The Rooms

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Disclaimers:  See Part 1

Chapter Four

Terry’s long, tanned legs ate up the blocks as she worked her way steadily through her route. It was already a very warm day though only mid-morning, and it promised to be another long, hot August week. She found herself looking forward to the cooler days of fall, only a few weeks away.

She was tired today too, having stayed until midnight at her parent’s place the night before. She’d been having such a good time that she hadn’t dragged herself away at a sensible hour and now she was paying the price.

Duncan and his fiancé Karen had showed up as her mother had said, and thankfully, Matt did not make an appearance. Jordy, Alex and Diane were already there and when Michael and Claire arrived with Terry, it had turned into a fine party. Her mother had been in her glory with all those people to feed, and fuss over. Gordon had been in fine form manning the barbeque, at least until Karen tried to help him.

Terry found herself smiling, remembering her soon to be sister-in-law’s antics. Karen, a bubbly, warm-hearted extrovert, was a pleasure to be around. She’d made herself instantly at home with the rest of the Sandersons, and fit in so well that an outsider would swear she’d been born into the clan.

Gordon had decided to teach Karen the proper way to flip hamburgers on the barbeque, and had called her over for some hands on instruction. Winking at her fiancé, Karen had gone over to the grill to listen attentively to Gordon’s instructions.

Terry wasn’t sure how it had happened, but suddenly several half-cooked hamburgers went sailing by the heads of those gathered around the picnic table, and Karen had been summarily banished from the grill.

Returning to the table, Karen had grinned at Terry and Claire, saying sotto voce "We wouldn’t want to sabotage the only time men willingly take over the cooking now, would we?" Laughing, the two young women had agreed.

After dancing through her customary pas de deux with the McFarlane mutt as he lunged at her from the end of his short chain, Terry saw her next bundle of mail was for the Spencers. Passing the two houses in between, she looked up as she turned into the bungalow’s walkway.

She was pleasantly surprised to see both Jan and Rob in the front yard. Rob was sitting in his wheelchair under the shaded overhang by the front door watching his wife work in the flower garden, which ran under the living room window. As Terry came up the walk, Rob turned his head and smiled at her.

"Hey, it’s my white knight!" he called to her.

"If I’m the white knight, does that make you the damsel in distress?" Terry shot back with a grin.

"If you put on the armour, I’ll put on the dress," Rob chortled, enjoying the banter.

Jan stepped out of the flowerbed, dusted her hands off on her shorts and reached for the mail that Terry was extending to her.

"Good morning, Terry. Don’t mind that husband of mine, he’s feeling his oats this morning," Jan said to her.

"No problem," Terry’s smile took in both the Spencers. "It’s too nice a day not to be feeling great. Is he the foreman and you’re the laborer in this endeavor?"

Jan chuckled merrily. "What Rob knows about flowers could be mounted on the head of a pin. No, I’m afraid he’s strictly a spectator when it comes to horticulture."

"Aw, c’mon," Rob pouted with a small grin. "I’m not that bad. I can tell a weed from a blossom. Besides, don’t I order a mean bunch of flowers?"

Jan smiled at him affectionately and responded, "Yes you do, love. You are one of the world’s finest flower givers." Turning to Terry she said, "He once got a little carried away, and I came home from work to find six dozen long-stemmed roses waiting for me. You could smell the scent of them from a mile away, and we ended up handing out roses to just about everyone who came by the apartment, even the solicitors."

"So he’s really a romantic at heart, is he?" asked Terry, enjoying the interplay between the couple.

"Well, I wouldn’t ask him to write a poem, but he does alright for himself."

"Hey, I can write poetry," Rob protested indignantly. "Don’t you remember those squadron songs I made up?"

"Rob, honey. That wasn’t poetry. Those were the grossest limericks set to music I’ve ever heard," his wife gently chastised him. "Face it, you weren’t exactly Robert Frost!"

Terry broke into what was obviously a long-standing discussion between the two. She had to get back on her route, but she’d been thinking of something since the day she’d had the conversation with Jan in the park, and she wanted to present her idea while she had a chance.

"You know how you mentioned that Charles deLint was one of your favourites the other day?" Terry asked Jan. When the woman nodded, Terry went on, "Well, he’s doing a reading of his newest book at Chapters on Thursday night and I wondered if maybe you guys wanted to go and then maybe grab some coffee afterwards."

Terry saw the interest in the redhead’s eyes, but then watched as she reluctantly shook her head. "Rob doesn’t like fantasy, and I can’t leave him alone. But thanks for asking."

Rob, obviously sensing that his wife wanted to go, quickly suggested, "Hon, why don’t you call Donny and see if he can make it in the evening instead of the afternoon, and then you could go to the reading with Terry."

Jan turned hopefully to her husband. "Are you sure, Rob? You wouldn’t mind?"

"Nah, I don’t mind at all. It’ll be good for you to get out, and besides, Donny and I have a killer domino challenge going. I beat him three games out of five last week, and he’s dying for a chance to get even. Give him a call. I’ll bet you anything he’d be willing to switch hours."

Terry was disappointed that Rob wasn’t interested since he seemed like he’d be a lot of fun to have along, but she was glad he was amenable to Jan going to the reading. She looked at Jan and said, "Great, then why don’t I give you my number and you can let me know if things work out alright. If they do, how about I pick you up around seven on Thursday?"

She hauled out her stubby pencil, and took one of the flyers from Jan’s hand. Jotting down her name and phone number, she gave it back to the woman. "I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you. I hope you’re able to go. I think it’ll be an interesting evening." Turning to Rob, she touched his arm briefly and said, "Thanks for being flexible."

Rob looked up at her seriously. "No, thank you. Jan needs to get out and see people more often. She shouldn’t be stuck at home with me all the time, but I haven’t been able to convince her of that."

Softly Jan disagreed with her husband. "I’m not ‘stuck’ with you, Rob. I’m where I want to be, and you know that."

Feeling that she was now intruding on a private moment, Terry backed away and nodding her farewells to the two who were still looking at each other, she started back down the walk towards the next delivery. As she reached the front gate, she heard Jan call, "See you on Thursday." Terry acknowledged her with a wave, and turned onto the street, already looking forward to that night.

***************

Thursday night found Terry unaccountably fussing about what to wear for the deLint reading. She’d picked up and discarded three pair of pants already, and finally, disgusted at her own vacillating, closed her eyes and grabbed whatever was closest to her.

Opening her eyes, she saw that she’d be wearing a pair of well worn, slightly wrinkled but clean khakis to the bookstore. Choosing a dark blue, short-sleeved cotton shirt to go with them, she looked at herself critically in the mirror.

"I’m sure your date will be impressed," drawled a voice from her doorway.

Terry spun around to see Michael leaning against her doorframe, smirking at her.

"It’s not a date," she said dismissively. "I’m only meeting a friend for coffee at the bookstore. You have a one-track mind."

