| |
THEY MADE IT ALMOST all the way home before Gia asked, "So? Did he ask you out?"
Juliette smiled and shook her head. "No. We talked about it. We both agreed that it was silly how everyone and their dogs...and sisters...and neighbors...think we should date, but that was it. He kinda pulled a Mr. Darcy on me and I wasn't very nice about it. I'm tired and crabby anyway, so we agreed to let things lie."
"He pulled a Mr. Darcy on you? You mean, the 'I love you even though you're beneath me' scene?"
"That's the one." Juliette grimaced. "But without the 'I love you' part. He said I make him act like a fool and a jerk and make him feel uncomfortable in his own skin." She felt the prickling of tears at the back of her eyes and clenched her jaw to keep them at bay. "What was I supposed to say to that? I'm honored? Delighted? Take me now?"
The car fell silent as the others absorbed Juliette's words.
"So, he didn't ask you out." It was more of a statement than a question. Gia wasn't stupid. But she was clearly trying to decide if Victor Jarrett was or not.
Mrs. Cork chimed in. "Well, there's a thick-skulled man if I ever did see one. We practically threw you at him."
"Mrs. Cork!"
"What? Sometimes the best wine comes from a little extra pressing. I was just giving you a little extra press."
"Is that true?" Juliette didn't really feel like talking about Victor anymore.
"Is what true?"
"About good wine and extra pressing."
"How would I know? I don't drink."
Juliette laughed, appreciating the woman's tart candidness, and wondered, not for the first time this evening, why she hadn't made the effort to befriend her neighbor long before now.
When they pulled into the garage, she turned off the engine, but didn't get out immediately, instead turning slightly in her seat so she could look at Mrs. Cork. Gia sat quietly in the back, accustomed to girl-talks in the car. There was something about confined spaces; some of the best talks between the Gustafson sisters took place in cars.
"Mrs. Cork, I'm sorry I haven't been a better neighbor to you." Juliette shook her head. "What am I saying? I haven't been any kind of neighbor to you. I'm sad about missing out on all the years that we could have been friends."
"Well, I feel the same way." Her abrupt statement didn't fool anyone; Mrs. Cork couldn't hide the catch in her voice.
Juliette opted for full disclosure, not to justify, but by way of explanation, pitiful though it might be. "I recently broke up with a man who was my everything, something I've learned in the last eight or nine months is simply not healthy. You might remember him. He brought red tiger lilies and I gave them back, none too gently."
The corner of Mrs. Cork's mouth turned up just a little, a smile threatening to burst out. "I do remember him, in fact."
"He consumed me, but only because I let him. It wasn't until we broke up that I realized how much of life I was missing. It's as though I've worn blinders for the last ten years, so unaware of anything or anyone that didn't directly affect me. I'm sorry, Mrs. Cork, and I hope we can start fresh. I can also speak for Tootles—I mean, Bob—on this; we're glad you and Mr. Bobo are our neighbors."
Mrs. Cork reached over, patted Juliette's hand and nodded, but only said, "Speaking of Bob and Mr. Bobo, I think we'd better check on them, don't you?"
"Of course!" Juliette smiled.
The dogs, bless their furry little hearts, were ecstatic to see their mommies, and their mommies were ecstatic to see that everything looked just the way it did when they left.
Gia, her stuff all packed up and ready to go, kissed both puppies goodbye and gave Mrs. Cork a warm hug. "I'm so glad I got to meet you. Thanks for letting me come with you to church, too. We had a good time, didn't we?" She pulled open the front door to let herself out but turned to say one last thing. "And I'm really glad I got to meet the mysterious Officer Jarrett. Ren and Phoebe will be green with jealousy, won't they? I think he's fantabulous, Jules, amazing. I don't know if I've ever actually met a guy who fits 'tall, dark, and handsome' before, but your guy? Wowzer! You need to marry that man as soon as you can."
Juliette had stopped listening, her face growing warm with the blush creeping up her neck and flooding her face. Bob came hurtling through the foyer to charge outside in a cacophonous volley of barking, throwing himself at the knees of the man standing on the front stoop, arm raised to knock, frozen in place as he listened to Gia.
