by Lacy Hart
“It’s fine,” Richard said as he watched Kristin pull up the hem of her dress slightly so he could check.
“Your reflexes are great,” Richard said, standing up.
He picked up Kristin’s forms and read them over and then looked at her.
“You say you're having neck, shoulder, and upper back pain? And it’s caused by stress?”
“Well, yes, I have a lot going on right now between the library, the fundraising dinner…”
“Oh, right, that’s tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it,” Richard commented.
“Right… and then I have Karen’s wedding, and Izzy’s in the school musical…”
“Who’s Izzy?” Richard questioned.
“Oh, Isabelle, that’s my boyfriend’s daughter… I mean he’s kind of my boyfriend… I don’t know right now,” Kristin said, exasperated.
“Things not going well?” Richard said, as he moved behind Kristin and put his hands on her neck to check it.
“It’s… it’s a long story with a lot going on,” Kristin explained. “No need to bore you with details. Ohhh, that feels good,” Kristin said from what Richard did to her neck.
“You certainly have a lot of tension here,” Richard said. “Why don’t you lie down on the table, face down so I can check your back.”
Kristin laid down and felt Richard’s hands work down from her neck to her shoulders. He kept massaging her muscles, loosening them and making her feel more relaxed. She could feel the tension melting away and closed her eyes.
“Kristin, I just need to unzip the back of your dress to get to your upper back, okay?”
Kristin just mumbled a “Hmm hmm,” without thinking much about it.
She heard the familiar sound of the zipper going down and then felt Richard’s hands working on her back, feeling around her spine and then felt him push, and she heard a “pop.” Kristin felt instant relief and let out a small groan.
Richard kept up his work, but then suddenly, Kristin felt him unhook the back of her bra. Her eyes flew open, and she asked, “What… what are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, it was in the way,” Richard explained. “I needed to get in here,” and Richard worked the area with another “pop,” that provided more relief.
Kristin was just getting comfortable with the adjustments and feeling great when she felt Richard’s left hand slide down from her back to the inside of the front of her bra, cupping her breast. Kristin bolted up on the table and pushed him away.
“What was that?” Kristin yelled.
“Oh, come on, Kristin, you know what that was,” Richard laughed.
“It was inappropriate is what it was,” she said. She climbed off the exam table and struggled with her bra to hook it up again.
“Really? You’ve spent weeks flirting with me to get what you want for the library, and then you come in here when you know there’s no one here, telling me about the problems you have with your boyfriend, that you feel tense, and then all that moaning on the table. It all seems obvious to me.”
“If you misinterpreted all those things, I’m sorry, but I never intended any of that. And if this is how you treat your patients than maybe the police need to hear about this.” Kristin zipped up the back of her dress and stormed out of the office.
“Think about what you’re doing Kristin,” Richard said, following her out. “I can certainly make a case to the board that you are not fit to work at the library anymore.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Everything I just said to you – how you flirted and came on to me to get my vote on the board, how you convinced me to get you grants and more funding and you do God knows what with the money, how you came here to seduce me, missing time at work all the time, like right now – there are a lot of coincidences that can be pretty compelling.”
“None of that is true,” Kristin said. “No one will believe you.”
“You think so?” Richard raised an eyebrow. “I was able to convince Marion Harris that I really wanted to be on that boring library board, wasn’t I? I just wanted to be on there to get a chance with you.”
“You’re disgusting,” Kristin said.
“Don’t do anything rash, Kristin,” Richard warned, holding her arm and then caressing her fingers with his. “Everything has consequences.”
Kristin yanked her hand away and stormed out of the office, racing down the sidewalk until she stood in front of the police station. She stayed motionless for a minute or two before Officer Nash, one of the females on the force who was just walking in, saw Kristin and stopped.
“Hi Kris,” she said but got no reaction. Officer Nash turned back around and looked at Kristin. “Kristin, you okay?”
Kristin blinked a few times and then thought through what she should do.
“Hi Beth, yeah, I’m fine,” she said, smiling. “I was just zoning out. I’ve got a lot on my plate lately. I’ll see you later.”
“Sure thing,” Beth told her. “Say hi to Wes for me. Hell of a game last night.”
“Right, I’ll let him know,” Kristin said as she walked off towards the library.
She felt like she needed Wes now more than ever but didn’t know if he was the answer either.
21
Kristin sat through the board meeting, barely uttering a word. The whole time she kept looking over at Richard Trainor, thinking about what he had done, how he had acted and behaved, and what he had said. Kristin couldn’t tell the police, Marion, or anyone on the board without him putting up a fuss and lying to get himself out of trouble and to ruin her in the process. Before Kristin knew it, the meeting was over.
