Monday's Child (20 page)

Carole walked with her. “Ye can tell Luke really loves ye. Sometimes, I wish Dave still looked at me that way.”

Sara took a deep breath. “Things aren’t always what they appear to be.” She lowered herself onto the couch. “Are you glad you finished work for the term?”

“Aye—a whole two weeks with no marking or lesson prep.” She paused. “Ye know, when I first met Luke, I thought he was a cop.”

“Oh?”

“The way he checked the street and protected ye. And the fact that Dave said they both wanted to be cops when they were kids, but Luke never got there. Now, aye, he acts like a cop at times, but he does it because he’s besotted with ye.”

“Maybe.” Sara pushed her fingers through her hair, remembering the way Luke had kissed her. It was so different from the way Jamie had. Luke’s kiss brought her to life, made her feel wanted and special and needed. She had reacted to him in a way she never had with Jamie. Almost like she was the violin to Luke’s bow.

Carole sat sideways in her seat and faced her. “Penny for them.”

“Just thinking. You know the song with the words, ‘it’s in his kiss?’”

Carole sang the first line to her. “That one?”

Sara smiled. “That’s the one. You suppose it’s true? You can tell how much a bloke loves you by the way he kisses you?”

Carole thought for a moment. “Aye. I know I can with Dave. I went out with this bloke before I met Dave. His name was Edward, and between ye and me, kissing him was like kissing my brother. There was no spark.”

Sara tried to twist Luke’s ring on her finger, but it wouldn’t budge. “That’s how it was with Jamie. I thought he was wonderful. But now?” She shrugged.
Now there is only one man I want to kiss me, and it isn’t Jamie
.

“Who’s Jamie?”

“Jamie was…”

“Sara, that’s enough about the ex-boyfriends.” Luke sat down beside her and draped an arm around her shoulders.

Sara snuggled into him. If he wanted to play the loving husband, she was going to make the most of it. His scent filled her senses, turning her insides to jelly. “We’re almost done on the topic. Jamie was someone I wasted far too many months on. He never held my hand. I always had to hold his.”

Carole laughed and leaned into Dave as he sat next to her. “We’re discussing old boyfriends and how they compare tae the current models.”

Dave raised an eyebrow. “Oh, aye? Do we want tae know?”

Luke shook his head and chuckled. “Not if what I heard was anything to go by.”

Dave raised an eyebrow. “We could always bring old girlfriends intae the conversation.”

Luke grinned. “Well, you could. I’ve been married to my job so long I never had time for a girlfriend.”

“Until I came along and pulled you away from your nice, cozy writing life.” Sara watched him to see how he’d react.

“Yeah. And now there’s you and no time to do any work.” He tweaked her nose and smiled at her, the smile reaching his eyes. Sara could see the affection in his gaze and didn’t bother to hide it in her own as she smiled.

Carole poked Dave. “How come ye never look at me like that anymore?”

Dave shrugged. “I can if ye want.”

Sara tore her gaze away. “You’ve been married far longer,” she teased. “I heard the romance dies after the first year, or so.”

Luke dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Not if I have anything to do with it, hon.”

Sara smiled at him and then glanced at Carole. “I’m still waiting for the flowers though.”

“He’s never bought ye flowers?”

Sara shook her head. “No flowers, no chocolates.”

“At least his kisses are nice.”

Sara blushed. “Yes.”

****

Sara spent the following morning painting the rainbow picture and trying to keep out of Luke’s way. There was a magnet on the fridge which read, ‘Some mornings I wake up grumpy, and other days I let him lie in.’ That summed up Luke in a word. Grumpy. He’d been in a bad mood since he woke. She didn’t know what was wrong with him, but something was. Hopefully, he was having one of those mornings, and it would wear off before the party that evening. With the mood he was in, he was most likely to try and stop her from going.

Would a hug cure him? As tempting as that idea was, she wasn’t about to try it, for fear of being rejected.

After lunch, he came in, sat on the couch next to her, and shut his eyes. The scent of his cologne was intoxicating. She glanced at him. He was a lot paler than usual. Maybe he was tired. “Are you all right?”

“I’ve felt better.”

Was he sick? What would happen if he was? “What’s up?”

“I’ve got a headache.”

The doorbell rang, and Luke pushed himself up. “I’ll get it.”

