Chapter 26
"What did you think of Sam's girlfriend?" The kids had finally settled down and Ollie had his first opportunity to talk to his wife about today.
"I really liked her. She stepped in and helped with the clean-up all day. Most guests won't do that."
"What about her and Sam as a couple? Did you know that she has her own set of keys to his truck? I think we were married before I ever let you drive my car much less have keys to it."
"Sam's older than we were, old enough to know that new truck would be a lot easier to replace than she would."
"That's why we make such a good couple; you have a way of knowing what's important and what's not."
"What's important right now is I have my kids asleep and my husband all to myself." She reached for the man who had shared her bed for some many years now, the man she never tired of.
"I really enjoyed today. You had a good time, didn't you?" Andy was still in the bathroom managing a conversation and tooth brushing all at the same time.
"Always. Was that guy hitting on you?" Sam couldn't help himself. He had watched the guy chat her up, watched her disinterested response, and he still couldn't help himself.
Having finished in the bathroom, she stood in the doorway and smiled at her man waiting in the bed for her, "You're jealous." He was so obvious and she loved it.
His response was rapid and self protective. He had spent months covering up his feelings, that reflex was still in place, "I am not." She said nothing, just lifted a questioning eyebrow. "I guess I am, but Andy, damn it, the way he looked at you." Frustration filled his response.
She climbed into the bed on her knees and sat back on her heels. She wanted to be near him but she knew when she once touched him the conversation would be over. "Sam, I talked to his date in the kitchen. She's somebody Zoë met at ceramics class and invited over for today. That guy didn't know any of us and he didn't know we were together. When I asked him if he'd met my man, the brawler over on the sofa, he said 'no' and went away."
"The brawler on the sofa?" an indignant tone in his voice.
"My brawler on the sofa," her tone softened when she added, "you are mine, you know?"
"I know.' He turned off the lamp next to the bed and by then she was beside him.
Work is work but Monday they were out of the station and together, finally, that they had to work speeders was negative but the weather was nice and they were together, the most important part.
Sam's face was no longer swollen and some of the black and blue was now green and yellow but he still wasn't ready to pose for Mr. January for the Hot Cops of Toronto calendar. For that reason, Sgt. Best had suggested he and Andy work the radar gun while another team flagged down the speeders.
Their plans to stop by her apartment building after work to give notice and a trip to a regular grocery story were not altered because of the man with the camera parked just outside the station door. His presence and the circumstances related to it would not begin to be felt for another twenty-four hours.
While they were at Andy's apartment building she picked up some personal items and more clothes. Since she had to give a full months notice there was lots of time to move out and make decisions about how to dispose of her excess furnishings. Sam's place had some storage area but she knew most of the furniture had to go. That was not going to be a problem for her, there were no family antiques. Her accumulated treasures could fit in a couple of boxes.
When Sam pulled to the curb in the neighborhood of small store fronts Andy was puzzled. "I thought we were going to the grocery."
"We will but Lester is only open to seven and he has the best meats in town." He answered before shutting his door and heading around to open Andy's.
"You don't have to open my door all the time." She loved it but when they were on duty she always opened her own door.
"I know," he replied as he held her hand while she stepped to the sidewalk, "but it tells the world you're important to me."
She didn't know exactly how to reply to that so she remained silent as they walked hand in hand down the street. Lester's Meat Market reminded her of a bakery, not the smells but the long sloped front glass display case with the little price signs in the front of each item. The man behind the case had to be in his sixties, his mostly gray hair was long and pulled back into a braid, with the right vest and tee he could be a biker but instead he had on the white coat and apron associated with his profession.
"Sammy, I haven't seen you in ages and you looked a lot better than you do today." The greeting was warm, like that of a friend.
"I got hit with a frying pan."
"I'm sure it wasn't this beautiful lady." He gestured toward Andy and smiled.
"No, but I was there, Lester, I'm Andy McNally, I'm Sam's partner." She stepped forward and extended her hand over the meat counter but Lester ignored her hand as he headed around the end of the display case.
