As Time Goes By (The Californians 2) Read Online Free Page A

when they joined the other young people and he had grown very quiet. She didn't understand it or question him, though she wanted to.
    "Hi, Jeff; hi, Bobbie." Pastor Keller's wife greeted them as they came toward the blankets spread with a picnic lunch. The day was beautiful, with a slight breeze, and there was plenty of shade under the huge willow trees.
    Bobbie and Jeff ended up next to Angie and Deacon on the edge of the blanket. The girls immediately began to visit, and within seconds Deacon joined them. It didn't immediately register with any of them that Jeff was playing with a blade of grass, not looking or talking to anyone.
    He perked up a bit when they ate, but the fact that Richard and Sylvia were right across from him was almost more than he could take. He told himself not to look at Sylvia, but he did, again and again. Each time her eyes challenged him in a way that should have made him angry but instead just made him want to be with her all the more. Jeff also found it very satisfying that Richard himself noticed how often Sylvia looked across the blanket.
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    After lunch they played a few games. The Kellers had more planned but nearly everyone said they wanted to sit and talk. Couples sat together at a distance or small groups visited and laughed in the sun.
    Jeff and Bobbie ended up back by the picnic lunch, where Bobbie watched Jeff watching Sylvia. She was more confused than hurt. If Jeff had wanted to ask Sylvia, why didn't he? Bobbie didn't believe that he had asked and been turned down, not with the way she had been looking back all afternoon.
    "Would you rather we joined one of the other couples, Jeff?" Bobbie asked solicitously. Everyone else was in sight and Bobbie so much wanted to enjoy the day. But if Jeff kept this up it was going to be miserable.
    "No, I like it here under the trees." Jeff had finally looked at Bobbie when she spoke to him, and for the first time he caught a very vulnerable look on her face. He told himself he was being unfair to her, so he turned his whole body to face her, also making it impossible to see Richard and Sylvia.
    ''i like it under the trees too."
    "Is this a new dress?" Jeff was hoping it was, since he had never paid any attention to what Bobbie was wearing before. He wouldn't have known if she had worn it once or a hundred times.
    "Yes. My mother made it for me."
    ''It's nice."
    "Thanks. Do you want a carrot stick?" The basket was lying near and Bobbie offered it to Jeff after taking a stick for herself.
    "No, thanks." Jeff's mind was wandering again. He wasn't looking at Sylvia but he wasn't talking to Bobbie either.
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    "I'm glad Troy isn't here."
    "Why's that?" Jeff asked, thinking he really didn't care.
    "He always puts carrot sticks up his nose."
    "Well, kids will do that," Jeff answered noncommittally without even looking at Bobbie.
    "Of course it isn't any wonder. My mother does it all the time."
    Jeff looked sharply at the small girl beside him to see she was barely containing her laughter. His mouth dropped open when she spoke next because her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
    "Very good, Jeffrey. You were actually listening." Bobie grinned at him and Jeff found himself laughing hard.
    "You," he said as he shook a finger at Bobble, "are incredibly sassy."
    "So I've been told," Bobbie admitted without apology. "But at least I don't put carrots in my nose."
    "You know," Jeff said thoughtfully, feeling fully relaxed for the first time, "it might be kind of fun." He raised a carrot stick toward his face and Bobbie laughingly snatched it away from him.
    "You have very nice teeth, did you know that?" Jeff asked Bobble suddenly, and she looked surprised and then very serious.
    "Is it really so important, Jeff, to be with someone good-looking? I mean, do good looks mean that much to you that you need to find something about me that's attractive?" Bobbie could see that she had shocked him, but she kept her eyes on his and could tell he was