Monday's Child (10 page)

“Sore.”

“I’m sorry tae hear ye hurt yer leg again. Is it the same one as before? Dave said ye’d broken it on yer honeymoon.”

Sara grimaced. “Yeah. It’s only a sprain, the doctor’s being over cautious with it.”

“That’s bad luck. At least Luke works from home. He can help out around the house.”

“He’s cooking for the next two weeks. He lost a bet.”

Carole grinned. “I shall have tae try that on Dave. His idea of cooking is phoning the local takeaway. Why don’t you come tae us on Tuesday, instead?”

“No, you come to us as planned. It’s fine,” Luke said.

“Are ye sure?”

Luke inclined his head. “Yeah, I can manage. Besides we asked you first.”

“Hello, Carole.” A new voice spoke.

“Hey, Toni. This is Daniel and Antonia Ford. Meet Luke and Sara Nemec. Sara’s from England like Daniel. Luke’s from the States.”

Antonia plopped down on the pew next to Carole and stuck a hand over the back of it to Luke. “Are ye visiting?”

“We’ve just moved here,” Luke said.

“Where are ye living?”

Sara shook her hand. “Dunbar Street.”

“That’s where we live,” Antonia replied. “Number six.”

“We’re number eight, right next door.”

“Small world.”

****

Luke kept half an ear on the girls’ conversation and turned to Daniel.

“So the baby is due in March,” Daniel was saying. “I can’t quite believe it’s happening.”

“I can understand that. How long have you been married?”

“Two years,” Daniel replied. “You?”

“Five months.”

Antonia squealed and touched Daniel’s arm. “Guess what, love? Sara’s baby is due the same day as mine.”

“Hey, congratulations. It must be a honeymoon baby, then.”

“Yeah,” Luke said.

Carole sighed. “Maybe one day.”

Antonia smiled at her. “It will happen one day, Carole.”

“Aye, and there’s a flying pig.”

Luke touched her arm, not hiding his concern for her. “We should get you home, hon. The doc wants you to rest.” Right now she was fragile and grief-stricken. That, coupled with the pain and the meds the doc had given her, wasn’t a great combination for anyone, let alone someone in her condition.

Dave came over. “Hi, Daniel, Antonia, long time no see. Luke, are ye ready tae make a move? Car’s outside.”

“Yeah, please,” Luke said, relieved not to have to find a way to end the conversation himself. “I must do something about getting a car.”

“We could take you,” Daniel offered.

“It’s all right,” Dave said. “We’re there for lunch, anyway.”

Sara pushed Luke’s hand off her arm. “Since when?”

“Since you went back to X-ray. We had to talk about something.” He stood up. “Do you need a hand?”

“I can manage. I’ve had lots of practice.” Sara grabbed the crutches and pulled herself up, stifling the gasp of pain.

At the door, Pastor smiled and held out a hand. “Hello. Are you visiting?”

Sara leaned heavily on the crutches as she shook his hand. “We just moved in.”

“Welcome tae Tannoch. I’m Peter Bruce.”

Luke put a hand on Sara’s arm and shook Pastor Bruce’s hand with the other. “I’m Luke Nemec, and this is my wife, Sara. It was a nice sermon.”

“Thank you. Will we see ye next week?”

“Count on it,” Sara said, not giving Luke a chance to say otherwise. She let Luke help her down the steps and over to the car. “I was always told you’d go to Hell for lying to a pastor.”

“That makes two of us, then.” If things weren’t so serious, he’d find her dry sense of humor amusing.

“Oh,
I
didn’t lie. We did move in this past week, and I fully intend to be in church next Sunday. By the way, where do we find lunch for four?”

“It’s all arranged. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

****

Back at the house, Sara grimaced as Luke opened the door and Dave followed her in, both men having once more made sure the house was clear first. Obviously there was no one else around, otherwise they wouldn’t have let her out of the car.

Carole grinned at Sara. “Dave’s playing cops and robbers. Anyone would think he was working.”

“It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.” Luke took their coats. “We’ll take care of lunch. You girls just sit and relax.”

Sara made her way to the kitchen and sat at the table. She leaned the crutches against it, glad to be off her feet, but not willing to admit it to anyone.

