SACRIFICES (37 page)

              Jenny takes a drink of her margarita and nods her head. “That’s very interesting. That’s pretty much what they said too.” She smiles at Jessica and Brad.

              Brad nods his head. “Yeah he’s right. It took us guys a long time to get over that day.” Brad sighs and nods his head.

              Jessica shakes her head. “It’s all true.”

              Jenny smiles and Todd stands up and starts walk to the other side of the pool. “I hope I didn’t scare you with that story. Since we just met and all. I thought it was only fair to warn you since we’ll all be swimming together later I didn’t want you to get scared.”

              Jenny nods her head. “Thank you, I do appreciate that.”

              Brad walks back into the house with Jenny to get the spatula and tongs for the grill. “So what do you think?”

              Jenny leans her head on his arm and says. “I think Jessica’s a sweetheart and she‘s so beautiful, and Todd,” Jenny chuckles. “I think he’s so cute, and his sense of humor is hilarious.”

              Brad starts to heat up the baked beans on the stove and grins while he looks out the window and sees Todd and Jessica sitting side-by-side holding each others hand. “I know they like you. Todd must feel real comfortable around you because he doesn’t usually tell crazy stories like that to just anyone. He must feel real comfortable.” Brad smiles as he stirs the beans.

              Jenny reaches into the fridge and takes out the pre-mixed salad. “I’ll be leaving on Monday.” Jenny looks straight ahead.

              Brad doesn’t respond. Jenny walks over behind him and wraps her arms around his stomach. “How do you feel about that?”

              Brad turns toward her and places his arms around her neck. “I don’t like thinking about it.”

              “Why?” Jenny looks up.

              “I just don’t. Because I’m afraid that you’ll get back home and decide that you don’t want to pick up your life and move here like you mentioned the other day. I’m just afraid that you’ll change your mind.” Brad looks away avoiding eye contact.

              “Why would you think that?” Jenny cuddles him close.

              “When we talked the other day you mentioned it as something you thought about doing. You haven’t talked about it sense so I just thought that maybe you reconsidered.”

              “I don’t know why you’d think that. It’s a big step and I’ve been giving it a lot of serious thought.” Jenny looks away.

              Brad holds her tight. “I know it’s a big step. And that’s what scares me. When you start weighing out your options and thinking about what a big change it’ll be, I have a feeling you’ll change your mind. That’s all.”

              Jenny looks away and says. “I’m definitely giving it a lot of thought. I really am.”

              Brad forces a smile finding it hard to as he thinks about the possibility of her leaving his life to go back home. “Whatever you decide to do I hope it makes you happy.” Brad sighs and forces another smile as he continues to stir the beans.

              Jenny kisses him on the cheek. “Let’s not think about it tonight. Let’s just have fun, cook out and visit with Todd and Jessica all right?”

              Brad nods his head and stirs the beans. “Ok babe.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER ON THE DECK OF THE POOL

             
The little get together has been just what the doctor ordered. It’s been fun and relaxing. Most of the evening has been spent outside poolside. They’ve enjoyed a delicious dinner; cooked by Brad wearing his ’KISS THE COOK’ apron and wearing the matching hat. A good time with lots of laughs is a good way to describe the evening. It’s had the feel of a beer commercial.

              It’s approaching eleven o’clock. Everyone’s drinking and laughing. Brad’s already told them that they had to spend the night. Not that they’d argue about it because Todd is just as serious about not drinking and driving as Brad. There’s an extra bedroom next to Brad juniors room and it has a double bed just in case Brad Jr. has a friend stay or an occasion like this.              

              Everyone’s in their swimsuits and the nighttime temperature is perfect. The waters about 86 degrees from all of the hot weather they’ve been having and the air temperature is about 80 degrees. It’s almost like swimming in a bathtub. They throw around a beach ball and shoot baskets on the hoop that’s on the far side of the pool.

              Everyone besides Brad is feeling no pain. They’ve consumed a lot of alcohol and the girls are really drunk. Todd can handle his pretty well but with the day’s earlier events and the promotion he’s drinking a little more than he would be at an average party. It’s a celebration for hard work on the case and for years of hard work that got both men to the positions they are now at the police department.

              Brad’s beginning to feel he might lose Jenny. He hates the idea of that and it’s not an idea he wants to think about. That’s playing a part as everyone is laughing and joking and Brad’s mostly silent. Jenny gets out of the pool and walks over to Brad as he leans back in his chair sipping on his screwdriver slowly and watching them have fun in the pool.

              “Why don’t you join us honey?” Jenny smiles as the effects of the alcohol are very apparent in her sexy slurring talk.

              Brad takes a hold of her hand as she kneels down in front of him and lays her face against his bare chest. Brads there but he’s not there. He’s trying to have a good time like everyone else but he can’t get past the feeling he’s going to lose her. “Maybe in a little while babe.” He smiles.

              Jenny reaches over and picks up her margarita. “I’m drunk,” Jenny hick-ups then covers her mouth. “I’m really drunk.”

              Brad smiles and puts his hand on top of her head. “I see that. Are you having a good time?” He grins while he pulls the hair from her eyes.

              “Yes,” She leans to one side and almost falls over. Brad grabs her by the shoulders and smiles. “...I’m having a great time. I wish you’d get in the water with me.” Jenny asks from her knees in between his legs.

              Todd carries his wife around in the pool and looks over and says. “Hey, what’s going on over there?” He blurts out as he notices Jenny on her knees in front of Brad.

              Brad grins and says. “Get your mind out of the gutter you perverted old man.” He smiles and looks at Jenny.

