Crumbling Walls (Jack and Emily #1) Read online

  “I can pay for myself you know.”

  “Not on this date, girl. I’m going to give you the red carpet treatment for under 20 bucks.”

  Taken aback by his wording, “A date?”

  His lips curled slightly at the edges, his eyes lighting up, “Well, we should probably go on one eventually. Might as well get it out of the way.”

  And with that, she moved closer and kissed him on the cheek, “How ‘bout I get out of work at seven-thirty?”

  ▪▪▪

  In the interim before their date, Emily was assigned a project in art class; draw a classmate. With stipulations of course: use a medium not familiar to them, must be done outside the confines of the classroom, must not be posed and each person must work at least 3 hours.

  Tim, of course, got the same project and given the two were friends, they chose to draw each other. Asking her after class, “When do you want to get this started?”

  “I work until eight all week.”

  “What about the weekend?”

  “I’m free Saturday morning and most of Sunday.”

  “Well, I have to work until seven-thirty Friday, so we could meet about eight-fifteen and start then, maybe?”

  She nodded, “Your house?”

  “Well, my house would probably be easiest. I can’t imagine your mom would want you to have a guy at your place without her home.” Her look of confusion made him smile, “Jack mentioned your mom works late.”

  “Oh, yeah. Forgot. Sorry.”

  “S’okay.” As they made their way out of the classroom, Tim asked “So, any idea what you’ll work in?”

  “I’ve always wanted to try my hand at pen and ink but I think the size requirements will slow me down so I guess I’ll see how I do in pastels. I rarely touch those. You?”

  “I was thinking either charcoals or crayon.”

  “Crayon? As in Crayola?”

  “Mmm-hmm. Never did a picture in those before.”

  She laughed outright at this, “I’m gonna be rendered in crayon. How cool is that?”

  “Very.”

  ▪▪▪

  That Friday night, Jack, for a change, which he pointed out to Emily, walked her back to his house instead of her own. “You seem awfully tired. I’m sure Tim’ll understand if you don’t want to do this now.”

  With another yawn, “Well, it’s due next Monday and I’m drawing him tomorrow so this is all we’ve got. I’ll be fine.”

  “Well, at least you don’t have to deal with most of the posse tonight. Three of the four are at a camp out/birthday party kind of thing, so it’s only Mom, Dad and Sam tonight.”

  “I don’t know that I’ve ever managed to see you all together. I’m gonna begin to wonder if there really are that many of you or you just make them up for sympathy sake.”

  “No one could ever concoct these people out of thin air, trust me.”

  Finally making their way inside, Mrs. Callaghan came down the hall, wiping her hands on a dish towel, “Hi. You must be Emily. Nice to finally meet you.”

  Holding out her hand, “You too ma’am.”

  With a smile, she gave a firm handshake, “Please call me Elizabeth. Ma’am reminds me that I do indeed have six children running rampant in the world.”

  “Yes ma’am … I mean, Elizabeth.”

  “Very good.” Turning to Jack, “If either of you are hungry, the leftovers are in the fridge. Tim’s in the living room, probably already finished and licking his plate hoping for more. Your dad and me’ll be upstairs keeping Sam out of your hair.”

  And then she was gone, running up the stairs yelling, “If you started that movie without me, there’s going to be tickling involved.”

  “I think I like your mom.”

  As Jack walked her into the kitchen, “Yeah, I think I do too.”

  ▪▪▪

  Moving to the living room, she asked Tim, who was indeed nearly licking his plate, “So, where do you want me?”

  “Anywhere I guess. What would you normally be doing if you weren’t here?”

  “Probably sitting on my couch, doing my homework.”

  “Then why don’t you do that. You won’t be moving too much and you can still get something done.”

  Jack immediately went to retrieve their book bags from the front hall, dumping them on the coffee table, “Might as well get some of my own stuff done.”

  As the pair dug up the proper books and settled in, Tim sat himself against the wall, a brand new box of 128 Crayola crayons on the floor beside him and a piece of laminated counter top on his lap, “Found it years ago in the garage. Perfect size for holding paper.”

  Before cracking her history book, “I’ve got an old slab of Formica I found in the trash one day. It’s a bit awkward, but it’ll do for now.”

  “Well, ignore me and try not to move too much, but talking’s fine.” Taking up his first crayon, “Here we go.”

  ▪▪▪

  At first he was having some trouble with the picture, but about twenty minutes later, an odd thing happened.

  Emily fell asleep.

  She was sitting beside Jack and the combined warmth of him and the quiet of the house took its toll. First her eyes began to get heavier, then her head tilted to the side and finally, she leaned a little more, resting her head on Jack’s shoulder. From there, she was out in a matter of seconds.

