by Bruce, Lila
As she lay on her deliciously soft bed, Nicole listened to the clatter of the lawnmower that had awakened her. She rolled over on one side and partially lifted one eyelid to glare at the alarm clock that sat on the bedside table.
8:12 a.m.
She groaned, stuffing her head under the pillow in an attempt to drown out the sound of the engine that seemed to be just outside the bedroom window.
Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat.
The sound was getting progressively louder and Nicole began to wonder if the person cutting grass outside didn’t know that it was Saturday morning, or if they just didn’t care.
Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat.
Nicole pushed the pillow down with one arm and willed herself back to sleep. Jamie had left to go to work only about an hour before and Nicole was happily sprawled out in the center of the bed.
Chunk-Chunk-Chunk-Chunk.
“Really?” Nicole said sharply from beneath the pillow. “What is wrong with you people?” Who the hell cuts grass in the middle of December?
As if in response, the sound of the engine came to an abrupt stop. After a few moments of silence, Nicole rolled onto her back with a mutter of “finally”. She had almost dozed back off when a sharp metallic wail suddenly ripped through the air.
Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat.
With a noise akin to a growl Nicole sat up in the bed. She looked back to the alarm clock.
8:37 a.m.
Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat-Tat.
Little pieces of something—rocks?—started hitting the bedroom window that sat on the side of the house. Nicole threw back the sheets and exploded toward the window with fire in her eyes. She jerked back the curtains intent on giving someone a very large piece of her mind.
An elderly man wearing a tan fishing cap riding a bright green lawn tractor smiled up at her from outside.
For a moment neither of them moved, just stared back at the other through the screened-in window. Then, in the same instant that Nicole wondered why her next door neighbor was cutting the grass in Nicole’s yard, it dawned on her that she wasn’t wearing any clothes. Well, technically she had clothes on, but she really didn’t think that pink underwear and a white tank top that stopped somewhere in the neighborhood of her midriff counted as clothing.
From the look on Mr. Martin’s face, neither did he.
Nicole yanked the curtains shut. She closed her eyes and let out an embarrassed breath. Oh my God, she thought. Tell me that did not just happen.
Shaking her head, Nicole moved from the window and picked up a pair of jeans and a t-shirt sitting on the top of the clothes hamper. She had slipped on one pink and white tennis shoe when she heard the lawn tractor starting back up again.
“Jesus,” she muttered under her breath as she laced the other shoe. Nicole hadn’t had a lot of contact with her neighbor over the years, at least not Mr. Martin. She’d been friendly with his wife, Dottie, since Nicole’s mother purchased the house the year that Nicole graduated high school. She was a sweet older woman who, every so often, would bring over the odd batch of homemade cookies. Mr. Martin—hell, Nicole wasn’t even sure what his first name was—she rarely saw outside of the occasional trip to the mailbox.
By the time Nicole made it out of the bedroom, she could hear that the lawn tractor had made its way to the back yard. Nicole walked through the kitchen and opened the small door off the laundry room that led to the backyard. She stepped out onto the patio, careful not to slip on the sandstone tile, still damp from the light rain they’d had the night before. Mr. Martin was riding back and forth along the back edge of the yard. He looked up as Nicole stepped from the patio to the grass and waved with a bright smile. After making one more pass, he turned and drove toward Nicole.
“Mr. Martin, what—”
“Oh, don’t ‘Mr. Martin’ me. Call me Bob,” he interrupted.
Nicole sighed.
“Okay, Bob. What are you doing?”
“I’m cutting the grass.”
“I can see that you’re cutting the grass,” she said. “Why are you cutting the grass—my grass—and why so early in the morning?”
“Oh,” he said smiling. “Dottie got me an early Christmas present, what do you think?” He waved a hand over the lawn tractor as if he were a model from the Price is Right.
“Very nice,” Nicole said, in what she hoped was a pleasant voice. “But that still doesn’t answer the question.”
Bob took off his fishing hat and scratched the side of his nose.
