St. Helena Vineyard Series_Fall Fling

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  “I would love to. As friends, of course, not a date,” she replied.

  “Of course…friends. I’ll pick you up at seven.” Finishing the steps, two at a time, he nodded to Nora as he passed her standing on the sidewalk stunned.

  Thirty minutes had passed and Clay sat in his office, preparing for his first patient. Before jumping in to yet another heavy patient load for the day, he checked Facebook.

  ‘Morning Mambo for the Dancer and the Doctor? A public cha-cha on the front stoop…indecent!’

  Clay burst out in laughter, mission accomplished. Heather would be proud, which worked in his favor.

  “Thank you, Nora. I owe you one.”

  Chapter 7

  Dinner and lunch, as friends, turned into weeks of various public appearances together. There was just as much late night, and early morning passion in private. They enjoyed their time together, more and more, becoming nearly inseparable in their off time – all in the name of revenge.

  Nora, of course, broadcast it all on her Facebook account for the town to see. Nora also became Heather’s justification for their outings and get togethers. It was her way of fighting back and making a fool of Nora…or so she said.

  Problem was that the joke really was on them as Nora didn’t miss a beat, and there wasn’t anything to report other than what they were actually doing. They had yet to create a scenario that backfired on Nora because they weren’t exactly setting her up for anything or trying to disprove Nora’s reports. The only thing they were proving was what the town already knew…Nora was a cranky old busy body, armed with social media.

  While Heather and Clay were giving her plenty of scandal to report, they were but a distraction from Nora’s real conquest and that was Molly Sexton and Seth Spangler. Seemed they were spicing things up all over town and trying to keep it under cover – unsuccessfully. They were doing all of the real work, secretly following Nora, and fighting back with Facebook posts of their own on a secret Facebook account. Heather had figured it out one morning over coffee with Molly at her shop, Brewing Grounds.

  Heather and Clay let them do the heavy lifting while they enjoyed each other’s time and affection under the guise of retaliation that didn’t really exist. Heather was okay with that, she was having fun. Clay was okay with that, anything to get time with her.

  ***

  “So, you and the doc are getting pretty serious…” Sara asked her sister, Heather, as they left the dance studio, crossing the street to the park.

  “What? No. Why would you think…” Heather tried to blow off Sara’s observation until it hit her, “Nora.”

  Laughing, Sara linked arms with her sister. “Yes, Nora. The whole town has been keeping up with you two. Nora is doing a really good job of documenting your affair.”

  “Affair?” she gasped, “I don’t have affairs. It’s more of a…fling. Just trying to teach that old woman a lesson.”

  “And what lesson would that be? What exactly is she learning other than you give her daily reports to post online?” Sara laughed, resting her head on her sisters shoulder. “Sis, you need to own it. You like him!”

  “Of course I like him, or I wouldn’t go to dinner with the guy a few times a week, and, well, you know.” Heather hushed her voice at the last few words.

  “Why don’t you call it what it is? Sis, you have a boyfriend. Period. And he is head over heels for you.”

  “Noooo, we agreed. Just a fling, mess with Nora. He gets it. Doesn’t do relationships either, although he never said why.” Heather thought about that for a bit, and made a mental note to ask him about that when she saw him next. Not that it mattered, they were as far as they were going to go.

  “I think he tells you what you want to hear because seeing you under the pretense of it just being a fling is better than not seeing you at all. I’ve known Clay for quite a while now, he’s a good one, Heather – the real deal. Please don’t let what happened in New York define your future, that was not the real deal or you would still be there.”

  Sara had a good point. New York had done a number on her career, heart, and even pride. It was hard to think past it though. She liked how things were, though. All the benefits, but no strings…hard to get screwed that way…figuratively anyway.

  ***

  Clay wrapped up a patient chart he had been working on between appointments and headed to the exam room that held his next patient, which also happened to be his last before calling it an early day. Trey Deluca stood there with his son Cooper, waiting for their post ear infection follow up appointment.

  “Hey, sport.” Clay said to the boy, offering a fist bump. “Bring dad in for a shot or something?”

