A White Picket Fence

by Laura Branchflower

  He sighed. “What do you think I’m going to do, Lina? I’m just trying to protect you. I know you’re going to feel uncomfortable, I—”

  “Of course I’m going to feel uncomfortable, but you’re not going alone. How far along is she?”

  “Over five months.”

  “Five months!” Her gaze swung to him. “That means she got pregnant in the first month you were with her.” And it probably meant he knew the sex of the baby, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She didn’t want to know. It would make it all too real.

  “What did he say?” Katie asked as she pulled Emma’s phone from her hands. “He’s coming?” Her eyes scanned the text Ryan sent Emma. She’d told Emma to invite Ryan and the band to come to her house for a swim after they finished practice. “Wait, Ryan says he’s coming. How do we know Matt’s coming?”

  “He’ll come,” Emma said. “Mondays are his day off.”

  Katie hoped Emma was right. She thought of the Bible in the freezer in the basement and wondered if the spell would be stronger if he was at her house. It had been a little over a month, and so far nothing had happened. Sure, he’d been nice and she knew he liked her, at least as a friend, and sometimes she could feel him staring at her, but he hadn’t made any attempt to see her away from Emma’s house, and she knew he was still dating the blonde.

  “Wear your black bathing suit,” Emma said, referring to her most revealing suit. “You look really hot in it.”

  Lina’s perception of herself as open-minded was being put to the test as she watched the group in the pool. Well, not exactly the group, but the boy-man Katie seemed glued to all afternoon. When the four males arrived, Lina had made an attempt to go out and meet them, but Katie intercepted her at the door and with just one look made it clear she didn’t want her mother anywhere near the party or pool. Lina reluctantly didn’t push it, afraid she’d discourage Katie from inviting friends over and further alienate her, but that didn’t stop her from spying on them off and on all afternoon from the kitchen window. When had she become so judgmental? As a teenager she wouldn’t have thought twice about a boy with tattoos, but here she was thinking poorly of someone simply because he had tattoos on his body.

  “What are you looking at?”

  Lina jumped and spun around at the sound of Logan’s voice. “You scared me,” she breathed, her hand on her chest. “How was the camp?” He was attending a half-day lacrosse camp at a local school.

  “Good. Who do all the cars belong to?”

  “Katie has some friends over. They’re at the pool.” Lina watched him look out the window.

  “I’m going to see if they want to play water volleyball,” he said, seemingly unfazed that the group looked different than the kids he normally associated with.

  “Who’s in our pool?” Megan asked when she arrived home an hour later.

  “Katie’s friends,” Lina said.

  “Oh my God!” Megan practically gasped. “Katie’s sitting next to a guy with a full-sleeve tattoo! Gross.”

  “Megan!” Lina frowned at her. “You don’t even know him. Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

  “What? I’m not allowed to have an opinion? How does she even know him? He looks older than me.”

  “I think he’s friends with Emma’s brother.”

  “Well, so much for hanging out at the pool,” Megan said before crossing to the refrigerator. “I’m not going anywhere near them.”

  “Your brother is fourteen, and he’s taller than me,” Matt said. “What happened to you?” He was submerged up to his chest in water as he lounged on the underwater steps leading into the pool while Katie stood a couple of feet in front of him. The rest of the group, which now included Logan, was playing water volleyball at the other end of the pool.

  Katie looked back at Logan, who was laughing at something Ryan was saying. “I take after my mom’s family. He’s like my dad.”

  “What does your dad do?”

  “He’s a lawyer,” Katie said.

  “He must be good at it.” Matt’s gaze traveled around the elaborate stone patio.

  Katie shrugged. “I guess.” Her father was the last person she wanted to discuss. “He’s an asshole.”

  Matt’s eyes returned to Katie. “You shouldn’t say that.”

  “Why not? It’s true.”

  “Does he hit you?”

  “Of course not.” Katie frowned.

  “You said he was an asshole.”

  “He put me on restriction for six months,” she reminded him, feeling defensive. “And now I can barely breathe without his permission.”

  “At least he gives a fuck about you.”

  “You don’t know that.” She didn’t want to argue with him, but she didn’t want him to believe her father was some saint.

  “That’s what it sounds like to me.”

  “You’re wrong, he—” She stopped midsentence and began to sputter when he splashed water in her face.

  “Just cooling you off, Hunter.”

  “You asshole.” She began to splash him back as she backed away to avoid the onslaught of water, and then he was launching himself at her and grabbing her around the waist as he dunked her backwards into the water.

  Katie gripped his shoulders, pulling him under with her and wrapping her legs around his waist so he couldn’t get away. He’s all muscle was her first thought, followed quickly by the realization she was skin to skin with him. When they came up for air, they were both laughing and then he was looking into her eyes, their faces just inches apart, and she never wanted the moment to end. His black eyelashes, glistening with droplets of water, were the thickest she’d ever seen, and, as she returned his gaze, her heart began to beat harder. She felt a burning deep in her stomach she’d never felt before.

  Matt’s gaze shifted to something behind Katie, and she felt his body stiffen. “I think your dad’s coming.”

