by Mia Caldwell
James looked suspicious. “What’s with the sudden change? What are you up to?”
Sylvie patted Phae’s arm and gave her a solidarity nod. She jumped up and grabbed James’ other arm. “We aren’t up to anything, cousin. We’re just feeling bad for giving you such a hard time. Come on now, you remember Aunt Elfleda’s extra special lemonade punch, don’t you? There’s a big bowl of it over there.”
James, well remembering that lemonade punch, acquiesced easily. He waved a quick goodbye to Phae as his cousins pulled him away.
Phae knew that Sylvie would never be able to keep her promise not to tell James about Kent. Her inability to resist gossiping was one of the things that made her such a popular hairdresser. She’d be telling James about Phae and Kent splitting up before James’ glass was half full of punch.
And then, of course, James would tell everyone else.
Maybe it was just as well, Phae thought with no small dose of resignation. If everyone knew, they probably wouldn’t ask her questions about Kent’s whereabouts.
She picked up her plates which were still half-laden with food. She felt guilty for wasting so much, but it couldn’t be helped. She found a trash bag and deposited the plates. After snatching a cola from a cooler, she hoisted up a vacant lounger and headed for a nearby shade tree. She’d had enough of the blazing sun.
After setting up under the big, shady maple tree, she relaxed and sipped her drink. Several relatives smiled and waved, but no one approached her. The Jones family was accustomed to her idiosyncrasies and would usually leave her to her own devices if that’s what she wanted. And today, it was what she wanted—to be surrounded by family yet left to herself, the best of both worlds.
She watched with a smile as five small children tried to climb on Uncle Leon at the same time. The man was a kid magnet. They loved him. No matter how loud or gruff he acted with them, or how much he bellowed that he wanted them to go away and leave him in peace, children still flocked to him. And he loved it.
Meg once told Phae that kids could sense how gentle Leon was under all of his bluster. He and James were a lot alike, and kids were drawn to James, too. Sylvie and Neesa often said they put up with James’ and Leon’s swaggering only because it wasn’t real.
One day, James would make a great dad, same as Leon was, when he and Aunt Meg weren’t fighting like cats and dogs, that was.
Phae chuckled as Leon roared like a monster and plucked the children off his stocky body. The kids shrieked with laughter as he rolled them around in the grass. Meg stood nearby, watching the scene with a blissful expression.
Phae set her soda down on the short grass then closed her eyes. She was twenty-eight years old and she’d begun to wonder if she would ever get the chance to be a parent.
She never used to think about children. She believed she had plenty of time to find Mr. Right and settle down to raise a family. But time passed faster with every year and she’d turned twenty-eight before she truly realized it.
So where was Mr. Right? She wanted to have kids while she could still keep up with them.
A picture of Kent with a small, dark-haired child riding on his shoulders popped into her mind. Don’t think about him, she warned herself. He wanted someone perfect, and that would never be Phae.
He’d never understand why being Captain Nice Guy was so important to her. So no point in thinking about him. It was over and she should be glad about it.
“Phae, dear, I hope you don’t mind my sharing your tree, but I need some shade and this looks like such a pleasant spot,” said a familiar voice above her.
She groaned inwardly and opened her eyes. “Hi, Miss Eugenia. Please, join me.”
Miss Eugenia unfolded the small, rickety wooden chair she held and primly seated herself.
“That chair doesn’t look very comfortable,” Phae said. “Why don’t you trade with me?”
“No, no dear, don’t get up.” She fluttered a frail hand. “I can’t stand those lounger things. Once I get in, I can’t get out again. No, I like my little chair. It suits me fine.”
Phae didn’t argue with the elderly lady. She did wonder, though, why Miss Eugenia had chosen to sit beside her. Of all the bad luck … and there was no way she could run away without giving offense.
Phae settled into the longer and hoped for the best. Turned out, her hopes weren’t met for even a second.
