“Don’t you trust me, Doctor?” Erin grinned coquettishly.
Bobbi felt herself redden. “Sorry. I just…” Bobbi’s eyes swept the bar.
Milly appeared with two frosty mugs. “Here ya go, ladies. What’ll ya have tonight? It’s chili night. We got some good mutton stew, too.”
Bobbi looked at Erin, then said, “Mutton stew for me.”
“Chili, please, extra jalapenos on the side.” Erin grinned, swept Bobbi’s menu up, and gave Milly both menus.
“You like it hot, eh?” Bobbi asked. She regretted her flirty statement as soon as it left her mouth. What a thing to say to a priest! “Sorry. Didn’t mean—”
Erin laughed. “You’re so adorable when you’re flustered. Please don’t filter your words for me. I’m from a blue-collar neighborhood, where a bar like this sits on every corner, filled with guys just like this. And, yes, for the record, I like it hot. Chili, that is.”
Erin’s flirting back. Now what do I do? “I’m glad you like it hot, Mother Erin,” Bobbi said. She fiddled with her utensils. “It appears I don’t know much about you, other than you came from a blue-collar neighborhood in Chicago.”
Milly plunked two bowls and a basket filled with crackers in front of them, asked if they needed anything else, then headed back behind the bar. They both began to eat.
Between bites, Erin said, “Well, let’s see. I’ve got three sisters. All live in the Chicago area. My dad’s a retired priest, which means he travels around to fill in for priests who go on vacation or are ill. My mom is a nurse who just retired last year. They stay in Chicago all year, as opposed to a lot of their friends, who are snowbirds in either Arizona or Florida. They like their winter-season activities, like the symphony, theater, the Christmas festivities. New Year’s Eve in Evanston. The restaurants and music. All the good Chi-town stuff.”
“Do you miss the city?”
“Sometimes I do. But I’m so busy trying to make a go of this tiny parish and doing other jobs to shore up my income, I don’t have time to miss it. The food and music, sure. But not the traffic on the Kennedy Expressway or the jam of tourists on Michigan Avenue all summer. How about you? What do you miss in Oregon?”
“That’s easy. I miss my mom’s cooking. Although, truth be told, I’ve not had it on a regular basis since college. I’m thirty; you’d think I’d have learned how to be an adult by now.” Both of them laughed lightly.
“There’s something to be said for holding off on adulting if you can. Maybe you just aren’t a cook.” Erin looked with compassion on Bobbi.
Bobbi inexplicably liked the look she was being given. “You’re being too nice. I’m too lazy to shop for groceries.”
“Bad nutrition, Doc.”
“Yeah. I know. Whatever.”
As they finished up their suppers, talking about home, a ruckus began at the bar. Two men shouted at each other.
One, a man in work overalls, his face scarlet, slurred, “You’re a damn liar.” He shoved the other man, smaller than him by a head.
Milly flew out from behind the bar in a whirl. “Get the hell outta here, Jake. You too, Wes.” She walked toward them, just as Wes took a broad swing toward Jake, the man in overalls. Jake swerved; Wes’s arm swung wide, came around, and connected with Milly’s jaw.
Bobbi stood up, knocking her chair over, breathing hard and shaking.
Milly shook her head from the blow. Two other men looking on from their perches at the bar quickly grabbed Jake and Wes and hauled them out the front door.
Erin ran over to Milly. “Somebody get some ice, please.”
A cowboy stepped behind the bar and filled a rag with ice from the cooler. After he handed it to Erin, she placed it on Milly’s jaw, and led her over to a chair.
Milly sat, feeling her bump. “I’m all right. Just a bruise. Those damn rowdies. I told them not to come in here with their squabbles. Like two old ladies.”
Bobbi stepped over to Milly to check out her injury. Her cold, clammy hands shook while she felt along her left jaw. Milly would have a large contusion, but the bone didn’t feel broken.
Bobbi’s head felt light and her breathing erratic. Another damn anxiety attack.
Erin glanced at her. “Are you all right?” she whispered and grabbed at Bobbi’s forearm to lead her to a seat.
Bobbi resisted Erin’s hand, pulled away, and went back to get her coat. “Milly, keep ice on that for a day or so, twenty minutes off and on.”
