by Jenn Cowan
“Aren’t you?” I squeeze her shoulder.
She blushes. “He’s nice, but he’s not worth all this. No guy is.” She starts picking up the mess she made and putting items back into her bag.
My inner independent woman pumps her fists in the air. “But Jana thinks you are and obviously, Liam is into you.” I pause and mull over my next words. “Cat, maybe it’s time to get your dad in on this.”
“NO!” Cat scrambles to her feet and begins to pace the room.
My knees crack as I get to my feet. I really need to start taking my supplements again. Between running the spa and worrying about Josh, my health’s been on the back burner. Thoughts of Josh make my chest burn and I rub it to soothe away the ache then focus back on Cat. Now, isn’t the time to be thinking of Josh or my health. Cat needs me. “Cat, your dad can help. Talk to Jana’s parents. They need to know their daughter is a bully.”
Cat snorts. “Jana’s mother is a bully.”
My eyes grow wide. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“I mean Jana’s mom was part of my mom’s group of friends. Brooklyn Caper.”
I gasp. I know Brooklyn from high school. She’s April’s BFF or was and oh is she mean. Worse than April if that’s even possible.
Cat nods. “Mom and Brooklyn always made Jana and I hang out. Their dream was for their daughters to be BFFs too.” She rolls her eyes. “Jana and I never hit it off, much to our mothers’ dismay. After Mom died, Brooklyn was relentless about checking on me and pushing Jana to hang out with me, although I’m not sure why.” Cat stops pacing and studies the ground. “When I began turning down their invitations, the bullying started. First, with dance then the texts. A few piles of flaming dog turds on the front porch, which Dad still thinks is about him, but I know it’s not. Brooklyn even drove right past me when I was walking home from school in the rain and splashed a huge puddle of water all over me. I know Jana and her friends are behind the tomatoes and of course, the spilled soda and ruined flowers, but now, she has my cell phone. Why?”
My mouth is hanging open listening to everything these girls have done to Cat. I knew Brooklyn got married and had a baby, but I never really paid much attention to what people were saying about her. No one ever talks about April or her friends in front of me and I avoid them any chance I get. Mean girls always stay mean girls, at least from my experience.
“Ever since I began working for you, things seem to be escalating.” She shifts back and forth. “I’ve been thinking about things and I think all of this has less to do with Liam and more to do with you and me.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “You and me? What does that have to do with anything?”
Cat peeks up at me. “I think Brooklyn is taking my rejection of her and Jana personally. They think I’m replacing my mom with you and choosing you over them, which I am.”
I frown. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
Cat chews on her lip. “There’s something else.”
My frown deepens. “What?”
“Allison is best friends with Brooklyn.”
“Huh?” My eyes bulge. Am I completely out of the loop? When did this happen? “Allison is a couple of years younger than us. I didn’t think she and Brooklyn ran in the same circles.”
“They didn’t until recently. Aunt Regina told me Brooklyn visits the salon every day to chat with Allison or take her to lunch. It’s like she’s replacing my mom with Allison and Allison is eating it up.”
“Have you said anything to Allison about all of this?”
Cat shakes her head. “I think Allison’s confiding in Brooklyn about her and Dad’s relationship…which also means she’s talking about you to Brooklyn.”
My head starts to pound with all of this information. “Me? Why me?”
Cat sighs and rolls her eyes. “Because Dad is still in love with you.”
I scoff. “No, he’s not.”
Cat gives me a look like I’m delusional. “I overheard Allison talking to Brooklyn about breaking up with Dad last week because he won’t commit and she thinks he’s still in love with you.”
“No.”
“Yes, and I think something is going to happen tonight.”
I frown. “Wh-what do you mean?”
Cat moves to the window and peers out into the night. “I think there’s a reason they took my phone and sent you a text. They knew you would come and check on me. They’re planning something. Something to get us both together to teach us a lesson.”
“What lesson?”
“For me, it’s to show me that I chose the wrong group to reject and for you, it’s to stay away from my dad and probably payback for ruining Allison’s engagement party.”
