Waiting and Watching by Darcy Darvill

in front of him and snapping his fingers while clapping the opposite hand whenever he was nervous was ingrained into her brain. She held back for a minute to catch her breath before she finally walked toward him as Julio gave him a hug. Both had huge smiles on their faces.
    When Connie approached them, Andrew stepped back and just stared at her. He smiled his big sexy smile that still produced a wonderful tingling throughout her body.
    â€œYou’re as beautiful as I remember. I can’t believe you’re here.”
    Breathless, Connie said, “I was secretly hoping you’d come, but I really never thought you would.”
    â€œCome on, you two. Let’s sit down and have a drink,” Julio said diplomatically. “Fill us in on what you’ve been up to since Cincinnati.”
    â€œYou mean everything since I was accused of murder?”
    They didn’t know what to say, but after a few uncomfortable moments of silence, Andrew shrugged and broke into a smile.
    â€œWell, yes, as a matter of fact,” Connie said. “Where did you move to?”
    â€œTennessee. My parents got research jobs at Vanderbilt. My dad never really recuperated from the stigma of my arrest. He was humiliated and angry. My folks loved yours and grieved their deaths with everyone else in Tilden Park. However, they felt they couldn’t live here anymore when the cops seemed determined to pin the murders on me. The black and white thing just didn’t fly in those days. There were rumors that neighbors watched me going in and out of your house at odd hours. I either had easy access to the house or locked doors were no obstacle to a kid of my color.”
    Connie gave Andrew a guilty look. “Well, we did often rendezvous in my basement after my parents went to bed.”
    â€œThat, coupled with my being black, was all it took.”
    â€œOn a happier note, where are you hanging your hat these days and what pays the rent?” Julio asked.
    â€œI’m an attorney in New York. I’m actually a Defense Attorney and I love it.”
    Julio chuckled. “Sounds like we’re both officers of the court.”
    â€œI do defense work and specialize in appeals for people wrongfully convicted. I guess my experience in Cincinnati gave me the motivation to move in that direction.”
    â€œThat makes sense. I’m a District Attorney for Dade County, Florida, and mighty glad I won’t ever have to duke it out with you New York hot shots.” They all laughed and when a waitress came over to take their drink order, Julio ordered a bottle of champagne to celebrate their reunion.
    â€œAre you married?” Connie asked a little too eagerly.
    â€œNo, I’m not. What about you?”
    â€œWell, I’m single and Julio will never settle down since he’s dating just about everyone in Miami.”
    Andrew smiled, gazing at Connie. “Why haven’t you married? Just never found the right guy?”
    â€œI don’t really know. When I left Cincinnati I was numb. It took me several years to accept what happened to my parents. I grieved their loss and missed you and Julio so much. I think I was afraid to love anyone again; afraid I’d lose them, too. I graduated from high school in an emotionless haze. Then I went to the University of Arizona. In college, I was a nerd. I kept to myself and studied all the time. After I graduated, I found a job as a Meeting Planner and that kept me busy. Looking back on it, I worked twenty-four/seven so I wouldn’t have time for a relationship. I moved up to General Manager and now I work longer and harder and travel more than ever, so there really isn’t room in my life for anyone else.”
    â€œSo in other words,” Julio said, “my sister is wasting her life away.”
    â€œI’m so sorry for what happened to both of you, and I can’t believe I haven’t had the opportunity to say this to you for so many years.