt le R ock R eg io nal A ir po rt and w en t t hr ou gh t he l en gt hy

process of checking in and going through security. Joel had insisted on buying Nics ticket, though she

h ad o ff er ed t o p ay he r ow n w ay.

T hi s t ri p wa s on hi m, he ha d i nf or me d he r. I t wa snt a s i f it woul d ha ve be en he r f irs t c hoi ce of a

long-weekend destination.

I t w as n t a l on g f li gh t f ro mL it tl e R ock t oB ir mi ng ham , Al ab am a , and t he t im e p as sed q ui ck ly . T oo

qu ic kl y, a s f ar a s Ni c wa s c on ce rne d. A s de te rm in ed a s s he w as t o d o e ve ryt hi ng s he c ou ld t o h el p J oe l

ou t t hi s w ee ke nd, s he wa s i n no r ea l hu rr y t o g et s ta rt ed .

A m an w it h c le ar h az el e ye s e xa ct ly l ik e J oe l s m et t he m a t t he a ir po rt i nB ir mi ng ha m . A s h e a nd J oe l


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g reet ed each o th er w it h w ar m s mi les and h eart y s laps o n t he s ho ul der, N ic s tu di ed E th an B rann on

c ur io us ly . N ot s o m uc h t he M at t D am on r es em bl an ce h er e, s he d ec id ed . E th an s f ac e w as m or e s ha rp ly

planed than Joels, a bit harder, even when he smiled.

H e w as s mi li ng w he n h e t ur ne d t o h er , t ak ing t he h an d s he o ff er ed w he n J oe l i nt ro du ce d h er c as ua ll y a s

h is f ri en d and n ei gh bo r. B ut t hi s s mi le w as d if ferent f ro m t he o ne h e d s hared w it h h is y ou ng er b ro th er ,

s he s aw i mm ed iately . T hi s w as t he p ol it e, r at her coo l s mi le h e m ig ht o ff er a s tr an ger h e d id n t q ui te k no ww heth er t o t ru st .

S ti ll , h is t on e w as f ri en dl y e no ug h w he n h e s ai d, Ni co le , i t s a p le as ur e t o m ee t y ou . J oe l s t ol d m e

abo ut y ou . Y ou r e t he p ol ice o ff icer , aren t y ou ?

Ye s, I a m. A nd p le as e c al l m e N ic . E ve ry on e d oe s.

H e no dd ed a nd t ur ne d ba ck t o J oe l. Le t s g et y ou r ba gs .

Wev e g ot t hem. B ot h J oel and N ic h ad p acked l ig ht f or t he w eekend , s tu ff in g every th in g t hey n eededi nt o w he el ed c ar ry -o n b ag s. J oe l h ad t ea se d h er a bo ut b ri ng in g s o m uc h l es s t ha n h e d e xp ec t f ro m a

w om an , b ut s hed g ot ten t he i mp ress io n h e w as n t p ar ti cu larl y s ur pr is ed . Let s g o.

Nic sat in the backseat of Ethans SUV, giving the brothers a chance to catch up during the hour-long

d ri ve t o t heir p ar en ts h ou se i n s mall -t ow nD an st on , Al ab am a . S he w at ch ed t he i nt er acti on b et ween t hem

during the trip, making several private observations.

E th an w as v er y m uc h t he o ld er b ro th er , s he d ec id ed . A l it tl e b os sy . A b it t oo c on ce rn ed a bo ut J oe l s

w el l- bein g, as i f i t w er e h is r es po ns ib il it y t o m ak e s ur e y ou ng er b ro th er w as o kay.

N ic k ne w t ha t d yn am ic a ll t oo w el l, h av in g a n o ld er b ro th er o f h er o wn . P au l h ad d is pl ay ed a t en de nc y

t o g o o ve rb oa rd w it h a dv ic e a bo ut h er l if e, t oo , u nt il s he h ad r eb el le d a t t we nt y a nd i nf or me d h im i n n o

u nc er ta in t er ms t ha t s he d id n t n ee d h is g ui da nc e, e ve n i f i t m ea nt s he h ad t o m ak e a f ew m is ta ke s a lo ng

t he w ay .

S he w on de re d i f J oe l h ad e ve r h ad t ha t t al k w it h E th an . A ft er a ll , J oe l w as t hi rt y- th re e, l on g p as t t he

s t ag e w hen N ic h ad as ser ted h er i nd ep en den ce.

Ma ybe t he di ff er en ce wa s t ha t E tha n w as a b it mor e s ubt le a bout i t t ha n P aul ha d b ee n. H e wa sn to penl y s no op in g o r i ss ui ng adv ice, j us t ask in g q uest io ns and w on deri ng alo ud w hy J oel h ad m ad e cer tain

decisionssuch as moving toArkansas when he could have had a thriving practice inBirmingham

orAtlanta .

If y ou d w an ted a s mall -t ow n p ract ice, y ou cou ld h av e s tayed i n D an st on , h e add ed , l et ti ng h is v oi ce

r is e j us t eno ug h t o t ur n t he s tatement i nt o an i mp li ed q uest io n.

I n ee de d t o g et a wa y f ro m D an st on , J oe l r ep li ed w it h a s hr ug , a nd t hou gh hi s t on e w as u ne mo ti on al ,

h is s im pl e w or ds e xp re ss ed a g re at d ea l.

E th an m us t h av e p ic ke d u p o n t ha t i mp li ed m es sa ge . H e l et t he s ub je ct d ro p. So , N ic , h e s ai d, wh at

bribe did my brother use to talk you into coming to his reunion with him?


