SEVENTH HEAVEN

It had been nearly since Lucy last had panic attack, and she honestly believed she'd never have another one.
Until she saw the football helmet.
As football helmets went, it was ordinary enough Gray and stripped with crimson the team colors of Laurel Creek High,her alam mater. Nothing very frightening about that. No, what stroke terror into her was that the helmet lay in the back window of an unknown blue Honda with California plate that was packed in front of her garage.
That was enough to send Lucy straight past panic into full-blown hysteria.
After her car had rocked to a stop, she cut the engine and stared at that California plate until her eyes burned. Kelvin it read. A very ordinary name. It was undoubtedly pure coincidence that some guy named Kelvin from California had parked his vehicle in her driveway. A kid working his way through college by selling magazine subscriptions, maybe. Or a census taker who had wandered into the wrong state.
She might have convinced herself, only there was that helmet. Only one Kelvin from California would have Laurel Creek High  football gear in his car.  Her Kelvin. Six feet plus of muscular, lethal-edged male.
"Oh, God."
At the sound of her voice, her bloodhound Boo stirred awake from his snap on the passenger seat. Casting her a disgruntled, droopy-eyed look, he yawned and licked his nose.
"Don't look at me as if I am a coward.  You are the one who needs a Valium to get through an appointment with the vet."
Lucy dragged in a shaky breath, gulped, and tried to relax her body. Slow, even breaths. Center your thoughts. The routine came second nature to her now, and though sometimes ineffective, it worked this time to decelerate her heartbeat. Thank heaven. Having a panic attack at the mere sight of his car would be a dead giveaway.