Page 61 of Gentle Persuasion

It was then Rick saw him standing in the doorway. “Hey, buddy. Don’t be a stranger. Come in and see what Tina has.”

Cole grinned. “I heard the laughter all the way down the hall. What’s so funny?”

Tina looked up and smiled. “We’re laughing at a picture Enrique drew. It is of the little girl next door. We’re trying to decide whether to move now or wait until Enrique is a little older before we panic.”

Cole looked puzzled. Tina explained.

“We think he’s in love. He drew a picture of the girl and put bats all over her clothing. It’s a sure sign he likes her, you know. Only the best rate bats.”

Cole laughed. He remembered the boy’s infatuation with his hero, Batman.

“Better move now, love is hell,” he warned.

Tina stopped laughing and stared point blank. “What’s going on?” she asked sharply. And then she looked past Cole into the open doorway. “And where’s Debbie? I haven’t seen her in days. Have you?”

Cole frowned and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“Tina…” Rick’s warning was soft but firm. He grasped her hand. “You’re got enough to worry about without interfering with Cole’s business.”

“It’s my business, too,” she said. “You don’t understand. When you were so sick…I…I lost my temper and said some hurtful things. And I think—” she looked up at Cole with tear-filled eyes “—I think it just may have given Cole the wrong idea.”

“Tina! You didn’t lose your temper? I’m shocked! What will Cole think?” Rick grimaced as he shifted to a more comfortable position. And then he continued with a sarcastic grin. “Of course you lost your temper. You always do. It’s one of the things I love most about you.”

Cole listened. Fascinated by their ability to laugh, as if the last few days had never happened.

“But you were so frantic,” Cole said to Tina. “You were blaming the job and—”

“And you. Tell the truth,” Tina whispered, ashamed of herself but unwilling to ignore what she’d done. And then she shrugged. “I can’t help it. It’s just my nature. When bad things happen, I always have to blame something…or someone. Then I can get on to the business of fixing it.”

“What if this couldn’t be fixed?” Cole asked, unwilling to look at his partner’s face. But he had to know.

Tina slid her hand beneath her husband’s. Her eyes teared as he gave it a gentle pat.

“Then I would have had ten good years to remember and two children to love,” she answered. “I knew when I married Rick that he was going to be a cop. I accepted it then. What has happened has changed nothing, except maybe it makes me appreciate him more.”

“If you have love, Cole, nothing else matters,” Rick said quietly.

Cole stared at the truth on his partner’s face. His stomach tilted. He had the strongest urge to go home. Suddenly, seeing Debbie would come none too soon.

“Really glad to see you doing so well, Rick. Everyone sends their best. I’ve got to be going now. I’ll see you later.”

He made a hasty exit from the room and missed the knowing looks that passed between the Garzas. Tina leaned her head down on her husband’s arm and kissed his hand. She had much to be thankful for.

***

It hit him like a ton of bricks. The chaos was complete. Cole was speechless at the sight that met him when he walked into the house.

The baby was crying.

Morgan came running from the kitchen with a heated bottle full of baby formula.

Case was competently patting his son’s behind, trying to soothe him until the arrival of food.

Buddy had disappeared into his room, convinced that dirty diapers and burping babies left a lot to be desired. He’d decided to admire and cuddle when the opportunity arose, and wait until Charlie could communicate on a higher level than shrieks.

Cole grinned. Now this is what I call, “coming home.”

“Hi, everyone,’ he said. “So, this is my nephew. Hi there, fellow,” he crooned, and stroked the baby’s crumpled cheek. His little mouth turned automatically toward the touch, and for a moment, his crying hushed. “Aren’t things going your way today? Boy, can I ever sympathize. Where’s Lily?” he asked, wondering where the new mother was in all this melee.

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