Finding Amy. Carol Steward

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СКАЧАТЬ and dangerous, now that you mention it. Kind of a cross between a dark-haired Val Kilmer and Elvis.”

      Sam thought a moment, then shrugged, his shoulders feeling a bit broader. “Guess I can’t argue with being compared to a music legend and a movie star, now can I.” Especially by a woman pretty enough to be in movies herself.

      Jessica took a step, then stumbled, as if she’d been stabbed by another pebble. Sam offered a hand to steady her. “Maybe the grass would be easier on your feet.” He pushed away from the wrought-iron rail and guided her to the golf course adjoining the hotel property.

      “Sure, that would be great.” She stepped onto the lush lawn and smiled. “It’s nice and cool, too. You ought to try it.”

      “I’m doing okay, thanks.” The sooner they got back to the party the better. “This might be a good time to get to what you needed to talk to me about.”

      “I needed to…” Her voice faltered. The tension reappeared on her face, making her look five years older. “First of all, thank you for all you did the night of my accident.”

      “I was just doing my job.” He really didn’t want to discuss that night. Especially with her.

      She turned slowly toward him. “No, something tells me you did just the opposite.”

      “What?” He’d done his job completely. What in the world did she think he’d done?

      “I’m sure you assumed I was lying to you when I answered your questions. You were so adamant that Tim had been drinking. I honestly didn’t know Tim had lost his license—” she took a couple of deep breaths “—or spent time in jail, until the insurance agent contacted me. I’m surprised that you didn’t have to press some sort of charges. Against me, I mean.”

      He didn’t have the courage to tell her he had considered it. He shrugged impatiently.

      Jessica’s quizzical look needed no explanation. “You had to have some reason.”

      “You…” He closed his eyes, trying to put the scene behind him. “I guess I figured you’d paid a high enough price, losing your husband. There was no need to make matters worse. What was done was done.”

      “All this time I’ve been expecting someone to show up at my door to press charges. Is that still a possibility?”

      “No, the case is closed.” What retort he expected, he wasn’t sure. He’d been totally caught off guard by her matter-of-fact questions as well as his feeble answer. He paused, watching her stroll slowly ahead of him, her pain evident in the way she walked. He wondered now if he had done and said the right thing. “You can stop worrying. I presume the back problems are from the accident?”

      She nodded. “It started then, and I’m sure lifting Amy so much doesn’t help.”

      “Another surgery seems pretty drastic. Why do they have to go back in to take the…cage…out? Didn’t it do what it was supposed to do?” He suddenly realized she might not like the intrusion into her privacy and raised his hand to stop her. “Forgive me. You don’t have to…”

      Jessica waved a hand, as if to brush his words away. “It’s not a big deal. The cage stabilized my spine, but after it healed, the metal just seems to irritate it. They suspect the next disk is now causing the additional pain. After months of physical therapy, chiropractors, massage therapy and steroid injections, I’m just ready to get it over with so I can enjoy life again.”

      He stopped and looked at her, noting the shadows under her gray eyes. “Then, as of tonight, you can take one worry off your shoulders. No one is going to come after you. Your husband was at fault, and unfortunately, he paid a high price.”

      Her features softened with relief. “I wish it were that easy, but at least I can go into surgery without fear that my daughter could be taken away from me. It’s really going to be okay?”

      Sam felt about as tall as an anthill. He’d been set on discrediting this woman’s husband, and all this time she’d been worried about being there for her daughter. “Yeah, it’s going to be okay.” This was the part of his job he hated—seeing the pain that one person’s selfishness caused another. Justice came with a price, and it rarely stopped at the perpetrator of the crime. And now Jessica’s child would grow up without her father.

      No one ever guaranteed life was fair.

       Chapter Two

       A cool breeze whistled through the pine trees, offering much-needed relief from the heat. “Do you mind if I loosen my tie?”

      Jessica laughed, hoping he didn’t notice her interest in him. She held up her sandals. “You’re asking me?” Sam probably didn’t want to know that she wouldn’t mind if he wore khaki shorts and a T-shirt. “I’m not much for formal attire, but these days, you do what it takes to keep a job that you love.” Which reminded her of the real reason she’d been introduced to Sam. She watched him fumble with the knot of his tie and unbutton the collar, finding it quite odd that something so casual could make a confident man like Sam look uncomfortable.

      “I hear you there.” He sighed and his mouth curved into a devastating smile. “This breeze is a Godsend after the heat we’ve had this week. Eleven straight days of over a hundred degrees. That’s one record I’d rather we never break again.”

      Jessica closed her eyes and breathed deep. “I could do without the heat, but I miss the long days when summer ends. It’s so nice to have time at the end of the day to go for a picnic or play at the park.”

      “How is your daughter doing?”

      Jessica felt a sudden warmth just thinking of Amy. “She’s doing well. She still won’t talk much, but her pediatrician reminds me that she’s been through a lot for a three-year-old.”

      His quick smile crinkled the skin around his deep-brown eyes. “You both have. I’m sure she’ll come out of it soon.”

      She felt like a blanket of comfort had been wrapped around her.

      “I remember her golden pigtails,” he added.

      “How could you remember that?” Jessica laughed. “She barely had enough hair to get into tiny barrettes then, but she loved having her hair fixed. I just happen to have pictures, if you’d like to see them.”

      “I’d love to.” Sam stopped walking and motioned toward the park bench.

      Sitting down, Jessica dropped her sandals to the grass and slipped them on. She pulled several snapshots from her bag, describing the pictures and who was with Amy in each. “I’m a little possessive after that night. And much more appreciative.”

      “As you should be.” He took the offered pictures and admired them. “Still has that golden hair and blue eyes. She’s as beautiful as her mother.” Sam stopped speaking suddenly, as if he hated complimenting her.

      Jessica felt her skin flush, whether because of the compliment or his practically snatching it back, she wasn’t sure.

      “She’s a precious little girl. It’s amazing how a few seconds can change your life so drastically. I don’t know how I’d have lived with the guilt if something had happened СКАЧАТЬ