"Why, hello there, young man." Mrs. Cork scooped up Mr. Bobo who was tugging frantically on his leash and handed him to Gia, pushing the rattled girl ahead of her. "Walk me to my place, will you, Gia? Mr. Bobo seems so heavy tonight." And the little entourage brushed past the tangled mass of leaning dog and grinning man.
Mrs. Cork turned with one last wave. "Goodnight, Juliette. Goodnight, Officer Jarrett."
"Juliette," he said as he straightened up from ruffling the fur of the adoring dog pressing into his shins. His smile hadn't faded. Neither had her blush. She tried to think of something clever to say.
"Hi." Very clever.
"Just in case you're curious, they're both inside and I think I can see two silhouettes at the window—yep. The curtain just moved. They're spying on you."
"On me?" Juliette peered around him at her neighbor's house. "No one spies on me, Officer. You're the one they're ogling."
"Ogling? And it's Victor."
"Sorry. Victor," she corrected herself. "Yes, ogling. Gia thinks you're fantabulous marriage material, and Mrs. Cork loves a man in uniform, remember?"
"But I'm not in uniform tonight."
"No, you're not. Mrs. Cork made sure we knew that, too." She tipped her head and looked up at him. "Okay. Since you're not in uniform, I'm going to assume I'm not in trouble with the law. So then, why are you here?"
"Actually," he said, hooking his thumbs in his pockets, "I came to ask if you'd like to go out with me. Just you and me."
"Oh." Clever and brilliant.
"Tonight, if you'll have me." He cleared his throat. "I know you said you were tired, but watching you drive away tonight just didn't feel right, like unfinished business. I had to come see you."
"Unfinished business? Is that what I am?" She didn't want to make things easy for him. Not because she didn't want him in her life, but because she didn't want someone hanging around until they figured out what they wanted, especially if it didn't include her. If he wanted to pursue her, he'd better be ready to fight for her.
"No."
She waited, hoping he'd expound without prompting from her, staring down at the dog who'd collapsed in a lovesick heap between his feet. Every sense became heightened, picking up on things usually unnoticed: the thwapping of Bob's tail against Victor's pant-leg, the mosquito-buzz of the porch light over their heads, the smell of wet grass mixed with the sandalwood scent of Victor's cologne. Even the car driving by seemed to move in slow motion as it passed on the road behind him.
"Juliette." He reached out and touched her arm just above the elbow, his fingers gently stroking. She didn't mean to, but she flinched, and he withdrew. "I'm sorry I've been such a fool these last few weeks. Can we start again? Will you share a cup of coffee with me tonight? I'd really like that."
Try as she might, Juliette couldn't resist him; the genuine longing in his eyes. She could think of nothing more she wanted to do at that moment than share a cup of coffee with this man. Tonight. "I'd like that very much."
"Okay?" He straightened, clearly surprised by her ready acceptance.
"Okay." She did smile now, and looked up at him. "Can we go somewhere that serves French fries?"
Victor grinned back, taking it all in stride, "Do you like The Griddle?"
"Excellent suggestion." She knew for a fact that The Griddle served both good coffee and good fries and an excellent house dressing to dip them in. "Um, do you want me to drive my own car?"
"No, I don't. I'm driving. That's how dates work." He motioned toward the black Toyota parked across the street.
"So this is a date?"
"Yes, it is." He crossed his arms over his chest and turned his very pleased expression on her. "This is a date." She felt her knees go a little weak.
"Could you do me a favor? While I put on my shoes," she pointed down at her bare toes, "will you go next door and let them know? I don't think they'll survive if we leave them hanging much longer."
"Of course. I'll be right back."
She watched him for a few moments as he crossed the lawn toward the neighbor's house, shoulders back, purpose in his steps. Bob trotted along behind him, his nose bumping at the back of Victor's knees as though urging him to hurry. A new and heady sensation filled her heart and her whole body felt flushed, fingertips and toes tingling with anticipation.
"Eep!" she squeaked, her giddiness wiping away all vestiges of the fatigue she'd felt earlier. When Victor disappeared into Mrs. Cork's home, Juliette turned and headed to the kitchen for her purse and shoes, leaving the door open for his return.
