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>Actually it's almost 1,000 words, but it wouldn't make >much sense to cut the scene in half. Everyone would be >confused. > >Okay, more of the early in the relationship stuff. >After the gardening incident, after the cat bite(s), >before her bout with the flu, way before the snake and >canoe debacle. Sometimes siblings are a pain in the >ass. > ><U>Old Dogs</U> copyright 2008/2009, Debi Matlack; all >rights reserved. Posted for sharing and crit purposes >only; does not constitute publication. >************** > >Walking naked to Alan and Nessa’s house would have >resulted in a life-threatening quantity of mosquito >bites, so Valerie settled on jeans and a t-shirt. Not >willing to show up completely empty-handed, she >brought homemade biscuits. Baking was the one talent >she had developed in the kitchen. Alan took the basket >from her at the front door and kissed her on the >forehead. > >“I love you for this. I have butter and jelly already >out.” > >“No you don’t!” Nessa shouted from the kitchen. “You >can have them later, with supper.” > >“They’re hot now.” Alan slipped one from the basket >and hid it on the shelf next to a stack of magazines, >then carried the basket into the kitchen. > >Nessa was rolling pink bundles of chicken in bread >crumbs, placing them carefully on a pan next to her. >Looking up at Valerie, she shook her head. “You >couldn’t find anything better to wear than that?” > >Valerie exchanged a look with Alan, who was sneaking >back toward the living room and the illicit biscuit. >She considered squealing on him, but was having too >much fun watching him try to be sly. Chuckling, she >turned back to her sister. “You’re not exactly dressed >for a night on the town either.” > >“I can change clothes and plan to, once I get these in >the oven.” > >Valerie helped herself to a beer from the fridge. “I >didn’t know this was a formal occasion. You just said >not to wear my jammies, and the joke about coming >naked didn’t seem to go over too well, so here I am.” > >“Naked?!” echoed from the living room. > >The sisters giggled, Nessa sighing. “Such a boy.” The >last chicken breast went onto the tray and she washed >her hands at the sink. “Did Dad come fix your car yet? >I didn’t see him go by.” > >“Tomorrow.” Valerie took a swig of the beer, grimaced >and looked at the label. “How long has this stuff been >in there?” > >Nessa shrugged, sliding the shallow pan into the oven, >then stirred something simmering on the cooktop. Alan >came in, a few crumbs clinging to his lips. Valerie >caught his gaze and made a surreptitious brushing >motion. He removed the evidence just as Nessa moved to >go around him toward the stairs. She paused. > >“Oh Val, if someone knocks, it’ll be Daniel.” > >“What?” > >“He’s coming for dinner too.” Before Valerie could >protest, Nessa scooted out of the room. Valerie turned >on her brother-in-law, her dark brows raised. She must >have looked dangerous; he caved and confessed before >she ever uttered a sound. > >“Val, it’s not what you think—“ > >“What do I think?” > >“That we’re trying to set you up with him.” > >“And you aren’t?” > >“Well, we are, but not this blatantly. Give me some >credit for subtlety.” > >“Alan, you gave me a bright purple vibrator for my >birthday. That’s not subtle in the slightest.” > >“That was a joke, and besides, if you two get along, >you won’t need it.” > >“I’ll still need it, to beat your ass with.” > >Alan grinned and spread his hands with a shrug. “If >it’ll stop you from hiding it in my office. Okay, so >maybe I don’t sneak very well. But just give it a >chance, willya?” > >Valerie sobered, shaking her head. “No, Alan, I won’t. >I was manipulated and lied to and treated like an >idiot for eight years. I’m done with that. Daniel’s a >nice guy, a very nice guy, but I have no desire to get >into another relationship. I can’t make myself happy >yet. I don’t want to have to worry about someone >else.” The fact of the matter was that she was >attracted to Daniel. A woman would have to be long >dead not to be. But she didn’t want to be; she was >afraid, and unwilling to conquer her fear. It was >safe, being alone. No having to perform, to put up a >front in order to keep someone else satisfied. Taser >didn’t care what she did or when she did it and >Valerie enjoyed the freedom. The freedom and the >protection of being alone. >Frustrated, she set the half-full bottle of beer on >the counter. “Here, drink this; it tastes like shit. >I’m going home.” > >“Val, no! Come back, please? Nessa will kill me if you >don’t stay.” > >“And I might kill you both if I do stay.” Ignoring his >further protests, she headed toward the back door, >waving a dismissive hand. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow, >when Dad’s here. He can referee.” > >The door closed behind her, the screen door slamming >into place. It was almost dark out and fireflies were >starting to flash at the edge of the woods. She >trotted down the steps with the intention of crossing >around the house back to the driveway. From the corner >of her eye, a dark shape moved along the path, >startling her and she almost screamed. > >The shape stopped. “Am I too late?” There was no >mistaking Daniel’s accent. > >Valerie kept going, waving a hand at the house behind >her. “They’re inside.” > >“Wait.” > >Something in his tone made her want to comply. It was >a request, not a demand, and she felt herself turning >around to look at him. He was silhouetted in the light >from the kitchen window. He gave her a long, searching >look, then displayed the bottle of wine in his hands. > >“Will this go with what Nessa made for dinner?” > >Disarmed by his question, Valerie sighed. Suppressing >a reluctant smile, she walked toward him, toward the >back door. > >“Let’s find out.”
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