He held it up.
Lisa turned on the video to her phone. "Go!"
Julianne and Bob stuffed the stems in their mouths, both making faces at the other.
Lisa could hardly keep the phone level as she laughed at them. Then she felt ice cream dripping down her other hand and had to lick it off, all while videoing. "Ahh, hurry up! The ice cream is melting."
Suddenly Bob spit his cherry stem out and threw his hands in the air. "Done!"
Julianne spit hers on a napkin. "You barely beat me, hotshot!"
"Hey, a win is a win. You just wait until tomorrow on the courts. I'm on a roll now."
Lisa pinched his middle. "If you keep eating like that, you'll have a roll."
He stuck out his tongue and gave his ice cream an exaggerated lick. "It might be worth it."
"What do you do?"
He choked and coughed. "Excuse me?"
"It's a simple question. What do you do...for a living? You said you travel a lot. Why?"
"Where is this coming from?"
"I just wondered."
"So do I," said Julianne.
He glanced from one to the other. Was he going to refuse to answer? The ice cream suddenly felt like a lump of ice in her stomach.
"I work in security. I keep people safe...businesses. I work with a lot of different organizations so I travel."
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief and licked her ice cream. That was a reasonable answer. It also explained why he was such a somber person. The head of security for the resort was like that, always watchful, kind of quiet.
"Sounds boring," said Julianne.
"Sometimes," Bob nodded. "But other times I get to create these elaborate schemes for protecting people or valuable objects. It can be fun."
"Nope. I'll stick to tennis."
He laughed. "You stick to school. Tennis isn't forever. Learn how to manage your life. Don't expect others to do it for you."
"Ugh. Not you, too. Mom's always saying that."
He smiled a very personal smile at Lisa. "Smart lady. Where would the both of you be if your mom hadn't known how to take care of herself? Life changes, Julianne. You have to be ready to change with it."
"My dad said do the best you can and God will help you fill in the gaps. Do you believe that, Mr. White? That God helps people?"
Lisa held her breath. She never said anything against Roger, but she'd had a hard time trusting God ever since she'd lost Roger and Jonathan. Why hadn't he helped them?
Bob took Julianne's free hand. "Julianne, your dad was a smart man. He knew there was more to life than just himself."
"Why didn't God save him...and Jonathan?" Her eyes filled with tears.
Julianne had never asked that before. Never. In all the talks Lisa shared with her about the accident, they had never discussed God's role in the accident.
"I don't know, sweetheart. But I think trusting God is kind of like knowing the sky is going to be there when you wake up in the morning. It might storm. It might rain or hail, even snow...but that blue sky is out there somewhere. We might like it to rain a little more or less. We might wish for snow in the middle of July, but the sky knows more about what's going on in the atmosphere than we do."
"That's like saying what's going to happen is going to happen. Why even pray? Why pray at all?"
"Because sometimes God sends a lightning bolt." Bob shook his head. "I don't know a lot about God, Julianne. But I don't think you should give up on what your dad taught you because life didn't turn out the way you thought it should."
She nodded, and he released her hand after patting it.
He turned to Lisa, but his eyes didn't meet hers. "It's late. I should let you two go to bed."
He reached for her empty napkin then stepped over to the trash can. When he returned, he gave them both a squeeze on the shoulder. "Good night, ladies. I had a wonderful time."
"Thanks, Mr. White. I did, too. See you in the morning."
He stepped away from the table and moved toward the door.
Julianne kicked Lisa under the table. "Mom, what are you doing? You just sat there. Aren't you going to say goodbye?"
"I just said goodbye."
Julianne rolled her eyes. "No, you didn't. You let me say goodbye and you sat there like a statue. Go with him."
"To his room?"
"What?! No. To the elevator. Have a private talk...something. He likes you, and you aren't giving him any encouragement. Especially after that third degree. What do you do for a living?" Julianne mimicked Lisa.
Lisa hesitated. Bob had already gone inside. She couldn't even see him any longer. She'd look like an idiot if she ran after him now.
"Mom! Go!"
Lisa jumped off her stool and ran without thinking. When she burst through the lobby doors, she looked around wildly. Where was he? What if he'd already taken the elevator?
She spied him punching the button and ran up beside him. "Bob."
He turned to look at her, saying nothing. What did she do now? Oh, why had she listened to Julianne?
"Bob."
"You said that."
The elevator opened. He looked at her with a question. Should he get in or was she going to explain why she'd run up in such a tizzy?
She got in the elevator, and he followed. No one else got in. They rode all the way up in silence. She still didn't know what she wanted to say. Maybe she just wanted to spend more time with him. Didn't want this day to end. Did he feel the same?
She stood beside him feeling utterly ridiculous. This wasn't like their ride in the elevator earlier in the day. There wasn't any repressed passion or hot looks of desire, just two silent people locked in their own thoughts.
When the elevator opened on his floor, he stepped out then looked back at her.
She had to say something, do something, or he would leave.
He breathed deeply. "Good night, Lisa."
The door started to close. She felt paralyzed.
