Clark set Bobbie down about a hundred yards from the wreck in a small grove of trees where there were no cars or rubberneckers. She frowned about it, but she also realized that if anyone saw him carrying her in Ohio, someone would eventually ask who she was and why Superman was transporting a healthy person. As much as she yearned to help, she couldn’t afford to risk his identity and she knew it.
Then she realized that she couldn’t even let anyone know she was there. Someone, a state trooper or a local cop or an EMT, would ask for her name and how she’d gotten there, and she had no cover story that would stand up to that kind of questioning. There was no reason a Metropolis detective would be anywhere near a traffic accident in Ohio without a car of some kind. She couldn’t help.
She should’ve stayed at the rest area like Clark had wanted.
It pained her to realize how useless she was at the moment. She had her purse, her ID, and her shield, but no weapon and no jurisdiction. She was a useful as a castrated bull was to a cattle breeder.
She knelt down in the shelter of the woods and watched the arriving police officers take charge of the site. She was close enough to hear the cacophony of shouts for help, screams of fear and pain, the squeal of tires as other drivers and emergency personnel arrived, and the occasional screech of metal on metal as some of the vehicles shifted in the pile and scraped against each other.
Then she saw Superman flying above the carnage.
Bobbie had heard about him, had read about his exploits and adventures, seen news footage of some of his rescues, but she’d never seen Superman in action before first-hand. She watched, utterly spellbound by the spectacle.
Superman circled quickly for a few seconds, apparently checking for any injured people, then swooped down and hovered over the officer closest to the wreck. They spoke for a moment, then he floated to the edge of the mangled stack of vehicles and slowly lifted a car away from the pile. He set that one down on the grassy median as two officers guided the first ambulance on the scene to the car and began working to extract the occupants. Superman turned to lift another car away, and this time he pulled the passenger door open as soon as it settled to the ground.
He stood and waved to another police car skidding to a stop nearby. The two officers inside leaped out and rushed to the damaged car, then gently lifted out an adult and started emergency first aid. Two more ambulances whined into her hearing, one from either direction.
She looked at Superman again – she couldn’t call him Clark, not here, not seeing what he was doing, not even in her mind – and saw him blowing on the overturned gasoline carrier. There was fuel splashed all around the big truck, and any spark might turn the site into an explosive conflagration. If that happened, very few of the people involved would survive.
Because he was here, because he was doing everything he could to save lives, people who surely would have died would survive.
He was truly a hero. He deserved the name of Superman.
And she dared to say that she loved him!
Nothing she’d experienced thus far in their relationship had prepared her for the emotional impact of seeing some of the things Superman could do. Live and in full color, yet. He moved damaged cars, froze leaking gasoline, rescued the injured, and didn’t break a sweat. She could see that the first responders on the scene were impressed, yet as far as Bobbie could tell, they didn’t let it slow them down.
How could she be a wife to a man like that?
The first day she’d met Clark, he’d told her she’d been afraid of disappearing into Glen. Superman would overshadow every aspect of her personality.
If she married Clark, she’d also be Superman’s wife. There was nothing she could do or become to equal – or even approximate – Superman. Anything she accomplished would be blotted out by the superhero.
Who would ever see her?
*****
Superman landed beside Lieutenant Brian Shavers of the Ohio state patrol and said, “I think that’s the last of the injured who need immediate critical care, Lieutenant. Everyone else can ride in one of the ambulances to a hospital.”
Shavers wiped the sweat from his face and nodded. “Thanks, Superman. I know you probably hear this a lot, but you saved a lot of lives today.”
Clark winced a little. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t save those two in the compact car.”
“Those two unfortunates died when the tanker tipped over on them. You would’ve had to have been escorting that particular tanker on this specific day to save them.”
“I’m still going to see their faces for a while.”
