Unexpected Love (29 page)

Eighty

The next morning, John asked Sean if he knew what his daughter and Taylor had been discussing. 

“No, not that it is any of my business.  Why, are you worried about her?”

John laughed, “What father isn’t?  You’ll understand one day.”

“I’m sure if it is serious she would tell you or tell me to tell you.”

“Hm, not sure about that.  She can be as quiet about things as you are.”

They got a call to a domestic disturbance.  When they arrived, John knocked on the door.  An angry man opened it and his face immediately looked worried.  “Yes?”

“We had a call about a disturbance.  May we come in?”

“Look, the wife and I were just fighting.  Everyone fights, okay?”

John shook his head, “I don’t fight with my wife.  Officer Reed, do you fight with yours?”

Sean suppressed a grin and shook his head, “Nope.”

The man looked from one to the other, uncertain. 

John asked, “Sir, can you ask your wife to step out here?”

He turned from the door, “Dee, the cops want to talk to you.”

A petite young woman stepped out onto the front steps.  “Yes?”

They saw no signs of physical abuse but John asked, “Are you okay?”

She glanced over at her husband, “Yes.  We were fighting and we got too loud.  I’m sorry.”

“Who started it?”

She thumbed at her husband standing behind her. 

“Do you want to leave or do you need anything?”

“No.  It’s the first big fight we have ever had and we got carried away.  It’s been a hard time recently.”

They left since there did not seem to be any marks on the woman and both said they were sorry.  She did not want their help.

After they got into the car, Sean said, “I am never going to fight like that with Taylor.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it with Sara.  She would walk out the door.  Plus I don’t think it’s right.  For better or worse.  Sometimes you get mad at each other but it always works out in the end.”

Sean said quietly, “I can’t see Taylor and me fighting or getting mad much.  It’s not worth it.”

“Good attitude, but remember that after you’ve been married for awhile.”

“Taylor’s grandparents have been married for over fifty years I think.”

“Wow.  I hope Sara and I make it that long.”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

John shrugged and for the first ever, Sean thought he looked uneasy.  “We’re cops, Sean.  There are no guarantees.”

“The same could be said of lots of other jobs too.  Besides, I don’t have to worry, you have my back.”

John grinned, “I’d better or Taylor will come for me. And Sara too.”

Sean snickered. They got another call in a very long day.

Sean came home looking more tired than usual.  Tango and Bolo greeted him at the door and he took the time to speak to each of them before going into the kitchen.

“You look tired, bad day?”

“No, just busy and long.”

When they sat on the couch, after dinner, and watched the cooking competition TV and then she turned to a science fiction movie.  She knew Sean liked science fiction and she did too.

“My grandmother called.  I asked her about coming and she said they would love to and she would talk to granddad and Betsy, their aide.”

He gave her a tired smile, “Good.”

At the end of the movie, he led her upstairs.  She laid down on the bed and nestled against him with her head on his shoulder and he quickly fell asleep. 

Eighty-one

On Friday, they finally went to the neighbors for dinner.  Before they left, Sean eyed the dogs.  “No trouble, either of you.”

Taylor took a caramel glazed bundt cake which Sean carried in for her and homemade rolls. 

Taylor apologized for taking so long to get there for dinner, but they shushed her and told it they were happy they had the chance to come. 

Frank explained that he worked at a woodworking shop and Kathy was a barista at a coffee shop in town.  They talked about when Sean first moved into the house.

Kathy said, “The couple who lived there before wasn’t very friendly.  He kept to himself.  I think he was going through some family issues and he was upset a lot of the time.  He was certainly different than Sean.  We were happy when he moved in.  He was so much friendlier and nice.”

Taylor looked at him with an odd look, “You’re friendly and nice?”   She laughed at the look on his face and Frank and Kathy joined in.

Taylor looked at Sean. “Sorry.  We all know how friendly and nice you are.”  She leaned across the table and whispered to Frank and Kathy, “He does get grumpy sometimes.”

Sean rolled his eyes, “How many times do I have to tell you I am never grumpy?”

Kathy laughed hysterically.  “I had a thing with Frank when we were first married.  I told him he got cross whenever he watched or talked about football.  Especially if his team was doing poorly.  He would insisted he wasn’t and I kept calling him cross until he gave up and said ‘I surrender’.”

Sean grinned at Taylor, “I will never surrender.”

Taylor laughed at him.  “You will.  Even if I have to force you into submission.”

