Hathaway knew he should probably tell Lewis what had happened earlier and that the bows might have gotten switched. But the damage was done now. If there even was any damage, what with only a fifty-fifty chance he had put them wrong. And not that it was exactly Lewis's fault but why invite trouble by wrapping them the same in the first place? The bows could have come off by themselves, anyway. James ignored the nagging voice telling him that, had that been the case, Lewis would have known to check the gifts before giving them out.
Despite feeling more than a bit guilty at not telling Lewis, Hathaway managed to convince himself that it was better Lewis did not find out the role his sergeant played in the mix-up, if there even was one. He would only blow it totally out of proportion. They were all friends and it would all get sorted out in the end. In the meantime, maybe Lewis would get put to an awkward explanation but so what? He was the one to create the great disparity between the two gifts. Hathaway focused on his computer, suddenly very intent on getting a lot of work done.
Lewis turned back to his work. James seemed to be done trying to torment him with unfounded fears that the store had somehow managed to switch the necklaces despite Lewis's vigilance while they were being wrapped. He shook it off, deciding Hathaway was merely a bit envious of Lewis having gotten two women over to his place at the same time and having a lovely garden to show for it. Not to mention the fact that Hathaway simply enjoyed winding up his boss whenever he could.
The rest of the day passed quickly and too soon it was time to go back out in the heat and head for home. Both men peeled off their suit jackets before going out, but the hot blast still came close to crushing them with its oppressiveness.
When Hathaway arrived home, he cranked up the fan of his air conditioner and took a cold beer from the fridge. Lewis had invited him over to see the new garden but Hathaway felt it would be better if he kept his distance until the whole necklace matter was resolved. He still felt a bit of a twinge about it but since he hadn't yet received an angry phone call from Lewis, he figured most likely everything had worked out fine.
When Lewis got home, he changed into shorts and a lightweight, short-sleeved shirt, grabbed a cold beer and headed, barefoot, out to the garden. The flagstones of the new walkway felt surprisingly cool and smooth under the soles of his feet. He was glad he'd made that decision, even though the flags had been heavy and it had been difficult to get them level. Laura had wanted pea gravel and Jean crushed limestone; either one of those would have required shoes. He smiled a little, and sat on the bench under the pergola, trying to imagine it next summer when the trumpet vines would provide welcome shade. It would really be very, very nice. When the beer was gone, he filled up his watering can, and began to take care of his thirsty, new plants.
When he finished, he went inside, planning to take a cool bath. He glanced at the phone in case Laura had called while he was outside; he secretly hoped she'd call as soon as she saw what he had given her. But the indicator read "0" unblinkingly.
He had soaked for almost fifteen minutes when the phone rang. He scrambled from the tub and sprinted, dripping and naked, over to the phone, glancing at the caller ID as he answered.
"Hi, Laura, what's up?" He rubbed himself one-handedly with a towel.
"Did I interrupt something? You sound out of breath." He could hear the amusement in her voice.
"Ah, I was only in the bath, trying to cool off a bit." He snugged the towel around his waist.
"Mmm." Was she trying to picture it? He thought so.
"I'm not sure when I'll see you in person next, so I wanted to thank you for the lovely necklace. It's beautiful."
He felt himself blush, even though there was no one there to see. "Yeah? You earned it. I'm glad you like it; I wanted you to know how much I appreciate what you've done for me. I picked it especially for you." He waited to see if she would respond to the sentiment he hoped she would perceive.
"Yes, a very nice surprise. You didn't have to do this, you know. You're a dear. Is it still everything you hoped for? The garden I mean. It was fun working on it."
"I was just out in it. It's really nice, especially on a hot, summer night. I wish you'd been here to sit with me." He hoped this last wouldn't sound too forward.
"Mmm, that'd be nice. Maybe tomorrow night?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. I can't wait."
"Well, thanks again. I'll treasure this. You're sweet, you know that? Bye."
