This Matter Of Marriage (25 page)

After a while, sure that Hallie was absorbed in the acting, he stole her program and folded it into a paper airplane. He had no intention of flying it, but apparently Hallie assumed otherwise. Her expression would have cracked concrete.

“What?” he asked under his breath.

“You have to ask?” she hissed.

Hands lightly folded in his lap, he focused his attention on the stage again, determined to be a model member of the audience. His eyes drifted closed and he found himself falling asleep, only to jerk awake a second or two later. He yawned loudly, twice. Then swallowed a third yawn when Hallie glared at him. His cheeks puffed out with the effort.

Next he checked the time and attempted to calculate just how much more of this he'd have to endure. Another hour he could take, but two hours was out of the question.

The curtain fell and the lights went up. Intermission. Free at last, he all but leapt out of his seat. “I'll get us something to drink,” he said, and was halfway into the aisle when Hallie thrust out an arm and stopped him.

“What's the matter with you?” she demanded.

He knew he was in trouble because she spoke through clenched teeth. “Nothing,” he insisted brightly.

“This work is masterful, brilliant…”

“Boring,” he said.

“For you, perhaps, but not everyone agrees. Kenny would do a better job of paying attention. You're worse than a five-year-old. Furthermore, what was that you were drawing?”

Steve was convinced she didn't really want to know. He buried his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “I don't know. I was doodling. I do that sometimes. It doesn't mean anything.”

“Have you ever shown your doodles to a psychiatrist?”

“I'll be better the second half. I promise.”

“Never mind, let's go.”

“Go?” His heart raced at the thought of escape. Surely she wouldn't tease about something like that. “Where do you want to go?”

“Home.” She didn't elaborate.

His heart filled with gratitude. But once they'd walked down the large curved stairway and outside into the cool evening, he realized this reprieve might well have come at a price.

“You aren't angry, are you?” he asked. Hallie was a good friend, and if keeping the peace meant enduring the rest of this opera, then he'd do it.

“I'm not angry,” she replied, but the way she said it suggested she wasn't pleased with him, either.

“We can stay,” he offered, all the while praying she wouldn't change her mind.

Not until they reached the parking garage did Steve recognize the truth. Hallie had been as bored as he was, only she was too polite to let it show.

“You didn't like that opera, either.” His step lightened and he cast her a smug look.

“That's not true. The music was—”

“Don't lie, Hallie, or your nose will start to grow.”

He watched as a smile quivered at the corners of her mouth, struggling to break free.

“Be honest.”

She was suspiciously quiet for a moment, then took one glance at him and burst out laughing. The mirth virtually exploded from her. She wrapped her arms around her middle and bent nearly double. Still laughing, she positioned herself in front of him on the sidewalk, strolling backward as she spoke. “I wish you could've seen yourself!”

“Glad I'm such a source of amusement.” A smile threatened to overtake him, too. He took her hand, gripping it firmly in his own. It felt
right
to be walking hand in hand with Hallie.

Both of them thought it seemed a shame to head back home immediately, so Steve suggested coffee. They were a bit overdressed for an all-night diner, but that was where they ended up. Although they attracted plenty of curious stares, neither paid much attention.

When their coffee was served, Hallie doctored hers with cream and sugar, then stared at him as if she was shocked by what she'd done. “I only add cream when I'm depressed,” she told him, her shoulders sagging. “I bet this has something to do with Donnalee.”

Steve had trouble following her thought process—cream in her coffee, depression and Donnalee. Apparently there was a connection. Whatever it was would take him a while to work out.

“It wouldn't surprise me if those two got married,” Hallie said next.

“It wouldn't surprise me to learn they're already living together,” Steve muttered. He'd never seen Todd like this. Todd, his closest friend. The guy he worked with every day. The guy who'd shared the secret password to reach level ten of the video game King Kong. He'd fished with Todd, camped with him, even taken a weekend trip to Vegas with Todd.

Yet in all the years they'd been friends, he'd never seen Todd in love. It was almost frightening what love could do to a levelheaded man. He told Hallie exactly that.

“I agree with you completely!” she declared, leaning closer to him. Her hands cupped the coffee mug. “If you think Todd's acting strange, you should see Donnalee. It's…nauseating.” Barely pausing, she added, “I'm so jealous I could scream. Can you tell?”

Jealous,
Steve repeated mentally, and wondered if that was his problem with Todd. His friend arrived promptly for work, accomplished each task satisfactorily and left at the end of the day. Steve had no right to ask more of him, yet he found himself tallying a list of complaints at the end of the day. Trivial stuff. He
was
jealous. Damn it all, he really was.

