As Time Goes By (The Californians 2) (25 page)

"So what are your plans now?"

"First of all, your parents are coming to supper tomor row night, and the six of us--that includes my folks-- are going to talk. Will you feel bad, Bobbie, because you're not there?"

"Just awful," Bobbie said with a smile. "I'll pout all evening. Now tell me more!"

"We'd like to be married right away, say in a month, with just a quiet ceremony. Then, after we've been away for a few days on a honeymoon trip, we'd like to come home, get settled in our house, and have a reception with the church family."

"I think that sounds wonderful! Where will you live?" "That's one of the items we need to discuss with our folks. With Troy working on this side of town, it would be nice to find a place close by."

Lunch had been served to the ladies, but they had barely taken notice. Bobbie commented that she better eat or she would go back to work hungry. Carla contin ued to tell her future sister-in-law of her plans, and long

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As Time Goes By 235

before they were done Bobbie had to go back the shipping office, wishing as she did that she had time to find Troy and hug him.

Bobbie was almost as dreamy as Carla had been at lunch when she went back to work. But preoccupied as she was, she did not fail to notice how distracted Jeff seemed. He was polite, but it was clear that something weighed on his mind.

Bobbie was not given an opportunity to question him, but when Sylvia came in at closing time Jeff instantly perked up. Bobbie was relieved to witness such a scene, since it gave her peace of mind over his odd behavior. Jeff excused himself for a moment to finish some business.

"Hello, Bobbie," Sylvia greeted her quietly from where she waited by the door. Bobbie finally recalled Jeff saying he had a date with Sylvia.

"Hi, Sylvia. Come over, sit down."

Sylvia took one of the chairs by the desk, and even though Bobbie had things to do, she set her pencil aside and smiled at the stunning blonde.

"How was your weekend?" Sylvia wanted to know. "It was great. The weather was perfect and I know that Marcail had the time of her life. How were things here in town?"

"Pretty quiet, I think, although church was full." Sylvia hesitated a moment and then rushed on. "Bobbie, there's something I need to say to you."

Bobbie smiled expectantly and waited.

"I've never apologized to you for the way I acted at the lagoon, but I'm sorry. I'm also sorry that it's taken me this long to tell you." Sylvia's face was flushed and Bobie realized how difficult it must have been for Sylvia to hold that in all these years.

"Thank you, Sylvia," Bobble said simply and gave Sylvia a smile of such serenity that her fears of rejection drained away in an instant.

The women tailed until Jeff returned. Sylvia told Bobie about Pastor's sermon and Bobble shared with Sylvia about her niece and nephew. Their chatter was random, and how they chose those subjects was not clear. What was clear was there was no more constraint between them. They laughed and tailed in a normal way, with none'of the awkwardness that had been the hallmark of their previous conversations.

When Jeff finally came from the office to claim Sylvia, Bobbie bid her goodbye, feeling like she had a new friend. On the other hand, her old friend Jeff was still perplexed about something. She had seen it in his face when he had said goodbye to her. Bobbie began praying as soon as she went back to her work that God would open a door for them to tail.

Bobbie would have been surprised to know that Sylvia was praying for that very thing as she sat with Jeff in the hotel. Jeff was absorbed in some private distraction, and Sylvia, although not angry, was quite determined to find

out if she was the cause. "How was work?" "Fine." Jeff told her. "And your weekend?"

"Great," Jeff said softly, and warning bells went off in Sylvia's mind.

"You didn't say that very enthusiastically."

"Didn't I?" Jeff was truly surprised. He then went on to describe every detail of the camping experience, and Sylvia couldn't help but wonder if Jeff knew how his eyes softened just a bit whenever he mentioned Bobbie's name. In fact he made it sound like an endearment.

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Their supper together was relaxed, but when Jeff saw Sylvia home she was quiet. Jeff, who was equally silent, didn't seem to notice. Once at the house Jeff suddenly seemed to realize how preoccupied he had been.

"I'm sorry, Sylvia, I don't seem to be very good corn pany tonight."

"It's not happening for you, is it, Jeff?"

It took him a moment to understand Sylvia as she gazed at him with her heart in her eyes. A look of pro found remorse passed over Jeff's features and Sylvia did her best to smile.

"It's all right, Jeff. You can't force something you don't feel."

"I do care for you, Sylvia."

'`i know you do," she said with soft regret. "I also know that there's someone who already holds your heart, and I wonder when you're going to open your eyes and see that."

Without giving Jeff a chance to speak, Sylvia went up

on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"Goodbye, Jeff."

Jeff didn't move or reply even after Sylvia went into her sister's house and shut the door. He stood motion less for the space of a few heartbeats.

"My eyes are open, Sylvia." Jeff's voice was hushed as he walked away from the house. "But hers aren't, and i don't know what to do about that."

Sylvia leaned against the closed door and shut her

eyes tightly. 'It's time for me to go home.' "Sylvia, is that you already?" "It's me."

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"How was your date?" Sandra asked kindly as Sylvia joined her in the empty living room.

"It was fine." Sylvia's voice was quiet. "But I won't be seeing Jeff again."

Sandra was silent as she digested this new informa tion. A few months ago she would have scathingly asked what Sylvia had done this time to drive Jeff away. But Sylvia's sudden maturity made this question unneces sary.

'a.re you all right?" the older woman finally asked.

"I will be. I think I should tell you now that I've decided to go home in a few weeks."

"So soon?" The question alone spoke volumes as to the changes Sandra and Carl had seen in Sylvia since she returned from Aunt Velvet's.

