Page 677 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Time was ticking down. Whoever it was would come after her again, and next time he might do more than push her off the road. Next time he would come gunning for her for real.

32

“KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE; FOR OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE.” —PROVERBS 4:23

When Jarilyn called the next day to invite Sydney to an early dinner and to accompany her to Friday night’s football game, Sydney accepted the invitation with open arms. She hoped that dinner with a friend would help restore an element of sanity to her life. Sydney and Jarilyn’s friendship had been a gradual process, deepening a little more every time they were together. Jarilyn had opened up to Sydney, telling her how Reggie’s father had deserted her a few months after he found out she was pregnant. She confided the struggles she had faced raising Reggie on her own. “I’ve lain awake many a night just praying that everything would be okay, and somehow it usually is,” Jarilyn said.

Sydney divulged as little as possible about her own life. The easiest thing to do was to tell basic facts, leaving out the details. She told Jarilyn about growing up in Ft. Worth with her aunt after her parents died. There had been a few occasions when she had fought the impulse to bare her soul to Jarilyn. She knew that was impossible and left it at that.

They agreed to meet at a Mexican restaurant in Glendale. As usual, Sydney’s Friday had been hectic. She’d planned on getting off work a few minutes early to give herself plenty of extra time to get to Glendale, but it didn’t work out that way. Sean called a last-minute staff meeting that didn’t end until 5:15. When she pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, she was ten minutes late.

She rushed in and made her way to the table where Jarilyn was sitting. A small lantern hanging on the wall reflected an amber light on Jarilyn’s ebony skin, adding a touch of mystery to her striking features. Sydney sat down in the booth and her heart warmed when Jarilyn reached across the table and patted her hand. She had once heard that friends were like precious jewels to be cherished, and she had certainly found a jewel in Jarilyn.

“It’s so good to see you, Sydney.”

“I’m sorry I’m running late.”

“That’s okay. I just got here a few minutes ago. Friday’s are always a madhouse at the bank.”

Sydney chuckled. “Sounds like we had a similar day.”

“What do you think about the game tonight?” Sydney picked up the menu with one hand and retrieved a chip with the other. She dipped it in salsa and popped it in her mouth. The chip was a little stale. She couldn’t help but think about the Blue Mesa, one of her favorite Mexican restaurants in Ft. Worth. Some of Blue Mesa’s sweet potato chips and chipotle salsa would be good right now. This little restaurant, sandwiched in a strip mall with its generic menus and glass vases of plastic flowers, couldn’t hold a candle to the posh décor of the Blue Mesa. The mom and pop restaurants so prevalent in the South had their own appeal, but sometimes she missed the wide variety of restaurants in Ft. Worth.

“Reggie says we have our work cut out for us, but Coach Fletcher believes we have a good chance of winning.”

“I sure hope so,” Sydney said in between bites. “What’re you going to have?”

“I’m thinking about getting a taco salad.”

“That sounds good.”

Jarilyn studied Sydney’s face for a minute. “I’m so glad he has someone like you.”

“Who?”

“Kendall.” Jarilyn laughed and laid the menu on the table.

Sydney’s eyes widened. Jarilyn had made a similar remark on the first day they met at football practice. Sydney had been tempted to ask her about it, but couldn’t figure out how to phrase the question. “What do you mean?”

Jarilyn’s face grew serious. “Sydney, I can’t begin to explain how much Kendall means to Reggie and me. He’s been like a brother and a father to Reggie—all rolled in one. He’s a wonderful role model. Sometimes I think he’s Reggie’s salvation. I shudder when I think about all the things Reggie could be doing other than playing football. I want the best for Kendall, and I think you’re the best—not like that other woman he was dating.”

“What woman was that?” Sydney pretended to read the menu to avoid making eye contact.

“That Jessica woman. She dropped him like a hot potato the minute that fancy friend of yours came to town. Kendall took it pretty hard, too. He was just another notch on her belt. But this time I think she’s met her match. From what I hear, that guy’s a player like Jessica. He dates lots of pretty women.”

Even though Jarilyn wasn’t saying as much, Sydney knew she was remembering the time Sean sat with her during one of the football games. Was this Jarilyn’s way of warning her about Sean?

“All I’ve got to say is that Jessica may be in for a big upset with this one, and it would serve her right.”

Sydney put down the menu and tried to erase the images of Sean with Jessicaand then Kendall with Jessicathat were flip-flopping back and forth like a yoyo. “We’d better order or we’ll be late for the game.”

“Close your eyes.We’re almost there.”

Sydney raised an eyebrow at Kendall and shook her head. “The last time I closed my eyes, we ended up out in the middle of nowhere at a rooster fight.”

“Please, just close your eyes.”

Sydney sighed. “Okay.” Ever since Kendall had picked her up this afternoon, he’d been secretive about their destination. When she’d prodded him, he’d given her his famous boyish grin, the one that melted her heart.

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