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“No,”
I smiled. “I believe you. I want you to stay.” As I clasped my hands nervously
behind my back I said, “Tell me though,
why
did you come?”

Dishes
clanged in the kitchen and voices buzzed all around us as I waited for his
response. Despite the surmounting noise, there was an intense silence between us
as his eyes pierced mine. Finally, in a voice barely audible, he said, “I miss
you.”

And
that was enough.

My
stomach flipped. I sighed and gave him a radiant smile before taking him by the
arm. “Well, come on then.” When we returned to the table everyone rose and
greeted him. Hugging my mom and Ally, he made bonus points when he told them
both how lovely they looked. He shook hands with my dad, and I introduced him
to Ben for the first time.

After
we’d been sitting for a few minutes, the waiter came and took our orders. Fresh
Northwest beef and seafood were the main menu features, and we all enjoyed a
good laugh when all three guys ordered steaks and we ladies ordered seafood
dishes. Teasing me unmercifully, my mom and Ally threatened to order the Tempura
Portobello Mushroom appetizer.

My
stomach grumbled loudly when the waiter returned with ice teas, waters, and a
bottle of red wine for my parents. After placing a covered basket in the center
of our table, he strolled away. The scent of fresh baked bread with a hint of
rosemary escaped from under the white, cloth napkin.

After
taking a piece of bread, my mom passed the basket and said, “Jason, I was
surprised and delighted to hear that you already know Alexandria and Ally. I
hadn’t realized you work at the Fairhaven grocery store.”

“Yes,
I do,” he replied.

Wide-eyed,
she shook her head and handed the butter dish to Ally. “I hope you weren’t
around when that bank robbery took place. How scary.”

Ben
choked on his bread and had to take a sip of his water. Smacking him on the
back, Ally caught my eye, and we exchanged “uh-oh” glances.

Jason,
oblivious to our reactions, rubbed the side of his cheek and said, “Actually, I
was directly involved. You’ve probably heard most of the details from –”

“Yes,”
I interrupted loudly, narrowing my eyes at him. “When my parents returned from
California and heard the news my mom called me to find out what had happened. I
assured her that all the excitement hadn’t taken place at the Sehome store,
which is, of course the store I work at.” Ben sputtered again, and it looked
like Ally was kicking him under the table. Jason was staring at me with a
puzzled expression, his piece of bread suspended mid-air.

“Yes,”
my mom said and put her arm around me, “I was happy to find out that Alexandria
was safe and the whole dangerous incident hadn’t occurred at her store. I’m
sorry to hear you were involved though, what happened?

Setting
his bread back on the plate, he looked at me in a way that told me I was going
to owe him big time. “Sure I can do that. But I have to say it all went down
really fast, and a lot of the details are hazy at best,” he said, giving me a
slight nod. For the most part, his account was accurate, except he inserted a
different person into the role I’d played, and he omitted the part where he’d
been wounded by a bullet and then healed with my Essence.

I was
relieved when the conversation turned, and we began discussing which classes
we’d all be starting at Western the following week. While Ben would be taking the
basic GUR’s, Ally was starting with the Elementary Ed. classes. Jason had just
finished telling us about his mix of Environmental Studies and Business Science
classes when the waiter arrived with our entrees.

Mouthwatering
steaks with sides of roasted Yukon potatoes and peppers were set before the
guys. Grilled jumbo prawns for my mom and crusted Alaskan halibut with
pistachio rice pilaf for Ally and me rounded out our order. After assuring the
waiter that everything looked wonderful he bowed slightly and left with his
collapsible tray.

A
couple minutes into our meal Jason asked, “What classes are you starting out
with Alex?”

My dad
stopped chewing and almost dropped his fork, and my mom’s fork stopped a couple
inches away from her wide open mouth. Raising one eyebrow, she gave me a sly,
sideways glance. Scratching his head, my dad looked quizzically back and forth
between Jason and myself.

“I’m
sorry,” Jason said and actually blushed, “did I say something wrong?”

“Oh no
dear,” my mom crinkled her nose, waved her hand, and continued eating.

But,
oh no. Not my dad.“How interesting,” he mused aloud, his eyebrow twitching.

