Kelly's Rules

by Barbara Miller

  “What would I have to do to get the greatest policy? Replace the roof?”

  “Right.”

  “But you said slate is the best.”

  “It is.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “I agree, but I’m not in charge of the insurance industry.”

  “We may as well shoot for the inferior insurance then, though I’m not even sure I’ll be able to afford that premium.”

  “All the more reason to get the inspector out and pay the premium before Brenda gets at your assets. You want to help me work on the gas lines tomorrow?”

  “I guess. It’s like the house is pulling me along. I have to finish it even if I never get to live there.”

  “That’s because you’re goal oriented like me. Some guys are process oriented so they never finish anything.”

  “Is that another one of your rules? Don’t date process men?”

  “No, but maybe it should be. I do have one about how men react to stress.”

  He gave his head a shake that almost made him dizzy. “How am I doing?”

  “So far, you pass. Brenda hasn’t been able to send you into an ineffective rage. What she’s doing you can’t prevent, but you may be able to use the law against her. You just have to keep your cool.”

  “That could be expensive.”

  “It’s only money.”

  He looked out across her lawn. “When you’ve lost everything else, money can seem pretty important. I knew ten years ago I was going to have to break with Brenda. That’s why I started saving for a home.”

  “Don’t tell a lawyer that, not even your own. She can demand half of all the money.”

  “Even though she squandered the rest of it.”

  “Right. I know life isn’t fair.” Kelly turned off the hose and coiled it up, then sat on the swing.

  He sat with her uninvited and wanted to feel that comradeship he’d felt before. No, he hadn’t trusted her with the only thing he had left, but he had proposed, sort of, and she had definitely accepted.

  “It’s peaceful here,” he finally said, looking across the lawn toward the vegetable garden where sunflowers bounced their heads and other flowers rimmed the rows of tomatoes and corn with a colorful border. He thought they were zinnias.

  “You could have a garden like this at your house. You have a spring so you could also have a water garden. And you have more trees. I just have maples, but you have oaks.”

  “Is that some kind of class distinction?” He gave her a sideways smile.

  “Maples are nouveau riche. Oaks say old money.”

  “Yippee. What do they say about someone who married the boss’s daughter?”

  “Was he your boss when you married her?”

  “Yes, I met her later, his only child whom he spoiled.”

  “And he didn’t object because he needed a substitute son ’til his grandsons came along.”

  Quinn felt his heart thudding at the remembered embarrassments. “I never realized how it would make me feel, working for my father-in-law.”

  “Trapped?”Kelly guessed.

  “Compromised.” That was it. He felt he’d prostituted himself for very little gain, when actually he had been trapped by Brenda. She was not as advertised. What her father had been looking for was a man who would take her off his hands. And she had betrayed Quinn even before they were married.

  Kelly pursed her lips. “Interesting choice of words for a man.”

  “I’ve said too much.”

  “That’s usually my problem. Let’s talk about your garden instead.”

  “That’s a future I may not have. Let’s put everything on hold except getting insurance.”

  Kelly hesitated as the swing creaked back and forth, probably thinking the same thing he was thinking.

  “Just in case she decides to torch the place.” Leave it to Kelly to put his worst fears into words.

  Quinn glanced at her and nodded. “The thought wandered across my mind. She’s not normally violent but she is obsessive.”

  “And not used to being thwarted. She does have Paul to help her. Well, if you lose the house, you and Jason can stay in the summer house. It’s not that cold in the winter.”

  He chuckled. “Do you never say die? Can I afford the rent?”

  “You would be there to keep my mother away. I’d probably pay you for that service.”

  Quinn snorted a laugh. “Bea’s not so bad.”

  “Funny you should say that, because she doesn’t seem to bother me as much as she used to. Maybe she’s mellowed or else I have.”

  “She’s a character. Admit it. You’d miss her if she wasn’t around.”

  “Maybe I’m just able to laugh at life now that it isn’t so desperate.”

  “I hope I figure out how to manage that. If it wasn’t for the new job I’d just give up and head for Idaho.”

  “So it’s not just the house, it’s starting over that’s so important.”

  “I need to make a home for Jason.” He stared at the green of her world and realized he needed to say more. “And then there’s you.”

  “Me. Am I an added complication?”

  She said it quietly as though it was the last thing on her mind. Kelly truly did not think of herself in her scheming to make things right.

  Quinn stared at her in admiration. “You are amazing. I’ve never met anyone like you before. I mean you’re not like any woman I’ve ever known before.”

  She looked puzzled. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

  “That’s what I was trying for. I mean you know all this stuff, do all this ‘guy’ stuff. That’s different.”

  “Well, wake up, Quinn. Competence is not reserved for the male of the species. A lot of women only need men for one thing, and if they consider kids optional they do fine on their own.”

  He let out a low moan. His thinking most women were incompetent offended her more than his lack of trust.

  “Take it easy, Quinn. I’m not one of those women. You’ve made me realize I need you as much as or more than you need me.”

