Anything You Can Do(33)

Austin lunged toward the creature, intent on taking him down, but Gordon held his arm out in front of him, blocking his attack.

Austin hesitated. It was Gordon’s car and so he supposed any action taken was up to Gordon. He clenched his fists and stepped back.

"This nice car has a wonderful feature, doors on both sides," Gordon said evenly as he took Paula's arm to steer her around the automobile.

Austin reminded himself again that it was Gordon’s car and Gordon’s call. He could be the peacemaker if that’s what he wanted.

"Isn't that cute? A little girl to go with the little car." The drunk stretched out a hand and touched Paula's face as she started past him.

Gordon's fist shot out, made a dull whump as it connected with the boy's jaw and tumbled him to the ground.

Gordon reached over him and jerked the door open, slamming it against the second drunk's shoulder as he lunged forward, reaching for Gordon.

"And all the doors work just fine." He offered his arm to Paula.

Daintily Paula took Gordon's arm, stepped around the youth, and slid into the front car seat.

"You hit him," Austin marveled as both drunks made a hurried retreat. "You hit him and knocked him down. I’ve never seen you do anything physical before."

"I've been saving my strength," Gordon drawled, closing Paula's door and moving around to the driver's side. "You two get out and exercise and use it all up, but me, I've been saving it for a lot of years."

With a big, dopey smile, he slid into the car next to Paula.

*~*~*

Bailey tapped gently on Paula's bedroom door. "What is it?" Paula's reply was muffled but notably irritated as it came through the heavy wood.

"I need to talk to you, Paula."

The door opened and Paula stood there frowning but still cute and darling even in the middle of the night in her short nightgown with her hair tousled. Beside her Bailey felt tall, gaunt, and awkward.

"Bailey, this is the third time you've awakened me to talk about nothing. What is the problem? I thought you were tired and wanted to go to bed."

"I am. I do. But I just have to talk to you. Let's go out to the living room."

Paula followed with a sigh. "So far tonight we've settled the questions of whether or not to have premium cable TV and where I can buy an air cleaner for Morris' cigar smoke. What is it this time?"

Bailey picked up Samantha and cuddled her. "If you went to the doctor and he discovered you were dying, would you want to know?"

"Sure I'd want to know. Am I dying?" She rubbed her eyes with both hands and yawned, then sat up straight, alert. "You're not sick, are you?"

"No, no," Bailey denied. At least not physically, she added silently. Paula's obvious concern made her feel even worse. She had to tell the truth, no matter what the consequences.

"Okay," she began again, "if you were married and your husband was cheating on you and I found out, would you want me to tell you?"

"I know for a fact I'm not married, and if you're going to tell me that Chuck cheated on me, you're a few years late."

"Paula, I have to tell you something."

"Bailey, you have exactly ten seconds to tell me before I go to bed with earplugs."

Bailey cleared her throat, shifted Samantha to her shoulder, needing the comfort of the soft little body. Samantha gave her a sleepy lick then settled comfortably against Bailey's neck. "Paula, I—Austin and I—we sort of made love." The last words came out in a rush, and she raised her eyes from her lap only long enough to see how Paula was taking it.

Paula gaped at her in open-mouthed astonishment.

"What do you mean, you sort of made love? Did you or didn't you?"

"We did," Bailey admitted miserably. "In Gordon's yard."

"You don't mean for real. You're being metaphorical, right?"

"I'm sorry. We just got carried away by the race, I guess. It all sort of flowed from one thing to the other. I'm so sorry." She forced herself to meet Paula's eyes. To her relief, there were no tears.

"Wait a minute. You mean you and Austin got it on in Gordon's yard, tonight, while the band played on?" Paula actually seemed to be enjoying this.

"Something like that."

"I don't believe it."

"I'm afraid it's true."