Page 37 of Codename: Dustoff
The shoe conversation got cut short. The name “Jones” and his special ring tone lit up my phone.
“Now I wonder why on earth you’d be calling me, two hours after you sent me a text message.”
“Amelia, it is so good to hear your voice.” Jones sounded relieved, actually. It was the first time I’d heard him sound more congenial than gruff, “and to hear such delight in it. You sound really happy Sanchez. And there is no one I’d rather have all the happiness delivered to her feet than you.”
“Well, I hope you’d wish that for your soon to be wife, as well, otherwise this could get a little awkward.”
He laughed a loud belly laugh, drawing a giggle from me. Laughing like that was something that hadn’t happened with enough frequency to remember the last time I had. It felt, strange, but really good.
“Touché. Yes, her too. And speaking of significant others. A boyfriend for Amelia Sanchez? God I am just, speechless. It really set my mind at ease, knowing you’ve found peace, and love, and you’ve grabbed hold of them. He sounds like he’s a really great stand-up guy.”
“What do you mean he sounds like a stand-up guy? I’ve never mentioned him to you before. I mean—it’s still kind of new.”
“I know, he told me when he called me this morning to tell me the good news about you coming to the wedding. He insisted that you didn’t need any help paying for a ticket, but shit Sanchez, I’m so damn excited to see you, I went ahead and bought one for you anyway. Emmett too. I just—can’t wait to meet him and to catch up on what’s been going on in your life lately.”
Speechless. My mouth opened and closed, trying to form words but nothing came out. My brain jumbled with too many converging thoughts.
“Listen, we’re crazy here with wedding plans so I probably shouldn’t hang on the phone for too long. But I’ll see you in two weeks!”
With that the phone disconnected. I sat staring at it for what seemed like hours. But given the dress shop was less than fifteen minutes outside of town, it couldn’t possibly have been that long. It wasn’t long at all before we pulled up to the Tavern. Standing outside shooting the shit with the UPS guy, was exactly the person I needed to talk to.