by Giselle Fox
The birds around her chit-chattered to themselves but aside from that the neighborhood was quiet. She reached her hands out beside her and let the grass tickle the tips of her fingers. There was a sweet scent in the air like warm roses and jasmine. That made her think of the sweet peas that she’d picked the day before.
Her mind drifted to the big house on the hill, to the interesting woman that lived up there all on her own. So self-sufficient. So ...
Taylor’s thoughts drifted back to college. To her friend Rosie, the girl she’d kissed one night when she was drunk, the girl that kissed her again and again when she was sober. It made Taylor smile thinking back on it. What a simple time it was.
She looked up into the tree and watched the birds play. When had things gotten so complicated? When she married Stinger or before? She pushed it out of her head since the answer hardly mattered. She closed her eyes again and thought of college. But instead of Rosie’s face, it was Jericho’s that began to take shape.
Taylor sighed. She was the first to admit she was lonely - not that lonely even came close to describing just how alone she felt. She was tired of being careful, tired of looking over her shoulder and living in fear. Tired of falling asleep every night and not being held, not that Stinger had ever been so sweet. She didn’t want to moan about it, she wanted to do something about it.
Jericho had looked at her differently, she knew that. She also knew that she’d liked it. Why else would she have walked up the hill if she didn’t want Jericho to look again?
Taylor rolled onto her stomach and ran her fingers through the grass at the edge of the blanket. She thought of all the ways that Jericho had been genuinely kind. After a few moments, she realized she was smiling. She rolled onto her back again and stared up into the tree.
“I won’t say no,” she said to the branches.
Just then, she heard the side gate rattle and then a soft voice call out. “Hello?”
Taylor tilted her head back and saw Jericho standing on the path beside the house. She wore a backpack and held a carton of ice cream in her hand.
Taylor sat up. “Speak of the devil.”
Jericho walked across the lawn toward her with a broad smile on her face. “Is that me?”
Taylor nodded.
A smirk formed on Jericho’s lips. She crouched down on the grass beside her and pulled off her pack. Taylor heard the rattle of metal when she laid it on the ground.
Jericho looked around. “Where’s the little man?”
“Inside ... sleeping,” Taylor said as she watched her.
“Having some quiet time to yourself?”
“I was and it was lovely. But I like company too. What’s in the bag?”
“A few tools and enough screen to redo your back door,” Jericho grinned.
Taylor glanced at the pail of ice cream and looked Jericho in the eye. “You came to fix my door and you brought ice cream?”
Jericho nodded and Taylor saw the shyness behind her blue-green eyes.
“Should I grab a couple of spoons or would you like a bowl too?”
Jericho grinned again. “Spoons will do just fine.” She looked back toward the house. “Is ... your mother home?” She was obviously a little nervous about that possibility.
“Nope. She’s off enjoying a day to herself - since I’m going out tonight.”
“Right.”
Taylor stood up and pulled the legs of her shorts down. “I’ll be back in a sec’. Can I get you anything?”
Jericho looked up at her and shook her head. “I’m perfect, thanks.”
Taylor turned and walked to the house. She could feel Jericho’s eyes on her the whole way. When she opened the back door she glanced over her shoulder. Sure enough, Jericho was watching. She gave her another smile and went inside.
She returned with two spoons and a small bowl of strawberry rhubarb preserve she’d made that morning. She handed Jericho the bowl. “Want to try?”
Jericho dipped her spoon into the mix and took a mouthful. “That is heavenly,” she said.
Taylor sat back down on her spot. “I’ll give you some to take home.” She eyed the distance between them. “You don’t have to sit on the grass. Come on the blanket.”
Jericho shifted her body closer and sat cross-legged. She looked around and above them while she tapped her hands on her knees.
Taylor wondered whether she was a little nervous. She leaned over onto one elbow and relaxed. “So, is that your favorite flavor?” she asked nodding toward the ice cream.
Jericho picked up the carton and studied it. “I like lots of flavors.”
“Me too,” said Taylor.
Jericho smiled shyly and then pulled off the lid. She held the container out. “You first.”
Taylor dug her spoon into the carton and pulled out a big spoonful.
“There you go,” Jericho smiled.
“No sense in holding back,” Taylor said. She winked at Jericho and then slid the spoon into her mouth.
Jericho’s mouth hung in a half-open smile as she watched. “Any good?”
Taylor nodded and finished the last of the spoonful. “You better get in there before it melts.”
“Right,” Jericho said. She dug her spoon in.
“Thank you,” Taylor said. “For being so thoughtful.”
Jericho shrugged but seemed pleased. She swept her wavy hair behind her ear and dug into the ice cream again.
Taylor dug her spoon in right beside hers. “That praline is mine,” she said teasingly.
Jericho pulled her spoon back and then grinned. “You can have it.”
Taylor jabbed it in half and took one side. “There, we can share.”
Jericho scooped it onto her spoon and tucked it into her mouth. She leaned back with one arm behind her.
