by Judith Keim
Frowning at her husband, Katy tugged on his arm. “C’mon. Time to go.” As they walked away together, Katy turned back and shot Sukie a warning look.
Sukie shook her head at the implied threat. If she wanted to fool around—and she didn’t—Jim Hartmann wasn’t even in the running.
###
Tired of the emotional ups and downs of the past months and now with Cam, Sukie exchanged her skirt and sweater for jeans and a sweatshirt. She headed downstairs. There was nothing like working in the garden to ease her stress.
Outside, Sukie loosened the dirt in the small vegetable garden and sat back on her heels, inhaling the distinct scent of sun-warmed soil. New life.
“Miss Sukie! I want to see your flowers!”
She turned to see Chloe running toward her. Smiling, Sukie held out her arms. Chloe ran into them and gave her a joyful hug. Sukie hugged her back, feeling an empty part of her fill with warmth.
Cam crossed the lawn, smiling. “Chloe insisted upon stopping to see you. Hope this isn’t bad timing.”
“No, it’s fine,” Sukie said, wondering if he would’ve come on his own.
Cam eyes captured her in their blueness. “I’ve been thinking about you...”
Chloe tapped Sukie’s arm, interrupting her father. “What are those flowers? Over there, those yellow ones. What are they?” She pointed to the clay pots sitting at the edge of the patio.
Sukie and Cam exchanged resigned looks, and then Sukie led Chloe over to the multi-colored pansies and told her about taking care of plants. Moments later, Chloe became distracted by a red cardinal and went racing off in its direction, frightening the bird away with her loud, excited cries.
Cam approached Sukie. “Can I see you tonight? Maybe you could come for supper.”
“Afraid not,” Sukie said with real regret. “I’m going to dinner with the Wrights tonight. Tiffany insisted I join her and Beau and her father-in-law, the judge. Poor girl, she’s going through a hard time.”
“I see,” Cam answered, clearly disappointed. “I thought...”
“I thought you’d call me after our wonderful evening together,” Sukie blurted out, unable to hold back the insecurities that gripped her like a tightening fist.
Cam’s features hardened.
Sukie observed the changes in him but pressed on. “Friday was very special for me. I believed it was for you, too.”
Cam’s eyes narrowed. “Are you judging my feelings for you based on whether I called you or not?”
At the irritation in his voice, Sukie’s heart pounded with dismay. Mouth dry, she searched for the right words. “Maybe I should explain that sex is not something I do casually.”
Cam’s lips thinned. He shook his head as if he couldn’t or wouldn’t answer.
As they stared at each other, Sukie’s heart fell. It seemed hopeless. She hadn’t even mentioned how Elizabeth felt about things.
“Look, I’d better go before I regret what I say.” Cam turned away from her and called to his daughter. “C’mon, Chloe! We’ve got to go to the grocery store! You can help me pick out some things.”
Chloe came running over to them, her face alight. “Sugar Bears?”
“I guess.” Cam ruffled Chloe’s curls.
“Bye, Miss Sukie!” Chloe waved at her cheerfully and dashed away to catch up to her father who was marching away like a man on the run.
Crestfallen, Sukie watched them leave. Tears blurred her vision. She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and dabbed at them. Why, she wondered, couldn’t he have understood how vulnerable she was, how much she needed reassurance from him? One phone call was all she’d wanted. She realized then that she and Cam were on very different emotional levels. And there was the Mars and Venus thing, too. Bottom line, she’d been a damn fool.
Grieving for what might have been, Sukie went back to her gardening. She worked steadily through the rest of the afternoon, weeding and putting down mulch, trying to tell herself that ending it with Cam was for the best. But the memory of their lovemaking made her wish it could go on and on.
Shortly before five, Sukie showered and dressed carefully for her meeting with the Wrights. She selected black slacks and a silky green blouse she and Tiffany had chosen together. Though Ted continued his membership there, she hadn’t been back to the Green Valley Country Club since the divorce and she was nervous about going there.
Sukie pulled up in front of Tiffany’s house. Once again she admired the colonial design of it. Most young people Sukie knew, including Madeleine and Rob, would be thrilled to own such a large, luxurious home. But Sukie knew what a high price Tiffany was paying for such fine surroundings.
