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Fore!(Play)

Chapter 8

Whiff

Whiff: Sometimes called an air ball, a whiff is a swing that misses the ball completely. It counts as a stroke.

Our pleasant weather lasts through the weekend, and the course is busier than normal. News of Jasper being back in town has already started to circulate, and more than one golfer asks if it's true he's going to be working here. We've even had a few inquire about private or group lessons. Apparently, he was seen buying groceries at a nearby market, and he visited his mother at the nursing home. Everyone seems excited that he's back. Although I shouldn't be, I can't help but be surprised at how quickly the news has started to spread. I make a mental note to release the press notice I've already prepared to the local newspapers and media outlets.

Thunder, lightning, and torrential rain wake me early Monday morning. I'm still eating breakfast when Edward texts me to say he's told the ground crew to take the day off. With this heavy rain, there isn't much they can do on the course. When he asks if I still want to keep our normal Monday afternoon meeting, I tell him no; we'll change it to Tuesdays so Jasper can meet with us.

The rest of the morning is spent trying to find something to do: a little cleaning, a couple loads of laundry, a game or two of Sudoku, nothing seems to hold my attention. I'm much too antsy to settle. My conversation with my mother reruns in my head. This is when I miss having friends to text or talk to. I know a few of my high school girlfriends are still in the area—I see their posts on Facebook—but I've purposely stayed away from contacting anyone. I can't take the risk they'll find out I'm back in town. Finally, I grab a book and go upstairs to the sitting area of my bedroom.

We've used the same basic floor plan for all our townhouses. A large open room downstairs for the living area, kitchen, and dining. A half-bath with a small office/bedroom space and a larger than normal garage that will hold a car and a golf cart complete the bottom floor. Upstairs are two larger bedrooms, each with its own en suite and walk-in closet. Every third house, including mine, has a bay window in the upstairs front bedroom. I've filled mine with a comfortable chair, a small side table, and a bookshelf. On the wall opposite my bed, I've added a fake, electric fireplace. It adds some warmth and a certain coziness that's been welcome during the past winter.

My snug little reading nook is the perfect place to curl up with a good book on a cold blustery day, and it's also the perfect place to spy on Jasper. His house is across the cul-de-sac from mine, and I've positioned my chair with a view of his front yard and door. With a cup of hot tea and a warm throw, I lose myself in my book.

The hours slip by, and it's only the slam of a car door that alerts me to the fact that the rain has ended and something is happening outside. When I peek through my curtains, I can see Jasper pulling boxes from his car trunk. I chuckle to myself when I realize how small his sports car is and how few boxes he can fit into it. It's going to take him a long time to move all his belongings. A moment later however, a pickup truck backs into his driveway. Edward jumps out of the driver's side, and the two men begin unloading more boxes from the back.

They make several trips, leaving some boxes in the garage and carrying the rest inside. At one point, Edward must see me watching because he grins and gives me a nod. It doesn't take long for them to empty the truck, and with a friendly handshake, Edward drives off, and Jasper shuts the door to his garage.

I've just settled back into my chair when my phone buzzes.

Turfman: What game do you get when you move houses?

Before I can think of a reply, his answer pops up.

Turfman: a Pac Man :):):)

Shaking my head at his silliness, I return to my book but this time with a smile on my face.

./ ./ ./ ./

Jasper arrives only minutes after I unlock the clubhouse doors on Tuesday morning. He looks well rested and in a much better mood than he was during our interview on Saturday. We begin with a tour of the downstairs area. I've made a few changes here and there, but most of it is still the same as when Jasper lived and worked here. When we reach his office, I point out the folder I've left with the staff's names and work schedules.

"There's also a copy of our monthly newsletter in the folder," I tell him. "I do most of it, but there's a column for the Pro Shop that you'll need to write. Mr. Cullen writes one about the course itself, and our food service manager does another about the restaurant's evening specials and the snack bar menu. It's all pretty self-explanatory. We'll discuss everything at our weekly Tuesday afternoon meeting."

We do a quick walk through of the Pro Shop itself. He doesn't say much, and it makes me a bit nervous, but he smiles and nods when I encourage him to make whatever changes he'd like.

"The only other thing that's been changed on the lower level is the addition of a gym. We repurposed the old game room and made it into a members-only fitness center. I think you'll like what we've done," I add as I use my keycard to open the door.

Jasper walks around the room, inspecting the weights and equipment we've added. "This is nice," he finally says. "I'm glad you found a use for the room. I always thought it was underused."

"Yes." I chuckle. "Not much interest in whiskey, poker, and cigars anymore," I add, thinking of my dad and how he used to return home stinking of smoke and smelling of booze after one of his "guys' nights."

Charlie was always overly affectionate when he'd been drinking. He'd come home from game nights and grab Mom, whirling her around the room and singing at the top of his voice, while she laughed and told him to go take a shower and use some mouthwash if he wanted to get close to her. If I happened to be nearby, he'd pick me up, asking how his little beauty was. I remember giggling when he rubbed his whiskers against my cheek. Game nights came to an end when he had his first heart attack, and the doctors warned him about smoking and drinking.

My musing is interrupted when Jasper makes a sudden noise, and I look up to see him staring at me. Fearful that I've said too much, I turn away quickly, walking over to the outside door.

"Members can use their keycards to enter through this door when the clubhouse is closed, so if you ever want to use the facility after hours, you're more than welcome. We have a fairly large number of members who do."

"And is the price of membership included in their monthly dues?" Jasper asks.

