Dancing in Circles (Circles Trilogy) (29 page)

***

As Julie lay down on her bed, she could feel the warmth of Robert’s lips and the touch of his hands. Did she love him? Yes. Did he love her? In her heart, she felt he did. All he lacked was the way to tell her. She’d be patient and help him learn to say, "I love you."

By one p.m. Wednesday, Robert had signed the release forms and headed for the hospital's main doors. When they opened, a fresh November breeze brushed across his face. He stepped out and quietly celebrated freedom.

"Ready to go home?" Mrs. Anderson called and waved. "Car's over here."

"Not home. Your place." He headed toward her car. "I really like living with ya, but it's not my home. It's time I go look for an apartment."

"If you try to go to work and school and look after yourself, it'll take you longer to recover."

"I feel fine." Robert glanced at Mrs. Anderson's growing belly. "Ya don't need the extra work." He tossed his backpack onto the backseat.

"Bill and I have no problem with you staying with us. This way I can make sure you eat and sleep. I promise, I'll try and not mother you too much."

"It's nothin' personal. You're a nice lady. I just don't want a mother." As he shut the car door, he remembered Tuesday's argument with Julie. "And I really don't wanna go to this wedding thing." He clenched his jaw. "Julie rambled on about it Monday and yesterday. My response of
no
wouldn't sink in."

"I can understand you feeling uncomfortable about that, and I'm not going to insist you come along." She paused at a stop sign then turned onto the main street. "As long as you promise to take it easy this weekend."

He scratched his chin. "Julie wants me to go."

"She wants to be with you. What's wrong with that? "

"Nothin'. Just Robert-paranoia." For the rest of the drive home, Robert watched the passing scenery. In the days he'd spent in the hospital, the leaves had fallen from the trees. The vibrant fall colors changed to a stark, naked bleakness. The warm sunny days changed to damp and cloudy. His mood, the trees and the weather all seemed very similar.

Once they reached the Anderson household, Robert thanked her for the ride and walked up to his room. He entered without turning on the lights. On the bed was a small, white, teddy bear ballerina with a pink frilly tutu and two magazines,
Motorcycle Monthly
and
Horse Review
. As he moved the teddy bear aside, he disturbed a folded pink piece of paper. When he picked it up, he caught a faint whiff of Julie's perfume. He held it close to his nose and inhaled.

Closing his eyes, he could visualize her face, especially her lips. He shivered remembering the night at the dance studio and the fragrance of her skin, kissed by this perfume. He tossed his bag into the corner, sat on the bed and opened the letter.

Hi,

Here are some presents to welcome you home. The magazines are to give you something to do because I bet Mom just sent you to your room. She may not be your mother and I know you don't want her to be, but she worries about you. Don't blame her. She can't help it. Worrying is what moms do best.

The teddy bear is to keep you company while I'm at school. She'll watch over you while you sleep and listen to your problems when you're awake. The first problem you can talk about is your pushy girlfriend. The one who's pressuring you to go to some stupid wedding. Sorry, but I want you to meet the rest of my family because I love you and I'm proud of you.

I have to go now. Francine's honking the horn. Hugs and Kisses. See you when I get home. I'm so glad you're back.

Love,

J

Robert leaned back on the headboard and picked up the teddy bear. "So you're supposed to protect me, eh?" Holding the letter near his nose, he closed his eyes and inhaled. Thoughts of Julie soon changed into dreams of Julie.

The individual who dominated his dreams stood outside his bedroom door. She knocked then pushed it open. The mid-autumn setting sun cast a ray of light crossways on the bed. Beneath that beam slept Robert, still clutching her letter.

Julie tiptoed across the floor and stood beside his bed. He stirred but didn't awaken. She caressed his cheek with her hand and ran her fingertips across his lips then bent over and kissed him. Robert awoke and returned her kiss with passion. She struggled to free herself from his close embrace.

"The door's open and Mom's downstairs." She settled on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I was just about to show you but you cut me off."

A shiver shot through Julie's body at the lusty tone of his voice. She picked up the teddy bear. "I see you got my present."

"Yea. And if you ever tell the guys you got me this...." He wrapped his right arm around her waist, pulling her back onto his stomach then tickled her ribs.

"Stop." She laughed, slapping at his hand. "What I came to ask you was, I have one last class this evening before the audition, would you like to come and watch?"

Robert nuzzled her neck. "I'd love to go to the dance studio but watchin' ya dance is so not what I wanna do." He trickled little kisses up the side of her neck to her chin. The caress of his lips tingled like fire every time they touched her. Within his grasp, the shudder of her body rippled along his arms. He reached across and rolled her over so she rested her belly on his. With both hands, he urged her face closer to his. When her gloss-covered lips reached his, the flavor of Strawberry Burst teased his senses. Robert's head swam with emotion, his heart raced with passion and his body surged with lust until the pressure of Julie's hands on his chest distracted him.

"What?" He blinked.

Julie pushed against him in a half push-up. "We can't. What if one of the little ones walks in?"

"They get a quick lesson in sex ed."

"Supper." Jason bellowed up the stairs.

Robert closed his eyes and released an exasperated sigh.

"Coming down?" Julie hopped off the bed.

"Yea. Been dyin' for one of your mom's suppers." Robert followed Julie. He liked watching her walk. He loved the way her hips moved. They didn't wiggle like most girls'. They swayed in a sensual motion.

Julie led the way to the dining room. She was aware of his gaze following her. She guessed she only had a few weeks before he moved out, but she planned on making those the most memorable of his life. She promised herself, if he wasn't totally hers by that time, then it would be written that they were never meant to be together.

