Who Gets the Friends? (4 page)

Tom’s eyebrows arched when he glanced at her.
Man, that’s moving fast. Am I supposed
to answer truthfully or take the safe way out and say I don’t know? Is she doing a
personality profile on me?
“Yeah, it’s still there.”

She flashed an impish grin. “That’s an honest answer. I half expected you to fumble a response and change the subject.”

“Why?”

“Because most men wouldn’t admit to knowing the location of a place that sells sex toys and videos until they were further along.”

He cleared his throat. “No point in being dishonest. Just don’t press me about my online surfing habits until the third date.”

She laughed. It was a pleasant sound, very natural. “I’m just trying to find out more about you. Aren’t you the least bit curious about me?”

“Totally, but I’m pacing myself.”

“That’s very practical.”

They arrived at Franco’s, parked, then went inside. Tom informed the hostess that he had a reservation and they were escorted to a table in a quiet section of the crowded restaurant. Small candles flickered on each table, adding a degree of quiet ambiance. A server took their drink order, then departed.

Jessica looked over the menu. “It’s been eons since I was here last.” She smiled. “This used to be a favorite date night spot.”

Their server arrived with a carafe of wine and two glasses. She took their order and when she was gone, Tom poured two glasses. He raised his in a toast. “To a wonderful date night.”

Jessica took a small sip. “Very nice Pinot Grigio. Are you a wine connoisseur?”

“To a point. I like to visit wineries when I travel and usually manage to hit the Winefest every year. Are you?”

“Does visiting the Napa Valley count?”

“I’m impressed. I’ve never been there.”

“Last year I took a trip to California with a friend. We did one of those day-long bus tours. Really interesting.”

“I took one of those when I was in San Francisco. At first I wasn’t wild about the idea but I was glad someone talked me into it. I saw more sights that way than I would have on my own.”

Jessica glanced down and offered a wistful smile. “Funny how little things remind you of other things, isn’t it? There you are, going through your day, totally focused on what you’re doing, when something minor catches your attention and you’re suddenly back in time.”

Tom took a sip and looked curiously at her. “Does drinking Pinot Grigio have that effect on you?”

“Not just the wine, but it reminded me of that trip. I hadn’t thought about it in a long time.”

“I’m guessing you took that trip with someone pretty special.”

She slowly nodded. “The boyfriend I told you about.” She raised her eyes to meet his. “I wasn’t totally up front with you when I said we broke up.” She hesitated. “He was an Air Force Reservist who was killed in a training flight in Houston earlier this year.”

Tom sat back and tried not to stare.
Doug said she took that pretty hard. It still shows.
“I’m very sorry.”

Jessica gave a slight shrug. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. Sorry.”

Tom took her hand in his. “Don’t apologize. Since we’re being honest, that trip to San Francisco was with my ex-wife. Probably the last fun thing we did together.”

She laughed softly. “Aren’t we a pair? Here we are on our first actual date and we’re talking about the past.”

“Didn’t a wise man once say
If you don’t know where you’ve been, how do you know
where you’re going
?”

“I’ve heard that, but I don’t recall who said it.”

“Laurence Olivier to Neil Diamond in
The Jazz Singer
. Great songs, terrible movie.”

Jessica laughed. “Thanks for clearing that up.” Her laugh faltered. “Do you ever take anything seriously?”

“Only the important things.”

She kneaded his hand while peering into his eyes. “Like what?”

“Life, family, friends and the Cleveland Indians.”

“Interesting list.”

“What do you take seriously?”

“All of the above, but substitute the Cincinnati Reds.”

Tom rolled his eyes and groaned. “I can see a fight looming over the remote during playoff season next year.”

She squeezed his hand again. “Fighting is such a waste of energy.”

“I agree, but where else do you channel it?”

Her eyes took on a murky glow. “Passion comes to mind.”

She’s doing it again. I know I’ve been out of circulation for a long time, but I don’t recall
this
. “Good point.”

He was saved when the server brought their food. Jessica took a taste, then hummed her approval. “I’d forgotten how good they make their lasagna.”

