Keeping Victoria's Secret (13 page)

“You guys are driving around the county all
the time. What I’m asking is this. Could you watch what Van Winkle
does, where he goes? I just don’t trust him. He’s been bothering
Victoria, and I don’t like that. Fred may sort this mess out and
win Victoria’s case for her, but I don’t want to count on that
entirely. I’m going to do anything I can to keep Van Winkle from
getting his greasy mitts on that property.”

“Let me get this straight Jack, you haven’t
got a dog in this fight. You don’t know for sure who owns the
place, except you know that you don’t. Am I right?” asked Van
Wart.

“Sure, but I don’t want Victoria to lose it
either. We sort of have an agreement, and I’m still working the
place.”

“What you’re saying is in addition to
everything else, you’re a little sweet on this Victoria woman?” Van
Wart said, grinning.

Jimmy shifted his eyes sideways at Jack
grinning as well. “Think you might be onto something there
John.”

Vince Cangelosi chuckled. “You guys should
have been there that day the girl called nine-one-one on our pal
Jack here. She thought he was going to rape her or something. Can’t
say as I blame her. He was running around the place stark
naked.”

They’d all heard the story and already had
many laughs at Jack's expense. He had something of a reputation
locally as a ladies’ man, and the incident served only to enhance
it.

He shrugged and looked around at the three
grinning faces and took a long pull on his beer.

Vince changed the subject. “Jack, speaking as
an officer of the law, we can’t be doing anything illegal for you
here. Know what I mean? That wouldn’t be right.”

He shook his head emphatically. “No Vince,
nothing like that. All I want you to do is keep an eye out for
anything unusual. Who knows what he might do? Do any of us trust
Jonathan Van Winkle as far as we can throw him?”

“Couldn’t throw that tub of lard very far,”
said Van Wart, and they all laughed at that.

Vince and Jimmy finished their beers and said
they had to get home to their families. Both agreed to lookout for
anything unusual that might be of some help.

John stayed after the other two left and
ordered more beer. He leaned over the table, lowering his voice.
“Jimmy and Vince are both government guys, know what I mean?
They’ll do everything totally on the level. Me now, I’m not
bothered so much by my conscience. Were you to need something…?”
His voice trailed off and he made a nondescript gesture with one
hand above the table. “I got your back. Just let me know what you
need.”

“I appreciate that, John.”

“This is something of a mystery. Let’s think
about it for a minute. Do we know for sure if Van Winkle is really
related to the Willets? Do we know who this mysterious old guy is?
Nope! Lots of stuff we don't know."

“I think Fred’s looking into all that.”

“Now, tell me about this Victoria. She’s nice
looking. Seriously man, if you’re not interested I wouldn’t mind
hooking up with her.”

He looked at his friend in surprise,
startled. “What? Are you serious?”

“Why not?” John leaned forward and whispered
conspiratorially. “Have you taken a good look at the rack on her?
And those long legs? I saw her when you two came into town the
other day.”

“Yeah…I’ve looked at her.” Jack thought
guiltily of the time he spent staring through her window as she
undressed.

Later, when he returned to the farm, Jack
noticed that all the downstairs lights in the house were lit. He
pulled the truck into the garage and stepped outside. When he
realized Victoria was sitting on the back porch, he decided he
should tell her about enlisting his friends in the campaign against
Van Winkle. He walked to the screen door, knocked and entered.

“Hey Victoria.” He noticed right away that
something was different about her appearance.

“Hi Jack,” she said a bit too
enthusiastically.

He was surprised to see that she’d gone
through some effort to set the small porch table elegantly as
though she were expecting company. A pretty tablecloth was spread
over the scarred old wooden top and a tall candle flickered above a
cake missing one tremendous wedge.

Fascinated, he saw that Victoria wore a
dollop of white icing on the very tip of her nose. The little blob
of frosting was a cute touch. In front of her was one of her
grandmother’s china plates, liberally smeared with frosting. An
empty wine glass sat next to an empty wine bottle. Victoria grinned
at him, hiccupped, giggling nervously.

Then it hit him. She’s tipsy! Proper little
Victoria is snookered. Amused, he took a few steps and looked down,
tempted to kiss that charming little nose and lick the frosting
off.

“Mind if I sit down Victoria? I want to talk
about things.”

