"Flynn take a look at her," Provenza nudged Andy as they sat at the end of the bar after a long day at work. Provenza had insisted on coming to this specific bar, his favorite bar, to unwind after work. Andy didn't particularly like this place. He was used to going out with Provenza, but this bar, Provenza's favorite bar, was just not a good place to eat. That was always his focus, as of course, Andy was the tag-along to make sure Provenza got home safely. He, in the past, had also been Provenza's wing-man, but tonight, he just wasn't feeling it. He wanted to go home. He wanted a decent meal, not greasy bar food, and he just wanted to relax.
"Flynn are you listening?" Provenza asked again and nudged Andy again. Andy wiped off his hands, trying to choke down his veggie burger and side salad. He didn't know why he bothered with the food at this place. It was a dump, and he knew he would be better to just wait until he was on his way home to get something to eat.
"Yeah, I heard you," Andy said, still trying to chew his bite of food. "Go talk to her yourself," he nodded toward the woman. Andy glanced at her, very tall, blonde-actually, bleached blonde, and dressed for the hunt, as Andy had told Provenza about women in the past. Provenza was looking around and finally looked back to Andy.
"She's not my type, Flynn. You know that. I can't stand someone THAT tall. She's almost as tall as you. I don't mind if the woman is my height or just a little taller, but even I have some standards. Talk about a shot to the ego," he chuckled. He gestured with his onion ring, "She's totally your type."
"Not interested, and get that onion ring out of my face," he swatted at Provenza's arm. It smells terrible."
"I thought you liked onion rings," Provenza said to him.
"Sometimes," Andy grumbled and continued, "not tonight, not with you."
"You're in a rotten mood. I've tried to send you over to three different women tonight," Provenza told him.
"I'm not in the mood, Provenza. You're looking, and yet, you seem to still be sitting here. Either find a woman who will put up with you tonight, or I know-let's go home," Andy grumbled.
"What's going on with you lately, Flynn? You blew me off, what two weeks ago? Last week, we went out, to a real restaurant with a bar, and you didn't find anyone. Tonight, we're out again, and you are acting like the women here repulse you. I'm looking for a good time, and the Flynn I know usually is too. It's been awhile for you. Is that it? Nervous?"
"No!" Andy exclaimed, gesturing with his fork. He watched as a piece of wilted lettuce went flying in the air and landed behind the bar area, and with that, he rolled his eyes and put down his fork. He wiped his mouth again, while Provenza waited for an explanation. Instead of answering him right away, Andy took another bite of his veggie burger and chewed on it while Provenza continued to sit and eat his onion rings. He finally spoke, "I'm not nervous, and for your information, I am just not interested."
"Are you sick?" Provenza asked and lifted his hand to feel Andy's head.
"Get your greasy hands off me," Andy pushed Provenza's hand away as he swatted at him. "I'm not sick. I'm fine. I just don't need to take a woman home."
Provenza rolled his eyes, "I haven't heard you say that in a long time-" he paused. He looked to Andy, his eyes grew wide, and he pointed at him. "You're sleeping with someone already. You're sleeping with someone behind my back."
"Yeah," Andy nodded and threw his napkin down on the counter. "Because, you know, we're girlfriends like that and dish about every single person we meet. I don't ask questions about the women you take home or follow home," he told Provenza. "And, you and I," he gestured to Provenza, "are not some couple, so how would it be behind your back?'
Provenza narrowed his eyes, and he turned to study Andy. He watched him, but Andy took a sip of his cup of coffee and shook his head at Provenza.
"Let it go, Provenza," he said. "I'm just not in the mood."
"Flynn, there's a red flag right there," Provenza waved his finger at him. "You're always in the mood. I'm almost always in the mood, except when one of my ex-wives calls me, nagging. Spill it, and then, I'm going over there to meet that one," he gave a small nod of his head to the newest woman to enter the bar. Andy glanced at her, and he nodded to Provenza.
"She's your type," he said. The woman was there with a friend, and she was close to 40. She was short, which Andy had to admit, was Provenza's type, and she had dark brown hair. She was dressed in a short skirt suit, but she looked classy, even if the skirt looked a little short for professional wear.
"Flynn, if I lose out on meeting her because you are over here hiding something, I swear!" Provenza said. "I know what it is!" Provenza exclaimed and pointed at Andy. "It all adds up, your age, not being in the mood, all of it. You need some pills. It's okay, Flynn. It happens to the best of us. You just need one of the magic blue pills, and you will be up and running again, back on the horse."
