by Sioux Dallas
Jason was so swamped with work he was not able to attend the parties at the agency or visit with anyone. During the second week of March, Steve, Gary, Nigel, Cole and Curtis marched into his office and abducted him to the amusement of his staff. They forced him to go to dinner with them and then bowling. He truly did enjoy himself and admitted that he had missed his friends.
He was still singing in the church choir, and about every other month, would sing a solo. He was content, but was he? Why did he have a hollow feeling inside?
Jason was not surprised when Steve and Lisa announced that they were engaged to be engaged. There were three other weddings within the agency and a couple in the church group. He was pleased for all of them and wished them well.
Toward the end of April Jason took a deposit to the bank. Grace usually took care of this, but he wanted to talk to Mason Phieffer. He blithely walked into the bank, at first not noticing the strange atmosphere, In a couple of seconds he realized something was wrong. He looked to the right to see an elderly man, in a guard’s uniform, lying flat on his face on the floor. People in the bank were standing like statues. He stood stock still.
His eyes roamed around and saw the tear-stained face of two of the tellers. Then he fastened on two men who were standing with drawn rifles and shocked expressions on their faces.
One pointed his rifle at a teller. “You told me you had locked that door.”
“Y-y-yes sir, I did, or thought I did.”
“Hurry up with that money. No telling who else might wander in here. We don’t want any trouble.”
Jason had to nervously laugh aloud at that. “You’re already in trouble. Do you realize what can happen to you. What did you do to that poor old man on the floor? He was too old to have been a threat to you.”
“Shut up! No one asked for your lip. That old man’s okay. He’s just knocked out. Now get over here with these people and raise your hands.”
“I wouldn’t enjoy doing that,” Jason said with a pleasant smile. He had observed two police sneaking up behind the armed men. He wanted to keep their attention on him so the officers could arrest them.
“Well, smart mouth. I don’t remember asking you for your approval. Now I want all of you to lie flat on the floor. You people behind that counter come out here and lie down with these folks.”
Just at that moment the officers were close enough to touch the men. One of them spoke. “I suggest you follow your own orders. Drop the guns and lie flat on the floor. We have you covered and there’s more police surrounding the building.”
One of the robbers nervously jerked around and fired his rifle at the same time. Jason felt a sharp stinging in his left side. He put his hand to his side and drew it back covered with blood. He dropped so quickly, someone screamed thinking he was dead. Police came charging in through the front door. There was a lot of shouting. Ambulances were quickly called for Jason and the elderly guard who was only shaken up with a knot on his head.
The newspapers were running front page stories about Jason keeping the robbers’ attention until the officers could take them down. He was a hero, but he didn’t want to be. It embarrassed him. Steve scolded him and hugged him in relief for his part in the arrest.
There was a chunk out of Jason’s side, but no life-threatening injuries. Just his pride. He felt weak from loss of blood and did sleep a lot. One afternoon he opened his eyes to see a blurry vision over him. He blinked his eyes a couple of times to clear them and grinned.
“Siobhan. Good to see you. Did you come to laugh at me for being so silly?”
“Silly, yes. Laugh, no. I was petrified when I heard you had been shot during a bank holdup. What ever possessed you to play Wyatt Earp?”
“Not Wyatt Earp. I didn’t even have a gun. And if I’d had one, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. I’m leaving that up to Steve and his cohorts.”
Siobhan brought him up-to-date on the news of the church and the agency.
“Pastor Charles Black is floating on the clouds and so his sweet wife, Debra. They’re thrilled with their first grandchild. A little boy. Everyone is doing well. I’m singing a solo next Sunday. Boy, everyone misses you.”
They talked until a nurse came in and wanted privacy to take stats. Siobhan leaned over and kissed his check and left him looking like he had been shot again.
Steve checked on him every day. He was surprised and pleased when Dets. Snouder and Watson came to see him. Another day Rebecca and David Boggs came. Jason was pleased because Monroe David Boggs had turned out to be a nice guy to know after all.
After a week, he was released to go home with strict orders not to lift anything heavy or to lean over until his check-up. Jason hardly knew what to do with all the food that people had brought in. Offers were pouring in daily to clean his house, take care of him and do for him. He appreciated the kindness shown but wanted to yell at people and tell them to let him alone.
He was grateful that Siobhan came every day after school and ran interference for him, especially from the starry-eyed women. She laughed.
“I’ve always heard that you know for sure who your friends are when you really need someone. Wow! I trip over women every time I come in here.”
“I’m thankful for their help and their caring, but I’m not interested in anyone romantically. I wish they’d find someone else to hover over.” He didn’t see the shuttered look in Siobhan’s eyes when she turned away to go into the kitchen.
“I’m truly thankful for a good friend like you, Siobhan. Why can’t these other women be like you and let me alone?”
She just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. Siobhan taught special education classes at the local middle school and loved her work. She couldn’t have told you why, if you’d asked her, she was taking such good care of Jason.
Steve and Lisa visited often and brought him news of the Village. His staff visited and brought him up-to-date on the work.
