by Misty Malone
John's eyebrows rose. "Alana, these are all yours?"
"I told you it was a really good sale," she said, looking down at the ground.
"How many pairs did you buy?"
"Oh, I don't know. A few. So, what do you think we should do about the car?"
Cal asked, "What's it doing? Will it turn over at all?"
John offered, "I brought Cal along because he's a better mechanic than me. We'll look at it."
Kelli had already given Cal the keys and he was in trying to start it. He got out and told John, "Get in and try it in a minute. Let me try one thing." He popped the hood and started working while John got in the car. In a couple minutes Cal said, "Okay, try it now." John tried, but it wouldn't start. Cal worked a bit longer, and when John tried it again it started.
Kelli went to Cal and said, "Thank you, Cal. What do I owe you?"
"Let me take you out for dinner sometime and we'll be even," he said, surprising everyone there.
"That's a deal," she said, smiling.
"How about tomorrow night?"
Alana looked at John and quietly asked, "Could they go with us?"
John nodded and suggested, "We're going for a casual dinner and then to play some mini golf. Why don't you join us? It'll be fun."
Cal looked at Kelli. "What do you think?"
"It sounds like fun to me. Why don't I meet you at Kelli's apartment?"
Cal frowned as he said, "I'll be happy to pick you up at your home."
She quickly assured him, "It's okay. I live in the same apartment complex. Hers is much easier to find. You can walk me home afterward, then you'll know where mine is."
Looking much more relaxed, Cal said, "Okay, that's a deal then. Thank you."
John moved Alana to the back of the car to give Cal and Kelli a little privacy for a couple minutes. "How about another driving lesson Saturday afternoon? Are you free?"
"That would be great."
"Okay, we'll count on it then. We're going to talk a little bit then, too, when we have more privacy."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"About a couple things. Mostly about why you two were in this neighborhood at night. I don't want you doing that again, Alana. It's not safe for two women alone at night."
Alana stared at John a few moments. His words surprised her, but not as much as his demeanor. He was serious, and he wasn't happy with her. It was as if he were scolding her.
"If you think you have to be in this area, ask me to go with you, or at least go early enough that you're back home before it even starts to get dark. Do you understand me, young lady?"
"Yes, but—"
"But what?"
"There are a lot of buts. But I didn't think it would take us so long in the shoe store. But we would have been home if the car would have started. And but why does it matter to you, or why is it any of your business if I'm over here? It's perfectly legal for us to be here."
"You're right, there are a lot of buts. And there's another one that I'll talk to you about Saturday apparently. For now just suffice it to say it's my business because I care about you and I want you to be safe."
She had a puzzled look on her face, so he tried to quickly explain. "Remember when I said I'm an old-fashioned man?" She nodded. "Protecting you is part of that. I care about you and I want to protect you. In some ways, I need to protect you. It's part of who I am. We can talk more Saturday, I'll try to explain my feelings then. But until then, I know it's legal for you to be here, but it's not safe, and that's the part that has me worried, and why I don't want you down here at night. Okay?"
She knew she'd have to think through what he just said, and she was sure she'd have some questions for him Saturday when they talked. But for right now she had to admit it felt pretty good having a man care enough about her to protect her. She nodded and said, "Okay."
He gave her a quick kiss and said, "You call me when you two get home tonight, okay? I'll feel better knowing you're home safe."
She smiled now as she said, "Okay, I will."
Cal and John waited for the ladies to leave before starting for home. Cal knew John would be kidding him sooner or later about asking Kelli out, so he decided offense is the best defense. "You didn't tell me Alana's friend was so cute."
John chuckled and answered, "Alana's so pretty I never got past her head full of pretty red curls to notice Kelli, but now that you mention it, she's not hard to look at, either. Especially for someone like you, who prefers girls with darker hair."
"How did you know that?"
John laughed. "Cal, you've dated what, about 20 or so women? Name one that didn't have dark brown or black hair."
Cal thought a moment before conceding. "Okay, maybe you're right. But I do like her dark brown hair. And I'm like you, I don't like the skinny beanpoles women try to be today. I much prefer them like both Kelli and Alana, with those wonderful womanly curves."
"I hear you there, bro."
They were quiet for a minute or so until John asked, "So what's with you and Kelli?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll laugh if I tell you."
"Yeah, I probably will, but go ahead anyway. That's what brothers are for."
Cal frowned at John but said, "Okay. When we got there Kelli was scared and moved over closer to me."
"Yeah, I saw that. You didn't seem to mind a bit."
"Well, I could tell she was scared, so I put an arm around her and pulled her over, trying to let her know it was okay, we wouldn't let those guys hurt them."
"Right."
"Well, when I put my arm on her shoulder I felt something."
"Maybe it's love at first sight," John said, smirking at Cal.
"See? I knew you'd laugh at me."
"And I told you I probably would." Getting serious then, John said, "I think it's definitely worth going out with her once or twice anyway. See what happens."
"That's what I thought," Cal said, glad his brother was serious now.
