by Leger, Lori
Sam cocked his head to the side and looked down at the man. “I know somebody I’d sure as hell like to see in here, but I bet it’s too steep for her, even if I could convince her to move from Gardiner. Divorced, raising three teenagers, and no house pets that I know of.”
“Is she a friend of yours, or something more?”
“A friend, but I’m hoping for more,” he admitted, giving his old buddy an ear-splitting grin.
Len nodded. “Good for you, Sam. I’d let her have it cheap. Two hundred a month and I could easily get six for this place. All appliances included…even a new washer and dryer. If you can vouch for her, it’d be worth it to me to have someone in here that won’t trash the place.”
Hours later Sam lay in bed, wide awake, and imagining what it would be like if Carrie lived down the street. He mentally prepared a list of pros to use in his favor next time he spoke to her, and slipped in a quick wish for the cons to take care of themselves. Though he considered himself more of a ‘have a chat with the man upstairs’ type of guy, rather than a praying man, he added something a little more specific tonight. All I want for Christmas is Carrie. Please, keep her safe, and let her come to me.
CHAPTER 9
The day before Christmas Eve proved to be uneventful for Sam. Perusing the local pharmacy for some OTC meds for Nick’s lingering cold, he stopped at the greeting card section on his way to the counter.
A holiday card To The One I Love caught his attention and he picked it up. He scanned it, along with a few others, and returned them to the slots, knowing he wouldn’t find anything appropriate. He settled for a blank card with a beautiful Christmas Village scene, and paid for his purchases. It wouldn’t hurt to jot down a few thoughts for the next time he saw her.
On his way out he stopped at the display of animated toys…singing Santa’s, Dancing Reindeer, and a dog that barked Here Comes Santa Claus. Just as he was about to leave, he found something at the back of the tallest shelf. Grinning at how right it was for the situation, he walked back to the counter to pay for it. Just in case. He walked out of the store, as pleased as a first grader bringing a gift home to his mother.
***
Carrie’s day was going quite differently. She’d awakened with a stress/crying/alcohol induced headache, but at least the puffy eyes were minimal, thanks to Sam. Her thoughts lingered on him as she paused from filling a box with baking supplies. One corner of her lip curved at the heady excitement of possibilities. She caught sight of her reflection in one of the glass-inset doors of Christie’s upper cabinets.
“Stop it,” she told herself, forcing the silly grin from her face. No way would she get her hopes up. She’d concentrate on getting her own place, and leave her friendship with Sam at that.
They’d learned a lot about each other during that marathon phone call, and he’d asked again to take her to dinner and a movie. Again, she’d refused, afraid to upset her kids. She could take losing anyone’s respect but her children’s. How did Dave do it? How could he do the things he did and not worry what their kids thought of him?
She loaded the box in the backseat of her car. By the time she went back to get her purse, she had to stop to answer the phone, tensing only slightly as she waited for an answer.
“Hey Sis!”
Tension rolled off Carrie’s shoulders as she heard Christie’s voice, thankful it wasn’t his. “Are you and Max back in town?”
“No, and it turns out I won’t be leaving until tomorrow. I want to give Max more time with his dad. I should be back at Mom’s for lunch though. I tried to call you last night, but I think the phone was off the hook, because I kept getting a busy signal.”
Carrie was quiet for a minute trying to decide how to break the news to her sister. “It was off the hook until nine, and then I was talking to Sam for an hour.”
“Sam Langley? What did y’all talk about?”
“I’m warning you now, Chris, this is one of those drag-me-to-hell-and-back stories that’ll make you want to pop a Prozac.”
“Look, I’m in the middle of redneck hell over here. I need some kind of mind stimulating entertainment.”
“It’s stimulating all right, but not in a good way.” Carrie filled her in on the events of the previous evening.
“So, you’re telling me that guy not only knows my phone number, but also where I live…and he’s getting closer all the time?”
