Chapter 6. Just Colleagues

FRIDAY, 5:20 P.M.
*

*
“Ow!  Ow!  Stop hitting me!” Sean said before doubling over, laughing.
*
“You…you ass!  Now I know why you waited until I was already in the damn car to tell me!  How could you do this to me? ” I demanded, trying to incinerate him with my glare.
*
“Eddie….” Sean said cajolingly.  “It’s just my sister and–”
*
“And your mother!  And I’m dressed in my stupid t-shirt and my silly purple-laced sneakers and I have on no makeup!” I snapped.
*
*
*

*
“Baby, I think you’re beautiful.  Quit freaking out!  You look fine!” Sean said.
*
“I can’t meet your mother and sister tonight!  I need time to…to…” I trailed off, searching for the right words.
*
“To stop hyperventilating?” he asked.  When I reared up to start hitting him again he hopped back and said, “Hey! There are witnesses–you don’t want to be arrested for battering your boyfriend at a gas station, now do you?”
*
My eyes widened when he referred to himself as my boyfriend.
*
*
*

*
“Less than twenty-four hours have passed since we….we uh….” I stammered.
*
“Agreed to start seeing each other romantically?” Sean prompted.
*
“Yeah.  Less than twenty-four hours!  And you’re already introducing me to your family!” I  said.
*
“I’ve already met your parents!” Sean laughed.
*
“That’s different!” I snapped.
*
*
*

*
“Look, Eddie…it’s not like I did this on purpose.  I’d already set up the visit before we agreed to start dating.  All they know is that I’m bringing a colleague along because we’re going into Chestnut Park for a case.  My mom lives just outside Chestnut Park.” Sean explained.
*
“So….so they think I’m just a colleague?” I asked.
*
“So far.  And if you really want, I won’t say anything about us dating….this visit.”  Sean said.
*
“Really?” I asked.
*
*
*

*
“Really.” Sean said, smiling.  “But just a word of warning–they’ll pick up on it anyway.”
*
“Don’t tell me that!  You’re a great actor.  I have faith in your abilities.” I said.
*
“I can’t act around my family–they know me too well.”  He stared at me a few beats before adding, “You know, you are the strangest thing.  You’ve been in truly dangerous situations and faced them head on–and yet you tremble at the idea of meeting members of my family?”
*
“I’m just…messed up.” I said.  “I’m sorry.  I warned you.”
*
“I can handle it.  It’ll be worth it.” Sean said.  “Now, can I fuel up the car, or are you going to beat me up some more?”
*
*
*

*
By the time we were back on the road, I’d managed to calm down enough to realize that I had a lot of questions.
*
“You said you had something to take care of there, so I know this isn’t just a social visit.  What’s going on?” I asked.
*
I heard him take a deep breath before he answered me.
*
“My sister has requested my investigative services.” he said.
*
I waited for him to continue, and when he didn’t I finally said, “And?”
*
“Darcy couldn’t tell me too much about it on the phone, but….she thinks her husband might be cheating on her.” Sean said.
*
“An infidelity case?  Wow.” I said.  “I thought Rocca Investigations wouldn’t accept those.”
*
*
*

*
“Normally we don’t.  We did when we first opened, but as soon as we started breaking even and building up clientele, we started turning them down.  But it’s my sister.  It’s more like a favor, really.  I’m not going to charge her.” Sean said.
*
This is certainly not the way I want to meet his sister.
*
“This is certainly not the best time to meet your sister.” I said.
*
“Tell me about it.  Believe me, I thought about telling her no.” Sean said.
*
*
*

*
“So her name is Darcy, and she’s married to Jeff.” I prompted, resigned to the fact that it was going to happen.  I wanted to gather as much information as possible, as if it were little bits of armor I could hide behind.
*
“Yes.  She’s my eldest sister.” Sean said.
*
“How many siblings do you have?” I asked.
*
“Three.  Two older sisters, one younger brother.  Darcy, Eileen, and Liam.” Sean replied.
*
*
*

*
“A younger brother?” I asked.  “How old is he?  For that matter, how old are you?”  I’d never thought to ask, and interrogating him was proving to be a welcome distraction.  Otherwise, I’d dwell on the fact that I was going to meet his mother.  And his sister.
*
“Liam is twenty-five.  And I’m twenty-seven.” Sean said.
*
“Huh.” I said.  I was younger than Sean’s youngest brother…it was by less than a year, but still.  “Maybe I should meet Liam.  Is he married or engaged?” I asked.   I wasn’t over the whole surprise visit thing yet, and I was feeling vindictive.
*
*
*

*
“No, he’s unattached.  But you are not.  Unless I misunderstood what our talk was about last night.” he said softly.  His voice sounded odd…like he was actually concerned that I was serious.
*
My irritation evaporated, and I even felt a little guilty.
*
“It’s true that I’m sorta attached.” I said in an airy tone.  “Guess I’ll have to pass him up–which is a shame, because if he’s even half as hot as his older brother, then I’m really missing out.”
*
Sean’s slow smile was my reward.  “You already have the older brother.  Don’t be greedy.”

*

*

*

A little extra for those who are interested–Lookit! I made a gas station!

• September 12, 2010
• An Edith Prescott Mystery: Story 3
• 32 Comments