bivalve.”
She didn’t even count the bills, just stuffed them in her back pocket. “Get up and give me a hug, then you can go wash up. Charlie is out in the car, probably taking a nap. I’ve seen a lot of things, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone put away so many of those ugly little buggers.”
“I know you hear it all the time, but that was fantastic. I promise I won’t stay away for so long ever again,” Alex said with heartfelt conviction as they hugged.
Then , Miss Margaret turned to me and gave me a hug. “I don’t know what you’re doing, young lady, but keep it up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one so happy.”
I grinned from ear to ear and said, “This one makes it pretty easy, but I’ll do my very best.”
Alex and I held hands while we walked into the building and went to our respective restrooms. He met me at the door, and we strolled out to the car. Sure enough, Charlie was in the front seat with his chauffeur’s cap tipped down over his eyes.
“I know you think I’m sleeping , but I’m not. I’m becoming one with the environment,” Charlie suddenly said, taking off his hat and throwing it on the seat beside him. He got out of the car and opened my door for me.
Alex had gone over to the passenger side and said, “If you become an y more one with the environment, I’ll have to call a cab for all three of us.”
Charlie started the car and turned his head towards us, “Where to now? It’s just the shank of the evening.”
Alex looked at me , and I just shook my head and patted my belly, “I can barely move, besides, don’t you have to get up early and go to California?” I hoped that Charlie couldn’t see me put my hand on Alex’s thigh and give it a squeeze.
“You’re right, we better call it a night. How about taking us back to the house, and we’re in no hurry,” Alex said.
“Back to the house, no hurry, that’s my specialty,” Charlie said as he rolled up the partition.
“Would you like something to drink?” Alex asked me.
“I don’t think that I have any room left in my body, but help yourself,” I told him.
“No, no,” he said, “If I put anything else in my tummy , I might explode. Now, why don’t you tell me why you can’t go to California with me?”
T he moment of truth was here. I released a deep sigh and began. “Alex, the reason I can’t go to California with you is because there is a court order that prevents me from leaving the state. If I leave, I will be considered a fugitive from the law, and a warrant will be issued for my arrest.”
CHAPTER 5
Much to his credit, Alex didn’t laugh or make a funny comment. He just turned slightly in his seat, put his hand on my knee, and said, “Its okay, tell me everything.”
So I did. “I’ve always loved numbers. In high school, my math class was like having a free period. It just came very easy to me. Not physics or theoretical math, just basic number-crunching.
I got into Furman, which is probably the best school on the state, with no problem. It was a no-brainer to major in accounting, and I was the best in my class. That’s not bragging—it’s just a fact.
The four years just flew by , and I had a good time. I made some good friends and dated a little. Nothing serious, just the usual college flings. I never felt much of a connection with any of the boys; it was like I was waiting for something and it just hadn’t arrived yet.” I let out a breath and looked into Alex’s shining blue eyes. He smiled and gave my knee a tiny squeeze.
I continued, “My senior year , I was trying to decide what I wanted to do after graduation. I was seriously considering going for my master’s degree. Near the end of the year, one of my professors told me that there was someone he wanted me to meet. I went to his office that afternoon and met a man named Burt Goodman. It turned out to be quite an ironic last name.
He was a senior partner at Goodman and Rodgers, a
She didn’t even count the bills, just stuffed them in her back pocket. “Get up and give me a hug, then you can go wash up. Charlie is out in the car, probably taking a nap. I’ve seen a lot of things, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone put away so many of those ugly little buggers.”
“I know you hear it all the time, but that was fantastic. I promise I won’t stay away for so long ever again,” Alex said with heartfelt conviction as they hugged.
Then , Miss Margaret turned to me and gave me a hug. “I don’t know what you’re doing, young lady, but keep it up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this one so happy.”
I grinned from ear to ear and said, “This one makes it pretty easy, but I’ll do my very best.”
Alex and I held hands while we walked into the building and went to our respective restrooms. He met me at the door, and we strolled out to the car. Sure enough, Charlie was in the front seat with his chauffeur’s cap tipped down over his eyes.
“I know you think I’m sleeping , but I’m not. I’m becoming one with the environment,” Charlie suddenly said, taking off his hat and throwing it on the seat beside him. He got out of the car and opened my door for me.
Alex had gone over to the passenger side and said, “If you become an y more one with the environment, I’ll have to call a cab for all three of us.”
Charlie started the car and turned his head towards us, “Where to now? It’s just the shank of the evening.”
Alex looked at me , and I just shook my head and patted my belly, “I can barely move, besides, don’t you have to get up early and go to California?” I hoped that Charlie couldn’t see me put my hand on Alex’s thigh and give it a squeeze.
“You’re right, we better call it a night. How about taking us back to the house, and we’re in no hurry,” Alex said.
“Back to the house, no hurry, that’s my specialty,” Charlie said as he rolled up the partition.
“Would you like something to drink?” Alex asked me.
“I don’t think that I have any room left in my body, but help yourself,” I told him.
“No, no,” he said, “If I put anything else in my tummy , I might explode. Now, why don’t you tell me why you can’t go to California with me?”
T he moment of truth was here. I released a deep sigh and began. “Alex, the reason I can’t go to California with you is because there is a court order that prevents me from leaving the state. If I leave, I will be considered a fugitive from the law, and a warrant will be issued for my arrest.”
CHAPTER 5
Much to his credit, Alex didn’t laugh or make a funny comment. He just turned slightly in his seat, put his hand on my knee, and said, “Its okay, tell me everything.”
So I did. “I’ve always loved numbers. In high school, my math class was like having a free period. It just came very easy to me. Not physics or theoretical math, just basic number-crunching.
I got into Furman, which is probably the best school on the state, with no problem. It was a no-brainer to major in accounting, and I was the best in my class. That’s not bragging—it’s just a fact.
The four years just flew by , and I had a good time. I made some good friends and dated a little. Nothing serious, just the usual college flings. I never felt much of a connection with any of the boys; it was like I was waiting for something and it just hadn’t arrived yet.” I let out a breath and looked into Alex’s shining blue eyes. He smiled and gave my knee a tiny squeeze.
I continued, “My senior year , I was trying to decide what I wanted to do after graduation. I was seriously considering going for my master’s degree. Near the end of the year, one of my professors told me that there was someone he wanted me to meet. I went to his office that afternoon and met a man named Burt Goodman. It turned out to be quite an ironic last name.
He was a senior partner at Goodman and Rodgers, a
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