Kit looked in the mirror at her newly shaped, bouncy, shoulder-length straight hair. She tossed her head from side to side to watch the way her locks swished. Her head felt lighter. Her nails were perfect with a dark pink polish. The new look included a new t-shirt and skirt set plus new sandals. Well done, Sarah. I do feel better. I look better too, at least on the outside.
Now, the hard part—telling Zoe, a task she dreaded. Despite Johnny’s shortcomings, Zoe adored him. Kit had no idea how to break the news to Zoe her father had blown apart their family. Since he’d be away until Christmas, maybe Zoe wouldn’t miss him so much anyway. Fat chance. Typical Johnny move, take off…let me clean up the mess he left behind plus take all the heat. Another reason he landed on her shit list.
She arranged to visit Zoe the next afternoon after classes. During the day, the women continued their shopping as Kit had little informal clothing. Her days had been spent in a bank, wearing a dark-color conservative suit with a white blouse. Sarah encouraged her to buy some sexier outfits. The new clothes lifted Kit’s spirits a bit.
“Now, perfume!”
“Must we?”
“You need to smell different…for a different guy you know?”
“Guy?” Kit burst out laughing. “I’m a retread, Sarah. Washed up at thirty-three.”
“Uh uh. Positive vibes.”
Sarah dragged her friend to the perfume counter at Franklyn’s, the town department store. After sampling a few different scents, they put their heads together. Kit picked one in a small, elegant bottle that put a smile on her face.
Sarah dropped Kit at Willow Falls Academy. After accepting a hug from her new friend, she left the car feeling shaky, uncertain, not typical for her. Seeing Zoe’s puzzled look didn’t boost her flagging confidence.
“Weren’t you guys leaving yesterday? What are you doing here?”
“Can we take a walk?” Kit reached for her daughter’s hand.
They strolled around the beautiful grounds. The soccer fields were thick with lush grass, green and surprisingly cool in the August sun. They walked the entire perimeter, chatting about events at the school. The smell of fresh mown lawn tickled her nose, reminding her she no longer walked in the concrete and steel capital of the world.
“Okay, Mom. So why are you here?” Zoe stopped to face her mother.
“Well…your father made a decision. He decided to go on the tour alone.”
“Without you?” Her eyebrows rose with the octaves of her voice.
“Yes.” Kit picked a leaf off a tree.
“Why?”
“I don’t know why.” Kit shook her head slightly while her fingers finished stripping the leaf down to one stalk.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s divorcing me, Zoe,” she confessed.
“Divorcing you?” Her daughter’s lower lip trembled as tears filled her eyes.
“I’m so sorry to tell you.”
“Why?” Zoe asked. Tears overflowed, streaming down her face.
“I wish I knew.” The sting of emotion behind Kit’s eyes made her blink but she fought to keep her composure while plucking a tissue from her purse.
“What about me?” Zoe accepted the tissue from her mother.
“A parent never divorces their child. He’s still your father and will still come see you at Christmas, like we planned.” Kit stopped to take a breath to steady her voice.
“Oh, God. Divorce. Why? Why, Mommy? Why” Zoe said, throwing herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing.
Kit couldn’t hold back her own tears anymore as she held her daughter tightly, stroking hair.
“I don’t know, baby. I just don’t know. But we’ll get through this.” She tried to remain calm for her daughter.
As suddenly as Zoe fell into her mother’s arms, she pulled away.
“What did you do to him? What did you say to make him leave us?” Zoe asked, anger flashing in her eyes. Zoe wiped her eyes one more time.
“I didn’t do anything, sweetheart.”
“You did. You must have.”
“I don’t think I did. He didn’t say anything.” Her brow furrowed.
“What did he say?”
“He said he wanted to be free…he didn’t want to be married anymore,” she said, her lip trembling as she stopped to take a breath. Zoe covered her face with her hands and ran off toward the woods. She stopped at a big oak for support, leaning against the sturdy tree, sobbing. Kit caught up to her.
