White Wedding for a Southern Belle

by Susan Carlisle

  “You should have told us.”

  “You’re right. It won’t happen again. You deserve to be treated better.” Ashley pointed her finger at her mother. “But it works both ways.”

  Kiefer entered, carrying a handful of supplies and a plastic bottle under one arm. He set a metal pan and a couple of bandage boxes on the exam table beside her mother, then the bottle. Looking at Ashley, he said, “Margaret is seeing to another patient. Do you mind helping me a sec?”

  Ashley had no nursing experience but she would do what she could. “Sure.”

  He handed her the pan. “I’m going to pour the saline solution over your mother’s hand and I just need you to hold the pan below it.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Mrs. Marsh, this will sting a little but I assure you it’s necessary.”

  “Can I believe you?”

  “Uh?” Kiefer gave her mother a perplexed look.

  “You’ve lied to me before.” Her mother glared at Kiefer.

  “Mother!” Ashley barked.

  He glanced at Ashley then looked back at her mother. “I promise never to mislead you again.”

  Her mother nodded. “I expect to hold you to that. Now, let’s get on with this.”

  Kiefer appeared relieved to no longer be under her mother’s scrutiny. He opened the top to the bottle and handed the pan to Ashley. Kiefer carefully took her mother’s hand and held it over the pan. Slowly he poured the saline over the tender area until the container was empty. Using a gauze square, he cautiously patted the area dry.

  The man was amazingly gentle. That was a rare quality in any person. He’d proved to have a number of positive attributes.

  “I’m done with the pan,” he said, and Ashley placed it on a nearby stand. “Mrs. Marsh, I would like you to hold it up like this.” Bending her arm at the elbow so that it was at a ninety-degree angle, Kiefer opened and applied a tube’s worth of salve to the damaged area. With that done, he wrapped gauze over it and neatly applied a purple elastic bandage.

  By the time he was done, her mother was biting her lower lip. Kiefer stood and patted her on the shoulder. “Take an over-the-counter pain reliever and keep it dry. Let me see you again in a week. Call me if there is a problem.”

  “Thank you. You really are as good as they say you are,” Jean said.

  Kiefer smiled. “I consider that a high compliment, coming from you. Thank you.”

  Ashley took her mother’s uninjured arm and helped her from the table. “Come on, Mother. I’ll take you home.”

  As they passed Kiefer, Ashley reached out and grabbed his hand for a second and caught his gaze. He was one of the good guys. Someone who truly cared about people. A man she could trust. She mouthed, “Thank you.”

  * * *

  The next week went by, with Kiefer waking up to Ashley nestled against him or her arm wrapped around his waist and her body spooned against his back. There was contentment in this arrangement he didn’t wish to examine. More often than not, they showered together in the morning, a ritual he was enjoying too much. They spent their time at both of their places depending on where Ashley’s schedule took her. Despite doctor’s orders, she insisted that she would have no problem driving. She would do what she pleased, no matter what he said.

  Her strong personality, independence and genuine love of people were what he liked best about her, but they were also the traits that made him worry. She went headlong and heart open into everything she did. If she wasn’t more cautious she would be in serious trouble one day, but for now he was there for her.

  As far as he was concerned, life was good. There had been no more incidents around the clinic, and according to Bull, there was no evidence strong enough to arrest Marko for shooting at Ashley. Kiefer still kept a cautious eye out for anyone or anything unusual. A security man watched the clinic at night, which added some comfort.

  Thursday afternoon, Kiefer was coming out of an examination room when he saw his mother sitting in the waiting room. “Mom, what’re you doing here?”

  “I have some supplies and I thought I’d just deliver them.”

  Kiefer kissed her. “I wish you had called first. I could have got them from you.”

  “I wanted to see the place.”

  “This isn’t a part of town you need to be in by yourself.”

  She put her hand on his cheek. “Honey, I’ll be fine.”

  That was exactly what she’d said the day she’d lain bloody and bruised on the floor of their kitchen. She sounded so much like Ashley.

  “How about telling me where to unload the supplies and then show me around.” His mother’s suggestion dispelled the dark memories.

  “I can do that.” Ashley’s voice came from behind him.

  Kiefer gave her a huge smile, always glad to see her even if they’d only been apart a few minutes. “Hi.”

  “Hey.”

  He wanted to give Ashley a kiss but they had agreed not to make their relationship public because of her position on the city council. They didn’t want to give the media a news story. Plus they just wanted their personal lives to remain private.

  Kiefer turned back to his mother, who was grinning and watching them closely. They weren’t covering very well. He cleared his throat. “Mom, I think you know Ashley Marsh.”

  “Yes. We have met a number of times. Hi, Ashley.”

  “Hello, Mrs. Bradford. It’s nice to see you again.”

  “Please make it Maggie,” his mother said.

  “Maggie it is. Why don’t you show me those supplies and we’ll get them in?”

  Both women ignored him as they walked down the hall toward the waiting room. Kiefer smiled. Two peas in a pod.