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S he l au gh ed . No b ri be . J us t l ot s o f m an ip ul at io n. A nd h e d oe s o we m e a f av or a ft er t hi s.

No k id di ng . I s ti ll l iv e h er e i n t ow n a nd I d on t g o t o m y r eu ni on s.

Th e d if fe re nc e i s t ha t n o o ne e xp ec ts y ou t o, J oe l m ut te re d.

No . T he d if fe re nc e i s t ha t I d on t p ar ti cu la rl y c ar e w ha t a ny on e e ls e e xp ec ts o f m e, E th an r et ur ne dsmoothly.

J oe l l et t ha t p as s.

We r e a lm os t t o m y p ar en ts h ou se , N ic , E th an s ai d, l oo ki ng a t h er i n t he r ea rv ie w m ir ro r. I m s ur e

y ou l l b e g la d t o s tr et ch a nd f re sh en u p.

I l l b e s ta yi ng a t a m ot el , w on t I ?

Ar e y ou k id di ng ? M om s g ot t he g ue st r oo m a ll r ea dy f or y ou . S he s b ee n f us si ng o ve r i t f or d ay s.

Oh , I di dn t w ant he r t o go t o t ha t mu ch t ro ubl e. N ic f ro wne d a t t he ba ck of J oe l s h ea d, kno wi ng he

h ad d el ib er at el y w it hh el d t hat b it o f i nf or mati on f ro m h er . I t ol d y ou I w ou ld b e p er fect ly com fo rt ab le i n

a m ot el o r a t t he r es or t w he re t he r es t o f y ou r o ut -o f- to wn c la ss ma te s a re s ta yi ng .

St ay b y y ou rs el f a t a m ot el ? M ot he r w ou ld h av e a f it . S he s p re tt y o ld -f as hi on ed t ha t w ay . A nd w e ll

be spending enough time at the resort as it is. You wouldnt want to be stuck there with my old friends

w hi le I m v is it in g w it h m y f am il y. T hi s w ay w e can l eave t og et her w hen t hi ng s g et b or in g as I m s ur e

they will.

N ic t wi ned h er f in gers m or e t ig ht ly i n h er l ap , r eg rett in g no t f or t he f ir st t im e th at s he h ad ever l etherself get talked into coming along.

Chapter Three

N i c w as no t a p ar ti cu la rl y t al l w om an . F iv e f ee t s ix i nc he s i n h er s en si bl e w or k s ho es , s he w as us ua ll y

s ev er al i nc he s s ho rt er t ha n t he m en s he c on fr on te d d ai ly o n t he j ob . S he s ta ye d s li m a nd m us cu la r

t hr ou gh a com bi nati on o f r eg ul ar exercis e and o veract iv e m et ab ol is m. Y et s ti ll s he f el t as t ho ug h s he

towered over Joels mother, Elaine Brannon.

Elaine reminded her vividly of the delicate porcelain figurines her grandmother had collected, and whichNic had been sternly forbidden to touch. Elaine might have stood five feet two on her tallest days and

w as h ar dl y l ar ge e no ug h t o c as t a s ha do w. T ho ug h n ei th er o f h er s on s t op pe d s ix f ee t, s he w as d wa rf ed

between them, her impeccably made-up face glowing with pride as she gazed up at them.

A s E th an s h ad e ar li er , E la in e s s mi le c ha ng ed w he n s he t ur ne d t o g re et N ic . I f a s mi le c ou ld b e g ra ci ou s

a nd s us pi ci ou s a t t he s am e t im e, t hi s o ne w as .

Ni c w as alm os t amu sed. A pp ar en tl y t hi s f am il y w or ri ed t hat J oel w ou ld b e t he t ar get o f u ns cr up ul ou s

g ol d d ig ge rs o r d oc to r g ro up ie s, e ve n t ho ug h s he k ne w h e h ad t ol d t he m t ha t s he a nd J oe l w er e j us t

f ri en ds . E ven i f t hey i ncor rect ly s us pect ed t here w as m or e t o t heir r el at io ns hi p, d id t hey h on es tl y t hi nk s he

l oo ke d l ik e e it he r o f t ho se t yp es ? S he w or e j us t e no ug h m ak eu p t o s at is fy h er m ot he r. T he re w as n o

expensive product in her casual, easy-to-maintain hairstyle. She couldnt show cleavage if she tried,

since she didnt particularly have any.


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J oe l s aw h er a s a p al , n ot a p ot en ti al r om an ti c p ar tn er a nd t ha t w as e xa ct ly t he w ay s he w an te d t hi ng s

t o r em ai n. M uch l es s m es sy all aro un d.

T he w om an s t in y h an d w as i cy -col d i n N ics . Welcom e t o o ur h om e, N icol e, E lain e s ai d w it h

practiced Southern charm. My husband hasnt returned from work yet, but hes looking forward to

meeting you.

Th an k y ou , M rs . B ra nn on . I t r ea ll y w as n t n ec es sa ry f or y ou t o p ut m e u p, y ou k no w. I c ou ld h av e

s tayed i n a m ot el .

E la ine s ho ok he r a sh- bl ond he ad. Wha t ki nd o f ho st s w oul d w e b e i f we s ent you of f t o a m ot el ? I ve

prepared the guest room for you and I hope youll be comfortable in it.

I m s ur e I w il l b e, N ic l ied p ol it el y, t ho ug h t he p ri vacy o f an ano ny mo us m ot el r oo m s ou nd ed v er y n ice

at t he m om en t.