"Uh huh," Michael replied skeptically. "I’ve seen you take less time dressing up for a romantic dinner with a hot blonde."

Terry blushed slightly, knowing Michael was right. She wasn’t much of a clotheshorse and tended usually to throw on whatever happened to be clean and at the front of her closet. For some reason though, it seemed important to make a good impression tonight. When Terry didn’t respond to his quip, Michael went on. "So who are you meeting?"

"You remember the woman from the park last Thursday? Well, I asked her and her husband if they’d like to go to the deLint reading. He wasn’t interested, but she was, so I’m picking her up at seven."

Michael leered comically at her, "Uh huh! Dating married women are you now? Has the single women pool gotten so small that you’re desperate, or have you already run through the entire list of lesbian eligibles in Calgary?"

"No, that’s not it at all," Terry frowned, somewhat exasperated with her friend. "I just like Jan and Rob, and I’d like to get to know them both. They’re quite the pair. I think you’d like them too. They seem like a perfect team and they’re so comfortable together. In a way, they remind me of my folks."

"So Jan’s another mother figure, is she?"

Terry decided that if Michael’s eyebrows got any higher, they’d have to scrape them off the ceiling.

"No, of course not. You know, just because I’m meeting a woman for an evening out, doesn’t mean there’s anything romantic about it. Can’t you be around good-looking men without lusting after them?" Terry finished running a brush through her short hair, and turned to look at Michael.

"Nope, but that’s just me," Michael grinned.

Terry laughed. "Silly me, I forgot who I was talking to." Looking at her watch, she yelped. "Yikes, I’ve got to get going or I’ll be late. I’ll see you later Michael."

Grabbing a light jacket, she passed Michael in the doorway, stopping to put her hand on his shoulder. "Don’t wait up for me, Pops."

She dodged the good-natured swat that had been aimed at her behind, and ran down the stairs. Trailing behind her, she heard Michael’s last indignant words, "Just who are you calling ‘Pops’, old woman?"

Still grinning, she opened her car, and then retreated from the wave of heat that poured from the scorching interior. Left in the hot summer sun all day, the old Toyota felt like a furnace. Rolling down all her windows, Terry wished briefly that she at least had air conditioning, but on the other hand she reasoned, once she got moving, the breeze would cool the small car quickly. She hoped the temperature had at least gone from hellish to merely tropical by the time she arrived at the Spencers.

Pulling up in front of the house only a few minutes after seven, Terry hopped out of her car and walked up to the door. As she reached it, it swung open and a burly, black man smiled at her.

"C’mon in. Jan will be ready in a minute. We kind of got behind the clock so she’s running a little late. I’m Donny, by the way, and I take it you’re Terry?"

"Yup, that’s me. Hi Donny. I hear you’re planning on beating the pants off Rob tonight," Terry responded to the man’s greeting and walked into the house.

"I heard that!" Rob retorted. "Just for your lack of faith, I’m going to have to sic the birds on you."

Ducking involuntarily, Terry looked around cautiously for the feathered missiles, then chuckled as she spotted them sitting calmly on the top of their cage, eating a piece of oversized lettuce poking through the bars. "Doesn’t look like they listen to you very well, Rob," Terry teased as she settled onto the couch to wait for Jan.

"No one does. Who’d ever believe I was once a senior officer with airmen groveling at my feet and hanging on my every command?" Rob sighed dramatically, and then grinned at the derisive snort from the hallway that greeted his words.

"No one who ever knew you while you served, that’s for sure!" Jan laughed as she entered the living room, still tucking her green, silky t-shirt into tan slacks. "There was a reason you were called Major Marshmallow, my love, and it had nothing to do with your eating habits!"

Turning to Terry, Jan said apologetically, "I’m sorry to hold you up, but I think I’m ready to go now."

"That’s okay," Terry replied, standing up. "We’ve got lots of time and since when were writers punctual anyway?"

Jan walked over to where Donny was arranging the dominoes on the board, and bent over Rob to kiss him good-bye. "Have fun kicking butt, love. I won’t be too late."

"Take your time, Jan," Donny piped up. "I need some time to teach your husband a little humility anyway."

"Fat chance," snorted Rob. "Prepare to lose your shirt, and probably the rest of your apparel too."

"Hmm, I didn’t know you two were playing strip dominoes," Jan joked, as she turned to leave. "Do try not to shock the neighbours, okay?"

Terry held the door for Jan, listening to the men already deep in the throes of mortal combat, arguing over who got to go first. She looked at the woman walking quietly beside her and asked "Are they always this competitive?"

Jan smiled. "Always! But it’s good for Rob. He was always highly competitive in things like flying and sports, and now that those have been taken away from him, he needs other outlets. I’m not much help, as I don’t think I have a competitive bone in my body, so Donny is the perfect caregiver for him. I like him to have male companionship too, since he’s mostly stuck with me and we don’t exactly get out a lot."

Terry considered that for a moment as she unlocked Jan’s side of the car. "I don’t think he’d ever call it being stuck with you. It seems to me that he’s pretty happy you’re around."

Jan slid into the front seat and smiled at Terry as she came around to get behind the wheel. "I know that he is of course, but it’s hard for one person to be everything to another person, don’t you think?"

Terry started her car, pulling away from the curb. "I suppose. I think of everyone in my life and they all fill different roles for me, so it’s hard to imagine only having one person in your life." Staunchly she added, "But if it has to be only one person, I’ll bet Rob’s awfully glad that it’s you."

Jan smiled her appreciation of Terry’s kind words and settled back for the ride.

Pulling up in front of the huge bookstore fifteen minutes later, Terry wasn’t surprised to see a crowded parking lot. Even without the deLint reading scheduled, Chapters, with its co-located Starbucks, was a popular gathering spot for people.

Finding a spot many rows away from the store, Terry wheeled the old car into position and turned off the ignition. As the women got out, Jan turned to Terry and asked, "Do you want the windows up?"

"Nah, no one’s going to steal this old piece of junk," Terry laughed. "Leave them open and it’ll be much cooler when we come out."

Walking across the parking lot and entering the double doors of the store, both women sighed as the refreshing blast of cool air hit them.

"I may just sleep here tonight," Terry moaned.

"I take it you don’t have air conditioning where you live?" Jan asked.

"Not in the whole house, though I do have a temperamental window unit that adheres to union rules and only works when it’s less than twenty degrees outside. That can be a problem when you’re living in an attic in August." Terry grinned down at her companion. "So why don’t I get us a couple of ice cappuccinos while you grab us some seats, or is there something else you’d prefer?"

Jan shook her head. "That’s fine. Let me give you some money for it."

As she started to open her purse, Terry put out a hand to stop her. "No, don’t worry about it. You can get the next round."

Terry stood in line to get the cappuccinos watching casually as Jan found them two seats toward the rear and settled into one, while placing her purse on the other to save it for her companion.

