Love From the Ashes (17 page)

“Okay; holler if you need anything.”

“I will!”  She smiled as he left the kitchen.  He let out a slow sigh of relief; that went far better than he could have dreamed.  It gave him hope that they would even grow closer together; it was what he now wished for each and every day.

Rebecca surveyed over the children as they decorated their Christmas cards for the patient’s at the nursing home.  “They look wonderful.”  She replied with satisfaction.  “Your dad is going to be so impressed.”  She smiled as each of them put their own spin to the designs.  Even Judy and Joey were leaving their creative marks.  She looked at the clock; she knew that Thomas would be there at any moment and they were all a mess.  “You better finish up; your dad will be here soon.  You definitely need to have a date with the sink.”  She laughed seeing the glitter and glue on all of their hands and even their faces.  As they each finished their cards they were working on they gradually got up from the table.  It was Bethany that was the last one to get up.  She didn’t appear to need more time, but she was just sitting there.  “So, what’s up?”

She sat down so that their chairs were facing each other.  Bethany looked up; her once excited glow had vanished.  “I don’t know; I have a lot on my mind.”

Rebecca laughed.  “Don’t sound so down.  I’m sure everything can work out; it might help to talk about it.”

“I want to go to the dance, but I can’t even bring myself up to say it to him again.”

“A lot has happened in the past couple of months; he might not be so strict.”

“I’m not willing to take that chance.  What if I ask him and he says no?”

Rebecca remembered being her age before; it was difficult being a soon to be teenager.  “Would it help if I talk to him?”

“Do you mean that?”

Rebecca nodded.  “I know how difficult it can be, but you have to accept whatever answer he gives you.”

She nodded.  “I will.”

She jumped up; she looked happier than before.  She hugged her.  “Go clean up and I’ll talk to him when he gets here.”

“Thank you so much.”  She was about to leave, but then stopped.  “One more thing?”

“What?’

“There’s this boy; his name is Drew Glass.  All the girls like him, but he said that he would like to dance with me.  Can you mention that to dad?”

Rebecca started to laugh.  “Sorry; I’m all about helping you out, but for that you are on your own.”

Bethany groaned.  “I was afraid you would say that.”  She then heard the doorbell and she looked at Rebecca.  “Okay; thanks for what you can do.”  She hurried from the kitchen and Rebecca went to get the door.

“Come in!”  She pulled back for him to enter the house.  “Nice day at work?”

He grumbled.  “I suppose so.”

She laughed.  “That good; huh?”

“It’s just sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a normal 9-5 job.  Don’t worry about me, it’s just wishful thinking I guess.”

She had never heard him say that he would be willing to change career paths, but she knew it had to be hard.  “You could be a Private Investigator; you seem to be pretty good at that.”  She was thinking about how he had found out information that she had searched for in the course of 2 years.

He laughed.  “I don’t know how much easier that would be, but I have a feeling the only reason it worked out so well this last time was because it was important to me.”

She looked away; she didn’t want to show him how much his words meant to her.  “Come in the kitchen and see the artwork that your talented youngsters did.”

She led the way and pointed to the table; we’re going to mail them to the nursing home residents.  “Wow!  I am impressed.  You are a good influence to them.”

“It helps that they enjoy doing these things.  Um…I do have something to say to you.”

“Okay; should I be scared?”

“No, but your daughter really wants to go to that dance.”

Thomas groaned.  “I had hoped that this nonsense would have been settled.  Why is it so important to her?”

“Well, for starters, all of her friends will be there.  You don’t want her to be the only 8
th
grader that stayed home; do you?”

“I guess when you put it that way, I don’t.  I just don’t know about this.”

“Thomas, I will be there.  Nothing will happen to her.  If you want, I can pick her up and take her back home.  She will never leave my sight.”

“Well, that does make me feel a little bit better.  I would feel a lot better if I was going.”  He laughed, but then stopped.  “Could you use another chaperone?”

“Do you think Bethany would approve of that?”

