Catch Your Breath

by Shannyn Schroeder

  Jimmy kicked Tommy’s thigh, but he wasn’t angry. It felt good to sit around having a beer with his kid brothers. He was glad they were adults and could fend for themselves. Jimmy finally had the time to build the life he wanted with a family of his own.

  But this, right here, was something he wouldn’t mind replicating. For all of the fights and arguments and petty bullshit he’d dealt with when it came to his siblings, they always had each other. They might not be the O’Learys, but they weren’t totally fucked up either.

  Moira sat at her desk typing furiously to meet her deadline when her phone rang. She wanted to ignore it, needed to ignore it, but she couldn’t. She always feared missing out on something. Maybe something great.

  She looked at the screen. It wasn’t a number she recognized, but since it was local, she didn’t think it was a telemarketer. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Moira, it’s Gabby Ruiz. I have a favor to ask.”

  “Shoot.” She saved the article on her computer and stood and stretched.

  “I have no idea what I’m doing for this Lincoln Park Zoo thing this weekend. Jimmy acts like it’s no big deal. I just show up on his arm and it all works out.” A heavy breath filled the air. “This case is important. We’re working for the mayor. Don’t tell Jimmy I told you that. Bottom line, I don’t want things fucked up because I can’t be a society woman.” Gabby’s voice held an edge of panic.

  “What do you need?”

  “Everything. Clothes, directions, information on people. I need to be able to fake it.”

  Moira remembered Gabby’s concern when they talked at the block party. “Does Jimmy know you’re calling me?”

  “It was his idea.”

  Bingo. That was exactly what Moira had hoped. “What’s in it for me?”

  “What do you mean? You already have an exclusive if this case develops.”

  “That was for me helping Jimmy.” She stared at the invitation stuck to her refrigerator. The reunion was at the end of the summer and her prospects for a date hadn’t panned out. At least not yet.

  “Name it. Although it’s a little mercenary of you to bargain when I’m desperate.”

  She snickered. “I’m the second youngest of six. Being mercenary was the best way to make it out of childhood alive. You’re gonna need to get Jimmy on the line for this bargain.”

  “This doesn’t bode well for me.” Gabby sighed again, but Moira heard her calling Jimmy. “Okay, Moira, you’re on speaker.”

  “Here’s the deal. I’ll help Gabby get ready. I’ll even lend her clothes to wear if she needs them, or I’ll take her shopping. I’ll feed her information so she can wow any guest she needs to.”

  “And in return?” Jimmy’s deep voice came across the line.

  Moira almost lost her nerve, but she thought about going to the reunion alone. It was bad enough she wasn’t the world-class journalist that she’d thought she’d be by now. But to face everyone and not even have a date? She would feel like an awkward freshman all over again. Plus, Kathy said find someone hot. Jimmy more than qualified. “I need a date to my class reunion at the end of the summer.”

  “ No.”

  That was all he said. No explanation. No excuse. No negotiation. Like one word would be enough. “You only have to agree to be my backup date in case I don’t find someone else. It’s not like you would be my first choice, O’Malley.”

  He grunted.

  “Being a backup isn’t asking so much, Jimmy. I’m sure Moira gets asked out a lot. When’s the reunion?”

  “Mid-August.”

  “So there’s more than a month. That’s plenty of time to find a date.” Then Gabby added, “I’ll help her find a date.”

  “You can’t find yourself a date. How are you going to find one for her?”

  Moira heard some shuffling, like Gabby moved or covered the phone. She heard the whisper, “I don’t think I can do this on my own. Please.”

  Another all-suffering sigh, this time from Jimmy. “Fine. I’m backup only. Don’t count on me actually taking you.”

  “I’ll meet you at my mom’s house on Saturday, Gabby. That way, when I have you all dressed up, Jimmy can get you from there. You won’t have to worry about leaving a car at my apartment and having to pick it up later.” As she spoke, she went back to her computer and sent the e-mail to respond to the reunion invitation. She now officially had a date.

  “See you.”

  They disconnected, and Moira wished she could be a fly on the wall to see and hear Jimmy’s response.

