IV. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
There is a destiny that makes us brothers;
None goes his way alone,
All that we send into the lives of others,
Comes back onto our own.
-Edwin Markham
Maria Simms waited anxiously in the bathroom.
Please, please, please, she silently chanted.
Deep brown eyes stared at the applicator that was set on the bathroom counter. It was three in the morning, and she couldn't wait any longer.
She'd just had a feeling that it was her turn when she missed her period last week. Maria was like clockwork since she started menstruating at age twelve. The only time it got off schedule was when she went on birth control senior year in high school prior to making love with Tyler for the first time. After that, clockwork once again ensued when her body adjusted to the Pill. And when she stopped taking birth control some time ago, her period fluctuated, but corrected itself in four months time. And this was the first time in a little over a year that she had a missed period.
Please let it be my turn, she prayed.
The time was up. Slowly, she processed the result. "Tyler!"
And that was what Tyler Simms woke up to, his wife yelling his name. He bolted up and out of bed, afraid she was hurt, only to see his wife emerge from their bathroom excitedly.
"Maria, what's wrong?"
"We're pregnant!" she squealed, waving the applicator stick. "I'm pregnant!"
His heart still pounding from the abrupt awakening of a deep sleep, Maria had to tell him one more time, practically holding the test right up to his eyes for him to see. When it finally set in, a wide grin broke out on his face.
"We're pregnant!" he said.
She nodded vigorously. "We are!"
He laughed cheerfully, picked her up and twirled her around, set her down and kissed her.
"We have to call everyone," she insisted.
"Uh…" He looked at the red numbers of his alarm clock. 3:21.
"Okay, maybe not now," Maria conceded. "The second the sun comes up though."
"We'll let it sink in just for us until then." He had his arms around her waist, realizing that soon this waist would be expanding with the growth of his son. Hands strayed to her tummy.
"We're going to have a baby," she said quietly with awe, her own hands stealing over his.
"We are."
xx
Everyone went over to the Simms' house for congratulations. Maria called her relatives in California and there were loud exultations heard over speaker phone. Tyler's parents, Rosalind and Glenn, were out of state at a seminar, but were heading straight home (their son's protestations not stopping them) to see him and Maria. They had been hoping for a grandchild since their son's nuptials, they weren't getting any younger, and they wanted to be young grandparents.
With three of the Sons' wives pregnant, and two more to go, it was continuously brought home that there was a rift within the Covenant, one that had been ignored and therefore unseen for several years. But, with another generation coming, the Sons were forced to confront the fact that there was something missing. It was a sobering moment, especially after the joyous news of Tyler and Maria.
Two days after, they were gathered at Reid and Rowan's. The women were on a group outing, leaving their male counterparts to fend for themselves. In Reid's den they took up the couch and chairs. Erwin and Bruce Lee were mock wrestling under the pool table while Tippy sat on one of the stools at the mini bar. The sun shone in through the double doors that led out to the patio and then the pool.
"You wanted to talk about Chase," Tyler spoke, eyeing Reid, then Caleb.
Caleb nodded to Reid, indicating that perhaps he should go first. The blond spoke, he told them how Rowan ran into Chase at the Colony house two days ago. Chase having a problem with being a father, unable to overcome his past. How upset Rowan was over it. How angry she was that this gap still existed after so many years.
"I rarely even think of him," Tyler said after he was finished.
"Same," Pogue added.
"Talking about him now," Caleb put in, "do any of you feel the same anger you used to ten years ago? Because I realized that I don't."
"I stopped worrying about Rowan being in Chase's presence a long time ago," Reid said. "Then I just didn't like it, I can't remember when it was that I just accepted it."
Tyler said that Maria mentioned Ginger sometimes. How she wanted to get to know Chase's wife better. "I think she held back because she figured I wouldn't like it."
Pogue remembered Hope coming back from meeting Ginger the first time. An outing that all the girls had had some eight or nine years ago, he couldn't recall exactly. Hope had said that Ginger mentioned Chase, then quickly covered her mouth like she'd mentioned something taboo. Pogue looked at his brothers. "Hope said she felt so bad that Ginger was embarrassed to talk about Chase, not because she was ashamed, but because…" Pogue made a 'you know what I mean' motion with his hand, and they nodded.