“Yes. Jack I do. Want you to sit. That is, I
want to talk too.” She patted the chair next to her. “Sit sit sit!”
Victoria gestured wildly. “Where are my manners? Would you like to
have some birthday cake with me? I’m not going to tell you today’s
my birthday.”

“Oh, I see. It’s a party then. Sure, I’d love
some cake. Don’t get up I’ll get myself a plate.

As he rooted around in the kitchen for a
plate and fork, he grinned to himself. Victoria’s sure in a very
friendly mood. And…she looks very sexy all dolled up tonight for
her little celebration. I wonder what she’s wearing underneath that
sexy outfit. Okay, cool it. Remember she’s drunk.

Jack returned to the porch to find Vicky
struggling with another wine bottle. “Did you need some help with
that?”

“I can’t understand it. I had no trouble with
the other one. What’s wrong with this?” She frowned at the bottle,
cork screw in hand.

“Sit very still Victoria and don’t move.” He
plucked a napkin from the table and carefully wiped the end of her
nose. “There was frosting on your nose.” He took the offending
bottle and easily unscrewed the twist off cap, handing it back to
her.

“Oh, I understand.” Victoria said as she
looked cross-eyed, trying to see the end of her nose.

“It’s okay. I got it all. Victoria, you look
very beautiful tonight. Happy Birthday.”

“How did you know it was my birthday?”
Puzzled, she squinted, waving the bottle in the general direction
of her glass.

“Just a lucky guess.” Jack said dryly as he
rescued the hovering wine bottle and poured them both a glass and
sat down to join her. Cutting himself a piece of cake, he took a
bite and smiled. “This is delicious!”

She rested her elbows on the table and looked
at him, blinking. “Thanks, it’s my favorite, chocolate with cream
cheese frosting.” She leaned over and whispered. “I’m not giving
any cake to you. I mean I’m not bringing you a cake, like you said
those other women are always doing.”

“I see that.” He smiled.

Draining her glass she said, “This is good!
Jack, what are we going to do?”

“About what?” he said around a mouthful of
cake.

“The farm and everything. Van Winkle scares
me.”

“Victoria, I’m sure it’ll work out all right
in the end. Let’s try not to worry about it. This cake is
wonderful.”

Vicky began to sniffle, and dab at her
eyes.

Oh shit! Don’t start crying.

“Jack, I’m gonna lose everything. Just when I
thought everything was fine, kaplowey! Overnight it’s all turned
upside down. Then on top of everything else I turned twenty-six
today and my life….” The tears came in earnest, like a summer
shower.

Crap, I never should have stopped to talk to
her. Let me out of here. She’s having a melt down! Panicking, he
indicated the empty wine bottle, hoping to change the subject. “Did
you like the local apple wine?”

Vicky nodded; dabbing at her eyes with a
paper napkin, and then blew her nose. “Jack, I’m twenty-six years
old and I never, well I never… Oh, never mind what I never.”

He was having a hard time keeping a straight
face. “You never what, Victoria?”

“I’ve never even had a boy friend. No
relationships, no nothing. I flunked life, or at least the most
important part of life. Oh, why am I telling you all this?” she
said as the tears started up again.

“Maybe I’m just lucky?” He considered
escaping back to his apartment. “You never dated anyone in high
school, or had a college sweetheart? No boy next door?”

She shook her head decisively. “No Jack, I
took care of Nanna.”

“Didn’t your parents help?”

“They died almost ten years ago.”

He remembered Fred telling him about the car
accident.

Gulping her wine she gestured with the glass.
“There was one guy, at the library that was real friendly.” she
confessed. “We had a couple of dates, but that never went
anywhere.

Jack poured the rest of the bottle into her
glass.

“I only went one semester to community
college before I dropped out to take care of my Nanna.” Hiccup!
“Nope, nobody wants me. My life sucks.”

“Victoria, it can’t be that bad?”

She took another healthy gulp from her glass
and set it carefully down. Vicky looked directly at him as tears
streamed down her cheeks. She blinked, opened her mouth to speak
and then shut it again.

“What’s the matter?”

Snuffling and dabbing at her eyes, she
blurted in a rush. “I’ve never done it.”

“Done what?” He was puzzled.

