Free All I Ever Wanted by Francis Ray Page B

inside. On the front passenger side stood Paul. Closing Sierra’s door, Aaron went around to the other side. Both men got inside at the same time. The car pulled smoothly away from the curb.
    Naomi stared after the car. Sierra had found a man who valued her and wanted her safe. She was a lucky woman. For a second Naomi thought of Richard, then pushed him from her mind. He was just a friend and that was the way it was going to remain. The last thing she needed or wanted was a man ordering her around and messing up her and Kayla’s lives again.
    Once was more than enough.
    * * *
    As the day lengthened, Naomi expected a call from Mrs. Grayson or Richard to check on her. Until today she’d always had the early-afternoon shift. That way Ruth or Catherine could keep Kayla for a couple of hours. She’d never closed the building by herself. As the clock moved closer to six, she finally accepted that they weren’t going to call. Initially she wasn’t sure how she felt about that, then she decided it showed they had confidence in her to handle whatever came up.
    And she had. There had been calls seeking information about the league as well as call-backs, as she’d thought.
    Although the calls had brought back painful memories of her abusive marriage, they also gave her a greater insight into what the caller was going through or how to be of assistance to a relative who wanted to help a family member in an abusive relationship who wasn’t ready to leave her abuser. For her there had been no relative, no one she could turn to … until she came to Santa Fe.
    When the antique clock on the wall read five fifty-eight, Naomi pulled her purse from the cabinet and powered down the computer. Exactly at 6:00 PM , she set the alarm, left on the lamp on the front desk to signify that help was always available, and walked out the door.
    The air was crisp and clean. As the evening lengthened, the temperature would drop, but by then Naomi would be home, getting her and Kayla ready for school and work tomorrow. Walking to her car, she looked around as the defense course had taught her, checked the backseat, and unlocked the door. As Luke had said during the course he’d taught the workers and clients of the league, it was better to be careful than a victim.
    She got into the Highlander, and the motor started instantly. Backing out of the parking lot, she realized—not for the first time—she had so much to be thankful for. Her life could have taken a much different direction. But she and Kayla were safe, and if all went as planned, they would be homeowners soon. She realized something else—if she kept looking over her shoulder waiting for her ex-husband to show back up, she’d never have the kind of happy life she wanted for them.
    Stopping at the entrance of the parking lot, she put the car in park, picked up her cell phone, and called Fallon. It was past time to take another step.
    “Hello.”
    “Hi, Fallon. How is Kayla?”
    “Wonderful as usual,” Fallon reported. “We’re eating pizza and watching the Discovery Channel.”
    “Do you mind keeping her for a bit longer? I want to drop by a friend’s house.”
    “Is it too much to hope that the friend is Mr. Yummy?”
    Naomi didn’t know why she felt like tucking her head. “It’s Catherine.”
    Fallon’s sigh came through loud and clear. “One day you’re going to give me the right answer. In any case, take your time. We saved some pizza for you.”
    “Thanks. I appre—”
    “Stop there or I might think twice about coming over in the morning for coffee and cereal. I’m out of milk and too lazy to get dressed and go to the store and buy any.”
    Naomi often wondered if Fallon, who was as intelligent as they came, really forgot on purpose so she could come over. Naomi knew what it was like to be isolated and lonely. Fallon had family, but they were in another state. Naomi didn’t mind. She liked the company and was grateful Kayla had a wonderful sitter. “I