Sinners and Saints

Sinners and Saints Chapter 9 - House Call

“I can’t decide,” I complain for the fifteenth time.  I’m leaving tomorrow night and still haven’t managed to pack. 

“All right,” Jill sits next to me at my desk and watches as I query my shoe data-base once again. 

Each one is categorized by style, heel-height, color, material and specialty – if there is one.  Each has a picture attached and a specific location the pair is stored in my second-guest-room-turned-shoe-closet. 

Jill is helping me because one, she has great taste and two, she gets to store all of my left-behinds at her place until I get back.  No way I’m letting a demoness anywhere near my babies. 

Jamie walks by the doorway and shakes his head at the two of us before going to the living room to sit with Jojo and Clark to watch the game. 

“I already decided on my purple and black running shoes,” I tell Jill, “They’re the lightest-weight and the newest.  Since I won’t be able to switch out, I’ll need the freshest ones I have.” 

Jill sniggers and punches me on the arm playfully.  Right where she jabbed me with a needle an hour ago, “Ow,” I protest and rub my arm, “Some bedside manner you have.” 

“Oh, sorry girl, I forgot,” she quickly goes to rub my arm too, “Run the flats report again,” she says, “Can you weed out things like flip flops and slippers?” 

“Those don’t count as shoes,” I tell her and she giggles.  I run the report again and she studies it, “This would be easier if you had already decided what clothes you’re going to take,” she tells me. 

“I know,” I nod, “But that’s not how my brain works.  I decide what shoes I want to wear first and then dress myself around them.” 

“That’s really crazy, you know that, don’t you?” she asks me, laughing again, “Ok, the black patent ones for sure.  They’ll go with either pants or a dress and I know they’re comfortable.  I borrowed them last Halloween.” 

“Ok,” I check the location code and go get them, “That’s two, then.  The dress-heels are easy – the only pair I own that will go with anything,” I smile. 

“The ones you won’t let me borrow,” Jill pouts a bit, but teasingly.  She knows the history of those shoes. 

“That’s ri-ight,” I tease back and pull them out, “Now modify the query for short-heels and run it again,” I ask her as I hear a cheer go up from the living room.  The Marlins must have gotten a run, “I’ll be right back – I’m just going to check the score.” 

She waves me off dismissively and I grab a beer on my way into the living room, “What’s the score?” I ask as I sit on the arm of the chair Jamie is in. 

“Three to two,” he tells me, tugging me down into his lap, “I’m going to miss you,” he whispers quietly in my ear before giving me a kiss on my cheek. 

“Shh,” I tell him, “We promised not to talk about it until we’re at the airport, remember?  I just wanted to check the score – I need to get back.” 

But he doesn’t let me go immediately.  He has that look in his eyes again.  The one that tells me he really wants to say something to me that I really hope he doesn’t.  I sip my beer as an excuse to divert my eyes. 

“Ok,” he smiles and pushes me up, “The sooner you get done, the sooner you can come watch the game with us.”  I smile back at him, not telling him that baseball really isn’t my thing. 

When I get back, Jill has all of the rest of the pairs laid out for me and is going through my closet.  There’s a pile of clothes on my bed and my largest suitcase spread open on the floor.