The frog soon made itself known. Finding nothing exciting in Miss Riley’s bloomers—at least, that’s the way Claude later told the story—it hopped onto her desk. Fifteen little boys and ten little girls gave merry chase. It was Claude who helped Tanner corner the frog.
“Is this yours?” he’d whispered.
“Yeah.”
“Golly. He’s a whopper.”
“You won’t tell, will you? Miss Riley will wear my britches out.”
“Naw.”
When Miss Riley had recovered enough to question her pupils about the frog, Claude had stepped forward and told the biggest tale Tanner had ever heard. “I saw that big ol’ frog this morning down beside that little pond behind the schoolhouse. Seems to me it looked mighty bored. Matter of fact, it got interested in my reader and followed me to school. I saw it come creeping through our door a little while ago. Miss Riley, I guess that ol’ frog wanted to learn how to read.”
Miss Riley had been so enchanted, she’d forgotten about punishment. After that Claude and Tanner had been best friends. Tanner was the school hero, and Claude was the school storyteller. They’d made quite a team.
Later they’d both fallen in love with Amanda. It seemed that both of them noticed her at the same time. Until the seventh grade she’d been just another little redheaded girl with pigtails Suddenly she was the prettiest thing they’d ever laid eyes on—and both of them wanted to marry her. It took a fight in the dirt behind the cafeteria to settle the matter. Claude had ended up with a bloody nose, and Tanner had ended up with a black eye—and Amanda. After that the matter was settled. Amanda was always Tanner’s, and Claude was always their very best friend.
Until eleven years ago.
Tanner reached across the bed and touched Amanda, just to reassure himself. She was there, warm and soft, hips curved under the covers, outlined by the moonlight. Quietly he rose from the bed.
At times like this he almost wished he smoked. He looked at the bedside clock. Two A.M. The next day they’d be leaving for Missouri—a two-day drive. He needed his rest. But memories of Claude beat through his mind. The hammer blows wrecked his peace and destroyed any chance of sleep.
Dressing quickly in a sweat suit and jogging shoes, he eased out the door and down the stairs. He would run until he could regain some semblance of tranquility.
Then he’d be ready to face Claude.
o0o
Amanda woke with a start.
She’d been dreaming that Claude wanted to marry her again. She kept seeing him over and over, arms outstretched, calling to her—love, love, love. She sat up and brushed her hair back from her face.
“Tanner?”
Turning, she saw the empty spot where he had been. Panic seized her. Maybe it wasn’t a dream. Maybe Claude had come for her, and Tanner was gone again.
Her feet hit the floor running. Without even bothering to cover her nakedness, she raced down the stairs. “Tanner?” If he was anywhere in the house, he would hear her. She was yelling loud enough to alert the fire department all the way across town.
She flicked on lights as she ran. By the time she got to the kitchen, she was fully awake and feeling rather foolish. She’d been dreaming, and Tanner would never leave her. Hoping she hadn’t awakened the neighbors, she went back upstairs, turning off the lights behind her. With her sanity restored, she surveyed her bedroom. Tanner’s sweat suit and shoes were missing. She should have known. He always ran when he was disturbed, and certainly the prospect of facing Claude was disturbing—to both of them.
She put on her robe and walked to the window. The streets were dark arid empty. Pressing her face against the windowpane, she whispered, “Go with God, Tanner.”
Going back to bed was useless. She walked to her dressing table and sat down. All her Christmas cards had been tucked into the top drawer. She reached inside and took out Claude’s card. “Love, Claude,” it said. She pressed her fingers against the signature. Memories flooded through her.
The night of their senior prom, Tanner’s old Chevrolet had died six miles from the school gymnasium. Tanner had said it wasn’t too far to walk, and she had protested that she’d never make it in her high heels. Besides that, it started raining, not a gentle spring rain but an angry flood from the heavens. Just when they had resigned themselves to spending their prom night stranded in the car, Claude had come along. He’d bundled them into the backseat of his reliable Ford, and the three of them had gone to the prom together.
When Tanner asked why he had no date, he’d replied, “Why do I need a date? I have my two best friends. Anyhow, I’m too busy being your guardian angel to date.”