“I don’t know the first thing about shaving legs.”
“Are you asking for my help … again?”
“You really are the best.”
“Yeah, yeah. Goodnight.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I sank down into my bed and tried to shut off my swirling thoughts and emotions. What was I getting into by entangling myself with my ex-husband and his daughter?
Sunday was the regular routine. Emmy and Easton came over before church. I helped Emmy with her hair while Easton and Ashley talked. The only difference was that I let Emmy do her own hair while I supervised. She was little clumsy with the brush, but she was getting it. It’s harder work than people think, using a brush and a blow dryer at the same time. Good thing we had all summer to teach her.
We drove separately again, but still shared a pew. Little Miss must have had the world’s smallest bladder. Emmy and Ashley headed for the bathroom as soon as we got there. We have three at my house. Really? So it left me awkwardly sitting next to Easton. I felt like we were the daily special in the display case.
Raphe walked in and we made eye contact. He immediately turned fire engine red and averted his eyes. I think he begged his mom not to sit across from us.
All of this did not go unnoticed by Easton. “So,” Easton bent down low and whispered in my ear. Oh yeah, that wasn’t going to cause the rumors to fly. And unfortunately I liked the feel of his breath against my skin, particularly my neck. “I noticed Raphe didn’t come to the game last night. What happened?”
I turned to him and was met with bright, not tired eyes. I was intoxicated by his cinnamon breath. I needed to quit going to church. “I forgot to tell you,” I whispered quietly. “They’re going to be just friends.”
His eyes danced with relief. “Why?”
“Apparently his kisses are slimy and that was a deal breaker for our daughter.” I smiled.
Easton chuckled soft and low. “I hope you told her kissing is slimy until you’re at least twenty-five.”
I thought back to our conversation Friday night about kissing and the man in front of me that gave perfect, non-slimy kisses. “Too bad for us, she knows we married young.”
He leaned closer, if that was possible. “So, you’re saying my kisses weren’t a turn-off.”
My hormones went into hyperdrive. I had forgotten how alluring he could be. He wasn’t supposed to be. We were divorced, and in church, for goodness sake. And did I mention how old I was? Forty-two year-olds shouldn’t get butterflies in the pit of their stomachs, and they shouldn’t want to lean a little more in and rest their lips on their ex-husband’s. I raised an eyebrow but couldn’t speak, and he grinned broadly. I turned, faced forward, and took a deep breath in. I had a feeling I was heading up to the little room after the Pastor preached.
I didn’t make it up to the little room; I had a better excuse not to attend Sunday school. My phone vibrated as soon as the service ended. I thought I had turned it off. I didn’t recognize the number, but I was desperate to be anywhere Easton wasn’t, so I excused myself and walked toward the exit and answered it.
On my way out, I noticed all the grinning faces. Many were from the women’s group. Easton and I were all the rage on the Merryton grapevine.
“Hello,” I practically whispered as I made my way to the foyer and then outside.
“Taylor.”
I recognized the nervous voice of my ex-sister-in-law almost immediately. “Nicole.”
“I know it’s been a while.”
I felt my eyes sting with tears as I walked toward the little park near the church. “Too long. How are you?” I asked.
If I wasn’t mistaken, I could hear her choke up on the other end. “We are well.”
“I’m so happy to hear that.”
“How are you and Ashley?”
“Adjusting, but good.”
“We have all the Christmas cards and pictures you’ve sent of Ashley over the years. She’s beautiful,” she responded in a rush.
“Thank you,” I replied. The conversation felt a little forced, which was sad. Nicole and I used to talk regularly before the divorce. Back then, we couldn’t talk fast enough or long enough.
“Taylor?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry,” she broke down.
“What for?”
“I feel terrible that I didn’t keep in touch, or at least contact Ashley. Every year you always remembered our boys’ birthdays and sent them a card and we were so … well … wrong about you and what really happened. I don’t know what to say other than I’m sorry and I missed you.”
I wiped my eyes to clear out the moisture that seemed to be there more often lately. “You don’t need to be sorry. I left and—”
“I should have called,” she interrupted.
“Your loyalties were with Easton, as they should have been.”
“We shouldn’t have taken sides, especially considering.”
“Considering what?”
She paused for a long few seconds. “As we got to know Kathryn I could tell something was off. Caden and I began to wonder if maybe she had fooled Easton. We believed him when he denied the affair, but after a while we started to wonder. And then there was a big blow up several years ago and it was like poof, Easton was out of our lives.”
I knew the feeling, though I was partially to blame for that.
“We were so surprised,” she continued, “when Easton called on Father’s Day. He said you had encouraged him to. We were more than surprised to hear you were living near each other again.”
“No one more than me, believe me.”
She laughed. “I imagine it must be difficult.”
“That’s a word for it,” I responded.
“Oh, Taylor, it’s so good to talk to you. I know we can’t go back, but I hope we don’t lose touch again. We have so much to catch up on. Our Joey is practically engaged.”
“Really?” Joey was their oldest son. He would be twenty-five now.
