by Kaci Hart
Love Therapy
By Kaci Hart
Copyright © 2015 by Kaci Hart
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names and character are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 1
“It’s still hard for me to see you there and not wanna send you to pick up table two. You sure you don’t want to catch a few extra hours?”
Donna looked around the diner, reminiscing on her past.
“Now Ms. Shirley, you know I had some good times here. If I didn’t actually love what I’m doing now I would hop right on back there, get myself an apron, and take you up on that offer.”
Shirley continued to prepare a slice of pie and coffee for Donna.
“Well Donna, I’m glad you don’t have to. You know this job is not all the glitz and glamor that it used to be. And I know I tell you this every time I see you but I’m really proud of you. I always feel like I had a tiny hand in your life and it’s nice when you do well. Like I’m living voraciously through you.”
Donna burst out in laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh Ms. Shirley I’m laughing at you and your new ten dollar word. You are so cute but you completely used the wrong one.’
Shirley looked at her. A confused expression plastered on her face. As someone that loved reading anything she could get her hands on, she was always trying to incorporate some new term into her vocab. The older woman stood with her hands on her waist, with her eyes looking up to the ceiling as she replayed the statement in her mind over and over again. She had no idea what the error was.
“Really?”
Donna laughed at the short, plump woman’s attempt to use what she called ten dollar words. Being around her always made Donna’s day a little brighter. Some people just had that kind of way about them. Shirley was the owner and principal operator of the diner and was friends with Donna’s mother from church so she had known her since she was practically a baby. As a teenager, she hired Donna on after school and later paid her more than she was worth to help her cover the costs for college.
“Yeah. You said voraciously but you meant vicariously. Living vicariously through me.”
“Oh well. They both start with ‘v’ and I had the spirit of the word right so how ya like them apples?”
The two women shared a laugh as Shirley stretched across the counter and placed the packaged pie slice and hot coffee in front of Donna.
“Here you go sweetie.”
When Donna reached for her wallet instead of her food Shirley spoke to her again, shaking her head in protest.
“What did I tell you about that?”
“Oh come on Mrs. Shirley. You can’t keep giving me free coffee and pie just because I worked here. You have got a business to run and money to be made. You know, despite all of our kidding, I really am not an employee of yours anymore.”
“Donna I know that all too well. None of these new girls I hired have anything on you. But I never considered you like a regular employee. You have been like a daughter to me since my own moved away so many years ago. I could no more charge you for a cup of coffee than I could her so you will either have to get used to it or find another place to get your coffee and you know that it would break my heart if you did that. So don’t you reach for that wallet again, you hear me?”
Donna knew her well enough to know that she was absolutely determined not to take her money, so she acquiesced.
“Yes ma'am. I got you loud and clear. That just means I will be piling all of that coffee and pie into your Christmas present.”
“Now that, I can allow!”
“Exactly. More than one way to skin a cat. Well I really have to run off to work now. Thank you for the coffee and pie and I will see you tomorrow.”
“Alright sweetie. Have a great day.”
“You too.”
Donna enjoyed her trips to the diner. It reminded her of just how unique of a place Stanton Falls was. It was totally different from Dallas. Not that either was better than the other--but it was just different. Things like getting a simple cup of coffee in those places was a chore. Four sizes, eighteen blends, five types of cream or milk and four versions of sugar, none of which were really natural. She inhaled her coffee as she walked towards the door. Simple. Black with a couple teaspoons of sugar. That’s the good stuff.
Since her hands were full, she leaned her shoulder forward to push the door open, and as she pushed forward, the door swung open from the other direction, causing her to stumble forward, almost falling before apparently having her fall saved by the chest of the person on the other side of the door. She didn’t know if she was more embarrassed to have almost fallen or to have been that close to a total stranger. She was invading his personal space.
Could have been worse. I could have spilled my coffee.
She looked backed up, hoping to thank the stranger that saved her from having to take another cup of coffee from Shirley for free. She stared at his concerned face.
Cute.
She thought he looked familiar and judging by the look of recognition on his face, she was sure she knew him from somewhere.
“Um, sorry to bump into you like that. Are you ok?”
“Donna?”