She noticed Jan contentedly eyeing the shelves of books around her, musing that the woman had probably spent quite a few dollars in here judging by her own library. She wondered if the older woman was enjoying her unusual night out and hoped that the deLint reading would be entertaining for her.

Once she’d been served, Terry awkwardly balanced the two coffees in one hand, as she stuffed her change into her pocket and started over towards Jan. She negotiated her way around several groups of people and came to a stop in front of the redhead. Jan picked up her purse as Terry dropped into the chair, then handed Jan her cappuccino.

"Thanks," Jan said, sipping appreciatively at the drink. "You know, I think something may be going on. I’ve been watching those Chapter’s employees milling around at the front and they seem to be upset about something."

Just as Jan made this remark, one of the men wearing a blue Chapters shirt, cleared his throat and gathered everyone’s attention.

"I’m sorry. I’m afraid we’re going to have to postpone the reading for tonight. Mr. deLint has been delayed in Ottawa on a family emergency, but he’s promised to make it out as soon as he can. If you’d like to leave your number at the front desk, we’ll phone you with the time of the next reading. Again, I’m very sorry for the inconvenience."

Terry and Jan looked at each other in disappointment, and then around at the crowd, which was slowly dispersing with murmurs of frustration.

Terry spoke first. "Did you want to go home then, or would you like to stay and finish your coffee, maybe do a little browsing afterwards?"

"Well, I’d hate to interrupt the guys when they’re deep in their game. Rob might never forgive me if I prevented him from thrashing Donny on the field of dominoes. Why don’t we find a better spot to relax and drink these things? It’s not too often that I’m out for an evening, so I might as well take advantage of it."

With those words, Jan rose to move to one of the overstuffed couches that littered the store. Terry followed, absurdly glad that the night wasn’t ending prematurely. Following Jan’s lead, she settled in beside the woman on a couch between ‘Psychology’ and ‘Political Affairs’ and half-turned to face the redhead.

"Judging by the library I saw in your house, you probably already own half these books," Terry said, indicating the bookshelves that surrounded them.

"Oh, nothing as deep as this, I don’t think," Jan replied. "When it comes to books, I’m strictly an escapist reader. I like to keep up on world events through the newspapers, but when it comes to leisure reading, I want to be swept off into fantastic worlds, with fascinating people doing incredible things. Rob’s never really understood that. He prefers military techno-thrillers like Tom Clancy that are solidly grounded in politics and realism. He accuses me of having my head in the clouds sometimes, but as I told him, the real world is harsh enough—why wouldn’t I want to leave it now and then?"

"I know what you mean," Terry nodded her agreement. "I like nothing better than to lose complete track of time when I’m reading or watching a movie. If I’m so absorbed in someone else’s vision, then I emerge at the end feeling like I’ve taken a trip without ever leaving home."

"Are you quite a movie buff yourself?" queried Jan.

"I used to be, much more than I am now. My Mom always knew that if she couldn’t find me on Saturday afternoon, odds were that I was at the theatre. Lately though, I mostly rely on the odd video to keep up as I never seem to get to the movies I want to see before they’ve left town. I always make mental notes about which ones I want to see. Then I’m shocked when I finally have time and they’ve long since departed the theatre. I think my life’s too busy at the moment," Terry shook her head in frustration. "I think the last film I actually saw in a theatre was Titanic."

"Rob and I went to see that one too. I was surprised, but even my thoroughly hardheaded husband enjoyed it. I know the critics weren’t that impressed but I just enjoyed being entertained, and I was certainly awed with the special effects."

"Yeah, I liked that one too, though I couldn’t believe the kids who went back fifteen or twenty times to see it. That’s overdoing it just a little."

Jan smiled at her, "Do you mean to say you weren’t swept away by Leo’s charms?"

"Hardly!" snorted Terry. "He was a bit of a callow pretty boy, don’t you think, though I can see how he would appeal to the teeny bopper set."

"So what exactly is your ‘type’?" asked Jan curiously. "I’m assuming you’re single by lack of a ring, not that that necessarily indicates anything."

Terry hesitated, not sure how to handle the question. She was open about her sexuality but it was always difficult to know the perfect timing for informing new straight people in her life. She opened her mouth to respond cautiously, when a voice sounded from behind her.

"Hello, Terry. What a lovely surprise running into you here."

A tall, sleek, blonde woman in a tight skirt and dark silk blouse stepped around in front of the women. Gray eyes considered Jan coolly. "Aren’t you going to introduce me to your ‘friend’, dear?"

Terry groaned internally. Of all the people to run into, Marika was the very last person she wanted to see. She wondered if their meeting was coincidental, but in any case, she had no intention of playing the blonde’s games tonight..

"Marika, this is Mrs. Spencer. Jan, this is Marika Havers and she was just leaving," Terry said formally.

Marika ignored Terry’s dismissal, and putting a slight emphasis on the words, said, "Mrs Spencer, is it? It’s so nice to meet you. Of course it’s always nice to meet one of Terry’s new ‘friends’."

As Terry glowered at her, Marika smiled sweetly in return. "Well, I’m so sorry I can’t stop and chat but I do have places to be. Good-bye, Terry. I’ll see you again soon."

As she sauntered off, Terry muttered under her breath, "Not if I see you first." She hadn’t thought the blonde woman could hear her low-pitched words, but Marika’s pace faltered momentarily before picking up as she walked rapidly to the exit.

Jan looked at her steadily. "Do you want to tell me what just happened here?"

Terry really didn’t want to tell Jan what had just happened, but she felt compelled to do so by the woman’s dark, warm, expressive eyes. Something in them demanded nothing less than honesty, and Terry steeled herself to tell the older woman of Marika’s enduring preoccupation with her.

"Marika and I dated for about a month before I broke it off. That was several weeks ago, but she won’t leave me alone. She keeps turning up places where I am, and asking my friends what I’m doing all the time. She’s turning into a bloody stalker and I’m starting to think I’m going to have to get a restraining order against her, but she doesn’t do anything overt that I can pin her on. She’s just always there!" Terry held her breath, waiting for Jan’s response.

"Well, that answers my question about your type is like then," Jan said softly.

"Is that a problem?" Terry asked evenly, sincerely hoping the answer would be no. She enjoyed this woman’s company even though they barely knew each other. She felt an unprecedented comfort with her, almost as if they’d been friends for years rather than just having met a week ago.

Jan smiled slightly. "No, Terry. It’s no problem at all. I’m glad you were open with me."

Terry sagged slightly in relief. Marika hadn’t managed to ruin this budding friendship after all.

Jan sat up briskly and said, "Now, I think the next round was on me, wasn’t it? Do you want another of the same?"

Terry nodded and watched as the woman walked over to the corner coffee bar. She was grateful that the run-in with Marika had brought things out in the open. Terry didn’t hide her orientation, but neither did she flaunt it. She was glad that this time it had been taken out of her hands. Jan hadn’t seemed uncomfortable or nonplused and in fact, had taken the information quite casually. That boded well for their future friendship. She hoped Rob was of a similar mind to his wife’s.

