The Right Touch
Chapter 18
Disclaimers: same o same o
----------
Friday morning
Bobby was idly doodling some ideas on a sketchpad when there was knock on the door immediately followed by its opening and a hand waving a white tissue back and forth.
Bobby looked mystified. "Jack?" he guessed.
Jack popped his head in. "Is it safe to come in?"
Bobby laughed. "I take it you're asking for a cease fire?"
"I wasn't sure if you were gonna be using the heavy artillery after yesterday's conversation," replied a relieved Jack as he dropped onto one of the empty chairs. At Bobby's puzzled look, Jack clarified, "Yesterday you threw a pencil. Today could've been the stapler."
Bobby grinned as he leaned back in his chair. "Sorry about that, mate. I admit I was a bit out of sorts yesterday but today...today I am a changed man."
Jack looked pleased. "And to what do we owe this miraculous change of mood?"
"Went home and thought about what you said." He leaned forward clasping his hands in front of him. "And I came to the conclusion that I have been the biggest fool in the world about to make the most monumental mistake of my life."
Jack's interest perked up. "Which is?"
"To let Sue out of my life."
"Because...?" He wanted to hear his friend say the words.
"Because I'm in love with her," Bobby said simply. "Truly, madly, deeply. Can you believe it?"
In his tossing and turning during the night, he realized with startling clarity that he'd fallen in love with Sue before he'd ever seen her. It was her voice—warm and friendly —that wove its enchantment over him. No matter how he felt, her dulcet tones had the magic to make him smile, make him feel the dreariest day was full of sunshine. And when they met, she'd managed to captivate his heart in two short days. No wonder he'd lost interest in Darcy!
"Yeah, I do," Jack answered honestly. "It was written all over your face that Sunday night at the house. You never looked at Darcy like that. And if you think it's my imagination, Tara said the same thing."
"See? I said you're a smart man. And it seems you're married to a smart woman, too."
"I know," smiled Jack. "So, what's your plan?"
Bobby frowned a bit. "Well, there seems to be a bit of a snag."
"Which is?"
"It seems she doesn't want to talk to me right now. However, I plan to rectify that situation as soon as I end the relationship with Darcy."
"Anything I can do to help?" Jack offered.
"I appreciate the offer, Jack, but I think I have to handle this myself." He frowned as an idea hit him.
"What?" asked Jack noticing the puckered brow.
"This all supposes Sue is interested in me," he replied. "I think she is but then there's that bloke she was with in the restaurant."
Jack started laughing.
Bobby looked at his friend as though he was crazy. "What?"
"If she's not interested in you, I promise to buy you lunch for the next two weeks," he offered. "Sue had the exact same expression on her face—she's in love with you, you dope!"
A pleased look appeared on Bobby's face. "If you're right, I'll buy you lunch for the next two weeks," he countered.
"Baby sit one night and we'll call it even," said Jack.
"Done." As the two men shook hands, there was a knock.
"Come."
D walked in and scrutinized Bobby warily. Satisfied with what he saw, he announced, "I like this Bobby much more than the guy that was sitting in your chair yesterday."
"Sorry abut that, mate," apologized Bobby. "I was a bit out of sorts yesterday. But Jack here straightened me out. I'm as right as rain now."
"Good. I'm glad to hear it because you're gonna need it."
Bobby and Jack looked at D for the news.
"Dan Peters wants to move up the time for the meeting from Monday to Saturday afternoon."
"What?"
D shrugged. "He's leaving for a trip to Australia to check out some possible business ventures so he wants to meet before he leaves." It was an all too familiar scenario.
Glancing at the half-formed doodles on his pad, a lopsided smile appeared. "I'll do my best," promised Bobby.
----------
Friday night
It was dark outside. Bobby left the office late working on several ideas for the meeting scheduled at two the following day. Knowing that Sue would probably be working late in preparation for tomorrow's event, he decided to walk to the florist and see if he could catch a glimpse of her. He laughed at himself. He was behaving like a lovesick schoolboy but he didn't care.
He stood in front of the shop's window and peered inside. The light was on in the back and he could see figures moving about. One of them had to be Sue. There she was. He thought she looked paler than before but it could've been the lighting. She was concentrating on the arrangement before her. As though drawn by his stare, Sue raised her eyes to the front of the shop and spotted Bobby. Bobby felt a flutter of excitement when Sue started to get up but then sank back down. She held their gaze for a beat longer, then looked away.
Bobby sighed as he walked to his car. He missed her.
-----
"We're right on schedule," announced Lucy glancing at the time. "At this rate, we'll have everything prepped and ready to go in another couple of hours."
"After which you will treat your slave labor to dinner," said Myles as he carried an armful of greens to her.
"Hear! Hear!" agreed Howie. "I like the sound of that."
"Well, until we get paid for this job, I'm afraid it has to be Ernie's," Sue replied. A shadow crossed her face when she said the name of the deli. It brought back memories of Bobby.
"That's fine with me," said Lucy.
With the promise of dinner, they worked with enthusiasm tempered by tiredness. It had been a long day.
Sue concentrated on putting together one of the large arrangements needed for the stage. As she placed the flowers, she felt the urge to look up. With the help of the street lights, she could barely make out a figure peering in the window. It was Bobby. Her heart beat faster at the sight of him. Unconsciously, she started to rise but then sank back down. She wasn't supposed to talk to him. Darcy had made that very clear. She stared at him a moment longer then looked away. When she looked back up, he was gone.