by Lynn Collins
Barb blanched, and Hunter wished he could take his words back. Something about what he’d said had hit a nerve with her. They needed to have a long talk over a bottle of tequila one night when Kati wasn’t around. But not yet.
Barb hurried over to her car and waved as she got in. Hunter stood watching her until Kati honked the horn on the truck. “Come on, Uncle Hunter. I’m starved.”
He climbed into the truck and glanced back at Kati. “You buckled in?”
“Of course, I’m not a baby.” Kati slipped back her seat watching Barb out the window. “Barb seems sad about her mom. I wonder why she lives here with all the other old people.”
“Barb’s mom has memory problems. She has to have people around her.” Hunter backed the truck out of the parking slot and headed back into town.
“So she doesn’t burn the house down?”
“Correct. She could forget a pot on the stove or even go for a walk and get lost.”
Kati was silent for a long while. At a stoplight, Hunter glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “You okay back there?”
“Just thinking. I bet Barb is scared her mom will forget her.”
And with that, Hunter realized Kati got it. “I think you’re right, honey.” He glanced out his side window and watched Barb’s car pull up behind his truck. “I think that’s exactly what Barb’s afraid of.”
When they reached The Galaxy, the hostess dressed in a fifties style waitress uniform, complete with beehive hairdo, seated them in a bright red stuffed booth. Music blared through the flashing jukebox announcing that rock and roll was here to stay. After the waitress took their orders and had delivered large, icy Cherry Cokes for all three, Barb and Hunter stared at each other. Hunter could see the thoughts prance over Barb’s face, discarding one topic after another. He waited to see what she could come up with to talk about. He didn’t have to wait long.
Kati filled the silence. “Grease is my favorite movie. Have you seen it? Danny is a bad boy and falls in love with this girl who is like the cheerleader type but he doesn’t think he’s good enough for her.”
“I’ve seen the movie a few times. I love the music.” Barb sipped her soda. “Yum, this is good.”
Kati waved the comment away. “Do you think people can just fall in love? Even when everything says they shouldn’t be together? Annie, she’s in my class, says that’s stupid. That people need to be with someone who’s like them. And that Danny and Sandy probably got divorced right after they got married.”
Hunter glanced at Barb, wondering what she’d say.
“Sometimes people get married for all kinds of reasons that have nothing to do with love. Then they divorce.” Barb leaned back into her seat. “But if two people are really in love, like Danny and Sandy, then I think they can be as different as night and day and still stay together.”
Kati nodded. “I agree. Love conquers all.”
Hunter grinned. “And you’re basing this platitude on your seven years of experience? When were you in love?”
Kati focused on him. “I haven’t been, but my mom and dad were. They would have been together forever. You could see it when they were together. Just like you and Barb.”
Hunter froze. Kati was right, his brother had been wildly in love with his wife. Storybook kind of love. But her instincts were off on him and Barb. This was an arrangement, not a marriage. But he couldn’t say that to the kid. Not now, but maybe later.
Kati continued, not picking up on Hunter’s discomfort. “You two will be married forever and ever.”
Hunter looked at Barb. She had the same panic in her eyes as he felt. This was a bad idea. But the die was cast and they had to see it through, for Kati’s sake. Luckily, the waitress arrived with their cheeseburgers and French fries.
A love that could last a lifetime. He had to stop reading fairytales to his niece as her bedtime stories. Or letting her watch Grease.
11
“We’re having a reception tomorrow?”
Barb’s question startled Hunter. Barb sat at the kitchen table, looking hot in ropers and a tank top, her wild red hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. What was it about the woman that every time he looked at her, he remembered their one night together? He was going to have to get over this since she would be in his house day after day until after the court hearing. He couldn’t be reacting like a horny teenager every time he saw her.
“Yeah, sorry, I meant to tell you. My dad set that up. His secretary was supposed to call to get your names for the invite.” Hunter poured himself a cup of coffee and put a slice of still warm banana bread on a plate before he sat down at the table. He definitely was going to miss her baking. He’d probably put on ten pounds before she left. He hoped Kati would do the same.
