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Mellie pulled away, shoved her hair back over her shoulder, and grinned sheepishly.
“How many glasses did you get down before you brought the rest to us?”
“Just one. How did you know?”
“Ah ha! I’m a trained observer. A little unsteady on your feet and your eyes were brilliant. Maybe we should get some food into you.” Lori looked at Rachel who’d slid down beside them to be close to her daughter after she saw how emotional things had turned. “Is dinner soon?”
“Yes, of course.” Glancing up at Luke, who’d approached too, she asked, “Honey could you ask the caterers to serve now?”
“On it, babe.”
Beau had also come closer and was there to help the women to their feet. He wrapped an arm around Mellie, “Come on, brat. Let’s get you to the table.”
Rachel stood, wringing her hands, hesitating, and Lori stayed behind with her. “She’s not strong, you know. We’ve had to calm her down both nights. She couldn’t sleep without one of us there.”
“No doubt. What she saw was horrible, not something we ever believe will come to our school and affect our kids… until it does.” Lori scanned the woman beside her, not missing the way the other wrung her hands and shivered uncontrollably. “You do understand that this messes with the parents too, right? I mean you’ve probably witnessed the brutal reality on TV every time they show what happened, and it makes a person realize how close things came to them losing the child they love.”
“You’re right. I always thought my husband, Luke, was so much stronger than me. But since this happened, I see him unravelling, and it’s made me frightened for him.” Rachel had all but whispered the last line, and Lori recognized the turmoil underneath her admission.
“You forgot.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve always known of his sensitivities, probably what attracted you to him at the beginning.”
Rachel looked stunned. “What makes you say this? How would you know?”
“It’s quite obvious in the way he looks at Mellie and you, his pride and adoration. Both of you are his world and without his girls, he’d be lost. It’s all there for the world to see.”
Rachel took a step back, flustered and pale faced. “And yetIhaven’t seen it.”
“Have you not? Hmm, so many relationships get into trouble when the partners don’t really pay close attention to each other. Then they stop listening, or asking real questions, you know… being acknowledged. It’s a frightening world out there, Rachel. Some of us are blindfolded, oblivious to the dangers. Live life thinking the world is safe because why would anyone do something we’d never dream of doing ourselves. I think it might make a partner afraid for their safety.”
“Especially now when Mellie has been threatened.” Rachel muttered it under her breath.
“Especially now, yes.”
“I’ve been so blind. So angry at being looked down on and not accredited with the brains God gave a goat. That’s what I told Luke earlier tonight when he ranted on about the dangers and ordered me to quit my job. Ordered…me.” Rachel pointed at her chest, the fury she felt when she’d heard the words still in her voice.
“And you accepted his right to be afraid for you and agreed you’d only work in pairs, always with another agent.”
“Excuse me? What?” Rachel seemed stunned. “Wait… you’re right. That might work. I could team up with another woman who works the same districts.”
“Makes sense to me. So glad you thought of it. I bet Luke would see the sense in that.”
Rachel grinned, feeling fine with being manipulated and suddenly hugging Lori close. “I think we’re going to be good friends.”
Chapter Twelve
Beau helped Lori into the car and then waved at the couple standing together to say goodbye. He saw Rachel slide her hand into Luke’s and the delight on his buddy’s face before they turned to go back inside.
Pulling out of the circular driveway, Beau looked at his passenger and asked, “What did you say?”
“Me? When?”
“To Rachel. I’ve never seen such a change in a woman as tonight when you both came into the dining room, her arm around your waist no less. I know you talked.”
“Oh, you mean about the importance for a man to know his women are safe. We did cover that. I might have mentioned that the shooting would have affected everyone in the family, including Rachel and even more for Luke. You know it and I know it. But many parents aren’t aware of the disturbing affects it would have had on them also. I just pointed out to Rachel that when a strong, sensitive man like Luke felt his family – who is his whole world – might be in danger, it would destroy him.”