"I don't need pills!" Andy exclaimed. "That's definitely not my problem. Definitely not," he repeated. Andy wiped his hands again and continued to chew. "Fine. I'm not going into details, but I slept with, or am sleeping with Sharon."
Provenza's eyes grew wide, and his expression quickly turned to a horrified one, "Flynn! What a way to stab a guy in the back! You're sleeping with my ex-wife?"
Andy, who expected Provenza to give him grief, suddenly started to shake his head and wave his hands. "Provenza, no! You've got it all wrong. I'm sleeping with Sharon!" This time, the phrase was almost shouted out, so much that others in the bar turned toward the men. Andy groaned and dropped his head and groaned again. Provenza continued to gesture until it hit him.
"Sharon? Wait," his eyes got wide again as he continued, "you mean, Raydor? Your baby mama? Hannah's mom? The woman who has treated you like garbage? The woman we had to hunt down because she took off to hide? The woman you were stupid enough to sleep with not once, or even twice on our work trip, but enough times to knock her up? The woman who has been an annoyance to us for years? Flynn! You are an even bigger idiot. I'm almost hoping you are talking about my ex-wife because while completely insane, it would be better than you telling me it's Raydor. My ex-wife, Sharon, is a complete lunatic, but at least she wouldn't play with your mind. Raydor is a disaster. How in the world did you meet up with her again?"
"You asked," Andy shrugged as he stabbed another bite of his salad. He started to chew it, and he could feel Provenza still staring at him. He shifted in his seat to explain, "Look, it just happened."
"No, no, no," Provenza waved his hand at him. "It's never just happened with you two. She was on the hunt when we were traveling, and you were the guy she snagged. It might just happen with these lovely ladies in here tonight," he gestured around the room and flashed a smirk at Andy, "but that, that with Raydor, doesn't happen. When did it happen? She's supposed to be in Arizona. Flynn, you've been holding back."
"You know, it's one thing with a one-night stand. You and I have never gotten into details; that's not our style, but sure," he shrugged, "we tell each other general details about those times. Sharon, it's different. Whatever happens, it's different. She's the mother of my kid, my daughter," he clarified, "and I'm not going to degrade her to that, to telling you the details. She was in town for work, an old case, and we slept together. Since then, I'm just not looking for anyone else, so no," he smirked at Provenza and continued, "I'm not nervous or out of practice. I'm just not interested in anyone here tonight."
Provenza pointed at him, "You said slept and then said sleeping. Is it going to happen again? This is a terrible idea. She's going to use the kid to hold everything against you, Flynn. How are you not seeing this?"
Andy gestured with his hand, "Why don't you let me worry about my personal life right now? Look, I am aware of the risks," he said.
"I'm not sure you are," Provenza pointed out to him. "I thought you were trying to see Hannah?"
"I am," Andy nodded. "I want it all, Provenza. I want Hannah and Sharon. I'm not sure that will ever happen, but sleeping with her again felt right; it felt good."
"Stop right there," Provenza held up a hand. "I don't want to know."
"Agreed!" Andy exclaimed. "I'm only saying that I want her in my life. I don't know what is going to happen, but that's what I want. She's back in Arizona, and until I figure this out, I don't want to sleep with someone from a bar."
"I never thought I'd see the day, Flynn," he shook his head. "Is she letting you see Hannah?"
"Not yet," Andy shook his head as he used his fork to move around some of his salad. "I mean, I saw her on a video chat when I was with Sharon. She rolled over. Since then, I haven't pushed. I'm taking things slowly, hoping Sharon realizes what I think she feels."
Provenza just eyed him and then shook his head. He pursed his lips, "When did all this happen?"
"First week of February," Andy told him. "You remember that day I was out for court? It was that night."
"Flynn, that was almost a month ago! How have you not told me?" Provenza exclaimed.
It was now the last week of February, just a couple more days until the start of a new month. Andy had been giving Sharon space. As hard as it was, he hadn't called her or sent her flowers on Valentine's Day. He'd wanted to do that, but he knew she'd hate that. Instead, he'd sent Hannah a card, one that said, "Happy 1st Valentine's Day Princess." He thought it was just the right thing to send. Sharon, of course, would be the one to get and open the card. She'd read the message, and that was fine with him. Anything more would be too much, and it seemed like it worked. The only mention of Valentine's Day, and indirectly too, was a text that evening from Sharon that said, "Thank you for the card." Now, almost two weeks later, Andy was planning to go home and call Sharon. He had spoken to her one other time since she'd gone back to Arizona. He was serious about giving her space, as hard as it was for him. It had also been a busy month with work, something he'd told her when he'd last spoken to her, a few days after she'd returned home. He started to think about that, but Provenza continued to irritate him here at the bar. He just needed to go home.
