Coming Unglued

by Rebeca Seitz

  “Do you see me jumping up and down, bouncing around this room?”

  “Joy …” His arm came around her waist, and she felt the corner of the book dig into her back. “It will happen when God wants it to happen.” Rain pattered the windows.

  “When is that, Scott?” Shoving against his chest, she parted them and moved to the other side of the room.

  “Next month? The month after that? When? Next year? Next decade? When is God going to hear my prayer? When is He going to deign to listen to me? When is He going to listen to you?”

  “Now wait just a minute. God’s not ignoring me.”

  Joy clenched her hands over her barren stomach. “No? It sure feels like it to me. I’ve got a serious lack of pink lines in my life, and I think that’s because God’s ignoring the both of us.”

  “Joy, He’s not deaf. He’s just not giving you the answer you want.” The lightning flashed on his face, and he looked like an emissary from God Himself.

  “Is this the answer you want?” she goaded. “Are you fine with having no child, no son to carry on the Lasky name? Are you perfectly okay with the way your mother eyes me every time we go to their house for dinner? Or the way your dad reminds me of the five sons his perfect wife provided him? Exactly what are you all right with here?”

  “I’m not all right with any of this, but I’m also not going to lose my faith over it.”

  “How about your temper? Could you lose that? Or do you not care enough to lose control over your precious universe?” The shrill in her voice frightened her into silence. They stood, sparring partners caught in a freak light show.

  Scott blinked, then closed the distance between them in three easy strides. He stood before her, not touching. Breathing through flared nostrils. Good, he was at least upset enough to breathe heavily. “Joy, I hate everything about this. But I’m not going to start yelling at you. There’s a solution here. There always is. We just have to keep trying.”

  “I’m sick of trying, Scott. I want to be doing.”

  Scott tossed the book onto his massive cherry desk. “I know you do. But right now all we can do is try.”

  “No, right now we could be going to a fertility specialist and finding out what the heck is wrong with me. Or you. Or us.”

  Scott sucked his breath in through his teeth and stared stonily out the bay window. “Joy.”

  His voice held a warning. One she was sick to death of heeding. “Scott.” Her tone matched his. Let him know how close he was to starting something he didn’t want to finish.

  “We’ve had this discussion.”

  “I’m not an idiot. I am persistent, though. And a year of trying is enough, Scott. It’s enough.”

  “Some women take years to get pregnant.”

  “I’m not going to be one of them. I’m calling Dr. Goodman on Monday. I’ll go alone if I have to, but I’m going.”

  “Don’t do this, Joy.”

  “Do what? Find a way to give you a child? How does that make me a bad woman?”

  “No, don’t make this a fight between us. We won’t survive it if you decide to play opposite me.”

  “I missed where this became a game.” Her voice could have frozen the raindrops that cascaded down the window, but she didn’t care. Enough was enough.

  She left him standing in his study, lightning cracking the sky at his back.

  Fifteen

  Sisters, Ink,” Kendra propped her sandal-clad feet up on the desk and tucked her long skirt into her knees. There it couldn’t get trapped in the wheels of her chair, and she could still conduct business in a comfortable position.

  “Kendra Sinclair, please.”

  “This is Kendra.”

  “Oh, hi! It’s Lorena. The realtor? From Monday?”

  “Well, knock me over with a feather. How’s your day, Lorena?”

  “It’s all right. Listen, I had to drive about a half hour south of Nashville to show a property this morning, and I think I might be close to Stars Hill. Didn’t you say you were an hour from the city?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Would it be presumptuous of me to ask if you had lunch plans?”

  “Not a bit! I’m at the office now, but I can wrap things up by the time you get here.”

  “You sure I won’t be interrupting your day?”

  “Please, woman. I’ve got one sister in the throes of wedding bliss, another about to maim her husband if they don’t get pregnant soon, and another—well, I don’t think Meg’s got too much going on these days, but I’m sure her house is chaos with three kids running around. You wouldn’t be interrupting; you’d be saving me from work and family visits.”