“She didn’t call me, she called Lizzie and Lizzie took care of everything. Including buying me a new dress she’s bringing over tomorrow morning.” Barb’s gaze was hard over her cup. “I don’t like pulling my friends into this arrangement. Lizzie’s going to be hurt for me when we break up.”
“Like I said, my dad pulled this together.” The charade was spinning out of control and even he knew it. “I’m just as uncomfortable with this as you are. But Kati and I need you. Just for a while.”
Barb sighed and sipped her coffee. “Sure, play the suffering kid card. You can be a jerk sometimes, you know that?”
“Sometimes.” Hunter smiled. “The bread’s great. But you don’t have to bake all the time. That’s not part of our agreement.”
“Baking calms me. And besides, who knows the next time I’ll get to play house in a kitchen like this?” Barb swept her arm around the room. “Who stocked this for you? I can’t believe you bought all the kitchen accessories. Hell, you have a Cuisinart mixer. All the good stuff.”
Hunter smiled. “My secretary. When I bought the house to be in Kati’s same school district, I asked Kelly to decorate and stock the place. I didn’t realize she’d go all out on the kitchen like this. She told me later she built the kitchen to help me snag a wife someday. I don’t think she liked the company I was keeping before Kati came along.”
“Why?”
“Let’s just say my focus was more on fun than a future.” Hunter got up to get a second slice. “Now, all I think about is the future. And I can’t imagine not having Kati in it. The custody suit floored me last week. What was Angel thinking? I would have given her money just to go away.”
“No. If I’ve learned something in my life it’s you don’t feed trolls. You give them what they want today, they just come back tomorrow for more. It’s never enough. Fight for custody. I’ll do what I can to help.”
Hunter watched Barb as he slathered butter on the bread. He wondered if she was talking about her last husband. Had their break up been more than the rumors he’d heard? The girl didn’t seem like money motivated her actions, although she did love his kitchen. He took a bite of the bread. Could be worse, he thought. She could love his liquor cabinet.
He sat back down at the table. “Thanks.”
Barb popped out of her chair as quickly as he sat down. “I’ve got to get Kati up and going. We’re visiting mom first thing today and then she has her riding lesson.”
“Don’t forget the meeting with Angel.”
“Like I could. That woman gets under my skin. We’ll be there.” Barb paused at the doorway. “You don’t mind me taking Kati with me to visit Mom, do you?”
Hunter thought about the three women sitting on the loveseat yesterday at the assisted living center. How they looked like family, even though only two were related. “Not at all. It’s good for Kati to have older people in her life. At least that’s what the parenting books tell me.”
“You have good instincts. You probably don’t need the books.” And then Barb disappeared into the hallway.
He could hear murmurs coming from the direction of Kati’s room, then a shower starting. The woman was good for Kati too. He didn’t know how to fix Kati’s hair, or pick out cloth
es, or even say the right thing most days. And those things weren’t covered in the parenting books. Now he just needed a book on how to talk to your fake wife who you wanted to drag to your real bedroom every night. That’s a book he could learn from.
Barb’s mother wasn’t in her room. Barb grabbed a nurse walking by. “Where’s my mother? Mrs. Carico? Did something happen?”
The nurse patted Barb’s hand, then smiled at Kati. “Nothing’s wrong. Your mother is in the living room out front, they have a knitting club meeting every Saturday. It’s this way.”
Barb stared at the woman’s back. Knitting? Her mother had never knit in her life. She felt Kati pull on her hand.
“Come on, Barb, let’s surprise her.” Kati nodded to the retreating nurse.
Barb had fallen down the rabbit hole. She was pretending to be a wife and a mother to this little girl. Meanwhile, her own mom, the honky-tonk queen of the party, was knitting with a group of women? This she had to see. And maybe get a picture. And post it on Facebook. The 1966 Queen of the Snake River Stampede takes up a new hobby. She could have a before and after picture.
Barb smiled. She was evil. That was all there was to say. And she knew it.
