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“Of course, we are. That’s why I’m worried about you.”
Burke laughed again. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
Just then the front door opened, and the kids came running out. Donna and her mother followed.
While the kids played and all through dinner, which was ready half an hour later, Laura Lee watched Rich interact with the kids. He was better to them than any of Donna’s past boyfriends. And he was kind to Donna and her mother too. Would it be the worst thing in the world if the two of them got together? Laura Lee decided it wouldn’t be. It was just that, and she hated to admit it, Rich Burke was too good for her sister. And then she felt terrible for thinking that way.
After dinner and dessert, they all went outside so the kids could play on the fort for a bit longer. Laura Lee noticed that her mother was looking tired, reminding her that she was still frail. She may have had more energy all day, but the day had caught up with her. “Mom, Brad and I will clean the kitchen up. Why don’t you go relax on the couch or even go up to bed if you want. I’m sure Donna will need to get the kids home for bed soon,” Laura Lee said.
“Yes, I think I will, sweetie,” Dorthea said. “I am feeling tired all of a sudden.”
“It’s probably the tryptophan in the turkey, Missus Saxton,” Rich Burke said. “I’m feeling it too.”
“How long are you in town for, Rich?” Laura Lee asked. “And where are you staying?”
“I fly home Sunday morning,” he said with a smile. “And I’m sleeping on Donna’s couch.”
Sure, he was, thought Laura Lee.
Elijah wrapped his arms around Burke’s neck and gave him a hug. “You’re still going to take us to see Santa at the mall tomorrow, aren’t you?”
Laura Lee grimaced. Damn, the kids were attached to him. If he wasn’t interested in Donna, he’d be gone, and they’d be hurt. “How fun,” she said. “We’re in town until Saturday morning. Maybe we’ll come with you. That would be fun.” Her stare of warning met Donna’s eyes. She would have to have a talk with her sister.
“Okay, we’re going to go,” Donna announced. “Kids, give Grandma and Auntie a hug goodbye.”
After they left and her mother went to bed, Laura Lee and Dupont cleaned up the kitchen. She confided in him her fears of the kids getting too attached to Burke and would be hurt when he was out of their lives. She even confessed to thinking he was too good for her sister. “And I really feel bad for thinking that way.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you he was going to be here. He asked me not to,” Dupont said. “He likes her. You never know what will attract two people to each other. I wouldn’t want anyone to wonder about us, so I won’t think that way about anyone else.”
“I know you’re right,” she said as she put away the last plate after drying it.
Dupont took the trash out to the garage to the bin. Laura Lee carried the high chair outside through the back door. It would have to be hosed off it was so filthy. Jeriah had gotten mashed potatoes and gravy all over it. She’d do that in the morning. It was already dark out and she knew the outside hose was disconnected from the faucet.
She stepped back into the house and closed the door as Brad re-entered from the garage. She was diverted from locking the door by the incredible kiss he gifted her with.
“Today was really nice,” Dupont said when his lips broke contact with hers. “I really had a great time with your family.”
“Me too,” she said. “And I look forward to meeting your mom in a few days.”
“She is too,” he said.
“Let’s get our bags from the car. I want to put on some comfy flannel pajamas I have upstairs and won’t want to go back outside after I change.”
They went out the front door to his car. The fort was still in the grass. “Donna didn’t even put that play fort away. Guess that’s up to us too,” she griped.
Dupont hit the unlock button on his fob, noticing that the neighbor’s dog across the street barked, as it looked up at the roof of the ranch house next to the fenced yard he was in. The dog’s owner opened the front door and called him inside. Laura was ahead of him near the car. She reached for the backdoor handle when she dropped her phone.
“Shit,” she cursed, bending down to retrieve it, hoping it hadn’t gotten damaged on the blacktopped driveway.
She didn’t even get a second to process the loud pop-pop sounds that tore through the otherwise quiet area as she bent over. Searing pain, a hot stabbing sensation to her left butt cheek buckled her knees, and she fell forward, barely breaking her fall with the palms of her hands as she collided with the cool blacktop. Even the chill from the ground didn’t lessen the fire in her ass that took her breath away.
“Laura!” Dupont yelled. A volley of rounds fired in his direction, answered. He unholstered his weapon and dove in front of the car. “Laura, roll under the car!” His gaze scanned across the street, and he saw the reflection off something on the roof of that ranch home. “Laura, are you hit?”
She forced her body to move as more rounds struck the side of the car, flattening the back tire beside her. “I’m okay,” she called back to him, even though she knew she wasn’t.
He could see her under the car. “Shooter is on the roof across the street.” He pulled his phone and dialed Ops.
“Ops, go,” Lambchop’s voice answered.