“So I’m going to be staying in the U.S, Zoe.” She put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder.
“Are you going back to New York?” the girl asked, her voice shaking.
“I’ve no place to live there.” Quickly she regretted her admission.
A look of fear swept over Zoe’s face.
“You won’t leave me, will you?” Her eyes teared up.
“Of course not, sweetheart. I’ve been thinking about spending some time here in Willow Falls. Being closer to you’d be good. What do you think?” She forced her lips to curl into a tight smile as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“I think I hate you both. I don’t care where you live,” Zoe spat at her mother, then ran off returning to the school building. When Kit arrived, Zoe had locked herself in her room. Her mother knocked repeatedly but got no answer. Pain at leaving her daughter to lick her wounds alone, stabbed Kit’s heart. Zoe’s silence left her mother no choice but to go back to the motel.
Chapter Two
The next morning at 29 James Street.
Sarah Morgan sat at her computer waiting for inspiration, but nothing came to her. She forced herself to sit there every morning after her children went to day camp. Her novel with fifty-six pages already written had stalled.
Frustrated and overwhelmed the thirty-five-year-old woman refused to give up. She had made up her mind to become a writer. Sarah paced, got another cup of coffee and called her friend.
“How did it go with Zoe?”
“Not well.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. What are you doing today?”
“Trying to write. Nothing’s coming.”
“Don’t give up, Sarah.”
“Easy to say…”
“I mean it.”
“Yeah…thanks.”
Sarah hung up and sank down into her chair, placing her hands on the keyboard. Still nothing. She tapped her red pencil on the desk, chewed a fingernail, then overcome by frustration, dissolved in tears.
* * * *
Jim Caterson, head of the English department at Kensington State, saw his next door neighbor Sarah Morgan, through his bedroom window. She looked a lot like her beautiful sister, Callie Caldwell, but instead of chestnut hair, Sarah had dark brown hair, almost black. Her large, turquoise eyes were like Callie’s. Jim, a widower, had noticed her generous curves when Callie introduced them. At the time, her beauty struck him but he found her air of sadness puzzling.
Jim had recovered from the death of his beloved wife, Nancy, only to be devastated by the desertion of a fiancée who left him for a Russian ballet dancer. After the turmoil died down, he settled into a quiet life, running the English department, reading, writing, and socializing with friends. He spent many a happy afternoon at the Caldwell house with Callie, Mac and their kids.
Through the window, Jim saw Sarah reach for a tissue. She looked up, noticed him and smiled. He pushed the window open to call to her.
“Writer’s block?”
“Big time.” She walked over to her open window, leaning her elbows on the sill.
“Can I help?” His gaze settled on her bow-shaped lips while a new hunger crept through his body.
Although Jim had sworn off women for a while, he grew increasingly lonely. The companionship of an attractive woman in and out of his bed became a preoccupation. When he tried dating again, love eluded him. Though sexually attracted to several women, the relationships never evolved into anything deeper.
“I don’t think so.” She rested her chin in her hands.
“Want to go for a walk? Always helps me.”
The warm, caressing August breeze coming in the big window enticed her.
She nodded.
Jim met her on the front lawn.
“What are you writing?” he asked as he steered her to a narrow path leading to the woods.
“A novel. I have the first fifty-six pages but can’t seem to get started again.”
“What’s in the way?” He glanced at her. Her small hand appeared lonely dangling by her side.
“Everything. My kids, my finances, knowing I’ll have to get a job in six months, Bob’s death…”
“I lost my wife several years ago. The adjustment takes time.” He positioned himself closer to her.
“Do you have children?” she asked.
“I don’t.” He took a chance, moving his hand over to capture hers. She didn’t move away.
Although he was attracted to Sarah physically, caution held Jim back, protecting his heart. Her beauty, unequaled by any of the women he had met before, drew him like a moth to a flame.
“Mine are having a hard time adjusting.” The joining of their hands caused Sarah to move closer.
“Writing is a good escape. You create your own world…go there any time.”
“Never thought of that.”