Shavers sighed. “I’ll tell you what I tell my rookies after their first bloody call. Focus on what went right, learn from what went wrong, and do better next time.” He appeared to lift his hand to put it on the hero’s shoulder, but stopped at the last minute and dropped it awkwardly. “You saved the family in the minivan that got stuck under the other end of the tanker. If you hadn’t been here, they might have burned or bled to death. They’re alive because of you.”
Clark lifted his head, then extended his hand. “Thank you, Lieutenant. I’m glad to have helped, but I hope we don’t meet again under similar circumstances.”
Shavers smiled wanly. “Me too. You have a good day, now, okay?”
Their hands parted. “You too. I hope the paperwork doesn’t snow you under.”
They shared a chuckle. “The bane of police work. Take care, Superman.”
Clark nodded, then lifted and headed north. Thirty seconds later he turned and made a beeline for the trees where he’d left Bobbie. She was kneeling beside a fallen trunk and leaning against it. He landed behind her, whirled into his Clark clothes, and whispered her name.
She didn’t respond.
He touched her shoulder. “Bobbie? Are you okay?”
She nodded silently.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded again.
He duck-walked around her and looked into her eyes. They were full of tears. Her cheeks and her chin were damp and getting damper.
He slowly reached out and pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist, but she also didn’t return the embrace. “Bobbie, please, tell me what’s going on. Did I do something to make you unhappy?”
She shook her head.
“Are you upset that I left you here?”
She shook her head again.
He lifted her face with his finger. “Please, Bobbie. Tell me why you’re upset. I want to help.”
She pulled back and buried her face in her hands. “You can’t fix this!” she wailed.
“What? Why not?”
“Be-because you – you’re Superman!”
Well, that made no sense at all. She was upset, apparently because he was Superman, something she’d known for more than a few days, and now she was just a little bit incoherent. Nothing about her reaction made the slightest bit of sense to him.
All women were baffling. Especially human women.
He put his hands on her wrists and tugged her toward him again. He didn’t say anything to her, he just let her lean against him and cry.
After about two minutes she finally wound down and shifted back. He offered her his handkerchief and sat up as she applied it to her face. She offered it back without looking at him.
He waited until she looked up. “I’ll take it back if you explain what’s wrong.”
Bobbie sniffed twice and shook her head. “I – don’t know if I can.”
Maybe if he tried a nickname. “Look, sweetheart, I—”
“No!” she blurted. “Don’t – don’t say that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you – because you’re Superman!”
Clark took a moment to think. When they’d left Smallville, she’d been fine. When he’d left her here out of sight to work the accident, she’d been fine. When he’d come back, she’d been a wreck. Therefore, something happened while he was working on—
Oh, no.
It was Superman.
She was upset because he was Superman.
Had to be. It was the logical conclusion. It was the exact reverse of his relationship with Lois. Lois had fallen for Superman first and only gradually accepted Clark as a potential love interest. Bobbie had only recently found out that he was Superman – she’d come to care for Clark first.
And this was the first time she’d seen him in action up close and personal. His dual identity had finally become real to her. She’d abruptly realized that she’d have to share him with the world, and she didn’t want to.
Clark didn’t know if he was flattered or irritated.
Didn’t matter. He had to reassure her now.
“Bobbie, please listen. Superman doesn’t rule my life. I’m Clark Kent. That’s who I am. Superman is just what I do sometimes, and only when really necessary. I’m not going to leave you alone all the time.”
She turned to him with wide, wet eyes and dropped jaw. “What – what do you mean? What are you talking about?”
“I’m trying to reassure you that I won’t be away from you more than necessary after we’re married. I don’t want you to spend too much time—”
“Married!”
He blinked at her. “Yes, married. You and me.” She stared at him. “We’re talking about getting married, Bobbie. Remember?” She shook her head slowly. “Yes. Married. To each other.”
“But why?” she wailed.
Okay, his being gone as Superman wasn’t the problem. But what could it be?
“Because we love each other, Bobbie. I love you.”
“How?” she cried out. Then her head fell back into her hands.
How – how what? How much did he love her? In how many ways did he love her? Did she expect him to quote Elisabeth Browning? This was moving past baffling toward utter confusion and dismay.
