GARRETT HART
Susan stood there, a grin lighting her face as she held up the blue piece of shoe. "Those heels are murder, aren't they, Marline?" She made a "tsk-tsk" sound as she handed Marline the heel. "I never understood why a woman would wear such instruments of torture." Susan looked at Marline's feet. "They don't do a thing to slim your ankles. You should try high tops. Better for your feet and they would cover that unsightly puffiness."
Marline's face turned purple as she sputtered indignantly. Susan smiled cheerfully then took Garrett's arm and led him toward the Channel 4 van. He looked down at her in admiration. "You really know how to piss people off," he said.
"It's a talent," she said. "Besides Marline's always been a man magnet—even in high school. We were both cheerleaders and she was always trying to make my life miserable."
"Was Natalie a cheerleader?"
Susan looked at him in surprise. "No. She did stuff like the newspaper and the yearbook. She got her thrills going to the library. I never understood why she was attracted to Michael. He wouldn't crack a book if his life depended on it."
"Look, Garrett, Natalie's had what some may consider a perfect life. She married her high school sweetheart and had a family. She's your typical PTA Mom who knows how to make costumes for school plays and bake cookies for Girl Scout meetings. Michael killed any dreams she had because he wanted her home, barefoot and pregnant. It's no wonder---"
"What?" asked Garrett. "It's no wonder what?"
She shook her head. Then she smacked the side of his costume. "Don't you want to get out of that yellow monstrosity?"
Susan helped him get out of the squash costume. He tossed it in the van. "I hope I never see that thing again."
Susan laughed. "Just hope the mayor doesn't get sick next year, too."
He took the cloth Susan offered him and wiped the paint off his face. "Does Natalie have a secret?"
Susan grinned. "Now if I told, it wouldn't be a secret."
"Susan," he warned.
"Okay, okay. Natalie doesn't have a big, bad secret. She wants to go to college."
Something so simple. "Why doesn't she?"
"Because she puts everyone else first. The woman doesn't know how to do something just for herself."
"Does she miss Michael a lot?"
"Michael wasn't the one. She tried to make it work, but that guy was a douchebag." She paused. "Don't tell her I said that. She tries to keep the memories nice for her children. Look, I've known Natalie since we were kids. I don't think she's ever felt the senseless abandon that accompanies true passion."
Garrett was absorbing that information when he heard the slap-slap of running feet.
"Dr. Garrett," Andie squealed right before she barreled into him. "I forgot to ask about Marabelle. Is she gonna be okay?"
"She's doing much better," he replied, hoisting the wiggling tomato into his arms. "Would you like to see her?"
"Yes!"
He spied Mike, Sylvie and Natalie heading toward the van. He flashed Natalie a smile and she returned it. He felt sucker-punched by her grin. God, she was beautiful.
"—and I wish I could find him."
Garrett looked down at Andie. "Who?"
She gave him an exasperated look. "My turtle. He's been losted for two days."
An image flickered in the back of his mind. Then he remembered. The bookshelf. As Natalie and the children gathered at the back of the van, he announced, "I know where the turtle is!"
***|***|***|***|***
NATALIE HANOVER
Operation Turtle Rescue commenced just as soon the children piled into the van. Susan took acceleration—not to mention corners—to new and scarier heights as they headed toward home.
When they finally turned into the driveway, Natalie jumped out of the front seat and hurried to the back of the van.
She opened the doors and Andie the Tomato Girl stood at the ready. Natalie tried to help her daughter down, but Andie got so excited about finding her turtle, she jumped out of the van, slipped, and fell onto her side.
Her arms stuck straight up and her legs flailed uselessly from the confines of the costume. Natalie bent down, but before she could grab a wiggling limb, Andie started to roll down the steep driveway.
"Wheeeeee!" Andie yelled.
Natalie looked at the runaway tomato in amazement and horror and then started after her daughter. Panic gripped her as Andie rolled toward the street.
Their home sat on top of a large hill in front of the housing edition's entrance, which was the only way in or out of the neighborhood.
If Andie got onto the road, she would barrel straight into the ever-present traffic.
Natalie's mouth went dry with fear. "Andie!" she cried hoarsely.
She heard Andie's giggles as the tomato bumped off a curb and onto the road. Natalie caught up with her and snatched at a red leg, but missed by scant inches.
Then Garrett was there, running past her and stopping Andie with strong, sure arms. He scooped her up and jogged back to the sidewalk.
"Hey, squirt, was that fun?" he asked, and Natalie noticed a tremor in his voice.
"Yeah, can I do it again?"
"No, pumpkin," Natalie said, touching Andie's red face.
"I'm a tomato, not a pumpkin, Mommy," Andie said.
Andie wiggled out of Garrett's arms and ran to the porch where Sylvie and Mike ushered her inside.
"Thank you," she said softly. "That was scary."
"Yes," he agreed. "But you don't have to thank me. She took ten years off my life rolling into the street like that."
Natalie saw the concern and relief in Garrett's eyes. He cared about her kids, she realized. Now his reaction to Sylvie's costume made sense. He wasn't worried about Sylvie being cold, but about boys being hot. She smiled inwardly. Garrett continued to surprise her.
"That child gets into more trouble," Susan said on a long breath as she joined them. "I'm going into the house and get some lemonade. But I wish it was vodka. She scared me to death!"
"Dr. Garrett!" Andie demanded from the porch. "Where's my turtle?"