Page 11 of A Home for Harmony

Toward the end of their marriage, when Micah was home, Trinda left.

“You asked how my day was,” he said. “I spent an hour this morning with a young woman in my SUV while we waited on the side of the road for the tow truck to come get her car. It’d died and she was sitting in it freezing her butt off with only sweats on and no jacket.”

“Oh no,” Scarlet said, lifting her hand. “Stop right there. I’m not in the mood for a parental lecture. I may not wear my winter jacket, but I keep it in the car. Right next to the emergency roadside kit you gave me when you handed over the keys. I’ve always got water on me and protein bars in the glove box.”

She did, because he checked those things when Scarlet passed her road test two months ago and he told her she could only get a vehicle if she followed his rules.

Mostly, she was a good kid and did what she was told.

“I’m glad to know that you listen.”

“I do. Just like I can drive better than the boys in my class. I told Luca that I could do better donuts than him. He didn’t like that.”

His shoulders dropped. “Scarlet. Don’t poke the bear. And that means boys. Teenage boys’ pride and egos are fragile.”

“So is mine,” Scarlet argued. “And you know I can do it. You taught me.”

He smirked.

Of course he did.

That was part of her driving lessons with him. If she wanted her license, she had to prove to him she could handle herself in severe conditions.

He’d taken her into parking lots with snow or when it was raining and made her drive and swerve and correct it multiple times so he knew she could handle it in any situation.

Did that mean she’d always be fine?

No, he wasn’t stupid enough to believe that.

But it meant she’d be prepared as best as she could.

“I did teach you, but you shouldn’t be bragging about your abilities. No one likes a showoff.”

“You’re no fun,” Scarlet said. “Why can’t you laugh like you did when you had me slamming on the brakes in the snow while I slid and screamed?”

He laughed this time. Just a short one.

“Because that was funny. This isn’t. And I didn’t worry there. It was a controlled environment.”

As controlled as he could get it.

“Whatever,” she said, waving her hand at him. “So you spent time with a young woman. Was she flirting with you?”

“No.”

“You should have flirted with her,” Scarlet said.

“That’s unprofessional.” There was no reason to go into details with his daughter that Harmony feared him. But at least she was cautious.

“You’re no fun,” Scarlet repeated.

The same words he’d heard from his ex for years too. Trinda always wanted him to do things that might make him look bad in his job.

Sorry, not happening.

He’d wanted to be with the state police for as long as he could remember. He wasn’t blowing it over a few beers out drinking when one of them had to drive home.

Nor would he ever risk putting someone else’s life in jeopardy.