  Her unfinished article stared at her. She poured another cup of coffee and thought about the zoo fund-raiser. It was one of the best events of the summer. Lots of people came out to support the zoo. Everyone liked to help keep the zoo open and free to everyone.

  Her night at the bar had fallen flat. She’d only kissed one guy and it definitely hadn’t gone further. But she remembered what Kathy had said about using these events to find a date. As long as she didn’t write about the man she was dating, why couldn’t she go out with someone from that circle?

  Instead of focusing on her article, she began to think about the perfect outfit for Saturday. Maybe she wouldn’t need Jimmy as a reunion date after all.

  Moira spent Saturday afternoon hauling outfits over to her mom’s house. Gabby had said she didn’t have anything to wear, but Moira wasn’t sure if her clothes would work. Gabby was taller, but her chest was smaller. Moira hoped her mom might be able to temporarily take something in so it would work for Gabby.

  When the doorbell rang, Moira hadn’t expected Gabby to look so nervous. The woman fidgeted like she was about to have a root canal with no painkillers. She led Gabby upstairs to her childhood bedroom. The room across the hall, the one Michael and Liam had shared, had been turned into a sewing room for her mom. Maggie still had most of her stuff in this bedroom. She left whatever she didn’t need for traveling in Europe.

  Even her baby sister managed to travel places she’d only dreamed about.

  Gabby plopped on the bed. “Where do we start?”

  “Let’s pick an outfit first because I think my mom will have to alter it for you. She can work while we do the rest of our magic.” She reached into the closet and pulled out the first two dresses. They were cocktail length, one in blue and one in black. “You don’t even own a little black dress? Everyone owns one of those. What do you wear to funerals?”

  “Pants.”

  Yay. Someone else who offered one-word answers. This was going to be a long and painful tutorial.

  Gabby nodded at the black dress. Moira laid it over the back of a chair and reached for two more dresses. One was the green one she wore the first night she saw Jimmy undercover. “I think this one will look good on you, so I’m putting it in the yes pile for you to try on.”

  Gabby sighed but didn’t argue.

  After they had five dresses chosen, Gabby stripped down and stepped into the black dress. It was an obvious choice. Everyone looked good in a black dress, but Moira wanted something snazzier. Gabby needed to draw attention during her first outing as Mrs. James Buchanan. Eyes would be on her. Moira didn’t say it out loud because it would only worsen Gabby’s nerves.

  When she had the dress on, Gabby gasped. “Oh, God. This is never going to work,” she moaned. She stared down at the gaping front where her chest didn’t fill the cups.

  Moira rolled her eyes. “Relax. My mom will alter it. We had this conversation.” She went behind Gabby and pulled the dress taut so they could see what the dress would really look like.

  “I like it,” Gabby said. “Let’s use this one.”

  “Are you sure you’re a girl? You have to try on the others. You might like one of them better.”

  Moira got her to try on all of the dresses, and they decided that the green dress was the best choice. She called her mom in to do her magic with pins, and when her mom went to the next room to sew, Moira pulled out some of the pictures she’d printed out from past zoo events.
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br />   She spread the photos on the floor. “Now, obviously, I don’t know who’s actually going to be at the fund-raiser tonight, but based on past attendance, I picked some for you to get to know.” She pointed at the top row. “I’m guessing you already know those guys because Jimmy was so interested in them. Right below them are their wives.”

  Moira ticked off small conversation starters for each of the women. Little things like hobbies or other charities that the women were involved in. “I’m sure you can handle this part. All you have to do is get them talking. They’ll take over.”

  “Okay. I can handle that.”

  “And smile. Lots of smiling. You need to be friendly. If you look like a bitch, they won’t approach you.”

  “My default look is bitch.”

  “But they’re going to want to check you out because you’ll be with Jimmy and they’ve all been wondering about him.” She pulled out makeup she bought for Gabby and sat on the bed. “Let’s get your makeup done.”

  When Gabby sat next to her, Moira said, “I guessed about colors. We can’t use my makeup on you. You’d end up looking like a ghost if I used my pasty white complexion powder on your glowing golden skin.”