He shrugged.  “Probably not, but I could use a good dance.”

“I’m sure they could use the help, but I’m leaving it up to you to tell her.”

“Bethany, you can come out now.”  Rebecca turned to where Thomas was looking.  Bethany rounded the corner with a smug look on her face.  “What do you say?  Am I allowed to go to the dance as a chaperone?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really, but I promise that I will stay my distance.”

“I guess if that’s my only options; I’ll take them.”  She ran over and hugged him.  “Thank you dad.  Thank you Rebecca.”

Rebecca smiled.  “You’re welcome, but now I have a favor to ask of your dad.”

Thomas raised an eyebrow.  “Which is?”

“I would like to buy Bethany a new dress.”

Rebecca saw Bethany turn to her dad and her eyes were big.  “That’s not necessary; I can handle that, but thank you.”

“Bethany, will you stay here with your siblings while I go have a little talk with your dad?”

“Sure!”

Thomas followed Rebecca into the foyer and she grabbed a car seat and a bag.  “Might as well get something accomplished.”  She replied with a laugh.  Once they were outside; her steady pace slowed down.  “Please let me do it.”

“Why?”

“I have never had a daughter to buy things for and even though she’s not my daughter I feel close to her.  I would like the opportunity to buy her something nice.  This is a huge deal for every young girl; it’s her first dance.  So, please.”

“I suppose if you really want to; I appreciate that.”

“Okay good.”  He placed the seats into the van and she was about to head back to the house when he stopped her.  “Now, I have a favor of you.”

She laughed.  “I guess ask, while the getting is good.”

“Will you accompany me to the 8
th
grade dance?”

She searched his face to make sure he wasn’t teasing her, but she didn’t see any signs.  “Why that’s the nicest offer I have ever received.  I would love to go to the dance with you, but beware the chaperone usually does more work than dancing.”

He shrugged.  “I’ll find a way.”

She laughed as they went back into the house.  She didn’t expect that, but she was suddenly very giddy and she felt like a teenager all over again.  It was going to be an unforgettable night.

___________________

Thomas had just checked on the last child; Judy was soundly sleeping and got into his bed.  He couldn’t believe he had invited Rebecca to the dance, but he was pleasantly surprised that she had agreed.  He smiled to himself; it had been a long time since he danced with a female, but he would have to work on his moves.  Even though she said that they wouldn’t have much time for socializing, he figured he would find a way.  As he turned off his light he heard a light knock on his door.  “Come in!”

He was confused as to why Bethany was in his room; usually it was the younger ones that couldn’t sleep.  “Hi!”  She crawled in his bed and he just looked at her.  “I couldn’t sleep.”

He laughed.  “I gathered that, but that’s not like you.  Something on your mind?”

“I have a confession and I really needed to tell you, because it’s driving me nuts.”

“Okay; did something happen at school?  Did you get a bad grade?  Does the Principal need to talk to me?”

She turned to face him and shook her head.  “No; none of that.”

He let out a slow breath; then how bad could it be?  “Well, then I’m ready for whatever you have to throw at me.”

“There’s this boy…”

He pulled back and his jaw had dropped.  “In second thought; I’m not ready.  Let’s forget we ever…”

“Dad, I have to tell you.”

“What?”  He moaned; he just prayed he didn’t pass out.

“This boy, his name is Drew Glass and a lot of the girls think he is pretty cute.”

“What about you?”  He couldn’t help, but ask the question.

“I might think he’s cute, but that’s not the point.”

“He said he wants to dance with me on Friday night, but I wanted to make sure you wouldn’t totally embarrass me.”

“Would I do that?”  She nodded and he laughed.  “Fine; I won’t do that, but you have to promise me something.”

“I guess that’s fair.”

“You have to promise me that before you dance even once, you find me and let me meet him.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am dead serious.  Is that a deal?”

“Can’t he meet just Rebecca?”

