To Love and Protect (10 page)

Matt waited until he was back in his car before taking deep breath and then tightening his jaw. This was personal now. The thought that someone wanted to harm Shelley, such a caring and compassionate soul, was simply inconceivable. What could...why would... he drew in another breath, leaning his head back against the seat to steady his composure. He was so riled up he could taste it in his mouth. But he knew he wasn't going to help Shelley by letting the bitterness of anger or the sweetness of revenge get the best of him. He had to keep her safe, plain and simple. Not an easy task for someone so stubbornly resolved to ignoring precautions. He had admired her independence before, but it was making him downright crazy now. This was not time to emulate Annie Oakley. Why couldn't she see the gravity of the situation? How could he convince her to do what she needed to do to be safe without setting off too many alarms? He knew that just beneath her exterior was layer of fear that burrowed down to her bones. She might have learned to keep it partially buried in the two and a half years since her husband had died, but it would never entirely dissipate. She had to know only too well that the world could be a scary place, that the twists and turns of fate meant there could always be another tragedy lurking around the corner. But maybe she had to stay in a bit of denial, Matt thought. Maybe that's what she needed to do in order to hold it all together. Maybe she knew that if she gave into this fear, it would be equivalent to pulling the cork off an ocean of emotions that she wasn't prepared to face.

So he would do the only thing he could for her. He would look out for her, whether she wanted him to or not … and he would keep her safe, whatever it took.

SEVEN

"Shelley, I'm really worried about you," Diana said early that evening as they sat down in Diana's living room.

Unlike her sister, Shelley's thoughts weren't on her own safety at the moment. Instead, she was second-guessing her decision to leave her cats here. "Do you think they'll be okay?"

Diana looked perplexed. "Who?"

"Who?? Toodles and Peaches!"

"Honestly, Shelley," Diana sighed. "They're safer than you are right now!"

"I know, but this is a strange place and−"

"Shelley, give them a day or two to get used to their new surroundings, and they'll be fine. They have a whole room to themselves so Jasmine and Lester won't bother them," she said, referring to her own felines. "You're right to make sure they're out of danger − I'd do the same with my two. But the problem is you're not taking enough precautions for yourself. Why don't you stay with me until this whole thing gets straightened out?"

"I don't want to put you out, Diana."

Diana's blue eyes widened. "Put me out! Are you kidding? If things were reversed, wouldn't you be insisting that I stay with you?"

"Yes, I'm sure I would," Shelley admitted reluctantly. “But I know you have your own routine and I don’t want to throw a wrench into it.”

Diana rolled here eyes.  “Here’s my routine – I see patients every day just like you, except mine tell me verbally what’s wrong instead of barking and meowing. Then I come and throw on a pair of sweats, heat up some microwave pizza and flop on the couch with a glass of wine.”

Shelly grinned. “Your life sounds about as glamorous as mine is these days.”

“Believe me, I prefer it that way.”

Shelley knew that Diana was making a veiled reference to her last relationship with a fellow doctor who was more skilled at deceit than in diagnosis.  It was no surprise that she was cherishing her newfound “alone time”, if for no other reason than the fact that it was now devoid of unnecessary stress. But Shelley knew that when her sister was good and ready, she would find love again.  Her thoughts caused her to do a double take in her mind. Was this about Diana, or herself? She smiled as she realized it might just be about both of them.

Diana looked curiously at her sister. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you met someone recently.”

Was it that obvious, thought Shelley? True, she noticed herself that she had a glow about her in recent days, but she had chalked it up to an over-revved metabolism due to anxiety. "Okay," she conceded, sounding as though she was letting Diana in on a secret like they were conspiring teenaged siblings again. "I did kind of meet someone."

Diana grinned. "I know."

"You do?"

"I was just wondering how long it was going to take you to fill me in."

"How do you already know?"

"You didn't think you could tell Elaine what's going on without her calling every media outlet in New England to broadcast the news."

Shelley rolled her eyes. “Oh… that Elaine. I love her, but ..."

"Believe me," Diana laughed. "You don't need to say any more. She's a character all right. But let's get back to the important stuff."

"The funny thing is it happened just like you said it would."

Diana looked bewildered. "What do you mean?"

"Do you remember telling me not long ago that someday I'd probably meet someone when he walked into the clinic with his dog?"

"That's right. I did! Hey, I'm getting to be even better than Elaine is at this!"

"Did she tell you he's a police officer?"

"She did say something about you having fun with handcuffs."

"What?!"

“Okay − she did say you saved his dog after it was shot in a robbery."

Shelley gave Diana a rundown of that day, as well as everything that had transpired since. "Everyone's telling me I shouldn't worry about him being ...
hurt
... on the job because Fairfax is a small town, but I don't know."

