The Swear Jar

by Osorio, Audra

  “Ems, there’s a pharmacy with a drive-thru about three blocks from here. You don’t even have to get out of the car. I’ll talk to the pharmacist. You have until the first traffic light to decide. It’s up to you.”

  It was a warm August day. The only sound was the air conditioning fan. Meara mulled her options as Diana drove. The first traffic light turned red. Diana slowed to a stop. Meara heaved an audible sigh. As the light turned green, Meara handed the prescription to Diana.

  “Let’s get it filled. I don’t want to discuss it.”

  Diana grinned. “No problem. I have no intention of poking my nose in your business. At least I’ll know I did my part. Should I ask Ben to speak to Duncan about protection?”

  “Are you crazy? Di, you’re killing me!”

  Diana smiled wickedly. “Come on, Ems, I’m just having fun. If you two get serious, Duncan had better speak to us first to get our permission.”

  Open-mouthed, Meara stared at Diana. “I’m getting out and walking home.”

  “Shut up. No, you’re not. Be a good girl while I get your birth control pills in case you have sex with your boss. Now that sounds bad.”

  “You’re the one pushing me to get the pill in the first place! I’m not even sure where this is going. That’s not entirely true, but it’s not going as fast as you think. I think.” Meara looked puzzled.

  The pharmacist filled the prescription while the sisters sat in silence. The pharmacist returned with the medication. Diana handed the pharmacy bag to Meara with a big smirk.

  “Are you going to tell him you’re on birth control?”

  “Absolutely not. I thought you had no interest in my business?”

  “Keep your pants on, Ems. Don’t get so upset. We’re almost home. May I have lunch with you once you’re done speaking with Duncan? I’d like to talk to you about something. Not Duncan, I promise!”

  “Of course, Di. And thank you for helping me today. I know I’m a bit of a bear, but I appreciate all you and Ben do for me.”

  “We love you, Ems. We want you to be happy. Here we are, home sweet home! Are you going to wait until I stop the Jeep before you run out and call Duncan?”

  “I won’t be running anytime soon. A fast-paced hobble, maybe. The Tylenol is wearing off.”

  “Better keep the conversation short or you’ll turn grizzly on him.”

  Meara gave her sister a withering look. “I’ll call you when I’m done.”

  Duncan answered on the second ring. His gravelly voice made Meara’s butterflies dance. Her mind went blank. Her voice came out like a squeak.

  “Hi, Duncan, it’s Meara.” Shaking her head, she sounded so stupid.

  “Meara, it’s good to hear from you. How are you today?” he said in a pleasantly low tone.

  “I’m fine,” she replied. “Well, I’m alive.”

  He chuckled. “How did it go at the doctor’s?”

  “She figured out I wasn’t a supermodel.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “She wants me to join a gym and lose some weight.”

  “What does that have to do with a sprained ankle?”

  “I’m not sure. The whole experience left me a little dazed.”

  “You’re fine as you are. I’m glad you aren’t a supermodel. Some of those women need to eat a hamburger. Some of them need to eat a hamburger, fries AND a milkshake. If you want to join a gym to feel healthy, go for it. But not because a doctor thinks you should.”

  She giggled. “Thank you, Duncan. I’m looking into a gym with an indoor pool. We’ll close the pool in a few weeks. I’ll miss swimming. Maybe it can be a win-win.”

  He loved that giggle. “How’s your ankle?”

  “The doctor said it’s a sprain. She thinks if I keep it elevated, it should heal.”

  “That’s good. I was worried you might have torn something. How does it feel now?”

  “It’s beginning to pulse again. I wanted to thank you for meeting Diana and Ben this morning. It made things a lot easier.”

  His voice lowered to a growl. “You’re welcome. It was the least I could do after such an exciting evening. I should be thanking you. I hope there will be more excitement like that in our future.”

  She whispered. “I hope so too.”

  “I like Diana and Ben. Ben was a big help. We got the last of the paint supplies cleared up. I knew you wouldn’t let the painting get out of hand.”

  “Thank you for helping. You’re a great director.”

