Sugar Springs

by Kim Law

  “Hmmm...” There was probably some truth to the statement. But that was only so the girls didn’t experience hurt the way Lee Ann had. There was nothing wrong with watching out for your kids. “This kind of abuse isn’t why I stopped by here, you know,” she grumbled.

  Joanie grinned. “Then tell me about this flirting business.” She waggled her eyebrows up and down. “You like it, right? Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

  “What? Come on, Joanie, of course I don’t like it.” She narrowed her gaze on her friend. “You’re supposed to point out that he’s a pig for even thinking about coming on to me. He’s supposed to be concentrating on the girls, not on whether there’s something sparking between the two of us.”

  “Is that what he said? Because I have to say—”

  “Stop! I already heard about what you had to say, and I can’t believe you told Candy and Kendra you thought Cody and I still had feelings for each other. Of course we don’t.”

  “Honey, this is me.” Joanie wadded up a piece of paper and tossed it toward a wastebasket. She missed. “I know how completely crushed you were when he hooked up with Steph. You loved him more than your life back then. And you didn’t get any real closure from it.”

  “That was back then,” Lee Ann grumbled. “I got over it years ago, so there’s no closure needed.” Only, it sometimes felt like there was. She’d even gone so far as to wonder if “getting him out of her system” would help her move on. But then, that was an immature and irresponsible thought. And she was neither of those things.

  “Then why are we talking about it now?” Joanie asked.

  Lee Ann didn’t answer immediately. Probably because he’d gotten within a hair’s breadth of kissing her senseless Saturday night, and she’d been more upset than relieved when the girls had interrupted them. She wasn’t supposed to want to kiss him.

  She readjusted the rollers to focus on her shoulders. “I just don’t understand why he’s trying so hard with me.”

  Joanie pushed a stack of papers to the side and stretched out her legs in front of her. Her green-and-black zombie socks flashed beneath her jeans. “And?” she asked.

  “And what?”

  Her reply was a subtle tilting of her head and arching of a single brow, and Lee Ann followed it up with a heavy sigh.

  “And I don’t understand why I want to flirt in return! Is that what you want to hear? His flirting thrills me and makes me want to retaliate. It makes me feel excited and alive and wanting to see how much fourteen years has improved his kissing skills.”

  Low laughter was Joanie’s only response.

  “But I don’t want to feel this way, Jo. I’m not interested in him. He’s my kids’ father. That’s all. I just want to see the girls happy.”

  “And how is he doing with that? Is he serious about trying?”

  “He is. Strangely.” She wouldn’t have ever expected him to be so caring with the girls. “He’s attentive. He asks lots of questions and really listens when they talk. And he seems to want to be around them all the time. He’s going to dance with them at their party, just like they want.”

  The bell over the door tinkled as someone came in.

  “Sorry, Jo,” Linda Sue, one of the manicurists, called out. “We won’t be long. I told Gina I’d touch up a couple nails real quick. She has a hot date tonight.”

  Gina Gregory, the loudest mouth of the county, strolled in behind her. “Hi, girls.”

  Joanie rose from the floor as both she and Lee Ann returned the greetings, then headed over to Lee Ann so that they could continue their conversation in private. She flipped on the music as she crossed the room.

  “And the girls?” Joanie asked after she’d settled down in the seat next to Lee Ann, her own rollers rotating up her back and making her voice vibrate as she talked. “Are they happy?”

  Lee Ann pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes and groaned. “Yes,” she whispered. “They’re thrilled. Kendra more than Candy, but Candy is coming around. She just sometimes spends more time listening to her sister and father talk than she gets to actually join in. He doesn’t exclude her intentionally, but the two of them simply don’t have as much in common.”

  Joanie nodded, then reached down to turn on the water in Lee Ann’s basin and toss in some salts. “Might as well enjoy the soak while you’re here.” While she was leaning over in front of Lee Ann, she looked up. “What else?” she asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “It’s nothing.” Lee Ann smiled. She loved having a friend who was so close that she knew her better than anyone. Joanie would never let her get away with anything. “It’s just that he keeps bungling things, and it’s almost funny to watch. But then I feel bad for him, because he’s trying so hard.”