Co me o n, N ic , I l l s ho w y ou t o y ou r r oo m s o y ou c an f re sh en u p, J oe l o ff er ed , m ot io ni ng t ow ar d t he

stairway that curved upward behind them.

S he f ol lo we d h im g ra te fu ll y, a wa re t ha t b ot h h is m ot he r a nd b ro th er w er e w at ch in g a s s he a nd J oe l

climbed the stairs.

The average-size four-bedroom house was fashioned in a vaguely Colonial style with gleaming wood

f lo or s, w ai ns co ted w al ls and r ep ro du ct io n l ig ht f ix tu res. I t w as w ar m and w el co mi ng , n ot t oo f or mal f or

Nics tastes and yet attractively decorated. Framed family photographs adorned almost every inch of the

walls of the upstairs hallway.

S he s to pp ed at a l ar ge f am il y p or tr ai t, r ecog ni zi ng a m uch y ou ng er E lain e i mm ed iately . E lain e h ad aged

v er y w el l, l oo ki ng b ar el y d if fe re nt n ow . A m an s to od b es id e h er , a nd i t w as o bv io us w he re E th an a nd

J oel h ad g ot ten t heir s im il ar f eatu res. Is t hi s y ou r f at her?

Yes. T hat s D ad L ou B rann on . H e s ho ul d b e h om e s oo n. I t hi nk y ou l l l ik e h im .

I m s ur e I w il l. B ut h er a tt en ti on h ad t ur ne d t o t he c hi ld re n i n t he p hot o.

E t han and J oel w er e eas y eno ug h t o s po t; n ei th er o f t hem h ad chang ed s ig ni fi cant ly s in ce t od dl er ho od ,

a pp ar en tl y. Y et i t w as t he o th er c hi ld w ho se i ma ge h el d h er r iv et ed , a no th er b oy , t hi s o ne l it tl e m or e t ha na b ab y, p er ha ps a c ou pl e o f y ea rs y ou ng er t ha n J oe l. Th is l it tl e b oy

My younger brother. Kyle.

S ad ness f il led h er as s he r eali zed t he s ig ni fi cance o f h is n ev er m en ti on in g K yl e t o h er b ef or e. S tu dy in g

t he h ap py , i nn oc en t f ac e i n t he p ho to , s he b it h er l ow er l ip .

H e d ie d i n a f la sh f lo od t we nt y- ei gh t y ea rs a go . H e w as a lm os t t wo .

T ho ug h J oel h ad s po ken w it ho ut emo ti on , N ic k new h im w el l eno ug h t o u nd er st an d t hat h is r at her f lat,

e ve n t on e w as a n a tt em pt t o h id e e xa ct ly h ow s tr on gl y h e d id f ee l a bo ut t he l os s o f h is y ou ng er b ro th er .

Im sorry.


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I b ar el y r em em ber h im , J oel r ep li ed w it h a s li gh t s hr ug . I w as j us t f ou r m ys el f. H e w as w it h h is n an ny

w he n h er c ar w as s we pt i nt o a f lo od ed r iv er . T he c ar w as e ve nt ua ll y f ou nd , b ut n ei th er t he n an ny s n or

m y b ro th er s b od ies w er e i ns i de. T hey w er e n ev er r eco vered.

N ic t ho ug ht o f t he w om an s he h ad m et d ow ns ta ir s, a nd h er g az e t ur ne d b ac k t o E la in e s f ac e i n t he

portrait. She looked so young, so proud of her attractive family. Nic couldnt imagine what she had gone

through when shed lost her youngest child.

I m v er y s or ry , s he s ai d again .

H e n odde d a nd mot io ne d d own t he ha ll wa y. The gue st r oom i s a t t he e nd of t he ha ll ne xt door t o t he

r oo m w here I l l b e s leep in g.

S he c ou ld n t r es is t p au si ng t o l oo k a t s ev er al m or e o f t he f am il y p ho to gr ap hs , a mu se d b y t he i ma ge s o f

J oel as a g ap -t oo th ed , t ow headed l it tl e b oy , s el f -con scio us i n f ro nt o f t he camer a. O dd ly eno ug h, E th an

l ook ed a lm os t a s s om be r a nd r es pon si bl e a s a c hi ld a s h e di d no w. H ad he b ee n b or n a n ol d s oul ? Th e

m en tal q uest io n m ad e h er s mi le, as i t s ou nd ed m or e l ik e s om et hi ng A is li nn w ou ld p on der t han h er self .

H er a mu se me nt f ad ed w he n s he s tu di ed t he p ho to gr ap hs o f a m or e m at ur e J oe l. E ag le S co ut , h ig h

school graduate, college graduate, medical school graduateall of his accomplishments had been

r ec or de d a nd d is pl ay ed i n t hi s f am il y ha ll o f f am e. I t w as du ri ng h ig h s ch ool t ha t h e b eg an t o be

accompanied in many of the photos by a strikingly lovely redhead. Tall, curvy, intelligent-looking, the

w om an s ee me d t o be a s a t ho me w it hi n t ho se f ra me s a s J oe l a nd h is br ot he r a nd p ar en ts .

This is Heather, she murmured.

Ye s. H e g la nc ed a t a w ed di ng p ho to o f h im se lf a nd h is l at e b ri de . Th is w as t ak en s ix m on ths be fo re

she died.

I t w as a g ood t hi ng, N ic m us ed, t ha t s he d idn t ha ve a ny r om ant ic de si gns on J oe l. I t wou ld b e h ar d t o

compete with the memory of this supermodel-beautiful woman.