“You go, Taylor,” Frank said laughingly.  “By the way, these rolls are out of this world.”

They enjoyed the rest of the evening with the couple and when they ate the cake, Kathy rolled her eyes in pleasure.  “This is so good.  I hope I get to keep the rest of it.”

“Of course you can.”

When they left, they had to promise to return again soon.  As they walked into the house, Tango and Bolo greeted them.  Taylor was relieved that the house was not a disaster.

“Hello, my little boys.”  She gave each a kiss on the top of the head and Tango woofed.

Sean grinned, “He likes your kisses as much as I do.”

She gave him a playful push.  He grabbed her and pulled her against him, “So, how exactly do you plan to force me into submission?”

“I’ll show you.”

He grinned, “Now?”

“I did some reading on the internet today while you were at work on how to drive your man crazy.”

“As in insane?”

“No, as in bed.”

He gave her a half-smile and his eyes lit up, “So are you going to practice on me?”  He stood very close.

“Yes, I think I will.  You’ll have to tell me if it works.  I learned four or five things so we’ll start with one.”

He picked her up and carried her upstairs.  Later as he let out an ardent groan, she smiled and kissed him, “One works.”

After they were both exhausted, he laid there holding her, “What’s number two?  One was pretty awesome.”

She kissed his chest, “You’ll find out later.”

She awoke at her usual time and woke him up.  “Sean, are you asleep?”

He mumbled, “Not now.  What?”

“Do you want to talk?”

He sighed, “Fine but then we sleep.”   It was hard for him to wake up sometimes, but he wasn’t about to complain.  A few more minutes awake with her was worth it.  Besides, he was getting used to it.

“I’m going to take Bolo to obedience class with Maggie and her puppy.  She called and said class starts next week and is on Thursday nights for an hour at Walter’s clinic.”

“Is she going to drive you?”

“Yes, you’ll have to be alone with Tango.  I’m sure you’ll survive but I will miss you.”

“We’ll survive an hour, honey.”

“You’re supposed to pine for me, mister.”

“Okay, I will when you leave.”

“That’s better.  He needs the training and socialization.”

They talked for ten more minutes and went back to sleep.

Eighty-two

Her grandmother called the next morning and said they all set to come and were looking forward to meeting Sean.

“I’m so glad.  We want to get married with you guys here so I can have you attend.”

“Oh, Taylor, that is wonderful and we will be there.”

They talked some more and then Taylor took the dogs out into back yard and sat on the deck and watched them play.  It was a mild day and the sun was shining.  She took some treats out of her pocket and worked on making them sit before giving them one.

Her phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket, laughing at the dog antics.  “Hello?”

“Taylor?  It’s mom.”

Oh no.  She should have paid attention to the caller.  Too late now.  “Yes?”

“How are you?”

That was a new approach.  “Fine.”

“Good.  I need help.  I was wondering if you could give me some money to tide me over.”

Tide her over?  “Are you getting a job?”  She had never known her mother to work.

“No.”

Understanding dawned on her.  Until she got her next man hooked.  “I don’t really have any mother, sorry.  I have not been able to work since the accident.”  Which she should have known and probably did.

Her mother’s tone turned a little harsh and impatient.   “I know you were saving for a house.  Your grandmother told me a long time ago.  I need some money really badly.  You can spare that.  I do not need a lot.  Maybe a thousand dollars to tide me over.  More if you have it.  What do you need it for?  You are living in someone else’s house.  Don’t deny it.  I’m living in a flea bag dump of a hotel, of all things.”

“I do not have any money I can give you.”  Taylor almost felt bad for her.  It wasn’t the kind of living she was accustomed to.  Almost.

“Ask the man you are living with for some.”

“What?  I am not asking anyone for anything.  Forget it.”

“So, just like always.  You won’t even tell him how bad of a situation your mother is in?  Well, if you ever need money, don’t come to me and when he breaks your heart and kicks you out, don’t say I didn’t warn you.  At least get married before he kicks you to the curb so you can get something.  You are such an ungrateful child.”  Her mother practically snarled, “Are you going to find a way of helping me or not?”

“Get a job.”  Taylor hung up.  It was never going to be different with her.  She had a glimmer of hope when her mother first asked her how she was. 

Tango came up and licked her face, Bolo put his front paws on her leg.  She gave them both a hug and wiped the tears away.  She led them into the house.

