Damaged Amazon

by Kim Pritekel

  “And, what about your family, Larry? Hmm? What about your wife? What about your daughter? Do we get to come first?”

  “I am putting my daughter first,” he responded. “I’m not tearing her away from her life here.”

  Adrienne’s gaze dropped down to her plate. “So,” she said quietly, “what does this mean? It’s going to be a bit hard to have a marriage a hundred and twenty miles apart, don’t you think?” When LJ said nothing, she looked up at him. “Or, is that the point?”

  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I’m wondering exactly what kind of marriage do we have?”

  “What are you talking about? We’ve always had a good marriage, Larry. We’ve provided a good life and a good home for our daughter, in case you’ve forgotten. And,” she added, “much of that good life is from the ambition you so flippantly mentioned.”

  “You know, Adrienne,” he said softly, his heart heavy and hurting, “your biggest problem all these years has been your mouth, the things you say. You’ve really hurt me.”

  “Oh, Jesus.” She sighed, sitting back in her chair. “What are you saying, Larry?”

  “I’m saying, I think you should take that job.”

  ****

  “Come in,” came the muffled response to LJ’s knock.

  He grabbed the doorknob and turned it, pushing open the door with his free hand. Inside the brightly painted sherbet-orange room, Kristie lay on her stomach on her bed, her tablet before her.

  “Hey, kiddo,” he said, walking over to her as she moved to sit up. “You didn’t really get dinner, so here’s some heated pizza and”—he pulled the cold can of Coke out of his sweatpants pocket—“something to drink.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” she said, accepting the food and soda. “Won’t Mom have a cow? Can’t eat in our bedrooms, remember?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, well I’m not exactly worried about you spilling your Kool-Aid on the carpet again.”

  She took a bite of the pizza and glanced at him where he sat perched on the side of her bed. “We’re moving aren’t we?”

  He met her gaze and smiled as he shook his head. “No. I made an executive decision. It’s not right for us.”

  “So,” she drawled, “What about Mom?”

  LJ let out a heavy sigh and looked down at his hands, which rested in his lap. “I told her to take the job. What she decides to do, she does.”

  Kristie took another bite, chewing thoughtfully. She washed the food down with a drink of her Coke. “This is serious, isn’t it?” she asked sagely.

  He gave her a comforting smile. “You don’t need to worry about that, sweetheart. Everything will work out fine.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Andrew drummed his fingers nervously as he sat at a back table in the local coffee shop, The Hanging Tree Café. He sipped his caramel macchiato as he eyed the place, making sure nobody he knew was passing by the large plate-glass windows or stopping by for coffee or their tantalizing breakfast burritos.

  He checked his Rolex. It was nearly two twenty. She was late and he was getting nervous. Blowing out a breath, he took another sip of his cooling coffee drink.

  “I’m so sorry I’m late,” Laura said, hurrying to his table, glancing over her shoulder before sitting down. “Jordan got sick at school, so I had to pick him up and get him home.”

  “It’s okay.” Andrew smiled, a bit uncomfortable and awkward. “Thanks for meeting me. Can I get you something?” he asked, lifting his own cup for emphasis.

  “No, I’m fine. So, how are you?”

  Andrew sensed she was as nervous as he was and that helped a bit. “Listen, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way because I don’t mean it as such,” he began, his heart pounding and palms breaking out in a sweat. He dropped them below the level of the table and wiped them on the thighs of his trousers. “But, I think we made a big mistake.”

  Laura Caffey blew out a heavy breath. “I’m so glad to hear you say that, Andrew,” she said softly. “I feel the same way. I have been racked with guilt ever since.”

  “Me, too.” He let out a relieved breath. After all that this kind and sweet woman had been through, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her further. “I love my wife, Laura. I honestly do,” he said, unable to keep the pain out of his voice.

  “Does she know that, Andrew?” Laura asked gently. “I mean,” she clarified with the hard look he gave her. “Does she know you think she’s beautiful? She’s sexy? That you cherish her?”

