“It’s a good choice to my way of thinking.” He had to admit it tasted as good as it smelled when she brought it to the table. After a couple of minutes, he nodded and looked across the table at her.
“Is there anything you can’t cook? Everything I’ve tasted over the last week up to and including this meal has been delicious. If you ever get tired of the bench, you could open your own restaurant.”
“Thank you. You don’t sound as skeptical as you did the first time I cooked at the fishing cabin.”
“I didn’t know you then.”
“And you think you know me now?”
“Not everything,” he conceded. “You are a multi-faceted human being. That is what I have learned most. But I also think there are more layers to you that are very rarely, if ever, shown to others.
“Very perceptive. It must come in handy in your work.”
“It can. But we have some time here,” he began, “perhaps since you know so much more about me and my family, you might share some items that aren’t generally for public consumption.”
“There’s not more to my story. At least nothing that would be of interest.”
“I think you’re wrong there. Why do you think your life isn’t of interest?”
She stood and took her empty plate and bowl to the sink. He thought she was going to ignore the subject until she finally spoke, turning to look at him, hips leaning against the front of the sink, arms folded as if in a protective stance. “Okay, Marshal Parker, I guess you’ve earned the right to hear my brief story since you’ve had to give up what you enjoy about your job to put up with babysitting me.”
“I do want to hear it and why you said that you envied me and my family. That’s quite a statement, particularly given what you have accomplished.”
Chapter Twelve
“You asked for it so here it goes. You have your siblings; you were never alone no matter how bad the situation may have been as you grew up. I always wished there was someone…a sibling…who would have made a difference in the trajectory of my life. I was an only child. My parents were lucky to have me as it was. So, I was it. And I knew from very early on that had been a disappointment for my father. He had wanted an heir…a male child…a young prince to groom in his image so to speak. Instead, he got me. And if I wanted attention, I knew I had to fill that void. There was no other choice but to follow in his footsteps and learn all I could about the law. I got the highest grades. I was valedictorian both in high school and university. But I also had to perform the same in law school. And I did.”
“Did…do you really like the law, or you just feel it’s expected? Nothing else you would have chosen with the opportunity to do so?”
“Perhaps but I became a lawyer. Was on track to do what my father had planned out. That included making the best possible marriage. And he was very pleased when I followed his choice. My chosen husband was as driven as my father. And there was a plan in place. There would be five years of building a law foundation, then he would run for office on the state level…and win, of course. Somewhere in that timeframe, two children would come along…good political advantage with the voters. The next five-year plan would have us in Washington, and the groundwork would be laid for a run for that house on Pennsylvania Avenue. Sort of the next version of Camelot. Yes, there was always a plan. But my father hadn’t counted on having the heart attack very soon after I married, thus throwing off the second phase of planning. He died, and I was put in his vacant bench. And no one was more shocked than I when I was given the bench permanently.”
“So, the plans were really blown off course?”
“Oh yes.” She nodded. “And my spouse was not one to behave well when his plans went off track. Although his problem was, he got caught when our cook fell pregnant and decided to demand a hefty sum to keep quiet. His family thought I would go along with it all. But I disappointed them and really made a mess of the grand plan. I divorced them and they have never spoken to me since. And their son lost his bid for office.”
“You became a rebel of sorts?”
“A rebel?” she said, with a considering look at the word. “Perhaps. I just knew that there was only me left and the slate was mine to write on for the first time. And so, I did. People think I am aloof and a snob. I am quiet and thoughtful before I speak. I was born into wealth… It wasn’t my choice or design, so I don’t apologize for it. But I do use it for good in the community—just don’t advertise it. I envy your family because they not only like each other, but they have love, too. You have each other’s backs. That must be quite a feeling. So, you can use whatever the labels are currently in the courthouse for me, but I have earned my seat on that bench. I make no apologies to anyone. The law might be blind, but not in my courtroom, and it is equal for any person in front of me. And that is that…really nothing special.”
Rance stood and moved to place his dishes inside the sink also. His thoughts were sorting through all he had heard. It explained a lot about the woman beside him. He could feel sorry for her, and he did to some degree. But he also felt in awe in a strange way, too. Money can’t buy everything, and it certainly hasn’t in her case. If anything, it had created problems. But she had not allowed them to stop her. And she had done it on her own.
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s not why I told you and there is no reason you should be sorry for me.”
“I’m not sorry for you,” he corrected, turning until a mere inch or so separated them. “I’m sorry that I formed an opinion about you that was based on superficial gossip and didn’t wait until I knew the facts for myself.”
“You think you know me now?”
“I think that I know that you are far more human than you let on, that you have built this persona as a wall to protect yourself and the life you’ve chosen for yourself. That you have more compassion not only for the law and its application but for strangers who you don’t even know, except that they need your capabilities to help them in such a way you jumped in where needed during the flooding to feed people when you could have easily sat it out. You have a heart buried in that black robe you earned the right to wear. You are quite a woman.”
The air had become heavier to breathe. The only sound was a soft ticking of the grandfather clock from the hallway. The space enshrouded them like a cocoon. Rance slowly reached out and slid his arm around her waist, and she turned to face him, her palms flat against his chest, but there was no pressure applied to keep him away.
“Is this a good idea?” she whispered.
“You tell me—you be the judge.” And his head dipped and the warmth of breath carrying his words was soft as a caress. Her lips met his in a tentative welcome. Then his free arm joined the other around her waist and brought her into him, her hands sliding upward and over his shoulders to entwine themselves behind his neck. She went up on tiptoe to further seal their lips. Somehow there were tiny sparks shooting along with the blood pulsing through his body, bringing heat to his need to taste more of her. Her response mirrored his. Time stretched and then the clock began to strike the hour and that sane motion brought an end to an insane one in Rance’s mind. He stepped away, arms falling to his sides. He tried to find the words he felt were needed, but they didn’t readily come.
“I know,” she spoke into the void, “big mistake. No worries, this never happened. It’s late and the last couple of days have been emotional and draining. Good night.” And she was gone, not in a rush but with a dignified exit.
