As the days slowly ticked by, gradually making way for Saturday night, Julia began to wonder if maybe her suddenly accepting Nick's date was too impulsive. Why would he be different enough for her to break her secret vow? Why is she even bothering when she knew nothing lasted forever?
All this thinking must have revolved around the fact she was finding herself changing. Even if a guy looked slightly attractive, she could always eventually brush him off her mind. And, since Nick was different, she was shrinking back in fear.
Her protected heart wanted to take the risk, especially because it had gotten a taste of something it had never known before. Love. Even if she wasn't admitting to it, and the mere thought of setting herself up to get hurt, only made her shrink back more, deeper inside herself.
When Saturday finally arrived she wasn't even sure she wanted to follow through with the date. What had come over her anyway, that made her call him and accept? It was completely not herself at all. It was someone else trying to pry herself out in the open, to be normal and be able to openly fall for Nick.
"So," Landon said Saturday morning, watching his daughter stumble quietly in the kitchen, her hair mopped and matted against her head. "You've got a date tonight? With Nick?"
Julia, who had almost forgotten in her half conscious state, froze in the middle of the kitchen and slowly turned to meet her father. She looked down at her gray sweats then at her long nightshirt that had a picture of a teddy bear on it, thinking rapidly. "Uhuh," she replied absentmindedly, knowing her father was watching her intently, obviously amazed.
"This is new," he said slowly, as if she didn't know. "Before you go, I would like a word with him." she gave him a face and started for the cereal cupboard, reaching up for some "Frosted Flakes" and bringing it down to her counter.
"Dad," she said, "He's your patient, what could you possibly say to him." Julia looked back at her father who, like so many other times she had seen him, was sitting at their dining table with his coffee mug in hand. He grinned up at her when she replied and pushed himself out of the chair.
"Hey, just because he's my patient doesn't mean I can't give him 'The talk'," he motioned two dialogue signs with his hands as he said "The talk". Julia laughed at him, seeing him acting so incredibly ridiculous.
"Dad," she swatted at him and poured her bowl of cereal, moving away from him quickly when he tried to get her back.
"You know, your Grandfather really gave me that talk when I asked your mother out on our first date." He smiled, thinking back on it, "He could scare anyone, he was the reverend after all! He especially didn't like me, so I really was lectured and he eyed me every time I left with Jamie as if I wasn't to be trusted." He dumped his coffee mug in the sink and leaned against it.
"Grandpa did? Really?" Julia was amazed, her grandfather, with exception of some strictness, hadn't seemed at all the way her father was explaining.
Landon nodded, "He had good reasons," he commented, while Julia settled herself down at the empty dining table, listening as she munched her breakfast. "I was pretty messed up, then. I'm actually very lucky to be where I stand, with my medical career. The way my life was steering, I wouldn't have even made it this far." He shook his head to himself, and Julia knew he wasn't on the same conversation they were on a minute before.
He was back in his past, remembering his High School days, but most of all, remembering her mom. His mind was going back to his first date with her, and how special it must have been. It was usually his first date he would bring up to Julia out of nowhere, when he would have these memories. She wondered more then once what had been so special about that date, and why it would cling to him for the rest of his life.
By the time she was done with her breakfast, Landon had left the room, getting ready for work. Slowly she pushed herself out of her chair and rinsed her bowl in the sink, staring out into her backyard, her mind falling over her mom.
It was so confusing what she felt toward her mother. She felt a longing to know her, and a bitterness that made her hate her more then anything. She never had a mother figure to turn to, but she wasn't sure she even wanted one after she had learned her father could answer probably just as well as any women. It was still hard, to figure out what her mind had decided it felt toward her mom.
Suddenly the phone gave a shrill ring from the kitchen wall it dangled on, signaling Julia's attention. "I got it, Dad!" she called, running over and answering, "hello?"
"Ah, yes, this is Mrs. Brookes, may I speak with Dr. Carter?" Julia immediately noted that Mrs. Brookes was Nick's mom, but kept this to herself. It would only be stating the obvious if she said any of this out loud.
"Sure," she replied, stepping back from the phone, "Dad, Mrs. Brookes wants a word with you!"
A moment later Landon entered the kitchen with a business suite on and a red tie, tightening it around his neck. "Mrs. Brookes?" he verified before he took the phone, Julia nodded and handed it to him. "Ah, Mrs. Brookes, I've been wanting a word with you, I'm so glad you called."
Julia slowly slid behind the kitchen wall and listened in, still wanting to know why Nick was my father's patient. "Well, he's been doing really well lately. I'm honestly amazed!"—he sighed heavily to the response he heard--, "Oh, that's too bad. I'm very sorry. No—no, don't worry about that. I think he's as close to recovery as we can get him to."
