framed photographs of Uncle Henry's students and their horses. I didn't have to guess whose picture he looked at. I wanted to say something, but couldn't think of anything that wouldn't sound insincere.
I had plenty to say to Juliet, though, and saved it until we were left alone to do the dishes. Aunt Vi insists her good Royal Doulton china and the silver be washed by hand, and she uses them for dinner every night. Makes for a lot of extra work, but long ago we quit making suggestions and just pitched in.
'When were you planning on telling me you were dating Eric?' I asked.
'I was going to get around to it.'
'When? After you break up with him? He's not like the other guys you dated. He's a lot more mature, which means he's not going to play your games.'
'I know that.'
'I don't think you do.' I put down the sponge and turned to her. 'I think you didn't tell me because you didn't want a lecture.'
'You mean like you're doing now?'
'I haven't even started. Juliet, you cannot play with Eric like you've played with every other guy. He's a mature man, not a commit-a-phobic adolescent.'
'Oh listen to you. Ladies and gentlemen, please take note of the voice of experience standing to my immediate left.'
'Correction: the voice of fricking compassion. Eric's a really good person. He deserves your respect and he deserves to be taken seriously.' I ground my teeth and resumed washing up.
'I know that.' She sounded defensive. My inconsiderate sibling cast a furtive glance over her shoulder then turned the water on full and leaned closer to me. 'The reason I didn't say anything is because there've been problems.'
'What kind of problems?' I handed her a delicate china plate I'd washed.
'It started about a month ago. Eric and I didn't want people gossiping about us, especially since we'd just started dating, so we tried to keep things quiet.' She rinsed the plate and put it in the rack to drip dry. 'Valerie found out, somehow, and she immediately went after him. She kept trying to get him alone. Stuff like that. He tried being polite, but she was getting on his nerves. Thea, you know how straight-laced Eric is – he didn't do anything but kiss me until he was sure I was in love with him, too.' She pushed a strand of hair out of her face. It fell back with soap bubbles attached. 'He's so gorgeous women hunt him, and he hates it. Valerie is – was – a user. She might as well have worn a sign. He always avoided her, but she really turned up the heat. Well, I couldn't take it any more so I confronted her in the New Barn last week. I told the little slut to keep her hands off him.'
'Juliet,' I groaned.
'Well, she lit into me first, really, so what could I do but hand it back? It ended with Miguel hauling me out of the barn while Valerie and I screamed insults at each other. What a bitch. I'd have flattened her if she touched me. I told her that and she laughed.'
'And that's why Delores was so mad at you.'
'Yeah. I guess I deserved it. I'm lucky she didn't fire me. Eric probably said something to her, but he won't tell me. I caught hell from Maria, too.'
'That wasn't a smart thing to do, Juliet.'
'I know.' She shrugged and sighed. Juliet doesn't sigh. Not like that. 'Eric moved back into Miguel and Maria's house because Valerie kept knocking on his apartment door. Anyway, we decided to keep our relationship quiet. That's why I didn't say anything to you.'
'I wouldn't have told anyone.'
'But you would have lectured me about losing my temper with Valerie like you just did, even though you never liked her, either.' She reached over and stirred the suds in the sink. 'I'm glad she's dead.' She didn't look at me. 'I hated her and I hated the way she went after Eric. Well, he doesn't have to worry anymore and neither do I.'
Now she looked, steady-eyed, at me, her jaw set. When I failed to say anything she took the dinner plate I'd been washing out of my hands. I scrubbed another plate while a knot grew in my stomach. Why was she justifying herself to me? Juliet never made excuses.
'So,' she whispered, leaning closer. 'Did you get some 'thank you' nookie?' Her sullenness evaporated and the sparkle came back in her eyes.
'Excuse me? I handed her the large platter to rinse. I wish people in this family would learn to put on their turn signals when they changed subject lanes.
'Oh, come on. This morning, after Paul tossed Greg out. A little gratitude smooching?'
'What?'
She took a salad plate from me and slumped, like she couldn't believe I was so dense. 'You know, 'girl is in peril, guy rescues girl, girl is wowed by his masculine prowess, and offers herself up in gratitude for services rendered.''
'No.' I did my best to copy Aunt Vi's huffiness and dumped a fistful of silverware into Juliet's side of the sink for her to rinse.
'Right. You don't expect me to believe that, do you?' She reached over and flicked a small handful of soap subs at me, missing completely.
'Yes, I do.'
'Ha. Guys love that. Makes them feel powerful, protecting the little woman.'
'So why do you practice all this self-defense stuff?' Far better to dwell on her obvious incongruity.
'I'm no fool, sister dear. Besides, Eric's not my bodyguard. He has other body privileges that confirm his masculinity.' She chuckled smugly.
'I'm glad you've been so thoughtful.'
'Come on. A sexy guy like Paul, with those big, broad, muscular shoulders, and an adorable little ass, lands a right hook to Greg's jaw and sends him sprawling, and you don't turn into a puddle at his feet?' She sighed dramatically and slid a sideways glance at me. 'You are made of ice, girl.'
'And you are just plain -'
'What do you need ice for?' Aunt Vi interrupted. 'Is your bruise still bothering you, Thea?' Neither Juliet nor I had heard her walk in and we jumped simultaneously.
'No… nothing,' we said together. I hoped I didn't look as guilty as Juliet.
Aunt Vi gave us both a narrow-eyed suspicious look and put two more wine goblets on the counter for us to wash. We were silent for the rest of the time it took to clean up.
I did my best to ignore Juliet's remarks about Valerie stalking Eric, but the way she nailed my reaction to Paul was insightful. Was my longing for him really only sexual attraction spurred by high emotion and danger? If so, anything between us was temporary and I needn't worry about my emotions flaring up the next time I saw him. I was back in control, and that's what I needed right now, control.
'Okay,' she said, putting away the last dish. 'Let's go.'
'Go where?'
'You promised to help me practice for my Tae Kwon Do belt test. Remember?'
Disappointed she hadn't forgotten, I asked, 'Why can't Eric help you?'
'He won't do it anymore.'
'Why not?'
'He said it isn't right for a woman to practice beating up her boyfriend.'
'He has a point.' I gathered up the wet dish towels to take to the laundry room.
'He seems to think so.'
'Are you sure you want to do this so soon after dinner?'
'Don't worry, it won't be that strenuous. Besides, you could use the practice.' She eyed my bruised jaw. 'You didn't remember a thing about the self-defense I taught you.'
'You never taught me any self-defense.'
'You obviously weren't paying attention, which is why you should help me tonight. Let's go up to the barn and practice in the aisle-way. Then we won't have to move furniture.'
Juliet hollered to Eric where we'd be. I grabbed my jacket. The sun was going down and the temperature was dipping into the upper thirties. Juliet never seemed to need a coat.
The huge barn door slid easily in its track when I pushed it. I entered the dark aisle and flipped on the lights.
