Dearly Loved (16 page)

Twelve

The following Sunday, Meredith saw Rosa in the foyer of the church after the service. She stood next to a tall, handsome man. When Rosa spotted her, she waved her over.

This must be her Italian guy
. Meredith made her way to the back of the sanctuary where Rosa stood.

“Mer!” she said when she came abreast of them. “Meet Gino Balucci.”

She looked up at the wolfishly handsome man and held out her hand. What had Rosa said? Flashing dark eyes and swarthy skin? Apt, she decided. Very apt. He clasped her hand in a warm handshake. She noticed the way his eyes strayed back to Rosa, and the tender look there.

Rosa waved at someone over Meredith’s shoulder. Experiencing the dread of déjà-vu, she turned around. Sure enough, David walked through the milling crowd in their direction.

His gaze locked with Meredith’s, giving her a look that left her feeling weak in the knees.
Oh, my
.

Would she ever get used to the fact he was no longer an athletic teen but a vibrant, attractive man? He wore his black leather coat over a blue cashmere sweater and black slacks.

Meredith remembered the episode at the park and felt her palms sweat. She tried to conjure up her anger, preferring it to the breathless feeling that gripped her now.

“David!” Rosa said, when he joined their group. “Meet Gino Balucci. He’s new in town.”

The men shook hands and Gino said, “Hey man, you’re the guy from Channel Nine! That piece you did on the L.A. Lakers last night was great! That’s where I’m from, so you could say I’m partial.”

Meredith watched David. She noticed the faint hint of his cologne. It was the same scent he wore the day he held her in his arms…she willed the thought away, reminding herself she was furious with him.

While the men talked sports, Rosa made a face and jerked her head in Gino’s direction. “What do you think?” she hissed. “Isn’t he gorgeous?”

She nodded, assuming she referred to Gino. “He seems very nice.”

“Oh, he’s a sweetheart! I can’t believe he looked twice at me.”

Meredith opened her mouth to respond, when Gino and David grew silent. She could feel David’s gaze upon her, but she refused to look him in the eye.

“How ‘bout the four of us go out to lunch?” Gino suggested, giving Rosa one of those tender looks. “Make it a double date.”

Feeling suffocated by David’s presence, she needed to escape. Now.

“Actually, Mr. Steller here and I are mere acquaintances. I’m sorry, Mr. Balucci, but I’ll have to pass.”

Ignoring Rosa’s gasp, Meredith turned on her heel and rushed through the foyer doors. She only got a few feet from her car when she felt a hand take hold of her arm.

“Merrie!”

Meredith stopped but refused to turn around. “Let go of me, please,” she said in a steely tone.

David’s grip eased. “Only if you turn around and talk to me.”

She faced him—and caught her breath at the anger glittering in his eyes.

“That was rude the way you acted in there, Merrie. I think an apology is in order.”

Meredith lowered her gaze. “I’ll apologize when you apologize to me after what you did at the park.” She glanced up in time to see his face redden.

“I’m not sure if there’s anything to be sorry for. Maybe I was doing you a favor,” he said, leaning close.

“Oh! Still arrogant as ever. What’s the matter, David? Do you feel threatened when a female notices someone besides you?”

He appeared unruffled by her statement. “Look me in the eye, Merrie, and tell me you love that guy.”

“My love life is none of your business,” she said icily. “And stop calling me Merrie!”

Meredith realized people were walking around them on their way to their cars, some giving them curious looks. She heard a few muffled “Oh, that’s the guy on TV!”

David stood, staring at her, seemingly oblivious to the people around them. Finally, he spoke, his voice stiff. “I apologize for bothering you at the park.”

Meredith lifted her chin, not wanting to concede—but the only way she could escape was to capitulate. She swallowed. “And I’m sorry for being rude to you a moment ago.”

David’s dark look disappeared, replaced with a sunny smile. The abrupt contrast made her dizzy. “There now, was that so hard? Why don’t we shake on it?” He held out his hand.

She gave his hand a limp shake, trying to ignore the sensation of warmth and strength in his grip. Before she could pull away, he wrapped his fingers around her own and drew her close to him.

With their noses almost touching, he sent her a lazy smile. “And Merrie. We’re more than acquaintances. Much more. You know it.”

He released her hand and strode away in the direction of his Jeep. Meredith fumed at his retreating figure. She turned and went to her Saturn, slamming the door once she was inside.

***

Several days later at a staff meeting, Meredith sat next to Rosa in a small conference room. The room was filled with medical personnel from the Med-Surg unit. The discussion centered on improving patient records. During a break in the meeting, after getting cups of coffee, Rosa leaned over and jabbed her in the ribs.

“So what’s going on with you and David?”

Rubbing the place of impact from Rosa’s pointy elbow, she whispered, “Nothing is going on between us.”

“It sure looked like nothing,” Rosa said dryly. “Gino said you two are in love.”

“What does he know about it?” Meredith snapped. Several staff members turned around and stared, causing her to blush.

“He says he knows...from experience,” Rosa whispered. “Oh, Mer, he looked at me when he said it!”

Glad for an opportunity to divert the attention from herself, she smiled at Rosa’s red cheeks. “How long have you been seeing each other?”

“Just a couple of weeks. Do you think that’s enough time to know? I mean, it’s too soon, right? But I’m crazy about him!”

She bit her lip. “Only you know what’s in your heart. But maybe you shouldn’t rush into anything.”

“I’d marry him in a heartbeat if he asked me!” she said fiercely.

Growing concerned for her impetuous friend, Meredith tried to find the right words. “I’m not saying not to marry him, just to keep your eyes wide open. There are other factors in a relationship besides attraction. Would he make a good husband and father? Can he provide for a family? Would he be willing to have pre-marital counseling?”

