Chapter 38

Wednesday, July 1, 1987- Afternoon

Over the next week, Julie started her days earlier, getting to the respiratory office by ten so Donovan didn't have to worry about being late for work on the count of her. With each passing day, Julie felt her lung capacity increasing. That Friday's visit with Dr. Graham confirmed her improvement and he reduced the necessary treatment sessions to three times a week. He recommended she engage in light exercise like walking, and Donovan seemed willing to oblige.

The Silver Lake Reservoir was an ideal location, not too far from Donovan's house. He'd taken Julie on picnics there before. The first Wednesday of July, 1987, they walked the trails for a short while, as much as Julie could stand. Donovan always walked right beside her, locking arms with her, as if she still needed his support to get around. Or maybe he just liked being close to her. Julie felt a feeling of déjà vu as they sat on a checkered picnic blanket under a large oak tree.

"Only two more weeks," Donovan said.

"Sean's coming home." She tried to divert the attention from her own home going, again wondering why Donovan seemed so reluctant to talk about Sean.

"Yeah," he said, digging in the basket for a couple cans of soda. "You think you'll manage on your own?"

"I'm not weak anymore. I can do a lot more than you think I can."

"I didn't say you couldn't." He grinned at her. "I asked if you thought you could."

"And I was trying to ask you about Sean again. Like usual, you keep changing the subject."

He drew the soda can away from his lips. "What do you want to know about Sean?"

"Oh, you mean you're actually going to tell me?"

"And then you'll tell me about you and Maitland." He winked.

She suspected he'd just said it to annoy her. "Fine."

"Fine?"

"I said fine. Are you getting deaf in your old age again, Michael?" She'd seldom called him by his given name, and usually it'd been during a romantic interlude.

He grinned at her. "What do you wanna know?"

"You said you didn't put him there. How did he get there then?"

"He … hurt someone."

"At school?"

"This girl I went out with."

"You had a girlfriend? You never told me that."

"No. She wasn't my girlfriend," he said. "It was supposed to be a date. She and Sean got into it before I had the chance to take her out. He hit her and she pressed charges. End of story."

He gathered the utensils and plastic plates.

"End of story?" she scowled. "That was an awfully short story."

"Yeah, well there's not much else to say."

"How long ago did it happen?"

"December."

"What about the girl, she sued you?"

He nodded. "Medical bills, time off from work. Ten grand and Sean's been in the pen since February. Now, anymore questions?"

She felt like a jerk for prying. "I am so sorry, Mike."

"I didn't exactly think he'd be normal again."

"Does he seem… better?"

"Dunno yet." He stood and stretched, towering over Julie as she lingered on the blanket.

Julie picked off a piece of crust from her sandwich, offering it to an approaching mallard. She caught Donovan smiling down at her and asked, "Didn't you want to ask me about Steve?"

"Not really."

The duck nibbled the bread from Julie's palm.

"I didn't run straight back to him after the war, you know," she said.

Donovan chuckled. "You don't have to explain."

Dusting off her hands, Julie stood. Rather than continuing on with the subject, she decided it seemed an appropriate time to inquire about getting her computer.

"Mike, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?" He sat the picnic basket aside on the grass then reached for two corners of the blanket.

Julie located the other two corners and lifted the blanket. Blades of grass drifted to the ground.

"What I asked you for a couple weeks ago. My computer." Julie brought her blanket corners to Donovan, their hands touched lightly.

He stared at her for a long moment, hesitant to answer.

"Think you're ready?"

"I am."

"All right, on one condition."

She expected a lecture on how much time she could spend researching as opposed to resting.

"What's that?"

"You'll come here with me on Saturday night. They're having a fireworks show."

His response surprised her, and she couldn't help but wonder, "Would that be like a date or something."

"No. No. Just a couple of old pals spending time together."

"Like every other day, huh?"

"Right."

Julie felt a wave of disappointment sweep through her. She doubted Donovan had seriously considered reconciling with her. Why does that bother me? She wondered.

Donovan walked at a slow pace allowing Julie to keep up with him as he carried the blanket and basket to his car.

#

Andrew Miller's physical examination confirmed his respiratory system was failing from damage caused by the toxin. In spite of his being kept in seclusion these past six months, his breathing had never improved. His white blood cell counts were high, indicating a serious respiratory infection. Antibiotics weren't working, and the baby's immune system was too weak to fight the infection. Steve knew it was too late to save Mrs. Miller's youngest twin.