  “Shit. I didn’t even think about makeup. Tell me what I owe you and I’ll pay you back.”

  “How about you just tell me about the case? It’s killing me to not have details. My imagination runs wild and then I have unsubstantiated stories running in my head. Put me out of my misery.”

  Gabby closed her eyes and let Moira apply makeup. “It’s not exciting. The mayor thinks there’s a possible theft ring targeting Chicago’s wealthy residents. We’re looking into it.”

  Not nearly as exciting as Moira had hoped. Still a quality news story, though. “And the pervs that Jimmy’s so interested in? Are they the thieves?”

  “Victims, we think.”

  “Think? You don’t know who the victims are?”

  “I can’t say any more. I shouldn’t have told you that much. Don’t tell Jimmy.”

  Moira worked in silence. Once the makeup was done, Moira began to play with Gabby’s hair. The thick mop didn’t have much style, but there were enough layers that Moira was able to pile most of it on Gabby’s head and leave a few sexy tendrils dangling down.

  “Here, Moira. Have her try it on now.” Her mom stood in the doorway of the room holding the green dress.

  Gabby stood and looked at herself in the mirror. “Oh, my freaking God.”

  Mom’s mouth thinned to a straight line.

  As if she felt the glare, Gabby shrank down. “Sorry. It’s just that I don’t even look like me.”

  Moira took the dress and had Gabby step into it quickly. She knew her mom would get it right on the first try. She always did. Moira zipped up the back, and when Gabby turned, Moira’s mouth dropped.

  The woman was stunning.

  Her mom came around and tugged at seams and moved Gabby’s body in different directions to check her handiwork. Satisfied that it was good enough, she gave Gabby a stiff nod and left.

  “Your mom’s not much of a talker, huh?”

  “Only when she has something to say.”

  “Then where did you get the talking gene?”

  Moira laughed. “My dad. He owned the bar. He loved to talk to people. He was a natural bartender.”

  Watching her dad engage people at the bar was where she’d learned most of her tricks she used as a reporter. She learned to get people to open up.

  She glanced at the clock. “I better get myself dressed.”

  Gabby sat carefully on the bed, almost like she thought she might wrinkle.

  Moira stepped into her dress. She’d found an awesome deal on it. The bluish purple color shimmered, and she felt like a princess wearing it. After applying a hint of makeup, she pinned her hair in place in a hairstyle similar to the one she’d given Gabby.

  Just as she gave herself a last once-over, the doorbell rang. “I think your husband’s here.”

  “Moira,” her mom called.

  “We’re coming.” She turned to Gabby. “You look totally hot. You do know I would’ve helped even if Jimmy didn’t agree to anything, right?”

  “I hoped so, but it’s good to know.”

  They made their way down the stairs that led into the dining room. Jimmy stood in the living room, staring out the front windows. For a brief moment, she imagined he was waiting for her. Gabby stepped down behind her and said, “Hi.”

  Jimmy turned as they walked toward him. His eyes bugged and he swallowed hard. “Wow.”

  Gabby blushed. “Thanks. Maybe I’ll have to have Moira teach me to do this more often.”

  “Ready to go?”

  Gabby nodded and he looked at Moira.

  “I’m driving myself. You don’t want to show up with me in your car. I’ll see you there.”

  They turned and walked out and Moira gave herself a mental pat on the back. Jimmy stared at Gabby and Moira felt a huge hit of jealousy. What she wouldn’t give to have a guy look at her like that.

  She gathered her purse and slid in a notebook for taking notes. Time to look for the next guy to kiss.

  “Okay, you can pop your eyes back in your head and roll up your tongue,” Gabby said as they settled in the car. “I’m still the same Gabby.”

  Jimmy adjusted his expression, glad that Gabby believed he’d been looking at her. When the women had come down the stairs, he was struck stupid looking at Moira. He covered by staring at Gabby, who had in fact made a huge transformation. But to him, she remained Gabby, his partner. Moira had become the woman he’d drooled over the first night he played James Buchanan.

  He didn’t need to fuel that fire.

