he’s around. I don’t speak negatively about him to anyone—”
Erin raised an eyebrow.
“Except to you. And you don’t count because you’re my best friend. I tell you everything.”
Erin shook her head and gave an exasperated sigh.
“Besides,” Carol said. “I don’t remember reading anything in the Bible about ‘Thou shalt not recognize creeps.’”
“I’m sure there’s a passage in there somewhere.”
“Tell you what, you find me the passage and I will not only repent, I’ll bake the man cookies every week for a month.”
“You’re just trying to get me to read more of my Bible. I recognize your underhanded ways.”
“Is it working?” Carol smiled widely. “Trust me, Erin. The more you read, the more you’ll want to read. God will speak to your heart and you’ll delve in there all on your own.”
Erin mentally pictured the leather-bound Bible that Carol had given her two weeks ago. She’d been reading it every night before bed. She knew what her friend said was true. The words moved her, inspired her, and she found herself getting up a half hour early each morning to read more.
“Why do you dislike Lenny?” Erin asked.
“I don’t dislike him. I feel sorry for the guy. I’ve even put him on my prayer list.”
Erin knew her expression revealed her skepticism.
“I have,” Carol insisted. “But he’s creepy.”
“He’s probably lonely. It wouldn’t kill you to be friendlier to him.”
“Okay. You’re right. I’ll work on it.” Carol leaned on the arm of Erin’s chair. “Speaking of being friendly, you should be friendlier to Detective Marino. Ever since the Easter parade, the nurses have placed Tony at the top of their eligible bachelor list.”
Carol looked Erin straight in the eye. “Anyway, you have to admit he’s got the ‘it’ factor. Maybe it’s those brown eyes. Or that drop-dead-gorgeous smile. Or his soft, sensitive side when he leads a parade for kids or accompanies other kids on buses.”
Erin laughed and threw her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, enough already. I get the point.”
“All I’m saying is if you don’t want him, then you better step out of the way before you get trampled by the ladies in line behind you.” Carol’s eyes softened. “The man is kind to your son…handsome…gets along well with your aunt…handsome…makes you laugh.” She placed her index finger to her lip. “Oh, yeah, did I say he’s handsome?”
“He’s a cop.”
“He’s a man.”
“Yeah, that, too. Strike two.” Erin took a swig from her water bottle.
Carol scooted her chair closer. “He’s a good man. And we both know from experience the good ones don’t come along very often.”
“Isn’t that the truth? I haven’t met one of those ‘good men’ yet. I’m beginning to think they belong in the same category as glass slippers,” Erin said. “Even if I wanted to take a chance—and I don’t—to see if he really is a good guy, I can’t. He’s a cop.”
“Cop is what he does, not who he is.”
“We both know that’s not true. They don’t turn off at five o’clock. They live and breathe their jobs 24/7.”
She reached out and cupped one of Erin’s hands. “You know I wouldn’t suggest something I thought would hurt you. You’re my BFF, remember?”
Erin smiled at the memories of the BFF, or Best Friends Forever Club, they had formed in middle school. She squeezed her friend’s hand in acknowledgment but remained silent.
“I think you’re wrong for not giving this guy a chance,” Carol said. “He’s the real deal. Single. Hardworking. Kind.”
“Yeah, a real Boy Scout,” Erin said.
Carol threw up her hands. “What am I going to do with you? This is the kind of man most women pray for. When the Lord blesses you by plunking him smack dab in your path, you don’t chase him away.”
Erin blinked hard to hold back tears. “I can’t. I want to but…I just can’t.”
After several minutes, Carol said, “Sometimes that baggage you carry around gets pretty heavy, doesn’t it?”
“Baggage? It wasn’t me who broke my marriage vows and cheated with every cute skirt in town. I’m not the one who deserted my son when he was born less than perfect. And it won’t be me who lets another man hurt me again—or my son. I just can’t take the chance.” Erin ducked her head.
Silence stretched between them.
“Well, if you can’t, you can’t. Come on.” Carol jumped up and pulled Erin from her seat. “No ambulance sirens. The board’s cleared. Ride up to the fourth floor with me. Sue Branson’s babysitting Amy and they stopped to see the clown. Maybe we’ll meet Mr.