Luke came through alone. “Dave’s going to the grocery store, to get one of their ready cooked chickens. I’ll do the vegetables while he’s gone.”

Carole shifted in her chair. “Go with him. We can handle a few veggies.”

“I can’t leave Sara alone.”

“She will nae be alone. I’ll be here.”

“I’ll stay here. He won’t be long.”

Carole watched Luke as he started peeling the carrots. “I wish Dave was that protective of me. Are you always like this, Luke?”

Sara answered quickly. “Oh yes, and trust me, you don’t want him this protective. It gets old very, very quickly.”

Luke glanced over his shoulder at her. “There are real good reasons for that, Sara, and you know it.”

Sara glared at him, then grabbing her crutches stood. “I won’t be long.”

“Do you want a hand, hon?”

“I can manage a few stairs, thank you. Don’t forget I spent several weeks on crutches. I’ll shout if I need you.” She left the room and made her way into the hall. She glared at the narrow winding staircase. It was going to be difficult, but there was no way she was asking for help.

****

Luke smiled awkwardly at Carole as Sara left. He turned back to the veggies and put them on to cook. “Tea or coffee?”

“Tea, please.”

Luke filled the kettle and flicked it on to boil. He turned on the oven. He closed his eyes for a moment as a thud came from the stairs as Sara made her way up them. Why wouldn’t she accept his help?

Carole’s voice made him open his eyes again. “So how long have ye known Sara?”

“Not long.”

“Whirlwind romance, then?”

“Something like that.” Luke winced. She asked way too many questions. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go see if Sara wants a hand down the stairs.”

He left the room. He was no more than half way up the stairs when the doorbell rang, and he ran down the stairs to answer it. “Hey, Dave, Carole’s in the kitchen.”

“I’ll go find her.”

Luke took a deep breath. “She’s asking questions.”

“I’ll sort it.”

“Thanks.”

Luke stood in the hall as Dave went into the kitchen. Luke gave Carole a count of five before she said something. He’d gotten to two when Carole’s voice floated through the open doorway.

“What’s going on? He’s more like a bodyguard than a husband. He’s smothering her.”

Luke shook his head and went upstairs. He found Sara standing at the top of the stairs. “Wondered where you’d got to.”

Sara rolled her eyes. “Bathroom. Or do I need your permission to pee as well?”

“Don’t be stupid. Are you coming back down, or what?”

“No. I thought I’d stand here for the rest of the day.”

“Why?”

“The stairs are too steep. It took forever to get up here. I had to sit down and bump up them backwards. So either I stand here, or I bump down them. I would toss a coin, but my hands are full.” She started to lower herself to the floor.

“For crying out loud,” Luke muttered. “I’ll carry you.”

“You’ll do no such thing.”

He glowered at her. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”

“Look who’s talking.”

“It’s my job to help you.”

“Hah, yeah right. It’s your job to smother me.” Sara pushed at his arm when he tried to reach for her. “I can manage.”

Luke shook his head. That was the second time in as many minutes he’d been accused of that. He waved a hand to the stairs. “Be my guest.”

Sara lowered herself to the floor, letting out an unintentional cry of pain.

“See, I’ll carry you. End of debate.” Luke swung her into his arms, and set off down the stairs before she could say anything.

Her stubbornness had definitely been underestimated. He had to talk to her about this, but now wasn’t the time. And he could do without the rush of heat running through his body and the way his heart pounded every time he got close to her. If he didn’t know better, he’d say he was falling for her. And that was the last thing he could afford to do.

10

After lunch, Sara sat in the lounge with her leg out on a stool. Her ankle hurt, but that wasn’t the problem. Nor, for the moment, was being stuck hundreds of miles away from her aunt. The problem was Leftenant Nemec. She was more than capable of bumping down the stairs on her own.

He even had the audacity to insist he carry her up and down them every time. He’d have to compromise.

She could be as stubborn as him, if not more so.
But telling him so can wait. I have guests. Besides, Carole sounds fun and I should take friends and allies where I can get them
.

Sara glanced at Carole, who sat next to her on the sofa. “So tell me about yourself.”

“Nae much tae tell. Dave and I have been married fifteen years.”

“Children?” Carole’s eyes clouded over, and Sara wished she hadn’t asked. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer.”

