Daring Devotion

No more was said about feeling safe. And although Margaret tried to steer the conversation back that way more than once, Andrea kept the line of conversation away from her sex life. The ladies spent the next hour looking through brochures and laughing at the possibilities of visiting each locale.

She was so enjoying herself, Andrea lost track of the time and did not realize how late it was until she heard the sound of her father’s Cadillac pulling into the driveway.

She froze in place and gently set the brochure for Bora Bora back on the table. “I’d really better be going.” She stood and quickly placed her coffee cup in the sink, then checked the table to make sure she had put nothing else out of place and watched as her mother did the same. Her heart sank. A lifetime of conditioning, she thought.

She kissed her mother’s cheek, but before she could slip out the side door, her father appeared in the entryway to the kitchen.

He smiled, seeming genuinely pleased to see his daughter. “Well, if it isn’t the prodigal daughter.” He held his arms opened for a hug, and Andrea resisted, but in the end she went into them, knowing somewhere in the back of her brain, the little girl in her was still looking for the daddy who would push her swing all the way to the top. The daddy who would bring home gifts from every business trip. The daddy who gave the very best belly tickles. Some part of her would always remember him that way.

She hugged him briefly. “Hi, Daddy.”

Andrew Chenault took in the kitchen with one sweeping glance, and seemed satisfied with what he found. He glanced at the brochures neatly stacked on the table. “Your mother tell you about our vacation?”

Andrea nodded.

“You know you’re welcome to come along.”

Andrea forced a smile. “No, thanks, with the wedding less than four months away, I’ve got a lot of work to do.” Andrea knew she could’ve given a million excuses for not wanting to travel with them, but she always, always chose the one that involved Cal.

Shameful as it was, she knew she used her fiancé like a battle shield. The two men, Cal and her father, had only met once, and had almost come to blows. Andrea knew her father was intimidated by a man that towered over him. Some dark part of her reveled in it.

“I’ve got to be going.”

“Sure you can’t stay for dinner? I’ve missed you.” Andrew tilted his head to look at her where she was still cradled in his arm.

Andrea glanced at his face and was surprised to see sincerity in his eyes. “No, I’ve got to get going.” She broke free of his loose hold, hugged her mother, and headed out the back door.

She hurried down the path, hopped in her car and pulled out of the driveway as quickly as possible. Andrea quickly let down her car windows and took in a big gulp of fresh air as the suffocating feeling began to subside.

She picked up her cell phone, and pressed the speed dial button for Cal.

“Hey, baby,” Cal answered on the first ring.

“How much longer?” she asked, knowing that he was ending a rotation this evening. She was anxious to see him.

“Not long, just finishing up some paperwork.”

“What did you want to do tonight?” she asked, hoping he would not say crash at her place. Andrea was feeling the need to get out and do something.

As if sensing the need, he asked, “How do you feel about carnivals?”

“Carnivals?”

“Yeah, there is one down the street from the firehouse. Wanna go? Maybe I can win you one of those giant pink elephants.”

“Ooohh, a giant pink elephant,” Andrea purred. “You spoil me.”

“I know. Wanna go?”

“Sure, why not?” she said, while trying to stifle a yawn.

“See, that’s what I love about you, your enthusiasm.”

A few minutes later, when Andrea hung up the phone she was still smiling. In a matter of minutes, Cal had managed to lift the dark cloud that always followed her away from her childhood home.

Sometimes, Andrea felt as if she were a prisoner who’d been forced to spend an eternity in the darkness, never knowing what it felt like to have the sun on her face. Until Cal came into her life throwing open the shutters, and guiding her into the light of love and laughter. Despite whatever doubts she had about their relationship, Andrea knew that life with Cal meant never having to live in the darkness again.

Chapter 6

“Step right up, folks and try your luck!” The heckler moved back and forth across the grassy area before his exhibit, trying desperately to coerce patrons. It was already past 8:00 p.m. and he’d only had about thirty percent of his typical turnout. The light drizzle of rain that had been falling all day kept a large number of carnival attendees away and in a few very short hours he would have to pack up for the night.

Just then, his eyes fell on the large man and petite woman moving in his direction. He saw his opportunity. So desperate for this score, he stepped outside of his safety zone to cross into the man’s path. “How about you, sir? You look like a veritable Hercules. Surely, a mammoth of a man such as yourself can quickly win a prize for your lady.”

Cal looked down into the greedy little face of the man who’d practically jumped into his path, and then looked at Andrea, who was presently cradling the four stuffed animals he’d won for her already. “No, thanks.” He went to step around the man.

The man gasped in false alarm. “Afraid of a challenge, my good man?” The heckler turned to the crowd of people beginning to gather. “What do you say, folks? Do you think our little exhibit can present a challenge to this friendly giant?”

Cal looked around at the curious faces, and felt his jaw flex. The little man was becoming a nuisance, not to mention drawing unwanted attention. He could’ve easily swatted him out of his way and kept walking. But now, Andrea was looking up at him with that pleading expression that always got to him.

“What?”

Her eyes twinkled as she gingerly pointed to something on the wall of the booth.

Cal’s eyes followed her finger. “Aww, hell,” Cal sighed in defeat when his eyes fell on the big, pink elephant tacked against the back booth wall.