Bab 4: Just for Jesse
The following day Jesse went to his brother's house for lunch. The image of the girl from the beach was still with him but he didn't mention it when he was asked about his weekend. To his agitation, she didn't go away all week, so when he returned to Sam's house for a potluck supper and rang the doorbell for it to be answered by Pearl, he almost hugged her.
However, he restrained himself, smiled and extended the hand containing the wine bag instead.
"Hi, Jesse," she said cheerfully.
"Hi, Pearl," he responded just as enthusiastically, matching her tone and cadence.
She chuckled and said, "Come on in." She held the door open and gestured, taking the wine bag in turn.
To her surprise, he gave her a small hug and said, "Good to see you," before heading into the living room. He hadn't been able to resist, after all
She didn't say anything about it, probably figuring he was just a friendly guy.
Later on in the evening, when everyone was lounging on the floor, stuffed full of lasagne and lemon cake, Pearl announced she would soon be out of town again.
"Where are you off to this time?" Dana asked.
"Missouri."
Dwight laughed outright.
"You are so cosmopolitan, Dwight," Dana smiled. "You should take him with you one time, Pearl."
"I should, right? Take some of that city slick out of him," she said good-naturedly.
"No, thank you," Dwight cut in. "Invite me to come when you return to Brazil and I will gladly follow!"
It was Pearl's turn to laugh.
"What will you be doing in Missouri, Pearl?"
The question was from Jesse.
"Camping," she told him simply.
"Camping? Like in a tent?"
"Sort of. We're taking a basketball team through a bonding program at a campsite. We might have them in tents for part of the period."
"Team building is one of the more exhausting parts of Pearl's job," Sam put in.
Pearl nodded. "I love it, though, because it is one of the most rewarding parts, too."
"And she doesn't mean it pays better," Mandy contributed. "It's gumption for her soul."
She had said it with a bit of a smile in her tone and Jesse smiled back at the lawyer with the cat green eyes.
"You know, I think I understand what everyone else does, but Sam has never been able to say more than Pearl is an athlete. I didn't think it was basketball, to be honest."
"Well, basketball definitely isn't my focus," she conceded. "In fact, I'm not even into athletics much. I do sports ministry and training."
"Like preaching and stuff?"
"Yeah. I am more into the 'and stuff.'"
"Pearl used to be an athlete," Sam corrected his brother, "on one of the country's strongest track teams."
"Until I almost died," she said drily.
"Died?" Jesse echoed. "What happened?"
"Ran one race too many."
"And then?" he prompted, now curious on a medical level.
"God told me I'd have to stop running. But I could tell my story to help other people."
Jesse wanted to know much more than that and Sam could tell.
"You're not being fair, Pearl," Sam laughed. "You know you're not saying anything."
She shrugged. "It's a long story you have all heard before."
"Not all of us," Jesse said.
Pearl wasn't really in the mood to share her testimony so she shrugged apologetically.
"You two can talk over coffee," Dana suggested. "There's a nice place a couple of blocks from Pearl's office."
Jesse smiled. "That sounds like a good compromise. I could drive in for the day just to hear the lady's story."
"You have too much time on your hands," Pearl said, not unkindly.
"Yeah and I'm happy to have it this way for a while."
"Was work that busy at the rehab place?" Caila asked, deciding Pearl had had enough of the spotlight.
"It was very busy," the doctor said, readily turning to Caila. "There are a lot of wealthy Europeans who have troubled kids and bad habits to kick. I never had a dull moment."
"You should come down to the gallery and take a look at the art some time. I bet it's better than seeing skinny brats shake in withdrawal."
Jesse laughed. "Probably is, by far. Thanks."
The conversation gradually moved on from there and Jesse got a chance to interact more with his brother's closest friends.
Pearl was lying down, her head in Dana's lap. Dana was playing with her hair, leaning against her husband. Caila supported Mandy, who was stretched out, her feet in John's lap. Dwight was the only one sitting in a chair by himself, one leg dangling over the arm of the chair.
