8
It Had to be You
A/N: Sorry it took a while to post this. Trouble with the system and one sticky part. I'm gratified at the number of readers. Thanks to all of you especially the reviewers!
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Chapter 4
"Express delivery for one Bobby Manning," announced Lucy as she entered the bullpen carrying a box.
"That's expensive," D stated as he sipped his coffee.
Bobby spun his chair around at the mention of his name. "What?"
"Package for you," repeated Lucy handing it to him.
"Who's it from?" asked Jack.
"No return address," she commented, "but it's postmarked Chicago."
Chicago. Bobby became very still as the guesses flew around him. Was it…could it be…from Sue?
"Did Security say what was inside?" inquired Tara.
"All Shirley said was share the wealth," answered Lucy.
"Share the wealth? That's an odd thing to say," Myles remarked.
"You gonna open it, Crash?" posed Jack. "Or are you trying to use x-ray vision like Superman?"
"Um…right," Bobby responded. He peeled off the tape and lifted the flaps. A small envelope and a handkerchief rested on top of the bubble wrap.
Myles stood up to peer into the box. "Someone sent you a…handkerchief?" he said in surprise when he caught a glimpse of what was inside.
It was from Sue. Holding the card in one hand, he removed the protective wrap. It was a bag of cookies. Bobby smiled—they looked like chocolate chip cookies.
"Cookies? Somebody sent you cookies?" Lucy asked incredulously.
"What kind?" Tara asked immediately.
"Looks like chocolate chip," commented Myles as he rounded his desk. "Well?" he asked in front of Bobby.
"Well what?"
"Are you sharing the wealth like Shirley said?"
Bobby gestured towards the box. "Make sure you save one for me."
Taking a few steps toward the windows to get out of the way, he leaned against the wall and opened the note. A twenty-dollar bill was enclosed in the card.
"Bobby,
Words can't adequately express my gratitude
for what you did. Hope these do. Consider them
a partial payment on the debt I owe you.
Many thanks,
Sue."
Jack had been watching the expression on his friend's face as he read the card. Something happened on that Chicago trip, he thought, something that involved a woman…but what?
"These are great!" remarked D as he munched on a cookie.
"Best I've ever tasted," commented Myles. "Did you say who they're from? Hey, where's he going?" as Bobby walked out of the bullpen.
Jack and Lucy exchanged glances. She inched her way unobtrusively closer to Jack.
"I thought he said he didn't meet anyone interesting at the conference," Lucy remarked suspiciously.
"Maybe he didn't meet her at the conference."
"Her?"
"Elementary, my dear Lucy," Jack said matter-of-factly.
"Oh? So now you're Sherlock Hudson?"
"Would you prefer Adrian Monk?" Jack grinned at her.
"Puh-lease!" she exclaimed softly. "I've had enough of quirks to last me a lifetime!" She eyed him impatiently. "So? Are you going to enlighten me or not?"
"One, the only people I know that he knows in Chicago that would send him cookies are Don and Ginny Webber and I don't think they're from Ginny."
"Why not?"
"If she hasn't sent cookies to Bobby after all these years, she isn't about to do it now."
"Okay, I'll accept that. You have a second reason?"
"Reason number two…guys don't send guys cookies. I rest my case."
"Well, I think…"
"These are fabulous!" said Tara ecstatically as she broke into the private conversation. "Did you guys try one yet?" she asked waving her partially eaten cookie.
"We're waiting for the stampede to be over. Hey!" cautioned Jack when he noticed the crowd around the box. "Make sure there's one left for Bobby!"
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"Um…I'm trying to get in contact with Sue Thomas," said Bobby into his cell.
"Department?"
"I'm not sure. I do know she bakes."
"I'll transfer your call," said the hotel operator.
"Catering department," answered a male voice. "How can I help you?"
"May I speak to Sue Thomas?"
There was a pause. "Who is this?" the voice demanded.
"Bobby Manning. I'm a friend of hers."
"Well, you can't be a very close friend if you expect her to answer on this phone."
Damn! thought Bobby. He'd forgotten. "I'm a new friend. Can you get a message to her?"
"Maybe."
This bloke was being very protective. Was there a reason why?
"Could you please tell her thank you for the cookies and I'm hoping there'll be one left by the time I get back to the office?"
"She sent you cookies?"
"Chocolate chip."
