February Suprise

Six weeks had passed since his visit to Ben Walker’s in New Mexico and since the holiday celebrations. Six weeks had passed since he’d turned Leigh down. And in those very long, grueling six weeks, he had changed.

Frank Donovan’s perspective about life had evolved quite rapidly. Since that night, New Year’s night, a month and half ago, when he’d declined Leigh Atkins’ invitation, his entire world had gone upside-down. Because Leigh had read him so easily and understood so completely his pain, Frank had started to move past the anguish of his loss. His wife and child no longer haunted his dreams in nightmarish fashion and when he slept at night, he only dreamed of the good. And it was all thanks to Leigh.

Granted, Frank had only talked with her for a brief moment. But there was something intense and moving in that short conversation they’d shared. He’d felt a kinship with her. And as he pictured her face now, as he stood in the middle of his bedroom, he remembered the attraction that had radiated between them as well.

Shaking those thoughts out of his head for a moment, he moved to his closet and grabbed the box that had been stuffed in the back, closed tightly, for three years. It felt foreign in his hands, for he had not touched it since the day he had buried his family. He was certain that opening it would only reopen hurtful wounds. And when he set it on his bed and pried the top off, he half expected ghosts of his wife and child to float out and again plague his mind with the nightmares he’d suffered for so long that told him he had failed to save them.

No ghosts appeared, however, and what he found inside were the framed pictures of his family. Their faces met his eyes, smiling forever frozen in a time well past, and he nearly lost his resolve to continue on his task. But he had to deal with what had happened if he were to ever move on and become a whole man again.

One by one he removed the photographs. His wife had been vibrant and beautiful, his son incorrigible and affectionate. They were gone, however, and though it ripped apart what little of his heart remained, he continued to remove the pictures and look at each, remembering the good times they had shared.

After he had forced himself to bravely study each image and remember the past, he then selected the most cherished photos and placed them neatly on the nightstand. He had refused to look upon his family’s faces for too long, and after that brief conversation with Leigh and the torment of endearing another holiday season alone, he had realized that keeping his family closed up in a box was the wrong thing to do. If he wanted to move on with his life and forgive himself of what had happened that dark November night, then he had to face their memory head on.

He returned the rest of the pictures to the box and then stood at the end of his bed and looked at the pictures on the nightstand. They looked right sitting there in their silver frames and he breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He had just taken the first huge step at getting his life back together. And in just another moment, he was going to take another.

He picked up the phone and called the airlines. He had taken some more time off from work and his team of federal undercover agents were shocked that he had not only vacationed during the holidays, but that he was venturing off again. It was uncharacteristic of him, he reasoned, since after his family’s death he had taken nearly no time off. But he had spent three years in a self-imposed hell and he had to dig his way out of it. Flying back to the southwest, back to New Mexico, and visiting Leigh seemed like a good plan to help free himself.

As he sat in the first-class seat and closed his eyes to try and rest on the flight, Frank replayed the conversation he’d had with Leigh in his mind. She was smart, tough and so incredibly beautiful. He remembered all the times he’d watched from Ben’s property as she rode elegantly upon the horses she trained. She had invited him over New Year’s Eve for a simple chat. Never had she implied more, but he had sensed an attraction between them both. After all, in the dangerous world of undercover operations that he worked in, it was his job to be able to read people and sense their emotions. He’d be very surprised if he had read her wrong. That’s why he had very few worries that she’d refuse him when he showed up on her door-step tonight.

Of course, if he was the sensitive, romantic kind of guy, he’d call her first and then make arrangements for a dinner a week later on Valentine’s Day. But he was by no means either type of man. He was a no-frills kind of man. What you saw, was what you got. He didn’t bother with airs and formalities. He simply presented himself as is and if a person didn’t like him, he lost no sleep over it.

With Leigh, however, he may lose a little bit of sleep if she refused him. After all, no man liked to have his ego bruised. Yet, Frank was confident that would not happen. He was expecting nothing from her. He was simply flying to New Mexico to get to know her a bit better and see if there really had been an attraction on her part. Nothing more, nothing less.

The plane landed and for the first time in years, Frank felt a hint of excitement and nervous tension building in his stomach. He’d allowed little emotion to escape since his tragedy, and feeling such an emotion now surprised him. He ignored it and made his way to the car rental agency.

The drive into the north river valley took a while. The traffic was light, however, for it was close to eight o’clock in the evening. Again, if Frank were a more sensitive type man, he’d find a hotel room for the night and call on Leigh in the morning. Doing that, however, would take the momentum out of this new course he was traveling. He was going to see Leigh tonight no matter how late he arrived.

He didn’t arrive too late, however. The Rio Grande valley was dark and looked more natural minus all the holiday lights that had lit the estates and ranches back during the holiday season. Instead, the only light came from the windows of the adobe homes and the full moon above.

It was certainly a more peaceful and slower-paced place than Chicago. Frank wondered if he could get used to such tranquillity. As he stepped out of his sedan, a few horses nickered from the stables and an owl’s call echoed through the night. Aside from the sounds of nature, it was a quiet place. Yes, it was very different than what he was used to.

Slowly, he made his way to her house. Unlike many of the adobe houses that were scattered throughout the valley, Leigh’s house was a simple ranch house with a pitched roof and a long porch. The porch overlooked the large pasture in front of her house and the horse stables and riding paddock sat to the right. Further across her land Frank could see the lights of Ben’s house. Ben would be shocked when he discovered Frank’s visit and the reason for it.

When Frank finally knocked on Leigh’s door, she opened it with a shocked face that quickly changed to a welcoming, warm smile.

“Frank,” she said his name and tilted her head and looked him up and down. “What a surprise.”

He nodded and then said, “Hello, Leigh. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

“Not at all. Just getting ready for bed. But that can wait. So tell me, what brings you back to town?” she then asked and as she continued to keep him on her porch, Frank was afraid she’d leave him there.

Before he answered her, he took a moment to glance her over. Her sweet, angelic face was just as beautiful as he remembered, but her long, blonde hair was pulled back in a loose pony-tail giving her face a younger look. She wore a white long-sleeved Henly shirt and blue-plaid flannel pajama bottoms. He should have figured a woman like her would never be caught dead in satin and lace for bedtime.

His brown eyes must have been showing with a strange glare, for as he stood there looking at her and not answering, Leigh began to frown.

“Frank?” she inquired with worry. “What’s wrong? Is Ben all right? Did something happen?”

His hesitancy in responding as he’d gazed at her had made her grown anxious, and Frank quickly smiled and assured her, “No, everything’s fine.”

“Then why are you here?” she questioned.

Moving forward and touching his hand to her soft cheek like he’d done six weeks ago, Frank said, “I decided I couldn’t wait until next year. Is that all right with you?”

Leigh smiled and raised a warm hand to cover his then gently pulled it from her face and gave it a light tug urging him into the house.

“Its fine with me,” she answered him. “Why don’t you come on in?”

And he followed her inside.
The End