An hour later, the two women, having finished their second round of cappuccinos and done a bit of browsing and buying, headed back out to Terry’s car. Seating themselves in the slightly cooler Toyota, Terry started the car and then gestured at the bag of books on Jan’s lap.

"Aren’t you going to run out of space for books one of these days?"

Jan laughed. "That’s what Rob says too, but I just tell him that while there’s an inch of uncovered floor space, there’s room for more books. I’ve only just begun putting bookcases downstairs, so I’m good for at least another few years. Besides, it could be worse. I could be hooked on diamonds and furs instead of books."

Terry guided her car out into the light traffic as she said, "Yeah, I guess if you’re going to have an addiction, books are pretty benign, though I’m betting you could have clothed half the models in Toronto in fur with what you’ve spent on books so far. How come you just don’t go to the library?"

Jan considered that for a moment. "When I was younger, I practically lived in libraries, but after I married Rob and we had a little spare money, I found that I really enjoyed owning books. I find a great sense of peace in being surrounded by them. I know that if I’m upset or feeling out of sorts, all I have to do is walk into a bookstore and I feel calmer. I suppose that sounds a bit strange." Jan gave a small, self-conscious laugh and stared intently at the bag on her lap.

Terry noticed her discomfort and quickly reassured her. "Not at all. Everyone takes comfort in something different. Heck, my Mom had to forcibly remove my favourite blankie from my arms when I was about ten, just because it had fallen to shreds and was leaving pieces of itself all over the house. My brother Jordy had an old stuffed horse that he slept with up until our older brothers tormented him unmercifully about it, and then he hid it. But I happen to know that he’s still got it tucked away in a closet. I think we all need some kind of security blanket. Books are as good, if not better, than anything else."

Jan didn’t say anything, but Terry could see that a smile had returned to her face, and she was content to drive in companionable silence for the rest of the way.

As she pulled up in front of the Spencer house, she turned to Jan and asked, "Do you think you and Rob might like to go for Sunday brunch sometime? I know a really nice restaurant that overlooks the river. It’s kind of small and not very well known, but the food is great."

Jan nodded. "I’d like that and I’m sure Rob would too. Is the restaurant accessible?"

"I think so. I don’t remember any stairs to get in, but I can call and confirm that. When would you like to go? Terry asked.

"Is this Sunday too soon? We can leave it for a few weeks if you like." Jan replied.

"No, this Sunday is great. Do you mind if I ask my little brother to join us?" Terry beamed at the ready acceptance of her invitation.

"Not at all. I’m sure we’d both enjoy meeting him. How about I talk to Rob and then give you a call to confirm it? I’ll have to get directions from you on how to get there."

"No problem," Terry assured her. "I am a direction-giver par excellence, and I’ll have you know that no one has ever gotten lost using one of my maps."

Jan chuckled. "That may be so, but you’ve never seen me try to navigate. I generally leave the map reading up to my co-pilot, though he once got us lost in the wilds of northern Minnesota, not that he’ll admit it. Listen, thanks very much for the invitation tonight. I’m sorry that the reading was canceled but I had fun anyway. Maybe when he does make it to town, we could try again."

"I’d like that. It’s a date." Terry then realized what she’d said, and hastened to correct herself, "I mean not a date date, just two friends getting together for an evening out. Doesn’t necessarily make it a date. Nope, not at all," Terry stuttered as she floundered clumsily.

Jan laughed delightedly and put her hand on Terry’s arm. "Relax, Terry. I know what you mean and I didn’t take anything the wrong way. Anyway, you have a good night, and I’ll give you a call about Sunday."

Terry watched as the woman climbed out of her car and started up the walk. Waiting until she reached the entrance, and after returning her wave as Jan went inside, Terry smacked herself on the forehead.

"Bonehead!" she muttered. "Could you have possibly made things anymore awkward?"

Terry wasn’t used to being flustered around women, but then most of the women she knew were nothing like Jan. She’d really enjoyed their evening together. Despite the redhead’s natural reserve, Jan had a wickedly dry sense of humour and Terry had found herself the butt of it more than once. In addition, the older woman had a warm, considerate presence, which Terry basked in.

Terry also liked the affectionate way Jan spoke of her husband, even when she was telling tales on him. Rob sounded like he’d had quite an energetic, adventurous life before the MS had slowed him down.

Terry dragged herself out of her musings, and pulled away from the curb. As she drove off, she made a mental note to call Jordy and see if he was free to join them, realizing as she did, that she was keenly anticipating Sunday’s brunch.

Chapter Five

As Terry pulled up in front of her parent’s home, she wondered if Jordy would be up yet. She’d left ample time before they were due at the restaurant for brunch, knowing that her little brother, like most teenagers, had problems dragging himself out of bed before noon. When she’d asked him to come along, he’d accepted eagerly and assured her that he’d be ready, but she had her doubts about that.

Entering the gate, which split the tall, thick hedges surrounding the house, Terry spotted her mother working in her tiered rock garden. Ambling over, she called out, "Hi, Mom. Is that lazy brother of mine out of bed yet?"

Turning, Emily smiled at her daughter. "I did try, Terry. I called him at nine and nine thirty, and finally had your father drag him bodily out of bed about fifteen minutes ago. Last I heard, he was being directed towards the shower, so if you give him a few more minutes, I’m sure he’ll be ready."

"Aw, I knew he wouldn’t be ready in time anyway. That’s why I told him we had to be there at ten thirty, but we’re really meeting them at eleven." Terry and Emily grinned at each other. Jordy’s lack of time sense was a standing family joke, and Emily even swore that was the reason he’d been born ten days late.

"Have I met this couple you’re having brunch with, Ter?" Emily asked curiously. "I don’t seem to remember you mentioning them before."

"No, Mom," Terry answered. "Though I’d like you and Dad to meet them sometime. I think you’d really like them. You have a lot in common with Jan. She’s a garden-loving, bookworm just like you. Rob’s a former fighter pilot. He’s got MS now so he’s in a wheelchair, but he’s got a terrific sense of humour and I’ll bet he and Dad would get along like a house on fire."

"Well, bring them over for Sunday dinner one week then, dear. You know we always have room at the table for more people." Emily frowned briefly. "It might be best for them to come when we’re barbequing because he could come directly in from the back alley. If we were inside, I’m not sure about how we’d get the wheelchair inside. Could we just lift it up the stairs, do you think?"

"Oh yeah, Jordy and I could probably handle it fine between us. For that matter, Jan doesn’t look like she’s too fragile to pitch in herself. Heck, she’s been looking after him all these years so I’d imagine she’s gotten him in and out of lots of tight spots. Actually, that was the way I met them. Remember I told you about the man I helped rescue on my route?" Terry reminded her mother.

"That’s right, I remember now. My daughter the good Samaritan!" Emily beamed proudly.