“Bobbie, please look at me.” She shook her head without moving her hands. “Bobbie.” He gently grasped her wrists and pulled her hands down from her face. “Please talk to me. I don’t understand what you’re trying to say to me. Please tell me what’s wrong.” Her shoulders shook silently. “I want to help you, but I can’t if I don’t know what the problem is.” No response. “Please, Bobbie. I love you.”
Her head snapped up and she barked, “Why!”
His face fell as if he’d been slapped. “Why? You mean why do I love you?”
“Yes! Tell me why!”
Oh, boy. This was a toughie. But he had to try.
Clark took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then said, “I love you, Bobbie. I can’t reduce that to a formula or a statement of logic or a biological imperative or a hormone imbalance in my brain. It’s enough for me that I love you.” He paused, then added, “If I could explain it any better than that, I would. I love you and I want to spend the rest of our lives together. I can’t add anything to that.”
“But – but you’re Superman! I saw you! I saw what you did! You moved those cars and trucks around as easy as I fold my laundry! You saved dozens of lives! There’s no fire here be-because of you! This isn’t a – a crematorium because of what you did!” She lifted her hands to each side and let them flop down. “I’m nothing, Clark. I’m just a detective. I’m not special. I don’t have any connections. How could I possibly help you? What could I do to be of value to – to Superman? How can I be Superman’s wife? I can’t think of one thing that I could do for you that someone else can’t do way better!”
“I can.”
She stared at him for a long moment, then sobbed, “What? What can I do that’s valuable to you?”
“You can love me.”
Her eyes cleared a little, but she didn’t smile. More softly, she said, “There are hundreds of women in Metropolis right now who’d sell their souls to sleep with you, to be with you. And every one of them would be more beautiful than I ever dreamed of being. I bet you could find a few dozen right here in this Ohio rest stop who’d be your willing slave.” She wiped her face with one hand. “Why would you choose me to be Superman’s wife? Why do you want me to love you?”
Clark gentled his voice as much as he could. He was a writer, a wordsmith – he had to get this one right. His future seemed to depend on it.
“This is very important. I am not Superman. I am Clark Kent. Superman is just a flashy suit I wear to protect Clark Kent and the people I love. I don’t want you to be Superman’s wife. I want you to be Clark Kent’s wife.”
“But you don’t understand—”
He gently placed his index finger on her lips. “I don’t want to be with any other woman. I want to spend my life with you. You keep telling me you’re not beautiful, but your heart is, and so is your spirit. You’re brilliant in so many ways, you’re committed to helping people and stopping evil, and you’re a terrific cook.”
She almost smiled, so he cupped her cheek with one hand. “Bobbie, you’ve taught me that I can survive just about anything. And if you decide that we can’t be a couple, I’ll argue with you, tell you that I have a box of rocks that’s smarter about us than you, but I can’t and won’t try to force you to love me. And if the very worst happens between us, if we end this relationship that has so much promise and so much potential for wonder and greatness, it won’t kill me. You have helped me see that I’m more important to others than I know.”
He leaned close and touched her lips with his. “But without you, my life would be empty. My heart would be alone. Even if I got stupid and started sleeping around with all those willing women you have lined up for me—” she chuckled and glanced away for a moment “—I don’t want them. Not any of them. None of them could possibly touch my heart the way you can, the way you do. None of them could hold the other part of my heart in her heart. Not a one of them could give me a part of her heart that would fit with mine. There is no one else in the world I want to travel with on life’s pathway.”
Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment and she shook her head. “I – I’m afraid.”
Clark softly stroked her hand. “Why are you afraid? Can you tell me?”
She sobbed once, then nodded. “I’m afraid I – that I’ll disappear into you.”
He frowned. “I can’t see that happening.”
She dashed at her eyes with her free hand. “Because you’re you. And I’m just me.” She stopped for a breath, then said, “I know you love me. I get that. I think you could do better—”
“No,” he broke in. “I couldn’t.”