“What?  I am your father.  I promise you; I won’t embarrass you.”  He was a little hurt that she would prefer to introduce him to Rebecca, but he wasn’t surprised.  Rebecca was much less intimidating than he could be.  He definitely wouldn’t mention that he was a cop.

“Okay; I will trust you.”

“Thank you!”  He pulled her into a hug.  “I love you Bethany.”

“I love you dad.  Thank you for agreeing to all of this.”  She ran out of the room and he shut off the light.  It wasn’t easy admitting ones oldest child was growing up.  Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do; outside of standing back and watching it happen.  It was hard, but the life of a parent.

When Friday arrived, Thomas was anxious to get the day over.  He had decided that if the evening went the way he had hoped he would tell Rebecca that he was starting to have feelings for her.  It scared him, because the last time he attempted to have the conversation she seemed less than pleased.  He was beginning to believe that her feelings were starting to change.  He noticed that she would periodically be watching him and he envisioned that she was thinking about him, as much as he was thinking about her.  He looked up as the captain for the department rushed into his office.  “Campbell, you’re needed for backup.”

“Where?”

“Officer Ross Benjamin is on stakeout at Meredith Pointer’s house.  He has reason to believe that something is going to go down.”

Thomas groaned.  It was the duty of the officer to make sure his co-workers were safe, but he was worried that he would be late to pick up the kids.  “Okay; I’m on my way.”  He grabbed his badge and raced out of the station.  Within moments he was on the highway heading towards Meredith’s house.  She had reported suspicious behavior with her ex-husband, but after 3 weeks of no activity they began to think that she was either making it all up, or blowing it out of proportion.  He dialed in Officer Benjamin’s number and waited for him to answer.

“This is Officer Ross Benjamin.”

“Hey; it’s Officer Campbell.  What’s going on?”

“Well, she just called me and said that she received a phone call from her ex.  Supposedly he told her that she better watch herself, but I have been keeping an eye on her place and I’m not seeing anything.”

“I’m on my way; just in case.”

“That’s good, but it could be a wasted trip.”

“I’ll be there in about 5 minutes.”  He hung up the call and raced the rest of the way.  It was better safe than sorry; he would have wanted backup if he was in the same position.  As he rounded her street corner; he noticed a truck in front of the house.  He hoped that it was a neighbor’s truck; however, it was parked crooked and he had an eerie feeling.  After getting out of the car he saw that there was something suspicious about the Officer Benjamin’s car; the glass from his driver’s side window was smashed and he rushed over to the car.  He turned away once he had looked inside.  There was a rope around his neck and he wasn’t moving.  He ran over to his car and turned on his radio.  “I need backup at 5626 Bradbury Drive; there is an officer down.  I repeat…send ambulance, there is an officer down.”

“Roger that; we’ll send assistance ASAP.”

He grabbed his gun and ran up the stairs to the back of her house.  After climbing over countless boxes he made it inside the back door.  He heard crying and talking as he inched closer to the living room.  He peered around the corner and saw her ex standing over her
. “I’m not going to hurt you Meredith; I love you.  I want you back in my life; I miss you baby.”

“You don’t know what love is.”  She cried as he knelt down in front of her.  Her hands were tied behind her back and his mouth was inches from hers. 

“Don’t say that!  I know that you should have never been out of my life.”  The man argued, but she wouldn’t look him in the face.

“You are an alcoholic; I don’t know what I ever saw in you.”  He raised his hand as if to hit her, when Thomas knew he had to do something.

“Police; stop it right there.”  In mid-swing he turned around and stared at Thomas.  “Drop your gun.”

“You have this all wrong; I…”

“Drop your gun!”  The man stared at him and then turned to Meredith.  “You’re already in a heap of trouble; don’t add another count to your crimes.”

The man slowly dropped the gun and then looked at Meredith.  “I love you; would you let someone cop come in and take me away from you?”

She didn’t respond and so Thomas moved towards him.  “Hands in the air.”

He did as he was told and then Thomas put away his gun.  He grabbed his handcuffs and quickly put them on him.  Thankful that he was able to get there in time.  Thomas started to untie Meredith, when he saw the other officer burst into the living room.  “I see you don’t need my help.”

