Reclaiming Katie

by Gardner, M. L.

  "Still working on the house?"

  "Yes. I think I'm going to sell it. But first, I have a monstrous list of things to do," she said.

  "Can I help with anything?"

  She could feel other customers in the store watching them.

  "Thank you, but I need to do as much as I can myself to save money."

  "Katie, I wouldn't charge you."

  "Then why do it?" She turned and faced him head on and her blunt demand surprised him.

  "Because I want to help, that's all." His eyes were the color of the deepest ocean. "Let me buy you a cup of coffee," he said a little too quickly.

  "I have a lot to do, but thank you." She bent to look at a roll of wire mesh.

  "How've you been, Katie? With everything that's happened, it can't be easy."

  She stood and avoided his eyes. "I'm managing." She put on a false air of aloofness that bothered him.

  "So, you came over to my house a rambling disaster, I came over to your house a stumbling oaf, how about we sit down and actually have a conversation. Like normal adults?"

  She shook the roll of wire mesh in her hand.

  "You do that when you’re thinking." He smiled.

  She remembered now, shaking her keys on his porch and couldn't help but smile at his noticing something so insignificant. He could have been wearing a big purple wig, for all she noticed was a broad, well defined chest standing in front of her that day. She shook her head to clear the image. If she didn't she wouldn't make a coherent sentence the rest of the afternoon.

  "If I agree to have a cup of coffee with you, and give this town something to chew on for the next few weeks." She shot a pointed look at an older lady standing at the counter with her eyes fixed on them. "Will you please try to understand that I can't have you come help me? I can't …" she searched for something safe that he couldn't refute. "accept charity. I need to do this on my own."

  "No charity. Got it."

  She tossed the roll of mesh back on the shelf. "Okay then."

  "But you'll let me buy coffee, right?"

  What the hell are you doing? She yelled at herself on the short walk to the cafe. She thought briefly that she should turn and run to her car. Do herself a favor and walk away now before she looked into those eyes one more time.

  "Ladies first."

  The cafe stood out in the old town. It was modern, bright and cheery. The booths were all full and Will pulled out a chair for her at a small white table in the middle of the room.

  "Can we get something toward the back?" she asked.

  "Sure. Better yet," he said, nodding to the side door, "How about out on the patio?"

  She cringed inside at the very public place. "Well, what about back there?" She pointed to a small table stuffed in the dark hallway near the bathroom.

  He straightened. Only his teasing smile gave away the fact that he wasn't entirely serious. "Are you embarrassed to be seen with me, Katie?"

  "Oh, no, it's not that—"

  "Tell you what. Let's enjoy the sunshine for a bit and if it gets crowded, we'll move to the dungeon table or leave, okay?"

  She bit her lip and relented, following him out onto the patio. It was quaint, with a short white fence surrounding the tables. All the umbrellas were open over the tables and she chose one toward the back of the patio, the furthest from the street. She sat down quickly to avoid him holding out her chair.

  "Are you sure you don't want the table in the alley?" he jested as he sat down.

  "I'm sorry. You just don't know how these people talk when given the opportunity to spin something out of control." He sat back and rested one ankle over the other leg.

  "Oh, I think I do."

  "Based on what you've heard about me, or from your own scandals?" She laughed. "Though I can't imagine you have any."

  "I'm surprised you haven't heard."

  "No one talks to me in this town, remember?"

  "Well, I figured it's why you didn't want to sit in public with me."

  "That's more to protect you than me," she said honestly. "Enlighten me on the pitiful gossip I haven't had the displeasure of hearing."

  "Well, it seems to be dying down now, but it went around for a bit that I was responsible for your…for Tom's murder."

  Her smile dropped. "Why on earth would people think you did it?"

  "Because I was conveniently gone that weekend."

  "Why would they even think of you?" That's ridiculous. You didn't even know Tom."

  "Well, someone phoned the sheriff that I had been over to your place a few times. They added a liberal spin onto the original rumor and next thing I know, the cops are on my doorstep asking me where I was that night."

  "I'm sorry you got dragged into this." She covered her face with her hand. "How embarrassing."

  "What can I get you?" the waitress asked, staring at Will with a smile. Katie didn't recognize her and hoped she hadn't heard any of the conversation.

  "Two coffee's please. Lots of sugar on the side."

  "Anything else, Will?"

  Oh, she knew his name.