  The youngster laughed at the ongoing joke between them, “Nah, Doc Clay. Dad doesn’t have da cooties so he don’t need da shot.”

  “Oh good, because I’m all out of cootie shots. How’s that ear buggin’ ya? Any better, kid?”

  “Yep! And dad said if you say it’s all goned that I get to go to da park and get a ice cream! I didn’t get to go to the park da whole time I was sick!”

  Clay gave him a big eyed look of shock and surprise. “No park? At all?” He felt the child’s forehead in an exaggerated manner. “And you’re doing okay? That’s a whole week of no park! Phew! No fever yet! How about I look in that ear and make sure it’s better so we can get you swinging and sliding – stat?”

  “Yes! With the pokey light. Look in there, it feels all bettered up.”

  Clay went through the motions of checking his patient over, offering ample enthusiasm as he went and found a healthy child. Trey stood there, arms crossed, shaking his head and chuckling at the seriousness of his son versus the silliness of the doc.

  “Well, Coop-man…that ear looks perfect. I take it you took the medicine like a champ and beat it pretty good! Looks like you’re going to the park!”

  Cooper raised his hand for a high five and shouted, “Yes!”

  “I’m headed there too, meeting Tommy…mind if I walk with you?” Clay asked.

  “Let’s go!” and Cooper was off the exam table and headed toward the door before Trey or Clay could respond.

  The short walk to the park afforded a few minutes to chat about things other than ear infections and antibiotics. Clay anticipated the topic, given Trey was Heather’s brother in law and the Deluca’s took family matters to heart, blood or not. He was prepared though, nothing to hide, showing his cards all along.

  “You know Sara is meeting us at the park, right?” Trey asked.

  “Yeah, that’s why I have the sitter dropping Tommy there, the boys were going to play.” Clay knew exactly where this was going.

  “Heather hasn’t mentioned Tommy, to me or to Sara. I gather that means she doesn’t know about him?” Right to the point, Trey Deluca style.

  Cringing a bit, Clay turned to Trey, not liking how that sounded out loud nearly as much as he approved it in his mind. “Uh, no, I haven’t.”

  “Ah, man. You’ve been seeing each other for weeks now. How does your son not come up?”

  Clay cut him off before he could finish, correcting the assumption, “We aren’t seeing each other. Heather isn’t interested in a relationship, she’s just…sticking it to Nora.”

  “Sticking it to Nora? Kinkaid? From what I hear, Heather’s sticking it to you – or you to her rather.” Trey winked, pleased with his play on words, “How is being seen around town and having sleepovers with you, sticking it to Nora?”

  “Don’t ask. She thinks it’s accomplishing something, and calls it a fling. I just think it’s her way of justifying it? She doesn’t talk about New York much, but that asshole she was engaged to did a number on her.”

  “And you’ll let her call it whatever she wants so long as you get to spend time with her. Is that any better than New York?” Trey concluded.

  Hands in his pocket, Clay dropped his head, “It’s not like that, man. Think about it, you’re a dad. I like her, I really do, and I’ll do anything to spend time with
her because what if she does change her mind and this can be more? But, if it doesn’t work out, I have Tommy to think about too. I can’t bring someone into his life, and then have it fall apart.”

  “I hear ya. He has been through a lot – you both have.”

  A subtle laugh escaped Clay, “Are we really having this conversation – talking about all of our feelings? I think we both left our man card back at the office. Seriously, though. I hear you. I plan to talk to her about him, she may not think we are anything but a fling, but it has definitely become more than that. At least for me.”

  “Well, looks like that talk is coming sooner than later. Look who’s headed this way with Sara. And if I’m not mistaken, that’s Tommy and the sitter right over there.” Trey nodded his head to the right, toward the hopscotch court in the center of the park where Tommy was playing and his babysitter was sitting on a bench watching him.

  Surprised by the lack of nerves, Clay took in both Tommy and Heather, nearly crossing each other’s paths already. A mischievous wink and nod to Heather earned him a sassy grin and certain sway to her hips in response. Just as Heather was reaching for Clay, she was stopped in her tracks by a shrieking voice of excitement.

