Slim to None

by A. H. Shelton

  As I eat my tuna salad, and Melanie munches on her hummus, I come to realize that I am very blessed indeed when it comes to friendships.

  Now if I can just figure out what Jake has on his mind, and why Lukas has been actin’ so strange all week, I will be one very content girl.

  Turns out I didn’t have long to wait to find out just what Jacob has on his mind, after he shows up that Friday out of the blue, a bouquet of Star-gazer lilies in hand.

  “Oh, my word! Jacob, they are beautiful!” I gush, my hand flying to my mouth in shock. “Thank you so much! Mama?” I call out to where she’s working in the kitchen, as always. By now, my casts are off, and I’m able to get up and down the stairs as I please. I just so happened to be the one who answered the door on this particular day.

  “Yes baby,” she says, wiping her hands on her apron as she enters the room. “Oh my! Jacob, hello there, so nice of you to stop by. How lovely!” she exclaims over the flowers.

  “Mama, can you find a nice vase to put these in some water? Isn’t that just the nicest thing?” I say, still in wonder over the gesture.

  “Aw, it’s nothin’,” Jake says, grinning happily that his surprise has gone over so well.

  “It most certainly is somethin’,” Mama says in a no-nonsense tone. “And you, sir, are stayin’ for supper!”

  “Wish I could, ma’am, but I’m headin’ to work now,” he says, smiling kindly at Mama.

  “Wait, I thought you’d been ridin’ with Lukas to work the past few weeks til your car is outta the shop,” I say, confused.

  “Well,” he says hesitantly. “Turns out they were able to put a rush on it,” he says, obviously not tellin’ me the whole story. Something tells me that this thing between him and Lukas had more to do with him getting that rush on his body work than Jacob wants to let on, but I just let it go – for now.

  “Anyhow, I just wanted to drop those by, and let you know I’m thinkin’ about ya,” he smiles shyly at me. “But I reckon I’d better be getting on.” He steps forward and kisses me gently on the cheek again, causing me to blush profusely.

  “Evenin’, ma’am.” He hugs Mama and walks out the door, leaving her grinning from ear to ear, and me even more confused than ever.

  “Isn’t he just the nicest young man?” she says as she stands at the screen door, watchin’ him drive away.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lukas

  I stay on at our townhouse for a couple of weeks after deciding that me and Jess are done. I’m still sleepin’ on the couch, but my head is all in a mess, making it hard for me to force myself to go house-hunting.

  Knowin’ this living arrangement ain’t gonna work out for long, but still findin’ it hard to start lookin’ for my own place, I head on out to the lake, to my friend Sam’s place. A two-story log cabin just outside of town, nestled in the foothills of Mt. Lanier, with a view of Lake Grenada that is nothin short of breathtaking, Sam has invited me out to stay with him any time I felt like it, and I’m about to take him up on his offer.

  “Hey Sam, you home, old man?” I yell, climbing outta my truck and stretching my limbs. One thing about stress – it’ll make ya feel like you’ve wrestled with a mountain lion from tensing up your muscles so hard.

  “Well if it ain’t Lukas Crawford – sight for my sore eyes! How ya been doin’, boy?” Sam laughs as he comes out the house, screen door slammin’ behind him. “To what do I owe this unexpected visit?” he grins.

  “Hopin’ I can pitch me a tent out here on your land…got some hard thinkin’ to do, and a man can’t think if he can’t find some solitude,” I say, shakin’ my head wearily.

  “So whatcha really mean to say is that gal Jessica put you out on your ass,” Sam belts out a belly laugh. Always the one to give me hell, I’d expect nothin’ less from ol’ Samuel Gentry.

  “Nope, she didn’t put me out – I put myself out. It’s a long story, but if you got a cold beer, I wouldn’t mind tellin’ it to ya,” I say with a grin.

  “Well now, if you think you’re gonna be sleepin’ in a tent in my yard, you got another thought comin’. I ain’t about to have it on my conscience when an old black bear decides to use you as his toothpick!” he says with a hearty laugh at my expense. That’s what I love about Sam, his sense of humor. “I’ll get ya some clean sheets, and you can stay in the guest room over the garage. It’s nice up there, though – you can come and go as ya please, and not be wakin’ me up.”