My jaw drops. “I-I didn’t ruin it. My parents called me. I was leaving anyway…with you.”
“But Dad got a call from the station and made everything about you and Josh. Allison’s livid with him.”
I open my mouth to say something, but I have no words.
A car door shuts outside and tires squeal in the street.
Cat and I exchange a glance then dash to the window. All the doors to my Jeep are open and something’s moving in the driver’s seat. My heart beats faster along with the pounding in my head. This can’t be happening. I just got this Jeep. Please don’t let anything happen to it… not again.
9
Why didn’t I lock the Jeep? Locking up’s been second nature lately. Why didn’t I do it tonight? I groan, looking at the culprit in my front seat.
A skunk.
Who puts a skunk in someone’s vehicle?
Cat moves slowly toward the Jeep.
I reach out and stop her. “Maybe we should just leave it. The doors are open. It will leave eventually, right?”
The skunk takes that moment to turn in a circle and curl itself into a ball in my driver’s seat. Ugh. It looks like it’s getting comfy. Don’t get comfy. Get out! Now!
I want to scream. I want to drive over to Brooklyn’s house and deliver this little ticking time bomb on her doorstep. What did I ever do to her? Sheesh. It’s not my fault Cat’s got standards in who she wants to hang out with. “Let’s go back inside and wait it out.” I turn to move slowly back to the house. We’re standing by the mailbox and are close enough to still get the skunk’s wrath.
Cat grabs my arm. “Autumn, if we leave your Jeep open, more creatures will make themselves at home. You could end up with a family of possums in there by morning.”
I groan again and whisper, “If we close the doors it will scare the skunk and well you know what will happen. No one will want to get near us for a week maybe more.”
She sighs and peeks over the passenger side door. “It’s kind of cute.”
I snort softly. “Don’t let the fluffy exterior fool you. He or she is a stink bomb waiting to explode. How did Brooklyn and Jana even get it here without it spraying them?”
“Brooklyn supports the wildlife foundation. She spends a lot of time there. Fundraising, but also taking care of the animals who come in injured. My guess is she volunteered to let this little one back into the wild.”
“Brooklyn does that? But that’s nice. Brooklyn isn’t nice. There’s no way she would help anyone or anything unless it’s about her. She must have an ulterior motive.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Not to mention, my Jeep isn’t the wild,” I mutter.
The wind kicks up and snow begins to fall. Cat shivers. She forgot her coat when we came out here.
“Let’s go make some hot cocoa,” I suggest, taking a step toward the house. Before I can move any farther, a car comes barreling down the street and starts blaring its horn. “Cat, run!”
We both scramble toward the house, but Cat slips in the snow and goes down.
I bend to help her up when I spot the skunk jumping up from its spot and darting right toward us with its tail up in the air then it soaks us with its smelly fragrance.
Cat screams.
“Close your mouth,” I cough out, wrinkling my nose as the od
or enters it. My eyes burn and I can barely breathe. This is awful. I’m going to be smelling this for weeks. At least, the skunk’s out of my Jeep. I help Cat to her feet. She’s coughing and tears are running down her cheeks. I’m not exactly sure what to do. We can’t go inside. “Stay here.” I glance around and notice the skunk is nowhere in sight. I hurry to the Jeep, spot Cat’s cell phone on the seat, grab it and close all the doors, ensuring to lock them this time, then make my way back over to Cat as Travis pulls into the driveway.
His eyes are wide as he takes us in. When he steps out of his SUV, he immediately covers his nose. “What’s that smell?”
“Skunk,” Cat and I say in unison.
“How? What?” He’s frozen in the driveway like he’s not sure what to do either. “It’s freezing out here. What are you both doing?”
“Long story,” I mutter. “Can you please get us some tomato juice… like a lot of it?”
Travis fumbles with his phone, coughing slightly. “I’m calling Regina. She’ll know what to do.”