He looked at Officer Timbers and shook his head.  “I don’t, but the officer outside does.  Is he…”

He nodded.  Thomas finished untying Meredith and then went back to the ex.  “You
are e under arrest for the murder of Officer Ross Benjamin, and the incident of stalking of Meredith Pointer.”  He read him his Miranda Rights and then turned to Officer Timbers.  “Please take him to the station.”

“Gladly.”

Thomas turned to Meredith and she was still sobbing, but that was only to be expected.  “Thank you so much.”  She threw her arms around him and he sighed.  It ended well for him, but not so well for Ross Benjamin.  It was constant worry to family; wondering if their loved one was coming home.  “Do you think he’ll be in jail for a long time?”

“If we have anything to say about it.  I’m sure you’ll be needed for court.  I saw the boxes; were you going somewhere?”

“I was, but I’ll definitely make sure I’m here to put him behind bars.”

“Sounds good; I’ll see you around.  He left her house and got in his squad car.  He had one very important thing he had to do.

____________________

“Class is dismissed.  Have a wonderful Christmas break; I will see you in two weeks.”  Rebecca watched as the class left her room.  She then turned to Kari and smiled.  “Ready?”

“Yep!”  Rebecca took her hand as they got into the hallway.  She nearly ran into Thomas who was entering her room.  “Daddy!”  Kari hugged him, but Rebecca was dumbfounded.  “What are you doing here?”

“Can’t I come and see my favorite girls?”

He looked at Rebecca; their eyes lingered longer than she had wanted them to.  “It’s a bit surprising.  I thought you were meeting us after you got off work.  You must have gotten off early?”

He looked at Kari.  “Kari, go and see if you can find your sisters.  We’ll be right there.”

Kari ran off and Rebecca faced him.  “Did something happen at work?”

“I quit.”

Her eyes got big and she knew she was giving him a weird look.  “What happened?”

“A fellow officer was killed today and I realized that if something would ever happen to me…”

He didn’t usually get emotional, but he knew that tears were nearby.  She wrapped her arm around him and pulled him closer.  It was forward, but in that moment she didn’t care.  “I’m sorry Thomas.”

“It was for the best; I don’t want them to grow up with a mother and a father.  I’m just sorry that it took me this long to realize that I needed a change in occupation.”

“Do you have any ideas what you want to do after this?”

He laughed.  “Next week is Christmas; I doubt too many places are hiring.  I will start looking, but it might be after the first of the year before I find anything.”

Rebecca suddenly was disappointed.  “Then, you won’t need my daycare services.”

“True, but I think we’ll just have to make sure you see the kids for other reasons.”

Rebecca smiled.  “Sounds good to me.”

“Now, let’s go tell the kids the news.”  He linked her arm and they headed out of the school.  She might not be needed as a baby-sitter, but like he said they would come up with other ways to see her.  She would make sure of that.

____________________

Thomas watched as his daughter walked down the steps.  She looked just like her mom and it took his breath away.  “You look beautiful honey;” he leaned in and kissed her cheek.  He handed her a rose and then bowed her way.

“Thank you!  Just remember don’t do anything like that at the dance.”  She smelled the rose and then put it in the vase that he had left her.

He laughed.  “I swear; I won’t.”  Rebecca had picked out an elegant, but youthful dress for Bethany and then she bought her a pair of shoes to match.  Thomas thought it was too much, but she insisted on not accepting anything in return.  Now as he watched her gracefully spin, it made him wish Scarlett was there to see their little girl.  “Can I at least get a picture of you?”

She grumbled, but posed by the banister.  He snapped her picture and smiled.  “That’s all; right?”

He laughed as he laid the camera down.  “That will be all.  We better go pick up Rebecca.”  He grabbed the bouquet of flowers he had chosen for her and they left the house.

He held the door open for her as they reached his van.  “I like Rebecca; do you?”