  “Well I thank ya kindly, Sam,” I say sincerely. Sam has always been there for me with an ear to listen whenever I had a problem, even back when I was a knee-high to a grasshopper. “One other thing…I’m gonna need your help movin’ my stuff outta the house before Jess throws it all out in the yard. I got a storage unit til I find a place of my own.”

  “Don’t mind a’ tall – but I figured ol’ Jacob Vasquez woulda helped ya with somethin’ like that, close as ya’ll are and everything.”

  “That’s another story I’ll have to fill you in on later,” I say, shakin’ my head. “Lotta stuff been goin on since I seen you last.”

  “Well I reckon it has,” Sam says, scratchin’ his head. He reaches into his shirt pocket, takes out a package, and breaks off a plug of tobacco, shovin’ it into his jaw. “What say we go ahead and fetch your stuff from your place before it gets too dark to see – and before that gal goes and decides to put it all in a yard sale!”

  When we get over to my old place, I find Jessica at home, her girlfriends gathered around, consoling her. Truth be known, they’re probably havin a party to celebrate her freedom. Lord knows I’m gonna knock a few back tonight myself.

  As me and Sam enter the hallway, headin’ upstairs for me to gather my stuff together, Bekka and Jules glare at me like I’m the devil…how the hell did I become the bad guy in all this mess?

  Just before we start up the stairs, Jess jumps to her feet. “Lukas, can I talk to you for a minute?” she says, tryin to sound sad.

  “I reckon I got a minute,” I say with a shrug. I’m just ready to get this mess over with and get on with my life – a much less stressful one, for sure. “Be right back, buddy,” I say to Sam, as he sits down on a stair step to wait.

  As we head into the kitchen for some privacy, Jess starts in with the manipulating – pouting, rubbin’ my arm and tryin to get all close up on me. It’s not workin’, and I let her know so, in no uncertain terms.

  “Just what is it you need to say, Jess? Cause if it ain’t an apology, I don’t wanna hear it, and even if it is, I’m not the one you owe it to, it’s Kassidy.”

  “What is it with you wantin’ me to apologize to that girl, Lukas? Why do you think I owe her anything?” she says in a nasty tone, her true colors are showin, loud and clear.

  “You wanna know why you owe her somethin’, Jess? I’ll tell you why – because that night at Joe’s when I told you I wanted to give Kassidy a ride back to her car, and you pitched one of your tantrums and wouldn’t let me, that girl got abducted, beaten and raped by Buck Dalton!” I say, tryin to keep my voice down so the whole house don’t hear me, but my blood is boiling at the nerve of Jess thinkin’ she don’t owe Kassidy an apology – that’s the least she can do, after all that girl has been through!

  “Wh-what?” Jessica stammers, obviously shocked by my statement. “What in the world are you talkin’ about, Lukas? Jacob took Kassidy back to her car that morning, I saw him!”

  “Yeah well, he didn’t stay with her until she was safely in her car, and that’s his cross to bear in all of this. The bottom line is, Buck snatched her from the parkin’ lot at the plant, and he raped and almost killed her. Me and Jake found her at Buck’s trailer. If you weren’t so self-absorbed, you’d know all this,” I say, disgusted by how Jess has acted since it all happened, not even asking me why Kas was in the hospital in the first place. Self-centered and spoiled, that was Jessica Henderson to a tee.

  “Oh my God, that’s so awful,” she says, and for a minute I honestly think she car
es. But it don’t take me long to realize that it’s all just an act, just like always. “And I mean, why in the world would Buck wanna do that to a girl like her, anyway? It’s sick, if you really think about it.”

  That’s it, I am done. “A girl like her? Really? Let me just tell you about a girl like her! Kassidy Kane is amazing. She’s kind and she’s generous to a fault. She wants nothing more than to help other people feel better about themselves – somethin’ you wouldn’t know a thing about. And contrary to what you might believe, she’s beautiful! Kassidy is a beautiful girl, inside and out…you could take a lesson or two from that girl.

  So, talk all the shit you want to about ‘a girl like her’ - you should be so lucky to one day be a girl like her! Goodbye, Jess!”

  And with that, I turn to leave the room. Not one to let anyone else get the last word, Jessica grabs my arm, stopping me in my tracks.

