Finders Keepers

Chapter 13

Olivia paid attention to her driving but was conscious of Sloan, in the passenger seat of her brand-new car, distracted with inspecting all the dashboard features and capabilities. She was particularly pleased that he trusted her driving skills enough that there was no hint of him being a backseat driver.

He’d gotten off work early after attending a case briefing at LAPD headquarters with officers and commanders. Just a review of standing problems with a potential of sudden violence. The cooperating agencies were generally successful in nipping in the bud anything explosive, but sometimes they misjudged.

“Have you tried out the stations and settings? What’s this?” Sloan asked. He didn’t wait for an answer but began pushing the console button. There were music, talk, commercials, Spanish, and, finally, an officious voice reciting traffic details. “That’s not a station. Or—”

“One of the salesmen set me up with a traffic report channel. It’s twenty-four seven, so I can access local information anytime I’m in the car if I need to.”

Sloan continued to play with the tuner and check out other stations. “Very cool,” he murmured. Having explored all the internal toys of the BMW, he gave her steady scrutiny and then a quick nod. “You done good.”

She chuckled. “Thank you for not adding ‘for a girl.’” Sloan snorted, his version of a chuckle. “I was going to ask you to come with me when I went car shopping. I thought maybe you could stay a little in the background so the sales team would know I had knowledgeable backup. Because you’re a guy, they’d respect you.”

He shook his head. “You didn’t need me for that. I bet you did a lot of research, did a test drive. I would have come if you’d really needed a guy. Nice to know I might be good for something.”

She laughed.

They’d driven to Santa Monica Pier and opted to stroll the boardwalk holding hands, talking, and exchanging personal insights. Sloan was enjoying an extraordinary period of routine nine-to-five days without any critical need for his attention on anything. Olivia mused that it had been glorious to have him to herself, as they naturally learned more about each other and their backgrounds. Getting closer…more intimate. And she was so far along in her comfort zone with him that she trusted the regard she got from Sloan was real.

Olivia was now totally invested in their growing relationship. She had to trust that Sloan felt the same way. Any revelations to the contrary at this point would be devastating for her. It had already been such a leap of faith for Olivia that she trusted her feelings for Sloan. There’d been no one after her divorce until she and Sloan had met in what she called a fateful afternoon. It was scary that she had nothing to judge the relationship with now but her heart.

The plan was that they would finally watch the DVD Sloan had been given of Loving. They were looking forward to the movie, but Olivia knew enough about the actual family it was based on and their circumstances to be interested but nervous about Sloan’s reaction to the film about an interracial couple who changed American history.

He’d driven from work to get her for their afternoon adventure and drive in her new car. Olivia parked on the street in front of her house, having left her driveway open for Sloan to leave his car. They later reversed the situation so that it would be easier for Sloan when it was time for him to leave. There’d been no decision about when that might be.

They’d already had one night, the weekend before, thwarted when Cooper, Sloan’s godson, called to ask if Sloan would take him to fly a kite he’d gotten from a grandparent. Olivia and Sloan had planned to return to the Overlook at the Baldwin Hills Park to do the trail again, this time taking the torturous and challenging stone step path.

Plans had changed with the call from Cooper.

“Mom said she’s sorry if she messed up your plans for today. She had to get her hair done.”

“Seriously?” Sloan asked, after agreeing to accommodate his godson’s mother.

“Really,” Olivia responded, hearing the reason after Sloan’s call with Cooper. “It’s a big deal, especially if she and his stepdad are going to an important or formal event.”

“My stepdad got a po…por…promotion, I think.”

“Does this mean you’re sleeping over?”

“Yeah. Mom said it’s okay if you bring me home in the morning.”

Olivia had given a sidelong glance at Sloan’s profile as they headed to an area with space for testing out the flying capabilities of Cooper’s kite. If Sloan was disappointed, he was a very good sport about it. Olivia smiled to herself at his calm and easy acceptance of time they’d lost to spend alone.

