one of your
favorites. Would you start with that one?”
A broad grin split her face. “Sure.
Sure. Yeah, it’s one of my favorites. But it’s a sequel. Cannery Row is the
first.”
“ Read that one already. At least, a
volunteer did. A week ago.”
“ You did? Did you like it?” She closed
the book.
“ Of course. That’s why I want to read
the next one.”
“ You don’t have to get
huffy.”
“ Really? You don’t think I’ve earned
the right to be a little huffy?”
She laughed. “Okay. Point taken.”
He pointed at her. “Read!” He sat back,
laced his fingers behind his head, uttered a small groan, and
spoke. “Go ahead.”
“ Are you okay?”
“ Sometimes stuff hurts. Just ignore
it.”
“ Really?”
“ I’m waiting.”
“ Yes, sir, Sergeant,” she
said.
Jory opened the book and thumbed through to
the first chapter.
* * * *
After an hour, Trent fell asleep. Jory
brushed a kiss lightly against his forehead before tiptoeing out of
his room. She stopped in the doorway, turning for one, last look.
His face wore a scowl in his sleep. Lines around his eyes deepened,
and there were slight shadows under them as well. Jory chided
herself for all the mean things she’d thought when she’d jumped to
the conclusion he’d written her off without responding to her
letter.
Couldn’t answer a letter
he didn’t get. Anger bubbled up inside her. How dare Nan keep it? Who is she to decide what I
do with my life? Now, I have to deal with this, when it should have
been over. She compressed her lips into a frown. She’d
still have to face her day of reckoning when Trent discovered the
truth.
As she gazed at him, she realized she’d been
given a second chance, time to reconsider her words. Besides, with
Trent injured, all bets were off. She’d have to scrap her plan and
start over. No way could she run out on him now. He needed her.
Even if she wasn’t Amber, he wouldn’t know that until, and unless,
he got his eyesight back. If he ever did.
A wave of relief flooded through her as she
walked down the hallway. She’d have another chance with Trent. And
get to see him in the flesh, every day. Her step lightened, and a
smile spread across her face.
She let out a breath. Nan got lucky. If
things hadn’t turned out this way, Jory might have moved out.
Still, she’d have to give her aunt a stern talking to. No more
meddling in Jory’s love life. She’d decide what to do without any
interference from anyone.
By the time Nan showed up, Jory was revved
up and ready to do battle. She tried to contain herself on the ride
home, but Nan wouldn’t leave it alone.
“ So? How’d it go? What did he say? Did
you tell him the truth?”
“ What do you think?”
“ I think you got smart and are
shutting up about the truth.”
“ Why is that good?”
“ Because he’ll fall in love with you,
and then he won’t care if you’ve got Amber’s breasts or
not.”
Jory sensed heat in her cheeks. “It’s none
of your business, Nan. What gave you the right to keep that letter
in the first place?”
“ Someone had to protect you from
yourself.”
“ You made a huge mistake. That was the
wrong thing to do.”
“ I don’t think so.”
“ You’ve got to butt out of my
life.”
“ Can I help it if I care about you? If
I see you stepping in front of a bus, I’m gonna stop
you.”
“ Fine, if I step in front of a bus, I
give you permission to stop me. But this is my life, my love life,
my relationship, and you’ve no right to interfere.” Jory’s voice
rose as she spoke.
“ I know I don’t. But I can’t help it.
Sometimes the truth can ruin things, sweetheart. And this was one
of those times. I was only going to keep it for a week. I figured
you’d come to your senses and regret sending it. Then, I could tell
you. Whip it out of my pocket, and you’d be on your knees with
gratitude.”
“ What happened?”
“ The explosion. Dan called
me.”
“ So, you’ve known all
favorites. Would you start with that one?”
A broad grin split her face. “Sure.
Sure. Yeah, it’s one of my favorites. But it’s a sequel. Cannery Row is the
first.”
“ Read that one already. At least, a
volunteer did. A week ago.”
“ You did? Did you like it?” She closed
the book.
“ Of course. That’s why I want to read
the next one.”
“ You don’t have to get
huffy.”
“ Really? You don’t think I’ve earned
the right to be a little huffy?”
She laughed. “Okay. Point taken.”
He pointed at her. “Read!” He sat back,
laced his fingers behind his head, uttered a small groan, and
spoke. “Go ahead.”
“ Are you okay?”
“ Sometimes stuff hurts. Just ignore
it.”
“ Really?”
“ I’m waiting.”
“ Yes, sir, Sergeant,” she
said.
Jory opened the book and thumbed through to
the first chapter.
* * * *
After an hour, Trent fell asleep. Jory
brushed a kiss lightly against his forehead before tiptoeing out of
his room. She stopped in the doorway, turning for one, last look.
His face wore a scowl in his sleep. Lines around his eyes deepened,
and there were slight shadows under them as well. Jory chided
herself for all the mean things she’d thought when she’d jumped to
the conclusion he’d written her off without responding to her
letter.
Couldn’t answer a letter
he didn’t get. Anger bubbled up inside her. How dare Nan keep it? Who is she to decide what I
do with my life? Now, I have to deal with this, when it should have
been over. She compressed her lips into a frown. She’d
still have to face her day of reckoning when Trent discovered the
truth.
As she gazed at him, she realized she’d been
given a second chance, time to reconsider her words. Besides, with
Trent injured, all bets were off. She’d have to scrap her plan and
start over. No way could she run out on him now. He needed her.
Even if she wasn’t Amber, he wouldn’t know that until, and unless,
he got his eyesight back. If he ever did.
A wave of relief flooded through her as she
walked down the hallway. She’d have another chance with Trent. And
get to see him in the flesh, every day. Her step lightened, and a
smile spread across her face.
She let out a breath. Nan got lucky. If
things hadn’t turned out this way, Jory might have moved out.
Still, she’d have to give her aunt a stern talking to. No more
meddling in Jory’s love life. She’d decide what to do without any
interference from anyone.
By the time Nan showed up, Jory was revved
up and ready to do battle. She tried to contain herself on the ride
home, but Nan wouldn’t leave it alone.
“ So? How’d it go? What did he say? Did
you tell him the truth?”
“ What do you think?”
“ I think you got smart and are
shutting up about the truth.”
“ Why is that good?”
“ Because he’ll fall in love with you,
and then he won’t care if you’ve got Amber’s breasts or
not.”
Jory sensed heat in her cheeks. “It’s none
of your business, Nan. What gave you the right to keep that letter
in the first place?”
“ Someone had to protect you from
yourself.”
“ You made a huge mistake. That was the
wrong thing to do.”
“ I don’t think so.”
“ You’ve got to butt out of my
life.”
“ Can I help it if I care about you? If
I see you stepping in front of a bus, I’m gonna stop
you.”
“ Fine, if I step in front of a bus, I
give you permission to stop me. But this is my life, my love life,
my relationship, and you’ve no right to interfere.” Jory’s voice
rose as she spoke.
“ I know I don’t. But I can’t help it.
Sometimes the truth can ruin things, sweetheart. And this was one
of those times. I was only going to keep it for a week. I figured
you’d come to your senses and regret sending it. Then, I could tell
you. Whip it out of my pocket, and you’d be on your knees with
gratitude.”
“ What happened?”
“ The explosion. Dan called
me.”
“ So, you’ve known all
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