T he B rann on s h ad cer tain ly k no wn t heir s hare o f t ragedy , y et t he g en er al i mp ress io n s he r ecei ved f ro m

t hi s n eatl y cro wd ed p ho to g al lery w as o f a clo se, g en er al ly h ap py clan. H er o wn f am il y h ad als o s uf fered

l os s, s he t ho ug ht w it h a f le et in g m em or y o f h er f at he r s l as t c an ce r- ra ck ed d ay s. A nd t he y, t oo , h ad b ee n

a bl e t o p ut t he pa in b eh ind t he m a nd m ov e o n wi th t he ir l ive s, t hou gh o f c our se i t ha d be en d if fi cu lt f or

her mother.

T ha t l if e c ou ld b e h ar d a nd o ft en u nf ai r w as s om et hi ng N ic h ad l ea rn ed a l ong t im e a go . S he h ad

d ec id ed t o c on ce nt ra te a s m uc h a s p os si bl e o n t he p os it iv es , a p hi lo so ph y s he k ne w s he s ha re d w it h

J oe l. S o w hy d id h is o ld f ri en ds s ee m d et er mi ne d t o f oc us o n h is t ra ge di es r at he r t ha n h is

accomplishments? Or was that situation mostly in his own imagination?

S he s up po se d s he w ou ld b e f ind in g o ut s oo n e no ug h. T he y w ou ld b e m ee ti ng h is o ld c la ss ma te s i n l es s

t han t hr ee h ou rs . S wall ow in g h ar d, s he l oo ked away f ro m t he p ho to gr ap h o f b eaut if ul H eath er B rann on

and f ol lo wed J oel i nt o t he g uest r oo m.

Jo el t ol d u s y ou r e a p ol ic e o ff ic er , N ic ol e. T ha t m us t b e a c ha ll en gi ng c ar ee r f or a p et it e y ou ng w om an

like yourself.


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I t w as o ne o f t he f ir st c om me nt s o rt ho do nt is t L ou B ra nn on m ad e a ft er b ei ng i nt ro du ce d t o N ic . S he

r ec og ni ze d h is t on e. H e w as o ne o f t ho se p eo pl e w ho w as e qu al ly f as ci na te d a nd d is ma ye d b y h er c ar ee r

cho ice. H is o nl y k no wl ed ge o f t he j ob p ro babl y cam e f ro m t el ev is io n and cri me n ov el s, and h e cou ld n t

i magi ne w hy any on e, esp eciall y a w om an , w ou ld w an t t o s pend every d ay p ur su in g cri mi nals and o th er

lowlife.

I e nj oy i t, s he s ai d, a s s he a lw ay s d id t o s uc h c om me nt s. An d i t p ay s m y b il ls .

Th ey w er e s ta nd in g i n t he d en , c ha tt ing f or a f ew m inu te s w it h L ou a nd E la in e be fo re J oe l a nd N ic h ad

t o l eave f or t he p regame g at heri ng o f h is class mates.

I t s s uch a d an gero us and u ns av or y j ob , E lain e f rett ed . I can t i magi ne w hy any y ou ng w om an w ou ld

w ant t o d o i t.

A n awk ward m om en t o f s il en ce f ol lo wed t hat com ment . N ic f in al ly r es po nd ed w it h a s im pl e, I l ik e i t.

An d s he d oe s i t v er y w el l, J oe l s ai d i n a n a tt em pt t o s mo ot h o ve r t he s li gh t t en si on h is m ot he r s

r em ar ks h ad l ef t b et ween t hem. Sh e s r ecei ved s ev er al com mend at io ns j us t i n t he r el at iv el y s ho rt t im e

s he s b ee n o n t he f or ce .

Being no more comfortable with Joels compliments than his mothers criticisms, Nic abruptly changed

t he s ub je ct . Wh at t im e a re w e s up po se d t o l ea ve f or t he r ec ep ti on ?

He c he ck ed h is w at ch . Pr et ty s oo n. W e re m ee ti ng a t C hu ck y s B ar a nd G ri ll a t s ix f or d ri nk s b ef or e

t he s ev en -t hi rt y k icko ff . C hu ck y s i s l es s t han a m il e f ro m t he f oo tb al l f ield , s o every on e s g oi ng t o

caravan over after drinks.

Ho w m an y w er e i n y ou r class ?

Ju st u nd er a h un dr ed . N ot e xa ct ly a b ig s ch oo l, s o w e a ll p re tt y m uc h k ne w e ac h o th er .

E lain e s mi led m is ti ly s om et hi ng w hi ch m us t h av e t ak en q ui te a b it o f p ract ice, N ic d ecid ed w it h a d os e

o f cyn icis m. Jo el and H eath er w er e s o p op ul ar and o ut go in g t hat t heir class mates all k new t hem and

l ov ed t he m. E sp ec ia ll y H ea th er . I d on t b el ie ve s he e ve r s ai d a n u nk in d w or d a bo ut a ny on e i n h er e nt ir e

life.

N ic c ou ld h ar dl y m ak e t he s am e c la im . S he p us he d h er h an ds i nt o t he p oc ke ts o f t he b la ck t wi ll s la ck ss he w or e w it h a b lack -and -p ur pl e col or - bl ock t ur tl eneck s weater and w ai ted s il ent l y f or J oel t o

ann ou nce t hat i t w as t im e t o l eave. S he w as g reat ly r el ieved w hen h e d id s o alm os t i mm ed iately .

So rr y a bo ut m y m ot he r, J oe l s ai d a s h e g ui de d h is f at he r s b or ro we d c ar a wa y f ro m h is p ar en ts

home. Sometimes she speaks without really thinking about how it sounds.