But the kite flying turned out to be great fun, with Cooper offering to show Olivia how it was done. Sloan stood observing the two of them trying to figure out how to catch the wind that sent the paper-and-wood kite swishing back and forth across the sky but also falling to the ground when the wind suddenly died.

They’d taken Cooper to In-N-Out for a child-friendly dinner, and then Sloan had taken her back home. He’d only stepped into Olivia’s house long enough for a kiss that was deep and filled with longing that wouldn’t be satisfied that night.

“You know, I had fun,” she teased, smiling into his face.

Sloan grimaced, releasing her. “I’m glad one of us did. And Cooper.”

“And you. Don’t try to hide it, Sloan. You know you adore your godson.”

Olivia and Sloan had eaten fast food on the Pier and neither wanted anything else to eat, but she still made a large bowl of the obligatory popcorn and grabbed bottles of beer. They started the film, turned out the living room lights. Sloan propped his legs on the end of the coffee table, but Olivia sat next to him with her bent legs drawn up to her thighs. The opening line to the film grabbed both their attentions. Provocative and telling. And they watched, riveted by the developing story.

Within twenty minutes, Sloan had changed positions. He sat up, feet back on the floor, leaning forward with his forearms braced on his thighs. There was no chatter or commentary between them. What happened on the flat screen completely drew them in. At one point during a poignant conversation between the couple, Sloan reached to place his hand on Olivia’s thigh, slowly stroking up and down for several seconds. She completely understood the gesture, the need. It was empathy and understanding for the difficult and legally challenging lives the couple had been forced into.

In the last few minutes of the film, Sloan finally sat back heavily against the sofa cushions, as if drained by the story. When Olivia clicked the remote to stop the movie and turn off the TV, she silently regarded Sloan, who seemed quiet and introspective about what they’d watched.

She reached for his hand, threading their fingers. “What do you think?”

Sloan sighed. “I’m glad they won in the end, but…what they went through was so… It was incredible. Unbelievable.” He turned to regard her, squeezing her hand. “I don’t have to ask you what you think.”

“I think the film was deeply moving and true to the couple’s story.”

He grew thoughtful. “I think my favorite line in the movie was when the husband said to the civil rights attorneys, ‘Tell the judge I love my wife.’ He was very clear about that.”

“Of course he was,” Olivia affirmed. “And he was willing to fight for his love. It’s beautiful.”

“Yes,” Sloan said very quietly, his answer a single-word drawl.

They put away the uneaten popcorn, finished the beers, and turned to face one another. Time seemed to stop, and Olivia felt like they were transfixed. It was a new moment, and they had moved away from what they were, what the relationship had been, just a few hours earlier. They studied each other with a kind of new awareness and desire…and maybe even truth. Olivia moved and Sloan moved, and they came, spontaneously, into an embrace that was so…so loving and a safe harbor. She thought maybe they couldn’t say in words what they were ultimately feeling. Maybe the timing was unexpected, but the experience of someone else’s story resonated with them. Certainly for Sloan. What they couldn’t say in that moment, they demonstrated. They held each other with tenderness and a reverence that made Olivia say to herself, This is it.

They ended up in her bedroom, disrobing while exchanging increasingly more passionate kisses and touch. They prepared for the ultimate moment of surrender, tumbled onto the coverlet, and spent quite a bit of time on foreplay. This didn’t demand rushing or intense satisfaction. This was about discovery and exposing themselves to the next level of need and giving. They created heat and urgency, Olivia letting herself surrender to his mastery over her body and senses. She sometimes held her breath, forgetting to breath, when he touched her in places that made her heart race.

Olivia pushed herself as close as she could get, letting Sloan envelop her in the safety and strength of his arms. She felt protected. And desired. And loved. Sloan took a long, lazy time exploring her intimately, his fingers soothing over tender tissue and secret wet places, kissing her all the while. Olivia touched Sloan in the same way, shyly at first and then boldly when he responded with pleasure.

