Chapter 58

Saturday, July 25, 1987- Afternoon

Inside the local Chevron gas station, Julie allowed Sean to select a six-pack of Mountain Dew and a small bag of chips. Julie knew the closer she got to Sean, the better her odds were at dating Donovan again.

Considering what she'd say to win his favor, Julie escorted Sean to her car.

"When did you study music?" she asked, unlocking the passenger side door.

"At school before Dad made me quit." He ducked inside the car and placed his treats on the floorboard.

Made you quit? Julie wondered. Or was it the judge?

"Will he let you return this fall?" she asked, turning the key in the ignition.

"What for? I'll be a freshman again."

Poor kid. He's supposed to be entering his senior year.

"They said I have to get my G.E.D.," Sean added. "Dad didn't ask you about helping me with math, did he?"

"No?"

She backed the car out of its space.

"Figures," Sean muttered. "I only asked him like a month ago. He doesn't trust me."

"Oh, Honey. He probably just thought I'd be busy with work. I'll talk to him if you want me to."

"To help me with algebra? Dad said you live over here. Won't it be out of your way?"

"I'll come straight after work or on the weekends. Whenever you want."

After a few seconds of thought, Sean asked, "How come you and dad split up, anyway?"

Smiling, Julie made a right on Maggie's street. "You're just getting personal, aren't you?"

"I think it'd have to be hard for you to be around him, if you're still mad at him."

"I'm not."

#

Seething with anger, Donovan helped carry the last few folding chairs into Maggie's backyard. He couldn't believe Julie had the nerve to take Sean to the store. She obviously didn't have a clue as to how dangerous Sean was. Hands in his pockets, Donovan paced the front porch, until he saw Julie's Camaro drive up. He hurried down the steps as Sean exited the vehicle carrying a paper sack.

"Wait in the house," Donovan instructed him. "I want to speak with her alone."

"See." Sean said to Julie, as she closed her door. "What'd I tell you?"

"See what?" Donovan glared at him and then Julie.

"Stop it, Mike," Julie said in a low voice. "I took him to get soda. He's fine. I'm fine." She started up the walk.

"I gave you permission to watch him, not take him to the store." Eying the bag in Sean's hand, noting the cans of Mountain Dew, he said to Sean, "You could've had what Maggie offered."

"Mike, please?" Julie begged.

"It's not about soda!" Sean yelled. "You don't trust me with her."

"After where the hell you've been for the past six months, after what you did to Melissa—"

"Does she act like Melissa? She didn't get in my face and—"

"I'm not going to tell you again, Sean. Get in the house! I'd like to speak with Julie."

"No. You want to yell at her, and I won't let you do that, Dad. She was just being nice. She didn't do anything wrong."

He's trying to protect her? Unbelievable… Donovan looked over at Julie who smiled back at him.

"He has a point," she said.

"Fine." Donovan squinted at Sean. "I won't yell at her. We'll just have a nice… chat."

"Fine, I'll go." Sean walked toward the house. "But if I hear any yelling, I'm coming back."

Donovan waited until Sean went inside before he grabbed Julie's arm. "Come here, you." He led her a few yards away from Maggie's house.

Pursing her lips, Julie stared at him.

"I'm not happy with what you did, but I'm going to let it slide," Donovan said. "I don't wanna ruin your special day."

"What I did?" she asked. "Showed the kid that someone else cares?"

"I don't want you alone with him. I didn't take care of you all that time, get you well, to put you in danger again."

"Danger? He's perfectly fine, a nice little gentleman. Well, he's not exactly little, but…" A smile began to lift on one corner of her mouth. A dimple emerged. "Sean said he told you to ask me to help him with his math. Is that why you haven't asked, because you're afraid of what he'll do to me?"

"He told you about—"

"Yeah. And you never mentioned it."

"I didn't expect him to make it this far."

"Without being locked up again?" She gave him an incredulous stare. "Has he done anything this past week and a half to make you not trust him?"

"No."

But who's to say he won't?

"Michael Donovan, you need to show Sean that you trust him if you want him to treat you with respect. It goes both ways." She turned toward the house. "I'm going back now. Try to let your guard down and not act so damned paranoid."

"Paranoid?" He followed her to the steps. "You haven't seen what-"

"Drop it."

Donovan blinked as the screen door slammed in his face.

#

The party continued into the early hours of the evening. When Sean ran out of early 70's tunes to play, Kyle and Caleb encouraged him to play his own music. Julie spent the afternoon seated at a picnic table with CJ climbing under her legs and weaving in and out of his mother's.

As much as Julie had tried not to think about it, work eventually became a topic of discussion when Maggie asked her if she was still following doctor's orders and taking it easy.

"I haven't worked a full day, yet," she said, not missing Donovan's curious gaze. He sat on the opposite side of her table. "I haven't."

"Well you look healthy," he admitted, and winked.

She'd managed to gain back eight of the twelve pounds she'd lost during her illness.

"Thank you. Coming from you that makes me… wonder."

He smirked, and sipped his beer.

Julie felt Maggie's hand on her shoulder.

"It's time to cut the cake," Maggie said.

Smiling, Julie stood up and walked over to a small card table where a large butterfly-shaped sheet cake lay. The crowd pressed in around Julie as they sang another round of, "For She's a Jolly Good Fellow."