Page 13 of Too Much Heat

“Neither married nor with child, but I live with my soulmate. We’re crazy in love.”

Lara thought she escaped scrutiny until Katie shook her head. “You’ve distracted us from our question about your life. Now spill.”

Lara’s insides froze. What could she say?I got a husband with ALS which drains me. That my dreams of a happy marriage like yours evaporated as his symptoms got worse. That I’ll never have babies like you.

No way could she share her real situation.

“I grew up in Elmira. I was a secretary in the fire department in the Southern Tier for a while. Then I decided tobecomea firefighter.”

“Why?”

“I saw what they did up close. I admired them so much. And my honey encouraged me.”

“Why’d you come to Westwood?”

Or dear. More lies.

“I finished my training and married Sam, who’s also a firefighter. He wanted to come home.”

“Do we know him?”

“I doubt it. He’s older.”

In reality, when the ALS began to reveal itself, they headed back to his hometown thinking his family could help her take care of him. Which they had. “Now, enough about me. Tell me how all of you snagged great men. And lookers.”

For a minute, Romano came to mind. She wondered if he’d make a good husband.

Chapter 3

“You gotta answer your cell, woman. It’s been ringing off the hook.”

Lara froze, holding the sponge as it dripped onto the table where she’d been cleaning up. “Oh, dear.”

The phone rang again. Still, she didn’t take it from him. “Swanson, are you all right?”

She swallowed hard.

“Do you want me to answer it?”

“No. God no.”

She grabbed her cell and turned her back. “Yes, this Lara…Oh….Oh…I’m at work. You can’t leave…. The police? You called the police? All right, stay there until I get home.”

After disconnecting, she turned and held out the phone. Her hand was trembling. “It’s your phone, Lara.” He’d gentled his tone. She was clearly upset.

“That’s right.” She raised her chin. “Captain, I have an emergency at home. I have to leave work.”

“I thought you lived alone.”

“Please. Let me go.”

He grasped onto her arm. “All right. But you’re in no condition to drive. I’ll take you.”

“You can drive me. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“What doesn’t matter?”

“You’ll find out…. She looked away as if she was embarrassed. And resigned.

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