Olivia awoke in the middle of the night. Sloan was on his back, an arm thrown over his head, the other looped loosely around her. She lay with her head on his shoulder, an arm laid across Sloan’s stomach. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest with his breathing. In that moment, she was overwhelmed with one extremely clear realization, as she lay against Sloan. Olivia closed her eyes tightly, as if to fortify herself.

“I love you,” she whispered, almost inaudible, to herself. Her voice trembled.

Sloan suddenly inhaled and exhaled deeply. His arm around her moved for a moment and then stopped. He slept.

Olivia was relieved that she’d actually acknowledged her feelings. And she was equally frightened that now it was out. Her truth. But she’d cheated because she hadn’t actually said so to Sloan. It was as if she was conducting a test. Could she say those three words? The time was right to admit to it, at least to herself. She’d tell Sloan. Soon.

And then she, too, slept.

Sloan finished buttoning his shirt, stuffing the tail into the top of his slacks and fastening the zipper tab. His mind was still grappling over a thought he’d awakened with. That Olivia had said something to him in the middle of the night. Only Sloan didn’t actually know what he’d heard or if he’d heard anything. Was it a fragment of a dream? Was it merely suggested because of the movie he and Olivia had seen together? Or was it a thought that he’d created for himself, wanting to hear from Olivia what she felt for him? Maybe wishful thinking because it’s what he felt for her?

Sloan wandered into the living room and spotted her packed tote bag on the floor near the front door. She suddenly wandered from the kitchen, in bare feet, holding a mug and a tumbler. She approached as he slipped on his shoes and reached for his gun belt, on a high shelf of her bookcase.

“Your choice,” she offered, holding out the mug and glass.

Sloan looked into the mug. “Coffee. And that?”

“Orange juice. I didn’t squeeze it with my own hands, but it does have pulp.”

Sloan lifted a corner of his mouth and accepted the coffee. “Thanks. I could use the caffeine.”

“I have to hurry. Homeroom is at eight thirty. What about you?”

“I have time to stop home.”

Sloan suddenly realized that there was a real sense of domesticity in the way the morning was going. But instead of doing all the morning details alone and silently, he was here with Olivia in her place. It felt a little odd. He was used to being alone, except when he very briefly chose otherwise. But now Sloan felt a warm level of comfort with Olivia that was normalizing him. When he awoke, it had been because she was gently stroking his chest and stomach. When he had abruptly opened his eyes, not yet accustomed to a woman on the other side of the bed, he was met with a ready kiss from Olivia. It was so unexpected, and so loving, that he felt disoriented. He wasn’t used to a gesture where someone was thinking solely about him.

“Okay.” Olivia came to stand in front of him as he finished adjusting his gun belt.

“Okay?” he asked, enjoying the way she looked at him.

She shrugged. “Did I thank you for such a wonderful, wonderful time?”

“You don’t have to thank me.” Sloan placed an arm around her, looking into her gaze. “Is there something else you wanted to tell me?” The question a quiet probe.

Olivia drew her bottom lip in, focused her gaze on him, and shook her head. She seemed a little ambivalent. “Not yet.”

He let it go at that.

Sloan had to go soon. It had just never seemed this hard before. There were last-minute hugs and caresses, making the parting endurable.

Olivia stood at her door watching Sloan as he got into his car. He started the engine and then leaned out the window.

“I heard a rumor that you’re going to make your world-famous chicken and have me over for dinner. True?”

She laughed with a rueful shake of her head. “So the rumor goes.”

“Is that a confirmation?”

“How about the end of the week?”

“I’m yours. I’ll be here.”

Sloan pulled out of the driveway and waved to her out his windshield as he reversed and drove away.

Olivia watched him disappear down the street, feeling as if she could explode with happiness.

“Look at you!” Olivia exclaimed when Taryn rolled down the corridor, pushing a new and larger stroller. Her daughter, Gaye, was fast asleep in the comfortable, roomier seat. Taryn stopped as Olivia bent to peer at the baby, but she also examined the carrier.