              Jessica softly slaps Todd on the side of the face and says. “You are very nasty talking like that.”

              Todd smiles and raises his eyebrows slightly. “Thank you. Do you want to go fool around?” He starts to raise and lower his eyebrows rapidly as he smiles.

              Jessica leans down and gives him a kiss. “Sure.”

              Todd quickly carries her to the side of the pool and explains as he sits her on the deck while he remains in the pool. “Now if you two hear a lot of screaming and shit don’t be scared. It’s just going to be Jessica. There‘s no need to call the cops because were already here.” Todd walks up the ladder. He leans down and picks her up and says. “I’ll see you two in the morning. When I’m done I don’t think my girl here will be in any shape to walk back out here if you know what I mean.” Jessica smiles as he carries her little body to the house as she hangs on to his neck.

              Jenny smiles and watches them go into the house. Brad grins as well at their playful behavior. “That does sound like a good idea.”

              Brad smiles. “Oh yeah.”

              Jenny starts to kiss his chest and her breast start to push up against Brad. She looks up and then moves up to kiss him on the mouth. Jenny moves back to sit down on her feet and pulls her top down exposing her bare chest to him. Brad leans back and soaks up the view. She starts to stand up and she pulls her one-piece suit down until it’s around her ankles. Brad remains silent watching the scenery. Jenny gets back down in front of him completely nude and continues kissing his chest.

              Brad places his hands on her back and starts to rub in a circle as she tries to remove his trucks with her teeth. She chuckles and so does he. Brad leans up and wraps his arms around her.

              Jenny looks up and says. “Why don’t you take those trunks off for me?”

              Brad looks at her naked body sitting in between his legs. “You want them off do you?”

              Jenny nods her head and slurs. “Yes I do, I can’t very well do to you what I want to with them on silly.”

              Brad looks at her again and starts to feel extremely aroused as he just figured out what she’s talking about. He stands up and pulls them down without saying a word.

              Jenny guides him back down to his seat and tells him. “Now just sit back and relax.”

              Brad closes his eyes and leans back.    

CHAPTER 18

BUSINESS AS USUAL MONDAY MORNING JULY 30, 2001

             
Brad drives to work thinking very little about anything except that when he returns home Jenny’s going to be leaving for Peoria. Even though in a couple days he’ll be sworn in as the precincts new chief of police and Todd will be promoted to new Lieutenant Detective in charge of homicide. And one of his oldest and dearest friends will be leaving for good to enjoy a life of relaxing. None of these things are sinking in at this point.

              He called and talked to his son yesterday for about an hour. Brad didn’t know what to tell him about Jenny. So he didn’t say
anything
. The get together with Todd and Jessica didn’t end on Saturday night. It just got started. They all spent the day together Sunday. They went to the mall downtown and rode the paddle boats in the park.

              It was a bittersweet time for Brad. He felt like his good friends and Jenny were hitting it off and he for the first time since the passing of his wife he felt like part of a couple. It was nice to be doing things with a couple of friends and not feeling weird being alone. He wasn’t alone and it was nice. He can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen with Jenny. He isn’t sure what to say to her about all of this. He’s afraid to say too much. He’s more afraid to not say enough.

              Brad walks to his office and tries to think about something else today. It’s going to be hard but he’ll have to try. Tammy walks up and says. “I saw everything on TV Saturday. It was nice to see the city finally acting like they were supporting us again.”

              Brad puts his arm around her and leads her down the hallway and says. “It was nice wasn’t it?”

              They continue to walk the hall and Tammy smiles. “I heard that you were seeing Miss McQueen now. Is it true?”

              Brad stops and looks her in the eyes. “Where did you hear that sunshine?”

              Tammy smirks. “I work with Detectives. I know how to figure things out.” She tilts her head to the side.

              He grins and puts his arm back around her and they continue to walk. “Yes that is true. I have been seeing her.”

              “Hum.” She continues to walk.

              Brad stops her again. “What’s wrong Tammy?”
              Tammy looks at him with a pout. “I don’t like her.”

              “Why? You don’t know her, do you?” Brad reaches down and takes a hold of her hand.

              “No. I don’t know,” Tammy starts to walk letting go of his hand. “I just don’t like her.”

              Brad stops for a second and tries to figure out what Tammy means by this so he grabs her by the hand and leads her back to his office. Tammy keeps her head down and sits down when Brad closes the door.

              “Ok honey. Would you please tell me why it is you don’t like Miss McQueen? Your opinion means a lot to me and I would really like to know why you don’t like her?”

              Tammy doesn’t respond. Brad persists as he sits down next to her in front of his desk. “You can tell me. I really want to know. Is there something you’re not telling me?” Brad tries hard to figure out why she has these feelings.

              Tammy continues to look away and doesn’t answer him. Brad stands up and says. “Ok sweetheart,” He walks over to his door and locks it. “You’re not leaving until you tell me.”

              He sits down behind his desk and folds his arms as she stares at the floor. For several minutes she doesn’t talk at all. Brad leans up and says. “Are you going to tell me about it? Or do I have to ground you little girl?”

              Tammy cracks a smile and looks up. “I don’t want to say.”

              Brad looks at his watch. “I have all day. You’re very special to me and your opinion means a lot. And if there is some reason that you don’t like someone I want to know what that reason is.”

              Tammy stands up and walks toward the window. With her back to him she says. “I’m jealous of her.”

              Brad raises his eyebrows. “Why?”

              Tammy continues to look out the window. “Because.”

              He leans back and folds his arms. “I have no idea why you would be jealous of her. You have to tell me why.”