Coffee in Common (52 page)

"Sweetie, I stopped thinking of myself as a slut long ago. I only say it because it's special to me, special to us."

Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"And I'll still be saying it someday when you and Brian are married and me and somebody are married and we both have a pack of kids, and everything's starting to sag, and life will be driving us crazy, but I'll know that the virgin will always be there for me, just like the slut will always be there for her."

9:45 PM

"Now, I won't guarantee Jilli and I will, ahh, be able to spend too much time with you guys."

Jessica reached over and patted Gary's thigh. "Oh, that won't be a problem, Paul. I'm sure we'll think of something to amuse ourselves."

Gary reddened as Jessie made suggestive faces, then giggled at his reaction.

"I love it that he's so easy to embarrass."

"Stop or I'll tickle."

Gary wiggled his fingers. If Paul had not been there, she would have continued to tease him until he did start to tickle. Then she would attack him the same way and they'd squirm and laugh until one or the other called a truce. Then they'd make love. But they
were
with Paul at his condo, so they just shared a quick kiss.

"I know Gary's already said this, but thank you so much. This is going to be a great time. I can't believe you're taking her down the Cape for four days and then paying for us, too."

"Well today
is
the one year anniversary of the day we met. And Saturday
is
the anniversary of our first date. And what was I going to do, have Gary drive us all the way down to Orleans and then come back here and then come back to get us in a few days? Besides, the way things are going with you two, and with me and Jilli, we'll all be related someday anyway."

That drew a blush from Gary
and
Jessie, who decided to change the subject.

"What time do you want to leave?"

"Well, these Thursday night dinners usually run until midnight, but I thought I'd show up around 11:30 or so to surprise her."

"And she has no idea?"

"I don't think so. I arranged with a couple of the girls to make sure she stays until I show up, but she never leaves early anyway.

"Say, this won't create any problems at school for either of you, will it?"

Both shook their heads.

"Jessie doesn't have any classes tomorrow. I have one, but I cleared it with the professor."

"And we're both bringing books and stuff for studying."

Jessie ran her fingers through her hair.

Paul slapped his thigh.

"That's what it is!"

His guests' quizzical looks made him smile.

"Well, I haven't seen you guys since Easter and something's been bugging me and I just realized Jessie cut her hair."

"Oh, the haircut." Gary said it without much enthusiasm.

"He hates it."

"That's true…" He caressed what was left of her beautiful locks. "…but I still love you."

10:00 PM

"You know, this was a great idea," Jenna said as she turned to Cathy. "I'm really glad you thought of it."

Two weeks previous, Cathy O'Hara had been invited to dinner with the group. Everyone liked her as much as she liked them, so, as the newest member, it was her turn last week to choose the location for tonight. When she asked if there were any rules requiring it be a regular restaurant, no one could think of any, so she suggested eating dinner in the Franklin Hotel restaurant and spending the rest of the evening in the Candlelight Lounge.

Jillian had been hesitant only because she suspected Paul might be taking her there as part of their first anniversary celebration Saturday, but everyone else had embraced the idea so enthusiastically, she wouldn't have felt right nixing it.

So here they were and it turned out to be a special evening for another reason. For the first time in months, all the members made it to dinner. Perhaps it was the novelty of dancing after dinner, or perhaps it was simple serendipity, but everyone was here — Jillian, Liz, Jenna, Priya, Lisa, Maggie, Marissa, Gloria, Holly, Cathy, Shandra, and Marie.

"I've wanted to come here ever since last year when Jilli went on
The Date.
" Cathy turned to her. "You know, I really should be mad at you."

"Why?"

"Because that date was so damn romantic, so fantastic, that Mike will never be able to top it. You've absolutely ruined it for the rest of us."

Agreement floated in from all around the table.

Laughing, Jillian protested. "Wait. That's not fair.
I
didn't set it up, Paul did. He's the one you should be mad at."

"Oh no. It's your fault alright. You're the one who inspired him."

Everyone ragged on Jillian for a while but the conversation soon turned to other subjects like music, clothes, husbands and boyfriends - the usual.

"So Lisa," Holly said, "we haven't seen much of you the past few months. It was nice having someone else in the group who could appreciate all the stuff married women have to put up with. Of course, now we have Cathy, too."

Lisa's and Rob's October ninth wedding had been the social event of the year for most of the group. Her parents had spared no expense, flying in family and friends from around the world, setting up a huge tent at the Country Club filled with toys and TV's and babysitters for those with children, and hiring a caterer who had been required to spend ten days training with the chefs at Casa de Luna.

"That's right," Marie said. "Ever since you found out you were pregnant you've been avoiding us. How far along are you now?"

"A little over four months." Lisa glowed with happiness as she did every time someone mentioned the pregnancy.

 "Is it true ol' Rob hit the target on Christmas morning?" Maggie asked. When Lisa blushed and nodded, she added, "Well I think it's way cool, the perfect Christmas present."

"Huh," snorted Holly. "She may not think so when July and August roll around and her belly's out to here and the humidity is making her melt."

The girls all laughed and Jillian and Priya offered to stay by her side with lemonade and fans to keep her cool.

11:25 PM

All night, the girls had taken full advantage of the music and parquet floor, dancing off and on, in pairs or groups. They were having so much fun, they jokingly booed each time the bass player, Jasmine, announced the band was taking a break.

It was almost eleven-thirty when Gloria noticed them making their way back to the stage. She, Liz, Maggie, Marissa, Shandra, and Holly were seated facing the stage. The rest of the girls had their back to it. She poked Shandra and nodded toward the stage.

"Hey, wait a minute," Shandra bellowed, stopping all conversation at the table. She turned to Jillian. "Isn't today the anniversary of the day you and Paul met?"