“Guys, I don’t know what I would do without you. I feel like you’re family and I’ve been so blessed to have you,” he told his staff when they came one day after work and brought him a big fruit basket. Richey and Greg had taken turns, and sometimes worked together, to keep his lawn and flowers tended.
A month had gone by before the doctor gave his permission to return to his office. Jason was overjoyed. He stretched and moved and was pleased that he felt no pain or weakness.
The work had seemed to multiply like the proverbial rabbits. Jason realized that he would have to hire another worker. Where would he put everyone?
He sat one afternoon with Grace, Beth, Greg and Richey to discuss who they might hire and what could be done with the space.
Beth stood with her fingers of her right hand holding her chin. “You know, we might be able to make use of this long room by placing two desks together, face to face. We could put the table across the wall beside the refrigerator and everything else could be left as is.”
Greg and Richey jumped up to move the long table where they ate or placed papers to work on. They then took two of the desks and placed them face to face in one corner section and placed the other desk in the opposite side with room for a desk to face it.
“Yes.” They all agreed at once. “That would work,” Richey stated. “We’ll have less moving around room because we need the filing cabinets where they are against the back wall.”
“Jason, did you ever think you might have to move to a bigger location?” Greg questioned.
“I didn’t dream I would get this much business. I’m thankful and so blessed. We’ll see.”
* * * * *
Steve came into the office a few days later to bring him an update on the bank robbers. “We have them in jail here, but much to our surprise, Arizona is asking for them. They grew up in a little town, outside of Flagstaff, called Bellemont. They’re first cousins and have a rap sheet as long as your arm. DUIs. B&E, car thieves, and a lot of annoying stuff. They’ve been in trouble since they were youngsters. Apparently they were pa
ssing through and mistakenly thought this was a sleepy little town with poor protection. They got a surprise.”
“I’m glad they didn’t get what they went in for and I’m glad the elderly guard was not hurt badly. I see they have a younger man on duty now.”
“Yes, and the bank manager has asked for us to teach a session on what to do during a robbery and how to avoid a robbery. We’re more than happy to provide the training.”
“I’m glad that young women had presence of mind to not lock the door when she was instructed to do so.”
“She is an old hand at working in banks. She had already set off the silent alarm before they told her to lock the door.”
During the next gathering at the dating agency, Jason decided to make a visit. He was warmly welcomed and people crowded around to compliment him and tell him how relieved they were that he came through the ordeal. He enjoyed talking to several people for about half an hour.
He looked across the room and was shocked at himself for the wave of anger and jealousy that swept over him. Siobhan and Fran were standing talking to several young men. Jason didn’t recognize most of the men and assumed they were new members. One of them had his arm around Siobhan’s neck and pulling her against his side.
What’s wrong with me? It’s none of my business what Siobhan does or who she hugs. He rubbed his chest as if it hurt and became conscience that someone was trying to talk to him.
“Oh, sorry, Charles. I was wool -gathering and didn’t see you there. How’ve you been?”
“I’m jim dandy, Jason. It’s you we were all worried about. Boy, you turned out to be a hero. You sure think quickly on your feet.”
“Yeah, so they say,” he muttered while staring at Siobhan.
Charles Goodman looked over that way. “Is Siobhan someone special to you? We know she went above and beyond to care for you.”
“Huh? No, no. I’m sorry, I’m still thinking. I think I’ll leave and let everyone have a good time. I’ve sure enjoyed being back and seeing everybody. Excuse me.”
He hurried out and almost ran to his car. He gave himself a good talking to on his way home. Siobhan means nothing to me. I’m not even interested in a romance. Romance?! I sound like a Victorian novel.
Siobhan looked around and was disappointed to see that Jason had gone. Oh, well. I’ll see him tomorrow in church. It’ll be the first time he’s back in the choir since he was shot.
* * * * *
The days tumbled by with work keeping Jason too busy to think about anything else. The following Sunday afternoon, Steve and Lisa came by to visit with him and tell him that they had decided to get married but no time soon.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am for both of you.” He laughed. “Steve, remember how we talked about having friends but none of us were interested in a relationship? Well, all of you guys have someone now and I am so happy for all of you.”
“Jason, why haven’t you been dating Siobhan? She obviously cares about you and I’ve seen the way you look at her. “
“Oh, no. I like Siobhan and she’s been a really good friend, but I only think of her like I would a sister.”
There was a strangled gasp behind him. The three of them turned to look at Siobhan standing in the kitchen doorway holding a casserole. She turned and ran back through the dining room and out the front door. In just a few seconds they heard her car start.
Jason was too shocked to move. Lisa looked as if she might cry and Steve looked at Jason as if he too surprised to say anything.
“What was that all about?” Jason finally got out the question.
“That was a young woman with hurt feelings. Jason, you dumbhead. She has been here for you every single day. Even in the hospital. Didn’t you get an inkling of how she felt about you?” Lisa was angry as only a woman can be when another woman has been hurt.
“No. I just wasn’t thinking.”
“There! You’ve hit the nail on the head. You. Don’t. Think. What are you going to do about it now? She apparently was bringing you something to eat.”
He held out both hands, palm up. “What do you suggest I do?”
