Daddy laughs all the time. Mom gives close-lipped smiles, which is a good thing because she still has wires on her teeth. But I worry that she’s just storing up all the snipping and harping she usually does, and it’ll all come flying out when she is able to speak again.
I am a little worried, too, about Sean going to boot camp, though he says it’s no longer called that. Now it’s called Basic Training. Once you get there, you’re stuck for ten weeks. It’s grueling and you get yelled at a lot by a drill sergeant, even if you do everything right.
I asked him how he was going to cope. Being away from Lisa. Being away from home and having to eat whatever they gave him. Like the worst ten-week camp experience.
Sean laughed. “Rachel. No drill sergeant has anything on Mom. Basic will be a piece of cake.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The sleeveless, shimmering-black pantsuit hung in plastic on the back of Julie’s bathroom door. She was practically salivating in anticipation of wearing it.
Apparently the smoothies, the frequent walks with Rick, and the fact that she couldn’t snack on sweets at night, had granted her a lovely byproduct of the accident. She’d lost eighteen pounds in four weeks and was positively tickled pink about that. The new outfit was three sizes smaller than anything she’d bought in years.
Careful application of foundation and concealer camouflaged the last remnants of bruising still present on her face. The swelling had finally diminished so she took special care with her eyes, applying a smoky shadow in the crease, adding depth. And employed a smudging technique she’d learned two days ago at the Lancome counter at Macy’s when shopping with Laurie Crane. The effect somehow made her eyes look bigger, brighter, vividly greener.
The trickiest part tonight had been her hair. One-handed styling was almost impossible, but while she and Laurie were at the mall they’d popped into a salon and gotten some ideas from a professional stylist.
So earlier she’d had Rick wash and dry it when he’d come back from the stables for lunch that day. Then she set to work with a flat iron and small curling iron. Tendrils now framed her face from a side part, the rest of her often unruly mane lay in subtle waves past her shoulders.
If she were able to speak, she’d be squealing with delight.
She misted perfume on her throat, a hint of jasmine. Slipped on dangling silver earrings. Slid into her satin-lined pants and strapless heels, then carefully glided her cast through the left armhole. She pushed her right arm through the other, enjoying the cool material against her warm skin, checked her reflection, and opened the door, planning to have Rick zip her up.
“Wow.” His hands stilled on the middle button of his stark-white dress shirt. His eyes sparkled with male appreciation, and he grinned like a man who’d just won an enviable prize. “Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Did I mention, you’re gorgeous?”
His reaction was better than she’d hoped.
She knew she was blushing, but didn’t care. A wave of feminine awareness washed over her, leaving boldness in its wake. She cut her eyes at him, turned slowly, gathering her hair and exposing her back. An unspoken “zip me” request.
“Gladly,” he said.
He skimmed his rough fingers down her spine and up again. “I love your soft skin. Especially right here.” He dotted kisses across her shoulder and up the side of her neck.
The temptation to turn in his arms and pretend they didn’t need to leave for Sean’s graduation was so strong, she almost gave in.
“I will definitely enjoy looking at you all evening. Problem is, I’m not gonna want all those people coming back to the house after. What time will the party be over and everybody gone?”
She raised her right elbow, swept her hand down, fingers together, pointed to the floor. Late.
She felt like the years had been removed. Like she was young and newly married. She was beautiful, or at least, Rick thought so. They couldn’t seem to get enough of each other.
And the care. The gentle attention he gave her. Holding her hand during their walks. Neutralizing her mother’s jibes ... she could practically feel an “in love” glow emanating from her face as he zipped her top.
“Not what I wanted to hear, but maybe you’ll let me steal a kiss now and then.”
She turned around, nodded, and raised her lipstick-covered mouth to his. Instead he kissed her nose, grinning, and chuckled when she tickled his ribs. He stilled her hand.
