Lynn
Full Version: A Splash Of Spring - Red Shores Lady
RomanceFanFiction.net > The Highlights - A Place To Start > Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > 2008 Seasonal/Holiday Challenges > Spring Showers 2008
That's alright, RSL, we'll gladly wait. But, dinner for 19? I'll keep you in my prayers.
Lynn
Lynn
I'm not sure what has me more tired - the length of your days or the dinner party for 19! Good luck with both and I look forward to more of the story when you have time to post. Which, by the way - You rock Mr. Thomas.
thats fine dont worry we will be here waiting and good luck saturday you will be in my take care Lin
Just caught up and I'm adoring your story, so far. I hope your dinner party goes well, nineteen sounds a very frightening number for a dinner party!
Take care,
sairs
Take care,
sairs
19 for dinner!! Do you need help with cooking???
Joy
Joy
We can be patient, can't we? After all, Jack and Sue have waited this long, why shouldn't we? 
How about we all come and do the cooking, and you can just enjoy the dinner party!! Sounds like fun!
. . . and we could have broccoli!!
Regina
How about we all come and do the cooking, and you can just enjoy the dinner party!! Sounds like fun!
. . . and we could have broccoli!!
Regina
It'll be an interesting dinner... I love how you portray Sue's dad.
Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your patience with me this week. Now that my killer week is over and my guests all fed and I've had a day to recoop I've got a post (a short post, I'm afraid, but a post none the less) for your consideration.
I have another one written, but not proofread. However, I should have it ready by tomorrow morning, so check back then if you wish...
- RSL
****
Jack’s Apartment
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 6:23 p.m.
Jack sat on the edge of his bed dressed in his suit pants, dress shirt and tie staring alternately between the two pictures he held in his hands.
The one in his right hand was of himself and Allie, which had been taken about six years ago at their ten year High School reunion. At the time he and Allie had been dating fairly steady, despite their long distance relationship. In fact at the reunion a lot of their former classmates had teased them about when Jack was going to finally get around to ‘popping the question’. After all, as all their old friends had pointed out, they had been dating for about twelve years.
Jack had danced around the subject the best he could for the rest of the weekend, making lighthearted jokes about not being ready to give up his freedom just yet. However when he and Allie had returned home he had found himself withdrawing from her, both physically and emotionally. Within six months of the reunion they were barely speaking let alone dating. Soon after that he had heard from his mother that Allie was dating a very nice guy who worked on the floor below her. He had been surprised to find that even though she had been his girlfriend for well over a decade he hadn’t felt the least bit jealous by the news. Instead he had been happy for her.
For the next year he hadn’t heard anything from her, only the odd report from his mother who had heard from her mother about what she was up to. It wasn’t until one summer, about two years after their reunion that he and Allie had met up again while they were both back in Wisconsin for a visit. By that time Allie had broken up with the ‘nice guy who worked on the floor below her’. During the course of their visit the two of them had started picking up where they had left off two years before. At least for a while. However about two and a half years later they were right back where they had been before, having little to no contact with each other. This time he was dating someone else too. Their mothers had continued to keep them up-to-date on each other. Jack was sure they did so with hopes that one day the young couple would finally get back together and take the ‘big step’ of marriage. But Jack hadn’t felt ready for that. And apparently neither had Allie since it wasn’t until he had had his heart attack last month that she had felt the need to contact him.
When she had showed up at the hospital that first day she had tearfully told him that upon hearing of his heart attack she had suddenly realized that she had been taking him for granted, figuring that he would always be there when she needed him. But now she realized just how quickly something unexpected could happen and he would be gone from her life forever. She told him that she never wanted to have regrets if something should happen to one of them because she had been ‘too busy’ to stay in touch. When she had left to go back to New York a couple of days ago she had made him promise to keep in touch no matter what and he had promised to do so. However the question now was, would he be keeping in touch as a boyfriend or simply as an old friend?
His gaze shifted to the picture he held in his left hand. It was a picture of him and Sue that had been taken at Bobby’s that night that the team had let themselves into his apartment after the case involving Mutumbo Kinta a few of weeks ago. He and Sue were sitting together on the couch laughing at something that was happening off camera their eyes fixed on each other in amusement.
Jack studied the picture more closely. Sue had such a beautiful smile. Whenever he saw it his heart started beating faster and a feeling of contentment would wash over him. No matter what was wrong with the world at large as long as he saw Sue’s smile everything was right with his world.
But did that mean that he was in love with her? He thought back to his conversation with Mark at the Pool Hall. He had really appreciated the older man’s advice and Jack had to admit that he made perfect sense. No other woman had ever made him feel the way that Sue did. From the very moment he had met her he had been captivated by her. The fire and determination in her eyes when she had marched up to his desk that fateful day in October had intrigued him. It was the same fire and determination that he had seen in those eyes when she had stood up to Ted Garrett a couple of months ago when they were working that case involving Eve Gaylord and Alta Tech. When Ted had suggested that the case be dropped since they had lost Eve’s testimony and Alta Tech was kicking up a stink Sue had told their supervisor stubbornly that she was not giving up the battle and that she was determined to discover the ‘needle in the haystack’. Jack smiled as he remembered Garrett’s surprised expression as Sue had walked away. However the older man had pitched right in with the rest of the team and they had managed to find the ‘needle’ that they were looking for. Jack had to admit he was proud of Sue. She was certainly not someone who took things lying down. Last week was definitely proof of that.
He still marveled at how well she had handled herself during that case with Pete Hadley. She had been hurt, she had been angry and yet she had still conducted herself in a completely professional manner. She was truly an amazing woman. And yes, he did love her. He suddenly knew it as surely as he knew that the sun would rise in the East tomorrow morning. He also knew for a certainty that he didn’t just want to date her, he wanted to marry her.
“But do you want to marry me?” Jack asked Sue’s image, an uncertain tone in his voice. “Do you even love me?”
A wave of nervousness washed over him. What if Sue didn’t feel the same way? What if he bared his heart to her and she rebuffed him? What would he do then? His heart had already taken a physical beating, he wasn’t sure if it could stand an emotional one too.
“What if you do decide that it’s love and you decide to let her know how you feel and you find out that she does feel the same way?”
Mark’s question from earlier in the day came back to his mind, as did his answer.
“Than I would be the happiest man in the world.”
“So what’s holding you back from being the ‘happiest man in the world’?”
Mark was right, he needed to tell Sue how he felt about her and he needed to do it soon before someone else realized what an amazing woman she truly is.
He had heard rumors that Sue had recently met someone. Jack didn’t know who it was, but he had noticed the two gifts that had been delivered to Sue at work during the last week. One had been a box full of dog biscuits for Levi and the other had been a Hawaiian shirt for Sue. Whoever this guy was he was obviously trying hard to get Sue’s attention. Jack was going to have to act fast before the new guy managed to steal her heart away from him. That is if her heart was even his to start with. He seriously hoped that it was because he now knew that his belonged to her.
When had that happened? When had she gone from simply being a co-worker and friend to completely capturing his heart as well as his interest? He thought of the events of the last six months. He recalled her patience and good-natured sense of humor when Bobby, Tara and D were pulling those pranks on her when she had first joined the team. He also recalled her humility when it was discovered that she had made a big mistake during their investigation of Henry Proctor, the guy who had been plotting to blow up the Katlin Oil refinery. Even though Jack had been a bit angry during that part of the case he had still noticed – and greatly respected – that she had not tried to hid or justify her mistake. She had accepted it and dealt with the fall out in a very professional manner.
He had also greatly respected the way that she had dealt with Myles and his initial treatment of her. Instead of treating him with the same contempt in which he had treated her, she was always respectful and gentle to him. Rumor even had it that she had actually saved Myles’ job by keeping Garrett from transferring him to another unit or office. Jack hadn’t been able to find anyone to confirm the rumor, but he knew that it sounded exactly like something that Sue would do. She was not one to hold a grudge or revel in somebody else’s downfall, even if they were trying to make her life miserable. She was always putting others above herself. It was one of the things that he loved about her.
So now that he had established for a certainty that he loved her and that he wanted to do something about it, the question that remained was what did he do about it? How did he tell her how he felt and even more important how did he determine how she felt about him? Perhaps tonight would present him with an opportunity to answer those questions as well as a few others that were floating around in his mind. After all they were going to be going to a nice restaurant with wonderful food and a romantic atmosphere. It was a shame they were sharing the evening with six other people. If only he could figure out a way to eliminate the others and bring the number down to just him and Sue he would be happy. Maybe he would luck out and everybody else would suddenly have other plans. He could only hope.
*****
See you tomorrow...
I have another one written, but not proofread. However, I should have it ready by tomorrow morning, so check back then if you wish...
- RSL
****
Jack’s Apartment
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 6:23 p.m.
Jack sat on the edge of his bed dressed in his suit pants, dress shirt and tie staring alternately between the two pictures he held in his hands.
The one in his right hand was of himself and Allie, which had been taken about six years ago at their ten year High School reunion. At the time he and Allie had been dating fairly steady, despite their long distance relationship. In fact at the reunion a lot of their former classmates had teased them about when Jack was going to finally get around to ‘popping the question’. After all, as all their old friends had pointed out, they had been dating for about twelve years.
Jack had danced around the subject the best he could for the rest of the weekend, making lighthearted jokes about not being ready to give up his freedom just yet. However when he and Allie had returned home he had found himself withdrawing from her, both physically and emotionally. Within six months of the reunion they were barely speaking let alone dating. Soon after that he had heard from his mother that Allie was dating a very nice guy who worked on the floor below her. He had been surprised to find that even though she had been his girlfriend for well over a decade he hadn’t felt the least bit jealous by the news. Instead he had been happy for her.
For the next year he hadn’t heard anything from her, only the odd report from his mother who had heard from her mother about what she was up to. It wasn’t until one summer, about two years after their reunion that he and Allie had met up again while they were both back in Wisconsin for a visit. By that time Allie had broken up with the ‘nice guy who worked on the floor below her’. During the course of their visit the two of them had started picking up where they had left off two years before. At least for a while. However about two and a half years later they were right back where they had been before, having little to no contact with each other. This time he was dating someone else too. Their mothers had continued to keep them up-to-date on each other. Jack was sure they did so with hopes that one day the young couple would finally get back together and take the ‘big step’ of marriage. But Jack hadn’t felt ready for that. And apparently neither had Allie since it wasn’t until he had had his heart attack last month that she had felt the need to contact him.
When she had showed up at the hospital that first day she had tearfully told him that upon hearing of his heart attack she had suddenly realized that she had been taking him for granted, figuring that he would always be there when she needed him. But now she realized just how quickly something unexpected could happen and he would be gone from her life forever. She told him that she never wanted to have regrets if something should happen to one of them because she had been ‘too busy’ to stay in touch. When she had left to go back to New York a couple of days ago she had made him promise to keep in touch no matter what and he had promised to do so. However the question now was, would he be keeping in touch as a boyfriend or simply as an old friend?
His gaze shifted to the picture he held in his left hand. It was a picture of him and Sue that had been taken at Bobby’s that night that the team had let themselves into his apartment after the case involving Mutumbo Kinta a few of weeks ago. He and Sue were sitting together on the couch laughing at something that was happening off camera their eyes fixed on each other in amusement.
Jack studied the picture more closely. Sue had such a beautiful smile. Whenever he saw it his heart started beating faster and a feeling of contentment would wash over him. No matter what was wrong with the world at large as long as he saw Sue’s smile everything was right with his world.
But did that mean that he was in love with her? He thought back to his conversation with Mark at the Pool Hall. He had really appreciated the older man’s advice and Jack had to admit that he made perfect sense. No other woman had ever made him feel the way that Sue did. From the very moment he had met her he had been captivated by her. The fire and determination in her eyes when she had marched up to his desk that fateful day in October had intrigued him. It was the same fire and determination that he had seen in those eyes when she had stood up to Ted Garrett a couple of months ago when they were working that case involving Eve Gaylord and Alta Tech. When Ted had suggested that the case be dropped since they had lost Eve’s testimony and Alta Tech was kicking up a stink Sue had told their supervisor stubbornly that she was not giving up the battle and that she was determined to discover the ‘needle in the haystack’. Jack smiled as he remembered Garrett’s surprised expression as Sue had walked away. However the older man had pitched right in with the rest of the team and they had managed to find the ‘needle’ that they were looking for. Jack had to admit he was proud of Sue. She was certainly not someone who took things lying down. Last week was definitely proof of that.
