by Giselle Fox
Jericho nodded and looked at the picture again. “My mother passed away when we were little.”
Taylor felt terrible. “I’m so sorry.”
Jericho looked back and gave her a warm smile. “It’s okay, really. I remember her a little. We were raised by my grandparents.”
“Up in the big house?”
Jericho nodded.
Taylor understood why she was still so attached to the place. “Well ... as long as you all had family that loved you.”
“We did, for sure. In some ways, we were probably better off. My mother was...” Jericho paused a moment and looked down at her boots. “She was a little wild. Beautiful and wild.”
“Well,” Taylor said softly, “here’s to your mama - wherever she is. She’d be proud to have a daughter like you, I know she would.”
Jericho raised her eyes. “Thank you.”
Taylor sighed. “I lost my father too - not so long ago. I like to imagine he’s in a better place. Somewhere ... less wild.”
Jericho’s soft eyes looked back at her. “That must have been really hard on you and your mom.”
“Yeah, it was,” Taylor said. She pushed the pain of it back down and turned back to the photos on the wall. “So ... are there any more pictures of you?”
Jericho nodded to the opposite wall.
Taylor turned around. “Now that looks a little more like you,” she grinned. She read the plaque below the image out loud. “Mayor Frank Donaldson, Councilor Jericho Duke and Principal Margaret Hutchins.”
“Margaret is a friend of mine. I’m pretty sure she put that up there to embarrass me.”
Taylor took a closer look at the photo. The school Principal was a nice looking woman with an open smile. “You have a lot of friends.”
“It happens in a small town.”
Taylor shook her head. “I’ve been in enough small towns to know that people aren’t always friendly. There’s something special about you.”
Jericho chuckled. “I wouldn’t call it special.”
“No? What would you call it?” Taylor asked with a smile.
Jericho stuffed her hands into her pockets and shrugged. “I just like to go first, you know? Be the first one to smile or say hello. Be the first one to take the initiative or extend an invitation. I figure people are just as likely to stop and have a conversation as they are to walk on by. But having a friendly exchange changes the mood of your whole day. That’s part of what makes a town feel like home - when people talk to you or wave or ask how you’re doing. Tiny gestures like that are so simple but they mean something.”
Taylor smiled at her. “You see, that’s what I mean - you’re special.”
A shy smile spread across Jericho’s face. “I’m not special.”
“I just met you yesterday and you fixed my screen door today,” Taylor said.
“Well, you brought me peach jam and ... flowers,” Jericho said softly. She shifted a step closer.
“Did you ... put the flowers up in your bedroom?” Taylor asked. She knew she was flirting but something about it felt right.
Jericho must have sensed it because the look in her eyes changed almost instantly.
“They were the first thing I saw when I woke up this morning,” she said softly.
Her arms flexed as she leaned her shoulder against the painted brick wall. The curve of her body was languid and sure. A grease rag hung from her back pocket, her blond hair tumbled loosely around her tanned face. The sexy, tousled image was a stark contrast to the professional and elegant woman that stood with the Mayor in the photo on the opposite wall. But everything about Jericho was natural, warm, and inviting. These qualities radiated from her like the smell of warm earth and sunshine. Though she knew Jericho was watching, Taylor allowed her eyes to wander the contours of her frame.
When she looked up, Jericho’s lips had settled into a knowing and complicit smile.
Taylor looked around the dark hallway and smelled the familiar air. They could have been standing in any high school - even hers back home. Whatever force had brought them together had been slowly increasing like the turning of a screw.
No matter what visions had played in her mind in the last few moments, nothing could be done about it in a school hallway. Another time, Taylor thought to herself.
“I guess ... we should get back.”
Jericho pushed her body off the wall and looked down at her. Her wicked smile lit up the corridor. For a few tantalizing seconds, Taylor thought that whatever Jericho had been holding back might have been set loose.
“Let’s go make that engine of yours purr,” Jericho said.
Taylor smiled back at her and thought to herself - if anyone could, Jericho Duke, it’d be you.
***
For the next hour and a half, both women worked steadily on the Coronet while Jericho gave what instruction she could to the rest of the class. By the time 9 pm rolled around, everyone else had packed up and were starting to head home.
“Night, Jeri,” the woman with the new starter called. “Thanks for all your help, Taylor. I’m not sure I could have figured it out myself.”
Taylor smiled back at her. “You’re welcome. I hope it works out.”
“G’night Yvonne,” Jericho said.
Taylor perched on the driver seat with her body outside the door. “Well, what do you think?”
“Turn it over again,” Jericho said.
Taylor turned the key in the ignition. The engine jumped to life with a throaty roar.
“That’s more like it,” Jericho beamed.
“Uncle Pete would be proud,” Taylor said and tossed Jericho a rag. “Thanks so much.”
“My pleasure.”
Taylor pulled the car out of the bay and parked it beside the fence. She went back inside and helped put the last of the tools back in the tool crib.
They washed their hands side by side in the shop sink and watched each other in the mirror without speaking. Jericho locked up and they both walked out to Taylor’s car. Taylor leaned back against her door. Jericho stood beside her and looked out over the empty field through the chain link fence. A little smile spread across her face.