Tom cut off a small piece of veal saltimbocca. “I don’t recall ever getting a bad meal here.”

Jessica gave him a playful look. “Save room for tiramisu, but don’t overindulge. Wouldn’t want you to fall asleep later because you were too full.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.” He chased his food with some wine.
I don’t know if she’s serious
or
being a tease, but I like it
. “What’s your idea of a perfect date night?”

She thought for a moment while chewing. “I’m pretty comfortable with nights like this, maybe followed by a walk or a stop at a club with live music. I also like staying put, maybe ordering a pizza and watching a movie. What about you?”

“You may not believe this, but I like the same things. I can dress up and blend in with the concert crowd, but more often I like your second scenario, especially after a busy week.”

“So are you more of a homebody?”

“Not all the time. I love to travel.”

“Where’s the best vacation spot, in your mind?”

“Florida or the east coast. Anywhere near the water. Great photo ops in places like that. I also like the Smokey Mountains. What about you?”

“The same. When I go to the mountains I like to hike the trails.”

“The last time I did that I came face to face with a bear.”

Her eyebrows arched. “What did you do?”

“I resisted the urge to run like hell, took his picture, then backed up the trail, very slowly.”

“At least you kept your wits about you. Most people would’ve panicked.”

“I didn’t say it was easy not to.”

After dinner they walked along the cobblestone streets of the historic Oregon District, dodging the Friday night throng of partiers that crowded the bars and nightspots. Tom noticed for the first time that the lampposts were adorned with wreaths and lights.

The week before Thanksgiving and they’re up already. Whatever happened to getting one holiday over before you started in on the next one?

“You’re being awfully quiet,” Jessica observed. “Something wrong?”

“No, just thinking.” He gestured at the decorations. “This early holiday cheer reminded me of something that’s been on my mind lately.”

“What?”

He hesitated. “Something I didn’t think much about when I moved out a few months ago. The other day I looked at the calendar and realized that Thanksgiving is next week, then we get into the Christmas rush, then the big panic over where you’ll spend New Year’s Eve and who you’ll spend it with.”

Jessica stopped, rested her palm on his cheek and peered into his eyes. “Want to hear something funny? I was thinking the same thing the other day.”

Tom ran his hand along her upper arm. “You were right—what a pair we make.”

She glanced down. “Tom, you aren’t the only one who’s facing their first holiday season alone for the first time in a long time.”

He placed his fingertips under her chin and raised her face to look into her soft eyes. “Guess that’s another thing to add to my adjustment list, huh?”

She giggled. “I guess. What will you do?”

They resumed walking arm in arm. “Thanksgiving is a no-brainer. My whole family always gets together at my brother’s place. It’s become a tradition. What will you do?”

“I’m scheduled to work the holiday.”

“That doesn’t seem right.”

She shrugged. “Call it my good deed. One of the other nurses had plans with her family and asked if I’d switch with her. It isn’t that big a deal.”

“Don’t you have family to spend the day with?”

“Not close. They’re all in Cincinnati. I may run down there after I get off work that afternoon.” She paused. “I’m just not sure I want to be around all that sympathy.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s bound to be some cousin I haven’t seen in a long time who’ll try too hard to make me feel better. You know, they’ll overdo it with the I-know-just-how-you-feel-because-something-like-that-happened-to-me-once routine.”

“I know what you mean. When I was first separated I got the same thing from my oldest brother, who’s been married to the same woman for twenty-two years.”

“How did you handle it?”

“I listened to his well-intentioned but misguided advice, then finally said
I didn’t know
you’d been married more than once, Jay.
He shut up about it.”

She laughed. “Family. They always mean well, but somehow manage to fall short.”

They stopped walking. Tom gently rubbed her cheek and peered into her eyes. They took on a murky glow in the nightlights. Jessica put her hand on the back of his neck and urged his face closer to hers, her lips parting slightly, invitingly. Tom rested his lips on hers and gave her a warm, lingering kiss. She didn’t resist when he tentatively darted his tongue into her mouth. She kissed him with a little more intensity.