  “Thank you. I hope that’s not all I am,” he said calmly.

  “No. You’re more than that,” she whispered.

  “Good, I’m glad to hear it.” He grinned from ear to ear.

  Blushing, she struggled to change the subject. “Are you looking forward to your grandson’s birthday tomorrow?”

  “Yes, I am. I have to get him a present. Do you have any suggestions? I’m going out soon and I’m having dinner with an old friend. He’s only in town today. I haven’t seen him in a while.”

  She rambled. “I’m so glad you’re seeing your friend. Friends are important. I have a dear friend, Yolanda, from Asturias, Spain. We keep in touch, but it’s not the same as seeing her in person. Please tell me you’ve gotten books as presents for your grandson in the past?”

  “Can I plead the Fifth Amendment on that one?”

  “You’re a librarian and you haven’t gotten him books? For shame, Duncan Phillips!” She giggled.

  He closed his eyes. Her giggle made him want to rush over to her house. He wanted to hold her and kiss her. He wondered if he had time for another cold shower.

  “Guilty,” he admitted.

  “Go to the bookstore in town, Branches and Twigs. You’re looking for classic authors, lots of colorful illustrations and stories that make you laugh. Then get a stuffed animal. You can’t go wrong with a stuffed animal.”

  “I wish you could go with me, but I know you can’t. I’ll do what you said. Thank you.”

  “Anytime. I wish I could go too. Diana would kill the both of us.” There was an awkward silence then she blurted out. “Duncan, I miss you.”

  He closed his eyes and smiled. “You do? Meara, I miss you too. I’ll cancel my plans for today. I’ll come over.”

  “Duncan, please don’t. I don’t want you to change your plans. You want to get out of shopping for John’s presents. Isn’t that right?”

  “Maybe a little. I do want to see you. If I don’t change my plans, I won’t get to see you until Monday.” He pouted.

  “Then I’ll see you Monday.” She tried to be brave.

  “I can’t change your mind?” He coaxed.

  “Don’t tempt me. Go and have fun. I’ll see you Monday.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Before he hung up, there was something Duncan wanted to know. “May I ask you something?”

  “Yes, of course.” Meara held the phone close, as if he were whispering into her ear.

  “Why do you miss me?”

  She took a deep breath and plunged in before she got scared. “Since I first met you, I’ve looked forward to seeing you. Your eyes smile. I like hearing your laugh so I want to make you laugh. When we’re together, I’m happy. Does that sound silly?”

  “No. I’m finding the same thing. That dimple of yours is going to get me into serious trouble. May I ask another question?”

  “Yes, Duncan.”

  “Does the difference in our ages bother you at all?” He closed his eyes and waited.

  “I don’t even think about our ages. Isn’t it just a number? It’s not who you are. Yes, maturity is preferable to immaturity, but age has nothing to do with that. Your experiences make you who you are. And who you are is what attracts me to you. We both have a lifetime of experiences to share. We’re friends and we get along. There’s something more than friendship going on between us. I want to find out what it is. With caring, respect and compromise, I think we could have a lot of fun. So, no, the age difference doesn’t bother me
. Does the age difference bother you?”

  He smiled. “No man my age has any right to complain when a beautiful, sexy woman full of life wants to spend time with him. I do worry I may not live up to your expectations.”

  “And I may not live up to yours. It goes both ways. I’m sure there are lots of women who would be extremely happy to be with you. Maybe I should be the one worrying.” She sounded anxious.

  “No, Meara. There’s no one for me but you.” Clapping a hand over his mouth, he might as well have told her he loved her.

  Feeling dizzy, the butterflies were racing in her stomach. “Oh.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to change my plans?”

  She giggled. “No! You need to get your errands done and meet your friend. Diana wants to talk to me. She was pretty serious.”

  He heaved a sigh. “All right, I’ll behave. For now.”

  “Goodbye, Duncan. I’ll see you Monday. Please wish John a Happy Birthday for me.”

  “Goodbye, Meara. I will. See you Monday.”

  Reluctantly, Meara hung up. She missed him already. Sighing, she called Diana, who answered on the first ring.

