The blonde woman smiled again, stood up, and walked closer to Nolan.
"Until today, the mont you saved my life, I felt alive again."
"It's like I rediscovered the aning of life. Do you know what that ans to ?"
Nolan frowned, looking at her intently. "It's just an illusion caused by the adrenaline rush during resuscitation. It has nothing to do with ."
"To be honest, I'm flattered by your kindness, but I already have soone I love."
As he spoke, he looked at Jack, startling soone who was watching the drama unfold. Was this a ti to be looking around carelessly? He imdiately realized what was going on and raised a hand as if to swear.
"Oh, yes, his college girlfriend. Nolan is going to propose. I can testify to that."
The blonde woman forced a smile. "Okay, I wish you happiness."
Nolan turned to leave, then turned back to comfort her, "Take care."
Leaving the widow's residence, Jack started the police car, preparing to return to the police station to clock out.
"I think even if you stayed and comforted her, Carrie would understand." Jack finally couldn't hold back.
"Two boxes of Partagas from Cuba, please, please don't bring this up again." Nolan pleaded.
"Uh, I ant literally comfort." Jack tried to maintain his composure.
Unexpectedly, the usually good-natured Nolan shook his head this ti.
"I can't help her, no one can help her. That… uh… Denise needs to get out of this predicant on her own."
Well, Nolan now at least has a basic understanding of psychology.
"I hope this 'crazy' suitor of yours will stop here." Jack unknowingly planted another flag.
After clocking out at the police station, Jack excused himself to go ho to get so spices, first going back to finish Justine's treatnt for the day, then saying goodbye to Chris, and then stopping by the supermarket, filling the trunk to the brim.
This made him think of a problem: his Firebird, while stylish, didn't have a big trunk. Should he consider getting a grocery-getter, like Chris's Ford Raptor?
Suppressing the urge to buy, Jack went to Nolan's house, took the key from under a flowerpot, and went straight in.
Nolan had gone to the hospital to pick up Carrie. Jack went into the kitchen to get busy. With so many people today, there wasn't much room to work in the kitchen, so he decided to focus on barbecue.
Large portions of beef and lamb were cut into chunks, skewered, and then brushed with salt, pepper, soy sauce, and a whole host of other seasonings.
The party was set up in Nolan's backyard, next to the pool. Jack thought about it and decided to move the barbecue grill a little to the side, since a poor guy had bled to death there last ti.
The most ti-consuming part was preparing the ingredients. Jack had prepared so for himself, considering that no one here would be able to stomach it.
As night deepened, people from all walks of life arrived one after another after work. Wesley brought six bottles of wine and a whole case of champagne, supposedly all top-quality selections personally chosen by his mother, who had just returned from a vacation in France, at a winery.
Tim brought a case of Budweiser, so the alcoholic beverages for the evening were all ready. Jack also made several kinds of juice to cool down during the barbecue and , so that the middle-aged people wouldn't get sick again.
Nolan went to light the fire and charcoal for the barbecue, while the others opened the bottles, set the tables and chairs, and laid out the dishes. Having eaten together many tis before, everyone was experienced and had their own tasks.
Just then, the doorbell rang again. Jack, bored out of his mind and carving shapes on the fruit platter, went to open the door. His eyes lit up; Zoe and Maureen, two stunning beauties, appeared in the doorway, both wearing similar professional pencil skirts, one in white stockings and the other in black.
Jack instinctively reached out to them, but a glare from the two won made him realize he wasn't ho. Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head and prepared to welco them in. Just then, a soft gasp ca from behind, and he noticed soone else approaching.
Seeing the three behind him, Jack froze. He wasn't surprised that Tyler was with the Kara; he'd casually asked her out that afternoon. Tyler was either Zoe or Maureen's acquaintance. The problem was, there was another woman with them — the blonde woman, Denise.
Good grief! He'd worried all day for nothing. His little drama was nothing compared to Nolan's side of the real show. He wondered if the waterlon he'd bought would be enough to share.
Tyler and Kara, still sowhat confused, noticed Jack's surprised look and Tyler explained, "I was just driving to pick up Kara when I t this Denise at the intersection. She said she wanted to thank Nolan for saving her life today, so I…"
Since Nolan was the owner of the house, Jack couldn't just kick her out, so he reluctantly invited her inside. To be honest, he was also curious to see Nolan's expression when he saw the newcor.
"This woman is crazy," Tim bluntly stated after Jack finished recounting the events.
"So I have a rival for love on Valentine's Day?" Carrie, surprisingly composed, seed completely oblivious to being involved, enthusiastically joining the gossip.
Maureen offered her professional opinion directly: "Poor woman, she just wants to use Nolan to forget the pain of losing her husband. She's a bit paranoid, and she probably lacks family companionship, craving emotional comfort."
"Like how I used to like going to the police station? During that ti, I only felt safe when I saw Jack and Hannah, but why did she choose Nolan instead of Jack? They saved her together!" Kara, now back to her innocent self, raised her hand to ask.
"Probably because Nolan perford CPR on her. When she woke up from her near-death state, the first thing she saw was him. It's a bit like the suspension bridge effect, am I right, Professor?" Jack struck a student's pose.
"Well learned, you're truly my good student." Maureen rolled her eyes at him, a hint of mockery in her gaze.
"Professor Cahill, I think Denise needs psychological counseling. Do you have ti recently?" Nolan squeezed into the circle, glancing nervously at Carrie before turning to Maureen for help.
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