Part 41 (1/2)

Will left, saying no one would believe the work he had neglected during the past week or so. Then Barbara and Sh.e.l.ley headed back to her office. Barbara would be busy for the next week or two, wrapping things up, cleaning up accounts, going to the Children's Services offices....

”Are you going to want me for anything the rest of the day?”

Sh.e.l.ley asked at the office.

”I don't think so. Beat?”

”Pretty much. But I told Alex I'd be back as soon as I'm free. If it's okay, I'll take a few days off. We're going to be looking at real estate. Maybe a ranch with a whole lot of acres and a forest. But close enough to come in to work.”

”Sh.e.l.ley, what are you telling me?”

”You know, Barbara. You've known from day one. Think of how it is when you see someone you haven't seen for a long time. And you're surprised, because in your mind he's bigger, or smaller, or she's prettier or not as pretty as your mental image. In my mind, when I think of Alex, he's beautiful, a s.h.i.+ning, beautiful man. And when I see him in person, he's still a s.h.i.+ning, beautiful man. I love him, Barbara. And I'm going to make him admit he loves me. Today. This little-sister bulls.h.i.+t ends as of today. I'm going with him, if he'll have me.”

Herbert's dinner was excellent, as was to be expected. He had made a tenderloin of beef in a heavenly crust, baked to perfection, a.s.sorted vegetables, featherweight biscuits....

They had toasts and drank wine; Bailey had his Jack Daniel's, and Herbert drank whatever was near him. Alex showed them the sketchbook he had put together of the actors in his trial: a lawyer who looked suspiciously like Humpty Dumpty, a judge with flowing silver hair and an immense head, a man with a corduroy face, a woman in s.h.i.+ning armor carrying a sword, standing upright on a white horse. Barbara choked when he came to that one. Bailey patted her on the back a little harder than necessary, and both Frank and Will asked if they could get a copy made.

Alex didn't show any sketch he had made of Sh.e.l.ley.

Then Will put on music, and Alex and Sh.e.l.ley danced. After a moment Will asked Barbara to dance, and the four onlookers retreated to the kitchen, out of the way.

Will led Barbara into the hall, where he kissed her, a long, thorough hair-raising-and-p.r.i.c.kly-arms kind of kiss. When she drew back, shaken, she said, ”Whew!”