Taylor followed the line of her shoulder and down the length of her arm. The hand that supported her weight looked strong. “No work today?”
Jericho shook her head. “City Council is on break until after Labor Day. I have to travel next week for my regular work but - not much going on for the rest of this week.”
Taylor sat up. “You’re on the City Council?”
“I am,” Jericho smiled.
Taylor was impressed. “Councilor Jericho -” Taylor realized she didn’t know her last name.
“Duke.”
“Jericho Duke,” Taylor repeated. She tapped her spoon on the edge of the container. “That’s a good name.”
“Thank you.”
“And your regular work - what’s that?”
“I’m a mechanical engineer by trade but right now I mostly do consulting work for municipalities and insurers. I make sure factories run safely, things like that.”
“Did you go to Cornell?”
“I did.”
Taylor was impressed. “You’re pretty smart then, I guess.”
“Smart enough,” Jericho grinned. “How about you? What did you do before you were a mom?”
There it was - time to make up lies. Taylor didn’t have the heart since it didn’t feel right. She paused a moment and then looked up into Jericho’s eyes. “This is going to sound strange. It’s just that ... there are some things that I can’t talk about, for my family. I hope you understand.”
Jericho looked back at her and nodded. “It’s okay. I get it.”
“I wasn’t in jail or anything like that, don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried,” Jericho said simply. She gave her a gentle smile. Taylor could tell it was sincere.
“I won’t ask questions. How about ... you just tell me what you want to tell me.”
Taylor thought about the details of her life that she could share without compromising anything.
“I went to college. I studied biochem.”
“Really?”
“Got my degree and thought about going into dentistry but then ... things happened.”
Jericho looked back at her. “You could always go back.”
Taylor wa
s doubtful. “I guess.”
“What sports do you like?” Jericho asked.
“Baseball,” Taylor said. “I love baseball.”
Jericho nodded and smiled. “Music?”
“Anything heavy with lots of bass and a decent singer.”
“Food?”
“Yes. I love food.”
Jericho smiled again. She glanced down into the ice cream and shook her head. “Um ... do you like soup?”
Taylor peered into the container and chuckled. “I’ll pop it in the freezer before it separates.” She stood up again.
Jericho rose from her seat and stood beside her. “I guess I’ll get started on your door.”
“Why don’t we relax a bit. Max will be up soon, then I’ll make us all some lunch.”
“Alright,” Jericho said. “That sounds nice.”
Taylor walked back to the house again. She wondered if she’d let too much on by telling Jericho what she had. But when she turned around and saw Jericho smiling back at her, she felt okay about it all. It was nice to be honest for once.
She checked on Max but he was still sleeping soundly in his crib. The fan in his room pushed the air around a little but it was still stuffy. She closed the door behind her and went back to the kitchen. She watched Jericho through the back window as she filled two glasses of water. Jericho had sat back against the tree and stretched out her long, muscular legs. Taylor wondered if she was watching the birds play above her since she was smiling.
When she walked back to the blanket Jericho’s eyes followed her again.
“Here you go,” Taylor said and handed her the glass of water.
Jericho reached up and took it.
“So you travel for work?” Taylor asked.
“I do, quite a bit actually,” Jericho answered.
“Overnights?”
“Often, yes.”
“I always thought that would be fun,” Taylor said. “Is it?”
“Depends where I have to go,” Jericho replied. “To tell you the truth, I like being home better.”
“I can see why. You have a beautiful home.”
“You haven’t been inside yet,” Jericho said.
“No, I guess I haven’t.”
Jericho looked up at her and seemed like she wanted to say something. They were interrupted by a whimper from Max’s monitor.
Taylor reached for it and held it in her hand. Then Max began to cry. “I guess he’s up,” Taylor said. “I’ll be back.”
By the time she’d changed him, Jericho had already pulled out her tools and started working on the back door.
“Look who’s here,” Taylor said. Max brightened instantly when he saw her.
“Hey little buddy,” Jericho said gently and shook his hand. “Want to come help?” She reached down into her pack and pulled out a little set of plastic tools.
Taylor’s mouth dropped. “Where did you get those?”
“Same place as the ice cream,” Jericho said. “I just thought ...”
Max grabbed onto them and squealed with delight.
“Thank you,” Taylor said. “I ...”
Jericho touched her arm. “It’s nothing. I figured he’d either want to watch or help.”
“You figured right,” Taylor said. She looked at Jericho again. Max seemed happier than ever playing right at her feet.
“I’m going to make us some lunch. You hungry?”
“I am,” Jericho smiled.
Taylor watched as Jericho pulled off the old screen and tacked the new one into position. Max played happily on both sides of the open door, going in and out as he pleased.
“Whatcha making in there? It smells delicious?” Jericho called.
“I’m marinating cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and some of the grilled zucchini and chicken from last night’s dinner. Thought I’d mix it all with some pasta. Sound okay?”
“Sounds great,” Jericho beamed.
After awhile, Taylor realized she’d been smiling for a long time. Watching Max play happily and hearing Jericho coach him on how to hold his tools made her soul feel happy. “You’re good with kids.”
