CONVICTION (INTERFERENCE) (9 page)

“What would you have done if I’d made something like meatloaf?” my mother laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

“I would have had a lot of water. This is wonderful, though. Thank you. I don’t ever get any home cooked meals…unless I cook them.”

“Doesn’t your father cook for you?”

“No. I cook for him, sometimes. But, he’s not a big eater.”

“Why did your father lose his job?” my father asked.

“Daddy?”

“It was just a question.”

“He was let go…for drinking on the job. He’s an alcoholic.”

My mother dropped the serving spoon in the vegetable bowl. “You lost your mother when you were six and your father’s an alcoholic? No wonder you went off the deep-end. Who wouldn’t?”

“Just what did you do to get sent to juvenile hall for two years?” my father asked.

“Daddy, I told you…drop it.”

“I stole a couple bottles of Jack Daniels and then got drunk and stole a car…”

“Well, you were lucky you only got two years.”

“He turned himself in. Now, can we drop it?” I asked, not wanting him to have to tell the rest of the story, even though I knew he would.

“Is that why you don’t drive? You don’t have your license back, yet?”

“I have my license back, but I don’t have a car. I borrow my Dad’s car sometimes, but I usually just prefer to walk. I’m saving as much as I can for school. But, with my father out of work, most of the money goes to our bills. Gas is a luxury.”

My father’s face finally softened. “So, you’re the man of the house? You take care of your father, even though he should be taking care of you?”

“I’m nineteen. He raised me…for a while. I guess it’s my turn to raise him.”

“So, what is it you want to study in school?”

“Veterinary medicine.”

I was shocked. “I didn’t know that. That’s great.”

“A vet, huh? Expensive and a lot of years of schooling,” my father said.

“I know, that’s why I’m trying to save as much as I can.”

“You have to have good grades to get into a vet program,” my father continued.

“Yes, I know. I um, I’ve taken quite a few online courses…core classes, and I’ve managed to keep my grades up. It’s going to take a while, but I’ll do it.”

“You have to have more than just good grades…you need connections…”

“Daddy, why are you harassing him?”

“Calm down, Pumpkin. I’m not harassing him. I was going to say I know the dean at UCLA and I was going to offer to put in a good word for him.”

I was shocked. “That’s so nice…”

“Yes, that’s very nice, thank you. But, I want to do it on my own. I appreciate it, really. But, when I get my degree, I want it to be…mine, ya know?”

“Ye
s, I do know. I struggled to get into UCLA, worked my butt off for it. No one handed me anything and when I was done…I was proud. Well, I’m going to bed. I’m tired and we have mass early in the morning.”

“Would it be okay if Rebecca and I spent the day together tomorrow? I thought we’d go to the zoo.”

“I suppose it would be okay…after church.”

“Of course.”

“Sunday mass starts at nine am. You’re welcome to join us for church. We usually have breakfast after church, and then you’re free to go. Unless you have some objection?”

“No, none whatsoever. Thank you.”

“Goodnight,” my father said and headed upstairs. “Oh, one more thing, you’re allocated to the downstairs only. Got it?”

Shane smiled and said, “Got it!”

My mother and I sat there staring at each other, speechless.

“Who
was
that?” I asked my mother, wondering what my father was up to.

“I told you he’d come around. It was just sooner than I expected. Well, these dishes aren’t going to do themselves.”

“Rebecca and I can do them. You’ve done enough. I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful meal.”

“Oh, you two go watch television or something. I’ll take care of the dishes.”

“Please, let me,” he said while standing up and gathering plates and glasses.

“Yeah mom, you go to bed. We’ll do these.”

“You’re sure? You and your sister usually argue…”

“She’s not here, thankfully, and I won’t mind doing them with Shane. It’s okay.  Goodnight.”

“Well, I am rather tired. Okay, goodnight. There’s angel food cake, fresh strawberries and whipped cream in the fridge if you two would like some dessert.  Goodnight.”

Shane and I finished the dishes side by side. Neither of us said much of anything. I think we were both sort of in shock over the entire evening. When we were done I made us each a bowl of strawberry shortcake and asked him to follow me to the family room.

“I should go,” he said when he saw what I was making.

“Please don’t go, yet. It’s the first moment alone we’ve had all night.”

“For a few minutes.”

He followed me into the family room and waited for me to sit down. Once I did, he sat down on the opposite couch. I stood up and walked over and sat down next to him.

He scooted over the second I sat down. “Why do you always pull away from me?  I thought you liked me,” I said, wanting to be closer to him.

“I do like you. I like you so much that it scares me.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“Are you afraid of Parker?”

“No. I mean, he scared me when he tried to kiss me, but he’s harmless.”

“No, he’s not, Rebecca. And now he’s going to try to do more than just kiss you. You need to be careful.”

“You said that before. Why?” I asked, confused.

“Because, now he thinks he’s in competition with me. I’m sure he thinks that I’m going to have what he believes is rightfully his.”

“I’m not his. I never was. Besides, I already told him you and I are together. It’s not a secret.”

“Rebecca, I wasn’t talking about him being jealous of us dating…”

“Then, what?”

“I’m sure he thinks I’m after…more,” he said, looking away.

I blushed again. “Oh, well…that’s none of his business. But, um, I’m not really…ready…yet.”

“I know you’re not. And, just so you know…I won’t touch you until you’re at least 18.”

I swallowed hard. I knew I wasn’t ready for sex just yet, but I was hoping we’d work our way up to it…slowly;
but not that slowly
. “That’s not for fifteen months,” I said.

