Inked by an Angel

by Allen, Shauna

  But he looked again, working hard to hold onto that Commandment.

  Kierstan Peters & Blaine Christianson.

  He was afraid he’d just lost the Cupid lottery.

  Chapter 22

  Two weeks later on a bright Saturday afternoon, Kyle dressed in her most cheerful yellow shirt and white shorts even though she felt a bug coming on, and headed to her parents’ house for Bryan’s engagement party. She felt achy and not all together up to going, but she’d promised and she wasn’t going to back out and leave poor Daphne alone with her parents. She made sure she didn’t have a fever and promised herself she wouldn’t get too close to the little girl just in case she had anything contagious.

  She rang the bell out front, but headed around to the backyard when the sounds of conversation and a child’s laughter floated around. She found her father and brother at the grill deep in conversation and her mother sitting at the patio table with a very uncomfortable-looking young woman. Must be Daphne. The little girl was running around the yard with her doll, oblivious to everything but her imagination at the moment.

  “Kyle!” Her mother actually seemed relieved to see her. “I’m so glad you could make it!”

  She bent to hug her mother and extended the bottle of wine she’d picked up on the way over. “Me, too. Sorry I’m a little late. But I come bearing gifts.”

  “Thank you.” Her mother accepted the Zinfandel. “I’ll just put this inside.” She turned toward the young woman at the table. “Kyle, this is Daphne. Your brother’s fiancée.” It was hard to miss the distinct distaste she felt at the word.

  Daphne stood and offered her hand. On her other hand, she sported a sizable rock. Way to go, Bry.

  Kyle bypassed her hand and tugged her into a warm hug. “I’m so happy to meet you, Daphne. Welcome to the family.” Once she had her close and her mother was out of earshot having gone into the house with the wine, she added, “I’m sorry if they’ve been rude to you. Don’t let them make you uncomfortable. Just ignore ‘em.”

  She pulled back and saw that she had made Daphne smile. “Thank you.”

  They sat and Kyle smiled back. “I know my mother can be a snob, but don’t worry. I’m not like her. And my dad is pretty harmless, too. If a bit clueless.”

  Daphne ran a hand through her long blond ponytail. “Phew. I’m glad. I thought this was going to be one long, brutal day,” she confided.

  Kyle laughed. “Or one long, brutal marriage with my family?”

  “Maybe.”

  Bryan joined them and kissed Daphne’s cheek. “I see you’ve met my bride-to-be. Isn’t she beautiful?”

  “Yes, she is. Sweet, too. Don’t let Mother eat her.”

  Bryan’s jaw dropped. “Kyle.”

  “What? It’s the truth.”

  The little girl toddled up and raised her arms for Bryan to lift her. He did and planted a noisy kiss to her cheek. “This is Sabrina.”

  Kyle smiled, but didn’t get up, still fearing she might be getting ill. “She’s adorable.”

  The sliding glass door opened behind them and she saw Bryan’s eyes light with recognition, then surprise, as he looked over her shoulder. He glanced down at Kyle with a look of I had nothing to do with this on his face.

  She turned to look, just in time to see Charles helping her mother with a tray of appetizers. What the heck?

  They approached and her mom acted as though nothing was amiss. As though Charles was still a part of their family functions. “Would anyone like a stuffed mushroom?” She smiled as Charles set down the platter.

  Charles straightened and stood back with a cautious smile on his face. “Hello.”

  Kyle leaned back in her chair and swallowed a groan. Damn her matchmaking mother. “Hello, Charles.”

  He bent over and kissed her cheek with his eternally dry lips. The leathery smell of his aftershave made her nausea kick up a notch.

  Introductions were made around the table and Charles sat down next to her. He pulled his seat as close to her as he could get. “So, Kyle, how have you been? I’ve been thinking about you a great deal. I miss you.”