“You have new wheels. Very nice. And very expensive,” Olivia said smoothly.

She noted that the stroller was a top-of-the-line model that went for hundreds of dollars retail. And she knew it would be very inappropriate to question how the girl could possibly have afforded the stroller. Maybe it was a gift from her mother.

“Thank you,” Taryn said flatly. She offered no explanation. And she seemed a little nervous.

“Has she started to walk yet?”

“She pulls herself up. As long as she has something to hold on to, she gets around the living room pretty good. Anything she sees on a chair or a table that’s in her way, she throws on the floor.”

“Then it won’t be long before she’s into everything.”

“I know,” the girl mumbled. “That’s what my mama said.” Taryn adjusted the blanket covering the baby. “You have new wheels too.”

Olivia smiled. “You mean my new car. Yes. It was a treat to myself.”

“You must be rich,” Taryn observed, a little in awe. “My mama wants a new car, but she can’t afford it.”

“Well,” Olivia said, a little uneasy. “Maybe one day soon she will.”

“You should drive some of us around in it. I don’t think I ever was in a brand-new car.”

“You think it will be a treat?” Olivia asked, surprised.

“Yes, ma’am,” Taryn affirmed. “We don’t get to do stuff like that at all. I know it sounds stupid.”

“No, it doesn’t, Taryn. It’s a simple enough wish. Nothing wrong with that. Are you leaving Gaye in the center?”

“Just for the first class. Mrs. Monroe don’t mind if I have her in the English class. When she’s awake, she makes all kinds of funny sounds, and it cracks up the class. Mrs. Monroe even gave us an assignment to write about it: What does my baby sound like when she makes all that noise?”

Olivia smiled. “That’s very clever. I hope the class didn’t mind.”

“Nah. Everybody thought it was funny. Some of the stuff that was written was funny.”

“Good. Well, roll her into the room. She has it all to herself this morning. And you better hurry up or you’ll be late for your first class.”

As she turned back to her office, Olivia heard her cell phone vibrating on her desk, and she hurried to pick it up.

“Ms. Cameron.”

“Hello, Ms. Cameron.”

“Hey, Lynn.”

“What are you doing this evening?”

“This evening…I have plans for this evening. Why?”

“I wanted to stop by and drop something off to you. It won’t take long. Just a quick minute. I have plans myself, so I wasn’t planning to stay.”

“It’s a good thing,” Olivia said dryly. “This is not an evening for surprises, and I—”

“Oh, don’t worry, this will literally take, like, five minutes.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a surprise. One that I think will please you. That’s all I’ll say because I do want it to be a surprise.”

Olivia frowned and chuckled quietly. “To be honest, Lynn, I don’t like the sound of this. You know you and I don’t always agree on things.”

“I promise you, you’ll like this. I’m not saying another word, and you can’t make me. See you later.” With that, she laughed and hung up.

Olivia held the device, considering Lynn’s airy excitement. Almost immediately the phone buzzed again.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Cameron.” It was Sloan.

“Mr. Kendrick.” She smiled at his introduction.

“Checking in. How are you?”

“Friday morning. TGIF. The students get really antsy because they know it’s the weekend. But I have a lot of official things to clear from my desk.”

“Are we still on?”

“Yes. Unless you’ve made other plans.”

Sloan grunted from his chest. “I’m looking forward to your chicken.”

Olivia sighed, but there was a huge smile on her lips. “You do know you’re being ridiculous. It’s chicken, Sloan, not filet mignon. And there is this stereotype about chicken and Black people.”

“Don’t know that one. Don’t care.”

“Well, all right then. Get your taste buds ready.”

“I’m on it. Bye.”

