by West, Cary
“I’m disease free, baby. I’m very careful about that,” he stated. “But you still haven’t answered my question.”
“And what question is that?” Kate asked as she emptied the hamper of dirty clothes into the laundry basket.
“How many men have you been with?” He waited for her to answer.
“One,” said Kate picking up the laundry basket as the reminder of the day resurfaced. She had been with one lousy man who left her for another woman.
“You mean to tell me your ex is the only man that’s tapped you?” Jack was astonished.
Kate didn’t answer due to the lump in her throat. He was the only one she loved and he threw her away like she was nothing. Kate couldn’t help feeling there was something wrong with her. Maybe she was the cause of him straying? Maybe she wasn’t enough? Her eyes began to fill with tears. She couldn’t let this man see her fall apart. She headed for the door with the laundry basket.
“Was he good baby?” Kate didn’t answer as she walked into the hall. Jack ran after her. He stopped her at the stairs and jumped in front of her, placing his hands on the basket. “Kate, was he good?”
“I don’t know,” she said in a hushed tone, not able to look at him. “I guess.”
“You guess?” Jack grinned and shook his head. “Shit, you have no idea, do you?”
“Of course I do,” said Kate as the conversation went from awkward to downright uncomfortable.
“Oh baby, you are one step away from being virginal.” He kind of liked that. Jack took the basket and set it on the floor.
“Come with me,” he ordered taking her hand then tugging her toward the hall.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She pulled away.
“What are you afraid of?” His eyes smoldered with passion for her. “Let me show you what it’s about. You need to know the difference between a boy and a man.”
He reached for her again but she batted him away.
“Why of all days do you have to do this today?” yelled Kate as tears welled up in her eyes. “You don’t care about me. You just want me because I said no and nobody ever says no to Jack McBride.”
“How do you know I don’t care about you?”
“I am too tired today to play your games.” She picked up the laundry basket. “I have enough shit going on in my head without you complicating it any further.”
“Like what?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Contrary to popular belief, I can be a real understanding guy.” He followed behind her as Kate made her way down the stairs. “I might be able to help you.”
“You want to help me?” said Kate not looking back. “Go fix the sink in my bathroom. It’s leaking. That would be a real help.” Plus it would get him out of her hair for a while, so she could brood in private.
“I thought Dustin fixed it.”
“He did,” she said as she walked into the laundry room and set the basket by the washing machine. “But it’s still leaking.”
“I guess I should learn to never send a boy to do a man’s job,” he chuckled.
He waited for her to laugh at his joke, but she didn’t. He didn’t even get a smile from her. Jack decided not to push it though it was driving him crazy not knowing what was wrong with her today.
“Fine, I’ll go fix your sink,” he conceded. “But it ain’t over yet between us Barbie doll. I’ll be back.”
“I can hardly wait.” Her voice was filled with sarcasm.
“Can I get a kiss goodbye?” He leaned against the washer and grinned at her.
“Not unless you want me to rip your lips off your face and stomp them into the ground.” She shoved him off the washer then lifted the lid and started loading the clothes.
“All right, I’m going.”
“Good,” said Kate, loading the soap in the washer. She heard his footfalls leave and the front door close. Kate rested her hands on the washer as tears ran down her face. She closed the lid and wiped her eyes, then went back upstairs to finish cleaning and sulk.
Jack stopped by the shop to pick up some tools before going to the carriage house. He made his way upstairs and to the bathroom. Damn idiot, he grumbled seeing the drip, drip, drip to the sink faucet and he went to fix it by changing the ring and the mesh screen.
He found a weird grease around the seal. He swiped it with his finger and brought it to his nose to smell. Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head, discovering it was petroleum jelly. He made a mental note to slap some sense into his hired hand and tell him never to use petroleum jelly to seal a rubber ring.
Didn’t he have a lick of sense? Any red blooded male should know that jelly dissolves rubber. It was a wonder the boy hadn’t filled his gene pool with a dozen kids by now considering his lack of knowledge. The thought made Jack shudder.
When he was finished, he packed up his tools and left the bathroom. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a framed picture lying on her bed. He knew he should mind his own business, but curiosity got the better of him. He picked up the silver frame and saw it was her wedding picture.
She looked beautiful in her satin and lace gown. Her hair was tucked up with ringlets cascading down her neck. She looked so happy, radiant-like with her blue eyes sparkling and her sweet lips dipped in pink. He felt a bit jealous that it was not him in the picture.
The groom looked shifty and untrustworthy. Jerk, Jack mumbled. He set the picture on the bed and eyed a scrolled piece of stationary lying under the sheet. It was her wedding invitation. Jack read it and saw the date.
“Shit,” he exclaimed, as he finally understood. He could have kicked himself for what he did this morning. How could he have been so insensitive and he felt like a heel. She was down today, and rightfully so.
It wasn’t easy on a person being rejected by someone they loved and trusted. It made him mad knowing what happened to her. She didn’t deserve it. Kate was the finest woman he knew. How could anyone throw a treasure like her away? If Kate was his, he would cherish her for life.