“So, I guess we’ll see everyone at the dinner tomorrow,” Marion said, closing her portfolio. “Kristin, is Wes going to make it?”
“Yes Kristin, will he be there?” Richard said. “I would love to get to meet him.”
“I don’t think he’ll make it,” Kristin said solemnly. “He has a game in the afternoon.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Marion said, standing up.
Everyone filed out of the room, with Richard walking out behind Kristin.
“If you need an escort to the party, I would be happy to take you,” Richard whispered to her.
“Stay away from me,” Kristin hissed.
“Temper, temper, Ms. Arthur. You know your mood swings lately are really affecting your job performance. Something else I may need to bring up with Marion.”
Kristin marched out of the building and went to the library right away. Karen was there at the counter, but there wasn’t another soul in the place.
“Try to work your way through the crowd, Kris,” Karen kidded.
“Not now, Karen,” Kristin said as she stormed into her office.
“Now what?” Karen said.
Kristin shot Karen a look of disdain.
“I’m sorry that came out the wrong way,” Karen said, sitting down. “What’s going on?”
“Richard Trainor is what’s going on,” Kristin spat out. “That lying, backstabbing, blackmailing, groping asshole…”
“Whoa, you never swear,” Karen said. “What did he do?”
Kristin explained the predicament with Richard Trainor and how she didn’t see any way out of it.
“I knew I didn’t like that guy the minute I saw him,” Karen snapped. “We need to tell Marion, or the police, or both.”
“He’ll just deny everything, Karen, and turn it back on me. He already said as much. I don’t see any way out of this. Maybe I’m just better off quitting and going back home to Georgia. I’ve managed to mess everything up here. I might just need a new start somewhere else.”
Karen walked over and gave Kristin a hug.
“You’re too much of a northerner now to go back to Georgia,” a voice said from outside the office door.
Kristin looked up and saw Wyatt Martin standing there in his cowboy hat. He took his hat off when he walked in the office.
“What is all this that is goin
g on around here?” Wyatt asked. “Between you, Wes, Izzy, Jenny, Karen and Brian, it’s like a dang soap opera or romance novel around here.”
“Did you hear all that?” Kristin asked.
“Enough of it to know that Richard Trainor needs some straightening out,” Wyatt offered.
“Wyatt don’t do anything crazy,” Kristin warned. “He’s a big, strong guy and he’ll just say he didn’t do anything.”
“Big strong guys don’t scare me much, Kristin. I’ve been kicked in the chest by horses twice as big and strong as him. Besides, I have back up,” Wyatt said with a smile.
“Back up?” Kristin asked.
Wyatt stepped back out into the library and waved his arm, and Wes walked over.
“Wes, what are you… why are you here?” Kristin said, unsure of how to react.
Wes started to say something before Wyatt stepped in.
“Before you say anything son and put your foot in your mouth, let me say my piece, please? Kristin, I may not be the smartest man in town. I never went to college and barely got out of high school. I know farming and horses, and I know something else – that Wes is an honest man who would never do anything to hurt you. I’ve seen him with his first wife and all he went through, and he loved her despite it all. With you…”
“Dad, please let me finish this,” Wes interrupted. He walked in front of Kristin and took her hands. “Kris, with you, it’s a thousand times different. You make me a better person in every way. Before you came along, I didn’t realize how empty my life was, and I would never do anything to mess that up. Have I made mistakes lately, you bet. I should have been honest with you about wanting to play again. But one mistake I would never make is cheating on you. I had nothing to do with that woman – I never have and never will, and you must believe that. You’re the only person for me, and without you, I don’t know where I’ll be.”
Kristin stood silent for a minute, looking into Wes’ eyes and seeing the sincerity and love that was there. She broke into a smile and squeezed Wes’ hands.
“Don’t just stand there, boy, kiss her!” Wyatt told Wes.
Wes took Kristin in his arms, and they kissed passionately while Karen and Wyatt looked on.
“Okay, the show’s over now,” Wyatt said, clapping his hands. “Wes, let’s go show this chiropractor what happens when you mistreat a lady.”
“Dad, that’s not really the answer, and you know it,” Wes said.
“So, what do we do?” Karen asked.
“I have an idea,” Wes said, putting his arm around Kristin.
22
Angelo’s was jam-packed for the fundraising dinner, with everyone dressed in their most elegant attire. Angelo had arranged quite a spread and pulled out all the stops, with his chefs crafting dinners that looked almost too good to eat. Board members milled about the room, talking to the potential donors in the town. Kristin was a focal point, trying to explain to many people how their donations can help make a significant difference not just to the library, but to the town and its future.