She smiled without making eye contact. “I also know that you believe that. But you’re – you’re Superman. And I don’t know if I can be Bobbie Tracey and still be married to Clark Kent who is also Superman. I’m scared I’ll lose my identity, whatever it is that makes me who I am, and end up just a – an auxiliary to you. To Superman.” She looked up. “I love you, Clark, but I don’t want that. I don’t think I could take it.”
“Neither could I. You’re entirely too precious to me to not be you.” He paused and captured her other hand again. “I have never treated any woman as my servant or as my meek and mild helper and I’m not starting now. You are Roberta Lynn Tracey just like I’m Clark Jerome Kent, and we’re going to be better together than either of us can be separately. You won’t disappear into me and I won’t disappear into you. Neither one of us is more important than the other. I can’t do your job any more than you can do mine.”
He brushed at her hair and kissed her forehead. “I need you, Bobbie. And I’d like to think you need me. We will be a team, pulling together in harness, taking up the slack for each other. I’ll protect your heart—” he touched one fingertip to her chest “—and you’ll protect mine.” He waited a moment, then added, “You better not marry Superman, not after all this. You and I still have to pick out rings, remember?”
Bobbie slowly rose up on her knees, put her arms around Clark’s neck, and squeezed for all she was worth. She coughed out a sobbing laugh, then put her mouth beside his ear and whispered, “Thank you. I love you.”
He wrapped her up in his own arms and breathed a prayer of thankfulness. They were back on track now, and he promised himself that he’d inspect the rails daily – hourly, if necessary – to keep that train rolling forward at its best speed.
Life was good again.
*****
The following week was busy for both Clark and Bobbie and they weren’t able to meet physically. They even missed their Starways get-together on Saturday because of their respective jobs. But they did talk on the phone every day, and Clark reassured her in every conversation that he was sure she was The One for him. It took a bit of convincing, but by the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, he was pretty sure she was back on solid ground.
Since Bobbie had the wheels, Clark rode with her to the restaurant to meet Kelly Tracey for lunch. He listened as Bobbie filled him in on her mother’s current events.
“You remember I told you she was seeing a guy in the DA’s office?”
“The one who wouldn’t fix a parking ticket?”
She sighed. “Yeah, him. They aren’t seeing each other anymore and it wasn’t an amicable ending, so please don’t mention him.”
“Okay. I don’t remember his name, anyway.”
“I don’t remember if I ever told you. Anyway, she’s not seeing anyone at the moment, so it’ll just be the three of us.”
“I won’t say a word.”
“Good.” She sucked at her lips for a moment, then said, “I also haven’t told her about – about us yet.”
He nodded slowly. “Okay. Any particular reason?”
She braked at a red light and drummed on the wheel with two fingers. “She really loved Glen. She gave me honeymoon destination suggestions with a twinkle in her eye. All of them had nice places to visit and sights to see if he and I – and I quote – ‘found the time to look around.’ Glen turned about six shades of red when he heard that.” She chuckled. “He blushed easier than any other cop I’ve ever met.”
“You think she’ll be upset about you and me?”
“I really don’t know. I haven’t told her all that much about you and I don’t want her to scare you off so please be patient with her. She might feel like I’ve been lying to her.”
“I’ll do my best. Will she be offended if I offer to pay for lunch?”
She glanced at him, then returned her attention to the street and accelerated as the light changed. “Yes. She invited us. You can offer to pay one time, then let her have it. To Mom, one offer to pay is being a gentleman, two offers is being a control freak.”
He nodded. “Got it. Can’t have two of those in the same family.”
“Yeah, and – wait a minute! Did you just diss me?”
Clark lifted his hands and shrugged. “Who, me? I’m an innocent little lamb, remember?”
“Uh-huh. We’ll revisit this issue after lunch. One more thing, don’t try too hard to be funny. Mom laughs easily, but she’s not crazy about comedians who are ‘on’ all the time.”
“I will confine my witticisms to your company alone.”