  Daphne looked on with interest. Bryan popped a mushroom in his mouth and apparently was going to ignore them all. Kyle smiled politely. “I’m fine, thank you.”

  He reached over and tried to take her hand but she snatched it back. “Kyle, darling—”

  “Food’s ready,” her father interrupted and Kyle had never been so happy to see burnt chicken in her whole life.

  “Can we talk later?” Charles asked under his breath as she scooped potato salad she wasn’t going to eat onto her plate.

  She sighed. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  He reached under the table and squeezed her thigh. “Of course there is.” He leaned over and whispered into her ear, “I still love you, Kyle. Please, I want to give us another chance.”

  Her head began to spin and she felt faint. “Not now, Charles. Okay?”

  “Then later?”

  “Maybe.”

  He seemed to take that as a ‘yes’ and dug into his food like she’d handed him the moon. Every once in a while he’d shoot her a sly smile as if they shared some special secret. Well, there was no secret. Not with him anyway.

  She pushed the food around her plate and tried to decide if she was going to throw up or not. She excused herself to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. That seemed to help some. On the way back outside, she grabbed a ginger ale.

  “Are you feeling all right, dear?” Her mother studied her face. “You’re looking a little pale.”

  “I’m not sure. Suddenly I’m not feeling so well.” She tried to sip her ginger ale, but it didn’t taste good, so she set it aside.

  “Why don’t you lay down on one of the chaise lounges and rest a while?” her mother recommended.

  “That sounds like a good idea.” She wasn’t sure she could get much further than that anyway with the way her body was beginning to ache. She curled up on the lounge chair and closed her eyes.

  She must’ve drifted off, because a while later she opened her eyes and found that it was nearly dark and the men were tossing around a football in the yard while Daphne rocked little Sabrina in a chair next to her. Her mother must have gone inside because she was nowhere around.

  Daphne looked over when she roused with a moan. “You feeling any better?”

  “Not really. I think I must’ve caught the bug going around at work. I feel like crap. I need to get home. I’m so sorry to ruin your engagement party,” she apologized.

  “Don’t be silly. You’re not ruining anything. It’s not your fault you’re sick.” She offered a soft smile. “Let me see if Bryan can give you a lift home, though. You’re in no condition to drive.”

  Kyle tried to sit up, but her head pounded. “I guess you might be right.”

  “Bryan!” Daphne called.

  The men stopped playing and trotted over. Kyle noticed that Charles was covered in mud. “What happened to you?”

  He glanced down. “Your brother tackled me in a mud puddle. Very unsportsmanlike.”

  Bryan chuckled. “You had it coming. You shouldn’t have intercepted the ball from my dad.”

  Charles shrugged. “That’s how the game is played, my friend.”

  Daphne stood and adjusted the toddler on her hip. “Hey, sweetie, your sister is still not feeling well. Do you think you could drive her home?”

  “Oh, well—”

  “I’ll do it,” Charles interrupted, seeming just a little bit too eager.

  All eyes turned to him. “You’re sure?” Bryan asked.

  “Absolutely. I don’t mind at all.”

  “Well, if Kyle’s okay with it.” Bryan turned questioning eyes to her.

  She was
too sick to care. “It’s fine. Just get me home please so I can die in peace.”

  Jed was absolutely sick of missing her. And it had just about killed him to come back to work and find Kyle’s resignation letter sitting on his desk. Rumor was that Toxic D’s had stolen her right out from under him and he was pissed. She belonged to him, damn it! She loved him. She’d told him so. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, but he was trying to deal. But, damn her, why did she have to up and leave him?

  “Fuck!” he roared, startling the little temp that she’d arranged for them. “Sorry,” he apologized and gave her a little wave to let her know it wasn’t anything she’d done.

  The new girl was okay, but she was definitely no Kyle. She didn’t arrange the files just so and she didn’t make sure he had his accounts exactly by 6 p.m. every Friday night just like he liked it. He and Muffet had had a system and it worked for them.