Both women turned at the sound of the front door being flung open, and they watched as a disheveled Jordy burst through the doorway and ran down the steps.

"I’m ready, Terry. Really I am!" Jordy panted.

Terry and Emily started laughing as Jordy frantically tried to tuck his shirt in his pants while stumbling over untied shoelaces. Terry walked over to her little brother and putting her hands firmly on his shoulders, said "Slow down, runt. We’ve got lots of time." Running her hand over his cheek, she raised one eyebrow. "In fact, we have more than enough time for you to go back and shave."

"Aw Terry, it’s the weekend," Jordy moaned. "I hate shaving on weekends."

"You hate shaving period, runt, but I’m not taking you out to brunch looking like a porcupine, so go run the shaver over that stubble," Terry instructed him sternly.

As he reluctantly turned back to the house, her eyes twinkled at his youthful stubbornness. She could remember when he’d grown the first couple of hairs on his face and had been so keen to start shaving as soon as possible. The novelty had quickly worn off though, and now he put off shaving until absolutely forced into it.

Emily smiled her thanks at her daughter. "I’m glad you said that. He looks so nice when he’s cleaned up and sometimes I practically have to beat him over the head to do it. I wish he listened as well to your father and I as he does to you."

"He listens to you, Mom, especially about the important stuff. He just can’t let you think you run him, that’s all. I’m sure I was just as bad when I was young."

"Oh yes, Methuselah, you were just as bad in those far off days of your youth," Emily teased. "In fact, I’d say you were far worse. I don’t think I got my way with you from the time you were twelve years old. Jordy’s actually been the easiest of you five to raise, but don’t tell him that. It’ll wound his manly pride."

The object of their discussion bounced out of the house, down the stairs and drew himself up into a mock salute in front of his sister. "Present for inspection, sir!" Jordy hollered, snapping to attention.

Terry growled at him, "That’s ma’am to you, soldier, and don’t you forget it or you’ll be giving me fifty of your best."

Suppressing a smile, she circled her brother tugging at his shirt and checking his boyish cheeks for stubble. "Okay, you’ll pass this time, although you could have used a little more spit on those shoes!"

"Sheesh, Terry, they’re runners for crying out loud. Why would I spit on them?" Jordy protested.

"Details, details," Terry waved airily. "I don’t make the regulations, I just enforce them."

Wrapping an arm around the shoulders of the now presentable boy, she added, "Okay, let’s get going then. See you later, Mom, and I’ll ask Jan and Rob about coming for Sunday dinner sometime."

Terry saw her mother pick up her trowel and turn back to her rock garden as she and Jordy started for the car. Giving her brother a mock hip check, she danced out of his way as he trotted after her.

"So are we meeting the King and Queen of Sheba today or something?" Jordy grumbled, still miffed that he’d had to shave.

"Nope, just people I’d like us all to be friends with, so you have to behave yourself. And no telling any of those gross jokes I heard you swapping with Gary the other night either, or you and I will be having words," Terry playfully instructed her brother.

"Oh, um, you heard those, did you?" Jordy asked a little sheepishly. "Mom didn’t, did she?"

"Not that I know of, runt. But I’d be careful if I was you. She hears you and you’ll be finding your mouth full of soap before you know it."

Terry grinned at her blushing brother and opened the car door for him. He groaned and sank into the duct-taped seat, reaching over to push his sister’s door open for her.

As Terry got behind the wheel, the siblings smiled ruefully at each other, both remembering times from their childhood when words brought home from the playground had earned them Emily’s soapy wrath. Even to this day, all of Emily’s children unconsciously watched their language around her. Her methods might have been old fashioned, but they certainly were effective.

*********

Rounding the narrow curve, Terry pulled up in front of a white house fronted by a small graveled parking lot overhung with willows and mountain ash. An archway covered with thick clematis stood to the right of the house and led back to a barely glimpsed terrace overlooking the flowing waters of the Bow.

Prosaically named ‘The River Garden’, it was a pleasant though unimposing spot, but those familiar with the restaurant knew it served some of the best food in the city. The owners deliberately didn’t advertise, relying on word of mouth and loyal customers. Even now, the parking lot was filled almost to capacity as Terry found a spot on the far side.

Getting out, she turned to her brother and said, "We’re a few minutes early. I think we’ll wait here so we can give Jan a hand if she needs it."

Jordy nodded and followed his sister over to sit in the shade of a tall old willow tree. Terry glanced over at him as he flopped gracelessly beside her, and asked, "So are you treating today, Ter?"

Terry grinned. "Now you ask? What happens if I say no? Are you planning on doing dishes to cover your part?"

Jordy dug his elbow into his sister’s side and toppled her over onto the grass. Laughing, she raised herself upright again and spoke. "I suppose I could be persuaded, but it’ll cost ya!"

"Cost me what?" Jordy inquired.

"Oh, a little sweat and manual labour I think, little brother. My Tin Can is seriously in need of a good cleaning out, not to mention a wash and wax. Besides, not only will you have paid for your brunch but you can even hang onto it for a couple of days."

Terry knew Jordy would be delighted to have wheels of his own and with her own mobility restricted, she hoped to force herself into more writing.

"Alright!" cheered Jordy enthusiastically. "You’ve got a deal. When do you want it done?"

"You can take it after brunch today. Just drop me off at my place and have it back to me by Wednesday, all clean and polished. But make sure it’s back to me by after work, because I’m planning on going out that night."

"Oh yeah?" Jordy laughed. "Gotta hot date that night?"

"God, you’re getting as bad as Michael! Actually, I am meeting some friends but it’s just the ball team’s end of season bash and we’re all going out for dinner at Oly’s. I wasn’t sure if I should go because I missed the last month of the season when I threw my shoulder out, but Lisa and Robyn said they’d hogtie me and drag me along if I tried to bow out."

"Whoa, if Robyn said that, you’d better go, because if she wanted to hogtie you, she could!" Jordy said with a mock tremor.

Terry laughed, thinking of her large, powerful friend. Robyn worked at the airport handling luggage and cargo, and had the biceps to show for it. She always got a kick out of seeing Robyn with her partner, Lisa, who was tiny and fragile looking. For all their Mutt and Jeff appearance, Terry couldn’t picture one without the other as her friends shared a rock-solid relationship and had been together for years.

Hearing the sound of vehicle slowing down as it rounded the curve, Terry glanced up to see a large burgundy van pulling into the parking lot. Noticing the distinctive blue and white of the handicap sticker in the window, she stood up, pulling Jordy along with her.

"I think that’s them, runt. Let’s go see if we can lend a hand."

As Terry and Jordy walked towards the van, the rear door began to open upwards as a small ramp automatically lowered to reveal Rob’s chair locked down in the cargo area behind the bench seat. Jan hopped out of the front and came around to the back, waving at the two siblings as they approached.

"Good morning," she said. "Isn’t it a beautiful day?"

Terry smiled and nodded. "Good morning, Jan. Hi Rob," she called into the van.