Jillian smiled and nodded.

 "Then why aren't you two out somewhere fancy or curled up in bed tonight?"

This time, Jillian sighed and pouted. "His brother Marcus is in from Japan and I guess every year the brothers all take their father out for a guy's night and tonight was the only night Marcus could make it so I told Paul not to worry and to go and have a good time."

"Well that stinks. He should have made his brothers pick a different time."

A chorus of ‘yahs' and ‘that's rights' emboldened Shandra. "What
is
the matter with that boy? You're his woman and you should come before everything else. Why I have half a mind to…"

"Stop! Please!" Jillian blushed. "He and I had a very nice, umm, breakfast this morning and we met for lunch and he brought me some beautiful flowers and he met me with a taxi after work and we…ummm…held hands on the ride home."

"Sure you did," Maggie said, her eyes wide with merriment. "And what did you have for breakfast? A six inch tube-steak?"

Blushing Jillian shot back, "Why no, it was much larger than that. And it was so filling I only had coffee for lunch." That sent the whole group into fits of laughter.

When things calmed down, Gloria asked, "So seriously. Are you two going out tomorrow to celebrate?"

"No. Saturday. That's the anniversary of our first date. I told him to surprise me and…" She hesitated, not sure whether to tell them.

"And what? Marie asked.

Jillian looked at Liz and Jenna and Priya and Lisa, all of whom were nodding and making encouraging faces.

"He's been acting kind of funny lately. He's been, like, extra sweet and, well, for the past couple of months, he's been asking questions and we've been having these conversations."

"What questions? What conversations?" Marissa and Gloria asked simultaneously.

"Things like, would I like to stay in the city or move to a suburb or the country someday…you know, working moms versus stay-at-home moms…how many kids I want…stuff like that."

"You mean…?"

Shandra left the question unfinished.

Jillian nodded.

"I think he plans to propose on Saturday. He won't tell me anything about it other than I have to wear the same dress I wore last year."

"You wearing pantyhose this time?"

Priya's question brought more laughter. Everyone remembered what had happened last year.

Jillian blushed furiously, but said, "Actually, I thought I'd surprise him and not wear anything at all under it."

"Jillian!"

Five shocked voices rang out at once. She had all she could do to answer the barrage of questions they were throwing at her. Behind her, she heard Jasmine thanking everyone for hanging in during the break and explaining they had a special guest who wanted sing for them tonight, but Jillian was too caught up in the verbal sparring to pay much attention.

The band began the opening chords of The Fifth Dimension's
Wedding Bell Blues
as she said, "No, he is not a bad influence. On the contrary, he brings out the best in me."

Jill, I love you so, I always will

It took her a second to realize it wasn't Jasmine singing, but one of the guys.

Wow. He almost sounds like…did he just say Bill or Jill?

I look at you and see the love I found last May,

Those aren't the right words. And that voice.

She started to turn toward the stage and noticed the gleeful grins on the faces of all the other girls. Then she saw him. It was Paul! And he was singing to her!

Ohhhh,

But now I think it's time to plan our wedding day.

She started to laugh but then began to process the words. "Oh my!" she whispered, though no one could hear her over the music. Her hands came up to cover her mouth.

You've been in my heart Jill now my love's ruling

And I've never schemed or lied Jill there's been no fooling

But kisses and love won't carry me unless you marry me Jill

I love you so, I always will.

She was standing now, tears of love and joy streaming down her cheeks.

And in your voice I hear a choir of carousels. Ohhh,

But now I really want to hear our wedding bells.

I was the one who came fumblin' when you were lonely

And I haven't lived one day not lovin' you only

But kisses and love won't carry me 'til you marry me Jill

I love you so, I always will

Her girlfriends had been expecting a few jokes and an announcement about the anniversary and trip. They crowded around, hugging and patting her on the back. Gary and Jessie, who'd been hiding near the door anticipating the same, also rushed over. And Rob, the only person other than the band who knew what was really going to happen, strolled around with a huge grin on his face, capturing everything on two video cameras.

Jillian was oblivious to it all. She only had eyes for Paul, who stepped off the stage and walked across the dance floor to her.

And though devotion rules my heart I take no bows. Ohhh,

But Jill it's time we stood and took those wedding vows

He was in front of her now. She was beaming through her tears as he fell to one knee.

Come on Jill

Ohhh, Come on Jill

Come on and marry me Jill

I've got the wedding bell blu-u-es

Please marry me Jill

I've got the wedding bell blu-u-u-ues

Wedding bell blues, ya, ya,

Marry me Jill

I've got the wedding bell blu-u-u-ues

Jillian stood there, silent, transfixed, as the final chords faded.

"I know," he said as he rose and faced her with a grin that beat Rob's. "I always go overboard. But if you think you can stand a lifetime of this kind of thing, Jillian Marie Marshall, love of my life, will you marry me?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"What?" Jasmine asked into one of the microphones. "We can't hear you in the back."

The whole room erupted as Jillian threw her arms around Paul and yelled, "Yes! Yes, I'll marry you!"

The laughter turned to applause as they embraced and shared a long, passionate kiss.

Behind them, Jillian heard the opening chords and words to
Could I Have This Dance
the song that seemed to attend every conversation this past year about the man who was kissing her, the man who had loved her from the first moment they met, the man who would share her life for the rest of her life.

She broke the kiss and stared at him. "Did you ask them to play this, too?"

He shook his head. "Maybe they remembered from last year or…or…" He shrugged, then held out his hand. "May I have this dance, my love, for the rest of
my
life?"

She sighed, a contented smile on her face.