When Sean got home, he looked for Taylor in the kitchen and upstairs.  The dogs followed him wherever he went.  He bent down, “Where is she, guys?”

They padded to the back deck door and sat in front of it.  He went out on the deck and found her sitting on the steps.  He sat next to her.

“What’s going on?”

She shrugged, “Nothing.  Just sitting here.”

“It’s getting chilly, you should come back in.”

He pulled her up and led her into the house.  When they were in the kitchen, he turned to her.  “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t want to talk about it.”  She looked over at the counter.  “There are some meatballs in the crockpot to eat or sub rolls to make a sandwich.”  She walked around him and left.

Sean stared after her retreating back.  He turned the crock pot off and went into the living room.  She was not there.  He went upstairs.  Not in their room. 

He went to the room she used to sleep in and found her on the bed.  He sat next to her.  “Not going to talk to me?”

“I’m talking to you.”

“Okay.”  He wasn’t sure what was going on.  He was also not sure if he should leave her alone or pursue it.  He remembered John telling him once that he had made the mistake of letting Sara be upset with him and giving her some space.  That had not gone very well.  “What can I do?”

“About what?”

He gestured in the air, “This.  I’m not sure what’s going on and I’m not sure what I can do about it.”

She looked at him, “Nothing.  I’m fine.”

He stared at her for a moment and then left. 

A little later, she came down and sat on the couch and watched TV.  He noted that she sat farther away than usual.  Usually she was right next to him.  He sat silently for as long as he could.

“Okay, I can’t stand this.  There is something wrong and you have to talk to me.  We’ve been through a lot together and we can talk about this.  I love you Taylor.  More than anything.  Don’t shut me out, baby.”

She slid over and put her arms around him.  “I love you too.  You won’t break my heart, will you Sean?”

“What?  Where is that coming from?  I can’t believe you would even entertain the thought.  I will never ever hurt you.  I thought you knew me better than that.”

“I just thought I’d ask because if I ever lost you I would never recover.  My heart would be totally broken.”

He hugged her hard, “No worries there.  You are stuck with me forever.”

When they went upstairs, she took a shower and went to her old room and sat down with a book to read.  She was too uptight to sleep.  The words weren’t really sinking in but she tried to focus on them.

Sean came in, “Are you coming to bed?”

“I’m not sleepy so I’ll read for little while.  I don’t want to keep you awake.  You have to go to work tomorrow.”

He stared at her and then went to the other side of the bed and laid down. 

She eyed him, “What are doing?”

He lay there with his eyes closed, “Sleeping.”

She sighed and turned out the light.  She said quietly, “My mother called today.”  She told him about the conversation.

So that’s where all this came from.  “Taylor, I’m not going to give her a dime and neither are you.  Let’s get you a new cell and a new number.  You can give it out to whoever you want but please, not your mother.  I hate it when she calls because she is always trying to make you feel bad and it usually works.  She can’t stand it that you are a good person and she isn’t.”

On his next day off, he took her to the cell store and they got a family plan and she got a new phone and number.  When they got back home, he helped her pack her things in the bedroom she used to use.  Sean had asked her to move into his room and she had agreed but it was a big step for her.

He held up the blue lace bra.  “I remember this.”

She laughed and pushed him gently.

Later, when they were settled in, Sean said, “It’s official now.  You are no longer a house guest.”

“What does that make me now?”

“My soon to be wife.”

Eighty-three

Her grandparents arrived late morning.  Taylor hugged them both and then hugged the caretaker, Betsy.  Sean was on duty but he had said he would come home as soon as possible.

She introduced them to Tango and Bolo.  Her grandmother smiled at her, “You have always wanted a couple of dogs.  I’m glad Sean likes them too.”

“Well, he didn’t have any pets until I came and now he’s stuck with two of them, but he likes them.”

Her grandmother took her hand and looked at her ring.  “Very nice, sweetie.”

Taylor grinned at her and picked up a light suitcase, “I am so happy you are here.  Let me show you your rooms so you can get settled.”

She took them upstairs. Before she left, her grandmother hugged her, “You look so good, sweetie.  You are recovering well and you have a glow about you.”  She winked at her.  Taylor left them to unpack since they insisted they needed no help.

When they came downstairs, her grandfather asked, “So where is this young man who has stolen my granddaughter’s heart?”

“He’s working but he’ll be here.”