“You gotta be kiddin’, Doc. I’m serving people in here. It’ll be okay. It ain’t the first time I been clocked by some stupid drunk.” Milly got up with the ice pack on her jaw and took her place back behind the bar. “Well, boys, that’s all the excitement for tonight.” She laughed heartily and the men ordered up again.
The talk in the tavern resumed as if nothing had happened.
Bobbi tried to sneak to the door to escape Erin’s questions, but Erin turned and caught her. “Wait a damn minute. You’re in no condition to be driving. You look like you’re going to faint. You’re as pale as a ghost.” Erin stood in front of Bobbi. “Sit down, Doctor, or I’ll push you down.”
Bobbi raised her brows. She believed Erin would push her down. She was small but gutsy. An image of Stephanie filled her vision for a moment.
To quell her anxiety, she sat, breathing deeply to calm herself. After a minute, when that didn’t work, she brought to mind the grounding routine her counselor had taught her.
First, breathe deeply for ten seconds. Feeling Erin’s eyes on her, she counted down from ten. Then, she went through the list, internally, her eyes unfocused on her surroundings:
Five things I can see. Table, chair, beer sign, jukebox, bar.
Breathe.
Four things I can touch. Table, coat, button, shirt.
Breathe.
Three things I can hear. Country music, Erin talking, clump of boots of man walking by.
Breathe.
Two things I can smell. Chili on Erin’s breath, her perfume.
Breathe.
One emotion I feel. Embarrassed.
Breathe.
Erin sat in the opposite seat at the table. “Where did you go just now?”
Bobbi thought for a moment and then decided to lay it on the line. “I was grounding myself.”
Erin nodded thoughtfully, put her hand on Bobbi’s forearm. “Anxiety attack. I’m sorry. Do you know what triggered it? I hope it wasn’t something I said or did.”
Bobbi shook her head. “Fight,” was all she could get out of her mouth. The images of Wes’s fist coming through space and punching Milly’s head came again to her, and she gulped in air.
“I’m going to drive you home,” Erin announced decidedly.
“No,” Bobbi said, raising a hand in protest. “Give me a minute more.”
After another minute of Erin watching her closely, she got up. Her breathing had gotten under control. Her head felt better; her hands quit their shaking. “Really. I’m recovered.”
Erin quirked a brow. “Not sure I believe you. You still look peaked.”
Bobbi put a reassuring hand on Erin’s shoulder. “Please, don’t bother yourself. I’m good to go.”
Erin put her coat on. “Well, I’m walking with you to your car. If you don’t look steady, I’m taking your keys.” They left the bar for the snowy parking lot.
“You’re a feisty elf, aren’t you?” It came out of Bobbi’s mouth before she could stop it. She smirked.
“Elf? Elf?” Erin gasped in faux horror.
Bobbi looked into her dark eyes, glowing in the lot’s lights. She breathed deeply.
Erin moved toward Bobbi, lightly grasped the lapels of her coat, and looked deeply into her eyes.
Bobbi felt her warmth, a tingling, and breathed in Erin’s smell of soap and light perfume. Their breath mingled in fog. Was Erin about to kiss her? This was unexpected!
Erin took a deep breath at the same time Bobbi came to herself. They each stepped away. Bobbi whispe
red, “We’d better get out of this weather.”
Erin looked at Bobbi with tenderness. “Yes. Definitely. You sure you’re all right?” Her hands traced down the front placket of Bobbi’s jacket.
“Yes. Thanks for your concern.” Bobbi took a step toward her car. “Well, I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah. Until another sick parishioner, eh?” Erin smiled.
Bobbi nodded absent-mindedly. “Right. Be sure to get your church’s water checked,” she teased. “Good night.”
From the inside of her warming Honda, Bobbi watched Erin drive away. What did she think she was doing with The Elf? A priest, for God’s sake. Didn’t she know Erin wasn’t her type? Didn’t Erin probably want something more than a fling? Bobbi shook her head to erase the image of them standing close and nearly kissing.
Chapter Fifteen
Yancy fidgeted with her bow tie. “How the hell do people tie these things?”