  “Like what?” She turned off the water in Lee Ann’s tub.

  “You know...things like offering to go into the store and pay for their unmentionables, or asking whether they’ve got boyfriends. When boys their age are in earshot. Embarrassing things. After they recover, they simply roll their eyes, but he really seems to worry about it.”

  “And you think it’s cute?”

  Lee Ann sighed. “And I think it’s cute.”

  “And it makes him even more attractive?”

  “Yes,” she whispered. Everything he’d done since she’d let him into their lives had made him more attractive. “And I really don’t want to be attracted to him after all this time.”

  Joanie turned to face her. “You mean after what he did?”

  “Okay, yes. After what he did. I’m over it, but...well...” She shrugged. “Maybe I’m not fully over it, you know? I’m not angry anymore, at least. Haven’t been for a long time. But he hurt me, Jo. I don’t want to give him that chance again.” Lee Ann leaned to the right and peered around the half wall partially separating the two rooms. Gina and Linda Sue were in the far corner and neither of them seemed to be paying attention to them, but chances were they had their hearing attuned to pick up whatever they could manage.

  Lowering her voice to a near-silent whisper, she continued, “I should hate him forever. So why don’t I? Why am I secretly thrilled that he’s in the kids’ life, and stupidly thrilled he’s still attracted to me?”

  Joanie propped her feet up on the edge of the footbath and stretched her legs out in front of her, the green toes of her socks practically glowing. “I can’t explain attraction, sweetie. Nor why some people have the urge to be together forever. I guess it comes back to the age-old desire most people have to ensure they don’t grow old alone.”

  “You think that’s it? Some secret fear I’ll be alone forever, so I’m jumping at the first chance to be with a man that I’ve had in years?”

  “That would imply you see him as a forever kind of guy.” She shot Lee Ann a sharp look. “You think he might stay?”

  Lee Ann sighed. “No. I don’t see Cody as someone who would even consider settling down. He likes his life. He goes where he wants when he wants. Seems to be responsible enough, but just not your stay-put kind of guy. Plus, why me?”

  “Are you kidding me? Aside from the fact that you’re the one who got away—”

  “He pushed me away. He left.”

  “Regardless, honey, you’re the best thing that ever happened to him. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. And whether that man realizes it or not, he wants a woman who can love him just the way he is. Stupid mistakes and all.”

  Lee Ann dropped her head to the seat back and closed her eyes. Stupid mistakes and all. She didn’t know if she could ever really overcome some stupid mistakes.

  “Has he said anything more about that day? What set him off to begin with?”

  Lee Ann shook her head, the lump in her throat making her words come out tight. “He brought it up the other night, but I deflected the conversation. I wasn’t in the mood to hear it.”

  Joanie reached over and patted her leg. “Maybe you should hear him out, Lee. You were both pretty heated in here last week
. I’m sure there were many things that should have been said that weren’t. He probably needs to talk about it as much as you need to hear it.”

  “I don’t want to hear it.”

  “Why? Because you’re afraid he’ll see you still care?”

  “I don’t want to care, Jo.” She shook her head. “I don’t.”

  “I know you don’t want to, sweetie, but maybe you should just let it happen. See what’s still there.”

  “And get my heart broken again?”

  Shrill laughter caught their attention, and they quieted to do some eavesdropping of their own. The other women had moved to one of the nearby hair stations.

  Gina primped in the mirror, plumping her hair with her good hand and holding two fingers of the other out to dry. “I was in Saturday morning with my nephew and his puppy, and I think I’m going to pay another quick visit. I’m considering my own pet and need some pointers, you know.” She applied fresh lipstick and rolled her lips, puckering them as if planning to kiss her own reflection. They looked like two giant red slugs.