“What’s
that?” Jason asked nervously, looking at me for help. Enjoying every moment of
the conversation, Ally’s and Ben’s eyes dodged back and forth between whoever
was speaking, like they were engrossed in a nail-biting tennis match.

After
studying my reddened face, my dad turned to Jason and said, “It’s just that
usually everyone calls my daughter Lexi. In fact, I believe Ally and I are the
only ones she
allows
to call her Alex.”

“Oh?”
Jason murmured, his eyes twinkling.

“Geeze
dad, how embarrassing,” I mumbled. To clear matters up, I explained how Jason
had been in Village Books with me when I’d dropped the phone with the speaker
on and he’d heard my dad address me as Alex.

“That’s
fine sweetie,” my dad said with a big grin. “I don’t mind. I was just
momentarily taken by surprise, because usually you’re so adamant about your
friends calling you Lexi.”

My
mother jumped in, “Mike! For Heaven’s sake. Enough already.” No doubt, I
thought. He and Madison seemed to have this hang-up about my name.

“Sorry
sweetie, I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said warily and patted my shoulder
before cutting into his thick steak. He could be so socially clueless at times.

After
sending my mom an appreciative smile, I relaxed. Refusing to give Ally and Ben
the satisfaction of a glance, I avoided them and instead looked shyly over at
Jason. Winking, he smiled and took a bite of his Yukon potatoes.

My dad
took a sip of wine and said proudly, “Alex participated in Running Start, so
most of her GUR’s have already been accredited to her transcripts at Western.”

“Wow.
That’s great.” Jason said and smiled at me. “So, what classes are you taking
then?”

“I’m
kind of all over the place – a little psychology, sociology, and an early
childhood education class,” I said, setting my fork on my plate.

“Yeah,
I was sad at first,” Ally interjected with a pouty lip. “Because I thought we
were going through the Education program and taking all our classes together.
But now,” she said, managing a smile, “I’m glad you’re going to try some
different classes and see what your options are.”

Yeah,
except I wouldn’t be in this life long enough to pick a career, I thought. But
I smiled and said, “I am a little nervous about taking 18 credits. I don’t know
what I was thinking when I also signed up for that Advanced Public Speaking
class with…”

Ben
whistled and interjected, “You must be totally crazy.”

“Whatever.
And that’s coming from the nut who signed up for class president,” I countered.

“Do
you ever remember me giving any big speeches?”

“Come
to think of it, no I don’t.” I said, wiping my lips with the cloth napkin.

“Yeah,
how did you get away with that?” Ally asked.

“I let
my Vice President do all the talking,” he said with a smirk and we all laughed.

Everyone
except Jason. “I obviously missed something,” he said, darting his gaze around
the table.

“Lexi
was the VP,” Ben said.

“Oh,
got it,” Jason said with a grin and pointed his fork my direction. “The things
one learns over dinner.”

Somebody
at the next table “clinked” a spoon on a wine glass and declared a toast, “To
family and friends – may the saddest day of your future be no worse than the
happiest day of your past.” The toast was followed by several loud, “Here,
here’s.”

My mom
smiled and looked at Jason rather mischievously. “We could share a few more
stories about these two young ladies...”

“Enough,”
I complained, exchanging a look with Ally. We sat quietly as the waiter arrived
and filled our water and ice tea glasses before clearing away a few empty
plates.

After
he left, Jason said with a sparkle in his eyes, “How about those Broncos?”

This
time my dad actually choked on his food. I whacked him on the back, and he
said, “Don’t tell me she’s converted you already?”

“Dad,”
I said, smacking him a little harder, “This is a Bronco table so watch what you
say around here.”

“Don’t
worry Dr. Adams—”

“Oh
no, call me Mike please,” my dad said, placing his hand on Jason’s shoulder.

“Okay,
Mike. But don’t worry; it will take a lot more convincing to make a Bronco fan
out of me. Mostly, I’m intrigued by her die-hard devotion.”

Raising
a brow, my dad said, “Me too.”

“Oh
no. Please don’t. Deep down she knows the Seahawks are number one,” Ben chimed
in. Ally and my mom exchanged disgusted looks; football was not their thing.

“Well,”
I said haughtily, “Bronco’s won their opening game against Raiders last week.”

“Oh
yeah?” Ben shot back, “The Seahawks beat the Rams with a shut-out in their
opening game.”