  “I’ll be over in a minute to feed you,” Diana said, her voice strained as she hung up.

  Meara stared quizzically at the phone. She wasn’t looking forward to this conversation. There was a knock at the door and she cringed. Diana was alone. It must be serious. Diana made them a couple of sandwiches as Meara hobbled over to the kitchen counter. The sisters ate silently.

  Meara cracked first. “Di, what’s up? You’re killing me.”

  Diana asked, “When will you see Duncan again?”

  “Not until Monday. Why? Is there something wrong with Duncan?”

  “No. It’ll give you time to think.”

  “You’re scaring me, Di. What the hell is going on? Tell me now.”

  “You’ve always wanted honesty.”

  “Yes, that’s true. No drama, no soap operas.”

  “Last night. The rules. The notebook.”

  “Yes. Anne’s quite the writer.”

  “Anne and Hank wrote them. The last two were Hank’s work. Anne wanted to learn to read. She didn’t realize Hank intended to be cruel.”

  “You think Hank was being cruel to me?”

  “After a few years of marriage, I knew things weren’t perfect between the two of you. If I had known about the rules, I would have hit him over the head with it. Hank always seemed to make you happy.”

  “He was wonderfully sweet one moment and coldly oblivious the next. I struggled to make him happy.”

  “Face it, Ems, it was Hank’s problem. I know you tried as hard as you could. He didn’t have the ability to care about anyone but himself.”

  “Was I that blind?”

  “Yes, dear Ems. Hank had everything without the effort. You were a doormat. You were miserably silent. I can’t believe you let him do that to you. Why?”

  “I loved him and I thought he loved me. I wanted to be a good wife. I tried.”

  “You were always trying. Don’t you realize the problem was him, not you?”

  “I guess not. Why were you worried about Hank’s notebook?”

  “You’re taking this rather well, but I know you. You’ll start thinking about Hank. You’ll convince yourself it was your fault, he was right about you and you shouldn’t be happy with Duncan.”

  “Can we make it sound better? Like I’m deep and I think a lot.”

  “Sometimes you think too much. Hank was an asshole who didn’t care enough to understand you. You’ve always fought for everyone else, Ems. Don’t let Hank screw up what you have with Duncan.”

  “You think that Hank’s problem wasn’t my fault?”

  “I’m not saying you’re blameless. I’m saying for things to work, Hank would have had to put in effort. He was too interested in what made him happy. You faded into the background. You lost your spirit, your fight. When Hank died, I thought you were going to hurt yourself.”

  “You’re right, I’m not blameless. Hank and I were friends, not soul mates. I wasn’t the center of his attention. He never cheated on me, but he ignored me. I would never have hurt myself. Not after Dad.”

  “I’m your little sister. I worry about my Mother Meara. You kept us together after Dad died. You give and never ask for anything in return. The one time you asked for love, you were asking the wrong guy.”

  “How can I be sure Duncan won’t be like Hank? What if I become a doormat again?”

  “You’re thinking too much. I’ve only met Duncan twice. Each time, he was more attentive to you than Hank ever was. That’s why I pushed you on the birth control. I may have to hose you two down at some point. Wait! That’s what was missing with Hank! Meara, how long has it been?”

  “I would rather not discuss it. I need some dignity left. I’ll try not to think about it too much. I’ll give Duncan a chance. Are there any cookies with lunch? Along with Tylenol? Pretty please?”

  “You’re such a pain in the butt.”

  “It’s the ankle, actually.”

  Diana snorted. “Anything else, Your Majesty?”

  “How about a hug?”

  “Ems, you play dirty.” Diana hugged her. “Are you going swimming after lunch?”

  “Yes, if you’ll make sure I don’t kill myself getting into my swimsuit.”

  Diana laughed. “I can picture you writhing on the floor in your bedroom.”

  “Thanks. I’m assuming Anne was banished until the end of this conversation?”

  “Yes. Ems, there are pages missing from the notebook. Anne says Hank wrote something and sealed it in an envelope. He gave it to Anne for you. She’s not supposed to give them to you until she sees a big change in you.”