"If Sammy finally has a partner then she gets a hug, besides all the women I get to hug now days are old." The hug was a pick up and swing around hug, not inappropriate, rather enthusiastic. Lester's next words were advice based on experience. "Sammy, my first wife was a beauty like this and I hate to admit it but I didn't appreciate what I had. If you love this woman you treat her right and never take her for granted. That's a fatal error." He smiled sheepishly, "the old man got maudlin on you didn't he? Sorry about that."
"You advice has always been good, Lester, how about some on meat?" If it had been anyone but Andy, Lester's remarks would have made Sam uncomfortable.
"Anything in particular?"
"My freezer is bare and we're cooking four or five times a week. How about a roast for a couple of days, chops, steak and some lean hamburger? "
"I'll be about fifteen minutes, why don't you two go window shop? There are some nice stores in this block." Lester started working, Sam lifted a questioning eyebrow to Andy, she turned and headed for the door.
Lester had known Sam for a long time; he had never seen him with a woman. Sam had gotten steaks he was going to cook for a woman but shopping for a woman and shopping with a woman were two vastly different things. When Lester sent the couple off window shopping he knew there was a very nice jewelry store just two doors down.
"The store where I bought my candles." Sam said as they passed the closed candle shop. He knew the jewelry store was next, he had recognized Lester's ploy as soon as the suggestion was made. He didn't want to jinx anything by rushing but he did want to see Andy's reaction. He would be lying to himself if he didn't admit he had thought of Andy McNally and long term commitment. The store was closed and the high end items were safely locked in the safe. Watches, birthstones rings and necklaces were still displayed. Not having wedding sets out probably made the conversation easier. "Christmas is coming; rings always make nice gifts for special ladies." Just a statement of fact but it left open the opportunity for a response.
Andy thought she understood the roundabout question and she had an honest answer. "Flashy jewelry isn't appropriate for police women; I don't want anything important that I can't wear all the time."
"I saw some things Saturday that were pretty flashy that you could wear all the time." He gave her his sly grin.
"Now if Ollie can just find time to go with you." She winked and half smiled. He figured she probably wasn't kidding.
As they were headed into the grocery Andy suggested they split up the list, since they had meat in the truck that needed refrigeration soon. Sam's response was quick and definite, "Not a chance"
"What?" she clearly did not understand.
"I'm not going to turn you loose in the grocery store. The last time I did that I caught you straddled a fellow and your dress hiked up almost to your waist. In fact, I'm not going to go unarmed either. You're a perp magnet."
"I'm tempted to call you a Drama Queen." She countered, "And you aren't armed."
"What?" as he lifted the leg of the jeans to reveal a small revolver in a holster at his ankle. "I have paid my dues with you lady; I'm not going to let anything happen to you know."
"Possessive is a little creepy, Sam."
"Don't mistake prized for possessive." His expression was one of determination and resolve as he put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him. "You are not allowed to be mad at me because I care, now how are we splitting this list?"
As they were headed in different directions with their shopping carts he could not resist calling to her, "Andy, don't forget the green beans." She just glared.
The cashier was puzzled when Andy unloaded both carts in one pile. "Is all this together?"
"This is all mine. My bodyguard just helped pick up part of the list."
"Ooh! You a performer or something?"
"Something like that," coupled with a big show biz smile was pretty convincing.
They were putting groceries in the truck before Sam commented about the scene in the store, "You should not have lied to that poor girl like that."
"You are my bodyguard. Aren't you?"
"Yeah and you're a performer or something?"
"Oh how soon you forget. You always seem very pleased with my performance I guess I'll just have to remind you when we get home." The promise in her sultry voice completely distracted him from both time and place.
"I don't want to wait until I get you home." Fortunately the parking lot was poorly lit and with the doors shut the actions of consenting adults were private.
-0-
The ending of this chapter was as much of a surprise to me as it was to you. I've reminded myself that Andy is young and limber and there's a lot more room in the seat of a full sized pick-up than you might imagine. The title of the story is Time to Grow Up, or Not, this is probably an example of the 'or Not' part.
Comments?