Laurie's Time (The Fairfield Series) (19 page)

Laurie knew that Carol’s parents were wealthy, but also knew that Carol was completely independent. “Do you need the extra money?” Laurie inquired.

Carol shrugged but admitted, “My parents were being…difficult about the wedding, so Tom and I decided to pay for everything ourselves. It will be small, friends only, and won’t cost too much, but the extra money from the graveyard shift helps.”

“I have no idea what I will do when I get married. No parents, no extra money on a teacher’s salary!” Laurie said without rancor.

Carol reached over to hug her friend. “Oh Laurie, I’m so sorry. Here I am bemoaning my situation, but wasn’t even thinking about yours.”

“Carol, don’t apologize! We all have our crosses to bear. Believe me, I am very content with my life now. It hasn’t always been easy, but it is what it is. Who knows when I will get married anyway?”

Carol laughed as she pulled on her blue tunic over her black leggings. “Oh, I think that Rob may have something to say about that! I have a feeling that he may be planning to tie you to him before too long!”

Laurie couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s prediction. She chose her navy leggings paired with a pink cashmere off-the-shoulder sweater. Both women pulled on their boots and grabbed their winter coats and hats before heading out of the door.

*

Rob, not wanting to take a chance on running into any more barflies before Laurie arrived, sat in his truck in the parking lot. Jake tapped on his window, looking surprised.

“You gonna hang out all night in your truck?”

“Fuck, man, the last time we were here, that bitch Roxie had her friend take a picture of her falling into my lap and sent it to Laurie.”

Jake, disbelieving, just looked at Rob. “You’re shittin’ me.”

“I wish I was. I came over here the next day and confronted her. Told her that she ever even looked Laurie’s way, I’d forget I was a gentleman and kick her ass.” He chuckled. “Then Wendy came over and did kick her ass to the curb.”

Jake started laughing. “Leave it to Wendy to do what we men couldn’t do!”

Just then, Tom drove up with Carol and Laurie in tow. As Laurie came toward him, he once again stared at the beauty in front of him.

Greeting him enthusiastically by standing on her toes to grab his face and pull him in for a kiss, he couldn’t believe his luck. The others laughed and Rob tucked her under his arm as the five of them went inside to join more of their friends. Several firemen and policemen were there with their dates. Bill and Wendy greeted them all and started serving drinks.

Rob helped Laurie take her coat off, but when he saw the pastel pink sweater that hung off her shoulder, he nearly had a heart attack. Her luscious shoulder was bare.
No bra strap. Fuck, she’s not wearing a bra.
He tried to get her to put her coat back on.

“Rob, I don’t need my coat on inside,” she said, her eyes searching his face for the reason behind his stony countenance.

Leaning down so that his mouth was next to her ear, he whispered, “You’re not wearin’ a bra. Not having every dick in this place starin’ at your tits.”

Putting her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles, she leaned her head back so that she could whisper in his ear. “Honey, it’s called a strapless bra. I assure you I am covered up!”

He leaned over and discreetly checked out her breasts to make sure her nipples weren’t poking through her sweater. He placed her coat on the back of her chair, satisfied that she wasn’t showing too much but frustrated knowing she was still too beautiful not to be looked at. Sitting down next to her, he scooted her chair over so that it was touching his, threw his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her in tight.

Tucked into him, feeling dwarfed, she complained, “Rob, I can’t see anyone! How am I supposed to carry on a conversation? I told you I am covered. Honey, I would never come out dressed to embarrass you!” Rolling her eyes and huffing, she finished her quiet tirade.

“Babe, I’m not pissed at you. You know how to dress like a beautiful woman, but you don’t know dick about dicks.” Incredulous, she turned to look into his face. “Babe, men like me, we see a bare shoulder and that means that we’re gonna check out the tits to see if they are covered. You may be covered, but I don’t want to fight off every man in this place ‘cause he is staring at your tits.”

“You must be joking,” she said, eyes narrowing. “Are you telling me that you are still checking out the tits of every woman in this place?”

Rubbing his hands over his face in frustration, he replied, “No! Once a man has what I’ve got, what Tom’s got, we don’t check out shit. But if you’ll look around, most of these men are single, or just here with a casual date. That means they’re checking you out.”

“You give the most back ass-wards compliments!” she snapped.

Releasing a sigh, he leaned over and brushed his lips over hers in a chaste kiss. “Just laying it out there, Laurie.” Noticing that she was slumped back against him, he slid his arm from around her and rubbed gentle circles on her back. “Babe, eyes.”

She looked up into his blue eyes, once more getting lost in the depths of them.

“Don’t want to take away anything from the night for you, darlin’. You’re beautiful, and I just gotta deal with the fact that men will look. But I’m proud of being yours. Still don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

She lifted her hand to cup his strong jaw. Barely touching her lips to his, she whispered, “I love you, Rob MacDonald.” She felt his breath mingle with hers, feeling as though she needed his breath to live.

He pulled her in for a gentle hug, possessive but protective, then moved her chair so that she was not as hidden as before. Looking over at Jake’s smirk, he knew his friend had heard the entire exchange.

“Fuck off, man, your time’s comin’”, Rob joked.

Shaking his head, Jake just laughed. “Don’t mind sayin’, hope you’re right.”

*

The conversation flowed as much as the drinks did. Laurie loved meeting more of Rob’s coworkers and hearing stories of their daring rescues. Tom and Jake joined in with tales of their youth. The dates that the other men brought were nice women, and Laurie enjoyed their conversations as well.