By Wednesday afternoon, Andrew Miller died. Steve called Ross, and broke the news. Ross instructed Steve not to share the information with Julie, knowing it'd only cause her more stress and feelings of guilt for her inability to work on the project. Ross said he'd keep Steve in Seattle to monitoring the other infants' conditions. Steve wondered how long Ross intended to keep him there. When Steve inquired about Julie's condition, Ross stated he hadn't heard from her, which only fueled Steve's doubts about completing the project.

#

Catching a glimpse of Melissa Foxx's bright yellow Corvette pulling into the driveway behind him, Donovan thrust his Camry into park. Melissa's car door slammed, startling Julie. Dressed in a matching polka dotted blazer and tight skirt, Melissa approached the driver's side door.

Donovan patted Julie's hand. "Why don't you go inside and wait for me?"

"Why?"

"I'll only be a few minutes." He looked through his window.

Melissa glared back at him, her lips pursed together tightly. She clutched an envelope addressed to her lawyer in Donovan's handwriting. Donovan guessed it contained his recently sent payment.

Julie opened her door then stepped out onto the pavement.

Donovan shoved his door open forcing Melissa to jump out of the way.

"Your check bounced, dearest," Melissa said.

Julie stepped around to the driver's side and stood next to Melissa.

"Julie, I said go in the house!" Donovan barked.

"I need keys," she replied, gaping at Melissa.

Donovan could only guess what Julie was thinking as he handed the keys over.

"I didn't know you were seeing her again," Melissa spat.

Donovan saw no point in trying to explain Julie's presence at his home. He snatched the envelope out of Melissa's hand, watching Julie turn the key in the doorknob out of the corner of his eye.

"She's a little young for you, don't you think, Mike?" Melissa added.

Donovan waited for Julie to go inside before addressing Melissa.

"About the money?" he asked.

"Yeah, what about the money? What do you owe me?" She counted red painted fingertips. "Five grand? How many more checks will bounce?"

"Look, things are a little tight right now. I can't pay my mortgage and Sean's being released in a few weeks. But why should you care? You need more dough for more plastic surgery?

Her expression hardened. "What I do with my money is none of your concern, Mike."

"And if my kid and I end up on the street because of your—"

"You, end up on the street?" She grabbed a hold of his shirt collar. "Mr. Sexy could get a job anywhere he wanted, if he'd use what he was given. Or do you only reserve that for Julie?"

Donovan grabbed her hand and forcefully pushed it away. "Get off my property."

"Did you tell her about Sean?"

Ignoring the question, he replied, "I'll have my lawyer contact your lawyer. We'll arrange something."

"If you think I'm negotiating with you, you're out of your mind, Honey." Her bright red heels clicked on the concrete as she sauntered to her car.

Hands in his pockets, Donovan watched Melissa back out of the driveway. Her tires squealed as she sped away.

Turning toward the porch, Donovan noticed Julie standing in the doorway.

"What was that about?" She leered at him as he walked into the foyer.

"Nothing." He headed for the briefcase on the dining room table, snapped it open and placed the envelope inside.

When he turned around, Julie was right behind him. He almost knocked her down.

"Mike." She giggled. "You have something to tell me, about that woman?"

"No."

"Is this what we discussed at the park? You're making payments to—"

He nodded, slipping past her. He moved toward the kitchen, snagged a beer out of the fridge and gulped it down quickly.

Julie followed him. "Well, no wonder you're always on edge. Do you find her attractive?"

He nearly spit the beer out of his mouth and shook his head vigorously.

"I would think not. I mean, someone like that wouldn't be your type."

She thinks she still knows me. He chuckled then asked, "What is my type?"

"I don't know," she looked away, with a sheepish grin. "Certainly not, someone… trashy. I mean, you said you tried to go out with her once. Did you ask her out? Or did she ask you?"

"She did." He decided not to tell her how often Melissa had pressed him for a date, or that he'd only agreed to it to prove his incompatibility with her.

"And you were just being a nice guy by saying yes, right?" Julie asked.

"Something like that."

"Am I way off?" she asked.

"No, you're just being nosy."

"Nosy?"

He watched her lips curl into a smile and imagined how she'd react if he kissed her. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he directed her to the living room.

"You look tired, Sweetheart. Why don't you go rest?"

Julie turned toward him, batting her eyelashes playfully. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Uh huh."

Ignoring the desire welling up inside of him, he watched Julie slip off her shoes and settle into the makeshift bed on the couch.

"Wake me up before you leave for work," she said, turning over onto her side.

"Of course," he lied.