Yo ur m ot her h as b een p er fect ly n ice t o m e, N ic ass ur ed h im b land ly .

He s ho t a s ke pt ic al g la nc e he r wa y. I s aw t he w ay yo u l ook ed w he n s he t al ke d a bo ut y ou r j ob. Y ou

w er e b it in g y ou r t on gu e u nt il i t alm os t b led w hen s he s ai d s he cou ld n t i magi ne w hy y ou d w an t t o d o i t.


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Wh y a ny yo un g w om an w ou ld w an t t o d o i t, N ic c or re ct ed h im , g iv ing u p t he p re te ns e t ha t i t h adn t

bothered her. Insertwell-bred in front ofyoung, of course, because thats what she really meant.

Mo m s j us t k in d o f t radi ti on al , t hat s all . S hes m od er n eno ug h t o d ef en d y ou r r ig ht t o p ur su e any

car eer y ou w an t and y ou r cap ab il it y t o p er fo rm t he j ob w el l bu t s hes o ld -f as hi on ed eno ug h t o t hi nk o f

being a cop as a mans work. She would probably have reacted the same way if youd said you were a

firefighter.

G az in g o ut t he s id e w in do w a t t he s ma ll -t ow n s ce ne ry p as si ng b y, N ic t wi st ed h er f in ge rs i n h er l ap .

Yo u s ai d y ou r w if e w en t t o g ra du at e s ch oo l. W ha t d id s he d o?

Sh e ear ned a P h. D. i n p sy ch ol og y. S he w as a f am il y cou ns el or .

I s up po se y ou r m ot he r a pp ro ve d o f t ha t c ar ee r f or a w om an .

Y ou r ea ll y d id t ak e o ff en se , d id n t y ou ? I m s or ry , N ic , b ut I h op e y ou d on t b el ie ve s he m ea nt t o i ns ul t

you.

N ic s ho ok h er h ea d a nd f or ce d a s mi le . Fo rg et i t. I w as n t r ea ll y o ff en de d. I t i sn t t he f ir st t im e

a ny on e s s ug ge st ed I w as c ra zy f or w an ti ng t o b e a c op .

W hi ch w as t he t ru th , o f c ou rs e. H er o wn p ar en ts h ad n t e xa ct ly c he er ed w he n s he d a nn ou nc ed h er

i nt en ti on t o ent er t he p ol ice academy . H er o verp ro tect iv e b ig b ro th er h ad b een even l es s ent hu si as ti c,

w or ryi ng a lou d t ha t h er s ma ll s iz e w ou ld p ut h er a t r is k.

S he h ad l on g s in ce c on vi nc ed h er f am il y t ha t s he w as d oi ng e xa ct ly w ha t s he w an te d t o d o an d d oi ng i t

w el l. O th er p eop le h ad m oc ke d o r c ri ti ci ze d h er j ob, a nd s he r ar el y t ook o ff ens e. S o w hy ha d i t b ee n

different with Joels parents?

My m om d oe sn t t hi nk y ou r e c ra zy , o ka y? S he j us t d oe sn t k no w y ou y et .

A nd w as n t s ur e s he w an te d t o, N ic a dd ed s il en tl y. E la in e h ad o bv io us ly b ee n t ry in g t o d ec id e j us t h ow

f ar J oe l s f ri en ds hi p w it h N ic w en t. A nd s he h ad n t b ee n a t a ll c er ta in s he w an te d h er s on t he d oc to r t o

be involved with a cop.

I t w as c le ar t ha t N ic a nd J oe l w er e g oi ng t o h av e t o r em in d h is f am il y, e sp ec ia ll y h is m ot he r, t ha t t he y

were only friends.

C hu ck y s B ar a nd G ri ll m ig ht h av e s ou nd ed l ik e a d ar k, s mo ky d iv e, b ut t he p la ce w as w el l l it ,

d ecor at ed i n cheer y, b ri gh t col or s and o penl y w el co mi ng w hen J oel escor ted N ic i ns id e. C ou nt ry m us ic

played in the background, almost drowned out by the sounds of laughter and conversation, and beer

f oamed i n t hi ck g lass m ug s b ei ng d is tr ib ut ed b y b lack -apr on ed w ai tr es ses o f ass or ted ages.

A pp ro xi mately f or ty p eo pl e h ad g at hered f or t he r eu ni on , m os tl y i n t heir ear ly t hi rt ies, o f cou rs e. N ic

s aw a t o nc e t ha t t hi s w as no h igh br ow c oun tr y- cl ub c ro wd , f or t he m os t pa rt , a t l ea st . M os t of t he m

l oo ked w or ki ng -class , a f ew s po rt in g t he m ul lets and t at to os o ne m ig ht exp ect i n a s mall S ou th er n t ow n.

A lm os t e ve ry on e w or e r ed , a n o bs er va ti on t ha t m ad e h er r ea li ze a br up tl y t ha t J oe l w or e a b ri gh t r ed

long-sleeve polo shirt with khaki slacks.

Le t m e g ue ss , s he s ai d. Yo ur t ea m c ol or w as r ed .


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Re d a nd w hi te . H e s hr ug ge d a b it s he ep is hl y. I s up po se I f or go t t o m en ti on i t. I t s j us t h ab it f or m e t o

s ti ck o n a r ed s hi rt w he n I w at ch t he C ar di na ls p la y.

The Danston Cardinals?