Jesse, also on the plush olive green and cream carpet, had propped himself up with pillows, slightly apart from everyone else. He took in the scene and he smiled again. It was reminiscent of a college dorm hang out.
Everyone was laid back and comfortable with each other; the picture of relaxed indulgence.
Otto and Bridget weren't there that evening because they had a lecturer's dinner to attend but they had sent the wine which they were drinking now.
Pearl's glass was practically untouched on the coffee table. Sam's was half full and he seemed to be appreciating the full flavour. He almost smiled as he took another sip. Dwight actually made a comment about it a minute later.
"Those two know how to select a beverage, don't they?"
"Mm," John agreed. "I might need the number for this vineyard."
"Look at Pearl," Dwight said, "looking like a content little kitten."
Pearl opened one eye and said, "This is my favourite part of visiting Sam and Dana."
"Getting someone to play with your hair?"
"Yes. It's so relaxing."
"Darling," Dwight said, "if that's all you wanted, why didn't you just say so?"
She closed her eye and stuck out her tongue.
It was so pink.
"Dana never had to be told- she understands me!"
Mandy laughed. "I think we all wish we could find men like your wife, Samuel."
"She's perceptive, isn't she?" he said.
"Very," Dana replied.
Jesse liked his brother and sister-in-law. He often felt like his life would've been different if he'd stayed in America and a part of him always felt a little disheartened when he realised how much he'd missed out on. But he was very happy to be a part of this life now.
As if Sam were reading his mind, he said, "Guys, I am so glad I get to share this with my brother. Ladies," he said, "look at this handsome man. I'm proud to call him my brother and to share my life with him." Everyone could hear the emotion behind his words. "Jesse, the guys in this room have been like my brothers before you and I got to know each other, but now I can bring us all together." Pause. "My brothers and sisters."
He lifted his glass and the rest of them were roused out of their near slumberous state to do the same.
"To family and friends. There's nothing greater than you in my life."
Jesse swallowed hard and raised his glass. "To family."
The toast was the cap on the evening and people started getting ready to go soon after. John and Mandy were going back to the office to prepare for a case. Sam, being the more senior partner was able to choose his cases more selectively and was letting his friend and partners take this particular high profile case.
Caila and Dwight left in their own cars after thanking Dana for another great meal. Pearl stretched her arms above her head. "Thanks for dinner, guys."
"You're welcome," Dana said. "Don't forget to give your number to Jesse for that coffee date."
The word 'date' made Pearl narrow her eyes. Dana's widened innocently in response.
"I think there's a lot he can learn about therapy from your story."
"And your work," Sam added.
Dana passed the card Pearl gave her to Jesse.
"When are you leaving for Missouri?" Jesse asked her.
"Mid-week, next week."
"So I'll be in touch soon."
���Okay, then. Bye guys."
She kissed the married couple and then waved at Jesse on her way out the door.
Getting in her car, Pearl headed straight home, glad that it had been a wonderful evening. Her day had been busy, briefing the team she would travel with to Missouri, going over the program and the team's history and pre-camp assessments.
Pearl knew, of course, that the program almost never went the way they put it on paper but it was good to have a map.
Dana insisting she give Jesse her number had been a bit suspect but then she couldn't call her out in front of a room full of guests- even if they were her closest friends. She could only hope it had really been an effort to let her share about her work. There had been enough occasions in the past where either Dana or Sam would ask her to 'fill in their numbers' as a ruse to shove the next eligible bachelor or nice divorcee under her nose.
It had rarely paid off past a second date and she was still very single.
Not that that worried Pearl. No. She knew God would send her the right guy when she needed him. Since He hadn't sent anyone yet, she always concluded she didn't need a man yet.
Pulling on her nightdress she smiled to herself. If only her friends could hear her now. They believed you had to be a bit more proactive in the man hunt for it to bear fruit, but she was willing to trust the true source on this one.
She slid into her sheets and closed her eyes, ready for tomorrow.
Hadiah
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