by Ann Everett
“I only mention it because it seems the two of you hit it off.”
“We did. I hope I didn’t overstep by suggesting a day out. But she cried, and I don’t do well when girls cry, no matter what age. Besides, you can’t visit Lubbock and not see prairie dogs. It’s just not right.”
“Thanks for picking up on my sign not to mention the move. I haven’t found the right time to tell her about it.”
“I understand.” More than you know.
She laid a hand on his arm. “As a reward for not outing me, I agree to your furry creature getaway.”
A current of electricity traveled north, and he felt warm all over. “Thanks. I look forward to it.”
Her neighbor came from his front lawn and met Raynie on the sidewalk. The old guy eyed Jared, and he wasn’t sure if he was sizing him up, or trying to bring into focus. Either way, Jared waved and backed out of the drive.
Headed toward home, it took a few miles before his heart got its rhythm back. Damn, he’d dodged a bullet. All he needed was for her to find out he’d googled Celeste’s address to make him seem creepy. But then his guilt eased. The fact Raynie had her own secret, should make it impossible for her to condemn him.
It is the dark menace of the future that makes cowards of us.
~~Dorothy Dix
IF RAYNIE HAD GIVEN more thought to Jared’s invitation, she might have refused. But since leaving Silbie with him to wait in the school office, she’d seen a sparkle in her niece’s eyes. The child missed her dad. That became clear when she latched onto Jared’s hand. Raynie wasn’t trying to replace Celeste, but at least she provided a mother figure. However, there were things a child needed that a mom couldn’t provide. Raynie remembered how safe her dad always made her feel. As if nothing could hurt her as long as he was there. Now, it seemed Silbie might look to Jared for that comfort.
He probably didn’t have a clue it was happening, but he would soon. Then what? She rinsed the last plate and put it in the dishwasher, then stared into the backyard where Silbie turned cartwheels. Athletic genes ran in the family. Evan, a star point guard in high school, and Celeste, district champion in track.
The way Jared’s butt filled out a pair of jeans, he’d probably played sports. She’d guess baseball. Quinn would disagree. Dang, Raynie missed her best friend. She’d invite her to visit during their next phone call.
Silbie rounded off and somersaulted. Sadness overwhelmed Raynie because the child blamed herself for the accident. More than anything, she wanted to fix that, but didn’t know how.
After another sleepless night, the next morning Raynie’s nerves jumped. Growing up, she hated when her mother harped on her many screw-ups, so she took the other path and didn’t mention the school mishap again. Maybe that was a mistake. Damn, she wished there was a manual for all this stuff.
Greta had texted and suggested meeting at a coffee shop not far from the elementary campus, and Raynie found Java Joe’s with no problem. A bleak sky threatened another storm, and she hated the thought of it. The building already looked as if it had weathered a few. Two grimy benches sat against dirty brown stucco.
Once inside, she waved to Greta, then stopped to place an order. Thank goodness, the interior was cleaner. A glass case filled with an assortment of muffins didn’t have a single smudge. The aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and roasted coffee beans hung in the air. She scooted into the booth. Greta pointed at her plate. “You should try this, it’s delicious. Strawberry cream is my favorite, but you can’t go wrong with any of the choices.”
Raynie wasn’t much on chit-chat. Come to think of it, she didn’t waste time with anything. Get to the point and move on. That tactic worked perfectly the day before with the principal when she’d threatened to go to the paper with a human interest story, of how her niece had lost her parents and now faced bullying at school. Once she pointed that out, his demeanor changed before he even spoke. The key to dealing with authority figures . . . cop the right attitude.
“I’m not hungry. I called you because I found divorce papers. You were Celeste’s best friend. She confided in you. Right?”
Greta sipped, then set her cup back on the saucer. “Not really. Your sister was a hard person to know. She kept everyone at arm’s length. Evan had an affair. We all knew. But she never talked about it. But that had been a while ago. Maybe he had another. Or never ended the first one.”