  Lorena chuckled. “All right, then. How do I get to Stars Hill?”

  Kendra gave her directions, agreeing to stay at the Sisters, Ink offices until Lorena showed up. She hung up the phone, then speed-dialed Darin on her cell.

  “Darin Spenser.”

  “Hey, guess who’s on her way to Stars Hill?”

  “Britney Spears.”

  “You’re so funny.”

  “Brooke Shields. She heard Britney was coming and wants to come help her jumpstart her career again.”

  “You’ve been reading People magazine again, haven’t you?”

  “Tandy left one behind at the diner, and Clay took too long to get my burger to me yesterday.”

  “Well, you struck out on both counts. Neither Britney nor Brooke is on the way to our humble little town.”

  “Those were my best guesses. I give. Who is coming to grace us with their presence?”

  “Lorena.”

  “Who?”

  “Lorena.”

  “Lorena my real estate agent? Why?”

  “Because she was showing a property close to here and thought she’d come on down.”

  “Did she say there were problems with the Leiper’s Fork property?”

  “No. I didn’t get the impression she was coming for business at all.”

  “Then what’s she coming for?”

  “My witty conversation?”

  “Honey, realtors don’t drive an hour from their office to make conversation. There’s got to be an issue with the property.”

  “Then why didn’t she call you, hot shot?”

  “Because you two bonded over lunch? Because it’d be easier to work a woman than a man?”

  “I’m hanging up now.”

  “Wait, that didn’t come out like I meant it.”

  “So you didn’t mean to sound like a chauvinist pig?”

  “Right. Exactly. I meant to—shoot, I don’t know what I meant. I just don’t want there to be anything wrong with that property. I’ve already gotten bids on the development project. I’d hate to throw all that work away.”

  “Let’s not borrow trouble. She’ll be here in a few minutes. I’ll call you if she’s coming down for work.”

  “If she even hints about work.”

  “Got it.”

  “Okay, but I don’t like this.”

  “You like me. That’s enough.”

  “For now.”

  Kendra smiled as she shut the phone and went back to answering member e-mails. Sisters, Ink’s membership was growing more and more each day. Scrapbookers loved being able to find like-minded individuals online who were just down the road or around the bend in real life. Kendra had to give it to her sister—Tandy’s business idea was proving to be a winner.

  Twenty minutes later the bell over the door sounded, and Lorena trundled into the room. Today’s outfit fit her no better than Monday’s. Maybe worse.

  A navy pencil skirt cut her legs off at midcalf, and Kendra thought again of the crazed designer bent on highlighting the widest parts of Lorena’s body. Navy and ivory-colored stripes wound their way around her busty frame, the fabric held together by giant brass buttons with anchors embossed in the centers. Yeah, let’s put images of very heavy objects right over a woman’s heaving bosom and thick waist. A wide white headband held Lorena’s fu
ll blonde locks back from her face, which shone red with exertion.

  Kendra inwardly shook her head. Did the woman not own a full-length mirror?

  Lorena scanned the office, her cornflower-blue eyes lighting up when she spotted Kendra. “Hi!” Lorena weaved through the store fixtures—they’d put them in yesterday, deciding to sell some product on the side—and came to a stop at Kendra’s desk. “You were so right about this town! It’s got the charm of Leiper’s Fork.”

  “And about the same nightlife as Mayberry.” Kendra came around the desk and rested her hip against its corner. “So welcome to our little town. Want me to show you around?”

  “I’d love it. Do you know if there’s a realtor in town?”

  “That’d be my brother-in-law, Scott.”

  “Oh, whoops. Don’t worry.” Lorena made an X over her heart. “I promise not to be any competition at all to him. I just couldn’t believe a town like you described at lunch that day actually existed this close to Nashville outside Leiper’s Fork. But from what I saw on the drive in, I guess you’re right.”

  “Yep, it’s small, it’s intimate, and it’s home. At least until the yuppies find us.”