  He did his level best to push Moira from his mind while he drove to the zoo. He was sweltering in his suit and wondered how long he’d have to wait to at least take off the coat. The air-conditioning in the car blew full blast, but his blood remained hot.

  At the zoo, they made their way to the pavilion. Waiters eased through the crowd with trays of champagne. Would anyone notice if he went to the bar and ordered a draft? Would it make him stand out as not belonging? Gabby grabbed a glass but didn’t drink. They studied the crowd.

  This group was more diverse than previous events he’d attended. Although it was still a ball, the crowd seemed to have more than just the wealthy in attendance. And in fact, some were drinking beer. He glanced at Gabby, who turned the glass in her hand nervously. “I’m going to grab a beer. I’ll be right back.”

  She clutched his forearm. “Don’t leave me.”

  “Beer. I’ll be right back.” He thought he’d have to peel her fingers away, but she dropped her hand.

  At the bar, he found what was rapidly becoming his usual crowd. Stan Decker and his friends all held bottles of imported beer. Not his usual, but better than champagne. He ordered and then said, “Hi, Stan, how are you?”

  “James, good to see you again.”

  The bartender delivered his beer and Jimmy raised it to Stan, Nick, and Marcus. “My wife loves animals, and as soon as she visited the zoo, I knew she’d want to attend.”

  Stan chuckled as a man who suffered a similar fate.

  “Let me ask you something, Stan. Man to man.” Jimmy shifted closer. “Are the wives part of every social function around here?”

  “Most. Why?”

  He shrugged as if uncomfortable in order to project a level of trust. “While she was out of town, I was kind of enjoying not being watched. You know how it is. She’s probably shooting daggers at my back right now because I left her to get a beer.”

  “Where is she? I know Karen has been dying to meet her.”

  Jimmy pointed over his shoulder and hoped he knew Gabby as well as he thought. “Dark hair, green dress.”

  Stan looked over and laughed. “Yeah, she looks ticked off. I know what you mean about being watched. It’s not so bad once all the wives get together. They do their thing; we do ours. Come on, let’s get your wife i
nto the group so you can enjoy your evening.”

  When they reached Gabby, she painted a smile on her face. “Hey, sweetie, look who I ran into at the bar. Remember I told you about Stan Decker and how he’s been so welcoming.”

  Gabby extended her hand. “So nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise. We were starting to believe James made you up.” Stan looked around. “There’s my wife, Karen. She’s been wanting to meet you.”

  Stan led the way, and after another painful introduction, Stan tugged him away from the women. Gabby looked at him with pleading eyes. He smiled and shrugged. He followed Stan, but before they got too far, he heard Moira’s voice.

  “Mrs. Buchanan, is that you? Oh, my goodness. It’s so good to see you again.”

  Jimmy didn’t need to turn to know she was in full actress mode. Back at the bar, he indulged in another beer, knowing it would be his last for the night. From his position, he could keep an eye on Gabby, who appeared to be doing better thanks to Moira jumping in. He’d lost sight of Moira, though.

  The mayor approached, and Jimmy found himself stiffening out of habit and forced his body to relax.

  “James, good to see you.”

  “Bill, glad you could make it. Do you have a minute?”

  The mayor nodded, and Jimmy led them away from the crowd and noise. “Mr. Mayor, this isn’t working. We don’t have enough to go on here, and no one is about to open up about a robbery they were afraid to report.”

  “What if I can convince my friend to come forward and file an official report?”

  Jimmy tucked his hands in his pockets. “That would help, but we need details. We don’t know where to aim our investigation right now, so we’re just spinning our wheels.”

  “I understand. I’ll see what I can do. Give me until the end of the week.”

  Jimmy shrugged. Like he was going to say no to the mayor? Besides, there wasn’t another event he’d be forced to go to during the week. Most of his week, he was able to just be Detective O’Malley.

  The mayor walked away and he went back to the bar. No sooner did he lean against the hardwood when he saw Moira. She stood at the opposite end of the counter, looking gorgeous with a broad smile on her face. She was talking to a man whose face he couldn’t see. Then she leaned forward and patted his arm.