“His girlfriend, Harley, is a darling girl.”
“I’m sure she is.”
“Maybe you could all come for the wedding once a date is set. We would love to see all of you.”
I paused. I didn’t ever plan on vacationing with Easton. We weren’t a family. “I’m sure Ashley would love to come with Easton and Emmy when the time comes.”
“Please think about it.”
“I will.”
From there we caught up briefly. I was happy to hear that their younger son, Trent, was accepted to Northwestern and would start winter term. I missed my nephews and Easton’s family.
Once the call ended, I stayed on the park bench to soak in what had happened. I felt like my life lately was a string of never ending surprises. At least this one had been pleasant. I was glad to know Easton and Caden were communicating now. I wondered how I was going to remain apathetic through the next couple of years—I was already doing a terrible job of it. Easton was infusing himself into my life more than I ever expected. Too bad he was fourteen years too late.
I took my time walking back to church. The parishioners were already filing out. Easton and the girls were among them. They all looked my way at the same time.
I met them at our cars, which were parked next to each other.
“You keep disappearing during Sunday school,” Easton started.
“Nicole called,” I blurted out.
He didn’t seem surprised. “She called and asked for your number. I hope you don’t mind that I gave it to her.”
“Not at all.”
“Thanks again, you know, for encouraging me to call Caden.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “It just didn’t seem right.”
“That’s been my life story for a long time now.”
It was moments like these that I wanted to be apathetic and indifferent. I wanted to feel vindicated, but I could only feel sympathy and some other things I didn’t want to admit. My ex-husband looked way too g
ood in his light blue, button-down shirt and well-fitting jeans. He had distinguished perfected. There were too many things about him that reminded me of why I fell in love with him in the first place, like his sincerity.
I didn’t have the courage to comfort him; instead I took the ex-wife route. “Well, I’ll see you later for dinner.”
“Is it all right if Ashley comes home with me?” he asked.
I tried to hide my disappointment as I looked at both girls smiling at me. “Sure.”
Easton smiled, too. “Great. We’ll see you soon. Feel free to bring your bathing suit. It’s supposed to be nice tonight. We could all swim,” he suggested.
That was definitely not in the brochure. I averted my eyes away from the girls. I was not being roped into that activity. “I’ll watch or bring a book.”
Easton grinned. “Suit yourself.”
“I will.” I turned toward the girls. “See you ladies later.”
Easton opened my car door for me. He was always good at that. Even if it was pouring rain or snowing, he had always held my door open when we were married.
“Thank you.”
He leaned in. “My pleasure. See you soon.”
There was that electricity between us. I wished there wasn’t, but I could feel it. It was almost as if we were magnets that were drawn to each other. It had been that way since day one. I remembered when I felt it slipping away toward the end of our marriage. I felt like a part of me had been severed. I thought I would never feel that way toward him again, but the pull was back. I needed it to go away. I reminded myself that he didn’t come after me fourteen years ago. That seemed to do the trick. I jumped into my car and blasted the music.
Not even Otis Redding could soothe me.
Chapter Fourteen
I rushed home in need of someone to talk to. Grams and Harry were always on top of the list. Either one would do.
A gruff, but lovable voice answered the phone. “I was wondering when we would be hearing from you today,” Harry started.
“I was calling to say hi.”
“Is that all?” he asked.
They knew me too well.
I sank into the overstuffed chair in my living room. “Life is interesting,” I sighed.
“Easton giving you a run for your money over there?” His signature deep rumble of a laugh came through the phone loud and clear.
“Something like that. He’s managed to push himself right back into my life.”
“It’s about damn time.” Harry was a rough and tumble kind of guy, but he was the best man I’d ever known.
“He needs to be in Ashley’s life, not mine.”
“Isn’t Ashley your life?”
“Yes, well—”
“You should get used to it then,” he interrupted.
“Where’s Grams?” I asked somewhat teasingly. I wasn’t looking for no-nonsense advice that made sense. Though she might have said the same thing, she would have at least massaged her reply.
“Taylor Lynne,” he said more gently.
Anytime he used Lynne it was with softer tones. Lynne was my mother’s middle name as well. I knew neither he nor Grams had ever gotten over losing her. First to my father and then to death. They never truly reconciled with her before her death and I knew that haunted them. They didn’t even come to her funeral. A choice I believe they now deeply regretted. I knew they didn’t want me to carry around similar demons.
“You know I have little respect for a man that leaves his wife and child, but I do respect a man that owns up and tries to fix it,” he continued.
“I’ll give him that. He is trying to make amends with Ashley.”
“And what about with you?”
I thought for a moment. “I think we both regret past choices.”
“No sense in looking back. The past has no business in your future. This time around, don’t let your head get in the way.”
“I’m not following you.” I was confused about that last part.
“That’s because you use your head too much, kid.”
“If you say so. I better go. I love you, Harry.”
“Same, kid,” he returned in all his gruffness. That was his way. He’d never once said he loved me, but I’d never doubted that he did. The only person he admitted his love for was Ashley. Not even Grams got an “I love you,” at least not in company. I had a feeling she made him say it in private.