"I remember that," Caleb said. "Judy talked about that, too. She felt really guilty."
"Can you imagine one of ours being embarrassed to talk about one of us?" Tyler mused.
"So, Ginger is embarrassed to mention her husband, and our wives feel bad and guilty because we never stopped judging Chase," Reid stated.
"We've kind of been depriving them of really getting to know Ginger," Caleb said. "Well, except for Rowan."
"But they could have been even closer if…" Shit, now Reid really did feel like crap. Was this what happened after you've avoided something for so long? Opening up a can and realizing you never emptied the worms and now a fetid stench permeated the room.
"What does Rowan have to say about this?" Tyler asked.
Reid's brow rose. "She doesn't know we're talking about it."
There was a collective silence in the room. They were all together to explore their inner psyches which held memories of Chase and his misdeeds, to discuss a way to get passed that, and not at Rowan's behest? Not their Lil Bit who had insisted upon group hugs in times of sadness, or ordered them to apologize to one another if petty arguments ensued, and then threatened blackmail if they did not?
The guys supposed this was something they truly had to come to on their own. Yes, that was it. Rowan had, over the years, subtly inserted Chase into conversations along with Ginger's name; it was hard to pretend he didn't exist when Rowan was such friends with Ginger and had no qualms in talking about her. No amount of her urging reconciliation had worked. When had Rowan stopped trying?
"And now Chase is struggling with fatherhood," Tyler said. "Damn."
"You imagine hating yourself that much that you think you'd make a shitty father?" Reid questioned. "I know Ginger and Dottie think he's good, but…" He paused, finding the words. "How do you go about raising a son that's for sure going to have the same Power that nearly destroyed you?"
"And tell him not to," Caleb added.
Pogue: "How will our sons feel about Chase's son if or when they know what he did?"
Caleb: "Do we want them to grow up in the middle of our ill feelings for Chase? Or do we want this next generation to have a fresh start?"
Reid: "It would be the first time since Putnam that all five Sons could grow up together…without a feud."
"As friends and brothers," Tyler said.
"I'm not saying we'll ever have the level of brotherhood with Chase that the four of us do," Reid said, "but we don't have to be against each other." He pulled a face. "Damn, where is this wisdom shit coming from?"
The guys chuckled, breaking through the solemn atmosphere.
"You're getting old, bro," Pogue said.
Reid snorted. "Please." He ran his fingers through his fine blond hair. "Not a gray in sight."
"Conceited," Tyler muttered, shaking his head.
"Confident," Reid amended.
"I think conceited was pretty accurate, too," Caleb said.
"Why's everyone ganging up on me?" Reid exclaimed dramatically. Tippy meowed, jumped off the stool and rubbed herself against Reid's leg. "Ah, thanks." He picked up the cat who rubbed the top of her head under his chin. (Of course, seeing the feline getting affection, Erwin and Bruce Lee had to find a human to bestow love on them, as well.)
"But back to Chase for a sec," Tyler said while scratching Erwin behind the ears. "How do we approach him without making it seem like we pity him? Because that's not what it's about."
"And why would he hear us out after all this time?" Pogue tacked on.
"You know, whether he knows it or not, or even likes it," Reid said, "he feels a rift, too. He's a lost 'brother.' By blood he's a part of the Covenant, and as a person he's linked with us, too."
"I don't think there's a definite way to do this. I guess we have to…apologize, call a truce," Caleb suggested.
"Pax Pactum," Reid said, causing the rest to look at him, slightly startled. "What?" Reid crowed. "Why can't you guys accept that I am a deep person? The doubt is beginning to hurt. It really is."
"No, it's not that," Tyler said. "We're just surprised you remembered anything from high school Latin."
Reid waved off their amusement at his expense, taking the high road. "How do we approach him?"
To that they all went silent. Extend their hands and friendship and then…? It clicked after a moment. All their lives the Sons had been surrounded by good food, due in large part to Rowan who had gotten her culinary skills from her mother. Rowan always said that food brought people together, and they had to admit that many laughs had been shared over a good meal and tasty desserts.
"A barbeque," Caleb suggested.
"Here?" Reid asked.