  Tim finally saw his picture. Whispering to Jack, “Don’t wake her up.”

  Jack, in his own glorious heaven at the moment, “Are you kidding? I’m not going to breathe if I can help it.”

  Giving his brother a grin, Tim moved to a new sheet of paper and began working quickly and confidently.

  He worked diligently for the next two hours while she slept peacefully on his brother’s arm. Jack, in turn, took his own nap, head resting gently on hers.

  Eventually, Tim’s hand cramped up and his neck screamed for movement. Sitting back, he studied his paper with extreme satisfaction, only looking up when Jack asked quietly, “Can I see it?”

  “Nope. Not until after class. You know nobody sees my stuff early.”

  “Like that's ever gonna stop me from asking.”

  “I’m just gonna run this upstairs.” Gathering up the worn down crayons, “Think we should wake her up?”

  Pushing a fallen piece of hair from her cheek, “I hate to but I probably should.” Gently tapping her cheek, “Emily? Hey, Em, time to wake up.”

  Tim left him to the task and went to stash his supplies upstairs. Coming back into the living room, he found Emily squinting at his brother in confusion, “Jack?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Did I fall asleep?”

  As she sat up, he was able to shift, get off the couch and finally stretch his arm out, “For a couple of hours actually. It’s about ten-thirty.”

  She sat bolt upright, “What about Tim’s picture? Why didn’t you wake me up?”

  Tim picked up one of his stray crayons, “I’m all done. Well, mostly done. I’ll do the finishing touches tomorrow or Sunday.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” Letting off a yawn that nearly split her head in two, “The picture’s okay though?”

  Tim nodded as he slipped his coat on, “More than okay, trust me.”

  Jack grinned at him, “You going out?”

  “Yeah. I called Sarah while I was upstairs to let her know I was done. I’m gonna go get her and maybe see a late movie.”

  Emily looked at him with interest, “Sarah Wheaton? When did that happen?”

  Heading out of the living room, “’Bout two minutes ago. She finally said yes.”

  Emily shook her head with a smile, “How long’s he been working on her?”

  “Since our first day.”

  “Wow, most guys would have given up by now.”

  “You’ve gotta know Tim though. He’s a persistent pain in the ass when he wants to be.”

  “Are there any Callaghan’s who aren’t persistent?”
/>   “Not that I know of.” Moving to stand in front of her, “So, we have a few choices. We can do some more homework, I can walk you home or we can watch a movie or some TV?”

  “What do you want to do?”

  “Well, I don’t want to do any homework and I definitely don’t want you to go home, so how ‘bout we dig us up a movie and make some popcorn?”

  Hoping he would decide that, she kept her happiness in check, “Works for me.”

  “Then why don’t you find us something to watch while I get the food and tell Ma and Dad we’re staying here for awhile.”

  Looking around dumbly, “And I would look for movies where?”

  “The door on the side of the TV.” After he left, she got up and opened the correct door. She was immediately engrossed in reading titles and examining covers. Jack came back about five minutes later, a large bowl of popcorn in his hands, “What’re we watching?”

  “I have no idea. I’m still in shock at how many you have.”

  Sitting the bowl down, then dropping next to her, “Are you reading each one?”

  With a nod, “Yeah. How else will I know what they’re about?”

  “You mean you haven’t seen any of these?”

  Emily shook her head, slightly embarrassed at this point, “I don’t have a TV or a DVD player.”

  Now Jack was just shocked, “Are you serious?”

  After shrugging, she changed the subject, “Which one will I enjoy?”

  Knowing when to follow a topic change, he went along, “Well, do you like being scared but in a sciency, serial killer kind of way?”

  “I have no idea.”

  Pulling out a box from the bottom of the shelves, “I think it may be time to introduce you to a little something we like to call the best scary show on TV. Or, at least used to be on TV.” Holding up a DVD, “The X-Files.”

  “Am I going to wake up screaming?”

  “Hope not, but if you do, call me up and I’ll come chase away the monsters.” Finally standing and turning off the living room light, “I may be forced to show up in my pajamas and beat them away with a Mag-Lite, but I’ll be there nonetheless.”

  As both settled down on the couch in the now partially lit room, the bowl of popcorn between them, “Thanks.”

  With a grin, he hit the play button, “Welcome.”

  ▪▪▪

  Jack walked her to her front door for the first time that evening. Usually it was a garden gate drop off, but given it was after dark, he followed her to the door.

  “So, when are you gonna show me some more of those?”

  Jack laughed, “Hooked after one episode. That’s gotta be a record.”

  “What can I say? I love a good bowl of free popcorn.”