Sylvia could only nod and the women shared an embrace. It had been a long time coming, but Sylvia Weber was finally growing up.

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thirty-seven

The next four weeks were taken up with preparations for Troy's wedding and his moving into the small house that Kaiflin and Marcail had lived in when they first arrived in Santa Rosa. Carla had been ecstatic to find that it was free to rent just two weeks before the date. The church reception was not planned until three weeks after the wedding, so Maryanne and Mrs. Johnson dug into their attics and trunks to find needed household goods.

It was a rather ragtag collection of bedding and kitchen supplies when it was put together, but Troy and Carla only had eyes for each other.

With only the
]ohnsons,
Bradfords, and Pastor Keller in attendance, the ceremony was as simple and quiet as the young couple hoped it would be. The newlyweds were headed a few hours north for their honeymoon.

Troy's absence from the house made it feel empty. Bobbie's heart seemed a little empty too, and even though the void was not directly related to Troy, it did have something to do with seeing him and Carla stand before Pastor Keller and become husband and wife. Bobbie coveted the title of wife.

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Unbidden, Jeff's face came to mind, and Bobbie shook her head to dispel the vision. Jeff belonged to Sylvia. He hadn't talked much about his dates with her lately, but Bobble suspected they were becoming quite serious with the way Jeff seemed to be putting more and more space between himself and Bobbie.

Bobbie longed to talk with him, but knew she couldn't be close friends with a married man, and that it would be easier in the long run to start thinking of Jeff in that light right now.

What Bobbie didn't expect was that her feelings would be stronger than she was, and that the reception, held at one of the large homes where Maryanne worked, would end in humiliation for Bobbie.

"I can't believe Mrs. Walcott let us use her home and garden." It was the fifth time Maryanne had made such a statement, and as before, Jake smiled to himself and keptquiet.

"Do we have everything? Where's Bobbie? What time is it?" Jake was not given a chance to answer any of these questions, and actually he didn't even try.

Maryanne was quiet on the way to Walcotts', but as soon as they arrived she began giving orders like a woman possessed. Jake listened to her for a few minutes before stepping in.

"Mary," he said softly, "everything is going to be fine, and if you don't stop telling Bobbie to be in four places at once, she's going to run away.'"

Stopped short over her husband's words, Maryanne apologized to her daughter and prayed for calm. Things were a little smoother from that point on, and when the guests began to arrive, everything was in place.

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The Walcott mansion was a tall, broad, two-story house with a backyard garden which was the envy of Santa Rosa residents. The kitchen and summer porch at the rear of the house made a garden reception a dream.

Tables and chairs were scattered all over the lush grass and faced the long tables set up outside the kitchen door for the finger foods, cakes, and fruit drinks. Guests could roam about at will or sit next to the flowerbeds, whose riotous colors only enhanced the occasion for which the church family was gathered.

Carla was radiant and Troy's smile nearly stretched off his face as he stood beside his wife. The Johnsons mingled with Jake and Maryanne while Bobbie ran back and forth from the kitchen to the beautiful garden all afternoon.

By the time the guests began to leave, the gift table was laden and the food tables were nearly bare. Cleanup was a momentous task and Bobbie was again involved. She had just pushed a wheeled cart into a rather secluded dining room where Mrs. Walcott kept her large platters, in the bottom drawer of a buffet, when she felt her glasses fall from her face.

Quickly reacting this time, she grasped both pieces as they slid down her front. She had been standing for at least five minutes trying to put them together on her own when she heard someone enter the room.

"Your mother told me I might find you in here." "Oh, hi, Jeff. She now knew his voice so well. My glasses came apart. I know how to fix them when they

break like this, but I just can't get it."

"Here, let me have a go."

Bobbie surrendered the glasses to his capable hands, and as always drew very close to watch him work. Jeff was able to snap them back together, and Bobbie waited

while he wiped the lenses before placing them gently back on her face.

He leaned close as he always did when helping her with her spectacles, and even after the lenses were in place he stayed bent over her, their noses nearly touchg.

Jeff smiled as Bobbie's eyes focused on him. Bobbie smiled back, thinking how much she had missed being close to him. When Jeff did not immediately move away, Bobbie acted without thought. She put one hand, almost a caress, against the side of Jeff's face and pressed her lips to his.

As though completely forgetting that she had no right to do such a thing, Bobbie did not immediately check herself and step away, making the moment she
did
realize she was actually kissing Jeff the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to her.

Jeff's gaze was very tender as Bobbie broke the kiss and took a hasty step backward, but she didn't notice. With one hand to her throat, she began to stutter.

"Jeff, I'm s-sorry. I c-can't think what c-came over m-me."

"Bobbie, honey--"

"No, Jeff, don't say anything. I'm just so sorry." Bobie turned away from him then, and when she looked back, there were tears in her eyes. "Sylvia will never

forgive me," she whispered.

"Bobbie, please--"

Jeff stopped and didn't follow her when she rushed past him and out of the room. He found himself looking around and thanking God that the room had provided privacy. The last thing they had needed was witnesses. Jeff exited the room determined to find her and clear things up, but she was nowhere to be found.

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He went to her house that evening just before supper, but ]ake told him that Bobbie had gone to bed exhausted. Jeff determined to pin her down the next day at church, but she avoided him nicely, and when he went to her house on Sunday afternoon, Maryanne said she was at her sister's.

Feeling frustrated, Jeff left telling himself there was always tomorrow. And unless Bobble had quit her job when he wasn't looking, she would have to face him at the office in the morning.