Slim to None

by A. H. Shelton

  “I don’t know,” I say, my heart in a panic. The conversation had escalated so quickly, spiraling totally in the opposite direction I had intended. I feel very disturbed by the comments that Mama has made, so much so, that the mood instantly changes.

  “Mel, I think something has happened to Mama,” I say with a sick feeling in the pit of my gut.

  Entering the house alone, I walk up behind Mama, who is standing still, gazing out the kitchen window, still holding her empty coffee cup. Now I know that something has triggered some deeply repressed memory.

  “Mama?” I ask gently. “Did Sam Gentry do something to hurt you?”

  Turning to face me, Mama quickly tries to hide a tear that has begun to fall.

  “No, baby, no!” Taking me by the shoulders, she says, “Sam Gentry is one of the good guys. He could never hurt a soul. Lukas couldn’t ask for a better friend – a better mentor than Samuel Gentry, trust me on this.”

  “You sure? You seem really sad, is all,” I say, giving her an uneasy smile. I’m still not so sure she’s being completely honest with me.

  “Baby girl, I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty, that Sam Gentry has never hurt me – to be honest, he’s the kindest man I’ve ever known. Maybe it makes me a little sentimental that I’ve known him for so long. I do think he’s always been a little sweet on me…maybe the sadness comes from me never giving him a chance to get close to us, that’s all.”

  Looking at me straight in my eyes, she leaves the conversation hanging with a final, cryptic statement.

  “If there ever was a man that I would have let into our lives, it would have been a good man like Sam – there were just too many bad ones that gave me reason to shut them all out completely.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lukas

  “Lukas Crawford, you know I wouldn’t do such a terrible thing!” Jessica pokes out her lip while simultaneously crossing her arms – her infamous battle-stance throughout the years of arguments I have had to endure.

  “The one thing that I do know without a doubt, is that you are that kind of person – it’s just sad that it took me this many years, and a whole lotta heartache for Kassidy, for me to realize this,” I say with a deep sigh.

  “Kassidy, Kassidy – why is everything always about Kassidy?” Jessica has gotten to the point of yelling by now – which tells me how upset she really is. It tells me something else, too, something that has never even occurred to me until this very moment – Jessica Henderson is jealous of Kassidy Kane. Boom.

  Not jealous in the way that most women get – no, this isn’t about looks, clothes, money, or even a man. Jessica is jealous of Kassidy’s spirit – her very nature. This explains so much. This explains the years of torment that Jessica has put Kassidy through. How did I not see it before? All the ridiculing to make others not like Kassidy – it was because Jessica saw how much others do like her. This is so huge – and I will not pass up this opportunity to rub it in Jessica’s face.

  Giving her a sly smile, I begin rubbing my chin, contemplating.

  “Well now Jess, I would’ve never taken you for the jealous type,” I tell her, baiting the hook.

  “Jealous? Of who – oh surely you don’t mean Kassidy Kane!” she says with an overly-dramatic laugh. “You must be joking,” she says, giving me a cold stare to further emphasize her point.

  But I was just gettin’ started. “Yep, the way I see it, you just cannot stand how well-liked she is. She’s an amazing girl, alright – everybody says so.”

  “You talkin’ about that fat sow – that low-life trailer trash that you’ve been hanging around way too long, in my opinion? You really make me laugh!” Again, with the loud, obnoxious fake laughter. I was really starting to get a headache, but this was just too good.

  “Well,” I begin, really trying to drag it out and give Jessica just a taste of the torture that she’s been dishing out. “Actually, she’s never been all that fat – and have you seen her lately? That girl will be your size quicker’n you can shake a rabbit’s tail. And, I don’t really need to point out that Kassidy has never lived in a trailer – but I know a lot of people around here that do, and they might not take too kindly to being called ‘trash’ – just sayin’.”

  “What? She can’t have lost that much weight! What’s she doin’, taking her daddy’s fat pills? And don’t you dare be tellin’ people I said that about trailers – my daddy would skin me alive if people got mad about that…can’t have any scandals ruining my family business! Not to mention how many crazy yahoos would turn up drunk over here, lookin’ for a fight – you just keep your mouth shut, now Lukas!”