Bobbie flicked on her left turn signal and waited for oncoming traffic to clear. “Remember, I haven’t told her about your part-time job. And I don’t want her to know yet. I want her to meet Clark Kent, the man I’m going to marry, not some exhibitionist circus freak.”
That was interesting. And maybe a little concerning. Maybe she wasn’t as okay with him being Superman as he’d thought.
Instead of voicing that little niggle, he nodded and said, “I’ll behave myself, Bobbie. I promise.”
*****
Bobbie’s mother glided to her feet as Bobbie and Clark approached the table. Bobbie smiled when she saw that her mom was dressed nicely but not formally. Maybe she really was willing to give Clark a fair chance to impress her.
Clark stood back as Bobbie hugged Mom, then took Mom’s hand as Bobbie introduced them. “Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Tracey,” he said. “I look forward to getting to know you.”
“And I, you, Mr. Kent,” she replied.
He smiled a little. “Please, call me Clark. To me, Mr. Kent is my dad.”
Mom smiled back. “Very well, Clark. In that case, please call me Kelly.”
“Thank you, Kelly,” he said. He held Mom’s chair for her, then held Bobbie’s. She sat to her mother’s right, so Clark took the chair to Mom’s left, across from Bobbie.
As he unwrapped his silverware, Mom said, “I understand that you are a reporter for the Daily Planet, Clark. How long have you been there?”
“Not quite four years. I plan to stay as long as they’ll have me, though.”
Mom smiled again. So far, so good.
“Bobbie has told me a lot about you, Clark, but she neglected to describe your good looks sufficiently. You could be a successful actor if you were to change professions.”
“Thank you, Kelly, but I’ve interviewed enough actors to know that they’re flush with cash if they’re working a steady gig and scrabbling for bread and water when they’re not. I prefer consistency in my paychecks.”
“Really? Reporters earn such high salaries as that?”
As Bobbie watched the waiter approach, Clark said, “No, we don’t. At least, I don’t. But I’m not starving, either. I live well within my means and I save a part of every check.”
“Ah. That’s wise of you. But here is our waiter. Are you familiar with the menu, Clark?”
“I’ve been here before, but not often. It’s not my usual lunch fare, especially when I’m working on a story.”
“I see.” Kelly turned to the waiter and said, “Geoffrey, I believe we need another minute or two. Could you come back?”
The waiter nodded. “Of course, madame. May I take your beverage orders now?”
Each of them ordered tea. Clark asked for sweet with no lemon, Kelly for sweet with two lemons, and Bobbie for unsweet with one lemon. When Geoffrey smiled and turned away, Bobbie said, “Mom, I want you to meet Clark’s parents soon. When would be a good time for you?”
Her mom patted her wrist. “My dear, I haven’t passed judgment on this muscular and quite fetching young man yet. Don’t you think he and I should become better acquainted first?”
Bobbie pulled her hand back and scowled. “Evonne and Étienne like him. You should trust their judgment.”
Mom’s face fell. “You – you’ve introduced him to them already?”
“Yes.”
She blinked twice. “You didn’t tell me.”
Bobbie felt an argument trying to start itself. “Mom, I didn’t—”
Clark said, “Bobbie. Please.”
Clark’s gentle voice blocked her emotions from taking over, but she was still upset. “Clark, my mother and I have—”
“Wait. Please.”
She exhaled and slumped in her seat. “Go. You have the floor.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” He turned to Mom. “Kelly, I’m sorry you feel blindsided. I’m sure that’s not what Bobbie was trying to do. She knows how much you cared about Glen and how you miss him. This whole relationship has been topsy-turvy from the start, and we’ve done a lot of things backward. I took her to dinner with Lois’ family before she—”
“Who?”
It was Clark’s turn to blink. “Lois Lane. She was my reporting partner at the paper. She and I were working on a story and she – she died in my arms.”
Mom’s mouth fell open for a moment, then she reached out and touched his wrist. “Oh, Clark, please forgive me. I should have remembered her. I’m so sorry you lost her.”