“He’s pretty sweet,” Jericho said.
“He likes having a job to do.”
Jericho chuckled. “Let’s hope that stays.”
“Let’s hope,” Taylor agreed.
“My granddad always gave me projects to keep me busy since I liked building things.”
“Is that why you went into engineering?”
Jericho nodded and then laughed. “It’s probably why I do most of what I do.” She looked back at Taylor and shook her head like there was an inside joke. Taylor had no clue what it was but she’d seen something different in Jericho’s face as soon as she’d said it.
“So ... what other sorts of things do you do?” Taylor asked.
“Ahhh, well. Lots of things. I keep pretty busy,” Jericho said absently as she reached up to tack another part of the screen.
There it was again, Taylor thought. A certain look, a different tone. Something in the way Jericho’s body had responded to the question even. She watched how Jericho handled her tools, how sometimes she flipped them over in her fingers like she was twirling a drumstick. She watched her clean, practiced motions as she tacked the last of the screen to the frame.
“You’re pretty good at this stuff,” Taylor remarked.
Jericho chuckled. “Well ... I had a great little helper.” Max had gone to her again and was holding onto the leg of her shorts.
“Alright,” Taylor said. “Lunch time, you two.”
Taylor pulled Max’s high chair onto the back porch and they all ate outside. When they’d finished, Jericho stood to take their plates. “That was delicious. Thank you.”
“Thank you for fixing my door. Don’t worry about the dishes. I’ll put the dishwasher on in a bit.”
They both heard the front door shut.
“It’s hotter than a motherfucker out there,” Lucinda’s voice grumbled from the hallway. Taylor heard the rustle of bags drop to the floor.
“We’re out back,” Taylor called.
Her mother came through the kitchen, stripping off her long-sleeved shirt. Before Taylor could say anything, Jericho had risen from her seat.
“Hi, Lucinda.”
Her mother stood there a moment looking back and forth between them. Then as if she realized that her arms were bare, she covered them and turned around quickly. “I’ll just go change,” she said.
Jericho looked at Taylor a moment. “I guess maybe I should be on my way.”
“There’s no hurry,” Taylor stammered. She didn’t want to draw any more attention to the awkward moment by acting strange.
Jericho smiled at her. “I’ve got some stuff to do before class tonight. But I’ll see you later, right?”
“Right,” Taylor said. She smiled back at her. “Thanks so much for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” Jericho said. She leaned inside the door. “Have a great afternoon, Lucinda.”
“Thanks, you too,” Lucinda called back from inside the house.
Once Jericho had gone, Lucinda emerged. “What was she doing here?”
“She brought ice cream and fixed our screen door. And look ...” Taylor picked up the little tool set from the ground.
“She brought that too?”
Taylor nodded.
Her mother grinned. “Think she noticed anything?”
Taylor had no idea whether Jericho had or not. “I don’t think we have to worry about her.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Barcelona, Spain
“That suit makes you look dangerous,” Cate said as she sat back and eyed Lexi.
They had found a table on a sunny restaurant patio overlooking a quiet plaza. A young French family sat a few tables over. An older couple with matching hats sat in the shade against the far rail. A lone gentlemen sipped a coffee and read at a small table just behind them. He looked up and smiled at Cate, then went back to his readi
ng.
“Why dangerous?” Lexi asked with an amused smile.
Cate leaned forward in her chair and lowered her voice. “I don’t know - the suit and the look in your eye,” she swirled her hand in the air, “it’s like you’ve already sized up my valuables and now you’re imagining more ways to make my thighs twitch uncontrollably.”
Lexi glanced over her shoulder at the man behind them. When she looked back, she gave Cate a dirty grin. “I like it when they do that.”
The fresh-out-of-bed huskiness in her voice also did something dangerous to Cate. “Straight girls don’t stand a chance with you.”
“You were hardly straight,” Lexi countered.
“Tell me ... did you sleep with anyone while we were apart?”
Lexi lifted the bottle of soda water and poured Cate a refill. “What do you think?”
Cate watched Lexi’s eyes. “No.”
“You’re right.”
“I didn’t either,” Cate confessed. “If I end up in prison for falling for you and having the best sex of my life, I hope they at least have the decency to put us in the same cell block.”
“That’s not something to joke about.”
Cate stared back at her. “Why didn’t you? Maybe it would have helped you forget me.”
“I didn’t want to forget you,” Lexi said.
Cate felt her insides do a little flip-flop. “What would have happened if you’d found out I was with someone else?”
Lexi took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I don’t know. But I was relieved when you still ... responded to me.”
Cate smiled back at her, remembering how quickly she’d responded in the public restroom only an hour before. “It’s going to be a pretty interesting conversation if we ever end up at couples counseling,” Cate said and shook her head. “Did you take pictures while you were following me around Chicago?”
Lexi sipped her drink casually but didn’t answer.
“You did,” Cate laughed. “You’re lucky that I’m mostly okay with all of this, you know that?”