Chapter 85: Jonathan IV

She's and Elegant Thing

Chapter 85: Jonathan IV—She’s an Elegant Thing

"Mr. Sakic," Jana peeped from somewhere on the floor. Jonathan looked down at her as the girl was on her hands and knees, peering under the heavy wooden chair. Gigi was next to her, also looking under the chair and wagging her tail at a feverish pace.

"Yeah?" Joe said as he walked over to them, squatting next to Jana.

"I think your dog’s broken." Jana said and Gigi barked.

"What?" Joe asked with an amused expression.

Elena laughed quietly next to Jonathan. "How cute is that?" she whispered.

Jonathan nodded, smiling and glancing quickly at her. His tummy got dizzy all over again. It even made his head feel funny. He had felt lightheaded ever since she had arrived with her parents, her mom staggering under a huge platter of Baklava. Elena had charmed his parents immediately when she smiled at them and gave them a large bouquet of flowers for the dinner table, and she also had brought gifts for Jana and Freddy.

"She’s an elegant thing, isn’t she?" Mom had whispered into his ear, giving his arm a squeeze.

"Ooooh!" Jana had breathed staring up at Elena. "You’re really pretty! You look like Jasmine in Aladdin!"

"Oh thank you!" Elena said in a voice, which suggested she was quite used to compliments like that. "And you look just like a princess."

"I’m a Grand Empress!" Jana said with a haughty sniff, crossing her arms over her chest.

Jonathan couldn’t be more pleased at that moment. And then almost immediately, the Sakic’s had arrived with their puppy, Wayne in tow. That dog was anything but Gigi! As soon as Debbie set the puppy on the carpet, Jana and Gigi had both made a fuss over him. Instead of responding happily, he just startled and ran under the nearest piece of furniture where Jana and Gigi were now laying siege.

"He just hides under the chair!" Jana said, "He doesn’t want to play with Gigi!"

"Aww," Joe said. "He’s not like Gigi, he’s a real shy puppy, so if you’re real quiet for him maybe he’ll come out. OK?"

"OK," Jana said in a subdued voice. "Wayne, Wayne... I’m being really quiet now. You can come out! Wayne!"

Joe laughed and ran his hand over Jana’s head, messing up her hair. "That’s the idea," he said and he stood up, smiling to himself as he walked away.

"Wayne!" Jana said with a whiny voice, bringing another bark out of Gigi.

"Aww help her out!" Elena said nudging Jonathan on his back. That was all the boy needed to convince him.

Jonathan lowered himself onto the carpet next to Jana and peeked under the chair. He could see the dark outlines of the puppy, and he could see the whites of his nervous eyes. "Come on," Jonathan said. "Come on boy."

There was a high pitched whine from Wayne but he didn’t move to come forward.

"You got to be quiet," another voice came from behind him.

Jonathan looked up at Mitchell Sakic. "Hey kid," he said.

"Wayne, come out!" Mitchell said. Almost immediately the puppy slunk out from under the chair, leaning against Mitchell’s legs.

"Oooo he’s so cute! He looks just like Gigi!" Elena exclaimed.

"They’re brother and sister," Jana said in an authoritative voice.

Gigi barked and ran up to Wayne, wagging her tail and licking his face. Wayne just closed his eyes and accepted the licks as if he had no other choice.

"Different temperaments," Elena said. "Totally! Oh there soo cute, I can’t get over it! They don’t even really look like dogs, they look like foxes or something."

"Yeah," Jonathan said. He stood back a bit as Elena kneeled down on the carpet and began patting her tiny hand up and down, attracting the attention of the puppies. How different he was feeling now than he had been earlier that afternoon. When he had woke up, he had felt sick thinking Elena was trying to avoid him, and now, here she was playing with the puppies.

Oooh he loved Mom so much more now that she had ordered him to make that phone-call to her house.

"Jonathan," she had said. "Where have you been? I’d given up hope that you were ever gonna call you twit!"

"What?!" Jonathan had exclaimed. "I’ve been calling all weekend and you were never around, and I left messages with your family..."

"Argh!" Elena groaned. "That explains it! They never give me any messages!"

"Oh.." Jonathan said quietly, he had wanted to fall to his knees weeping but he couldn’t do that, in front of Mom and Elena.

"So," Elena said. "What’s up?"

"Not much," Jonathan said, "Wanna come over for dinner tonight at my house? Like you and your parents or something?"

"Really?" Elena said.

"Yeah!" Jonathan said eagerly. "My mom really wants to get to know you and all that and you could meet my family!"

