The Fine Line Book One Between Worlds Series (7 page)

“
I will text you when I’ve
made it home,” he whispered.

She nodded, trying to catch her breath. She
released him and watched him walk to his truck.

****

Monday as Robin sat at her computer in her
office, she became lost in her thoughts. She reminisced about the
weekend and how wonderful it was. She remembered fondly the way
Matt’s lips felt on hers and the way his hand cupped her face
perfectly. She remembered the warmth in his touch and how he felt
against her body when they embraced. But a knock on her door
snapped her out of her dream world.

“
Come in,” she said
pleasantly.

A familiar face appeared; it was Colin
Baker, the deputy with the insane crush on her. His smile
brightened the room.

“
Hey there,” he said as he
walked in and sat down in the vacant chair beside her desk. He wore
his uniform, so she assumed he needed to talk to her about a
case.

“
So what’s up?” Robin
asked courteously.

“
Can’t a friend come by
and talk? Just because I’m here doesn’t mean that I’m going to beg
you to do work.”

They laughed. But his dropping by wasn’t a
normal occurrence.

“
What’s the real reason
you’re here Colin?” she continued.

“
It’s about your new
boyfriend.”

“
Okay.” All at once, she
felt sick in the pit of her stomach fearful of what would roll out
of Colin’s mouth next.

“
I just want him to be
good to you. You’ve been through a lot. I have been there with you,
you know, when all that stuff went down. I promised you then I’d
make sure you were okay… always. Remember?”

Robin couldn’t forget. Her mind flashed back
to that fateful evening and the events played out in her head like
a horror film. The entire experience seemed like a dream; it was as
if she had been outside of her body watching everything happen
around her. She remembered sitting in the corner of the apartment
as Brett paced with the gun in his hand. She remembered feeling the
barrel against the back of her head. She remembered how agitated he
was. The smell of alcohol was unforgettable, too.

She remembered the tone of his voice and his
words:

“
You won’t leave
me!”

In her mind’s eye, she saw the gun pointed
in her face and heard his voice again shouting,

“
I won’t let you leave
me!”

She remembered sitting on the concrete step
of the apartment after Brett had been taken away in cuffs. She
remembered feelings of helplessness and violation. She remembered
feeling Colin’s arm around her trembling body as the blood poured
from her wounds. She was frightened and cold, but that night when
her eyes met Colin’s, she saw kindness. Her fondest memory of the
horrible situation was Colin’s reassurance that he wouldn’t let
anything happen to her. It was then that their friendship began. He
had kept his promise all of this time, too.

Shaking back into reality, she looked at
Colin’s expression.

“
I remember all of it,”
she replied.

“
You haven’t dated a lot
since then and I want to keep my promise. I don’t want to ever
watch you go through something like that again. You’re a good
person, Robin. You deserve the best.”

“
I don’t think you have to
worry about Matt.”

“
I checked him out. He’s
clean, but Brett was nice, too.”

“
Please, Colin,” she said
throwing up a hand. “That name…”

“
I know. I’m sorry. But
really… be safe. I will be watching to make sure he is who he says
he is.”

“
Really, I think things
will be fine.”

“
I’m just
saying.”

“
I appreciate it Colin.
Really, I do. You’re a good friend.”

“
Friend…” He sighed. “I
guess that is what I really came to talk about. I’m too late. I
waited too long, I know. You always intimidated me.”

She tilted her head with disbelief.

“
Intimidated you?
What?”

“
Yes,” he began as he
shrugged. “So, I never really… I… um… Wow. I didn’t dream it would
be this hard. I just need to spit it out, don’t I?”

Robin waited as she rocked back in her
chair.

“
Listen, I know this is
probably in bad taste and really poor timing,” he continued, “but
let me take you out. I’ve wanted to for a really long time. This
Matt guy… he just beat me to it.”

“
I’m really sorry Colin,
but I really like Matt and want to make a go of it with him. You
are a wonderful man, but…”

He dropped his head.

“
I’m too late. I
know.”

“
I’m really sorry;
sincerely I am.”

“
It’s my own fault,” he
smiled shyly. “You don’t need to be sorry for anything.”

Robin felt terrible about rejecting him. She
learned a valuable lesson with Colin’s visit though. Colin had been
silent all of this time, never talking about his feelings or what
he truly wanted. His opportunity passed by. Determined not to make
the same mistake, she knew she wanted Matt and going for it with
him is what she planned. Nevertheless, she doubted his motives and
her own ability to trust. She wondered if she could love someone
again.

****

Robin talked to Matt daily. Each spare
moment was spent either on the phone, texting, or chatting online.
Every Tuesday night, Matt attended the softball game and every
Wednesday night Robin met Matt at the bowling alley. On the
weekends that Matt’s daughter didn’t visit, Robin spent time with
him. They walked, talked, laughed; each moment of togetherness
fashioned a sturdy brick fit especially for the foundation of their
relationship.

She continued to carefully avoid intimacy
with Matt. She observed Matt’s patience. Relieved that he seemed
okay with the lack of intense physical contact, she admitted to
herself how difficult it was becoming for her. Still, kissing here
and there, hand holding, and snuggling in front of a movie kept him
at a safe distance. But above all else, she enjoyed his
company.

July meant fireworks, picnics, and family
reunions. It also meant the supervisor’s position was up for grabs.
Robin applied at the end of June. Decisions from upper level
management were in the works. For now, however, her department
remained leaderless. Luckily, caseloads calmed after the dismissal
of the local schools.

Robin rode in the car to Matt’s July
4
^th
barbeque with his family. Excited to meet his
mother, brother, and sister-in-law, she hoped to make a good
impression.

Middletown hosted a large fireworks display
each year. She looked forward to that also.