Sweet. Did she really just call me sweet? The little smile stayed on his lips even after he'd fallen asleep that night.
The next morning, Lewis found himself entering the building at the same time the Chief Superintendent arrived.
"Mornin' Ma'am. You look as though you're keeping cool in this heat." Lewis waved a friendly greeting and smiled openly.
She narrowed her eyes as though assessing his comment for more than what it bore on the surface. "Oh, Lewis. Yes." She seemed distracted. And a bit cold.
She hurried past him without another word.
Something's bothering her. Maybe he was way out of line giving her any kind of gift. It did not escape his observation that she was wearing a dress shot with violet of the exact same shade as the necklace, and that its neckline would have been perfectly complemented by the pendant. Yet she wore no jewelry at all around her neck. She didn't like it?
He hustled to catch up. "Everything alright, Ma'am?" He put his hand on her arm and was surprised when she jerked away.
"Don't." She sped off, leaving him standing there, confused.
"Morning, Sir." Hathaway came up behind him. "Something amiss with our guv?"
Lewis looked after her, puzzled. "Seems to be." He shook it off. "I suppose it's none of our business."
They entered the office.
"So are 'the girls' happy with their gifts? Did they compare notes?"
"Ah, brilliant, Hathaway. That must be it. Jean seems a bit stand-offish. If she and Laura found out what each other received, they might find the subject a bit awkward."
"Oh? Stand-offish, how? And didn't Hobson tell you she'll marry you if you'd only ask her?"
Lewis blushed a little. "Doctor Hobson was very nice about it. She's not one to gush like a girl, anyway. Innocent was polite, but . . . I dunno. Maybe distracted." He looked over the papers on his desk. "Don't you have work to do, Sergeant? Work that has nothing to do with me personal life?" He tried to appear stern.
"Yes, Sir." With a crooked smile, Hathaway returned to his work. Looked like everything was going to be alright.
Around one in the afternoon, the telephone on Lewis's desk rang.
"Yeah, Lewis."
"Hi, it's me. I have a report on the Barnum case I wanted to discuss. Thought I'd make sure you boys were in before I came over."
"Yup, we're here, Doctor." Lewis felt a little thrill when he rang off. This would be the first time he would see Laura face-to-face after giving her the diamond necklace. He wondered if it would change anything.
Hathaway noticed the little smile playing across Lewis's mouth and he smirked. Well, we'll soon find out how she felt when she opened that very romantic gift from him.
A few minutes later, Laura strode in, knocking on their open door as she entered. "Afternoon, gentlemen. Your Barnum report." She handed the papers to Hathaway and turned to Lewis. He was staring at her neckline where hung an enameled violet on a delicate golden chain.
"Shit." Almost inaudible.
Laura raised her eyebrows. "Sorry? Robbie?"
"Th-th-that necklace! Where did you get that?"
Hobson studied him a minute as though he'd gone barmy. "Well, Robbie, you gave it to me yesterday, as you may recall."
"No, I didn't. I gave you the other one. That one's Jean's."
Laura pulled it forward so she could see the violet. "This was in the box you gave me."
Lewis's face was awash in confusion. "No, it couldn't have been. I gave you the one with the green bow. I'm certain."
Hathaway was wondering if leaving the office would only serve to draw more attention to himself.
"And so you did, I remember you handing one to Jean with a purple bow and one to me with a green bow, and I was glad I got the green one 'cos I like green better than purple."
He stared at her in disbelief. "So how'd you end up with the violet? You were supposed to get . . ." He was reluctant to say. And then the full realization hit him, of where exactly the heart necklace must be, if not around Laura Hobson's neck.
"Aw, no, NO!"
"'No' what, Robbie? Jean got the wrong one, too, I suppose? We can just switch them, I'm certain she'll understand."
