My Brother's Keeper
Chapter Four
Jerry felt all of the blood rush to his face as he stared down at what was to have been his dinner. A dark, wet stain was spreading along the bag where something had obviously found its way out of an inner container.
"I guess we're even now." The woman was eyeing him sheepishly. "I didn't meant to scare you like that."
"S'okay. I shouldn't have been so clumsy." Jerry ran a hand through his hair before stooping to clean up the mess. He took his time, hoping against hope that she would somehow forget that she'd just caught him ogling a woman in the parking lot of a family restaurant in the middle of the night. His first impressions with this family were batting a thousand. He searched frantically for a way to salvage the situation without sounding like a gigolo. His usual humor deserted him, and his mind came up blank.
"I really am sorry." The woman spoke again, breaking the slight tension. "But she really wasn't right for you."
Jerry looked up, wary at her choice of words. Was she going to rub his nose in it? There was humor in her expression as she leaned out of the window, but no mischief or malice. Their gazes locked and he felt himself sinking. "Just who would be right for me?" he asked, tearing his gaze away so that he could carry the soggy bag to a nearby garbage bin.
She looked thoughtfully. "Well, I can't exactly tell you her name, but I can tell you where to find her."
Jerry grinned. A woman of mystery. Well, why not? He already knew he felt something when he looked at her, when he thought about her. Maybe they were destined to meet. Two coincidences in one night was really too much, wasn't it? If she wanted to meet him some place, who was he to turn down fate?
"Where can I find her?" He moved back toward the passenger side of her vehicle, a seductive grin spreading across his features. The things he had in mind would mean pushing the relationship a little faster than was wise. But he knew, deep down, that he would have a future with this woman. Maybe it was finally his turn to have a wife and family of his own.
"At the hospital," the woman said with a nod. "She's a really sweet girl. One of the assistants who helped the doctor. You couldn't miss her. She's got curly honey-blonde hair. . ."
Jerry's smile faltered, and he knew he was staring. The sharp edge of disappointment flooded his system. She wasn't interested. She was trying to foist him off on someone else. Someone she didn't even know. He shook his head slightly as if the motion could shake the confusion loose that was suddenly running rampant through his brain. Was she toying with him, after all?
"Thanks for the tip," he managed, then pointed toward his truck. "I really should be going. It's getting late." He pressed a button on his key chain to unlock the door and reached for the handle.
"What about your dinner?" she asked. "I could replace it, my brother's inside."
He paused a moment. "I'm not really very hungry." He climbed the rest of the way up into the vehicle, swallowed the inexplicable sadness that was rapidly replacing the confusion, and waved a polite 'good night'.
Kim frowned as she watched Jerry's truck pull out of the parking slot. They were really connecting for a minute there, then everything had changed. He almost looked as if his feelings were hurt. A vague sense of guilt settled over her. First she'd ruined his dinner, and then she'd offended him.
She started slightly when the driver's side door was pulled open. Steven stuck his head in and thrust the parcels of food at her.
"Something wrong?" he asked, looking at her oddly.
"No, nothing." She shook the thoughts off and offered an appreciative smile. "This smells wonderful. But do you think you got enough? There must be enough here for five."
"There should be just enough for you, then."
Kim laughed and punched his arm. For the rest of the evening she ate and enjoyed her brother's company. If the sad-faced expression of one Jerry Dumas came to mind every so often, it was only because she felt responsible for ruining his evening. The feeling would pass, she was sure. It wasn't as if she ever planned on seeing him again. She was without explanation however, when upon waking the next morning, she remembered having dreamed of him.
"Uncle Jerry!"
"Hey Rugrat!" Jerry spread his arms and drew his bounding nephew into his arms. The child squirmed energetically as Jerry stood, taking little Joey with him.
"I ready!" Joey exclaimed loudly, in typical fashion. He was one Dumas who never had a problem being heard.
"Maybe we should get you dressed first?" Jerry teased, settling the bouncing bundle back onto the floor.
"Okay," Joey said agreeably and ran back to his father and the pile of clothing that he'd obvious been trying with little success to get the child into.
"He's been saying that all morning," Joshua said dryly. "I, unfortunately violated parental rule number 3 and told him that you were coming today."
"Let me guess." Jerry laughed. "He asked about it every hour on the hour."
"Try every fifteen minutes," Josh replied, attempting to get the dark head into the neck of a pale blue shirt.
Jerry settled on a chair. "I don't think Jasmine has this much trouble."
Josh shot him a dirty look. "Your time is coming, buddy."
Jerry smiled, but wondered at the truth of that statement. Maybe he would just forever be 'Uncle Jerry' and let Josh and Jazz have the slew of little people. The thing about parents was that they were always grateful for a reliable relative to take them off their hands. That would be enough, wouldn't it?
"What's this?" Josh asked, pausing in the battle to dress the youngest Dumas male. "No snappy come back? What's going on?"
Jerry studied his brother for several moments. Laugh lines were beginning at the corners of his eyes, and he knew if he dug deep enough into the thick dark mass of hair on his head he'd find at least a few strands of gray. But along with those things, Jerry knew that his brother was happy. A deeply contented, comfortable kind of happy.
"How did you first know that you loved Jasmine?"
"Oh this is serious," Josh teased, again resuming the clothing battle. "Who is she?"
"What makes you think there's someone?" Jerry hedged.
"Big brother knows all. Why don't you tell me what's going on?"
Jerry sighed. "There isn't anyone," he said, saddened by the truth of it. But then realizing that he probably needed to clarify, "Well, there was. . . sorta. But, I don't know her name or anything. I'm sure I'll never see her again."
Joshua frowned, his expression becoming more serious. "Are you okay?"
Jerry offered a reassuring smile. "Of course. I'm fine."
Josh nodded slightly, and then a far away look came into his eyes. "Love can be very confusing at first. Trust me on that one. My first clue that I was heading in that direction was the way I felt when she walked into the room, the way I felt just by thinking of her. It was like something inside of me just came to life. Something that I didn't even know was there until I met her. It was humbling, frightening, and exciting all at the same time."
Jerry chuckled, breaking the quiet that descended. "You know you could be talking about any teenage boy's first foray through a girlie magazine."
"Yeah, or I could be talking about something wonderful and beautiful and pure."
"Or that." Jerry shot back.
Joshua's smile remained as he brushed his son's unruly hair. "So," he asked, without looking up. "Do you love her?"
"Who?" Jerry pretended not to understand.
"This woman whose name you don't even know."
"Only if there's such a thing as love at first sight."
Josh looked up sharply. "Maybe you should find out."
Jerry shook his head. "Which brings us back to problem one. I don't know who she is, or where she is. Besides, I don't want her thinking that I'm stalking her."
"Stalking is probably at the top of the list of bad ways to start a relationship."
"Yeah," Jerry agreed. He knew of a few others he could add. His gaze dropped to Joey, completely dressed. "Is our little guy ready for his Saturday park adventure?" he asked.
"Yes!" Joe's response definitely carried an exclamation point.