Page 15 of Desire

Chapter 12

Saturday mornings were usually spent meetingPenny for brunch and then running errands. I had spent most of last night replaying my visit from Detective Daniel Webber. His touch had sent the tiniest spark through me. Nothing like the inferno I felt at Connor’s touch, but enough to intrigue me. I didn’t know if Daniel was into kink, and I hadn’t had vanilla sex since my senior year of high school. I had no idea why I was even thinking about him anyway. He offered to help with Alex; that was it. I was reading too much into his caress.

I finished tidying up the house and headed out the door. I loved living this close to downtown, because I could walk everywhere. Today was the perfect fall day with the leaves only just starting to turn. It was my favorite time of year. I leisurely strolled down the sidewalk, taking in the birds chirping and smelling the scent of fresh-cut grass in the air. I turned the corner and headed into Miller’s Cafe.

Miller’s is a quaint little diner owned by Joe and Betty Miller, and has been open for over sixty years. Their food is plentiful and inexpensive. I headed toward our usual table mid-way to the back of the restaurant where Penny was already waiting for me. I slid into the chair across from her with my back to the door.

“You’ll never guess what happened last night.” I teased her.

She bounced a little excitedly in her chair waiting for the juicy gossip. “Did you and Connor finally boink?” She whispered the last word.

“Boink? Good lord, woman. Have I taught you nothing? I don’t boink; I fuck. And no, Connor and I didn’t ‘boink’.” I laughed. The elderly couple two tables away sent a dirty glare our way at my word choice. I didn’t care. I cussed like a sailor; sue me. There weren’t any children around so they needed to get over it.

“Apparently, Connor went to an acquaintance of his at the police with some concerns he had about Alex. This acquaintance, one deliciously gorgeous officer named Daniel Webber, came by my house last night. He left his card with his personal cell phone number, and I am not kidding when I tell you he totally eye-fucked me. I have to be honest and say I definitely wasn’t upset about it, either. He’s hot and I didn’t see a ring on his finger. Not that that means anything nowadays.”

I could tell she deflated a little at my words. I knew her heart was set on Connor and me getting together. I hated to keep dashing her hopes. I doubted anything would come from a mild flirtation with the sexy detective, but it didn’t hurt anything. We were both single, or at least I assumed the detective was single since I hadn’t spotted a ring, and I wasn’t dead yet. I could certainly appreciate a handsome man.

“Why does Connor have concerns about Alex?” she asked in puzzlement.

“He found a bruise on Alex, and even though Alex gave a reasonable excuse, Connor wasn’t taking any chances. He at least wanted the police to know in case it turns into something more. God, I pray it doesn’t. Alex being abused would be another thing that’s my fault.”

Penny reached across the table and laid her hand over mine. “Bridget, you need to stop with the guilt. You did what was right for Alex at the time. You have no control over the universe. Sometimes bad things happen. They’re no one’s fault. They just are. Stop beating yourself up.”

Neither of us spoke for a few minutes. I tried to stop the guilt, but it never went away. I didn’t need to bring our day down with my depression, so I broke the silence by asking about her adopted daughter, Hailey. Instantly, the atmosphere changed as a look of joy spread across Penny’s face.

We chatted for a while about Hailey and how she was still adjusting to the change of having a new stepmom. Penny also talked about wanting another baby. She loved and treated Hailey as though she’d given birth to her, but she also wanted a baby that was hers and Marcus’.

Our food came, and conversation slowed as we focused on our meal. I noticed, though, that Penny was continuously distracted by something at the front of the restaurant. As I was about to turn around to see what had her attention she discreetly pointed.

“I can’t be sure, but there’s a young boy who appears to be watching us. Brace yourself before you turn around, Bridget, because he looks just like you.”

My heart rate accelerated at her words and my head whipped around. Joy filled my heart at the sight of him. In both shock and awe, I could only whisper, “Alex.”

He appeared startled for a moment before another expression, one I couldn’t determine, flashed across his face. Without warning, he jumped up from his chair so quickly it toppled over behind him. Then he took off running out of the cafe. Confused and worried, I leapt out of my own chair and gave chase, screaming his name.

I had never been athletic, but I ran as fast as I could, yelling Alex’s name as I followed him for several blocks, until fatigue and a stitch in my side started slowing me down. Damn, that kid was fast. I ran until I exhausted myself without getting any closer to catching up with him. Tears poured down my face. I had been so close. Why was he running from me? It didn't make any sense. Finally, I had to force myself to stop, and he disappeared out of my sight.

I collapsed in exhaustion against the side of the building. My legs were so weak I slid down to my butt, bringing my knees to my chest, and laid my head on my knees and cried. When I finally got myself under control, I trudged back to the restaurant where a worried Penny waited. I slid back in to my vacated seat. I’m sure I looked a mess with a flushed face and tear tracks down my cheeks, but I didn’t care.

With concern in her voice Penny apologized that she might have spooked him. I waved off her concern and listlessly returned to my meal. Not able to eat anymore, I pushed my food around on my plate. The remainder of our morning was spent in heavy silence. Finally, I gave up any pretense of enjoying myself any longer.

“I’m sorry, Penny, but I need to get out of here. I hate that I’m ruining our brunch, but I’m just not in the mood for socializing anymore.”

I rose from my seat with Penny following suit. She moved around the table until she stood next to me then reached out to grasp my hand

“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. Is there anything I can do, Bridge? I feel like this is all my fault.” Penny asked, concern evident in her voice.

I only shook my head. “No, I’m sorry I wasn’t good company today.”

“I understand. So, what are you going to do now?” she asked.

I shrugged in indecision. “I need to call Connor. Or maybe Daniel. Someone needs to check on Alex. I have no idea why he ran. God, this is killing me.”

We hugged our goodbyes, and I skipped running my errands. Instead, I walked home and sat, staring into space, debating who I should call. Connor or Daniel? It didn’t take me long to figure it out. My heart knew long before my brain did. I reached for my phone and dialed the number.

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