"Some place neutral," Tyler said. "So he doesn't feel like he's on someone else's turf."
Pogue nodded. "Ipswich Park. We'll bring our wives," – Erwin barked – "and the animals; make a day of it."
Satisfied with their brainstorming and subsequent unanimous agreement, one hurdle had been overcome. Now, they actually had to do the talking.
"Caleb's the most diplomatic," Reid nominated. "You know it'd come out wrong from me."
That, they could concede to. Tyler, Pogue, and Reid all looked at the second eldest Son for his say. Caleb glared balefully at them for a moment before rolling his eyes and saying he would do it.
"You guys are coming with me though," he said.
xx
"Uncle Hunter, lift us again!" Uriel pleased through gapped teeth.
"Please!" Raphael, Uriel's older twin brother (by two minutes) echoed. "We wanna fly!"
Hunter put on a mock exasperated face, as if lifting two three year olds with his telekinetic powers was a hefty ordeal. The twins repeated their entreaties, this time with big smiles meant to charm.
"Dinner!" Sasha called from the back patio.
"Ah, Mommy, we gon' get lifted!" Uriel whined.
Hunter looked at Sasha for silent permission. Momentarily the twins were lifted some six feet in the air being hovered towards the patio. Princess Agrippina Buttercup and her younger cohort, Princess Alexandria Buttercup, yipped and leaped upwards to reach their little humans.
"Ah, merde!" Michael complained. "It's like this in Yorkshire, ouais?"
Gabriel shrugged laconically, amused by the identical dogs and young humans, his two nephews. "You should be used to it. Alexandria has been with the family for four years now."
Gabriel and Hunter were visiting in New Orleans, staying at the house where the late Eve Delacroix had been born and died in. Roz had been born in the house, too. On the patio, Hunter let the twins down and they both then ran to their father who grabbed them up into two strong arms.
"What do we do before dinner?" Michael queried.
"Wash!" the twins exclaimed at the same time.
"Tres bien," the father commended, letting them down in the kitchen and reveling in hearing them scamper down the hall. He smiled at his wife, playfully nipped at her neck as he held her from behind.
Not five minutes later Uriel and Raphael were heard yelling, "Mémé! Mémé!
Roz Grayraven, matriarch of their little clan, and Mambo of the Voodoo, accompanied her grandchildren into the kitchen. Her two sons kissed either of her cheeks, daughter-in-law hugged, as did son-in-law, whom Roz referred to Hunter as. Fifteen minutes later they were all gathered at the table.
"I had the most wonderful feeling on my way home," Roz said after a bit.
"Quoi?" Gabriel asked.
"The five of them are coming together," she replied.
"Non!" Michael gasped.
Uriel and Raphael laughed. "Daddy is talkin' with his mouth full!" They were subsequently chastised by their mother for talking with their mouths full.
Hunter chuckled. "Reid must be eating some humble pie right now."
xx
Chase wasn't expecting anybody which was why he more surprised than annoyed at being interrupted while he was working on his next novel. He had to get the rough copy in to his publisher in three months. It had been going okay until Ginger got pregnant, now his mind was otherwise occupied.
The doorbell rang again.
"Coming!" he called.
Never would he have imagined himself in this scenario. When he opened the door there stood the other four Sons of Ipswich. His brow rose and his blue eyes glanced at each of them.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, assuming the only reason they could be here was because something was amiss.
"You could say that," Caleb spoke first.
Silence from Chase.
Reid cleared his throat. "I don't mean to be rude, but we got to talk, so can we come in?"
Tyler rolled his eyes, and since Pogue was closest to the blonde he was the one to administer a back-handed smack against Reid's arm. Reid glared at Pogue but accepted the chastisement silently. He wasn't one to dilly-dally and beat around the bush. They had come here to talk to Chase, so why weren't they?
"Sure," Chase finally said, stepping back so they could enter.
Guests weren't as rare as they were probably thinking. They often had get-togethers, Chase, Ginger, and Dottie, but the invitees were mostly of a geriatric age, sometimes bringing their kids or grandkids.
He led them to the living room which was tastefully and comfortably furnished due to Dottie and Ginger's vigilant decorating. Chase told them to sit down while he isolated himself on his recliner near the fireplace.