“Donnalee has had more sex in the past week than I've had in my entire life,” Hallie said, glancing down at her coffee. “That explains it.”

“Explains what?”

“Why I'm putting cream in my coffee.”

“Oh.” Well, okay, he supposed that made some sense, now that he understood the connection. “Same with Todd,” he grumbled. “It's like he's walking around in this bubble, breathing in happy gas.”

“Exactly,” Hallie moaned. “Nothing can burst their bubble. It's…it's disgusting.” She raised the mug to her lips, paused halfway there and set it down on the table with a loud clatter. “Are we being petty?”

“No way.” He dismissed the question without thought, then reconsidered. “On the other hand, I don't know if I'd be complaining nearly as loud if it was me.”

“That's my point,” Hallie said, gesturing with both hands.

“What gets me is that I practically had to bribe Todd into going out on this blind date in the first place. He wasn't interested in meeting you. Not even when I mentioned how attractive you are and how much the kids like you.”

Hallie glared at him. “If you're telling me all this to make me feel better, I suggest you stop.”

Steve grinned. “From what you said, Donnalee wasn't any more interested in meeting me.”

She sighed expressively. “True.”

“So Todd and Donnalee found great sex together. You had your chance, McCarthy. You turned down the best offer you're likely to get,” Steve reminded her. “I was willing to take you to bed, remember?”

“Right!” She rolled her eyes. “How could I refuse a romantic invitation like ‘Wanna do it?'”

Steve chuckled, amused as he often was by Hallie. He'd lacked finesse on that particular occasion, he'd admit it. He'd been feeling low at the time. What he'd really needed was someone to listen, and Hallie had provided a sympathetic ear, for which he'd been grateful.

“They're going to wear themselves out,” Hallie said. “They'll end up dying of exhaustion.”

Steve could only assume she'd returned to the subject of Donnalee and Todd. “Yeah, but what a way to go.”

The gleam of pure unadulterated envy was back in her eyes. “If it's like this before the wedding, can you imagine what it'll be like afterward?”

“Yeah,” Steve said, then frowned. “My advice to Todd is to get it while he can.”

“Steve!”

“You think I'm joking?”

Hallie stared at him as if to ask exactly what kind of wife Mary Lynn had been. But he didn't want to talk about his ex, especially now that she was married to another man. Sleeping with another man. He couldn't dwell on that, otherwise he'd go crazy. So he avoided the subject entirely.

“Seriously, I think Todd and Donnalee will do fine,” Hallie said.

“Yeah, I'm sure you're right.”

She reached for the small cream pitcher and added more to her coffee, stirring it slowly around and around.

“There's someone for you, Hallie.”

She raised her eyes sadly to his. “But when am I ever going to meet him?”

Steve didn't have the answer to that any more than she did.

H
allie arrived home late that Friday afternoon, after a long tiring workweek. Meagan and Kenny raced toward her the moment she'd parked.

“Dad's taking us to the drive-in!” Kenny said excitedly.

This was a perfect night for it, Hallie mused. August and the weather was flawless, as it can be in only Puget Sound.

“Wanna come?” Meagan asked.

“I don't think so, sweetheart. Thanks, anyway.” It'd been one of those frustrating weeks when little had gone right. It had started with one of her key staff members suddenly up and leaving because her husband had been transferred to the East Coast. And it ended this afternoon with a canceled order, followed by a visit from Donnalee. She'd arrived at Artistic License unannounced wearing a lovely diamond engagement ring. Hallie had hugged and congratulated her, thrilled for her friend. But she was also aware that Donnalee had managed to acquire
two
engagement rings this year, while she hadn't even scrounged up a piece of Cracker Jack jewelry. It wasn't the rings, of course, it was the thought that two men had fallen in love with Donnalee.
Two
men. And during the same period, Hallie had met a selection of losers, cheapskates and creeps.

No wonder she felt depressed.

“Please, please, please, come,” said a voice from behind.

She swung around to find Steve gazing at her with an exaggerated expression of woe.

“I'm exhausted,” she said. It was a legitimate excuse and true. She was looking forward to a half-hour soak in a bubble bath, and then a lengthy vegetation in front of the television watching reruns of “Mary Tyler Moore.” It seemed that she, like Mary Richards, was destined to live the single life.

“I'm tired, too,” Steve told her. “But I promised the kids last week that I'd take them, and they invited ten or fifteen of their closest friends along.”

“Two,” Meagan corrected, rolling her eyes. “We each invited one friend.”

“I've got it all figured out,” Steve said, squeezing Hallie's shoulders. “We can take both cars and park next to each other. The kids can stay in my car and I'll come over and join you in yours. Does that sound like a plan or what?”