Greta leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Or, A while back, the rumor mill circulated Celeste was carrying on with a client.” She flapped the air with her hand. “I don’t know if it was true, but then two months ago, I heard they were seeing a marriage counselor. She didn’t talk to you about it?”
The waitress placed a cup in front of Raynie. “Need anything else, hon?”
“No, thank you.” She no longer wanted the coffee. The thought of Celeste having an affair turned Raynie’s stomach. She waited until they were alone again. “Celeste and I weren’t close. I regret it.”
“Well, they were getting help, so they wanted to work things out. Don’t you think?”
“I don’t know.” Raynie checked her watch. Rico should be awake by now. No need to hang with clueless Greta. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for meeting with me.”
“Sorry I wasn’t more help. I heard about the trouble at school yesterday and how you put Mr. Baxter in his place.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I met with him and luckily he cut Silbie some slack. We went in this morning and apologized to the little boy and his parents.”
Greta laughed. “The grapevine says you handled Mr. B. like Silly Putty. Good for you. He can be a real jerk.”
This visit with Miss Uppity was a major failure. She was too wrapped up in herself to know much about Celeste. No wonder she didn’t confide in the woman. That left Raynie wondering if her sister had anyone to talk to about her troubles. Another regret.
Raynie said goodbye and drove to Rico’s motel. Two hours later, she rolled over, eyed the clock, then bolted upright in bed. “I’ve got to leave.”
He pulled her back to him. “You don’t have to pick up the kid until three.”
“I have an appointment at noon.” She pressed a sweet kiss to his lips. “Are you sure you can’t stay another day? Silbie has a lock-in tomorrow. We’d have the entire night together.”
“Wish I could, babe, but I’ve already delayed my trip for you.”
“So after today, we’ll never see each other again?”
“Oh shit. You’re not going to cry, are you?”
“Don’t be silly. But I am sad.” She scooted out of bed, pulled on her panties, and searched for her bra. “You’ve been a nice distraction.” She finished dressing and grabbed her purse.
He put on his boxers and followed her to the door. “If I’m ever back this way, I’ll call. And if you visit Cali, you have my number.” He gathered her in his arms for one last kiss, then she stepped into the sunshine and headed home for a shower.
JARED SAT AT HIS drafting board and studied the house plan. Mrs. Baker decided she wanted additional closet space in the guest bath. Damn, he hated when construction started and the client wanted walls moved. After working on it for two hours, he’d solved the problem. He hoped. Never knew when dealing with senior citizens. They were the hardest to please. Set in their ways and always right. At least that’s what they thought.
His intercom buzzed and pulled him from his frustration. He picked up the phone. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Mr. McBride is here.”
“Send him back.”
Within a few seconds, Pate appeared. “Hey, man.”
Jared stood and met his friend half-way.
Pate grabbed him into a bear hug. “How the hell are you? Good to see you.”
There wasn’t a better guy in Lubbock. Pate got a full baseball scholarship, but could have easily pursued a rodeo career. By the time he graduated high school, he was ranked in the state’s top ten. But with over a hundred years of family farming, his future was des
tined from birth. Luckily, he liked it. Jared motioned for him to sit and returned to his desk. “What have you been up to?”
The cowboy folded his lanky body into the chair, rested his right ankle on his left thigh. “Same old, same old. Raising crops and babies. You?”
“Keeping busy. Lori and the kids?”
“Doing fine. Can’t believe my oldest will be a teenager. Damn, I’m getting old.”
Jared envied him. Settled. Family man. Devoted wife. “Right there with you in the age department.”
His friend removed his Stetson and balanced it on his knee. “I’m surprised you called. But glad.”
“I need a favor.”
“Name it.”
Jared braced for some good old-fashioned ribbing. He and Pate had history. “Friday night, I want to take a girl out to your old place to watch a sunset.”
Pate’s rowdy laughter filled the room.
