Lover Beware

legacy of happy marriages.” She smiled at Damon. “So far I haven’t seen anything that indicated waiting on the man hand and foot but I’ll keep looking.”
    “While you’re at it, will you also keep an eye out for the traditional obey-the-husband rule?” Damon asked. “I’ve always thought that word was crucial in the marriage ceremony. Without it, a man doesn’t stand a chance.”
    “Dream on,” Sarah said. “That will never happen. The problem with being locked up in a stuffy lab all of your life is becoming evident. Delusions start early.”
    They were passing a small, neat home with a large front yard surrounded by the proverbial white picket fence. An older couple was working on a fountain in the middle of a bed of flowers. Sarah suddenly stopped, turned back to look at the house and the couple. A shadow slithered across the roof. A hint of something seen, then lost in the fog. “I’ll just be a minute.” She waved to the older couple and both stood up immediately and came over to the fence.
    Sarah’s sisters looked at one another uneasily. Damon followed Sarah. “It isn’t necessary to speak to every citizen in town,” he advised Sarah’s back. She ignored his good judgment and struck up a conversation with the older couple anyway. Damon sighed. He had a feeling he was going to be following Sarah and talking to everyone they met for the rest of his life.
    “Why, Sarah, I’d heard you were back. Is everything all right? I haven’t seen you for what is it now? Two years?” The older woman spoke as she waved to the sisters.
    “Mrs. Darden, I was admiring your yard. Did you remodel your house recently?”
    The Dardens looked at one another then back to Sarah. Mr. Darden cleared his throat. “Yes, Sarah, the living room and kitchen. We came into a little money and we always wanted to fix up the house. It’s exactly the way we want it now.”
    “That’s wonderful.” She rubbed the back of her neck and looked up at the roof. “I see you’ve got ladders out. Are you re-roofing?”
    “It was leaking this winter, Sarah,” Mr. Darden said. “We lost a tree some months ago and a branch hit the house. We’ve had trouble ever since.”
    “It looks as if you’re doing the work yourself,” Sarah observed and rubbed the back of her neck a second time.
    Damon reached out to massage her neck with gentle fingers. The tremendous tension he felt in her neck and shoulders kept him silent. Wondering.
    “I hear Lance does wonderful roofing, Mr. Darden. He’s fast and guarantees his work. Rather than you climbing around on the roof, wasting your time when you could be gardening.” She turned her head slightly to look at Damon. “Mr. Darden is renowned for his garden and flowers. He wins every year at the fair for his hybrids.”
    Damon could see shadows in her eyes. He smiled at her, leaned forward to brush a gentle kiss on the top of her head when she turned back to the Dardens. “Lance probably needs the work and you’d be doing him such a favor.”
    Mrs. Darden tugged at her husband’s hand. “Thank you, Sarah, it’s good advice and we’ll do that. I’ve been worrying about Clyde up there on that roof but…” She trailed off.
    “I think you’re right, Sarah,” Mr. Darden suddenly agreed. “I think I’ll call Lance straightaway.”
    Sarah shrugged with studied casualness but Damon felt her shoulders sag in relief. “I can’t wait for the fair this year to see your beautiful entries. I really wanted you to meet Damon Wilder, a friend of mine. He bought the old Hanover place.” She smiled sweetly at Damon to include him. “I know you’re often in the garden and working on your lovely yard—have you noticed any strangers around that were asking questions or making you feel uncomfortable?”
    The Dardens looked at one another. “No, Sarah, I can’t say that we have,” Mrs. Darden answered, “but then we strictly mind our own business. You know I’ve always believed in staying out of my neighbors’ affairs.”
    “It’s just that with you working outdoors so much I thought you might be able to keep an eye out for me and give me a call if anything should look suspicious,” Sarah said.
    “You can count on us, Sarah,” Mr. Darden said. “I just bought myself a new pair of binoculars and sitting on my front porch I have a good view of the entire street!”
    “Thank you, Mr. Darden,” Sarah said. “That would be wonderful. We’re just on our way to visit Irene and