  “You’re in love with her!” she says in disbelief. “Lukas Crawford, you are in love with that…with Kassidy Kane!” she starts to call her an ugly name, but apparently thinks better of it. Her words, though, send a jolt straight through me. It was like being awoken by a bucketful of ice-cold water thrown in your face… you’re fully awake in an instant, and it’s a shock to the system from the reality of it all. But Jessica was not done with me yet.

  “A woman knows these things, and the truth is written all over your face right now! How long has this been goin’ on, Lukas?” she asks suspiciously. “How many years have you and her been sneaking around behind my back? I suppose she does all the nasty, disgusting things that I won’t do, not that you ever asked me to, but still…is that why you’re choosin’ her over me?”

  “There ain’t nothing goin’ on, Jess,” I say, shaking my head wearily. I am so tired of fighting. All I wanna do is get my stuff and head on back to Sam’s, where I can think in peace.

  All the things Jess said prior to the ugly innuendos had my mind whirling. In love with Kassidy? The truth is written all over your face… she said. Could that be true?

  “Kassidy ain’t that kinda girl, and I ain’t that kinda guy…it’s funny you how don’t know that after all these years,” I say snidely.

  “Well, you might not be sleepin’ with her, I’ll give ya that. But you can deny that you love her to me all you want to – just try denying it to yourself!” she says, her voice filled with hurt and anger. Was she really reading something in me that I haven’t even processed myself yet?

  “I gotta get outta here,” I say, my head spinning. “I’ll come by and get my things tomorrow, since I’m sure I don’t have a job anymore.”

  “Oh, you still have a job, alright – not that I didn’t try. But Daddy says you’re the best weaver he’s got, so he stood firm about not firing you just ‘cause I asked him to,” she says, arms crossed, pissed at not getting’ her way.

  “Well, I’ll be by in the mornin’,” I say wearily, mentally and emotionally exhausted by this conversation. “We’ll see our way out,” I say as I head out of the kitchen.

  Sam’s still waitin’ patiently for me on the stairwell, as I pause before heading for the door. “C’mon, buddy. We’ll do this tomorrow…I need a drink.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kassidy

  “Yes! He really did, he brought me lilies, and they’re gorgeous!” I gush to Melanie over the phone. I can hardly believe the change in Jacob myself, so it’s almost surreal, hearing myself tell my best friend about him.

  “Oh my gosh, Kas – this is so adorable! I wonder if he’s gonna ask you out once you’ve fully recouped,” she says, excitement in her voice. It really makes me happy to know that unlike some friends that I won’t mention, Melanie is totally thrilled at the prospect of me having love in my life. Honestly, I don’t know what’s gotten into Lukas here lately, but if he keeps on, he’s ‘bout to get my boot in his behind.

  “Ya know, I wish Lukas was as happy about this new…whatever it is with Jake as you are,” I mention, since it’s weighing so heavy on my mind right now. “I just don’t get what his deal is,” I say with a groan.

  “Kassidy, you don’t reckon…” Melanie says, trailing off.

  “Reckon what?” I ask stupidly.

  “Ugggh! Wake up, girl! It sounds to me like Lukas is playin’ the green-eyed monster in this scene!”

  Sitting there, it finally dawns on me just what Melanie is tryin’ to say, and I am flabbergasted.

  “Girl! Are you crazy?” I begin laughing hysterically. “You are a hoot!” wiping my eyes and shaking my head.

  “And just what is so crazy about that, might I ask?” Mel asks, annoyed at being laughed at. “He wouldn’t be the first guy-friend to realize that he loves the girl, once she finds another guy!”

  Laughing once again, I just can’t help but give her crap about it. “Well, he’d be the first for me, that’s for sure. I swannee, girl – you are just too much!”

  “Glad you find me so dang amusing,” Melanie says with a pout in her voice. “Besides, who cares what Lukas thinks anyway? It’s your happiness we’re talkin’ bout here!”