All while she was making final preparations—finding a bottle of wine, some beer in her pantry—she smiled with expectations that made her feel lighthearted. It was happening more and more when getting together with Sloan. It was not as if he’d never been to her house before or they’d never eaten a meal together, but to Olivia, this was starting to feel like a habit was being formed. More than that was an expectation in everything that she and Sloan did. Not all of their time was spent between the sheets, treating and teaching one another to a bevy of new sensations and ways of intimacy. Olivia was happy with all of it, Sloan helping her to levels of sensuality she’d never experienced before, knowing that Sloan wanted her. But there was no definitive and detailed idea of what that could mean for a future. Once past her initial doubts and wishful thinking, Sloan had fulfilled even the simplest of her desires—to be treated with kindness, handled with care.

They never talked in advance about what would happen after dinner, how the evening might end. That was always the biggest surprise of an evening, and in truth, Olivia looked forward to it. While she might expect that Sloan would ask to stay, she did like that he didn’t take it for granted. Sometimes he didn’t, and sometimes she had to say no. She wanted more, but experience in a failed marriage had taught Olivia to keep one foot in reality…and firmly on the ground.

It was a nice evening, and she slid the glass doors leading to her small, enclosed yard a little open. She’d placed hurricane lamps outside along the length of half the glass and lit them for a calming and serene setting. Maybe she and Sloan would sit out there before dinner or after. With a final glance around the dining and living room, Olivia changed into a denim skirt and a boxy, pale-yellow knit top with dolman sleeves. Dangling earrings so she didn’t look so totally like a teacher. She’d combed her hair so that it swept just below her hairline, across her forehead, to fall along a cheek to her chin. She was just slipping her feet into a pair of ballet flats when she heard the ringing of her doorbell, followed by loud knocking. It seemed so urgent that she hurried through the house to answer, wondering why Sloan was so loud.

“Coming,” Olivia called as she reached the door and quickly opened it.

She’d forgotten Lynn’s warning from earlier in the day and was genuinely caught off guard as she faced her girlfriend…and someone else standing just behind her, peering at her in curiosity. A Black man of average height waiting politely in Lynn’s shadow. Olivia gave him a blank stare. He nodded but said nothing.

Olivia didn’t have a chance to recover as Lynn entered, heading right for the living room, the man close behind her. He made eye contact with Olivia, and they both managed a polite murmured hello. He recovered first.

“Looks like we took you by surprise. I thought Lynn told you we were stopping by…”

“I certainly did,” Lynn said. She quickly absolved herself of any culpability for the awkwardness between Olivia and the stranger.

“Yes, she did call, but said she would be stopping by. I told her I had plans. Lynn was only going to stay for a hot minute,” Olivia emphasized, cutting Lynn a speaking glance. She turned back to the man, and an awareness grabbed her that made her throat go dry.

Lynn wouldn’t… She couldn’t be trying to…

The man, good-looking, with a trim beard and mustache, was well dressed in business casual. Olivia was struck not only by his demeanor but by a sense of self-confidence that said nothing surprised him that he couldn’t handle. He was quickly sizing up the scenario, and she knew he was drawing the correct conclusion: Olivia was furious. The man seemed a little embarrassed. Olivia quickly recovered and took command of herself and the situation.

“I’m not sure this was such a great idea,” the man offered, trying to get Lynn’s attention.

“All I was trying to do was cut to the chase and make sure you two met. Olivia, Jonathan and I met at a social event last month for the legal profession. He’s running for judge in the—”

“That’s not important, Lynn.” He took a step forward, past Lynn, and faced Olivia. “I’m Jonathan Daniels. And I’m sorry you weren’t told—”

“She said she had a surprise for me,” Olivia said calmly, fighting her fury at Lynn. She didn’t want to take it out on the man who appeared also not to have been informed about Lynn’s cockamamie idea to spring an unsuspecting guest on her—as in a potential suitor. So unlike her but…very much what she was capable of. A very tough and effective attorney but a bull in a china shop. Her methods worked better in court…not so much with friends.

Olivia found it within her to smile pleasantly at Jonathan. “I had no idea you were the surprise.”

