Against the Odds: A Love Story

by ADAMS, J.

  Hayden smiled back but didn't comment. “So, what did the doctor say?”

  “He told her there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. My metabolism had always run through the roof. It still does. But sometimes I do feel like it would be nice to put on a few pounds.”

  Hayden leaned forward and again smiled, his eyes intently looking into mine. “I think you're fine just the way you are.”

  “Thank you.” I was warmed by his compliment.

  “So,” he said, leaning back, “you want another tour of the museum before we go? Or would you rather go looking for signs of alien visitation?”

  I laughed. “I think I've had all the extraterrestrial enlightenment I can handle right now.”

  “Awww,” he drawled, feigning disappointment. “I was looking forward to driving you out to the desert and finding some of them little footprints. I brought aluminum foil for our heads and everything.”

  I doubled over with laughter. “You, in aluminum foil? Now I would definitely pay to see that.”

  He laughed. “You and the rest of the hands at the ranch.”

  “Now that would be priceless.”

  “Darlin', even a mental picture of it is more than I can take.”

  We looked at each other silently for a moment and broke up laughing all over again.

  “I think we'd best get out of here before they throw us out.”

  “I think you're right,” I agreed, still chuckling.

  We talked for another few minutes and stood to leave. I thanked Hayden again for taking me out. He said he was happy to do it.

  And judging by the look of amusement still lingering in his eyes, I knew the day had been just as fun for him as it had been for me.

  The simple things in life are the ones that bring the most joy.

  Six

  Early one morning of the following week, Hayden found me by the hen house. I smiled widely, a feeling of accomplishment filling me at having gathered the eggs without any help. Caroline had shown me how it was done the day before. And now here I stood, a basket of fresh eggs hanging from my arm. I was proud of myself. Hayden told me he was proud of me too. He said he was looking forward to having some of the eggs for breakfast the next day, wanting to taste some of the fruits of my labor. I told him it was more the hens' labor than mine.

  With each new day I became more amazed at myself over how much I was changing. I found that I didn't miss the city at all. Not one bit. I deeply enjoyed this new life and everything about it. I enjoyed the work and the challenges of doing new things. But more than anything, I enjoyed waking up to the sound of people in the house. Caroline and David treated me like a member of their family. They included me in everything. Caroline had even let me prepare breakfast the previous morning. I was grateful to her for allowing me to make myself more useful.

  In all the years of pursuing my modeling career and living the high life while enduring a loveless marriage, I had missed out on so many things. I had missed out on living. But then again, I was never still long enough to even know.

  Now I was learning to enjoy the simple things in life more. Things like the sound of birds chirping, watching a sunrise, a sunset, and even the pleasure of sitting under a shady tree silently enjoying a glass of lemonade. For the first time in my life I enjoyed little moments of contemplation and meditation. I was becoming like most of the people in Roswell. I was in no hurry to get anywhere, and I actually took the time to relax and take mental pictures of the world around me. Even something as simple as tying a quilt with Caroline and one of her friends, or helping to bottle fresh peaches added to this new level of contentment in my life. I was now doing meaningful things.

  And of course, Hayden was always near with a warm smile and a sincere compliment for all my efforts. He was a good friend, and it was nice to feel appreciated for a change.

  I spent that afternoon on the phone with Mama. It was so good to talk to her. She was truly the only thing I missed in Atlanta. I had no siblings and there was no other family to speak of, just Mama.

  I knew Mama had been disappointed in my decision to leave because she was so used to having me close, and it didn't help that Jerome was rubbing my 'desertion' in her face every chance he got. But I also knew that Mama understood. She knew what it was like to have to deal with an unfaithful man. She knew the heartache of having to make the decision I did. She knew the questions every woman who has ever been in that situation has to ask.

  Do you turn your head away and just let things go on or do you finally take a stand and say no more? Do you continue to be walked over or do you finally begin to respect yourself?

  Mama had been faced with that decision with my own father. It had been hard, but she chose to respect herself and end the charade. That fact alone made the bond she and I shared that much stronger, spanning the miles between us and strengthening our connection.

  Sometimes it still pained me to think about what Mama went through. She had been forced to endure my father's late nights, as well as the phone calls that would mysteriously and automatically result in an abrupt dial tone when she answered the phone. She had endured the stress and whispers of the neighborhood, yet she always held her head up high. She has always been an inspiration to me.

  Little did I know I would one day find myself in the same situation . . . but there was one major difference; Mama truly loved Daddy, heart and soul. She truly deserved happiness. My own decision to marry hadn't been motivated by real love, a fact that I will always regret. And now I was facing the consequences of that choice. I suddenly wondered if I would ever know real love. Did I even know what real love was? Would I know it when it came? If it came? This was a department I was sorely lacking in.

  Rein it in, girl, I mentally scolded.

  Abruptly ending another pity-party, I again gave my full attention to my mother.

  Mama was once again filled with questions. How are Caroline and David? How are things going for me? Am I happy? She put more emphasis on the last question.