  “Now see, see how many bad things can come outta words being said? Ya know, I hadn’t even thought about all the pissed off locals showin’ up at your door for callin’ them trash, but you’ve got a point there,” I say, stifling a grin.

  I am causing Jessica all kinds of anxiety, and I know this for sure when she stomps over to the wet bar and pours herself a double whiskey. She takes a long swallow before motioning for me to join her.

  “No, I think I’ll pass – seein’ as it’s only eleven in the morning, and all. Guess I’d best be heading back to the house, but I’m glad we had this little chat,” I say with a smirk that I don’t even bother to hide. Check and mate.

  I’m not quite sure if Jess even heard me, as she stands nursing her drink, staring at the floor, lost in thought. But as I turn to go, she suddenly speaks.

  “Hey Lukas, I’ve really been a complete bitch to her – er, to Kassidy, haven’t I?” The tone of her voice catches me quite off guard. She actually sounds like she’s finally grasping the severity of her actions, and that it’s a sobering moment for her – regardless of the booze.

  “Yeah, you really have. You’re bigger than that, Jess. Somewhere way down beneath that spoiled little rich girl exterior, there’s an actual human being. There’s gotta be – I couldn’t have ever loved you, otherwise.”

  And with that, I take my leave.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lukas

  As Saturday afternoon comes and goes, I can’t help but be intrigued about hanging out with Kassidy again. I’m sure it’ll feel just like old times, but I gotta admit, we’ve hit a rough patch or two in our friendship the past few months, thanks to Jacob and Jessica – match made in Hell, without a doubt. Kassidy and me are most definitely better off without the two of them, and they deserve each other, to say the least.

  I try to busy myself around the yard, spreading some grass seed, covering it with hay to keep it from washing away with the first good rain, cleaning gutters – whatever needs to be done. The weird thing is, I’ve never been one to need to stay busy in order to occupy my mind – and Sam is quick to call me out on it.

  “Boy, what in the world has gotten into you?” Sam leans on a fence post, watching me up on the ladder, working.

  “Never occurred to you to ask, ‘Hey Luke, need me to hold that ladder for ya?’” I ask with a grin. “It would surely be more helpful.”

  “Always here to lend a hand,” Sam says sarcastically. “But seriously, you’re actin’ like a schoolboy, waiting on time for his first date…somethin’ you wanna talk about? As I seem to recall, Miss Kassidy Kane is coming for supper tonight – is that what’s got you buzzing around here like a honeybee?” Sam shoots me a wink and a grin. Always one to give me shit, but my buddy does make a good point. Even I can’t figure out what’s goin’ on with me today, and I gotta admit, it’s quite a bit unsettling.

  “Well, I’m gonna look at it like this – I’m just nervous to see if all this mess with Jacob and Jess has done any long-term damage to our friendship…that’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it.”

  “Whatever helps you sleep at night,” Sam says with a shrug. “Anyway, I’m bout to load the applewood chips into the smoker – them ribs ain’t gettin’ any younger.” Stopping short, Sam turns to scowl at me. “And boy, don’t you know that cleaning gutters is about as ba
d luck as washing your car? It’ll bring on the rain, sure as anything.”

  Shaking my head, I tell him, “I’m bout done anyway. I’ll bring us a beer and you can show me how to use that fancy new smoker of yours.”

  “Patience, Grasshopper – there is much skill to mastering the art of smoking meat. One cannot just smoke the meat – one has to become one with the meat,” Sam said in his best Kung-Fu voice.

  This makes me holler out laughing, as I tell him, “Old man, you go on and climb up in that smoker with the meat if you want to…the only way I’m gonna become ‘one with the meat,’ is when it hits my belly!”

  Feeling a whole lot better about the situation, I kick back with a cold one and watch Sam work his magic. There’s only one thing still bothering me – why is it that I had to lie to Sam, and myself, about what’s really making me nervous where Kassidy is concerned? Admitting to myself that I’m lying is one thing, but I’m a guy – I’m not about to admit it to Sam.

