4.
~ Norma let out a contented sigh and rested her head on Alex's chest. It was funny how it didn't feel weird to make such intimate contact with him anymore. How easily they had stepped from guarded acquaintances, uneasy friends, untested allies to effortless romantic partners. All without the awkwardness that accompanied normal couples when they tested these same waters.
Norma and Alex recklessly dove right in without fear of the shallow depths below. It was either very brave, or very foolish. Norma couldn't decide which and she still wasn't sure if they would make it back to the surface.
"What you thinking about?" he asked in the darkness. His voice made a pleasing rumble inside his chest and Norma felt the soothing sound of his breathing changing when he talked and how his voice was different when he was relaxed and on his back. When her ear was pressed on his chest like this, his voice sounded far more primal and not at all like her Alex.
"Us." she responded meekly. "That we must be crazy."
"Oh." he whispered. "I thought you were worried about Norman."
"I'm always worried about Norman." she admitted.
In truth, her day had been so occupied with other concerns, she hadn't had much time to think about her son. It had felt good to let Norman worry about Norman for a while. Marsh and his suspicions took top priority at the moment.
"When he was little," she sighed happily and settled in more comfortably on Alex's chest. "I used to take him to daycare. He used to love to play with the baby dolls there and he was so gentle. They even had those toy doctor kits and Norman would play baby doctor the whole time. It was so cute. I used to think he would be a doctor one day."
Her voice was sad and wistful. As though that little boy had died a long time ago instead of just growing up.
"He still might be." Alex offered hopefully. "He's smart."
Norma knew he was just being nice.
"He's only eighteen, Norma. This is just a hiccup in his life so far." he said.
"I hope so." she admitted. "I just wanted him to have a happy, normal life."
"He will." Alex promised. "One day."
~ Marsh looked over Regina Worth and thought she wouldn't age well. The next ten years wouldn't be kind to her at all. She would age poorly in the face and gain weight in the hips. She had to be in her late thirties and already had that unattractive cynicism and haughty disposition of a bitter old spinster. Added to that, an unfortunate taste of clothing that looked like she shared a closet and hairstylist with her grandmother.
At this exact moment, however, Regina Worth was too young and too attractive to have her long dark hair pinned back like and old school matron and was she honestly wearing shoulder pads with a polyester blouse?
"How long have you worked as office manager for the Sheriff, Miss Worth?" Marsh asked pushing aside his inner critique of her wardrobe choices. God, his partner Johnathan would tear her apart. Her makeup was too dark to and she could use a facial.
"Right after my sophomore year of college." she said lazily. "Ten years now. It was supposed to be temporary, but my mother got sick and I had to support her and my kid sister. So, I'm still here."
'God, she's looks so much older.' Marsh thought to himself.
"So, you've known Sheriff Romero for a long time then?" Marsh asked hopefully.
"Yeah. I even worked for Sheriff Brown, the guy he replaced. Sheriff Brown was as an asshole. Never approved Christmas bonuses or overtime. All so he could get a bigger bonus for himself come next fiscal year. At least Romero approves appropriate overtime when it's needed. He's not the most friendly person in the world, but he's honest. He won't lie to your face while smiling like that asshole Sheriff Brown will." Regina said with an annoyed eye roll.
"How well do you know his new wife?" Marsh asked leaning in. "Did Sheriff Romero ever bring her around the office?"
Regina smiled and looked ready to exchange some malicious and very catty gossip.
"He didn't have to bring her around the office." she said shaking her head and gave a quick glance around the coffee shop to make sure they weren't being spied on.
"God, Norma Bates was always at the station bothering him. If she wasn't up there bugging the hell out of him, he was down at the motel answering every hysterical call she made. She has more drama than anyone in town and Romero is always her go to. I've never seen him take such a special interest in anyone as he did with Norma Bates and her son. I heard her son is a sweet kid but that she babied him too much. Now he can't even cross the street without his mommy." Regina snorted a laugh.
The future town spinster shook her head as if Norma Romero was a fool, but then shrugged after some thought.
"But what do I know? It's not my business anyway. All I can tell you for sure is that I've never seen anyone abuse Sheriff Romero more than that woman did, so I don't know why it should have shocked anyone that he married her. Maybe she knows something we don't know. Maybe he's the kind of man who like a woman to be a little crazy. God knows that's Norma Bates."