  “Daddy!”

  Clay swooped the little boy into his arms, just as happy to see him as the boy was happy to his dad. He didn’t hesitate or stall, only gave his son the affection he would any other day. It was now or never, nothing like advancing a plan and executing off the cuff, and hoping it ended in his favor.

  “Daddy?” Heather’s confused tone had Clay’s attention, “Did he just call you, daddy?”

  So maybe this would be a little harder than he thought, “Uh, yes. This is my son, Tommy. Bud, this is daddy’s…friend, Heather.”

  “You’re the prettiest.” Tommy said to Heather with a sweet smile.

  It seemed Tommy was about to earn himself an ice-cream, maybe two, given the smile that crossed her face. Clay took advantage of his son’s good timing, and charming ways, “Isn’t she, Bud?”

  “Yap! In da whole wide park, dad! Prettiest girl cause your hair is white,” Tommy offered.

  “My white hair, huh? How old are you, Tommy?” she asked, while Sara and Trey stood off to the side taking in the scene.

  “I’m free, but I’m almost four! It’s gonna be my birf-day soon! Wanna come to my party?” the tot pleaded, with big brown eyes and a smile that would get him just about anything.

  A light tug at her sweatshirt gained Heather’s attention, her nephew Cooper, “Auntie Heather, you gotta come! Tommy is having cake and balloons and pizza and cake and every-fing!”

  “Every-fing, huh?” she teased, finding the toddler grammar amusing. In fact, this was probably the first time since being back that kids didn’t make her itch. That was something. “Well, you don’t need to twist my arm. You said the magic word…cake!”

  Clay set Tommy down, and the two boys laughed at Heather’s joking reference to cake before they ran off to play on the slide, Sara and Trey in tow. It was understood, with a simple nod, that they would watch the two boys so Clay and Heather could talk.

  “Really, Doc? A kid? Let me guess, you have a wife too.” Heather looked around in an exaggerated manner as if looking for a secret wife, just waiting to jump out in surprise as the boy had. “When do I get to meet her?”

  Placing his hands on her shoulders, guilt riding his conscience, perhaps he had misjudged the situation, “I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner, but you said nothing serious, and a kid…well, it’s serious.”

  “So you don’t deny the wife. Where is she? Can’t have a kid without a woman, so…”

  Before she could finish, Clay closed his eyes tight and dropped a bomb she hadn’t expected any more than she expected to meet his child. “Dead,” he said, “she’s…dead.”

  Wide eyes and a stammering jaw, plus the absence of words, spoke of the shock his words struck her with, “Dead? Oh…Clay…oh…I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t…know.”

  “I know you didn’t; how could you?” he admitted, guilty for the direct response. “You didn’t even know about Tommy. Look, I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner, but you wanted to keep things so casual, and a child…well, not very casual.”

  “I suppose not,” she reasoned. “I admit it’s a shock, but I didn’t mean to pry like that, Clay.”

  A long pause stood between them as both tried to decide what was next. What did either one say, given the circumstance? How did they move past this, or did they? He was right, they were just casual, so what was there to decide or even say?

  “Come over tonight. Have dinner with me and Tommy. We can talk after he goes to bed.”

  “Oh, I don’t know, Clay.”

  “It’s spaghetti night. I make a mean spaghetti.”

  The charming smile he tossed her way resembled that of Tommy’s just moments before – like father, like son. She studied his expression, taking in the dimple on his left cheek that she hadn’t noticed before today – something else he shared with his son. Deep down, she knew she should decline the offer, she wasn’t looking for a boyfriend, much less an entire family, but her words betrayed her, spilling out before she could rethink the decision.

  “What time?”

  Chapter 8

  “What was I thinking?” Heather ranted while she helped Sara close the dance studio for the night. “I fell for the smile and dimples…from both of them. Oh my God, I don’t even like kids!”

