Waiting for You (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (18 page)

“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t, Joe. But I worry about you falling for her.”

He shrugged. “I’m falling fast, I’ll tell you that. She’s so good, Shelly, so upbeat, so sane and sensible. I feel like I can tell her anything.”

“Does she know you have reservations about this relationship?”

“No, but she’s got to have some, too. Like you said, we’re only human.”

His phone buzzed, and when he checked its ID, he didn’t recognize the caller. He said, “Hold on a sec,” to Shelly and into the phone, “Moretti.”

“Joe, this is Ruth Cosgrove. I…” The woman sounded upset. Every protective instinct he had went on red alert.

“What’s wrong, Ruth?”

“Dana’s okay, physically. But she had an emotional trauma this morning.”

“What happened?”

Joe listened as Ruth explained the shopping trip to Bergman’s and the fire alarm sounding when Dana was half-naked. The fire department had responded quickly and she got out of the building unharmed. But the image of her, lying there on the floor, struck him to the core. She had to have felt totally helpless. The urge to protect her rose again inside him like a giant emotional wave.

“Is she home?”

“Yes. In bed. She asked me to call and cancel your dinner plans tonight. She doesn’t want to see anybody.”

“I’m sorry about all this, Ruth. But I’m coming over as soon as I get off work. I’ll call her and tell her.”

“She won’t answer her phone. She said specifically for you not to come to the house. Usually I respect her wishes in these circumstances.”

That gave him pause. He knew about the need to be alone when something went bad. Huh. He hadn’t realized they had that in common. “This kind of thing happened before?”

“On occasion. But she almost always avoids situations where she could be caught like she was.”

Man, he couldn’t do as Dana asked. He just couldn’t. “Ruth, I can’t possibly leave her alone tonight. I might be able to help.”

“I’ve found it best to not try to make things better in these situations. She gets over them in her own way.”

He remembered a quote from one of his dad’s letter.
Sometimes, you just have to accept bad things, Joey. You can’t fix everything. I’m afraid you’re going to be overly protective, like I was, and that’s not good.

Despite his father’s words and regardless of the images Dana’s circumstances conjured for him, he said forcefully, “I’m not abandoning her. Will you be home tonight?”

“I have a date, too. That’s why we went shopping. But she found this pretty lavender pantsuit she wanted to wear for you.” A few sniffles. “I’m going to cancel with Jeremy as soon as I hang up.”

“Don’t. Leave the door open and I’ll let myself in.”

“Joe—really—”

“Better yet, lock the door and leave a key under the geraniums on the front porch.”

“I don’t know.”

“Trust me on this, Ruth. My instincts so far where Dana’s condition is concerned have been right. I know what I’m doing.” At least he hoped he did. One thing for certain, if he let Dana shut him out of this problem, he’d be setting a precedent. They both needed to be more open with each other. Thinking of his doubts, he vowed to do better.

Shelly was scowling when he disconnected. “Trouble in paradise?”

He told her what had happened.

“Oh, that poor woman. I’m so sorry.”

“I guess I should expect things like this.” But he hadn’t. At least consciously. Damn the psychology talk—Dana and Ruth were wearing off on him.

Later that day, Joe left work at five, went home and showered and changed. After making two stops, one at the Chinese restaurant for healthy food, he arrived on Dana’s doorstep at seven, the agreed-upon time for their date. He found the key—bless you, Ruth—let himself into the house and went to the kitchen to set the food to warm in the oven. The house was eerily quiet and still.

When he shut the stove door, he heard from the bedroom, “Ruth, did you come back for something?”

Bracing himself, he picked up the second package he’d brought and strode to the doorway of her bedroom. It was light outside, but the room was dim with the blinds drawn. Dana was lying on the bed in summer pajamas. The TV was on low and a news station was broadcasting. She looked away from the screen, and when she saw him, her eyes widened. “What are you doing here? Ruth said she called you to cancel our date.”

“She did. I refuse to be banished like a child.”

“Joe, please. You don’t understand.” Her voice was hoarse with emotion. “I can’t see anyone tonight.”

It killed him to witness the resignation on her face. This was so not the Dana he knew, Dana the fighter. “I’m not just anyone.”