  The next question is, why am I so embarrassed that I might actually have feelings for Kassidy? It’s definitely not that I’d be ashamed of it, so it must just be the fact that it snuck up on me like it did. For Jessica Henderson to be aware of something that I was not, is a bit unnerving – that girl would be oblivious if her hair was on fire, unless she saw it while taking a selfie.

  So. here’s the real question: am I ready to take a chance and leave the friend zone tonight? I feel sick at just the thought of it. I mean yeah, Kassidy would be the ultimate girlfriend, she’s beautiful, sweet, funny and totally drama-free – but if things go sour, I’ll be losing the best friend that I’ve ever had. I gotta do a little more soul searching before I make such a life-altering decision.

  Suddenly feeling like a presumptuous jerk, it dawns on me that I don’t even know for sure that Kassidy has feelings like that for me to begin with. Yes, she can be nervous around me, but she can also be feisty as hell. The memory of her marching up to the front porch, telling me that she was mad, and gonna stay mad, mind you, is one that always makes me smile. I make a mental note to watch tonight, for any signs that she’s interested in being more than friends, before I make a damn fool of myself.

  One thing is for sure, I had better do something before another asshole like Jacob comes along and sweeps the perfect girl off her feet for good.

  Chapter Twenty

  Kassidy

  Feeling cute in my soft peach blouse and nice-fitting jeans, I pull up in front of the cabin. After checking my carefully applied makeup three times in the lighted visor mirror, I force myself to get out of the car, lest Lukas thinks I am a nut-job. Honey hush, this is not a date!

  Then why does this absolutely feel like a date? Like as much of a date as any I had ever had with Jacob – and combine that with the fact that I feel like I’m about to meet Lukas’ dad, which Sam basically is – and my nerves are completely shot.

  Get it together girl, you can do this! Gathering together all of my courage, I step out of the car, and cringing as I use my clammy hands to quickly smooth out my clothes, I take a deep breath, and walk up to the front door.

  As I knock on the heavy cedar door, I hear Sam’s dog bark, alerting the men of my arrival. I am literally shaking as I wait, feeling like I have the most ridiculous smile plastered on my face as Lukas opens the door.

  “Hey Kas,” Lukas says. “Come on in. Hope you’re hungry, we made plenty,” he says with a grin. No way, am I detecting nervousness on Lukas’ part as well? Somehow this gives me a huge sense of relief, and I automatically feel like myself again. Guys get nervous, too – who knew?

  Sam comes over to greet me with a warm hug. “Miss Kassidy Kane, I sure have heard a lot about you!” I can’t miss the scowl that Lukas shoots his friend, warning him not to say too much. This is awesome! It’s like watching the male version of myself and Melanie. Yeah, something tells me that I’m gonna have a wonderful time tonight.

  “All good, I hope,” I say with a grin.

  “Well, of course! Come and sit down, or would ya’ll rather eat outside? It’s a beautiful night tonight.”

  “Al Fresco sounds mighty fine to me,” I say as we head out to the backyard.

  “Hope you’re a rib girl, I made my special sauce,” Sam says proudly.

  “Yeah, I had to pull him back from the smoker before the became part of the meal,” Lukas says, and he and Sam bellow out with laughter, before Lukas awkwardly says, “Sorry, inside joke. So, you like ribs, do ya?”

  “I sure do – I’m from North Carolina, ain’t I? They’d run me out of the state if I didn’t,” I laughed.

  “There ya go, girl! Lukas, you told me she was a firecracker, and I can see that you were right on the money. Here you go, darlin’. Help yourself to everything!”

  Although nothing feels forced as far as conversation goes, Lukas just seems nervous for some reason. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but he seems almost shy, and that is definitely not the Lukas Crawford that I know. Whatever it is, it’s kinda cute, and I dunno…endearing. I can’t keep myself from smiling, as Sam regales us with tales from his younger days. Every so often, I catch a glimpse of Lukas watching me.

  “Did I ever tell you that I used to work with your daddy?” Sam asks me as the three of us sit around the fire pit in the back yard of the cabin. Lukas and Sam are knocking back a cold one, while I sip on a strawberry-flavored wine cooler. I know these were purchased especially for me, because these guys are most definitely not fruity drink kinda guys...and this makes me smile.

