The Perpetual Quest for the Perfect Life

by Pace, Michelle

  “Aves! The usual?” Lauren greeted her cheerfully, passing off the trays of baked goods to Jules. They were an odd pair. Lauren was a petite strawberry blonde with big blue eyes. Always enthusiastic and bubbly, she lit up every room she’d ever entered. A solemn and stoic yin to Lauren’s yang, tattooed and pierced assistant, Jules, loomed in the background, with a hairnet over her Betty Paige hairstyle. Jules’s dark Latina skin was naturally the color of cocoa, whereas Lauren’s was as ivory as cream. They worked side by side with the intuitive skill of a well-oiled machine. Lauren’s bright smile was salve to Avery’s soul. The past few days with Nicole had been tense and awkward, and she was relieved to see a friendly face.

  “Yes, please. How’re tricks?” Avery gestured with her head to imply she meant the shop.

  “We’re killing it. I am so making Jack take me on a friggin’ cruise this winter. I have worked my ass off—literally—for it!” She raised her eyebrows up and down suggestively. Avery laughed. In spite of her chaotic morning, Lauren managed to lift her spirits.

  “Here’s to tropical cruises and men who don’t need Viagra. Clink!” Lauren handed Avery her café au lait and tapped coffee cups with her. It cracked Avery up that Lauren, a talented barista, refused to drink anything but straight black coffee. “What’s up, girl? You look like someone just ran over your puppy.”

  “It’s just been weird with Nicole. She’s quieter than ever.” Avery took a sip of the piping hot drink. It wasn’t untrue, and it gave her something else to talk about besides Jason.

  “She’s probably just overwhelmed. I’m sure being here brings back a ton of Ryan memories. You should bring her by. I’ve been itching to see her and the little guy.”

  “Yeah, I think we’ll come by for lunch. I thought we’d take Ike to the pumpkin patch this weekend. Wanna come and bring the girls?”

  “Sounds like a plan. We’d better do it before the weather turns,” Lauren agreed as the oven timer dinged. “That’s me. Gotta go. Come by later. We’re firing up the grill since it’s so nice out. Burgers and brats, baby.”

  “Okay. See ya.” Avery grabbed her drink and headed for the door. Her attitude adjusted for the better, she stepped back into the sunshine.

  The sound of someone pounding on her back door interrupted post-breakfast cartoons. Nic peeked out the window, and then felt foolish. She wasn’t in the city anymore, and didn’t need three deadbolts and a chain. Avery stood on her back porch, appearing ridiculously awake and pulled together.

  “Hey.” Avery breezed in the door.

  “You look great. You’re giving me a complex.” Nicole felt self-conscious about her damp hair, and lack of makeup or contacts. Avery dismissively waved her manicured hand.

  “It’s just us girls. There’s my buddy!” She continued to the couch where Ike sat, staring at cartoons. She bent down to greet him and Ike attempted to look past her at the TV. Nicole and Avery both chuckled.

  “He couldn’t care less.” Avery tossed her expensive handbag casually on the dining room table and took a seat. She sifted through the nearest box. “It looks like you got more done last night.”

  “Yeah, the living room is pretty much finished, and Ike’s room is totally unpacked.” Nicole joined her.

  “I’m so glad you’re back. It’s going to be so great to have you guys in town,” Avery gushed, taking Nicole off guard.

  Avery and Nicole had been best friends since Nicole and her mom had moved to Jefferson Point their sophomore year. Things had been awkward between them for about a year after Ryan died. When she and Ry lived in Chicago, Avery visited often, especially during Nicole’s pregnancy. After Ryan was killed, Avery vanished, later confiding that seeing them had just been too painful. While Nicole understood, it had been agony to lose her best friend and her husband at the same time.

  “I hope you’re right. It’s going to take some getting used to. I have to thank you again for finding this place. It’s perfect for us.” Nicole’s gratitude was sincere. Having a support system was like having a mammoth weight lifted off her shoulders. Avery had found them the loft house, which sat over an empty storefront. The entire Harper clan was in the process of networking to help her find work. The economy sucked, but Nicole was an experienced interior designer. Fortunately, she and Ryan had both been savvy with money. After paying off Ryan’s student loans, she and Ike had a decent cushion. That being said, she loved designing and hoped she’d be able to work in her field.

