Page 63 of Fools in Love

Just then, Dr. Stevens rushed in with his medical bag.

“Damn it, Suzie, don’t scare us like that,” Aaron said, taking her wrist in his hand to check her pulse.

“Uncle Aaron, I’m fine. I just got up too quickly.”

The door opened again, and this time Suzie’s parents rushed in. Over the next ten minutes, Kate and Tom watched as most of the Jordan clan either stopped by or called to check on Suzie.

“Word travels fast,” Tom said under his breath to Kate.

“I think it’s wonderful,” she replied with a smile. “This is why I know I live in one of the safest places.” She hugged him. “They’re starting their family.”

“So are her sister and cousin,” Tom pointed out. “They’re going to have a herd when everyone’s done,” he joked, causing Kate to chuckle.

“Just more students for my classes,” she pointed out. “Maybe I should think about having a pregnancy class? Pregnant women need to exercise differently.”

“True.” He nodded as he thought about a couple of kids running around the studio who looked a lot like him and Kate mixed together. “Thinking of having your own herd of kids?” he asked her.

She smiled. “Eventually. Maybe not a herd. Two, maybe three.” She shrugged. “You?”

“Three’s good.” He smiled and then kissed her.

“Whose dog is that in your patrol car?” someone asked.

“Damn it.” He remembered the dog in his front seat. “Got to go. I’ll be back later.” He kissed Kate before rushing out.

After delivering Ralph back to his owner, he swung by the station and changed out of his uniform. Since he knew Kate’s evening class had already started, he swung by Carrie’s and picked up a couple of large kennels for the dogs. Then he headed to the gym to box for an hour until her class was over.

He parked in the parking lot and was just about to head inside when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye.

At first, he thought his eyes were fooling him. But then he blinked and realized that his father really was standing just at the entrance to the beach. The same pathway he’d taken when he’d met Kate that first night.

When his father saw him, he quickly turned and disappeared down the pathway, heading towards the beach.

Dropping his bag, he pulled out his cell phone and called Aiden as he chased after the man. He quickly relayed what was going on and his location to Aiden.

“Don’t do anything,” Aiden warned him. Tom hung up the phone and shoved it back in his pocket as he raced down the beach after his father.

The old man may have lifted weights in jail, but it was obvious he hadn’t run. Tom easily caught up to him a few moments later and tackled him to the ground.

“Get off me,” his father yelled as Tom put a knee into his back and tried to yank his arms behind his back.

“You’re under arrest,” he said firmly.

“You’re no son of mine,” his father spat as Tom shoved his face into the sand and tried again to get his hands behind him. His father squirmed and somehow elbowed Tom right in the nose. Tom felt the gush of blood but didn’t lose his grip on his father. The entire time, his father was cursing and yelling at him. “I should have killed you first,” he was yelling.

When he finally had both of his old man’s hands firmly gripped behind his back, his father stilled and seemed to change tactics.

“I only came here to show you how much I’ve changed. To apologize. To make amends,” his father spat out.

“Yeah? Tell that lie at your next parole hearing.” He looked up to see Aiden and Nick racing towards him.

“Shit,” Nick said, stopping beside him. “Your nose is bleeding.”

“Yeah, he elbowed me,” he answered as Aiden slapped a pair of cuffs on his father.

“Where’s your wife?” Aiden asked his father.

“My…” His father laughed. “She was no wife. Not like my Nichole.”