He nearly choked when she asked the question.  “Of course I like her.”  He replied nonchalantly as he got into the driver’s side and turned on the car.

“Dad, that’s not what I mean.  Do you like, like her?  I mean, you did bring her flowers.”

“I got you a flower too.”  He laughed.

“You got me one flower, and I’m your daughter.”

He wasn’t ready to have that conversation with her, but she seemed persistent.  “How do I know that anything I say won’t be repeated to her?”  He chuckled as he continued down through the addition.

“I can keep a secret.”

He wasn’t completely convinced, but there was something about the way she was looking at him that made him want to trust that.  “You’re the oldest Bethany; what would you say if I said I did like her.  Now, be honest.”

“So, you love her?”

He stared at her.  “I never said love; I said like.”

Bethany rolled her eyes.  “Okay; if you were to tell me that you LIKE her…I would say go for it.  I want you to be happy; I think it’s unanimous that we all like her.  What’s there to question?”

There was a lot for him to question, but he didn’t want to go into that.  “So, if Rebecca and I started to date…you would be okay with that?”

Bethany smiled.  He pulled the van into Rebecca’s driveway, but they didn’t get out.  “I would be more than okay with that.  I miss mom, but Rebecca has many qualities that reminds me of her.  She loves us; that’s easy to see.  I tend to believe that she has the same feelings for you.”

“You think so?”

“Come on dad; I see the way she looks at you.  It’s the same way that Heather and 75 other girls look at Drew.  It can’t be missed.”

He started to laugh.  “You are too much, but remember what I said.”

“This is just between the two of us.”

He winked at her.  “Thank you!”  He hurried to the other side of the van and opened her door.  “After you my dear.”

“Thank you kind sir.”  They laughed as they walked up to Rebecca’s door.  Bethany knocked on the door and immediately Rebecca opened it.

Thomas stood staring at her.  Their eyes were locked for several minutes before Bethany poked him in the side.  “Oh; you look…” he subconsciously allowed his eyes to go from her head to her feet.  Bethany again poked him in the side.  He laughed nervously.  “Sorry; you look amazing.”

She turned red when he complimented her, but she continued to face him.  “You clean up pretty nice as well.”

“Thank you!”

Rebecca then looked at Bethany.  “You look so beautiful.”

“Thank you Rebecca.”

“I have something for you.  Would you both like to come in for a moment while I get it?”

Thomas chuckled; he hadn’t realized they were still standing on her porch.  They entered her foyer and Rebecca met them with a little box.  She handed the box to Bethany.  “You didn’t have to get me anything else.”

“It was my mother’s she gave it to me when I turned 12.  I wanted you to have it.”

Bethany opened the box and removed a cross necklace from the box.  “Rebecca, it’s so pretty.  Thank you!”  She hugged her and then pulled away.  “Please put it on me.”

Rebecca clasped the necklace on Bethany and then she turned to Thomas.  “That definitely adds to the outfit.  That was very generous Rebecca.”

She shrugged.  “I wanted Bethany to have it.”  She then looked at him and then focused her attention on the flowers.  “Are the flowers…”

“Oh; I’m sorry.  They’re for you.”

She smiled as he handed her the bouquet.  “They’re beautiful; thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”

“Let me put them in water and I’ll be just a moment.”

When she left the room he smiled at Bethany.  “Dad, you have to calm down.  Everyone can see how nervous you are.”

He laughed.  He was nervous, but he knew she was right.  “I’ll try.”

“They brightened up my table.”  She walked back in the room and grabbed her shawl.

“Here…let me.”  Thomas nearly leapt to the other side of the foyer and grabbed her shawl from her.

“Thank you!”

“Are you ready?”

She nodded.  “Yes I am.”  They linked arms and he followed Bethany to his van.  He held the door open for her and she got in.

“Thank you!”

“You’re welcome.”  He then opened up the back for Bethany to climb in.  He winked at her; it was a secret between the two of them, but if everything went like he wanted it to Rebecca would soon find out the truth.