"You know," John said, "Mom always told us when you meet the right woman you'll know."
"Yeah, I remember her saying that." Now smirking at his brother, he asked, "So how about you and Alana? Is she the right woman? Did something happen with you two?"
John didn't answer, and knowing John like he did, the lack of an answer got Cal's attention. He turned serious, as well, as he asked, "So what happened with you two? Did you feel something the first time you touched her, as well?"
"It was more like the first time I saw her," John admitted. "When I saw her sitting there waiting to take a driving test, even though there were two of us examiners giving tests that day and two ladies waiting to take the test, it was like in my heart I knew I'd be the one giving her the test, and I knew I had to get to know her. I have no idea how I knew that, but I felt it when I first glanced over and saw her sitting there."
"No kidding?"
"No kidding. It didn't surprise me at all when I picked up the next clipboard and called the name on it and she got up. Then the way things happened, everything fell in line for me to ask her out to dinner."
Cal nodded his head. "Kind of like it did for me to ask Kelli out?"
"Yep." Both men were quiet, lost in their own thoughts for a few minutes. Finally John said, "I guess we'll just have to see what happens."
"I guess so," Cal agreed.
* * * * *
The next night was fun for all of them. The girls were ready when the men got to Alana's apartment. They went to an outdoor cafe to take advantage of the nice weather. All four of them got along real well, and there was lots of laughter as they all got to know each other better.
Then they went to the mini golf course. From the first hole Kelli turned into a different person. She hit a lucky shot and got a hole in one, while the others needed two or three shots apiece. She proudly said, "Good start for me. Catch me if you can, losers!"
They all chuckled and brushed it
off, until she missed a shot on the second hole. "Damn. That must slope to the side or something. Otherwise it would have gone in."
Both men's eyebrows raised, and Cal quietly told her, "Watch your language, Kelli. You got it in in two. That's as good or better than any of us. Congratulations."
"Yeah, well, I guess it'll do. It's just frustrating if it's sloped." Cal didn't say anything as they went to the third hole, which had a windmill in the fairway. The blades of the windmill were going in a circle, and when they were at the bottom they covered the hole the ball had to go through. The idea was to time the shot so the windmill blades weren't covering the hole and the ball went through the windmill and out the other side.
Alana made it through on her first shot. "Way to go," John congratulated her.
She took two more shots to finish the hole, and breathed a sigh of relief as she picked her ball back up. "Glad that one's done. I figured it'd take me half a dozen just to get it through the windmill."
John tried next, and the ball hit the blade of the windmill and bounced back. They all laughed as he tried a second time, with the same results. He finally made it through on his third shot and finished the hole with a five. "I'm glad I'm done with that hole, too," he said with a smile. "Who's next?"
"I'll go next," Cal offered. "After yours I won't look so bad if I miss it, too."
"Ha ha ha," John said with a grin. Cal hit the windmill blade the first time, but got it through on the second try. It took him an extra shot on the other side, though, and he also got a five.
Alana laughed as she said, "I'd like to thank you boys for making my three look so good. I appreciate that."
They were all three laughing, but Kelli said, "I'll show you how it's really done." She lined up her shot, watched the windmill a few seconds and hit the ball. It hit the blade and bounced back. They all smiled, but no one said anything. Kelli, however, was upset. "Well, shit." She quickly lined up and hit it again, and it went through this time. She also got a three, and said, "Well, that sucked." She turned around and saw all three of them looking at her, none of them smiling. "What's wrong?"
John and Alana went ahead to the next hole, but Cal caught Kelli's arm and held her back. "Kelli, what's gotten into you?"
"What do you mean?"
"This is just a game. We're supposed to have fun. You're taking it too seriously, and what's with all the cursing? There's small kids out here and they don't need to hear that kind of language."
Kelli started to object, but stopped. Her shoulders slumped and she quietly said, "I know. I'm sorry, Cal. I always get too competitive. I don't know why, but I've always been like that. I'll try to watch it."
"Good," Cal said. "It's just a game. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. We didn't even want to keep score because we're just doing it to have fun. Lighten up a little bit, Sweetie." He kissed her forehead quickly.
She smiled up at him. "I'll try. Thank you."
They went to join the other two. John had already played and had gotten a four. Alana was in the process, but not having much luck. The hole was at the top of a small mound, and you had to hit it just enough for it to get in the top and go in, but if you hit it too hard it went up the hill too fast and down the other side. She and John were laughing as she kept trying, until she finally made it in.
"How many times did you have to try before you finally made it?" Kelli asked.
Alana looked up at John and laughed. "I have no idea. Do you?"
John laughed, too. "Not really."
Kelli asked, "How many should I put?"
Alana gave Kelli a look John couldn't quite read, and said, "I don't know, Kelli. It doesn't really matter." She emphasized the last sentence, but then added, "If it's that important to you, put ten."
Kelli didn't say anything, but wrote something down on the scorecard. Cal told her, "You can go next if you want."