  It didn’t take Nicole long to notice Avery was distracted. Her demeanor had completely changed since the afternoon before; she seemed fidgety and distant.

  “Is there something wrong, Aves? You seem freaked.”

  “Just sore,” she responded, but with every passing hour she seemed to grow more agitated.

  Suddenly, Avery’s reserves burst like a dam, and she unloaded to Nicole about Jason. Mortified, Nicole gaped at her when she told of the stranger’s appearance at her door and Jason’s brazen behavior in response. Having briefly dated Jason in high school, Nicole was uniquely sympathetic about his antics.

  The fact that Avery and Nicole had both dated Jason wasn’t unusual for a small town like J.P. Though Ryan had been her high school sweetheart, he’d dumped Nicole over the phone her junior year using the “long distance relationships don’t work” excuse. Her young heart had been eviscerated, and Jason was a welcome and aesthetically pleasing distraction.

  By lunchtime, they’d finished unpacking everything but the office. Nicole needed to take her time organizing all of her papers, so she announced they were finished.

  “Let’s celebrate! I’ll take you to lunch.”

  “Let’s go to CoffeeSmith’s. Lauren’s grilling and she wants to see you.”

  “All right. I’d better change, though.” Nicole looked down at her lounge pants. She glanced at her untamed curls in the nearest reflective surface and quickly pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

  “Cool. I’ll get Ike ready.” Avery scooped up the boy. “Time to get dressed.”

  “Okay…” he said reluctantly, as if giving in after a long argument.

  Twenty minutes later, they climbed out of Nicole’s Jeep and pulled Ike out of his car seat. Nicole joked that they were the laziest people alive for driving four blocks for lunch, but after several days of hard work, they were physically spent. They found a vacant table on the back deck of CoffeeSmith’s. The place was slammed, but Ike was having a ball watching the barges and boats go by. They ate burgers and kicked back, both grateful that the tedious job was coming to an end.

  As the crowd died down, Lauren joined them with her own plate of food. Nicole couldn’t help but smile when she saw how close Lauren and Avery had become. The two women had been rivals in school; both were on the dance team and in sports. Time had a way of making all the little dramas seem trivial, like the sharp edges of a rock worn away by the constant flow of the river.

  “Do you want to go into the city with me tomorrow night? I need new running shoes.” Avery asked Lauren as she picked the onion off of her hamburger.

  “You’re still running that trail in the woods? I couldn’t even hike that sucker anymore after having the girls.” Lauren’s surprise was obvious as she looked at Avery.

  “Hell yeah. Almost every day. This ass naturally wants to be fat,” Avery responded.

  “Whatever. Look at your mom. She’s a stick just like you. You’re an addict.” Lauren shook her head.

  Avery shrugged.

  “What about you, Nic? Have you become a psycho health nut too?”

  “I don’t run unless something’s chasing me.” There was a lull in the conversation and Nicole seized the moment. “So, Lauren … Avery saw this really hot Native American guy at the store,” she lied. Avery shot her a hostile look, which she ignored. “Do you know who he is?”

  “It’s got to be Shilah.” Lauren gave Avery a saucy look. “He is hot.”

  “You know him?” Avery’s tone was nonchalant, but Nicole could see she was
intrigued.

  “Sure. His name is Shilah Nizhoni. He and Jack play cards together. He works at Gates Corp. I think he’s an engineer or something.” Lauren eyes lit up. “You know, he’s coming out to our fish fry next weekend. I can introduce you.”

  Avery fixed Nicole with a deadly look when Lauren turned away. Now Avery had to act like she hadn’t met Shilah. Nicole bit her lip to suppress a laugh.

  “I don’t know if I’ll be coming.” Avery seemed to flail for an excuse. “I have a lot of work to get caught up on.”

  “Well, you better come, hooch. I am making my potato salad just for you.” Lauren flashed a smile and winked. “So Nicole, are you ready to chase Ike through the corn maze at Foster’s Farm?”