  I told her the change had been good for me and I was happier than I had been in a long time. Surprisingly, my answer seemed to satisfy her. I told her that I missed her and suggested that she come out for a visit. She promised me she would think about it. We talked a few minutes longer.

  Before ending the call I felt the need to apologize to Mama for Jerome's behavior. I couldn't understand why he felt the need to annoy her. Mama said she was glad I had moved away because Jerome wouldn't have left me alone had I stayed. Even now he was still an unwanted part of my life because he was annoying my mother. He knew it would bother me, and it did. Still, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much it bothered me.

  I again urged Mama to come out to Roswell and again she said she would think about it. Then I told her I loved her and we hung up. I smiled as I thought about our conversation and decided to make getting Mama to come out for a visit my goal.

  Hayden called from his place that evening and told Caroline he wouldn't be there for dinner. It seemed the drain under his kitchen sink was leaking and he was trying to fix it. So Caroline dished him up a plate of food and sent me to deliver it.

  Even though his house could be seen through the trees in the distance, it was still too far to walk with a plate of food and get it to him warm, so I drove David's truck. I had only been to Hayden's once. Caroline had taken me over to see the place after Hayden and I got back from our unforgettable outing at the UFO Museum.

  Hayden's home was beautiful. It was a colonial-style brick home with white siding and black shutters on the windows. It boasted a three-car garage, which he never used. There was a large white vinyl deck on the back that wrapped around the side of the house to make a lovely veranda. There was even a vinyl porch swing.

  I knocked on the screen door lightly. A minute later Hayden appeared, his tall, massive, shirtless form filling the doorway, a smile on his face. I was startled at the sudden feel of unwanted goose-bumps on my arms at the sight of him. I mentally p
ut myself in check.

  “Hey there,” he said, opening the screen door and moving aside so I could enter.

  “Hey, yourself. I just came to bring you some dinner.” I grinned slyly. “We wouldn't want you to starve.”

  He grinned back. “Good thing I've got ya'll looking out for me.” He took the plate of food. “Mmmm, smells good. Thank you.”

  “You're welcome.”

  “Come on in the kitchen.”

  I followed him through the house, again take in the beautiful interior.

  Hayden didn't have much as far as decor, but the combination of the over-sized, rustic leather and fabric furniture, set off by hard wood floors, made it homey and inviting.

  As I entered the kitchen, I was freshly awed by the large, stained pine-wood table and six matching chairs. The table was bare, as were the walls in the kitchen, but it was still lovely. I noticed various tools scattered on the floor in front of the sink. The cabinet doors were open and an old towel was lying beneath the drain pipe.

  Hayden put the plate of food on the table. “Have a seat,” he said, pulling out a chair for me. Then he went back over to the sink. “I managed to get it fixed.” He knelt down and wiped up the excess water with the towel. Having finished, he grabbed a fork from the drawer, sat down at the table next to me and started on his dinner.

  “So, how has your afternoon been?” he asked between bites.

  “Good,” I replied. “I had a good talk with Mama today.”

  “How is she?”

  “She's good. My goal is to get her out here for a visit.” I slowly grinned. “What do you think? You think Roswell is big enough for two big-city girls?”

  “Well, I don't know. The one who's already here is pretty much throwing us simple folk for a loop. We might need to get a little more prepared first.”

  I laughed and hit his arm playfully. “Honestly, I'm not that bad. Besides, I'm adapting.” I stood. “I mean, look at me,” I said, turning around for his inspection. “I'm wearing Wranglers and boots. Now you never could have convinced me a year ago that would happen.”

  He studied me quietly for a moment, allowing his gaze to roam over me. A sudden softness enter his gray eyes as he said, “You're wearing this life well.”

  I was instantly warmed, not only by the unexpected compliment, but by the look in his eyes as well. I couldn't remember the last time a man looked at me without lust or something close to it in his eyes. Hayden's eyes were sincere.

  “Thank you,” I finally said.

  “You're welcome.” He cleared his throat before returning to his dinner.

  “I think I'll get her out here sooner or later,” I said, charting my drifting thoughts back toward safer waters.

  “I'm sure you will.”

  I let my gaze roam around the large kitchen again. “Have you never lived anywhere else?” I asked as he finished his dinner. He took the plate over to the sink

  “Nope. I've never had a desire to. I travel every now and then for ranch business, but this is home.”

  I smiled. “I don't really blame you for not wanting to leave. It's beautiful here.”

  “It is,” he agreed, his expression thoughtful.

  We moved into the living room. I sat on the leather sofa and Hayden sat down next to me. He leaned back, stretching his long legs out in front of him and draped an arm across the back of the sofa.

  “So, what made you decide to come here? I mean, there are plenty of places you could have started over. Why Roswell of all places?”

  “You mean besides wanting to see aliens up close?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, besides that.”

  “Well, I guess I just wanted to completely start over and get as far from Atlanta as I could. And when Caroline and David offered to let me stay with them I thought, why not? Roswell is as good a place as any, and at least I would be with friends. So, here I am.”