"I don't want to get into it. Look, I'm fine sitting here while you scout out things. I'm about ready to go home. My meal was terrible, and I want to relax. Now, I'm happy to drive you home, so right now, I just need to know if I'm taking you home, or if you are going home with someone else."
Provenza looked at him and shook his head, almost in disbelief at Andy's stupidity. He wiped his mouth and nodded to Andy, "Got any breath mints?"
"Get your onion breath away from me," Andy pushed off Provenza. "I don't want to smell that."
"That's why I'm asking for breath mints," Provenza nodded at him. "Do you have a couple? I can't go over there to pick up a classy woman smelling like this."
"Here's an idea," Andy said as he dug out some mints from his pocket, "maybe you shouldn't order onion rings when you are trying to score. I mean," he shrugged, "just a thought."
"They're tasty, one of the best things to order here," Provenza said. "Thanks for the mints. Wish me luck," he patted Andy's arm as he stood. Andy rolled his eyes.
"So, you're good getting home?" Andy asked. "I'm ready to head out."
"I mean, I might call you in the morning to pick me up, but tonight," he patted Andy's back and nodded, "I'm fine. Thanks, Flynn. I need to get my mind off your dumb move, sleeping with Raydor, and get my head back in the game. Now, I'm expecting next week when we go out, that you will be over this little sleepover mess."
"Fine," Andy waved him off. "Have fun, Provenza."
"I'm feeling like a stallion tonight, Flynn," Provenza patted his shoulder again as he started to walk away.
"Don't forget to take your little blue pill," Andy called out loudly to Provenza, and when he turned back to Andy, horrified, Andy smirked and threw him a small wave. Provenza just scowled before he turned his attention to the woman across the bar.
It only took Andy another minute to collect his things and pay his bill, or rather, his bill along with Provenza's. The guy never paid for anything, but Andy had long ago accepted that. Regardless of the comments or taunting, Provenza was a true friend. He'd been there for Andy through it all, the drinking, the rough road to sobriety, the divorce-all of it. Likewise, Andy had been there for Provenza, through multiple divorces, and he'd watched Provenza fall in and out of love, sometimes as quickly as a kid could eat an ice cream cone. As Andy started for the door, he glanced one last time at Provenza, who was now seated next to the woman and apparently, turning on the charm. Provenza caught Andy's eye, and he gave him a single nod. He was okay. Andy threw him a small wave and stepped outside. There was still a chill in the air. Winter was hanging on, and he was ready for it to end. He moved quickly to his car, hoping it wouldn't be too cold inside. Sure, it wasn't that cold, but it was cold to him. Last he'd spoken to Sharon, she had mentioned it was snowing there in Flagstaff. After talking about her with Provenza, all Andy wanted to do was pick up the phone and call her. It had been a couple weeks. He'd given her plenty of space; a call was appropriate.
"Hi, Sharon," he said when she answered. It sounded like she was distracted because she'd greeted him with more of a business greeting, a 'This is Sharon Raydor,' greeting.
"Andy," she said, a little surprised and out of breath. Clearly, she hadn't checked her caller id. "Hi, I'm sorry. I ran to the phone. I fell asleep in Hannah's room, and I still feel half asleep."
"I'm sorry I woke you," he said in a very sincere tone. "I hadn't spoken to you in a couple weeks. Work has been busy for me," he said, hoping she would admit she could have called him, but she hadn't either.
"I'm sorry too," she sighed. "Hannah and I both had a cold last week. It's no excuse, but it zapped me. I was really dragging. Thankfully, it seemed worse for me than it did for her. We're better now, but for a couple days, I just wanted to sleep. With her congested, neither of us slept well. Anyway, we're on the mend. Now, I'm just trying to catch up on my sleep, which I'm not sure that will happen for 18 years."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he sighed as he drove. "I wish you would have told me. I mean, you're there on your own, and I'm not sure what I could have done to help, but I would have checked on you more."
"I didn't tell you to get sympathy or ask you to check on us," she sighed.
"I know," he nodded. "I just care. I'm glad to hear you are both feeling better."
The silence descended on them, and she finally broke it. "I can't believe Hannah is six months old now. Time is going so quickly."
"I know. It's really crazy she's been here that long," he told her.
"She's trying her hardest to roll from her back to her stomach," Sharon told him. "She's almost there. I also have been helping her sit up, but she can't hold that for more than a few seconds. It's funny because she'll just topple over if I don't have my hands right there. She finds that funny, and her little personality is really coming out more and more."
