Bring on the Rain (13 page)

Jenna nodded, smiled, and made small
talk.

After a time, she went to Ruby’s table.
Realizing Jenna was not going to go to the restroom where they
could chat.

“
How’d it go? I couldn’t
tell anything by Jenna’s reaction.”

Ruby supplied, “They went to a movie
and a restaurant. He’s being polite. You know Jenna; she’s too
tired to notice the look on his face.”

“
What do you
mean?”

“—
He looks—absent as if he
has other thoughts, or he’s planning ahead.”

Madeline leaned against the half wall
and propped her tray against her thigh, and met her friend’s eyes.
“He wasn’t exactly smiling now you mention it. What’s he
driving?”

“
A new car, big, expensive.
I know nothing about them.”

“
Making an impression, you
think?”

“
Yeah, did you see the suit
and turtleneck, very professor/photographer. Like, can I help you
over your dead husband?”

“
Do you think maybe we’re
over protective of her? It’s been ten years since she had a date.”
Madeline leaned a bit to make sure someone was covering her
tables.

“
Maybe. But I’ve been
around. I know when a guy isn’t what he seems.”

“
If he hurts her—” Madeline
turned her attention back to Ruby, now feeling both anxious and
alarmed as a thought struck her. “I don't think Jenna would get all
hot over a guy who is as detached as he is, do you?”

“
It depends on what’s going
on in her head. If she’s thinking she’ll never get over the
numbness of widowhood, she might fall into bed with him to prove
something to herself.”

“
We can’t let it
happen.”

“
I’ve been sitting here
thinking. Okay, tonight is a trial thing, but if they keep dating,
I’m going to have to do something.”

Madeline winced. They loved Jenna, and
both felt protective of her. “If we come on strong, she’ll think
we’re being bitchy.”

“
Learned that with Brook,
did you?” Ruby munched on peanuts.

“
So. How?” Madeline asked
ignoring Ruby’s little quip.

“
Let’s see if she invites
him in. I’m following her. I want to see what he does
afterwards.”

“
All right. God, why don't
you bring Nick around her more.”

“
Ha! The way she works, he’d
have to go to the hospital and have something wrong with
him.”

“
And Nick’s head’s not on
right yet…”

“
Right, do you see him here?
No. He’s at home in his sweat pants watching sitcoms and pretending
he’s got a life.”

Madeline laughed; she had met him once,
handsome with nice eyes, a bit guarded. He had done first-class art
for the Tavern and designed lovely carved benches with stained
glass inserts. He wasn’t an artist actually. He was a stockbroker.
Go figure, she mused. Why the guy wanted to come back here was
beyond her, particularly if he was as strung out as Ruby
implied.

“
He’ll come around
eventually,” she finally said for Ruby’s sake. They had already
gone over why two people from the same family had so many
relationship problems.

“
Yeah.” Ruby’s voice cut
into her thoughts. “Meanwhile, let me know when they
leave.”

“
I will.” Madeline went back
to work, and kept an eye on the table occupied by Jenna and Tony.
The more she watched him operate, the less she liked him. She
alerted Ruby as soon as the couple left.

“
Did he leave you a tip?”
Madeline asked Rafael about the couple, a while later when the
customers had slacked off, and they were around the main
bar.

“
No, he never does.” Rafael
was folding a clean stack of napkins behind the bar. “I think he’s
gay.”

“
Really? I thought you
were.”

He blinked, raised a brow at her.
“Why?”

“
I don't know, you’re too
lovely to be hetro.”

He paused, looking at her dumbfounded.
“No shit. Do I look like that?”

“
Haven’t you been hit
on?”

“
Sure, but I thought it was
their problem.”

“
It’s not a bad thing. You
don’t seem like a... I’ve pissed you off, haven’t I?” She saw the
agitation in his expression.

“
No.” He went back to
folding. “You think Sunny is gay?”

“
What?” It was her turn to
be shocked.

He shrugged. “You’d have more reason to
think it of him than me. He is attractive. And… he’s with his
mother all the time.”

“
God, Rafe, you’re awful.”
Madeline laughed though.

“
I’m asking why you’d
presume that about me, and not him.”

“
Because—well, because in
this day and time, it’s hard to find a man who looks like Clark
Gable and the boy in The Jungle Book and believe he’s
heterosexual.”

“
That’s sick. The Jungle
Book?” He guffawed at her. “You got a thing for
Mowglie?”

She was laughing. “You know what I
mean.”

“
Sick, sick.” He teased her,
pouring a cup of coffee for them both.

She muttered, “Oh hell, forget I said
anything.”

He handed her the coffee, still eyeing
her with those polished dark eyes and sipping his own, “I’d say
something, but you’ll slap my face.”

“
What?” She took a
sip.

“
I could prove
it.”

“
Prove what.”

“
I’m not gay.”

“
Oh.” Madeline laughed a
little nervous, because his whole face suddenly turned sensual.
“Um, that’s all right. I believe you.”

He took a sip, his brow rose and a
silky lock of hair slid over it. “You’re horny,
Madeline.”

Her mouth fell open. “I am
not!”

He nodded, “Umm hmm. You are. I can see
it in your eyes.”

She looked away. “That’s stupid. Let’s
drop this okay. Flirting is fun but—”

“
Mad…eline…" he drew her
name out. “Madeline’s horny, Madeline needs some
nookie.”

Madeline burst out laughing, and soon
he was joining in.

When they were in demand again, he
whispered, “That Mitch Coburn's got you all tied up in
knots.”

“
What do you
know?”

“
Um, I was there last
weekend. There was enough combustion between you and him to set the
table on fire. I heard things. Saw who he sang to.”

“
That was a long time
ago.”