"So it was a surprise he married her?" Marsh asked getting to the heart of the matter.
"It was a surprise he married anyone." Regina said plainly. "Sheriff Romero is kinda cold and distant. He's lived in this town his whole life, knows everyone, but he doesn't have a lot of friends and I don't think he dates much. He never talked about his personal life and no one asks him what he does on a Friday night." she said. "As far as I know, he goes home alone and liked it that way. I mean, yeah it was a surprise he married Norma Bates, it was also a shocker that he got married at all."
Marsh was closing his notebook.
"You know, if it means anything." Regina said suddenly. "Sheriff Romero and Norma Bates did look pretty cozy at the Light of Winter Festival last week. They danced a lot and had their picture in the paper. If you're investigating them for some kind of insurance fraud, I think you need to see those pictures. They looked pretty happy. Wasn't used to seeing Sheriff Romero smile that much, didn't recognize him at first. Normally he's glaring daggers at all the city officials and counting the minutes when he can leave."
"These pictures are at the local newspaper?" Marsh asked.
"Yeah. Ask for Tyler." Regina said. "He took the pictures. It was a full spread in the Sunday edition. It's always a good thing to get the Sheriff in the paper because he never poses for pictures and I think everyone wanted to see what his new wife looks like."
"You understand, Miss. Worth that our conversation here is confidential." Marsh said writing down the name she gave him.
"Yeah sure. Why would Norma and Sheriff Romero be investigated anyway?" she asked as if he'd share information with this girl who still acted like she was in high school. "You don't think they're really in love?"
"Do you?" Marsh asked her instead.
"Romero wouldn't put up with everything Norma Bates has thrown at him if he didn't love her." she said easily.
~ Marsh had to admit that Romero and his new wife made a very handsome couple. His first instincts told him that their romantic feelings for each other were very real. Their body language seemed legitimate and, unlike other insurance fraud cases he'd worked, there was no long and sordid history of health problems.
Norma's son hadn't even had a proper diagnosis as far as Marsh knew. Still, his superiors had flagged the case and here he was. Although, if he was being honest, people like Alex and Norma, didn't look like criminals. They looked far too picture perfect smiling for the camera.
"Sheriff and his new wife were at the festival." Tyler explained. He was a tall, moody looking young man who had gladly found the photos for Marsh.
"I didn't believe it when Regina told me the Sheriff got married. I'd heard the name Norma Bates of course but they way people in town described her, I thought she was some old shrew. She's very attractive." the young man admitted showing Marsh the large 11x14 color picture of Mr and Mrs. Romero.
"I had to find and crop out a good shot of the Sheriff." Tyler explained. "It wasn't easy. He was miking an odd face for most of the first few shots. See?"
Marsh looked at the laptop and saw that Sheriff Romero had a strange deer-in-the-headlights look. As if he was worried or distracted. Norma was radiantly smiling as though for a Hollywood opening but Romero looked nervous.
"My boss says the Sheriff always has that look though in pictures." Tyler laughed. "Hates having his picture taken and doesn't know how to smile on cue like a normal person."
"Why did you crop this and print this out?" Marsh asked. Everything was digital now and it was rare to see a large glossy picture of the smiling couple on the photographers table.
"Oh, Mrs. Romero called us last week after the Lights of Winter Edition." Tyler said brightly. He looked very pleased with himself as he explained. "She saw the pictures in the paper and really liked them. Wanted a nice copy to frame. Said she didn't have a wedding picture and this was better than any she could have arranged. My boss told me to crop it, process it and drop it off at the motel today. Wedding present. No charge."
Marsh felt slightly grumpy at the idea that Norma Romero wanted a nice picture of her and her new husband. Especially since it was requested before the investigation. Sham marriages don't have professional photographs nicely decorating the home.
"Did they seem happy?" Marsh asked Tyler.
"The Sheriff and his wife?" Tyler asked and Marsh nodded. "Well, sure. I saw them all night. There was live music and they were dancing all the slow dances together. Normally Sheriff Romero leaves as soon as possible but he stayed till they closed up. Didn't really spend time with anyone else but her. Introduced her to the mayor and his wife. To be honest, I thought Romero would leave as soon as he saw Rebecca talking to his new wife."
