Brenda awoke a few hours later, the house was quiet. She crawled out of bed, wondering where Andy was, where her parents were. She found her parents in the living room watching tv, but didn't see Andy. She curled up beside her mom, laying her head on her mother's shoulder. Her head actually felt better.
"Mama, where's Andy? I thought he had the time off." Brenda said, not saying "to look after me", even though that's what she was thinking.
"He was called into work, apparently they're short-staffed on your squad. He asked us to stay and look after you." Her mother said.
"Ohhh, he should have woken me up! I could have gone in, there's nothing wrong with me, I can still work!" Brenda said, frustrated. She wanted to go back to work, not lay around in bed.
"Now, now, Brenda, you know it's for the best. You've had a serious head injury. Do not push it. Now, can I get you something to eat?" her mother asked.
"Yeah, mama, I would. Some pancakes would be nice." Brenda sat back, not sure if she was angry or disappointed. Logically, she knew she had to stay home and rest. Emotionally, she wanted to go back to work, finish this case she'd started and get on with her life. She'd never been able to just take time off, sit back and relax. She needed the job, it was a part of her. Doing nothing, it just wasn't natural.
Brenda watched as her mother got up and went to the kitchen, leaving Brenda alone with her father. She knew she was about to get interrogated.
"So, Brenda Leigh. Lt. Flynn? Really?" Clay asked her.
"Yes, really, Daddy. Do you have an objection to it?" Brenda countered.
"Well, yes, I do. He's one of your subordinates. You're his boss, for crying out loud. What if you break up? Don't you know anything about workplace romances?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. But he's nothing like Pope. He loves me, Daddy, and I love him."
"And what happens if you're bosses find out? Y'all are asking us to keep quiet about the two of you, you obviously don't want anyone to know about you, so tell me, how can you have a real relationship if you're worried someone is going to catch on all the time?" Clay looked at her with concern.
"Don't you think that is something I've worried about for months? It's not like I planned to fall in love with him. In fact, he's the last person I would have ever have guessed I'd be with. But I love him. It's not something I wanted after Fritz left, not at all. But it's too late." Brenda looked down.
"Aw, darling, it's obvious you love the man. It was just a surprise to find him at your door this morning. We had no clue you were involved with anyone, let alone Flynn. Your mama can usually tell when you have a man in your life." Clay smiled at her.
"Really? How? I never knew that!" Brenda looked up sharply.
"When you're involved with someone, you're happier. She can usually tell just by how you talk on the phone. But Flynn, she had no idea. So the question is, are you happy with him?"
Brenda sat back, thinking. Was she happy with Flynn? She thought so. He made her happy, had been for almost a year now, when they'd started out as friends, him helping her get over the breakup. Finally, she answered her father.
"Yes, Daddy, I'm happy with him. I never thought I'd be happy again after Fritz left. I chose my job over my husband. And I lost him. But Andy gets me. He knows how I love my job. But he also knows enough to get me away from it for awhile. Did I tell you we were on vacation when I got called back to work? I wish I'd ignored my phone and stayed there. I really liked the place we went." Brenda mused, doing a 180 emotionally from a few moments ago when she'd wanted to be at her job. She shook her head, what was the matter with her?
Clay sat there, dumbfounded. Did his daughter just admit that she'd wished she'd stayed on vacation? And ignore her job? He took another look at her. Maybe her head had been hit even harder than he'd thought.
"Do you realize what you just said, Brenda? That you'd wished you'd stayed away from your job. There might be hope for you yet!" he chuckled.
"Oh, Daddy! I mean, we had this beautiful place on the beach! It was gorgeous. We walked a lot while we were there. He picked a terrific place to go. I want to go back someday." Brenda smiled. Maybe she could change after all. Maybe it meant that Fritz hadn't been the love of her life after all. Maybe it was the rough around the edges Andrew Flynn that she'd never imagined being with.
"Clay, stop with the questions. Brenda, your pancakes are ready. Do you want to eat them in the living room? I'll bring them in if you want." her mama broke in, trying to rescue Brenda from Clay.
"I'll come to the kitchen, Mama. And Daddy? Yes, Andy makes me very happy. I just hope I make him happy, too." Brenda got up from the couch and padded into the kitchen, leaving her father to dwell on that.
Joel followed her, hoping for some kind of treat. Brenda put some food in the bowl and then sat down at the table. Pancakes in front of her, she dug in. Usually, she could eat a lot of her mama's cooking, but this time, she only made it through one before she called it quits. Her appetite really hadn't returned all that much, and she wasn't going to force herself. She pushed her plate away, and this made Willie Rae look at her with concern.
"You sure you're okay, Brenda Leigh? That's not like you." She said.
"I'm fine, Mama. Just no real appetite yet, I guess. I thought I was hungrier than I was. Plus, Daddy was questioning me about Andy, and it kind of worked me up. I don't know what I'm suppose to say. Yes, I know it's wrong to date someone I'm the boss of. But I can't stop. I love him. A lot." Brenda admitted.
Willie Rae looked at her daughter, gauging the deep feelings she seemed to have for Flynn. So, apparently Brenda Leigh did love Andy as much as he loved her. This made her feel better for the both of them. They were going to have a tough road ahead of them, and love would help them, that she felt for sure.
Brenda's phone chirped and she went to answer it. She smiled when she seen who it was, and walked towards her bedroom, hoping for a little privacy to talk to Andy.
"How did it go with my daddy this morning? Did you get the third degree?" Brenda asked, wondering if he'd had as intense a conversation as she had.
"Yeah, I got the third degree. But if someone like me was dating my daughter, I'd do the same thing." Andy chuckled.
"You aren't that bad, Andy, really. Anyway, what case are you on? I woke up and you weren't here. You could have woke me up, said goodbye." Brenda was a little miffed about that.
"Well, you needed the sleep. I'll make it up to when I come by and say hello. Anyway, I was just phoning to see how you are. I really didn't want to leave you, but we're short-staffed down here, and Provenza needed me."
"I could have come and helped. I feel useless sitting around here." Brenda complained.
"We've had this discussion. I'll sit on you myself to keep you at home if you try to come to work. Or I'll ask your father to do that." Flynn joked.
"Haha, very funny. Could you at least bring home a casefile? I could help just by going over it." Brenda pleaded.
"If you're very good, I might. I'll ask Provenza."
"Ask Provenza? Really? You wouldn't just do it for your girlfriend?" Brenda cajoled.
"Well, you see, I have this boss lady who might object. That we're trying not to mix work with our personal life. So, I'm going to have to go with a no on this one." Flynn replied.
Caught, Brenda had no choice but to wait for Andy to ask Provenza.
"Fine. If you want to make it up to me, bring chocolate home. I don't have much here in the house, and I really need some. The good stuff." Brenda asked.
"I'll stop by a convenience store and pick up some Hershey bars. Will that tide you over?" he asked.
"It's a start. Bring some peanut butter cups and kit kat bars too." Brenda pushed it.
"Alright. I better get going, Provenza will be looking for me again. I'm holed up in your office right now."
"Don't leave me alone with my daddy too long. I'm not sure I'll make it through another questioning." Brenda reflected on the earlier conversation.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." He lowered his voice then, not wanting anyone to hear him, even from the safety of Brenda's office. "I love you. I'll see you soon."
Brenda was touched by that, this was all new to her with him, something she'd never thought she'd hear from a man who used to think that love was only temporary.
. "I love you, too. See you when you get here." Brenda replied, smiling at her phone, missing the man who'd somehow become an important part of her life.