“I’m gonna drive up to the stables, check on things before we leave. Trident’s been ornery. I don’t know if he’s kicking his water bucket off the hanger, or is lifting it with his teeth. But he keeps spilling it everywhere, then paws the wall until someone comes to give him more. It’s too hot tonight to leave him without water, and I can’t send Rachel as she’s already in her dress and heels.”
She tapped the face of his watch.
“I know, I know. Don’t get my clothes dirty and come right back.”
She watched him button his shirt, tuck it in black dress slacks, fasten a belt.
“Which tie?”
Three hung on the closet doorknob. She chose a black silk one, twirled it on a finger.
“If I wear that one, you’ll meet me back here later?”
She laughed silently, shoulders shaking. Gave a knocking motion with her raised fist. Yes.
He left his shirt open at the collar, draped the tie around his neck, and left it dangling. She raised an eyebrow at him.
“Not ’til we get there, and only for you.” He blew her a kiss and left.
She returned to the bathroom vanity. Checked her make-up and admired her reflection. Ran fingertips down her throat.
Despite the pain and uncertainty of the last four weeks, the forced voice rest had probably saved her career. Tonight their oldest son was graduating. Within a week, he’d leave for the military—that chapter of her life was ending. Days later she’d get her cast removed. The wires removed. Rick was making progress learning how to keep up his company books on the computer.
Her marriage had never been better. How wonderful it would be that when her voice returned—which she hoped would happen very, very soon—she could begin her career with Rick firmly at her side, rather than feeling like she was being pulled between her family and her dream.
A quick touch-up of lipstick and she snapped closed her small purse. Slid the strap of a satiny black sling over her head, the sleeve over her cast. Not perfect-perfect, but almost.
She raised her eyes to heaven, her fingertips to her lips and dropped her hand to her chest. Dear God, thank you. Finally, every part of my life is falling into place.
***
Rick peered through his truck’s windshield, not recognizing the horse trailer parked by the stables. And he wasn’t sure he knew anyone who could afford what had definitely cost upward of eighty thousand dollars or more. Whoever owned the rig had chosen it with comfort in mind.
Late May heat threatened to melt him before he made it down to Trident’s stall and back, but if he moved fast, he might not sweat through his dress shirt. Determined to bypass drooling over the fine piece of horse trailer machinery, and hopefully save his dress clothes, he pulled up on the rig’s passenger side, leaving the engine running and AC on. Julie would appreciate getting into a cool vehicle, especially on an evening like this.
He excited his truck and walked in front of the horse trailer, turned the corner at the stalls—
And ran right into Angelina Rousseau.
She swayed back, but the toe of her boot was under his. He caught her, barely, banding both arms around her waist, managing to keep them both upright by securing her against his chest. Her fingers gripped his shoulders. Her startled eyes—inches away—met his.
Steamy perfume wafted directly to his brain. Very ... potent. Like her big brown eyes.
Carefully, he lifted his foot from hers. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, her waterfall of straight, dark hair floating around her face. “Yes,” she said, breathless, eyes still
wide. Then she seemed to focus. “My. You, um, clean up well.”
“I’m sorry?”
She blushed. “No, I’m sorry. That came out wrong. You can let go now.”
She stepped back. “I mean, you look dressed for an evening out. You must have plans. I should have called to confirm.” Her voice dropped as if she were embarrassed.
He’d forgotten. Completely forgotten she was bringing her mare this weekend. A pre-paid boarder, referred by a friend, who hadn’t crossed his mind since he deposited her check.
“You brought Godiva.”
She nodded. “Yes. But I can take her back if I have to and return another day, if you don’t have room.”
“Hold on ...” His mind replayed the meeting from four weeks ago. “Godiva’s due to foal, when?”
“Four or five weeks? That’s the best estimate we have from the sonograms.”
“Okay. She in the trailer, or did you already put her in the indoor arena?”
“I just got here, couldn’t find you. I was about to call your cell. She’s still in the back.” She cleared her throat, blinking as if battling tears.