H e g ri nn ed . Th e l if eb lo od o f t hi s t ow n. D an st on s s ocial and cul tu ral l if e r ev ol ves aro un d t he

schoolathletics, music, drama, dances. And tonights game is against our archrival, another small townt hat f eels exact ly t he s am e w ay abo ut t heir t eam, t he P en derv il le P ir at es .

N ic c ou ld c er ta in ly u nd er st an d a h ea te d r iv al ry . S he e nj oy ed s po rt s a nd s he w as a f ie rc e c om pe ti to r

h er se lf o n t he d ep ar tm en t s of tb al l t ea m. F or t ha t m at te r, s he h ad b ee n k no wn t o e xe cu te s om e p re tt y

impressiveand highly illegaltackles during games of flag football. She might not be looking forward

t o t he r es t of t hi s r euni on, but s he wa s a lw ays i n t he mood t o w atc h a s pi ri te d fo ot ba ll ga me , e ve n

between two high school teams.

J oel! Y ou m ad e i t.

T he s qu eal h ad i ss ued f ro m a w om an w it h b lo nd -h ig hl ig ht ed h ai r s pr ay ed i nt o a s ti ff , t oo -cut e s pi ky

s ty le . T he r ig ht c ol or s o f m ak eu p h ad b ee n a pp li ed a b it t oo h ea vi ly . C us hi on y c le ava ge s pi ll ed o ut o f a

s coo p- neck r ed s weater , and amp le h ip s w er e b ut to ned i nt o s t ret ch y j ean s. S pl ash y j ew elr y d an gl ed

f ro m h er e ar s a nd w ri st s a nd g li tt er ed o n r ed -m an ic ur ed f in ge rs . Y et t he w om an s s mi le w as w ar m a nd

g en er ou s a s s he g az ed u p a t J oe l w it h u nm is ta ka bl e p le as ur e. It s s o g oo d t o s ee y ou . Y ou l oo k

wonderful.

H e b en t h is h ea d t o b ru sh a l ig ht k is s a ga in st h er c he ek . Th an ks , H ei di . A nd y ou l oo k r ad ia nt a s

always.

Heidi blushed rosily. You certainly inherited your daddys charm. Unlike your older brother, I mightadd.

J oe l c hu ck le d. Et ha n w as b or n g ru mp y. B ut h e s a g oo d g uy .

I d id n t s ay h e w as n t. H e j us t d oe sn t o ft en b ot he r w it h t he l it tl e p le as an tr ie s. S he t ur ne d t he n t ow ar d

Nic, her round face alight with visible curiosity. Arent you going to introduce me to your friend?

Of c ou rs e. J oe l r ea ch ed o ut t o p ul l N ic a b it c lo se r, r es ti ng o ne h an d l ig ht ly a t t he s ma ll o f h er b ac k.

Heidi Rosenbaum, this is my friend fromArkansas , Nicole Sawyer.

Heidis manicured hand was impossibly soft when she placed it in Nics unpolished, slightly more

c al lu se d h an d. It s n ic e t o m ee t y ou , N ic ol e. Y ou r e f ro mA rk an sa s ? S o I a ss um e y ou d id n t a tt en d

Penderville High.

A bi t c on fus ed , N ic s hook he r h ea d. I we nt t o s cho ol i n C ab ot , w he re I s ti ll l ive , n ext d oo r t o J oe l.

Why?

H ei di m ot io ne d t ow ar d N ic s s we at er . Pu rp le a nd b la ck a re t he c ol or s o f t he P en de rv il le P ir at es . T he

team were playing tonight.

S up pr es si ng a g ro an , N ic m an ag ed a w ry s mi le . I d id n t k no w. B ut I p ro mi se I l l c he er l ik e c ra zy f or

the Cardinals.


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H ei di g ig gl ed . Go od . T hey re g oi ng t o n eed all t he s up po rt t hey can g et .

Heid i! s om eo ne cal led f ro m ano th er p ar t o f t he r oo m. Co me t el l J es si ca w ho w as S tu dent C ou ncil

s ec re ta ry o ur s en io r y ea r. I t hi nk i t w as J an et , b ut s he t hi nk s i t w as K el ly .

H ei di r ol le d h er e ye s. Of c ou rs e i t w as K el ly , s he c al le d b ac k. An d i f s he w as n t h av in g a b ab y

i nB ir mi ngh am e ve n a s w e s pe ak , s he w ou ld t ak e a pi ec e o ut o f yo ur h id e f or f or ge tt in g t ha t.

T ur ni ng b ac k t o N ic , s he c on fi de d, Ke ll y w as v er y p ro ud o f b ei ng e le ct ed t ha t y ea r. S he d r un a nd l os t

three times before.

Oh . E xa ct ly w ha t w as N ic e xp ec te d t o s ay i n r es po ns e t o t ha t t id bi t?

An yw ay , y ou w ou ldn t b e i nt er es te d i n t ha t. W ou ld y ou l ik e a g la ss of w in e? T he h ou se w hi te i sn t t oo

bad here.

Actu al ly , I d r at her h av e a b eer, N ic r ep li ed , eyi ng a t ray f ul l o f i nv it in gl y f ro st y m ug s.

Oh . H ei di b li nk ed o nc e o r t wi ce , a s i f s ur pr is ed b y N ic s a ns we r, b ut t he n s he s mi le d a t J oe l. Yo ur

f ri en d k no ws w hat s he l ik es , d oes n t s he?

Ni c s l ef t eyebr ow r os e q ui zzical ly . J us t w hat w as th at s u pp os ed t o m ean ?

A no th er s ho ut c am e f ro m t he g ro up s ha ri ng m em or ie s o n t he o th er s ide o f t he r oo m. He id i wh o w as

historian?