“Thank you.”
“Um – may I ask you a personal question? With the caveat that I won’t require an answer.”
Clark’s head tilted to one side, then he nodded. “Feel free.”
Mom pulled her hand back and looked down at the table. “You and – Lois – were you – romantically involved? With each other, I mean?”
He nodded again. “Yes. I had a ring I was going to give her when that last story fell into our laps. I never had the chance.”
Mom looked up again. Moisture teased at the corners of her eyes. “Then you understand my daughter and her – her situation. You know what she’s been through, at least most of it. And she understands you. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes. We’ve had some long talks about personal responsibility and high-water marks and altered landscapes.”
“Oh. Yes, of course. The flood metaphor. You do understand.”
“As well as any other person can, yes, I do.”
“Are you in love with my daughter, Clark?”
He leaned back a little and looked surprised. “You don’t take any prisoners, do you?”
“Please answer my question. I can tell quite easily that Bobbie loves you, and I want her to be happy with a man who loves her back. Are you in love with her?”
Clark smiled and reached for Bobbie’s hand. He looked at the joined fingers, then said, “I am in love with her. I want to marry her. I want us to be together for as long as we both live. I know what a risk it is to love someone that much, but I’m willing to take that risk for Bobbie. She’s more than worth it.”
Mom flicked her hand at her face, then picked up her napkin to do the job right. Then she smiled. “In that case, I want us to have a very nice lunch together. Please, order whatever you want, Clark. I know Bobbie will.”
Bobbie couldn’t let that one go. “Mom,” she mock-warned.
Mom smiled back at her. “Never mind, my dear. I really do want to know Clark well. He’s going to be my son-in-law before too long, isn’t he?”
Bobbie slipped out of Clark’s loose grasp and lunged at her mom. They caught each other and held on for several seconds, then slowly drew apart. Clark cleared his throat and quietly said, “The tea is here. And not a moment too soon. I’m thirsty.”
Mom laughed with Bobbie. They picked up their menus and chose their entrees. Geoffrey smiled and said, “I’ll get these started right away. And I’ll bring back a basket of our famous dinner rolls. We hope you brought your appetites with you.”
As he walked away, Mom said, “Now, Clark, you are a gentleman, so I would expect that you would offer to pick up the check. I will not allow it. I invited the two of you, therefore it is my treat.” She fussed with her napkin and set it in her lap, then said, “It will probably be the last time you’ll get that offer from me.”
Clark nearly spit out the mouthful of tea he’d just taken. Bobbie looked at him and said, “That’s actually a good sign. If she didn’t like you, she’d let you pay. And she’d embarrass you into paying if you didn’t offer.”
“I think I understand,” he said. “Oh, Kelly, I think you have some pictures of Bobbie I need to see.”
“Pictures?” Kelly asked.
“Clark,” Bobbie warned.
“Yes, the ones where she’s a year old and naked on a bearskin rug.”
This time Kelly snorted. She controlled herself with a visible effort, then said, “If the two of you can come to my home one evening this week, I’ll certainly dig them out.”
Bobbie shook her head and dropped her face into her hands, but it was all for show. Clark had already won over her mother, and he’d done it just by being himself.
With her face still hidden, Bobbie smiled. He’d won her over just by being himself. It ought to work on her mom.
*****
Bobbie’s desk phone rang just before twelve-thirty on Monday afternoon. She picked up the phone, hoping it was Clark. “Hello?”
“Hi, lady of my heart. Are you busy tomorrow evening?”
“That’s not when my mom is going to embarrass me with my baby pictures, is it?”
“No, my only love. That’s Wednesday and you should wear something bright so your blushes don’t show so much.”
She smiled at his phrasing. “Tomorrow evening, huh? Hmm. I’ll have to check my jam-packed social schedule.”
“Oh, please, don’t let me take you away from something truly important.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” She paused to gauge his reaction, and when he didn’t say anything, she asked, “Assuming I’m free, what is the purpose of your question?”
