Tee Time

by Jen Talty

  She clutched the pendant dangling from her neck. She promised herself, the longer this went on, the better off both she and Bri would be because eventually, what Tom held over her wouldn’t matter anymore because she’d be able to prove she was a fit mother on all fronts.

  “But he knew we were here, so why did he show his face?” Jack asked with disdain dripping from every syllable.

  “He wants a rematch, and he wants it soon,” Rudy said. “I told him I’d sign Jack up for the Randell Classic.”

  Jack dropped his soda. The lid flipped off, and the liquid went flying.

  “You did what?” Courtney asked with a screechy voice. “Have you lost your flipping marbles?”

  “Nope. And for the next few weeks we’re not going to argue about it. You’re just going to do it. Now, let’s enjoy the rest of the birthday party.”

  6

  Courtney sat in the waiting room of her doctor’s office after her scheduled cat scan with her head behind a magazine. She’d read the same article three times now and still had no idea what it was about. Her leg rattled uncontrollably. Every time she made herself stop, her body started twitching again.

  “Relax, would ya?” Jack said, patting her thigh and giving it a little squeeze.

  She glared him. “I can’t believe you agreed to come.”

  “It’s not like Rudy gave me much of a choice.” He threw his hands wide and tossed her a sheepish grin. “And after both of us tried to talk him out of me attending this tournament with Tom being there, and the way he acted, I thought it was best if I just did what he said.”

  “Because you can only think about yourself and your great comeback.”

  Jack laughed. “Right, because I’m playing so well right now.”

  “Maybe if you’d actually get out of your head and focus...” She shook her head. “I don’t know why I bother. You’re never going to listen or change.”

  “I can’t win with you, can I?” Jack asked as he yanked the magazine from her hands. “I feel like that no matter what I do, how good our conversations are, we always end up with this negative dynamic, and I’m tired of it.”

  “Because you don’t get it.” She slumped in the horribly uncomfortable chair. “My father isn’t going to kick you out or stop coaching you if you say no to him on certain things outside the scope of normal golf training. He’s desperate to have you back in his life. But instead of understanding that, you’re too wrapped up in your own need to get back in the limelight that you just say, ‘sure, no problem, Rudy; I’d be happy to.’ Well, for one, I’m tired of being in the center of this, and frankly, I can take care of myself.” She closed her eyes. She could see the humor in his, and she heard the hilarity of it all in her voice, and she didn’t want to join in. She wanted to be pissed for a little while longer.

  “Did you ever think your dad is just worried about you?”

  She chuckled. “Not about this.”

  “I don’t know. Whatever this is seems like a big deal.”

  “Oh, please. I fall over once—”

  “You had some dizziness the other day.” He tapped her knee.

  She looked into his green gems that had her melting like milk chocolate. “I have dizziness when I’m in the sun too long.”

  “How did you get a concussion in the first place?”

  She inhaled sharply. It was as if she could hear the metal smack into the back of her skull. The irony of Tom hitting her with a golf club smacked her right between the eyes. But it was only one of many beatings that she had to endure before she finally had the courage to leave.

  “Shit,” Jack mumbled, running a hand over his face and shaking his head. “He did this to you, didn’t he?”

  A woman with a clipboard entered the waiting room. “Courtney Wade,” she announced.

  Courtney stood, ignoring Jack as best she could and followed the nurse into the hallway toward an exam room.

  Jack was two steps behind her.

  “What the hell, Jack? No way. You have to leave.”

  “Give me a break, Courtney. Your dad told me I had to. Threatened to pull the plug on our so-called arrangement.”

  “You know that’s bullshit. I just explained that to you.”

  “I’ll leave the door open.” The nurse looked skeptical, but she left Courtney there with the red-haired giant.

  “What the hell is my father up to?” she muttered. “Is he expecting you to give him a full report? Does he not believe me now? Tell me, Jack. What the hell is going on because this is ridiculous, and I can’t believe we’re both letting him be a puppet master like this.” Her rant really wasn’t for Jack to hear, much less answer. It was all rhetorical. She stood by the door, holding the handle. “Just leave.”