  Sometime later he heard talking in his office, which doubled as a storeroom. Ashley and his mother, both wearing business dress and not letting it matter, worked side by side as they unloaded boxes. They were deep in a conversation that he wasn’t going to interrupt and hoped wasn’t about him. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the two most important women in his life spending so much time together. Coming to an abrupt halt, he focused on his realization. That was what Ashley had become to him—important. He’d stepped over the line and wasn’t sure if he could step back or even wanted to.

  * * *

  Some hours later Kiefer had seen his last patient and was locking up the clinic behind Margaret when he realized his mother hadn’t said goodbye before leaving. That was unlike her. He must have been so busy that she hadn’t wanted to bother him. Flipping off the hall lights, he climbed the back stairs to Ashley’s place. He tensed at the sound of voices. Ashley should be by herself. Was Marko making a move again?

  He slowly stepped back down the stairs and picked up the baseball bat he’d bought and placed inside the stairwell for just such an occasion. Picking it up, he crept up the stairs again. With the bat raised in his hand, he slowly pushed the door open.

  His mother and Ashley looked up from what they were doing at the table, saw the bat and stared at him as if he had gone crazy.

  He looked at his mother. “I thought you had left.”

  His mother looked puzzled. “No, not yet. Why’re you carrying a bat?”

  “I didn’t know someone was with Ashley.”

  “You visit her with a bat in hand all the time?” His mother turned in her chair to face him, concerned.

  “Only when I’m worried she might be attacked.”

  “Why would you be concerned about that?” his mother asked.

  Ashley took the bat from him. She placed it on the first step of the stairs. “Because someone I know came in unexpectedly the other week.”

  “And she was shot at!” Kiefer couldn’t help but say.

  “What?” Maggie’s alarmed gaze met his.

  “I’m fine.
Nothing to worry about.” As usual, Ashley played down the problem.

  That might be the way she saw it, but he didn’t.

  His mother stood. “It’s time for me to go anyway. Ashley, thank you for an interesting afternoon. It was nice to get to know you better. I look forward to working with you on our fund-raiser.”

  So his mother and Ashley had been up here, hatching some plan.

  “I am too. Thanks for all the supplies. I promise they’ll be put to good use.”

  “I’m confident they will be. Kiefer, why don’t you walk me out to my car?”

  Ashley led the way to her front door. Kiefer followed his mother out. He checked the area as they walked toward her car. He nodded at the security guard standing near the front corner of the building.

  “She’s a smart girl, Kiefer.” His mother patted his arm. “Try not to worry so.”

  “Ashley’s like you. She takes chances that she shouldn’t.”

  “You can only do what you can do. I know you feel guilty that you didn’t do anything when I was beaten. But you aren’t the one who should feel that way. I’m the one who should carry that burden. I had no business bringing home that man. I overstepped. I put you in danger.”

  “Mom—”

  “No, you hear me out. No child should witness that. It created a vein of distrust in you. I watched you become wary of people. When you finally did let someone in, of all things, she made you distrust more. I’m sorry for that. But not all people are bad. You must remember that. Have a little faith in Ashley and ease up on yourself.” His mother settled behind the wheel of her car. “You deserve to be happy. Give yourself a chance.”

  “We’re just friends, Mom.”

  His mother smiled. “Friends don’t look at each other the way you two did in the hall today.”

  “Just don’t build it up into something it isn’t.”

  She patted his hand, which was resting on the door window. “And you should recognize when you have someone worth fighting for.”

  Kiefer returned to Ashley’s apartment to find her in the kitchen, cooking supper. “I’m sorry if I overreacted.”

  She turned to him. “I understand. Really, I do.”

  “I hear a ‘but’ in there.”

  “Yeah. You’re going to have to learn to control your protective instinct.” Ashley turned the stove off and came to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

  “I can make no promises.” He pulled her into a hug.

  “I’m not asking for any. Just asking you to try.”

  “That I can do.”

  She kissed his chin. “I think your mother knows there’s something going on between us.”

  “I think she does too.” He grinned. “You made it pretty obvious that you were glad to see me this afternoon.”

  “Me? You’re the one who looked happy to see me.”

  Kiefer squeezed her butt. “I was. I am now.” He kissed her deeply, walking her back against the wall. His mouth went to her neck. “Almost as sweet as Marsha Hardy’s cherry cobbler.”

  “What about supper?” Ashley asked.

  He started removing her clothes. “I’m interested in dessert.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  A WEEK LATER Kiefer was dressing for the day when Ashley said, “I’ll be late tonight. I’ve got a council subcommittee meeting until ten.”

  “I’ll pick you up.”

  “Kiefer, I understand your concern for me. I truly do, but you can’t watch over me 24-7. I don’t want it and you have a job to do. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m sure you will be but I’d like to do it anyway.”

  “I’ve been taking care of myself for years. I’m not going back to the way it was when I was a kid. Lighten up.”

  Wasn’t that what his mother had told him? “Okay. I’ll see you at my place?”

  “No, back here. I have an early meeting with local businesspeople tomorrow.”

  He would feel better about her coming to his place but didn’t push it.

