While she knew school was winding down for the Christmas break, Sharon was busy gearing up for January. She'd spent the last three days at school, much longer than a normal school day with several meetings and just getting herself acclimated to the classroom. She'd had training after training after training to get herself ready to use the school computer programs. She'd had to learn how to use things she'd not even considered like how to take attendance, put in student lunch information, access and type up her lesson plans-that was just the surface and didn't even include her really getting into her actual subject area. She realized teachers were vastly under appreciated, and she really hoped this utter exhaustion she was feeling at the end of the day would go away because she hadn't even had students in front of her and was bone tired.
She felt terrible she hadn't spoken much with Andy since their pizza night, and that was her fault. Now, she was feeling awkward that talking to him would appear he had scared her away or something with his tragic story about losing his wife and daughter. That did not; she did feel so horribly for him, but it hadn't scared her. She felt a great deal of pride for him, for having to move through that to get to where he was now. Granted, he told her it had been, what 19 years ago, so he'd been through all the stages of grief in those years, but a loss like that wasn't something you ever just wrote off. Sharon felt a sense of that in losing her family, and that loss was not the same as his.
She really needed to call him or somehow talk to him. He'd called her Monday evening, but she'd missed the call, with her phone in her bedroom as she was getting Evie ready for bed. She hadn't noticed it either until Tuesday because she'd finished putting Evie to bed and had actually just flopped onto her bed and fallen asleep to much later, see he'd called. Tuesday had been full of meetings, and then, she and Evie had spent way too long at church that evening working through some pre-Christmas festivities. There had been a dinner, and then, they'd had childcare which was really the kids' choir working through their Christmas songs, and during that, Sharon had enjoyed talking to people in the adult Bible study group. She'd had to carry Evie into the house, dead asleep, and the night had just gotten away from her. Now, though, as she glanced to her watch, she might just try to make things right, because, as she'd been thinking about him the last couple of days, she really did like him, and that even scared her a little.
Sharon hadn't dated at all in Los Angeles due to Evie coming into her life and Jack's horrendous mess. It wasn't the place or time. She'd really not dated much at all her entire life, with it being just mainly Jack in college. She'd dated a little before they were serious and some in high school, but this was really her first time dating, and she was a little worried she was just jumping into something with a guy that she did like, but did she like him for him or because he was just the first one who had come along? She really wanted to trust her gut that she liked him because she liked him. She didn't have this feeling around other guys, and she had worked with many, many men in her career. So, she was trying to be cautious but also trying not to ruin something if her gut was right.
Looking at her watch, Sharon realized that Evie would still be in her after care another hour and a half. She could always pick her up, but Evie actually loved it. They played games, and she'd made a lot of friends quickly. Sharon decided that if she left right now, she might be able to get a coffee or something with Andy before having to get Evie. Going any longer would only make things more awkward, so she picked up her phone to call him, hoping her nerves didn't get the better of her.
While she waited for him to hopefully answer the phone, she grabbed her bag, her coat, and she made her way to her classroom door. She had her keys in hand as she balanced her phone and had to glance down the hall when she heard a phone ringing.
Her eyes spotted Andy, of all people, down the hall, walking her way. She caught his gaze and gave him a bright smile and a small wave. She noted he had his phone in hand and looked like he was about to answer it, so she ended her call since well, he was the one she was calling. Sharon thought about walking toward him, but the exit was closer to her, so she waited by her classroom for Andy to walk up to her. He was in dress clothes-black slacks and a dark dress shirt-with his holster on his side, no doubt doing his job for the day.
"Hi," she greeted him with a warm smile, glancing down, hoping this wasn't going to be too awkward. She really felt she needed to apologize for not getting back to him sooner, and before she lost her nerve and before he could speak, she looked up and admitted that, "Sorry I haven't returned your call. It's not you," she put her hand on his forearm. "I've just had a very busy couple of days, promise."
"Hi yourself," he said with a small smile, leaning toward her just a little in an almost teasing tone. His hands were in his pockets. "It was a pleasant surprise to see your number come up on my phone."
With her confidence gaining, she gave him a bigger smile, and he added, "I figured that I was already in the building and was going to try and get a final read on the situation by stopping by your room." He shrugged, "Figured if you weren't interested in seeing me, I'd better get that answered in person."
Her eyes widened at his admission, and she nodded, confirming that she'd probably hurt him by not contacting him sooner. It was a little ridiculous, but she knew as a woman, if a man hadn't called or returned a call, well, that was usually answer itself. With a quick glance down the hallway, seeing it was pretty empty after school, she nodded for him to step into her room; she hadn't closed up and locked her door yet. He gave her an odd glance but followed. Once inside the room, she pushed aside any nervousness she had, which was quite a bit honestly, and turned to him, stepping up and kissing him, using her one free hand to grasp his shoulder. He quickly responded, his hand moving to her waist. She could tell she'd caught him off guard, and to be honest, she'd really surprised herself, but she wanted to make it clear she did enjoy seeing him and wanted to continue.