"Nice place," Tyler said.
Chase shrugged. "Credit goes to my wife and Dottie."
"They here?" Reid asked.
"They went to Dottie's weekly bridge game," Chase replied.
Reid nodded. "Oh, yeah, congrats on the baby."
The eldest Son's eyes shuttered before he gave Reid a tight 'thank you.' "So, what's this about?" he asked, changing the subject quickly.
They looked towards Caleb. He nodded. "All right. It's about our sons."
"Will-be sons," Pogue added.
"What about them?" Chase questioned.
"Look, there's a divide between us," Caleb said. "And we're partly at fault," he admitted, encompassing the four of them. "It's been ten years and we haven't given you much of a chance."
"Chance to what?" Chase said.
Words, words, Caleb thought. Find the right words. He'd been mentally rehearsing his speech all the way here. "I think our sons deserve not to grow up in a fractured atmosphere. They'll be spending a lot of time together, connected, and they can't have a solid brotherhood if we don't, at the least, bridge the gap between us and you."
Chase looked at all of them, trying to ascertain if they were mocking him, looking down on him. What were they offering him? Friendship? Brotherhood? He remembered how utterly bitter and resentful he had been of what they had so many years ago. But it ceased to matter once he had Ginger. Could he say he wished he had a guy friend to talk to sometimes? Not particularly, he wasn't one for sharing his deep inner feelings.
"So…what are you saying?"
Reid knew exactly where Chase was getting at with that comment. Because he knew he would have said the exact same thing. So, instead of getting defensive, he chuckled, genuinely amused.
"We're saying we're sorry," Reid said.
"Right," Tyler spoke. "We haven't been the most forgiving."
Chase tipped his head to the side. "I guess when someone tries to kill your family, forgiveness isn't too forthcoming." He got up to lean against the fireplace, arms crossed over his chest, collecting his thoughts. Then, "Listen, it was nice of Rowan to put you up to this-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Reid interrupted. "Can we get some credit?"
"Rowan doesn't have anything to do with this," Pogue told him.
Chase was once again baffled into silence. "So…you guys brought it upon yourselves to come here?"
"That would be it," Caleb answered.
He scoffed a chuckle. "And that's it? We're going to be best buddies now?"
Reid's jaw clenched, but he managed to withhold the acerbic comment tingling on the tip of his tongue. He supposed he couldn't blame Chase for wanting to get in a few barbs.
"No," Caleb sighed.
"At the risk of sounding corny," Tyler stepped in, "we're not just offering a truce; we're offering friendship. It won't happen automatically; we won't be 'best buddies' in a day, But maybe, eventually, we can become family."
Silence.
"That was beautiful," Chase and Reid said simultaneously with the same ironic edge. Then they tossed each other a reflexive glare.
The other three laughed.
Fifteen minutes later they left having arranged plans for the upcoming weekend. Chase had seemed ninety-eight percent sure about his and Ginger's presence. Well, they couldn't accept full-on acceptance right off the bat. Tyler, Pogue, Caleb and Reid had come in separate cars, and now that it was falling upon evening, they went back to their homes.
Reid was glad to see that Rowan was home by the time he pulled up in the driveway. The animals didn't hustle to greet him and he heard no noise, instantly becoming wary.
"Row?" he called. He jogged upstairs, bedroom was empty. "Row!"
Back downstairs. With his yelling Erwin came trotting inside, tongue lolling out of his mouth happily.
"Hey, boy," he scratched the shepherd behind the ears. "Where's Mom, hmm?" The human followed the canine outside where he saw his wife kneeling in front of the tomato patch, putting them carefully in her basket. There was just enough sunlight left to see.
Rowan looked up and smiled. "What took you so long?"
"I thought…"
"Oh, Reid, I'm fine." She grinned, gestured for him to give her a kiss, which he did.
"And how was your outing?" Reid asked, carrying the basket of tomatoes as they went back into the house.
"Well, any outing where I don't ruin it by fainting is always a good one," she quipped.
"Don't say that, Row." He pulled her to his side, giving her another kiss on her temple. He set the basket on the counter by the sink and she went to washing them. He gave the kids dinner then joined her by the counter.
