Bundle of Trouble(61)
“I’m so sorry, honey,” he said into my hair. “I shouldn’t have let George get to me like that. If I had kept my cool, none of that would have happened.”
I shushed him. “Don’t worry.”
He pulled away to look into my face. “I do worry. You’re totally stressed out . . . or . . . or depressed.”
I glared at Mom, who raised her shoulders and gave me her best I-couldn’t-help-it look. “The nurse called a little while ago.”
“I’m not depressed!”
Jim hugged me. “I know. I know. Overwhelmed.” I nodded. He continued, “I hated putting you through that.”
“And me,” Mom piped in. “You put me through it, too. I worry, too, you know.”
Jim smiled down at Mom, who was still seated comfortably on the couch. “Thanks.”
Mom waved her hand in a gesture that said it was nothing. As if on cue, Laurie wailed.
Jim patted her. “I know. You, too.”
“It’s almost six. I think she’s hungry,” I said.
“I’ll second that,” Jim said, handing Laurie to me. “It’s Friday night. How about I take us all out for pizza?”
Mom winked. “That’s a nice idea, hon, but I have a hot date tonight.”
“Oh, Mom, can you ask Hank a question about Valium for me?”
Jim and Mom looked at me curiously.
“It’s nothing, really. At least I hope not. Ask him how many five-milligram tablets are a lethal dose when combined with wine.”
Jim and I decided to celebrate his homecoming with an outing to our favorite Italian pizzeria. It was relatively close to our home, but not walking distance, so we circled endlessly looking for parking.
Finally, Jim pulled to the front of the building. “You and Laurie jump out and I’ll find a spot.”
I was more than happy to take him up on the offer. My legs were aching from running around all day, and besides, I was famished. I grabbed Laurie and her car seat and entered the restaurant.
Tony, the son of the owner, greeted me. He had been acting as host for as long as Jim and I had been coming here. “Kate! Long time no see. Now I know why. She’s beautiful, like her mommy.”
Although Tony was in his thirties like me, he looked twenty. He was tall and slim, with dark curly hair and a permanent smile.
“Always the flatterer. I see you haven’t changed.”
He grinned as he ushered me to a booth. “Where’s Jim?” he asked.
“Looking for parking.”
He nodded, letting his lips form a thin line. “He may be a while, then. What can I get you to drink.”
“I’ll have a ginger ale. Oh, and a high chair please.”
Tony looked puzzled. “Isn’t she too small to sit in a high chair?”
“I know a trick.”
He returned with my soda and the high chair. I flipped the highchair over so it was upside down and placed Laurie’s bucket car seat securely on top of the legs.
“I’ve never seen that before,” he said.
The restaurant door flew open and a flustered Jim made his way in. Eyeing Tony up and down, he threatened his usual, “I’m going to stop coming here unless you do something about the parking situation.”
Tony laughed. “Good to see you, too.”
As soon as Tony was out of earshot, I leaned across the table. “Have you noticed he doesn’t age?”
“Do you have the hots for him or something?” Jim asked through a smile.
“No. Just for you, because you’re so lovable.”
“And free.”
“Yup. Men with a record really turn me on.”
Jim laughed in spite of himself. His face looked drawn and his eyes were bloodshot.
I reached across the table for his hand. “Was it awful?”
“The conditions? No. It was remarkably clean and quiet, actually. But it still sucked being away from you and jelly bean. And stressing over whatever the hell George has gotten himself into.”
I squeezed his hand. “So what happened at the lineup?”
“Not much that I could tell. They told me to walk into a room with four other guys. We stood there, turned around, posed. I prayed.”
“Did you see the witness?”
Jim shook his head.
I fingered the menu. “After everything that’s happened, I was scared, you know, scared that they would actually try to build a case against you or something.”
“God, me, too. Crane made it sound like the wrong person is identified more often than not. But even so, he told me the cops probably couldn’t hold me even if they did get a match, because it would have been circumstantial evidence, and I guess they need more than that for a homicide arrest.”