An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [46]
Roger looked puzzled, as if he didn’t understand.
“And I suggest you do as he says,” Julia said.
Roger released her arm. He held up both hands for Alek’s inspection. “I heard you were married,” he said, continuing to follow her as she filled yet another coffee cup. Alek came after Roger and the three of them paraded across the room.
“Why you chose to marry a Russian is beyond me. I figured you were smarter than to involve yourself with some foreigner.”
Julia didn’t dignify that comment with a reply. Instead she introduced the two men. “Roger Stanhope, meet Aleksandr Berinski.”
“Ah,” Roger said sarcastically, “and I thought he was your bodyguard.”
“I am,” Alek said in a less heavy accent. “Touch my wife again and you’ll be sorry. We foreigners have effective ways of making our point.”
“Alek,” Julia admonished with a grin.
Roger seemed to take the threat as some kind of joke. “I’m truly sorry to hear about your grandmother,” he went on.
“Thank you.” The coffeepot was empty and Julia returned to the kitchen with both Roger and Alek in tow. If it hadn’t been such a sad occasion, Julia would’ve found the antics of the two men funny.
“I’d like to take you to lunch sometime,” Roger said, leaning against the kitchen counter as Julia prepared another pot of coffee. “We could talk over old times.”
“Great. I’d love it. Do you mind if I bring the arson investigator?”
“Julia won’t be having lunch with you,” Alek said before Roger could react.
“I’m sorry, Roger, I really am, but my husband is the jealous sort. You’ve started off on the wrong foot with him as it is. Don’t press your luck.”
“Julia, sweetheart,” Roger said meaningfully, “it’s time for us to clear the air.”
“The air will be much clearer once you leave,” Alek muttered. “Perhaps you would allow me to show you the door?” He advanced one menacing step, then another.
“Ah…” Roger backed up, hands raised. “All right, all right. I’ll go.”
“I thought you’d see matters my way,” Alek said.
Roger cast an ugly look in his direction. He straightened the cuffs of his starched white shirt and wore an injured air as he left the house through the back door.
Julia’s gaze followed Roger. “That really wasn’t necessary, you know.”
“Ah, but it gave me pleasure to send him.”
Her smiling eyes met his. “Me, too.”
“Tell me about this man. You loved him?”
She felt her amusement drain away. She was surprised no one had ever told Alek about her fateful relationship with Roger. But she’d dealt with enough grief for one day and didn’t feel like delving into more.
“Another time?” she asked.
Alek seemed to require a moment to think over his response. “Soon,” he told her. “A husband needs to know these things.”
She agreed with an unenthusiastic nod.
Alek was leaving the kitchen when she stopped him. “I’ll tell you about Roger if you tell me about the women in your life.”
This, too, seemed to give him pause. “There’s never been anyone but you,” he said, then grinned boyishly.
The gathering broke up an hour or so later. Julia insisted on staying to help Charles with the cleanup. Jerry and Alek were helpful, too, stacking folding chairs, straightening the living room and carrying dirty dishes into the kitchen.
By the time Alek unlocked the door to their home, Julia felt drained.
“Sit down,” Alek said, “and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
“That sounds heavenly.” She kicked off her shoes and stretched out her tired legs, resting her feet on the ottoman. Alek joined her a few minutes later, bringing a china cup and saucer.
He sat across from her.
“I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing her,” Julia whispered, after her first sip of tea. Now that she wasn’t so busy, the pain of losing Ruth returned full force. “She’s left such a large void in my life.”
“Give yourself time,” Alek said gently.
Julia looked over at her husband and her heart swelled with some emotion she couldn’t quite identify. Possibly love. That frightened her half to death, but she sensed that with Alek there was the chance of feeling safe and secure again.
He’d been so good to her through