CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

 

 

Jennifer stood in the doorway of Squire House waving goodbye to Sue and Brent until the little blue sports car disappeared from view. She was glad to finally be alone again.

On Saturday the three of them went to Cape Mendocino, a breathtakingly beautiful spot. In the nearby town of Mendocino, they visited art galleries and ate fresh crab salads. In the evening, Ross came over to Squire House and they played bridge and talked. Brent, Sue and Jennifer were exhausted from the day’s excursion so the evening ended early.

Now, on Sunday, Brent and Sue decided to set off early so that they could have a leisurely trip back to the City.

They loaded up the car. Sue got in when Brent said he had forgotten his book and then headed for the house asking Jennifer to help him find it.

She followed Brent inside, but once there he led her into the living room and put his arms around her.

“I want you to know that while I acted like an oaf, I meant every word I said to you Friday morning,” he told her. “Don’t forget them. If you can ever find room for me in your heart I’ll be waiting. I think I’m falling in love with you, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Jennifer had placed her hands against his shoulders to hold him back. “I do remember what you said, but—”

Ignoring the pressure of her hands, he pulled her close and cut off her words with a kiss. She allowed it for a moment, but then pushed him away as she realized how vulnerable she felt, and how wrong this was. “Let’s find that book,” she said, stepping away from him.

“I just remembered, I packed it after all,” he replied. Then he brushed his hand against her cheek. “Jenny,” he whispered and drew her toward him as if for another kiss.

“Am I disturbing something?” a man’s voice said.

Brent spun around and stood face to face with Paul Squire. “Who are you?” he cried.

Jennifer could hardly believe her eyes. There stood Paul, but as she had never seen him. His eyes blazed in anger at her. She spoke quickly, “Oh, Brent, this is an old friend of mine, Peter. Peter, this is Brent.”

Paul gave her a look that could have struck her dead where she stood. He nearly snarled as the words came out. “An old friend. Yes, so I am.” His eyes never left Jennifer’s as he spoke.

Brent looked from one to the other then turned in anger to Paul, “I didn’t hear you come in. Are you in the habit of just walking into a lady’s house uninvited?”

“Lady, you say? I may not have been as unexpected as you believe, sir,” Paul replied with a piercing glare at Brent. “After all, we are such grand old friends.”

Brent was speechless, confusion all over his face as he looked from Paul to Jennifer, whose face now flamed red.

“It’s not what you think,” Jennifer said as she grabbed Brent’s arm and pushed him toward the front door. “It’s the way country folks are, Brent. The door is always open.”

“Country folks.” Paul hooted.

Jennifer tried to ignore this as she led Brent to the door. “I’m sure Sue is wondering what’s happening in here.”

“I may be in the same state,” Brent replied.

They reached the front door. Brent was about to step through the doorway when, instead, he turned around. “Jennifer, I—”

He was suddenly out the door and it slammed shut.

It took a moment before Jennifer was able to open the door again. Brent was halfway to the car. “A sudden draft,” she called. “Sorry.”

He looked confused, then nodded, and got in the car. Sue started the motor, and both waved goodbye as she drove away. She was going to drive the first half of the trip home, and Brent the second.

Jennifer stood in the doorway waving goodbye until the car disappeared. She sighed. She suddenly felt very tired and very confused.

Jennifer went back into the living room expecting to see Paul, but he wasn’t there. She sat down in the big leather chair that Paul so loved and watched the seagulls playing over the ocean.