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they knew they’d caught their naughty kids in the act. “I’m expecting you both to get along with each other.”
    “Okay,” Kate said sheepishly, unable to stop the guilt from seeping out in her expression. Judith knew her too well. “We’ll become the best of buddies.”
    “Good. Now that it’s finally settled, let’s enjoy the show. Come on. We’re causing a scene.” Judith grabbed Kate ’s hand and pulled her to the next exhibit .
    ~
    “ Y ou what?” Paul shouted into the phone late Wednesday night . How could she?
    “I told Kate she could ride with us to Tahoe,” she repeated . Unfortunately, before hitting a bulls-eye with that news, she’d fired an earlier round — this one reiterating they were only going as friends .
    Nothing new, there ! It was all too much . “ Why w ould you promise something like that without talking to me first ? Especially when you know she irritates the hell out of me?”
    “It’s only a ride,” she stated in an exasperated tone . “ You know it’s only for a couple of hours .”
    Which was a couple of hours too many for his liking when he’d planned to share the time with Judith . Alone . Paul rubbed his neck and sighed , thankful she hadn’t canceled outright — his first thought upon answering her call .
    For as long as he’d known her, Judith kept up a wall around her heart and never let him get too close, even going so far as to define their relationship as f riendship . T o him, she was more than a friend — always had been — from the moment ten-year-old Paul first caught a glimpse of the shy girl on his neighborhood swim team . H e’d been smitten ever since .
    Like Judith, Paul had been shy, much too shy to approach her, but he never tired of just being around her during those many summers of daily swim practice . He w atch ed as she matured over that decade, and was reminded of a butterfly emerging from a cocoon . L ike all beautiful butterflies, she had a fragility about her , a fragility that brought out his protective side . Quiet and introverted, she rarely spoke unless she felt totally comfortable in the situation .
    That aspect never changed even after he came out of his shell in high school . Yet , when he observed her at that point, he noticed something new . She missed nothing in her world ; s he just chose not to engage in it . This intrigued him, and over time she became a challenge . He wanted to be the one to break through the thin barrier she presented to the world, and he wanted her to love him, as he’d always loved her.
    D uring most of his teens , Judith had no clue he even existed . Despite that, she’d always been close to him, in his mind and heart, and for too many years Paul had kept his feelings secret .
    “I don’t get it,” she asked, yanking him back to the present . “What is it with you two?”
    “Nothing, I just don’t like her.”
    “Why ? She’s never done anything to you to deserve such treatment and , according to Kate , you’re always on her case . I’ve never understood why.”
    “She’s always chasing after James, and never picks up on the truth . It’s not going to happen with him.”
    “But , Paul, that’s her business — it’s between her and James.”
    “I know . I t just makes me mad to watch.”
    “Aren’t you being judgmental?”
    “Maybe, but it’s how I see it .” A slight edge of guilt slipped into his consciousness and he couldn’t ignore the niggling voice that told him she had a point . What was worse, his opinionated apple didn’t fall far from the tree . But he didn’t want to think about that.
    “Well, you’re both acting like children . It’s very immature and tiring to deal with . Now promise me she can go with us and you’ll be nice to her.”
    “God, why do I let you talk me into these things?” he asked, realizing he was fighting a losing battle .
    Paul could hear the smile in her voice as she said, “Because you’re a really nice guy underneath all that