"Well," Rowan said, "we went to the New England Aquarium." For ten minutes he listened to Rowan expound on the sights, all of which she'd seen numerous times. "Then we went out to eat. And, can you believe it Reid, just across the street from the restaurant; someone left their dog in the car! It's May!"
Reid smirked. "Did you break in?"
"No," she insisted. "Well…kind of. And I kindly waited for the human to come out of the beauty parlor while I gave the dog some much needed water." It wasn't like Rowan to butt into stranger's business, but when it came to animals, she took it upon herself to be their voice; without throwing the proverbial red paint. "Of course, she was thankful because she hadn't expected the shampoo and conditioning to take that long, but there was a new girl who was still learning the ropes."
Reid didn't know if the story was going to get worse, and he was worried now about giving Rowan the cutting knife for the tomatoes. But she wiggled her delicate fingers for the instrument and he handed it over. The blade sliced through the red orbs neatly, thunking against cutting board.
Rowan held out a juicy piece for him and he let her feed it to him.
"Good?" she asked.
He nodded, savoring the taste. She put the other half in her mouth. He bent down and kissed the remnants off her lips. Rowan giggled when he got the tip of her nose.
"She's on watch. I was communicating with the dog, Bingo, and he didn't have negative things to say about his human. In fact, the woman usually brought Bingo inside with her, but the new girl was 'allergic' to dogs." Rowan rolled her eyes.
"So all's well, pretty much?"
"Yup."
"Glad to hear it." He was distracted by getting nudged by Erwin's muzzle. "Uh-uh. You get some wicked gas when you have tomatoes, boy." The other two animals followed up. "God, you guys just ate."
"But they have your attention," Rowan said. "Where did you go today?" She dried off the tomatoes and put them in the refrigerator, then washed the knife and cutting board.
"Actually…me and the guys went to go see Chase."
It wasn't easy to shock Rowan into silence, but this did. "Why?" she questioned suspiciously.
"We offered him an olive branch."
By the time he was done explaining, Rowan's eyes were filled with tears. He pulled her into his arms.
"These are happy tears…right?"
Rowan sniffled. "That was so good of you." Her voice was muffled against his chest.
Reid grinned. "Yeah, I thought so too." He got a soft poke in his ribs for that.
"So is he really going to come to the picnic?"
"He said he would talk to Ginger and Dottie."
Rowan gazed up at him, arms wrapped around him. "I'm very proud of you Reid Garwin. All of you. Oh, it'll be so nice to have all of us together."
xx
"Really?" Ginger queried, barely able to believe what she was hearing.
Chase nodded.
Ginger looked at Dottie, and her eyes lit up. "This weekend?" When her husband nodded again, she smiled wide and got up from the couch. "This is great! I'll have to call Rowan and see if she wants us to bring anything special."
This was the first time since she'd gotten pregnant that Chase had seen her glow like that. And he knew that it was his fault. He watched his wife walk happily out of the living room until she was out of sight. Then he turned his attention to Dottie who was smiling fondly at him. The older woman got up from the couch.
"Oh, my dumplin', I'm so proud of you," she said, either hand on each side of his cheek.
"Don't give me credit, Dottie. They came to me."
She chuckled. "But you accepted with grace, sweetheart. It's about time these feuds were put to rest."
He half-shrugged. "I guess." He pulled a face. "You're coming, right? You were invited too."
This caused her to release another husky chuckle. "Of course. I have to go to make sure you don't seclude yourself on the sidelines."
Chase 'hmmphed.' "Thanks."
"Now, go spend time with your wife while she's smiling."
This made him pause. "Did she have a good time tonight?"
Dottie sobered. "Well, she wasn't smiling as bright as she was just a few minutes ago. But all the girls were cluckin' and fussin' over her. I think it took her mind off things."
'Things' meaning me and my neglect, Chase thought. But he was glad that at least someone was doing something right. Because he knew he was royally screwing up. About an hour later they had a nice dinner with Ginger and Dottie telling Chase about this week's gossip, there was always something interesting to tell.
But Chase's mind was partially elsewhere, thinking about this upcoming weekend, thinking about being around the Sons of Ipswich; of which he was a part of. After dinner they cleaned up and Dottie said she was off to bed. Ginger said so too, and Chase said he would be up soon. He sat in his office, the cursor blinking tauntingly on the computer screen. It was no use; he wouldn't be able to get a paragraph in.
