Dean's car sat in the street, a parking ticket already under the wiper. He had been in such a hurry, plugging the meter had been the last thing on his mind. Grumbling, he snatched the ticket and crumpled it into his fist while opening the driver's side door. A black Cadillac Escalade with shiny rims and thin tires honked as it whizzed past. Dean flipped the driver off before climbing inside the Jeep. He slammed his car door shut extra hard and threw the balled up ticket onto the passenger side floor mat. Silence enveloped him as he set the pastry box on the seat next to him and tried collecting his thoughts.
He pulled the folded notice from an inside coat pocket and studied the signature at the bottom. Rage pumped through his veins and he swore out loud, hitting the steering wheel with a closed fist. He dug his cell from his slacks and pulled up Megan's number as traffic sped past. He glanced to the seat next to him, gazing through the pastry box's clear plastic top where a rainbow of frosting swirled about inside. His chest rose as he took a deep breath and hit the call button. Megan's phone began to ring, signaling his arteries to pump faster.
She answered with a sultry voice on the second ring. "Hey you."
Her excited tone sent a cold shiver running down his spine. "How'd it go at the doctor's?"
"It went good. Sibyl went with me and then we stopped at Saz's for lunch, which my stomach is protesting, but other than that everything is fine."
"That's great news," he said, fighting to control his ire. "So how did your dad react when you told him I had to be in court?"
She exhaled a long breath. "One thing you have to understand about my father is he always thinks the sky is falling, but once he found out Sybil was taking me he was fine."
Dean snorted into the phone as a UPS truck loudly motored past. "Listen, I just wanted to apologize and, if you're not busy, I'd like to swing by with some cupcakes for you and your family."
Megan paused. "That is so sweet, Dean, but you don't have to do that."
His eyes narrowed. "It'd be my pleasure."
"Well, I'd love to see you."
"Sounds good." His checked his watch and hesitated before speaking again. "Your dad home from work yet?" He couldn't tell if her delayed response was making him hot or the fact that the windows were up.
"He just got home a little while ago," she said slowly. "Why?"
"Just want to apologize and...say hello."
And odd laugh slithered from her lips. "Well, I'm sure he'll appreciate the gesture."
"I bet he will," Dean mumbled crossly.
"What's that?"
"I said, where do you live?"
***
Megan's house was a two story Colonial with white pillars flanking the arched front door. Brightly colored flowers bordered the winding front walkway, separating it from a meticulously trimmed yard. Despite the lack of rain over the last few weeks, the grass was plush and green and Dean could only imagine what their water bill looked like. With heavy legs, Dean stepped up onto the spacious front porch and looked back at his car parked in the street. He adjusted his sports jacket and reached for the doorbell, imagining an impressive response but hearing nothing when he pushed it.
He tried to smile, wondering if the doorbell even worked. Dean swatted at a lazy bumble bee patrolling the potted flowers dotting the porch. The way his luck was going he wouldn't be surprised if the thing stung him. Instead, it flew off and disappeared into a red fuchsia, hurriedly collecting its fill of nectar and pollen.
The door startled him when it opened. Megan greeted him with a warm smile and a big hug. "This is such a nice surprise," she whispered in his ear, pulling back and peering into his eyes. "Thank you for doing this." She caught him off guard with a quick peck on the lips that was too casual for comfort.
"You must be Dean!"
Dean's eyes darted over Megan's shoulder. A pleasantly plump woman stood in the doorframe with an affectionate smile stretching from ear to ear.
"I'm Nancy," she said, offering her hand.
He shook her warm hand and smiled. "Nice to meet you," he said, extending the pastry box. "These are for you."
Her face got round. "Oh, this one is a keeper, Megan!" she said with a laugh, examining the dazzling colors inside. "Thank you, Dean. Come on inside."
Megan took Dean's hand and led him into the house like they had been dating for years. The smell of new construction and seafood smacked him in the face as he stepped into a foyer with a large chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling above.
"Wow, you weren't kidding, Meg. He is a tall one!"
Dean blushed as Nancy looked him up and down.
"How tall are you, Dean?"
"Six-four."
"A looker, too," Nancy grinned, closing the door. "I hope you can stay for dinner. It's just about ready."
Dean smiled politely as she whisked the cupcakes into the kitchen and left him alone with Megan. His eyes climbed a grand staircase spiraling up to the second floor. "Nice place."
Megan tugged on his hand. "Come on," she said, towing him into an open kitchen with an angled breakfast bar. "You want a beer?"
"Sure."
"So what kind of law do you practice, Dean?" Nancy asked, saucing up a steaming casserole dish of jumbo shrimp and pasta with a garlic sauce that made his stomach queasy.
"Corporate," he replied, tilting from his heels to his toes. "Mostly limited liability."
"Ooh," Nancy cooed impressively, setting some dirty mixing bowls into a large sink, her short brunette curls bouncing with the motion. "That is wonderful."
"Here ya go," Megan said, handing him a cold bottle of Heineken and ushering him to a chair at the breakfast bar.
Dean sat down and took a long drink like he was dying of thirst, Evy's gaunt face flickering through his mind. Her green eyes had lost their sparkle and it pissed him off. He glanced into the large living room behind him where no one was watching a Brewers game on the giant flat screen.
"So are you from Milwaukee, Dean?"
He turned back to Nancy and forced a smile. "Born and raised."
"Whereabouts do your parents live?" she asked, spraying off the bowls in the sink.
"Not far from Bayshore mall."
"Glendale, huh? That's a fantastic area. I just love that outdoor mall!"
Megan's hand quietly slid across the breakfast bar and took his.
Nancy stopped spraying the dishes and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. "Well, it is so nice to finally meet you. I hope to meet your parents real soon as well."
Dean winced with her wish. She actually thought he was in this for the long haul and, in a weird way, he felt sorry for her. She seemed like a nice lady and he didn't look forward to disappointing her.
Nancy took a sip of white wine and swallowed. "Are they excited?" she asked, setting the glass down next to a six burner range.
His eyes thinned.