  “Anne was asking about big changes in my life. I teased her about it. I wonder what Hank wrote?”

  “Damn it. I shouldn’t have told you. You’re going to obsess about what he wrote. I’ll get Anne to give you the envelope.”

  “No, Di. Hank probably wrote something stupid. He was relying on a six-year-old to give me a letter. Let it go. If Anne sees what she needs to see, I’ll find out.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Who are you and what have you done with Meara?”

  “Are you gonna help me with the swimsuit or not?”

  “I should get battle pay for this.”

  “Let’s call it even for the doctor’s visit.”

  “Not going to let that one go, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  “Let’s get you suited up and in the pool. I hope the swelling goes down. It looks awful.”

  “Thanks, Di.”

  “You’re welcome, Ems.”

  Duncan was the only adult in the children’s section of the Branches and Twigs Bookstore. There was a young woman restocking the shelves. She smiled at him and asked if he needed help.

  “No, thank you. I’m going to browse the shelves. My grandson’s third birthday is tomorrow and I want to get him some books. A friend said to look for classic authors, colorful illustrations and funny stories. And a stuffed animal.”

  “She sounds like a librarian.”

  He smiled. “You’re right. She is.”

  “You can sit at the table over there and read the books. It’s quiet in here today.”

  He pulled a few promising books from the shelves. Sitting at the table, he discreetly pulled out his reading glasses. He didn’t like using them, but he wouldn’t be able to read if he didn’t. He wished Meara was there. The young woman returned holding a large, green stuffed dragon. He self-consciously slipped off his glasses.

  “This guy came today. You can’t go wrong with a dragon. Your grandson could be a knight in shining armor on a daring quest. What do you think?”

  He had to buy it. The Sir Duncan in him had no choice. He was buying it for Meara. “My librarian friend would love it. I’ll take it. Do you have any bears for my grandson?”
<
br />   “I know the perfect bear. It’s nice and soft. I’ll be right back.”

  Putting on his glasses again, he returned to the books. He had a smaller pile by the time the young woman returned. She was holding a dark chocolate brown bear with a deep blue ribbon.

  “I’m not showing you anything else. I know the point of retail is to sell, but I feel guilty. You’ll buy anything I show you. Is your librarian friend Miss Meara of the Pin Oak Grove Library?”

  “Yes, she is. How did you know?”

  “I thought you looked familiar. I was taking a Child Lit class. Miss Meara helped me with some research. I saw you talking to her. She’s really cool. She’s your friend?”

  “Yes.”

  “Lucky guy. I saw the way she was looking at you. She’s going to love the dragon. If you need any more help, let me know. And please say hi and thank you to Miss Meara for me!”

  “I will. And thank you for all your help.”

  The young woman didn’t think it was strange Duncan and Meara were friends. He glanced at his watch. He had to meet Mike. He scooped up the books and tucked the two stuffed animals under his arms. He wondered how Meara managed to do storytimes. As he waited for the cashier, he noticed a very small teddy bear with a bandage on its head and a tag saying Get Well Soon. He placed it on top of his books. The young woman who helped him came over, shaking her head.

  “Alice, this guy is cut off. Don’t let him buy anything else. He’s got three stuffed animals and a ton of books. Do you know the bandage on the bear moves?”

  “No, I didn’t. Miss Meara hurt her left ankle. That’s why she couldn’t come with me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Here let me move the bandage. And Alice, give him a Get Well card.”

  “Thank you. May I tell Miss Meara your name? You’ve been so kind.”

  “Let Miss Meara know Rosa says hi.”

  “Thank you, Rosa. For everything.”

  “You’re welcome. Give her a hug while you’re at it. I got an A on that paper.”

  Duncan smiled as he left the bookstore. He was looking forward to his dinner with Mike. Meeting Rosa had certainly brightened his day. He wondered what Meara was doing and if she was thinking of him. He arrived at the diner a few minutes early. He saw the dragon peeking out at him from the shopping bag. As he entered the diner, he saw Mike was already there. Taller than Duncan, Mike had light brown hair and blue eyes. He warmly shook Mike’s hand.