“I’ve been kissed a few times, but I’ve never
done it.” Her voice became louder as she began shouting. “You know,
sex! I’m a twenty-six year old virgin.” Her head sank onto her arms
and she started to weep. “Nobody wants me! Oh my God, I can’t
believe I’m telling you this.”

Please God. Let me out of here! He couldn’t
believe she was telling him either. What can I say? How can I help?
Oh no, forget that. He’d gotten way more than he bargained for when
he decided to stop by. This was definitely too much
information.

“I’ve never had sex…except in my
imagination,” When she said this, her head popped up, a curious
smile spread across her face and she continued, “but in my
imagination, I’m very, very good. I’m real good at the sex
thing!”

This was becoming just a little too weird. He
sipped his wine thoughtfully and leaned back. “I see,” he said.

“I want another piece of this cake. Hey, it’s
my birthday, right?” She sighed and pulled the cake plate closer
and cut another generous slice. “Damn Jack, why is my life such a
mess. Am I so plain and homely that no man wants me?”

“You’re not plain and homely. You’re
beautiful. I just told you that. Not only are you quite pretty, you
can cook too. Mind if I take another piece of your cake?”

“Sure, let’s eat the whole thing.” Hiccup.
“You’re just being nice to me. Do you really think I’m pretty?”
Hiccup. “Oh dear.” She reached for the wine bottle and as she
tipped it to pour into her glass, Jack guided her hand and set it
down. Draining the glass she stared at it, looking confused.

“I think it’s empty, Victoria.”

“Yeah, I knew that. Yes, it’s good, the apple
stuff. You said they use our apples?”

He nodded, still chewing. He noticed that
she’d said our apples.

Vicky’s head bobbed up suddenly, bright eyed.
“Jack, down in the cellar there’s some more wine. No labels, just
sitting there a little dusty. Can we drink it?”

“Oh right. I guess that must be some of Uncle
Charley’s Apple Jack.”

“Apple Jack? Is that your apple wine, like
this stuff?” said Victoria twisting the bottle to squint at the
label.

“You could say that. Kind of like apple wine,
just more thoroughly processed.”

“Great! Go get some. Please.”

“I don’t know. Not sure that’s a good idea,
Victoria.”

“Come on Jack. I want to try it. It was made
from our apples and I want to try it. Bet it’s good.”

“Yeah, our apples, but don’t say later that I
didn’t warn you.”

Jack went down into the cellar, returned with
a bottle and found the corkscrew. When the cork gave its little
celebratory pop as it left the bottle, she applauded
enthusiastically.

“Jack, this is a real party. This is
fun.”

As he poured them each a glass, he thought,
“The party may be fun, but not too smart.” He touched his glass to
hers and smiled. “Happy Birthday, Victoria.”

The wine glasses clinked musically. She
raised hers and sniffed at the liquor. “It smells good. Very
appley. Our apples are in here?” She peered in the glass and took a
small tentative sip and emitted a little purr of approval. Then, to
Jack’s horror, she downed half the glass in one big gulp. She
gasped, audibly drawing in her breath. “Oh my god.” she rasped.
“You didn’t tell me it tastes like lighter fluid.”

He shook his head. “You’re supposed to just
slowly sip on it, not toss it back like that.” This is a really bad
idea.

“Oh. Okay.” She took another tiny sip.

“Victoria, getting back to what you were
saying, your life isn’t messed up. You’ve never had a relationship,
but that doesn’t mean you never will. Who knows? Trust me, you’re
not unattractive.”

“You really mean that? I was busy with Nanna
and with the writing. I mean working.”

“What do you write? Is it technical
stuff?”

Vicky sat back, toying with her glass. She
demurely gave him a conspiratorial grin. “You’d never believe it
even if I told you.” She paused, hiccupped again and continued.
“But I’m not going to tell you.” She lowered her voice. “It’s a
secret.” Hiccup.

She rested her forearms on the table, yawning
expansively. “Thank you Jack, you’re nice. Really, really
nice.”

He watched Vicky’s head lower slowly onto her
arms. “She’s asleep!” Sighing, he shrugged, and got up. “Been here,
done this before,” he muttered.

Very gently he picked Vicky up and carried
the sleeping girl up the stairs and laid her on the big sleigh bed.
Looking down at her he smiled as she began to snore softly. He
resisted the urge to remove her clothes, covered her with the quilt
on the end of her bed, and went through the house turning off the
lights