Military Daddy by Patricia Davids

Author:Patricia Davids
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2008-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

It was beginning to get dark by the time Shane finished the section of the roof he had been working on. After climbing down, he removed the ladder and carried it to the garden shed at the back of the yard. He then brought his tools around to his car parked at the side of the house. Since Marge’s coupe was gone, he assumed that she had already left for the evening. Annie’s car was gone, too.

He couldn’t help but wonder if Olivia was giving Annie the same attitude about attending the AA meeting that she had given her mother earlier. He hoped not. Annie deserved praise for her efforts, not criticism.

After opening his trunk, he threw his gear in and closed the lid. He heard the sound of Marge’s front door opening and glanced toward the house. To his surprise, he saw Annie standing in the open doorway.

“I’m done for the night,” he called, and gave her a brief wave.

Advancing down the steps, she paused on the walk. “I thought I heard a car door. I was hoping it was Crystal. She promised to be home before we had to leave for the meeting.”

He took a step closer. “She isn’t back yet?”

“No.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down the street.

He walked toward her. “Maybe she had car trouble. Do you want me to wait?”

“Thanks, but I’m sure she’ll be here any minute. She knows that I’m leading the group discussion tonight and that Olivia is coming with us. I’ve tried her cell phone, but she has it turned off. If she had car trouble, I’m sure she would have called.”

“Maybe she just forgot the time.”

“Maybe.”

“Why don’t I give you and Olivia a lift?”

“It’s out of your way, but thank you.”

He narrowed the distance between them until he was close enough to see the worry in her eyes. “Junction City isn’t a big town, so I’m sure your meeting isn’t that far out of my way.”

She glanced back toward the door of the house. “I hate to impose.”

The evening breeze carried the scent of her perfume to him. The sweet fragrance stirred a recollection from his early childhood. He leaned closer. She didn’t pull away. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply and tried to capture the elusive memory.

“White flowers.” He didn’t realize he had spoken aloud until he heard her soft indrawn breath.

He opened his eyes and met her uncertain gaze. Large and luminous in the growing dusk, her eyes were filled with bewilderment and another emotion that sent his pulse racing.

“You smell like the white flowers my mother grew in hanging baskets on our front porch. I don’t remember what they were called.”

“Jasmine,” she whispered softly.

He reached out and stroked her cheek with his finger tips. “Jasmine—that’s right. I remember breathing in their fragrance and trying to so hard not to breathe out.”

With sudden clarity Shane knew that this moment would become a treasured memory for him. He longed to capture and keep everything exactly as it was now.

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