It took more than she had at the moment to say “killed on the job.” But that was, in fact, the thing she feared most.

"That's not an easy one," Diana finally said quietly. "Do you think maybe you just have to get used to the idea that this is what he does for a living, and then you'll be okay with it?"

"I just don't see how I'm ever going to get to that point, as long as there are people out there with guns, or knives, or whatever."

"Does he know about Ted?"

Shelley nodded solemnly.

"So then he must know your reluctance about getting involved with another person who's in law enforcement."

"I haven't come out and told him that directly, but I'm sure he's been able to figure that part out." She sighed, rubbing her temples that increasingly ached with each dark thought. "What do I do? Should I just put a stop to anything potentially happening with us before I really get attached and have to end things?"

"Don't be so quick to conclude that you'll have to eventually end things, Shelley. Who knows? Maybe being with Matt will make you see there are happy endings, too. I know how hard it's been since you lost Ted. But what if you had just met someone who was, say, a businessman who traveled by plane all the time. Would you feel you couldn't get involved with him because of him possibly being killed in a plane accident?"

"Of course not," Shelley replied rather hotly. She knew Diana meant well, but her comparison of a businessman with a policeman just didn't match up in terms of danger.

"Look, if you stop seeing Matt because of what
might
happen, then you could be missing out on having a relationship with someone who could really make you happy.”

Shelley reluctantly nodded. "Deep down I know you're right. I guess it's just going to take some time."

Diana smiled. "Come on. Let's go check on your favorite fur-balls. Maybe you'll feel better once you see they're settling in."

As Diana quietly opened the spare bedroom door down the hall, Shelley peeked her head in. "Hey, guys," she squealed. They already looked at home as they curled up together in a fleece window perch. "Now don't get too comfortable," she chastised affectionately. "Otherwise you're not going to want to come home with me again."

"Uh oh, don't tell Jasmine and Lester that," Diana laughed.

"Thanks again," Shelley said as she hugged her sister.

"Are you eating?" Diana asked, squeezing Shelley's ribs in a more doctorly than sisterly fashion.

"You sound like mom."

"Well?"

"Yes, sort of."

It was no secret that Shelley had little desire for food when she was in a period of great stress. And having anonymous threats made to her certainly as one of those times.

"Shelley.
. . "

"Once I know the dogs are okay at Matt's, I'll feel better and I promise I'll eat something."

Diana's face registered surprise. "He's watching your dogs? Boy, this really is serious."

"Cut it out," Shelley grinned.

Still, Diana had a point. She wouldn't trust just anyone with her pets – that was for certain.

"I'll call you tomorrow. And don't worry about the cats. They'll be fine."

"At least you guys are still here to greet me," Shelley said to the dogs a half hour later as they practically knocked her over in the entranceway of her house. Five minutes later, they were piled into the truck with her, simultaneously vying for her attention. "I'll be back out in a minute," she told them as she pulled into Marge's driveway. The early autumn night was cooling fast, and she left the windows open enough for the crisp breeze to keep them comfortable.

"I probably should've called first," she said as Marge opened the door, her pale face temporarily flushed with surprise.

"No − I'm so glad you decided to come by!"

Marge's overwhelming gratitude − sealed with a hug − made Shelley wonder if she had done the right thing by stopping over. But then she reminded herself why she was here. She wanted to help Marge, or least help Marge to help herself. After all, it was looking less and less likely that Marge was the porch and truck bandit, so why not give a little assistance to a neighbor in need?

"Come in!" Marge enthused. "Would you like some tea?"

"Actually, I can't stay. I have my dogs with me."

"How come?"

Shelley's belief in Marge's innocence was suddenly being tested. She decided to err on the side of caution. "They like to go for rides with me in the truck, and tonight's such a nice night."

"Isn't it?"

"Where are the boys?"

"Herb took them to be fitted for hockey skates. Both of them are starting up in the town pee-wee hockey leagues."

"They seem a little young for that."

"You'd be surprised how young they start them off nowadays. Herb said it'll do them good to be in a competitive sport. That way they can defend themselves against school bullies like Herb never could."

Marge's comment made Shelley wonder whether she should feel sorry for Herb or conclude that he had a few demons of his own to purge. She settled on both.  Either way, she realized, the Hendersons were a bit of an odd bunch. And as she spotted a picture on top of the entertainment center, she was about to find out just how much.

"Is this you, Marge?" Shelley asked, trying to hide the disbelief in her voice.

Marge glanced over at the photo of a younger and much more attractive version of herself. "Hard to believe, isn't it?"

"When was this taken?"

"About ten years ago after Herb and I married. That was before Grace."