Spider Web

by Danielle James

  “Michael?” Phoenix asked as he sat on the stool beside him.

  The drunk opened an eye but otherwise didn’t move.

  “I’m Phoenix,” he continued, “and you’re coming with me.” He stood and shoved his arms under the angel’s and lifted. The man groaned but was obviously too sloshed to even put up a fight.

  “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” the bartender demanded.

  “He’s uh, my brother,” Phoenix told him, “Been looking everywhere for his ass.”

  “You’re brother huh?” the bartender asked skeptically.

  “Yeah. Hope he hasn’t been too much trouble,” Phoenix said. “Mom said I gotta bring him home. She has been sick with worry.”

  “According to him, he ain’t got no family,” the bartender said. “Says he a fallen angel or some crazy shit.”

  “Well he has been off his meds for a while now,” Phoenix replied as he hefted the angel over his shoulder. “Don’t you worry; I’ll take good care of him.”

  He walked casually outside and around the building. Once out of sight of any humans, Phoenix let his wings out. “Come on you heavy bastard,” he said to his cargo as they lifted into the sky.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  JUNE

  Jules spent the next three months completely enveloped in her work. She tried divorce cases one after another, with the occasional custody battle thrown in for good measure. Anita was right when she said Nicolas was a legal genius, he helped her on a number of cases. Jules never asked again where he got his information, and he never told. All she knew is that it was there when she needed it.

  She looked hopelessly at the pile of folders on the corner of her desk. Would she ever get through them all? She was thinking not. She was, however, making a good living for herself. She rarely had time to do anything but work, which was fine with her. It kept her brain occupied. The wound in her chest from the loss of her dear husband had healed a little thanks to the fast friendships she had formed with Anita, Harry, and Nick. They spent almost every lunch hour together. Anita and Harry started dating about a month after Jules came to the firm, which made her happy too. Jules knew that one day they would make it permanent. The way Harry looked at her said as much. Jules even dared to call herself...content.

  It was Friday, and they had all planned to meet at Frankie’s Pub and Wings for after work dinner and drinks. It wasn’t something they did every weekend, but often enough that they had a routine. Harry would pick Anita up at her apartment, Nick and Jules would drive their own cars and meet them there at seven sharp. They always sat at the same booth, and Anita always danced when she had a few too many drinks.

  This night, they skipped the food and went straight to drinks. Harry had won a big case, and it was time to celebrate. The guys started out with beer, Anita and Jules with margaritas. After the second round, someone got brave. Tequila shots all around. Anita, true to form, decided to dance. “Dance with me!” She was pulling Jules by the arm toward the small dance floor. She tried to resist, but Anita would have none of it.

  Jules’s head whirled when she stood up, but nothing she couldn’t handle. The women danced to the loud music like they were twenty-one again. The bass thudded deep in Jules’s chest as they swayed through the people on the dance floor. She must have looked like a fool; Jules wasn’t good at dancing, but neither was anyone else there. People are far less judgmental when they’ve had a few drinks. She didn’t drink very often, but tonight she didn’t mind. It felt good to let her hair down, so to speak.

  The girls sat back at their table, sweating and laughing. The men had ordered more drinks. “I think, my dear, you are trying to get me drunk!” Anita was beaming at Harry now.

  “Now, why would I do that?” The sheepish look on Harry’s face answered that question.

  All of the sudden, Jules felt awful! Her head was woozy and the room started spinning. “Hey guys, I think I’m done. I should head home,” she slurred. She was trying to bow out gracefully, and not doing a very good job.

  “Are you ok?” Nicolas asked her, the concern obvious on his face.

  “Yes, I just think I have had too much,” Jules’s words slurred together, and the pit of her stomach knotted up. She knew it was about to get much, much worse. She got up and ran to the door with her hand over her mouth. Not here! She was horrified that she would be sick in front of everyone.

