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Chapter 7
Sheridan had prepared herself for the task at hand. She’d
found an old brown wig in the closet and that with a pair of dark glasses Jean Luc would never suspect a thing.
She still had a half hour to go before she was to leave. The last thing she wanted to do was hang around a bistro
waiting for him to show up. Besides, the maitre’d had been very specific as to the time Jean Luc arrived every
night.
Sheridan checked her email as she killed time waiting to leave. Seeing a message from Pezz brought a radiant smile
to her face. She relaxed in her chair as she glued her eyes to the screen.
Dear KC,
I’m glad you think of us as friends. I found myself smiling when I read your comment. I guess I hadn’t thought
of our relationship in those terms before, but I do like the sound of it. Friends it is then :)
You my dear are a better sleuth than I gave you credit for. I hate to admit this, but I never really expected you
to get the clue "sleepy". I knew eventually it would make sense to you, but I never dreamed it would
this quickly. Does this mean that you are also from New England? Ha! Wouldn’t it be funny if we both turned out
to be from the same town? Right, like that would ever happen. The town I come from is barely on the map! LOL.
The thought of returning to Harmony had been in the back
of Sheridan’s mind for quite sometime now, but for some reason, she wanted nothing more than to see New England
in the Fall. "Wouldn’t Ethan be surprised if I came home for a visit?" She said absentmindedly.
You know I’m glad you’ve decided to check up on JL, just as
long as you’re doing it for yourself, not anyone else. And remember KC, Jessica Fletcher always had Seth to back
her up. Who’s your back up? What I’m trying to say is be careful would you please? Even if JL isn’t doing anything
wrong, I doubt he’ll be too happy to hear you’ve been following him.
Please let me know everything is ok when you get home tonight? Even if it’s not ok, let me know so I don’t have
to worry that something bad happened to you. Oh God, listen to me, I sound like my mother! Seriously though, if
you need that shoulder, I’ll be here.
Take care and good luck Jess! :)
Pezz
Sheridan checked the time and decided she could respond
to Pezz’s note before she left. In a very short time she would find out once and for all if Jean Luc was the man
he claimed to be.
Luis returned from his morning patrol of the wharf to find Sam leaving him a note at his desk. "Hey Sam"
Luis said wondering what his boss wanted.
"Luis" Sam called. "I was just leaving you a note. I was wondering how things went last night?"
Luis couldn’t help but laugh. "What, you haven’t heard?" Luis asked with amused sarcasm. Hank seemed
to be a direct pipeline to you where my life is involved."
"If you mean did I hear about Beth leaving for New York then yeah, I did hear. Hank left me a note saying
he was taking off for a few weeks at least to help Beth get settled in her new apartment."
Luis gave Sam an "I thought so" look and nodded his head. "Yep, she’s gone, for good apparently."
"Luis, I thought you were thinking about breaking things off with Beth anyway. Why the solemn tone?"
"Yeah, I was Sam" Luis said thoughtfully. "I just find it ironic that’s all. Here I am, the one
with all the doubts and she is the one to call things off."
"So, now that you’re a free man what are your plans? Hit the singles scene and find a new woman?"
Luis looked at Sam with genuine surprise. "You’ve got to be kidding Sam!" Luis said.
Sam stared long and hard at Luis. "Don’t tell me you’re giving up on women? If that’s it I’m having a hard
time buying it."
"Sam, I’m not giving up on anything" Luis said defensively. "I’ve just never been into the singles
thing."
"Oh come off it Luis! I’ve known you too long to believe that one. Look, every time you and Beth broke up,
which happened a few times if memory serves, you headed straight for the bars. Are you going to stand there and
tell me you aren’t going out on the prowl the first chance you get?"
"That’s exactly what I’m telling you Sam" Luis said, anger creeping into his voice. "Look, I was
never looking for an excuse to play the field or anything like that. Most of the time when Beth and I had a fight,
we’d break up for a few weeks and then we’d be back together. Sam, you and I both know that hasn’t happened in
a very long time. Maybe I’ve just grown up."
"Maybe" Sam said. "Maybe." Sam’s words seemed to agree with Luis, but the look in his eyes
and the tone of his voice told Luis that Sam believed otherwise.
"Look Sam, I’ve finished my morning patrol. All I want to do right now is eat my lunch and check my mail before
I go back out. It’s been a long day so far."