  Linda Sue gave her a wide smile. “You’d better hurry, girl. I hear he’s already got half the women in town lusting after him. He eats with Holly over at the diner nearly every day, and rumor is that isn’t all. She was at his place yesterday. Arrived with him, and then they drove off together a few minutes later. And then there’s...” Her voice chopped off, and Lee Ann saw her toss a quick glance toward the back of the building.

  When Linda resumed the conversation in a whisper—though not nearly quiet enough not to be heard—Lee Ann and Joanie both leaned forward in their seats.

  “You heard about Lee Ann, didn’t you? He cheated on her with her sister back in the day. Had to have done. Those kids were born less than nine months after he left town. But word is, he’s still out to get her, too.” Linda Sue brought her voice back to a normal level, and Lee Ann and Joanie both leaned back. “So all I’m saying is, it might be too late to catch him.”

  Gina straightened from the mirror, smoothed her thin sweater over her hips, and readjusted her bra. Her breasts were like beacons, pointing her way to the nearest available man. “Honey,” she drawled. “I just need to catch him for a night or two.”

  Joanie snorted as they watched the action.

  Gina swished her hips toward the door with way more jiggling than she probably realized. As she touched the handle, the door swung outward from the other side, the movement propelling her into the chest of none other than the topic at hand. A shocked Cody automatically thrust his arms out as Gina plowed into his chest and hung on for dear life.

  “Looks like she’s already caught him,” Joanie snickered.

  The sight irritated Lee Ann, but only because Gina was so obvious. Some women needed to learn subtlety.

  “You don’t think he’s really dating Holly, do you?” Lee Ann asked.

  Joanie shook her head. “They’re just friends. Linda just likes to spread rumors.”

  After more wiggling on Gina’s part, Cody pulled her arms from around his neck and helped her on her way. With Candy following, he finally entered the store wearing a dazed expression.

  Facing Linda Sue’s wide-eyed stare, he stated flatly, “I need Lee Ann.”

  Candy pushed past him and hurried to the back chairs. “Mom, can I stay here with you?”

  “Sure.” Lee Ann reached for her daughter’s hand and squeezed. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing.” Candy shook her head, wearing a forced happy expression. “I just want to stay here while Kendra and Cody go to Dr. Wright’s office.”

  “She said it was okay to stay at the house by herself, but I didn’t know if you’d be all right with that.” Cody stopped in front of her, and she craned her neck to take all of him in. “I convinced her to come up here.”

  Lee Ann nodded. “No problem. I thought you were taking them out for dinner, though?”

  Cody had offered to hang with them after school today—basketball and cheerleading practice had been canceled, and he hadn’t had any appointments after three—and then take them out to dinner. He’d invited Lee Ann, but she’d suggested that maybe it would be good for him to spend an evening with the girls only.

  “I am. I just need to run back over to the office for a few minutes. There’s a dog there overnight who’s due some medicine in about thirty minutes. It won’t take long.”

  “I told him I didn’t want to go, Mom,” Candy said. “He and Kendra can get something when they’re finished. I’ll just eat at home.”

  Lee Ann glanced at Cody’s face and saw that he recognized the fact that his daughter didn’t want to be with him tonight. She lifted her eyebrows at him in question. “That okay with you?”

  “Sure. Whatever she wants.” But his eyes said something different. He was hurt and worried at the same time, probably just now beginning to realize how different his daughters were from each other. He and Kendra had so much in common that their connection was easy, but Lee Ann suspected Cody had no idea how to reach Candy. She’d have to figure out what would work and talk to him about it.

  She winked at Candy. “Sounds like a good deal, only we aren’t eating at home. You and I will have a girls’ night. How about that?”

  Candy scooted in beside her and hugged her tight. “Sounds perfect, Mom.”

  “Your dad’s car just pulled up,” Lee Ann yelled up the staircase to Candy as she lowered the load of laundry to the bottom step.

  Within seconds, her daughter hurried down the stairs. “Is he coming in?”

