Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 12

Steve pulled into his driveway just before 6:00 pm. He thought maybe he would get himself some dinner and a cup of coffee and relax for the night, and maybe, just maybe he would get a call from a very special lady. "Oh good grief don't kid yourself man, she is a married woman." He thought realizing he had been talking to himself a lot lately. Steve got into the house, turned on the news, opened a can of ravioli and started a cup of instant coffee. He sat at his table and his mind yet again began wandering.

"Man o man why can't I get my mind off of her? What is it about her that I cant even go a minute without wanting to see her face or hear her voice."

The microwave dinged for his water and the ravioli begun to bubble up on the stove. "This is a great dinner! YUM!" Steve shook his head. "I can't even take care of myself, how can I even be worried about some other woman?" At that moment he remembered another very special lady that was ripped from his life by cancer. His beloved wife, Caroline. How he missed her cooking. Her conversation. It had been 10 years ago that he said his final good byes to her as he held her in his arms. He had not even thought of another woman since, well until Sarah came along. He shook himself out of his reverie. "Yeah well buddy life isn't fair is it?" He reasoned with a sigh. After a few minutes Steve finished up his dinner and decided that he needed to get a shower, still clinging to the hope that he may get a call. "Dream on Cowboy." he sighed as he headed to the shower.

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"Shhhh...just be quiet, lets slip behind the bar ok?" Quietly the both stood up and walked behind the bar in kitchen, there they crouched.

Another knock on the door echoed through the house. "Melanie, I know you two are in there, now let me in before I break this door down and pull you both out!" Mark yelled and banged again. "Sarah, honey I am really sorry, now just come home ok? We'll make things ok like we always do."

Melanie looked over at Sarah and saw complete horror in her eyes. Melanie placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. "Sarah please honey come on, what more do I have to say? I love you sweetheart!" Sarah crouched closer to Melanie and was shaking uncontrollably.

Suddenly the banging stopped and Melanie and Sarah heard another voice outside the door. Excuse me sir, is there some kind of problem here?

"No sir officer, no problem here. Was just checking to see if my wife was over here. I guess no one is home." Melanie and Sarah crept from behind the bar.

"Well sir you were making an awful lot of racket out here." the officer said.

"Oh officer I am sorry, I hadn't realized I was making so much noise. I just live next door." Mark explained. "My wife is good friends with the lady that lives here.

"I am aware of that sir, now if you will please return to your house. I don't want to see you making a scene out here again or I will have no choice but arrest you for disturbing the peace."

"I certainly won't sir, thank you, I'll just go home now."

Five minutes later there was a knock on the door. Melanie and Sarah froze once again. "Melanie open up, it is me Nick." Melanie rushed to door and opened it to a very large muscular man. He stood about six feet five inches, dark hair, and dark eyes. "Nick you were fantastic! Oh and you look just as fantastic." Melanie said and planted a deep kiss on Nick. Nick wrapped his arms about her and kissed her back. He opened his eyes and saw Sarah standing there watching. He pushed himself away from Melanie, and cleared his throat. He offered his hand to Sarah.