Darius studied her in silence for awhile. June was a beautiful woman, tall, fit, intelligent, and charming. At thirty-nine, she looked ten years younger, at least. “Why haven’t you ever married?”
She snorted. “You’re one to talk.”
He smiled. “I guess we’ve both neglected our personal lives.”
“I’ve been raising Noah. What’s your excuse?”
Darius couldn’t think of one.
Monday morning, it took a few moments for Darius to realize the knocking sound was coming from his cubicle in the Monitor’s offices. He looked over his shoulder to find Alonzo standing in the doorway in his sheriff’s uniform: tan shirt, black tie, and spruce-green gabardine pants.
“Sorry to interrupt.” The sheriff seemed to be waiting for an invitation.
“You’re not interrupting. Have a seat.” Darius spun his office chair to face his guest. “I’m not used to that sound. Usually people just walk in.”
“I know you’re busy.” Alonzo lowered himself onto the beige tweed guest chair.
“There’s no rest for the wicked.”
“But the righteous don’t need rest.” Alonzo completed the quote.
“That too.” Darius studied the older man’s body language. Alonzo was tense. His dark gaze landed everywhere but on Darius.
“Have you decided whether to take that promotion?”
Darius froze, then realized the other reporters couldn’t hear Alonzo’s soft question over the usual newsroom cacophony of shouts, telephones, and typing. “You’re not here to ask about my career plans, Sheriff. What’s on your mind?”
Alonzo hesitated. “I need advice.”
“On what?” Darius had interviewed state politicians who’d been more forthcoming.
“I proposed to Doreen more than a week ago.” Alonzo sounded like he’d lost his greatest treasure.
Darius braced for bad news. “And?”
“She said no.”
Darius was as disappointed as though he’d been the one Doreen had turned down. “Why?”
“She’s comfortable with our relationship as it is now.”
That didn’t sound like Doreen. She was still afraid. “What do you want?”
“I’ve wanted to marry Doreen for more than forty years.” Alonzo’s response was fast and frustrated. “I’m not settling for anything less.”
“So what happens now?”
Alonzo rubbed the side of his face. “She asked me to give her more time.”
“What can I do?”
“Tell me what to say to convince Doreen to marry me.”
Darius’s mind went blank. When had he become the Dear Abby of Trinity Falls? “Sheriff, I’ve never proposed to anyone. I’ve never even wanted to.”
“You helped Ean get back together with Megan when they split up last year.”