Finders Keepers

Jules stood just outside the crowd gathered under the gigantic tent. At least the hospital had had the sense to hold their Summer’s Final Fling Fundraiser outside so they could reap the benefits of the night air. She’d wondered what to expect when Nate dropped by her office to issue the invitation. His eyes never left the floor. There’s another one she’d managed to scare away. At least neither of them had suffered too much embarrassment.

She spotted the familiar couple in record time. Carl had promised her they would come. Frankly, she was surprised Rachel had escaped work. A subtle shift in the happy couple’s relationship was now obvious to Jules. Gone were the long monologues concerning his wife only to be replaced with selective silence. Carl was preoccupied with something. Whether it was the headaches or Rachel, she couldn’t be sure. She’d lay money on it being Rachel though.

Jules watched her friend and his wife glide around the dance floor with ease and felt a stab of longing. What she wouldn’t give to have his arms around her, safely guiding across the room. Rachel was a lucky woman.

*)*(*

"I wish we could stay like this all night." Carl pulled his wife closer. "No children, no business, no stress. Perhaps we should have rented a room at the Inn."

"You do make it sound wonderful darling, but I need to call Brad in an hour or so. I swear, that man is in a different time zone every time I need him."

"Unfortunately that’s the nature of business my darling."

Rachel laid her head on his shoulder. "I’m sorry it has to be tonight."

"No need my heart. What is a few moments of time in the scheme of things?"

"For us? I’d prefer not to go there." She hesitated. "I really am sorry."

"For what? A call, Rachel. I assure you it does not pose a problem."

"I know, but lately I’ve sensed some tension, and.."

"Tension? Between us?"

Rachel nodded. "Don’t think I haven’t noticed how I’ve been spending more time at Cory than with you or the children. I don’t want to neglect you, any of you."

Carl pulled them to a stop while the other dancers continued to swirl around them. "Rachel, I do not wish to discuss this now. I simply want to enjoy my wife’s company."

Rachel swallowed at the hard set of his eyes. For a second she saw the man who’d once given her nightmares. "Alright, we’ll talk later."

"Good girl. Now, shall we find the refreshment table? I was hoping to find Jules before the night grows too old."

Rachel took his hand and let herself be led from the floor. Jules. Always Jules. Oh absolutely, let’s go find our third wheel.

*)*(*

"Come on Jules, I promise I will not step on your toes." Carl pleaded and pulled her onto the dance floor. "It’s quite easy really. Surely you’ve danced before."

"Mummy forced me into lessons in the hope of curbing my clumsiness."

"And did it?"

"I’m not graceful by any means of the word, but then it’s different when someone else leads. If you hear me counting, please, don’t interrupt."

She took his hand as the band began a…

"Tango!" Carl exclaimed.

"Damn!" The one dance she could never master.

"What?"

"Nothing. We need to sit this one out is all." He wouldn’t let go of her hand. "Carl, I can’t do this one, never could. It’s pretty to watch, but I never could get it right."

"Nonsense. You spend far too much time on the sidelines watching others. Just follow me."

Secure in the knowledge she’d humiliate them both, Jules decided to trust in him nevertheless. ‘Trust in Carl’ was quickly replacing ‘Trust in Jacob.’ Maybe she should just call him Jarl. Or Cacob.

"See, we’re doing it."

Jules detached from her thoughts long enough to realize he was right. If that didn’t beat all. "I can’t believe this."

"Smile darling. The room is watching." Jules tore her eyes from him to see he was right about that too. The crowd, many of them her colleagues, watched them in appreciation. "Of course, they are merely jealous of our dancing ability. Now hold on, we’re nearing the end."

A dip! He wouldn’t!

"Don’t you dare Carl!" He laughed at her horror.

"You know what to do Jules. We need a big finish so I can make all the men jealous. They’ll wish they had you on their arm."

"Carl, I don’t think…" Jules yelped with surprise as Carl learned the hard way what she had tried to explain. "Are you okay?" She asked him from their mingled heap on the floor.

"I think so."

"I tried to tell you, but as usual you wouldn’t listen. My dip tends to stick."

It must have been the plaintive expression on her face, or some hilarity in her words she wasn’t aware of, but Carl began to laugh. Jules wanted to reach out and smack him, but decided laughing would be better. Before long they were both winded and clutching at their sides while the other partygoers looked on with amusement.

*)*(*

She would never admit, but she was jealous of Jules. She didn’t like the fact, but she couldn’t ignore it. Lately, seeing Jules and Carl together set her teeth on edge. In what world did a man’s doctor spend more time with him than his wife? Cory this and Cory that—she was sick of it. The trips and meetings and emergent situations were so frequent they were blending into one giant headache.

Rachel had left the room for only fifteen minutes and when she returned it was to find HER husband dancing THEIR dance with another woman. It shouldn’t bother her. Really, it should not bother her. He’d danced with other woman while in her company and it hadn’t affected her this badly. It was just that this time the woman was Jules. Jules, who possessed all the precious hours with Carl Rachel had missed.

Amanda and Paulina’s words came back with a vengeance. With a sigh, Rachel shoved them out of her mind and decided it was time to collect her husband and go home.