He still marveled at how well she had handled herself during that case with Pete Hadley. She had been hurt, she had been angry and yet she had still conducted herself in a completely professional manner. She was truly an amazing woman. And yes, he did love her. He suddenly knew it as surely as he knew that the sun would rise in the East tomorrow morning. He also knew for a certainty that he didn’t just want to date her, he wanted to marry her.
“But do you want to marry me?” Jack asked Sue’s image, an uncertain tone in his voice. “Do you even love me?”
A wave of nervousness washed over him. What if Sue didn’t feel the same way? What if he bared his heart to her and she rebuffed him? What would he do then? His heart had already taken a physical beating, he wasn’t sure if it could stand an emotional one too.
“What if you do decide that it’s love and you decide to let her know how you feel and you find out that she does feel the same way?”
Mark’s question from earlier in the day came back to his mind, as did his answer.
“Than I would be the happiest man in the world.”
“So what’s holding you back from being the ‘happiest man in the world’?”
Mark was right, he needed to tell Sue how he felt about her and he needed to do it soon before someone else realized what an amazing woman she truly is.
He had heard rumors that Sue had recently met someone. Jack didn’t know who it was, but he had noticed the two gifts that had been delivered to Sue at work during the last week. One had been a box full of dog biscuits for Levi and the other had been a Hawaiian shirt for Sue. Whoever this guy was he was obviously trying hard to get Sue’s attention. Jack was going to have to act fast before the new guy managed to steal her heart away from him. That is if her heart was even his to start with. He seriously hoped that it was because he now knew that his belonged to her.
When had that happened? When had she gone from simply being a co-worker and friend to completely capturing his heart as well as his interest? He thought of the events of the last six months. He recalled her patience and good-natured sense of humor when Bobby, Tara and D were pulling those pranks on her when she had first joined the team. He also recalled her humility when it was discovered that she had made a big mistake during their investigation of Henry Proctor, the guy who had been plotting to blow up the Katlin Oil refinery. Even though Jack had been a bit angry during that part of the case he had still noticed – and greatly respected – that she had not tried to hid or justify her mistake. She had accepted it and dealt with the fall out in a very professional manner.
He had also greatly respected the way that she had dealt with Myles and his initial treatment of her. Instead of treating him with the same contempt in which he had treated her, she was always respectful and gentle to him. Rumor even had it that she had actually saved Myles’ job by keeping Garrett from transferring him to another unit or office. Jack hadn’t been able to find anyone to confirm the rumor, but he knew that it sounded exactly like something that Sue would do. She was not one to hold a grudge or revel in somebody else’s downfall, even if they were trying to make her life miserable. She was always putting others above herself. It was one of the things that he loved about her.
So now that he had established for a certainty that he loved her and that he wanted to do something about it, the question that remained was what did he do about it? How did he tell her how he felt and even more important how did he determine how she felt about him? Perhaps tonight would present him with an opportunity to answer those questions as well as a few others that were floating around in his mind. After all they were going to be going to a nice restaurant with wonderful food and a romantic atmosphere. It was a shame they were sharing the evening with six other people. If only he could figure out a way to eliminate the others and bring the number down to just him and Sue he would be happy. Maybe he would luck out and everybody else would suddenly have other plans. He could only hope.
*****
See you tomorrow...
"If only he could figure out a way to eliminate the others . . ." Why do I have a feeling that he might just get a little help with that wish?
Yay! Your story is back, and I can't wait to see how Jack finagles time alone with Sue - and what he says to her when he does!!
Looking forward to another post!!!
Regina
Looking forward to another post!!!
Regina
that was wonderful please jack listen to sues dad and tell her your in love with her not allie dont think you have ever been in love with whiner and sues not in love with dogboy hes yurkie so try jack and Im also that sue will tell you shes in love with you now cant wait till tomorrow Lin
hope your dinner party went well
Jack, I really don't think you are going to have to worry about getting Sue alone tonight!! The opportunity is being handed to you - don't blow it!!!
Joy
Joy
Jack, maybe ( 
) your wish will be granted 
Tere
) your wish will be granted Tere
Author's Note: Here's the next post I promised...hope you enjoy.
- RSL
*****
Sue & Lucy’s Apartment - Washington D.C
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 6:35 p.m.
Sue critically examined her reflection in the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She had to admit that the red dress she wore, the one that Tara and Lucy had insisted on buying for her earlier in the day despite it’s expensive price tag, did look good on her. It was sleeveless, fell to just below her knees and gently hugged her curves on the way down. It made her feel very elegant, even beautiful. She had decided to wear her hair down and it fell in gentle curls around her shoulders. Her matching red strappy sandals and simple white gold chain and small hoop earrings helped accessorize the outfit. She looked like a million dollars and she hoped that Jack thought so too.
Lucy certainly thought he would.
“Jack’s not going to know what hit him.” She had told Sue a few minutes ago before disappearing out of Sue’s bedroom in search of her own accessories to go with the beautiful black dress that she was wearing.
Sue blushed slightly as she thought about Jack Hudson. Handsome, charming, intelligent, incredibly kind and caring Jack Hudson. All he had to do was look at her with those incredibly gorgeous dark brown eyes of his and her heart started to race and her knees felt like Jell-O. And when he winked at her…well, she was a goner.
But did he really love her?
Tara and Lucy seemed to think so, but could she really trust their judgement to know? She knew that Lucy had been trying to fix her up with Jack ever since Bobby’s birthday party last fall, but that had gone awry when Jack’s girlfriend Rhonda had shown up. Beautiful, sophisticated, perfect Rhonda. And now there was Allie. Equally beautiful, sophisticated, perfect Allie. And who knows how many other beautiful, sophisticated, perfect women Jack has dated over the years.
Sue found herself looking at her reflection again. Letting out a deep sigh she watched as her shoulders slumped a bit. Who was she kidding anyway? Jack would never fall in love with someone like her. She was not beautiful, she was not sophisticated and she was most certainly not perfect. Why would Jack ever want her when he could have any other woman in the world? Sue had seen how beautiful and even not so beautiful women reacted to Jack. The flirtatious smiles, the coy winks, the obvious looks of appreciation when they looked him over. It always made Sue’s stomach clench and her heart ache knowing that any one of them would have more of a chance with him than she did. After all, why would Jack willingly choose to have a relationship with someone who he would have to make adjustments and concessions for when he could have a normal relationship with someone else?
She felt tears begin to fill her eyes and a heavy filling weigh down her heart. No there was no way that handsome, charming, intelligent Jack Hudson would ever fall in love with her. Suddenly her new red dress didn’t look so good on her anymore.
Sighing deeply again she suddenly and almost violently kicked off her new shoes, sending them in the direction of her closet. The first one sailed in without problem, but the second one hit the open closet door and rebounded back in her direction. Annoyed she kicked it again, this time sending it into the closet with its mate so hard that it must have caused a loud noise because Lucy appeared in her line of sight barely a second later.
“Sue, what’s wrong?” Lucy’s eyes were filled with concern and surprise. Sue noticed her parents standing near the door their faces also looking very confused and worried.
“I’m alright.” Sue assured them all a little sheepishly, but Lucy obviously wasn’t buying her words because she gently grabbed her arm and said.
“Sue, I know you and I haven’t been roommates for very long, but even so I think that over the last six months I’ve gotten to know you pretty well and it isn’t like you to kick poor, defenseless shoes like that for no good reason, so what is it?”
Sue looked from Lucy to her parents and back again, a look of uncertainty on her face. Should she tell them what she had just been thinking? She decided she would, but she decided it was easier to have the conversation with Lucy than with her parents so she focused her attention on her roommate and said. “Remember before we started rooming together I brought up all sorts of things that could potentially be a cause of conflict between us if we did room together?”
“I remember.” Lucy nodded. “You were worried that having to watch TV with closed captions or you playing music loudly sometimes so you could feel the vibrations would bother me.”
“As well as having to make sure that I’m facing you whenever you speak to me or my tendency to make loud noises because I forget to be quiet.”
“What about those things?” Lucy asked, a clearly puzzled look on her face as she added. “I personally haven’t had a problem with any of it.”
Sue gave her best friend a warm smile. “I know you haven’t. And I’m glad we’ve been able to room together without hating each other.”
Lucy frowned. “Why am I sensing a ‘but’ coming in here somewhere?” An uncertain look filled her face. “You’re not unhappy with us rooming together, are you?”
“No!” Sue quickly assured her friend as she reached over to grab her hand. “I love our arrangement. I’m very happy with it.”
A relieved look replaced the uncertainty. “Good. So what’s the problem?”
Sue took a deep breath and said. “I’ve decided that it would be unfair of me to expect Jack to be willing to make the same concessions and compromises that you’ve been willing to make for my sake. I think it would be best if he and I simply remained friends.”
“What?” Lucy gave her an incredulous look. “You’re not serious?”
“I’m very serious, Lucy.” She told her friend firmly. “And that’s the way it’s going to be. I know you and Tara would like to see Jack and I together, however I have decided to accept that that is never going to happen and probably shouldn’t happen.”
“’Probably shouldn’t happen’?” Lucy repeated in obvious confusion. “Sue you’re not making any sense. Not three hours ago you told your mom, Tara and I that you loved Jack and that if he were to tell you that he loved you than you would tell him that you loved him. What’s happened in the last three hours to change your mind?”
Not wanting to admit her earlier self-deprecating thoughts in front of her parents she simply replied. “It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that there’s nothing between me and Jack and there never will be.”
She watched as Lucy gave her a scrutinizing look for several moments before saying. “I’m going to take a stab at this and you can correct me if I’m wrong but I think that you’ve been standing here for the last several minutes mentally comparing yourself to Allie and maybe even to the woman Jack was seeing when you first met…”
“Rhonda.” Sue supplied without meaning to causing Lucy to give her a knowing look.
“I’m right, aren’t I. You have been thinking that they are so much better than you and that Jack would never even think twice about you if he had the choice between you and them – am I right?” When Sue didn’t answer she repeated. “Am I right?”
Sue let out a deep sigh of resignation and said. “Both Rhonda and Allie are everything that I’m not: Beautiful, sophisticated, hearing. Why would Jack want to be with someone like me when he could have a ‘normal’ relationship with someone like them?”
“Okay, A] there is no such thing as a ‘normal’ relationship, no matter who you are. All relationships have their problems of one sort or another. And B] the reason that Jack would want to have a relationship with you and not with someone like Allie or Rhonda is because Jack Hudson loves you.” Lucy told her best friend seriously.
“Lu-cy.” Sue blushed slightly.
“I’m serious.” Her roommate assured her, a sly look on her face as she added. “A little bird told me today that Jackson Samuel Hudson is in love with you.”
“’A little bird’?” Sue frowned. “Who’s the ‘little bird’?”
“I can’t say. I was sworn to secrecy.” Lucy told her with a mischievous smile. “However I can tell you that this ‘little bird’ is a very reliable source and I trust them completely. So what do you think now about the chances of there being something between you and Jack?”
“I still don’t know if I can let him make the kind of sacrifices he would need to make to have a relationship with me.”
“Why not? It’s not like he doesn’t make them every day anyway?” Lucy pointed out eagerly.
“What do you mean?” Sue asked with a slight frown.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Good grief, girl. You really are clueless where Jack’s involved, aren’t you? Have you never noticed all the things he does for you during the course of the day? Have you never noticed how he’s always trying to make sure to keep you in the loop when a conversation is going on, or how he’s learning how to sign in a faster more dedicated way than the others in the unit, excluding yours truly? He was the one who had your desk lamp rigged to announce your incoming calls and he was the one that made sure that the closed captioning option was activated on all the Bullpen televisions.” She paused for a moment to let her words sink in before adding. “Sue, Jack has already willingly and voluntarily made adjustments and compromises for you. I mean he even allows Levi into his car without saying a single word about the dog hair. How many men would not fuss about dog hair in their car? Very few that I know of. With most men their cars are their babies – work issued or not.”