They walked into a large sunroom where four women were gathered around a small table. Lorraine had knitting needles in her hand and a slight elderly woman sat next to her, guiding Lorraine through every stitch.
“That’s right, cross the yarn over the needles, then pull through, just like before.” The woman’s voice was so calm, Barb thought she might even be able to learn the craft.
“It’s so tight,” Lorraine complained.
“That’s because you’re holding on to those needles like they were a butcher knife and you were facing a serial killer.” The woman laughed. “Relax a bit.”
“Might as well tell her to grow a third arm.” Barb commented from behind the table. “My mother doesn’t relax, ever.”
Lorraine turned and smiled. “I’m so glad to see you this morning. Let me introduce you to Sally. She’s teaching me to knit.”
Kati went and stood close to Lorraine. “Maybe you can make me a scarf?”
Lorraine hugged the little girl, then turned her toward Sally. “This is my granddaughter, Kati.”
Barb took in a sharp breath. This was all getting out of control. Now her mom was involved. With the memory problems Lorraine had been having for years, Barb never believed she’d remember Kati after just one visit. And now she was introducing her as her granddaughter. Tomorrow they’d be announcing their union to friends and family. A marriage that was only on paper. This was the worst idea Barb had ever had.
She watched as her mother showed Kati what she’d learned. The woman promised to make Kati a blue scarf, just in time for the winter that would be here sooner than later. The smile on her mom’s face told Barb one thing: Lorraine liked it here at Countryside. Barb should have made the move years ago. The scared woman who’d called her a week ago complaining someone was in her house was gone, the mom Barb remembered in her place.
If she had to pretend to be married to Hunter for years to keep that smile on her mom’s face, well she’d just have to buck up and swallow her pride. Her mom needed this level of care, and right now, this was the only way to assure she got it.
Barb pulled a chair up to the table and got a cup of coffee from the sideboard, joining in the conversation. They had an hour before they had to leave for Kati’s riding lesson, and Barb was enjoying her time with her mom. For the first time in a long time.
When they’d said their goodbyes and Kati was secured in the back seat, Barb pulled the rental out of the parking lot. “Did you have fun?”
Kati wrapped a string of yarn around her fingers, playing cat’s cradle with the tied circle of blue. She nodded in answer to Barb’s question. “Your mom’s nice to me. She seems happy when we come to see her.”
“I think she is happy to see us.” Barb steered the car onto the freeway entry ramp, increasing her speed. She glanced back at Kati. “Does it bother you that she calls you her granddaughter?”
Kati frowned and looked up from her tangle of string. “Why would it? She’s your mom and you’re married to Uncle Hunter, so in a way, you’re my new mom. Even though you’re not.”
Leave it to a child to keep it all straight. Barb couldn’t even tell the players without a scorecard, but Kati had her pulse on the facts. “I was just making sure. I can ask her not to call you that.”
“It’s okay. It’s nice to have a grandma for once. I never met either of my grandmas. So this is cool.”
Barb smiled. The kid could make lemon pound cake out of lemons. Just give her some time and she’d put a positive spin on anything life threw at her. The kid was a lot like her Uncle Hunter.
“Almost there,” Barb said, almost to herself. She had a nervous habit of listing off all her chores to keep them in the forefront of her mind. Otherwise, she’d forget to do a lot. “Then we’re meeting up with Angel for ice cream. I’m thinking chicken for dinner.”
“I like chicken.” Kati paused, then asked, “Why don’t you sleep with Uncle Hunter? I thought married people were supposed to sleep together?”
Eagle eye Kati didn’t miss a thing. Barb glanced back at the girl, who was watching her in the rearview mirror. “We’re taking this kind of slow.”
“Oh. There’s our exit.” Kati leaned forward, her attention off Barb and now on her upcoming riding lesson. At least, Barb hoped so. The kid kept her on her toes, that was for certain. She needed a training manual in seven-year-olds. Then maybe she’d get out of this without messing with Kati’s head or her own.