She cast a critical eye over the picture in front of her. She heard voices in the hall, and the door shut again. Luke’s voice came from the doorway. “These are for you.”

Sara turned to see. He was standing there with a huge bunch of red roses. She took them from him. “For me?”

“That’s what the card says.” He sat down beside her again.

Sara pulled out the card and read it. “To Sara, the only woman in my life, from Luke.” She glanced up and shot him a beaming smile. “Thank you, Luke. They’re lovely.”

She put them on the arm of the couch. Throwing her arms around him, she kissed him. Luke hugged her back, returning the kiss. “You’re welcome.”

“I’ll put them in some water.” She ran a hand down his face. “Maybe you should curl up on the couch and try to sleep off the headache.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Sure you can. It’s easy. You lie down, shut your eyes, and think of nothing. You can deadlock the doors if you want.”

Luke took a deep breath. “Maybe for a few minutes.”

Sara smiled and went into the kitchen. The flowers were lovely. No one had ever bought her roses, not even Jamie, and Luke had given her red ones. She counted them.

“One for every day he’s known me,” she whispered. “It must have cost him a fortune.”

She arranged the flowers in water, and Luke came into the kitchen. He really didn’t look at all well. She couldn’t keep the concern out of her voice. “Luke?”

“I’ve locked everything. I’m going to lie on the couch, but don’t let me sleep for long.”

“I won’t.” She set the flowers on the table and took a deep breath. “I’m going upstairs for a bath and to get ready to go out. It’s Antonia’s party tonight.”

He sighed. “I’d really rather stay in tonight. I have a pounding headache.”

Disappointment coursed through her. “You promised. I was going to wear my new dress.”

“Sara, I can hardly see, and my head hurts real bad.”

“The party’s only next door, so you don’t have to drive anywhere. We can walk. We don’t need to stay long, just half an hour. Please.” Luke hesitated. Sara pounced. “You did promise.”

“All right, all right,” he sighed. “We’ll stay for half an hour, but I need to sleep a while first.”

“Thank you. Take something for your head.” She waited for him to nod a response before heading up the stairs.

****

Luke opened the cupboards in search of some painkillers. He found a box and took two. His eyes hurt, and his peripheral vision had rotating shining triangles in it. He also felt incredibly sick. The last thing he wanted to do was go to a party, but she couldn’t go on her own. She’d been so good about being cooped up, he didn’t have the heart to refuse her request to get out. Besides, it was right next door.

The thought of ringing Shepherds and asking for backup, or ringing Dave and asking him to take her, didn’t occur to him as a good idea. Sara was his responsibility.

He went through to the lounge, lay down on the couch, and closed his eyes. Even then, he could see the tumbling lights in front of him.

It seemed like only minutes later, but was actually three hours, according to the annoying clock on the wall, when he woke.

“It’s time to go, Luke.”

Luke sat up, his hand going to his head. The pain was worse than before and shot rivers of agony through every part of him. Was this what dying felt like? Well even if it was, he has a job to do.
Lord, help me here. She wants to go out and I have to protect her.
“I’m coming.”

Sara handed him his coat. “Want me to kiss it better?”

“Not now, Sara.” She already had her coat fastened. She’d put on makeup and perfume, and she looked and smelled more wonderful than normal. He struggled into his coat, wishing he could go to bed and stay there. That wasn’t an option, even if they weren’t going out. “We won’t stay long. Half an hour, no more.”

“Are you sure you’re OK?” Her expression held concern. “We can stay home.” Her tone was dejected.

“No, we can go.” Luke smiled. At least, he hoped it looked like a smile. “I’ll be OK after I get there.”

“You’re sure?” She followed him to the door. The night air was crisp and cold.

“I’m sure.” Luke put on his shades and took Sara’s hand as they walked next door, more to keep himself upright than anything else, as their feet crunched on the snow encrusted paths.

Daniel answered the door and took their coats. His tone of voice was as warm as the heat blasting past him through the open door. “Hello. Go on through.”

Lights blazed everywhere, and Luke squinted behind his shades at the onslaught on his tortured senses. Christmas music filled every room, lights twinkled, and holly and tinsel hung from every picture, door frame and banister.