"Yes, or they can purchase just a gym membership if that's all they're interested in. We've tried to make the pricing more attractive by providing a number of membership plans, depending upon the public's interest. All of that information is in the folder I left on your desk."

I've run out of words to say and shift awkwardly, trying to think of what to do next. Jasper doesn't seem to notice—he's staring at one of the sidewall mirrors. When I glance over to see what he's looking at, I realize it's my reflection. Something about the way I'm standing, or the way the mirror distorts my image, or perhaps the way I'm holding my head, but suddenly, I see a softer, younger me. Our gazes meet in the mirror, and I find myself holding my breath as he frowns slightly.

"Miss Dwyer."

Sighing with relief, I turn to Edward, who has just burst through the door. "Mr. Cullen?"

"Are we still on for 2 o'clock this afternoon? I thought maybe … Oh, hello, Mr. Whitlock. Didn't see you there. Did you get moved in and settled okay?"

While the two men talk, I make sure my hair is pulled back and secure, and my glasses in place. Edward's eyes flicker toward me a couple of times, and when there's a lull in their conversation, I ask if he needs to see me for anything.

"I wanted to let you know we'll be cart path only today. The course is just too wet to allow anyone on the fairways. I've already told the staff in the Pro Shop." When I nod, he continues. "I was thinking this might be a good time to take a ride through the course to check the ongoing drainage problems and the construction along number four. I thought maybe Mr. Whitlock would like to go with us."

"Good idea," I agree.

Two carts are waiting for us when we get outside. I follow Jasper toward one but somehow Edward slides in beside him before I get there, leaving me shaking my head and wondering what just happened.

Their voices are a low mumble as I follow their cart. Edward points to several problem areas, and Jasper responds; at one point, they both laugh about something. I hear Edward call him Jasper and smile because they're on a first name basis now. The course is really wet, and I'm glad Edward has placed it on cart path only. I doubt we'll have very many players today.

We've just rounded the corner to number four when Jasper brakes so suddenly I almost rear-end their cart. He's out and jogging to the blue tee box before I can follow. Quietly, I move up beside him, eager to hear his reaction. "Wow," he whispers. "Wow."

The view-blocking knoll in the middle of the fairway is gone. In front of us, the fairway drops off and angles to our left. It looks like an easy shot to the green, but we've added several meandering small streams that end in a small pond on the left side of the fairway. Rock work along the streams and pond bank is still on-going but it's easy to see what the finished product will look like. The plumbing for the fountain is visible in the still-shallow pond.

Jasper murmurs to himself as he traces possible approaches to the green. "There," he whispers. "A good shot there, or possibly there. Then across that creek and you're set up for a decent chip shot. Two putts and you're in." His voice rises in volume as he glances at the red and yellow tee boxes. "Brilliant. Women and seniors can hit straight across or lay up between. Challenging but doable. This layout is just … Well, it's just brilliant. Who designed it?" he asks, turning to me with a smile. "I know some of this was on my plans but nothing like this."

In answer, I glance over at an obviously embarrassed Edward. "Mr. Cullen took your plans, and then adapted them after we discovered more springs in the woods."

Jasper looks toward the slight ridge that runs along the north side of holes four and five. "You've started construction on the garden homes?"

"Yes. When we started clearing the lots, we found three more springs. They've been cleaned, rocked, and landscaped, and turned into water features for the small parks and sitting areas around them."

Pointing toward each of the areas, I continue speaking as the three of us move toward the construction. "Each of the homes will have a patio or deck at the back overlooking the fairway. A walking path will connect the water features and wind through the entire complex."

"And you've already sold some of the lots." Jasper points to a few of the sold signs.

"Yes. We're getting a lot of interest from seniors who want to downsize and young families looking for starter homes. Average size will be around seventeen hundred square feet, so not too big or too small."

Nodding, Jasper turns around to look over the fairway again. "The views will be amazing. I can't wait to see it in the spring when the grass is green and flowers are blooming. Azaleas, right?" he adds, grinning.

"Absolutely," I reply with a chuckle. "Daffodils, water lilies, and some mums in the fall."

"Beautiful, beautiful," Jasper whispers to himself, still staring at the area. "I'm very impressed, Miss Dwyer," he adds, turning to me.

With a shake of my head, I nod toward Edward. "It was all Mr. Cullen. I just paid the bills."

Jasper turns toward Edward and begins asking him more questions. Edward's cheeks turn pink, and his smile widens at whatever Jasper is saying. He looks happy, pleased, and very … handsome?

"He was a cute kid. I bet he grew up to be a handsome thing." My mother's words repeat in my head. Frowning, I shake my head. Don't go there, Bella, I tell myself before focusing back on Jasper.

He changes his stance, and a sudden shaft of sunlight illuminates him. It highlights his blond hair, blue eyes, and strong jaw. Shadows shift across his face, and suddenly, I'm that little girl again, staring at a sixteen-year-old Jasper, who I've just fallen in love with. The love is still there. It squeezes my heart and fills me with such longing and want that sudden tears prick my eyes. I turn my head, blinking rapidly to dispel them.

When I glance back, their conversation must be over because Jasper is walking toward the cart, but Edward is staring at me. Sadness and disappointment cross his face before he follows Jasper. Leaving me confused and wondering once again, what just happened.

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AN: Thank you to everyone who is reading and reviewing. I appreciate your words very much. Hugs to Sally for catching my mistakes. This is the last chapter I have completed. It's possible the next chapter will be finished by next week, but I make no promises. I'm trying to focus on getting the last couple chapters and the epilogue of Daughter of Three Suns finished. Thank you for being patient.