Right before it shut, she held out her arm and sprang through after him. "Bob!"
He was already at his door with the key card at the reader. He looked up.
Lisa ran down the hall and threw herself in his arms. He picked her up and held her close, murmuring against her ear. "It'll be all right. We'll figure it out."
He half-carried her in his room and set her on the couch. He kneeled on the floor before her. "Does Julianne know you're here?"
"She sent me after you."
"You didn't want to come?"
"I...I don't know what I want."
He nodded, those dark eyes burning into her. "I know what I want."
"How can you?"
"I've had a lot of time to think about it. Right now, you need to go to your room before we do something we'll both regret."
"I thought...I thought that's what you wanted."
He rubbed a hand through his hair. "Lisa, when I said I wanted you, I mean I want it all. Not a one-night-stand. You and Julianne."
"But I don't...I'm not..."
"You're not ready. I know. It's only been two days. We have plenty of time. Don't worry about it."
She nodded.
Bob stood and pulled her to her feet. "Trust me. Someday, you'll thank me for the cold shower I'm going to take tonight."
Lisa kissed him. One second she was thinking that men like this couldn't possibly be true, not in this world, and the next, she found herself pushed against him, struggling to get closer. His arms came around her so tight, she could hardly breathe, and still, she wanted to be closer.
His breathing became ragged. If they didn't walk away soon, they wouldn't be able to. He'd warned her already. What was she doing?
At the sudden chirping of her daughter's ringtone, they stepped apart. Bob held her shoulders to steady her as she reached in her pocket.
"Hey, honey."
"Mom? Did you find Bob?"
"I did. Are you at home?"
"Yeah. I'm getting my pajamas on then I'll brush my teeth."
"Good. I'll be right there."
"Ok. Tell Bob good night for me."
"I will."
She closed the phone and slid it back in her jeans. She couldn't meet his eyes. She'd practically thrown herself at him, followed him to his room and thrown herself at him.
He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Thanks."
"For what?"
"Coming after me."
"I'm such a ho-bag."
He burst out laughing. "A what?"
"A ho-bag as Julianne would say...a slut."
"Sweetheart, you are anything but that." He bent to kiss her forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
She nodded and walked slowly to his door. She had nearly lost it back there. If Julianne hadn't called, she would have ripped off her clothes then his, ignoring the consequences. With her hand on the knob, she looked back at him. "I really like you, Bob."
"I never thought you'd do that with just anyone."
"I haven't...not since Roger. Not a glance, not a kiss, nothing at all."
"I know, sweetheart."
He reached out to trace her jawline, and she closed her eyes. He kissed each eyelid then opened the door. "Sleep well. Tell Julianne not to be late. I'm gonna wipe the court with her."
She grinned back at him. "You don't say much, but what you do say...really matters."
He smiled and closed the door.
* *
He was still smiling when he went into his room and pulled the t-shirt over his head. He had never considered what it would mean to show up here and put himself in the lives of Lisa and Julianne. Never consciously. Maybe he'd wanted to be with Lisa all along.
He remembered long talks with Roger about God and family. It had got him thinking. He hadn't made time to make a choice about God, to know how he felt about it. Roger had said that was choosing to reject God. He'd thought about it ever since.
Not that he was ready to sing in a choir, but he had to admit that something was missing from his life...and it wasn't just a wife and kids.
When Julianne asked him why God hadn't saved her dad and her brother, he'd wanted to give her an answer. Truth was, he didn't know the answer, but he couldn't leave that little girl without hope, feeling that God didn't care about her. Because he was quite certain that God did care. And he did, too.
He had five more days to show them. After that, he would have to tell them the truth.
God, if you're listening...and I think you are...I need help and forgiveness. Not just from you...from everybody. Would you show me the way? Could you help Lisa and Julianne?
When he pulled the covers over his head, he felt a lot better, like he wasn't in this alone anymore.
Chapter 6
Would You, Could You...Here and There
Bob dressed early and beat Julianne to the courts. He spent the time hitting a ball against the net, practicing keeping his swing level. Already, it was warm outside. Today would be a real scorcher. What would he do after tennis?
He could call into work and see how those leads were turning out. They had almost every piece of the puzzle they needed to put away the man who'd had Roger killed and to put an end to his illegal empire.
He hit the ball particularly hard as he thought about what that man had stolen from Lisa and Julianne. He wanted to catch him and make him pay.
If he called into work now, he would be sucked back into the thick of it. He always was.
No. This was his week off from the craziness. He had to concentrate on developing other interests. His job wouldn't last forever. He didn't even want it to. He wasn't a lifer like some men. He'd rather have a family.
"Hey, Mr. White!"
Julianne's cheery call drew him out of his thoughts.
He waved at her as she approached. "Good morning!"
"I see you got an early start. Are you sure that's good? Your arm might get tired before we make it through the first set."
That precocious grin really lit up his heart.
"Listen, girl. I'm not an old man. I'll have you know I work out every day and I eat right."
"Pffght! Yeah, I've seen that."
"Who keeps pushing cheesecake and ice cream down my throat?"