  Whippoorwills, and bullfrogs from a nearby stream take turns serenading us with a melancholy tune, while crickets and cicadas provide slightly mesmerizing renditions of their songs of the South.

  The fire crackles, it’s warmth so cozy on this chilly September evening - nearing the end of summer, yet feeling increasingly like fall - and the amber glow lends a romantic touch. More than once I catch myself hoping that Sam will excuse himself and give Lukas and I some alone time - but the conversation is starting to pique my interest.

  “You did? Where?”

  “Yes ma’am, we both started out on the sales floor at Hoffman’s.”

  Hoffman’s - the place where my daddy got his big break...and broke my mama’s heart.

  “Yeah, my dad did pretty well there. I guess the owner liked him,” I say with a shrug. I leave out the part about him cheating on my mama, but Sam isn’t one to mince words.

  “Old man Hoffman was just glad to have somebody who knew what they were doin to look after things,” he says, shaking his head. “That daughter of his didn’t know a daggum thing about making money - but she sure knew how to spend it - her and that sophisticated new husband of hers.” Sam says grinning. His expression quickly darkens, though.

  “Yep, your daddy was a real good business man. Damn shame how he treated your mama...all due respect.”

  My breath catches in my throat to hear someone else voicing what I’ve known all my life to be true.

  “You could say that,” I reply, my voice strained, fighting back the tears that I am determined not to show, especially with Lukas watching. But I still hated my daddy for the things I heard him say to Mama, so long ago.

  “I could, and I am - with no disrespect to you, young lady,” Sam says kindly. “But your daddy was a fool. Linda was - and still is an amazing woman - salt of the earth. Any man would’ve been proud to have her - I would’ve been proud to have her,” Sam says wistfully. “But Nick Kane always thought he was a looker - thought he had a way with the women...what he had was just fat pockets and couldn’t keep himself from bragging about it. So, he always had some hussy - that’s what we called em back then - hangin all over him. Made him feel a king, but we were all quick to tell him how damn stupid he was, if he lost Linda. He just laughed it off...It’s no wonder she left Hoffman’s and found work at Henderson’s.” Sam’s voice trails off, and he shakes his head wistfully again. “Damn good woman, your mama. I can tell you take after her,” he says with a grin, lightenin
g the mood.

  “That she does,” Lukas chimes in with a wink.

  “Well I most certainly take that as a compliment,” I say, blushing, wondering why Sam never came around to call on Mama throughout all these years - he certainly seems to be quite smitten. I’ll have to remember to mention this to Mama. She’ll get a real kick out of it – and who knows, she might even let Sam come to call on her now and then. I am not opposed to having him around.

  Shivering, I tighten my cardigan around me.

  “That wind is picking up. I’m not liking how that sky is lookin, not one bit,” Sam says ominously. “We best be gettin inside.”

  Lukas is scanning the cloud formations, the sky a sickly green by what we can barely see as dusk has fallen. Wait, that can’t be right. I check my phone to see that it is only six-thirty - dark doesn’t fall for at least a couple more hours during the summer months. This is a whole different kind of darkness - a bad storm approaching. As if on cue, an alert tone from the National Weather Service comes blaring through all three of our phones simultaneously, followed by instructions. This is looking serious.

  “Yeah, you’re definitely right about that. We need to take cover,” Lukas agrees.

  As we hurry inside, the wind begins to howl, as limbs are being blown from their branches, pummeling the front and sides of the cabin. Watching from the big picture window up front, I see the chairs that we had just moments ago been sitting in, go flying across the yard. I gasp at how violent the wind has become so quickly.

  “You need to get away from there, darlin’,” Sam says, and Lukas grabs me and pulls me away from the window, just as a huge limb crashes through the glass.

  I scream out in fear, and Lukas asks if I’m alright.

  Nodding, “I’m just a little shook, but I’m good - thanks to you,” I give him a weak smile as he helps me up.

  “We need to get down to the cellar,” Sam shouts, as the wind whips through the broken window.