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She shrugged and then shoved her hair behind her ear, a habit he noticed she had when stressed or nervous. “Nothing has happened, and so I’m wondering if maybe the attacker has moved on to somebody else or has lost interest in me.”
“Have you considered the fact that nothing has happened because you’re here with me? There is absolutely no reason to believe this person has moved on or lost interest in you. With me guarding you and with you staying here, there has simply been no opportunity for the attacker to come at you.”
“I just don’t want to overstay my welcome here,” she replied. “I never dreamed I’d be here for as long as I already have. You have been so generous in opening up your home to me.”
“Suzanna, you have been a very easy houseguest, and you’re in no way overstaying your welcome.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “The truth is I’ve completely enjoyed having you here. I don’t want you to leave until I know with complete certainty you’ll be safe, and I don’t believe you’re really safe right now.” He squeezed her hand and then released it.
“If Chief Calloway doesn’t catch the bad guy by next week, then the three of us will have a big Thanksgiving feast together,” he said with a grin, hoping to coax one out of her. “I’ll even try my hand at making a pie…a traditional pumpkin pie.”
Thankfully that did get a small smile out of her. “Okay, if you’re sure you aren’t tired of me, I’ll continue to stay here. I do feel safe here.”
“I promise I’ll tell you if or when I get tired of you, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. So it’s settled…you’re staying.”
Sammy came zooming into the kitchen, as usual with Lady following at his heels. “Is it almost six o’clock?” he asked eagerly.
“Six o’clock will come after we eat dinner,” Seth said.
“In school, we’re just starting to learn about the clock and telling time,” Suzanna said to Seth.
“When do we eat?” Sammy asked.
“Feed Lady and then take her outside, and by the time you do that dinner should be ready,” Seth said to his son.
“Somebody is very excited,” Suzanna said with a laugh as minutes later Sammy took the well-fed pup out the back door.
“And I’m looking forward to a relaxing evening that might include an adult beverage,” Seth replied. “Do you drink?”
“I occasionally have a glass of wine or a whiskey and soda. What do you drink?”
He lowered the heat under the corn and then turned back to look at her. “I never drink wine. My go-to drink is usually a beer, but I do like me some whiskey, too. If circumstances were different, I’d take you to the Farmer’s Club for a drink, but I don’t want you out in public any more than you need to be.”
“To tell you the truth, I really don’t feel much like being out in public right now,” she replied.
Sammy brought Lady in, and by that time Seth had dinner on the table. Sammy ate his meal super fast and then sat and stared impatiently first at Seth and then at Suzanna as they continued to eat.
“Why don’t you go pack your little suitcase,” Seth suggested. “Besides your pajamas, don’t forget to pack your toothbrush and toothpaste.”
“Okay. Come on, Lady. You can help me pack.” Sammy and the pup left the kitchen.
“We’d better finish up quickly,” Suzanna said. Her eyes twinkled with humor, and he loved to see her this way…with a brightness in her eyes and a smile on her lips. “We were definitely getting death glares there for a minute.”
Seth laughed. “We definitely were, and nobody can death glare better than a kid.”
They finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen, and by that time Sammy was waiting for them in the living room, his packed little blue suitcase on the floor next to him.
“Where’s Lady?” Seth asked curiously.
“She fell asleep when I was packing. Is it time to go now?”
Seth laughed once again at his son’s excitement. “Yes, now it’s time to go.”
They all got into the car, and a half an hour later Seth and Suzanna were on their way back home minus one little boy. “I miss him already,” Suzanna said.
Seth looked at her in surprise. “Really?” He laughed. “I don’t. I know he’s safe and sound, but I’ll be just fine without him for one night.”
It was around seven o’clock when Seth made them each a whiskey and cola and the two of them settled in on the sofa to watch a movie. The movie was a comedy, and between the smooth slide of the alcohol down his throat and the sound of Suzanna’s pleasant-sounding laughter, he felt a rightness to his world.
Having Suzanna in the house with him and Sammy had reminded Seth of all the reasons he had wanted to get married in the first place. He’d wanted the companionship and the shared laughter. He’d wanted children and for him and his wife to be partners in parenting their children.