She made her way up the brick walkway, climbed the porch steps and rang the front doorbell, wishing she hadn’t agreed to come. Too fragile emotionally from her conflict with Cam, she wasn’t in the mood to be social.
The large black door swung open and a tall, young man with light brown hair stared at Sukie. A frown creased the space between his dark brown eyes.
“Beau?”
A brilliant smile transformed his features. “You must be Sukie. Come on in. Tiffany’s still getting ready. You know how women are.”
“Of course she does, son,” drawled an older version of Beau, coming forward to clasp her hand. “A beautiful woman like you knows all about it.” He raised Sukie’s fingers to his lips in an old-time southern gesture.
He was equally as handsome as Beau, though his hair had turned a distinguished gray and his body had taken on a substance that was lacking in his son. She’d read about Judge Wright but was bowled over by his dramatic presence.
Tiffany descended the stairs and smiled at Sukie. “You’ve met my father-in-law, Regard?” The look of amusement in Tiffany’s eyes told Sukie that Tiffany understood why she might be ill at ease.
“I was just about to introduce him,” Beau snapped at Tiffany.
Hurt flashed across Tiffany’s face, making Sukie even more uncomfortable.
“Ah, yes,” the judge said. “Let me do the honor. Regard Wright, at your service.”
“And I’m Sukie Skidmore.” She gamely shook his hand beforing moving to Tiffany’s side and giving her a quick hug. “You look lovely.” The brown dress barely showed a baby bump.
Tiffany smiled. “Thanks. I’m feeling better.”
“We’ve got to take care of this little lady,” the judge boomed. “She’s having my grandson.”
“It might be a girl...” Tiffany began.
“Not in the Wright family,” Regard said, cutting Tiffany off, chuckling heartily at his own double entendre.
“I have each—a boy and a girl. They’re both very special,” said Sukie, coming to Tiffany’s defense. “We just wanted a healthy baby.”
Beau clapped his father on the back. “Don’t worry, Dad. If it’s a girl, we’ll keep trying until we get our boy. More fun for me.”
Beau turned to her. “Come on into the family room, Sukie. Dad and I are having some Bourbon. Would you like one? Or a glass of wine?”
“Wine would be nice, thank you.” Sukie followed them into the sizeable family room off the kitchen. The large-screen television that filled most of one wall was displaying the score of the Falcon’s football game.
“We’re looking at a taped replay of a Falcons game. You a football fan?” Regard asked Sukie.
She shook her head. “Not really.”
“Best game around. Teaches you a lot about life. Right, Beau?”
Beau didn’t answer, and Regard continued. “Yessir, my boy played quarterback for his high school. Too bad a knee injury prevented him from playing in college. He could’ve been real good.”
Sukie wondered how Beau felt about the sport his father loved. With his thin build, he looked more like a tennis player.
“Here’s some Chardonnay. It should be good. Dad bought it.” Beau handed Sukie a tall-stemmed glass of pale gold liquid.
Sitting beside Sukie on one of the beige tweed love seats in front of
the fireplace, Tiffany wrinkled her nose at the glass Beau handed her. “Orange juice.”
Beau shook a finger at her. “No alcohol for you.”
Regard frowned. “Sukie Skidmore... You’re not by chance related to Ted Skidmore, are you?”
Sukie choked on the sip of wine she’d just taken. “Ted is my ex. Why?”
“I put a boat up for sale. A man named Ted Skidmore from Williston phoned me about it. Said his wife wanted a boat to use at their lake house. Only trouble is, he refused to pay a fair price for it. ‘Thought you might know something about it.”
Boat? Lake house? What next? “We’ve gone our separate ways.” Sukie’s lips were stiff as she responded. Inside, she was seething. Ted had given Elizabeth a rough time about tuition money. He’d better not have undermined her college fund so he could spend money on Emmy Lou and himself, she thought. If so, she’d personally kill him.