"Well, she must have done, mustn't she? We can't just switch them, the one she got is . . . Shit." The last was said quietly enough that it didn't really count as swearing in front of a woman. "How the bloody hell did that happen? I was so careful to keep them separate. Something must have—" His eyes snapped up to Hathaway.
"You were acting a bit weird yesterday, Sergeant. What do you know about this?"
Hathaway shook his head in implied denial, looking as confused as he could.
"Look, Laura, can I have this one? I meant you to have a much more . . . special gift. More personal. Let me give this one to Jean and I'll somehow get yours back from her."
Laura reached behind her neck and disconnected the clasp. "Here. But I don't have the box for it any more."
"That's okay. This is such a bloody mess, who cares about boxes?" He slipped it into his pocket. "You'll get the one I intended you to have, I promise." For an instant, he looked as though he was going to kiss her. Then he snapped his head away—breaking the invisible connection—stood up, and headed out of the office.
He knocked quietly on the Chief Super's open office door, poking his head around the corner. "Ma'am? Excuse me?" May I come in for a moment?"
She scowled, huffed, and then waved him in. He closed the door behind himself.
"What is this about, Inspector?"
"It's, erm . . . personal. About the, erm . . . necklace I gave you yesterday. I, erm . . ."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, spit it out, Lewis!"
He flinched at her harsh tone. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. This is truly embarrassing. I didn't mean to give you the one with the heart. I got the boxes mixed up somehow by mistake. I'm really very sorry. You must have been wondering about why I gave you something so . . . inappropriate."
"I had done, yes. As would Mister Innocent, had he seen it."
Lewis pulled out the violet necklace from his pocket. "This is the one you were meant to have, Ma'am. I'm afraid it's not exactly comparable, but it's far more appropriate." He handed it to her.
"Oh, Robbie, this is lovely. I adore violets." She reached behind her neck, trying to connect the clasp, but not having much success with that.
"Here, let me." Lewis reached around her neck and hooked the clasp in place. The necklace was perfect with her dress. Lewis grinned at the overall effect.
"You look very nice, Ma'am. Now if I could, erm . . . have the other?"
She frowned. "It's not here, Lewis. I had to conceal it immediately from Mister Innocent. My God, what he would have thought had he seen it! I only hoped you had had a moment of serious misjudgment. Otherwise . . ."
Lewis was curious to know what would have happened had he intended her to receive such a blatant declaration from him. He cocked his head inquisitively. "Otherwise what, Ma'am?"
She lowered her brow in clear disapproval. "Enough, Lewis. Is it alright if I bring the other necklace to your house tonight? I'll need to go home and collect it. I hope that's soon enough for you to declare whatever feelings you wanted to declare to Doctor Hobson."
He blushed. "I didn't intend to declare anything. Just thought it would give her a hint of how I feel."
Innocent stared at him, disbelieving. "It's practically an engagement ring!"
It was Lewis's turn to be shocked. "It's no such thing! It's meant to be a symbol of our friendship, nothing more."
She shook her head. "If that's all you mean, Robert Lewis, you're a fool for more than one reason." She waved her hand at the door. "I'll get it to you tonight and you can decide what you want to do with it. Now, if there's nothing more, you may get back to your work."
He let Laura in and beckoned her out to the garden. He'd lit some pillar candles, and they added a soft glow to the lights that he'd strung around the top of the pergola.
She stared in wonder at the beauty of the garden at night. "It's so lovely, Robbie."
He couldn't take his eyes from her. "And so are you. Here. This is what I meant you to have." He held out the small box.
She opened it slowly and froze. "Robbie, this . . ." She couldn't continue.
He spoke quickly. "Jean said it was practically an engagement ring. I don't mean it like that. But your friendship is golden and shines like a diamond to me. And the heart . . ."
She flashed a hopeful look at him.
"Well, the heart is . . . because I love you." He smiled, a bit self-deprecating, letting her know that he meant their friendship had deepened into love.
"I love you, too, Robbie." She reached her arms around him, and they stood that way for a long, long time.