  “Foster’s Farm?” Nicole did a double take and nearly dropped her purse. “As in Aaron Foster?”

  His name made her pulse quicken and she wondered if she was having a hot flash.

  “Yeah. He’s turned the family farm into quite a production. They have a pumpkin patch and a corn maze, and after Thanksgiving, a Christmas tree farm with Santa. All organic … is everything all right?”

  Nicole felt the color rise in her cheeks.

  “Yeah, I guess I thought he was still in St. Louis.”

  “God, no. He’s been back for what, three years?” Lauren looked to Avery for confirmation. Avery responded with a non-committal gesture, and Nicole didn’t like the way Avery was eyeing her.

  Hearing about Aaron was like a cold pail of water in the face. Flashbacks of his dimpled smile and his rich voice flickered on the movie screen in her mind. Seeing the mix of confusion and intrigue on Avery and Lauren’s faces, she busied herself removing baby wipes from her purse and wiping the ketchup from Ike’s hands. Ike twisted and screamed as if she was torturing him. Avery and Lauren chuckled at the scene. As Nicole turned away from Ike, she spotted Jason making his way to their table.

  “Shit, Aves. Here comes Jason,” Nicole whispered unenthusiastically.

  “Nicole. Lookin’ good. How’ve you been?” His tone was naughty as he shot her a lopsided grin. His eyes dropped to her low neckline and unapologetically lingered on her cleavage. He moved behind her chair, running his fingers down her ponytail and briefly resting his hand on the back of her neck. Nicole blanched, immediately uncomfortable. Jason had a knack for making every interaction feel vulgar.

  “Good.” Nicole glanced at Avery who blinked and folded her arms.

  “This must be Isaac.” Jason sat down and ruffled Ike’s blonde hair. Ike looked at him as if to say, “Dude, please.” Nicole internally applauded Ike for being a fine judge of character.

  “No one asked you to sit,” Avery remarked. Jason shot her a wicked grin and Lauren’s mouth dropped.

  “It’s a public place.” Jason smirked.

  Avery sighed, turning back to Nicole. “Do you mind if I take Ike for a walk?” She was already on her feet.

  “Sure, I’ll join you.” Nicole stood. No idea how to make a graceful exit, she waved awkwardly. “Jason.”

  Avery helped Ike out of his high chair, and as soon as his feet hit the ground, he was off and running. Avery ran after him.

  “Well, that was creepy. You really know how to clear a table.” Nicole heard Lauren murmur to Jason as she gathered Ike’s diaper bag and cup. He seemed to not hear Lauren; he was too busy watching Avery run after Ike, who was laughing hysterically.

  After chasing Ike all over the waterfront, Nicole announced it was time to put him down for a much needed nap. Full of adrenaline, Avery decided to stop and see her father at the clubhouse. She was still reeling from Jason’s appearance at CoffeeSmith’s. It pissed her off that he had slimed all over Nicole. It was insulting as hell and an affront to her brother’s memory. It just confirmed that ditching Jason had been a stellar move. She chided herself for sleeping with him once more and vowed not to slip up again.

  She pulled into her parking spot and glanced at her appearance in the mirror, applying more lipstick. As she entered the clubhouse bar, she waved to the regulars who greeted her. Louise was tending bar. Fit and energetic in her mid-fifties, she could still keep up with the younger employees.

  “Avery. What are you doing here? Don’t you know the meaning of the words ‘personal day’?” Louise pushed up her glasses as she poured a beer from the tap.

  “Looking for Dad. Seen him around?” Avery took off her jacket.

  “He’s out on the golf course. He should be back soon.”

  Avery nodded taking a seat at the bar. “How’s business today?” Her eyes scanned the posh dining area.

  “Kind of slow, but it should pick up around five. Here you go, Pug.” Louise handed a beer to an older gentleman.

  “Hey Pug, did you hear about the new fellow working at Gates Corp?” the man next to him asked. “The Redskin?”

  “Yep. Just saw him at the pro shop. This place used to have some standards. What’s the world coming to?” Pug grumbled in return.