“I
sure hope the Seahawks don’t play the Bronco’s this year.” Ally shuddered. “Or
there’s gonna be a war-zone in our living room.”

“They
don’t,” Ben and I said in unison, and everyone laughed.

Refolding
her napkin in her lap, my mom scolded, “No more football.” As she scooted back
in her chair she pointed outside with a big sigh. “Just look at the colors in
that sunset. Stunning.”

“Yes,
stunning,” Jason agreed. I glanced his way, but found that he wasn’t looking
outside; he was staring straight at me. My skin tingled all the way down to my
toes. Embarrassed, I turned away first.

After
our plates had been cleared, we ordered desserts and my dad engaged the guys in
a discussion on politics, while Ally, my mom, and I chatted about work and life
in a college town. As soon as the strawberry shortcake, Crème Brule, and Dutch
apple pie arrived, numerous forks began reaching across the table for some
sampling. Jason laughed when my mom stole a bite of his apple pie, but he
joined in with the rest of us and plundered a couple fresh strawberries off the
top of my cake.

“Alex,”
my dad said and looked at me, “you have a decision to make.”

“I
do?” I mumbled, because I’d just taken a big bite of warm, spiced apples off of
his plate.

“Yes,”
he said, sitting back in his chair. “Tomorrow morning I have a tee time at 7:00
a.m. for four out at Lake Padden Golf Course. Your cousin Dawson is meeting us
out there, but I need to know if you’d like to join us or go with your mom and
Ally for a spa treatment?”

I looked
over at my mom who said, “I’ve scheduled facials and pedicures for the three of
us ladies at the nice lazy time of nine o’clock in the morning.” Folding her
napkin one more time, she placed it on the table and then examined her nails.
“Maybe I should add manicures to that.”

“Well,”
I said looking between them, knowing this was boiling down to a competition
between my parents for my attention. “My golf game’s pretty bad dad.” Smiling,
my mother looked pleased with my comment. “But,” I said and looked at her, “You
know how I can’t stand to sit there while someone fiddles with my toes.” My dad
crossed his arms, giving my mom a superior look.

I
glanced at Jason who was watching our exchange with a smile. “Dad, you know I love
you, but I better stick with mom and Ally tomorrow. They’re more likely to talk
about me behind my back if I leave them alone together,” I teased.

My dad
looked disappointed, but then he sat up in his chair and slapped Jason on the
back. “How’s your golf game, son? Why don’t you join us?”

What
was his deal with Jason? I couldn’t believe it. Not once had he ever treated
one of my boyfriends with such open friendliness. Maybe that was it. He wasn’t
my boyfriend, so my dad didn’t view him as a threat? Ha – if he only knew.

“I’m…umm…I’m
working tomorrow,” Jason stuttered, looking at me helplessly.

“What
time?” My dad insisted.

“Noon,
I believe.”

“That’s
perfect. You’ll have plenty of time for the first nine and then just enough
time to clean up and get to work on time,” my dad said cheerfully.

“Mike,”
my mother chimed in, “maybe he doesn’t golf. You haven’t left him any room to
make his own decision.”

“Oh,”
my dad said in a defeated tone and mumbled an apology.

“Thank
you, Anne,” Jason said politely. “I do enjoy golf, but I’m not very skilled…”

“That’s
okay. You’ll fit right in, won’t he Ben?”

Ben
nodded and laughed. “Oh yeah. The only one who’s ever consistent is Dawson, so
you’ll be right at home with us,” he said, pointing to himself and my dad.

Glancing
at me, I could tell Jason was looking for my permission. Amused, I gave him a
slight nod. With a tilt of his head, he grinned and said, “Sounds great. You
guys have talked me into it; I’d be honored to join you.”

“Great,
that’s settled then.” My dad signed the bill and put his credit card back in
his wallet.

After
dinner we ambled down past the Hotel Bellwether towards the waterfront. My
parents were arm in arm as were Ben and Ally, and Jason and I followed behind,
with a much bigger gap between us.

“Your parents
are great, Alex,” he said thoughtfully and glanced sideways at me. “I’m really
glad I was able to spend so much time with them today, and of course seeing you
was an added bonus.” He paused in his step. “How have you been? I hope you’re
watching your back and being careful, even though everything has been calm…”
his voice trailed off and he waited for my response.