Chap. 6


Same day...


Jan hurried into Tuscany, worried that she was running too late. When she saw that Philip was already there, she became even more nervous. She sat down in a huff. "I'm so sorry. I' m late I know, but I was all the way across town and it seemed that I hit every red light and then-"

"Jan, breathe." Philip chuckled. "It's okay. I haven't been waiting long."

Jan laughed nervously. She sat down and fidgeted.

Philip eyed her. "What's wrong, Jan?"

"You'll laugh."

"I promise, I won't."

Jan sighed and leaned in to whisper, "I hate this place."

Philip laughed, "What?"

"You said you wouldn't laugh!"

Philip tried to keep his dimples in check. "Why don't you like Tuscany?"

Jan looked about her. "I feel like I'm suffocating in here. It's just so formal, and beige and boring."

Philip rubbed his brow, "Beige?"

"Yeah, you know, no color, no individuality. Everything the same."

"Ok, ok. So where do you want to go?"

Jan smiled, "I have the perfect place."

****


Belle walked over to her two friends seated at the bar. "So can I get you anything else, guys?"

Mimi shook her head and wiped her mouth. "No thanks, Belle. That was great."

"Yeah, it was." Jason chimed in. He stood up and reach into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He threw a wad of bills on the bar. Plenty for his and Mimi's lunch.

"So Belle, you gonna be at the game tonight?" Jason wanted to know.

Belle smiled, "Of course. I wouldn't want to miss seeing my husband made a fool out of."

Jason laughed, "He's gonna get pounded."

Mimi frowned, wanting to be in on this secret convo these two seemed to be having. "Hello? What game?"

Belle looked at her, "This year the police department and the fire department are holding a charity basketball game. They play each other and then us women have to stitch them up. They play dirty."

Jason grinned, "Damn right we do. You should come by, Lockhart." He turned and after saying goodbye, headed out the door.


Mimi glanced down at the money on the table and went running after him. She got to him right before he got in his 4-runner. "Jason! Wait!"

Jason turned around, "Yeah?"

Mimi huffed, a little out of breath. "You don't have to buy my lunch. I can get it."

Jason gave her his trademark grin, "Oh well, next time you pay."

Before Mimi can respond, Jason got in his truck and drove away. Mimi stared at the sticker he had on his back glass. It was a picture of flames with an axe and firefighter's hat above it and below it said: 'I fight, what you fear.'

Mimi smiled to herself and went back into the pub.

Belle hurried out from behind the bar, "So are you going tonight?"

Mimi looked at her crossly, "Why haven't you told me about this before?"

Belle looked away, "I didn't think you would have any interest in it." Then Belle grinned widely, "I see you do now."

Mimi sighed, "I have no idea what you are talking about, Belle." Mimi grabbed her purse and coat and headed for the door.

"So I'll see you there?" Belle called after her.

"Yeah, yeah." Mimi grumbled.

****


Philip sat in the car and stared at the building. "You did not bring me here."

Jan grinned, "Oh yes I did. Come on, hurry up." Jan dragged Philip out of the car and into the restaurant.

Philip groaned when he passed the ceramic clown. "But McDonalds?? Come on, Jan. I haven't been here since high school, and even then it was a stretch. Only because Hawk had a thing for one of the chicks that worked here."

Jan laughed, "It'll be good for you. Reconnect with your youth."

"Or with a heart attack." Philip muttered.

Jan ordered two Big Mac meals and the two sat down to eat. Jan took off her suit jacket and was at home. "I LOVE fast food. I love everything about it."

Philip laughed at her, "There's something wrong with you."

Jan smiled and looked around, "Isn't this better though? I mean, its just so oppressive in Tuscany."

Philip nodded and took off his suit jacket as well. They ate and laughed for the remainder of the time and when they were done, Philip went and got two apple pies.

It was Jan's turn to laugh, "Oh no, I'm rubbing off on you."

Philip grinned. "I don't think that would be such a bad thing."

Jan blushed and went about eating her apple pie.

****


Mimi was busy going over invoices when Jan finally breezed through the door. Mimi was about to lay into her for taking a two hour lunch, but then she saw the look on Jan's face.

Mimi smiled and leaned back to prop her feet up on her desk. "Looks like someone had a nice lunch."

Jan pretended to ignore her and work. Mimi snorted with laughter, "You are so easy to read, Jan."

Jan through up her hands in exasperation, "I give up keeping anything from you."

Mimi laughed, "I'm your partner, you shouldn't keep anything from me anyway."