"Okay," Kelli said, and placed her ball at the beginning. She hit it once and it got down to the mound, but stopped. She went to it and hit it again, but it didn't go clear up the mound, and rolled back down. She tried again harder, but it went up and over. She went to the other side and tried again. Again it didn't make it clear up and rolled back down. After another attempt with the same result she muttered, "Damn thing."
Cal went closer to her and said, "Kelli, language."
Kelli tried again and when it went up and over, she said, "Well, hell."
Before Cal or anyone else could say anything, Alana said, "Guys, I know this is bad timing, and I'm sorry, but could we go home, please? I have an awful headache."
All three of them looked at her with curious expressions. She reached up to hold her head. All three of them knew she didn't have a headache, but everyone was curious as to what was going on. John said, "Sure, honey, if you have a headache we can leave."
They made their way back to the building and turned in their golf clubs and left. It was a pretty quiet ride home. John asked if Alana was feeling any better, and she assured him it was starting to ease up.
As they pulled into the apartment complex Kelli said, "We'll have to go back there when you're feeling better. That was a fun golf course." No one said a word. As Cal and John were helping the ladies out of the car Kelli said, "Unless you guys are afraid I'll beat you again."
As they neared Alana's apartment she asked, "Do you guys all want to come in for some coffee or iced tea? It's still early."
Cal immediately said, "I think I'll take Kelli on home. I'd like to talk to her a little bit."
John had a pretty good idea what he wanted to talk to her about, but he kiddingly asked, "Are you wanting a little time alone, without us, to get to know each other a little bit?"
Cal mumbled, "Something like that." He'd been holding Kelli's hand since they left the car, and John had to smile. He knew it was to make sure she didn't go anywhere before he had a chance to talk to her. Kelli led Cal off toward her apartment, while John and Alana went in hers.
Once inside, John said, "Okay, I know you didn't have a headache. What was that all about?"
"I'm sorry, John. Kelli gets way too competitive at times."
"I noticed."
"She was headed that way, and when she gets that way no one wants to be around her. I didn't want her to totally ruin the whole evening, so I asked to leave then. Sorry."
"You said she was headed that way. You mean it gets worse than it already was?"
She giggled as she assured him, "Oh, yeah, it gets worse. And I didn't want any part of it. I was having such a good time tonight."
"I'm glad you were. I was, too. It's a shame Kelli put an early end to our night."
"Yeah, it is," Alana said sadly. "I've talked to her about that, but it doesn't do any good. Someone else needs to try to get her to understand that no one likes to be around someone like that."
"I have a feeling that's exactly what Cal's talking to her about right now."
"Really? I hope he can get through to her."
"Oh, I have a feeling he might. He has a way of getting his point across."
Chapter 3
John and Alana sat down on the couch to talk while they waited for Cal. After a couple minutes Alana got fidgety and John knew something was on her mind. He asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"
She looked at him, but didn't say anything. He said, "Honey, I can tell you're thinking about something. Why don't you just ask me what's on your mind and we'll talk about it."
"How did you know?"
He put his arm around her shoulder and encouraged her to lean against him, which she did. He said, "I care about you. That means I pay attention to you, and it's quite apparent to me that something's on your mind. Ready to ask me yet?"
"Okay. You said you want to talk to me tomorrow when we have some privacy."
"I do."
"You said it was about me being there after dark."
"I think we talked about that enough that you know I don't want you there after dark any more. If you want to go there, tell m
e. We'll find a time that we're both free and I'll take you. But if you and Kelli want to go there for a big sale or something, just please make sure it's during the day and you stay together and have a fully-charged cell phone with you in case you have any problems, okay?"
She frowned a bit as she looked at him. "You're serious about that, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
"You really think it's that dangerous?"
"Honey, I'm a police officer. I see the bad that happens and where it happens."
"Okay," she said slowly. "I'll be more careful when I go shopping there."
"Good. Thank you." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Still ready for another driving lesson tomorrow?"
"Yes, absolutely."
"Do you have a car in mind you'd like to buy when you get your license?"
"Something cheap," she quickly answered.
He chuckled. "You said you've been saving money for one. If it's taken longer than you'd hoped to get your license, I thought maybe you'd have enough saved to buy some fancy little sports car."
"Hardly," she said.
"Just as good anyway. I wouldn't be too comfortable with you driving one anyway."
"Why not?"
"They cost too much, go too fast and draw too much attention."
Now she chuckled. "Well, you don't have to worry. I'm not even sure I have enough left for a down payment on a little used car, nothing fancy."
"What do you mean enough left? Did you have to use part of your savings for something?"
"Sort of, yes."
He looked down at the grin on her face and asked, "What did you have to use it for?"
"Therapy."
"Therapy, like physical therapy? Did you get hurt?" John was instantly concerned.
She fidgeted a little bit again before answering, "No, it was retail therapy."
"Retail therapy?"
"Yes, to fight depression."
After a moment John said, "Okay, you better explain that, young lady, and I hope it's not what it sounds like."
"What does it sound like?"
"It sounds like something didn't go the way you wanted it to, so while you were pouting you went shopping and spent money you had saved for a car."
