Law of Love

17

Stevie absolutely adored Atherton. She found it to be very homey quaint and quiet. They had taken a walk after Breakfast and were currently going through a little antique shop where Stevie was picking out a porcelain doll for Kate. They had already been to a toy store and picked up something for Cole and they bought William, some woodworking tools as his new pass time was stealing his father's pocket knife to carve wood things. 

"Mr. Franklin is still mad at me, he's the one that paid for the shingle I got when I went to Law School. Oh, this is Vincent's a great place to eat. They have good blueberry muffins." Lindsey points motioning towards the diner. 

"Did you and Sherrie ever come here?" Stevie questions fixing her purse over her shoulder. She was wearing jeans and a flowy yellow blouse today and it was almost a nice relief to be out of her work clothes. It wasn't often that she ever was...Really only on Saturdays and Sundays.

"Once in a while. We didn't do anything." Lindsey huffs throwing his arms down against his side.

"Nothing?" Stevie smirks biting her lip.

"Well, we kissed." He blushes looking away from her. She is truly enjoying how uncomfortable he is talking about this Sherrie girl.

"Oh behind the church?" Stevie raises her eyebrows.

"I was seventeen, nearly grown." He whines.

"Come on let's go there." Stevie pulls on his hand.

"Where?" He sighs. He knows exactly where.

"Behind the church." She laughs.

"No, let's go to Vincent's" Lindsey shakes his head.

"Then behind the church?" A gleam rises in Stevie's eyes. 

"We'll see." He huffs pulling her towards the restaurant.

***

As they were sneaking out of the church, Stevie fixing her hair and makeup, Lindsey was approached by a police officer. 

"Are you Mr. Buckingham?" He asks.

"I am." Lindsey nods.

"There's someone that wants to see you down at the jailhouse." He states.

"Well, Steph do you want to come with me or do you want me to drop you off back at Aunt Elise's?" Lindsey turns to his wife. 

"Oh, I'll go." Stevie shrugs.

"Mr. Buckingham, when I heard you were in town I knew I needed to call you to get me out of here and defend me." The kid shakes his head.

"Why?" Lindsey asks.

"I didn't kill Noah Carter." He shakes his head.

"Noah Carter, we met him just this morning." Stevie looks at Lindsey.

"Yeah, someone stabbed him with my knife." The kid's pacing. 

"Noah is dead?" Lindsey assures.

"When I left for work this morning that knife was on my back porch where it always is and I don't know how it got into that motel room. Someone must have stolen it and I was at work all day. Well almost all day, at 4:30, someone called me and said that Noah wanted me to meet him at five o'clock in the orchard grove so we could talk in private. So I took off work and drove out there and he never showed. I waited until 5:30 and drove back." The kid states.

"Well did anyone see you?" Lindsey inquires. 

"No." He sits on the bed.

"Do you know who called?" Lindsey questions.