Sue couldn’t help but smile at a memory that popped into her head at Lucy’s words. She and Jack had been out of the office to interview a suspect. They had just gotten out of the car and were standing on the sidewalk when Sue noticed that Jack’s suit jacket had a few long and short blond hairs on its left sleeve. Mentioning it to him she had reached up to gently brush them off but he had stopped her, grabbing her hand with his. When she had looked at him in surprise, butterflies dancing in her stomach at his touch, he had smiled at her and said.
“Leave them, I like them there. They’re a reminder of my two favorite blondes.”
Sue felt a hand on her arm and looked up to see her father looking at her seriously. “Honey, we have to go if we’re going to make our reservation at Occidentals.”
Sue looked at her watch and was alarmed to see what time it was. “Okay.” Quickly moving to her closet she pulled out the shoes that she had kicked there earlier and quickly slipped them on her feet. Then grabbing her jacket and purse she announced. “I’m ready.”
“Then let’s get going.” Her father encouraged and ushered the three women and Levi out of the bedroom.
When they arrived at the front door Sue reached for Levi’s leash but her father had beaten her to it. She watched as he bent over to attach the hook to Levi’s collar then suddenly froze, a look of panic on his face.
“Dad? What’s wrong?” She noticed Lucy was covering her eyes, and laughing.
Confused Sue watched as her father slowly straightened up, his face red with what appeared to be embarrassment. “The seam of my pants just ripped.”
“What?” Sue exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.
She watched as her mother moved behind her father while her father attempted to twist around so he could see the damage.
“Your father ripped the seam in the back of his pants.” Her mother said over her father’s shoulder.
“Do you have a stapler?” Mark asked Sue and Lucy.
“Did you say ‘a stapler’?” Sue repeated.
“Yes.” Her father confirmed. At her confused look he explained. “I’ll just staple the seam shut. It’ll do for now.”
“Dad!” Sue exclaimed in horror. “We can’t take you to Occidentals with staples holding your pants together!”
“Don’t worry, honey.” Carla Thomas assured her daughter. “We won’t let him embarrass us like that. Why don’t you two run along to the restaurant and meet up with the others while I get your father put back together. We’ll be along as soon as we can.”
Sue exchanged a look with Lucy who said. “We might lose the reservation otherwise.”
Sue hesitated a moment before nodding in agreement. “Okay.” Looking back to her parents she said. “We’ll wait for you there.”
“Go ahead and get the table when you get there.” Her father told her. “Order some appetizers if you want.”
“Okay.” Sue nodded. “We’ll see you when you get there.”
Mark nodded and leaned over and kissed his daughter on the cheek as she pulled open the apartment door. When he pulled away Sue thought she saw him say ‘Have a good time, princess’ but she wasn’t sure so she simply said her good-byes and headed out the door with Levi, Lucy right behind her.
*****
More to come later (either today or tomorrow morning)
- RSL
*****
Sue & Lucy’s Apartment - Washington D.C
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 6:35 p.m.
Sue critically examined her reflection in the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She had to admit that the red dress she wore, the one that Tara and Lucy had insisted on buying for her earlier in the day despite it’s expensive price tag, did look good on her. It was sleeveless, fell to just below her knees and gently hugged her curves on the way down. It made her feel very elegant, even beautiful. She had decided to wear her hair down and it fell in gentle curls around her shoulders. Her matching red strappy sandals and simple white gold chain and small hoop earrings helped accessorize the outfit. She looked like a million dollars and she hoped that Jack thought so too.
Lucy certainly thought he would.
“Jack’s not going to know what hit him.” She had told Sue a few minutes ago before disappearing out of Sue’s bedroom in search of her own accessories to go with the beautiful black dress that she was wearing.
Sue blushed slightly as she thought about Jack Hudson. Handsome, charming, intelligent, incredibly kind and caring Jack Hudson. All he had to do was look at her with those incredibly gorgeous dark brown eyes of his and her heart started to race and her knees felt like Jell-O. And when he winked at her…well, she was a goner.
But did he really love her?
Tara and Lucy seemed to think so, but could she really trust their judgement to know? She knew that Lucy had been trying to fix her up with Jack ever since Bobby’s birthday party last fall, but that had gone awry when Jack’s girlfriend Rhonda had shown up. Beautiful, sophisticated, perfect Rhonda. And now there was Allie. Equally beautiful, sophisticated, perfect Allie. And who knows how many other beautiful, sophisticated, perfect women Jack has dated over the years.
Sue found herself looking at her reflection again. Letting out a deep sigh she watched as her shoulders slumped a bit. Who was she kidding anyway? Jack would never fall in love with someone like her. She was not beautiful, she was not sophisticated and she was most certainly not perfect. Why would Jack ever want her when he could have any other woman in the world? Sue had seen how beautiful and even not so beautiful women reacted to Jack. The flirtatious smiles, the coy winks, the obvious looks of appreciation when they looked him over. It always made Sue’s stomach clench and her heart ache knowing that any one of them would have more of a chance with him than she did. After all, why would Jack willingly choose to have a relationship with someone who he would have to make adjustments and concessions for when he could have a normal relationship with someone else?
She felt tears begin to fill her eyes and a heavy filling weigh down her heart. No there was no way that handsome, charming, intelligent Jack Hudson would ever fall in love with her. Suddenly her new red dress didn’t look so good on her anymore.
Sighing deeply again she suddenly and almost violently kicked off her new shoes, sending them in the direction of her closet. The first one sailed in without problem, but the second one hit the open closet door and rebounded back in her direction. Annoyed she kicked it again, this time sending it into the closet with its mate so hard that it must have caused a loud noise because Lucy appeared in her line of sight barely a second later.
“Sue, what’s wrong?” Lucy’s eyes were filled with concern and surprise. Sue noticed her parents standing near the door their faces also looking very confused and worried.
“I’m alright.” Sue assured them all a little sheepishly, but Lucy obviously wasn’t buying her words because she gently grabbed her arm and said.
“Sue, I know you and I haven’t been roommates for very long, but even so I think that over the last six months I’ve gotten to know you pretty well and it isn’t like you to kick poor, defenseless shoes like that for no good reason, so what is it?”
Sue looked from Lucy to her parents and back again, a look of uncertainty on her face. Should she tell them what she had just been thinking? She decided she would, but she decided it was easier to have the conversation with Lucy than with her parents so she focused her attention on her roommate and said. “Remember before we started rooming together I brought up all sorts of things that could potentially be a cause of conflict between us if we did room together?”
“I remember.” Lucy nodded. “You were worried that having to watch TV with closed captions or you playing music loudly sometimes so you could feel the vibrations would bother me.”
“As well as having to make sure that I’m facing you whenever you speak to me or my tendency to make loud noises because I forget to be quiet.”
“What about those things?” Lucy asked, a clearly puzzled look on her face as she added. “I personally haven’t had a problem with any of it.”
Sue gave her best friend a warm smile. “I know you haven’t. And I’m glad we’ve been able to room together without hating each other.”
Lucy frowned. “Why am I sensing a ‘but’ coming in here somewhere?” An uncertain look filled her face. “You’re not unhappy with us rooming together, are you?”
“No!” Sue quickly assured her friend as she reached over to grab her hand. “I love our arrangement. I’m very happy with it.”
A relieved look replaced the uncertainty. “Good. So what’s the problem?”
Sue took a deep breath and said. “I’ve decided that it would be unfair of me to expect Jack to be willing to make the same concessions and compromises that you’ve been willing to make for my sake. I think it would be best if he and I simply remained friends.”
“What?” Lucy gave her an incredulous look. “You’re not serious?”
“I’m very serious, Lucy.” She told her friend firmly. “And that’s the way it’s going to be. I know you and Tara would like to see Jack and I together, however I have decided to accept that that is never going to happen and probably shouldn’t happen.”
“’Probably shouldn’t happen’?” Lucy repeated in obvious confusion. “Sue you’re not making any sense. Not three hours ago you told your mom, Tara and I that you loved Jack and that if he were to tell you that he loved you than you would tell him that you loved him. What’s happened in the last three hours to change your mind?”
Not wanting to admit her earlier self-deprecating thoughts in front of her parents she simply replied. “It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that there’s nothing between me and Jack and there never will be.”
She watched as Lucy gave her a scrutinizing look for several moments before saying. “I’m going to take a stab at this and you can correct me if I’m wrong but I think that you’ve been standing here for the last several minutes mentally comparing yourself to Allie and maybe even to the woman Jack was seeing when you first met…”
“Rhonda.” Sue supplied without meaning to causing Lucy to give her a knowing look.
“I’m right, aren’t I. You have been thinking that they are so much better than you and that Jack would never even think twice about you if he had the choice between you and them – am I right?” When Sue didn’t answer she repeated. “Am I right?”
Sue let out a deep sigh of resignation and said. “Both Rhonda and Allie are everything that I’m not: Beautiful, sophisticated, hearing. Why would Jack want to be with someone like me when he could have a ‘normal’ relationship with someone like them?”
“Okay, A] there is no such thing as a ‘normal’ relationship, no matter who you are. All relationships have their problems of one sort or another. And B] the reason that Jack would want to have a relationship with you and not with someone like Allie or Rhonda is because Jack Hudson loves you.” Lucy told her best friend seriously.
“Lu-cy.” Sue blushed slightly.
“I’m serious.” Her roommate assured her, a sly look on her face as she added. “A little bird told me today that Jackson Samuel Hudson is in love with you.”
“’A little bird’?” Sue frowned. “Who’s the ‘little bird’?”
“I can’t say. I was sworn to secrecy.” Lucy told her with a mischievous smile. “However I can tell you that this ‘little bird’ is a very reliable source and I trust them completely. So what do you think now about the chances of there being something between you and Jack?”
“I still don’t know if I can let him make the kind of sacrifices he would need to make to have a relationship with me.”
“Why not? It’s not like he doesn’t make them every day anyway?” Lucy pointed out eagerly.
“What do you mean?” Sue asked with a slight frown.
Lucy rolled her eyes. “Good grief, girl. You really are clueless where Jack’s involved, aren’t you? Have you never noticed all the things he does for you during the course of the day? Have you never noticed how he’s always trying to make sure to keep you in the loop when a conversation is going on, or how he’s learning how to sign in a faster more dedicated way than the others in the unit, excluding yours truly? He was the one who had your desk lamp rigged to announce your incoming calls and he was the one that made sure that the closed captioning option was activated on all the Bullpen televisions.” She paused for a moment to let her words sink in before adding. “Sue, Jack has already willingly and voluntarily made adjustments and compromises for you. I mean he even allows Levi into his car without saying a single word about the dog hair. How many men would not fuss about dog hair in their car? Very few that I know of. With most men their cars are their babies – work issued or not.”
Sue couldn’t help but smile at a memory that popped into her head at Lucy’s words. She and Jack had been out of the office to interview a suspect. They had just gotten out of the car and were standing on the sidewalk when Sue noticed that Jack’s suit jacket had a few long and short blond hairs on its left sleeve. Mentioning it to him she had reached up to gently brush them off but he had stopped her, grabbing her hand with his. When she had looked at him in surprise, butterflies dancing in her stomach at his touch, he had smiled at her and said.
“Leave them, I like them there. They’re a reminder of my two favorite blondes.”
Sue felt a hand on her arm and looked up to see her father looking at her seriously. “Honey, we have to go if we’re going to make our reservation at Occidentals.”
Sue looked at her watch and was alarmed to see what time it was. “Okay.” Quickly moving to her closet she pulled out the shoes that she had kicked there earlier and quickly slipped them on her feet. Then grabbing her jacket and purse she announced. “I’m ready.”
“Then let’s get going.” Her father encouraged and ushered the three women and Levi out of the bedroom.