“Hey. It’s okay. We’ll fix it.”
“I’m sorry,” she said again. “But if you have a stall available, can I stay with her a while?”
“You’d be alone here.”
“No.” She sighed and looked away. “I’d be alone at home.”
His cell buzzed. “Excuse me.” He read the text from Rachel. Mom says we need to leave in ten minutes.
He texted back. Be ready at the door.
“Rick.” She shook her head. “I’ll bring her back tomorrow.”
“No, it’s okay. Wait right here.”
He walked to Trident’s stall. Sure enough, the stallion had upended his water bucket. He motioned back to Angelina. “Want to help?”
“Sure.”
While Angelina filled Trident’s water bucket, Rick moved Dutch to the arena. He quickly shoveled the worst of two soiled patches into a nearby wheelbarrow, threw down some clean bedding.
“How’s your memory?” He laughed at himself. “Better than mine, obviously. Remember this. M-A-T-T-8. It’s the combination for both the tack room and the alfalfa storage room. Put Godiva in here. Get what you need. Call me if you have an emergency. I have to go,” he said. “My son’s graduating and my wife’s waiting.”
“She recovered from her accident? How fortunate for her. I’m glad.”
“So am I,” Rick said.
***
Julie craned her neck, just a little, as they passed the old, brick high school—now the middle school—and drove the extra half-mile to the new high school.
The new campus boasted a sloped-floor theater that, with the balcony seating, would accommodate all one hundred forty-two graduating seniors, their families and friends, and fellow students. Part of her missed the familiar concrete bleachers. The carefully maintained field where, eons ago, she’d sung the national anthem before football games. The place she’d won the statewide singing contest.
She’d never forget that night. Or the feeling she’d had as she closed her eyes; let the lyrics and notes she’d written flow out, knowing her voice soared over the crowd, out to the town, all the way to heaven.
How different her life would be if her mother had let her go to New York.
But, what would she have given up? She looked over at Rick.
They rolled into a parking space and stopped. He turned toward her and passed three tickets into the backseat. “Trudey, will you go ahead, take Rachel and Ben inside?”
“Well, sure, sugar. And I can’t blame you, Julie, if you don’t want to walk in, in front of everybody. Sneaking in after the lights are dimmed is so much better than having folks gawk at the cast and those awful wires right there on your face.”
Rick crossed, then uncrossed his eyes at Julie. She grinned.
“Trudey, I need a moment to fix my tie.” Rick spoke without breaking eye contact.
“Well, I can help with—”
“And I won’t escort my gorgeous wife into our son’s graduation ceremony until I look half as nice as she does.”
“Oh. Aren’t you sweet.” Trudey slid out as Rachel and Ben exited from the other side. “Julie, I sure don’t know how you nabbed such a good man. I guess you hooked him early on, before he really had a chance to meet other women.” The back doors slammed.
Julie didn’t need to grit her teeth; they were already locked together.
“Don’t listen to her,” Rick said. “She doesn’t realize how ridiculous she sounds.” He shook his head, laughed. “Or looks. Where did she get that getup?”
Julie’s shoulders shook as she silently laughed, watching in the side view mirror as her mother traipsed across the parking lot in a black spandex jumpsuit with a faux-fur belt. She raised her right hand to her cheek, fingers straight, then flicked them toward Rick and shrugged. I don’t know.
Her husband shook his head again, rubbed his chin. “Last time I saw leopard print heels like that was ...” He adjusted the rearview mirror, tied his tie. “Don’t think I’ve seen shoes quite like that before.
“Come here, Gorgeous.” He reached for her, held her face with gentle fingers. Kissed her softly and pressed his cheek to hers.
She inhaled deeply, and smelled something different. She pulled back, with her middle finger made a dabbing motion at each side of her neck. Perfume?
“What?”
She sniffed twice, repeated the motion. Perfume?