  “I can’t believe they haven’t yet.”

  Kendra walked Lorena toward the front door. “They’re starting to. Scott’s sold a few pieces to some young professionals working in Brentwood and Franklin.”

  “I’ll bet the land prices here are a whole lot better than we can offer in the Fork.”

  “I don’t know about that. Haven’t sold any land here myself.” They left the shop, and Kendra turned left toward College Street. “Have you had lunch yet?”

  “I haven’t. I was hoping you’d help me find that diner with the great burgers.”

  Kendra motioned in front of them. “It’s right here. Clay’s Diner. I have to confess, though, I’m a bit biased. The owner is about to become my brother-in-law.”

  “Is that so?” They crossed College and stopped in front of the door to Clay’s. The wind kicked up, swinging the sign above their heads. “I’ll keep that in mind when forming an opinion.”

  On entering the restaurant, Kendra tried to see the setting through fresh eyes, the way Lorena would be seeing it right now. Well-dressed women and less-dressed teens packed almost every table. The men sported overalls or plaid shirts, cups of coffee hooked securely on one finger. A congenial hum of chatter filled the room.

  “What a charming place,” Lorena said, and Kendra had to agree.

  “Thanks.”

  “Don’t mention it. You said the owner is about to be your brother-in-law?”

  “Yep. He’s marrying Tandy, my younger sister.” As they plopped down in the only available booth, Kendra gave her the brief rundown of Tandy’s legal career and subsequent return to Stars Hill after falling in love—again—with Clay Kelner that very spring.

  Lorena’s eyes were misty and her voice hoarse as she said, “What a wonderful love story.” She gazed out across the patrons, shaking her head slightly.

  Kendra considered pursuing the matter, decided it was none of her business, and let it drop. “So tell me how you met your hubby.”

  “What?” Lorena’s gaze jerked back to Kendra, then down to her wedding rings. “Oh. We met at a singles social at church. He was sitting in a corner, looking like a lost puppy, and I wanted nothing more than to get out of that meat market and never return, so I went over to talk to him.”

  “Instead of leaving?”

  Lorena shrugged. “If I left, they’d just keep inviting me back, and I’d keep giving excuses about why I couldn’t come. I figured if I stayed for one whole function I could tell them I didn’t have a good time, and I’d never have to go to another one.”

  Kendra took a second look at the woman. “And you ended up meeting your husband instead.”

  Lorena’s smile was slow and melancholy. “Yeah. I asked him if he came to these things often, and he looked at me like I’d just asked him to go to Mars. It took about three minutes for us to declare our mutual hatred of both the single life and the quest for the ‘right’ partner. Three hours later the event ended, and we were still sitting there, talking and talking. Three days later he proposed.”

  “Wow, that was quick.” She caught Clay’s eye and held up two fingers.

  “It was, but we had a long engagement. It took a year for me to plan the wedding.”

  “And you never had doubts?”

  Lorena shook her head, her blonde hair falling into her face, too heavy for the headband. “Never. That year only reinforced what I’d known in those first three minutes. He’s the one for me. Forever.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “It is, isn’t it? You search your whole life for that special one and then, whammo, when you least expect it, there he is, sitting in a corner.”

  “Remind me, how long have you been married?”

  “Three years.”

  “Ah, the three again.”

  “Yeah, except I’m not sure the magic of three is helping us right now.”

  “Really?”

  Lorena shook her head, and Clay appeared at their table, bubbling drinks in each hand.

  “For my favorite soon-to-be sister-in-law.” He set a drink down in front of Kendra. “And for … ?” He set the other drink before Lorena.

  “Clay, this is my new friend, Lorena. Lorena, this is Clay.”

  “You’re the Clay on the sign?”

  “One and only.” Clay wiped his hands on his apron. “Anything else I can get you ladies?”

  “This’ll work for now. Thanks, Clay.” Kendra waved him off and focused again on Lorena. “You were telling me the magic is losing its touch?”