"Sure thing buddy" Sam said. "Just remember if you need anything, I’ll be here. Hey, did you ever
talk Jay into coming back here?" Sam asked with a grin trying to lighten Luis’ mood.
"Nah" Luis smirked. "She told me to tell you she’d only come back if you could guarantee her it
wouldn’t snow in Harmony."
"That figures" Sam said shaking his head. "She always wanted to stay home on snow days. I had a
tough time convincing her police didn’t have snow days." Sam patted Luis on the back. "Have a good lunch
and I’ll catch up with you later."
"Sure Sam" Luis said as he retreated to his desk. As he sat down behind his desk, Luis realized that
he’d planned to email Jay last night, but he’d gotten distracted by KC’s email and then everything with Beth happened
and he never did. Luis fought the urge to check his mail before he wrote Jay. Somehow he had a feeling there would
be a note from KC and he may never be able to write Jay today.
Hi Jay,
I was going to write this last night but I got a bit distracted. Now before you say yeah you were probably reading
one of KC’s emails, there was also another big distraction I had last night. Remember my telling you that Beth
called and was planning on stopping by last night? Well, surprise she did. She was late, but she got her point
across.
Jay, you’ll never believe this, but she left me. Beth accepted some job offer in New York and Hank is helping her
get settled in there. The two of them left here around three this morning.
It’s ironic don’t you think? You’ve been telling me for years that Beth and I were not meant to be and it’s only
been recently that I’ve even entertained the idea. I was almost (not quite but almost) ready to take a serious
look at where our relationship was going. It looks like she saved me the trouble, doesn’t it?
All the times in the past we broke up, I always knew we’d get back together at some point, but the feeling I have
this time is very different Jay. I can’t explain it really, I just know it’s for good. I wish her all the happiness
in the world, really I do, but I think I’m glad it’s over.
I took a chance with KC last night and gave her my opinion of her fiancé. I told her no man should treat
a woman that way and she owed it to herself to find out if her friends are right. I gotta tell you, that Godis
and BabyShuis made a lot of sense. There is definitely something fishy about this JL character.
KC seemed to appreciate my comments. At any rate she didn’t tell me to go screw myself and she’s going to tail
him tonight. Considering the time difference, she’s probably hot on his trail as I write this. I told her for her
sake I hope things work out the way she wants them to.
Remember my "sleepy" clue? Well, my little sleuth figured it out! Can you believe that? I have a feeling
the reason she figured it out is because she is from New England herself. I asked her in my last note. We’ll see
if she gives me a straight answer. She’ll have every reason not to after what I’ve put her through! LOL.
Well, I’m going to read my mail and finish my lunch now. I want you to know I haven’t checked my mail since 6am!
Later,
Luis
He sent his email to his friend and then checked his own
mail. He was right, there was a letter from KC.
Dear Pezz,
I’ll be leaving here in just a few minutes, but I wanted to drop you a note before I leave. I wish I could say
I have back up, but it’s just little old me. I don’t know any cops from Maine who can help me out! LOL. I’ve decided
not to confront him if I find him. I’m bringing a camera with me and I’ll take pictures if I have to, but I don’t
think I’ll need it.
So I surprised you with my powers of deductive reasoning did I? I should make you suffer the way you’re making
me suffer, but I am much kinder than you. Yes, my hometown is in New England. It’s funny, but I’ve really been
homesick lately. I’ve spent most of my life in Paris and the only relative that I am remotely close to is my nephew,
but I long to see the small town I once called home. Do you realize I’ve only been home a few times since I was
a little girl? I probably wouldn’t even recognize it if I saw it.
Well, time for me to go. I’ll write when I get home, I promise. We don’t need you turning into your mother, now
do we? :)
Take care and thanks for all the support you’ve given me.
KC
P.S. Get some sleep soon! By now you probably really need it!
Luis couldn’t help it, he had to send a quick response
to KC. He sat back grinning while he finished his lunch.
KC,
Thanks for being so considerate of me. Somehow I don’t think PezzWoman has the same pizzazz as PezzMan now does
it?
Pezz
Sheridan sat at a small table outside the bistro on the left bank sipping a glass of red wine reading a copy of
The New York Times. She kept her eyes peeled for Jean Luc who she expected to arrive at any moment.