Roxie stood in front of her. “Let me, baby cakes. You’re just nervous.” She expertly retied the red bow tie, pulling on it to make it span out just right. “There you go, Studly DoRight. All set.”
Yancy took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Is it time yet? I hear the music starting.”
“Calm down, will you?” Roxie smoothed Yancy’s lapels and straightened the matching red boutonniere. “We have twenty minutes.”
“Why did we decide to have classical guitar music twenty minutes before the ceremony? I’m crawling out of my skin.”
“Will you quit mussing with your hair?” Roxie slapped Yancy’s hand away from her head. “Geez, you’re like a ten-year-old. I should have brought you some whiskey or something.”
“Oh, hell, no. I would just be buzzed and still nervous. I’d have probably fallen on my ass getting to the altar.”
“Why are you so anxious? You’ve been in front of groups before. Are you backing out? Cause if you are, I’ll kick that ass.”
“I’m not backing out.” Yancy paced. “I’m nervous ‘cause I’ve never said these things to anyone before. Especially in front of an audience. It’s…not my thing.”
“Oh, news flash.”
Finally, the guitar changed to Pachelbel’s Canon, cuing their entrance. Erin walked up behind Yancy and Roxie in the vestry room leading to the back of the church. She wore her white alb with a white tapestry stole. “Time to rock and roll, girls.” She placed her hand on Yancy’s shoulder.
Yancy took another deep breath, looked directly at her, and nodded. “I’m ready.” She and Roxie walked behind Erin, out to the steps in front of the altar. They took their places and stood. The scent of the baskets of red and white roses on either side of the altar filled Yancy’s head as she breathed deeply to calm her nerves.
Her brother and his wife sat in the first pew on her left, while Gen’s friends from Kentucky were to the right of the aisle. The usher had just seated her mom and she smiled widely at her, with watery eyes. Yancy’s brother did his best attempt at a jaunty wink, but he was not a winker, so Yancy shook her head slightly at him. She smiled and relaxed a little.
The guitar music stopped for a moment, then resumed with the processional, as Stacy, Gen’s friend from Kentucky, entered the back of the church, wearing a knee-length, off-white dress with a red sash. She carried a small rose bouquet. When she reached the altar, Yancy saw Gen, accompanied by both her parents, standing at the head of the church aisle. She wore a beautiful white dress that just brushed the floor, with satin and lace trimming. Her auburn hair had been styled up and held pieces of baby’s breath on one side.
Yancy drew in her breath in awe. This woman is marrying me! She smiled at them all the way, as Gen and her parents made their way to the altar. Her father placed Gen’s hand in Yancy’s and she gazed at Gen. Both of Gen’s parents smiled and kissed Gen on the cheek. Gen’s mom brushed her hand lightly over Yancy’s cheek and mouthed, “We love you.”
“I love you, too,” Yancy whispered to them. She then faced Gen, her smile nearly breaking her whole face open. Her knees ceased their trembling. Her heart filled with joy at being here with the love of her life. Gen had captured her nearly from the first day they met, when Yancy interviewed Gen for her job as medical director of her family’s rural medical clinics. They’d had their rough spots, one being Yancy’s own depression and acting-out behavior that nearly drove Gen away completely. But after getting her issues under control, she charmed Gen and Gen charmed her in return. They worked well together to improve the medical facilities available in her ranch community. Gen was her soulmate and her best friend, her touchstone, and in a few minutes, would be her wife.
Yancy came to the present as Erin began the opening sentences of the service.
The service passed quickly from vows, to rings, to prayers, and to the final kiss. Yancy took Gen into her arms and gave her a passionate kiss that lasted longer than she realized, when the congregation started to laugh, and Roxie tapped her on the shoulder and whispered, “Okay, tiger. Leave it for the honeymoon.”
Yancy could hardly contain her happiness. Grasping Gen’s hand, they nearly skipped down the aisle in a whirl of applause surrounding them from the congregation.
Later, they greeted people at the reception hall, with their parents in line with them. Then it was time for dinner and dancing. Toasts preceded the first dances.
Yancy danced with her brother while Gen danced with her dad, Paul. They then switched partners.
“You look radiant,” Paul told Yancy as they whirled around the dance floor to a waltz.
