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“Da
Julie loved when her husband surprised her with lunch dates. It used to happen more frequently when he worked at the Red Bar because his shifts started later in the day and ran until the wee hours of the morning, but a couple of years prior, the hours and scenes of club life had become too much to handle. They decided together that he’d enjoy the intimacy of a pub or bar like Chester’s or O’Brian’s.
That said, neither Da
After popping her head into the back office to a
“Ahem, this is a public place,” Chris teased from behind the bar, whipping Julie from her lust-induced haze.
“First of all”—Julie touched her kiss-swollen lips—“this is a bar. I’ve witnessed a whole lot more than kissing go on between these four walls. Second”—Julie glanced at the ceiling—“unless I’m mistaken, that, my friend, is mistletoe. You and Sheila are practically begging people to kiss. So as I see it, you should be thanking me for following orders…boss.”
Da
“I’d have to agree.” Sheila smiled as she joined her husband behind the bar. “You two go have lunch. I have to continue training my man here on management.” Sheila gazed lovingly at Chris. “It’s hard to go from being a silent partner to a hands-on manager, but I think he’s doing just fine.”
“It’s all the positive reinforcement you give me.” Chris winked, and Sheila blushed.
“Okay, umm, we’re out of here. Stay away from the mistletoe,” Julie teased before grabbing Da
Sitting in a cozy booth at their favorite café, they chatted about a new employee at Da
“Oh, I meant to tell you!” Julie’s insides bubbled with excitement. “I had to go to Home Depot yesterday for Sheila, and while I was there, I found the sweetest shade of pale blue paint for the baby’s room. I was thinking we could go back together and check it out.” Julie bit her upper lip, memories of the empty pink nursery gripping her heart. “We can buy it and wait to paint until a little closer to the due date.” Julie caught the frown that marred Da
His chest rose with an audible heave of air, air that he seemed to hold for longer than Julie thought possible. She watched as his chest constricted slowly, silently.
“Honey, you spoken with Ivy?”
Da
“Umm, kind of. Well, not really, but…” Julie replayed the past two weeks in her head. “She called the night of the ultrasound to thank us for the watch.” Julie had found the waterproof watch a few weeks earlier, after Ivy had talked about going to a beach for the summer to clear her mind once the baby was born. The card attached read, Have the Time of your Life.
“How ‘bout since?” Da
“She’s returned my calls, but I haven’t spoken with her. She’s busy studying for finals, and when she does call, it seems to be when I’m working. Why are you asking? What do you know?”
Da
“At home. Da
With brows pulled tight, Da
“No,” Julie interrupted. “Don’t go there, babe. Please, don’t go there. That’s our baby, our son. Ivy is a young girl who has no plan, no support, and no clue. She’ll do what’s right for the baby.”
Da
“You’re right,” he finally said. However, there was no conviction in his face or his voice.
###
FOR FIVE DAYS and nights, Julie attempted to contact Ivy. She left messages on the young woman’s answering machine, and when no calls were returned, Julie contacted the adoption agency.
“What’s up, beautiful?”
Just the tone of Da
“Go on.”
“She, umm, she’s got several appointments today but will be back in her office at five and would like to speak with us. Says we can either go see her there or talk with her over the phone.” Bile rose up Julie’s esophagus, threatening to escape, but she swallowed it back, refusing to make a scene at work.
“Julie, listen to me,” Da
Some flirtation was added to the command, but it wasn’t the playfulness she was used to. It felt forced, contrived, and she knew her husband was as scared as she was.
“Okay, sweetie.” I can fake flirty for his sake too. “I’ll tell Ilene to call us at home at five. And Da
His chuckle warmed what had been cold inside her since her talk with the agency worker. “I’m yours, Julie.”
“I love you, Da
“Thank God for that.” The call ended, and Julie sighed. It was bound to be a long day.
Ever since it was decided that Julie’s position at O’Brian’s would be filled by Chris and moving the head waitress, Renee, up to floor manager, her work had become even more entertaining. For years, Julie had known Sheila and Chris as a strong couple, supportive of each other, and fun to be around. But with Chris working as an accountant and a volunteer firefighter, something he and Da