When they arrived at the front door Sue reached for Levi’s leash but her father had beaten her to it. She watched as he bent over to attach the hook to Levi’s collar then suddenly froze, a look of panic on his face.
“Dad? What’s wrong?” She noticed Lucy was covering her eyes, and laughing.
Confused Sue watched as her father slowly straightened up, his face red with what appeared to be embarrassment. “The seam of my pants just ripped.”
“What?” Sue exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.
She watched as her mother moved behind her father while her father attempted to twist around so he could see the damage.
“Your father ripped the seam in the back of his pants.” Her mother said over her father’s shoulder.
“Do you have a stapler?” Mark asked Sue and Lucy.
“Did you say ‘a stapler’?” Sue repeated.
“Yes.” Her father confirmed. At her confused look he explained. “I’ll just staple the seam shut. It’ll do for now.”
“Dad!” Sue exclaimed in horror. “We can’t take you to Occidentals with staples holding your pants together!”
“Don’t worry, honey.” Carla Thomas assured her daughter. “We won’t let him embarrass us like that. Why don’t you two run along to the restaurant and meet up with the others while I get your father put back together. We’ll be along as soon as we can.”
Sue exchanged a look with Lucy who said. “We might lose the reservation otherwise.”
Sue hesitated a moment before nodding in agreement. “Okay.” Looking back to her parents she said. “We’ll wait for you there.”
“Go ahead and get the table when you get there.” Her father told her. “Order some appetizers if you want.”
“Okay.” Sue nodded. “We’ll see you when you get there.”
Mark nodded and leaned over and kissed his daughter on the cheek as she pulled open the apartment door. When he pulled away Sue thought she saw him say ‘Have a good time, princess’ but she wasn’t sure so she simply said her good-byes and headed out the door with Levi, Lucy right behind her.
*****
More to come later (either today or tomorrow morning)
I think we can forgive Sue's father for what I suspect to be a fabrication about the state of his trousers. That was a great scene between Lucy and Sue.
I liked the part about the split trousers, too! I'm wondering what "excuses" the others will have to be able to lull Jack and Sue into being alone without them suspecting anything? After all, this is pretty early on, if my calculations are correct! Are you going to let us forego all those episodes wondering if they'll finally get their act together? Wow - what a concept!I think this was my favorite part:
QUOTE
They had just gotten out of the car and were standing on the sidewalk when Sue noticed that Jack’s suit jacket had a few long and short blond hairs on its left sleeve. Mentioning it to him she had reached up to gently brush them off but he had stopped her, grabbing her hand with his. When she had looked at him in surprise, butterflies dancing in her stomach at his touch, he had smiled at her and said.
“Leave them, I like them there. They’re a reminder of my two favorite blondes.”
“Leave them, I like them there. They’re a reminder of my two favorite blondes.”
Can't wait to read more!!!!!!!!
Regina
That was fantastic love sues dad I think hes a better matchmaker than lucy just love it now jack and sue loose your cast offs as in her that cant be named and dogface then you can be together once you and jack tell each other cant wat to find out hopefull later today just love this story Lin
A very good scene between Sue and Lucy!! If left to their own devices, Jack and Sue would never get together (as we know)!! They both think too much!!!
Good excuse from Mark to have to stay behind!! Now, I wonder how Lucy is going to get out of the dinner!!!
Joy
Good excuse from Mark to have to stay behind!! Now, I wonder how Lucy is going to get out of the dinner!!!
Joy
QUOTE(Ivory @ Mar 17 2008, 11:47 AM) 
I think we can forgive Sue's father for what I suspect to be a fabrication about the state of his trowsers. That was a great scene between Lucy and Sue.
Very witty Ivory!!! One down...how many more to go until it's just Jack and Sue?kav
that was so funny!!Sue, my dear those thoughts are not good
, so think positive!! 
Tere
Author's Note: Just a short post while I make dinner.
- RSL
*****
Near Occidental’s
Washington, DC – 6:59 p.m.
“Hopefully some of the others are here already.” Sue said as Lucy pulled her car into a parking space about a block from the restaurant. “We’ll never make the restaurant by seven.”
“I’m sure either Bobby, Jack or Myles will be there. They’re all pretty good about being on time.” Lucy commented as she turned off the car.
“Better than us, you mean?” Sue said with a grimace. Looking at her best friend she said apologetically. “I’m sorry, Luce for losing it before. I don’t know what came over me. Nerves maybe.”
“What are you nervous about?” Lucy asked with a concerned look.
Sue flushed slightly before saying. “This afternoon was the first time that I actually admitted to anyone, including myself, how I feel about Jack. I always sort of suspected I was in love with him, but had never allowed myself to actually label my feelings as such. And now tonight will be the first time I’ll see him since making that confession.”
Her roommate gave her an understanding look. “No wonder you’re nervous. Well, shall we?” The girls quickly climbed out of the car and headed down the sidewalk towards the restaurant. Just as they were nearing it Sue felt Lucy’s hand on her arm, pulling her to a stop. When she looked at her companion curiously Lucy said.
“My phone’s ringing.” Sue watched as Lucy pulled the device from her purse and answered it. “Hello?” Looking at Sue she signed. It’s Grandma.
Sue nodded and watched Lucy’s side of the conversation. When her best friend’s brow furrowed in concern she found herself worrying about the dear older woman. She had met Lucy’s grandmother on several occasions and was very fond of her. She hoped that nothing was seriously wrong.
“It’s okay, Gram.” Sue saw Lucy say. “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes…I’m sure it’s okay…I’ll see you soon. Bye.” After disconnecting the call she looked at Sue and said. “I’m afraid I have to go.”
“Go?” Sue frowned slightly. “Where?”
“To Gram’s.” Lucy replied as she put her phone back in her purse. “She just tripped down the stairs at the house.”
Sue’s heart filled with worry. “Is she okay?”
“She said she’s not hurt, just badly shaken up and needing company.” The other young woman replied.
Sue looked at her friend carefully for a moment before saying. “You don’t look like you believe her.”
“I don’t.” Lucy confirmed. “Gram wouldn’t have called me if she wasn’t hurt.”
“Are you going to take her to the doctor?” Sue asked anxiously.
“I’m certainly going to try.” Lucy replied seriously. “But you know how stubborn she can be.”
Sue grinned mischievously at her roommate. “She’s very much like her granddaughter in that way, isn’t she?”
“Very funny, Ms. Thomas.” Lucy set her a baleful look.
“So I guess this means that you’ll be missing dinner with us.” Sue remarked sadly.
“I guess so.” Lucy pouted, then pointing a finger at Sue she admonished. “So you had better have an extra helping of dessert for me.”
Sue laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“And you had also better tell me later what Jack’s reaction to your new dress was when he first sees you.” Her roommate commanded with a serious look on her face. “That’s what bothers me the most about missing this evening – not getting to see Jack’s reaction to how beautiful you look tonight. So you had better promise to tell me everything that he says and does this evening. Promise?”
Sue laughed and signed. Promise.
“Excellent.” Lucy said excitedly. “And I plan on holding you to that promise.”
Sue laughed again. “I don’t doubt it.”
“I have to go.” The other woman said with a regretful look. “I’ll see you later.”
See you later. Sue returned and then watched as her friend headed back towards where she had parked her car. Then with a slightly disappointed sigh she turned and continued on to the restaurant on her own.
*****
More to come tomorrow...
- RSL
*****
Near Occidental’s
Washington, DC – 6:59 p.m.
“Hopefully some of the others are here already.” Sue said as Lucy pulled her car into a parking space about a block from the restaurant. “We’ll never make the restaurant by seven.”
“I’m sure either Bobby, Jack or Myles will be there. They’re all pretty good about being on time.” Lucy commented as she turned off the car.
“Better than us, you mean?” Sue said with a grimace. Looking at her best friend she said apologetically. “I’m sorry, Luce for losing it before. I don’t know what came over me. Nerves maybe.”
“What are you nervous about?” Lucy asked with a concerned look.
Sue flushed slightly before saying. “This afternoon was the first time that I actually admitted to anyone, including myself, how I feel about Jack. I always sort of suspected I was in love with him, but had never allowed myself to actually label my feelings as such. And now tonight will be the first time I’ll see him since making that confession.”
Her roommate gave her an understanding look. “No wonder you’re nervous. Well, shall we?” The girls quickly climbed out of the car and headed down the sidewalk towards the restaurant. Just as they were nearing it Sue felt Lucy’s hand on her arm, pulling her to a stop. When she looked at her companion curiously Lucy said.
“My phone’s ringing.” Sue watched as Lucy pulled the device from her purse and answered it. “Hello?” Looking at Sue she signed. It’s Grandma.
Sue nodded and watched Lucy’s side of the conversation. When her best friend’s brow furrowed in concern she found herself worrying about the dear older woman. She had met Lucy’s grandmother on several occasions and was very fond of her. She hoped that nothing was seriously wrong.
“It’s okay, Gram.” Sue saw Lucy say. “I’ll be there in about twenty minutes…I’m sure it’s okay…I’ll see you soon. Bye.” After disconnecting the call she looked at Sue and said. “I’m afraid I have to go.”
“Go?” Sue frowned slightly. “Where?”
“To Gram’s.” Lucy replied as she put her phone back in her purse. “She just tripped down the stairs at the house.”
Sue’s heart filled with worry. “Is she okay?”
“She said she’s not hurt, just badly shaken up and needing company.” The other young woman replied.
Sue looked at her friend carefully for a moment before saying. “You don’t look like you believe her.”
“I don’t.” Lucy confirmed. “Gram wouldn’t have called me if she wasn’t hurt.”
“Are you going to take her to the doctor?” Sue asked anxiously.
“I’m certainly going to try.” Lucy replied seriously. “But you know how stubborn she can be.”
Sue grinned mischievously at her roommate. “She’s very much like her granddaughter in that way, isn’t she?”
“Very funny, Ms. Thomas.” Lucy set her a baleful look.
“So I guess this means that you’ll be missing dinner with us.” Sue remarked sadly.
“I guess so.” Lucy pouted, then pointing a finger at Sue she admonished. “So you had better have an extra helping of dessert for me.”
Sue laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“And you had also better tell me later what Jack’s reaction to your new dress was when he first sees you.” Her roommate commanded with a serious look on her face. “That’s what bothers me the most about missing this evening – not getting to see Jack’s reaction to how beautiful you look tonight. So you had better promise to tell me everything that he says and does this evening. Promise?”
Sue laughed and signed. Promise.
“Excellent.” Lucy said excitedly. “And I plan on holding you to that promise.”
Sue laughed again. “I don’t doubt it.”
“I have to go.” The other woman said with a regretful look. “I’ll see you later.”
See you later. Sue returned and then watched as her friend headed back towards where she had parked her car. Then with a slightly disappointed sigh she turned and continued on to the restaurant on her own.
*****
More to come tomorrow...
oh this is going to be great...i can't wait for jack to see sue... he is going to lose his breath.
hehehehe... 
I hope Lucy's grandmother is fine
see ya!
Tere
I hope Lucy's grandmother is fine
see ya!
Tere
Something tells me that Gram is fine . . .
Can't wait to "see" Jack's reaction to Sue's dress - hope he took his heart medication (or is this before the heart attack?) Anyway, wonder how many more dinner companions will fall by the wayside?!
Looking forward to more!!
Regina
Can't wait to "see" Jack's reaction to Sue's dress - hope he took his heart medication (or is this before the heart attack?) Anyway, wonder how many more dinner companions will fall by the wayside?!
Looking forward to more!!
Regina
I have a suspicion that they even got Alice Dotson in on the plan. The dinner group appears to be narrowing down fast
to a
for two.
to a
for two.
Oh I love these plans. Is it tomorrow yet?