"Hey Terry, how’s it going?" Rob responded over his shoulder, waiting patiently for his wife to unhook his chair.

"Great," Terry replied. "Guys, this is my baby brother, Jordy. Jordy, this is Jan and Rob Spencer." Terry grinned as her appellation for her brother earned her an indignant look.

Jordy held out his hand to Jan who gave it a quick shake, and then a little uncertainly, he called in to the van, "Hi Rob."

"Hi Jordy," came the response. "I’d shake hands but I’m a little tied up at the moment."

Jan chuckled, and then nodding at the wheelchair she said, "Just give me a minute to spring Rob, and then we can go on in."

"Can I help in any way?" Terry offered.

"No thanks Terry, it’ll just take a second." With that, Jan eased along the side of the wheelchair, unlocking the front tie-downs and the chair’s brakes; then coming around behind, she flipped off the rear tie downs and began to roll the chair down the ramp. Backing away from the path of the door, she touched a remote control latched over the chair’s frame, and the doors began to close.

She wheeled the chair around to face the pair, and smiled as Jordy said, "Wow, that’s quite the set-up you have there."

"Yes, it’s a good system and it makes it so much easier to get around than if we had to depend on handi-cabs all the time," Jan replied. "Shall we go in then?"

"Sounds good," said Terry. "Is the outdoor patio okay for you guys, or would you rather be inside?"

Jan considered for a moment. "Outdoors is fine as long as there’s some shade for Rob. Otherwise, he’ll last longer if he’s inside out of the sun."

"Geez, Jan" Rob grinned up at his wife. "You make me sound like potato salad at a picnic or something."

"Rob, you and I both know what happens when you get overheated. You turn into a limp noodle." Jan’s eyes were compassionate but firm. Turning to Terry who was walking beside her, she said, "He’ll try and push it if he can, but he’s really better off if he can stay cool."

"No problem", replied Terry. "I know the waiters here pretty well, and I’m sure we can find a shady corner easily."

She led her small party down the cobbled walk running alongside the old house, under a trellis which proved to be a tight fit for the wheelchair, to emerge on the edge of a wide patio, set with dark green tables and comfortable looking padded chairs. At least three quarters of the tables were filled but she noted one table in the corner set under overhanging trees which would give the required shade.

"Terry!" came a delighted voice from her left. "I haven’t seen you in forever. Don’t tell me you didn’t bring that delicious roommate of yours with you this time."

A lanky man, wearing a waiter’s garb of black pants and white shirt swept up to her, and gave her a quick hug.

"Hi, Aaron. It’s good to see you again. Nope, sorry. Last I saw, that delicious roommate of mine was stumbling out to the backyard hammock with an ice pack, moaning something about not moving for the next three days." Terry laughed, remembered how rough the usually impeccable Michael had looked this morning before she left. "I think the boy may have partied too well last night."

"I heard Henri was having his annual summer blast last night, but of all the lousy luck, I had to work the late shift and missed all the fun." Aaron pouted a little, then added, "But where are my manners, let me get you folks seated."

"Aaron, can we have that table over there?" Terry asked, pointing at the shaded corner table.

"For you, fair lady, anything." Aaron smiled at her and led them past other customers to the desired table. Removing a chair to make a space for Rob, he placed menus in front of each place and promised to return with coffee in a few moments.

"Is this alright?" Terry looked at Jan and Rob, who nodded their approval of her choice. "Great. I hope you brought your appetites with you, because they don’t stint on portions in this place and everything is made from the freshest ingredients they can find. The owners even run a small farm not too far from here and they use a lot of their own produce in the restaurant."

"Well, considering that my wife has been starving me all morning in anticipation, I’m more than ready to chow down," Rob said, perusing the menu that Jan had opened and placed in his lap.

"Excuse me?" Jan snorted. "I was ‘starving’ you? Who wouldn’t even eat his toast this morning because he was so excited about going out?"

"Oh yeah," Rob said sheepishly. "I guess that would be me." Turning to Terry, he said, "So what do you recommend?"

"Depends if you feel like breakfast or lunch," replied Terry, scanning her menu even though she knew most of it by heart. "I can tell you already that Jordy will be going for their hamburger, home fries, and giant chocolate sundae, because they give you enough to choke a horse." She grinned at her brother who had been uncharacteristically quiet, but who was now sporting a vivid blush thanks to his sister’s teasing.

"Hey, I’m a growing boy!" protested the young man. "Besides, if you’re forcing me into slave labour on the Tin Can, I’m getting my money’s worth out of you." Turning to Rob he said, "If you don’t feel like lunch, they make terrific Eggs Benedict here."

Jan laughed. "You’ve stumbled on my husband’s weakness. He loves Eggs Benedict, and he claims I never make them as well as restaurants do. So is that good for you then, Rob?"

When her husband nodded his approval, Jan turned to Terry and said, "Do you have any favourites?"

"Well, like I said, you can’t go wrong with anything here, but I must admit I’m partial to their Belgian waffles with Saskatoon berries and real whipped cream."

"Hmm, that’s sounds great," Jan closed her menu. "I think I’ll go with that."

"Me too." Terry motioned Aaron back, and as he poured coffee for all of them said, "We’re ready to order anytime."

Aaron took their orders, smiling slightly at Jordy’s requests, then left them to enjoy their coffee, the company and their surroundings.

The patio, which ran the length of the house, was sided by tall privacy hedges and trees, and opened out on a green lawn that ran down a gentle slope to the riverbank. Wrought iron and wood benches dotted the lawn and a few customers could be seen drinking coffee and enjoying the quiet park-like atmosphere. Large, well-tended flowerpots lined a path, which meandered from the patio, across the lawn and down to the river.

"What a beautiful spot, Terry. I’m amazed I’ve never heard of it before." Jan said, eyes surveying the pastoral scene in front of her. She took a short straw from her purse, put it in Rob’s coffee, and held the cup for him to take a sip, wincing as he drew in the hot liquid too quickly. "Careful, love. Don’t burn yourself."

"I think the owners have done that deliberately," Terry replied. "They’re more interested in catering to an appreciative clientele than becoming the ‘hot new place to be’ in town. They’ve actually been here three years, and they seem to do a very steady business. I often see the same people here when I come back, and I try to come back at least every month or so. You should see it in the winter. The patio’s closed then of course, but from the dining room after a fresh snowfall, you feel like you’re looking out over a faerie kingdom."

Jan glanced back at the house, noticing for the first time the floor to ceiling windows, which enclosed another dining area. "We’ll have to try it sometime in the winter then, don’t you think Rob?"

"Yeah, if we can get in, that would be great. We’d have to call first and see if their road and parking lot was cleared though." Turning to Jordy, Rob asked, "So what do you do, Jordy? Are you still in school?"

Jordy nodded. "I’ll be starting my last year of high school in September, and then it’s on to the real world."