He mixed two drinks for customers who
had signaled from the end of the bar, he knew their usual. Fretting
about his comment Madeline watched him mix a 57 Chevy, heavy on the
vodka, and an Alabama Slammer, nix the sloe gin.

As he placed drinks on a tray, he
considered, “Maybe, but from what I hear, you’ve lived like a nun.
That blue eyed man from Copper Creek must have done a number on
you.”

She waved her hand, trying not to smile
at the way he’d sang that sentence, like a country heartbreak song.
“Let’s get back to work.” She had tables to clear and glasses to
take to the dishwasher.

He grunted and winked at her, a lot of
heat in his black eyes. “He don't do it for you, you let me know.
I’ll teach you something I learned in Brazil.” His sinfully thick
lashes lowered over smoldering jet eyes.

“
Jesus Christ.” Madeline
shook her head, getting away from him, yet hearing his chuckle
follow her. Nevertheless, she grinned the rest of the night, trying
to avoid getting into another risqué conversation she could not
win. Rafe was too damn knowing and sensitive to women for a guy his
age. She didn’t know if it was his too-sexy-to-stand looks, or that
slightly accented voice, or the wicked glint in his eye. She
thought of him as a young cousin or something. She really did know
where to draw the line.

After Madeline arrived home and checked
on Brook, later she called Ruby and told her what Rafael said about
Sunny.

“
Bi- maybe, but not gay. No,
he was probably joking about it.”

She felt bad talking about her boss
that way. She got back to the subject. “So, Jenna didn’t invite him
in?”

“
No. He kissed her cheek
though.”

“
Where’d he go
after?”

“
To his apartment above the
studio.”

“
Oh well—”

“
How is Brook?”

“
Asleep. I saw a hicky on
her neck though.”

Ruby sighed. “It’ll be all
right.”

“
Umm, we’ll see.”

“
Well, I’m beat. This spy
business is very tiring. Nick wanted to know all about it though.
He’s usually only half interested in anything.”

“
He’s working though,
right?”

“
He’s doing different
things. I thought maybe we could open a gallery together, but the
way he is, I’m not sure how people would take him. I think he is
creating things to get his emotions out. That’s a good thing. But
how long is it going to take? I can’t believe such a high strung
go-getter would fall this low.”

“
Maybe you should start out
with a booth or small show here in town. Gradually get him into
it.”

“
Yeah. But what if he loses
his need for it and cops out on me? I enjoy doing different things,
having a person ask for unique pieces that suit their home or
whatever. I don't want to be tied to a shop. I thought he might,
but...”

“
Speaking of dating. Jude
came to see me.”

“
He did!” Ruby sounded as if
her breath had gotten stuck in her windpipe.

Madeline told her everything and only
left out half her own feelings about it.

“
Ah, shit. I’m positive my
fling with him took place in there somewhere.”

“
He never loved me, not the
real thing.”

“
I guess.”

“
Hey. Ruby. I’m sorry, I
wasn’t thinking.” Way to go, Madeline reflected, she was just
walking all over people’s sensitive spots tonight.

“
No, as you said, it was a
long time ago.”

“
He was trying to have what
Mitch did. I think he wanted to be him, to avoid his own situation
or whatever,” she added thoughtfully, “I think he did more than
booze, if you know what I mean. Jude had some strange friend’s back
then.”

Ruby was silent for a while then simply
murmured. “Nice to know they’re more screwed up than we
are.”

“
Unless you get caught up in
the crossfire.”

Ruby sighed. “I’m beat, talk at you
later. About Jude… It helps to know I’m not the only one who made a
fool of themselves. I do know some things. You are not far off the
mark. “

She said, "Jude is a man who still has
no idea what love is. Not the real kind. If he did, he would be
with you. ”

“
Yeah it does help to know
that. As to the other,” Ruby sighed. “It’s not the best subject for
me. Anyway, my friend. I’m not upset, and you need some rest. Bye
now.”

~*~

It rained all night, and was still
raining on Sunday. While Brook dressed to go to Karla’s house and
to church that night, Madeline had seen the smudge of makeup and
cover stick on her daughter’s neck, before Brook finally gave up
and put a high neck blouse on. Definitely, it was a
hickey.

~*~

March ended semi-normally, and April
came in crawling. Semi due to the fact Coy was more visible and her
friend Jenna was still seeing Tony. Still, the days went by;
working did that…sameness blending hours and days
together.

Madeline drove into town to shop. She
didn’t often, because the tavern was located away from it and the
mini-marts were scattered between where she could pick up milk and
bread on her way home.

She parked on the narrow street and
absently noticed the Center Park being prepared for the upcoming
Spring Fest. It would culminate on Memorial Day with a parade and
other celebrations. She went to several stores, spent too much
money, and purchased things for Brook she didn’t need. It was all
about the mother-guilt thing. Maybe she had worked too much. Maybe
she hadn’t spent enough time with her. Maybe she didn’t hug her
enough….

Madeline stood by her car, having put
the packages in the back seat, when her eyes were drawn up the
street, to Tony’s studio, a brick building with huge windows and an
apartment and balcony over top. She knew he did many of the
publicity photos for the locals, and worked hand in hand with the
ad agency and print shop next door. Since Jenna was usually working
or out with him, she hadn’t been able to talk to her
lately.

Moreover, the only comment from Karla
was for the girl to stick her finger in her mouth and gag. Which
was not comforting at all.

Madeline felt a shiver go up her spine.
Jenna, please, she thought, do not fall for him.

She shook her head mentally, went
across the street to a dollar store, and picked up a new shower
curtain liner and other useless junk. She loaded them in the car
and drove home, wondering what to do with the rest of her day
off.