How can you write a post and make dinner at the same time? I can write a post and burn dinner in unison and I'm an expert at reading too intently and starting small kitchen fires, but I don't think I could actually come up with a post and a dinner at the same time without incident. I'm in awe. And Lucy is just plain sneaky. I'm almost feeling sorry for Sue.
kav
kav
QUOTE(Kav @ Mar 17 2008, 06:31 PM)
How can you write a post and make dinner at the same time? I can write a post and burn dinner in unison and I'm an expert at reading too intently and starting small kitchen fires, but I don't think I could actually come up with a post and a dinner at the same time without incident. I'm in awe. And Lucy is just plain sneaky. I'm almost feeling sorry for Sue.
kav
That's why you make something easy like spaghetti. While the hamburger was frying I was standing at a nearby counter typing on my computer. Then while the sauce was simmering I was standing at a nearby counter typing on my computer. While the pasta was cooking I was, once again, standing at a nearby counter typing on my computer. I would frequently turn around, walk the two steps to my stove and check on supper than turn back around and walk the two steps back to the laptop.
It's as easy as pie
(or 'as easy as easy')See you tomorrow...
- RSL
what makes you think this is A set up and its just going to be a romantic
with just our favourite couple cant wait to find out tomorrow
Lin
Author's Note: Here's this morning's post as promised...
If all goes as planned I'll have another one for tomorrow morning.
- RSL
****
Occidental’s
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 7:04 p.m.
Jack looked at his watch, silently wondering where everybody was. He had arrived about five to seven fully expecting to be the last one to get to the restaurant only to find that he had been the first. It was now almost five minutes after seven and there still was no sign of the rest of his party. He couldn’t help but wonder if his wish from earlier in the evening was being granted.
“It would be just my luck that everybody else but Sue will show up.” He murmured to himself as a nervous flutter invaded his stomach.
On the drive over to the restaurant he had carefully mapped out his plan for the evening. After supper was over he was going to ask Sue if he could take her home. He then planned on asking her to take a walk in the park with him before going upstairs to her apartment. During that walk he intended to tell her exactly what was in his heart. He just hoped that he didn’t chicken out.
The sound of his phone ringing brought Jack out of his musings. Moving the side of his suit jacket out of the way he pulled his cellphone off his belt. A glance at the display reveled the caller to be Bobby.
“Hey, Crash. Where are you?” He greeted in a friendly tone.
“On my way to the airport, mate.” Was his best friend’s unexpected reply.
“What?” Jack’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Surely the idea of having dinner with the bunch of us isn’t so terrifying that you feel the need to leave town to avoid it.”
“I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that, Spark.” Bobby said in a more serious tone.
Concern suddenly filled Jack at his friend’s solemn tone. “What’s up, Crash?”
“Darcy called me a little while ago. She’s coming in on the next flight from Chicago.”
Jack frowned. “I thought she wasn’t suppose to be back from her conference until Monday.”
“She wasn’t suppose to be.” Bobby confirmed. “But she had a little accident this morning, nothing too serious, but she ended up with a broken ankle.”
Jack grimaced. “Ouch. What did she do?”
“She tripped on the steps that go from the second floor to the Main Lobby of the hotel she was staying at. She landed in a heap at the bottom of the stairs and ended up breaking her ankle.”
Jack shuddered. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.” Bobby remarked. “So now she’s on her way home, beaten, battered and injured, so...”
“…You’re going to do everything you possibly can to cheer her up and make her feel better.” Jack concluded with a chuckle.
“I’m certainly going to try.”
“Well tell Darcy we’re sorry to hear about her injury and I’ll tell the gang not to expect you tonight.”
“Have a good time tonight, Sparky.” Bobby said with a mischievous tone in his voice. “Say ‘hi’ to Sue for me.”
Jack rolled his eyes even though his best friend couldn’t see it. “Good night, Bobby.”
“Night, mate.”
As Jack disconnected the call he couldn’t help but grin. “One down, five more to go. I wonder if there’s any way any more of them will suddenly have other plans.”
Just then his phone rang again. The display on the phone showed Myles’ name. With a huge grin Jack answered the call.
“Hey Myles, where are you? You not coming?”
“No, we’re coming.” Was Myles somewhat annoyed sounding reply. “We’re just held up in traffic. Huge accident. Looks like we may be late.”
“Who’s ‘we’?” Jack asked curiously.
“Tara and myself.” Myles replied.
Jack frowned slightly. “You have Tara with you?”
“Yeah. Bobby was going to pick her up, but then he got called away.” The blond agent explained. “Did he call and tell you about Darcy yet?”
“Yeah, I just got off the phone with him.”
“Well, Tara and I are on our way, but who knows when we’ll get there.” Myles sighed in frustration. “Maybe you could save us some dessert.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Jack chuckled, his delight at the sudden loss of two more almost making him giddy.
“Are any of the others there yet?”
“Not yet.” Jack replied, as he looked around the restaurant’s entryway. Just then the door opened and he saw Levi and Sue step inside. The sight of her suddenly caused his heart to race at an alarming rate. “Actually they just arrived.” His eyes glued on Sue as she surveyed the room he said almost mechanically to Myles. “I gotta go, Myles. See you when you get here.” Then without waiting for his friend to reply he disconnected the call and returned his phone to his belt. He then just stood there starring at Sue, waiting for her to see him. When she did her face lit up with a warm smile, sending his heart into even faster beats. He noticed her move towards him and he took a few moments to take her in from head to toe as she approached. She must have noticed his fixed gaze because a becoming blush stained her cheeks.
As soon as she reached him he had the sudden urge to touch her to make sure that she was indeed real. Reaching out a hand he grabbed hers and gave it a tight squeeze. “You look absolutely beautiful.” He told her before he even knew the words were out of his mouth.
She blushed even hotter and dipped her head shyly. “Thank you.”
“I love red on you.” He added honestly. “It makes you look so stunning.” Once again the words were out before he realized it. Sue’s blush deepened.
“Excuse me.” The sound of the hostess’ voice broke the moment. Jack looked over Sue’s shoulder to watch her approach. “Excuse me, Miss.”
Jack looked at Sue and then nodded towards the woman approaching her from behind. Sue turned to look at the hostess who then said.
“I’m sorry, Miss, but dogs are not permitted in the restaurant. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Jack noticed the look of panic on Sue’s face. Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze he addressed the hostess. “Levi is a service dog, therefore, according to your manager, whom I have already spoken to about this, he is permitted in the restaurant.” At the hostess’ dubious look he added by way of explanation. “Sue is deaf and Levi is her hearing dog.”
Understanding filled the hostess’ face. “I’m sorry, I thought they only had service dogs for blind people and I could easily see that your girlfriend isn’t blind. I didn’t realize that they had service dogs for the deaf as well.”
“Actually there are all types of service dogs.” Sue told her, causing the other woman to start in surprise.
Looking at Sue for a moment she then looked back to Jack and accused. “I thought you said that she’s deaf.”
“She is.” Jack confirmed with a proud look on his face. Then slipping an arm around Sue’s waist, which earned him a surprised look and a blush from Sue, he added. “But she is an amazing lip reader.”
A look of awe filled the hostess’ face. “I’m sorry about the misunderstanding. If you’d like I can show you to your table now.”
“Just a moment.” He told her before looking at Sue and asking. “Where are your parents and Lucy?”
Sue chuckled slightly. “Dad had a minor little accident just as we were leaving.” At Jack’s concerned look she explained. “He was bending down to put Levi’s leash on him and ripped the back seam in his pants.”
Jack couldn’t help but laugh at the amused look in Sue’s eyes. “He ripped his pants?”
“Uh, huh.” Sue nodded then chuckled. “And get this, he then asked for a stapler so he could fix them.”
Jack’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “He was actually going to staple the seam shut?”
Sue nodded. “That’s what he said.”
Jack laughed and shook his head. Then looking at Sue he gave her waist another squeeze and said honestly. “You know something. I really like your father. He’s a pretty terrific guy.”
“I think so too.” She readily agreed. Then, with the hint of a blush she added, very lightly poking him in the ribs with her elbow. “He reminds me of someone I know.”
Jack gave her a tender smile and squeezed her waist again. “So are they joining us later?”
Sue nodded. “They said they would. As soon as Mom gets Dad put back together.”
Two more down. Jack thought to himself with a smile. “And where’s Lucy?”
“Just before we got here Lucy got a call from her grandmother.” Sue explained. “I guess Mrs. Dotson fell down the stairs at her house. She’s apparently not hurt, just shaken up. Lucy’s gone to check on her.”
“Is she coming back?” Jack asked, trying not to sound too eager, even though he knew Sue couldn’t hear his tone.
“Probably not.” Sue shook her head sadly. “She did say to have an extra helping of dessert for her.”
Jack laughed. “Well, I guess we’ll have to see what we can do about that.”
“Have you heard from the others?” Sue asked after glancing around the entryway. “Where are Bobby, Myles and Tara?”
“Bobby’s not coming.” Jack replied. “I guess Darcy fell down the stairs at her hotel in Chicago and broke her ankle. She’s flying home tonight and Bobby’s going to meet her at the airport. He called me a little while ago and he was already on his way there.”
“And Myles and Tara?”
“They’re apparently on their way, but stuck in traffic.” Jack told her. “So I guess for now it’s just the two of us. So what do you think? Should we start without them?”
“Well Dad said to go ahead and get the table and order our appetizers if we wanted to.” Sue told him. “They would join us when they could.”
“Very well, Ms. Thomas.” Jack said with a broad grin as he once again gave her waist a squeeze. “I believe it’s best to follow ‘father’s orders’.” Tonight in more ways than one. He added to himself. Then looking at her he confessed honestly. “The truth be told, I’ve been wishing all afternoon that it would just be us tonight.”
She gave him a look of profound surprise. “You have been?”
He nodded. “Yes and now that I’ve seen you I’m wishing it all the more.”
“Why?”
Reaching up with his free hand he gently stroked her cheek as he said. “Because you look amazing and I wanted to have you all to myself tonight.” He looked into her eyes, hoping to find some hint as to her feelings for him in her reaction to his words. And he found it. It was only there for a brief moment before she managed to hide it again, but it was there. For a brief moment he had seen the same love that he had for her reflected back at him in her eyes. That silent confession of her feelings bolstered him for what he planned to do next. Maybe by the time the rest of their friends joined them they would have something important to tell them.
*****
See you tomorrow...I hope.
If all goes as planned I'll have another one for tomorrow morning.
- RSL
****
Occidental’s
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 7:04 p.m.
Jack looked at his watch, silently wondering where everybody was. He had arrived about five to seven fully expecting to be the last one to get to the restaurant only to find that he had been the first. It was now almost five minutes after seven and there still was no sign of the rest of his party. He couldn’t help but wonder if his wish from earlier in the evening was being granted.
“It would be just my luck that everybody else but Sue will show up.” He murmured to himself as a nervous flutter invaded his stomach.
On the drive over to the restaurant he had carefully mapped out his plan for the evening. After supper was over he was going to ask Sue if he could take her home. He then planned on asking her to take a walk in the park with him before going upstairs to her apartment. During that walk he intended to tell her exactly what was in his heart. He just hoped that he didn’t chicken out.
The sound of his phone ringing brought Jack out of his musings. Moving the side of his suit jacket out of the way he pulled his cellphone off his belt. A glance at the display reveled the caller to be Bobby.
“Hey, Crash. Where are you?” He greeted in a friendly tone.
“On my way to the airport, mate.” Was his best friend’s unexpected reply.
“What?” Jack’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Surely the idea of having dinner with the bunch of us isn’t so terrifying that you feel the need to leave town to avoid it.”
“I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that, Spark.” Bobby said in a more serious tone.
Concern suddenly filled Jack at his friend’s solemn tone. “What’s up, Crash?”
“Darcy called me a little while ago. She’s coming in on the next flight from Chicago.”
Jack frowned. “I thought she wasn’t suppose to be back from her conference until Monday.”
“She wasn’t suppose to be.” Bobby confirmed. “But she had a little accident this morning, nothing too serious, but she ended up with a broken ankle.”
Jack grimaced. “Ouch. What did she do?”
“She tripped on the steps that go from the second floor to the Main Lobby of the hotel she was staying at. She landed in a heap at the bottom of the stairs and ended up breaking her ankle.”
Jack shuddered. “Ouch.”
