A Fine Mess

Chapter 46

Deborah gingerly raised her legs and rested them on the end of the lounge chair, leaving an attentive Gil to find a handy spot for her cane and see that she was comfortable. Mike stood in front of a massive barbeque intently examining the meat cooking beneath the cloud of smoke swirling up into his face. Music blared a salsa beat from a speaker hanging from the eave of the house.

Jarlayne, in the world's skimpiest bikini, paraded back and forth serving drinks to others parked in various chairs and lounges around the backyard pool. The gathering was to celebrate Deborah's first day out of hospital and the end of her reconstructive surgeries. Gil fussily adjusted the umbrella over her head making sure she was in protective shade and held her glass while she used her good hand to steady the straw.

The friends that had gathered were mostly friends and family of the four main characters and Deborah was thankful that most of the attention was directed at Mike by his family who criticized every aspect of his cooking skills with much hooting and laughter.

"When does the bandage come off, Deb?" Gil asked quietly, using the noise around the barbeque to cover his concern.

She touched the white band of gauze that covered half her face instinctively. "Doctor says about two more weeks. I have to go in and have it changed of course."

"God, Deb I am so sorry about this." He tried to hold her hand but fumbled the move and they both chuckled with embarrassment.

"Don't blame yourself. There's nothing you could have done to change anything."

"I know but..."

"Please. Forget it. I'd like to." She touched his cheek and smiled. "Actually, after all these years working with you, it's kind of nice to have this attention." He missed her smile as he began his protest. "Gil. Gil, I'm kidding, okay?"

"Deb... I don't- I can't begin to say the things I want to say. You've always been Deborah Weiss, office machine. I just never thought you had any feelings—"

"Oh thanks!"

"—about me... us..."

"An unfeeling office machine? How could a girl not fall for such a romantic guy?"

"Can I freshen that for you, sweetie?" Jarlayne leaned over them, blocking the sun, her bronze skin a harsh contrast to the fish belly gang lying about the patio. "Gil, baby, you look so lost."

"He just told me he thought I was an office machine—an unfeeling one at that."

"Ooh Gil. Would that be a pencil sharpener or a—"

"Okay, okay, Jarlayne. Leave it there. I didn't mean literally for God's sake."

"Well I've been watching you two and I can only say congratulations Deb. The best lady won."

She stood up giving Gil the full impact of her spectacular body and made a half turn. "I am moving to new ground—no offence Gil—the beleaguered chef over there has spun some Greek magic around this girl's soul."

"My God! Jarlayne Brighton falls prey to a white Greek cop!" Deborah laughed aloud.

She turned back and gave them a dazzling smile. "It must have been the handcuffs... or maybe the olive oil... anyway, it arrested my full attention." Gil and Deborah both groaned aloud as she sashayed proudly across the patio.

**************

"She told me earlier that you resigned as Brian's lawyer." Deborah had moved with his help from the lounge to a patio swing where she and Gil rocked serenely to the soft melody of a forties ballad. Scattered on the table in front of them were the remains of Mike's dauntlessly prepared meal.

"They've got him back on the assault charge plus a really strange rape charge by Moira."

"Why strange?"

"She's accusing him of attacking her in her hotel room but she's also accusing a hotel employee. Moira might have lost it." He shrugged disinterestedly. "Brian is not the friend I believed he was and I don't take betrayal well."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"That young woman, Helen, from the funeral home is happily spilling everything to minimize her own grief." He stopped and looked at her with a puzzled frown. "Huh?"

"Oh Gil, for heaven's sake wake up and see that the office machine is saying she wants to be with you."

"Huh? You are now! We work together!"

Deborah's feet dug into the grass and stopped the swing abruptly. "We work together?" She exclaimed, piercing him with her uncovered eye. Suddenly a tear ran down her cheek and she turned away, fingers to her brow.

"Deb! Deb, what's wrong?"

"It's all this, isn't it?"

"What?"

"This!" She shouted, waving a hand in front of her face. "You're just feeling sorry for me, you never wanted- you don't..."

Gil took her arms and turned her to face him. "Deborah Weiss, don't you ever, EVER say something like that again. Being with you has crossed my thoughts so many times that my mind is a ruin of ruts. I always felt you were just- well, flirting. Office games. I had no idea..."

Her lips sealed his with a soft, intense pressure. He felt the rough edge of the gauze along his cheek as he responded, careful to keep from hurting her healing face. When they broke it off, Gil peered deep into her one eye and smiled. "I spy in your one eye, a genuine tear drop. If I can be the one to make that worthwhile then I, Gilman Petchorik, happily pass my soul into your keeping for ever more"

"Gilman! I thought it was Gilbert."

"Deb, you've missed the point of my statement."

"Actually, I didn't. Consider your soul safe... Gilman." She kissed him again and got up, pulling him after her. "Leave the cane, I want you to walk me over to Jarlayne so I can tell her you proposed."

"I did?"

"Oh yes, Gilman. You surely did."

The End