  With a deep sigh, I listen as Melanie changes the subject, talkin’ about the movie she watched last night. Who cares what Lukas thinks anyway? I do…

  I watch you as you work, so rugged and manly, the sweat glistening on your forearms, wearing a wife-beater – what an awful name for such a sexy article of clothing. How I wonder what you’re thinking about as you pull levers and shove frames on the loom that weaves colors into carpets – just the way you weave yourself into my daydreams. What is this power you have over me? That I can’t go one waking hour without longing for you, that sleep is filled with dreams of you – your back always turned toward me, never being able to bring yourself to look at me. Is this a sign of how disgusting I am to you, or is it an omen that you’re about to turn your back on me in reality? Either one would tear my world apart…

  On Saturday, Jacob came by for a visit. It was a beautiful afternoon, so we took our iced tea out on the front porch. As we rocked away, sipping tea and laughing about things that had happened at work, Jacob suddenly smiles.

  “Hey, Kas…would you go with me to the movies tonight? They’re showin’, Invasion of the Body Snatchers…ever seen it?” he asks with a grin.

  “No, I don’t believe that I have,” I say thoughtfully. “But I’d love to go with you, Jake.” For some reason, I can’t get this goofy smile off my face. Jacob smiles back, as he takes a long sip of tea, and releases a deep, contented sigh…one that I find myself replicating. Yeah, life is starting to feel awfully good…

  As I prepare for my date with Jacob, I am a bundle of nerves, but Melanie is here to help talk me down. Sitting on my bed, she cuddles and coos to Niko, who is eating it up.

  “I can’t do this,” I say, suddenly not so much nervous as I am terrified. “Why did I tell him I’d do this?” I ask anxiously.

  Melanie, ever the hopeful romantic, cocks her head to the side and smiles. “Why, Kassidy – you’ve got a crush on Jake!”

  “What? Wh-why would you say something like that? No way, we’re just friends…psssch! You’re crazy, girl!” I sputter in protest. Of course, she’s crazy, right? My heart belongs to and always has belonged to Lukas…

  But what if she’s right? I mean, Jacob is cute – not in the rugged, god-like kinda beauty that Lukas possesses, but cute nonetheless. And I mean, he is the one asking, while Lukas is actin all pissed…so what would be so wrong if we hit it off?

  With a huge sigh of defeat, I finally give in and let Mel do my makeup and hair. When she turns me to look in the mirror, I am blown away by what I’m seeing.

  Oh my God, I’m actually pretty! As if reading my mind, Melanie grins and says, “Girl, you are not just pretty – you are stunning!”

  Never in my life have I worn makeup – I mean, what was the point? Nobody wants the fat girl. But then again, my face isn’t as wide as it used to be, and I haven’t even noticed. In fact, it has slimmed down a lot – t
he blush accentuates my now-visible cheekbones, and when I smile, my eyes aren’t all scrunched up the way that I’m used to seeing them. You can actually see my eyes, and they’re quite beautiful. I burst into joyful laughter.

  “Mel – are you seein’ what I’m seein’?” I ask in wonder. She nods rapidly, grinning from ear to ear.

  “You, my darlin’, have lost weight – and we didn’t even notice!” she says incredulously.

  But she’s right – although I have noticed my clothes fitting a little more loosely, I’d never taken the time to step on the scales.

  About that time, Mama walks into the room, nearly dropping the tray of sweet tea she’s brought up for us.

  “Kassidy Marie!” she says, her jaw dropping at the sight of me. “You look so beautiful!” Tears spring to her eyes, as she sets down the tray and rushes over to hug me tightly.

  “Thank you, Mama,” I whisper in her ear as we share a Mother/Daughter moment like none other we’ve shared in my life.

  “The scales!” Melanie blurts out, remembering our previous conversation. “Let’s see how much you’ve lost!”

  “Oh, my goodness, Sweetheart, you have lost weight!” Mama gasps, seeing how my clothes are fitting.

  As I step upon the device I once deemed my nemesis, I am astounded by what I see. The last time I allowed myself to weigh in, I tipped the scales at a whopping two-hundred eighty. Surely my eyes must now be deceiving me.

  “Mel, tell me this really says what I think it says,” I say, feeling numb from sudden shock.

  “Yes, ma’am! It says two hundred fifty-six pounds!” she squeals giddily, jumping up and down. I have lost a total of twenty-four pounds…and I didn’t even know!

  I mean, I knew I’d not had much of an appetite since all this happened with Buck. Honestly, this thing with Lukas has had just as much to do with my appetite as the assault, strangely enough. One would imagine that being raped and left for dead would be the catalyst to my depression – but one would be wrong.