Free Carol's Image by Maryann Jordan Page A

just taking time with her food. She forced herself to focus on Tom and their conversation, not mentally calculating the calories. Why am I doing this now? I have been so healthy! It’s that damn invitation from my parents, being here with Tom, and that bitch, Anita.
    Their conversation flowed as they swapped stories of her adventures in the ER and his adventures as a detective.
    “So tell me about your two friends that were in the ER with you?” she asked.
    “You saw me there and didn’t come in and say somethin’? Hell Carol, you could’ve saved me weeks of lookin’ for you,” he admonished.
    “How was I to know you were interested?” she shot back.
    Tom just shook his head in frustration. “Clueless.”
    “Would you stop saying that?”
    Holding her eyes with his, “Angel, anyone who looks like you ought to know, any man would be interested.”
    “Carol? Carol Fletcher?” a male voice came from behind them.
    Tom turned, scowling at the interruption, his irritation focused on a man, dressed in an expensive suit, walking over toward them. Tall, slender, with his dark brown hair styled as though he spent a great deal of time in a salon. The man never looked over at Tom, but kept his eyes on Carol as he approached.
    Confusion, replaced by recognition showed on Carol’s face. “Ronald?”
    Ronald Harriston, the son of one of her father’s associates and a man her father had deemed worthy to be husband material, kept walking until he was right next to Carol, on the opposite side of Tom. Leaning down he kissed her cheek, causing Carol to jerk back uncomfortably. Tom, already irritated at the interruption, was willing to make a concession to a friend of hers, but seeing her reaction he stood up quickly, moving forward forcing Ronald to step back.
    Carol attempted an introduction to intervene. “Ronald, it’s been a long time. Tom, this is Ronald Harriston, a friend of my father. Ronald, this is Tom, my da…”
    “Her boyfriend,” Tom finished. Taking control of the situation, he placed his left hand possessively on the back of Carol’s neck, extending his right hand toward Ronald.
    Ronald looked surprised but shook Tom’s hand nonetheless. “Your father hadn’t mentioned that you were seeing someone.” Sizing Tom up, he continued, “I’m more than just a family friend, I am an old friend of Carol’s.”
    Bristling, Carol stated, “I don’t report everything to my father, Ronald. I haven’t for a long time, as I’m sure you know.” Outwardly calm, she could feel the panic building. The invitation. I’ve got to deal with that soon.
    “Your parents miss you, Carol. They say you don’t come around very often to see them.”
    “I see them occasionally.” Anger mixed with the panic, made Carol feel lightheaded. You can do this. You can do this. “You know as well as anyone that they don’t approve of my career.”
    “So you’re still playing nurse at the hospital.”
    “Playing?” Carol sputtered.
    Tom moved so that his body was between Carol and Ronald, forcing Ronald’s eyes up to his. “I think it is time you moved on.”
    The feeling of being out of control overtook Carol. She looked down at the food still left on her plate, the smell of it turning her stomach. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I’ll be right back,” she said as she moved past Tom, walking toward the restrooms.
    Ronald watched her momentarily before turning back to Tom, realizing his mistake upon seeing the fury on his face.
    Tom growled, “As an old friend, you get one pass, man and that was it. I catch you starin’ at my woman’s ass again you’ll be eatin’ through a straw. You got me?”
    Ronald smirked, “I apologize. Good evening.” He turned and moved away, leaving the restaurant.
    Fuck. A perfect dinner ruined by that asshole. And Anita. Could it get any worse? Getting angrier by the moment, he forced himself to calm down. Glancing toward the ladies’ room, he noticed an older woman approaching him.