"Mr. White, you should go whine to your mommy. She might care."
He balanced his racket across his shoulders. "Let's get something straight. I hate being called Mr. White."
"It's your name, isn't it?"
"Call me Bob."
"Booob." She held it out good and long, opening her mouth like a goldfish. "I don't think my mom would like it. You know how she is."
"Bob or nothing."
"That doesn't seem to suit you either. Is it short for something? Like Robert?"
"No."
"Your name is Booob."
He tousled her hair. "You're kind of goofy this morning."
"Me goofy? I'm not the one named Booob."
"Never mind. Call me Mr. White."
Julianne laughed. "You give in too easy." She whipped out her racket. "And that is why I'm gonna beat you. Again."
They played straight through the first set then the second. At one point, Bryce almost had her. One more serve and he'd take the game, but she came back to win that and all the other games.
"Whew!" he called as he dragged himself back to the bench. "You are ruthless."
He took a long drink of water.
She drained her bottle before answering. "I took it easy on you yesterday."
"Seriously?"
She nodded.
"I took it easy on you."
They both laughed then she punched his arm. "You're not telling me you let me win."
"Pity, no. But I didn't make you work for it like I should."
"Tomorrow. Neither of us holds back."
"Tomorrow." He took a few deep breaths then leaned against the chain link fence. "You said there were two things you could help me with. What's the other...besides keeping my swing level?"
She twisted sideways on the bench to peer at him. "I'm not sure you can do it."
"Aww, come on. Not even with your expert tutelage?"
"It's kind of instinctual with you. I understand why since you told us what you do."
Bryce felt his defenses rise. What was she about to say? He didn't want to lie to Julianne, but there were some things he couldn't tell her.
"What do you mean?"
"Well...it's like now. You're having a conversation with me, but you've only made eye contact twice because you're checking out that woman that just entered the next court. At first, I thought you had a bad case of wandering eye, and I was gonna tell my mom to dump you. Then I realized you do it to everyone. It's that security thing of yours. You watch everyone and everything like they're out to get you. Can't watch the ball if you're watching peeps."
He stared at her. She had to be the most observant twelve-year old in the world. What a kid!
"Have I told you lately you're my favorite kid?"
"Nope, Booob."
"That's just a nickname, you know. I think you need one, too. Your mom can't complain if we give each other nicknames. What should yours be?"
"Don't you dare call me princess."
Bryce snickered. "Princess Julianne. Nah. Too prissy. Not that you aren't a feminine young lady, but I want something with a little punch to it."
"Rocky?"
"You really are a funny kid," he said, laughing. "I've got it. That sugar tooth of yours. Jujube. I saw you eyeing that candy at the movie last night."
"Oh, no. Jujube?"
"Yep, that's the one. My Jujube."
"Hey, Booob?"
"What?"
"Don't think I haven't noticed that you changed the subject again."
"Jujube, whatever could you mean?"
He put his arm around her to give her a squeeze then stood. "Time to go."
They walked out the fence and stopped at the bleachers for Julianne to get a pebble out of her shoe. In spite of what she'd just said, Bryce scanned the peopl
e around them. He really hated to do it, but he'd begun to notice someone on a regular basis. That wasn't unnatural on a resort like this, but with Roger's case so close to a finish, what if someone decided to mess with his family? What if Bryce had blown his cover and someone had followed him to Lisa and Julianne?
Julianne looked up, and the smile left her face. "What is it? Something has you spooked."
He took her elbow and moved away. "What do you mean?"
"You couldn't get any more serious if you had an M-16 in your hands. Now, what is going on?"
If he warned her, she'd be safer.
"You see that man over there by the drink stand?"
She turned very slowly as if scanning the entire resort, like a real pro. "In the grey shirt?"
"Uh huh. He was here yesterday when we played."
"Maybe he likes tennis early...like us."
"He never plays. And I saw him when we were eating lunch yesterday. We were outside, but he had the table opposite ours on the inside of the glass windows."
"You are seriously creeping me out."
"Just keep your eyes open. You and your mother are huge targets at a place like this. People come here to have fun. You aren't attached to a man...anything could happen."
"Like you?"
Bryce took a step back. "Is that what you think? That I'm a predator?"
"No." She looked down at the ground. "Sorry. I just don't want my mom to get hurt."
"Me, either, Jujube. Me, either. Let's take a walk."
They wandered across the green grass of the resort, idly stopping to inspect flowers or hang over the bridge at the duck pond, not really talking about anything.
When they reached the pool, Julianne held up a hand. "Well, this is my stop. Thanks for the walk. Did he follow us?"
"I haven't seen him. Pay attention to your surroundings, though. You hear?"
"Yeah, sure."
She walked through the fence and looked back. "Bob? You might want to try talking to my mom. I mean...you talk to me all the time, but I've noticed you don't say much to her."
"She scares me."
"Like my dad always told me...you won't know if you like something if you don't try it."
Bryce laughed. "Good advice. See you at lunch, Jujube."
Would You, Could You Page 5
