Carol's Image (29 page)

“No problem, the more the merrier!” Sofia claimed.

Just then their pagers went off simultaneously. “Back to work, ladies,” Jon called out as they headed back to the ER.

*

Tom and Jake sat at their desks working several cases. Jake was making it a priority to figure out who was stalking Carol. Tom was talking to his friend from the Richland Police Force about Calvin’s case.

“Shane? It’s Tom Rivers. Got anything new for me on the Calvin Penski case? He’s real close to makin’ bail here at his next hearing right after the holidays.” The two men talked for several more minutes as Jake made a few more calls trying to get a location on the number that the text came in on Carol’s phone.

Hanging up on their calls at about the same time, Tom looked over at his partner saying, “You first.”

Sighing, Jake reported, “Looks like it probably came from a disposable cell, and it hasn’t been used again. That means the person, or whoever they hired, knows what they are doing.”

“Fuck,” Tom cursed, running his hand through his hair. “We are gettin’ nowhere, and stalkers tend to escalate. I’ve got her working days, escorted to and from her car in the lot. Most nights she is either with me at my place or I’m at hers. Won’t let her stay alone and honestly, not real happy when it is just her and Laurie there.”

Jake looked at his friend, knowing that if their roles were reversed, Tom would do anything to help Jake and his loved one. “I’m not givin’ up, man. I’ll keep digging.”

Tom nodded. “I know you will.” Looking down at his notes, he continued. “Okay, for Calvin Penski. Just talked to my friend Shane Douglas.”

“Shane? From the academy?” Jake interrupted. When Tom nodded, Jake added, “I remember him. Real go getter. Real smart. But street smart. Always figured he’d go undercover at some time.”

“Yeah, we worked together when I spent a couple of years in Richland before decidin’ to come back here and keep my parent’s house. He’s a good cop. Probably will go underground some time. Anyway, he’s workin’ the case pretty hard, knowing Cal could get out on bail in another couple of weeks. Says if Cal gets out, he’ll be right back in Richland and probably dig in deep to keep from being found. They’ve broken up some prostitution clubs where the girls were drugged, but he is so goddamn slippery they can’t get it pinned to him yet. Shane wants to know if we think the brother is involved.”

“Bert?” Jake asked, incredulously. “Hell, Bert couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag.”

“Shane wondered if it was an act to get everyone to think he was meek.”

Jake shook his head. “Naw. Not buyin’ it. Bert’s not that smart.”

“What about being manipulated by his brother?” Tom asked. “Am I so pissed at him trying to connect with Carol that I am overlooking something?”

“What else does Shane think?” Jake prodded.

Shaking his head, Tom just said, “Not much else now. He’s hopin’ Cal doesn’t make bail, but Shane’s ready if he does. He plans on bein’ on his tail the minute Cal gets back in Richland.”

*

One week later, Carol and Laurie were out Christmas shopping. The shops in downtown Fairfield were decorated for the holidays with window displays galore. The weather had turned colder, and a light snow had fallen a couple of nights earlier. They watched as people hurried about their shopping, but still shouting out greetings to those they knew.

Stepping carefully over a patch of ice on the sidewalk, Carol grabbed Laurie as she almost slipped.

“We had two broken wrists, a broken leg, and a broken arm yesterday in the ER just from falls on ice. Don’t make it another one,” she laughed as she held Laurie up.

“This is a good place to duck into anyway,” Laurie said as they neared Bernie’s Bakery. Heading inside, the smells of freshly baked bread and cakes assaulted their senses.

“Oh my god, this place smells amazing!” Carol grinned.

Bernie saw the girls as they entered and waved them over to the counter as she came around to greet them. “Laurie, my girl. How are you?” Bernie and Laurie hugged as Carol watched, knowing that Bernie was already considering Laurie to be her daughter-in-law.

Turning next to Carol, Bernie enveloped her as well. “Sit down, sit down and I’ll get you all some special coffee and holiday treats”. Bustling off, Bernie left them to sit at one of the pink and white tables that lined the wall of the bakery.

Carol looked around at the familiar shop, feeling for the first time in years that she could come in and eat without worrying about the calories.
Free. This feels free.
Smiling, she looked over at Laurie, who had been joined by Suzy, Rob’s sister. She was sixteen years old and had the MacDonald’s gorgeous genes. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she casually looked at a group of teenage boys sitting in one of the back booths. Carol recognized Bill and Wendy’s son, Brad, as one of the young men. It was evident that Brad and Suzy had eyes for each other while trying not to show it.

Carol thought back to her days in high school and was amazed at how clueless she had been about how much bulimia had ruled her life. Suzy seemed so carefree and happy. Carol smiled indulgently, happy for the young woman.

Suzy headed off to wait on more tables while Carol and Laurie continued their meal.

“So when are you and Tom going to celebrate Christmas?”