  “I’m not going to do that.” Jack had the audacity to curl his fingers over hers. “I made a million and one mistakes when I was on tour in my early twenties. I was fucking up long before I fired your father, mostly because I wouldn’t do things his way. I think this is his way of making sure I’ve changed.” Jack stretched out on one of the chairs in the exam room. “And yes, I’m being selfish. I want back in the game, but I’m not lying about it. Or manipulating you. Or doing anything underhanded, so please, can we just humor the man?”

  “What the hell does it look like I’m doing?” Courtney joined him, sitting on the other chair. “But I don’t have to like it, and I don’t like you playing in a tournament with Tom.”

  “Ah, so that’s what this is really all about.” Jack leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He stared into her eyes with a soft, caring gaze. He always had this sweetness about him, even when he’d been behaving like an asshole. But that’s what concerned her. The closer they got to the upcoming match, the more anxiety tickled her soul. Tom didn’t come all the way to their daughter’s party to inform them he wanted to play Jack and then didn’t even bother to say hello to his little girl if he hadn’t planned on at least trying to get in Jack’s head.

  Courtney couldn’t believe it wasn’t working.

  “Aren’t you worried about being in the same space with him?” Courtney asked.

  “I might not even have to see him,” Jack said. “I’ll be one of the first tee times, and he’ll be one of the last. So, stop worrying so much.”

  She wanted to argue some more, but the doctor meandered down the hallway.

  “Ms. Wade.” The doctor nodded, then stopped and arched a brow as he looked at Jack.

  “Hey, Doctor Mills, meet my new bodyguard.”

  Jack chuckled. “Her father thought I should drive her today.”

  “Oh, really?” The doctor set a tablet on the counter. “I thought we just had a few dizzy spells while golfing.”

  “That’s all it is,” Courtney said. “My father is being a whackadoodle, as usual.”

  “You’re father’s a good man, Courtney.” The doctor pulled out her X-rays and latest brain scan. “Everything looks fine. I don’t see anything that would be causing you any problems. I bet you’re letting yourself get dehydrated in this weather.”

  Courtney enjoyed giving Jack a smug look. “That’s exactly what I told my dad.”

  “Increase your fluid intake and try to stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time. I know that’s impossible, though, so just make sure you’re wearing a hat. If it gets worse, contact me immediately. Schedule another appointment for about three months, but as I’ve told you before, you may have this problem for the rest of your life. Just be aware of what triggers it and try to avoid those situations.”

  “I guess I’ll need a new bodyguard then.” Courtney stood, wanting to laugh at the look on the doctor’s face. “Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem. Say hello to your dad.”

  “Will do.” She hightailed it out of the office building, Jack following two steps behind.

  “Why do you think your father had me come out here with you?” Jack leaned against the driver’s side door.

  “I’m guessi
ng he’s trying to get you out of your head since your game is way off, and it’s his way of keeping an eye on both of us.”

  “Does…um…he know?” He took her hands in his and pulled her to his chest.

  “Know what?” She balanced herself against his shoulders, knowing she should step away, but it felt too good to be in his arms.

  “Did you ever tell him about us?” He rested his hands on her hips. His thumbs slipped under her shirt and rubbed tiny circles on her skin, sending heat to all her erogenous zones.

  “There was never an us.” Courtney blinked, switching her gaze toward the bright sun.

  “There was almost an us. If the circumstances and timing had been different, there could have been an us. I know I wanted there to be an us.”

  Courtney opened her mouth, but the only noise that came out sounded more like a dying cow than anything else. She cleared her throat. “You never even gave me a second thought.”

  “That’s not true.” He pressed his lips against hers in a tender but passionate kiss. “I struggled with my feelings for you the day you turned sixteen. I was a grown man, and you were a child. It made me feel bad, and I did everything I could think of to make it go away, including sleeping with Wendy, but it didn’t help.”

  “So, now are you going to blame me for her? Are you going to next tell me that you started snorting cocaine because of me?”