Too late. The thought came unbidden, but the truth stung Barb nonetheless. Barb just hoped the good she and Hunter were doing to keep Kati from the clutches of Angel and her family was worth the price all three of them would pay for the deception.
When they pulled up in the training facility parking lot, Barb was impressed. The owners had training corrals, a large showing barn, and several pastures with horses grazing in the fields. The property backed up against the Boise foothills and Barb knew several riding paths that were within a mile or so of this spot. Whoever had put this place together knew their stuff. Hell, she could be happy running a business like this.
Kati scampered out of the car and ran to a woman standing near one of the corrals. “I’ve got my own boots.” She spun, modeling her new clothes that Barb had bought during the shopping trip. The kid looked like a cowgirl should. Barb smiled as she walked up to the pair.
“You look awesome.” The woman smiled at Kati, but when her eyes met Barb’s, no smile echoed. “You must be Angel?”
Barb laughed. “Not in this lifetime.”
Claire frowned, apparently confused at Barb’s humor.
“This is my new Aunt Barb. She and Uncle Hunter got married.” Kati climbed on the wood fence. “Am I riding Cheyenne today? Or Buster?”
“Buster. Head into the barn. Sally will help you get him ready.” Claire turned toward Barb. “Sorry, I didn’t realize Hunter was even dating.”
The pain in Claire’s eyes told Barb one thing: this girl had thought there could be a chance for her in Hunter’s life. Maybe she’d even been warming Hunter’s bed since Kati’s lessons had started.
No, Barb decided. Hunter hadn’t moved that quickly with anyone, not since Kati had come to stay. Or at least she hoped the trim, athletic blonde hadn’t bedded her husband. A pang of jealous flowed through Barb’s thoughts. One she quickly brushed away as being stupid.
“We kind of surprised everyone,” Barb said, trying to keep her tone casual. She changed the subject. “How good is she with horses? I know she loves riding.”
Claire glanced toward the open barn door where Kati and a teenager saddled a quarter horse twice the height of Kati. Claire smiled. “She’s my prize student. She’ll be ready to compete by fall.”
“English or American?”
“We start all the kids out with American but I’d
like her to switch up soon and learn to jump.” Claire cocked her head and then asked, “You must ride?”
“I do. I did. Barrel racing as a teenager. Right now, I’m managing four bull riders, so there isn’t a lot of free time.” Barb laughed. “The boys keep me busy.”
“Well, maybe you could bring out one of those boys next time you visit.” Claire motioned to the large corral where Kati and the horse were heading. “I wouldn’t mind some eye candy showing up at my place.”
With that, Barb knew she’d been forgiven for stealing Hunter and maybe the two women could actually be friends. Or at least friends until the divorce came through. Barb sighed. Keeping up the pretense while not getting attached to anyone or anything in Hunter and Kati’s lives was hard. Almost impossible. A vision of her mom smiling this morning while she ripped out her knitting and started over came to Barb. Nothing was impossible. Not when her mother needed this to be safe.
She smiled at Claire. She could do this. She had to.
Two hours later, a dusty and tired Kati in the back seat, they parked in front of the Ice Cream Palace. “We’re right on time,” Barb announced.
“Great.” Kati’s voice was petulant.
“Come on, she’s your aunt. She wants to visit with you.” Barb turned, laying her arm over the seat.
“I don’t think so.” Kati met Barb’s glance. “I mean, she never even talked to me before Mom and Dad died. When we went to visit, she’d send me out to play with Tony. We weren’t allowed in the front room with the adults.”
“People see kids differently. Maybe losing her sister has changed your aunt.” Barb was trying to give Angel the benefit of the doubt but every time she learned something new, she hated the woman even more. “And it’s just ice cream. You can talk to her for a few minutes for ice cream, right?”
Bribery. It was a shameful ploy, but it was all Barb had.
“I guess.” Kati slipped out of the car and waited on the sidewalk for Barb to join her.
By the time Barb had locked the car and met up with Kati, Hunter had joined them. “I didn’t realize you were coming too.” She spoke quietly, letting Kati walk in front of them.