"I'd love to see pictures, video even," he told her.
"Ahh, I will," she said slowly as if she was almost thinking about it. "I will try to do that tomorrow."
"I'll take anything you have, whenever you have it," he told her. "So, tell me about you. How is work going?"
"Work?" Sharon asked.
"Yeah, you know, the place you go most days to teach young impressionable co-ed's, work," he nodded. "I deal with dead bodies and dirt bags. You deal with young men and women, where I'm sure the guys are all thinking of how hot their teacher is."
"Trust me," she sighed. "There's no way they think that. I somehow went from the cool instructor to the tough as nails one. Apparently, my exams are a killer, and I demand a lot from the papers the students turn in for my class."
"I see," Andy nodded. "Somehow, I'm not surprised. You demand a lot of people, which is a good thing. You have always been good at your jobs, even when people don't like you. It's just a dislike of having to perform, having to put forth the effort."
"Whatever it is, I'm not sure I'm the popular instructor," she lightly chuckled.
"Hey, we both know I'm not exactly popular at work too. You're popular with me, and I try to be my best for you. You make me want to be a better person," he told her.
Sharon ignored that comment and returned to Hannah, "Hannah is eating more solid foods."
"I'm glad to hear that. I would like to see her sometime. I hope you will consider that," he said. "I didn't get to ask, but is your job renewed for next semester? I don't know how that works."
"Oh," she said, surprised he was asking more about her, "it is, yes. My contract is for a full year right now. I'm enjoying it very much. I also enjoy the flower shop. That has been a welcome surprise."
"You're still working there?" Andy asked. "Why didn't I know that? That's great, Sharon."
"Hmm, yes, we had agreed through Christmas, and she was great about that. After I started working at the university, I scaled back, to just Saturday mornings. That worked for a couple of weeks, with the understanding she was trying to hire a few college kids. That hasn't worked as she wanted, so I'm now on an as-needed basis. It's usually a day or so a week, just a couple hours, and she loves Hannah. It's an odd situation, a job I never expected to have, but it's fallen into my lap and enjoyable."
"I'm really glad you are enjoying it. I had no idea you were still doing that. Seems there's a lot we could discuss," he chuckled. "How are-" he was interrupted with a call on the other line. He glanced at the number, and he groaned loudly.
"Something wrong?" Sharon asked. "It sounds like you are driving."
"Hold on," he told her. "It's my call waiting. Looks like there's a dead body."
"Okay," she chuckled. "Anyone else might think that statement sounds disturbing. Look, I can let you go."
"No, no!" Andy exclaimed, worried if Sharon got off the phone, he wouldn't talk to her for some time. "Please, just give me a second."
"Okay," she told him. "I'll wait."
Andy chuckled too as he switched over to the chief, "Yes, Chief?"
"Andy, I'm sorry to call you, but I cannot get in touch with Lieutenant Provenza. I know he's often with you."
"Ahh, yeah, I just left him, but he was busy. He might not be able to hear his phone," he grimaced, hoping he wouldn't have to tell the chief exactly what Provenza was probably now doing. "Something I can do for you, Chief?"
"Ahh, yes, Chief Pope just called me. We have a case. Since the lieutenant is not answering, would you make the calls? Sounds like you might know how to find the lieutenant, so I will text you the address and meet you there. Make sure the lieutenant is with you."
"Sure, Chief," Andy said and sighed. "I'll take care of it."
"Thank you," Brenda told him, drawing out both words. He shook his head as the two hung up with each other, and he quickly switched back to Sharon.
"Sharon?" Andy asked, hoping she hadn't hung up the phone.
"I'm here. I just checked on Hannah again and am going to bed," she told him.
"Wow, that sounds great right now. I'm turning my car around as we speak," he said. "I need to pull over and call everyone. We have a case."
"Not that you aren't capable, but I thought Lieutenant Provenza did that," she pointed out to him.
"Yeah, well, let's just say that he's otherwise engaged. I am driving. I think you asked me that earlier. I'm driving home, or I was driving home. Now, I'm going back to work. Provenza and I had dinner. I left him with, well," he chuckled and let out a long sigh, "in the company of a lady."
"Oh," Sharon said. "I see."
"Just Provenza, though," he quickly told her. "Provenza is probably waiting for his pill to kick in," he chuckled. "Not me," he clarified. "I don't have that problem," he sighed, now certain Sharon was horrified at the topic. "At the bar, I wasn't talking to anyone. That's why I wanted to call you. I mean," he put his head on the back of his seat and sighed. "I mean, I wanted to call you. I was thinking of you. Provenza was giving me a hard time for not joining him with his lady friends. Anyway, I have been thinking of you."