Jared raised his hands. “Hey, it isn’t like that.”
“Can’t be. Hell, you only get your driver’s license and lose your virginity once. But you can put moves on a chick in the same location. Hopefully, your technique has improved.”
“I didn’t have a problem with technique back then, but these days I’d rather use my skills in air conditioning and a comfortable bed instead of the back of a truck. This time, it is about the sunset.”
Pate cocked his head. “Whatever you say. I’ll leave the gate unlocked.”
“Thanks. Now, does Lori ever allow you a guy’s night out?”
“Sure, and I’m due one.”
“How about Saturday night?”
“Sounds good. That way I can get a full report of how the date goes.” He laughed again.
“I’ll meet you at Jake’s at eight.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Better make it nine. That way, I can help with the baby. Lori’s ritual of a long, hot soak, is the only quiet time she gets.” Pate stood. “Bring little brother if you like. Not seen him in a while. He doing okay?”
“Yeah, and that’s a good idea. I’ll invite him.”
Jared walked his friend out of the building and watched him drive away. The memory of the sunset Pate mentioned brought back memories. The best summer of Jared’s life. It was great to have a girl as eager and curious about sex as he had been, but the hot nights of discovery came to an end when her dad took a job in Oregon.
At noon, he arrived at Caprock Café, and stopped to tell the waitress he’d signal when they were ready to order. Raynie already sat in the same booth, sipping another margarita. Funny, how in a few days, it’d become theirs. He laughed under his breath. Hell, before she left Lubbock, they might even have a song. “You been waiting long?”
“No. You’re not late. I came early.”
He slid onto the seat and propped his arms on the table. Today, her hair was crazy again, with a braid stretched across her forehead like an Indian headband. “I stand by my first impression. Yesterday proved you’re better at this parenting gig than you give yourself credit.”
“The things I said to Silbie weren’t true.”
“What do you mean?”
“All that bull about not hitting the boy. What I wanted to say was show me that little bastard and I’ll teach him a thing or two about calling you names. Oh, sorry.”
Her apology caused him to chuckle. “Normal reaction. But the fact you didn’t voice it proves my point.”
“Thanks.” She drained her glass, then straightened her silverware. “I talked to my sister’s friend, Greta earlier. Celeste and Evan were in counseling for all the good it did. According to what Silbie said, they were still fighting.” Tears pooled but Raynie gave her head a slight toss as if to shake them away. “I don’t think they were going to make it, and even though the divorce papers were pretty generic, I bet the screaming match the morning of the wreck was over custody.”
“You may be right, but they were trying to salvage what they had.”
She abandoned the flatware and fiddled with her napkin tearing a piece off and rolling it between her fingers. Jared waited for her to say more, but when she didn’t he broke the silence. “What are you thinking?”
She hesitated as if considering her answer. “Another storm is brewing. I don’t know how you can stand them.”
The slight quiver in her voice proved she didn’t want to talk about her sister anymore, so Jared dropped it. “You don’t like Lubbock?”
“Are you kidding me? No trees. Wicked dust storms. Nothing but cotton fields for miles. I can’t wait to leave.”
The perfect opportunity for his invitation. “Silbie has the lock-in on Friday, so give me a chance to show you some positive things about my city.”
She pulled her brows together. Maybe he’d crossed a line. “If you already have plans, that’s fine. I thought you might enjoy an evening out. We can do it some other time.”
“Does it involve prairie dogs?”
He grinned. “No.”
“Then I’ll go.”
The sunset and isolated location would provide the ideal setting for him to come clean about the deception. He waved at the server.
She came and took their orders, then Raynie went back to the earlier conversation. “My sister and Evan probably both had affairs. I don’t understand it. They were soul mates and couldn’t make it work.”
“You don’t know that.”
She balled more of the napkin, laid it next to the first one and started on the third. Looked like she was building a paper snowman. He wished she could see a west Texas winter. If she liked the white stuff, Lubbock always had plenty.