  Katie scrambled away from Matt, her eyes swinging past the far side of the pool to the stone path leading up to the driveway, where her father was making his way down towards them. “That’s him.” Of all the days he chose to come home early, why did it have to be this day?

  Her father stopped briefly to greet the group on the far side of the pool before making his way to them. “What are you doing home?” Katie asked as she looked up at her dad, who was standing two feet from them, still wearing his suit pants and dress shirt. He looked bigger and more imposing than usual, due in part to the fact they were standing in a pool three feet below him.

  “And you are?” he asked Matt, ignoring Katie’s question.

  “Matt.”

  “Do you have a last name, Matt?”

  “Hudson.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Eighteen,” Matt answered, and Katie could tell he was nervous. His face was flushed, and one of his hands was gripping the side of his bathing suit. She stepped closer to him, not wanting him to feel intimidated by her father.

  “How do you know my daughter?”

  “He’s my friend,” Katie answered.

  “I’m not talking to you.” His gaze didn’t leave Matt’s. “When did you graduate?”

  “In May.”

  “And what are your plans now that you’ve graduated?”

  “It’s none of your business!” Katie frowned up at her father. “You didn’t drill those guys.” She nodded towards the boys on the other side of the pool.

  “Well, you weren’t wrapped around one of them when I came down here,” he said.

  Katie blushed. “We were just playing around.”

  “Oh, is that what that was?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well I like to know who my daughter is playing around with. Is that okay?”

  “I’m just working on my music,” Matt answered his original question. “I’m in a band, and I have a job at a lumberyard.”

  “No college?”

  “No.”

  “And your parents are okay with that?”


  “I’m eighteen,” Matt said, pushing his jaw out as he stood to his full five-foot-eleven height. “It’s what I decide.”

  Her father’s eyes remained locked with Matt’s for a long moment. “Katie’s sixteen, so it’s what I decide.”

  “I told you he was an asshole,” Katie muttered, watching her father’s departing form as he walked towards the house.

  Matt shrugged. “I probably wouldn’t have liked me either, if I was him.”

  Katie lifted her eyes, but Matt had already turned and was getting out of the pool. “Hey, I’m out of here,” he called out to the rest of the group.

  “Matt, wait!” Katie caught up to him as he stopped beside a chair and began to gather his clothes. “Where are you going?” She didn’t want him to leave.

  “Why? You going to come with me?” He smiled as he looked up at her house. “I don’t think Daddy’s going to let that happen.”

  At that moment she hated her dad. “Are you going to be at Emma’s tomorrow?”

  “No. I’ll see you around, Hunter.”

  Lina looked up as Phil entered the kitchen from the deck. “I didn’t hear your car. What are you doing home so early?”

  “Megan texted me about Katie’s party. How long has it been going on?” He gestured with his thumb back over his shoulder towards the pool.

  “She texted you?” Lina frowned. “Why would she text you?”

  “Probably because she knew you wouldn’t. She sent me this picture.”

  Lina looked down at the picture of Katie and the boy with the tattoo standing within inches of each other, his tattooed arm on full display. “I can’t believe she took that, or sent it to you for that matter.”

  “You don’t think I have a right to know?”

  “A right to know what? She invited some friends over. It all happened today. I would have told you when you got home.”

  “Did you see that boy? I don’t want to see him around here again. In fact, I don’t want Katie around him at all.” He took a beer from the refrigerator.

  “Why? Because he has tattoos? He’s probably nice.”

  “He probably does drugs,” Phil said. “And he’s already out of school with no plans to go to college. He’s the last type of influence she needs.”

  Lina looked out the window. “What did you do?” She searched the group for the boy with the tattoos, but he seemed to be gone, and Katie was sitting on a chair with her arms wrapped around her knees and her head down.

  “I didn’t do anything.” He took a long drag from his beer. “They were all over each other when I walked up, though.”

  “You met him?”

  “Of course I met him. He’s in my backyard.” He frowned. “You didn’t meet him? Jesus, Lina, they’ve been here all day and you never bothered to meet them?”

  “She’s never here, Phil. I thought if I gave them some privacy, she’d start spending more time at home instead of going to Emma’s all the time. You probably just guaranteed that won’t happen.”

  “Are you talking about the guy with the tattoo?” Megan asked as she came into the kitchen.

  “None of your business,” Lina said, glaring at her. “And I don’t appreciate you going behind my back and sending pictures to your father.”

  “What? I just sent him a picture.”

  “You interrupted him at work. Katie’s friends are none of your concern.”

  “I was just worried about her.”

  “Well then you should have talked to me,” Lina said.

  “I tried to. You didn’t care.”

  “I didn’t care?” Lina spit out. “I cared. I just wasn’t concerned. And you—”

  “Lina, calm down.” Phil stroked his hand down her arm.

  “No, I’m not going to calm down. I’m mad. She isn’t Katie’s parent. She has no right to an opinion.”

  “Leave us,” Phil said, looking past Lina to Megan.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong,” Megan insisted. “I just sent you—”

  “You decided I couldn’t parent your sister! You—”

  “Go. Now!” Phil pointed to the door. As soon as Megan left, he was turning back to Lina. “Don’t take this out on her.”