I take off my coat and drape it around Cat’s shoulders.
She’s sniffling and shivering as she snuggles into me. “Why won’t they just leave me… us alone?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know, but I plan to give them a piece of my mind.”
“Don’t,” Cat pleads. “It will only make it worse.”
“How’s it going to get worse, Cat?” I gesture to us. “We smell like a skunk. No one’s going to want to come into the spa this week or even be near us.”
“We’re closed tomorrow since it’s Sunday. Christmas is Monday and we’ll be closed until Wednesday so maybe we won’t smell as bad by then.”
I give her a squeeze. “I love your optimism.”
She smiles up at me. “I wish you were my mom.”
My breath catches in my throat and my heart swells. Tears burn the corners of my eyes. This girl. The words to tell her I wish I was too are right on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t say them. April, as awful as she was, is Cat’s mom and I can’t disrespect that or the fact that Allison is going to be her new stepmom. If I say it, Cat will think there’s hope for me and Travis. I glance over at Travis, who is still talking on his cell phone and I no longer feel the butterflies I felt even a few months ago. My heart belongs to Josh and it always will… even if he’s gone. That thought leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I smile down at Cat and have no idea what to say to her.
Luckily, Travis interrupts us, “Regina’s on her way. Hang tight.”
I scowl and shiver. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“What happened?”
I glance down at Cat and shrug as if to say we need to tell your dad.
Cat’s eyes grow wide and she shakes her head.
I sigh then cough because wowzers, we smell bad.
“Well?” Travis crosses his arms over his chest and studies us. Even in the dark with only the glow of the porch light, I can see the suspicion all over his face.
“We heard a noise,” I reply, lamely.
“A noise? So, you decided to check it out at night when you two are by yourselves?” He pauses then asks, “Why are you even here, Autumn?”
“Um.” I glance down at Cat.
“I called her to come over.”
“Why?” Travis frowns. “You know you can call Regina or me or even… Allison.”
Cat cringes and looks up at me with panic in her eyes.
Thankfully, Regina pulls into the drive and swoops into action. She herds us into the garage and covers us in gallons of tomato juice then sends us to the basement to shower and leaves me a pair of Travis’s sweats.
Once me and Cat are semi smelling not like a skunk, we make our way upstairs. Cat gives me a hug and heads to her bedroom. It’s pushing midnight and I’m ready for bed too, but first, maybe, a cup of chamomile tea.
As if Travis can read my mind, he hands me a steaming cup of my favorite tea. “I thought you might be needing this about now.”
I smirk, inhale the relaxing aroma and take a sip. Ah. So much better. “Thanks.”
“Cat is growing quite fond of your tea and you.” He leans against the kitchen door frame and crosses his arms.
I frown, not liking his stance or his tone. “And that’s a bad thing?”
Travis’s eyebrows knit together as he frowns. “Maybe.”
“How so?” I narrow my eyes at him and take another sip of tea, peering at him over the rim of the mug.
“Something is going on with Cat and you’re covering for her.”
I keep my gaze on him while I lower my cup. “If Cat wants you to know, she’ll tell you.”
“But you know?”
I shrug.
Travis scowls. “Autumn, Cat’s my daughter. Not yours. If something is going on with her, I need to know about it.”
I flinch at his words because Cat is like my daughter. Maybe the only one I’ll ever have if Josh doesn’t… I stop myself and focus on Travis. I know he worries about Cat and while he’s not wrong about needing to know what’s going on with her, I can’t tell him. I want to tell him what those awful girls and Brooklyn are doing to her and me, but it’s not my place. Cat will never trust me again. Besides, I think I know how to handle them. I just need a little sleep and maybe another shower. “Ask Cat.”
“I have. She won’t tell me.”
“Then I can’t help you. Good night.” I turn to go, but he whips me around and pulls me into his chest. His woodsy cologne engulfs me and takes me back to weekend bonfires and late-night drives. I breathe him in for a moment, remember the good times then step back. Travis is my past. Josh is my future… I hope.