  Avery shot a cold look at them both. Jason had her itching for a fight. Remembering her position, she decided to dismiss their conversation. Though it was true that there weren’t many minorities living in Jefferson Point, Stone Valley did not discriminate. These two fools had spent a lifetime forming ignorant opinions and going off on them wasn’t going to fix their character flaws.

  “Do you want something to drink, Hun?” Avery realized the bartender had read the tension on her face.

  “No, I’m good.” Off duty or not, she never drank during hours of operation.

  “So, Pug, how’s this year’s harvest?” Louise seemed eager to move the two men away from their controversial topic. Avery valued Louise’s intuitiveness.

  “Looks like I’ll break even.” Pug took a sip of his beer.

  “Well, that’s good after last year,” Louise responded, and Avery noticed Louise watching her. She realized she’d been twisting her hair, a nervous habit that she’d been trying to quit. The ability to relax was not in her nature; she couldn’t even get through a facial without fidgeting.

  “Is something bothering you?” Louise shot her a concerned look.

  “No, just tell Dad to call my cell, okay?” Avery stood and grabbed her jacket, not wanting to stay a moment longer while in such a foul mood.

  “You got it.” Louise shrugged.

  Avery hurried to her car and slowed her approach as she discovered her front tire was flat. “Shit.”

  She threw her jacket and purse onto the front seat. She pushed the button for the trunk. As she rummaged for her tire jack, a deep and unforgettable voice stopped her mid-motion.

  “Do you need some help?” Avery turned slowly to see Shilah looking at her over his sunglasses. She felt herself blush.

  “I think I can get it.” She knew she sounded defensive, but she couldn’t help it. She yanked the jack from the trunk.

  “If you insist.” Shilah turned away and as she admired the way his jeans fit, Avery noticed him put a golf bag in the back of his black hybrid.

  “Did you have a nice round today?” Recalling that she was at her place of business, she scolded herself for her lack of professionalism.

  “I haven’t played yet. I just bought these today.” Shilah shut his trunk and leaned a muscular arm on the car, studying her.

  “Don’t wait too long. This weather can’t last forever.”

  Avery slid the jack under her car and began the tedious process. As she was attempting to raise the car, her hand slid and she cracked her knuckle on the concrete. She grabbed her hand and howled in pain. Shilah, who’d been about to climb behind the wheel, shot her a concerned look and she sighed.

  “I guess I could use some help.” Reaching into her car, she grabbed some napkins and wrapped them around her hand. Shilah removed his sunglasses and sauntered to her side.

  “Let me see.” He took Avery’s hand and his sudden nearness allowed her to study him up close. His features were perfection, and when his eyes met hers, warmth shot through her. Caught off g
uard by her physical reaction to him, she steeled herself.

  “It’s just a scratch.” Flustered, she quickly pulled her hand away, and Shilah looked at her as if she were a small child telling a fib. Unprepared for the feeling of blood rushing to her face, she glanced at the ground.

  “You should probably put some pressure on it.”

  Avery’s dirty mind went to unexpected places at his innocent comment and she felt feverish. As he began working on her tire, Avery took in his muscles, his graceful movements, and his tight Levi’s. She suddenly realized that Shilah was staring at her, and knew she was turning an even deeper shade of red. He went back to his task, but she was pleased to see he was smiling.

  Nicole eased Ike’s bedroom door closed and tiptoed down the stairs. Crossing into the living room, she plopped down on her sofa. It felt good to just be still. Looking around her new place, she smiled. Ryan would have loved it; he’d been a sucker for old architecture and exposed brick. Contented with the fruits of her labor, she went to take a bath, carefully shaving her legs and plucking her eyebrows.

  After making a cup of tea, she headed to the small room that would be her office and sorted through books and supplies. A box marked “Ryan’s Locker” stopped her in her tracks. The hospital administrator had presented it to her after he died and she’d never bothered to look at its contents, afraid of what she might stumble across. She still couldn’t bring herself to open it, so she set the box aside to give to Avery.

  Turning back to the stack, she found the box of yearbooks. Visiting with Lauren had her feeling nostalgic, and she couldn’t resist the urge to thumb through them. She cackled at a few of the pictures and at some of the things she and her friends had doodled on them.