Midnight Caller - By Diane Burke Page 0,22

do, Erin. Just like God. God opens His arms and welcomes us back. He showers us with His love and healing.”

Erin wiped a tear from her cheek, but remained silent.

“Your dad, even though he was a cop, was there for you…and for Jack…at one of the lowest times of your life. What if his job had nothing to do with your mom’s problems? So your dad wasn’t perfect. Who is? He coped with a terrible situation the only way he knew how, even if it wasn’t the best way.”

“I don’t deal with maybes or what-ifs anymore,” Erin said. “I deal with facts. Fact—a cop’s job puts a tremendous strain on families. Fact—cops have a high divorce rate. Fact—marriage is hard enough without starting out with one strike against you. I tried it once with Jack’s father. We both know how that turned out. So, I don’t date cops. I don’t trust men. And I never will again.”

An uncomfortable silence filled the room with a heaviness that couldn’t be seen or touched.

“I’ll pray for you, Erin. That you find your way to forgiveness. Only then will you ever know peace.”

Erin didn’t respond.

After a moment, Carol said, “We’ll just have Tony quit his job and become your personal eye candy. Now, come over here and tell me what you think of this recipe.”

Erin perched on the stool beside her friend and made a pretense of being interested in the picture. After a moment, she sighed deeply. “Personal eye candy. I like that.”

They looked at each other and laughed.

“Don’t touch my cookie dough,” Erin warned.

You’d think the scent of cookie dough and vanilla would have triggered matronly images in his mind, but Erin could tell from the glint in his eyes that the last thought on Tony’s mind was his mother. She felt his gaze trace her features. Suddenly, she felt like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.

But a hooded look darkened his eyes and she could sense a slight withdrawal. That happened a lot lately. He’d seem on the verge of saying or doing something intimate and then he’d pull back. What was that all about? Did he have secrets of his own? The push-pull of his emotions intrigued her.

Tony scooped a dollop of dough from the bowl on his index finger and held it out. “Want to try?”

“Ewww!” She swatted in the air at his hand. “Are you crazy?”

Tony kept a straight face, but the occasional twist to his lips made her think he was roaring with laughter on the inside. He seemed to love to tease her and didn’t stop until he had succeeded in causing a rush of color to her cheeks. Pointedly trying to ignore him, she asked, “Did your mom bake a lot when you were a kid?”

“Mom baked every Christmas,” Tony replied, “and let me lick the leftover batter.”

Erin glanced at the hand inching her way and snatched the bowl protectively to her chest. “Don’t even think about it.”

He grinned.

“What’s the matter?” Erin asked. “She only bakes for holidays so you’re coming over here to harass me? Have her give me a call. I’ll gladly share my chocolate chip recipe.”

“Mom’s on an extended vacation with her new husband.”

Erin digested the information. “You haven’t mentioned your family before.”

Tony shrugged. “Just Mom, me and my older sister. My dad was a cop, killed in the line of duty when I was three. I don’t remember much about him. But—” he locked his eyes with hers “—I remember how much I missed having a dad around. I guess that’s why I have a soft spot for Jack.”

She pictured Tony as a little boy wishing for a dad, just like Jack, and her heart melted. Erin sighed. “I wish I could do more for Jack.”

“You’re a great mom,” Tony said. “I have total respect for single moms. They have to pull double duty even knowing it’s an impossible task.”

“Is that how you feel about your mom?”

“Absolutely. Love her to pieces and owe her the world.”

“And your sister? Are you close?” Erin shocked herself at her boldness, but couldn’t seem to stop.

“We’re super close…or as close as a person can be to someone who lives thousands of miles away. Janet’s husband is a Colorado ski instructor. They have three kids, one girl and two boys.”

“Wow, Colorado. That is far. Do you ski?”

Tony laughed. “I can handle the intermediate slopes with my nephews. Those two rascals love to boast that they taught me everything I know.”

“You seem to