Newton Neighbors (New England Trilogy) (43 page)

Bruce folded his dish cloth and put it down beside the sink. “Look, Jessie, we’re almost finished here. Do you fancy coming back to my place to watch a movie and maybe have a glass of wine—just to unwind?”

She shook her head. “Not tonight, I’m afraid. The truth is—well, I’ve been trying to hide it, but I’m afraid I look like a loser from a wet T-shirt competition just now.” She turned to face him.

He smirked. “To be honest, you look like a winner to me.”

Jessie gave him a friendly thump. “Bruce, I’m getting cold and I’m a bit tired, too, so I think I’ll skip this one. But thanks.” She tried to sound normal, and in control even, although she was still a bit shook-up having seen Dan.

“No problem. It was just a thought—nothing serious, you understand.”

“Yeah, of course.”
 

He disappeared from the kitchen for a moment and returned with the navy jacket he had worn earlier. Bruce put it over her shoulders as she stood at the sink. She gave him a grateful nod, and he smiled down at her. He was a good friend—Jessie needed those.

Bruce clapped his hands. “I’m going to find Cathi and tell her we’re done.”

The police were the first to leave. Before the firefighters left, Dan tried to talk to her again, but Jessie was stronger this time. “Just go,” she said with a lot more conviction than she felt. There was nothing to say. Better to avoid him altogether—even if he did look gorgeous.

By the time Bruce and Jessie were finished, the house was back in pretty good shape. The floors were still wet and so were the walls, but everything else had been cleaned and put away. They had worked hard for Cathi, not that she seemed to notice. She paid them, thanked them, and then showed them the door, so they walked down Crystal Lake Lane together. Bruce counted his money as they walked.

“Eighty bucks? Is that all we’re worth?”
 

“Really? We were there for more than nine hours,” Jessie said. “Miserable old bat. That’s the last time I’m working for her.”

“Too right.”

She glanced at Bruce. “Why did you even do it? I mean, she has no idea you’re a lawyer. If she’d known, she probably would have asked you to the party.”

He stopped and looked at her. “But then I would have missed all the fun. Ely wasn’t up to it. I think you might have been carrying the load by yourself if I hadn’t helped out.”

“That was very kind of you, but I am a big girl.” Her tone was defensive.

“God, you are prickly, aren’t you? I was just trying to be a nice neighbor.” They’d reached Noreen’s house. “Hey, who owns the Rolls Royce?”
 

“There’s a driver in it, too. It must be Hugo’s car. I guess he’s still here.”

“You sure I can’t talk you into an old movie and bottle of cheap red wine? Sorry, but it’s all I’ve got. Granddad wasn’t a big supporter of fine wines.”

“Smooth talker.” Jessie laughed. Even though she had said no just a half hour earlier, she was now considering it. It was so nice to meet a regular guy who understood her. Bruce didn’t have those movie star good looks like Dan, but he was warm and sweet, like a favorite sweater, comfortable. If Dan were a garment, he would have been an Armani suit.

“Not tonight,” she said, suddenly realizing Bruce was waiting for an answer while she daydreamed about her wearing her ex. “Think I need to be asleep. Hey, tomorrow I fly home.”

“Do you? That’s funny, so do I. What airline are you with? What time?”

“British Airways, nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Bruce looked surprised. “Wow. I’m pretty sure that’s the one I’m on, too. At least I think it is.”

“Well, it may not be the same plane, but if our flights are near the same time, do you want to share a cab?”

“Great idea.” He hovered with her on the sidewalk for a moment.

Jessie took the initiative and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks for all your help tonight, Bruce. Even if you did it just to be a nice Newton neighbor.”

He put on a goofy expression to make her laugh. “Ah shucks,” he said and turned to walked away.
 

“Oh, your jacket.” Jessie shrugged out of it.

“Keep it until tomorrow.”

She watched him walk away and then turned into her driveway. Jessie was going to smile at Hugo’s driver, but it looked like he’d nodded off in the car with the engine running. Perhaps he was used to sitting out on December nights while his employer paid visits to old lady friends. Jessie smiled to herself. Noreen was an interesting person, regardless of her years.
 

She was at the side door of the house when someone moved behind her. “Jessie.”

She screamed and swung around. “Dan?”

He stepped forward and laughed. “Hi. I came back to the party to talk to you, but then I saw you walking here. You live here now?”

She nodded, her eyes a little wider, and took a step back.

“Look, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just felt so bad seeing you tonight. We never got to talk after—you know, after you met my mom.”

“You mean your wife—your
pregnant
wife?”

Dan took another step forward. “Yeah, that’s one of the reasons I wanted to see you. That was a mess. She and I, we got together for all the wrong reasons. That’s why I was so slow with you in the beginning. I didn’t know what to do. I’m so into you, Jessie, but now there’s this situation.”

“Situation?” Jessie stepped forward. “That situation is called Sadie and she’s carrying your baby, and you slept with me, Dan. What the hell was that about? You don’t think you should have maybe mentioned it?”
 