The voice became friendlier. "Okay. I tell her. Today's her day off."
"Oh. Do you happen to have a number I can reach her?"
"I do but I'm not sharing," came the immediately response.
"I understand. Thanks."
Bobby pressed the button to end the call disappointed he hadn't been able to reach Sue. There must be a way he could contact her. How? he wondered. Maybe she was listed in the phone book.
There was a knock on the conference door and a head peeked in. It was Jack.
"Got a minute?" he asked.
"Sure."
"Got through to the cookie maker?" Jack nodded at the cell in Bobby's hand. "I assume that's who you're calling."
"Left a message." He snapped the phone shut.
Jack sat down and looked at his friend. "I think Lucy managed to beat off the vultures and save you a cookie," he joked.
"I appreciate it." He tapped the conference table and stood up. "Back to that report."
"Bobby?"
"Yea?"
Jack opened his mouth to say something then closed it. If Bobby wanted to talk, he would. It was none of his business what his friend did on his own time. "Uh…nothing. Go have a cookie."
Bobby nodded and left the room.
"Yup, it's a woman," Jack remarked. "No doubt about it…but who?"
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Terry Hughes scrawled his name across an order form when a shadow fell across his desk.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded looking up. "You're supposed to be off."
"What are you doing here?" Sue retorted. "It's supposed to be your day off, too."
He spread his hands out. "Paperwork. It's never ending."
"I'm glad I don't have your job. I'd much rather bake."
"Me, too." He looked at her. "You didn't answer my question."
"I didn't see your lips."
"Don't stall. Why are you here? Why aren't you shopping like any red-blooded American female with a day off?"
"Would you believe me if I told you I wanted to get a head start on the week?"
"No." Abruptly, he changed the subject. "I notice you're not wearing your ring anymore. Dumped the guy?"
She nodded.
"Good. You can do better."
A frown creased her forehead. "I thought you liked him."
"Would it have changed your feelings if I told you I didn't?"
"No." Terry's comment gave her food for thought. "Could you tell me why you didn't like him?"
"Didn't think he was good enough for you," was his statement.
"Good enough for me?" she asked in surprise. "I'd think it would be the other way around! He's smart, attractive, successful, charming. I'm just a pastry chef."
"Hey! Don't forget you work for me! That means you're a very good pastry chef," he reminded her.
A small smile tugged the corner of Sue's lips for a brief second then disappeared as her last meeting with Jeff intruded into her thoughts. "I saw him last night."
"He's following you?" frowned Terry.
"He was waiting in my apartment when I got home."
"Get that key back!"
"I had the locks changed."
"Good."
Terry waited. He didn't particularly care for the guy. He liked him even less when he'd heard the rumors implying the ambitious young lawyer had become involved with Sue was because the senior partner's daughter was also deaf. Having a deaf girlfriend would give Jeff something in common with the partner and perhaps give him an edge over the other ambitious young lawyers in the firm.
"He said he cares about me," Sue finally said.
"You believe him?"
She shook her head. "It's over."
"Good," he said in satisfaction. "Care to share what opened your eyes?"
"I found him with another woman."
"The bastard." He could really dislike the guy for hurting Sue like that. "Make sure he keeps away from you."
"It was made very clear to him last night." The scene was still vivid in her mind.
"Even better. If he comes here, I'll have security on his tail so fast he won't know what happened," he promised.
"Thanks."
"You gonna be okay?"
"Someday."
He nodded. Sue might be heart sore but better now than later. Thank God the jerk had shown his true colors before the wedding!
"I can talk to Carol and see if you can get back your reception deposit."
"Don't bother. He paid," she smiled briefly. "If he wants his money back, he can ask. Meanwhile, I have a dress order to cancel…if I can."
"If you can't. sell it on ebay."
"That's a thought." She stood up. "Thanks for listening."
"Any time. And if you need to take tomorrow off, let me know."
She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "You're a sweetheart."
"That's what the girls say all the time…especially after a shopping spree," he remarked wryly referring to his wife and two daughters.
Sue chuckled. "I'll see you tomorrow."
With a wave, she walked out of his office.
"Damn!" swore Terry. He'd forgotten to tell Sue about that phone call from Bobby Manning. Maybe she hadn't left kitchen yet, he thought as he rounded the corner of his desk. Nope, she was already gone. Oh well. It could wait. He'd tell her tomorrow.
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