Rosa collapsed back against her chair, rolling her eyes. “I swear, Mer, you sound like a textbook! If that’s all that’s holding you back, why don’t you marry David? He’s been coming to the mid-week home group and I can tell you he’s got all those qualities and more.”

“You’re being ridiculous. I don’t love him.”

“So,” she teased, “now we’re back to love. But what
is
love?”

Meredith thought about the hot, prickly feeling she experienced around David. Most likely an allergic reaction to his cologne. The burning sensation in her chest was just indigestion. And the way her breathing increased? Just a temporary need for more oxygen. Probably had something to do with the depleted ozone layer. She cleared her throat. “Love, I think, is a meeting of the minds. A comfortable, spiritual commitment to share one’s life with another.”

Rosa stifled a snort. “What about children, Mer? Can’t have those by thinking ‘em up! Don’t you think some physical attraction is warranted?”

“Are we talking about love or lust?” she asked sweetly.

Rosa slapped her arm. “You are such a liar.”

Her playful tone robbed the words of any sting, but Meredith believed what she said. She wasn’t lying about anything. When her conscience gave her a nudge, she ignored it, relieved the meeting had once again commenced.

***

Meredith switched on the television set just as the sports segment began. While she questioned her fortitude, it didn’t stop her from watching David’s broadcast every chance she could.

Sitting on the couch, she watched his face fill the screen. Seeing the sparkle in his eyes and hearing his voice full of enthusiasm for sports, she thought back to their tiff in the church parking lot. Witnessing his breathtaking visage now on TV, she questioned her sanity at giving
this
guy the cold shoulder.
Maybe I should have my head examined. CT Scan, X-Ray, MRI—the works
.

Breathtaking good looks aside, she wondered again why he appeared to be pursuing her. The girl next door wasn’t usually considered tempting for a cosmopolitan man of the world. Maybe David was experiencing some nostalgia. Maybe he missed the old neighborhood some. While he’d chafed at small town life for as long as she’d known him, his memories couldn’t all be bad. He was the town hero after all. The local boy who made good.

The most plausible explanation then was the nostalgia theory. David hoped to resume a friendship with her—perhaps that was why he seemed offended when she told Gino they were mere acquaintances.

Well, she supposed she could unbend enough to be friendly with him. But that was all. Absolutely
it
.

***

For Meredith, the next few days were quiet. The way it had been before the complication of men in her life. Clay was on a business trip for three days, and aside from the Channel Nine news, Meredith had seen neither hide nor hair of David. After spending one afternoon helping during a blood drive, she had the rest of her days free. She managed to achieve a sense of peace and tranquility while puttering in her garden, preparing the flowerbeds for winter.

On Thursday afternoon, Rosa called and invited her to a pre-season basketball game at the Arco Arena. She said Gino had decent seats. “And not the nose-bleed section. These are just above courtside.”

Knowing Rosa, Meredith couldn’t help but feel suspicious. “What’s the catch? Is David going to show up for a double-date by coincidence or something?”

Rosa laughed. “Nope. It’s just you, me and Gino. And besides, I thought you were seeing that Clay guy. Ask him if he wants to come.”

“He’s out of town right now. If you’re sure there’s no booby trap involved, I’d like to come.” Meredith paused as a new thought occurred to her. “Won’t I be a third wheel? Don’t you two want to be alone or something?”

Rosa cleared her throat. “Being alone is what we’re trying to avoid.”

“Oh,” said Meredith, blushing. “So, what time?”

“We’ll pick you up at seven.”

“See you then.”

***

Several hours later, the doorbell rang. When she opened the door, Meredith was struck anew by Gino’s looks. He definitely fit the tall, dark, and handsome description. What made him really attractive was his gentle and sweet treatment of Rosa. Meredith could see why she was crazy about the guy.

He drove a restored Ford Galaxy with tail fins and lots of chrome. The front bench seat was spacious enough for all three of them to fit in. Meredith, content to listen to Rosa and Gino’s banter as they made their way to One Sports Parkway Drive, watched the sun set in a gaudy display of pink and golds.

Inside the arena, after grabbing munchies at the concession stand, they threaded through the aisles and levels until they located their seats. Once settled, the lights soon went down. Fog machines, laser lights, and rock music preceded the dramatic introduction of the main players. Half an hour later, the tip-off began the game. The Kings had the ball.

Meredith, usually indifferent to sports of any kind, found herself getting carried away with the game. The Kings were going against the Utah Jazz and through the first half, they played competitively. In the second half, the Kings lost their momentum and eventually succumbed to the Jazz’s offense.

By the time the game ended with the score of 102 to 98, Meredith was hoarse from cheering. With good-natured groans over the home-team loss, they left their seats and began the long trek among the crowds, up the steps to the exits.

Rosa grabbed her shirtsleeve. “Look! There’s David! He’s doing a courtside interview with one of the King players. Let’s go say hi.”

Meredith gave her a sharp look. “I thought you said no coincidences.”

“I just said David wasn’t coming with us. And I only had a hunch he might be here tonight. Lots of TV guys are.”

David was one of many reporters milling around with photographers, cameramen, players, and fans. Nearing the court floor, Meredith ran a hand through her hair, smoothing the wayward curls away from her face. For security reasons, they had to wait until all the players had cleared the floor.

They waited in the stands, watching while David held a mic up to the player’s mouth, with a cameraman hovering in the background. Soon he finished a quick interview and shook the player’s hand. Once the floor had nearly emptied, he looked over in their direction. She noted he didn’t seem overly surprised to see them there.

He came up the steps to them and stuck the mic in Gino’s face. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he said, “How do you think the Kings will fair this year with four new draft picks?”