CHAPTER 22
Vivian had been sleeping every night in Lainey’s bed. Even though Lainey had put the inside of the house back together, the plywood covering the back door was a huge reminder that someone had violated their space.
The night before Halloween, Robert had called late. Lainey and Vivian were in the living room in their PJs watching TV when her phone rang.
Vivian insisted on talking to him right away. Lainey put the phone on speaker. Vivian said Hi enthusiastically, then asked if he’d go trick-or-treating tomorrow night with them.
Robert called every evening as normal. Lainey guessed Vivian was excited about dressing up tomorrow and getting candy, since she’d never asked to speak to him before.
“Viv, I don’t think my schedule will allow it,” he answered with sorrow in his voice, “but thank you for the invite. What’s your costume?”
“A turtle princess,” Vivian said softly in a disappointed tone. It had been a costume imagined up by her own making, and she was very proud of it. Vivian had been on a turtle kick lately and she’d always liked princesses, so it made perfect sense ...to Lainey at least.
“I bet you’re going to be the prettiest turtle princess ever. Your mom will have to send me pictures,” he said, trying to cheer her up.
“If you can’t go, I don’t want to go,” she announced.
Lainey spoke up. “Why, Viv?”
“Because the bad guys won’t hurt us if Robert’s with us, Mama.” Her bottom lip quivered.
Lainey was surprised. Her daughter was more traumatized by the break-in than she’d thought. “Vivian, we’ll be with your cousins, Aunt Lillian and Uncle Ethan too. We’ll be okay, I promise.”
Vivian ran off down the hallway. Lainey couldn’t tell if her answer had satisfied her or not. Lainey took it off speaker. “She skedaddled off, Robert. I’m sorry. Evidently, she’s still dealing with the break-in.”
“What time are you heading out tomorrow night?” Robert asked, and Lainey knew he’d try to make something work.
“We start at her grandparent’s place at seven-pm. We’ll meet with her cousins, then go around their neighborhood.”
“Where do they live?”
“On the south side, near the library, but north of the tracks.”
Silence from his end. He was obviously contemplating what he could do to appease her daughter.
“Robert, please don’t put yourself out. It’s fine. We’ll be fine, she’ll be fine,” Lainey assured.
“I feel bad. The girl’s still scared,” he said. This man was truly worried about her daughter’s feelings. Vivian had sucker punched them both, and his compassion for her made Lainey like him even more.
“Kids are resilient,” she replied. “I promise you, half-way through the neighborhood, she’ll be having so much fun, she’ll forget she invited you.”
He sighed. “Okay. I hope you’re right.” Lainey hoped so too.
They said their goodbyes, and she promised to text him tomorrow when they returned home to let him know how it went.
* * *
Denise had put together a decorated bag full of toothpaste, homemade kettle-corn, pencils, and other novelties for each of her grandkids. She also had warm cider to serve the crew before and after they trekked out into the dark, cold drizzle of the neighborhood.
The children were in the front sitting room adjusting their costumes for a group picture when there was a knock at the door.
Denise grabbed a large bowl she’d filled with bite-sized candy. “Looks like we have our first trick-or-treater,” she announced, pulling the door open.
Lainey was straightening the tiara above Vivian’s turtle mask when she heard his voice. “Is this the Wickham residence?” He sounded polite, yet official.
Lainey’s father-in-law had a clear view of the front door. Robert’s fatigues must have made Mike think there was some sort of emergency, because he stepped beside Denise and her enormous bowl of candy. “Yes. Can I help you?” he said.
Robert removed his patrol cap. “I’m looking for Lainey and Vivian. Did they already leave?”
Lainey popped her head around the corner. “We’re still here,” she smiled. Robert’s stern face softened when he laid eyes on her. Mike moved aside, and Robert stepped inside.
Mike and Denise craned their necks looking up at him, examining the towering soldier in their foyer. Lainey had gotten used to Robert’s size, but Geoff’s parents’ reaction reminded her of his considerable presence.
Vivian ran up and hugged his leg. “You’re here, you’re here!” she squealed.
He patted her head. “I was able to get away for a little bit. But you better give me a chocolate peanut butter cup to take back to base, Princess.”
Vivian smiled and nodded, then she ran to her cousins. “No bad guys are going to mess with us or our candy. Robert’s here to protect us,” she said, assuring everyone they were completely safe now.
Denise and Mike shared an uncomfortable look.
“This is Robert Lane,” Lainey motioned. “I’ve told you about him,” she said, taking the focus away from her daughter after she exclaimed Robert was some sort of superhero.