Antonia came out of the kitchen with a tray of drinks in her hand. “What’s with the shades, Luke?”

“He’s in disguise.” Sara took a glass of juice. “Joined the men in black. Want some juice, Luke?”

“Not right now.” Luke leaned against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment. He touched her arm for a second, then let go. “I’m going to find the restroom. Don’t wander off.”

Sara touched his hand. “I won’t. I’ll go see if Carole’s here. I’ll be in the lounge.”

****

Luke went upstairs, his balance off kilter enough for her to notice. Sara hoped he was all right. He was far too pale and gaunt. She moved into the main room, glancing over at the tree. A fairy. Of course. That’s what their tree was missing.

Daniel came over with a tall blond man next to him. “Hey, Sara, I’d like you to meet my business associate—”

“Jamie,” Sara gasped.

20

For a moment, Sara felt faint. Taking a deep breath, she took a closer glance at the man next to Daniel. Although the resemblance was uncanny, this man wasn’t Jamie. Even if his hair wasn’t bleached, it wouldn’t be him.

The man shook his head, turning to Daniel and then back to Sara. He offered his hand. “Phil Baines.”

“Sara Nemec.” She shook his hand, uncomfortable with the fact he held on to hers longer than necessary. “I’m sorry. You remind me of someone I used to know.”

“I get that a lot.”

There was something haunting and familiar about him. The way he touched her and ogled her gave her the creeps. She pulled free and sipped her juice, wrapping her arm protectively across her stomach.

She tried to move away, but Phil spoke to her again. “You don’t sound Scottish. You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No, I’m from down south.” Sara longed to leave, but she didn’t want to appear rude.

“Whereabouts? I can’t place your accent. I’m from London myself.” He reached out to take another drink from the tray on the side.

“All over. We move around a lot.”

Phil sipped his drink. “Who’s this Jamie you think I resemble?”

“Someone I’ve not seen in a while.” Sara glanced around. Where was Luke? There was no sign of him.

Phil carried on with the small talk, and Sara became more desperate to get away. She waved at Carole, hoping she’d pick up on the fact she wanted rescuing.

Carole came over to her. “Hi, Sara. Where’s that gorgeous husband of yers got tae?”

“Luke went to find the bathroom ages ago and not come back. He’s around somewhere. You can’t miss him. He’s doing his secret service impression tonight with the shades. Where’s Dave?”

“Dave’s right over there talking tae Pastor Bruce.”

Phil inclined his head. “Well, it’s been a pleasure.”

He moved away, and Sara shot Carole a grateful smile. “Thank you so much. That guy is seriously creepy. I didn’t think I’d ever be rid of him.”

“Ye should have mentioned Luke sooner. He ran a mile when he realized ye were married. Most of Daniel’s work colleagues are creepy, but that guy takes the biscuit. Speaking of biscuits, I’m hungry. Coming tae find some food?”

Sara started walking with her, weaving a slow pace through the crowded room. Maybe Antonia was trying to break the world record for the largest number of people she could fit into the smallest space. “Sure. Need something to distract me.”

Carole twisted past someone. “What’s up?”

Sara took a deep breath. How did she phrase this without giving too much away? Maybe Luke was right, and they shouldn’t have come. “I made a huge fool of myself. I called that Phil Baines guy, Jamie. I thought he was for a moment. Same build, eyes, everything, except his hair is a different color. Maybe I am crazy. Jamie’s dead.”

“Is this the Jamie ye mentioned yesterday?”

Sara stopped walking for a moment and turned to face Carole. “Yeah, he was murdered while we were on a date.”

Carole pulled Sara into a hug, taking care not to spill their drinks. “Och, no. Och, Sara, I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”

Sara sucked in a deep breath, hugging Carole back. “Yeah, it was. Took a while to come to terms with, never mind to move on. I’m finally getting there, though.”

“Ye have Luke, and the twins are coming soon.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe there’s some chocolate out there. That’s good for taking yer mind off things.”

They moved into the kitchen. Antonia had laid out a huge amount of food. Carole took a plate. “This is fantastic, Toni. When did ye find time tae prepare all this?”

Antonia laughed. “I dinna do any of it. I hired caterers. Anyway, I dinna sleep much at the moment. This one wakes the minute I lie down.”

“Don’t they always?” Sara took a plate.