“Yeah.” Bobby remarked. “So now she’s on her way home, beaten, battered and injured, so...”
“…You’re going to do everything you possibly can to cheer her up and make her feel better.” Jack concluded with a chuckle.
“I’m certainly going to try.”
“Well tell Darcy we’re sorry to hear about her injury and I’ll tell the gang not to expect you tonight.”
“Have a good time tonight, Sparky.” Bobby said with a mischievous tone in his voice. “Say ‘hi’ to Sue for me.”
Jack rolled his eyes even though his best friend couldn’t see it. “Good night, Bobby.”
“Night, mate.”
As Jack disconnected the call he couldn’t help but grin. “One down, five more to go. I wonder if there’s any way any more of them will suddenly have other plans.”
Just then his phone rang again. The display on the phone showed Myles’ name. With a huge grin Jack answered the call.
“Hey Myles, where are you? You not coming?”
“No, we’re coming.” Was Myles somewhat annoyed sounding reply. “We’re just held up in traffic. Huge accident. Looks like we may be late.”
“Who’s ‘we’?” Jack asked curiously.
“Tara and myself.” Myles replied.
Jack frowned slightly. “You have Tara with you?”
“Yeah. Bobby was going to pick her up, but then he got called away.” The blond agent explained. “Did he call and tell you about Darcy yet?”
“Yeah, I just got off the phone with him.”
“Well, Tara and I are on our way, but who knows when we’ll get there.” Myles sighed in frustration. “Maybe you could save us some dessert.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Jack chuckled, his delight at the sudden loss of two more almost making him giddy.
“Are any of the others there yet?”
“Not yet.” Jack replied, as he looked around the restaurant’s entryway. Just then the door opened and he saw Levi and Sue step inside. The sight of her suddenly caused his heart to race at an alarming rate. “Actually they just arrived.” His eyes glued on Sue as she surveyed the room he said almost mechanically to Myles. “I gotta go, Myles. See you when you get here.” Then without waiting for his friend to reply he disconnected the call and returned his phone to his belt. He then just stood there starring at Sue, waiting for her to see him. When she did her face lit up with a warm smile, sending his heart into even faster beats. He noticed her move towards him and he took a few moments to take her in from head to toe as she approached. She must have noticed his fixed gaze because a becoming blush stained her cheeks.
As soon as she reached him he had the sudden urge to touch her to make sure that she was indeed real. Reaching out a hand he grabbed hers and gave it a tight squeeze. “You look absolutely beautiful.” He told her before he even knew the words were out of his mouth.
She blushed even hotter and dipped her head shyly. “Thank you.”
“I love red on you.” He added honestly. “It makes you look so stunning.” Once again the words were out before he realized it. Sue’s blush deepened.
“Excuse me.” The sound of the hostess’ voice broke the moment. Jack looked over Sue’s shoulder to watch her approach. “Excuse me, Miss.”
Jack looked at Sue and then nodded towards the woman approaching her from behind. Sue turned to look at the hostess who then said.
“I’m sorry, Miss, but dogs are not permitted in the restaurant. I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Jack noticed the look of panic on Sue’s face. Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze he addressed the hostess. “Levi is a service dog, therefore, according to your manager, whom I have already spoken to about this, he is permitted in the restaurant.” At the hostess’ dubious look he added by way of explanation. “Sue is deaf and Levi is her hearing dog.”
Understanding filled the hostess’ face. “I’m sorry, I thought they only had service dogs for blind people and I could easily see that your girlfriend isn’t blind. I didn’t realize that they had service dogs for the deaf as well.”
“Actually there are all types of service dogs.” Sue told her, causing the other woman to start in surprise.
Looking at Sue for a moment she then looked back to Jack and accused. “I thought you said that she’s deaf.”
“She is.” Jack confirmed with a proud look on his face. Then slipping an arm around Sue’s waist, which earned him a surprised look and a blush from Sue, he added. “But she is an amazing lip reader.”
A look of awe filled the hostess’ face. “I’m sorry about the misunderstanding. If you’d like I can show you to your table now.”
“Just a moment.” He told her before looking at Sue and asking. “Where are your parents and Lucy?”
Sue chuckled slightly. “Dad had a minor little accident just as we were leaving.” At Jack’s concerned look she explained. “He was bending down to put Levi’s leash on him and ripped the back seam in his pants.”
Jack couldn’t help but laugh at the amused look in Sue’s eyes. “He ripped his pants?”
“Uh, huh.” Sue nodded then chuckled. “And get this, he then asked for a stapler so he could fix them.”
Jack’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “He was actually going to staple the seam shut?”
Sue nodded. “That’s what he said.”
Jack laughed and shook his head. Then looking at Sue he gave her waist another squeeze and said honestly. “You know something. I really like your father. He’s a pretty terrific guy.”
“I think so too.” She readily agreed. Then, with the hint of a blush she added, very lightly poking him in the ribs with her elbow. “He reminds me of someone I know.”
Jack gave her a tender smile and squeezed her waist again. “So are they joining us later?”
Sue nodded. “They said they would. As soon as Mom gets Dad put back together.”
Two more down. Jack thought to himself with a smile. “And where’s Lucy?”
“Just before we got here Lucy got a call from her grandmother.” Sue explained. “I guess Mrs. Dotson fell down the stairs at her house. She’s apparently not hurt, just shaken up. Lucy’s gone to check on her.”
“Is she coming back?” Jack asked, trying not to sound too eager, even though he knew Sue couldn’t hear his tone.
“Probably not.” Sue shook her head sadly. “She did say to have an extra helping of dessert for her.”
Jack laughed. “Well, I guess we’ll have to see what we can do about that.”
“Have you heard from the others?” Sue asked after glancing around the entryway. “Where are Bobby, Myles and Tara?”
“Bobby’s not coming.” Jack replied. “I guess Darcy fell down the stairs at her hotel in Chicago and broke her ankle. She’s flying home tonight and Bobby’s going to meet her at the airport. He called me a little while ago and he was already on his way there.”
“And Myles and Tara?”
“They’re apparently on their way, but stuck in traffic.” Jack told her. “So I guess for now it’s just the two of us. So what do you think? Should we start without them?”
“Well Dad said to go ahead and get the table and order our appetizers if we wanted to.” Sue told him. “They would join us when they could.”
“Very well, Ms. Thomas.” Jack said with a broad grin as he once again gave her waist a squeeze. “I believe it’s best to follow ‘father’s orders’.” Tonight in more ways than one. He added to himself. Then looking at her he confessed honestly. “The truth be told, I’ve been wishing all afternoon that it would just be us tonight.”
She gave him a look of profound surprise. “You have been?”
He nodded. “Yes and now that I’ve seen you I’m wishing it all the more.”
“Why?”
Reaching up with his free hand he gently stroked her cheek as he said. “Because you look amazing and I wanted to have you all to myself tonight.” He looked into her eyes, hoping to find some hint as to her feelings for him in her reaction to his words. And he found it. It was only there for a brief moment before she managed to hide it again, but it was there. For a brief moment he had seen the same love that he had for her reflected back at him in her eyes. That silent confession of her feelings bolstered him for what he planned to do next. Maybe by the time the rest of their friends joined them they would have something important to tell them.
*****
See you tomorrow...I hope.
I love it!! When you think of all the time Jack's wasted when he HAS had her all to himself . . . !!!! Sounds like the plan is coming together nicely, unless there's a hitch out there we don't know about! There's only ONE "hitch" we REALLY want, and that's the "getting-hitched" kind!
Great story - can't wait to read more!
Regina
That went so well, despite the server questioning her about Levi. That made it seem very real, by the way. I have a feeling this is going to be a night they will remember forever. Great writing.
Multi-tasking, RSL, I'm impressed!! If your spaghetti is as good as your writing, there will be happy people both at your house as well as here on the board!!!
Something else amazing was how everyone managed to get themselves out of dinner!! Very well done!! And, Jack is opening his mouth and words are coming out - not stuttering, mumbling, bumbling, but honest to goodness words!! And, the fact that he saw a spark of something in her eyes will give him the courage to go on with his plan!!!
I also enjoyed the conversation with the hostess about Levi!! I agree with Ivory - it kept us in tune with the difficulties of everyday life for Sue!!!
I can't wait for them to get to their table!! I wonder if the hostess is going to put them at a table for two???
Joy
Something else amazing was how everyone managed to get themselves out of dinner!! Very well done!! And, Jack is opening his mouth and words are coming out - not stuttering, mumbling, bumbling, but honest to goodness words!! And, the fact that he saw a spark of something in her eyes will give him the courage to go on with his plan!!!
I also enjoyed the conversation with the hostess about Levi!! I agree with Ivory - it kept us in tune with the difficulties of everyday life for Sue!!!
I can't wait for them to get to their table!! I wonder if the hostess is going to put them at a table for two???
Joy
Wonderful RSL!!!
It would be difficult wait till tomorrow, but maybe doing a little work the day will pass quickly
See ya!
Tere
It would be difficult wait till tomorrow, but maybe doing a little work the day will pass quickly
See ya!
Tere
Fantastic RSL just keep them talking like that and maybe theywill be together before the end of the night and the walk in the park maybe sue could see dogboy with allie the perfect evil twosome cant wait till tomorrow
Lin
Oh, I'm hoping they have something important to share too!
Kim
Kim
Author's Note: You know these shorter posts are great...so much faster to write and edit...
- RSL
*****
Occidental’s
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 7:31 p.m.
Sue watched as Jack smiled at the waitress as the young woman gathered his menu after taking his order. Sue felt a momentary pang of jealousy until she realized that his attention was focused back on her, his hand reaching for hers.
She couldn’t get over his suddenly demonstrative behavior tonight. Ever since she had arrived at the restaurant he had been constantly touching her – either holding her hand, putting his arm around her waist or placing a hand on the small of her back as he guided her through the restaurant behind the hostess. Sue had to admit that she liked this new side of Jack. She loved the feel of his hand holding hers or the strength of his arm being wrapped around her waist. She hoped it was something that he would continue doing after tonight.
She realized that he was staring at her intently, a variety of emotions dancing across his handsome face. She suddenly found herself wondering what was going through his mind, he seemed so deep in thought.
“Jack?”
The sound of her voice seemed to bring him out of his musings and he gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hand.
She felt a hot blush fill her cheeks at his intense look. “Where were you a moment ago?” She asked him curiously. “I thought I had lost you.”
His grip on her hand tightened as he said, his expression solemn. “You could never lose me. I’m not going anywhere. Not ever.”
She felt her heartbeat speed up as she blushed again. “Not ever?”
Jack smiled warmly at her and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “Not ever.”
Sue’s heart raced even more as she watched him look at her thoughtfully for several moments, apparently struggling with what he wanted to say next. Sue held her breath and waited for him to speak. Fortunately she didn’t have to wait long.
Looking at her intently he said. “I think its time that you and I finished that conversation that we started that night in the hospital before Allie showed up.”
Sue gave him a look of surprise. “I thought we had finished it.” When he frowned she continued. “Don’t you remember that day by the elevators when you told me about you and Allie?”
Jack gave her a sheepish look as he said. “Actually, that was an alternate ending to what I had originally intended to tell you.”
Her heart racing she asked. “So what was your original ending to that conversation?”
She watched in surprise as released her hands and lifted his to sign. What…I…had…wanted…to tell you…was… There was a very long pause before Jack finally chuckled nervously. “Please bear with me. I’m new at this.”
“I know.” She assured him with an encouraging smile. “And for a beginner you’re signing very well.”
He gave her a serious look and said. “I wasn’t talking about the signing.”
Sue frowned slightly. “Then what were you talking about?”
He hesitated for a long minute before raising his hands and slowly signing, pausing several times as if to recall the proper sign he wanted. I’m new at…telling…the woman I love…and want to marry…that…I love her and want to marry her.
Sue felt her jaw drop slightly as she stared at his hands in stunned disbelief. Did he really sign what she thought he had just signed? She suddenly realized he was speaking again. Looking at his lips she watched as he asked.
“Did I sign it wrong?”