“I just thought you’d like to go out with me.”
“I see. Are you thinking dinner in an exotic location?”
“As exotic as anything within walking distance of your place. Or mine.”
She felt her eyebrows rise with surprise. “Walking? That kinda limits the possibilities. Any hint as to the occasion?”
“I’ll just tell you straight out. That way you don’t have to guess.”
“Good. I hate guessing games almost as much as I hate bad puns.”
“That description presupposes that there is such a thing as a good pun.”
“Ha-ha, Mr. Word Master. Consequently, I suppose, the word ‘bad’ in my previous description is therefore redundant.” She waited while he chortled. “Anyway, what is the occasion for this gathering? Anything special?”
“It’s simple, really. I just want to spend some quality time with the woman I love.”
His response almost moved her to tears. Having Clark’s love was something she had determined would never be taken for granted. It would always be something she would guard against all threats, whether foreign or domestic.
But he needed an answer. She swallowed hard and said, “Sure, that’s fine with me. Would you rather meet me somewhere? It might save some shoe leather.”
“That’s a good idea. If you’ll call me at my office when you’re ready to leave yours, I’ll give you the address then.”
“Ooh. Mysterious much?”
His tone flattened. “You and my mother giggled over my naked baby pictures after lunch in Smallville. There’s not much mystery left.”
“You haven’t seen mine yet.”
“I can hardly wait. So you’ll call me tomorrow afternoon?”
She grinned. “Yes, I’ll call. And thank you.” She paused, then almost whispered, “I love you, Clark.”
His sigh echoed down the line. “And I love you too, Bobbie. So long for now.”
“Bye.”
She waited for him to hang up like they were teenagers setting up a meet at the soda shop. When the line went dead, she sighed like that teenager and hung up.
Her gaze floated upward and caught another detective staring at her with a puzzled expression on his face. Her eyes snapped and she growled, “Whaddaya want, Bozeman?”
The young man shook his head. “Nothing. I heard part of your conversation and I – uh – I didn’t understand it, that’s all.”
She stared some more but he didn’t move. After a few seconds, she snapped, “You gonna just stand there all day and hold the floor down?”
“Uh – no, detective, just, uh, just going to the coffee pot. Gotta have my caffeine fix for the afternoon.” He turned on his heel and all but stumbled away.
Bobbie shook her head. She’d have to be careful. The Metro detectives in her precinct were merciless about teasing their own over each other’s personal lives, and she didn’t want to be the latest victim lynched on the grapevine.
Back to work. She still had three open cases on her desk.
*****
Bobbie closed the driver’s door of her car and sighed. Two of her open cases were progressing slowly, but she’d hit a brick wall on the third. Maybe she’d ask Clark if his mystery snitch, the guy with the expensive appetite, could help. She’d accept any assistance that would get Detective Inspector Manning out of her hair.
She drove to the intersection with the address Clark had given her and whistled to herself in surprise. The east-west street was full of high-end clothing stores, small- to medium-sized restaurants, and upscale retailers. The parking garage Clark had suggested showed that it had spaces open, but the prices on the board outside made her blink. Any thief who hit one of these places would be a greedy one. This wasn’t in her precinct, but she was sure the stores had high-end security on both the human and the machine sides.
That was a good chunk of change for a dinner date, she mused. She hoped they weren’t going Dutch tonight.
The pretty but sharp-faced young blonde woman garage attendant gave her a time-stamped ticket, then directed her to level seven of nine because it was the only one with shaded openings. Bobbie glanced at her watch and decided to hurry a bit – Clark was expecting her at the southeast corner in four minutes and he was never late.
She had something to say to him and she didn’t want to complicate it by being late.
The crosswalk signal flicked to a walking stick figure just as she joined the crowd of well-dressed people waiting to go south across the street. She looked over at her destination and saw Clark walking toward the corner.
Good, she thought, we’re both on time.
That megawatt smile of his greeted her and she took his hands in hers as she kissed him briefly. “Hi!” she bubbled. “Where are we eating?”