  He sighed at her change of tune, but he shouldn’t accept her offer for the house because it meant he’d once again be compromising himself, taking the easy path for the sake of convenience. He just couldn’t do it.

  “Maybe I should play it safe and keep my mouth shut.”

  * * * * *

  Later as she cleaned up the kitchen, Kelly acknowledged to herself that Quinn was a good guy, but he was still a guy, making some guy mistakes. She needed to accept that.

  What did she need? A lot more than a sperm. She thought about what Sue had said, that it takes two to raise a kid right, a mother and a father. Kelly was a good example of what happened when there was no father. She was as insecure as they came. Until now she had counted on no one, needed no one except maybe the chief of police. Earl had a soft spot for her because he’d watched her grow up without a dad. She had a good life, but at times it was damned lonely.

  Was she competent to raise a kid? They started out as helpless babies. How could she take care of one by herself and continue to work? Hell, how could she take time off for a pregnancy if she was a single mom? If she went into such a situation she’d be doing worse than her mother had with her.

  When she finally sat at her computer she went over her finances and figured out how much she could offer Quinn and still keep her business going, but she was not going to suggest it again. If he wanted her help, even for Jason’s sake, he would have to ask for it.

  Bea arrived with Sue’s kids in Sue’s car, but no Sue. That was scary enough, Bea driving with kids in the car. Bea was looking distraught which was something new for her. Had she driven into something, over someone, what?

  Before her mom could even say anything the phone rang and it was Sue. “Kelly, I called 9-1-1 and Devin. But Joe is outside the house and I’m afraid. That’s why I sent the kids over with Bea. He’s spray painting all over the windows.”

  “I�
��ll call Earl on my way.”

  She grabbed her cell phone and started down the menu to the police number as she flung out the door and ran for her Jeep. Please start. But the key wasn’t in it and she didn’t want to waste time looking for it.

  She started running for Sue’s, completing her call to Earl on the way. Of course Sue called 9-1-1, but she didn’t have Earl’s cell number. Though it bypassed protocol it sure saved a lot of time. Running steps behind her made her look back. It was Quinn.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “Sue needs help.”

  Quinn had caught up to her when she got to the lawn still decorated with doughnut ruts. There was a taint of spray paint in the air and the sound of Devin’s van still running. He must have just arrived. The confrontation on the front porch between Devin and Joe was about to get physical. Joe was a slimy coward, but was the new guy any better? In fact he was smaller.

  A siren announced the arrival of Earl. “What the hell?” he asked as he climbed out of his police car.

  Just then Joe threw a punch and connected with Devin’s shoulder. Sue screamed. As though it were a ballet move, Devin leaped in the air and landed with both feet on Joe’s chest. Joe flew off the porch, breaking the railing and landed on the muddy lawn. Devin landed lightly on his feet in a crouch, hands extended like iron clubs.

  ”Wow,” Kelly said. “That was oak railing. I bet that hurt.”

  Joe groaned.

  “Nice,” Earl said. “Guess what, Joey boy, you are under arrest again.”

  “What for?”

  “Vandalism, assault, stalking. I should think of a few more before I get you to the station.” While Joe was still out of breath Earl cuffed him.

  “He kicked me,” Joe whimpered.

  Kelly cleared her throat. “Looked like self-defense to me.”

  Quinn snorted. “I saw it too. Joe threw the first punch.”

  “I don’t even know who all these people are.” Joe had trouble getting up with cuffs on.

  “They’re right,” Earl said. “On your feet, Joe. Maybe you’ll smarten up by the next time you make bail.” Earl towed him away, giving a backward glance at the side of Sue’s house and shaking his head.

  “That was impressive,” Quinn said to Devin.

  Devin performed an Eastern bow. “I run the new martial arts school. I opened up right next to Sue’s salon.”

  Quinn smiled. “I might come over for a few lessons.”

  “Me too,” Kelly said. “It was beautiful. You okay, Sue?”

  “I had no idea.” She was shaking her head and crying.

  Kelly gave her a hug. “Still a good thing to call Earl. Right now I’m going home for paint thinner so I can get that stuff off your siding.”

  “Kelly, no. You must be tired.”

  “I’ll help,” Quinn said.

  Quinn was like that. He was in a world of hurt on his own, yet he was willing to stand on a ladder in the middle of the night rubbing volatile solutions on the outside of a house that wasn’t even his. Every time Kelly had doubts about him, he proved her wrong. He was a good man.

  Three hours later they had repaired some of the damage. The windows were easy, but Joe had written whore on one wall of the house and it was still readable. Though it didn’t bother Sue, Kelly felt compelled to put primer over it so Quinn stayed to help her. Painting by moonlight wasn’t all that romantic, but he didn’t seem to mind.

  They’d come back from her house with the supplies in the Beast and she almost fell asleep as Quinn drove her home. He stroked her arm to rouse her. She liked that but was too tired to respond in any way except opening the door. Her nicest fantasy involved Quinn stroking her all over.

  “Sorry I nodded off. Thanks again.”

  “I thought I had problems, but poor Sue.” He shook his head and got out of the car.