“When bad things happen to me, this is how I deal with them.”

“I understand that completely, as I’m the same way. But now, for both of us, isolating ourselves is how we
used
to deal with bad things. No more. Let me in. We’ll deal with what happened together.”

Instead of arguing, she closed her eyes, shifted to her other side and curled into a fetal position. That small indication of defeat was worse than a full-out battle.

Crossing to the bed, he sat down on the mattress and tugged her around—she didn’t come willingly—but she did open her eyes and look at him. Up close, the expression in them was so grim, it ripped him apart inside. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you. I don’t know exactly how you felt today, but I can guess how raw you are. It must be really, really hard when you can’t control your surroundings. Worse, that you can’t escape danger.”

Teary-eyed, she grabbed his hand. “I…I was so scared, Joey. I couldn’t do anything to help myself.”

“That would kill me.”

“I couldn’t right the chair, I was in my underwear. And I was so embarrassed when the firefighters found me.”

“Yes, well.” He cleared his throat. “We have to talk about that.”

Puzzlement replaced the defeat in her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“It’s all around the police department that a hunk of a firefighter carried you out half-naked. I have to tell you, Dana, I won’t put up with this. No man but me is to see that lovely body of yours unclothed.”

She was so startled she couldn’t speak. Then a ghost of a smile curved at her mouth. “He gave me his coat before he took me to safety.”

“Still, I’m sure he got an eyeful. Which I will not tolerate, woman.”

She shook her head. “He was fifty, with grandchildren.”

“Older men are not immune to your charms.”

Sighing, she pulled herself up to a sitting position. “I’m a mess. I showered, but my hair must be sticking out all over.”

“You look beautiful to me.”

She nodded to the kitchen. “I didn’t cook like I was supposed to.”

“I brought Chinese.”

“All right. Let me get cleaned up and dressed, then I’ll come out and eat.”

“Fine.” Reaching down he retrieved the package he’d dropped to the floor. “I brought you a present.”

Another small smile. “I’ll open it later.”

“Do it now.”

“Yes, sir.”

She ripped off the paper the box was wrapped in, opened the lid and stilled. He saw her bite her lip. Saw a tear trickle down her cheek.

“Hey, this was supposed to make you happy.”

“I—it does.

“Yeah, I can see.”

With the most beautiful watery eyes he’d ever seen, she looked at him with such approval, such gratitude, it made him speechless.

“How’d you do this?”

“I’m a detective. It wasn’t hard.”

“Tell me.”

“Ruth named the store in Pittsfield, and it happens to be mother’s favorite. My brothers and I buy her presents there. After work, I stopped over and talked to the saleslady. She wasn’t the same one who was there earlier, but when I described the outfit, we found this. I guessed you to be a size eight. So,” he said playfully. “I got you the outfit you were trying on. For me, I might add.”

She picked up the tag. “Th-the eight was tight across the chest.”

He kissed her nose. “Well, this must be my lucky day.”

“Joe…”

He just watched her, but he could tell she was pleased. Thank the good Lord. He didn’t think he could stand seeing her so deflated all night long.

Dana gazed down at the really pretty outfit. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Just put the thing on and come out and have dinner with me on the patio.”

She hesitated.

“Dana, we’re just normal people. We have bad days. Sharing them makes the burden lighter.”

“Okay,” she said softly, “I’ll be right out.”

Joe left the bedroom, but as soon as he got to the kitchen, he was assaulted by a memory, an image, that he’d totally forgotten about. His father had experienced something similar to what had happened to Dana. His mother had darted off to the store to pick up milk and nine-year-old Joey had been left alone with his father. When Joe Sr. had tried to reach something in the cabinet and couldn’t, he’d fallen out of his chair, knocking his head on the toilet. His father had been embarrassed and frustrated; Joe had tried to help, but he was terrified. That image superimposed over the one of Dana lying helpless on the dressing room floor.

He brought himself up short when he realized what he was doing. Hell, he wasn’t nine anymore, and he could handle rough times with Dana as a mature adult.

Dana, we’re just normal people. We have bad days. Sharing them makes the burden lighter.