  Andrew’s instinct and kneejerk reaction was to be angry and offended, but he stopped himself from reacting or saying anything for a long moment, considering what she’d asked. “Well, I’m gone all the time because I work my ass off to give her everything she wants. She’s not always an easy woman to please,” he added with a small smile.

  “Lord, do I understand that one,” she said with a matching smile. “Robert can be a bear to please. The house isn’t clean enough, dinner isn’t good enough or wasn’t on the table fast enough. Not enough sex.” She looked down at her hands, which were resting on the table. “It can be emotionally exhausting.”

  “I’m sorry, Laura,” he said softly. “Is he the right guy for you?”

  She shrugged. “What choices do I have? I’m sick, still have kids at home. I can’t exactly go to work to support us, and I’m simply too exhausted all the time to be a single mom. It is what it is, you know? But you, Andrew, I think you and Jill have a chance…if you want one.” She studied him. “Do you?”

  ****

  “I think you would have gotten a good laugh, sis,” Nora said as gently as possible using what essentially boiled down to an adult baby wipe that the nurses gave her to clean Shannon’s face, arms, and hands, which were unwrapped for bathing purposes then rewrapped. The intense antibiotic regimen she’d been put on via IV had killed the bacterial infection. “Yesterday was her first day and good Lord, that kid killed it!” She laughed, tossing the wipe she’d used into the trash can before grabbing another from the box. “Bella is a seriously cool kid.” She stopped what she was doing and looked down into the still, pale face of her little sister. “She’s changed my life, Shannon.”

  “How’s our ML this morning?”

  Nora glanced up and smiled. “Hey, Rachel. She’s good, I suppose. Any day we no longer have to wear what amounts to a HAZMAT suit is a good day.” She chuckled. “So grateful they got that infection cleared up.”

  “Yeah, that was pretty hairy.” The nurse, dressed in bright yellow scrubs, walked over to the bed. “Hey, sweetie pie,” she said to Shannon. “Looking good today, cutie.” She reached out and rested a hand on Shannon’s arm before raising her clipboard to record Shannon’s vitals.

  Nora studied the petite blond nurse for a moment. She was a sweetheart and a ball of energy and light. She reminded her quite a bit of Meg Ryan, ala, You’ve Got Mail, with the short sporty hairstyle, infectious smile and laugh, and bright blue eyes.

  “How’s she doing?” she asked, moving away from the bed to get out of the nurse’s way. Nora sat in a chair by the window.

  “Well,” Nurse Rachel Quinn said, scribbling a few notes before sparing a glance at Nora. “Nothing has dropped, which is great, but I am seeing a bit of improvement in her blood pressure.”

  “This is good, right?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Rachel said with the bright smile Nora was beginning to know her for. “I’m sure her doctor will be thrilled.”

  They both turned when the room door opened, and LJ stepped inside. He glanced over at Rachel and gave her a polite nod before walking over to the awaiting hug from Nora. “Hey.”

  “Who’s this?” Rachel asked, extending a hand to the newcomer.

  “This is our brother, LJ. LJ, Shannon’s day nurse, Rachel.”

  “Hey, Rachel. Thanks for taking care of little sis, here.”

  “It’s my job,” she said with a happy smile. “I’ll leave you guys alone. Have a great day.”

  Nora notice
d that LJ, too, was watching the pretty nurse leave. Even in scrubs, it was apparent she had a very nice behind.

  “Sorry I haven’t been here for a couple days,” LJ said, walking over to the bed where he reached out and placed his hand atop Shannon’s leg. Her hands were still bandaged, though not as heavily as they had been. The bandaging on her head had also been somewhat downgraded.

  “No worries. How’s practice going for the Pig Skin Classic?”

  LJ let out a groan and leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Shannon’s cheek before flopping down in the chair next to Nora’s. “I’m over it,” he said flatly.

  She looked at him, surprise in her raised eyebrows. She said nothing, thinking back to what Kristie had told her. “So, I got a text message the other day,” she began. “Kristie says her mom is moving to Denver in a few months. Is that true?”