  Hayden smiled. “This is a good place to be.” He ran a hand back through his hair. “To tell you the truth, I think I'd go out of my mind in the city. Too noisy and too much traffic. I guess I've always needed breathing room.”

  “I can understand that.” I sighed. “Before coming here I couldn't have, but I do now.”

  He grinned. “So you really like it here, huh?”

  “I do.”

  “I'm glad.”

  I stayed for another hour or so, soaking up amusing conversation with Hayden. We could talk about absolutely nothing and still wind up laughing about something. I loved that he could always make me laugh, even when I didn't feel like it. He had a way about him that made me feel so comfortable, it was like we had known each other for years.

  The sun had gone down and the sky was dark when I finally said goodnight and headed back to the main house.

  “Sorry I was so long with the truck,” I said to David as I entered the kitchen. He and Caroline were at the table having a piece of apple pie.

  “Oh, that's all right, darlin'. We weren't worried.” He smiled at his wife. “Were we, honey?”

  “Not at all,” Caroline responded, smiling at me. “Did you have a good visit?”

  “I did.” I took a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water, smiling as I lifted it to my lips. I had come to recognize Caroline and David's smiles and I was on to their matchmaking efforts. However, I decided to go on ignoring their subtle attempts. I would just pretend to remain oblivious, because when it came to contemplating another relationship, that's what I wanted now, to be oblivious.

  “He got the leak fixed,” I finally said.

  “That's good,” Caroline remarked. “It would have been awful if it had gotten any worse, especially with all the work he already put into that house.”

  “I'm sure he feels the same.” I finished my water and put the glass in the sink. I stared out the kitchen window for a moment and watched the moths fluttering in and out of the light shining from the back porch. My gaze moved up to the curtains hanging over the window. “Are you still planning to wash some of the curtains tomorrow?”

  “If I can get everything else done first.”

  “Why don't you let me take care of it for you?”

  “Well, if you don't mind. It would sure be a big help to me.” Caroline paused and grinned. “I always knew that height of yours was good for more than just modeling.”

  I laughed. “I guess so.” I stretched and yawned, suddenly very tired. “I think I'll turn in early then. I'll see you both in the morning.”

  “All right, honey,” Caroline said with a smile. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.” I left them then, and headed to my room as my mind anticipated another tiring, yet productive morning to come.

  I was tired, but I knew it was going to take a little time for me to wind down. I figured a little relaxing music would probably do the trick. I walked over to the dresser and grabbed my portable CD player and my case of CDs. Sitting on the bed, I flipped through the selection and tried to decide what I was in the mood for. My music taste ranged from Miles Davis, Nat King Cole, and Barbara Streisand, to Josh Groban, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley. I just loved good music.

  After a moment of contemplation, I pulled out a Nat King Cole CD and put it in the player. I skipped ahead to one of my favorite songs. Unforgettable has always relaxed me and made me smile. I put the headphones on, lay back against the pillows, and closed my eyes as the sultry sound of Nat's voice mellowed my thoughts.

  As I began to softly hum along, my thoughts wandered back to my senior year in high school. Back then I had two good friends who were as close to me as sisters, and Nat King Cole was one of our favorite singers. He was before our time, but he was timeless, and still is. The three of us often got together for karaoke parties at Keisha's house and Nat's songs were usually the first ones we would perform to. We were quite the group; Keisha with her long micro braids, Rhonda with her relaxed locks, and me with a head full of long, barely tamable curls. We were so alike. We even shared the same skin coloring and our tastes
in clothes were similar. And we all wanted to be models.

  We were dubbed by our friends as the S.S.S.–the Singing Sister Society, because that's what we loved to do. We thought we would always be that close. We thought we would hang out together forever.

  We had been wrong.

  Rhonda never became a model. She became a drug addict instead. She died of an overdose at twenty, and I was devastated. Keisha modeled for a few years in Atlanta before experiencing a downward spiral with anorexia. Thankfully, she overcame it. She eventually married and moved to Florida. The last I had heard from her, she had just given birth to a little girl. That was three years ago. People say I was the successful one, but as far as I was concerned, it was Keisha who had truly succeeded. She had the love of a good man and she had her child. That was success. All I had was a full bank account and an empty heart. Older and a little wiser now, I would gladly trade one for the other.

  As the last strains for Unforgettable filtered softly in my ears, I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling, suddenly feeling very alone. The feeling was unwelcome and I had no desire to let it dwell.

  I turned the player off and turned out the light.

  “Tomorrow is a new day,” I sighed as I pulled the covers over me and closed my eyes. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

  I spent the next morning and part of the afternoon washing all the curtains and dusting around the windows. Caroline's home was actually filled with more country decor than southwestern. The curtains were floral, gingham, and lace. All the beds in the house were covered with country quilts and the tables were draped in handmade lace. Each and every room was cozy and inviting. The whole home was definitely Caroline and David.