It Doesn’t Matter

“Admit it, Jesse.”

He looked at her blankly.  “Admit what?”

“Admit that you’re jealous.”

“You think I’m jealous of you because of your promotion?”

“No, silly.  I know you don’t have a problem with a woman being your boss like some of the guys do.”

“Then what am I jealous of?”

“I saw the way you reacted last Saturday when you saw Amy talking to Darryl.”  Last week Saturday, everyone was over at her house for dinner.

Jesse stiffened and a guarded expression came over his face.  “Don’t be ridiculous.  She’s young enough to be my daughter.”

“Yes, but your feelings for her aren’t fatherly, are they?”

“She should be with someone closer to her age.”

“Like Darryl?”

He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant.  “Sure.  If he’s the one she likes.”

“You know very well that he isn’t the one.”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you blind?  Haven’t you noticed the way she looks at you?  Oh, Jesse, you’re an exceptional police officer but when it comes to the affairs of the heart, you’re hopeless.  It’s as plain as the nose on your face that Amy is in love with you.”

He shook his head.  “You’re wrong.  She’s just fond of me.  I’ve known her since she was child.  I’m like a favorite uncle.”

“Okay.  If you don’t believe me, ask Marcella.  She and Amy are best friends.  They tell each other everything.”  Marcella was her daughter.  “She’ll be stopping by this afternoon.”

He shook his head.  “No.  I don’t feel comfortable talking to her about Amy.”

“Suit yourself.”

“Let’s say that you’re right about Amy.  What do you suggest that I should do about it?”

“Talk to her.  Tell her how you feel about her.  Don’t let age rob you of your happiness.  She’s a terrific young woman and very mature for her age.”

He ran his fingers through his hair as he considered her suggestion and then, getting up from the chair, he said, “I’ll talk to her later today.”

Delores smiled.  She was a very attractive woman, a couple of years younger than him.  They got along very well.  He was one of the few guys in the department who welcomed and supported her in her new role as police chief.  She could be as tough as nails when she needed to be.  It was high time that the force promoted gender equality and acknowledged the contributions of women to the field of law and order.  “Good luck, although I don’t think you need it.”

He smiled.  “Thank you, Boss.”

“You’re welcome.  Oh, Jesse.  Please don’t let her know that we talked because then she’ll know that Marcela spoke to me.”

“I won’t say anything,” he promised.  When he walked out of her office, he was in a better mood.  For the rest of the morning, he pondered the idea that Amy felt the same way about him.  He couldn’t wait to see her.  He called and asked her to meet him by the waterfront at noon.  She sounded happy to hear from him and as if she couldn’t wait to see him too.

Amy was waiting for him when he got there at exactly twelve.  Her face brightened when she saw him and she got up.  Her eager gaze traveled over him.  “You look great in your uniform,” she said.  She was used to see him dressed in civilian clothes.  He looked amazing.  She wondered what he would do if he knew how badly she wanted to throw herself into his arms and tell him that she loved him.

He smiled.  It was the first time she had ever seen him in uniform.   “Thanks.”

“It’s really good to see you.  I couldn’t believe it when you called and asked me to meet you.  We didn’t really get a chance to talk to each other last week Saturday.”

“I saw you talking to Darryl.”

“Yes.”

“You two seemed to hit it off.”

She shrugged.  “He’s a nice guy.”

“Do you like him?”

She stared at him, her brow knitted.  “You mean like as in like?”

He nodded, his expression tense now.  “Yes.”

“No.  I don’t like Darryl in that way.”  How could I when I’m crazy about you?

“So, there’s no chance that you would go out with him.”

She shook her head at once.  “No.”

“What about other guys?”

Again she shook her head.  “No.  Jesse, why are you asking me these questions?”

His heart leaped in his chest and he began to feel very nervous.  It was time to come clean.  “I know that I’m old enough to be your father, Amy, but the way I feel about you is anything but fatherly.”

Her eyes widened and for a few minutes she seemed at a loss for words.  “You have feelings for me?”

“Yes, Amy.”

“Oh, Jesse,” she cried, slipping her arms around his waist.  “I love you.”

He held her against him, his heart pounding.  “You love me?”

“Yes!  I’ve wanted to tell you that for such a long, long time but I was afraid to.  I was afraid that it would ruin our relationship.  It never occurred to me that you have feelings for me.”

“When I saw you with Darryl, I was jealous but I felt that I didn’t have any right to be.  He’s young and I’m, well, twice your age.”

She drew back to look up at him, her heart in her eyes.  “It doesn’t matter to me how old you are.  What matters is that I love you, Jesse and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He reached up and cupped her face between his hands, his expression tender as he stared into her eyes.  “I love you too,” he murmured huskily.  “I fell in love with you on the day you graduated from High School.”

“I’ve been in love with you ever since I turned sixteen.  That’s why I wasn’t interested in any of the boys at my school.”

“I always dreaded the day when you would fall in love with some guy.”

She smiled.  “There’s no chance of that ever happening now.”

“Oh, Amy…”  he muttered thickly before he lowered his head and kissed her.

They began dating and a year after she graduated from college, they got married.  Delores was the matron of honor and Marcela a bridesmaid.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter – Mark Twain

Source:  A-Z Quotes