In the Nick of Time (104 page)

…Four years later

T
he thick, impenetrable
snow that blanketed the city had impeded the search. Nick reluctantly returned to the precinct, covered in the frigid mess, barely able to feel his damn toes. As he approached his desk, he was stopped cold. Captain O’Sullivan had relaxed a bit, calmed down in his old age, but Nick was certain the reason could be attributed to him being due to retire in a few short months, and he was simply getting a head start on taking it easier.

The big guy had pulled the plug on his sixteen-hour work day, made him go home once and for all. Nick had cut down his work hours, for he had a family now, but the workaholic in him simply squeezed more into shorter spans of time, causing the people around him to no doubt fantasize about doing him harm as he demanded more and more from them. When he entered his house that evening after a brutal commute, the strong scent of cocoa and mint greeted him at the door. He stood there with the cold wind beating at his back, then slammed it shut and removed his hat, scarf, and gloves.

Somebody’s baking and making peppermint tea…

He smiled as he walked into the dwelling, his stomach growling in anticipation. Tamara, his three year old daughter, immediately raced into his arms, her little gray and pink fuzzy pajamas wrapped around her tiny body and her messy, dark brown curly hair bouncing about with each clumsy step. He picked her up and swung her around and around.

“Daddy!” she squealed as he paraded towards the kitchen with her. Jonathan, his one and a half year old son, looked up at him with his big light brown eyes from his semi-resting position on the floor. His chubby legs spread open as he lofted about, he gripped a plastic block in one hand and his heart with the other.

“What you got there, huh? Playing with blocks?” He placed Tamara back down, hunkered onto the floor, and sat cross-legged beside the boy as the pantry light went off. Picking up one yellow plastic block, and then another, he began to stack them, up, up, up.

“Ahhhh!” he screamed out laughing when Tamara knocked the things over and raced away, a devilish series of giggles trailing behind her. “You knocked Daddy’s special surprise down!” Then she raced back in his direction, a ball full of energy, and plopped down atop him, causing him to sigh in mock angst.

“A special surprise?” She looked up at him, her big dark eyes full of eager excitement.

“Yeah, Jonathan and I were going to build a castle. You want to help?”

The girl nodded emphatically, a huge grin on her face as she sat right next to him.

Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder and the fluttery image of something silky and light green brushed against his shoe. He looked up, and saw his flower standing there.

“So you all are just going to camp right here in the kitchen? This isn’t a gymnasium, you know?” She smirked and winked at him before turning away and placing a can of pineapple chunks onto the counter.

“It’s not? Sure looks like a fun place to me!” He winked back at her when she rolled her eyes from his snarky response.

“Look, Daddy! I made uh door!” Tamara happily exclaimed, lining her blocks up just like so.

“Ohhhhh! Would you look at that! You sure did. I think I’ll walk right inside.”

“Nooooo, Daddy!” The girl giggled. “You’re too big to walk in!”

Just then, Jonathan moved his arm past the blocks, repaying the favor, and knocking her creation to kingdom come.

“Jonathan!” the girl angrily cried out, her face turning red.

Nick stifled a chuckle. “Tamara, it was an accident.”

“No!” the girl protested as she started anew.

Jonathan sat there with a happy smile, cradling one of the blocks to his chest, a somewhat satisfied grin creasing his face. Nick winked at the boy, ruffled his thick, black curls, and got to his feet. He walked over to Taryn and stood behind her, cradling her close, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her neck. Taking a look over his shoulder, he took note that the children were well distracted. Then… he pushed his groin into her ass, and then again, while moaning into her ear.

“…Nasty.” She chuckled as she turned the can opener around and around against the metal ridge of the tin.

“What’s for dinner?” he asked, kissing the back of her neck, loving the scent of her perfume.

“I decided to make some cornbread dressing, green beans, and baked chicken… and for dessert, pineapple upside down cake.”

“Mmmm, sounds good.” He grinded into her a bit harder. “I’m starting to like this vacation thing you’re on more and more each day!” He laughed into her ear as he slid his hands against the pockets of her robe, noticing a slight bulge in one. “You know the way to a man’s heart.” He kissed her earlobe.

