Threat of Darkness(23)

 “Oh, he knew, all right. At least he did by the time he left. We have to assume he’d spotted us earlier.”

 “Do you think that’s why he didn’t talk much?”

 “Maybe. Judging by his wife’s reactions and the way she stuck so close to Danny on the way out, Mr. S has a rotten temper.”

 “I already told you that.”

 “Yeah. If I had any doubts before, I don’t now. I just can’t see what either of us can do about it.”

 “Now that Danny is on record for suspected abuse the only thing that might bring it to court is further injuries, and I hate to think of that happening.” She shook her head as she met John’s empathetic gaze. “I feel so helpless.”

 “Well, don’t give up. You’ll think of some way to intervene. What about CASA? Is there any way you might get yourself appointed as his spokesperson?”

 “Only if I keep my distance. The rules say a volunteer advocate can’t have any personal connection to the child’s family. Now that I think about it, it’s just as well we didn’t make it to church this morning. Being part of the same congregation might disqualify me.”

 “Wait a minute. What about your E.R. work? You saw Danny then.”

 “Yes, but only in a professional capacity. If he had been treated by another nurse it would still be my job to interview her or him and make a record of medical observations for the judge. I think it’s okay that I assisted the doctor when he treated Danny.”

 “Okay.” John leaned back and stifled a yawn. “Sorry. I guess the adrenaline is wearing off.”

 “Mine, too. Shall we go? I don’t want Brutus to think I’ve deserted him.”

 “You worry more about that dog than most folks do about people.”

 “He’s my only family these days,” Samantha said with a wistful smile.

 “That’s sad.”

 Her smile spread. “Oh, no. I love it this way. Brutus is always there, always glad to see me and he never loses his temper and snaps at me. I couldn’t ask for a better companion.”

 “He’s not much on conversation,” John quipped as he rose and placed a tip on the table.

 “No, but he watches the evening news with me when I’m working the day shift, like I am this coming week.”

 “That must be a barrel of laughs.”

 “Actually, he likes shows about animals the best. We watch a lot of those, too.”

 She saw John shaking his head as if he were criticizing her but the sparkle in his eyes and the quirking of one corner of his mouth told her otherwise.

 Standing back as he paid at the cash register, Samantha was seized by a sense of déjà vu. How many other times had they shared a meal in this same pizzeria? How many times had they laughed over silly things and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company? How many times had they spent afternoons sitting in Elvina’s porch swing and dreaming of a future together?

 Too many, Sam concluded. She set her jaw, determined to choke back the emotions that were trying to take control. This was the very reason she’d hesitated to agree to eat here. This was what she’d feared. Remembering. Feeling as if they were the same as they had been five years ago. Wishing that nothing had changed.

 But it had. Their past relationship was ancient history. Once John quit hanging around so much she’d be fine. Just peachy.

 Turning away and starting for the exit so he couldn’t see her face or tell she was distressed, Samantha sniffled quietly. She should have dug out an old purse and at least stuffed some tissues inside, even if she didn’t have much else to put into it. Her credit cards had been canceled by phone but it would be tomorrow before she could see about getting a replacement driver’s license and stopping payment on any blank checks that had been stolen.

 One glance into the bed of John’s pickup told her that at least their groceries hadn’t been pilfered while they were inside eating. That was something, anyway. In a rural area like this such thefts were rare, yet judging by the way the past few days had been going for her, anything was possible.

 Anything except letting herself forget that John Waltham was part of her history, not her present, she added, chagrined. For a few lovely moments during lunch, she’d let herself daydream and remember the good times, the special feelings that only he had ever brought to her heart and mind.

 “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she muttered to herself as she climbed into the passenger side of the truck and slammed the door while he circled around front. “I never learn, do I?”