He chuckled. “Hi yourself. Look, I – I didn’t lie to you, I just had a little bit of a surprise in store.” She lifted her eyebrows and he leaned back slightly. “Easy, Bobbie, I had a reason. I didn’t want you to obsess over this all afternoon.”
One eyebrow lowered as the other rose even higher. “Obsess? Me?”
He did his country-boy foot-shuffle and nodded. “Yeah. I – was kinda hoping we could go ring shopping before dinner.”
She froze for a moment, then grabbed him around the neck and squeezed for all she was worth. Between quick kisses on his cheek and neck and ear, she mumbled, “Yes! Yes! Rings, yes!”
He picked her up and spun her once, then set her down. “Then I’m forgiven for deceiving you?”
“Absolutely! Where do you want to – no. Wait. I – I have to ask you something first.”
His brow creased slightly. “Sure. You know you can ask me anything.”
She took a nervous breath, then said, “I want – I need to apologize for what I said the other day.”
He looked puzzled. “What did you say that requires an apology?”
She hadn’t felt this sheepish since she’d come home with a D in fourth-grade math. “I said – it was when I – you’re not an exhibitionist circus freak and I’m so sorry I even thought it. My only excuse is that – no, not an excuse, I don’t have an excuse. The reason I said it was because I was so nervous about you meeting my mom. I just wanted it to go well and I’m sorry I said it.”
He opened his mouth, then turned and looked around them. Bobbie’s gaze followed his.
There was a small crowd around them, mostly younger men and women, and nearly all of them were smiling at them. A young redheaded woman called out, “Kiss her again, buddy! Whatever she did, she’s sorry for it!”
A man partway opposite the redhead in the semicircle of onlookers chimed in with, “Hey, she’s really cute! If you don’t want to kiss her, I will!”
Most of the rest of the spectators laughed. Clark turned and inclined his head toward them in an abbreviated bow, then said with a smile, “Thank you for your wise counsel. I’ll take it under advisement.” Then he pointed at the kissing volunteer. “No smooches for you, buster.”
The crowd laughed again and began to break up. Clark took Bobbie’s hand in his and led her down the street. “I don’t want you to think that I don’t value what you just said, but I’d prefer not to share it with everyone on the street. And yes, I forgive you. I’d almost forgotten about it.”
“But not completely.”
He glanced her way and smiled. “No. I don’t think I’ve said this to you, but all my life I’ve wanted to live like a normal man, with a job and a family and friends and a healthy social life. It’s really important to me. The only reason the ‘circus freak’ exists is to give me a chance to use my gifts to benefit others. There’s no way I could live like that all the time. I’d go completely nuts.”
She gave his hand a squeeze. “Thank you for telling me. I kinda thought so anyway, but it’s good to hear it.” She jumped ahead and pulled him a little. “Hey, where are we going?”
“I thought we’d stop in at Parker’s Jewelers. I know the manager.”
“And he owes you a favor, right?”
Clark shrugged. “Maybe. He did say that I should drop by and check out his selection of wedding sets should I ever have the need for any of them.”
She stopped and pulled him to her. “Thank you.” Then she kissed him gently and tenderly.
When she pulled back, he whispered, “Are we trying to draw another crowd?”
She laughed. “That wasn’t my intention. Hey, isn’t that Parker’s right behind you?”
He turned with a flourish. “It is! Shall we enter and peruse their selection of jewelry to celebrate and demonstrate our love?”
She grabbed his jacket lapel and pulled him toward the door. “Come on, you walking ad copy machine. I want the perfect ring set and you have to help me find it.”
He pretended to stumble. “I do?”
“You’d better help. We’ll be wearing them for the rest of our lives.”
As Bobbie pushed through the door, she realized what she’d just said and stopped breathing for two steps. But she got herself under control as Clark waved to a man she assumed was the store manager.
She smiled. They were picking out wedding rings. It meant that the wedding was just around the corner.
She could hardly wait.