I hung up not really feeling any better about the day’s events. But maybe Harry was right; I was always over thinking things. I would have to learn how to control my hormones around Easton, if that was even possible. For Ashley’s sake I had to learn how to be the kind of ex-wife that could co-parent well. I would leave my attraction to him out of the equation.
With that thought in mind, I picked up the latest nutrition book I had purchased and perused it while I waited to leave for dinner.
When five o’clock rolled around, I reluctantly made my way to Easton’s. I wasn’t particularly fond of his cooking, and I wasn’t really looking forward to seeing him in swim trunks. I had a feeling the hormones were going to be in hyperdrive. I brought my book along as a distraction, but knew deep down it wasn’t going to help much.
I arrived to a note on the front door that said to come on back. It felt different to open his door without knocking. I didn’t want easy access.
I entered uneasily and looked around. This time I took a little more time to look. Curiosity got the better of me. I didn’t see the Easton I knew living in such a place. His house screamed affluence, from the art on the walls to the pricey furniture. It looked more like a museum than a home. I knew Easton did well for himself, but his nature wasn’t one to show it off. Take for instance the truck he drove, it had to be at least five years old. It was nice, but nothing over the top. It suited him, or at least what I remembered of him. Fourteen years was a long time.
I glanced in his den near the front door, and two things caught my eye. On his desk sat the clay impressions I had made of Ashley’s feet and hands when she was one. In addition, there were two photo albums open. Against my better judgment, I crept into his den. I stood there with my hand over my mouth staring at the photo albums that documented our life as a married couple and parents. I had always kicked myself for not taking them with me when I left. I figured they were long gone, like our marriage and family.
I longed to peruse them, but left them untouched. The opened pages revealed pictures of the day he graduated from medical school. He had picked me up and kissed me fervently in his cap and gown. Grams caught that moment and the moment after, when we gazed into each other’s eyes. We both looked ridiculously happy. I still remember that feeling of elation. The second book showed several shots of me with Ashley right after she was born. I didn’t look my finest, but I never looked happier or more content than holding her wrinkled body against my chest.
My favorite picture of all time was of the three of us. Ashley was lying sweetly on my chest and Easton was kissing her head while I looked down adoringly. My hand moved from my mouth to my eyes to remove the tears that had escaped. Maybe it was a good thing I didn’t own the photo albums anymore. I would have only tortured myself with them over the years. I wondered if he would at least let me make copies of the ones of only Ashley. I wasn’t sure how to ask him—I didn’t want to own up that I had been spying.
I took some cleansing breaths and composed myself before I headed to his backyard. I wasn’t expecting the trip down memory lane. I wondered how often he took that trip himself.
I walked out to find a fully set patio table, food included. Easton and the girls were in the pool having a grand time. I wasn’t surprised. Easton, for most of our marriage, had been a work hard, play hard kind of a guy. I remembered several occasions where we both had finished several grueling days in a row and I wanted nothing more than to rest, but he would whisk me away and drive us the four hours down to the beach. Sometimes we could only stay for a couple of hours before heading back, but we mad
e the most of it. And then there were the no getting out of bed days.
I had to stop thinking about the past. Harry was right. We couldn’t go back, and it killed me to remember how close we used to be. To remember those last two years, where he only worked hard and then harder. When somehow we lost it all.
It didn’t take long before they noticed me. Easton was the first to look my way. The girls both smiled and waved. Easton smiled genuinely while making his way out of the pool. I wanted to avert my eyes. My previous thought about being in bed with him, coupled with his lack of clothing weren’t helping anything. He didn’t have the exact hard body I remembered, but close enough. So maybe his stomach wasn’t as flat and sculpted as it used to be, but for forty-five he looked fantastic. I stared at him as he toweled off. The memories of me running my hand across the hair on his chest came rushing back. How many nights had that chest been my pillow of choice? My body began to heat up. This was ridiculous and needed to stop. I was suing the company that made that inaccurate brochure.
I turned awkwardly toward the table when Easton caught me staring at him. His grin asked if I liked what I saw. I knew that smile well and could still read it. I hoped he was far enough away that he couldn’t see me blush. I’m not sure if twenty feet could hide my reaction to him. My guess was it couldn’t, so I took a seat at the table and took a long drink of the ice water in front of me. I hated that he could still get to me, and worse, that he knew it.
He joined me at the table—shirtless—with a mischievous grin.
“That’s quite the bruise you’re sporting there.” I hoped this way he would think I was only staring at him because he was injured, not because I was still attracted to him.
He looked down at his multi-colored side. “No pain, no gain, right?”
I nodded slightly.
“Are you sure you don’t want to swim? I’m sure I could find an old swimsuit of Kath—”
I arched my eyebrow at the sound of her name. I would never be caught dead in anything she used to own. I think he could feel the wrath from my eyes.
He cleared his throat. “Maybe next time,” he said in haste to cover his misstep.
Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton - Book Two Page 14