Chapter 16

They rode in his rental car a sporty maxima about ten cuts above your normal rental car. Sarra Tipped her back against the leather seat, a mixture of exhaustion and emotion taking making a lucid thought nearly impossible.. Two more days until Emily and Christian got home and could take Abby, and mean while Sarra could almost feel Brandon James getting closer. Pray to god it would it will take him longer to get here pray to god when he got here it will be important to him to leave them alone. She had money to bribe him and she had Dayna to threaten him. She had a place to hide Abby. she had the money to run.if necessary. and if followed she had her glock....

"Are you cold?" Brian's voice was oddly quiet."I can turn on the heat."

Lord she was shivering again. Dammed chills."I am fine."

He turned on the heat anyway. Five minutes had passed before he turned and spoke to her."Are you in Love with him.?"

He meant Brandon  James of course."What happened to hope to die?"

"I said I wouldn't grill you about the calls."This is personal."She looked at him and shrugged "So sue me for finding you attractive."

A tingle raced across Sarra's skin for no good reason. she clutched her her arms over her chest.

"Are you in love with him?"

"No"

He wheeled around the corner pulled up to a light and stopped."Then I have another personal question."Personal that is." He looked her right in her eyes "Have you got a thing for Evan?"

Sarra shook her head."No"

"And if I asked him would he say the same thing?"

she looked at her lap.

"Uh huh that is what I thought.: he said going back to the road. He rolled through the intersection, he had a pose so casual. she chanced a glance at the side of his face her emotional barriers dangerously flimsy. She had a strange feeling that if he chose to he could simply reach inside and help herself to slice her soul.

"So seven years ago after your husband died you are still wearing your wedding ring you haven't given any man the time or day, Your social life consist on T ball and PTA meetings?"

"I do not see that its any of your business." she said.

His big shoulders moved a little bit. "It just seems like a long time to be alone that is all."

Alone she closed her eyes on the word, her lids so heavy she wished she didn't have to open them again. Alone was the key to survival. Alone was the way to protect secrets only Adam had knew. Never tell. Trust Me Sarra I will handle everything.....

"Mrs Jane?"

She jerked and found Brian standing at the open passenger door his fingers moved a strand of hair out of her face.""You slept for twenty min. he said answering her unvoiced question."Abby is here."

Sarra got out of the car. they stopped in a nice neighbor hood in a driveway  lined with red and yellow tulips. "Where are we?"

Brian's hand settled on her back. "Lieutenant Phil's house.

The lieutenant had taken Abby to his house? a spark  of anger ignited. then she remembered the alternative. protective custody and Abby on the phone saying can I stay longer puh-leez

Before she decide weather to be angry or grateful the front door opened.

"Uncle Brian Uncle Brian!!" Three boys spilled past a woman racing down the steps and lunging towards Brian. He bent down in his coat and tie scooped up the first boy in a bear hug  then rolled him over on his back just in time to Field the attacks. They wrestled and laughed until Brian called a halt, then ruffled their heads. "Thanks for helping out today honey."he said kissing the woman's cheeks.

"No problem.:"

Sarra's mind reeled uncle Brian Phil's wife. Honey?

"I am Nancy" The woman said holding out her hand to Sarra "Come on in Abby is in the family room."

Abby dived into Sarra's arms."Mommy there is a little baby girl here I helped change her diaper and wait till you hear all the jokes Cody told me. She whirled to Brian "Hey why did the butterfly get kicked out of dance?"

"Uh...because he didn't know the jitterbug?"

Abby thought for a second then frowned "It was a moth ball that's why the butterfly got kicked out."

Brian grunted "Mine was just as funny. he said following the boys outside.

Abby dragged Sarra into the playroom. Tonka trunks and bulldozers lay wreaked all over the floor, in the far corner stood a play pen and a eight or nine month baby girl was in it wearing a baseball hat gnawing on a action figure.

"Abby has been taking care of the baby for me" Nancy said "Playing mommy."

"That sounds like Abby Ive tried to get her interested in ball games and trucks but she likes the girlie things.

"We need another girl around the house I'm outnumbered especially now that Brian's here."

Sarra couldn't resist."Are you Brian's sister?"

Nancy raised her eyebrows. then shook her head "Brian was married to my sister Lorra a long time ago."

Sarra blinked. So Mr screw the world had loved someone once.

The french doors opened and a woman with a crew cut  blew a puff of smoke and came inside. A county employee tag hung around her neck, The letters CPS at the bottom.

"Mrs Jane?" she said coming up to Sarra "Ah never mind Abby looks just like you She headed for the front door.waving Nancy off when she started to follow."I can find my way out Nancy tell that husband of yours he owes us both."

Nancy chuckled a dry sound."You will tell him. You will see him before I do."

"Whoa!" An ear spitting wail come from outside. The boys have pinned Brian in another wrestling move.