“I know, but it isn’t that simple.”

Jessie held up her hands. “You know what? Save your breath. There’s nothing you can say to fix this. I should have a medal for picking the wrong guy, honest. You’re not the first. I seem to hone in on the wrong man time and time again, so just go away, okay? Forget it ever happened. I’m doing my best to.”

“No, wait.” Dan sounded desperate now. He held his head like he was trying to think faster. “I don’t want to. You and me? We could still make a go of it. I really like you, and I have a pretty good idea you still like me. The chemistry is off the wall. Maybe we can work around this?”

“No, Dan. You and I are over. I don’t want to work around a wife.”

“I don’t accept that.” He stepped closer and tried to take her in his arms, but she pushed him away.

“I said no!” she shouted.

“Yes.” He pulled her closer.

“She said
no
.” Bruce spoke loud and clear from behind them, startling Dan.

“Hey, nice timing,” Jessie said.

“Who the hell are you?” Dan released his hold of her when he heard the new voice.

“He’s my neighbor and friend, you ass. Now go.” Jessie was more furious than scared now.

Dan folded his arms over his chest. “Yeah, right.” His aggression was palpable—Bruce’s was not.
 

“I don’t want any trouble, man. I just think you need to leave the lady alone.” Bruce was trying to sound friendly, more peacemaker than troublemaker.
 

It appeared, however, Dan
did
want trouble. He took a lunge and punched Bruce hard on the left jaw. Bruce fell back onto the snowy verge of the path, and Jessie screamed for help.
 

Hugo’s driver jumped out of his car and was pulling Dan off Bruce within seconds, which was just as well, because Dan was breathing hard and had murder in his eyes.

“Go,” Jessie said when Dan looked at her.

“This isn’t over,” Dan said.
 

“Yes, it is. If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll get a restraining order.” Dan looked torn, glancing from her to the driver and to Bruce who was still on the ground. Jessie knew he was considering taking them all on. His face was red, and it was obvious that his blood was boiling. “I’m serious, Dan. I’ll call 911 right now and you’ll be arrested. So go!”

His shoulders fell, defeated. He spat on the ground in one last act of defiance. Then he turned and jogged away, off into the night.
 

“Ex-boyfriend?” the driver asked Jessie as he helped Bruce up. “Who are you, then?”

“I’m just the bloody neighbor.” Bruce wiped his bleeding lip with the back of his hand.

“Oh, Bruce. Thank you.” She stroked his face. “Thank you for saving me. Come inside, we need to get you cleaned up.”
 

Cathi was waiting in bed for Michael because she knew they had to settle this before they slept. She had chosen her sexiest nightgown and even decided to keep her makeup on. Tonight Cathi was going to have to pull off the best act of her life.

“You want to tell me why I thought you were pregnant and Maria Sanchez didn’t?”

“It was all just a huge misunderstanding, Michael. You have to believe me.”

“One that most couples seem to escape. I don’t get it. I asked you were you pregnant—why didn’t you just say no?”

“I wanted to—more than you can imagine—and every day since, but the lie just got bigger and bigger.”

“You realize it’s the only reason I agreed to sell our house and rent this place.” He glanced about the bedroom with a look of distaste. “Jesus, was that all part of your plan?”

“No.” Cathi tried to sound desperate. She wrung her hands and then reached out to him. “Come to bed. It’s like I told you already. You seemed so pumped when you asked me, so I just went along with it. I see now it was really stupid, but I don’t really know how it happened. I was going to tell you—of course, I was. Well, we could still try to have a baby if you want.” She tried to look as alluring as she could. She saw the confusion wash over her husband’s face. Then it turned to annoyance.

“What? You’re suggesting we try for a baby now?”

“Well, we can’t tonight—I just got my period. But I know I could show you a good time.”

“You got your period? My pregnant wife got her period and still didn’t think to tell me she wasn’t pregnant.”

“That only happened this evening. I was going to tell you as soon as I could. Damn it, Michael, do you want a baby or not?”

“Yes, no. Damn, Cathi, it wasn’t on my agenda. Then you threw it at me.”

“No.” She kneeled on the bed. “You, Michael—you threw it at me! It was the last thing on my mind, and all of a sudden you’re talking about a third child. Where in the hell did that come from?”

“I saw your letter about decorating a nursery.”

“That?” She shook her head. “You know I’m always looking at interior design ideas. I was just goofing around.”

“A baby’s nursery is goofing round? Hello, Cathi, you told me you were pregnant. You let me live with that belief for over a month.”

She sat back down on her heels. “I’m sorry.”

Michael looked at her then, and she saw something different in his eyes. Was it resignation?

“You think that’s enough after all this? ‘Sorry.’ Jesus, do I even know you anymore?” He shook his head and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Cathi felt real panic rising. Michael had never been this mad at her before. She was always able to sweet-talk him.

He looked back at her from the bedroom door. “I don’t know. But I can’t sleep here tonight.”

Chapter Thirty