She sipped, then leveled a steely gaze on him. “Happy endings don’t exist in the real world. Couples cheat and lie.”
Given his circumstance, he didn’t have an argument for that. “Everyone lies, sometimes.”
“I bet you don’t. You’re a good man, padre. Too bad all men can’t be like you.”
He should spill his guts. But the adoration in her eyes was too much. She was searching for something or someone to restore her faith in the possibility of happiness. Even though she claimed not to believe in happily-ever-after, she wanted to. He could tell, and right now, she’d chosen him for the job. To hell with the confession.
The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.
~~Dave Weinbaum
THE NEXT DAY, Jared sat at a corner table in China Garden Café and stared out the window. It was the first time since meeting Raynie he’d eaten lunch alone. She was different from any girl he’d dated. The word stopped him. Dating? Ridiculous. That wasn’t what they were doing. Not sure what to call it, but not that.
If she planned to be a permanent resident, he’d pursue her for sure, but she wasn’t and he couldn’t let himself get more involved. That’s why he’d suggested to meet once a week instead of everyday. Besides, it eased his guilt.
The waitress set a plate in front of him, then laid a fortune cookie next to his drink. “You need anything else?”
“No, thank you.”
She left his ticket, along with the complimentary cookie, and strolled away.
Picking up an egg roll with one hand, he palmed his cell with the other. The last time he’d planned a picnic, he’d been in college so for the evening to go well, he needed a list. Wine. Bottle opener. Glasses. Cheese. Crackers.
Across the street, a brightly painted van pulled to the red light. On the side, written in pink, Affairs to Remember. Specializing in feasts, flowers, and forever. Talk about a stroke of luck. One phone call could solve his problem. Tonight, share a nice meal and sunset with a beautiful woman without the pressure of planning.
Lost in thought, he jumped when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up to meet Beth’s eyes. Holy hell.
She smiled. “Hey there.”
“Hey yourself. What are you doing here?”
“I’m meeting a client, but I’m early. Mind if I join you?”
She didn’t wait for an answer, just slid ont
o a chair, and rested her arms on the table. Jared struggled to think of something to say, but came up short, so he took another bite. Good excuse. Wasn’t polite to talk with a full mouth.
Long, tension-laden seconds ticked by as she drummed her fingers against the vinyl covered table top. “I got the spa job.”
“Congratulations.” He hoped she didn’t pick up on his half-hearted tone, because he really wasn’t happy about it.
Silence hung between them again. What the heck should he say? Long time, no see? It’d only been days. He took a bite of rice. How are you getting along? That sounded as if he thought she couldn’t do without him. How’s work? Mentioned that already. “This is awkward.”
“I get it. It’s uncomfortable for me, too. But it shouldn’t be. We’re friends. Aren’t we?”
“I like to think so.”
“Well, we are. So if you aren’t busy tonight, I’d love to cook dinner for you.” She held up her hand. “Before you get all philosophical on me, no strings.”
“Not a good idea. Besides, I have plans.”
Disappointment clouded her eyes. “Oh, I guess you’re already seeing someone. I shouldn’t be surprised. You’re a great guy.”
“It isn’t like that.” Didn’t know why he felt compelled to explain. He didn’t owe her anything. He should have kept quiet because now her eyes glimmered with hope.
“That’s okay. None of my business and I didn’t mean to pry. It caught me off guard.” She shifted her attention to the entrance, stood and eased her purse strap over her shoulder. “My client is here. Thanks for letting me sit with you. See you later.”
“Yeah. Later.” He took a deep breath and wondered how long it’d take before he thought of her as a friend. Right now, she was in the ex-department. Usually, after a breakup, he didn’t cross paths with a former lover for a while. But their working relationship would make that unavoidable.
He finished his meal and headed to the cashier. As he left the building, he glanced back. Beth stared at him. Catching his gaze, she turned to her companion.