Three-Year Rule Read online

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  The next morning Elizabeth woke up on the sofa in Joshua’s arms. She glanced over to the recliner and smiled when she saw Amy cradled in Randy’s arms sound asleep. Joshua opened his eyes and pulled Elizabeth back down as she attempted to sit up.

  He rolled her over on her back and climbed on top of her saying, “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Elizabeth stared up into his deep blue eyes and smiled. Before she could speak, Charlie jumped on the sofa on top of Joshua, followed by Kilo. Elizabeth let out a squeak as Joshua dove protectively on top of her laughing. Randy bolted upright in the recliner, jolting Amy awake. The dogs bounded off the sofa and went to the front door, desperate to go outside.

  Randy scooped Amy up in his arms as he rose from the recliner and said, “Amy, I certainly hope you don’t expect me to find a way to make our second date more eventful than our first.”

  Amy laughed and responded with, “Would it help if I promise the next time we spend the night together, it won’t be in a recliner?”

  Her comment seemed to shake Randy up a bit. He flashed a nervous smile and set her down gently on her feet. He glanced at Joshua for assistance. Joshua flashed Randy a huge smile, climbed off Elizabeth, and headed for the front door.

  He called over his shoulder as he went, “I’m going to take the dogs and check out the stables. Sheriff, Want to join me?”

  Randy stumbled across the room in his rush to reach the door. Joshua smiled and winked at Amy as the dogs dashed outside. He followed Randy out the door into the bright morning light. Amy turned a questioning glance at Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth rose from the sofa and reached out to touch her shoulder saying, “He’s a widower.”

  Amy frowned at her and asked, “So what? Does that mean he’s broken, He’s scarred for life, He’ll never have sex again, He’s suddenly gay? What?”

  Elizabeth gave Amy a hug and answered, “It means you may have to take this slowly. He’s a sweet man, but he has some baggage. You’re going to have to allow him some time to adjust. It’s possible he’s feeling guilty for being attracted to you.”

  Amy sighed and headed for the kitchen. She said, “I don’t want to marry him. I just want to date him. Let’s make breakfast for the guys. I bet they would like steak and eggs.”

  Elizabeth watched in awe as Amy walked across the room and opened the refrigerator. She crossed to the kitchen and said, “Amy, you are marvelous. You find out your latest romance has a secret past, and you don’t ask one question about it. Not only are you not curious, but you also move past Randy’s hesitation for involvement and dive right into the breakfast. How do you do it?”

  Amy turned to Elizabeth and offered in a mild tone, “I take people at face value. I don’t expect any more than they give, and I don’t anticipate their reactions.”

  Elizabeth reached into the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of eggs. She asked as casually, not taking offense, “Are you criticizing me?”

  Amy smiled and added, “I love you, Beth. You are the big sister I never had, but you and I are complete opposites. I guess that’s why we get along so well. You analyze everyone; you can’t help it. You have this grand idea of how life is supposed to evolve. I actually do think there are many people out there acting just as you say. However, I think life is a mixture of mystery and confusion. Nothing is ever as it seems, and then again, it is precisely as it seems.”

  Elizabeth pulled a bowl out of the cabinet and whisk out of a drawer. She began breaking eggs into a bowl. She tipped the bowl slightly to one side and attacked the eggs with fury. Finally, she said, “You aren’t making any sense. Chaos and predictability don’t make good partners.”

  Amy pulled a large skillet out of the oven and added two T-bone steaks. She glanced over at Elizabeth and said, “My mother died of cancer when I was 11 years old. My father couldn’t cope with her loss, so he drowned his sorrow in a case of beer every night. A few years into his alcoholic stupor, he found I had a boyfriend. I was fifteen. He decided to teach me a lesson. My thirteen-year-old brother killed him that night with a shotgun to stop him from strangling the life out of me.”

  Elizabeth turned to stare at Amy. Tears streamed down her face, she couldn’t speak. Amy smiled at her and said, “So you see, Beth. I choose to be light-hearted and carefree because that’s who I want to be. I refuse to dwell on the past or be haunted by what ifs all my life. I want to live my life to its fullest and enjoy every second. Why would I choose otherwise? Why would I want to set an expectation for anything else? I’m not hiding behind a pseudo personality, because I like who I am. I choose to be a lighthearted free spirit. I refuse to live my life any other way, and I’m not shy about it either. This is my character because it is whom I choose to be.”

  Suddenly Charlie appeared at Elizabeth’s side, and they turned to find Randy and Joshua standing in the doorway. The look of sorrow on Randy’s face told them they had heard everything Amy said. Joshua’s eyes focused on Elizabeth as Randy walked slowly across the room to stand next to Amy. Joshua motioned for Elizabeth to come with him as he turned back toward the door. She immediately dropped the whisk in a bowl and headed out the door after him.

  Randy moved the skillet off the burner and turned off the stove. He reached out and cupped Amy’s face. His voice was soft and full of emotion, “My wife died of leukemia. It took her fast; we tried everything, but nothing could stop it.” He pulled her against him and held her as he continued, “Everyone has a past. Some people live their entire life without hardship and sorrow. The rest of us have to fight hard for our happiness. Honestly, I think you and I are the lucky ones. We’ve learned to appreciate what we have while we have it. Those other people have no idea what life is really about, but we do, don’t we?”

  He released her and gazed down into her big blue eyes. Her face filled with a weak smile, and she said, “I’ve never told anyone, but Beth that story before.”

  Randy added, “Well, now that we’ve got all the drama out of the way we can relax and concentrate on the boring stuff. Like your favorite color, what TV shows you like...”

  Amy laughed and said, “What loser football team you root for.”

  Randy released her, and acting offended, said, “Now you’ve gone too far.”

  Chapter Four