“I just want to be with you. I can wait.”

“What if I can’t?” I said, boldly.

He looked me in the eyes and said, “Then we have to end it now. I
will not
touch you until you’re at least 18, Rebecca.” 

He said it with such conviction. I knew it was pointless to argue with him at that time. I finally said, “I’ll take you however I can get you.”

He smiled and touched my cheek, which shot electricity through my entire body.  I shivered at his touch and knew it was going to be a long fifteen months.

Boyfriend vs. Best Friend

Jillian was back. I’d managed to spend two wonderful weeks with Shane without the interference of my best friend. I had to admit I was instantly irritated with her the second I saw her. We had grown up together and had been friends for as long as I could remember. But, over the years, her attitude had gone from one of carefree and funny, to unforgiving and harsh. She was critical of everything and everyone. 

“We had the best time! You should be so jealous! I mean, nothing can compare with Aspen!” she rambled on at lunch.

I glanced across the street and knew she was wrong. Aspen couldn’t compare with the feelings I had for Shane. I was daydreaming, and staring at the tire store for a glimpse of the man I had totally fallen for.

“Earth to Becca!” she shouted. “What’s wrong with you?”

I decided to just blurt it out. The last two weeks had been the best days of my life and I wanted to share it with my best friend. But I knew she’d turn her nose up at him, and just thinking about it put me on the defensive.
Here goes nothing. 
“Nothing’s wrong.  Everything’s…perfect!” I grinned, hoping she’d ask for details.

“So, then what did you do while I was away? I hope you didn’t sit around moping the entire two weeks, again!”

“No, I didn’t. Actually…”

“Good, because you know it’s the only time we’re ever really separated. So, what did you do while I was in Aspen?” she asked.

“I fell in love.” There I said it, out loud, and it felt great!

“What do you mean, you fell in love? With whom?”

“Do you remember the guy…?”

“It’s not Parker? Oh, of course it’s not Parker. You hate Parker.”

“I don’t ‘hate’ Parker, but it’s not…”

“No, don’t tell me. I want to guess. Um, is it Ted Jamison? No, wait, it’s got to be Josh Cartwright. That’s it huh, it’s Josh…?”

“No, it’s…”

“NO! I told you, I want to guess. Rick Blakely? He’s always had a thing for you,” she finally stopped talking, certain she had it all figured out.

“Are you done?”

She nodded, but was eagerly awaiting my confirmation of her latest guess.

The bell rang, and she said, “Well, am I right? Come on, spill it!”

I decided to keep her in suspense a little longer. “I’ll see you after school. You can meet him then.”

“Meet him? Don’t I already know him?”

“Well, sort of. See you after seventh.”

“Hi, are you ready to go?”

We’d been dating for over two weeks now and yet he still took my breath away and triggered that unstoppable blush whenever I saw him. “Yes, almost. I wanted to introduce you to Jillian…” I said, knowing he was less than thrilled with the idea of my friend being back from vacation.

But, true to form, and his ever-present good nature, he smiled and nodded and waited for the inevitable. He knew she was going to hate him. He wasn’t wrong.

“So, who…?” she stopped when she saw us talking.

“Jillian, we were waiting for you. This is…”

“You’re that guy from the mall!” she said with a grimace.

“Jillian, this is Shane. Shane, Jillian,” I said, hoping to shut her up.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked, ignoring Shane completely.

I looked up into his eyes and knew I had nothing to hide from him.

“I’ll wait for you over…” Shane said.

“No, stay.” I turned to my best friend of 13 years and said, “Jillian, Shane and I are dating. We’ve been dating since…well, since you left.”

“Casual fling?” she snapped, evidently irritated by my use of the word dating.

“Jillian, please be nice.”

“Nice? Why should I be nice about you dating…him? He’s…”

“STOP! He’s wonderful, and kind and caring.”

“Yeah, until he’s tired of using you!”

I took a deep breath. “Jillian, we’ve been friends for 13 years, and I’ve always over-looked your pretentious, over-bearing attitude. But, if you want to continue our friendship, then you need to adjust your attitude, or we’re done.” It needed to be said, and I knew that she’d probably storm off, telling me we were through, but she’d come around in a day or two and we’d make up and eventually she’d accept Shane. But, I already knew that even though I hated the thought of losing my best friend, if push came to shove, I’d stand by Shane. And, as I stood there staring into my best friends eyes, defending him, that’s when I knew I was madly in love with him.

“You can’t be serious! You’re willing to throw away our friendship over some guy you met at the mall? Some guy who’s just trying to get into your pants?”

“Jillian, I’m not out to hurt Rebecca.”

“Don’t call me Jillian. You don’t know me!”

“JILLIAN!” I shouted.

“What? You expect me to just keep quiet and not tell you you’re making a mistake? His friend ripped you off!  It was a set up.”

“It wasn’t a set up. Shane made him give the card back.”

“Yes, it was. I’m not stupid. He brought it back to get to you. You’re blind if you think this guy cares about you. Get over him, he’s bad news!”

“I can’t get over him, Jillian. I love him.”

She looked at me like I had three heads. She threw up her hands and stormed off without another word.

I closed my eyes and turned toward him. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not,” he said, staring at me strangely.

“But, she was so rude…mean! How can you not be angry?”

“Did you really just say that? Did you really just tell your best friend that you…love me?”

I blushed. “Yeah, I guess I did.” I looked down, embarrassed.

“Did you mean it?”

I looked him in the eye and said, “Of course.
I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t true. I thought you knew that. How could you not know that?”