"And what are you planning to do in the real world?" Rob grinned at the young man’s enthusiasm, then he looked at his wife and said, "It seems like only yesterday that I was making those sorts of plans myself." A wistful look momentarily came over his face before he returned his attention to Jordy.

Jordy hesitated and looked at Terry, who nodded slightly at him. "What I want is to go to med school and eventually become a pediatrician. Unfortunately, my Dad has other plans, but Mom and Terry think they can persuade him to see the light."

"We will, Jordy," Terry said seriously. "Don’t you ever doubt it. You will be going to med school and you’re going to be the best darned kid doctor there ever was."

Her words carried a fierce conviction and pride in her little brother. She had every confidence that her parents would come through for him, but if for some strange reason they didn’t, she’d put him through herself and work for the Post Office for the next twenty years to pay for it if she had to.

Jordy looked gratefully at his sister, seeming reassured. Turning to Rob, who’d been observing the exchange with interest, he said, "I hear you and Jan used to be in the military. That must have been an interesting life."

Terry watched as Jan and Rob looked at each other, and then broke out laughing. She wondered what had set them off, but listened as Rob explained, "I guess that’s one way of putting it, Jordy. It was kind of like the ancient Chinese proverb about living in interesting times, but yeah, I loved flying and I had a great time until this stupid disease grounded me."

"I thought about learning to fly in my younger years," Jordy said, pointedly ignoring the smothered smiles from the others at his terminology. "But I was never sure if I could handle it or not. I’ve never even flown in a big passenger jet, so I’m not sure how I’d feel on a fighter. I always liked the wild rides at the Stampede though, and they never bothered my stomach much so I think I’d be okay. Heck, I went on the Skyscraper ride this year with no problems, and they say you’re pulling at least 4 G’s on that, so I think I could handle fighters okay."

Rob looked at him for a moment, then said, "Would you like to get a taste of real flying, Jordy?"

"Uh, I didn’t think you could fly any more, Rob," Jordy answered, looking puzzled.

"No, I can’t. But I do have a very good friend who will be participating in the Springbank air show on Labour Day, and I think I could persuade him to take you up for a ride. He’s an old air force buddy of mine who flies for Air Canada out of Vancouver now, but in his spare time, he flies with an air demonstration team at air shows all over North America. If you’re interested, I’ll give him a call and set it up. It’s just a little bi-wing prop job, but he’ll do a few loops and circuits and give you a taste of what flying is all about."

"Are you serious?" stammered Jordy. "You’d do that for me?" His eyes sparkled with excitement at the idea of trying something so thrilling. "That would be better than the Skyscraper!"

Terry smiled at her brother’s enthusiasm, glad that he would be given such an opportunity, and impressed that Rob would go to such lengths for someone he just met. She thought Rob seemed equally pleased that he was able to do a favour for the young man, as his face glowed with almost as much excitement as Jordy’s. She watched the two get into a discussion of what air shows his friend had flown in, and then turned to Jan who was sitting quietly listening.

"That’s awfully nice of him, Jan. Do you think his friend will really agree?"

Jan nodded. "Eric’s one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet, and he’s got a real soft spot for Rob. They flew together over in Europe and got into trouble off-duty all the time, usually with the local frauleins. Eric’s one of the ones who’s stuck by Rob through thick and thin. He’ll jump at the chance to do him a favour, especially one like this where they both get to show off their love of airplanes. It’ll give Rob something to look forward to, and we were already going out to the air show as Eric’s guests anyway, so Jordy is more than welcome to come along, as are you if you’re interested."

"I’ve never been to an air show, but I’d love to come along and see Jordy’s first ride. I’ll be sure to bring along my camera and some brown paper bags for him," Terry laughed as Jordy looked up in outrage.

"Hey, I’m not going to need any bags, and that’s a guarantee," Jordy sputtered indignantly.

"Oh, I dunno," Rob cautioned him. "I know of even the occasional experienced pilot who’s had to clean his cockpit after a wild flight. Not that it ever happened to me!" he added hastily.

"Really?" drawled his wife, smiling at a memory. "Not even after that little Paris flight?"

Both Terry and Jordy leaned forward eagerly to hear whatever was making Rob figuratively squirm. Just at that moment though, Aaron arrived with their plates, and proceeded to set them around. Terry didn’t want to let this go however, and once everyone had started, she turned to the ex-pilot and said, "Tell us what happened in Paris, Rob."

Rob had his eyes fixed on his plate where Jan was cutting into his Eggs Benedict and preparing to give him a bite, and he muttered, "Oh you don’t really want to hear any of those old stories."

Grinning at each other, Terry and Jordy realized there must be a good tale behind his reluctance, and they chorused together, "Yes we do!"

Sighing, Rob looked at his delighted wife and said, "I’m going to get you for this, you know."

Turning his head to the other two, he said, "She loves to embarrass me about this one, but okay, if you insist, this is what happened. I was on a training mission over Europe. I’d flown out of our base in Germany and I hadn’t been in Europe that long so I wasn’t all that familiar with the route I was supposed to be taking. I thought I was on-course, and I was sitting back enjoying the flight when I started to notice a pretty built-up area on the ground. According to my maps, there shouldn’t have been any large towns under where I was, so I was looking around trying to recognize some landmarks. Uh, that’s when I saw it."

Jan laughed at her husband’s chagrin, knowing what was coming next. Terry and Jordy stared at him intently, waiting for the punch line. "You saw what?" asked Jordy.

"Only one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world." Rob said, shaking his head at the memory. "I was flying low-level, mach one, directly at the Eiffel Tower. Somehow, I’d gotten turned around and was heading right over Paris in controlled airspace, but that wasn’t on my flight plan. I turned away hard, and the next thing you know, I’m over Orly, panicking because I know the controllers have to be picking up this unidentified aircraft right in the middle of one of the busiest airports in the world."

Oh my God!" Jordy said, wide-eyed. "What did you do?"

"I lit my afterburner and headed straight up, praying I wouldn’t intersect with some passenger jet coming in to land. I flew back to my base, convinced that the moment I landed I was going to be arrested for screwing up and putting so many people in jeopardy. At the very least, I figured I’d be busted to flight cadet and sent back to Canada in disgrace. But nothing happened. No one ever said anything to me, so I guess the French never figured out whom this idiot was crashing their airspace and flying over Paris like it was nothing. To this day, I can’t believe I did such a dumb thing, and even more so, that I got away with it!" Rob shook his head, and then opened his mouth as Jan raised a fork full of egg to him.

"Wow, too cool!" said Jordy. "You must have had so many adventures while you were posted over there."

"Yes," snorted Jan. "And most of them aren’t repeatable. Rob was not exactly the poster boy for model behaviour when he served overseas."

"Aw, but I had fun, Jan," Rob blinked his eyes innocently at his wife. "After all, it’s only natural to sow your wild oats when you’re young."

"You, my love, sowed enough wild oats to cover half of Europe," Jan chided her husband playfully.