Immediately, after meeting everyone, she
drew close to Matt’s mother, Doris. A strong, confident, and
independent woman, she taught her boys respect and the importance
of honest, hard work.

While Matt, his brother Charlie, and his
wife Tammy drove into Middletown to pick up some extra items, Robin
stayed behind with Doris. They sat on the front porch watching the
cars pass on the busy street. Robin felt Doris’s glance and turned
her head.

“
You know,” Doris began,
“there’s something special about you, dear.”

Confused, but pleased, Robin replied,
“Thanks.”

“
My son has been
devastated, you know,” Doris said, turning her attention back to
the traffic. “He’s been hurt beyond words. I watched him when he
tore himself apart after his marriage failed. I watched him suffer
when Sheryl tried to keep Olivia from him. Truly, he has been
tormented. But, you… you seemed to have erased all of that I think.
He utterly adores you.”

“
I care so much for him,
Doris,” she started. “It’s strange, and I know this sounds very
cliché, but I feel like he’s always been a part of my
life.”

“
That’s how it should be.
Matt’s father and I, well, it was just destiny. We met when he was
discharged from the service. Oh, such a handsome chap. He had a
glow about him, almost as if he were divine in some odd
way.”

“
That’s so
romantic.”

“
You have that same glow.
I can see it. I know Matthew can, too. He sees the soul; right
through to it. He just got a little lost with Sheryl. And I think
medicine and science have clouded his ability to think about the
bigger picture, too. We’re certainly not alone in this life
journey, are we?”

“
I know I’m not alone.
But, I do think we all get lost from time to time. That way, when
we finally do find our truest self and our dearest love, we
appreciate it more. It makes the journey’s end that much
sweeter.”

“
I think you’re
right.”

****

The Friday after the 4
^th
dragged
at work as Robin shuffled through paperwork piled on her desk. Two
new sexual abuse cases sat staring at her as she continued to sort
through paperwork.

As grueling and horrific as they were,
sexual abuse cases intrigued Robin. Robin had been trained as the
agency’s sexual abuse specialist. She had been taught interviewing
techniques, early warning signs, healing suggestions for the
survivors, and appropriate ways of testifying in court.

Many of the other cases on her desk were
fraudulent claims. Numerous times, individuals called into the
agency with false allegations. Unfortunately, the agency often
found itself in the middle of feuding families and custody battles.
Luckily, the state laws allowed for an escape and the agency calmly
stepped away from those matters once such a discovery was made.

Robin’s desk phone buzzed. She assumed
another client waited on the other end of the line. She picked up
the receiver listening for the screener’s voice, but instead, Shawn
Portman’s voice came through. He summoned her to the conference
room on the third floor.

Shawn Portman had been the agency’s fearless
director for many years. He had endured many public and political
battles as he struggled to keep the agency’s integrity intact. Well
trained and knowledgeable, he had always managed to emerge from
sticky situations triumphantly.

Shawn’s assistant director, Monica Valence,
filled the duties Shawn became overwhelmed with. Mostly, that had
been personnel duties. As insightful as he was, Shawn depended on
Monica to fight the public relations battles and the personnel
conflicts. She had never disappointed him in her role.

Robin slowly pushed open the large wooden
conference room door. At the table she saw Shawn and Monica and, to
her surprise, Paul. Timidly, she walked to the empty chair at the
end of the table and sat down.

Already, rumors circulated the agency about
the candidates for the supervisor’s job. This would be Robin’s
opportunity to find out whether the rumors were true. Jim told her
he was brought to the conference room and given a verbal rejection.
Terri said that someone in the juvenile ongoing department told him
Shawn sent an email rejecting the simple inquiry into the job.
Others who interviewed talked about the horrible awkwardness of the
interview process. However, Robin was interviewed and felt no
negativity regarding the experience.

Robin waited patiently as Paul spoke first.
“Hello Robin.”

“
Hi Paul.”

With a genuine smile, his eyes offered
comfort.

Shawn began. “Robin, we carefully considered
all of the candidates for Paul’s job.”

A long pause followed. Time seemed to stand
still. The lump in Robin’s throat dropped to her stomach.
Rejection; she knew that feeling.

“
We’d like to offer the
position to you,” Shawn continued.

“
Really?” Amazement and
delight filled her spirit.

“
Yes,” Monica interjected.
“You are very qualified and we took many things into consideration.
You are well educated and came highly recommended.” She glanced at
Paul. “Do you need time to think about it?”

“
Not at all; I am very
sure about taking the job!”

“
It is a salary position,
sixty five thousand a year,” Shawn continued.

Robin’s mouth started to drop but then she
gathered herself and stayed composed.

“
Sixty thousand is the
base rate for the position and the five thousand is for the on call
responsibilities. A year from now, Monica will review your progress
and you’ll be eligible for an increase.”

Monica spoke up. “The on call duties are
split between all of the supervisors. Your health and retirement
benefits won’t change, of course. We’ll be sending you to training
to make sure you’re prepared for leading your department. Each
month we have an administrative brunch, which you’ll be invited to.
They’ll be other things, of course, but we don’t want to overwhelm
you.”

They all chuckled happily.

“
I understand,” she said
graciously.

“
The important thing is
that we feel the unit will be in capable hands,” Paul added.
“Congratulations Robin.”

After walking out and pulled the door shut,
the thrill made her stomach weak. Nonetheless, she calmly walked
down to her office in the basement. Her phone lay on the desktop.
She grabbed it and sent a text message to Matt: “I got it! I’m the
new supervisor!”

Her phone buzzed to life as Matt’s call came
through.

“
Hello,” she
began.

“
I am so proud of you!
Congratulations!”

“
Thank you so
much!”