“Afraid so, sis. And I feel like I brought it all on you myself. I need to find another place to stay.”
“Where could you go, Carrie? You shouldn’t be alone.”
“Are you saying I should have my kids with me when this guy shows up? Or how about you and Max, would that be better?” Carrie said, her voice rising to a level of near hysteria. Silence on the other end of the phone told her the reality of the situation had finally sunk in. “The longer I stay here, the more danger I put you and Max in, Chris.”
“But, what will you do? Where will you go?”
“I have no idea. But I sure don’t want to put any member of my family in danger. Since you’re not coming back tonight, I guess I don’t have to worry about it until tomorrow. Rob said he’d post someone outside the house again tonight. I’m just glad I had Sam to talk to last night.”
“Is this Sam guy, really that nice, or is your judgment impaired because of HWS?”
“What the hell is HWS?”
“A little condition I call Horny Woman Syndrome.”
The small living room echoed with Carrie’s laughter. “As it happens, I’m quite familiar with the condition. But, I really think he is that nice, Chris. He’s funny too—he had me laughing so hard I choked on my drink. Trust me, Southern Comfort is smooth going down but it bites like hell when it comes up through your nose.”
Cristie’s laugh rang across the phone line. “Was that my Southern Comfort?”
“Not anymore, but I’ll buy you some more.”
“Don’t worry about it, but I tell you what. You arrange for me to meet Mr. Sam Langley, and I’ll let you know if your condition isn’t making you biased. A woman will allow some crazy things when she’s gone without it for awhile.”
“It?” Carrie asked, anxious to hear what her sister would add.
“Yes, it…and I’m not just talking about sex. I’m talking about all the other stuff that can’t be replaced by silicone and batteries.”
“Gawd…You are so sick.”
“Uh huh, wait and see.”
Carrie chuckled into the phone. “You could be right, you know. Everyone’s on their best behavior when they first meet. Sure, he may look normal, but how do I know he doesn’t have a closet full of black leather, whips, and ball gags?”
“Ew!” Christie groaned. “And you called me sick.”
***
Carrie’s mom, Elaine Hebert, met her at the front door of her country home. “Hey darlin’, how are you?”
Carrie bent at the waist to hug the woman who’d borne eight children in fourteen years. “I’m good, Mom.”
Elaine studied her daughter’s face. “You’ve been crying, haven’t you? What did Dave do?”
Carrie smiled at her mother. “Nothing, but I thought I did a good job of getting rid of the puffiness.”
Elaine reached up to touch her daughter’s cheek below one eye. “Just a touch around the eyes. Now, what happened?”
“I wish it was just Dave, Mom.” Carrie sat with her mother as she explained the situation.
“You need to come stay with me.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not? You’re brother Mack is right next door.”
“Yeah, along with his pregnant wife and child. Nope, I’m not going to do that.”
“What will you do, then, if you don’t want to stay with me or Christie?”
“Well, I was thinking maybe I’d call Dave and ask him to stay in the house until this situation is behind me.”
Elaine stared at her daughter then got up to go to her fridge. She reached inside f
or the massive turkey. “Surely, we can think of a better solution than that.”
Carrie maneuvered her mother gently out of the way to lift the bird from the fridge and placed it in the stainless steel sink. “I don’t see anything else to do right now, Mom.”
“Maybe it’s Dave making the phone calls to get you to do exactly this.”
Carrie turned to stare at her mother. “Oh my God, you sound like Sam.”
“Sam who?”
Carrie closed her eyes and sighed. “Somebody I work with. It doesn’t matter, because you’re both on the wrong track.”
‘So, the phone was off the hook, and that’s why I couldn’t get hold of you last night. I nearly called Kathleen to go check on you.”
“Kathleen? Oh, Rob LeDoux’s mom. I keep forgetting she lives next door to Christie.” She sucked in her breath, suddenly feeling guilty for making her mom worry. “Glad you didn’t do that, I was fine.” Carrie placed her hand on her mother’s shoulder. “I’d like your opinion on something.”