“You’re just greedy,” she teased.

Slapping her on the rear at her comment, he turned back towards their children.

“You all hungry?!” he asked, clapping his hands, quite famished himself.

“Yes! I want some cookies, Daddy!”

“Tamara, we’ve already been over this.” Taryn huffed. “You can have a cookie
after
you eat your dinner. I hid them so you couldn’t sneak in and get them.” She smiled. “You’ll spoil your appetite.”

The little girl sneered in disappointment and began to stack the blocks in a different shape, slapping them around along the way. Taryn turned from the counter and disappeared back inside the pantry. Taking a few moments to ensure the coast was clear, he quickly swooped down, dug in his pocket, and presented a cookie partially wrapped in a napkin to Tamara.

The little girl gasped, glee dancing in her eyes, while a toothy grin broke out across her face. Without a moment to lose, she quickly accepted it.

“Don’t tell your mother,” he whispered and kissed the side of her face. “Eat it fast… before she sees you.”

…She didn’t even feel me slide it out of her pocket. Damn I’m good!

She nodded emphatically and stuffed it unceremoniously inside her mouth with both hands. Getting back to his feet, he looked down at his children, happy to see them, be with them, enjoy the moment. Though he worked hard, and dedicated a portion of his life to try to help other families gain some peace and closure, he understood that time wasn’t promised to anyone. It had to be valued, appreciated, and given its just due. It had to be obeyed, or opportunities for growth, maturity, lessons learned, and blessings could be missed.

…And he was happy to have had a beautiful teacher. For she taught him to respect it, and himself, and she’d done it just in the nick of time…

The End

Please note: Each musical selection listed in this directory was mentioned in a specific scene in this book. The songs, however, may not be listed in the order that they were cited in the text. I always encourage readers to re-read scenes with the song mentioned; this adds another layer to the experience. If you enjoyed a particular song after finding the video version online, please show your appreciation by purchasing an authorized copy of the track/record wherever legal copies of music are sold.

1.   The Police – Roxanne

2.   Charles Mingus – Moanin’

3.   John Coltrane’s – Blue Train

4.   La India (Puerto Rican singer)

5.   Sam Smith – I’m Not the Only One

6.   The Talking Heads Greatest Hits

7.   Whitney Houston – Dance With Somebody

8.   Chaka Demus and Pliers – Murder She Wrote

9.   Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime

10.  Jacoo – Memories

11.  Amy Winehouse – Rehab

12.  The Brothers Johnson – Stomp

13.  Jane Child – Don’t Want to Fall in Love

14.  Stevie Wonder – Another Star

15.  Wu Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M

16.  The Dream – Purple Kisses

17.  The Dream – Shorty is a ten

18.  Vancouver Sleep Clinic – Collapse

19.  Brian Ferry – Slave to Love

20.  Ed Sheeran – I See Fire (Kygo Remix)

21.  Lavell Evans – So Intoxicated

22.  Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the Bridge

23.  Naked Eyes – Always Something There to Remind

24.  Journey –Don’t stop believing

25.  Karavelo – You Don’t Even Know

26.  Montana 300 – Try Me

27.  Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man

28.  Jackson Browne – Somebody’s Baby

29.  Paul Simon – 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

30.  Chicago – Wishing You Were Here

31.  Dr. Hook – When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman

32.  Lord Finesse – Hip 2 Da Game

33.  Future – I Won

34.  Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé – On The Run

35.  38 Special – Caught Up In You

36.  Michael Bublé – Everything

37.  Mos Def – Mathematics

38.  LCD SoundSystem – Dance Yrself Clean

39.  Daley – Alone Together (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)

40.  Simon and Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water

Thank you so much for purchasing the book, ‘In the Nick of Time.’ Thank you for taking the time to read it and my wish is that you enjoyed it. I greatly appreciate it, and hope that you read more of my books in the near future.

Happy Reading.

Sincerely,

Tiana Laveen