“Oh yes,” Lillian said, greeting Robert. “My mother was telling me earlier today how you helped Lainey after the break-in.”
She had? Lainey could only imagine the snide remarks Denise must have said, telling Lillian.
“Nice to meet you,” Lillian smiled, shaking Robert’s hand.
Ethan offered his hand next. “Nice to meet you.”
“We’ve already met, actually. At the Fall Festival, but you had your hands full of hot dogs and funnel cakes,” Robert chuckled, shaking Ethan’s hand.
Ethan scrunched his brow, then remembered. “Oh yeah,” he smirked.
“Robert, this is Mike and Denise,” Lainey said.
Mike shook Robert’s hand, but Denise’s arms remained locked around her orange candy trough. She hugged it for dear life, obviously fearing she’d melt like the Wicked Witch of the West if she showed Robert any pleasantries.
“What’s your plan to get the back door replaced?” Mike asked. Lainey guessed it was his way of sizing Robert up.
“I’ve called all the door and window companies between here and Junction City.
” He had? This was news to Lainey. “But they’re booked solid for the next three to four weeks.
I’ve called Lumber House in town with the measurements.
They’ve ordered one in, and I plan on picking it up and replacing it on Monday. ”
“Good. The weather’s getting colder day by day,” Mike nodded. “If you need help, give me a call.”
Denise swung her head to her husband as if she were a weather vane and a gust of Kansas wind had changed direction. Denise would’ve never volunteered her husband to help who she took as her son’s replacement.
“Thank you, I appreciate that,” Robert said.
* * *
About five different people escorting their own children came up to Robert and thanked him for his service as they walked the neighborhood. Robert was gracious, yet humble. Lainey thought after twenty-three years, he was probably used to it by now when in uniform, in public.
When the children’s bags were bulging, nearly scraping the sidewalk from their weight, they rounded the corner back towards Geoff’s parent’s home.
Robert pointed out his parked truck as they approached. He said his goodbyes to Lillian and Ethan. He crouched down and hugged Vivian goodbye, explaining he had to get back to base, “but I’m so happy you invited me,” he said.
Vivian thoughtfully pulled out a peanut butter cup from her stash and gave it to him. He winked and patted her head for remembering.
“Thanks for the taste test earlier, after the third stop too,” he said, grinning.
Lainey told Vivian to go on and warm up with her cousins and a cup of cider. She’d be there soon.
She walked with Robert across the street to his truck. “Thank you. You made a little girl very happy tonight,” she smiled.
They lingered by his driver’s door. “Good, but...” he looked down at his boots. The bill of his cap covered his eyes.
“But what?” Lainey asked.
He looked up, smirking. “I hope I made her mother happy too.”
Lainey wrapped her arms around him. “You know you did.”
He pulled her tighter. “Thank you for not freaking out when I showed up tonight. I went back and forth if I should or not.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why would I?”
“Because I wasn’t sure if you were ready for me to meet HIS family,” he said plainly.
Lainey inhaled the cold damp air and looked away. “I’m glad you did it this way. I’m not sure any time would’ve been the right time.”
“I didn’t want to make you mad, but I really wanted to be here for Viv.”
She gazed up at him. This man is something else. He’d gambled with her own feelings to make sure her daughter was happy. Which made her ecstatic. He understood Vivian and she were a packaged deal, yet still to be handled with kid gloves. She smiled and rose on her toes to kiss him.
He squeezed her, pressing his lips against hers. She felt a blush creep up her neck as his tongue broke the crease of her lips. He tasted like the chocolate from the taste test earlier.
He changed position on her mouth, not once, but twice, devouring her right there in the dimly lit street. Finally, he pried himself away from her lips. He took a deep breath and stared into her eyes. “Woman, you have no idea what you do to me,” he said, giving a sated sigh.
She was breathless too, forgetting which way was up. She clung to him, getting her bearings.
There was an adolescent voice in the distance shouting at friends. She’d forgotten they weren’t alone as families meandered along the surrounding sidewalks. Lainey darted a look at Mike and Denise’s house, and her panic subsided once she saw her family hadn’t witnessed their passionate kiss.
He must have sensed her brief bout of anxiety because he let her go. “I gotta run. I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said, jumping inside his truck.
She backed away and waved goodbye with a satisfied simper on her face.
* * *
“I’ll be honest,” Theresa, the realtor, said. She’d just finished a tour of Lainey’s house to assess the future listing. “There are things we need to do to make it ready for the market.”
Lainey tensed.