  He nodded, letting out a heavy sigh as he reached up and adjusted his Cyclone’s baseball cap. “Yes.”

  “So, you’re moving, then?” she fished, turning slightly in the chair to rest her arm on the back of it, her hand dangling over the front.

  He shook his head slowly, never leaving her gaze. “No.”

  She held his gaze, and when she realized there would be no more forthcoming, she cleared her throat. “What does this mean, LJ?” she asked gently.

  “It means I think it’s time to live my own life, make my own decisions.” He looked away from her, his eyebrows falling and a small wrinkle forming between his eyes. “I’m unhappy, Nor. Have been for a long time.” He spared her a glance and a small smile when Nora placed her hand on his shoulder. “You know,” he continued, taking Nora’s hand and entwining it with his, “watching how Dad treated Mom, to the point where she left, then watching how he treated the string of women who came through after that…” He gave Nora a hard look. “How he treated Jill…” He shook his head. “I decided a long time ago I’d never be that kind of man, that kind of husband or father. You know?”

  Nora gave him a loving smile filled with the adoration she felt for her big brother. She squeezed his hand. “LJ, it’s not in you to be like him. It never has been, never will be. I mean, hell, you’re the best damn dad I’ve ever seen.” She made sure he was looking into her eyes before she added, “Don’t you ever, ever forget that, okay? If I ever have kids, or for however long I have Bella, I can only hope to be half the parent you are.”

  He let go of her hand only to take her into a tight, though awkward embrace across the chair arm. “Love you, sis.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Is it absolutely terrible of me that I have not one ounce of respect for my own father?” LJ asked quietly.

  Nora didn’t answer for a long moment before she shook her head. “No. I think people learn how we treat them or how we feel about them, good and bad, you know? Love, respect, all that, it’s not a given, not a privilege. At least, in my mind, anyway.”

  He nodded and smiled at her. “I like that. So, has Sarah been around much?”

  Decidedly uncomfortable, Nora cleared her throat and sat up a bit straighter in her chair. She wasn’t about to tell him about the last time she’d seen the beautiful brunette. “No,” she managed, removing her hand from his as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “I mean, her part of the case is over, so…” She shrugged and tried to give a nonchalant smile. “Now it’s up to the Colorado Springs police to continue the case and work with the Cheyenne folks, from what she said.” She met his gaze. “What?”

  “You still care, don’t you?”

  Nora blew out a breath and waved off his words. “Don’t be crazy, LJ. That was so long ago.”

  “Uh-huh. You know, you never told me what happened with you guys, how it ended.”

  Nora let out a snort. “I did what I always do.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Run,” she said bluntly.

  “You guys were together for what, almost two years?”

  “Yup. That guy we had as a roommate, Daniel, was finishing up his residency and was moving out. Sarah suggested she and I move out of the house, too and get our own place, you know, just us.”

  “And, what did you say?”

  “Told her I’d gotten the internship with Nat Geo and two weeks later was on a plane to Australia.” When she heard nothing, she glanced over at her brother who looked at her with shock. “I know,” she whispered. “Shittiest thing I’ve ever done. Regretted it ever since.” She gave a rueful chuckle. “She’ll always be the one I let get away.”

  “You know, sis,” LJ said gently, “I can hear the pain in your voice and to be honest, could still see a connection between you two. Whatever happens, even if you never see her again, the truth is, it may have never worked even if you’d stuck around.”

  She glanced at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

  “You guys were both young. Let’s just say that you’d taken her up on her offer and you would have gotten your own place. Let’s even say you guys took things further.” He shrugged. “You were both different people then. Who’s to say it wouldn’t have ended in absolute disaster? As in, to the point where you didn’t get what you got this time around.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Peace,” he said simply. “During these past horrible weeks, it seemed like you two found some balance. To walk away knowing that you’re both okay, you both survived a painful experience a million years ago.”