  He shook his head. “No, sweetheart. You’re missing the point. Don’t you ever wonder what might have happened if I never married Wendy?”

  “Every day. But you did marry her, and I married Tom, had his kid, and here we are now.” She flattened her hand against the center of his chest and pushed. “But I never wonder if we would have ever ended up together because I know deep down that would have never happened because I couldn’t give you what you wanted.”

  “And what is it you think I wanted back then?”

  “Fame and fortune.”

  He cupped her chin. “That’s where you’re wrong.” He stepped to the side and opened the driver’s side door. “Sure. I wanted that to a certain extent. What tour golfer doesn’t? But there are things that were going on in my life that you have no idea about, and had I not been dealing with them that night, I would have taken you home and into my bed, so don’t go telling me what I was thinking when you told me how you felt.” He slipped behind the steering wheel and slammed the door.

  Courtney leaned against the doorjamb between the kitchen and family room, staring at her father sitting on the sofa with the family photo album on his lap. “What are you doing?” She sat down next to him on the living room couch.

  “Just being nostalgic," her father said as he flipped through the pages. He tapped at an image of himself in a tux at his wedding. “Your mother was already pregnant. While getting married wasn’t the smartest thing I’d ever done, I’ve never regretted marrying your mom or the time we spent together.” He rubbed the picture of his wife with his thumb. “I did love her.”

  “I know some of that feeling.” She helped him turn the page. “Though, I didn’t love Tom, and I do regret marrying him. I really do, Dad. I know I sometimes say things that make it sound like my marriage had good moments, when it didn’t. And while Tom was never a good husband and probably won’t ever be a good father, he’s still a human being, and Bri loves him.”

  Her father nodded. “I know. It kills me to admit that.”

  Courtney came across a picture of herself when she’d been maybe two years old. “I’m amazed at how much Bri, minus the curls, looks like me.” Courtney laughed.

  “I’m amazed at how beautiful you both are, considering who your fathers are. I mean, I’m nothing to look at, and we both know I wasn’t the best father.”

  “Dad.” She cocked an eyebrow. “You’re very handsome, and I wouldn’t want anyone else helping me raise my daughter.”

  “You have to say that.” He chuckled, flipping through the pages. “Jack’s mother was a real knockout. Everyone wanted to date her.”

  “Her hair was so red.”

  “You used to think she was The Little Mermaid,” her father said with a lightness to his voice that he hadn’t had in a while. “Jackson’s eyes were emerald green. They made quite a pair. I miss them both so much.” Rudy paused, looking at Courtney with admiration spilling from his loving gaze. “How’s your mother?”

  Courtney gasped.

  “I know you’ve talked with her a few times. It doesn’t bother me. She gave birth to you; ultimately she gave me the best thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of loving.”

  “In part, she’s why I keep holding out on Tom. She never wanted to be a mother, but in my adult life, she’s found a place for me, and I’m okay with that.”

  “I’m glad,” Courtney’s father said. “I have no ill will toward her.”

  “Do you have any regrets?” Courtney asked.

  “Just one.”

  “Jack?”

  “If you’re gonna put it that way, I have two regrets.” He cupped her face. “I belittled what you felt for him back then. I pushed you away from him.”

  She shook her head. “He did that all by himself. He married Wendy, knowing I cared about him. His choice. Besides, I can’t regret being with Tom.”

  “Courtney Elizabeth.” Rudy frowned. Tom was a lowlife, not worthy of anything.

  “May not have the brightest thing I’d ever done, but he gave me the best thing I’ve ever had. Bri.” She cocked a brow.

  “Ouch.” Her father tapped his chest.

  “Truth sucks, don’t it, Dad.” She kissed his cheek. “Why’d you make Jack come with me today?”

  “The truth?”

  Courtney nodded.

  “Besides the fact that he’s falling apart at the seams and I wanted to give him a break, he’s been driving me nuts with questions about your condition. I figured it was the only way to get him off my back and realize that you’re just fine. Just have to listen to the doctor more. He told you to make sure you drank lots of water, not…” He held up her soda. “Diet Coke.”