"Yow!" Elena cried in a laughing voice as she jumped to her feet. "Oooh those puppy teeth are sharp!"

"You OK?" Jonathan asked. If either of those puppies had broken her skin.....

"Yup," Elena said, "I’m cool."

"Come on," Jonathan said darting a quick glare at the puppies. "Wanna get something to drink?"

Elena smiled in reply and Jonathan led her into the kitchen to get some punch. Most of the women were in there putting the last touches on the dinner and it smelled great. Dad and Elena’s father Phil were also there too, leaning against the large kitchen window and holding beers in hand.

"Oooh," Elena whispered. "They seem to be getting along!"

"Why wouldn’t they?" Jonathan asked, a twinge of nervousness suddenly in his gut.

"Just wait," Elena said in an undertone.

Jonathan frowned quickly and scooted in between Coco and Debbie to get at the punch. "Scuse me!" he said.

"Is that your sweet-heart?" Debbie asked, rubbing Jonathan’s shoulder as he poured the punch into a couple glasses. He felt his cheeks burn and he mumbled something. He scurried as fast as he could away from them with the punch and handed one to Elena.

"Thanks," she chirped.

"So," Phil Ruiz said after he took a swig from his beer. "I’ve been watching you guys real close all season and I gotta tell ya hombre, you need to go back to those silver pads you had last year, I think those puppies really cut down on that five hole."

"Eh?" Dad said, squinting his eyes some. "What would you know about pads?"

"Only the results I see, and I gotta tell ya, you’ve been bailed out quite a bit this year, and I think you ain’t playing so hot cause of those pads!" Mr. Ruiz said.

Jonathan’s blood just froze and he thought, "Oh shit!" until Dad suddenly broke into a smile. "Hey, I like you," he said. "You say what you mean."

Jonathan then looked at Elena and sighed, she was pale with worry and also let out a long breath. "Well, at least that’s outta the way!" she said. "Hey show me the rest of the house, before it gets real dark."

"OK," Jonathan said, "Come on." He grabbed her soft hand and trotted out of the kitchen with her. As they left the kitchen he shared a quick glance with Mom, and she had an odd expression on her face. It almost looked like a sad one, and he couldn’t figure out what would be making her feel that way when he felt so happy.

"Wow!" Elena gasped when they slid into the parlor and he turned on the lights. "This is way too gorgeous!"

Jonathan frowned a bit and looked around the predominantly blue room, it was just a stupid parlor, but he didn’t say it.

"A piano!" Elena exclaimed.

"What?" Jonathan blurted and then he looked at the Baby Grand piano in the corner. He had completely forgotten about that thing.

"Coool! Can I?"

Jonathan shrugged. "I doubt it’s in tune."

Elena pounced on the instrument, her little fingers running over the keys in a dizzy, stumbling piece of music. It was imperfect, he could hear her mistakes, but Jonathan was still awe struck by it. His parents had given up on piano lessons for him years ago as well as for his siblings. This was a helluva lot better than anything he had ever learned and quickly forgotten was. Tip toeing, not wanting to make the slightest noise to disturb her, Jonathan sat on the closest chair and leaned his chin in his hands.

Abruptly, she stopped playing and she looked at him, a cute wrinkle in her little nose. "It’s a little outta tune, you shouldn’t let it get that way."

"Right," Jonathan said, nodding his head. Now that I know you’ll be playing it, he thought.

Elena smiled and turned back to the keys, warmed up and jumping into a loud, sparkling piece of music that Jonathan recognized but couldn’t name. He was feeling an almost scared hollow in his chest now, how could someone be this perfect?

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed movement and he looked up at the doorway to see Jana standing there. Her mouth was open and she had a huge smile on her face. Right behind her, were the adults and one by one they began to stream into the parlor. No one said a word as Elena continued into the piece, her little body moving in time with the music and every now and then she would pop out of the seat, standing up like a jockey, leaning forward. When she finished the piece, Jonathan could see a few of the women wiping tears from their faces and he could see an absolutely enthralled expression on his dad’s face. There was a quick, silent moment and then they all burst into applause.

Elena turned around, a smile on her face and with no attempt at modesty; she bowed extravagantly, sweeping her arm out like a two-penny theater actress. "Thank you!" she said and then Jonathan felt a cutting thrill go through him when she looked at him and winked.

"You.. You.." Jonathan said standing up and sputtering.

"Come on!" Elena exclaimed, grabbing his hand. "I want to see your room!"

Jonathan gasped as she dragged him out of the parlor, cutting through the compliments and cheering adults. Suddenly he began to feel that maybe, he was a little over his head in this one.

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