Kristin looked stunning in her dark blue strapless, fitted gown, and she turned many heads, including that of Richard Trainor. Kristin tried to keep her distance from him, spending time talking to other guests or sitting with Karen and Brian, who both were in attendance despite their wedding just two days away.
“I’m going to the bar to get a drink,” Brian said. “Do you ladies want anything?”
“A cosmopolitan for me, baby,” Karen said with a wink.
“Kris?” Brian asked.
“Oh, just a ginger ale for me, Brian, thanks,” she said.
“You got it.”
Brian wandered off towards the bar while Kristin looked around nervously.
“What is it with you and the ginger ale?” Karen asked.
“I’m trying to lay off the alcohol, Karen, and I like ginger ale, for your information. Besides, I’m nervous. Maybe it will settle my stomach.”
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine,” Karen replied.
“He keeps staring at me,” Kristin told Karen, referring to Richard.
“Well, number one, he’s a pervert,” Karen said. “Number two, have you seen you in that dress? You look amazing.”
“Thanks,” Kristin said as she smoothed her hands over her dress. “Wes picked this one out for me.”
“Well he has good taste,” Karen said. “I should have taken him dress shopping with us for the wedding.”
Brian returned with the drinks, and Kristin took a big sip of her ginger ale.
A clinking of glass on glass could be heard towards the center of the room, and there Marion Harris stood, rapping a fork on her champagne glass to get everyone’s attention.
“Folks, I just want to thank you all for coming out tonight to support our efforts with the library, and hopefully we can make this year even better than last. I want to say a special thanks to our librarian, Kristin Arthur, without whom none of this would possible. Kristin, your tireless efforts have made our library one of the finest in the county, and we all thank you.”
The crowd gave a big round of applause, and Kristin gestured an embarrassed wave as a thank you.
“Now,” Marion continued, “Angelo and his staff have put together this amazing feast for us, so please go to your tables and enjoy!”
Guests dispersed to their assigned tables, and Kristin nodded to Karen, indicating she was going to go to the ladies’ room before sitting down to eat.
Kristin got to the short hallway where the restrooms were, but before she could go into the ladies’ room, Richard took her by the arm.
“Where are you rushing off to?” he asked her.
“The bathroom, if you must know,” she said, tugging her arm free.
“You know, this doesn’t have to be as difficult as you’re making it, Kristin,” Richard remarked. “We could have a lot of fun together. I’m a wealthy man, not ballplayer rich like your sports star ex-boyfriend, but I do well. Play ball with me and keep quiet and I think you’ll find I could make you happy instead of making your life miserable.”
“What do you mean, play ball with you?” Kristin asked, touching Richard’s arm.
“I mean, forget about what happened in my office. Stop thinking about it and what I did. I was just trying to help you, you know, relax. We can do some great things in this town. I can make sure you get everything you want for the library and more. Those geezers on the board can be swayed by anything. All it takes is just the right words and touch.”
Richard’s finger caressed Kristin’s bare arm and worked up towards her shoulder until his hand was behind her head. He leaned in to try to kiss her, but Kristin pulled back.
“It’s funny that you asked me to play ball, Richard,” Kristin whispered, her lips almost touching his.
“Why is that?” he asked, moving towards her again.
“Playing ball is more of my thing,” Wes said from behind Richard. Wes was standing in the men’s room door, staring down Richard.
“Oh, Richard, you haven’t met Wes Martin. Wes, this is Dr. Trainor, the one I told you about,” Kristin said with a stern look.
“Right, the chiropractor, I remember you mentioning him,” Wes said. Wes moved towards Richard menacingly.
“Hey, I don’t know what she told you,” Richard said, stepping backward. “But I didn’t do anything. I was completely professional.”
“It’s completely professional to put your hands all over me, grope my breasts, and then blackmail me to get me to have sex with you so I can keep my job?” Kristin yelled, drawing attention from others in the room.
“None of that happened,” he shot back. “You can’t prove it either.”
“Funny, you just confessed to stuff right here in the hallway,” Wes said to him.
“I don’t remember saying anything like that,” Richard said, straightening his bowtie. “Who do you think people are going to believe, a respected doctor, or the librarian with an ax to grind and her washed-up
ballplayer boyfriend?”
“You’re right, Richard,” Kristin said, straightening his bowtie for him and making it tighter.
“Oh, do you like my corsage? White roses, my favorite. Wes got it for me,” she said, showing Richard her wrist.
“It’s lovely,” he guffawed.
“Funny thing about this one,” Kristin remarked. “Wes spent a little extra to get one with a microphone in it that transmits to the police car outside.”