Rick raised a shoulder to his nose, breathed in. “New client. She was at the stables when I went to check on Trident. We ran into each other, literally. I had to catch her to keep from laying her out. One of those women who carries her own atmosphere, if you know what I mean. The scent of her perfume stays behind when she leaves the room?”
He shook his head. “I should’ve changed shirts.”
Julie patted his arm. Pointed at him and signed using one arm, hand up, palm facing him. Great. You look great.
She didn’t want to ask. She didn’t want to need to ask. But every insecurity she’d ever felt bubbled up. Something in her gut told her the woman might have been an ordinary client, but she was no ordinary woman.
Julie drew her hand across her own face. Pretty?
He took her hand in his. “We’re going to be late.”
She squeezed, stopping him. The look on his face told her she wouldn’t like what he had to say.
He sighed. “As a matter of fact, she’s a very beautiful woman. And she’s obviously wealthy. And she’s married, in an are-you-sure-you-want-to-wear-that-huge-diamond-in-a-barn kind of way.
“Baby. You’re it for me. Your mother’s an idiot. And this is our night with our son, whom I’m so proud of I’d sing at his graduation, if they’d let me.”
She smiled at him around her wires. Signed Thank you.
“You’re welcome.” He scanned her face, lowered his voice. “But you’re so gorgeous tonight, if we don’t get in there soon I’ll be very, very tempted to stay parked right here. Sean will not want to remember his graduation night as the time his parents got arrested for making out in the school parking lot.”
She chuckled silently again, and studied his rugged face. The sexy laugh lines outlining his hazel eyes. The nose, which had been broken twice during high school football games. The mouth that had just said the right, absolute perfect thing she needed to hear.
She kissed him. Slow and sweet, running her fingers over his calloused ones.
He pulled back, raised his eyebrows at her, and held her hand still. “We’re, um, going inside now, young lady. To see our son graduate. Don’t move. I’ll come around and get you.”
He darted out, around the back of the truck, and helped her down with the same gentleness he’d used when they were dating, when they’d attended the prom.
Julie’s heart melted into a puddle at his feet.
Arm in arm, they entered the auditorium lobby. Julie stopped, stunn
ed by a wall covered with huge black-and-white photos showing the history of the school. She did a double-take. Amidst the shots of the first graduating class, championship sports and debate teams, was a picture labeled “Rowe City’s Award-Winning Soloist.” The picture showed her, standing before a microphone on a skirted stage, singing her heart out for the packed stadium. Heavens, she’d been so young. That night it had seemed the whole county had been in attendance.
After all this time, someone with influence who’d had input during the construction of this new facility, had remembered both her, and her accomplishment. They’d thought her a young, undiscovered star.
What wonderful things might happen when she got her voice back? Experience, training, even age would be her assets now.
Her heart galloped in her chest. Her dream was now only heartbeats away. Heartbeats. A few weeks, maybe months. But it was coming. She could envision herself standing on stages across the country. The world. And this time, her mother could do nothing to stop her.
“Well, look at that.” Rick kissed her cheek. “Soon, baby. Soon.”
Tonight is about Sean, she signed.
“Yes, it is.”
Escorted by her husband, Julie walked into the auditorium to sit with her family. In her heart, she clapped and cheered for her oldest. She was so proud of him.
One down, two to go.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Sean’s schoolmates, other parents, and family friends from church, rolled in and out of Julie’s home in waves. Heart-felt congratulations and the rising hum of chatter from those who mingled filled her house and spilled into the front yard. From her chosen seat in the kitchen, she heard laughter. Her son’s rich, almost-a-man laughter. More than once she glimpsed his girlfriend taking his hand or wiping away tears. That Lisa loved Sean was obvious. Maybe that love would endure during Sean’s absence.
Julie had planned every party detail with careful orchestration. She’d purposely let her mother handle the food—finding the caterer, planning the menu, ordering the cake—because those were the things her mother couldn’t bungle. Much.
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