Wi th a dr ama ti c gr oa n a nd a s ha ke o f h er he ad , He id i m ur mur ed a n e xc us e t o J oe l a nd N ic a nd l ef t t o

join her other old friends.

Heid i k no ws every th in g t here i s t o k no w abo ut t hi s class . P as t , p resent and p ro babl y f ut ur e, J oel

m ur mu red i nt o N ics ear .

You kn ow w ha t I s aid a bout he r s oun di ng a l itt le s ca ry w he n you t ol d m e a bo ut he r? Tur ns ou t I w as

right.

J oe l l au gh ed a nd n ud ge d h er t ow ar d t he b ar . Le t s g et y ou t ha t b ee r. T he n I l l i nt ro du ce y ou t o s om e

really scary people.

Ni c cou ld n t r em em ber ever w an ti ng a d ri nk m or e.

C h apt er F o ur

N ic c oul d a lm os t f ee l t he e ye s t ra ine d o n t he m a s s he a nd J oe l c ro ss ed t he r oom t o t he ba r, J oe l

r et ur ni ng g reet in gs alo ng t he w ay . T here w as o pen cur io si ty i n t ho se eyes, com bi ned w it h s pecu lati on

abo ut h er r ol e i n J oel s l if e. S he k new s he l oo ked m uch d if ferent t han t he s tu nn in g r ed head t hey

r em em bered w it h h im . A nd w hi le s he r ar el y f rett ed abo ut h er app earance, t ak in g f or g rant ed t hat s he

l oo ke d o ka y, s he w as w el l a wa re t ha t s he w as n t t he be au ty H ea th er ha d b ee n.

N ot t ha t i t m at te re d, o f c ou rs e. S he d r es ig ne d h er se lf y ea rs a go t o d es cr ip ti on s l ik e cu te a nd

pl easant . S hed even l earn ed t o b e s at is fi ed w it h t hat i mage, t ho ug h cut en es s w as n t exact ly an

a dv an ta ge i n h er j ob . A nd s in ce s he w as n t c om pe ti ng w it h t he m em or y o f a t al l, g or ge ou s r ed he ad f or


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J oe l s r om an ti c i nt er es t, t he re w as n o r ea so n f or h er t o m in d t he c om pa ri so ns .

Tw o b eefy , eer il y i dent ical m en w it h s haved h eads and g oo fy s mi les app ro ached t hem a f ew m in ut es

l at er , s im ul taneou sl y s lapp in g J oel o n t he b ack h ar d eno ug h t o s lo sh t he b eer i n h is j us t- fi ll ed m ug . Jo el

B rann on , t hey b el lo wed i n p er fect u ni so n. It s g oo d t o s ee y ou , m an .

S om eh ow , t hr ou gh s om e p ro cess N ic cou ld n t i magi ne, J oel cor rect ly i dent if ied each t wi n as h e g reet edt hem. Hey, E rn ie. H ey , E ar l. H ow v e y ou b ot h b een?

E rn ie a ns we re d, We r e d oi ng g re at . M e a nd K ay h av e t hr ee k id s n ow . E ar l a nd C as si e h av e t wo .

H el li on s, t he l ot o f em .

L aug hi ng at t he aff ecti on at e s um mary , J oel i nt ro du ced N ic. T he W at so n t wi ns g reet ed h er m uch t he w ay

H ei di h ad w ar ml y b ut w it h o pen cur io si ty abo ut h er r el at io ns hi p t o t heir o ld f ri en d.

I nt ro du ct io ns o ut o f t he w ay , J oel ask ed , Ar e y ou g uy s s ti ll w or ki ng i n y ou r d ad s h eat- an d- ai r

business?

Ru nn in g i t n ow , E ar l cor rect ed . Dad r et ir ed l as t y ear.

Yeah ? H ow s h e d oi ng ?

Hes loving the leisurely life, Ernie said. Fishing, hunting, playing dominoes over at the VFW. Driving

Mom crazy.

Joel laughed. Good for him.

Hey, y ou r em em ber t he P en derv il le g am e o ur s en io r y ear? W hen y ou t hr ew t hat s ix ty -y ar d p as s t oGonzalez?

G ro an in g, J oe l t oo k a s ip o f h is b ee r b ef or e a ns we ri ng , We l os t 35 t o 1 4.

Ye ah, b ut t ha t w as on e h el l of a pa ss .

Su re i mp ress ed t he cheer lead er s, E rn ie s ai d w it h a w ag gl e o f h is h eavy eyebr ow s. S peci al ly t he

cap tain o f t he s qu ad .

E ar l c le ar ed h is t hr oa t a nd p un ch ed h is b ro th er i n t he r ib s. H e m ig ht h av e t ri ed t o b e s ub tl e a bo ut i t, b uth e cou ld n t h av e b een m or e o bv io us and E rn ie g ot t he m es sage. H is r ou nd f ace r ed deni ng , h e

muttered, Uh, sorry, Joel.

J oel s exp res si on d id n t chang e. No p ro bl em . A s I r em em ber, i mp ress in g t he cap tain o f t he

c he er le ad in g s qu ad w as m y t op p ri or it y t ha t y ea r. M ig ht h av e e xp la in ed w hy I w as s uc h a m ed io cr e

athlete.

T he b ro th er s r es po nd ed w it h w ea k s mi le s a nd a q ui ck , a wk wa rd c ha ng e o f s ub je ct . I t w as n o s tr et ch

f or N ic t o f ig ur e o ut w ho t he c ap ta in o f t he c he er le ad in g s qu ad h ad b ee n.

