A Texas Family Reunion. Judy Christenberry

older than Alex, who was only twenty-four, the same age as Susan.

      He focused his mind on his work. He’d given enough time to thinking about his family today. Besides, thinking about the company was important to his family, since they enjoyed the proceeds.

      ALEX WAS THRILLED. She’d just successfully completed her first case at her job, and tonight she’d get to tell Neil about her job change. Now if he was interested in a future with her, there was nothing to keep them apart.

      She was in the kitchen when she heard Neil’s knock on the door. They usually ate at her apartment since Neil said it would be better if they kept their relationship quiet. That was another reason for her leaving the police force. She wasn’t comfortable with secrets.

      When she opened the door, Neil swept her into his arms and kissed her. “Hey, did you miss me?” he asked.

      “Of course I did.” She smiled. He always wanted to know if she’d missed him, even if it was only a day or two since she’d seen him. “How was your family?”

      She listened patiently while he talked about his family. She was waiting for him to finish, hoping he would ask about what she’d done during his vacation. Dinner was over before he got to that stage. By then, Alex was more than a little irritated.

      “So, what did you do while I was gone?” he finally asked.

      “I got a new job,” she said casually.

      “You what?”

      “I got a new job.”

      “You left the police force?” he asked, astounded. “You should’ve discussed it with me first!” His tone held anger.

      Alex stared at him in disbelief. David had been concerned, but he hadn’t acted like this. “Why? Don’t you think I can make decisions for myself?”

      “Of course I do, but I think I know what’s best for you.”

      Why hadn’t she noticed how controlling he was? He usually dominated the conversation, it was true, but she’d figured that was because he’d had more experience and thus, more to say. It seemed she’d been mistaken.

      “Don’t worry,” he said. “I can probably pull some strings and get you back on the force.”

      “No, thank you,” she said clearly.

      “Yeah, I can talk to the sergeant and tell him you made a mistake and—”

      “I don’t want you to talk to the sergeant, and I didn’t make a mistake!”

      “Come on, Alex, I’m just trying to help. I don’t want you working somewhere else.”

      “Doesn’t it matter what I want?”

      “Sure, baby, but we won’t get to see each other as much.”

      “Why not? I won’t be working nights, and it won’t matter if someone sees us together if I’m not on the force.”

      “I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to be seen with a quitter.” Neil reared back in his chair, as if challenging her.

      Suddenly Alex knew what she had to do. “You’re probably right,” she said.

      He grinned at her. “I knew you’d come around. I’ll talk to the—”

      “No, I’m not agreeing to come back to the police force. I’m agreeing that I shouldn’t be seen with you.”

      “So you want to keep our relationship a secret?”

      “No. I want to end it.”

      “What are you talking about?” he roared.

      “You heard me. I don’t want to see you again.” She stood and went to the door, holding it open.

      “Come on, honey, you can’t mean that.”

      An hour ago, she probably wouldn’t have meant it, but now she saw Neil in a different light. He no longer had any authority over her. “Yes, I can. I’ve made a choice that I’m happy with, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass you by being seen with you.”

      “But if we keep meeting here, no one will know.”

      “Hurry up and go, Neil. Bugs are getting in.”

      He stalked out of her apartment. “I had plans for us,” he said from the doorway. “We could get married. We could have a couple of kids and you wouldn’t have to work.”

      An hour ago that plan would’ve thrilled her. Thank goodness she’d woken up in time.

      Before she could say anything else, Neil continued, “After all, you get money from the company your family owns. It’s not like we’d be hard up.”

      “Goodbye, Neil.”

      “You think about it. Let me know when you come to your senses.”

      “Right.” She closed the door in his face.

      After he’d left, she plopped down on her sofa. She’d made the right decision; she had no doubt about that. But she hated that she’d wasted so much emotion and time on a man who wanted to control her and take advantage of her income.

      She’d been a poor judge of character. Maybe it was because he was a higher rank on the force and had seemed so interested in her. She’d almost slept with him. She’d been tempted a couple of times, but something held her back.

      Now she was glad she hadn’t given in to momentary urges. He was a handsome man, but underneath… She wondered about his marriage and divorce. Maybe his wife—

      The phone rang.

      “Hello?” she answered, fearing it was Neil.

      “Alex? It’s Susan. Have you heard my news?”

      “No, I haven’t. Tell me!”

      “I’m now working for our company! David convinced Mom I should try it and see if I like it. I can’t believe she agreed!”

      “I can’t, either, but I’m very happy for you.”

      “Oh, me, too. I spent the afternoon at the new job and it’s quite absorbing.”

      “I’m glad.”

      “And do you know the best part?” Susan asked.

      “You get to work with David?”

      “No! I get to work with Pete.”

      “Ah, he is cute, isn’t he?”

      “You’ve met him?” Susan asked in surprise.

      “Yes, Jim and I worked at the company today to find the spy.”

      “Oh, that’s right. The spy was fired and that’s why they had an opening. I’m so glad you found her, because it got me out of that awful dress shop Mom loves.”

      “I know. She and my mom go there all the time.”

      “Yeah. They haven’t changed their style in twenty years. Do you think we’ll ever be like that?”

      Alex chuckled. “I don’t know. If not that, we’ll probably have other faults that will drive our kids crazy. If we have kids.”

      “What’s wrong?” Susan asked, picking up on Alex’s depressed state. They’d been in the same grade in school from kindergarten on and had shared a lot of things. She knew her cousin well.

      “Nothing,” Alex said, not wanting to talk about breaking up with Neil just yet.

      “Maybe I can talk Pete into taking me out to dinner and you and Neil could come with us!” Susan immediately suggested. “I’d love to meet him.”

      “Maybe David can double-date with you.”

      “Why not you and Neil?”