The sounds of televised football competed with their conversation, making it difficult to discuss anything of substance. Occasionally, shouts of encouragement from Beau and his father reverberated in the room. Tiffany and Sukie talked a little about the Fat Fridays group, but Sukie noticed how stressed out Tiffany was with her father-in-law, and they grew quiet.
The game ended with a field goal by the Falcons, and the four of them headed outside to go to the country club.
“Why don’t we all go in my car?” Regard indicated the large, black Mercedes in the driveway.
Beau and Tiffany climbed into the back seat, leaving Sukie standing alongside Regard.
“Sit up front with me.” Regard took Sukie’s elbow and ushered her around to the passenger’s side and helped her into the car. Sukie felt awkward sitting in his wife’s seat, but Regard didn’t seem to notice. He slid behind the wheel, and they took off. Regard drove with confidence, as if the road under his wheels was his alone. Sukie had the feeling it was pretty much the way he ran his life and that of his son.
###
The country club sprawled atop the hilltop like a white beacon overlooking the rolling sea of golf course green. It was, by far, the most sophisticated gathering spot for members of their small suburban town.
The moment Regard pulled up in front of it, a valet rushed to help them out of the car. Regard took Sukie’s arm and led her inside. Tiffany and Beau followed. Sukie noticed that though Beau helped Tiffany over the curb, he didn’t continue to hold her hand.
People in the noisy wood-paneled bar off the front entrance hall turned to watch them make their way to the dining room. Some tipped their heads in acknowledgement or waved to Regard.
Outside the entrance to the dining room, Sukie felt a tap on her shoulder and swiveled around.
“What are you doing here?” Ted growled. He glanced from Regard to her with glassy eyes.
Realizing Ted must have been at the bar for some time, Sukie’s heart fell. He reeked of liquor and cigarette smoke. She scowled at him, silently warning him to back off.
“You okay, honey? Ready to go inside?” Regard asked, aware of her distress.
The flush on Ted’s cheeks deepened as he glared at Regard.
“Yes, please.” She knew from past experience that when Ted was in this state, any conversation would quickly escalate into an argument.
The judge took her elbow, and they moved forward. At each step, Sukie felt Ted’s stare stabbing her in the back.
They were quickly seated at a table. Regard orchestrated the selections for dinner, cajoling the waitresses and generally acting as host. Beau was surprisingly silent, but later the two men began talking about their golf game.
Tiffany leaned over to Sukie. “I wonder how Carol Ann’s latest date went.” She clucked her tongue. “I’ve been to her house just once, to deliver something she’d left at the office. I can understand why she’s so anxious to leave it. Her parents bicker all the time. I could hear them going at it from the front door.”
Sukie let the matter drop and turned the discussion to the latest sale at one of their favorite stores at the mall.
Later, between the main course and dessert, Sukie excused herself from the table. She’d eaten more than she’d really wanted and it felt good to get up and move around. Glancing at the various tables in the room, she checked to see if Ted was anywhere nearby and slipped into the ladies’ room unnoticed. She’d just stepped inside a booth when she heard the door to the ladies’ room open. The sound of laughter followed.
A woman spoke. “Can you imagine? Ted Skidmore told me I was sexy as hell. I all but laughed in his face. The guy is impossible.”
“He’s become a first-class lech and a drunk,” Sukie heard another woman say, and stifled a gasp.
“If you ask me, Emmy Lou is taking him for a ride for his money,” said the first woman. “Who’s to say that baby is his? She’s been known to put out for others.”
“Yeah, and they’re not even married! What’s with that?”
“Who knows? Let’s hurry and get back to the table. Katy Hartmann has some juicy news for us.”
Sukie’s stomach churned. She hid in the booth until the women left. Had she and Ted been the laughing stock of the club? And, God help her, was Katy about to spill the beans about her date with Cam? Sukie took a deep breath. She wanted to run out of the club and never come back.
She stepped out of the booth and patted her face with cold water. Humiliation fought anger. She drew herself up straight. Quaking inside, but determined, she left the ladies’ room and walked back to the table, ignoring the hushed comments along the way.
Regard and Beau got to their feet as Sukie approached. Their polite gesture made her grateful, though she knew it would set off more speculative talk.
