If At First

Part 17 - Chapter 16

"Well it doesn't happen often, but in this case I'm actually sorry to disappoint." He said, "Though, I hope it wasn't because of any resemblance you could find between us."

"Oh no, not at all! Haven just said that he was going to have Greenleigh watch him, so I assumed. I wasn't even looking, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, I offered to give Greenleigh a break." He looked down at Jack, "It seems my brother's dog considers you one of the very few people he doesn't want to eat. Damn thing can't stand me. Tried to bite my calf about a half-block ago."

"Jack," I glowered at him, though he was shamelessly happy to see me, "Bad dog." I smiled into his clueless face and returned my attention to his walker, "I'm so sorry about that; I was with Haven when we...did you say your brother's dog?"

"Yes. Oh, I'm Weston. Haven's brother. -You are?"

"Tabitha. I'm Haven's ...er, we found Jack in the woods together."

"Of course." He smiled wryly. "I was beginning to wonder what was keeping him in one place for so long. He's usually more restless." He had the same glimmer in his eyes as Haven, but was younger and not quite as athletically built. His mannerisms, from what I could tell, favored Darling more so than Havens did and it made me wonder whether Haven resembled his father.

"He's staying in town for Jack? Doesn't he know dogs are portable?"

Weston laughed. "He's not here for the dog."

"Are you in town for a while then too?" I asked.

"No, I just landed a few hours ago, and I'm only staying for this shindig my parents are throwing. Don't quite understand it myself, but they keep telling me it's important." He shrugged and raised his head hopefully, "You going?"

"I think so."

"Well you either are or you aren't, there's no in-between. You have to be on the list. People've said they look forward to this thing all year long. You don't seem very enthusiastic."

"I am." I exhaled abstractedly, and then remembered who I was talking to and became more animated. "Oh, I am! I was just thinking that I would have been on my way home already. I'm sure it will be a great party."

"Fundraiser." He corrected.

"Right, fundraiser." I agreed, "What are you raising funds for again?"

"I dunno," he shrugged, "something Haven's nuts about. Starving children, curing cancer, -Haven stuff. I'm just along for the ride." He tugged tightly on Jack's leash as a woman carrying a crocodile purse walked by and Jack tried to nip at her. She glared disgustedly down at him and kept walking. "Will you save me a dance?" Weston asked me without noticeably acknowledging the woman's attitude.

I guess there was definitely a resemblance in the way he and Haven said unexpected things to a person. "Um, sure. I guess. Why? You must know everyone who will be there, do you really want to waste your time with me?"

"Absolutely." He radiated, "You'd think I knew people. And probably most of them I should. Thing is, more often than not people know me. Or think they do because they know Haven and they've mixed us up. Or they saw my name on a piece of paper and that somehow makes us friends. I hate re-meeting people, don't you? He glinted sweetly, "You, I'll remember."

"Alright then," I smiled, "it's a deal." I bent again to say goodbye to Jack. "No more biting!" I ordered and planted a kiss between his eyes. "It was nice meeting you, Weston."

"Wait!" He said, visibly determined, "I wanted to ask...are you and Haven?...Are you, you know, together?"

'Why?" I answered a little too quickly. "Did somebody say that?"