He shut the computer off and went upstairs. Ginger was taking a shower. Normally he would have hopped and joined her, made love to her, but he was pretty sure his presence wouldn't be welcome. It was always hard to be near her and not touch her. They were sleeping in the same bed again, but she curled up in a ball, the body language saying 'don't touch me.'
He was in his sweats when Ginger came out of the shower. She peeked at him. She cursed the fact that he made tingles go down her spine, even at a time like this. Most of the time she wanted him take her in his arms and hold her tightly, but he hadn't in so long. So for now Ginger hid in her fluffy robe cinched tightly at the waist.
Chase couldn't take this silence anymore. "Gin."
The comb through her hair stopped mid-stroke. She sat on the chair in front of the vanity, looking down. Then her vision was filled with his face as he was kneeling before her. She glanced away.
"I'm sorry."
Ginger's lips pinched to keep them from quivering. The little sniffle couldn't be though.
"I made a promise when we got married that I would take care of you, and try never to disappoint you…again." He sighed. "And I have. I know I have."
"You were mean," she stated.
"I know."
"You're sorry but…you still don't want our baby."
Pause, then, "I want you. The baby…our baby… If I don't want it, it's because…"
"You won't hurt him, Chase," she insisted. "And he'll grow up to respect and love you as much as I do."
"His Power…"
"We'll handle it. You don't know Chase…" Her voice hitched. "You don't know how he'll deal with it. He'll be different."
"How?"
"Because he'll have a family who loves and supports him." Ginger caressed her husband's face. "You didn't have that, and you dealt with it the only way you knew how. But history doesn't have to repeat itself. We'll fill his life with love, and things much more important than his Power."
Chase wanted so much to believe it would be that easy. He had all the faith that Ginger could pull that through. But him? What if he gave something away in his eyes? A word? A gesture? His son would see it and know…
Ginger saw his lack of confidence, and her heart thudded with pain. "Say you'll try," she pleaded quietly. "Just try."
He swallowed a lump in his throat. "I can try."
xx
Rowan was extremely excited about the picnic. So much so that Reid could feel it through their bond. Bruce Lee, Erwin and Tippy sat in the back of his Mustang, wind whipping through their fur as the car moved along. It was a little passed noon, the meeting time was one o'clock though.
"Ooh, Aaron and Francesca are already here!" Rowan said as they pulled into Ipswich Park.
Erwin barked, sounding his 'hello' to Alfalfa and Tootie. Francesca and Rowan left the guys to get the food from the trunk and bring it over to their sitting place. The dogs sniffed around each other while Tippy sat on the bench.
"Who's bringing the grill?" Aaron asked.
"Tyler and Maria," Reid said. He set the cooler down.
"Reid won't let me help," Rowan said to Francesca.
"You can't lift anything heavy," he defended himself. Bruce Lee climbed on the cooler. "Hey, hey, hey," Reid said. "If you don't behave you'll have to get in your harness." The ferret dooked and went to play with the dogs. Reid turned back to his wife. "The doctor even said so."
Rowan waved him off good-naturedly. "There's Caleb and Judy." More food and drinks came with them.
Chase, Ginger, and Dottie were the last to arrive, but not late.
"Hey, Ginger," Reid said. He hugged her. Hell, if they were going to bring them into the circle, they should bring them into the circle right. The other guys followed suit albeit with less pomp. But that was just Reid's way.
Soon they had a fold-out table cluttered with foods; the grill was going and smoking, Pogue and Caleb at the helms. (Hunter was still in New Orleans. Pinkie and Laurie had appointments in their respected professions.) Dottie brought her famous cornbread that everyone thought was delicious. The elder lady was keeping good on her promise to Chase; she did not let him stand on the sidelines. He was kind of huddled with the guys. And Erwin had taken a liking to him and pestered him for fetch and Frisbee.
"Hey, make sure you keep your keys with you," Tyler said to Chase. "That one," – he pointed to the ferret that was running amok with the canines, "will pilfer them."
Chase chuckled and unconsciously patted the front pocket of jeans to make sure his keys were still there.
"Tyler! Chase!"