“I’m not going to beat around the proverbial bush, Phae dear,” Miss Eugenia said, adjusting her red, white and blue beribboned hat. “You know me, I like to get straight to the point. I want to know what happened between you and my nephew.”
Phae wondered why these sorts of things always happened to her. Was she cursed? “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t try that act with me. I taught school my entire life and I know a fibber when I see one.”
Phae smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry. And I’m sorry that Kent went back to Phoenix, but really, it was his decision and I couldn’t have stopped him if I wanted to.”
“Back to Phoenix? He hasn’t gone back to Phoenix. He’s barely stepped foot out of his bedroom in the past four days.”
Chapter 17
PHAE’S HEART PLUMMETED WHAT FELT like a foot. “He didn’t leave? Is he here?” She frantically scanned the many faces in the park. She had to get out of there before she saw him.
“Calm down, Phae dear. He’s not here. I tried to get him to come, but he refused. He said it was too hot and then he practically shut his door in my face. When he was a child, he always begged to get to come to the big Fourth of July celebration at the park. I felt terrible, but I always had to tell him no. It was too dangerous, all these children with firecrackers and things. And then the big fireworks after dark. Oh, the thought of it. He could have been maimed, or worse. Now I want him to come, and he won’t. That’s how it goes in life.”
Phae felt kind of bad for the child Kent, but nearly sighed with relief that the adult Kent hadn’t come to the festivities. And her heart still pounded fiercely with the knowledge that he hadn’t left town. “I don’t see how I can help you.”
“He was with you Friday night, wasn’t he?” Miss Eugenia asked with an expression that clearly warned she’d brook no more lies.
“I wish I knew how you get your information, Miss Eugenia. Yes, I saw him, but I don’t see what that has to do with how I can help.”
“It has everything to do with it. Kent woke me up before dawn Saturday morning. Said he was going back to Phoenix and he wanted to say goodbye. I told him to at least wait until the sun came up, but he was insistent that he had to go right away. He tried his best to hide it, but I could see that he was upset. Badly upset.”
Phae nodded, but could think of nothing to say. It was hard to know what to believe. After all, Miss Eugenia thought Kent was frail and sickly, and that certainly couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“While he went to his room to pack,” Miss Eugenia continued, “I went into the kitchen to make him some breakfast. I waited in that kitchen for over an hour and he didn’t come down. Finally, I went up to his room to make sure he was okay. I thought maybe he’d fallen and hurt himself or something. But it was worse than that. Oh, Phae dear, when I opened his door and saw him, I just wanted to cry. You should have seen the poor boy.” She shook her head and looked at Phae with pity in her pale blue eyes.
“What? What did you see?” Phae asked, mentally kicking herself for not being able to resist asking.
“I’ve never seen such a sad sight.” The older lady sighed wistfully. “Poor Kent was sitting on the edge of his bed with a half-full suitcase beside him. He was slouched over and had his face covered up with his hands. He was the very picture of dejection. He could have been on the cover of the ‘Saturday Evening Post.’”
Phae nodded, having no idea what covers of the “Saturday Evening Post” looked like, but not wanting to give Miss Eugenia an excuse to stray from the point as she was prone to do.
“Well,”
Miss Eugenia continued, “I went over to the poor boy and patted him on the shoulder and asked him to tell me what was wrong. When he looked at me, he had the saddest look I’ve ever seen in my life. The poor, dear boy. He must have seen how worried I was because he immediately straightened up and apologized for waking me earlier.”
She smiled at Phae. “Of course, Kent has always been polite. His parents raised him that way, and I like to think that when he stayed with me, I set a good example. Seems like nobody cares about manners these days, but us older folks know what’s important. Manners keep people from being so angry and—oh, I’m sorry. Got distracted.”
Phae tried to shrug nonchalantly but was not, unfortunately, a very accomplished actress.
“So Kent apologized and gave me a big hug,” Miss Eugenia continued. “He said that maybe he’d stay with me for a while longer. Oh, his pretty eyes were so sad. I asked him again why he was so upset, but all he would say was that he was tired and needed rest. I left the poor boy alone, knowing how sickly he can be. I wouldn’t want to push too hard and send him into a decline.”