  Kelly was busy unloading cans and brushes as he rounded the vehicle. “At least she seems to have picked a good guy this time.”

  “Seems?” Quinn asked.

  “I always reserve judgment for a while. Joe seemed okay before. Well, at least harmless. Men—some men are such good actors.”

  Quinn shrugged. “So are some women.”

  She looked at him and gave a sad smile. “I keep forgetting men aren’t the only villains in the world. I may have to revise my rules to allow for aberrations like Brenda.”

  He leaned against the Beast and folded his arms. “Are there more bad men than bad women?”

  “Economic equality has been a great leveler. Women who had to stay good through need can now make utter fools of themselves. On the other hand, women who had to stay doormats through need can now stand on their own feet.”

  “Has any man ever hurt you physically?”

  “Nah, I never let them get that close.” She picked up her burden.

  “So you’ll never really know.” He gathered up the rest of the gear and followed her onto the deck.

  “Quinn, when they stiff me for dinner it’s a good bet they aren’t reliable. I read the signs.”

  “Then how would you know a good man?”

  Kelly hesitated, then laughed. “He’d be willing to turn out in the middle of the night to save the house of a woman he barely knows.”

  Quinn set the cans down on the deck. “Well, I guess I pass that test anyway.”

  “And many others.”

  “What if the divorce drags on for a year or more?”

  “I’ll probably still have a live egg by then.”

  “I understand that you want children.”

  “A child, either sex.”

  “You know you talk all the time about men using women for what they want,” Quinn said.

  “Right, sex, um, sex, and what else? Oh, yeah, sex.”

  “I get your point, but don’t you think women sometimes use men. If I slept with you you’d have that sperm donation you want, but…”

  “I know, there should be more to a relationship than reproduction.”

  “A lot more.”

  “Quinn, I concede the point, but I’m asleep on my feet, we both reek of paint thinner and we cannot resolve any of this tonight.”

  “Surely some rules apply more to women than men.”

  “Duly noted. I’ll start another book called Separating the Women from the Witches.”

  He smirked. “Just think about it, okay?”

  “Sure.” She thought about it ’til her head hit the pillow. When she knew she was in the wrong she didn’t like to dwell on it.

  Chapter Nine

  “Rule 9: Don’t start caring about a guy until you know the worst about him.” — SMFA

  When she climbed out of the shower the next morning and pulled on her work clothes she had to confront the truth. She could not generalize about men or women. They might have some tendencies in common based on sex, but they were better evaluated as individuals. Quinn was right. There were as many women lacking better qualities as men.

  As she made coffee and loaded the dishwasher she tried to think about her own best and worst qualities. She did try to solve other people’s problems, but could some of them interpret that as interference? That was a possibility. Perhaps her own mother found her interfering.

  She had learned from experience not to trust men—some men. Her father had betrayed her first, just because he had never known about her. Every date Sue got for Kelly was a betrayal, but Sue picked them up in bars.

  One man who had never betrayed her was Earl. If only he had been her father, but she knew that could not be. He couldn’t stand Bea, mostly because she smoked and had let Kelly grow up way too fast.

  Quinn passed every criterion she had set for a man but two. He was still married and was not likely to get off that particular hook with anything left. If he was penniless he was the sort of man who wouldn’t consider another marriage. Pride again. Kelly thought about him as she gathered up her tools and supplies. And second, he did not trust Kelly absolutely. Why should he?

  On the o
ther hand she had no other prospects, so a time investment in Quinn made more sense than dating around or—shudder—signing up for a dating service, which seemed like a weird kind of book club. If you didn’t like the current selection, could you just stamp return to sender on his forehead and be rid of him, or would he continue to plague you with phone calls or visits, perhaps even become a stalker? Such relationships were a lot easier to get into than out of. She could see that from Sue’s experiences.

  She had to remind herself that all men were not jealous possessive freaks who decided to murder you if they couldn’t have you. Most of them were…lying SOBs who only wanted sex and a roof over their heads. No, no that wasn’t right. There were plenty of good men. As she’d told Quinn, those were the ones who weren’t available. So back to square one. She would just have to wait.

  That was the thing that gave her pause. The more you dated around, the more men you might have spray painting profanities on your siding in the middle of the night. Was it worth it just to get a child? Maybe she could adopt. Maybe just that cat or dog she had been thinking about. Sheesh. If that’s all a child meant to her, that it could be replaced by a pet, she surely wasn’t ready for motherhood.

  Yet the longing was there, so strong at times that it blotted out everything else. She had been alone so much of her life. Yeah, she was used to it, but she didn’t want it to be that way forever. She wanted a child to raise, someone to share with, someone to love. She wanted to do a better job than her mother, to prove she was better than her mom. What a stupid reason to want a baby.

  Sue was right. To go after a man just for his genetic contribution to a baby wasn’t fair to either him or that baby. He had a right to decide if a child was a possibility or not, and the baby had a right to two parents.

  “Kelly!” Bea shouted from the still locked kitchen door. She’d opted to go back to Sue’s house the night before since it had been vandalized. Kelly suspected her mother wanted to see the graffiti.