Love Metamorphosis

Chapter 18

                  

Wiggling out of her shoes she headed straight for the refrigerator and the glorious bottle of wine that waited for her. The red liquid filled the glass and she watched with a detached gaze. It had been so long since she had thought of Jeff in a sad way, and today she had been reminded of it.

On her way home she had run into a firefighter that recognized her from when Jeff had done his training on structure fires. He gave her his condolences, because he had trained Jeff, and said he would have made a fine firefighter. She made it through most of the conversation without an ounce of sadness but when his wife and daughter came out of the supermarket behind him she all but ran away.

Taking a healthy swallow, Jemma let the flavor wash over her tongue and into her every sense. Pulling her shirt from her skirt she looked at the clock on the microwave. It read 6:30 and Jemma was thankful it hadn't been later. She had spent most of the day with Lucy, who was making progress. She was scheduled to see her at her home for a few hours in the afternoon, and Jemma was excited to start the healing, Lucy was a wonderful little girl.

Her cellphone rang and she had to dig it out of her coat pocket, which she had shrugged off and tossed somewhere before she had taken off her shoes. Pulling it out she quickly answered when she saw it was Candice.

"Hey Dis," Jemma said with a smile, walking back across the room to collect her wine glass from the counter.

"Jem! You are never going to believe what happened!" Candice was all but yelling into the phone from excitement.

"I can't believe anything until you tell me!" Jemma said back, laughing all the while as she held the phone away from her ear.

"The tabloids are printing that you and Eric are an item!" Candice was laughing so hard on the other end that Jemma almost didn't make out what she had said.

The color drained from her face. "That is ridiculous." She muttered.

"We know it is, but you better be careful, Eric is one of the most eligible bachelors in New York. He was named in the top 10 bachelors in the nation. He is rich, well liked, has powerful connections, and most importantly has an ass like David. Michaelanglo could have barely done him justice."

"Candice really, Eric is practically my only friend in New York," Jemma explained, "We have fun together, but I don't like anyone slandering his name."

"Jemma please, they quote you as being the perfect romance. You look fantastic in that dress by the way, and don't even think about putting it in the back of your closet." Candice warned, and when she warned she would check to make sure it didn't go to the back of the closet.

"We just went to that charity, an opera, and a few dinners." Jemma insisted, but wasn't sure why she was insisting; she didn't have to justify herself to Candice.

"I know silly, I went to one of those dinners," Candice reminded her, "I just wanted to let you know so you wouldn't be caught off guard."

"Thanks," Jemma replied before asking, "When will you be back?"

"They have extended the negotiations to another month," Candice sighed, "I didn't know the Chinese could be so stubborn. Thanks again for recommending me to Mr. Cole, he is a fantastic man to work with and his youngest son, though ten years my senior is a gentleman."

"Don't make me regret recommending you," Jemma laughed. "By the time you get back I will have missed you so much that I will let you drag me out dancing,"

"An underground dancing club?" Candice said hopefully ignoring the first comment.

"You're pushing it buddy." Jemma's voice changed to a half serious tone.

"So you will think about it? Great!" Her friend said quickly, "Well I have to jet, kisses."

"Hugs." Jemma said before hanging up.

She stood there a second staring at the phone, as though she wasn't sure what had just happened. She had never considered that Eric was anything more than a friend until that moment. He made her so light hearted; it was easy being in his company that she always forgot how popular he was.

Jeff had only been gone just over 6 months and he was still firmly planted in her heart, but her sureness in him being the only man for her was waning. Biting her lip she set the wine on a nearby the table, because the surprise at that thought made her light headed. The wine would only make it worse.

She was going to have to see him in two days on Saturday because they were planning a surprise party for Mary. She was turning 75, and was insisting parties were for little children and fancy, expensive dinners were for old people. They both knew the Mary was a kid at heart so they were going to plan a sort of fancy dinner surprise party with Raggedy Ann theme. Apparently it has been her favorite toy because it hit mainstream production the year she was born.

Jemma picked back up the wine and finished the rest that was in the glass before going back to set it in the sink. He had been nothing but kind to her. It hadn't seemed anything but plutonic to her. She wasn't sure if she was disappointed that he didn't care for her that way or because she was even considering it so soon. Either way, she was going to pretend that nothing had happened and that they were just that; friends.

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