"Go on sweetie." Nancy said to Abby, "You can play with them too."

Abby went to the patio as she watched the three boys and a big man retreat roll and attack again. Brian saw her then eased the group near and shoved the boys off all at once. He grabbed Abby's hands and pulled her in Sarra's breath caught.

"Don't worry. Nancy said. "He won't  let Abby get hurt."

Sarra found herself laughing when he tossed Abby into the air caught her and spun her around and around to back off the boys. She found herself cheering when the kids dropped him to his knees to tickle him. and he let them. She found herself staring when its over and he stood straightening his clothes and turning and smile at Sarra. It shot through every nerve in her body.

"OK that is enough." He said plucking the kids from his sleeves. "I am an old man I can't do it any longer." Come here Abby I will show you how to get away from the boys.. He seized a football from a basket and pulled it into his arms . " which ever one of you guys catches this gets ice cream after dinner."

The ball spiraled through the air the boys chasing it in a mob. Brian swung Abby over his head to  straddle his neck and ducked under the door frame and into the house.

"You are terrible' Nancy said as the boys tangled over the ball.

"I think you are fun." Abby said, wrapping her hands around his neck.

he plopped her down and touched her nose. "But I think your mom is ready to go."

"No" Abby whined

"Sorry honey but is late. We have to let Mr Fuller take us home.:"

her face brightened and she whirled to Brian." You are taking us home Yippee!!"

It was almost 8 when Brian pulled on to Sarra's road, Abby hadn't lasted Five min. before she fell asleep in the backseat. Brian didn't think her mother could last much longer either.she looked ready to drop.

He got out bent into the backseat to unbuckle Abby

"Show me her room, I will carry her up.'

Sarra hovered so close she bumped into him. "For god sake I;m not going to drop her."

"I can carry her I do it all the time."

"This time you don't have too.wanna be useful? open the garage door and go turn down Abby's covers, Somehow he knew Abby's bed was made.

He was doing fine until he stepped into Abby's room Then his breath caught. Lemony walls sunflowers everywhere toys books and bed draped with princess netting, a hammock hanging in one corner and it was over flowing with stuffed animals.while half a dozen more where on her bed. Her favorites Brian thought.

His throat closed.

"Mr Fuller?" Brian Blinked Sarra tugged Abby's shoes off whispering "I need to go let Justice out I will be right back."

She slipped out and Brian laid Abby down she stirred. "Mommy will be right back sweet heart." he said "she had to let justice out."

"Tell her its OK she can sleep in here if she gets scared again."

Brian bent over "What?"

"If the dreams come."

Brian frowned."Dreams?"

"The scary ones that make her cry."

A sliver of concern slid under his skin." Does mommy have them very often?"

"Just lately But she can sleep with me tonight if she wants. Justice will make room."

Brian's  chest tightened." OK pumpkin, I will tell her." Sarra reappeared got a weary hug from Abby then stood looking down at her for a long moment. her eyes following the rise and fall of the  covers. Finally she turned off the lights  and led they way down stairs,

Leave it alone Brian said to himself as he trailed behind. past the pictures of her husband and through the foyer  her secrets her nightmares her daughter.

she opened the front door for him.

walk away Brian

"Bad dreams?" he asked stopping on the porch she pulled a face."Abby says you can sleep with her if the nightmares comes back."

She stiffened."oh Okay fine."

Hey eyes were downcast, The porch light gilding her features and her lashes casting long dark shadows over the scar on her cheekbone. A cut of some sort. but not clean. A wide messy gash that must have lain open for a time. he wondered about the internal scars that came with it.and if they healed with the same tough nerveless finish as the wound on her skin. He wondered if they were the same wounds that kept her awake at night.

And on the heels of that came a pure physical response to the image of Sarra Jane in bed not sleeping.

Walk away Brian'

"What keeps you up Sarra?"

She let out a sigh"Dolls that is what just because Abby is off of school this week does not mean I am off of work, I am appraising a set of dolls they are rare and research is end----

"I am not talking about working late."I am talking about the nightmares."

"That from a six year old?"

"But its true isn't?"

"I can handle things myself.I am stronger than I look, Mr Fuller."

"Handling things your self does not mean you are strong.It just means you are alone." Let someone help."

"Someone?" she challenged lifting an eyebrow.

"Me or Phil." there is more than one person in the world willing to help you, I would even step back and let Evan take care of you if I thought you Trusted him."

"I trust Evan."

"No you don't Brian said with sudden certainly that he was standing too close.he could smell the scent of berries in her shampoo remembered the electrical charge in her body when he held her at the restaurant. "A man who goes to kiss you and you offer a check? A man you lie to about staying for a cup of coffee.No you don't trust Evan? He took a chance and tilted her chin with a finger." Is it just him? Or do you dodge any mans kisses?"

"Don't be stupid." she said " I don't dodge a man's kisses."

He let his gaze drop to her lips."Prove it."