Sue swallowed hard before saying, certain that her voice was shaking. “It depends.”
“On what?” He asked with a frown.
She paused for a moment before replying. “On what you were trying to sign.”
He gave her a soft smile and said. “What I was trying to sign was that ‘I’m…new at…telling…the woman…I…love…and want…to marry… that…I love her…and…want to marry her’.”
Sue stared at him speechlessly for several minutes, unable to formulate a single articulate response. It was as if her brain had ceased functioning at his startling revelation.
She watched as Jack’s face filled with nervousness. Reaching over he took both of her hands in his, his eyes searching hers intently before she lowered them to his lips. “Sue, please say something. Anything.”
“I…I…” She opened her mouth a couple of times, but nothing more would come out.
Patiently Jack squeezed her hands and pressed. “You what?”
“I…I…”
He gave her a hint of a smile as he teased. “You said that already.”
Sue closed her eyes, trying hard to get her brain to function so she could articulate a comment. Feeling Jack squeeze her hands she opened her eyes in time to see the waitress appear with their appetizers.
Jack reluctantly released her hands, pulling his back so that the waitress could place their food on the table before them. Sue felt her heart clench at the interruption, fearing that the moment had been lost.
*****
See you either later today or tomorrow (I hope) - baring 'life' interfering.
- RSL
*****
Occidental’s
Saturday, May 3rd, 2003 – 7:31 p.m.
Sue watched as Jack smiled at the waitress as the young woman gathered his menu after taking his order. Sue felt a momentary pang of jealousy until she realized that his attention was focused back on her, his hand reaching for hers.
She couldn’t get over his suddenly demonstrative behavior tonight. Ever since she had arrived at the restaurant he had been constantly touching her – either holding her hand, putting his arm around her waist or placing a hand on the small of her back as he guided her through the restaurant behind the hostess. Sue had to admit that she liked this new side of Jack. She loved the feel of his hand holding hers or the strength of his arm being wrapped around her waist. She hoped it was something that he would continue doing after tonight.
She realized that he was staring at her intently, a variety of emotions dancing across his handsome face. She suddenly found herself wondering what was going through his mind, he seemed so deep in thought.
“Jack?”
The sound of her voice seemed to bring him out of his musings and he gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hand.
She felt a hot blush fill her cheeks at his intense look. “Where were you a moment ago?” She asked him curiously. “I thought I had lost you.”
His grip on her hand tightened as he said, his expression solemn. “You could never lose me. I’m not going anywhere. Not ever.”
She felt her heartbeat speed up as she blushed again. “Not ever?”
Jack smiled warmly at her and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “Not ever.”
Sue’s heart raced even more as she watched him look at her thoughtfully for several moments, apparently struggling with what he wanted to say next. Sue held her breath and waited for him to speak. Fortunately she didn’t have to wait long.
Looking at her intently he said. “I think its time that you and I finished that conversation that we started that night in the hospital before Allie showed up.”
Sue gave him a look of surprise. “I thought we had finished it.” When he frowned she continued. “Don’t you remember that day by the elevators when you told me about you and Allie?”
Jack gave her a sheepish look as he said. “Actually, that was an alternate ending to what I had originally intended to tell you.”
Her heart racing she asked. “So what was your original ending to that conversation?”
She watched in surprise as released her hands and lifted his to sign. What…I…had…wanted…to tell you…was… There was a very long pause before Jack finally chuckled nervously. “Please bear with me. I’m new at this.”
“I know.” She assured him with an encouraging smile. “And for a beginner you’re signing very well.”
He gave her a serious look and said. “I wasn’t talking about the signing.”
Sue frowned slightly. “Then what were you talking about?”
He hesitated for a long minute before raising his hands and slowly signing, pausing several times as if to recall the proper sign he wanted. I’m new at…telling…the woman I love…and want to marry…that…I love her and want to marry her.
Sue felt her jaw drop slightly as she stared at his hands in stunned disbelief. Did he really sign what she thought he had just signed? She suddenly realized he was speaking again. Looking at his lips she watched as he asked.
“Did I sign it wrong?”
Sue swallowed hard before saying, certain that her voice was shaking. “It depends.”
“On what?” He asked with a frown.
She paused for a moment before replying. “On what you were trying to sign.”
He gave her a soft smile and said. “What I was trying to sign was that ‘I’m…new at…telling…the woman…I…love…and want…to marry… that…I love her…and…want to marry her’.”
Sue stared at him speechlessly for several minutes, unable to formulate a single articulate response. It was as if her brain had ceased functioning at his startling revelation.
She watched as Jack’s face filled with nervousness. Reaching over he took both of her hands in his, his eyes searching hers intently before she lowered them to his lips. “Sue, please say something. Anything.”
“I…I…” She opened her mouth a couple of times, but nothing more would come out.
Patiently Jack squeezed her hands and pressed. “You what?”
“I…I…”
He gave her a hint of a smile as he teased. “You said that already.”
Sue closed her eyes, trying hard to get her brain to function so she could articulate a comment. Feeling Jack squeeze her hands she opened her eyes in time to see the waitress appear with their appetizers.
Jack reluctantly released her hands, pulling his back so that the waitress could place their food on the table before them. Sue felt her heart clench at the interruption, fearing that the moment had been lost.
*****
See you either later today or tomorrow (I hope) - baring 'life' interfering.
I think that if I were Sue I would be speechless as well.
QUOTE(Red Shores Lady @ Mar 19 2008, 03:31 AM)
“I…I…”
[quote name='Ivory' date='Mar 19 2008, 12:33 PM' post='328432']
I think that if I were Sue I would be speechless as well.
[/quote
I have to agree with ivory but sue please answer him and say YESSSSSSSSS
Lin
I think that if I were Sue I would be speechless as well.
[/quote
I have to agree with ivory but sue please answer him and say YESSSSSSSSS Lin
WOW!
I can't speak either
Tere
I can't speak either
Tere
Someone needs to slap Sue on the back - what she meant to say Jack is I LOVE YOU TOO!!!! 
That is way more than Sue hoped to get out of this evening!! I hope she realizes that she hasn't lost the moment and she needs to speak quickly before Jack thinks she doesn't feel the same!!!
Joy
Joy
Author's post: Here's the post of the day...
- RSL
****
“Thank you.” Jack said to the waitress before she moved away from the table. He then turned his attention back to Sue. He noticed that she looked much more collected than she had before the waitress had appeared.
He knew he had dropped a bombshell on her the way that he had told her about his feelings for her. He had planned on telling her in a much more subtle, more romantic way but when the time had come he had frozen mentally and had ended up just blurting it out…well, not exactly blurting it out. One can not actually blurt something out when they’re signing. However the effect on Sue was about the same. The important thing was that he had finally gotten the words out. However remembering Sue’s reaction to ‘the words’ he wondered if he should have said them at all.
Deciding to give her a bit of time and space to work out what she was thinking and feeling he turned his attention to his appetizer. He had just raised his fork to his mouth and was about to take the first bite when her shy question stopped him.
“Was that a proposal?”
He looked at her for a long moment, his fork unconsciously lowering to halfway between his plate and his mouth before he consciously lowered it all the way back to his plate. Reaching across the table to grab her hand. He stroked it gently, his heart beginning to pound hard against his chest as he asked huskily. “That depends.”
“On what?” She asked in a soft tone.
He paused for a moment, his thumb continuing to stroke the back of her hand, before replying. “On whether or not you want it to be a proposal.”
He watched as a variety of emotions played across her face. It took her several moments to answer him and he grew more and more afraid with each passing one. Finally after what seemed like an eternity to him she replied, tears forming in her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know.” He repeated in a calm tone. Not exactly the response I was hoping for. He thought to himself. But at least it wasn’t a resounding ‘no’. A resounding ‘yes’ would have been better though. However given the sudden way in which he had informed her of his feelings for her, he knew he couldn’t honestly expect her to have said ‘yes’.
Giving her hand another squeeze he continued speaking. “Okay, how about if I were to ask you if you would go out with me? What would you say to that?”
He watched as Sue swallowed hard before replying. “I would probably say ‘yes’.” Then after a pause she added with more of her usual levity. “Are you asking?”
“Are you saying ‘yes’?” He countered, relieved to see his Sue finally shinning through for the first time since his awkward confession.
She smiled shyly and nodded.
He smiled back and replied. “Then I’m asking.” They continued to smile at each other for several moments. “So we’ve established that you don’t have any objections to dating me, just to marrying me.”
He watched as a look of horror filled her face. “I didn’t say I had any objections to marrying you, it’s just that…this…”
“Is happening so fast.” He finally finished for her when she didn’t seem to be able to.
She nodded and gave his hand a tight squeeze. “We’ve only known each other for six months, Jack and while we’ve developed a very good friendship and working relationship I don’t know if it’s enough to build a happy marriage on.”
He felt his heart quicken again as he asked. “So what do you think we’d need to build a happy marriage on?”
Sue gave him a thoughtful look for several moments before saying solemnly. “Before I can answer that question I need to know why you think you want to marry me.”
He gave her a surprised look then decided her question was a fair one, especially considering the way the evening had played out so far. Reaching across the table with his free hand he opened it to her. After a moment she lifted her free hand from under the table and placed it in his. He gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hands gently. “So you want to know why I want to marry you. Well, it’s very simple really. I want to marry you because I am head-over-heels in love with you.”
He watched as Sue’s eyes widened in surprise. “You are?”
“I am.” He confirmed with great conviction. “And I’m beginning to suspect that I always have been. Right from the very first moment I ever laid eyes on you.”
He watched as she blushed hotly, an embarrassed look on her face. “I made such an idiot of myself when I came marching into the Bullpen that day.”
“Don’t say that.” He scolded gently. “I was very impressed by you that day. I could easily see that you weren’t a woman to be pushed around. You were determined to be treated as an equal. You had the courage to stand up for yourself. And I’m very glad that you did. I’m also very glad that the Maintenance staff hadn’t gotten around to changing the directory yet. If they had have you and I may never have met. And I certainly can’t imagine that. I can’t even begin to picture my life without you in it…permanently.”
He noticed Sue give him a worried look. “What is it, sweetheart?” He watched her startle at the endearment but he didn’t stop. “There’s obviously something bothering you. What is it? You can tell me.” He felt his heart clench slightly as he added. “Even if it’s that you don’t want me in your life the way that I want you in mine. Tell me the truth no matter what it is.”
She studied him for several minutes, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip. He tried not to squirm in his seat under her constant gaze. Finally she spoke. “It’s not that I don’t want you in my life the way that you want me in yours.” She flushed slightly as she confessed honestly. “I have often thought about what it would be like to date you.”
He looked at her intently as he asked. “Only date?”
“No…yes!…I mean…” She pressed her lips together as the color in her cheeks deepened greatly. She then closed her eyes, a look of complete embarrassment on her face.
Jack chuckled at her expression, his hope bolstered by her slip of the tongue. Giving her hands a gentle squeeze he waited until she opened her eyes before saying. “I hope you do think about what it would be like to marry me, Sue because I’ve been thinking an awful lot lately about what it would be like to marry you.”
He watched as a variety of emotions danced across her face as tears appeared in her eyes. Alarmed by her reaction he tightened his grip on her hands and asked anxiously. “Sue, sweetheart, what is it?” He was even more alarmed when she pulled her hands away from him. “Sue?” He watched as she picked up her napkin and dabbed at her eyes.
When she finished she looked at him and apologized. “I’m sorry, Jack, I couldn’t see your lips. What did you say?”
Leaning forward he reached across the intimate table for two that they had been seated at by the hostess and gently brushed a stray tear from her cheek. “What is it, sweetheart? What has you so upset?”
“You.” She replied cryptically causing him to raise his eyebrows in surprise.
“Me?” He repeated in a confused tone. “What have I done to upset you?”
“You haven’t done anything to upset me.” She assured him eagerly. “I’m not upset. Worried maybe, but not upset.”
“So what has you so worried that you’re crying?” He asked, wiping away another tear that was trickling down her cheek.