  Kiefer saw nothing of Ashley during the day. He kept an eye out for her car but it was never in the parking lot. His day was busy and apparently hers was as well. After closing the clinic, he climbed the stairs to her place. He missed the noise and smell of Ashley cooking their dinner, and more than that her waiting with a smile. He had it bad. Worse than ever. To have been so determined to just have a good time and not get attached, he’d failed miserably. He’d fallen in love with the one woman who could drive him crazy emotionally and physically.

  In love! After Brittney he’d sworn never to go there again. But he was completely absorbed with Ashley.

  Time clicked slowly by as he waited for her to return. Having alerted the night security man that Ashley would be coming in late, he watched the evening shows, listening for a car. When the nightly news started and it was half an hour past time for Ashley to come home, he called her. Her phone went to voice mail.

  Kiefer paced the floor, stopping long enough to look out the window, hoping to see car headlights. Taking a shower, he tried to convince himself that when he’d finished Ashley would be there. She wasn’t. He’d left his cell phone on the bathroom counter in case she called. Before he dried off, he checked to see if she had. No luck.

  Still searching for light crossing the windows signaling Ashley’s return, fear became a tighter knot in his chest. His imagination had him seeing Marko and his gang driving Ashley off the road. After an hour and a half the sound of a car door closing told him Ashley was home. He waited on the landing of her front door when she started up the stairs.

  “I expected you ages ago. Where have you been?” he demanded, hands balled tight at his sides.

  Even in the dim light he saw her body language change, stiffen. Become defensive. “We were in a deep discussion and a couple of us went out for coffee after the meeting.”

  “Why didn’t you call?” He was coming on too strong but didn’t know how to stop the raging emotions boiling in him.

  “I tried. My phone battery died,” she said over her shoulder as she passed him on her way through the door.

  “Something could have happened to you. I didn’t know where you were.”

  She turned to face him. “Yes, it could have but it didn’t. I came and went without any problem before I knew you. I can take care of myself now as well.”

  “Yes, but that’s before Marko started making threats.”

  “Look.” She lifted her hands, letting her purse and the papers she carried fall to the floor. “I’m home safe.”

  He’d pushed too far and now she was pushing back. Worry and anxiety had done a number on him. Didn’t she understand his distress at not knowing where she was?

  “Kiefer, I don’t think this is going to work. I can’t take you hovering over me. Being on call to you. You reprimanding me when I don’t show up on your timetable. I need the space and you can’t seem to give it.”

  Had someone punched him in the stomach? He couldn’t breathe. “Why? Because you can’t understand that after what has happened, you need to be careful?” he spit. He hadn’t talked to his ex-wife with such harshness even when he’d caught her kissing his best friend. Didn’t Ashley understand that all this anger came from being concerned about her?

  “No, because all you can think about is being that kid who didn’t protect his mother. So now you overreact when you think someone might be in danger.”

  “Might? Like someone being shot at? That’s a real danger. At least everyone but you thinks so.”

  She paused for a moment. “I know, I shouldn’t ignore what happened. That’s why I haven’t made more of a fuss about the security men being here at night. But what I can’t live with is this hypervigilance from you about where I am and when I’m coming home. I had enough of that during my ch
ildhood.”

  “But you’ve gone overboard the other way. Your parents convinced you that someone was out to get you at every turn. Now you believe no one will harm you. You take chances. Like facing up to Marko. Coming home at a late hour by yourself as if no one would be waiting to do you harm. You’ve been lucky so far. All I’m asking for is a simple phone call to let me know you aren’t in a ditch somewhere.”

  “Not being a little overdramatic, are you? You think everyone is out to get me because the man your mother trusted turned on her. Your wife and friend betrayed you. You have to trust in people and believe in the best in them. My parents couldn’t do it and I hated that.”

  “Trust. Is that what you were doing when you lied to your friends about being shot? Refused to tell your parents? If you would do that to the people you’re closest to, how do I know I can trust you to act safely?”

  “I would never purposely hurt you by putting myself in danger. I need you to trust me to make my own choices. I know you have a hard time with that and you have a good reason.”

  “But you’re not being safe.”

  She took a step toward him. “How can you say that?”

  “Because you’re so caught up in doing and fixing for everyone else that you can’t see what you should be doing for yourself. It’s like you think that if you keep busy, pushing for an improvement here and rebuilding there, you won’t have to think about what could happen or did happen. You want things to be perfect so another little girl won’t be hurt. The world has depraved people in it, Ashley. You can’t save everyone. Even Marko you’re trying to save by not wanting to get police help. Some people are just bad.”

  She stepped toward him. “Like the guy that beat your mother. Your ex-wife. You want to carry the burden of hurt and guilt where they are concerned. You need to face that they were just bad people also. It seems like you might have the same problem as I do.”

  That statement hit home. “This isn’t about what happened to my mother or with my ex-wife and what she did to me.” He pointed to her and then to his chest. “This is about you and me. Why can’t I get through to you? I’m not just worried about what happened tonight but your attitude about being aware of what is happening. It’s as if you can’t accept that someone has tried to do you harm. You seem to have gone into a mental shell where you’re pretending you’re unshakable. You’re denying reality. Is that what you did after Lizzy went missing? Did you zone out so that you could deal with it? Look at you—you still wear your guilt around your neck.”