  Sliding his fingers into hers, “You’re coming back over tomorrow morning right?”

  “Yup. Eight o’clock ... Tim has to be at work by noon so that’ll give me plenty of time.”

  “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  At this point, he should have left the porch, but he didn’t and Emily should have made him go, but she didn’t. Instead they stood there, just holding hands for a minute or two until Emily asked, “Was I okay while I was asleep?”

  Seeing the worry suddenly cloud her face, “What do you mean?”

  “Did I, um, say anything or do anything while I was asleep?”

  “You mean during your nap? No, why? Do you sleep walk or something?”

  As a flood of relief washed over her, “Something like that.”

  He wanted to ask more, but opted not to, “I should really go.”

  “Yeah, probably.” But instead of turning, she came closer and kissed him once again on the cheek, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  ▪▪▪

  The next morning she arrived bright and early, beat-up tackle box in tow and board under her arm. Tim answered, rubbing his head and yawning, “Come on in. Let me just brush my teeth and we can start.”

  Emily was then left to awkwardly stand in the front hall, alone and wondering if she should just wait or head into the living room. She also wondered where Jack might be, but Tim came back from the bathroom by then, “Well, where would you like me?”

  “I guess I’ll ask you what you asked me. What would you be doing right now if I wasn’t here?”

  “Given that my manager called and asked if I could work tomorrow, I’d probably be working on finishing up my picture of you.”

  “Then go get it and I’ll draw you drawing.”

  Tim’s face lit up, “Cool. Kill two birds with one stone kind of thing. Back in a second.”

  Retrieving the picture from his room, they were soon both settled on the floor, Emily hunkered on the old sheet she’d brought with her to control the pastel vs. carpet issue while Tim sat on the floor, his board propped up on a pile of old books.

  So intent on the task at hand were they that neither heard Jack shuffle into the kitchen. He even stood in the archway for several minutes watching the pair of them work, wondering if he should bother them at all. Opting not to, he instead grabbed a banana and an apple and went back to his room.

  Tim soon finished his drawing, but given Emily seemed to be going strong, he quietly switched to a new piece of paper. With his favorite nub of a pencil he began a series of rough sketches of her, particularly her expressions, which changed with every passing moment. Her arched eyebrow, her furrowed forehead and the best one, in his opinion, her darting tongue. In moments of total concentration, it sneaked its way out of the corner of her mouth, the tip of it wiggling as she chewed, lost in her pastel world. He had to keep from smiling about it, but once, he slipped, just as she looked up at him, “Why are you smiling?”

  “What? A guy needs a reason to smile now?”

  “My tongue was hanging out, wasn't it?”

  Grinning even wider, “How does that thing not dry out, flapping there all the time?”

  “It does, at times.” Sticking it out further in his direction, “Now go back to your picture. I've only got another half-hour to finish this.”

  Already planning on drawing her at least another dozen times, he settled back against the couch, “Yes, ma'am.”

  ▪▪▪

  The magic of the quiet living room was broken around eleven o’clock when the rest of the boys came home, tumbling through the door with shouts and yells.

  Barely seconds before the boys reached them, Emily managed to save her picture from the onslaught of feet by holding the board above her head. Tim mirrored her action after slipping all his drawings into the pad of paper and shutting them in safely.

  Tim called over the din, “Whoa guys. Precious homework here. Watch it.”

  The boys slowed down, finally realizing Emily was grinning in the corner, old board held high, “Sorry Emily.”

  “S’okay. Just watch the supplies, please.”

  The kids looked down and gingerly stepped away from the sheet, “Where’re Mom and Dad?”

  Tim shrugged, “Not sure. I know they left early this morning with Sam. I think they were going grocery shopping or something.”

  “Well, we’re gonna go to the park, okay? We’ll be back by three. Dave’s got a watch.”

  Waving them away, “Just be careful. And hey, take something to eat with you. I know Mom just bought a huge box of granola bars.”

  Already heading back out of the room, “Okay.”

  Once the room had returned to its original state of peace and quiet, “You all right over there?”

  She smiled, “Yeah. Just kind of shell-shocked, I guess you’d say.”

  “Yeah, it tends to happen to new people.”

  Jack’s voice drifted from the kitchen, “This was nothing compared to what a meal looks like.” Coming into the living room, “Speaking of which, anybody hungry for lunch?”

  Her stomach growled her answer, “A little.”

  “Then come on in. I was gonna cook some Mac and Cheese. You want any, Tim?”

  Looking at
his watch, “No, but thanks. I’ve gotta go get ready for work.” Trying to look around Emily’s shoulder as he walked by, “Do I get a peek?”