“A walk by the woods always helps me. See any deer?”
Jim noticed how the sun played off Sarah’s hair, bringing out sparks of red among the almost black strands. He watched the graceful way she moved, seeming to glide rather than walk over the bumpy pathway, her hips swaying provocatively. Her small hands were the hands of a woman who worked, strong, capable hands, but delicate at the same time.
Her breasts bounced a little, drawing his gaze. Her sundress revealed enough tantalizing cleavage before the blue bodice tapered down to her slender waist for him to see they were the perfect size, not too small, not too big. She folded her arms across her chest, making Jim color at being caught peeking.
* * * *
Several hours later, Sarah set the table for dinner on the back porch of the little house she was renting. After her husband, Bob, died in a car crash, she moved her family from Seattle because she needed the emotional support her sister offered. Even though she’d been planning to get a divorce, his death turned her world upside down.
With just enough room for the three of them, Sarah liked the cozy house, especially the lovely backyard and porch. On warm days, she often moved her computer out there to write.
Laura sprawled in a lounge chair, texting her new girlfriends from camp while Scottie practiced soccer moves in the yard. He whacked the soccer ball over the low fence between their yard and Jim Caterson’s. Fortunately the ball cleared Jim’s flower bed, but unfortunately, it knocked over a flower pot waiting to be planted, spilling dirt on Jim’s patio.
“Scottie!” Sarah yelled, dropping a Corel plate with a clatter on the table.
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Mr. Caterson,” Sarah instructed.
“Sorry, Mr. Caterson,” Scottie called through cupped hands to Jim.
Jim picked up the ball and ambled over to the fence.
“No problem, Scottie. You can call me Jim,” he said, tossing the ball to the boy. Sarah felt his gaze switch from Scottie to her.
She wore a blue and white flowered sun dress with a low-cut neckline showing off her figure.
She looked up, and smiled, noticing how tall Jim was as he stood by the fence. He’s at least six feet. His gorgeous, light brown eyes peered keenly at her, creating heat in her under his scrutiny. Sarah noticed his slim build, light brown hair, and shoulders as wide as the day is long. As an attraction to Jim grew inside her, Sara forced herself to look away. She had no energy to deal with a man now. Laura and Scottie took front row in her life. Men could wait, even Jim. Still she returned his warm smile.
“Scottie, why don’t you help Jim clean up the mess,” Sarah suggested while folding paper napkins to place next to each plate.
“Not necessary. Just a little spilled dirt.” He righted the pot and scooped up some dirt with his hands.
Sarah threw hamburgers and hot dogs for the children on the grill. She spied Jim cleaning up the dirt. A twinge of guilt gnawed at her. They had been living next door to Jim for a month already. Night after night, she cooked on the grill, feeding the children on the back porch. Jim stayed out of sight when they were eating, he didn’t hang around, hinting for an invitation. But she knew he ate alone most nights. Sometimes she’d see him through her living room window, eating on a tray in front of the television by himself. Though shyness kept her from making the first move, it didn’t seem neighborly not to invite him over to eat with them. It’s the least I can do after Scottie knocked over his pot. She took a deep breath and walked over to the fence.
“Hi,” she said, putting her hands in the pockets of her jeans, then taking them out again.
“Hi. Don’t worry about this, no harm done.” He waved his hand over the pot of spilled dirt. “He’s got quite a strong foot there. Looks like he could be a good soccer player.”
“He was…he is. I’ve signed him up to play in the Kiwanis league in September.”
“He’d make a good midfielder.”
“Seems the least we could do is invite you to join us for dinner. Just burgers and dogs on the grill, I’m afraid.”
His gaze raked over her body, bringing color to her cheeks.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know…I’d like to. Won’t you join us?” Sarah stared directly into Jim’s eyes. The look on his face stirred up a heat in her belly.
“Great! I hate eating alone.”
“Good. Come on over.” Sarah motioned with her hand.
“How about some tomatoes from my garden?”
“I love home-grown tomatoes.”