“Of course not,” Phae said.
“So, that’s how I knew you two must have had a fight. I know you were seeing each other because lots of people told me about you being together at the fair. I wish you would tell me what happened the other night. Did you break up? That’s it, isn’t it? Oh, my. Tell me what happened.”
Phae shook her head. No way was she confiding in Kent’s aunt.
“Oh, you young people,” Miss Eugenia said with a huff. “You’re so closed-mouthed and secretive. Humph. Well, the least you could do is come over to my house and get that boy to clean up. He hasn’t shaved or bathed even once, I bet. He’s downright disreputable looking. And he won’t take his calls either. I know because they’re calling on my house phone since he won’t answer his pocket cell phone. Kent made me tell them all that he wasn’t home. He even made me lie to Sheriff Jones when he dropped by. I was taught you never lie to the law. Couldn’t you help me out, Phae dear? I worry he’ll ruin his health with these shenanigans.”
“I can’t help,” Phae said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
“Poor Kent has never been healthy, and I’m afraid this will take a terrible toll on him. I never scoff at lovesickness. It’s a real illness and can lead to more serious conditions like—”
“Lovesickness?”
“Definitely. I’ve lived on this planet for eighty-one years and I know what I’m talking about. That poor nephew of mine could waste away with it. I’m right to be concerned. Since you won’t help me, maybe I should call my brother and tell him to come out—”
“Miss Eugenia!” Sylvie bustled up out of nowhere. “Happy Fourth of July!”
Miss Eugenia scowled at Sylvie then stood and folded her little chair. She turned to Phae. “I have to go now, Phae dear. Think about helping me out and let me know what you decide. Maybe you could come over for tea some time this week and we’ll talk more about it.”
Sylvie spoke quickly. “I’m sorry, but we’re going to be busy this week at the shop. We had to close for two days, so we’ll have a backlog to catch up on. We appreciate the invitation, but we have to say no all the same.”
Miss Eugenia sniffed loudly and with a brief farewell she walked away.
“You know, Phae,” Sylvie said after the elderly lady was out of earshot, “she’s been mad at me ever since that day in the shop when I gave her a hard time about Kent bashing his head. She’s mad at Neesa, too. Oh well. I guess the old gal will get over it some time.”
Sylvie looked closely at Phae’s face. “You don’t look right. You may be getting heat stroke. Take a drink of that soda.”
Phae numbly took a sip. She felt as though she hadn’t swallowed since Miss Eugenia had joined her under the maple tree.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get over here to rescue you sooner. I was kind of distracted. I take it she told you that Kent hasn’t left town.”
“How did you know?”
“James told me when we told him what you—oh don’t look at me like that. You know how it is. Anyway, he said he stopped at Miss Eugenia’s house yesterday to see Kent and she told him that Kent wasn’t home, but she kept pointing her finger up in the air. James didn’t know what to make of it, so he asked her what she was doing. She shushed him then mouthed something a few times until James figured out she was saying, ‘He’s upstairs.’ James didn’t want to get involved so he left. What a funny old lady, huh?”
Phae couldn’t help but smile. “I think I’d better go home. Kent might show up and I don’t want to have to talk to him or anything.”
“That’s silly. If he goes out looking for you it would be easier to find you at home than in this crowd. Stay for the fireworks. It’ll be dark in an hour or so. Neesa and I won’t let anyone bother you, I promise. We’ll guard you against all comers. And that’s not a gossip promise, so you know I’ll be able to keep it.”
Phae nodded half-heartedly and even allowed Sylvie and then Neesa to flutter around her for a bit, fetching her a fresh soda and a bowl of homemade strawberry ice cream.
Phae ate the comforting treat and wondered whether or not she should believe what Miss Eugenia told her about Kent’s state of mind. Saying that the old woman tended to exaggerate was like saying that the universe was a fairly good-sized place; both were vast understatements.