He had obviously given some thought to this, and it was easy to see what would happen to his escape strategy if she refused. He'd be trapped in a vehicle filled with four shrieking kids.

Still, she
might
have refused him if not for one thing. Steve had agreed to accompany her to that ridiculous operatic extravaganza. Not willingly, maybe, but he
had
gone.

“Oh, all right,” she mumbled.

“A little enthusiasm will go a long way, McCarthy,” he said, echoing the remark she'd made herself earlier in the week.

She grumbled under her breath, but if the truth be known, she wasn't all that opposed. Yes, she felt exhausted, but being with Steve and his children had a way of reviving her. If she didn't go, she was likely to drown her sorrows in a bowl of double-fudge macadamia-nut ice cream—something to be avoided at all costs.

Besides, Steve had kissed her when he'd walked her to her door on Monday night. A quick, friendly kiss, very much like the others they'd exchanged. Warm and comforting. But for the first time Hallie had felt
more
than comfort and friendship. She'd felt that kiss all the way to her toes. A nice friendly good-night between neighbors shouldn't curl a woman's toes.

So she agreed to this drive-in idea of his for the elementary reason that she wanted him to kiss her again. Just to check things out.

“Dad's going to make popcorn,” Kenny said breathlessly, as if that qualified his father for some major cooking award, “and not use the microwave.” There was real awe in the boy's voice. “Dad explained that when he was a kid you used a
stove.
”

Hallie remembered making popcorn that way, too. She felt about a hundred years old. “That should be interesting.”

“He said we could watch.”

“I don't suppose you'd care to help?” This from Steve, who didn't even attempt to disguise his plea for assistance.

“Oh, all right.” Although she made it sound like a sacrifice, Hallie found herself grinning. “I'll change out of my work clothes and be right over.”

Meagan followed her into the house and helped her choose a pair of shorts and a summer top. “I'm glad you're coming,” she said, hopping onto the end of Hallie's bed.

Hallie noticed that the girl looked unhappy, but didn't want to pry. From experience she knew that if something was troubling Meagan, she'd tell Hallie in her own way and her own time.

“I'm glad I'm coming, too.”

“Dad let me invite Angie. She's my best friend. Everyone needs a best friend.” She paused. “I think you're Dad's.”

Hallie was touched. “Your dad's one of my best friends, too.”

The girl was quiet for several moments while Hallie changed out of her business garb and donned what she thought of as real-people clothes. She removed her jewelry and makeup and tossed her panty hose and heels aside for canvas slip-ons.

“I don't think Mom and Kip are happy.”

The softly spoken statement came out of the blue. Hallie paused, wondering how or if she should comment. “Sometimes when people first marry they have difficulty adjusting to each other. Give them time, Meagan.”

“I don't think time's gonna help. Mom found out that Kip's been married before. Twice. She only knew about one ex-wife.”

“Oh, dear.” Hallie immediately sympathized with Steve's ex.

“He's paying child support to two children, and my mom only knew about the one.”

If Kip had misled Mary Lynn in a matter of this importance, Hallie had to wonder if he was trustworthy in other areas.

“Dad doesn't know,” Meagan added.

“Don't worry, sweetheart, I won't tell him.”

“I don't really like Kip. I don't know why Mom married him. He tells Kenny and me that we're going to do something fun and we get all excited. But when the time comes he has all these excuses why he can't do it.”

“Some people are like that,” Hallie said, and sat down next to Meagan. “I had a friend like that once. It got so I never put much faith in what she said. It wasn't that she was a bad person. She just couldn't possibly do all the things she planned or keep all the promises she made. I'm sure Kip's intentions are good, but not everything he promises will happen. Try not to be disappointed when it doesn't, and pleasantly surprised when it does.”

“Are a lot of people like Kip?” Meagan asked.

“I don't know, but I don't think so.”

“I hope not,” the girl said, then she smiled. “You know what? I'm glad you're my friend, too.”

“So am I, Meagan.” The girl gave her a fierce hug.

As soon as Hallie and Meagan walked into Steve's kitchen, father and son mysteriously disappeared, leaving the women to the serious work of popping the corn in an old kettle. Hallie quickly assembled “goodie bags” for everyone. And she had a great time, laughing and teasing with Meagan.

Because Meagan and Kenny's friends lived in other neighborhoods, they left an hour early, stopping at a McDonald's for take-out burgers and drinks. Meagan and her friend rode with Hallie, while Steve led the way with the two boys. As planned, they parked at the drive-in theater side by side.