  “I don’t know. Let’s go see.”

  She and Candy had enjoyed a fun afternoon. After leaving the salon they’d gone to Candy’s favorite restaurant before stopping for ice cream. Though Candy had enjoyed herself, Lee Ann had been aware she wished she’d stayed with her dad, even if he and her sister had been doing only what Kendra liked.

  They stepped to the door and watched as Cody turned around at the end of the dead-end street, then pulled to a stop in front of the house.

  “You know that just because they did Kendra’s thing this afternoon, doesn’t mean he didn’t want you around, right?” Lee Ann dropped one arm around her daughter’s waist.

  “Yeah, I know. I just wanted to do something else. All they do is talk about animals.”

  “It’s hard not to talk about things you love, sweetheart. Especially if you’re around someone who loves the same.” But she would make sure he remembered to do something just for Candy in the future.

  “I know,” Candy said. Her voice grew even fainter as they watched Kendra jump from the SUV and wave, before the car sped off. “He didn’t even say hi to me.”

  Nor me. “He probably didn’t see us standing here.”

  Stepping onto the porch, Lee Ann reached back to keep the screen door from slamming but was shocked to find it slowly closing.

  “Cody did that this afternoon,” Candy informed her.

  “Really?”

  She gave a short nod. “Yeah. He also painted Ms. Grayson’s porch rails yesterday afternoon. Kids were talking about it at school today. I think he’s getting bored.”

  No. He fixed things that needed to be fixed. That was one of the qualities she’d always admired most about him.

  Lee Ann hugged Kendra as she came up the steps. “Have a good time?”

  Her daughter’s face glowed. “The best! We ended up getting takeout and going back to the clinic. I looked after the animals that had to stay there overnight, then helped Dad prep for another procedure he’s doing tomorrow.”

  “Wow, that’s pretty exciting. You’re going to know everything about being a veterinarian before you go to school for it.”

  “I know.” She practically swooned with happiness. The excitement on Kendra’s face thrilled Lee Ann as much as the dejected look on Candy’s hurt her. She definitely had to talk to Cody. He may not have been excluding Candy intentionally, but he had to understand how bad it could get if he wasn’t careful. Hurting even one of his kids wa
s not allowed.

  The sound of the V-8 filled Cody’s head as he sped away. Everything had been going along perfectly the last few days, and he’d just had one of the more fun evenings of his life...until he’d seen Lee Ann and Candy standing in the doorway. He needed to deal with issues with both of them but had no idea how to go about it.

  The last thing he’d intended to do was hurt Candy’s feelings, but he’d been able to tell by the way she’d run to her mother’s side that that was exactly what he’d done. It had never occurred to him she wouldn’t want to go to the office. Kendra had asked questions nonstop about the place since he’d met her. Since they were twins, he’d just assumed they would both be interested.

  One hard lesson learned. Next time he would do something special for Candy.

  He smiled as he passed his apartment and the office beneath. A week ago he couldn’t have begun to imagine the pride he’d felt tonight as he’d watched Kendra studiously helping him out. The girl was going to make a fine veterinarian someday. And he’d be right there rooting her on.

  The smile left his face as Lee Ann floated back to mind. She would let him in the girls’ lives as much as he wanted, he was sure of that. He was equally positive he could convince her that it would be in their best interests to travel with him throughout parts of the year. But the thought of leaving Lee Ann here by herself left a strange feeling in his gut.

  It would give her more time to pursue her photography the way she should have been allowed to do years ago. That could be good. Yet he couldn’t imagine driving away and leaving her here alone. Not for any length of time. The girls were as much a part of her as was her constant need to structure the world around her.

  He also didn’t know if he could do anything else. First thing he had to figure out, though, was if what was going on between them was lust or something else.

  Lust he could deal with. He suspected she could as well. They could sneak off for a few hours, get it out of their system and move on. But it could be more.

  And if it was, he needed to know. Then he would figure out what to do about it.