"Andy, you know you are free to-" she paused, not sure how to word it.
"I'm calling you," he said in a reassuring tone. "I'm not sure when we can repeat your last trip, but that's what I think about often. I think of you. I know you said that would be it, but I hope it's not. I hope we can be together again. I'm not suggesting you do anything, but I'm telling you I had no interest tonight in any of those women."
"I'm not sure what-" she paused again, the silence now hanging.
"Look, this wasn't a call for any deep discussion. I miss you, Sharon. I miss Hannah. I'm going to call again. You told me you would call, remember? When we left the hotel, you and I promised we would try to at least speak to one another. I'm going to call again. I have to go to work right now, but I'll talk to you soon."
"I did agree to that, and I've thought of our time too. Thank you for calling. I appreciate you not smothering me with calls," she told him. "I will send you a new picture of Hannah. I should have done that already."
"Great," he smiled to himself. "I look forward to it. Get some rest, Sharon, and I'll talk to you soon. Give Hannah a kiss from me. Glad you are both feeling better."
"Bye, Andy. Be safe tonight," she told him. The two hung up, and Andy pulled into a parking lot to make his calls. The team would need to be assembled, and the first call he had to make was to Provenza, hoping the guy didn't hate him for calling and interrupting his night. He knew he'd interrupted Sharon's night, but that was a call he had been glad to make.
Sharon sat in her apartment in the silent darkness. She was exhausted. Her cold wasn't anything awful, but it had taken its toll on her. She was feeling every bit her age, and coupling that with an infant, she was worn out. She couldn't believe she'd fallen asleep in Hannah's room, sitting there in the rocking chair. She'd waited for Hannah to fall asleep, and in the interim, she'd fallen asleep. She didn't normally sit in Hannah's room like that as she tried to go to sleep. Sharon was a believer in putting her daughter to bed and quietly exiting her room. She'd been a little more cautious of Hannah with her cold because of her congestion. It was her first cold, and while again, it wasn't anything terrible, the nights were worse on her congestion. Tonight, though, Hannah was sounding much better and went to sleep easily. Apparently, Sharon did too. She was glad Andy had called if only because it had her waking up and not sleeping all night in the chair. Andy had called her. She had to admit it was nice speaking to him. She really should send him pictures and video of Hannah. What could that hurt? As she sat, she thought back to their night together, their most recent night together. It was a memory she went to often, something she thought of fondly. She had needed that night. He had been just what she needed, and while she had not planned for him to stay the night, it had been enjoyable too. Leaving the next day hadn't been as awkward as she'd imagined. He had not made any demands. He'd ordered breakfast for them, and when they were fed and dressed, he had walked her to the lobby, where, out of sight, he'd kissed her again and told her to be safe traveling. He'd squeezed her hand one last time and told her to kiss Hannah too. As she had turned to walk away, she heard him say, "I'll be calling you." That had been it. She was still cautious about his intentions and worried he was trying to use her to get to Hannah. Her mind was telling her lately that wasn't the case, but she couldn't fully accept that yet. She'd spent years working with people trying to stab others in the back. Her own husband had done it to her and had used her for anything and everything. Trust didn't come easily.
Andy, though, he appeared to be trying to earn her trust. Funny, he'd called and asked about her, SHARON. Yes, they'd spoken of Hannah, and he was both interested and worried about her, as she would hope, but he'd asked about her. They'd had a civil, no a pleasant conversation. He wanted to know about her work. She could do a better job of talking to him because aside from knowing he was going back to work tonight, she really didn't know much about what was going on in his life. It surprised her. She couldn't remember the last time a man really wanted to know about her. Most just WANTED her, in a bed, and then, after a couple hours, were ready to go on their way. Jack had been like that. Her adventure into "living freely" had been somewhat like that. She'd been like that too, not that she was really proud of that behavior anymore. She'd tried to be cold and matter of fact with men. Obviously, that wasn't working for her, but tonight, it had been nice to have a normal conversation. They hadn't yelled. He hadn't demanded to see Hannah. He'd simply said he would enjoy pictures and video of her. Andy. Sharon nodded to herself. Her problems were not going to be solved tonight, sitting alone in the dark. Funny, how now as she was getting up to go to bed, she started to think about how she'd had a nice evening. He'd called her. He'd asked about both of them. He'd been kind. She'd enjoyed talking to him, maybe? Sharon shook her head. Tonight, she needed sleep. Tomorrow, maybe, if she thought about it, she would send Andy some pictures of sweet Hannah.