“It’s fine. Ye probably heard the comment in church earlier. Getting pregnant is no’ the problem. I canna carry a baby tae term.” The one glass of wine Carole had drunk with lunch had loosened her tongue, but Sara didn’t mind.

She needed this. It would also take her mind off her own problems for a while. She cradled her juice, drinking it slowly.

Carole finished her glass and set it on the table. She glanced around the room. “Ye havena put a wedding photo on the mantle?”

“No. There was an accident at the photographers. They were ruined.”

“Och no.”

“At least we didn’t have to pay for them.” Sara hated the lie, but the police had made it very clear, in no uncertain terms, that no one must know the truth.

Carole’s tone became sympathetic. “That’s awful. What about having them redone? Or getting copies from friends and family?”

“Luke’s father couldn’t come, and I only have an aunt.”

“Luke said yer aunt was coming tae visit, and that’s why ye needed the second set of bedding. Do ye know when she’ll be here?”

“Would you like tea or coffee, Carole? I know Sara will want coffee.” Luke’s voice from the doorway made Sara start. Was the guy omnipresent? Or did he have a sixth sense when she was talking about stuff he’d rather she didn’t mention.

“Coffee, please,” Carole said. “I’m popping up tae the bathroom.” She rose, put the glass down, and left the room.

Sara caught Luke’s gaze. “Let’s hope the bedroom doors are shut. Don’t want anyone finding we have separate rooms after a mere five months of marriage, do we?” She sighed. “I wish my aunt
were
coming to visit.”

“You miss her?”

“I miss her a lot, more than you could ever know. That’s what I hate most about this. Not only am I a prisoner, but I’m being kept from the one person who cares about me. In all but biology, she has been my mother since my parents died. I wish we could break the rules and have her come and stay for a while.”

****

Luke went back into the kitchen. Dave put the last of the dishes away, and Luke put the kettle on for the coffee. “I really must get a coffee maker. It’s so much nicer than instant.”

“I’ll have tae take yer word on that. Luke, I spoke tae Carole.”

“Oh?”

“She’s been a cop’s wife for a long time. She picks up on things. She wanted tae know why ye act more like a cop and a bodyguard than a husband.”

Luke sighed.
Probably because I am a cop and not a husband
. “Is it that obvious? I’m trying to do my job. Sara resents it so much. Especially now.”

“Why now?”

“The way everyone congratulated me, assuming the baby is mine. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“Ye need tae take a step back. Yer getting tae involved.”

“How can I not get involved?”

“She’s a case number, Luke. Don’t lose yer perspective, but ease up on her a little, indoors at least.”

Luke
humphed
. “What about this couple next door?”

“They’ll have been checked before ye moved in, but I’ll do it again. Now we’ve got a minute, it’s only fair tae warn ye.”

Luke paused in pouring the coffee. “Warn me about what?”

“Shepherds called me in tae his office yesterday. There was, or rather there
is
, a leak in the department. They think that’s how Austin found Sara when she was shopping.”

“What?” Luke exploded.

“My feelings exactly. They don’t think ye need tae know, but I reckon ye do.”

Luke scowled. “You’re right, I do. Can you take the coffee in? I have a phone call to make. Sara’s is white with two sugars. Mine’s black with none.”

“Sure.”

Luke stormed out of the kitchen and went upstairs to use the phone in the bedroom.

****

Sara glanced up as Dave carried the cups in. “Fifteen years of marriage seems like forever.”

Carole laughed. “Seems like it from this angle. He’s spent the odd night or three in the spare room.” She took the offered cup. “Thanks, love.”

Dave handed Sara hers. “Telling tales, love?”

“Nay. I only tell the truth.” Carole winked at Sara.

Sara laughed. “Not heard that line for years. I used it on my aunt a lot. Dave, could you put the lights on for me, please? I can’t get used to it getting dark so early. Down home it’s dark by four at the earliest.”

Dave put the lights on, pulled the curtains, and sat down next to Carole. “Sure. So, how are ye doing, Sara?”

Sara sipped her coffee. “All right, but I wish things were different.”

“Different how?”

“No splint for one…”

The door flung open, bringing the conversation to an abrupt halt. Luke stormed in, his jaw clenched and his lips set in a tight line.

The anger filling him made Sara shiver. What now? “Problems?”