  “Oh, come on. One isn’t going to kill me, and it’s liquid.”

  “I’ll get you some water.” Rudy stood, then held up his hand when she went to protest. “Humor the old man.” He winked.

  Courtney continued to look through the family photo album. Her mother never really looked happy in any of the images. And while she hadn’t seen her mother since she walked out on them, she had talked with her numerous times. Her mother said she’d be willing to be her friend, but she was no mother.

  Courtney had to agree. Her mother was immature and incapable of taking care of another soul, but she wanted to have her in her life, even if by phone. “Oh, my.” She looked at a picture of a young teenaged Jack, standing next to prepubescent Courtney. “What a geek.”

  “I was never a geek.” Jack chuckled, settling on the sofa next to her.

  “Where’s Bri?” Courtney scowled.

  “She found Grandpa in the kitchen with an ice cream scoop.” He pulled the album onto his lap. “I don’t look like a geek at all.”

  “Not you, me. Look at how dorky I was back then.”

  “I thought you were cute.” He tapped the picture.

  She giggled. “And I thought you were the cat’s meow.”

  He meowed.

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Mommy!” Bri bounced in the room, breaking the tension that had begun to build.

  Courtney opened her arms.

  Bri jumped on Courtney’s lap, brushing back her hair.

  “I think it’s time we get a haircut,” Courtney commented, running her fingers through Bri’s long curls.

  “You mean like Jack?” Bri asked innocently.

  “Excuse me?” Jack tilted his head. “I don’t need a haircut.”

  “Gosh, grown-ups are so silly. That’s because you already had one.” Bri tapped his shoulders. “It used to be down to here.” She cupped Jack’s face. “And you used to have a big scruffy beard.�
��

  Courtney felt her heart leap from her chest; her pulse pounded so hard she could feel her temple pump. “Bri, honey. What makes you say that?”

  Bri rubbed his cheeks with his palms. “I have a picture of it.”

  Courtney swallowed.

  “You do?” Jack asked.

  “Mommy has the picture too.”

  Courtney coughed. “Bri, let’s go get ready for bed.”

  “What picture? Can you show me this picture, Bri?” Jack’s gaze darted from Bri to Courtney. His green gems were unrelenting and unforgiving.

  “I can.” Bri jumped to her feet and pulled Jack by the hand. “Thursday nights when Mommy went out with Nicole, Grandpa had his poker buddies over, and sometimes they would talk about you. Sometimes Nicole and Mommy would talk about you.”

  “Bri, this isn’t the time for this, and you must have him mistaken for someone else,” Courtney said behind a clenched jaw. “I’m sure Jack has something else he needs to do right now.”

  “Nope, been looking at pictures anyway. I’d like to see this one.” His smile didn’t hide his anger.

  “Where did you get this picture?” Courtney took Bri in her arms.

  “I’m sorry, Mommy.” Bri’s lip quivered. “Please don’t be mad at me. I wanted a picture of…him.” She looked at Jack and then stuffed her face in Courtney’s neck and cried.

  Now Courtney felt like a heel. But Bri had been told before to stay out of Mommy’s things, and she had to learn that some things were private. “I’m disappointed, baby. I’ve told you before. You should’ve just asked me.” Courtney rubbed her back, looking at Jack, pleading with him to drop it.

  He blinked, then turned, shoving his hands deep in his pockets.

  “I’m sorry, Mommy. But Jack seemed important, and I wanted to know him.”

  “Can I see the picture?” Jack asked.

  “I’ll give it back to you, Mommy. I promise.”

  “Go ahead.” Courtney put her daughter down and patted her behind. “Go get it.”

  Bri smiled and ran for the stairs.

  Courtney didn’t look at Jack. She couldn’t. The faint homey smell from the candle she lit earlier soothed her fear but did nothing to hide her shame. She’d spied on him. How horrible was that? “I don’t think it’s a good idea to give her a picture.” Courtney turned and faced him. “She’s way too attached as it is.”