  "Yeah, one of those lemon muffins. Do you want one Katie? They're really good." She shook her head. "Then that's all." He flashed a polite smile and the waitress nearly swooned. Even his meaningless polite smiles were breathtakingly handsome and Katie felt a swell of jealousy rise up in her.

  She whispered, "Be right back." and turned away, looking dizzy.

  "You come here a lot?" Katie asked, trying not to feel possessive. She had no right to.

  "A few times. I did some work for the owners and as a tip they gave me a gift card. I used it up in a week and now I'm hooked. Good coffee."

  "So, how did you prove your innocence?"

  He looked at her, confused.

  "With Tom."

  "Oh. I was camping that weekend. With my sister."

  "Right. Your sister."

  He grinned and his eyes were teasing. "You thought she was my…"

  Katie shrugged, guilty as charged. "Well, you're a young, healthy—" She cast her eyes down. "attractive man. It would make sense that you would have a girlfriend."

  "Well, maybe I haven't found the right one yet."

  She looked up to find his eyes penetrating and had the sudden urge to run.

  "Well, I'm glad you weren't caught up in all this any more than you were."

  "Do you have any idea who did it?"

  "No."

  "Are you afraid?"

  "Surprisingly, no. My gut tells me that Tom got himself into some trouble that had nothing to do with me."

  The waitress returned with the coffee, muffin and a flirty smile.

  "You let me know if you need anything else, alright, Will."

  Katie shot daggers with her eyes, hating being ignored.

  "Thanks." He ripped open three sugar packets and dumped them in his coffee. Katie added a single cream and sugar and stirred slowly.

  "How's the puppy?" he asked.

  "Fine. She's staying with my sister, actually. I went over for a visit and her dog, Bones sort of claimed her. I guess they pal around all day and he is quite the father figure. Very protective."

  "I'm glad to hear it. I tried not to get attached, you know. But they were so cute. I wanted them to all have good homes."

  Katie smiled and sipped her coffee.

  "So where did you live before you came here?" Her plan, if you could call it that, was to get him to talk as much about himself as possible. Sail through two cups of coffee and get back to working on the house.

  "Michigan. I grew up there on a farm that got smaller and smaller as the years went on. Now there's city built up all around and it got too crowded. I had to get out."

  "So that's where you got all your experience? Working and fixing things, I mean."

  "Yeah, I was by my dad's side watching him work since I could walk. I started helping as soon as I could hold a wrench."

  "So, about two?" she laughed.

  "Not quite. More like seven. I
was a puny kid. Had arms like string beans."

  Her eyes darted to his arms. There was nothing puny about them now. "Well, your parents must have fed you well."

  "Yeah, my mom was always in the kitchen. But seems like the more she fed me the skinnier I got. I spent all of high school a wimp."

  Katie laughed. "I can't imagine that."

  "It's true. Then when my dad had a heart attack, I started doing the heavier chores for him. Amazing what chucking hay all summer will do."

  Her eyes grazed over his chest. Amazing indeed.

  "Sounds like you had the picturesque rural childhood."

  "It wasn't so perfect." His smile faded slightly.

  "Well, no. To be perfect, you needed to marry your high school sweetheart."

  "I almost did."

  Katie sipped her coffee, not knowing if she wanted to hear more.

  "It wasn't quite right, you know? I mean, during high school dating was fun and talking about our future was fun, but when it came down to planning a life together, something just didn't…fit."

  "Hmm. Good thing you noticed that before you said I do. Some of us weren't so lucky."

  "What were you like in high school?" he asked, sitting back as though preparing to be thoroughly entertained.

  "Ugh. I was rebellious. I got decent grades in English and Math. I got an A+ in having fun. Sneaking out to parties and bonfires…I was a terror."

  "Sounds like a normal teenager."

  "If that's a normal teenager, then I fear for my generation. Besides, it wasn't normal. My sister was the good girl. She was in bed by nine every night, only went to chaperoned parties and only dated boys Mama and Daddy approved of. Hell, I think she was a virgin when she got married."

  "Are you close?"

  "We are. She's been great through all of this. I depend on her a lot."

  "What about your parents? What are they like?"

  "My dad died right after I got married. I hadn't spoken to my mother, or rather, she hadn't spoken to me, since I got married, until recently when I showed up on her doorstep." She tilted her head and smiled. "It's like an old movie where a bull headed girl only goes home when she's run out of options and has nowhere else to go."