They chatted about all kinds of stuff, getting caught up.  She left them to watch her grandfather’s favorite shows while she went in to start dinner.  Beef stroganoff was one of her grandfather’s favorite meal, so she browned the meat and made the pasta with her new pasta roller.  It was so much easier than trying to do it with a rolling pin.  It came out just how she liked it.  Long, medium thick noodles.   

Her grandmother came in.  “Anything I can do?”

“I don’t think so.  I just finished the pasta so it’s ready to go.  Apple pie is your favorite dessert, right?”

“Yes, and I make the best apple pie ever.  Let’s make it together.”

Taylor watched her grandmother carefully and did what she was told.  “There are some secrets to making this pie.  This is how my mother made it and her mother and her mother.  I don’t know how far back it goes but I am glad I can pass it on to you.”

“Great.  Can I write it down as we go?”

“Of course, sweetie.  Do you know this is the first thing I made for your grandfather and he loved it so much, he said he was going to have to marry me just for my pie.”  She cackled and Taylor chuckled with her. 

Taylor helped her grandmother with the crust and rolled it out just as she was told.  Her grandmother gave an approving nod, “It will be light and flavorful.”

She looked at Taylor when the pie was in the oven, “I’m getting old so it was a good thing you could help me.  I haven’t made it in a long time and your grandfather will be so pleased.  I bet you and Sean are going to be as happy as we have always been.  Even when times were bad we never doubted each other and knew we could stick together.”

Taylor got tears in her eyes.  They were so special and had always given her good advice.  She hugged her Gran and had her go sit in the living room while the pie baked.  She thought about the bad times Sean had helped her through.  He had always been there for her. 

She made the cream sauce for her pasta and got everything ready to cook and pull together.

When the pie came out, it smelled wonderful and the whole house was filled the fragrance of cinnamon, apples, and flaky crust.  She heard her grandfather, “Elma, is that your apple pie?”

“Yes, Grant.  I showed Taylor how to make it and we made it special for you.”  Taylor heard him give her grandmother a big kiss.

Her grandmother asked her husband, “Remember that first apple pie I made you, Grant?”

He laughed, “How would I forget it?”

Sean knew it was almost time to get off, but he and John were dealing with some angry high schoolers.  One of the boys had accused a girl of saying nasty things about his mother and had punched her in the school lot.  The girl had a black eye and split lip.  They were waiting for parents to arrive and it seemed to be taking forever.  Sean had to put a hand on the boy’s chest as he shouted some curse words at the girl.  John told her to calm down as she lunged forward.

When his mother arrived, John told her what happened and she took him home.  They were still waiting for a parent of the girl.  John told her to call again.

After speaking with her mother, the girl said, “She’s not coming.  She told me to go home.”

They ended up putting her in the car and driving her home.  Then they went back to the precinct and filled out paperwork.

Sean came home to a living room of smiling, happy people.  His eyes first went to Taylor and then to her grandparents.  “Sorry I’m late.”

Taylor introduced them.  Sean shook their hands and Betsy’s.

Her grandmother winked at him, “Handsome young man in uniform, no wonder my granddaughter couldn’t resist you.  What were the words she used?  Hotter than hot.”

Taylor blushed, “Gran.”

Her grandmother shrugged, “Don’t be embarrassed by the truth.  And I can see it is the truth now that I’ve met him.  If I were fifty years younger I might have a go at him myself.”  She cackled at the last part.

Her husband said, “Over my dead body.  I’d have to fight him for you.”

That made her grandmother laugh even harder.

Sean looked at Taylor and then gave her grandmother a boyish grin.  “I’ll run up and change and be right down.” 

When he left, her grandmother and grandfather exchanged looks and he said, “We approve.”

Taylor laughed, “Well, thanks.”

When Sean came down and sat close to Taylor, her grandmother started talking to him about the pie they had made.  Then she said, “You know I’m the one who told Taylor not to let you go.”

Sean grinned at her, “Thanks.”

“It’s a good sign when a young man waits to have sex with a young woman.  Shows he cares about her.  Sex is physical and should be part of a relationship, but not the foundation.  Taylor told me you were her best friend.  It makes for better sex and a better life together.”

Sean looked at Taylor and saw the blush on her face.  “She’s my best friend too.”

Taylor got up to check on dinner, Sean following her, “I’ll help.”

“I’m your best friend, really?”  She looked at him with a slight tilt of her head.

“Of course you are.  I don’t talk to anyone like I talk and share with you.  You know more about me than anyone on the planet.”