“Well, your…um…roommate,” he began, turning red as he looked up and down at Nicole, “…came by the house this morning on her way out and told me that I ought not to leave the new riding lawnmower sitting out in the front yard. She said that people steal lawnmowers all the time and she’d hate to see something happen to mine. She’s a police officer, you know.”
“Yes, I know,” Nicole said with a small sigh.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I asked her if she’d like me to run it over your yard to keep you ladies from having to worry about it again this year and she told me to knock myself out.”
Someone may get knocked out when I see Jamie…
“Oh, well, thank you Mr. Martin—Bob,” Nicole corrected before he could. “That was very sweet of you.”
“Anytime,” he said, tipping his fishing hat. Nicole turned to walk back in the house when he stopped her. “Oh, wait. Don’t go yet.”
She looked back at him questioningly as he hopped off the lawn tractor and reached into his back pocket.
“I was saving this to give to you later. Your policewoman must have dropped it on her way out of my yard, I think,” Bob said, holding up Jamie’s cell phone. “I was guessing it’s hers, anyway.”
Nicole nodded as she took the phone from his hand.
“It is. Thank you, I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to hear you’ve found it.”
“No problem,” he said and climbed back on the lawn tractor. He smiled, gave her a small wave and then drove off to continue cutting her lawn.
Nicole headed back in the house and then kicked the back door shut behind her. As she stepped into the kitchen, she briefly considered going back to bed, but, deciding against it, flipped the switch to turn on the coffee pot as she walked by. The coffee pot, like most things around the house, was in desperate need of an upgrade. Jamie had been after her for a while to turn it in for one of the pod-style machines, but Nicole had so far resisted. But, it would be nice to have a cup of coffee in just a few seconds rather than the ten or so minutes it took her pot to brew, and, as Nicole dropped Jamie’s cell phone on the kitchen counter, she thought that maybe she would break down and buy one after Christmas when they went on sale.
Nicole was searching the dishwasher for a clean coffee cup when she heard Jamie’s phone vibrating on the granite top. Finally locating a cup, Nicole walked back to the coffee pot, thinking that she would need to call Jamie on her county-issued cell phone to let her know that the neighbor had picked up her personal phone. She leaned against the counter top as she absently watched the slow drip of the coffee into the eight-cup carafe.
The phone buzzed again and Nicole glanced over at it, noticing a text message displayed on the large screen of the phone. She cocked her head to read it. Nicole frowned and then picked up the phone, holding it closer as she read the message again.
Can’t wait to see you again, will be at your house in about 5. On Davenport now.
Nicole looked up as the coffee pot belched and then quickly back down at the phone again. She swiped the screen and re-read the text message. The number wasn’t one that she recognized. Scrolling through the phone’s call history, she found other entries with the same number. One incoming, one outgoing, both from yesterday evening.
What the hell?
Nicole frowned and felt her stomach turn as she considered the implications of the message. Davenport Drive was in Jamie’s neighborhood, only a few streets down from her house. Obviously whoever sent the message was on their way to Jami
e’s house and, from the sound of the message, was intending on meeting Jamie.
And apparently was looking forward to the meeting.
Nicole closed her eyes and tried to think if Jamie had mentioned meeting anyone at her house today, but was coming up empty. All Jamie had said was that she had to go into the station for a while to do some paperwork.
Nicole had a sudden flash of memory—Jamie in the kitchen cutting short a hushed phone conversation as Nicole walked in, Amy’s comments about seeing Jamie in front of the bath store, walking in to see her ex-girlfriend Carol in bed with another woman.
Nicole shook her head and dropped the phone. She felt her breath catch as her mind raced and tried to ignore that niggling voice in the back of her head. There had to be a good explanation for it. There was no way Jamie would ever cheat on her…was there?
Pushing back the tears that threatened and forcing herself to take a calming breath, Nicole picked up her car keys hanging on a hook by the refrigerator and then walked out of the kitchen.