Elaine filled two stoneware mugs with steaming coffee and placed them on the table before seating herself. “What’s going on, Honey?”
Carrie stared into her mother’s eyes, wishing she knew beforehand what her reaction would be. “The phone wasn’t off the hook the entire time last night. I was talking to a friend of mine.”
Elaine’s mouth opened and she nodded, giving Carrie her classic I’m-not-surprised look. “Was it Sam, the guy you work with?”
“Uh, yes it was. How’d you know?”
“Just a feeling, dear,” Elaine said. “So, it’s happened.”
Carrie’s mouth snapped closed. “What’s happened?”
“You’ve found someone new.”
Her mother poured creamer into her coffee, acting as calmly as though her daughter…this daughter…found a new man every other week. “Well, Sam and I are friends, but that’s as far as it’s gone.” She faltered and gazed down at the table, turning her cup nervously until the hot liquid splashed over the top. “He’s asked, but I haven’t accepted any dates from him.”
Elaine raised her cup to her mouth, one brow lifting noticeably.
“Why not? Don’t you like him?”
“I like him a lot.”
“Is he married?”
“Divorced.”
“Is he a criminal?”
“No.” Carrie bit on her lower lip to keep a straight face. She couldn’t wait to tell Sam about this conversation.
Elaine brought her cup to her lips and paused. “What’s the problem, then?”
“It’s too soon to date. I’ve only been divorced four months. I’m afraid my kids would have a fit. I don’t think Lauren could handle this right now—”
“Good Lord, it sounds like you’re reading from one of Letterman’s Lists.” She splayed her hands up as though she were framing a marquis. “The Top Ten Reasons Carrie Should Never Date Again.”
Carrie released a tortured sigh as she gazed across at her mother. “It’s too soon for me to date, isn’t it?”
Elaine lifted her mug. “I don’t know. Are you grieving over the divorce?”
“God, no.”
“Is he a good man?”
“I think so.”
“Then he probably is. You’d know all the danger signals, thanks to the father of my three gorgeous grandchildren.” She sipped her coffee and threw in the traditional southern accompaniment to any insult. “Bless his heart.”
“Jesus, Mom. I thought for sure you’d give me the old ‘find yourself first’ speech.”
“Are you lost?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
Elaine’s laughter echoed through the cozy kitchen. “Well, I should think you’d know if you were.”
Carrie blinked several times in an effort to process this conversation.
Elaine covered her daughter’s hand. “Look Honey, I’m over seventy years old and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: It’s never too late, or too soon to find joy in your life. If you think you need some time alone to ‘find yourself’, then take that time. If not, go for it. You make the rules now, remember?”
Carrie’s worried brow lifted. “I do, don’t I?” She gazed into the eyes of the woman whose unconditional love had been doled out equally among eight children. “But, you’re happy alone.”
“I am. If I want to read until five o’clock in the morning and sleep until noon, there’s no one to stop me, except maybe someone from the Garden Club Committee.”
“Or the Museum Committee,” Carrie added.
“Or the Ladies’ Alter Society.”
Carrie wiped tears from her eyes as their laughter abated. “The point is, maybe I should be more like you.”
“You mean alone for the rest of your life?” Elaine asked. “Aw hell, why would you want to do that? Your dad and I were married over forty years when he died.”
“You could have remarried. Remember when Mr. Potier called you for a date a few years back?”
“He was an old man then, and he’s even older now.” She waved her hands before her. “I’ve had my great love. I married your father when he was young, gorgeous, and in his prime. It took years to train him the little I could. I have no desire to start whipping another old man into shape at my age.” She patted Carrie’s hand. “You’re too young to give up on finding love again.”
“But, the kids—”
“Will leave home and have families of their own one day.” She caught Carrie’s hand in her own. “Do you want to be alone when that happens?”