“Me either,” he said graciously, studying her for a moment. “Under normal circumstances, we might have met without all the drama and…you know…let things happen as they may. For now I think I should leave. Maybe this will come together another time, but this was not a particularly good idea.” He turned to Lynn. “I forgive you,” he said with surprising humor. “We’ll talk soon.”

“You both are being far too serious about this. It’s an introduction, for heaven’s sake, not a march to the altar. I see possibilities.”

“I knew the plan was for me to meet you,” Jonathan said forthrightly, speaking directly to Olivia. “I just thought you’d be in on the plan.”

“I wasn’t,” Olivia stated. “As a matter of fact, I can save us all any more embarrassment and…and just say…I’m seeing someone.” Her gaze went from Lynn, who was so stunned her mouth dropped open, to Jonathan, whose expression showed regret.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t possibly see anyone else in life, Olivia. Am I right, Jonathan?”

“Not in this case. You’re not paying enough attention, and Olivia is saying she’s not interested,” he observed.

Olivia nodded but remained silent. Jonathan shrugged. He reached a hand toward her. Olivia glanced at the offered hand before reluctantly taking it and giving him an apologetic smile. It wasn’t his fault that Lynn thought it clever to make a game of meeting her, and it wasn’t her fault that she didn’t care. Maybe three or four months earlier, but not now.

“I’m glad I got to meet you. As the saying goes, ‘a day late and a dollar short.’” Jonathan headed for the door. “I’ll wait in the car,” he said to Lynn and left.

Olivia only half noted that he didn’t close the door completely, leaving it slightly ajar, maybe expecting Lynn to quickly follow.

Olivia was more focused on Lynn, looking to see if she was the least embarrassed by the unfortunate and unnecessary scene she’d caused. No, she wasn’t. And that was also very Lynn.

“What in the world were you thinking?”

Lynn shrugged, unrepentant. “Trying to be a good friend. I felt if I pushed you a little, you’d realize you are ready to get back in the game. And I thought the minute I met Jonathan that he had real possibilities. I thought it was worth a shot.”

“Maybe. But not by your rules. You’re not my mother, my marriage counselor, or my personal matchmaker.”

Lynn looked affronted. “I’m a friend who’s been very concerned about you. I thought you were still moping after Marcus.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Honestly, girl, he isn’t worth it. He looked good on paper, but there were definitely character flaws.”

“I know that now.” Olivia nodded. “I’m not losing sleep over him.”

“Was that just a ploy you gave to Jonathan? That you’re seeing someone? Who? Why haven’t you said anything?”

Olivia took a deep breath. “Yes, it’s true. And I haven’t said anything, especially to you, because I didn’t want to be questioned to death.”

“Well, who is it?” Lynn asked, impatient.

Olivia hesitated. “You’ve seen him. One night in the yard…”

Lynn’s mouth dropped open again. “Oh my God! You’re not talking about that…that…white man who said he was an FBI agent. You can’t be serious.”

“He is an FBI agent. And I am serious.”

“I don’t believe it! Have you lost your mind?”

“Lynn, I don’t want to discuss my love life with you anymore. You’re really making too big a deal out of this. And I don’t question you about the men, or lack of, in your life.”

Lynn narrowed her gaze. “Don’t you worry about my love life. At least I—”

“Exactly. So don’t you worry about mine. You have to leave. He should be here soon for dinner. And…I don’t want you here. I don’t trust you not to make a scene.”

Lynn seemed nonplussed. Olivia didn’t want to be unkind to a friend who, in many other ways, had been helpful and empathetic when they’d first met at a women’s seminar. It had been put together by Lynn and her law office to help women who found themselves facing divorce. Lynn confessed that she had already faced that decision and had learned a lot about how women, in particular, needed to be informed and armed to protect themselves.

“I don’t appreciate what you did tonight, but I do appreciate that you were concerned about me. Thank you for that. But you have to go.”

Olivia could see that, while Lynn was prone to argue to win her point, her imperial attitude was deflating, and she was about to surrender.

And then the door behind Lynn slowly pushed open, and Sloan stood in the doorway.