“One of my operatives is sick. We’ve been working on a suspected insurance fraud for your firm. Which includes someone watching him around the clock. Since Mel’s sick, I’ll need to take the night surveillance. Can you manage all right at home alone?”
“Sure. This is one of the reasons you married me, remember, so I can be there for Penny when something like this happens. No problem. We get along fine. Will you be home at all tonight?”
“Probably not. I’ll swing by the house in a few minutes and pick up a few things—something to read and some soft drinks to keep me going. Tomorrow I’ll be able to pull rank and assign someone else, but this caught me by surprise.”
“No problem. This isn’t dangerous, is it?”
“No. The man swears he injured his back and can hardly walk. The doctors can find no evidence of trauma, but there’s the possibility he’s telling the truth. Pain can be a tricky thing. That’s what we're hoping to find out. No danger.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you tomorrow after work, I guess.”
Michelle treated Penny to dinner at one of her favorite fast food places—the one where there was play equipment. Penny entertained herself for an hour on all the climbing gear and bouncing balls.
The house was silent when Michelle let them in. She quickly got Penny ready for bed, read her a long story, and tucked her in for the night. Then she wandered into the living room. There were no new folders or stacks of papers. Josh had obviously not brought any work home for her.
His new temporary help was proving adaptable and able to keep up with the day-to-day routine. And the backlog was almost caught up, he’d told her Tuesday.
She switched on the television, aware of how much she missed Josh.
“Oh my gosh, he’s not home one night and I feel at loose ends. What happens when the marriage ends?” Michelle asked herself as she flipped through the different channels.
Nothing appealed. She switched it off.
Her phone rang.
Caroline was on the other end.
“Hi, how’s married life?” her sister asked.
"Great,” Michelle forced enthusiasm into her tone.
“I still feel badly y’all haven’t had a honeymoon. So Brandon and I want to watch Penny this weekend. Give you and Josh another night alone. I know you adore Penny, but you two newlyweds need some time just the two of you.”
She and Josh alone in the house?
Michelle’s imagination kicked in and she smiled at the thought. Maybe they could dance barefoot like they had in Baton Rouge. The memory of his kiss at Talmadge Hall surfaced. That she’d like even better. Frowning when she realized where her thoughts were leading, she shook her head.
“I don’t know. She can be fairly rambunctious.”
“We loved having her before. She’s a delight. Besides, Brandon and I both will be here and it’ll be good practice for us. We’ll have one of our own in a few months, remember?”
“And you need to rest!”
“Phooey, I'm feeling great. I had a checkup earlier this week and everything looks perfect. Come on, let Penny come visit. You and Josh deserve some time alone. You only get to be newlyweds once.”
“I’ll check with him and let you know.”
“I’ll hold. Ask him now so we’ll know for sure.”
“Actually, he’s out on a stakeout tonight,” Michelle said slowly. “He won’t be home until tomorrow. I don’t want to call him in case he doesn’t want to give his location away.”
“Then ask tomorrow and let us know. You two could go out to dinner and dancing and then return home and be alone all weekend.”
“I’ll check and let you know. Thanks, Caroline, this is really great.”
Michelle continued to feel like a fraud and wondered if Caroline could detect it in her tone.
The last thing she wanted was to be alone with Josh. Wasn’t she trying to keep a distance between them to guard her heart?
Guard her heart?
Was she falling in love with the man?
No!
He was searching for her father and she was a temporary mother for Penny. There was nothing more involved.
“Tell me what the doctor said,” Michelle said in an effort to escape her tumultuous thoughts.
She envied Caroline’s happiness and assurance of her husband’s love. Would Michelle ever find a strong love to carry her through eternity?
After talking with Caroline, Michelle felt more restless than before. She decided to take a long soak in the tub to settle down for bed. She had the house to herself and nothing pressing to do.
Checking on Penny before running the water, she felt her heart melt a bit more at the sight of the enchanting little girl. Kissing her softly on her cheek, Michelle felt a wealth of love well up.
She wished she could stay around to see Penny grow. When would she give up her teddy bear? Would she ever give up her baseball cap or stop saying gots? How would she like kindergarten in the fall? She played well with the other children in day care, and already had made friends.
Michelle envied her that. Shyness was such an awkward trait.
Feeling indulgent, Michelle dumped in fragrant bath salts when she ran the water for her bath. She found a bunch of candles and lit a dozen, enjoying the soft glow of candlelight as she slipped into the silken hot water. Leaning back, she closed her eyes, letting her thoughts drift as she relaxed.
She’d enjoy the hot bath until the water grew cold, then go to bed and start that new book she’d bought. She’d left the door open, though Penny usually slept through the night. But she was in charge with Josh gone and didn’t want to take any chances the little girl would wake up and be scared if Michelle didn’t hear her call immediately.
The water soothed, its warmth seeping into her, relaxing her. If she began to feel sleepy, she’d have to get out, but until then, it was nice to just drift.
“I wondered