  Jules barely made it out to the parking lot, next to her car, and then it happened. Vomit erupted from her throat as she leaned over behind her car. It seemed only a moment before someone was holding her hair back from her face. “Hey little Mouse, you ok?” Jules winced at the nickname Nick used for her. Ever since the first day at the firm, she had been little Mouse to him. “Go away,” she pleaded with him.

  “Nope. I’m just not that kind of guy.” Jules wanted to argue, but another round of vomit forced its way out of her throat, silencing any objections she had. After the volcano that was her stomach quieted, Nick put his arm around her waist and helped her to the passenger side of her car. He handed her a handkerchief to clean her mouth and nose up. “I’m taking you home.” Jules felt so bad, she conceded without further comment.

  When they arrived in front of her apartment building, Nick leaned over the seat and unfastened Jules’s seatbelt. “Wait,” he told her. His cologne smelled nice. It wasn’t anything Jules could put her finger on, and she wondered to herself how to describe it. In what seemed like an impossibly short amount of time, he was around the car to open the door. She wondered if she was blacking out. He helped her out and to the door. “Key?” Jules told him which key on her ring was the one he wanted, and he opened the door.

  She was about to tell him that she was fine and he could go, but Mount Saint Wannablowchunks had other ideas. Jules ran to the bathroom in a desperate attempt to make it to the toilet. She sat on the floor with her head hung over the seat, begging God to just strike her down now to end the suffering. She felt a cool towel on her forehead and knew that Nicholas was still there. She had almost forgotten about him. The towel felt good on her head and the cool porcelain of the toilet helped clear her mind. She was dizzy and sick. Jules knew better than this. This was why she didn’t drink.

  When Jules was fairly certain her stomach was under control she allowed Nick to help her to her room. He looked around for a moment before he asked her with a puzzled expression, “Where are your night clothes?” WHAT??? The look on her face must have said it all. “Relax, I just wanted to get them out for you so you could change. I didn’t think you slept in a skirt and heels,” he flashed her favorite smile and she knew he meant it.

  Jules pointed to the dresser against the wall. “Top drawer,” she told him. He tossed a set of white pajamas in her direction and stepped out so she could change.

  “Can I come in now?” He was at the door waiting for Jules to say she was decent. How very gentlemanly.

  “Sure,” she called to him. He strolled into the room, graceful as ever, right to her side.

  “You look like hell,” he said with compassion in his eyes, but a slight smile on his lips. At that moment, Jules felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. Not like she was going to throw up, but something different. Familiar, but not something she could put her finger on. “Let’s get you to bed,” he said as he pulled back the comforter on the bed. It was odd, Jules thought. Nick had never been over before, yet he seemed to know his way around. He held her arm and led her to the bed. Jules’s heart skipped a beat and suddenly, she was terrified. This was all wrong. Her heart pounded furiously in her chest. Nick was her friend, but this situation had become very uncomfortable. He cocked his head to the side as if he could hear her heart racing in her chest. She wouldn’t have been surprised; it thundered so loud in her own ears that she could barely hear around it herself. “Relax Mouse. I’m not staying.” It was like he could read her mind. Either that or her feelings were plastered right there on her face. Either way, Jules was grateful that he said so. She sank down in
to her pillows, wondering what was next. He pulled the covers over her, pressed his cool lips to her forehead, and said, “Goodnight, Mouse.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Jules woke up the next morning with a terrible headache. Her body hurt all over. She felt like she had been run over by a truck. Well, that’s what you get for overdoing it, she scolded herself. She dragged herself out of bed and forced her eyes to look in the mirror. Yep, her hair looked like a haystack. Her hazel eyes were swollen and bloodshot red where they should’ve been white. Ugh.

  She decided it was time for a shower. She let the hot water run over her skin longer than necessary, soothing the knots in her shoulders. It felt too good to get out, and besides, the steam helped to clear her sinuses and her aching head. It wasn’t until the water started to run cool that Jules turned it off and yanked a towel around herself.

