'... she said the treatment was tough but she's glad to have finally started now', Jill continued at dinner the following evening.
Jill had texted him after lunch. She got to finish school a little early, the women's empowerment meetings she led had to be changed for some reason he couldn't exactly remember right at this moment. It wasn't important. What was important is that Jill had used her extra, precious time to call by the hospital. Isabella had finally begun treatment on the clinical trial.
The weeks since they'd come home from Italy had flown by for him and Jill but must have dragged for the other couple waiting for the result of a barrage of tests, dealing with setbacks, wait times for correct readings, for blood markers to be just so before, finally, Monday, the day had arrived and Isabella had received her first dose of the new treatment.
'You want more water honey?' Jill asked Joe, noting his glass was almost empty. 'Thanks', he said, holding the glass towards her for her to fill from the large jug. 'Did she say anything about the new readings, what they revealed?' Joe asked. 'She's to get the results tomorrow. Let's say an extra prayer for her tonight', Jill said with feeling. 'I'll say a rosary for her before bed', Joe said. 'I got a few big ticket things on the list for later', he said quietly.
He looked up as he felt Jill's hand on his. 'Need to offload anything?' she asked, gently running her fingers across the back of his hand. He looked at her. 'As a matter of fact I have something to talk to you about, to ask of you. Two things to be precise', he said, moving his hands now to hold hers. He looked earnestly at her across the table in the residence dining room.
She knew that expression, that tone. Joe was working on something. 'Whatever you need Joe', she replied, sitting forward.
'Shouldn't you wait until you know what it is first?' he asked jokingly.
'No', she said simply, turning his hand over and running her fingers delicately across his palm making him grin at the touch. 'Whatever you want me to do I'll do it, it's pretty simple', she explained. He smiled at her across the table, the candlelight reflecting in his eyes.
'I shouldn't have to ask this of you', he began. 'But you have so many connections now, are so au fait with the situation, you're the obvious choice. Plus I trust you implicitly', he said. She sat patiently, knowing that her husband often talked himself around to the point instead of leaping straight into his actual request. She turned his hand over and automatically he enclosed her own within his. She placed her other hand on top of his and gently, rhythmically ran her fingers across the back of his hand. She listened with interest as he continued to lay out his request. Her eyes riveted to him as he began to explain.
'So. I'll just be direct. First off, I need you to ring Louis. I may even need you to go to Paris and meet him, or maybe we can both go', he said the thought obviously just popping into his mind as he spoke. 'Anway, we can figure out the details but I need you to make enquiries about some art sales that have popped up', he said. 'Call it intuition but I think it may be better done in person than any other way', he said cryptically.
'Tell me more', she said, intrigued now about where this was going. He smiled. 'It's kinda a long story after a long day. How about we get a little more comfortable first', he said, sitting back as the usher placed his ice cream on the polished table in front of him. Jill nodded, reluctantly leaving his hand go. She turned to the usher. 'We'll take our coffee in the living room please', she asked politely. 'Certainly ma'am', he replied.
'C'mon, let's move now', she encouraged Joe. Now that he had started to tell his tale she wanted to hear more. He stood immediately and placed his hand on the back of her chair, pulling it clear for her to stand. She held her napkin in her hand and reached for her own dessert bowl but Joe leaned in close. 'Let me', he said quietly, his manners, as always winning through. She rested her hand on his shoulder and took the opportunity to steal a kiss. 'My gentleman. Thank you', she said so quietly it was but a soft breath. But plenty loud for her adoring husband to hear. He blinked lazily and smiled. That soft and beautiful smile he kept just for her. 'You're welcome my love', he replied, grazing his hand languorously down her back, knowing full well the effect that always had on her body. She stood even closer to him and kissed him again.
