He heard the catch in her voice and released her. After she’d shut the door, he rolled down the window. “The Mardi Gras Carnival is tonight. I’ll pick you and Charlie up at five.”
“I’m beat. I wasn’t planning on going.”
“I’ll pick you up at five. You need to take your mind off this, and it’s a good place for us to be seen together.”
Her chest rose and fell. “Fine. We’ll be ready.”
After she’d gotten into her car, Sam pulled away. Although the air was hot for mid-March, he shut the windows. Julia’s scent hovered in the truck’s cab. Sam wanted to keep it with him as long as he could.
He’d meant what he said about taking her mind off today. As police chief, he was obligated to make an appearance at town events, but he looked forward to tonight knowing he’d have Julia and Charlie with him.
Julia dabbed on a bit of lip gloss just as the doorbell rang. She picked up Charlie, who was petting Casper through the wire crate.
“Let’s go.”
“’Bye, doggy.”
Casper whined softly.
“We’ll be back soon,” Julia told him. The doorbell rang again. “Coming,” she called.
She grabbed the diaper bag off the table and opened the front door, adjusting her short, flowing minidress as she did.
“We’re ready.”
“Sammy,” Charlie said, bouncing up and down in her arms.
“Hey, bud.” Sam held out his hands and Charlie dived forward.
Julia worried for a moment about Charlie bonding so quickly with Sam. In a way it worked to their advantage, at least as their pretend engagement went. But she had concerns about Charlie’s clear affection for Sam. She didn’t want her son to be hurt once their time together ended.
“You don’t have to take him.”
“My pleasure.” Sam looked her over from head to toe then whistled softly. “You look amazing.”
Julia felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “You, too.”
It was true. Tonight he wore a light polo shirt and dark blue jeans. His hair was still longer and her fingers pulsed as she thought about running them through the ends. He hadn’t shaved, and the dusting of short whiskers along his jaw made him look wilder than he normally did as police chief.
It excited her more than she cared to admit. She hadn’t been on a real date in over two years. This wasn’t real, she reminded herself. This was showing off for the town, convincing people their relationship was genuine.
Not that being in this relationship had helped her earlier. She’d barely said two words in her own defense as the Johnsons’ attorney had put forward more and more information about her deficiencies as a person and how they might be detrimental to raising her son.
The mediator, an older woman who was all business, hadn’t said much, nodding as she took in everything and occasionally looking over her glasses to stare at Julia.
Sam was right. She needed to get her mind off the custody case. So what if this night wasn’t a real date and Sam wasn’t her real boyfriend? It wouldn’t stop her from enjoying herself.
Because of Charlie’s car seat, she drove. Once they were close to the high school, she could see the line of cars. Half the town was at the carnival. She knew Lainey and Ethan would be there along with her mother.
“Is your dad coming tonight?” she asked, a thought suddenly blasting across her mind.
Sam nodded. “I told him we’ll meet him.”
“My mom is, too.”
Sam made a choking sound. “Okay, good. They can get to know each other. It’ll be great.”
“That’s one word for it.”
“Does your mom believe the engagement? I haven’t seen her since she walked in on us.”
“I think so.” Julia slowed to turn into the lower parking lot. “It’s not the first time she’s seen me be impulsive.”
Sam shook his head as she turned off the ignition. “You never give yourself a break.”
“Why do I deserve one?” She paused then said, “It’s fine. I’m repairing my reputation with my family. It’s a long progress, but I’m getting there. What makes you ask about my mom?”
“I saw Ethan downtown yesterday and he gave me the third degree about my intentions toward you.”
“Ethan?”
“His big-brother routine was going strong. Told me how special you are and that if I hurt you or Charlie I’d have him to answer to.”
“I don’t know why he’d care. He went through hell because of me, although it’s ancient history now.”
“There you go again with the self-flagellation. We’re going to need to work on that.”
“Whatever you say.” She got out of the car and picked up Charlie from his car seat. As she turned, she took in her old high school. It looked the same as it had almost fifteen years ago.
She filled her lungs with the cool night air. This was her favorite time of year in the North Carolina mountains. It smelled fresh and clean, the scent of spring reminding her of new beginnings. Coming off of the cold, wet winter, the change of seasons gave her hope.
Just like Sam.
Julia knew hope was dangerous. She was a sucker for believing in things that would never come to pass. She’d been like that in high school, too—wanting to believe she’d be able to keep up. Or, at least, admit how deeply her problem ran.
For some reason, that never seemed an option. Sam could say what he wanted about her learning disabilities being beyond her control. She knew it was true. But by high school, when elementary-age kids read more clearly than she could, it felt like stupidity.
None of her teachers had understood what was going on in her head. She’d never truly opened up to anyone about how bad it was. It had been easier to act as though she didn’t care, to limp through school with a lot of blustering attitude and paying smarter kids to write her papers.
Charlie tapped her on the cheek. “Hi, Mama.”
She shook off the memories. Sam stood next to her, watching with his too-knowing eyes.
“I’m guessing you haven’t been back here for a while?”
“Not since graduation.” She adjusted Charlie and headed for the gymnasium entrance.