Travis drops his hand. “Sorry. I didn’t…” He runs a hand through his hair.
“Good night, Travis.” I move toward the front door when he calls out to me.
“Do you think I’m doing the right thing?”
I pause then pivot. “With Cat? Asking her what’s going on? Then yes.”
He shakes his head. “With Allison. Marrying her.”
“Do you love her?”
Travis opens his mouth then shuts it.
“I think you better figure out an answer to that question before you do. It’s not fair to her… or you, if you don’t.
He nods. “Night, Autumn.”
“Good night, Travis.”
10
“Autumn, wake-up,” my mother shakes me lightly. “You overslept and…” she sniffs the air. “Why do you smell like a skunk?”
I groan and cover my head with a pillow. Sleep didn’t come easily to me. Thoughts of Travis, Cat, Brooklyn and those awful girls were bouncing around in my mind all night. I think I maybe got, I peek at the clock seeing that it’s going on eight o’clock, two hours. TWO HOURS. That’s it! I groan again.
“Autumn, the funeral is at ten. Get up. I think I have some tomato juice in the kitchen. Did you run over a skunk and try to save it like you did in high school? Honey, it’s part of life. You have to let them go. Tell me you didn’t take it to Doc Sappington? The poor man.”
“I didn’t run over a skunk, Mom.” I sigh and toss back the covers.
She makes a face as the stench hits her nose again. “Then why do you stink.” She coughs and places a finger underneath her nose to ward off the smell.
“Someone put a skunk in my Jeep. A stupid prank.”
My mother’s freshly painted face goes pale. “A-a prank. Why would someone do that? Oh, no! Does the Jeep stink?”
“Not bad, I was able to get it out before it sprayed me. Well us.”
“Us?” She quirks a perfectly plucked eyebrow at me.
“Cat.”
“Is that where you went last night? To Travis’s?” My mother frowns and gives me a disapproving look like she did when I was late for my curfew in high school.
I nod. “Cat sent me a text and I went to check on her. This time of year’s hard on her. You know, it’s her first Christmas without her mom.”
My mother�
�s face softens. “The poor thing. I can’t even imagine losing a parent that young.” Then she motions for me to get up and wraps her arms around me. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know today’s going to be hard on you. Josh was a good man. We’re here for you, honey.”
Tears form in my eyes and a lump begins to grow in my throat. Is this my life? Is Josh really dead? Dread begins to seep into my bones and I no longer feel hopeful that Josh is coming home. The evidence is piling up. How can I keep ignoring it when proof is right in front of my face? The explosion, his wallet, t-shirt and sock on the beach. No one could survive that and it’s been three days and no sign of him. The ocean is dangerous even for a strong swimmer like Josh. Reality is sinking in and I burst into tears.
My mother strokes my hair and coos into my ear until my sobs turn to whimpers. Then she escorts me into the bathroom and turns on the shower. “I’m going to grab some more tomato juice for your hair. I’ll be right back.”
When I finally step out of the shower, I’m feeling slightly more like myself and definitely less smelly. My black dress is hanging on the door and some black tights and boots are on the floor. I cringe thinking about wearing them and what they represent. Death. Josh is dead. As those words form in my mind, I feel my stomach roll and I rush to the toilet although there’s nothing but bile that comes up. I splash some water on my face and stare at my reflection.
Dark circles rim my eyes and I’m awfully pale. My copper color hair appears a little more on the red side, I’m guessing from the all the tomato juice. I inhale and give myself a pep talk.
Today, I say good-bye to my best friend. The love of my life, although I’ve only come to realize it. Now, it’s too late. Too late to tell Josh how much I love him. Too late to buy the spa together. Too late to get married. Too late to start a family… at least with Josh. The thought of doing any of those things with someone else makes me want to hurl again.
“Autumn, are you ready?” My mother calls from my bedroom.
“In a minute.” I slip on my dress, tights and boots then lightly apply some make-up and run a brush through my hair. When I step out, she assesses me.