Supper started in its usual confused noisy manner, dishes being asked for and passed around and several people trying to talk at once. "I've got a basketball practice tonight," Jason stated between mouthfuls of mashed potatoes. "Tournament's tomorrow so some of the guys are getting together at the community center."

"Walkenham still coachin' Westland Junior?" Robert asked.

"Yea."

"Yes." His mother shook her head.

"Yes." Jason stuffed a forkful of roast chicken into his mouth.

"Why don't they get a good coach?"

Jason swallowed. "What's wrong with Coach?"

"The man can't coach." Robert took a drink of milk and set his glass down. "Ever notice Westland Prep's team never wins. It's made up of Westland Junior players. You guys shoot like sh...terrible, your court presses suck and the plays are so readable a girls' team could beat ya."

Jason rolled his eyes "How'd you get to be so know-it-all on basketball?"

"By havin' a good coach." Robert shot an eye roll back at Julie's brother.

"Why don't you go and give the team a few pointers?" Julie shrugged. "You never know, Jason, you might actually learn something and win a game."

"Whatever," Jason mumbled to his plate.

"What do ya gotta lose?" Robert hunched his shoulders and raised his hands. "You could win the tournament."

"Uh, just stick to win a game." Mr. Anderson chuckled. "This team isn't very good."

"I have concerns about you going out." Mrs. Anderson wiped her mouth and placed her napkin by her plate. "Yes, Sheila and Ashley, you may leave. Put your dishes in the dishwasher, and you can play after your homework's finished and I've seen it."

Robert grimaced and sniffed. "We decided you're not my mother. I appreciate your worryin' but you've got one baby-to-be and four other kids to worry about. I slept all afternoon and my homework's done."

Their visual battle was broken by Julie's father. "Have we got this weekend straightened out?" He pushed his plate away and settled back in his chair.

Mrs. Anderson nodded to Jason that he could leave as she poured herself and her husband a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea. "We leave Thursday when Jason gets back from the tournament. Julie's audition is Friday. Kelly's wedding is Saturday. Julie stays at Aunt Kathy's. The kids are all going to Karen's and we've," She patted her husband's arm. "booked a quiet room in a hotel, and we might just not tell anybody which one."

Seeing the puzzled look on Robert's face, Julie's father swallowed his tea and placed the cup on the table. "Has anyone explained this weekend to you?"

Robert shook his head. "Not really. I'm just supposed to know who Aunt Kathy is."

"Aunt Kathy's my aunt and Julie's great-aunt but everybody calls her Aunt Kathy. There's also her husband, Uncle Benjamin. Kelly, the bride, is their grandniece. Her parents were killed and they adopted her. The estate is spectacular. Old English sort of thing."

"I get the impression it'd be like living at Mrs. Murran's, and I'd certainly never fit in there."

Julie shoved a strand of hair behind her ear and heaved an annoyed exhale. Robert glanced out of the corner of his eye and rubbed between his eyes. "First off, I wasn't invited. The invitation said Andersons. Not the Andersons and gang member. Second, I ain't no good at family things. I'm still tryin' to figure out how to cope with this one. My jeans and biker jacket's gonna look outta place around all those fuckin' penguin suits."

"There's the Robert I've been looking for." Mrs. Anderson placed her teacup on the table. "You finally relaxed enough to swear."

Robert's brow crinkled as he looked at Julie and shrugged.

Julie mouthed the words. "Fuckin' penguin suits."

Robert dropped his head. "Sorry. It slipped. I didn't mean it as a four-letter word. It's just an adjective." He ran his fingers through his hair.

Jason stepped in the dining room. "Are we going or what?"

"Yes." Julie stood and grabbed her plate and silverware off the table. "Give me a sec." She followed her brother into the kitchen.

"I'm really sorry." Robert half smiled. "I never heard the f word."

"In a very strange way, it's all right. It's nice to see you're starting to relax." Mr. Anderson took a sip of his tea.

Robert pushed his plate forward and tilted his chair on its back two legs. "Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?"

"This is simply compassion for another human being." Mrs. Anderson smiled.

Mr. Anderson picked up the conversation. "When you came before my bench, you were a bratty, foul-mouthed little punk, but you stood up for yourself. Now I see someone who's been put down too often. The self-assurance is still there but the surface has to be rubbed harder to make it appear. "

"Car leaves in five minutes." Julie tapped Robert on the shoulder.

"I'd like to stay and hash this out, but Jason….."

"I'd like to add one thing, before you go." Robert waited for Mrs. Anderson to continue. "We want to help. You seem like a nice kid who could use at least one break in his life. Please don't question our motives just accept them. Now go help Jason. He'd love to have an older brother. Especially one who can help him improve his hook shot."

Julie walked back into the dining room holding Robert's jacket. Jason barged in with his gym bag in one hand and basketball in the other. "Let's go, hotshot."

Robert rocked his chair forward, pushed it back and stood. "That sounded like a challenge?"

"It was." Jason shot the ball at Robert.

"Jason." His mother frowned. "No basketball in the dining room."

"Come on, you two." Julie pushed them toward the door. "Fight it out in the car."

Julie was relieved to deposit the two boys at the community center. The entire conversation had been about basketball. She didn't know or care what a slam-dunk was. What she did care about was her family had accepted Robert.
Now as long as nothing else happens, I can work on getting him to tell me he loves me.

For the next two hours, Julie pushed all extraneous thoughts out of her head and focused on ballet technique. Madame praised her progress, wished her luck then dismissed her. Julie showered in the change room. As the hot water streamed down her body, she remembered Robert's kisses. How torn she'd felt telling him to stop when her whole body screamed for him to continue. She exited the shower, dried herself, dressed and left to pick up Robert and Jason.