Tara laughed. “I was getting ready to say that maybe Ben was just your neighbor with benefits, but your face tells a different story.”
“You know I wasn’t looking for anyone. I had been happy in my marriage, or at least happy in my ignorance.” She saw Tara start to speak and rushed, “I know none of what Matt did was my fault. And as strange as it sounds, even knowing what I know, I would’ve never wished him to have been killed. Eventually, I would’ve found out about the affair, and he and I would’ve had to dissolve our marriage while deciding how to handle custody of the children. But once he was gone, I was more than satisfied to stay single and revel in being just a mom to Charlie and Lily.”
Tara reached over and placed her hand on Violet’s arm, giving a little squeeze. “And then Ben came into the picture.”
“Yep, just like in a ridiculous Hallmark movie, I’ve fallen for the man who moved in next door.”
“Hey, don’t mock Hallmark movies. Believe me, there were many times when my marriage dissolved that I would watch a chick flick while drinking a glass of wine after Colleen had gone to bed. Like you, I never thought about meeting someone. I certainly never went looking.”
“At first, I thought he was just a good neighbor. Helping out his grandmother, not getting upset if my kids peppered him with a thousand questions, adopting a stray dog, and then offering to do some work on my house. Throughout all that, he became someone I enjoyed being with. If he was a friend only, that would be fine.” Another wide grin split her face. “Of course, by then, I was secretly in lust with him, but I would’ve tamped that down so that we could be friends only.”
Tara leaned back and with great drama clapped her palm against her heart. “Oh, unrequited lust for a man in the friend zone.”
“That sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?”
“No, not really. I think if that’s all Ben had wanted, you would’ve fallen into that role. I’m just glad he saw how wonderful you are and is in a place in his life where he wants that.”
The two women were quiet for a moment, then Tara asked, “And how serious are you two?”
“We haven’t spoken of love, although we both admitted we are falling for each other. That seems so adolescent, but I think we’re both almost afraid to mention the word love until we’re sure.”
“Nope, not adolescent at all. Rushing the feelings or the declarations of love would be adolescent. You’re a widow, a mother, and not ready to take another leap unless you’re sure. He’s been in the military, used to men and missions, and not ready to jump into a permanent relationship unless it’s right.”
Violet nodded, Tara’s words striking to the heart of the matter. “But I will confess I think that’s the direction we’re heading.”
Tara slid from the stool and moved directly into Violet’s space, wrapping her arms around her. The two women hugged before the sound of the back door slamming open caused them to look around as the children rushed inside.
“Hey, guys, go wash your hands—”
“Mom!” her kids all shouted at once.
“A creepy man has been sitting across the street staring at us forever!” Lily huffed, a scowl on her face.
“I think he’s the bad man,” Charlie said, his voice subdued as his gaze darted between his sister and mom.
Without hesitation, Violet rushed past the children and through her back door, looking beyond the side street that bordered her fence at the park. There was no bench nearby, but a man was leaning against a tree, looking down at the phone in his hand. Marching to her gate, she threw it open and moved onto the sidewalk, stopping only at the street to see if it was clear of traffic before crossing.
He looked up, his eyes widened, and he turned and started to run away.
“Hey! You!” Rage filled her body as she ran down the sidewalk, but he’d darted across the busy street that passed in front of her house, and with cars moving up and down the road, she couldn’t safely cross. “Dammit!” Realizing she didn’t have her phone, she had no way to take his picture or call for help.
Turning, she stomped back toward her backyard, Tara standing near the fence with her phone in her hand. “The kids are inside where it's safe, and I’ve called Carter.”
Her body began to shake with anger, and Tara wrapped her arms around her. “Thanks, Tara, I’m glad you were here. I need to get to the kids.”
Tara held on for another moment, saying, “Give yourself a moment. The kids are fine and they need to see that you are, too.”
Knowing her friend was right, she breathed deeply for a moment, trying to still the red-hot anger that flowed like lava through her bloodstream. Swallowing deeply, her head nodded in jerky movements, and the two women went back inside. One look at her children’s faces and she dropped to her knees as they rushed to her.
“Mom, don’t be mad, but I called Ben,” Charlie confessed. “He always said I could call him if I needed to.”
“Baby, I’m not mad. Well, not at you.” She stood and ushered the kids into the living room, glancing at Tara. Leaning toward her friend, she whispered, “I’ll let you handle Colleen any way you want.”
“Carter is on his way, and as a detective, he’ll want to know what they saw. And I want Colleen here so that she’ll know her friends are being taken care of.”
Nodding, she let out a shaky breath. Not sure how to prepare the kids for Carter’s arrival, she sat on the sofa with them, each on a side with her arms wrapped tightly around them. “Colleen’s stepdad is a detective, and he’s coming over. He’ll want to make sure you’re safe, and he’ll have some questions for us.”
“Just like on TV,” Charlie said, his voice much surer now that he was tucked into his mom’s embrace.
Before she had a chance to respond, a knock sounded on her front door at the same time her back door slammed open. She jerked her head from side to side in surprise. Ben raced in from the back as Tara opened the front door, allowing Carter to enter.
Violet stood, but Lily and Charlie were faster, rushing to Ben as he squatted, his arms swooping around them. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded as she witnessed the man she’d fallen in love with tightly holding her children safely in his arms. After a moment, his eyes opened and zeroed in on her. She offered a tremulous smile, not sure she would be able to speak.
Ben stood, keeping his hands on Lily’s and Charlie's shoulders, and moved toward her. Her feet became unglued and she rushed to him, the four engulfed in another hug. Turning, she spied Carter standing next to Tara, Colleen in his arms.
“I’m so sorry that something happened while Colleen was here.”
Carter waved away her concern and said, “Let’s sit down and find out what happened. Once I know that I’ll have a better idea of how to proceed.”
She had no idea what proceed meant to the detective but followed his instructions as she ushered the children to the sofa. Sitting in the middle, she was comforted when Ben sat next to her, Charlie tucked into his side and Lily pressed against hers. Tara sat in the chair with Colleen perched with her, and Carter brought in one of the dining room chairs.
“Okay, kids,” Carter began, “can you tell me what you saw and what happened today?”