Another item caught his attention, a stuffed bear under the covers. He reached for it and held it in his hand. It wasn’t anything special, just a cheap two-bit bear, like something you’d win at a rodeo fair or a carnival. In the center of the bear was a red shaped heart with handwriting in the middle, P&K Forever scribbled in permanent marker.
“Ah, Kate,” he sighed and knew exactly what he had to do.
Jack placed the bear back on the bed and walked downstairs. He left the carriage house, depositing his tools at the shop before he climbed into his truck and headed for town. He needed to run an errand and be back before Kate was through with work.
Kate wondered where Jack got to when he didn’t come back for lunch. It was a blessing in disguise because she didn’t want to deal with him anymore today. She placed his lunch in the refrigerator and went back upstairs to clean the bathroom.
As she was cleaning, her phone rang. She answered, and to her surprise it was Mitzy, the secretary from the school board calling to schedule an interview. When Kate got off the phone excitement replaced her blues. Maybe this was an omen, and her life was about to take a turn for the better. With spirits lifted, she went about cleaning the bathroom.
As she was cleaning a mischievous smile formed on her face. She had a terrible little thought that she wanted to get back at Jack now that the doldrums had left her. It would serve him right if she were to create a little havoc for him since he was so hell-bent on bedding her. Maybe it would teach him a lesson in manners.
Kate scrunched up her nose and bit her nail. Should she do it? Why not? She started to laugh out loud.
She went to the medicine chest and pulled out a bottle of baby oil. She poured it on the floor of the tub then wiped it away to slick the surface. Next she went downstairs and grabbed a bottle of Tabasco sauce and she poured it into the bottle of mouthwash, shaking it until it dissolved.
She giggled and wondered what else she could do. It was making her feel so much bette
r, and it was quite empowering. She lined his cowboy hats with lemon furniture polish, and sprayed shaving cream into a pair of his boots. After she was done, she sat back on the bed and smiled with satisfaction.
Once more her phone rang. “Hello, Clara,” she said in a chipper voice recognizing the number.
“I take it the school board called you?”
“Yes, I got the interview,” she said elated.
“Adam spoke to Mitzy, and she told him she was going to call you today.”
“For once life is going my way,” stated Kate as she glanced at the bathroom and giggled.
“I’m glad to hear you’re in a good mood,” said Clara relieved. “I was worried about you today.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” She hesitated. “I mean, I know what today is for you.”
“I was a little down this morning,” confessed Kate. “But I am feeling much better this afternoon.” Once more she giggled.
“I’m glad,” said her friend, a bit confused. “I don’t get it. What’s so funny?”
“Oh, I’m just having some fun at Jack’s expense,” she smirked.
“Why, what did he do now? He isn’t bothering you again, is he?”
“Oh, he tries,” she laughed.
“Maybe I should have Adam talk to him again.”
“I don’t think I’ll be needing Adam after today. Let’s just say I’m giving Jack McBride a lesson in manners he’ll never forget.”
“Hey, before I forget, Adam asked me if you could swing by town tomorrow and pick up the vodka for the party.”
Kate almost forgot that Clara and Adam were hosting their annual Fourth of July party. She had not been to one in years. Their parties were always the best, and Kate was looking forward to the event. “Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Party starts at four,” said Clara. “See you then, and congrats on landing the interview.”
“Hey Clara-“Kate paused. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
“You know we love you girl.”
“I know.” She felt her friend’s smile through the phone. “I love you guys, too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Kate hung up just in time as she heard the front door slam. She jumped up and raced from the room, meeting Jack partway on the stairs.
“Your lunch is in the fridge,” she stated as they passed each other.
“I ate lunch in town. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? Whatever you made for lunch I’ll have for dinner.”
“Are you sure?” Kate asked thinking he was acting a bit odd. “What about making up the half hour I missed this morning?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he stated in an unusually polite manner.
Kate nodded and started walking down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and turned to look at him. “Hey,” she shouted up to him. “Did you get laid in town or something? You’re acting awful nice for a change.”
“I’m not always an ass,” Jack frowned. “I can be nice when I want to.”
He finished climbing the stairs and headed for his bedroom. Kate snickered to herself and walked out the front door heading for the carriage house. He was most likely going to go take a shower. By the time she reached her house, she was almost in hysterics picturing Jack slipping on the tub’s surface and screaming.
She climbed her porch steps and stopped by the front door. There by the door was a large package. It was wrapped and decorated neatly with a bow. She searched the package, but there was no note.
She lifted the box and opened the front door. She set the package on the coffee table then sat on the couch to un-wrapped it. Whatever it was, it was big and like any woman with a secret admirer, a curious excitement bubbled up in her to see what the mysterious packaged contained. She threw off the lid and found a giant stuffed bear. Kate took the oversized bear from the box and stared at it. She noticed a note tied to a ribbon around the bear’s neck. She opened the note and read it as tears filled her eyes. It said:
“This bear is for bigger and better dreams from someone who understands and cares.
