Chapter 16

My apologies for the long delay. I've been transitioning jobs at work so instead of doing 2 jobs, I am doing 3. I've been working way too much and something had to give. Hope I can update more regularly over the next few weeks.

"Not that one."

He turned back to her, his hand still on the hanger. "Why?"

"The blue checked one. Laura likes it."

Pulling the shirt she'd recommended off the hanger, he turned to her. As he slid his arm into one sleeve, "Laura is it? What happened to 'the good doctor'?"

"I've decided I like her. And she likes that shirt."

"How do you know?"

"Every time you wear it, she compliments you. She never compliments your other shirts. The last time she said it brought out your eyes."

He shook his head as he buttoned the shirt, "I meant how do you know you like her."

"Because she's protective of you, loyal. Like James, but different."

"Different how?"

Cocking an eyebrow at him, "Surely I don't need to have a birds and bees conversation with you."

He shook his head, almost afraid to admit he knew exactly what she meant. "It's not like that. We're friends."

"You could be more. All you have to do is ask?"

A knock at his door, froze him. "Ask what?"

"Those tickets hanging on the refrigerator are about to go to waste."

"No, I'll call the box office see about selling them back."

"Whatever you wish, but I think it's a missed opportunity."

At another knock, he tucked his shirt in quickly. "No, it's not worth the risk."

"What risk?"

"If she doesn't… She's my best friend."

"She could be more."

They lingered over their meal, enjoying the late afternoon sun. Val's words echoed through Robbie's mind. "Robbie, is something wrong?"

He shook his head, "No, not at all."

"You seem distracted."

Smiling, he took a sip of his wine. "Are you saying I'm bad company?"

Rolling her eyes, she laughed. "Horrible. I think you owe me something in recompense."

He met her laughing gaze, smiled at how easy it was to be with her. "Would tickets to an opera be appropriate recompense?"

"What?"

He watched her over his drink, "At Glyndebourne, The Fairy Queen."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am."

"Have you already bought the tickets?" He nodded, "Yes."

"I'm guessing you didn't buy them specifically for me."

He shook his head, "No, I bought them with someone else in mind." He paused, "I shouldn't have asked."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

She reached for his hand, "I meant yes, Robbie. I'll go. I've never been to Glyndebourne."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. And since you bought the tickets, I'll make the hotel arrangements."

He opened the door, smiling as he dropped his things in the bowl. "I take it your lunch went well?"

He smiled at her, "She said yes."

"I thought you weren't going to ask."

"It just felt right."

"And is it a date or just best friends away for a weekend?"

He shook his head, a brilliant smile blooming on his face. "I don't know."

"And what do you want it to be?"

"I don't know yet. But I'm looking forward to it."

"You're doing that wrong."

He looked up from his ironing, "There's a right way?"

She nodded, "Collar, sleeves then the body."

He looked down at the shirt, "It's fine. I'll have a jacket on."

"You're nervous."

Shaking his head, "No, there's no need for me to be jealous. We're just two friends, sharing a weekend away."

"Is that what you really want, friendship?"

"I don't know that it matters what I want. She may not want anything more than friendship."

"But you aren't ruling out the possibility?"

A smile tugged at his lips, "I'm not ruling out anything."

"You should call her."

"I've already talked to her twice."

"Yes, and she was excited to hear from you each time. I suspect she wouldn't mind another call." She smiled, turning away from. "I think I'll go check on our Lyn. In case you want a bit of privacy."

He watched her turn the corner. She always gave the illusion of leaving but he knew if he looked around the corner, she would have simply vanished. He thought about her words, her gentle encouragement. It was never pushy, never ahead of what he needed. Just a subtle reminder of all life had to offer if he was simply open to it.

He grabbed the phone, dialed her number from memory as he paced the bedroom. "Hi, it's me again."

"Hello, me. You sound frightfully like my friend Robbie. Has something happened to him?"

She rolled his eyes, "No, nothing's happened. Just…you know, double checking."

She smiled to herself, "I will be ready at nine AM tomorrow morning. I've called the hotel to confirm and my suitcase is all packed."

"I was thinking we could take our time driving down. Maybe get lunch along the way. I don't know anywhere but…"

"I could search for places online, make some recommendations in the morning."

"You don't mind?"

"Not at all, I'll even pick someplace I know you'll like."

"I want you to enjoy it, too."

"I'll enjoy the company."

He smiled to himself, "Same here."

He was unbuttoning his shirt, when she spoke. "I'm sorry your weekend was ruined."

Turning he shrugged, "You lose some, you lose some."

"That's a very pessimistic outlook on life. Care to tell me?"

He shook his head, "I was looking forward to it. No matter what might have come of it I was looking forward to going away."

"Robbie, you were looking forward to going away with her. It's OK to admit it. I want you to be happy, my love." When he looked away, she stepped, "If your case ends early, you could salvage some of the weekend."

"We've missed the opera."

"She said she would enjoy the company. I bet she would enjoy it anywhere, even here in Oxford."

She watched him speak with the maitre'd. It was the third restaurant and the results were the same. No tables. He seemed so disheartened when he walked back to her.

"Same story again." In a very bad Italian accent he mimicked the maitre'd "It's a bank holiday weekend. We should have booked a table."

She laughed to herself, thinking he was very sweet and something else. "Damn."

Robbie's attention was drawn over her shoulder, "Desperate times, desperate measures." Pointing at her, "Wait there."

She watched after him, confused. In a matter of minutes, he returned carrying two wrappers filled with fish and chips. Holding them up proudly, "I promised you dinner."

Laughing out loud she nodded as he offered her one of the wrappers. They walked down the river, finding an empty bench. They each tucked into their wrappers and ate in silence. He heard her moan as she took the first bite. "Who'd have thought that one-day haddock would be a luxury food?"

"Mm, and that we'd get little forks to eat it with."

"Mmm, yeah. I know how to give a girl a good time." They smiled at one another. All Laura could think was it was the best time she'd had in a long time. "I'm sorry about the opera, though."

Shrugging, "Me too."

He looked at her slyly, desperate to ask the question, "Had you booked somewhere nice to stay?"

"Hmm, just a modern little country house hotel in its own grounds and a swimming pool, a gymnasium and a jogging trail. And just to stop you wondering, I booked two rooms."

"Of course." He grinned at her. "It would have been a damn sight more exciting than a quiz weekend though wouldn't it have been." She giggled. "What's the attraction about quizzes, why do people do it?"

She nodded her head. "Compulsive list makers. Clinically speaking they're obsessive neurotics."

Robbie looked around. "Here's a question. If you went on Mastermind, what would be your chosen specialist subject?"

"Hmm, well the thing I know most about is corpses."

Robbie laughed. "That would go down great, barrel of laughs."

"What about your specialist subject?"

He thought for a moment. "Aside from work and the kids, I haven't got one."

She looked at him. "What about loneliness?"

The stared at one another for a moment, tension in the air. Then Robbie smiled, "Pass."

Laura looked away, "I shouldn't have asked."

"It's OK. I don't mind. You're really the only one besides my kids who ever ask me about her."

Reaching over, she took his hand. "You can always talk to me about her."

She watched him as he walked around the flat. He was pensive, she could feel the tension coiled in his body. Briefly, she considered not appearing, letting him have a moment's peace. When he opened the drawer where he kept her belongings, she made her decision.

"How was dinner?" His shoulders hunched, she could see them shaking, knew he was crying. She reached for him, her hand squeezing his shoulder wishing he could feel her. "What happened?"

He turned to her, shrugging off the touch he couldn't feel. The pain in his eyes made her recoil. "It's her, isn't it? She's the one who makes you go away."