***
Nick couldn’t believe it was her but he would know her face anywhere. He had spent enough times going to that diner for any extra meals that he could just so he could have a chance to see her. It was funny because he had never been a shy person. He was typically the most outgoing person in the room but he had never really gotten past flirting with her in the past. He was never really sure if she even liked him. He was totally surprised that day when he went back to the diner and she was gone. The owner had told him that she was gone to finish up school and she didn’t even know if she was moving back in the future. Well apparently she decided to return to town.
Good for me.
That was how Nick felt right up until the moment that she responded to his greeting.
“I’m sorry. I know I’m supposed to know you but I’m just having a really hard time placing you.”
Nick laughed for a few seconds until he noticed how nervous she looked. He thought that she was joking but her furrowed eyebrows and squinted eyes were obvious giveaways that she really was trying to recall where she knew him from.
“Nick…. Nick…. You really don’t remember me?”
She didn’t want to be mean but she just couldn’t place him in the least bit and it was getting to the point that it was turning from a cute reunion into a quasi-awkward situation.
“No, I can’t say that I do. I kinda feel really like I should now.”
“Wow. When you used to work here I would come here all the time. Ordered apple pie for dessert on a regular.”
“C’mon. Everyone in town orders apple pie from here for dinner.”
Nick turned to Aaron who was barely containing his laughter.
“Dude, help me out here.”
“I got nothing man. You obviously aren’t that memorable.”
Suddenly recognition ran across Donna’s face.
“Wait a minute. You I remember. You came in a lot always with…”
She looked back to Nick.
“No way. You look so different now. You used to have the long hair that would hang halfway down your face. That’s why I didn’t recognize you. You were always either looking at a menu or all that hair was covering up them pearly blues. I could never forget two of my top clients. You paid for a good portion of my school you know. At least two classes. How y’all boys been?”
Nick was lost in his thoughts as she spoke to him. He hadn’t seen her in over a year, maybe even more than two years but he knew it was her from the second she fell through the door and into his arms. He didn't know if it was just because he hadn’t seen her in a while but he could swear she looked even more beautiful now than he remembered. He had never actually seen her in anything other than her work clothes so he had only that point of reference but even then she was pretty. There in her business clothes, he still saw the same young woman from before. He studied her face, finally noticing her looking at him. She waved her hand in front of his face attempting to get his attention.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that. Never mind. You were saying something?”
“Not so much saying as I was waiting for you to respond. I was asking how you guys have been and you sort of zoned out on me. Aaron was saying it was your inability to pay attention. I didn’t know whether he was serious or not but you were off in your own world for a good fifteen seconds there.”
Nick looked at Aaron with a look that only the two of them knew what it meant “I’m going to get you back.”
“Pay him absolutely no mind. He’s an idiot even though he thinks he is a comedian. I was just thinking how great it is to see you. You’re back from school now I presume.”
“Yes but how did you know I was at school.”
“When you went missing a while back, I was just interested to see what had happened to you.”
It seemed as if Aaron wanted to make things even more awkward for Nick.
“You should have seen him. After the third time you weren’t here he was getting the details.”
Nick jumped in again, desperately hoping to shut his friend up.
“Thank you for the play by play Aaron. Why don’t you get us a table while I talk to her for a minute?”
Before he could speak up, Donna looked at her watch and exclaimed.
“Oh my! I’m supposed to be somewhere right now. Listen, it was great seeing you again, but I really have to head off for work.”
She started off towards her car, leaving a stunned Nick and chuckling Aaron standing outside the diner. She looked back while opening her card door to sit down.
“I’ll see you boys around. I really gotta go. Bye.”
She closed the door to her car just as Nick was shouting back to her.
“Can I….”
She was already starting the car when he finished his sentence under his breath
“…maybe take you to dinner one day?”
Nick watched as her small green beetle drove off down the road and turned the corner. He’d have to catch up with her some other time. At least he knew where she probably got her coffee in the mornings.
“Sure, but I don’t think my wife would approve. Or unless you want to bring her too.”
“Man, what in the world are you talking about?”
Aaron snickered as he responded. He was having the time of his life at his friend's expense.
“You asked if you could take me to dinner. I assumed you were talking to me because there was no one else here. Donna had gotten in her car and you were just standing there so there was no way you were….”
“Shut up Aaron.”