"I hope you know that yes, I have enjoyed seeing you and would like that to continue," she grinned, stepping back after kissing him. His face was a little dazed, but he quickly shook out of it and grinned back at her.
"Never had a greeting like that at school before," he winked at her, and she dropped her head trying to hide the blush that was creeping up her face. She finally looked up and saw he was still studying her.
"Glad to hear it," she said in a teasing tone. "I'd hate to think that was how you were greeted at every classroom."
He chuckled quietly and shrugged at her suggestion. Sharon waited for him to look at her, and she then continued.
"I was calling you back finally," she rolled her eyes, "to see if you wanted to get coffee before I have to pick up Evie. We had a church function late last night, and I do feel badly about not calling you back. I enjoy your company."
He made a face and glanced around at her idea, and in that moment, Sharon's heart dropped, believing she'd misread the entire situation. He glanced back at her, "So, you just think you can buy off the sheriff with a cup of coffee?"
She hadn't realized she was holding her breath, but she let it out with a warm smile and a nod, "Oh, I don't think it. In this case, I am certain of it. Cop to cop," she gestured with a grin.
He gestured for her laptop bag, and she tilted her head, wondering why, and then, he pulled it from her shoulder, "Come on," he nodded. "Let's get that bribery coffee before someone else demands your attention all evening."
10 minutes and two coffee cups later, the two had decided to sit in Sharon's car to talk instead of trying to find a place amongst the prying eyes of the local coffee shop. There were several students in there after school, along with plenty other locals Andy had greeted, and in a rather quick discussion, neither had wanted to sit with all eyes on them. Sharon turned on the car to warm it up while shifting slightly toward him.
"Figured this was better than my service vehicle, which is what I driving around today," Andy grinned, and Sharon laughed at that, nodding. "Thanks for the coffee, but I would have bought it."
"Again, I do feel badly for not at least responding to you the last couple of days, especially after all we talked about Sunday night." She saw a hint of sadness appear in his eyes at the mention of that. She wasn't sure what to do. Addressing it created that, but not addressing it made it awkward. She should have realized he would catch onto her debate because he put down his coffee and put both of his hands on top of her free one, resting on her leg.
"Look, Sharon, I know we both have some horrendous pasts. It's molded me into who I am today, just as yours has too. I told you before that I don't date much. For the longest time, I felt like I was I don't know," he shook his head, "disrespecting my wife, I suppose. It didn't feel right. I can't explain how that feeling has changed, just that it has, like that Melissa," he paused and looked at Sharon, "she was my wife, would want me to be happy again, and I haven't been in a very long time, not that kind of happy. I guess what I'm saying is I feel like she's put this blessing over me to be happy, if you can understand that."
She listened and nodded, "It does make sense. Thank you for saying that, and anytime you want to talk about her, or memories of things, I never mind listening, really. It's good to remember those you loved. A love like that can't be replaced, and I can't imagine the loss you felt. It's really different with me. Jack burned every bridge we'd built together, so as time went on and the lies and the betrayal just continued to mount, I suppose it killed any bit of joy or memories we'd had, so I have no desire to remember him, but I really would welcome you sharing things you miss or that you enjoyed."
He studied her as she talked, and when she finished, he just shook his head, "Wow, you really are quite the woman, Sharon. It's been harder to think about Melissa over the years because it just tears me up, but I see a lot the the same qualities she had in you, so it's been bringing up a lot of good memories lately."
"Well, sometime," she said in a quiet voice, with a nod at him, "I'd love to hear them, when you are ready."
Her offer touched his heart, and Andy leaned across the console to kiss her, Sharon welcoming it and returning the kiss. They broke apart when they heard people walking by, and both started to laugh.
"It would be really bad if one of my own deputies stopped to check on things here," he chuckled loudly. "We have been known to do that with the teenagers who try this after school."
"Hmm," she nodded, "well then, I suppose we should behave."
He turned to her again after checking around the street and leaned over to peck her lips quickly. That had her laughing again as he winked, and then, he gestured at her, "How about I take you and Evie out for some ice skating on Saturday? I think she'd love it, and I guess I can suffer through some time with you," he rolled his eyes and sighed as if it was a huge burden.
She smiled brightly, "Ice skating sounds great, only if you promise not to laugh at me. Maybe after, I could interest you in some breakfast for dinner? Evie has been begging me to make that, and," she shrugged, "might be fun."
"Sounds like a date," he winked. "I love pancakes."