“Thank you. I feel pretty damn good. Gen looks gorgeous.”
“Yes. She looked much happier than at her wedding to Rachel, I must say. You bring out her inner beauty, Yancy.”
Paul looked on Yancy with great affection. She felt her heart swell. She had no answer to his remark.
The dancing started in earnest then, with the DJ playing faster music, including oldies from the sixties and seventies for the parent generation. Yancy and Gen danced them all, whispering endearments and laughing. As the evening waned, the DJ played more recent music. Yancy noticed Erin dancing with Dr. Webster and nodded in their direction so that Gen could see.
“Oh, they’re dancing. That’s a sight I was hoping to see.” Gen grinned. Yancy swung her around on the dance floor.
Roxie and Kate stopped them mid-dance. Roxie leaned into Gen’s ear. Yancy heard her say, “I’d say our matchmaking is making headway at last.”
“You guys better back off. Those two may not be the best match, you know.” Yancy hated it when people tried to get couples together.
Roxie punched her arm lightly. “What do you know about it? You’re as clueless as Kate most of the time.”
Kate, standing next to her, shrugged her shoulders. “I try to mind my own business.”
“Yeah, whatever happened to minding one’s own business?” Yancy lightly punched Roxie’s arm back.
Roxie moved out of range of Yancy’s arm. “What fun is that? Most people need a little shove.”
“Gen and I didn’t need any shoves.”
Roxie and Gen laughed. “Are you kidding? You needed professional counseling and prescription drugs to get your act together. What a dork.”
Yancy’s family met her and Gen as they stood on the edge of the dance floor.
“Darling.” Her mom, Nina, hugged Yancy and kissed her cheek, then took Gen by the shoulders and brushed her lips across her cheek. “You two look stunning. I am so happy for you both.” She looked Gen in the eye, tears running down her cheek. “You finally tamed our Mary Ann.”
Yancy’s brother hugged them both. “Who knew our wild Yancy would be a married woman?” He tugged on Yancy’s tie. She grinned as she shrugged off his hand. His wife hugged Yancy and Gen and said, “May your marriage be as happy as Phil and mine.”
“I love you,” Yancy whispered into Nina’s ear while giving her a goodbye hug.
Yancy’s family all left together for Denver.
The party
was breaking up. Bobbi and Erin came together to wish the couple well.
Gen smiled at them. She took one of Erin’s hands in both of hers. “Thank you, Erin. The service went so well. You made it beautiful.”
Erin hugged Gen. “You two looked stunning together. I loved doing your wedding.”
Bobbi shook their hands. “Congratulations, Yancy, Gen. It was a lovely service. And, a very fine reception. I loved your DJ. Great dance music.”
Yancy said to her, “Are you a dancer? You had some good moves out there.”
“Oh, yes, not a good one, but I enjoy moving to music. My family all plays some instrument and loves to square dance.”
Gen said, “What do you play?”
Bobbi ducked her head and blushed slightly. “I play fiddle and banjo. I’m not great, but I can play well enough for family.”
Erin looked at Bobbi. “I play violin too, but not for dancing. I’m classically trained. Played in the orchestra in high school and in college, before I went to grad school. I haven’t picked up my violin in some time.”
“Then we must have a music night sometime after we get back from our honeymoon.” Gen grinned at Roxie, who grinned in return.
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll tune up my piano. I haven’t played much either.” Roxie smirked. “We’ll have a trio.”
Yancy shook her head. “You two,” she said aside to them.
Roxie and Kate said their good nights, and they all left the hall. A few stragglers kept dancing.
Yancy looked into Gen’s eyes, “Well, Ms. Lambert, shall we go?”
“Ms. Lambert? Don’t you mean Ms. Delaney?” She smoothed Yancy’s lapels, leaning into her body, and gave her a lingering kiss.
****
Bobbi found herself and Erin walking to their cars at the same time, so she let Erin catch up to her. It was only polite, especially in the dimly lit parking lot of the reception hall.
“How are you doing? You had to work hard this afternoon.” Bobbi thought some small talk to be in order, since they’d not conversed at all while dancing a fast dance in the loud music of the hall.
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