  He was miserable. He could work, but he had a hard time getting around with this stupid, friggin’ cast on his leg. Everyone looked at him like they felt sorry for him. He was even starting to feel sorry for himself. Bad move. He grabbed his keys and his crutches.

  “I’m outta here for the night,” he told Noble. “Lock up for me, will ya?”

  Noble looked up from his customer’s back and set aside his buzzing needle. “Sure, man. Everything all right?”

  Jed gave him a cursory nod. “Sure.”

  He crutched his way outside. Now, on this he did allow himself a little self-pity. His baby had to be totaled and he’d been appropriately grieved for the old girl. He thought it would be a dishonor to her memory to try and replace her, after all she was irreplaceable. So, instead, he’d bought a brand spankin’ new midnight black Shelby Mustang off the showroom floor. He liked to think of it as his sweet darling’s granddaughter. Just keeping it in the family. The only bitch of it was the darn standard transmission. And, for about the millionth time, he counted the days until his cast came off next month. But, in the meantime, he had resorted to borrowing Noble’s truck while Noble got to drive the new baby. Son-of-a-bitch liked to gloat about it, too.

  He hefted himself up into the big, black monstrosity that Noble liked to drive and cussed his friend. He started the engine and changed the radio station.

  He wanted to go to Kyle, but he refused. She had left him. Let her come back. Instead, he drove to his mother’s. She would have something cooking for dinner by now and would be better company than the demons barking in his ear.

  He gave his mother’s door a quick knock, but let himself in like he always did. “Mom!”

  “In the kitchen!”

  He smelled something savory and followed his nose. Good ol’ mom. She was so reliable in his chaotic world and he loved her for it. He crutched into the room and gave her a one-armed hug.

  “Hi, sweetie. What’re you doing here? Don’t you have work tonight?” She frowned at him with concern and set down the spoon she was using to stir the red sauce.

  He leaned against the counter. “I needed a break. Noble’s got it covered.”

  “Well then go sit down.” She shooed him to the table. “You want some spaghetti?”

  “Of course.” When did he not eat? He pushed off the counter and made his way to the table and sat, propping his crutches next to him.

  She fixed him a plate and brought it over. “What do you want to drink?”

  “You got tea today?”

  She just raised a brow. Duh. She walked to the fridge and poured him a large glass. She brought it over and sat beside him. “Thanks.” He smiled and dug in.

  She watched him eat until he finally glanced up. “Aren’t you eating, Mom?”

  “In a minute. Are you doing okay, Jedediah? You seem a little worn out. Are you overdoing it?”

  Such a mother. He could kiss her. This is exactly why he came over here. “No, Mom. I’m fine.” He continued shoveling in the food. “This is really good. You should get a plate.”

  “I said in a minute.” She tilted her head. “So, Michael tells me that Kyle quit.”

  He dropped his fork. “And when did you talk to Michael?” He was going to throttle him!

  “He called me the other day. He’s worried about you.” She reached over and dusted a crumb from the table. “He says you sit in your office and mope entirely too much. He thinks you might be getting depressed.”

  “Depressed? Depressed? Jezus, Mom!” He picked up his fork only to drop it again. “Did anyone ever stop to think I sit around and mope because of this stupid friggin’ cast on my leg that’s tying me down?” he asked, thumping his encumbered left leg. “I can’t believe he called you about it. I’ll talk to him.”

  “He was only doing it out of concern as your friend, Jedediah. Don’t be angry with him.” She took his hand. “He misses her too, you know.”

  He looked into her eyes. “Mom—” But he didn’t know what else to say. How could he put what he was feeling into words?

  She stood and embraced him, pillowing him against her like he was her little boy again. “What is the deal between the two of you, son? Did you work it out with her before she left?”

  He shook his head. “No. But you were right. She told me she’s in love with me.”