  “Please! You love kids! You’re amazing with Cooper and I know you love him like your own!” Sara fired back, amused by her sisters anxiety.

  “I have to love him, he’s family. Plus he’s super cute and looks like me,” She mused.

  “You loved kids until New York. Hell, you loved St. Helena, teaching dance, and everything else you seem to hate now. C’mon, when are you going to let New York live in the past and give it a real shot here?”

  “When I’m ready to accept that I’ll never live my dream and be satisfied with being a no one,” Heather deadpanned in brutal honesty.

  Sara stood still, surprised and saddened by her sister’s words, “Is that what you really think? Honey, dreams change all the time, I’m proof of that. My life turned out anything but what I thought it was going to be. Sometimes that’s the point, Sis.”

  Distracted by a loud obnoxious song, a children’s song no less, Heather turned to see what was going on directly behind her. Many of her students were standing on the sidewalk, overjoyed by the source of the musical headache…an ice cream truck. You wouldn’t find this on the streets of New York City, she thought.

  A crotchety old man, Mr. Moretti, stood in the window, ordering the kids to stand single file, and find their manners or no gelato. To her surprise, they complied…how did he do that, she wondered?

  “Hey, can you cut the music? Trying to talk here. You got their attention, let’s at least turn it down will ya? Geez, more small town crap.” Heather’s tone and crass attitude surprised even her. He was just an old man, selling ice cream.

  “Excuse me, Miss. Can you take down the sign on your dance joint there, ma’am? Bit of an eye sore and well…it appears you just had their attention.” He scanned his hand in front of the line of dancers he was referring to.

  “Well, no. If I take down the sign, new dancers won’t know where to find us!” Heather replied, appalled by the audacity of his request. Sara just laughed.

  “Exactly, Miss. Such is why I leave the music running, so they can find me. Now if you move down the block, instead of standing right in front of the speaker, I’m certain you’ll find it easier to hear yourself talk.” He smiled and nodded, excusing her from the discussion. “I’ll never understand this generation…young people…hmfff.”

  Heather made a dramatic turn, walking opposite the ice cream, or gelato truck as noted on the side, Sara snickering as they walked. Heather returned to her thoughts, picking up where she left off with her sister.

  Was there still a dream co
me true out there for Heather? Was this really just a setback, waiting to reinvent her in a new and improved light with the life she was meant to have? Heather wasn’t sure, but her sister certainly did well for herself despite tragic obstacles that sent her in every which direction.

  Maybe that was Heather’s destiny too. Maybe this was just a stepping stone to what she was destined to do and her dream was still alive and well, waiting for her to catch up. And maybe, just maybe, Clay was part of how to get there.

  “C’mon. Come upstairs and help me find something to wear. What the hell do you wear to dinner when a kids around anyway? Pretty sure the sexy boob display I had picked is no longer appropriate! Yoga pants? Put the assets on display without corrupting the child?”

  Sara linked arms with her sister, and pulled her around the corner to the steps leading to her loft apartment, “Sounds like a plan…”

  ***

  Spaghetti dinner with Doc and the little one the night before, went as well as could be expected – Heather didn’t hate it. She actually enjoyed it albeit reluctantly. Tommy was a cute kid, and his dad even cuter with him. This wasn’t what she signed up for though, definitely more than a fling with a kid involved, but it wasn’t awful and there was something sweet about Clay being a dad.

  She wasn’t sold on other kids though, especially today while helping her friend, Harper Owens teach her Sprouting Picasso class to the three to six year olds at her shop. The Fashion Flower, St. Helena’s one-stop, all things kid store where Harper was manager and resident artist, hosting several art related classes a week. Today was all things paint, glitter, and glue and anything else that you could toss at a canvas. First an ice cream gelato truck with annoying music and a mean old man, now snot nosed kids and all things sticky and messy…she was noticing a pattern. Kids just weren’t her thing.

  “Thanks for helping out, Heather. You’re a lifesaver! This is a two-man job and Becky getting sick made this a survival of the fittest kind of gig until you got here.” Harper joked, relieved her friend was able to fill in.