  “Take what out on her? The fact that she sent you a picture? Who am I supposed to take it out on? It was wrong. And you shouldn’t be encouraging her. She’s an eighteen-year-old tattletale.”

  He chuckled. “Lina—”

  “It’s not funny.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “I’m sorry.” His hands drifted down her arms. “You’re right. It’s none of Megan’s business, and I’ll talk to her. But first I’d like to talk about him. I don’t like him.”

  “Your basing everything on the way he looked,” Lina said and wished she had met him herself. “Darcy certainly never raised any red flags with you.” Darcy was a friend of Katie’s who had spent hours at their house and, unbeknownst to them, introduced her to drugs.

  “I spoke to him. He had an edge to him.”

  “I just want her to be happy,” Lina said. “And she seems happy.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m thinking about her long-term happiness.”

  16

  After some prodding from Diane, Lina spent much of the next few days primping for the wedding. “I’m going to help you find a dress that highlights that amazing figure of yours, and when you walk in on Phil’s arm you’ll be the most beautiful woman in the room.”

  “I’m forty years old. Those days are over.”

  “Oh, no they’re not. You’ll even outshine the bride. I’ve made us an appointment at Andre’s spa all day Thursday. You’re going to feel like a twenty-five-year-old when he’s done with you.”

  Lina didn’t quite feel as young as twenty-five, but after having her hair freshly trimmed and highlighted, a facial, pedicure and manicure, a waxing and a full body massage, she did feel refreshed and more beautiful than she’d felt in a very long time. She was almost looking forward to the wedding.

  “See, there’s nothing a little spending can’t solve,” Diane teased as they enjoyed glasses of Chardonnay and waited for their nail polish to dry.

  “Oh, I could definitely get used to this. That massage was…” She paused at the sound of her cell phone. “I don’t recognize the number. Let me just make sure it isn’t about one of the kids. Hello?”

  “Lina, it’s Nick Drayton.”

  The room was suddenly too warm. “Oh, hi.” It had been five days since their lunch, and she’d thought of him more often than she should have, considering she was married.

  “Is this a good time?”

  “Um…” She hesitated as she looked at Diane, who was watching her curiously. “Yes, I’m just—yes.”

  “Were you aware that our boys befriended each other at the tryout and have been communicating all week?” His voice sounded more professional than friendly, which she was thankful for, given the beating of her heart.

  “I knew they met, but I had no idea they were talking.”

  “My son is attending Gilman in the fall.”

  “I know,” she said softly, knowing the significance of what he was saying. He could no longer be Katie’s doctor.

  “We can talk about the repercussions of that later. I have a patient waiting. I called because Brian wants to invite Logan to my place at the beach for the weekend. We leave tomorrow and return Monday. I wanted to make sure it was okay with you before Brian extended the invitation.”

  “I’m sure he’d like that.” She knew Phil wouldn’t, but she’d handle him.

  “I should probably mention my girlfriend is coming. We’ll be sharing a bedroom. Hopefully that isn’t a problem for you. I know some parents are sensitive about these things.”

  “That’s fine.” She felt a strange pang in her chest at the thought of him with another woman.

  “Great. I’ll text about the logistics later, but I’d rather not drive out to your house until I have a chance to talk to Katie next week.”

  �
�I understand.”

  “I’m calling from my cell, so you have my number now. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “Everything okay?” Diane asked as soon as Lina finished her call.

  “Yes, it was Katie’s psychiatrist, but he was calling about Logan.” She gave her a quick version of the boys meeting at the tryout and then, because she’d had two glasses of wine and her tongue was loose, confessed to having lunch with him.

  “I find it strange that this doctor would take a patient’s mother out for drinks.”

  “It wasn’t like that.” Lina’s eyes dropped to her wine glass. “I consider him a friend.”

  “He can’t be your friend. He’s Katie’s psychiatrist. That’s a conflict of interest. I’m sure even having a drink with you is breaking some type of ethical rules. I’m going to have to agree with Phil. He obviously has inappropriate feelings for you.”

  “So what if he does? Are you forgetting there’s a woman out there pregnant with Phil’s baby? A little flirting hardly compares.”

  “Flirting now?” Diane’s eyes opened wider. “What are you doing, Lina? Looking to even the score?”

  “No! Of course not. I’m just saying that you’re being awfully judgmental about something innocent and very forgiving for what Phil did. You’re supposed to be my friend.”

  “I am your friend. I’m very upset with Phil, but I’ve known the two of you for years. You’re my favorite couple, and I don’t like the look that comes into your eyes when you talk about this doctor.”

  “What?” Lina blushed. “That isn’t true.”

  “It is. You have a bit of a crush on him.” Diane held up her hand. “I’ve been listening to you talk about him for months. How wonderful he is with Katie. I know it’s innocent, but things start innocently.”

  “I only have a minute because I need to finish packing,” Lina told Alice over the phone the following morning, “but I’m going to need you to drop Logan with one of his friends sometime between two and four today. I’ll leave the address on the counter in the kitchen. He’s going to the beach for the weekend.”