Getting Lucky (34 page)

   "Jealous of your sister? You give up your lifestyle in Jefferson, move to the boonies, and lose your house in a fire, move in here to keep the children happy. She walks into a barn and the richest man in Wyoming sweeps her off her feet. Eli walks into Mamie's store and she latches on to him. All you get is one night in the hayloft with a rusty old cowboy."

   "Damn straight, I'm jealous. Why didn't you tell me he was the richest man in Wyoming? I could have already agreed to run away with him and bein' as how he's one of those cowboys with honor, he would have been bound to keep his word. Now I've lost him to my sister."

   "Seriously. Would you have gone with him?" Griffin asked.

   "Seriously? No. He's handsome beyond words. He says the right things and I rather like the view from a pedestal. But no, I'm not jumping into another mess. I've had two. I'm not going to be a three-time loser."

   "Want to join me in the den for a movie?" He had to get out of the close quarters of the stairway or he was going to start something right there that would get them both into trouble if three kids caught them.

   "A real one that doesn't have animated characters?"

   "You can even choose which one." He laced his fingers with hers and stood up, leading her to the den. The jolt rattled through her slim body like marbles in a Mason jar. When they reached the den, he opened a cabinet beside the built-in entertainment center and motioned for her to take her pick. She would rather have stayed standing there in the middle of the floor holding hands with him like they were sophomores than pick out a movie.

   She ran her fingers down the plastic covers, amazed that the plastic didn't melt from the heat he'd left in her hand. A comedy. Drama. What did she want to sit on the sofa and watch with Griffin for two hours? What she'd rather watch was the sun setting and the moon rising from the loft doors of an old barn. They wouldn't have to share kisses or even touch each other; just sit there in silence and let nature surround them like a familiar old worn blanket.

   The night before she'd crossed the line. Now things were going to be different and she had always hated change. It was what had sent her back to Derrick. Not wanting change had kept her glued to the apartment in Jefferson instead of finding her own way.

   She found a season of
Saving Grace
and looked at it for a moment. "Let's watch a few episodes of this rather than a movie."

   "You sure?"

   "Of course I'm sure. I saw an episode one night after Annie went to bed. It's adult. It's funny. Grace is not afraid of anything."

   "Whole lot like you. Give it here. I'll get it started," he grinned.

   The first episode took off with Grace, Holly Hunter's character, making love with her partner. Julie fought back the crimson rash threatening to set her face on fire.

   "Want me to fast forward?" he asked.

   "Only if the kids come in," she said.

   "I want to say something while she's busy and not solving a crime up in Oklahoma," Griffin said.

   "Better hurry. I think she's going to have to go to the WSA meeting here real soon," Julie said.

   "Your age doesn't mean jack shit to me. If I was twelve and you were eighteen, it might make a differ ence. It doesn't today. We both have kids the same age. So don't be throwing that at me anymore."

   "I'll throw anything I please at you, Mr. Luckadeau."

   "And one other thing. Just because of six years you are not a hell of a bit wiser than me. I've lived. I've lost. I've survived. Just like you. So don't lord it over me. We are two people fate has thrown together for whatever reason. I'm attracted to you. Evidently you are to me, or you wouldn't have Annie."

   "Graham didn't look like you," she said.

   "We are identical twins."

   "He had a shaven head and the dent in his chin wasn't as deep as yours. His eyes didn't glitter when he smiled. They were hauntingly lost, as if he didn't know where he was going and wasn't sure if he was going to like it when he got there. He had a rakish force that preceded him into a room. We were both drunk and the next morning we were glad he was leaving the state and we wouldn't have to go through the formality of I'll-call-you or I-hope-to-hell-you-don't."

   "If his head wasn't shaved…"

   "You'd still be different," she said.

   Griffin smiled. She didn't see him as an extension of his brother but as a whole new entity. Well, hot damn!

   The sex scene on the television was over and the angel in the form of a man called Earl had arrived in Grace's life.