  “I was?” A flustered Lorena teased her straw. “Oh, never mind. I can’t believe I brought this up.”

  “No, it’s fine.” Kendra reached out a hand and laid it on Lorena’s arm. “Sometimes it’s easier to talk to a stranger than to your closest friend.”

  Lorena’s head dipped in embarrassment. “You’re right, but unloading on the girlfriend of a client is pretty bad form.”

  Kendra took her hand back. “I don’t know about that. Darin will be happy to know this isn’t about a problem with the property.”

  Lorena’s head snapped up. “What? No! There’s no problem. None at all. Why would he think that?”

  “Relax. He’s just paranoid.”

  Lorena slumped into her seat. “Gosh, don’t scare me like that. I need this sale to go through.”

  “So you’ll know you’re a good realtor?”

  “So I’ll have some money in case my husband leaves me.”

  Kendra stopped chewing. “Come again?”

  “I think he might be planning to leave. There, I said it. No more denying.”

  “Why do you think he’s leaving?”

  “Lots of reasons.” Lorena waved a pudgy hand in the air. “Out all hours of the night, late meetings, unexplained gas receipts, an emotional distance from me. They say a woman knows, and you know what? They’re right. I know. I just don’t want to know.” She rolled her eyes. “Gosh, I sound like such an idiot.”

  “No, you sound confused, not dumb. I’m sure there are perfectly good explanations for all those things.”

  “Yeah, he’s cheating.”

  “You don’t know that. Have you asked him if he’s cheating?”

  “And give him a reason to go ahead and end our marriage? Are you nuts? No. I’m holding out hope that he finds a reason to leave her and stay married to me.”

  “You’re just sitting around, hoping?” Kendra struggled to understand. “Lorena, I mean, I know this is really none of my business; and I have no idea what you must be going through. But I can’t believe you’re just lying beside him every night, wondering if he’s left the side of another woman.”

  Lorena was a pretty woman. Blowsy and overweight, yeah, but sweet and kind and cute. She certainly didn’t deserve a cheating husband. Especially with the love story they shared
so far.

  Lorena shook her head. “I know you mean well, but you don’t get it. As long as I play dumb, I’ve got a chance.”

  “But what if he does come back? Are you going to spend the rest of your life pretending you didn’t notice everything you just told me?”

  “Yes.” Lorena took a sip of her drink.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes.”

  Kendra sat back in the booth, not sure how they had gotten into such an intimate conversation to begin with but certain that she was the least qualified person in existence to offer marital advice. Though if she ever did get married and her husband cheated, not only would she confront him, she’d do it in the middle of Lindell Street for the whole town to see. And he’d rue the day he so much as looked at another woman, much less went for her.

  Lorena tucked strands of hair back into her hair band. “I’m sorry, Kendra. Here it is, a beautiful day in an idyllic little town, and I go and ruin it all with talk of my philandering husband.”

  “Honey, you talk about him all you want. Just start talking to him, too.” She couldn’t help it. Giving advice came second nature.

  “I’ll think about that.”

  “And let me know if you need some backup to confront him. I’ve got some sisters who are more than qualified to assist in a confrontation.”

  Lorena grinned, and Kendra’s heart lifted at the sight. “Thanks. It’s good to know I’ve got some backup.”

  Kendra’s cell phone rang, and she fiddled around in her giant purple bag to find it. “Where is that stupid thing? Hang on, hang on.” Shoving aside mints and receipts, she saw a corner of shiny silver. “Aha! Kendra Sinclair.” She held up a finger to Lorena and mouthed the word, “Sorry.”

  Lorena waved her off and pointed to the signs for the restrooms, then scooted out of the booth.

  “Hey, girl, it’s me.”

  “Hey, T, how goes the wedding planning?”

  “Ugh, I’m weddinged out. I need a night of romance to remind me why I thought this was a good idea in the first place.”

  “I think you misdialed. Clay’s number is—”

  “Yeah, yeah, very funny. I’m serious. Remember when we kidnapped the guys a few months ago?”