"Rebecca?" Marsh asked.
"From the bank." Tyler nodded his head in the direction of downtown. "I don't know what that was about, but Rebecca looked mad as hell when she saw him with another woman."
"You think it was jealousy?" Marsh asked.
"I've worked here at the paper for five years now and I never known Sheriff Romero to date anyone. Least of all Rebecca Hamilton. She's pretty stuck up. Like, if you have to ask, you can't afford her, kinda stuck up." Tyler explained. "She hangs around the guys with the big money."
Marsh said nothing and only admired the attractive Mr and Mrs. Romero with new perspective.
"But who am I to judge?" Tyler shrugged. "I'd like to be a trophy boyfriend myself one day."
~ Norma sat and looked at her sad, barefaced, reflection in her vanity mirror. She'd never had anything as fancy as an antique vanity table in her bedroom before, but it was a piece of furniture that suited her. She liked the calming, ritualistic feel of putting on her make up and doing her hair in her cozy and safe bedroom. A place that wasn't rushed like the bathroom was. Especially with her grown sons rumbling around inside the house.
She missed having her boys here though. She'd gotten used to the isolating feel of living in this town. It had always been bearable because she at least had someone to talk to. She had Norman, and later Dylan and Emma to share her fears and worries with and it didn't matter if she didn't have any outside friends.
She'd always had difficulties making friends. All her life she'd had to move and when the boys were younger, she and Sam were always moving. Now, she couldn't move. Couldn't sell her property she'd bought so quickly and without doing the proper research on it. She was trapped here in White Pine Bay without anyone.
Even though she'd always felt lonely in this town, she never felt more lonely than she did after Alex left that morning for work and there was nothing for her to do but finish the laundry, unload the dry rack and write out her shopping list. She'd make a nice salmon dinner tonight. Something lean and healthy for the both of them. Norman had always hated fish and she suspected Alex would eat anything without complaint. It would be nice to try new things and he was especially happy when he was well fed.
The house, always seeming to have a life of its' own, groaned bitterly with just her rushing to get dressed for the market. She wished this town had a nice mega food store where no one knew her and she didn't risk running into everyone she'd ever seen. Already, people were looking at her. Knowing that she was the Sheriff's wife. Their conversations suddenly hushed as soon as she walked down an isle and they didn't hide the open stares they gave her.
Never one to dress down, Norma fixed her hair nicely, put on colors that would compliment her skin and would make sure her make up was perfect before she even left her bedroom. She wouldn't allow the people in this town to say Alex's wife wasn't attractive. It was bad enough that 'Rebecca' had given her such a hateful look at the Lights of Winter last week.
It had been a look that spoke volumes, but the message was clear. She was there simply to look Norma over and see if she was better. Clearly, Rebecca thought she was better than Norma in her expensive red coat and oppressive makeup.
Norma had been a little proud of herself though. She'd smiled as though she hadn't had a care in the world and hadn't let it upset her at all. At least, not on the outside. Not at first.
She knew Alex had had a relationship with her without him admitting it. She knew it was long over to. It hadn't bothered her at the time because she'd had her own past and Alex refused to hold that against her. At their ages, they didn't expect to have a clean slate when it came to dating.
Still, she didn't like the audacity of this woman coming up to her and… 'inspecting' her the way she did.
Norma looked over her face carefully and pulled on the width of her forehead. Making the fine lines there flatten out and hopefully not return.
She hadn't ever smoked and tried to eat healthy most of her life. She always thought she looked better than most women half her age. So why had she let Rebecca's intrusion rattle her? Hadn't Alex drunkenly told her she was beautiful? She'd known from long experience that men like him, when they were drunk, always told the truth.
Men like Alex didn't get violent or angry when they had too much. Alex only got far too friendly and happy. It was a far better drunk to be she decided. Sam and her father were both mean drunks. Cruel and vicious to the point she would forever be traumatized.
Thankfully, that was the only time she'd ever seen Alex in that state. He didn't need to drink like an alcoholic did. Didn't care if there was booze in the house or not. She never smelled it on his breath and he was always sober.
Alex didn't have to be drunk to tell her she was beautiful either. He gladly told her every chance he got. Even if she'd just taken off her makeup and come to bed smelling like lavender.