Tiffany gave her a worried look. “You okay, Sukie? You were gone for such a long time.”
“I’m fine,” Sukie answered, though she wasn’t fine at all. It’d been an awful day and it wasn’t over yet.
Sukie took a few nibbles of the moist chocolate cake Regard had ordered for the table. It was the specialty of the club. But with the events of the weekend playing over and over in her mind, the rich dessert tasted like mud.
“Ready to go?” Tiffany asked when the meal was over. “I’m exhausted and I can’t miss work tomorrow. My boss has a big meeting this week. I’ve got to get ready for it.”
“I thought you were going to give up your job.” Regard gave Tiffany a disapproving stare. “You know you don’t need to work as long as Beau, here, keeps his job.”
Beau shuffled his feet uncomfortably. Tiffany’s lips tightened.
Standing, Regard motioned for Sukie to walk in front of him as they left the dining room. Katy Hartmann noticed them and beckoned them over to her table. Regard, always one to enjoy an audience it seemed, went right over to the table of eight. Sukie held back.
“Where’s Muffy?” Katy asked Regard, eying Sukie.
“At the Golden Door,” Regard said. “You ladies seem to enjoy those spas.”
“Oh, yes,” said one of Katy’s dinner companions, giving him a coquettish smile. “But y’all love it when we come back feeling like new women.”
Regard laughed heartily.
Sukie exchanged glances with Tiffany, silently urging her to move on.
“Sorry to rush away but I’ve got to work tomorrow,” Tiffany called to them sweetly.
Sukie nodded. “Me too.”
She and Tiffany moved toward the front door while Regard shook hands with the gentlemen and gave each lady a kiss on the cheek. Beau stood to one side looking as if he were caught in the midst of a bad play.
“Beau hates all the bullshit,” Tiffany whispered, “but that’s part of the role he has to play with the family legacy and all.”
“It’s too bad,” Sukie said softly, wondering how he’d ever be able to grow up on his own.
“Well, we’d better get these little ladies home,” boomed Regard, drawing everyone’s attention to them.
Sukie cringed as every person at the table turned to lo
ok at them.
Ted lurched out of the bar and faced her, weaving unsteadily. “You’re going home with Regard? A married man, Sukie?”
Tired of all the crap he’d put her through, she clenched her fists. “It’s none of your business what I do anymore, Ted.”
Giving her a look of concern, Tiffany took Sukie’s elbow. “Let’s go.”
Regard and Beau came up behind them, like knights on white horses.
Ted glared at the judge, but Sukie kept on moving. Another emotional upheaval would undo all the confidence she’d worked so hard to build. As it was, she wanted to break down and cry.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
SUKIE
Sukie hurried to get ready for work, thankful for a reason to keep busy. It had been an upsetting weekend to say the least.
When she arrived at the library, the parking lot was surprisingly full. It was then that Sukie remembered the Friends of the Library were holding their monthly meeting.
Julie grabbed her arm as she entered the library. “Sukie, can you give a quick, impromptu report to the Friends about the Nighty Night program? I was talking to the president and I believe they’ll give us funds for refreshments. They might even fund the awards program you wanted to initiate for preschoolers.”
Sukie flushed with pride. “Sure. Give me time to pull together my notes and I’ll be ready.”
Excitement building inside her, she hurried over to her desk. There was so much she wanted to do to encourage families to read together. Her own childhood had been filled with reading books from the bookmobile that appeared on a regular basis throughout her rural Pennsylvania neighborhood.
By the time Julie came to check on Sukie, she had enough copies of her report in hand.
“Good girl,” said Julie, giving her a pat on the back. “Go for it! We need their help!”
Sukie followed Julie into the conference room, which was awash in loud chatter. Conversation stopped. Debbi Warren, Katy Hartmann’s best friend, gave Sukie a sly smile.
Doing her best to ignore the chill that slithered across her shoulders, Sukie glanced away and handed out her report.
Julie introduced her, and Sukie gave a quick summary of both children’s programs and told the committee how they could help fund them. The Friends’ president put it to a confirming vote, and with a sense of triumph, Sukie left the room.