Page 38 of In the Arms of a Hero

Sam and Aaron shared another look and then walked to the front door, where they reencountered Harry, his glare still firmly on his face. He continued to complain, but they soon moved past him and out to Aaron’s SUV.

Once inside, they sat, neither speaking for a moment. Finally, Aaron turned to look at his partner. “Are people getting weirder, or is it my imagination?”

Sam heaved a great sigh. “Fuck, I don’t know. You’re talking to a man who recently had two skeletons discovered on his property. I sometimes wonder if I ever know what the fuck is going on.”

“Maybe we should have interviewed Hercules and Aphrodite. They would have made more sense,” Aaron said.

They shared a look, then both began to chuckle. Aaron drove to the next driveway to start questioning the neighbors, even more desperate for a cup of Belinda’s coffee.

19

“Belinda!”

Belinda turned at the call of her name, stopping at her car door and seeing Hayley hurrying toward her. “Hi!”

“Oh, I’m glad I caught you.” Hayley stopped in front of Belinda and placed her hand on her chest. “You’d think from chasing two kids, I’d be in better shape!”

Laughing, Belinda said, “I was never athletic, and that hasn’t changed as an adult. If I jogged across the parking lot, I’d be out of breath, too!”

She hadn’t spent much time around Hayley, but Aaron had mentioned the problem she and Sam recently had with the skeletons found in their yard. He and Sam spent much of last month dealing with unusual investigations. “What can I do for you?”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Sam and I are getting married right before Christmas. I know it seems rushed, but we’ve known each other for years, and the time seems right.”

Belinda watched as peace filled Hayley’s face and thought of the contrast between the nervous or the demanding brides-to-be she came in contact with. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you. It won’t be a big or fancy ceremony. I had all that with my first husband. Sam and I want a simple ceremony with us, the kids, family, and some friends. Right afterward, we’re all going to Disney World and Universal Studios in Florida.”

Eyes widening, she clapped her hands. “Oh wow, that sounds perfect.”

“I’m sure you’re booked up, but I wanted to check. We’re getting married at the Baytown Methodist church and having a simple reception downstairs in their community room. It’ll be on a Monday, so I was wondering if you could take pictures. The ones you took of us at the beach a few months ago were so beautiful.”

“I only have a few events for December so far, so that won’t be a problem. I’d love to! In fact, this weekend is the wedding of a deputy. If you and Sam will be there, you can check out how I work a wedding.”

Hayley grabbed her and pulled her in for a hug. “Oh my God, you’ve made my day! And yes, we’ll be at that wedding.” She sighed and continued, “Today started out so badly that this will make Sam as happy as me.”

“Is everything okay?”

Hayley pulled back, her gaze searching Belinda’s face. “Oh, I thought maybe Aaron told you. He and Sam were called out for a body found on the beach this morning.”

She’d wondered why she hadn’t heard from Aaron, and now she hated for him to have started out his day this way. “Oh no… I hadn’t heard. And Aaron and I… we’re not… um… we’re just friends now…”

Hayley waved her hand. “Girl, you don’t have to explain anything to me. Sam and I were all over the place for years. Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s right in front of your face.”

She nodded, chuckling. “I remembered him from high school, but he never remembered me. Then when we met upa year ago, we went out a few times, but…” She scrunched her nose. “Let’s just say that the timing was all wrong.”

Hayley grinned, leaned forward, and asked, “And is the timing better now?”

Smiling in return, she replied, “It’s complicated. Yes, it’s better. But we’re taking things very slowly. We want to make sure and not rush into anything. So we’re friends… close friends… and well, um… we’ll see.”

Hayley held her gaze as she dropped her hands to squeeze Belinda’s. “I can already tell that you’re sure. For what it’s worth, he’d be a fool not to be sure, too. Sam says Aaron is smart, so, girl, I’d say it’s only a matter of time.”

Before Belinda had a chance to respond, Hayley’s phone alarm sounded, and she grimaced. “I have to go. I’ll get you the details for the wedding. And thank you!”

As she watched Hayley turn away, she called her back. “Hayley, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“When Sam has a day… well, a day like today where they are investigating something difficult… how…?” She shrugged, uncertain what she was trying to ask.

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