A Dangerous Love

Her gaze fell on Tammy, who had fallen asleep on the couch. Her head was tipped to the side, resting on her tiny shoulder. She would have a sore neck if she stayed that way for long. Lisa started to rise from her chair, but Giddon was faster. He closed his book and placed it on the end table and rose lithely from the chair. His step was light as he crossed the room and gently lifted Tammy into his arms. She made a soft noise, cuddling closer to her father. He gazed down at her with nothing less than adoration. He seemed oblivious to anyone else in the house as he carried her down the hallway to her room.

Lisa stared at the floor, consumed by loneliness. Would she ever be able to watch a normal family scene without feeling the agony of her loss? And yet, if she hadn't come to this house, it would have been worse. She owed a large debt to the Giddons.

That night, for the first time in more than a week, she tossed and turned in the bed, her sleep interrupted by memories of her family. Not until the early hours of morning did exhaustion take her into a sound sleep.

She woke to bright sunlight shining through her window and jumped from the bed, tugging on a pair of shorts and a blouse. She ran a comb through her hair, deciding not to re-braid the top part. Slipping into her sandals, she hurried down the hall. No one responded to her calls, and she found a note on the refrigerator.

"Went to town with Tammy. Be back after a while. Your breakfast is in the microwave."

Sarah Lisa ate the food and washed the dishes. By the time she had cleaned the house and finished the laundry, the day was getting hot and sticky. She donned her bathing suit and headed for the pool. With everyone gone, she could enjoy the solitude. She dove into the pool and swam several laps before emerging. Even though her skin now had a healthy tan, the sun was doing its best to burn it. She pulled the lawn chair into the shade under a tree and stretched out, closing her eyes and simply listening to the birds.

Only a few minutes passed before the sound of tires crunching on gravel announced the approach of a vehicle. What she expected to see when she turned was Sarah's white Plymouth, but the car that stopped before the house was Allen's red Eagle Talon. She stiffened. What was he doing here? She would have bet her eyeteeth that Connie wouldn't tell Allen where she was.