Page 5 of Protecting Vidalia
“Look, Vidalia,” he said. “Dax didn't tell me what happened, only that you had refused stress debriefing from an incident in which a death occurred.”
Vidalia shot him an angry look. Why did people label life altering events as mere incidents? It was more than an incident—it was a little girl's life. Couldn't people understand that? She was the last person to talk to Dani Owens, and no amount of stress debriefing would change that. Learning to live with her part in the child’s death was the only option left. If she could. “He didn’t have the right to tell you anything,” she said tightly.
His eyes narrowed at her. “You’re right, and he didn’t give me any details. But I do have some experience with what you are going through. It does get easier, but it could get worse if you don’t get some help.”
Her words were short and clipped. “I don't need any help, Jake. I just want to forget it. Forget it ever happened and put it behind me.” God, how she wanted to forget that face that stayed in her mind. That laughing, smiling face they posted in the papers haunted Vidalia’s every waking moment, and her sleeping ones too. How she wished she could forget it.
“Did your superiors clear you of fault?” he probed gently.
“Yes, of course,” she replied.” Now can you leave so I can get changed?”
Jake hesitated as if he wanted to say more, then sighed. “Yeah, sure.”
When Vidalia returned from the bedroom her face was pale and closed. It only took a few minutes to get things put away. “Did you have something in mind for dinner?” he asked finally, mentally clicking over the things they had put away. Not much in the way of meat, that was for sure. Except for some Vienna sausages, canned chicken, deli meats, and cheese hot dogs. No real man food like steaks, brats, or chops. Oh, and plenty of baked goods and treats. The girl must love her chocolate. Then again, he hadn’t met a woman yet that didn’t.
Vidalia shrugged. “Not really, I don’t cook much. Usually, I just have some soup or something,” she waved her hand vaguely as if dinner would forever remain a mystery in her life.
Jake chuckled. “The life of a dispatcher who is always on call, and always changing shifts. I get it.”
“There is that,” she agreed with a quick grin. “I was working second shift when I took vacation, so dinner at everyone else’s dinnertime is a distant memory.”
Her face was getting some color back and she seemed a bit more relaxed to Jake. “How about some grilled cheese?” he asked.
Her eyebrow arched. “And how would we do that exactly? Last time I checked, there was no electricity.”
Good grief, that was almost a glacier thaw. Apparently, the girl could show some snark. Jake went to the laundry room off the kitchen and came back carrying a green camp stove that looked to have seen better days. He grinned in victory. “Me and Dax always keep one of these beauties on hand for just such an occasion,” he said proudly as he sat it on the gleaming stovetop.
Vidalia couldn’t help smiling. The triumph in his eyes might have been equivalent to going out and hunting his own dinner and bringing it home to the little woman. “Do you have the propane to go with it?”
“Of course,” he said. He ducked back into the laundry room and came out carrying two different bottles of it. “Right here.” He held them up with relish.
“Well, then, I’m game for some grilled ham and cheese if you’re cooking. Unless you’re one of those antiques who think a woman’s place is barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen,” she barbed delicately.
He laughed out loud. “I’m a believer in all things being up for discussion and doing what each person likes and does best. I don’t mind cooking, it’s not my favorite hobby, but I don’t mind it.” He gave her the side eye. “I take it you don’t like cooking?”
“Actually, I enjoy cooking when I have time to do it. I especially enjoy baking.” She reached in to the cabinet over the sink and took one of the Rubbermaid containers she’d stored up there. “I especially like to make these,” she said. After taking the lid off she dipped her hand in and came out with one of the biggest cookies Jake had ever seen and took a huge bite out of it.
“What is that?” He asked, reaching over and taking it from her hand. Her cheeks were bugling with the delightful looking treat.
“Mumm,” she mumbled.
Jake eyed the monstrous cookie and identified chocolate chips, M&Ms, raisins, and coconut right off the bat. Throwing caution to the winds, he took a big bite. The explosion of flavor was sweet, chocolatey, and heavenly.
Her eyes were laughing at him as she reached over and took her cookie back. Once she’d swallowed, she enlightened him. “It’s a monster cookie—has about everything you can think of in it. A great way to get rid of almost empty bags of stuff that you can’t use for anything else. Don’t pitch it—make a cookie.
“That is a great cookie,” he said reverently, bending down and taking another bite from the cookie in her fingers. “Ith tha a moshmalo?”
“What?” Vidalia asked as she took the last bite.
Jake swallowed. “I said, is that a marshmallow? I thought I tasted marshmallow.”
She nodded, chewing down the last morsel. “Yes, mini-marshmallows.”
He stared at her mouth, itching to kiss that bit of chocolate off her lips. Watching her enjoy the treat did funny things to him. His buddy down below was getting restless. He mentally groaned when she swiped the chocolate off with her pink tongue. When her eyes darkened and she backed up slightly, he mentally shook himself and turned away. “Now for that grilled ham and cheese.”
“I-I’ll get the stuff from the fridge,” she said breathlessly.
Jake heard her put the cookie container lid on and set it on the counter. When she moved out of his proximity, he sighed in relief and bent to concentrate on getting the camp stove functioning.
