straight at her. "I think we've
gotten off on a bad foot here, and I'd like to amend that, if I
could."
Samantha looked up from her task and saw the
seriousness in his face. Startled, she blushed and then nodded,
reaching out her hand, "Truce?"
"Truce!"
***
Samantha took a quick shower, not because she
needed one, but because her temperature had gone up two notches
since being with Jake Travers. It was beyond silly to be that
attracted to the man. She felt pulled to him, as if destiny were
trying to tell her this was Mr. Right. But there was no Mr. Right
for her and she had to learn that. Four years ago, she'd been
married, and happy, she thought. But she hadn't realized how
married to his work, he was. Being a policeman was Pete's life,
Still, that wasn't all of it. He hadn't wanted children either,
something they neglected to talk about before marriage because he
always shied away from it. The fact that they couldn't have a child
together, left her forlorn, until she finally faced the truth,
their marriage was doomed.
Even when he was shot, nearly killed, he
wouldn't give it up for her. She felt she'd done everything to save
their marriage, but as the papers were being signed she noticed the
great relief in his eyes, and knew it was the best thing to do. A
year later he had married his detective partner and they were very
happy.
Tears welled in her eyes. Jake wasn't Pete,
and his job wasn't exactly high profile for getting shot, but she
wondered how much he loved his work. "I've got to quit fretting
about Jake. I've tried marriage and it didn't work out.Everyone
isn't meant to be as happy as Hannah and Rusty."
But all the talking to herself in the world
wouldn't make her thoughts stay away from Jake Travers. He was the
Sheriff of a small town, a family man if Sammie Jo were an example.
Not at all like her estranged ex-husband. Even so, he did have
someone, someone named, Laurie Beth.
Sobbing she went back to the sink and wet a
washrag and washed her face. She'd reapply her make-up once she
quit crying. She wasn't even sure why she was crying.
But she couldn't fool herself. Jake looked so
good. His hair was still a wayward kind of brown with sprinkles of
gray, his eyes crinkled when he smiled. He looked as though he
laughed a lot.
Looking into the mirror she saw a few lines
forming around her own eyes, more wrinkles when she smiled. She
sighed and reapplied her make-up.
"Going to the dance, dear?" her mother called
form the doorway.
"Yes, Mom. Can I get you anything before I
leave?" She felt so guilty leaving her mother even for one night,
but it would only be one night.
"No dear, don't fret over me. I'll be fine.
Enjoy yourself. It will do me a world of good, seeing you happy
again."
"Happy? I'm not unhappy, mother," she turned
to look at her.
The woman she adored the most in life, was
going through such a hell, and she wished she could make things
easier on her.
"Maybe, but a woman your age should be out
and enjoying herself more."
"You always did spoil me. Why don't you come
with me. You might really enjoy it."
Her mother smiled sagely, "I doubt that, all
that loud music. I'm afraid I'm not up to that. Don't you worry,
Mrs. Cargile is coming over to play chess with me…"
"Oh wonderful…" Samantha felt relieved. "I
remember her, she used to be a beauty operator. Remember, she did
my first perm."
"That's right she did. She had to give that
job up, too much hair spray, bad for the lungs."
"I'm so glad you are getting out a little and
finding your friends again." Samantha smoothed her mother's hair
and kissed her on the cheek.
"Now, you just run along and have some
fun."
***
The dance lights were twinkling, as the kids
began to mingle. They weren't dancing, but Jake figured it had to
be because they really didn't know how. He watched several of them,
trying to keep the beat of the music, but no one ventured out on
the floor yet.
He headed for the punch bowl. He'd get a cup
and go sit against the
gotten off on a bad foot here, and I'd like to amend that, if I
could."
Samantha looked up from her task and saw the
seriousness in his face. Startled, she blushed and then nodded,
reaching out her hand, "Truce?"
"Truce!"
***
Samantha took a quick shower, not because she
needed one, but because her temperature had gone up two notches
since being with Jake Travers. It was beyond silly to be that
attracted to the man. She felt pulled to him, as if destiny were
trying to tell her this was Mr. Right. But there was no Mr. Right
for her and she had to learn that. Four years ago, she'd been
married, and happy, she thought. But she hadn't realized how
married to his work, he was. Being a policeman was Pete's life,
Still, that wasn't all of it. He hadn't wanted children either,
something they neglected to talk about before marriage because he
always shied away from it. The fact that they couldn't have a child
together, left her forlorn, until she finally faced the truth,
their marriage was doomed.
Even when he was shot, nearly killed, he
wouldn't give it up for her. She felt she'd done everything to save
their marriage, but as the papers were being signed she noticed the
great relief in his eyes, and knew it was the best thing to do. A
year later he had married his detective partner and they were very
happy.
Tears welled in her eyes. Jake wasn't Pete,
and his job wasn't exactly high profile for getting shot, but she
wondered how much he loved his work. "I've got to quit fretting
about Jake. I've tried marriage and it didn't work out.Everyone
isn't meant to be as happy as Hannah and Rusty."
But all the talking to herself in the world
wouldn't make her thoughts stay away from Jake Travers. He was the
Sheriff of a small town, a family man if Sammie Jo were an example.
Not at all like her estranged ex-husband. Even so, he did have
someone, someone named, Laurie Beth.
Sobbing she went back to the sink and wet a
washrag and washed her face. She'd reapply her make-up once she
quit crying. She wasn't even sure why she was crying.
But she couldn't fool herself. Jake looked so
good. His hair was still a wayward kind of brown with sprinkles of
gray, his eyes crinkled when he smiled. He looked as though he
laughed a lot.
Looking into the mirror she saw a few lines
forming around her own eyes, more wrinkles when she smiled. She
sighed and reapplied her make-up.
"Going to the dance, dear?" her mother called
form the doorway.
"Yes, Mom. Can I get you anything before I
leave?" She felt so guilty leaving her mother even for one night,
but it would only be one night.
"No dear, don't fret over me. I'll be fine.
Enjoy yourself. It will do me a world of good, seeing you happy
again."
"Happy? I'm not unhappy, mother," she turned
to look at her.
The woman she adored the most in life, was
going through such a hell, and she wished she could make things
easier on her.
"Maybe, but a woman your age should be out
and enjoying herself more."
"You always did spoil me. Why don't you come
with me. You might really enjoy it."
Her mother smiled sagely, "I doubt that, all
that loud music. I'm afraid I'm not up to that. Don't you worry,
Mrs. Cargile is coming over to play chess with me…"
"Oh wonderful…" Samantha felt relieved. "I
remember her, she used to be a beauty operator. Remember, she did
my first perm."
"That's right she did. She had to give that
job up, too much hair spray, bad for the lungs."
"I'm so glad you are getting out a little and
finding your friends again." Samantha smoothed her mother's hair
and kissed her on the cheek.
"Now, you just run along and have some
fun."
***
The dance lights were twinkling, as the kids
began to mingle. They weren't dancing, but Jake figured it had to
be because they really didn't know how. He watched several of them,
trying to keep the beat of the music, but no one ventured out on
the floor yet.
He headed for the punch bowl. He'd get a cup
and go sit against the
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