Chapter Ten
“Is that a picture of…”
“Johnny Cash? Yeah.”
“Um, Jamie is that…”
“Black velvet? Sure is. You won’t believe I picked that up at a yard sale for two dollars.”
Jamie flashed a grin at Sundae, knowing from the other woman’s expression that she was not as impressed as Jamie had been with the find.
“Oh, I can believe it.”
“You sound as bad as Nicole. She’s made some not so subtle threats about what she’ll do if I ever attempt to bring that picture to her house.” Jamie smiled into a stainless steel travel mug half-full of pumpkin spice latte and then took a sip of the warm liquid.
Sundae laughed and shook her head.
“Sounds like a woman after my heart. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“You’ll love her. Tom will too. He’ll finally have someone to talk football with.” Jamie opened a door off the hallway and stepped in. “I’m sorry he couldn’t make it this morning.”
Sundae shrugged as she followed Jamie into the empty room with pale blue walls.
“It’s his own fault he’s sick. I told him not to eat grocery store sushi, but you know men. Oh, is that a walk-in closet?”
“It is,” Jamie answered. She motioned around the room with the coffee mug as Sundae inspected the closet. “I’ve never really used it, though. I kept a mountain bike in there during that year I decided to get more exercise, but other than that it’s always stayed empty. This room I more or less just use for storage.”
Sundae glanced back at Jamie from inside the cedar-lined closet.
“You’re something else, Jamie. So this isn’t the master, then?”
“No,” Jamie said, shaking her head. “I’ll show you that in a minute. Both the bedrooms are a nice size, but the master is a little larger and has the ensuite bathroom.”
“This is really nice. I can’t believe you’re wanting to sell it.”
“You know, this was the first really big thing I did after I was out on my own,” Jamie admitted. “Kind of an ‘I’ve made it’ purchase. But, I’ve been with Nicole long enough to know that I don’t ever want to be with anyone else, and it’s time to consolidate into one space.”
“Well, her house must be a friggin’ mansion for you to want to give this one up,” Sundae remarked as she closed the door to the closet.
“Nah, not really. To be honest, her place needs lots of work.”
Jamie walked out of the room, motioning for Sundae to follow.
“So why not move in here?” Sundae asked.
“Nicole’s house belonged to her mother. I never met her, she had cancer. She passed away before Nicole and I got together, but Nicole was crazy about her. Nicole moved in with her mom during that the last year and, after she passed, never moved back out. She’s a real estate agent, so I’m sure if she wanted to, Nicole could have easily sold that house and found herself something a little nicer.” Jamie paused in the hallway outside the door to her bedroom. She glanced back at Sundae as she continued. “To be honest, I think it’s her way of hanging onto her mom. I could never ask her to give it up.”
Sundae smiled and touched Jamie on the arm.
“You know, no matter how much I know you hate to admit it, you really are a softie. I hope Nicole appreciates you.”
“Some days more than others,” Jamie grinned. “When she finds out I’ve lost my cell phone, she’s going to be pissed. I distinctly remember that she told me to get the insurance on it, and I told her that it was a waste of money.”
“Well, maybe you just left it at her place,” Sundae said. “Hopefully, anyway. I know Tom lost his iPhone a couple years back and it cost around three hundred dollars to replace it out of contract.”
“Jesus,” Jamie muttered. “If that’s the case, I’ll just do without.” Jamie opened the door and stepped into the master bedroom. She motioned around the room with her coffee mug. “The ensuite is right over there. Jacuzzi tub, double sinks. The walk-in closet is there. It’s actually a little bigger than the one in the other bedroom.”
Jamie turned to look at Sundae, who was stopped in the doorway of the room. The blonde woman looked at the king-sized bed that sat against the far wall and then back to Jamie.
“Jamie…is that…”
“A Johnny Cash bedspread? It sure is.”
“Where on earth—you know what, never mind. I don’t even want to know,” Sundae said and walked into the room. She looked around admiringly. “Jamie, this is really nice. It’s so much bigger than I expected it to be.”