Carol, wiping the powdered sugar off of her lips, answered, “We are going to celebrate tonight. I have to work tomorrow on Christmas day, so we will exchange gifts at his place tonight.” Smiling up at Laurie, she added, “and don’t expect me back tonight!”

Laughing, the two women finished their treats and headed back out into the cold.

*

The night outside was blustery, but inside Tom’s living room, the warmth from the fireplace settled in around Carol as she sat next to their little Christmas tree. Tom entered from the kitchen carrying a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses. Smiling up at him, she reached up to take the glasses from him.

“So are you ready for your present?”

Continuing to smile at him, she nodded. She had given Tom his gift before dinner – three tickets to a Washington Redskins game for him, Jake, and Rob. She knew that since they had been dating, his time with his friends had been cut back. So, it only seemed fair to give a gift that he could share with them.

Tom lowered his large frame to the floor next to her in front of the fireplace. The room was lit with only the soft lights from the Christmas tree and the flickering flames from the fire. He looked over at Carol, her beauty taking his breath away. The firelight cast a glow on her porcelain complexion and danced in her large blue eyes. Her blonde tresses caught the lights from the tree, giving her angelic appearance an otherworldly glow. Suddenly nervous, he realized the magnitude of what he was about to do. Nervous? Yes. Fearful? Never.

Maneuvering his body so that he was sitting as close as he could while facing her, he set the wine bottle on the coffee table. She turned her luminescent blue eyes to his, a smile still playing on her lips. All the practiced words flew from his mind. His breath caught in his throat as his heart pounded in his chest. Taking her dainty hand in his much larger one, he realized that the strength of this tiny woman humbled him. He was the one who wanted to protect her, but realized that she was the one who saved him.

Lifting her hand to his lips, he softly brushed her knuckles with his kisses. Carol raised her other hand to cup his face, feeling the stubble under her fingertips as she leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on his lips.
Soft. Full of promise. Full of love.

Leaning back, blue eyes gazed at blue eyes. “Angel, do you remember how we met?”

Her face breaking into a huge smile, she giggled and nodded. “Tom, how could I ever forget seeing you lying on the ground, terrified that you were injured?”

Nodding, he continued, “Carol, I opened my eyes that day in more ways than one. I saw the most beautiful creature leaning over me. The whole world was fuzzy except for your face. I called you an angel, because swear to God, that is what you looked like. That image captured me. Wrapped itself around me. Wouldn’t let me go. Everything in my life up to that point lost its importance until I could find you again.”

She peered into his face, watching the emotions play across his features. Holding her breath, she reached back over to link her fingers with his, knowing that he needed her strength to say whatever he was trying to say.

“When I finally found you, I discovered that you really were an angel. You care about people with such passion. You are so tiny that I sometimes worry about crushing you and yet you have more strength inside of you than most people I know. I used to call you clueless, but realized that you just needed to have someone affirm what was already inside of you. Beauty, intelligence, the heart of an angel.”

Sucking in a deep breath, he continued, “I don’t want to live without you. I want you with me, every day in every way. I want you to be mine. Mine to hold, cherish, protect and love. And I want to be yours. I want your light to shine on me every day for the rest of my life.”

Tears welled in Carol’s eyes as she watched the man she loved more than life itself struggle with his emotions. She saw him reach into his pocket and bring out a small jewelry box. Her breath caught in her throat as she began to realize what might be in the box.

Flipping open the lid, Tom held it out to her. Inside was a perfect engagement ring, tiny and delicate. The diamond in the middle of the ring was surrounded by smaller diamonds all around. She watched as his large hands shook as he took the ring out of the box and held it out to her. She lifted her eyes from the ring back up to his expressive face. Blue eyes gazed into blue eyes.

“Carol Fletcher, I don’t want to live without you. I need you beside me every day and every night. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Oh Tom. Yes, yes, yes! I love you so much! I want nothing more than to be with you every day for eternity.” Tears streamed down her face as she threw her arms around his neck and felt him pull her in tightly.

Grinning, he gently pushed her back. “Well, let’s make this official, angel.” He held her hand and slid the perfect ring on her finger.

Carol wiggled her fingers, watching the ring sparkle in the firelight. Her eyes, bright with tears looked back into his face. Grabbing him, she pulled him in for a kiss. The kiss began softly, then quickly burned with passion and love.

Tom pulled her in closer then twisted their bodies so that they were laying together on the rug in front of the fireplace. He took charge of the kiss, his tongue dancing with hers as he explored her mouth, tasting the sweet wine on her lips. Slowly ending the kiss, he pulled her head in tightly to his chest while the other hand slid down to her hips, pulling her in as close as their bodies could be.

Laying there listening to the crackling of the fire, letting their hearts beat in time together, both allowed the emotions of the evening to wash over them.

She lay, tears still sliding down her cheeks, pooling on his shirt.
Safe, accepted, loved.

He lay, holding her tightly, pressing kisses on the top of her head.
Mine to hold. Mine to care for. Mine to love.