Laurie had been around Jake often and always sensed a sadness about him. He was a quiet man, and she wondered why he wasn’t married yet. Rob always said that Jake was waiting for just the right woman.
Emma. Emma would be perfect for Jake, and he was just what she needed. He needs a woman to take care of him. Emma takes care of everyone. But Emma needs someone to take care of her also. Hmmm. I’ll talk to Rob later to see what he thinks.

Her neck was stiff from sitting in one position, and she couldn’t believe that she was already tired by ten o’clock. Rob noticed that Laurie was getting tired and stiff. “Babe, you want to go home?”

“Goodness, no. I’ll be fine. I think I’ll go to the ladies’ room though to move around a bit.”

“I’ll come with you,” Rob said protectively.

“Rob, it would look silly for you to come. I’ll be right back.” With that, Laurie stood and walked down the hallway by the bar.

Walking into the ladies’ room, she used the facilities then headed over to wash her hands. Looking up into the mirror, she noticed the redness on her face that her makeup was barely covering. Dark circles were under her eyes.
I sleep all the damn time; why the hell do I feel so tired.
She rubbed her stiff neck, trying to twist it from side to side. It was as though it did not want to move without the pain screaming at her.
I so don’t have time to be sick.

Looking at her pink sweater, she pulled it up so that it covered both shoulders and draped farther in the back. Smiling to herself, she pulled open the door. Standing right outside the door, leaning up on the opposite wall was the colossal hunk of the man she loved, staring intently at her. His eyes cut to her sweater, and she saw the warmth in them. Walking over she placed her arms around his waist, knowing she couldn’t raise them without pain. “What are you doing out here, you silly man?” she asked softly.

“Only silly for you, woman.”

She laughed and hugged him tighter. His arms encircled her, completely surrounding her with his body.
Warm. Protected. Cared for. Loved.

She leaned her head back to look into his eyes, and she gasped in pain.

Immediately, he bent down to look at her without her moving her neck. Panic on his face, fear in his heart, he grasped her arms. “Laurie, what is it? Is it your neck again?”

Trying not to cry, she barely nodded.

“That’s it,” he declared. “We’re leavin’, and I’m takin’ you to the hospital.”

She dug her heels in. “Rob, we are not going to the ER for a stiff neck.”

He rounded on her quickly, forcing her to take a step back. “Babe, I’m not kiddin’. We promised no secrets between us. I want to know exactly how you feel right now.”

Just then, Carol walked over on her way to the ladies’ room.

“Good, Carol’s here. You can talk to both of us,” Rob said to Laurie. Turning to Carol, he said, “Laurie is not feelin’ good, and I wanna take her to the ER.”

Carol, immediately concerned, looked at her friend and went into nurse mode. “What are your symptoms?”

“Carol, I’ve been to Dr. Alexander. She ran blood work on me, but the results are not back in yet.”

“And…” Carol prodded.

“I’m just tired a lot, run a low-grade fever several times a week, and my neck is so stiff it hurts, but that is probably just from sleeping crooked.”

Carol lifted an eyebrow at Laurie. “Stop trying to diagnose yourself by making light of the symptoms,” Carol admonished.

By this time Tom appeared in the hall to see what was taking Carol so long. “What symptoms?” he asked.

Laurie glared at all of them, feeling the sting of tears threatening to fall. Rob recognizing her stress and embarrassment, reached over and pulled her into a gentle hug. “Just worried about you babe.”

Jake walked over seeing his friends gathered in the hallway. Tom leaned over to him, quietly letting him know what they were discussing.

Carol interjected, “I agree with Laurie, there’s no reason to go to the ER now.” Laurie looked over with gratitude. “But you definitely need to keep your follow-up appointment with Dr. Alexander. It could be something simple as stress, or it could be indicative of a lot of things. All are best if found early.”

Tom laid his hand on Rob’s shoulder in understanding. Rob looked up at Tom and Jake, giving a quick head nod to both of them. All three men had chosen professions that protected and served. It wasn’t just their jobs. It was who they were. It was ingrained into every fiber of their beings. Since childhood, they had pledge their loyalty to each other, their brotherhood. And that loyalty extended to their families and now their women. Rob knew that Tom and Jake understood his fear for Laurie. Their friend had found the woman of his dreams. The completer of his soul. The possibility that she could be sick brought fear to them as well as to Rob. Tom gave Rob’s shoulder a squeeze before they all headed back into the bar.

Laurie was terrified that everyone at the table would comment on their absence. Thankfully, most of the group was on the dance floor or at the pool tables. They all sat back down and continued to enjoy each other’s company. A little bit later, Rob knew that Laurie had reached her limit. Reaching behind her, he snagged her coat.

“Come on, babe. Let’s go home.”

Laurie looked at him gratefully. Hugging all of her friends goodbye, they headed back to her apartment.

L
aurie was making great progress with Cindy. The tiny girl was playing with the other children, smiling occasionally, and as soon as Laurie was able to ascertain her reading level, she was pleased to find that she was reading above grade level. She was still wary around any males but according to the Carlson’s, she was making strides with Mr. Carlson. Cindy did not speak very often, preferring to observe everything around her carefully.

Jean dropped by to observe Cindy in the classroom. She was receiving professional counseling outside of school and saw Jean twice a week in school. She smiled at Jean, having gotten used to her as well. But it was Laurie that held the little girl’s confidence. She would often stand near Laurie. Jean had told Laurie that Cindy seemed to have an innate sense of who she could trust, and Laurie was definitely one of those people.