Jamie walked over to the window by the closet and looked out at the large, fenced in backyard. “You know, I really don’t know what I was thinking when I bought this house. It’s always been too big for me.”
“Well, I think it’s a perfect size for me and Tom. That kitchen was gorgeous. And this bedroom? Oh my God, look at that bathroom.” Jamie turned to see Sundae standing at the threshold of the bathroom. She spun around and shook her head at Jamie. “This bathroom is the size of my first house.”
“It is kinda something, isn’t it?” Jamie grinned. Jamie had to admit the master bathroom was one of the main things that had sold her on the house. “The shower is amazing, I’ll have to say. Here, let me show you this shower head. It’s called Rainforest,” Jamie said, crossing the distance between the window and the bathroom. She stepped in the shower stall and accidentally bumped the handle, giving a small shriek as water suddenly erupted from the huge shower nozzle that was pointing straight down at her. Jamie frantically hit at the small, silver handle, but it was too late. Drenched, she glared out from the shower stall at Sundae, who was leaning up against the sink laughing.
“Shit,” Jamie swore, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel. Noticing some of the water had splashed out onto Sundae as well, she threw another one to the woman and began to apologize. “My God, I’m so sorry. I got you too, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but it’s okay,” Sundae said, smiling and wiping her eyes. “The water wasn’t hot, I hope.”
Jamie shook her head.
“No, but I think I’m going to have to put on some dry clothes. Damn it.”
“Bless your heart. What time are the other people coming to look at the house today? Do you have time to change?”
“At eleven,” Jamie answered. “But I’m not going to be here when they are. I told the agent I would leave the key under the little garden gnome off the front porch. I do need to go into the station for a little bit.” Jamie looked at Sundae and grimaced. “You won’t mind if I change right quick?”
“Oh Lord, no. Go ahead. I can make myself at home while you’re at it.”
“I won’t be five minutes,” Jamie promised. “Walk around, take a look at the backyard, or just sit on the bed. Whatever you want to do. I’ll make it quick.”
Sundae tossed a glance behind her at the bed and shook her head with a laugh.
“I’ll just walk
around, thank you. That bedspread scares me.”
Jamie laughed as she stepped to the closet, turning back toward Sundae and giving a little snort. “Don’t be a hater.”
Jamie walked into the closet and quickly unbuttoned the wet blouse, slipped off the wet pants and tossed them both in a white plastic laundry basket sitting by the doorway. She made a mental note to move them to the washer before she left the house so they wouldn’t mildew. Jamie pulled a white cotton blouse down from one of the hangers lining the closet, went over to the dresser and snagged a pair of jeans before stepping back into the bedroom.
“I really can’t say that much about you and your thing with Johnny Cash,” Sundae was saying as she looked out the window to the backyard. “Tom is a huge Auburn fan. Half my house is blue and orange.” The blonde woman turned as Jamie exited the walk-in closet. “Oh my word, I would murder to have abs like that. You can’t tell me that you don’t work out.”
“I don’t, really,” Jamie smirked. “It’s all in the genes.” She glanced up at the other woman. “Damn Sundae, that shirt is really wet.” She crossed back over to the dresser for a t-shirt. “Here, put this on before you get sick. It’s cold out there today.”
“You kill me,” Sundae said, shaking her head and unbuttoning her blouse. “I almost hate to get undressed in front of you. Here I am worried about packing on baby weight, and you stand there looking like the cover of Sports Illustrated without even trying.”
Jamie began to laugh and then stopped. She cocked her head at Sundae.
“Whoa, wait. Baby weight? Are you pregnant?”
The blonde woman licked her lips and tossed her hair back.
“We haven’t really told anyone yet, but…yeah, I’m pregnant,” Sundae said, smiling.
“No fucking way.”
“Yes fucking way,” Sundae laughed and then squealed as Jamie rushed forward and wrapped her arms around the short woman, spinning her around.