   Julie wasn't surprised that he'd contradicted her on the age issue. It might not matter right then, but give it ten years. He'd be thirty-eight and she'd be going through menopause. She'd have crow's feet and a flabby stomach. He'd still look like a movie star with all that gorgeous black hair and eyes. Look at his father. At sixty plus, Jimmy Luckadeau was still good looking; and his mother was gorgeous. All the young little tarts in Montague County would want a chunk of Griffin and he'd be saddled to an old woman.

   Griffin reached across the sofa and laced his fingers through hers and they finished watching the episode together.

   Three kids bounded into the room just as the credits were rolling. They wanted to know if they could have popcorn and hot chocolate for a snack. And could they watch a movie on the big screen television in the den with Griffin and Julie?

   "The life of a parent," Griffin said.

   "Ain't it grand?" Julie said.

   "Wish I had a dozen of the rug rats. Know a kid's shelter where we could go round up a few more? Maybe they'd play with each other and leave us alone," Griffin teased.

   "You mean like a dog shelter? They've got kids in cages? Momma, we got to go get them out of the cages and bring them home and feed them," Annie said seriously.

   Julie pointed at Griffin as she headed for the kitchen to make popcorn. "You explain. You caused it."

THE CHILDREN WERE SO EXCITED THEY COULD BARELY SIT still for breakfast. Julie French-braided Lizzy's hair while Annie brushed her teeth. Then they swapped places and she did Annie's. Chuck was ready in his jeans and new boots and he kept saying his verse under his breath over and over so he'd get it just right. Julie had already slicked his red hair back with mousse and made sure his glasses were washed. And afterwards, since it was Christmas Eve, they'd have presents under the tree and Santa Claus would leave them something for the next morning.

   Griffin looked like sin on a stick, or on the front of a condom wrapper, Julie thought with a deep blush. He opened the door for the ladies and he and Chuck stood back to let them out first

   "Chuck, we are riding with the most beautiful women in the state of Texas today, aren't we?" Griffin asked on the way to church.

   Chuck fidgeted.

   "Chuck has a girlfriend," Annie sing-songed.

   Griffin raised an eyebrow and looked at the little boy in the rearview mirror.

   "And who is it?" Griffin asked.

   "Marlee," he said shyly.

   "Marlee who comes to church? That little girl who lives in Forestburg?" Julie asked.

He nodded.

"Well, she's a pretty little girl," Griffin said.

   "She told me that she thinks Chuck is cute," Lizzy giggled.

   "Chuck is cute. He's a very cute boy," Julie said. She dreaded the day when Annie said she had a boyfriend.

   "Me and Annie, we don't like boys. They're yucky. The only boy we like is Chuck because he's our cousin," Lizzy announced.

   Griffin winked at Julie.

   "Daddy, drive faster. We're going to be late," Lizzy said.

   "I'm afraid I'll forget my verse if we don't hurry," Annie said.

   Julie winked back at Griffin. His world expanded with that one wink. He was definitely in love and for the first time. He'd only thought he loved Dian. That was infatuation compared to what he felt for Julie.

   Annie and Lizzy gave each other that look that said grown-ups were so dumb.

   When they reached the church and parked the truck, Julie carried in two casseroles for the Christmas social after services. Griffin picked up an enormous bag of wrapped toys to put under the tree for Santa to pass out to the good little boys and girls.

   The children followed Griffin.

   "Hummmph," Clarice snorted when Julie took her things to the fellowship hall. "I was hoping you'd be gone for the holidays."

   "Nope, I'm right here," Julie said cheerfully.

   "And fittin' right in," Alvera said from right behind her.

   "This ain't your fight," Clarice said.

   "Any fight is my fight, especially if you're in it," Alvera said.

   "Go to hell," Clarice said and started down the hall toward the sanctuary.

   "You first, darlin'," Alvera called after her.

   "Why do you bait her like that?" Julie asked.

