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enforcement.  I never understood why…”  She abruptly stopped speaking
and her eyes widened.  Why had she just said that?  Probably sleep deprivation
accounted for her slip.  “Oh, Dalton, I’m so sorry…”
    “Hey,
don’t worry about it.  It’s a fair observation.  Why would I pursue the career
when my dad was killed in the line of duty?”  He shrugged.  “My only answer is,
I guess it’s in my blood.”
    She met
his gaze, her eyes reflecting her sorrow for her blunder.  He surprised her
when he took her hand.  “Stop worrying.  I can see in your eyes you’re beating
yourself up right now.  There’s no need.”  He sat back further on the couch. 
“You were always such a sweet little kid,” he remembered.  “Always standing up
for those less fortunate, always planting yourself squarely in front of the kid
others picked on…”
    Laura
was sure she didn’t miss the admiration in his tone, and when his eyes lingered
on hers, she felt that familiar attraction for him.  She glanced around,
suddenly remembering where she was at present.  The muted light of the room
leant a too-intimate quality to the space.  She heard the steady cadence of her
heart, and registered when it increased—when she felt his fingers give her hand
a gentle squeeze.
    So warm
and strong, his hand infused hers with warmth.  How often she had imagined
sitting with Dalton on a couch, or porch swing, their hands intertwined.  How
often she had imagined him taking her in his arms and kissing her. 
    Laura
abruptly pulled her hand away.  She was being ridiculous.  She was
twenty-eight—and they were light years beyond high school, when a mere, brief
glimpse of Dalton could set her heart on over-drive.
    “I
really should get to bed,” she said, beginning to rise.  She felt herself
teeter slightly, and Dalton rose and tightened his grip on her hand.
    “Hey,
let’s give it a couple minutes,” he cautioned.  “Really, Laura, you hit me
pretty hard.  I am a bit concerned.”
    She
eased back onto the couch. 
    “What
were you doing, by the way?  When you and I ran into each other?” he asked.
    She
heaved a weary sigh.  “Kenny had just fallen asleep and I was leaving his
room.”
    “Was he
okay?  I know he hasn’t been himself lately.”
    Laura
wondered how much she should divulge, but she suspected Dalton was privy to a
good deal more information than she was, being as he lived here now.  “The poor
little guy was upset and having trouble sleeping.”
    “Did he
say why?”
    “He
believes his parents’ split has something to do with him and Krissy.”
    “Poor
kid.  But most kids do blame themselves when their parents have problems.  I’ll
have to talk to Dan and have him reassure him.”
    “That’s…” 
Her words trailed off.  She really wasn’t sure how much she should say.
    “What?”
he prompted.
    “He
seemed to think his parents’ marital issues do have something to do with him,
since he said he overheard them arguing—and heard both his and Krissy’s names
mentioned.”
    “Ah,
wow.  Poor Kenny.  I’m sure he was mistaken, but just the same, I’ll talk to
his dad.”
    “Are …
you and Dan pretty good friends?” Laura asked.
    He
nodded.  “Yeah, we’ve become good friends working together for the department.”
    Laura
knew Dalton and Dan hadn’t run in the same crowd in high school.  Whereas
Dalton had been popular and very involved in school, Dan had been quiet and
reserved, and spent most of his time helping out on his parents’ farm. 
    “Dalton…”
    “Yes?”
    “Do you
have any idea what’s going on between Laura and Dan?  Thomas said he doesn’t
know.  Do you think they’re headed for divorce?  The kids are convinced their
parents are splitting up.”
    He ran
a hand through his hair.  “To be honest, I don’t know.  Dan is tight-lipped at
work, but he always has been.  He’s a good man—decent, respectful.  He would
never disparage Candace at work