Both turned around only to hear a click. Rowan had started her photographing.
"She'll bring out the camcorder soon," Pogue said as he passed them.
"I heard that!" Rowan said.
It didn't take long for the meat to finish, soon they were all gathered on the benches eating, talking, laughing. Chase was hanging back a bit but Rowan had deliberately sat herself next to him so he didn't get shoved out. And Dottie was making sure of that too. Later, Rowan decided to walk off her meal and visit the duck pond. It was a nice day, not too hot with a light breeze. She had her bag of shredded bread to feed them. Ginger joined her.
"I'm really glad you all came," Rowan said, smiling.
"Me, too," Ginger replied. "How have you been feeling?"
She shrugged. "All right. I still have to watch my blood pressure. And Reid's watching me like a hawk." Rowan instantly regretted saying that. Telling Ginger how attentive Reid was being to her when Ginger's own husband was being anything but.
"Don't worry about it," Ginger said to placate her.
Rowan shot her a sympathetic smile. Then something caught her eye. "Who's that? He keeps looking over here."
Ginger turned. "Oh! That's Jeffrey." She waved. The man waved back, closed his book, and walked over. Ginger said to Rowan, "He comes to the library all the time." She worked at the Boston Athenæum, one of the oldest libraries of which you had to pay a membership fee to use. "He lives on Beacon Hill so he's real close by."
Rowan nodded. This Jeffrey was about five-eleven with short brown hair, deep brown eyes and thick eyebrows. His lips were thin; nose straight, rather Roman-like. He wore trousers and tucked-in button down with loafers.
"It's nice to see you," Ginger said.
"You, too." Jeffrey was gazing at her intently, of which Rowan did not fail to notice.
For some reason she shuddered despite the warm day. There was something…off about him. His aura slightly distorted, troubled. Perhaps he was going through hard times? Lonely? Rowan wasn't one to judge, just because someone's aura was like Jeffrey's didn't mean he was evil.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Jeffrey, this is my friend Rowan. Rowan, Jeffrey."
He held out his hand. Rowan took it. This time the ill feeling was stronger because of the physical contact. But she managed to grin at him politely.
"Gosh, what are you doing out here?" Ginger asked.
"Well, I remembered you mentioning how nice this park was and I figured, what the heck, it's a nice day, might as well take a stroll." He smiled wide at her, his eyes only for Ginger.
There was a collective silence about the three of them. Ginger and Jeffrey taking each other in, Rowan standing near Ginger, glancing back and forth between the two of them.
"Gin?" Chase was walking towards them, his eyes hard on the strange male. Tippy was loping at his feet. Rowan picked her up.
"Hi, Chase."
"Ah, Chase! In the flesh. I've hard a lot about you." Jeffrey was all smiles, he held out his hand which Chase did not take.
Ginger's husband put a proprietary arm around her waist, tugging her close. "I can't say the same about you." His voice was amiable enough. Enough being the operative word.
"I have mentioned Jeffrey!" Ginger insisted.
Chase's jaw clenched. "You guys met at the library."
"See?" Ginger nodded. "Now he remembers."
"Well, I guess I should go." He turned his full attention back to Ginger. "It was nice seeing you. Lunch on Monday?"
She paused, eyes flicking towards her husband. "Okay."
"Great!" Jeffrey ambled off, maybe or maybe not feeling Chase's eyes searing holes in his back.
"Lunch?" Chase questioned.
"Yes. Monday and Wednesdays we have lunch together during my break."
"Since when?"
Ginger pursed her lips, frowning at him. Rowan sensed a quarrel coming on; Tippy did too because her head stopped rubbing against Rowan's chin and the tone of her purring was no longer content.
Across the way, Rowan caught Reid's eyes. The blond said something to the guys then called, "Hey, Chase! Football! You're not getting out of it!"
"Go play," Ginger said. "We'll watch."
Thus, the argument was temporarily diverted.
Hey, for once the baddie won't be going after Rowan. LOL.
I couldn't have Chase have a change of heart in one chapter. He is trying, but it won't be that easy.
Thanks to those who are continuing to read and reply. I think the summer vacations have absented some readers perhaps.
Anywho, thanks again, feedback is always welcome. :)