She pulled back slightly and smiled. “Spontaneous. I like that.”

“Thank you.”

She ran her hand along the back of his neck. “I think we should get out of this cold night air and into someplace warmer.”

“Where would you like to go?”

Her gaze smoldered. “My place.”

Tom followed Jessica into her apartment, doffed his coat, then took a closer look at her living room. Her bookshelves reflected an eclectic taste in literature, covering everything from the classics to contemporary fiction. He noticed one shelf that contained numerous snow globes with angels.

“They’re all around us,” she said.

He smiled at her. “Snow globes?”

She laughed. “No, not snow globes. Angels. Don’t you believe that?”

“Yeah, I do.”

She rested her hand on his arm. “It just so happens I have a terrific chardonnay on ice. Could I interest you in a glass?”

“Sold.”

Jessica returned in a moment with two glasses and handed him one. He took a small sip.

“Very nice. Is this from the Napa Valley?”

“Yes, it is. I tried this on that trip and fell in love with it.” She curled up next to him on the couch. “I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier, about not having anyone to share the holidays with.”

“What about it?”

She looked into her glass. “When my marriage broke up I was faced with the same thing. I hadn’t met anyone and there weren’t any immediate prospects. I was a little hesitant about getting back into the dating pool and I wasn’t looking forward to my first Christmas alone, either.”

“What did you do?”

“The first thing I did was accept all the overtime I could so I wouldn’t be home alone. That didn’t really solve anything so I volunteered at a local homeless shelter, serving meals to those in need.”

“Did that help?”

She looked at him. “Actually it did, giving my time to those who appreciated it. Made me feel good inside, at least temporarily.”

“What about afterward?”

“I learned to enjoy the solitude and how to entertain myself.”

Tom chuckled. “Funny you said that. Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed that I actually enjoy a little peace and quiet, too.”

“Things were chaotic before?”

He smirked. “That’s putting it mildly. I think Afghanistan was probably a calmer battle front than our house.” He sipped his wine. “One of the first things I learned to appreciate was a little me time.”

Jessica laughed and ran her fingers along his shoulder and arm. “I don’t know what it is about you, but there’s definitely something I like.”

He gazed into her eyes. “Thank you. There’s something I like about you, too.”

She tucked her leg under her. “Care to share what that might be?”

He turned to face her and put his palm on her shoulder. “You’re really easy to talk to and you don’t judge.”

“That’s my liberal upbringing.”

“Your turn.”

She giggled. “Okay. You seem pretty laidback and I get the feeling that if the room were invaded by a herd of angry buffalo, you’d just take it in stride.”

“Yeah, that’s me—play the hand I’m dealt.”

“You never get mad?”

“Sometimes, but I reserve my wrath for those who really deserve it.”

“Like your ex?”

Tom thought. “Not even her. In looking back, I realize that she is what she is. I did the best I could with the relationship but the deck was stacked against me from the start.”

“How so?”

“Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“Yeah, I’m interested.”

He took another sip.
Why not? Just don’t share too much
. “Her old man made a killing in tobacco. Has a couple hundred acres up in Darke County. She was an only child and accustomed to pretty much getting her way and she never wanted for anything. I’m sure you know that college grads starting out in the financial industry don’t rise to vice president overnight, but what should’ve been a good starting salary for most newlyweds fell short as far as she was concerned.” He paused. “Plus our backgrounds and lifestyles were polar opposites.”

“How so?”

He sipped his wine. “Let me put it this way—she was champagne, I was beer.”

She traced her finger over his arm. “Is that what you meant about fitting in with the dress-up crowd?”

“Yeah. Her idea of a typical Saturday night was going to the theater or the country club where her old man bought her a membership. It wasn’t really my brand of scotch.”

Jessica drank some wine. “That’s interesting. I had a similar experience but in reverse. My family was typical middle-class, like yours. My dad worked for the gas company his entire life and made a decent living. There were four of us kids but he always managed to provide for us.” She hesitated. “My first husband had a different background, sort of like your ex.”