   "Honey, Bette Davis once said that age ain't no place for sissies. If she don't like it she can die and I'll drag out my black suit and go to her funeral. Don't expect me to cry, though," Alvera said as she followed Clarice to the sanctuary.

   When it came time for the kids to say their verses, Julie held her breath. Griffin reached over and squeezed her hand, keeping it in his after they'd all three said their pieces loud and clear. For the first time Julie realized that Annie was more like Griffin and Lizzy had Graham's outgoing personality. Something akin to cold water chilled her. Both of the girls could very well belong to Graham. There was absolutely no way to ever prove it, but Dian had opened the door to such a possibility.

   They joined Griffin and Julie after their part of the program was over and Annie whispered, "Miss Temple said we did good."

   After the Christmas program was finished they all gathered in the fellowship hall for a potluck. The chil dren played with their friends they hadn't seen since school let out for the holidays. Little girls dashing off to giggle in the corners. Little boys posturing for each other and hoping the little girls noticed.

   She hid in the hallway a few minutes to keep from crying at the idea of them growing up.

   Griffin stepped out of the men's room. "I can read your thoughts."

   "And?"

   "They can't stay little forever," he said.

   She jerked her head around to find his eyes just inches from hers. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

   "I was thinking the same thing. But don't worry. Santa will be here in a little while and they'll be little again. He makes everyone young," Griffin planted a quick kiss on her lips.

   "Then I'd better sit on his lap for a long time," she said.

   He grimaced. "I told you that age didn't matter."

   "And will it matter when I'm fifty and gravity takes hold of my fat cells?" she asked.

   "I'm not too worried. I didn't see many fat cells up in the hayloft," he ran a finger down her upper arm and circled her waist with his arm. "Come on back to the dinner. The feeling will pass. If it doesn't, wait until they all three get into it about something that doesn't matter. Then you'll wish they'd hurry and grow up."

   She let him lead her back into the fellowship hall, her hand entwined in his.

   Clarice popped him on the shoulder when they got in line for dinner. "You are flirting with the devil," she quipped.

   "Yep, I am," Griffin grinned.

   "I'm serious. You can do better than that woman. Rachel broke up with the lawyer," she said.

   Alvera looped her arm though Clarice's and dragged her to the dessert table. "Come on. Them kids don't need us old women interferin' in their lives."

   Clarice pulled against Alvera's grip. "Let me go, you witch."

   "Honey, you can talk plainer than that. Just forget it's Sunday and go ahead and call me a bitch," Alvera whispered.

   "I wish you would have died at birth," Clarice said.

   "And I wish I would have drowned you before you married my brother. He died to get away from you," Alvera said softly so only Clarice could hear it.

   "Rev. Wilson, don't you dare eat up all that chocolate pie," Alvera said loudly. "Clarice here has had her eye on a piece all day. I made it especially for her."

   "I hate chocolate pie and you know it," Clarice hissed.

   "Explain that to Rev. Wilson," Alvera loosened her grip and left Clarice right beside the preacher.

   Lunch was barely over when Santa Claus arrived with a big, "Ho! Ho! Ho!" and the children flocked around him. He passed out the presents under the tree. Lizzy and Annie both opened up a new Barbie in a princess gown. Chuck opened a ball glove and the grin that covered his face brought tears to Julie's eyes.

   She managed to keep them at bay until they got home. The children all raced inside to change their clothing and play with their Santa toys. Julie went straight to the kitchen and was leaning against the sink, staring out into the back yard, when Griffin found her. She spun around, leaned on his chest, and cried until there were no tears left.

   "Why did you come in here?" she whispered when the dam dried up.

   "You looked like you might need a shoulder," he said.

   "It still hurts," she said.

   Griffin kissed the top of her head, inhaling the coconut-scented shampoo and loving the way she fit into his arms. "I expect it will until we find out for sure where things stand with Chuck. I already feel like he's as much mine as Lizzy and Annie."