CHAPTER 2
Three months on, and several cases solved, and still Rachel had not yet decided what to do about the wedding. The date was galloping toward her, she had applied for and received two weeks annual leave so she could spend some time with her family, and have last minute adjustments to the bridesmaid's gown that had been made to her measurements and that she had only seen as a grainy picture on the net. Her cousin had called her several times to catch up, but to also advise Rachel on the progress of the big day and to reassure her, each time they spoke, that she would be welcome to bring someone to the wedding with her, managing each time to make Rachel feel a little more inadequate.
After a particularly grueling case, resolved finally and the suspect arrested, Rachel headed down to the canteen, and sat leaning her head back against the wall, hands cupped around a hot coffee cup.
"Solving the world's problems?" came a male voice and she opened her eyes to find John standing in front of her, a smile lighting his handsome face.
"I can't even solve my own," she replied with a sigh. He frowned slightly, and pulled out a chair.
"Well you should be pretty pleased with yourself, that guy left quite a few puzzles that no one else could solve," he said, leaning his elbows on the table. "You saved a lot of lives by figuring it out."
"Maybe," she replied, then taking a deep breath, she put her coffee cup down and looked straight at him.
"Are you doing anything on the weekend of the 30th?" she asked finally.
John bit his lip and narrowed his eyes a little as he considered her question.
"I don't know," he replied cautiously. "That's still nearly a month away. Why?"
Rachel's nerve failed her and she picked up her cup and took a sip. "Never mind, nothing," she said, looking down into her cup. "It doesn't matter."
"What," he said, "Did you need something?" looking puzzled.
"No, it's nothing," she said, colouring. "Forget I said anything." And she stood up, effectively ending the conversation, and walked away, leaving John looking after her in confusion.
As she walked out of the elevator, Grace was waiting to pounce on her. She took her hand, and dragged her towards her office.
"I need your opinion," she said, and shut the office door, turning to look at Rachel with a nervous look on her face. "The strangest thing just happened."
"What?" asked Rachel, sinking into her chair. "A good strange thing or a bad strange thing?"
"A good thing, I think," replied Grace. "Do you remember David Petrovich – he is the medical examiner for the APD?"
"Yes, of course," replied Rachel, noting the colour that had tinged Grace's cheeks.
"He asked if I would meet him for coffee," said Grace, with a small laugh. "Me – I haven't been asked anything like that for about 20 years."
"And your reply was?" asked Rachel, leaning forward, smiling at Grace's expression.
"Well, life's too short to not take some chances," replied Grace. "He knows I have two small children, and I have known him for a long time. We are meeting Saturday morning, and I'm bringing the monsters. If he still wants to know me after that, well, that's points in his favor."
Rachel nodded and flicked her computer mouse so her screen reactivated
"You are right, life is too short to be worried about what people think," she said. "I am not going to worry any more about this stupid wedding. I am going to go with my head held high, so everyone knows how little I think of their small minded opinions."
Grace smiled again. "So you haven't asked John then," she said.
"Asked John what?" said the man himself, appearing in her doorway. Rachel looked up and glared at him.
"We were having a private conversation," she said, and he nodded.
"Yeah, yeah," he said, "Ask me what?" and he folded his arms, propping one shoulder against the door jam, totally adopting the manner of a person not prepared to leave.
"You can be so aggravating," said Rachel, pretending to be interested on whatever had appeared on her screen.
"Yep, I am good at it though," he replied, not moving, a grin on his face. "You have been weird, or should I say weirder, for ages Rachel, what is the problem. Spit it out!"
"She has to go to a family wedding, and they have been giving her grief for going by herself," said Grace, before Rachel could say anything. "She was going to ask if you would go as her escort."
"Grace no," said Rachel furiously, and blushed firmly fixing her gaze on the screen.
"I wouldn't mind," said John at the same time.
There was silence in the room. Grace stood up, and smiled at Rachel. "I am taking a chance," she said softly, "Why don't you." And she walked out, patting John on the arm as she passed.
More silence, then Rachel looked up. John was still in the doorway, his blue eyes fixed on her.
"I wouldn't mind," he said again.
"Oh sit down," she said, "and let me fill you in before you commit to a weekend of unbridled speculation and probable boredom."
He undraped himself from the doorway, and sat down in the chair Grace had just vacated.
"My cousin is getting married." She started uncertainly, "The family is sort of expecting me to bring someone, but since the whole jail thing there's been no chance to meet anyone…." And her voice tailed off.
"I don't mind," he said for a third time. "Weddings can be fun, lots of food and usually a drunken uncle or some relative making a hilarious and embarrassing speech. I gather this is the weekend of the 30th?"
"Yes," replied Rachel. "The thing is, I am a bridesmaid, so you would have to sit with my brothers or parents during the reception, and everyone there will be staring at me because of the jail, and other things, and scrutinizing you because I have never turned up with an escort to any of these family shows - ever."
"I am fairly civilized," John replied, "I am sure I can sit with your relatives for a couple of hours without doing too much to embarrass you."
"They might embarrass you." She said, and he laughed and shook his head.
"Impossible," he said with another grin.
"You would probably have to fly out on the Friday and we could travel back together on the Sunday – I'll make the arrangements, if you really think you could stand it," she said, taking a deep breath. "Thanks."
"No big," he replied. "As long as no nasty last minute murder turns up, there shouldn't be a problem." He looked at his watch "Bailey is expecting us in the control room in 10 minutes." He stood up and smiled at her. "I'll behave, and try not to embarrass you," he said, and walked out of her office, leaving her feeling grateful but even more anxious in a very different way.
