Chapter

Dove was watching the six-o’clock news when she heard what had happened. A car chase, then a crash. No one was seriously injured, but Officers O’Bannon and Daniels were being treated for whiplash. The man who had been fleeing, one Trevor Wilkins, had a broken arm, but it had already been set, and he was in police custody. Dove realized she couldn’t help but be worried about Nate. They said he wasn’t seriously injured, it was true, but there had to be something traumatizing about being in a car chase.

She hadn’t planned on going to see him. She didn’t know exactly when she grabbed her coat and purse. There was some leftover lasagna, one of Teressa’s best dishes, and she barely remembered putting it in a Tupperware container. Still, she found herself driving to Nate’s house with the Tupperware container on the passenger seat. She wondered where he was sitting during the chase. Before, it had been in the driver’s seat. Maybe that was where he stayed.

She walked up and knocked on the door. She heard shuffling feet and moved her weight from one foot to the other nervously. “Hello?” Nate said, opening the door. He had a deep bruise on his neck and shoulder, and a tired look in his eyes.

“Hi, I just, I heard what happened, and I thought I’d bring you dinner, so you could just relax.”

“Thanks, Dove,” he said. “It’s nice to see you.”

She pushed the Tupperware container into his hand. “Is there anything else you need?” she asked.

“Someone to eat dinner with?” he ventured.

“I already ate, and I’m not sure there’s food for two there.”

“You don’t have to eat. Just talk to me.”

“Well … Okay, yeah. I can do that.” Dove figured he was probably alone and scared. She remembered how much safer it made her feel to have someone in the house with her as she was being stalked. She wondered if it was the same for him.

“Thank you. Please, come in.” Nate stepped out of her way, and Dove looked around. The house was perfectly neat. Everything was in its place. The blankets on top of the couch were carefully folded, and there were no dirty dishes in the sink. He led the way to the kitchen. It was a small apartment, and Dove was surprised he couldn’t afford something better on a police paycheck, but it didn’t seem like the right thing to ask.

“So, are you okay?”

“Well, the police department is paying for my hospital visit, so I’m just dandy,” he answered. Dove laughed. “Any more run-ins with the stalker?”

“Not since I went in with Teressa,” Dove answered. “Thank you for that. It was a good idea.”

Nate stuck the lasagna in the microwave and motioned to the small table. “Please, sit,” he said. Dove complied. “How is school going for you? You must be a little distracted. That must be a challenge.”

“The best challenge will always be a classroom full of third graders,” she answered. “I’m trying to do my best to be fully present for them.”

“I’m sure you’re doing a great job. You clearly have a teacher’s heart.”

Dove wondered what that meant exactly. A teacher’s heart. But she liked the sound of it. She wondered if she could start to use it to explain herself. “How is being a cop?” she asked. “I know today might not be the day to ask you.”

“Oh, I still love it,” he said. “This doesn’t make me want to change anything. Besides, I was just in a car chase. How cool is that?”

“Right, that’s not dangerous, but hitting someone with a frying pan is.”

“I have a badge. It means I’m allowed to do dangerous things. Besides, you announced yourself. Shouldn’t you be trying to take him by surprise?”

“Are you giving me tips on how to attack my stalker?” she asked with a smirk.

“No. Absolutely not. It’s best to let the police handle it.”

“If you were actually handling it, that would be easier.”

“Tell you what,” Nate said. “I can hang around your house when I’m off duty. Me seeing him would hold more weight.”

“Thank you, Officer O’Bannon. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, come on, I’m off duty. Nate is fine.”

“Fine. Thank you, Nate.”

Nate finished up his meal and went to the sink. “Let me wash this up for you, so you can take it straight back,” he said, beginning to pour soap onto the container. “And thank Teressa for making it for me.”

“How do you know I didn’t make it?”

“Oh, please, I’d recognize Teressa’s lasagna anywhere. If you want it to be the same for you, you’ll have to come make me some sometime.”

“I may just take you up on that. That bruise looks bad.”

“Want to kiss it better?” Nate asked with a grin.

Dove stood slowly. She took one step towards him, then another. He stood still, eyes wide and watching. She pressed her lips ever so gently against the place where his neck met his shoulder, on the dark of the bruise.

“Dove,” he said, voice breathless.

“Yes?” she asked, centimeters from his shoulder, then kissing it again.

“Dove, you’re part of an open case. We can’t—”

“No, no, of course, you’re right,” she said, taking a quick step back. She took the plastic container from him. “I should go.” She felt stupid. Of course he wasn’t really interested. He was just being a polite police officer.

“Dove,” he said.

“No, it’s fine. You don’t have to explain yourself, Officer O’Bannon. I’m part of an open case. It makes sense.” She rushed out the door.