Don’t lose heart, Barbie doll. “
A smile as wide as the Pacific formed on her face. Why it was the nicest thing anybody had ever done for her. This man who drove her crazy did the greatest thing in the world. He lifted her spirits and touched her heart.
“Oh, Jack,” she beamed brightly and hugged the bear tight as her heart melted into a warm fuzzy swoon. Suddenly her elated expression dropped and her eyes blinked wide as two oversized blue balloons. “Oh, Jack!” She panicked realizing what she’d just done. “Oh shit, Jack!”
Kate threw the bear on the couch and ran out the door. She needed to stop him before it was too late. She raced to the main house and up the stairs. Just as she hit the bedroom, she heard a loud yell and a thud.
“Kate, I’m going to kill you!” Jack’s voice bellowed.
She cringed then stepped back when she heard another thud and Jack yell again. She ran into the hall. She should really go back and check to make sure he wasn’t hurt. But just then she heard movement in the bedroom and she breathed a sigh of relief. Her relief was short lived when she heard him yell again.
“Oh, you didn’t,” he hollered so loud, it echoed in the hall. “These are my favorite boots too!”
Kate placed her hand over her mouth and tried not to laugh. She turned and tiptoed down the stairs. She made it to the bottom and thought she was home free until she heard him again.
“Stop right there, Barbie doll,” he thundered from the top of the stairs.
Kate turned then froze seeing the crazed expression on his face. “Now Jack, don’t be mad,” she said not realizing she was taking an involuntarily step back.
“You put shaving cream in my boots!” He growled through clenched teeth.
Kate bit her lip and tried not to laugh seeing the ridiculous sight of him wearing only gym shorts and boots.
“Did I?” She tilted her head as she backed away from the stairs again.
“You know damn well you did.” He started walking down the steps toward her.
“Now Jack, don’t do anything rash.” She inched her way into the foyer.
“When I get my hands on you, I’m gonna, I’m gonna -”
Kate ran for the door and Jack ran after her. She darted through the front door and off the porch with Jack close on her heels.
Kate made it to the carriage house and ran through the door. She looked over her shoulder and saw Jack slip on the porch step. It gave her a minute advantage so she could race upstairs.
Jack ran through the door and took the stairs two at a time. Kate barreled into her bathroom and slammed the door shut, locking it before Jack had a chance to reach her.
“Open the door,” he yelled as he pounded on the door.
“No,” she hollered back.
“I’ll break the damn door down,” he shouted.
“You don’t want to do that,” shouted Kate through the door. “If you break it, you’ll have to fix it.”
“Then open the door.” He slammed on it again.
“No can do Jack,” she shouted back as she leaned against the door to make sure it stayed closed. “Once you settle down, I’ll come out.”
“You may be in there a long time, Barbie doll,” he hollered.
“I’ll wait.”
“Just answer me one question,” he snarled. “Why did you slick the tub and put shaving cream in my boots?”
“Because you acted like such a jerk this morning. You made me mad.”
Jack sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “All right, I acted like a jerk,” he would give her that much but he was still annoyed. “But I made up for it.”
“Yes, you did.” She couldn’t help but smile thinking about his gift. “The bear is beautiful. Thank you for thinking about me.”
“Open the door and thank me in person.”
“Oh no, I can’t do that,” she giggled.
“You’re right, y
ou can’t,” he growled. “Because if I get my hands on you I’m going to spank that little pink ass of yours ‘til it’s beet red.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she gasped.
“Oh, I would baby, and I would enjoy every minute of it.”
“Did you hurt yourself when you fell in the shower?”
“Which time? The first or the second?” he growled.
“Either.” She refrained from laughing.
“No.” He kind of smiled. “But my boots Kate; you filled my favorite boots with shaving cream.”
He slipped down to the floor and leaned his back against the door, taking one boot off and seeing his toes slathered in white cream.
“Are they ruined?”
“No, I don’t think so,” he said looking in his boot. He tossed it on the floor before removing the other one.
“I’m sorry.”
“Are there any more little surprises that I should know about?” He looked up at the door as if he could see her through the wood.
“I wouldn’t use the mouthwash,” she answered.
“You were going to poison me, too?”
“No, I just laced it with Tabasco.”
“I gotta hand it to you, you are creative when you’re mad,” he laughed. “Anything else?”
“No,” Kate lied thinking she didn’t need to tell him about his cowboy hats. She would clean them up tomorrow and he would never be the wiser.
“So I ticked you off that much today?”
“You definitely pissed in my cornflakes this morning,” she said. “But then you go and do something so sweet. I don’t know what to say.”
“I figured you were having a bad day and needed some cheering up.”
“You touched my heart Jack,” said Kate and she meant it.
He nodded though she couldn’t see him. He wanted to take away her pain and replace it with something good. “So, I take it today’s your anniversary?” he said finally getting down to the heart of the matter.
“In more ways than one,” she sighed and sat down on the lid of the commode.
“How’s that?”
“He left me one year ago today.”
“He left you on your wedding anniversary?” Jack stared angrily at the framed picture on her bed. “What a jerk.”