~ ~ ~
"COME IN, COME IN." Mrs. Cork welcomed him with a disarmingly wide smile, Mr. Bobo clambering to greet Bob, whom he hadn't seen for at least five minutes now. Victor thought that maybe the woman just wasn't accustomed to smiling and the motion was difficult to control. But when he looked across the room, and saw a similar expression on Gia's face, he had to laugh.
"You ladies all right?" He stood in the foyer; a mirror-image of Juliette's, and eyed the two of them.
"Of course we are, aren't we, Gia?" Mrs. Cork reached out and patted his forearm. "Just tired, that's all. It's been a long day and it's getting so late."
But Gia was already tired of being coy. "So?"
"So," he repeated, knowing exactly what she was asking. "I'm taking Juliette out on a date tonight. Just thought you two should know."
Gia collapsed backward into the cushions of the yellow and blue chintz sofa, shooting a fist in the air. "Yes!" she whispered. Both Bob and Mr. Bobo leapt up beside her, vying for her attention.
"Oh dear. Isn't it a little late for that?" Victor couldn't tell if Mrs. Cork was serious or not. "I mean, she did have a sleep-over last night. And I'm sure she has to work tomorrow. Early."
"I'll have her back in plenty of time to get some sleep, Mom," he teased. "It's just coffee. And French fries."
"Oh dear," she said again. "Just tell me to mind my own business. I'm too nosy for my own good."
Gia popped up and came over to stand beside her. "I don't know about that, Mrs. Cork. I'd say your nosiness was actually a good thing in this case. Isn't it your fault that Officer Jarrett has been tormenting my sister for the last few months?" She softened the prickles of her words with an arm around the old woman's shoulders.
"Tormenting?" Victor's eyes narrowed. "Is that Juliette's word or yours?"
"Mine. But you have tormented her, you know. This whole wishy-washy-can't-make-up-your-mind thing isn't cool." Victor's shoulders straightened at the verbal comeuppance from the young girl. Her boldness surprised him, and apparently Mrs. Cork, too, who stood by with eyebrows raised in anticipation. "That being said," Gia stepped forward and peered up at him, her eyes still smiling, but a serious note in her voice. "Exactly what are your intentions with my sister?"
"Yes, Officer. What are your intentions with our Juliette?" Now Mrs. Cork moved closer, too. Victor instinctively stepped back.
"Because I won't stand by and let some lamebrain—my word again," Gia clarified. "Break my sister's heart like the last one did."
"And neither will we." Now even Bob had joined the ranks, and was sitting beside Mr. Bobo at Mrs. Cork's feet.
His intentions? His mind went blank to all but the truth. "I suppose I'm going to break some relationship law by telling you before I tell her, but the truth is, I love her. I love Juliette." His own words shook him to the core, but he kept on. "I have no intention of breaking her heart. And I never meant to torment her."
Gia clapped her hands together, once again the fun-loving teenager. "Oh, goody! Because I like you, Officer Jarrett. I wouldn't mind having a brother like you."
Victor beamed, but held up a hand. "Let's see if the two of us survive coffee and fries before we start talking marriage, okay?"
He turned to the older woman beside Gia. "And she's right, Mrs. Cork. Thank you for being—" He was cut off by a volley of barking from Bob and the accompanying yips of Mr. Bobo. The dogs went into a tailspin, charging around the room barking and whining, back and forth from the door to the big window in the living room that faced the street, and back again, as though trying to find a way out.
"Bob!" Victor spoke with command, but the dog ignored him, his desperation evident.
"Jules!" Gia's eyes widened with fright as she said her sister's name, then she lunged past Victor and reached for the door just as the same terrible thought occurred to him. He thrust her aside and threw open the door. Unable to get a grip on Bob, the dog flew out between his legs and was across the lawn before Victor was down the front steps. He quickly scanned the street. Sure enough, a blue sedan was parked a little too close to the back of his Toyota.
"That's Mike's car!" Gia cried out. "What is he doing here?"
"Trouble, I think. That's the first fellow I called the police about," Mrs. Cork declared, after scooping up the whimpering Mr. Bobo who'd been left behind.
"Call 9-1-1. Now! And both of you stay there!" Victor commanded over his shoulder before sprinting across the lawn.
