Read A Christmas Peril (The Teacup Novellas - Book Five) for Free Online Page B

transparent?
    “Lieutenant ‍—‍ ”
    “ Gary .”
    I looked into his eyes, so
inviting, so . . . sincere? I wanted desperately to believe him,
but I knew enough from my years at Northwestern to never trust a guy’s sweet
talking ways.
    “ Gary , you’re very nice. But how many times
have you used that line on other girls? How many times have you told a girl you
want to know ‘everything’ about her? How many times ‍—‍ ”
    “It doesn’t matter, I’m ‍—‍ ”
    “Yes, it does!” I abruptly
started making my way down the station sidewalk.
    He rushed up beside me,
slapping his cap on his head. “All right ‌—‌ I agree. It does matter.” He fell in step with
me. “What will it take for you to give me a break? I just want to walk you
home. Is that so much to ask?”
    I kept walking, the battle
between my head and my heart raging on. What would Father say if I walked
through the door with a stranger? In uniform, no less! I said nothing, because
I couldn’t think of a thing to say. We walked in silence for a half block or
so.
    “Aren’t you even going to
answer me?”
    He sounded so pitiful, I almost
laughed. I bit the side of my lip, trying to appear contemplative. What could
it hurt to let the lieutenant suffer a bit? Let him stew for a while.
    After another block, in my
periphery I saw his shoulders slump in resignation along with a weary sigh.
Still, he kept pace with me. Thinking he looked like a little puppy tagging
along, I had to press my lips together to keep from chuckling.
    And who can resist a cute
little puppy?
    I turned the corner, and
he was halfway into the street before he noticed. He rushed over to my side,
whistling as though he hadn’t a care in the world. When I turned at our
driveway, he stopped. I gazed over my shoulder at him as I headed toward my
house.
    “Well? Are you coming,
Lieutenant?”
    Once inside, Mother gave
him a warm welcome.
    “Lieutenant Gary Reynolds,
this is my mother, Elizabeth Alexander.”
    Gary sent a triumphant
smile my way, having finally learned our last name. “How very nice to meet you,
Mrs. Alexander. It
was such a pleasure getting to know your lovely daughter on the train this
afternoon. Thank you for allowing me to stop by for a few minutes.”
    Little Jack, always shy at
first with strangers, gradually warmed to our guest, sneaking peeks at Gary when he wasn’t looking. I had to laugh
when I caught Gary making a silly face at Jack, who giggled
before hiding his face behind Mother’s skirt.
    Of course, Mother insisted
Lieutenant Reynolds should stay for dinner. When Father arrived home, he gave
our guest a more guarded welcome, glancing my direction when he noticed the
uniform. But just as Jack had, Father gradually warmed to Gary too.
    Later, at the dinner table,
he asked Gary about his plans after the war.
    “I hope to return to the University of Illinois to complete my degree in architecture.”
    “And your folks, Gary ‌—‌ do they still live here
in Chicago ?” Mother asked.
    “Yes, ma’am, they’re still
living in the house I grew up in, over on Yale Avenue .”
    “I’m sure they must be
thrilled to have you home for a visit.” Mother handed him the plate of
biscuits.
    “Yes, ma’am, they sure
are.” He took a biscuit and passed the plate to Father. “Of course, my mother is
worried sick about me heading over to the war. My brother deported last month,
and she’s not too keen about having two sons so far away.”
    “I can’t imagine,” Mother
said. “I don’t envy her.”
    Father continued to engage
Gary, asking lots of questions, but I could tell he was still checking out the
lieutenant from head to toe.
    Gary turned to Father. “Mr. Alexander,
Lucille tells me you’re in management over at Armour.”
    Father took a sip of tea
then dabbed his mouth with his napkin. “Yes, I’m the plant employment manager.
I oversee hiring and personnel matters.”
    “World’s largest
meat-packing plant. You must