  Though her heart still hurt, she smiled. “Thanks, LJ,” she whispered, taking his hand back in hers.

  ****

  Jill carried the glass of cold water from the fridge dispenser up to the master bath. “Here.”

  Standing in the center of the bedroom bare-chested and with his belt and jeans unfastened, Robert took the water. “Thanks.”

  Jill walked away as he took the pain medication she’d given him. An accident earlier that day at work had left him with a massive headache. Sitting in the wingback chair in the corner, she crossed one elegant leg over the other. Robert had arrived mere minutes before, long enough to ask for the over-the-counter medication and to urinate. She had to admit, as she watched him, it bothered her that he had just been in her bathroom, using the toilet that she and Andrew used daily.

  Silly as she knew it was, something inside felt different. She eyed his well-developed chest and usually she loved nothing more than to run her hands over it. His arms and thighs were muscular from decades working construction, but somehow, it left her dry today.

  “So.” He slammed the empty water glass onto the dresser, not even noticing the glare he was receiving for the water ring the glass was leaving on the expensive wood. “Get this shit,” he continued, whipping the belt out from the loops of his jeans. “I think Laura may be fucking somebody.” He tossed the accessory to the floor then plopped down on the bench at the end of the bed to begin unlacing his work boots. “What the fuck?” he said, glancing over his shoulder to meet her gaze. “You know? That’s fucking daring.”

  Suddenly, Jill felt utterly disgusted. Pushing up from the chair, she collected his discarded clothing and shoved them at him. “I need you to leave.”

  “What?” he asked, eyes wide as he looked down at the collection in his hands. “Why?”

  “Robert, I need you to leave,” she said, her patience gone.

  He smirked. “What, pussy bleed?” He dropped everything she’d shoved at him and walked up behind her, grinding his crotch into her ass suggestively. “There are ways around that, baby.”

  Angry and disgusted, she turned and violently shoved him away from her. “Get out!” Again, she gathered the pile of his clothing. This time, however, she stormed out of the bedroom and threw them over the rail, letting the garments flop down to the floor far below. “Out!”

  He rushed past her, nearly knocking her down the stairs in his haste to get to his things. He stood in the foyer below, buttoning and zipping his jeans before grabbing his T-shirt and tugging it over his head and into place.

  �
��You’ll regret this, you bitch,” he growled. “I’m sure your faggot husband would love to know who’s been giving it to his slut wife.”

  Jill stood at the top of the stairs, flinching with the slam of the front door. “God,” she whispered, hands coming up to cover her face. “What am I going to do?”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  The soft moan released as she gently suckled the hard nipple into her mouth, which brought a moan from her own throat. She let out a second moan at the taste of her flesh, the smell of her perfume and the feel of her nails trailing over her shoulders.

  “Sarah…”

  “You know?”

  Startled, Sarah looked across the table at her dinner date. “What? I’m sorry.” She grabbed her water and took a long drink to cool down as well as bring her back to the reality of the moment and not the dream of the previous night. “He drank the entire bottle, you said?”

  Devon grinned and shook her head. “Damn, Detective, methinks your head is somewhere else.”

  Sarah gave her a sheepish grin. “I’m sorry. A new case I’m working on, a bit overwhelming.”

  “Man, I understand that one.”

  “Ladies, would you like to look at our dessert menu?” the waiter asked, hands tucked behind his back as he looked from one to the other.

  Sarah looked at Devon. “Want anything?”

  “Nope, I’m good, thanks.”

  Sarah smiled up at the young man. “Just the check, please.”

  After leaving the restaurant, Sarah wove her way through the busy Colorado Springs traffic to reach the small two-bedroom house Devon owned. Counting their first lunch, which was interrupted, this was their third date, and Sarah did like the spunky blonde sitting next to her. Even so, she was deeply unsettled by her dream.

  The passionate kiss she’d shared with Nora the last night she’d been at her house had set off a firestorm of memories, feelings, and the realization of how lonely Sarah was. Even as she drove to the home of a woman she knew was interested in her, she felt alone.