Norma smiled softly at that memory. After the burglary and they had cleaned up the house, she was still angry and fearful about the break in. Annoyed that her home had been riffled through and she would never feel safe here.
Alex had blamed himself, but Norma suspected there was more that he wasn't telling her. He'd taken the time to secure the house while she took a bath and when she'd come back out, the house seemed peaceful. All it's petulant groaning and settling had gone still for the moment and she could hear Alex in their bedroom.
He'd taken the chest of drawers by the door as his own space and was putting his keys and wallet down. Norma noticing a small key being neatly stashed inside a pocket of his wallet before he put his badge on the dresser to.
"Hi." she said weakly. The bath salts making her feel woozy and sleepy.
Alex had turned to her in surprise and smiled. She still wasn't used to the way his face changed when he smiled. It was like he was a different man altogether. Why couldn't she have met this man first? Instead of mean old Sheriff Romero?
"Have a nice bath?" he asked looking appreciatively at her even though she had no make up on and wore just a bathrobe.
"Yes." she said. "I feel better."
"I boarded up the window and I think I need to look into getting a security system. For the house and the motel." he said lazily. His eyes resting on her face as if studying it.
"That sounds good." she sighed. "There's one of those hardware places outside of town. I'll find out tomorrow if they have someone who can repair the window."
She wasn't sure why she wasn't more upset about it. Alex was good about keeping her calm. Everything seemed far less drastic with him around.
"Sure you don't want me to go?" he asked.
"You don't think I can't handle myself in a hardware store?" she accused him. "Because I'm a woman?"
Alex jokingly put up his hands in self defense.
"I was only thinking of the employees." he said, pulling her close before she could fight him off. She had never given much thought to how strong he was. How much power he had in his arms and how easily he could lift her up as though she weighed nothing.
If she'd known how muscular his arms really were, she might have thought twice before slapping him in the face a few weeks ago.
"Alex!" she yelped when he casually swung her on the bed and her robe loosened enough to expose her pale skin the cool evening air.
"Why don't we pick up where we left off, Mrs. Romero?" he said running a hand over her face and resting his body on top of hers.
Ever quick to respond to him sexually, Norma felt her chest heave and her hips buck involuntarily.
"I told you." she said hotly. "I'm keeping my name."
He looked pleased she was angry and traced a finger down her cheek.
"You looked so beautiful tonight." he admitted with a soft whisper. "Thank you."
Norma hadn't expected that. Hadn't expected him to do anything but demand physical satisfaction from her. He was a man after all and that was what all men wanted all the time. What all men expected all the time.
"Everyone was looking at you. I… kept thinking… how lucky I am." he admitted gently pulling lose a strand of her hair.
"Alex." she protested feeling uncomfortable at his praise. It never ended well for her when men told her how beautiful she was. It was almost always followed by tedious, fumbling and unsatisfying sex that she felt obligated to endure.
Alex didn't seem to care if they had sex or not. He seemed content to lazily keep her nestled with him just like this for the rest of their lives.
"I know I already told you that tonight." he admitted shyly and there was that damn smile of his that she never saw enough of.
"I've got to make up for lost time." he said at last with a fiendish air.
Norma had let out a giggle and her bathrobe fell away. Her naked body worshiped by him as though each curve was a new and fascinating discovery.
How quickly she had found herself giving in. How easily her body responded to his every move as though their dance had never stopped at all. That heated exchange in the hallway had never been so rudely interrupted.
He couldn't have the time or the energy to treat every woman he dated this way. Couldn't give them this kind of attention without them demanding more from him. He was far too affectionate with her to do this with other women. Far too attentive to her needs. He wanted to stay the night and refused to leave her. He didn't mind her hogging the covers because he would just pull her closer to him and let her kick him a little in revenge.
No. Alex Romero certainly didn't give Rebecca the same level of attention or love he gave Norma. He certainly hadn't risked his career and freedom to marry her.
All these thoughts rumbled around Norma's mind as she tried to steel herself to be seen by others. Ready her courage just to put her makeup on so she could go grocery shopping. She had to look good now because she was Sheriff Romero's wife and everyone was looking at her. Especially the women. Women who knew, deep down, that he could never love them like he loved her.