  "Did she welcome you?"

  Katie took a deep breath. "She did. It was good. She had never seen Jacob. She really loved getting to know him."

  "How is Jacob?" She looked up and her facial expression made him uneasy.

  "I'm sorry, I just thought I'd ask. He's a cute baby."

  "It's not your asking. I'm sorry."

  "Then what is it?"

  "I had hoped you would talk endlessly about you and your life. It's easier than dealing with mine." And easier than dealing with the reality that she was now a widow, with a baby, and didn't need an astrologer to tell her that her love life, if she ever had one again, would be complicated.

  "Well, I suppose I can stifle my curiosity about you for a bit. What do you want to know?"

  Her mind went blank. She shrugged helplessly with a smile.

  There was a flash of light, tires squealed and Katie jerked her head toward the road. Will had jumped up, spilling his coffee onto the table. A truck had very nearly rear ended a small Honda.

  "I'm so sorry." Will looked at Katie’s jeans. "Are you burned?" He was across the table in a flash with his hand on her arm. "No, I'm fine. It was cooled enough." She grabbed a handful of napkins and began dabbing the stain.

  Their waitress ran over with towels and began cleaning up the mess. "Can I refill your coffee?" she asked, leaning far enough over to give a good show of cleavage.

  "No," Katie said. "I have to be going anyway."

  "Are you sure? We could have just one more."

  She shook her head, avoiding his eyes.

  He lowered his voice. "Can we do this again sometime?"

  Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to. Very badly. The demons she wrestled prevented her from giving him an enthusiastic yes.

  "I don't know, Will. People will talk and…" She picked up her purse. He stopped her, putting his hand on hers.

  "We can avoid people. Have dinner at my place. Saturday night."

  She closed her eyes and searched for the willpower to say no.

  "I've had Sarah watch the baby so much lately; I'd feel bad to leave him again."

  "Bring him. I kept one of the puppies. I'll bet he'd love to play with it."

  "He's not even crawling yet."

  "Then the puppy can play with him." His lopsided grin made Katie blush and she jingled her keys in her hand as they walked toward the door.

  "I'll see you Saturday."

  "I haven’t said yes yet!"

  He pointed to the keys. "I'm already learning that when you do that, I'll get a yes out of you. Eventually."

  "Aren't you clever." She pretended to scowl at him.

  "I'll see you Saturday?" He held the door open for her.

  "Fine," she breathed and then smiled up at him.

  Chapter 18

  The next morning Katie sat at the kitchen table, her coffee cold in front of her. Staring at the newspaper, her mouth hung open in shock. She read the headline again, in disbelief.

  "Does Cedar Hollow have its very own black widow? Katie Johnson was spotted at an intimate meeting with William Anderson at the Java Jolt Cafe yesterday. Katie, widowed only weeks ago when her husband was found shot in his truck on an abandoned road, seems to have her sights set on William Anderson, Cedar Hollow's newest resident and millionaire cattle rancher. Tom Johnson's killer remains at large, though police inform me that Katie Johnson remains a person of interest." Anna Stockard.

  Katie ground her teeth. That little bitch. She had no idea what she was talking about. Will, a millionaire? Me, a black widow? Talk about misleading tabloids to generate sales. Beside the article was a large picture of her smiling demurely while he leaned forward with a look of question. She groaned.

  She was distracted as she fed and changed Jacob, putting him in a cute red t-shirt and overalls. Bright and sunny as it was, she let him go sockless and kissed his small, fat feet. He grinned, wide and toothless at her.

  She never should have had coffee with Will…never should have agreed to have dinner with him. She knew what she had to do. Gathering up Jacob's things, she opened the door to find her sister with her fist raised, ready to knock. She held the paper up.

  "Have you seen this?"

  "Yes."

  "Will is a millionaire?"

  "No. Anna's an idiot. To paint Will as rich makes it more convincing that I offed my own husband to get to him though."

  Sarah looked down at the newspaper. "That's a good picture of you. Your hair looks great."

  Katie gave her an exasperated look.

  "No one who has the intelligence of a sixth grader is going to pay attention to this, Katie."

  "Well, that's over half the town."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "Besides tell Will to forget that I'm alive, not much. Lay low for a while, I guess. Though I'd like to beat the tar out of Anna Stockard."

