Stranger in the Night by Catherine Palmer Page B

wanted a connection…a permanent link to sanity, reality, hope, joy. These things eluded him, and he was seeking them as surely as she was looking for peace.
    She stepped away a second time. “If you see Shauntay, please tell her I came on Saturday like I promised.”
    Hurrying toward the door, she spotted Sam Hawke waving at her. A tall, thin woman—almost too beautiful for such a gritty setting—stood at his side.
    “Liz, come here a second.” He beckoned, and she could do nothing but cross to the edge of the basketball court where they stood. He indicated the lovely, dark-eyed creature in her white blouse and khaki slacks. “I want you to meet Ana. Honey, this is Liz Wallace—the woman from Refugee Hope. Duff’s girl. Liz, this is my fiancée, Anamaria Burns. Excuse me a second while I see Officer Ransom and the other guys out.”
    “So nice to meet you, Liz.” Ana held out her hand. “Sam told me about your work with the refugees. I admire you. I’m a reporter for the Post Dispatch —which means I spend way too much time in front of a computer screen.”
    “I’m at a desk most of the time, too.” Liz shook the woman’s slender hand. Like a giraffe, Ana was elegant and ethereal. No wonder Sam had fallen in love with her.
    “I just met Joshua this morning,” Ana said. “Great guy. He and Sam served in the war together. So many stories! I’veinvited Joshua to join us at my apartment for dinner after church tomorrow. Would you like to come?”
    “Oh, thank you, but I’ve got so much to do. The files are endless.” Liz read the disappointment on Ana’s face, but she couldn’t back down. “Maybe some other time. I’m sure our paths will cross again.”
    “No doubt about that.” Ana smiled. As Liz made for the door yet again, Ana fell in step. “Sam mentioned that refugees from war-torn nations are being resettled in St. Louis faster than people realize.”
    “Possibly. Surely the schools are aware. Businesses, too, I’d imagine.”
    “It has to be impacting the area. I’m going to talk to my managing editor about doing an article. Could I call you for an interview?”
    Liz glanced at the wall where she and Joshua had spoken. He was gone. Letting out a breath, she dipped her hand into her bag and brought out a business card.
    “Call me anytime. I’d love to talk about the needs at Refugee Hope. We’re desperate for volunteers.”
    “Everyone is.” Ana shrugged. “Haven sucked me right in. I put it off as long as I could. Didn’t want to get involved. You know how it is. But Sam kept after me. Now I teach three writing classes on Saturday afternoons.”
    “Three?”
    “Poetry, believe it or not. Song lyrics are the draw. Everyone wants to be the next king of hip-hop. We do a lot of rapping.”
    Liz laughed along with Ana. The idea of this elegant creature teaching kids how to write the kind of music that thumped from car stereos amused them both.
    “You sure you won’t join us tomorrow?” Ana asked as Liz stepped to the door. “Terell is bringing the new youth director from his church. Sam and I haven’t met Joette, so it’s going tobe fun. She doesn’t suspect she’s soon to be the new Mrs. Terell Roberts. It would be great for everyone to get to know you better, too.”
    At that, Liz had to stop her. “Listen, Ana, I appreciate the invitation, I really do. But I have to tell you there’s nothing between Joshua and me. I honestly have no idea why he would give Sam that impression. We’ve barely met. A couple of conversations. I dropped off some paperwork here, and suddenly I’m his girlfriend. He’s nice enough, but like I said…Okay?”
    Ana nodded. “Sure, Liz. I didn’t mean to jump to conclusions. I’ll talk to Sam about it.”
    “Thanks.” Liz touched Ana’s arm in gratitude, then she pushed the door open and walked out.
    Two steps later, Joshua was at her side. “About what I said in there. The thing about a lifetime commitment—”
    “I know—and would