Share the road part 4 (last)

Jill beamed. He turned to me.

“Mr. McLoughlin, you did an excellent job as well. I’ll call you the next time I need an engineer.”

“As long as the State’s not involved. I learned my lesson this time. These enforced separations are no fun at all.”

“Well, I can tell you what I did when I caught the prettiest girl in town looking at me the way Ms. Williams looks at you. That was thirty five years, three kids, and a bunch of grandkids ago. You need to sort this out for yourselves, though.”

He put a hand on my shoulder and pulled me with him as he turned to go, speaking quietly.

“You’ve got quite a left hook, son. I would have done the same thing, but don’t make a habit of it, OK?”

He slapped me on the back and walked off without waiting for a response. Jill shook her head and slid her hand into mine.

“My knight errant rides again. I should probably be mad at you for punching that creep over me, but somehow I’m not feeling it.”

“He must be one of those ones you refused to go out with.”

“How did you know?”

“Recognized the type. What a loser. Anyway, can I take you to dinner?”

“I need to go unload all my trial materials at the office. How about I bring dinner to your place when I’m done?”

“Sure. Pack a bag and bring a nice dress or two. We’re going away for the weekend.”

“Where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Jill couldn’t stop yawning over dinner, and wandered off toward the back of my house soon after. She was sound asleep in my bed when I went to look for her. I did my chores and eventually crawled in with her, and she curled up to me without waking up. The trial had really worn her out. I woke her up early the next morning. She smiled and kissed me.

“I almost forgot how much I like waking up with you.