H ea th er s s ha do w h ov er ed b eh in d t he m t hr ou gh t he r es t o f t he r ec ep ti on a s J oe l w or ke d t he r oo m,

casually introducing Nic as his friend fromArkansas , ignoring the questions in his old schoolmates faces.

I t w as s o o bv io us t hat every on e w as car ef ul ly avo id in g any m en ti on o f J oel s l at e w if e, w hi ch m ad e i t all


P a g e 2 3


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t he m or e a pp ar en t t ha t t he y w er e t hi nk in g o f h er . Q ui te n at ur al ly , o f c ou rs e, s in ce s he h ad b ee n a

prominent member of their class.

S ay in g l it tl e, N ic w at ch ed t he m i nt er ac t w it h J oe l. T he re w as n o d ou bt t ha t h e w as w el l l ik ed a nd

r es pected. S ev er al o f t he o th er g uest s cor nered h im w it h m ed ical q ues ti on s, b ot h abo ut t hems el ves and

t heir chi ld ren, b ut h e h an dl ed i t w it h p ract iced eas e. H e h ad a l it tl e m or e t ro ub le h an dl in g t heir s ym path y,

w hi ch w as alw ay s i mp li ed and s om et im es alm os t b latant i n s ou lf ul l oo ks o r s yr up y t on es .

She could se e now what he had me ant when he d said he was tired of being t reate d like a saint or a pity

c as e. E ve ryo ne w as s im pl y t ryi ng t oo ha rd t o k ee p f ro m r em ind ing h im of h is l os s. T he y e ve n s ee me d

alm os t apo lo geti c abo ut m en ti on in g t heir o wn s po us es o r chi ld ren, as i f h e m ig ht r es en t t hem f or h av in g

w ha t f at e ha d t ak en f ro m h im .

S he w on de re d h ow m uc h w or se i t w ou ld h av e b ee n i f h e h ad c om e a lo ne . W ou ld t he y h av e t ri ed e ve n

h ar der t o m ak e u p f or H eath er s abs en ce, m ak in g t he s it uati on even m or e u ncom fo rt ab le t han i t w as ?

A s r el uc ta nt a s s he w as t o a dm it i t, h e h ad b ee n s ma rt t o b ri ng s om eo ne w it h h im . A nd c on si de ri nge ve ry th in g, s he s up po se d s he h ad b ee n t he r ig ht o ne t o a sk , s in ce s he u nd er st oo d h is p re di ca me nt s o

w el l. B ut s he s ti ll t ho ug ht h er o ri gi na l i de a h ad b ee n t he b es t o ne t o s en d h is r egr et s a nd s ki p t hi s w ho le

reunion thing.

Yo u m ig ht h av e t ol d m e, N ic s ai d w he n s he a nd J oe l w er e i n h is c ar a ga in , h ea de d f or t he f oo tb al l

g am e, th at I w as w ea ri ng t he c ol or s o f y ou r t ea m s r iv al .

H e g av e h er a r uefu ll y apo lo geti c l oo k. So rr y. I h on es tl y d id n t r em em ber w hat t heir col or s are.

R es ig ni ng h er se lf t o b ei ng s ee n b y t he h om e c ro wd a s a r ep re se nt at iv e o f t he e ne my t ea m, N ic p us he d a

h an d t hr ou gh h er h ai r a nd s et tl ed b ac k i nt o h er s ea t. A t l ea st s he l ik ed f oo tb al l; s he w as s ur e s he w ou ld

enj oy t he g am e.

J oel s f ri en ds s ur ro un ded t hem at t he s tadi um , every on e i ns is ti ng o n s it ti ng t og et her, o ne W at so n cou pl e

o n N ic s l ef t, t he o th er a t J oe l s r ig ht . H ei di s at o n t he b le ac he r b en ch i n f ro nt o f t he m, b es id e h er

n eces sari ly t acit ur n h us band . S he t ur ned f requ en tl y t o chat, h er att en ti on b ar el y o n t he g am e.

N ic d id h er b es t t o w at ch t he p la ys , b ut i t w as n t e as y w he n e ve ry on e a ro un d t he m k ep t a sk in g o ve rl y

cas ual q uest io ns d es ig ned t o eli ci t i nf or mati on abo ut h er and J oel. H ei di w as t he w or st o ff en der, o f c ou rs e, e ve n t ho ug h s he w as s o p ol it e a bo ut i t t ha t i t w ou ld h av e b ee n h ar d t o g et a nn oy ed w it h h er . A ll

o f h er q ue st io ns w er e p hr as ed t o s ee m a s t ho ug h s he w as s im pl y t ry in g t o b e g ra ci ou s t o N ic , s ho wi ng

i nt er es t i n g et ti ng t o k no w h er b et ter.

Nic answered each question briefly but civilly, giving away as little personal information as possible. As

q ui ck ly a s s he c ou ld , s he t ur ne d t he s ub je ct t o t he g am e. Yo ur c oa ch h as a n o bs es si ve f on dn es s f or t he

s ta nd ar d I f or ma ti on , d oe sn t h e? s he c om me nt ed t o J oe l. Se em s l ik e h e c ou ld c ha ng e i t u p a b it

more.

H e s b een r un ni ng t hat s am e f or mati on s in ce I p layed f or h im f if teen y ears ago , J oel r ep li ed .

He s ho ul d b e u si ng n um be r t we nt y- th re e m or e. T he k id s a n at ur al r un ni ng b ac k. H e s g ot t he s pe ed .

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