Steve placed a hand on Jason’s shoulder to make sure he had Jason’s attention. “Be honest with yourself. How do you really feel about Siobhan?”
“I don’t know,” he said slowly. Then it came to him. “Last Saturday, when we were at the agency, I saw a man standing with his arm around Siobhan. I couldn’t understand the heated feelings that ran over me like an electrical spark. Anger. Jealousy. I really haven’t thought about it.”
“It’s time you thought.” Lisa scolded him. Steve excused themselves and left because he could see Lisa was getting too heated up, and it really wasn’t any of their business.
Jason walked through his house, around outside and back in trying to think about what had happened and what he should do. What would he do if Siobhan never spoke to him again. They had too much in common and she had been a faithful friend. Friend. He was disgusted with himself. Should he swallow his pride and go to her or let it ride for a few days and hope it would blow over.
Stupid, Jason. Stupid. You can face an armed bank robber and a giant of a murderer, but you can’t face one small woman.
Gritting his teeth, Jason ran out of the house, locked the door and got in his car. He drove to Siobhan’s house, not caring if he was breaking a speed limit or not. He was in front of her house in a matter of minutes. Before his courage failed, he got out of his car and strode to the front door. Ringing the bell he stepped back and then rang the bell again. The door was jerked open.
“Yes? Oh, it’s you.” Siobhan was too much of a lady to be rude.
“May I come in? I’ll get down on hands and knees and crawl in if you want me to.”
“Don’t be foolish. Come on in.” she stepped back and invited him into the living room of her small apartment. He looked through to the small kitchen and saw a casserole sitting on the counter. “Have a seat, Jason.”
He sat and took several deep breaths. “Siobhan, I can’t tell you how foolish I feel and how sorry I am if I hurt your feelings. I think too much of you and am too grateful for your friendship to hurt you.” He waited, but she sat silently and let him stew in his own misery.
“I didn’t realize until you ran out how much it hurt me to know I had hurt you. I can’t explain my feelings. I have said over and over that I wasn’t interested in a romantic relationship and yet the other night, at the agency, I almost came over and decked the guy that had his arm around you.”
She gasped but sat still and let him struggle on.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, while I was denying any feelings for you, deep down they are there. I more than care, Siobhan. I know I would be a lost soul without you. Will you please give me another chance? I’ll try my dad level best to be a better man.”
Siobhan was laughing and crying at the same time. Jason jumped up and rushed to her pulling her up into his arms.
Her head just fit nicely on his shoulder. She kept her head on his shoulder and cried. He leaned back, placed two fingers under her chin and looked long into her face. Finally he slowly dipped his head and kissed her. She had a double hand full of his shirt and kissed him back.
“Whoa. I didn’t expect that. I can’t explain my feelings but I felt a tenderness rush through me. I would like to keep my arms around you and hold the world off. I’ve been alone so long and, for a long time was numb with my loss, that I just didn’t realize that I was developing deeper feelings for you. This is a surprise and a shock to me.”
“It’s not a surprise to me,” she said smiling through her tears. “I could see the expression in your eyes when you looked at me, but I just didn’t realize that you hadn’t recognized it. I knew I felt more than a sisterly feeling for you,” she gulped and laughed.
He stood looking at her and then slowly and thoroughly kissed her again. “Am I forgiven? I’ve been stupid, foolish, careless and anything else you can think of to call me.
I’m sincerely sorry. If you’ll have me, I want you with my whole heart.”
Jason and Siobhan kept their feelings to themselves until after the July fourth celebrations. Other people saw and were happy for them, but said nothing, waiting for the couple to declare themselves publicly.
During August Jason asked Siobhan if she would marry him. He had thought of going to Dayton to a jeweler’s but then decided to keep the business in the Village. He remembered that his grandmother had kept her rings for him. One was a gold ring with an oval-shaped jade and diamonds surrounding it. One had belonged to his mother: a Marquis cut diamond on a gold ring.
Jason took both rings to show them to Siobhan. He told her their history.
“If you don’t want to accept either one of these, we’ll get one for you that you choose. After all, it will be handed down to our oldest child,” he grinned.
She laughed at his embarrassed expression. “Oh, Jason, I do want children. I love both of them. Why don’t I wear your mother’s ring as an engagement ring and your grandmother’s ring on the other hand?”
“What pleases you pleases me.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
It didn’t take long for their friends to see the ring on Siobhan’s finger.
Everyone was happy for them. Gary, Nigel and Steve teased Jason unmercifully. “You’re the man who wasn’t interested in a permanent relationship. Jason just grinned and took it all good naturedly.
Siobhan wanted to get married before school started so they could have a honeymoon trip and get back in time for work. Jason surprised himself when he could understand her reasoning and wanted to comply, although, he timidly suggested they might wait until the next summer. Siobhan looked at him in such a horrified way that he backed down quickly.
The ladies in her Sunday Bible study gave a shower for Siobhan at the church. They had bridal showers in Ireland but nothing like this. She was fascinated and thrilled. She was so pleased that she had been accepted, but she knew everyone was also being nice because they knew and admired Jason.