Nick turned around and walked to go inside the cafe while Aaron stood holding the door open for him.
“Why do you say such mean things to me? I thought you were my friend.”
Nick gave him a rueful half grin and walked by to their usual table.
“Hey man, I thought it was funny.”
“Right. And that is exactly why I gotta find a new best friend. I knew I shoulda just met you at the office today but no, you wanted to stop for coffee and embarrass me to no end. With friends like you…”
Aaron feigned shock and sadness.
“Whoa. Now don’t go blaming me because some woman you used to seriously like had no idea who in the world you were. It’s actually hilarious that she remembered me immediately. You actually should be thanking me because if I hadn’t been here, maybe you would still be out there trying to convince her of who you were.”
Aaron spoke in an imitation voice of Nick’s earlier meeting with Donna.
“You don’t remember me? But you sold me apple pie.”
Thinking back, Nick did feel rather silly trying to convince her of who he was.
“C’mon man, she said it was the hair. Everybody said I look totally different when I got it cut. She remembered the old me so that counts too. And as for remembering you, who wouldn’t remember that constantly goofy look on your face. For the record, I leave the office every day hoping I can forget it but every day you come in and drill it into my mind again.”
“You have got to face the truth buddy. Out of the two of us this is just another example that I am the lasting impression and you are the other guy. Don’t feel bad pal. Nothing wrong with being the other guy. Like I’m a superhero and you’re my sidekick. Like Batman and Robin. You don’t hear about the boy wonder by himself. They know Batman just fine--but no one just remembers Robin. It’s Batman and the boy wonder or just Batman. But if it's any consolation, you make a really cool Robin.”
It was obvious Nick wasn’t going to let him get his goat.
“Ok man, enough is enough. We could spend all day sitting here talking, or in your case whining most likely, about how she didn’t remember you but I have got to eat first so your puppy love is just going to have to wait.”
“Now that’s a bit much Aaron. I was just happy to see her again. I barely even know her. It’s ludicrous to say I’m in love with her.”
“Well love or a big crush, from where I was sitting and what I know, it all looks the same to me when it comes to you and her. You have always had a big thing for her and it hasn’t changed from what I see.”
“Aaron, could you just order your food? I’m not even hungry anymore. I’m just taking a coffee.”
“Fine. Let me get the waitress’s attention.”
As Aaron went about putting his order in with the waitress, Nick spent his time thinking back to the unlikely encounter he had experienced less than ten minutes ago. In spite of everything else he was really glad that she was back. He just hoped that he would have the chance to see her again without having to stalk the diner from across the street. Although he felt prepared to do it if he needed to.
As the waitress got ready to walk off and put in Aaron’s order, Nick stopped her and added more for himself besides a coffee. Moments earlier his stomach had begun to grumble and he immediately had second thoughts on not getting anything for himself to eat. He had a lot of work to do that day and he had a feeling that it was going to be hard enough concentrating if she penetrated his thoughts throughout the day like she was doing then. The last thing he needed was a growling belly or hunger migraine to slow him down.
After his order was placed, he sat talking to his friend but his mind still floated back over and over to the most beautiful woman he had seen in Stanton Falls since...well since the last time he had seen her.
Chapter 2
“Melissa, I am so proud of you. You are making progress in leaps and bounds.”
The teenage girl sat on an oversized chair in Donna’s office and smiled through light tears.
“How did it feel to have your mother in here with you today?”
The girl was hesitant a second, then responded.
“Well you know Melissa, your mother loves you. Just like you are learning and growing up as a child, she is learning right along with you as a mother. That means she won’t be perfect.”
The girl looked at her mother who was crying herself before giving in to her obvious desire for a hug.
Donna felt really good about herself. It was moments like those where she was beyond happy that she had chosen to become a trained counselor, regardless of the reasons why. The girl in her office now, Melissa, was fifteen and was having major issues at home. She had been in trouble and was ordered by juvenile courts to get behavioral counseling. At first she arrived in Donna’s office alone--her mother waiting for her outside the door. She was angry with the world but Donna had been able to befriend the little girl and gained some insight into what was causing her so much pain. It turned out family issues could create scars in people regardless of what the issues themselves were. In short, she saw some of herself in Melissa and helping her to find a better way to express herself was something that brought real joy to Donna.