He watched me, his eyes guarded.

His family intimidated me and I suspected if Joe’s father couldn’t accept him having an honest job, he’d never accept me. But who was I to point fingers? My momma had been a mean, spiteful woman. My father had watched her belittle me my entire life because of the sins of his own past and never intervened. Violet had tried to run Joe off because she’d thought so little of his family and then she thought too much. If Joe could still love me, in spite of my own questionable family, how could I hold his against him?

“I want to move to Little Rock with you.”

His face lit up with joy. “What? You do? Why?”

“Because I love you, Joe McAllister, and if you can put up with my insufferable family, who am I to question yours? And Violet was right about one thing. I’m miserable without you.”

“You won’t regret it. I swear. I love you, and I’ll never let anyone hurt you if I can help it.”

Sliding my hand into his hair, I pulled his mouth to mine. “I know.”

Chapter Eighteen

When Joe left Monday morning, I didn’t even try to pretend to be happy about it. Joe was torn between leaving me and taking me with him, even though I insisted I had to go to work and give my notice.

“I’ll come back Wednesday night and I’ll help you start boxing things up.”

I nodded, worried I’d burst into tears.

“Are you sure you can’t just call with your notice?”

“I could, but I may as well do it in person. I have to stay in town. Violet and I have an appointment with the probate office on Wednesday. The sooner we get that taken care of, the sooner I’ll be free.”

“Okay.” He hesitated.

“You need to go or you’ll be late. We can’t both be unemployed.”

“We could travel the world. I could take you to Italy.”

“Well, the difference between your job and mine is you actually enjoy it. So you go to the job you love, and I’ll figure out what I want to be when I grow up.”

“You could always go back to school. I’m sure the University of Arkansas in Little Rock has an elementary education program.”

He knew how much it had bothered me that I’d quit college my freshman year to take care of Momma after Daddy died. I was surprised he remembered my major. I’d only mentioned it once. But it was an option. I had my money from my birth mother. I could use it to pay for my tuition.

Joe took my hand and I walked him to his car while Muffy ran around looking for the perfect spot to pee. “Maybe you can come up to Little Rock this weekend since this last one didn’t work out.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Promise me you won’t do anything illegal.”

That was easy. I wasn’t on jury duty anymore. “I promise.”

“And be careful. Before you do something, ask yourself ‘what would Joe think if he knew I was doing this’ and if you have the smallest inkling I’d be upset, then don’t do it.”

That one was harder. “Okay. But you’ll do some digging into who’s in charge of the construction project and Forest Ridge?”

“I’ll do my best, but I have a busy week scheduled. I might not get to it for a couple of days.” He held up a finger when I started to protest. “I’ll get to it as soon I can. Now come here and kiss me goodbye.”

He leaned against the car door and pulled me to his chest, kissing me as though he wouldn’t see me for three months instead of three days.

“I love you, Joe.”

“I love you too. Stay out of trouble.”

I smiled. “I never used to get into trouble until you showed up.”

“Somehow, I seriously doubt that. But try to stay out of it anyway.”

He drove away and I looked across the street, not surprised to see Miss Mildred watching out her front door with a frown.

I finished getting ready for work, meandering through my house, amazed that I was actually going to sell it and move away. I’d lived here my entire life.

A knock at the front door shook me out of my musing. Nobody used the front door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see Officer Ernie, looking all official. My heart jumped into my throat. I’d been with Joe all weekend and hadn’t done anything illegal.

“Can I help you, Officer?”

“I received a complaint I’m following up on.”

“A complaint? Who complained?”

“It was an anonymous complaint, miss.”

“What was the complaint?”

“You were reported for indecent acts in public.” He looked over my shoulder into the living room. “May I come in?”

“No, you may not.”

His eyes widened in surprise.

“We can discuss this right here.”

He cleared his throat and pulled out his notebook. “You were accused of kissin’ a man in public.”

Crossing my arms, I shifted my weight to one side. “I missed the vote to make that an illegal act.”

“Well, technically it’s not illegal…”

I uncrossed my arms and clenched my fists at my sides. “I was in my own front yard, kissin’ my boyfriend goodbye. My boyfriend, the state police detective.”

He frowned, closing his notebook. “The entire police department of Henryetta is fully aware of who your boyfriend is.”

“Would you like his number? You can call him and tell him about the complaint.”