He guessed he’d lied to her again. Because he knew very well they weren’t normal people, and one thing he couldn’t share with her was these associations with his dad.

o0o

Dana awoke with a start. She didn’t know where she was at first, but then she realized why. A man slept next to her. Oh, dear! Something else took precedence, not allowing her to panic or enjoy his presence. “Joey?”

Joe rolled over. “What’s wrong, honey?”

“Damn it, I didn’t go to the bathroom all night. I have to pee, bad.”

He eyed the chair, never far away. She tracked his gaze. “I’ll never make it into that, Joe.”

“You said you’d let me help when you needed it.”

“I
need
it. Now!”

He bounded out of bed, circled around to her side and scooped her up. The pants of the lovely outfit had ridden up during the night. “I’m not looking at your legs, honest.”

“Never mind that.”

With her cradled in his arms, he strode to the bathroom, set her gently on the toilet. She said, “Scoot.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

“Could you get the chair?” she called out when he closed the door.

He gave her time, then on her signal, opened the door and wheeled the chair inside. Quickly, he deposited it within her reach, said, “I’ll go make coffee,” and left her to her privacy.

Despite the situation—an embarrassing one—Dana had to smile. She’d been overwrought yesterday by the shopping trip, her subsequent fall and helplessness. The fear had still been with her until Joey had arrived. Stormed in, really, brooked no arguments, and well, took charge. Ruth always followed her wishes when something like that happened, but Joe wouldn’t be ostracized. He’d been so solid, so pragmatic, so absolutely there for her. Not wanting to let the evening end, they’d gone into her room to watch TV, stretched out on the bed and both had fallen asleep. Despite the embarrassing situation this morning, she didn’t regret his balking her wishes.

As she left the bathroom, she could hear him out in the kitchen, whistling, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” from one of her favorite musicals. She was hit with stunning clarity how nice it was to have a man around again. And how she wanted him around more. Pulling a pink sweat suit out of the drawer, she caught sight of the bed and stared at it for a moment. They could have been doing more than sleeping in there last night. And, she realized, she wanted to. She’d have to think about that.

Dressed comfortably, Dana wheeled out to the dinette just as Joe entered with two mugs.

Setting them on the table, he crossed to her, said, “Now give me a proper greeting,” leaned over and kissed her hard.

“Good morning.” He’d removed his shirt and shoes sometime during the night and she took in the dusty skin of his torso, the whorls of hair on his chest, the defined muscles. “See something you like?” he asked, sitting down.

“Very much. And it makes me think about touching—” Her statement drifted off when the front door opened and closed. Jeremy grabbed Ruth for a full-mouthed, passionate kiss. She finally came up for air and realized she had an audience. “Oh, hi, Dana. Joe, I didn’t know you’d still be here.”

“Yeah, I can see that.”

“I just didn’t expect…you know, given Dana…that you’d be here all…”

“Honey, stop.” The man took her hand and drew her into the dinette. “Hi, both of you, I’m Jeremy Johnson.”

“Hello Jeremy,” Dana said. “Nice to meet you.”

Joe stood. “Joe Moretti.” The two men shook hands.

Ruth was still blushing and said nothing more.

“The hero cop,” Jeremy quipped easily. “I read about you. And thanks for the job you do for the city.”

“You’re welcome.”

Ruth said, “Jeremy was a cancer researcher at the University of Rockland until he retired. He still lectures all around the country.”

Joe smiled. “There are all kinds of heroes, Dr. Johnson.”

“Jeremy, please.”

Turning to Ruth, Joe crossed his arms over his chest and stood with his legs spread apart. “As for you, young lady, are you trying to sneak into this house without waking anybody?”

Ruth blushed to the roots of her pretty, mussed gray hair.

Jeremy kept a straight face and stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Sorry, Mom and Dad. If I’d known she had a curfew, I would have gotten her back before dawn.”

Finally, Ruth composed herself. Lifted her chin. She had to be tough to live with Dana all these years. “Don’t tell me that no hanky-panky was going on
here
last night.”

“Oh-h-h,” Joe said, stringing out the syllable, “there was some.”

But not enough for Dana.

Joe served the couple coffee, then glanced at his watch. “I have to get to work. Seriously, it was nice to meet you.”