  She wiped a hand across the mirror, clearing away the fog. She stared at herself, unblinking and not thinking about anything in particular. Her eyes were still red and swollen, but at least the rest of her looked better.

  She assumed Nicholas had let himself out last night. The door was locked, everything in its place. Jules made herself a smoothie for breakfast, fearing nothing else would stay down. There were no plans for today, so she settled down in front of the TV to watch cartoons. It seemed odd, a thirty-four-year-old watching cartoons, but she didn’t care. Tom and Jerry reruns were her favorite. She could never get enough of that cat, always trying to catch the mouse. The pain he put himself through! Who wouldn’t love a sadistic little Mouse whose best friend was a masochistic cat?

  Mouse. That got her thinking. Nick had done much more for her last night than is required of a friend from work. She had been worried that he thought their relationship was going in a direction she just wasn’t prepared for, and he had been a perfect gentleman. Jules felt a twinge of guilt for even thinking that way. Of course he would be a gentleman; he always was. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was ten in the morning, on a Saturday. Who could that be? She opened the door and gasped at the face staring back at her. “Andrew!” she shouted. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed with all her strength. She realized in that second how much she missed home.

  “Hey Jules, how the hell are ya?” He returned her embrace with almost as much enthusiasm.

  “Come in! Not that I’m not thrilled to see you, but what are you doing here?”

  “I was in town for the convention. I googled your address, and figured I would surprise you. I assumed you knew I would be at the convention, so no surprise there. So, here I am!” Crap! The convention. Every year hundreds of attorneys gather in a major city to discuss new laws and other boring law stuff. They also drink and dance and make complete fools of themselves. Joe went every year. Sometimes Jules would go, but mostly she stayed home with Kelly. She had forgotten this year it was in Boston. She hadn’t decided whether to go or not, unsure if she could be around all those people.

  “The convention. Right. Aren’t you kinda early?” The convention was always the third Saturday in June.

  “Jules, it’s tonight. Aren’t you going?” He looked amused by her lack of ability to keep up with time. Already the third Saturday? Where did the time go?

  “Well, I guess not. I forgot to RSVP. I was still thinking there was more time. Besides, I don’t even own a decent cocktail dress. You know how I hate to dress up.” It was a lame excuse, but still true.

  “Actually, you did RSVP. I spoke with Anita, and she said it would be no problem to do it for you.” WHAT?!! She never mentioned it to Jules! The anger brewing in the pit of her stomach threatened to boil over. How could she! Anita was supposed to be her friend. That is not the kind of thing you do to a friend. Jules felt her lips push together into a thin line.

  “Such a good friend,” she finally murmured, the sarcasm evident in her voice.

  “Don’t be too hard on her. She was doing it as a favor to a friend of a friend. I told her there was no other way to get you there. I told her I would owe her big. How is she about collecting on debts anyway?” Even though Jules didn’t want to, a smile escaped her lips anyway. Anita would owe her now, and she would collect.

  “But I don’t have the right, um, attire,” Jules said, hopeful that would give her an out, no matter how weak the excuse.

  “Well get dressed. We’re going shopping!” Andrew looked absolutely thrilled with himself. She knew it was probably a good idea to go shopping with him. Andrew had a great sense of style. Jules’s clothing of choice was blue jeans and a t-shirt, but that was hardly what she could wear to the formal convention. She resolved to just go along with it. It was no use to argue with Andrew anyway. Besides, it might do her some good to get some fresh air.

  They hit all the shops on Main Street. Jules tried on dress after dress while Andrew tried on suits and sweaters. It was like their own little fashion show. Having Andrew for a friend was just as good as having a best girlfriend. He had to be bored with all the sales people, trying to make their commission, but he never showed it. Jules tried on a little blue cocktail dress that fit snuggly around her torso, and then billowed out around her legs, stopping just above the knees. “That’s the one!” Andrew exclaimed. “It’s perfect. It really shows off your figure and compliments your skin. You will be the envy of every lady there.”