Hallie hadn't been to a drive-in since she was a child. She remembered her mother and father sitting close together in the front, she and Julie, wearing pajamas, in the back. It had been an occasional summer-night treat. She couldn't recall any movies they'd watched—just that wonderful childhood feeling of being loved and protected.

The first feature scheduled tonight was an action thriller with Bruce Willis. The kind that was sure to be an edge-of-the-seat fast-paced movie. The second feature was more or less the same kind of show, but without the big-name star.

Once the cars were situated and the radios fine-tuned, Steve left his vehicle and climbed into the front seat of Hallie's. It looked like a perfect plan—until Kenny and his friend started fighting with the girls.

Meagan rolled down her window and shouted, “Kenny ate all his popcorn and he's trying to steal mine.”

“And mine,” Angie chimed in furiously.

In an effort to keep the peace, Steve sent the boys off to the refreshment stand. “I can't believe I allowed the kids to talk me into this. I asked them how much it would cost me to buy my way out, but they wouldn't hear of it.”

Steve, Hallie thought, had no idea how crucial it was to his kids that he follow through on his promises. It told them far more than he'd ever know. “I'm proud of you,” she said without thinking.

“Proud?”

“You kept your word.”

“I didn't have a choice,” he said, protesting her compliment. He leaned back in the passenger seat and closed his eyes. “It isn't just the drive-in movie, either,” Steve grumbled. “Tomorrow is Kenny's Cub Scout camp-out. I can't believe I actually volunteered to spend the night in the woods with ten nine-year-old boys.”

“Better you than me,” Hallie told him.

The movie started just as Kenny and his friend made it back to the car. They climbed in and all was blissfully quiet as they gazed at the huge screen.

“What I'd really like to know,” Steve said in a conversational tone, “is how I got talked into this slumber-party business. Meagan asked if Angie could come to the drive-in, then the next thing I know, Kenny's got a friend and they're both spending the night.”

“Don't look at me,” Hallie said, eating her popcorn. “I'm an innocent bystander.”

He chuckled and helped himself to a handful from her bag. With the console between them, it was difficult to get too cozy—not that the Bruce Willis movie encouraged coziness in any form. Although Hallie had already seen it, she covered her face during a couple of the more gruesome scenes.

“You talked to Todd recently?” she asked as the credits scrolled down the screen.

“Yeah. He told me he asked Donnalee to marry him, but I have to say it didn't come as any surprise.”

“Donnalee's hoping to get pregnant right away,” Hallie said wistfully. At the rate things were progressing, Donnalee would be a grandmother before Hallie even found herself a husband.

“I figure it'll be a miracle if she isn't already pregnant. Todd's so tired he can barely stay awake. What's Donnalee do—keep him up all night?”

“My guess is they're keeping each other up.”

“It's downright sickening, that's what it is,” Steve muttered.

“Couldn't agree with you more.” Hallie put down her popcorn, her appetite gone. “You know what? We're both so damn jealous we can barely stand it.”

“Amen,” Steve said. They glanced at each other and broke into peals of laughter. When they looked at the screen again, the second movie had started.

Hallie's seat was as far back as it would go. She was enjoying herself—and it had very little to do with the movies. Reviewing her conversation with his daughter, she felt good that Meagan had described her as Steve's best friend. It was refreshing, she told herself solemnly, when a man and woman could be friends.

She turned to Steve. “Thank you for being my friend,” she whispered.

“Thank you for being mine.” And then he leaned over and kissed her. His mouth grazed hers and lingered. Hallie kissed him back, increasing the pressure.

She felt the sexual energy of the kiss immediately and so, apparently, did Steve. He bolted upright and looked at her long and hard. She studied him, too. It was as if all the oxygen in the car was suddenly gone.

Neither seemed capable of breathing, let alone talking. The only illumination came from the screen and a solitary light by the refreshment stand, but it was enough for Hallie to see Steve's face. His eyes were wary, as if to say he wasn't sure about any of this. For that matter, Hallie wasn't sure how
she
felt, either.

At last he spoke. “Hallie?”

“Yes.” She suspected she didn't sound like herself at all. Her voice seemed distant.

“What just happened?”

“You're asking me?” She tried to make a joke of it and found she couldn't. “We kissed and—”

“And, hell, it was good. Damn good.” As if he needed to test this new discovery, he placed his hands on the curve of her shoulders and leaned forward to press his mouth to hers. Hallie closed her eyes, but her mind and her heart were wide open, eagerly anticipating a repeat performance.

At first he was gentle, almost tentative. Her lips parted, welcoming him. The nature of the kiss shifted almost immediately. His mouth grew fierce, demanding. He angled his lips over hers, urgently dragging her as close as the confines of the car would allow.