“That was a lot of fun,” Taylor said.
“It was,” Jericho agreed.
“You’re a good teacher.”
“Thanks.”
Taylor watched Jericho’s fists clench and unclench in her pockets. “Got something on your mind?” she asked. She had an idea what it might be. The tension between them had been mounting steadily since they’d walked to the car. Taylor watched her from the corner of her eye.
“Will Max be asleep when you get home?” Jericho asked.
“I sure hope so or tomorrow will be something else. He goes down well with my mama. He’s used to her being around.”
Jericho looked back at her. “I get the feeling that your mother is a little suspicious of me.”
Taylor couldn’t suppress her smile. “She’s not suspicious as much as ... protective.”
“So I’m right,” Jericho grinned and looked out over the field again.
“She’s not used to me making friends. I’ve been keeping to myself for awhile.”
Jericho nodded but didn’t say anything.
“I trust my mother but I make my own decisions,” Taylor said.
Jericho took a deep breath. Taylor watched her hands fidget in her pockets again. Something was definitely making her nervous, like she couldn’t figure out what to say next. Taylor sat back and watched with amusement.
“I guess I don’t make friends that easy either,” Jericho said.
Taylor frowned. “You sure about that? You seem to know everyone in this town.”
Jericho looked down at the ground. She tapped a loose pebble with the toe of her boot. “I know a lot of people because of what I do, but I’m not necessarily friends with all of them, you know?”
Taylor stifled a laugh. “Yeah, I know.”
“That’s why it’s been nice to get t
o know you - what little I do know about you. It’s been kind of ...” Jericho scratched the back of her head and sighed.
Taylor kept watching, amused at how tongue-tied Jericho was getting. She considered helping her out, but seeing her fumble her words was almost endearing. “Go on,” Taylor urged.
Jericho glanced around them. Two other cars were just leaving the lot. Her eyes followed them and then looked back at Taylor.
“It’s hard to know whether someone is enjoying your company as much as you are enjoying theirs ... sometimes.”
“That can be tough,” Taylor agreed.
“For example, I thought it was really nice having you and Max up at the house yesterday.”
“He loved it. It’s all I can do to keep him from running up there again,” Taylor said. “I bet he thinks all you do is ride tractors and play with tools.” She shifted her position and leaned her hip against the car so she was facing Jericho head on. She gave her a smile.
Jericho stuffed her hands into her pockets again. “Did you like being up there?”
Taylor stifled another grin. “Sure,” she said and looked out over the field. “It’s a very nice yard.”
Jericho looked pained for a moment and then she nodded. “Any time you want to come back, I just want you to know that you and Max are always welcome.”
“Thank you, I will remember that the next time he tries to drag me up the hill.”
“Also ... I really love to cook and since it’s just me it’s never as much fun. I was wondering if maybe you and Max ... would like to come over sometime and I could make you dinner?”
Taylor smiled openly. “You’re asking us to have dinner with you?”
Jericho looked her in the eye. “Yeah, if that’s something you think you’d like to do.”
“I think I would,” Taylor said.
“I mean, you could bring your mother too if you wanted,” Jericho blurted out and then frowned as soon as she’d said it.
Taylor frowned back at her. “You want me to bring my mother?”
“Or ... not,” Jericho said. She took another deep breath and then shook her head. “Shit.”
Taylor figured it was time to step in. “I tell you what - Max and I would love to have dinner with you. Just say when. I won’t bring my mother.”
Jericho looked relieved. “How about tomorrow night?”
“Sure. It’s got to be early,” Taylor said.
“Come by at four then or even earlier if you like. Max can play … while we talk.”
“Alright,” Taylor said. “I’ll bring dessert.”
Jericho seemed a lot more relaxed. Like her normal self. Taylor smiled at her again. “That was a fun class. Thanks for all your help.”
“You’re welcome,” Jericho said.
“Well, I should be getting back. It’s already late.”
“Yeah.”
Taylor opened her car door. “See you tomorrow.”
Jericho held the door while she climbed behind the wheel. “Goodnight Taylor.”
Taylor started up her engine and they both listened to the heavy rumble for a second.
“Beautiful,” Taylor said before she gave her another smile and pulled away. She looked back in her rear view mirror and saw Jericho standing there under the street lights. She smiled to herself all the way home.
CHAPTER NINE
Taylor pulled the white peasant shirt over her head and threw it onto the bed with the other pile. She reached for the blue dress she’d picked up at a thrift store and tried it on again.
Her mother appeared in the doorway behind her. “Haven’t seen you this excited for a date in a long time.”
Taylor glanced at her reflection in the mirror. “It’s not a date.”
“No? You brought her flowers and jam yesterday, you made a crumble for dinner and you’ve been changing your outfits for the last fifteen minutes,” said her mother. “Sorta looks like a date to me.”
Taylor grinned. “So ... what’s your point?”
“You’ve got a crush on the pretty rich girl that lives on top of the hill. Are you a lesbian now?”
“Well ... it’s not like I’ve been invited out by any men recently.”
