In a stage whisper, he said, “I do all the work. You get all the fun.”
Another time, another woman, Jake might have let Charlie think what he wanted. “It’s not how it looks, buddy. Someday I’ll fill you in.” With that, he returned to Catherine and slowly eased her outside and into his Jeep.
About a mile up the road she finally spoke. “Didn’t we do this part already?”
He glanced at her quickly. Her eyes were closed, head tilted back, hair blowing helter-skelter.
Before he could comment, she said, “I like your Jeep.” From the corner of his eye he could see her turn toward him. “And I like you too, Jake. You’re a nice guy…you know that?”
He wanted to believe she meant it and would remember her words tomorrow, but he knew it was the booze talking now.
“Where we going?” she asked, not sounding as if she really cared.
“Toot’s Diner. I need some chow and you need some coffee.”
Another mile and he pulled into the restaurant parking lot, hopped out and ran to the other side before his passenger could fall on her face trying to maneuver on her own. She accepted his hand with a teasing smile and fell against him.
“Oops!” She giggled and righted herself.
When they slid into the booth nearest the door a minute later, Jake saw a waitress eyeing him. She came over with a pair of menus and shot him a judgmental look. Why is it all women assume the guy is some lech ready to pounce on some poor, helpless female? This female was hardly helpless. And by the looks of everything, not poor, either. He shoved the menus aside and ignored them along with the waitress’s scowl.
“We’ll have a couple orders of eggs, ham and toast. Make mine overeasy with rye.” He looked at Catherine. Her eyes were at half-mast; she seemed dazed. “How do you want yours?”
“Scrambled. Whole wheat,” she said in a monotone.
The waitress started to leave. Jake called after her. “And lots of coffee, please…soon.” She looked back, her lips a hard, straight line. Jake winked and flashed a toothy smile.
Catherine didn’t say a word. She slumped deeper in the booth, the back of her head pressed against the cushion, a cheek resting on her shoulder. Jake watched her doze, wondering if he should wake her and force some coffee down, or let her sleep. When the aroma of hot food and the noise of sliding plates didn’t budge her, he decided he had to say something.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty. Chow time.” He drank his coffee and watched her come around. She looked ghastly. Her complexion matched the pale green upholstery. He’d seen the signs often enough to know what was coming. Sure enough, she struggled to an upright position and moaned aloud, clasping her head with both hands. She took one whiff of the food, then slid quickly from the booth.
Jake pointed. “Down that hall, on the right.” He watched her snake a path to the ladies’ room and debated whether he should follow. Nah. There were some things a person preferred doing in private.
Ten minutes later Jake was just about to send the waitress in after her when Catherine emerged. Her mascara was smudged, her face wet and pale, but she walked straighter than when she’d left. It’d been years since he’d pulled such a stunt, but he remembered the feeling all too well.
She avoided his eyes when she slid back into the booth and reached for her water. She took a sip, then looked at him sheepishly. “Do I look as bad as I feel?”
“Not quite.” Jake dipped the corner of a napkin into his water glass. He leaned across and started wiping away the black from beneath her lashes. She inched forward, staring back at him with such a soulful look that he wanted to slide in beside her, crush her against him and never let her go. Now he wished he’d gone back and taught Studly a lesson he’d never forget. How could any man throw away a woman like this?
When he tossed the napkin aside, Catherine grasped his hand with both of hers. For the first time he saw a hint of moisture pooling above her lower lashes. He watched, certain tears would spill any second, but they didn’t.
She raised her chin and blinked them back, then spoke in a barely audible whisper. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She picked up a piece of toast and started nibbling at it, testing the waters. When that worked she had some coffee and a little more toast, then more coffee. Eventually she looked at him and caught his smile. “What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said.
“Come on. What were you thinking?” She smiled a weary smile, leaning heavily on her left elbow.
“I was thinking ‘She’s probably still drunk, but at least she’s a wide-awake drunk.’”
“Very funny.”
“You asked.”
“So…where do we go now?”
He liked the sound of the word we. “I was just going to ask you that question.”
She fell silent a moment, looking as if she hadn’t the foggiest notion. “I don’t want to go home, that’s for sure.” She pushed her plate aside, eggs untouched, and nursed her coffee. The waitress dropped the check on the table and scurried off. Catherine reached it first. Jake tugged at it but she wouldn’t let go.
“No. I insist,” she said, challenging him with an unexpected show of energy. She pulled it to her chest, then began rooting around inside her purse. A bulging envelope blocked her path. Annoyed, she slapped it on the table and continued foraging until she found some bills. She was about to return the envelope to her purse when she stopped, a look of inspiration spreading across her face. Then she tossed the opened envelope in front of Jake, encouraging him to read the contents with a wave of her hand.
“That’s where we’re going!” Seeming pleased with herself, she slid from the booth and headed for the cashier. Jake read enough to satisfy his curiosity, then scrambled to catch up with her. She’d already paid the tab and was on the way out the door. Without breaking stride she called over her shoulder, “What time is it?”
“Almost three-thirty.”
“We have to be at the airport at five-thirty.” She stopped alongside the Jeep and spun around, loosing her balance momentarily. Looking panicky, she studied his features. “Hair’s a little lighter and longer, but it’ll work.” She breathed a sigh of relief and jumped into the passenger seat.
Caught up in her enthusiasm Jake hustled to the other side and slid in.
“Do you live close by?” she asked breathlessly.
“Yes, but…”
She turned and faced him squarely, folding her arms in a mix of impatience and determination. “Look, Jake,” she started, looking angry. “It’s too late to change the name on everything. TJ’s birth certificate and photo ID are in the envelope. All you have to do is memorize his birth date and address. How difficult can that be?”
Nonplussed, Jake stared at her.
She