  “Whatever, Andrew.” Jules felt the blood rushing to her cheeks. “I’m not trying to impress anyone. I just want to get this over with.”

  They paid for their purchases and headed out to find something to eat. After passing several restaurants, they settled on a little sea food shop on the bay. While they ate, they talked about work, what was going on at home, Kelly and Denise, and the new friends Jules had made since moving to Boston.

  “So tell me more about this Nicholas guy,” he smiled as he spoke the words, but there was something else; more than mere curiosity.

  “There’s not much to tell. Just a guy who works with us, we all go out occasionally, but not that often.”

  “Oh.” That was all he said. He was staring at something to her left, but not really seeing anything at all. It was what he did when he wanted to say something, but was keeping it in. This, of course, piqued Jules’s curiosity, so she had to ask.

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “Well, it just seemed like, well, the way you talk, it’s like there was something more. I hoped maybe you found someone special,” he said, allowing his eyes to drop to the table. He looked.... sad?

  The words he had spoken stung in her mind. How could he even consider the possibility? No one could ever replace Joe! Jules was suddenly furious. She slammed her hand down on the table. “How could you even think I would betray Joe that way! Nick is just a friend. Nothing more. I don’t even know where he lives or what he does for fun. I only know him at work. I don’t even know if he has a girlfriend or anything!” She was fuming now. She knew her outburst was over the top, but she couldn’t keep it inside.

  “Relax, Jules, I was just saying. I mean, you would be quite the catch, if you would just put yourself back on the market. It’s been nearly a year. Take off the black shroud and live a little. Joe would want you to be happy. Hell, if I wasn’t already involved, I’d scoop you up myself!” A strange little smile crept across Andrew’s face. The anger she felt began to dissolve as his words sunk in. She had known Andrew for five years and had never heard him even speak of a girlfriend.

  “What’s that? You found someone that can put up with you?” she teased.

  “Yeah, I think I have. He’s nice. Doesn’t work at the office, though. That would be….,”

  She interrupted right there. “He?”

  “Oh, come on Jules, you can’t tell me you didn’t know!” A smug smile stretched over his teeth.

  “No, I think I would remember that,” was all she could say. Hell, she was floored.

  “Really? I mean, shopping and fashion shows, my roommate for three years was a man? Honey, I�
��m gay. I try not to flaunt it, but I thought you knew. I thought Joe would have told you.”

  “No, Joe never mentioned it. Makes sense though. That would explain why you never had girlfriends. And to think, all this time I was concerned you were lonely! How blind am I?”

  “So, you’re ok with this then? I would have told you a long time ago, I just assumed...I am so sorry Jules, I never meant to deceive you, I,” he stammered.

  Jules couldn’t let this go on. “Don’t be ridiculous. Andrew, you are my friend. I don’t care who you date, as long as you are happy. I love you regardless,” she said, taking his hand in her own. He grinned at her and promised she would get to meet this new guy soon. They continued their day together, talking and walking the city streets until it was time to get ready. Andrew saw her to her door, and then headed back to his hotel to get ready for the convention.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  After Jules called Anita to give her the chewing she so rightly deserved, she yanked a brush through the snarly mess of hair on her head and hopped in the shower. The warm water washed away the stress in her muscles. She thought about the conversation she and Andrew had this afternoon. Her, like Nicholas? How absurd! She didn’t even know anything about him; not really. Jules had stopped asking questions a long time ago and he never offered any information, either. The idea of it being anything more than a working friendship seemed farfetched, at best. But then she realized, she wanted to know. What did he do outside of work? Where did he live? Did he have family? She knew these things about Anita and Harry. They all knew things about her. Why couldn’t they know them about Nick? She decided, tonight, if he even showed up, that she would ask. Where was the harm in that?

  Jules fidgeted in her seat at their table at the convention. Andrew sat across from her, talking to someone she hadn’t recognized, although she did know a lot of the people there. Some she worked with at some point or another, and some had known Joe. She scanned the large open space, looking for Nick. She didn’t see him anywhere.