Author’s note: No, not like the Faith Hill/Tim McGraw song (although that is a good song), but this is the title of my new piece of crap...enjoy.

BFQ

Chapter 1

“Sandra, you’re closing up tonight!” My boss, Jade, an old woman with eyes of eerie gray and a hunchback like Quasimodo, bellowed as she got her coat off the coat rack. I continued to wipe the coffee table, but felt for the keys in my pocket in reassurance.

“Ok, Jade! Sure thing!” Jade came over and sat on the stool in front of where I was wiping.

“I heard from Margaret your son is turning 4 soon.” I smiled, remembering my little boy I had been dying to see all day.

“Yeah, Ethan’s turning 4 next two weeks- June 5th. He wants a Spider-Man theme birthday. It’s expensive, but...I would do anything to make him happy.” Jade smiled warmly, one of the things she rarely does.

“I wish I had children. But Hank didn’t and still doesn’t want them.” She stood up and stretched. “Well, I’ll leave you to lock up, Sandra.” I nodded.

“Sure thing, Jade.” I heard the familiar door chime, a door slam and complete silence. I hummed and continued to clean the counter, then the tables and polished the coffee machines. Before long, I was tired and locked up for the night, making my way down the cold street of San Francisco.

When I came into my apartment, my sister, Harriet, was sleeping on the couch with Ethan sleeping on her stomach and the TV showing ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns. I chuckled, putting up my coat in the closet.

“Mommy?” Ethan whined, making Harriet stir. I came over.

“Hey, baby cakes. I’m here.” I kissed his head, an ocean of brown hair tickling my face. Harriet stirred again.

“What time is it?” She asked, stretching. I picked Ethan up. He immediately snuggled into me, sighing happily in my shoulder.

“Half past 11.” I told her, picking up the TV remote and turning it off. She stood up and sighed.

“I should get home. Jack should be waiting.” I nodded. Jack was Harriet’s on-and-off boyfriend (not the first one, mind you.). Sometimes, you would find him in her condo with boxers on and the milk carton in his hand. He feels he’s always welcomed no matter if my sister and he were together or not. Harriet picked up her purse and kissed Ethan’s cheek and then mine.

“Take care, Bunny.” ‘Bunny’ was my nickname with Harriet since childhood. I guess it was because of the fact I was on the track team all throughout high school.

“You too, Turtle.” Guess why I called her that. She walked out the door and locked it behind her. I took Ethan to his room of superheroes- Spider-man, Batman, Superman, anything ending with ‘-man’, it was either on the wall or his bed. I laid him down.

“Good night, baby cakes.” I kissed his forehead. “Dream of those heroes tonight.” I tucked him in and went into my room. Oh my god, my feet are killing me, man! I slipped off my shoes, took my brush and started to brush through my long thick dark brown hair. Good thing Ethan got his dad’s hair and not mine. He got the smooth, light brown hair. I sighed and put on my pajamas. I’m not going to think about Eric. I had a good day and the memories of him are not going to ruin it. But one memory couldn’t help but break through the resistant barrier in my mind:

It was a hot summer day when I first met him. The gorgeous new stranger in our town- 24 years out and fresh out of ‘detective school’ is what Harriet said. She said he was investigating a murder in our town. It became clear to me just what this man was looking for- he was looking for the man that killed that 5-year-old girl a few weeks ago in a small barn out in the country.

“So,” Harriet flopped down on my bed. “I heard he’s from up north. One of the Dakotas, it’s said.”

“South.” I say, smiling. I did my research. Harriet laughed.

“Yeah, well. Yeah, so he’s from SOUTH Dakota and his name is Eric.” That was when my fate was planned out. Eric. A simple name threw my life in a different direction than what it was going to be...

A few days later, on the hot summer day, I met this Eric when I was at the house by myself and he came by asking questions. I told him I didn’t know anything about nothing on this case. He accepted it, but before he walked off, he turned around and said.

“Hey, you date?” I was surprised. He was asking me out? No way!

“No.” I answered. “I-I-I mean, I-I date, but I have no one TO DATE.” He laughed a gorgeous, silky laugh sweeter than honey and stickier than maple syrup.

“How about I change that? I’ll take you out on Saturday.” I nodded dumbly, unable to say anything. WOW!! WOW!! Wait until I tell Harriet I have a date with Eric.

“By the way,” He called while walking away. “Name’s Detective Eric Moore.”

I slammed the drawer shut. DAMMIT! Why didn’t I refuse? Because...I was 18, in lust and didn’t understand anything about love. Calm down, Sandra. He’s gone and never coming back. Plus, you have a beautiful baby boy. That’s good for you...but not for...

I looked toward Ethan’s room. Ethan would never know his father...

Damn me.

Damn Eric.

Damn love

Just...

Dammit.

Well, it’s a shot. Review if you wish.

Black Feather Quill