Carrie studied her mother’s face, still beautiful for a woman her age. “I don’t want to hurt them.”
“You’re a good mother, and your children love you. They’ll adjust to any changes you make right now. This is your time…they’ll have their time later.” She passed her hands through hair white as a cotton ball. “Honey, I can’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. I just want to see you happy for a change. If you can do that alone, fine. But if finding a good man who you can be happy and grow old with makes it easier for you, that’s fine too.”
Elaine sat back and relaxed in her chair. “So, tell me about this Sam who wants to date you.”
“Sam Langley is from Kenton.” She placed one hand on her stomach to calm the butterflies she felt just from speaking his name. Carrie gave her the low down on Sam then lifted her gaze to meet her mother’s. “He makes me laugh.”
Elaine’s face creased with a knowing smile. “And those are all qualities you want in a man, but does he melt your butter?”
Carrie’s mouth fell open at her mother’s frankness. “Melt my…Ew…I so don’t want to have this conversation with you!”
Her mother’s eyes twinkled with mischievous laughter. “Well, he sure has put a smile on your face and a sparkle back in your eye. As your mother,” Elaine said the word with emphasis, “I can tell you it’s been too damn long since I’ve seen you like this. Will you see him over the holidays?”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Didn’t you say Grant and the twins would be with Dave through most of the holiday?”
Carrie used a paper towel to wipe up her coffee spill from the table. “Yeah, so they could visit with their Texas cousins, but they’ll be here tomorrow for lunch.”
“Does Sam have plans tonight?”
“Nope,” Carrie said, draining her cup and setting it in the sink. “His kids have something with their mom tonight and tomorrow. Where’s the pan for the turkey?”
Elaine pulled a large, aluminum roaster from a bottom shelf and handed it to Carrie. “I don’t see a reason in the world why you two can’t go on a friendly date. Why don’t you go out and have some fun?”
Carrie pulled out what she needed to inject the turkey then paused as she thought about her mother’s comment. “You really think it would be okay?”
“Go on, sweetie. Have some fun while you’re young.”
***
Sam st
ood on the porch discussing lawn mowers and garden tillers with his son-in-law. “Yep, before you know it, it’ll be time to plant the spring garden.” Seconds after he heard his phone ringing, Amanda walked onto the porch carrying the cordless to her father.
“Here, Pop. A Carrie Jeansonne for you, and if we don’t leave right now, we’re gonna be late. Let’s go, Nick.”
Sam watched his lanky teenage son lope off behind his sister. “Y’all be careful,” he said, before addressing the caller. “Carrie, is everything all right?”
“Yes, but is this a bad time to call?” she asked him.
“Not at all. What’s up pretty girl?”
“Christie won’t be home until tomorrow, and I don’t care to sit at home all night.”
Sam held his breath as his heart pounded out the George of the Jungle kettle drum rhythm in his chest.
“So, I was wondering…”
God, I want to see her so bad.
“If you don’t have anything to do tonight…”
“I don’t.” Come on baby, say the words.
“How about we go on that first date?”
He clenched his fist in victory while struggling to keep his voice calm. “Absolutely. We still talking dinner and a movie?”
“Sounds great.”
“What time can I pick you up?”
“Maybe I should meet you in Kenton. There’s not much to do here in Gardiner.”
Sam glanced around, thinking of everything that he’d need to do before she got here. “I’d love to have you come over, but I hate the idea of you driving all the way over here.”
“The nearest theater to Gardiner is an hour drive. Besides, I need to get away. I’m on edge over here.”
“We’ll do whatever you want.” He gave her directions, and they ended the call. Sam set down the phone, unable to believe his luck. “Time to crank it up, old boy…you’ve got a date.”
***
By two o’clock, Carrie and Elaine had finished with the meal preparations. She drove back to town and pulled in at a gift shop boasting a huge sale. Fifteen minutes later, she walked out with a small gift box for Sam, along with a card.