“Are you seeing Paul again?” The question lacked the scornful tone she’d used when referring to him previously. She seemed more prompted by curiosity than anything else.
“We’re meeting some friends of his later. Why?” Ruth couldn’t help being suspicious. If he’d phoned with a change of plan, she needed to know about it. She knew from experience that Lynn couldn’t be trusted to relay the message.
Lynn shrugged. “No reason.”
“Is there something you aren’t telling me?” Ruth’s voice was calm.
Her roommate had the grace to blush. “He didn’t call, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Like I could believe you.”
“You can—okay, maybe what I did that night was stupid.”
“Maybe?” Ruth echoed.
“All right, it was. I was upset because of Clay.” She didn’t meet Ruth’s eyes. “I thought Clay was really hot and you dumped him for soldier boy, and I thought that was just wrong.”
“I don’t need you to decide who I’m allowed to date.” Ruth couldn’t keep the anger out of her voice. What Lynn had tried to do still rankled. If her cell phone battery hadn’t been low, she and Paul might have missed each other completely. That sent chills down her spine.
Lynn released a long sigh. “I’ll admit it—you were right about Clay.”
“How so?”
“He’s...he’s stuck on himself.”
Ruth suspected that meant he wasn’t interested in Lynn.
“I... I like Paul,” her roommate confessed.
Ruth wasn’t even aware that Lynn had met him and said so.
“He stopped by one afternoon when he thought you were back from class, only you weren’t, and I was here. We talked for a bit. Then he left to look for you at the library.”
Funny that neither had mentioned the incident earlier. “I had the impression you were dead set against him.”
“Not him,” Lynn said. “I’m against the war in Iraq.... I thought you were, too.”
“I don’t like war of any kind. This war or any war, including Afghanistan. Still, the United States is involved in the Middle East, and no matter what, it’s our young men and women who are fighting there. Politics aside, I want to support our troops.”
“I know.” Lynn suddenly seemed to find something absolutely mesmerizing about her shoes.
Ruth moved past her on the porch. “I’d better go in and change.”
“Ruth,” Lynn said sharply. Ruth turned to face her. “I’m sorry about the other night. That really was an awful thing to do. I was upset and I took it out on you.”
Ruth had pretty much figured that out on her own. “Paul and I connected, so no harm done.”
“I know, and I’m glad you did because I think Paul is great. I know he’s a soldier and all, but he’s a nice guy. I only met him once, but I could see he’s ten times the man Clay will ever be. He’s the kind of guy I hope to meet.”
Paul had obviously impressed her during their brief exchange. She wondered what they’d talked about.
“All’s well that ends well,” Ruth said.
“Shakespeare, right?” Lynn asked. “In other words, all is forgiven?”
Ruth laughed and nodded, then started into the house.
Paul picked her up at five-thirty and they drove to a Mexican restaurant in downtown Kent. Paul had arranged for her to meet his best friend.
Brian Hart and his wife, Carley, were high school sweethearts and Brian had known Paul for most of his life.
“We go way back,” Brian said when they were introduced. He slid out of the booth and they exchanged handshakes, with Paul standing just behind Ruth, his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m pleased to meet you both.” They were a handsome couple. Carley was a delicate blonde with soulful blue eyes, and her husband was tall and muscular, as if he routinely worked out.
“We’re pleased to meet you, too,” Carley said when Ruth slipped into the booth across from her.
Paul got in beside Ruth.
“I insisted Paul introduce us,” Carley said as she reached for a chip and dipped it in the salsa. “Every time we tried to get together during his leave, he already had plans with you.”
Ruth hadn’t thought of it that way, but realized she’d monopolized his time. “I guess I should apologize for that.”
“We only have the two weeks,” Paul explained.
“You’ll be back in Seattle after the training, won’t you?” Brian asked.
“Maybe, but...” Paul hesitated and glanced at Ruth.
“We only just met and...” Ruth let the rest fade. He would be back and they’d see each other again, but only if she could accept his career in the military.
This fourteen-day period was a testing time for them both, and at the end they had a decision to make.
“I’m giving Ruth two weeks to fall head over heels in love with me.” Paul said it as if it were a joke.
“If she doesn’t, there’s definitely something wrong with her,” Carley joked back.
Ruth smiled, but she felt her heart sinking. She hadn’t made her decision yet; the truth was, she’d been putting it off until the last possible minute.
Time was dwindling and soon, in a matter of days, Paul would be leaving. She wasn’t ready—wasn’t ready to decide and wasn’t ready for him to go.
Brian and Carley had to be home before eight because of their babysitter, so they left the restaurant first.
Ruth had enjoyed the spicy enchiladas, the margarita and especially the teasing between Paul and Brian. Carley had told story after story of the two boys and their high school exploits, and they’d all laughed and joked together.
Paul and Ruth lingered in the booth over cups of dark coffee, gazing into each other’s eyes. He’d switched places so he could sit across from her. If she’d met him under any other circumstance, there’d be no question about her feelings. None! It was so easy to fall in love with this man. In fact, it was already too late; even Paul’s mother had seen that. Ruth knew him. After all the letters and emails, all the conversations, she felt as