  His mother stepped back and sat down. “I knew that. It was obvious by the look in her eyes, darling. It’s a wonder you didn’t figure it out for yourself.”

  He pushed his plate away with a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, well, we all know about my track record with women who claim to love me. I’m not falling for that again. No, sir. Besides, she left. How much could she really love me if she walked away?”

  She picked up his plate and took it to the sink. “I love you, Jedediah. But you, my son, are an idiot.”

  “What in the hell are you talking about?”

  She spun around, anger sparking from her eyes. “What did you tell the girl when she opened her heart to you, son? I’m assuming you didn’t return the sentiment or give her any hope for a future with you. Am I close?”

  “Well . . .”

  “Just what are your feelings for her? Do you even know?” She stalked back to the table. “Jedediah, I hate to tell you this, but I do believe your father would be ashamed of you for breaking that poor girl’s heart. She is not Kierstan!” she yelled at him, not mincing her words a bit. “You need to get over yourself and decide if you love her. And if you do, if you think you might, you need to go to her and tell her.”

  The truth of her words sliced him to ribbons. He’d been so bogged down in the misery of the past year, he hadn’t been able to see any kind of a future.

  Tears filled her eyes. “I’m tired of seeing my son so miserable. Go get her if she’s going to make you happy.”

  What seemed a miserable eon later, Charles got Kyle to her condo. He helped her up the stairs, supporting her weight against his body. “I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he murmured in her ear.

  He took her keys and opened the door. Once they were inside, he helped her to the couch, where she plopped down miserably.

  “Thank you, Charles. I appreciate your help.”

  He sat next to her. “You’re welcome.”

  She leaned back and closed her eyes. “You don’t have to stay.”

  “I want to. I still want to talk, you know. About us.”

  She groaned. “There is no ‘us.’ Not anymore.”

  He didn’t say anything for several moments and she knew it was wishful thinking to hope that he would let it go at that. She popped open an eye and found him studying the sketch that Jed had drawn of her face.

  He looked at her, a million questions in his eyes. What could she say? What should she say? She supposed she owed them both the truth. “That’s the reason there will never be an ‘us’ again.”

  His brows furrowed as
he set it back down on the coffee table. “I don’t understand.”

  “No”—her head began to spin wildly. Her stomach churned—“I don’t suppose you do.”

  “Will you please explain it?”

  “I—”

  But bile began to rise up in her throat and saliva began to fill her mouth. Her palms began to sweat and she swallowed, trying to prevent what she feared was coming.

  Too late. Her stomach spasmed painfully. And even as she tried to hold it back with all her might and her hand at her mouth, she puked all over him.

  Charles sat there in wide-eyed shock, her vomit dripping down the front of his already muddy polo shirt.

  She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, half glad that the aching in her stomach was finally relieved. “I’m so sorry, Charles.” She stood and the room didn’t spin too wildly. “Let me get you something to clean up with.”

  He reached up and touched his head. “It’s in my hair.”

  “Oh.” She bit her lip. “Sorry.”

  “It’s in your hair, too.” He looked up at her.

  She dabbed at her own hair and grimaced. Yuck.

  He stood up. “Perhaps I could just jump in the shower and change clothes? Do you still have some of my old things around here?”

  She thought a second. “I think so. And I can throw those in the wash if you want.” She pointed at the puke-infested garments he was currently wearing.

  He nodded. “Okay.” He walked gingerly down the hall and closed himself into the bathroom.

  She waited until she heard the shower turn on then went into her room to grab her robe and change out of her own dirty clothes. She slipped into the guest bathroom and rinsed the vomit from her hair and combed it back from her face. That would have to do until he left and she could indulge in a nice, long bubble bath.

  She rifled through some drawers until she found a pair of his old sweats that he’d left behind and pulled them out. That took about all of her energy and she was glad when the shower turned off. Maybe he’d leave soon so she could get some sleep. She just hated that she’d probably have to call in sick so soon after starting a new job.