Read Online Laurie's Time (The Fairfield Series) by Maryann Jordan - Free Book Online

be brought into the picture.
    Rob began to share about Laurie. He explained about seeing her at the grocery store; then Bernie interrupted to share how she met Laurie with Carol at the shop one day right after Rob had left. He continued on to the night at Smokey’s. He shared everything with his parents, desperately needing their insight. When he got to the part about Amber, both parents winced as though in pain. “Yeah, it went downhill after that,” he admitted. He even told them what Tom had said about Laurie having been hurt before.
    “She just needs a chance to see the real you. The part that is not a player, no longer a player,” his dad interjected. Bernie just rolled her eyes at her husband.
    “Honey,” she said. “It sounds like she’s being practical. Once burned, she’s not looking to get played again. Your dad is partially right – she does need a chance to see the real you. But that may take time. Are you serious about her? I would encourage you to befriend her first. Then that will give her time to see the real you.”
    Rob sat for a few minutes digesting this advice. Friends. Could he be friends with a girl that he wanted to wrap himself around and protect from all hurt? And what if he was the one that caused the hurt?
    Knowing he had to give it a try, he kissed his parents goodnight and headed home.

Chapter 6
    L aurie greeted the opening of school with great enthusiasm for her class of twenty-four first-graders. Each day she headed off to work, satisfied in the knowledge that she was doing something she loved. For the first month of school, they were required to have a fire drill every week, and she wanted to make a good impression on the principal. She had taught the students exactly what they were to do, how to act, and where to go. In the second week of the new school year, she was not surprised to hear the fire drill alarm. Her class immediately lined up and proceeded outside.
    She was surprised though to see a fire truck outside with firefighters around. Her eyes immediately landed on one particular firefighter. Rob. Trying to be unaffected, she couldn’t help but notice his eyes staring straight into hers and his smile directed at her.
    Her students began to talk with excitement, seeing the fire trucks. She quickly brought them back to order, and they continued on to their assigned location. At the end of the fire drill, Ms. Darby announced that the class with the best behavior would get to see the fire truck and talk to the firemen. Laurie was pleased when her class was called. Leading the children over to the fire truck, she tried to keep them in order.
    Seeing that she was losing control of her class, Rob quickly stepped up. Looking impressive in his fireman’s uniform, he towered over the six year olds.
    “All right, everyone, listen up,” he boomed. The children immediately quieted, looking at him with awe. “Only the children who listen to their teacher will get to climb on the fire truck and meet Mr. Mac, the Fire Chief.”
    The children all looked to Laurie for instruction. Shooting him a grateful look, she divided them into three groups to rotate among the firefighters and the fire truck. The firemen took each group and began giving tours.
    Rob maneuvered Laurie over to the sidewalk. “How have you been?” he asked sincerely, smiling down into her beautiful face. Her long hair was pulled back, and the wind was blowing tendrils all about. In the sunlight he saw that her hair had strands of light brown, dark brown, reddish brown all swirled together. He realized that he had never actually noticed a woman’s hair before. Not like this. Not memorizing its color. Or how the wind swept the loose strands around her face. He fought the urge to bury his hands in it, just to see how it felt. Jesus, get a grip, man.
    Laurie, suddenly feeling shy after how their last encounter ended, smiled and replied, “Fine. I’ve been fine.” It was as though her brain stopped working and she