Sarah flashed a sweet smile at him. She picked up a plate of raw meat and walked over to the grill. He yanked five tomatoes off the vines then hopped over the low fence.
“Cool…Jim,” Scottie said, bouncing the soccer ball.
“Can I help with the grilling?” He moved over to the grill and stood so close they were almost touching.
“No, thanks. I’ve got it,” she said, stopping a second to catch her breath. “Laura, would you bring out the drinks, please?”
“Mom! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of a conversation?”
“I’ll go,” Jim volunteered.
“Its Laura’s responsibility…right Laura?” Sarah said, staring at her daughter.
“Okay, okay.” Laura righted herself in the chair, pushing slowly to her feet. Her gaze remained glued to her phone’s screen while she sauntered into the house.
“What have I forgotten? Oh, ketchup, mustard...”
“Can I at least bring those out?” Jim asked, moving toward the back door.
“Thanks. Laura will show you where they are.” Sarah threw two more hotdogs on the grill.
She was efficient, making a mental checklist of everything for dinner while flipping the burgers then putting the buns on to heat.
“Dinner, everyone!” Sarah tucked the last hot dog into a bun, nestling it in with the others on the platter. The children took their usual seats. Jim held out a chair for Sarah, who glanced at him for a second like he had three heads. Such a long time since anyone has held a chair for me. She placed the platter on the table then sat down.
Everyone passed around the mustard and ketchup along with a plate of Jim’s tomatoes that he had sliced and layered beautifully. A bowl of baby carrots and celery sticks completed the meal.
“What happened at camp today?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Laura said. She piled ketchup on her hamburger then closed the bun.
“We did soccer and swimming. I’m going for my minnow badge on Friday.” Scottie took a big bite out of his hotdog.
“But you don’t know
how to swim!” Sarah remarked.
“I do…sort of. I need more practice.” Scottie stopped talking to take a drink of his milk.
“Where do you swim?” Jim asked.
“At the town pool.” Scottie dug a few carrots out of the bowl.
“I’d be happy to take you there one afternoon this week to practice,” Jim volunteered.
“You don’t have to,” Sarah said. She stacked two slices of tomato on her hamburger before closing the bun.
“I’d like to.”
“Can I, Mom? I want to get the badge.” Scottie’s eyes widened.
“We could all go,” Sarah said.
“Not me! I don’t want my friends to see me hanging out with Scottie,” Laura said.
“You can’t stay home alone, Laura. You’re too young. So if we all go, then you go too.”
“Mom! I’m not going!” Laura flashed defiant eyes at her mother.
“Why don’t you stay here with Laura. Let me take Scott,” Jim suggested.
“Can I, Mom? Please?” Scottie begged, putting his palms together.
“Okay, okay. I can see I’m outvoted.” Sarah took a bite out of her burger.
“How about tomorrow?” Jim added ketchup to his burger.
The boy nodded. He bit off a good sized piece of hot dog.
“Tomorrow is good,” she said. “Thank you, Jim.”
She smiled shyly at him. Sarah wasn’t used to getting help from others. Ever since her parents died when she had turned nineteen, she’d been shouldering a heavy load, starting with being a parent to her sister, Callie, who was sixteen at the time.
Responsibility didn’t stop when she married Bob right after college graduation. They had Laura soon after their marriage. Sarah became a full-time mother. People thought strong, capable Sarah never needed help. Never had, never would…they were wrong.
Jim insisted on helping her with the dishes while the children watched TV. She went to the cabinet to put the salt and pepper shakers away as Jim headed to the refrigerator. They collided. She bounced against his hard chest, emitting a small gasp. His right hand grabbed her wrist to keep her from falling while his left arm circled around her waist, pulling her closer, right up against him. Her hand lay flat against his chest while she looked up into his brown eyes, the color of buckskin. He shifted his gaze to her pink lips before he lowered his head to kiss her. When Sarah didn’t pull away, he lingered in the gentle kiss.
Now and Forever 4, The Renovated Heart Page 2