After several more minutes of carefully flipping the pages of the newspaper, she spotted Jean Luc walking hurriedly
down the street. Her heart caught in her throat when he sat down at the table next to her. She raised her paper
slightly to completely hide her face from Jean Luc’s view. Thankfully, he wasn’t the least bit interested in anyone
or anything around him. He seemed to be preoccupied with something.
Sheridan watched while he ordered his wine and cheese and busily fidgeted with his cell phone. He nervously glanced
at his watch every few minutes and scanned the pedestrians walking by. Luckily, however, he didn’t look in her
direction. She had to be careful not to let Jean Luc see her. The last thing she needed was to be caught.
After about fifteen minutes, Sheridan’s patience paid off. A man she’d seen Jean Luc talking with several times
at his apartment joined him at his table. The two men shook hands, Jean Luc took a final sip of his wine and left
some money to pay his check. Sheridan gathered her wits and prepared to leave immediately after they did. She listened
as they laughed jovially, as two friends would, not business acquaintances.
Sheridan gave them about a thirty second head start before she headed off in the direction they’d gone in. Sure
enough, it looked like they were headed straight for the infamous restaurant that Jean Luc had stood her up in
twice and broken their date once. "What is it about this place?" Sheridan whispered to herself as she
followed in such a manner that anyone who suspected they were being followed would have spotted her long ago. Luckily
for Sheridan, Jean Luc apparently didn’t believe there was need to check for anyone following him.
Sheridan allowed several minutes to pass after the men entered the restaurant before she finally slipped inside
when several other couples had gathered at the entrance. She separated from the group at the front of the restaurant
by finding her way to the ladies room for a moment to compose herself. "Get hold of yourself Sheridan"
she said to herself as she splashed cold water on her face. "He’s probably not meeting anyone here. He and
that friend of him are probably just having a guy’s night out." The words flowed easily from Sheridan’s mouth,
but her heart didn’t believe one of them. From the moment she saw Jean Luc in the bistro, she knew something was
going to happen tonight and any minute now she was going to find out what.
Taking a cleansing breath, Sheridan left the ladies room and slowly walked towards the main dining room. Standing
next to a large potted plant for some cover, Sheridan’s keen eyes scanned the room for a glimpse of Jean Luc. At
first she couldn’t find him anywhere, but when she let her gaze fall to the table closest to her, she saw him.
Immediately she took a step back. He was almost so close she could reach out and touch him, but the words she heard
next, made her stop dead in her tracks.
"Jean Luc" a woman with flowing auburn hair cooed, "it’s so sweet of you to meet me here for dinner
so often. I don’t know when I’d ever get to see you with our schedules the way they are right now."
Jean Luc flashed her a seductive smile and kissed her softly on the lips. "I would do anything for my beautiful
wife" Jean Luc responded. "I miss you when you have to work at the theatre across the street. Home much
longer must I endure your absence?"
"Mon Cheri, not long, I promise you. The run for the play is almost over. Besides, in another few months,
the theatre company will have to find a new leading lady" Jean Luc’s wife said as she rubbed her belly soothingly.
Sheridan stood there completely in shock, unable to move. Tears began falling down her cheeks and she had to cover
her mouth to prevent a cry from escaping her lips.
"Marrying you was the best thing I have ever done Renée." He then looked at his friend who was
sitting across the table with another woman. "I have my good friend Paul here to thank for that. He convinced
me to put my bachelor days behind me and marry the most beautiful woman in all of Paris."
"Well, I thank God for Paul then" Renée grinned as she rubbed her hand slowly up Jean Luc’s thigh.
"If we hadn’t gotten married two months ago today, people might talk about this baby."
"No one will ever talk about my wife that way" Jean Luc said with a twinkle in his eye. He then leaned
in closer to Renée and giggled in her ear. "Besides, this baby was conceived on our honeymoon. or have
you forgotten how many times..."
"Jean Luc!" Renée said hitting his arm lightly. "We have company tonight."
Sheridan had heard enough. She turned and made as much distance between the scene she’d witnessed in the restaurant
and herself as she possibly could. She’d gone over different scenarios in her head of what might happen tonight,
but this definitely wasn’t one of them. All she wanted to do right now was go home and cry.
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