“I’d pay to see one try,” her mother muttered.
Taylor smoothed the front of the blue dress with her hand and appraised herself from the side.
“If it was me trying to make an impression, I’d wear the flowery one with the lower neckline,” Lucinda said and left the room. “How late you gonna be?” she hollered back.
Taylor considered the cotton summer dress again. “After dinner sometime. I have to put Max down.”
Mama’s face appeared in the doorway again. “You could leave him with me. I don’t mind.”
“I appreciate that, mama. I think I’ll just keep it casual and see how it all plays out. I could be way off base here.”
“I doubt it. That girl gets the hungry eye when she looks at you.” She shook her head. “Bet if you’d stuck with that Rosie girl, we wouldn’t be here right now.”
“Then neither would Max. No sense in trying to rethink the past,” Taylor muttered as she pulled her hair up. “Do you think she likes up-doos.”
“She’ll like whatever doo you bring her. That hair color suits you. Never thought it would.”
“Well, it’s summer. I can afford to go a little darker.”
“You gonna tell her anything?”
Taylor frowned. “No, and why should I? No one wants to hear about the mess I’m in.”
“We’re in,” Mama corrected as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
Max toddled his way to the open drawer and began to pull the contents onto the floor.
“Let him be. I can pick it up after,” Taylor said as they both looked down at him.
“If she asks about you, and she will since that’s what people do when they’re on dates -”
“It’s not a date, mama.”
“She’s invited you and your son for a home cooked meal. If you ask me it’s a whole lot more than a date.” Lucinda caught her eye in the mirror and gave her a serious look. “I know you like this gal and that’s fine, just be careful. Don’t say too much when the moment gets ... you know.”
Taylor shook her head. “Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a mother that didn’t know absolutely everything about my personal life.”
“Uh huh. And do you think that kind of mother would be sitting where she is right now, with a shotgun in her closet ready to throw down?”
Taylor stared back at her through the mirror. “Please tell me it’s not in your closet!”
“Of course not! We have a baby crawling around. I just said it to make a point!”
“No, mama,” Taylor sighed. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
“Damn straight,” her mother said and then chuckled. “Unlike you, missy.”
“Hush,” Taylor grinned.
“Your father wouldn’t have minded a few more pretty girls around the house.”
“Daddy had only one plan for me,” Taylor said.
“Oh, he thought you hung the moon. You could’ve turned out any way you wanted and he would’ve stood right behind you. Never think otherwise.”
“Well, let’s hope he’s watching out for us then.”
“If he can, you know he is.”
When it was time to start walking, Taylor packed up the stroller, Max and the puppy and bustled them all down the porch steps.
“You want some help walking up the hill with all that?”
Taylor balanced the dessert in one hand and Max on her hip. “I can manage. Don’t want to show up with my mama on my arm, now do I?”
“No, I suppose not. Have fun.”
“I will, thanks mama.”
“Let me know if you’re gonna be late.” She gave her a wink.
Taylor pushed the dessert in the stroller and let Max and the dog walk beside her. Mrs. Perlman, her neighbor, was out sitting on her porch in the shade.<
br />
“Why, don’t you look pretty. Such a lovely dress!”
“Thank you, Mrs. Perlman. How are you today?”
“Oh, just trying to cool off. It’s an oven inside the house.”
“Mine too,” Taylor agreed.
“And look at young Max! He’s a proper gentleman, isn’t he?”
Max was dressed in his best summer outfit - a little white collared shirt and blue shorts. Taylor had wet combed his blond hair until it had dried neat to his scalp.
“Where are you off to?”
Taylor figured there was no point in telling a lie.” Jericho Duke has invited us up for dinner,” she said.
“And you’ve made a crumble,” said Mrs. Perlman as she peered over the rail of her porch. “How lovely. It’s so nice to see you two getting along.”
Taylor wondered to what extent getting along meant to Mrs. Perlman but that was soon cleared up.
“She’s a fine woman - eligible too. I’ll bet the boys in this town are pretty disappointed that she’s not much interested in them.”
“Right,” Taylor said and felt herself quickly blush. “Well, you have to be true to yourself, I guess.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Mrs. Perlman said. “You have a fine evening, my dear.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Perlman. You as well.”
They toddled slowly up the hill. Taylor smiled to herself when she thought of Mrs. Perlman’s remarks. You couldn’t hide things for long in a town like that. Suddenly it felt like everyone she passed on the street knew where she was headed, dressed up as she was with dessert and her baby boy beside her; straight to the top of the hill.
By the time she’d reached the big iron gates, she was feeling a little warm. She spotted Jericho carrying a load of ice water in her arms. She watched her pour it into an old chest under a canvas canopy strung between the trees.
“You’ve been busy,” Taylor called. She let Max go to make his own way along the grass. Digger romped playfully beside him.
Jericho smiled and walked over. She wore loose-fitting linen pants and a tight muslin shirt that was buttoned low on her chest and high up on her abdomen. The flaps of her shirt revealed flashes of the tanned skinned beneath. Her blond hair tousled softly around her face. Her blue-green eyes shone in the sunlight.