Sue grabbed his hand that was pressed against her cheek and gave it a squeeze. Taking a deep breath she said with a slight hitch in her tone. “You say you’ve thought about what it would be like to marry me, but have you really thought about it, Jack? About what it would involve? Have you thought about all of the adjustments that you would have to make, all of the inconveniences that you would have to put up with if we were to get married?” Giving him a sorrowful look she said. “I don’t even know if a happy marriage would be possible for us.”
“Why not, Sue?” He asked her as he felt another moment of panic seize him. Tightening his grip on her hands as if it were his lifeline he asked. “Do you really think that I wouldn’t be willing to make the needed adjustments so that I could have a life with you? Sue, I know what’s involved. I’ve worked with you every day for the last six months…”
“But that’s not the same as living with me.” She countered.
“Lucy lives with you and she seems to be managing just fine.” Jack pointed out.
“But Lucy can leave whenever she wants to.” Sue returned. “There’s nothing binding her to me for the rest of her life. If she decides that she’s had enough than she’s free to leave. But if you and I got married…”
Realization filled him as he finally comprehended what her issue was. “And you’re afraid that if we get married and I decide that I can’t deal with the so-called ‘adjustments and inconveniences’ that go with a life with you that I’ll feel trapped.”
“Wouldn’t you?” She asked, her tears returning.
“No, I wouldn’t.” He told her honestly. Then after bringing her hands to his lips for a moment he continued. “Sweetheart, I’m never going to feel trapped if we were to get married. I would feel blessed, honored and that I was the luckiest man alive but never trapped. Sue, I’ve given us a lot of thought. Remember that day in the hospital how I told you I had been doing a lot of thinking about my life?”
“Yes.”
“Well the majority of that thinking involved you and it included a lot of thought about what a life with you would entail. I know that there’s probably a lot of things I haven’t considered in my thinkings, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to run at the first sign of trouble.” Looking earnestly at her he added. “I love you, Sue. I love you with the sort of love that is lasting, that is not going to disappear or dissolve at the first sign of trouble. If you and I were to get married it would be for the long haul, for forever and we would be the happiest couple alive.”
“How do you know?” She asked in an uncertain tone.
“Because I love you and there’s nothing more that I want in this world than to be with you for the rest of my life.” Was his simple reply. “The only question is, do you love me?” Holding his breath he waited for her response.
*****
See you tomorrow...
- RSL
****
“Thank you.” Jack said to the waitress before she moved away from the table. He then turned his attention back to Sue. He noticed that she looked much more collected than she had before the waitress had appeared.
He knew he had dropped a bombshell on her the way that he had told her about his feelings for her. He had planned on telling her in a much more subtle, more romantic way but when the time had come he had frozen mentally and had ended up just blurting it out…well, not exactly blurting it out. One can not actually blurt something out when they’re signing. However the effect on Sue was about the same. The important thing was that he had finally gotten the words out. However remembering Sue’s reaction to ‘the words’ he wondered if he should have said them at all.
Deciding to give her a bit of time and space to work out what she was thinking and feeling he turned his attention to his appetizer. He had just raised his fork to his mouth and was about to take the first bite when her shy question stopped him.
“Was that a proposal?”
He looked at her for a long moment, his fork unconsciously lowering to halfway between his plate and his mouth before he consciously lowered it all the way back to his plate. Reaching across the table to grab her hand. He stroked it gently, his heart beginning to pound hard against his chest as he asked huskily. “That depends.”
“On what?” She asked in a soft tone.
He paused for a moment, his thumb continuing to stroke the back of her hand, before replying. “On whether or not you want it to be a proposal.”
He watched as a variety of emotions played across her face. It took her several moments to answer him and he grew more and more afraid with each passing one. Finally after what seemed like an eternity to him she replied, tears forming in her eyes. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know.” He repeated in a calm tone. Not exactly the response I was hoping for. He thought to himself. But at least it wasn’t a resounding ‘no’. A resounding ‘yes’ would have been better though. However given the sudden way in which he had informed her of his feelings for her, he knew he couldn’t honestly expect her to have said ‘yes’.
Giving her hand another squeeze he continued speaking. “Okay, how about if I were to ask you if you would go out with me? What would you say to that?”
He watched as Sue swallowed hard before replying. “I would probably say ‘yes’.” Then after a pause she added with more of her usual levity. “Are you asking?”
“Are you saying ‘yes’?” He countered, relieved to see his Sue finally shinning through for the first time since his awkward confession.
She smiled shyly and nodded.
He smiled back and replied. “Then I’m asking.” They continued to smile at each other for several moments. “So we’ve established that you don’t have any objections to dating me, just to marrying me.”
He watched as a look of horror filled her face. “I didn’t say I had any objections to marrying you, it’s just that…this…”
“Is happening so fast.” He finally finished for her when she didn’t seem to be able to.
She nodded and gave his hand a tight squeeze. “We’ve only known each other for six months, Jack and while we’ve developed a very good friendship and working relationship I don’t know if it’s enough to build a happy marriage on.”
He felt his heart quicken again as he asked. “So what do you think we’d need to build a happy marriage on?”
Sue gave him a thoughtful look for several moments before saying solemnly. “Before I can answer that question I need to know why you think you want to marry me.”
He gave her a surprised look then decided her question was a fair one, especially considering the way the evening had played out so far. Reaching across the table with his free hand he opened it to her. After a moment she lifted her free hand from under the table and placed it in his. He gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hands gently. “So you want to know why I want to marry you. Well, it’s very simple really. I want to marry you because I am head-over-heels in love with you.”
He watched as Sue’s eyes widened in surprise. “You are?”
“I am.” He confirmed with great conviction. “And I’m beginning to suspect that I always have been. Right from the very first moment I ever laid eyes on you.”
He watched as she blushed hotly, an embarrassed look on her face. “I made such an idiot of myself when I came marching into the Bullpen that day.”
“Don’t say that.” He scolded gently. “I was very impressed by you that day. I could easily see that you weren’t a woman to be pushed around. You were determined to be treated as an equal. You had the courage to stand up for yourself. And I’m very glad that you did. I’m also very glad that the Maintenance staff hadn’t gotten around to changing the directory yet. If they had have you and I may never have met. And I certainly can’t imagine that. I can’t even begin to picture my life without you in it…permanently.”
He noticed Sue give him a worried look. “What is it, sweetheart?” He watched her startle at the endearment but he didn’t stop. “There’s obviously something bothering you. What is it? You can tell me.” He felt his heart clench slightly as he added. “Even if it’s that you don’t want me in your life the way that I want you in mine. Tell me the truth no matter what it is.”
She studied him for several minutes, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip. He tried not to squirm in his seat under her constant gaze. Finally she spoke. “It’s not that I don’t want you in my life the way that you want me in yours.” She flushed slightly as she confessed honestly. “I have often thought about what it would be like to date you.”
He looked at her intently as he asked. “Only date?”
“No…yes!…I mean…” She pressed her lips together as the color in her cheeks deepened greatly. She then closed her eyes, a look of complete embarrassment on her face.
Jack chuckled at her expression, his hope bolstered by her slip of the tongue. Giving her hands a gentle squeeze he waited until she opened her eyes before saying. “I hope you do think about what it would be like to marry me, Sue because I’ve been thinking an awful lot lately about what it would be like to marry you.”
He watched as a variety of emotions danced across her face as tears appeared in her eyes. Alarmed by her reaction he tightened his grip on her hands and asked anxiously. “Sue, sweetheart, what is it?” He was even more alarmed when she pulled her hands away from him. “Sue?” He watched as she picked up her napkin and dabbed at her eyes.
When she finished she looked at him and apologized. “I’m sorry, Jack, I couldn’t see your lips. What did you say?”
Leaning forward he reached across the intimate table for two that they had been seated at by the hostess and gently brushed a stray tear from her cheek. “What is it, sweetheart? What has you so upset?”
“You.” She replied cryptically causing him to raise his eyebrows in surprise.
“Me?” He repeated in a confused tone. “What have I done to upset you?”
“You haven’t done anything to upset me.” She assured him eagerly. “I’m not upset. Worried maybe, but not upset.”
“So what has you so worried that you’re crying?” He asked, wiping away another tear that was trickling down her cheek.
Sue grabbed his hand that was pressed against her cheek and gave it a squeeze. Taking a deep breath she said with a slight hitch in her tone. “You say you’ve thought about what it would be like to marry me, but have you really thought about it, Jack? About what it would involve? Have you thought about all of the adjustments that you would have to make, all of the inconveniences that you would have to put up with if we were to get married?” Giving him a sorrowful look she said. “I don’t even know if a happy marriage would be possible for us.”
“Why not, Sue?” He asked her as he felt another moment of panic seize him. Tightening his grip on her hands as if it were his lifeline he asked. “Do you really think that I wouldn’t be willing to make the needed adjustments so that I could have a life with you? Sue, I know what’s involved. I’ve worked with you every day for the last six months…”
“But that’s not the same as living with me.” She countered.
“Lucy lives with you and she seems to be managing just fine.” Jack pointed out.
“But Lucy can leave whenever she wants to.” Sue returned. “There’s nothing binding her to me for the rest of her life. If she decides that she’s had enough than she’s free to leave. But if you and I got married…”
Realization filled him as he finally comprehended what her issue was. “And you’re afraid that if we get married and I decide that I can’t deal with the so-called ‘adjustments and inconveniences’ that go with a life with you that I’ll feel trapped.”
“Wouldn’t you?” She asked, her tears returning.
“No, I wouldn’t.” He told her honestly. Then after bringing her hands to his lips for a moment he continued. “Sweetheart, I’m never going to feel trapped if we were to get married. I would feel blessed, honored and that I was the luckiest man alive but never trapped. Sue, I’ve given us a lot of thought. Remember that day in the hospital how I told you I had been doing a lot of thinking about my life?”
“Yes.”
“Well the majority of that thinking involved you and it included a lot of thought about what a life with you would entail. I know that there’s probably a lot of things I haven’t considered in my thinkings, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to run at the first sign of trouble.” Looking earnestly at her he added. “I love you, Sue. I love you with the sort of love that is lasting, that is not going to disappear or dissolve at the first sign of trouble. If you and I were to get married it would be for the long haul, for forever and we would be the happiest couple alive.”
“How do you know?” She asked in an uncertain tone.
“Because I love you and there’s nothing more that I want in this world than to be with you for the rest of my life.” Was his simple reply. “The only question is, do you love me?” Holding his breath he waited for her response.
*****
See you tomorrow...
QUOTE(Red Shores Lady @ Mar 20 2008, 02:00 PM)
Holding his breath he waited for her response.
AS ARE WE . . . !!!!!!!
"We have to wait until tomorrow?" she whined. (you can tell I'm in the midst of writing dialogue!!!)
Looking forward to Sue's answer AS IF we don't know what it will be - although you could throw us a curve . . . I remember someone calling ME names when torturing my audience . . .!!!
QUOTE(GinaSue @ Mar 20 2008, 02:24 PM)
QUOTE(Red Shores Lady @ Mar 20 2008, 02:00 PM)
Holding his breath he waited for her response.
AS ARE WE . . . !!!!!!!
"We have to wait until tomorrow?" she whined. (you can tell I'm in the midst of writing dialogue!!!)
Looking forward to Sue's answer AS IF we don't know what it will be - although you could throw us a curve . . . I remember someone calling ME names when torturing my audience . . .!!!
I was thinking the same Regina, that maybe RSL learns some of your torture skills
Looking forward for the next
Tere:hug:
QUOTE
I was thinking the same Regina, that maybe RSL learns some of your torture skills
Looking forward for the next
Tere:hug:
Hey, these short posts are great...I'll have to remember them for future stories as well!!
- RSL
thats not nice leaving us 
like that please get back soon and let us know sues answer cant wait till tomorrow now loving it Lin
That is pure torture...
Okay, Sue......I mean RSL, we're waiting!!!
Beautiful dialogue, and very well thought out conversation, covering the things that we all know worry Sue the most!!!
Joy
Beautiful dialogue, and very well thought out conversation, covering the things that we all know worry Sue the most!!!
Joy
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