"Rumours and lies," Rob dismissed airily. "People kept telling stories about me, and half of them weren’t true."

"Rob, even the half that were true was more than enough to cement your reputation as a wild man," Jan smiled at her husband, who was having a wonderful time despite his protests.

Terry watched as Jan deftly fed herself and Rob, never missing a beat. They appeared to have the routine down so pat that they never even had to discuss it. When Rob was ready for a bite, it was always there for him, and Jan even seemed to know when he wanted more coffee without being asked. Terry was impressed with how well Jan handled Rob’s needs, but then she knew that they’d been together for many years, and undoubtedly they did this without even thinking about it. She brought her attention to her brother now, as he spoke up.

"You should meet my Dad, Rob. He served in the military too for a few years, though I think he was army, not air force."

Terry seized on the opening Jordy had provided, and said, "Yeah, you should. Our folks would love to meet you. I told my Mom about you guys and she said I should ask you to come over for a barbeque whenever it’s convenient. They always have family and friends over every Sunday and you’d be more than welcome to join us. Would you like to come sometime?"

As Jan opened her mouth to reply, Jordy interrupted, saying, "I know. Two weeks from today is Terry’s birthday and that’s always a good bash. Why don’t you plan to come over then?"

"Are you sure we wouldn’t be intruding on a family birthday party?" queried Jan, obviously concerned about the timing of the invitation.

"Not at all," Terry replied. "I’d love for you to come and really, it’s no big deal. Mom just adds a birthday cake to her usual Sunday dinner, and the victim of the day gets lots of razzing from the rest of the clan. Look, I’ll have Mom give you a call this week, just to confirm. How’s that?"

Jan looked at Rob for his approval, then when he smiled his agreement, nodded at Terry. "That sounds wonderful, and we’d love to join you. May I bring something along?"

"You and Mom can work that out, but she usually takes care of everything. She really likes doing these big family dinners, and she always has extra places for whatever friends drop by."

The rest of the brunch passed pleasantly as conversation flowed easily, and Jan even convinced Rob to tell a couple more stories from his European flying days. They’d finished eating and were nursing their third coffees when Aaron came up behind Terry and wrapped his arms around her.

"Do tell, beautiful," he purred in her ear. "What happened with you and that divine blonde woman I last saw you with? Are you two still an item or are you back out on the prowl?"

Terry groaned inwardly. When she’d last been here, she and Marika had only been dating a week and were still in that ‘couldn’t keep their hands off each other’ stage. She should have known Aaron would remember, since he’d even teased her endlessly about it that night, but she hadn’t counted on him bringing it up in front of her guests.

"Yesterday’s news," she said, staring intently into his eyes, hoping he’d understand the unspoken message. "Marika and I didn’t work out."

"Oh I wouldn’t say that, darling," Aaron laughed and stood up, leaving his hand on Terry’s shoulder. "You sure looked like you were ‘working out’ well when I saw you."

By now, Terry was glaring at her oblivious friend, but it was completely lost on him, as he went on, "Well, it’s not like there won’t be another gorgeous blonde along shortly. You seem to have an endless stream of them. Don’t know where you find them, darling, but if any of them have twin brothers, you be sure to send them my way, ‘kay?"

As Terry slid down in her chair, wishing the ground would swallow her up, she was grateful to hear another table calling Aaron over. She smiled weakly at him as he patted her shoulder and ambled over to take care of other customers. Looking up, she saw that all the others at her table were staring at her, Jordy with barely suppressed hilarity, Jan with amused sympathy, and Rob with frank curiosity.

Looking directly at Rob, she muttered with embarrassment, "He talks too much!"

Rob just smiled gently and said, "It’s okay. I already know that my masculine charms are wasted on you." Tossing his head so that imaginary locks flew back over his shoulder, he sighed deeply, saying, "And I thought no woman could resist me!"

As Jan and Jordy burst out laughing, Terry laid her hand on his arm and said solemnly, "Rob, no one could possibly resist you."

Rob grinned. "Ain’t it the truth! I must say though I’m positively in awe of your prowess. I don’t remember having half your success when I was after beautiful young blondes."

"Then your memory has slipped a few links, dear," snorted Jan. "As I recall, you didn’t limit yourself to blondes and you cut a pretty wide swath through Europe yourself."

"Aw, but now I’m focused exclusively on redheads," Rob teased her.

"Would that be redheads ‘plural’, husband of mine?" Jan shot back at him.

"Nope, I’m strictly a one-woman man now," he declared staunchly.

"Uh huh," Jan said doubtfully. "That’s only because I’d have to drive you to any assignations, so it’d be a bit difficult carrying on with other redheads...or blondes, or brunettes."

"You wound me deeply, o wife of mine. I’m as faithful as an old hound dog, and just about as wrinkled as one too." He smiled at Jan, affection shining in his blue eyes. She returned the look, lifting a hand to briefly caress his cheek.

Terry watched the two banter with each other, grateful that the spotlight was off her, and grinning at Rob’s reputation as a rogue. She had a feeling he must have been quite the ladies man in his prime, because not even his current quadriplegia dimmed his charisma.

By the time they’d drained the last of multiple coffees and paid the check, the four were as comfortable with each other as old friends. Leaving their table, they headed back to the parking lot, approaching the van, which began to open as Jan pressed the remote control. Terry and Jordy stood back out of Jan’s way as she pushed Rob up into the van, and swiftly locked him down into place. Stepping out, she pressed the button to close the van door.

Turning to the siblings, Jan said, "Thank you. We really enjoyed ourselves today, and I appreciate your invitation for the barbeque too."

"It was our pleasure," Terry responded, meaning every word. She had truly enjoyed their company, and was pleased that they would be getting together again soon. "I’ll have Mom give you a call, okay?"

"That’s sound great. I’ll look forward to hearing from her." Jan smiled at the pair, then walked to the front of the van and got in. A few moments later, she backed the van up, waving at Terry and Jordy as she pulled out of the lot.

"So did you have a good time, runt?" Terry asked her brother, as they walked over to her car.

"Yeah, I really did, Ter. Thanks for inviting me. They’re really nice people and that Rob is sure a riot. What a rotten thing though to go from flying fighters to riding a wheelchair, eh?"

"Yes it is Jordy, but you’d never know it to listen to him, would you? He doesn’t seem to have a smidgen of bitterness in him over how his life’s turned out, does he?"

Jordy thought about that a moment, and then nodded his head in agreement. "You know, in his place, I don’t think I could be nearly as calm about it. Did you see how Jan had to do everything for him, even wipe his nose?"

"I did, but I don’t think they even think twice about it, Jordy. It seems as natural to them as breathing is. It was almost like watching a ballet of movement. They really seem to be two halves of a whole in a sense. You have to admire the way they handle things, that’s for sure."

"No kidding!" Jordy nodded his head emphatically, as he slid into his sister’s car. "I just hope I never find out what it’s like to be in his shoes."

Continued in Part 3

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