  "I remember her from school. She was in my graduating class. The biggest busybody you've ever seen. Turned the school newspaper into a trash rag," Sarah said.

  "Looks like she's trying to do the same thing to the Cedar Hollow Examiner."

  Sarah glanced at the baby bag on Katie's shoulder. "Where are you going? I don't have bail money," she teased.

  "If I were going to go strangle Anna Stockard, I wouldn't take my baby with me. I'm going to Will's. I agreed to go to his place for dinner tomorrow tonight and I have to cancel."

  "You shouldn't."

  "I have to, Sarah. This town is so…ugh! They're not going to let this go. I just need to let some time pass and then maybe—"

  "Maybe what? You can have a life again? You're going to let the busybodies of this town dictate how you live your life?"

  "For now. I can't keep making the front page of the paper, Sarah. Jacob has to go to school in t
his town in a few years. I can't bring any more shame on him."

  "For the record, I think you're wrong."

  Katie shifted the baby on her shoulder and sidestepped Sarah.

  "I know what I have to do."

  Pulling up in front of the cabin, she couldn't see Will's truck. That might be for the better, she thought as she stepped out of her car. She called out, just in case. When he didn't answer her call or his door, she sighed in relief and went to her car to dig out a piece of paper and pen.

  "Will, I have to cancel dinner. Please understand that we can't see each other anymore. I'm sorry.

  Katie."

  She ripped out the article with the picture and tacked it behind the note on his door.

  Later that night, after Jacob was fast asleep, she paced the quiet house. Her life felt empty and hollow and she began to look forward to selling the house. Her next home would be small, she decided. Something she could make into a cozy homey refuge. She regretted the puppy becoming so attached to Bones and life at Sarah's house. At least the little yipper would be company. Katie changed into a nightgown and robe and picked up the journal. She'd been avoiding it because there were only a few pages left and she didn't want it to end. Things between Samantha and Richard were terrible and she was hoping for a happy ending. It didn't look like that was going to happen. She sugared her tea lightly and curled up on the couch.

  My heart is broken as I write these words. It is late at night and I write by candlelight in the barn. Richard continues to fluctuate between childlike fears, crying in terror, and violent fits of rage. Most of my mother’s china is broken. My vases and cut glass decanters, gone. No matter how I comfort him when he shakes and cries, he turns on me within a matter of hours. T’was that way this morning when I rose early to make his favorite breakfast. He woke in an even temperament, which is a rare thing and as he sat down at the table, my heart swelled with happiness. For his smile was genuine. All was fine for only moments, as he had trouble cutting his sausage. His hands didn't work right and slipped and shook. Quickly he grew frustrated, growling and then folded over, sobbing into his hands like a child. I rushed to him, stroking his back and offering to cut his food, even feed him if needed. I loved him that much. His crying stopped abruptly and his arm flew up; his hand striking me in the face. My nose bled profusely. I think it might be broken. He raged for hours while I hid in the bedroom, holding a cloth to my nose. He screamed the most awful things, most of which I cannot bear to write. He became delusional again, calling me Katrina. Demanding I come out of the room and face him. Whatever afflicts my husband, whatever has stolen my Richard from me, will not let him go and he blames me. Oh, yes, he said so himself. He screamed that it was my whore’s disease responsible for everything. That I was irresistible and he couldn't control his carnal urges. He called me all manner of names. I cried, wondering how our couplings had anything to do with his changes of manner and physical well-being. Why, I begged in silent prayer, did he blame me for his affliction? I braced the door with a chair and cowered on the floor of the closet. He beat on the door screaming that he would kill me for what I had done and I believe the only reason he didn't break through was because he was at the end of his rant. Once exhausted, he collapsed on the parlor floor and slept for hours. I crept quietly through the hall. He twitched in his sleep and every time he did, I jumped, for fear he would rise up and strike me again. The parlor was destroyed. Furniture broken, cushions ripped; feathers everywhere. He lay on the glass from the shattered curio cabinet and my first instinct, damn my soul, was to lift him up, lest he cut his face. Ever so slowly, so as to not make a single noise on the floorboards, I inched past him, keeping my eyes on the door that would lead me out of this cursed place. How it breaks my heart to think of my once happy home, filled with love and laughter, now a cursed place of horror and fear that I want desperately to run from. And that is what I intend to do. I will place this journal behind the loose brick in the fireplace for safekeeping and then I will go. But I must hurry before he wakes again.