Besides, it was over between Phae and Kent, so none of this should matter. If Kent had indeed sunk into a depression, then it was probably caused by his disappointment that she’d failed to live up to his unrealistic expectations.
She finished her ice cream then packed up the lounge chair and mingled into the crowd of Joneses, Neesa and Sylvie trailing her like a security detail. She half expected them to be wearing earpieces and to start speaking into their collars.
When darkness finally fell, Phae relaxed and Neesa and Sylvie wandered off. Phae felt safe setting up her lounger in the open field, joining the rest of the spectators in ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the fireworks. Multi-colored balls and sparkles lit the night while crashing booms shook the ground and air.
Someone placed a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see who it was. His face illuminated by the bright flashes of red, blue and gold, Kent stood beside her chair.
He bent down and spoke near her ear. “Can we go somewhere and talk, Phae?”
The bottom dropped out of her stomach when she saw that he hadn’t shaved in a good long while. “I don’t know,” she mumbled, trying to find the strength to deny him.
He reached for her hand and held it firmly in his own, larger one. “Please, Phae, only for a moment. I’ve got to talk to you.”
The look in his eyes was so gentle and soft that she couldn’t say no. Against her better judgment, she allowed him to help her up from the chair and to lead her away from the crowd. In no time, she found herself under the maple tree again.
They stood there, the two of them, in uncomfortable silence, their hands hanging loosely at their sides, mutely watching the fireworks through the holes in the tree’s canopy.
Phae finally broke the silence. “It seems like you and I are always having conversations in the dark.”
The lights from the display cast changing shadows across Kent’s face. “I know I said some things to you that I shouldn’t have said. I have to tell you how sorry I am. I regretted them even before I could finish packing.”
He searched her face, then continued. “I didn’t mean it. I was tired and angry and I … I wasn’t thinking. I’d never want to hurt you. Never. And I realized later that I had. I’m sorry for that, truly.”
She didn’t know what to say. She studied his features and thought she saw sincerity there. But how could he say he was sorry and believe that would fix everything?
He wrapped his long fingers around her limp wrists. “I shouldn’t have apologized in a hurry like that, but you don’t know. I was at home tonight and I was thinking of you, of course, and of what happened. It’s all I
’ve thought about for days. Have you been thinking about us, too?”
Chapter 18
PHAE GAVE A MINUSCULE NOD.
“You’re so beautiful,” Kent said. “These pictures of you kept flashing in my head. That little smile of yours right before you opened that present. The way your hair glistened in the moonlight outside the fairgrounds. And those incredible brown eyes of yours that glow with your amazing spirit. And there’s dozens of other pictures that have burned themselves into my brain. Like the look on your face, the way your lips trembled when you came for me.”
She shuffled her feet. She’d been doing the same, seeing pictures of him in her mind, the way his hair swept back from his forehead, the way he looked at her with those bright blue eyes when she stood naked before him for the first time, his charming smile in Miss Eugenia’s back yard. Hell. This line of thought was no good for her resolve.
Kent released her wrists and tenderly stroked the side of her face. She could clearly hear his deep voice even though the booming fireworks continued to explode.
“I lay on my bed hour after hour and these images wouldn’t stop coming,” he said, “and that’s when I knew I had to find you. I can’t let this go without fighting for it. I had to tell you these things, so here I am. I’ve made mistakes, but I want to fix them. Fix us.”
He reached behind her head and released the latch on the heavy barrette holding her hair in a low ponytail at the back of her neck. He smiled lovingly as he spread the heavy strands about her shoulders. Phae’s heart pounded hard.
He exhaled. “When you weren’t at home, I nearly panicked, then I remembered what day it was, and knew you’d be here with your family. I’ve been running everywhere looking for you. And here you are. You’re so lovely, I want to—”
He pulled Phae against his chest then slanted his mouth across hers in a searing kiss. She parted her lips, wrapped her arms around his waist and let herself fall under his spell.