There was a pause then, a long one. "Well, recovery is a tricky thing, Mrs. Brookes. I've seen some cases where the patient has died with rarely any signs, and those who were on the brink of death live miraculously." Julia swallowed hard, was Nick dying? "Oh, right, right. Uhuh," Landon was just in the middle of tying his show, when he paused and looked very serious. "No, I'm afraid not. Mrs. Brookes, we've discussed this before. Running is not an option for him anymore---I know, I know, running is very important to him, but, and I think you agree with me, his health is more important then a hobby. Okay, sure. I'll see you and Nick this Friday. Sure thing, bye."
Julia stood in front of her mirror, painting a light touch of blue eye shadow over her eyes. Her hair was let down, spiraling down to her shoulders, her curls looking nearly perfect. She stared as she finished with a light blush looking from her boring gray eyes, to the thinness of her lips. She wasn't much to look at, she knew that much. Why everyone told her she looked like her mother, she'll never know.
Julia had a photo of her mother, and she could easily see why Landon thought she was beautiful; she was more then beautiful. She was lovely.
She had a smile that from first glance tell anyone she couldn't be anymore happier, that this smile was her no longer holding back. Her wedding dress clang to her slim body as she stood leaning against Landon, who had that same bright smile; a smile Julia had never seen from her father. Ever.
"Julia!" Landon called from the front of the house, "Nick's here!" Immediately Julia ran her fingers through her hair one last time, desperately trying to look as perfect as her mother did in her picture. Her trying was in vain, and she knew it.
She sighed heavily and grabbed her purse, heading toward her front door. Nick stood waiting, with a light blue shirt on, and some really nice slacks. Her breath was taken away from the sight, nearly immediately. His dark hair hung low over his piercing green eyes. He smiled warmly at her, a smile that sent Julia's heart on a race. "He—Hey," she stuttered, trying to smile her shaky, nervous smile.
"Hi," he replied, glancing at Landon, silently asking for permission to lead Julia away now.
"Have fun," Landon said in answering, watching Julia take Nick's hand and being led out the door. "And hey!"---Nick paused and looked back, "I want her home by ten."
"Yes, sir," he said back politely, once more shocking Julia by the respect he kept proving he had. She glanced at her father, who smiled as he watched them climb into Nick's car. And, suddenly the wanting to know what was wrong with Nick came haunting into her mind; the phone call that very morning still fresh in her memory.
When she entered his car, she couldn't help but be amazed at how incredibly clean it looked compared to the first time she had ridden in it. No loose papers of trash or left over drive-through meals; the shirt she had recalled seeing and pushing it aside, wasn't even anywhere in sight. His car was spotless.
Nick caught her staring around his car, from his front floor to even leaning behind her seat and looking (awing) at the cleanliness, and couldn't help but grin to himself as he pulled out of her driveway. "You know, it's not a miracle for a guy to be clean," he commented, dragging Julia's thoughts to him.
Immediately she gave a short, quiet gasp to herself, realizing how rude she must have looked. And this was her first date! "I—I know," she stuttered, shifting quietly in her seat, now trying avoid his eye contact completely. "It—it just looked, um, different."
"Right," he said, smiling at her, sending a series of colors to creep into her face. She was humiliated! First she came to his house almost two weeks before and nearly sent his family the message she didn't want to be there, and now she was staring rudely around Nick's car, looking for anything that could be out of place.
"So, where are we going?" She asked, hastily changing the subject. Nick grew quiet a moment, concentrating deeply on switching lanes in the street, while Julia listened to the click, click, click, of the turning signal. The car pulled into the lane, preparing to turn, when the light suddenly changed red.
Nick slowed, stopped and waited, glancing impatiently at the clock. Julia began to wonder why he was acting so—jumpy. That's the only way she could describe it, other then extreme nerves, but that could have easily worked too. "You'll see," he eventually answered her question at least five minutes later, right after the light turned green.
"Ok," she replied, watching outside her window, trying to figure out where he was taking her, looking for any hints she might find. However, they were in the middle of shopping centers and coffee shops, fast food places, nothing fit for a date like the one she wanted to go on; a nice dinner at a decent restaurant.
So far, though, Nick was being just about as mysterious as he could be. She couldn't even pick up any clues at all. And when he eventually pulled into the nicest restaurant in town, she wasn't even prepared for it.
A/N What do you think? Like the cliffie I left you? Sorry about that, and sorry this chapter took so long... I had a MAJOR writer's block! I'm ok now... I think. Anyways, I know where I'm going next... so... expect an update soon!!!!!!!
