by Ali Parker
“I’m fine.” I kept my answer short and sweet hoping her call would be the same.
“I have this event this weekend, and I wondered if you had a dress I could borrow. I know you’re a tad smaller than me in places, but I might make it work. What size dress do you wear?”
“I’m a six. Where are you going?” Was she so brave to ask me for a dress to wear out with my man?
She breathed heavy and then I heard her sigh. “I have a date.”
My blood began to boil. “Anyone I know?” Would she deny that she was going out with Ted or offer up the information? Regardless, I was done. Our lifelong bond as sisters was null and void, blood pact or not.
“It’s not anyone you know. I thought I’d like something new to wear, but I don’t think it will work after all.” Something in her tone, the sing-song cadence perhaps, further proved she wasn’t being honest with me.
“I have to go, Katie. I’m late for work.” I slammed down the phone, not wanting to hear more and then dragged myself to the shower. I needed to be soothed, and I hoped the steady, hot stream would do the trick.
I contemplated not going in. Listening to Ted plan his date was the last thing I wanted to do, and if he asked me for more advice, I might murder him on the spot. I couldn’t quit now. Regardless of anything else going on, I still needed my job. At least until I figured out if Ted had tried to snag the Stutt property for himself, and if that were the truth, God help him.
An hour later, I rode Bluebell to the office. Already late, we took our time, and she kept a slow, steady pace as she strolled the beaten path.
“Look who finally made it,” Mason said to the two puppies. “You feeling better?”
“I’m perfect.” I wouldn’t give Ted or his brothers any satisfaction.
“Awesome. Do you think you can watch Thor and Max for a while? Mama didn’t want them in the kitchen with her. She’s afraid they’ll get underfoot.” He stood, and the puppies started to wrestle at his feet.
“Sure, why not?” I slipped out of my sweater and hung it on the back of the chair.
“You sure you’re okay?” Mason tilted his head as if to study my eyes. I hated being examined, and the fear that he might see into my soul and figure me out caused me to turn away and lower myself into the chair.
He pressed on, walking over to lean against the desk beside me. “Ted should be out in a bit. He’s going into town to pick up a few things. Is everything all right between the two of you?”
I let out a long breath. “Why wouldn’t it be?” Mason needed to worry about himself. “Have you heard any more from Ella?” I wondered if she’d ever been to the doctor or if she had lied about the whole thing. Mason deserved better than her in his life. I wanted to kick him for putting himself in that position. I had a lot of room to talk. Look at the heartache I’d inflicted upon myself. I should have stayed away when I had the chance.
“No, she’s going to the doctor Monday.” He regarded it as he would anything else in his life as if nothing about it fazed him.
“Not that it’s my business, but shouldn’t you be a bit more concerned?”
“No, because even if she is pregnant, there’s no proof it’s mine. I’ll have a test performed. Despite what she’s telling everyone, I used protection. I think she’s playing dirty.” He rubbed his temples, and I wondered if maybe his nonchalant attitude was all an act. How could it not bother him a little bit?
“Well, I hope it all works out.”
“Yeah, now that she knows Ted is interested in the Stutt land, she’s going to be even worse. He told me she wanted to strike up a bargain with him. She knows better, but she likes teasing him all the same.” He continued on about her and him, but I had too many thoughts in my mind to pay attention.
“Lauralee?”
“What do you mean he’s interested in the land? You think he wants to buy it?”
His eyes widened, and he wrenched his hands. “Only that he’s curious about it. I don’t know if he will buy it or not.” He pushed off the desk and headed toward the door. “I better get to work. Be good boys.” I glanced over my shoulder to see him pat the buff-colored puppy on the head and then he was gone. Talk about diversions.
I had no doubt in my mind that Ted was up to something and not ten minutes after Mason bailed on me, he entered the office with a big grin on his face. Considering I was late to work, I suppose that was a good thing. At least he wouldn’t give me any grief.
“You look beautiful this morning.” He gave the pups a pat on the head and then chuckled. “So do you, boys. Handsome devils.” He tapped his foot at them, and they wagged their tails stretching up his legs with their paws.
I didn’t give him a response, but he continued on without one anyway. “I’ll be away for a bit today. I’ve got to go into town and take care of some business. Could you take some messages if any come in? We should be good. We aren’t expecting anything.”
I wanted to remind him that I had a job to do and it wasn’t being his secretary or a babysitter, but instead, I nodded my head like an idiot. It seemed like the safest way considering I still wanted to give him a piece of my mind.
He approached behind me and his hand wrapped around my forehead. “You feeling okay?”
I pushed his hand away. “I’m fine. I wish you men would get to your work and let me get to mine.” He raised his hands and reared back as if to surrender.
Suddenly he leaned down over my shoulder. “Is that the time?” He pointed at the lower corner of the computer screen, and I nodded. “Dammit, I’m late.” He kissed my head and ran out the door. I watched him go. What the hell was wrong with these people?
The puppies barked as the door slammed shut and I leaned down and made a smooching noise to call them to me. Scooping them both up into my lap, I bundled them close. I needed the comfort. I doubted Ted was away on business and I contemplated calling Katie in thirty minutes to see what she was up to. Part of me thought who cares, but the other part of me wanted to ruin their fun.
Luke came in to charge his phone, and his mood seemed to match my own. “I don’t guess it can get any hotter for September.” He took off his hat and wiped his brow.
“Makes me glad to work inside the office, that’s for sure. You want to hide out for a while? Our boss left for town.” I kept a straight face, my fingers working the keys. “You can play with Thor and Max, though I’m not sure which is which.”
Luke stared at the dogs wrinkling his nose. “I’m not sure which is which either.”
“If they’d named them Brownie and Peanut like I suggested then we’d know.” I held the brown one’s little chin. “Are you Max or Thor? You kind of look like a Max.” I put him on the floor and then placed his brother beside him.
“What’s Ted gone into town for?” Luke stepped up to the worksheet and pointed his finger along the list to keep his place. “Must be personal. Did he say anything?”
I let out a deep breath and wanted to crawl under my desk. “Nope. He didn’t say a word.” I stabbed at my keys hard enough to consider it henpecking.
“Do you think he’s seeing someone?” I glanced at Luke, whose wide eyes told me he didn’t know anything about Ted’s love life. I wished I’d asked Mason, whose guilty exit told me he knew more than he was letting on. “Forget I asked that.” I waved a hand to dismiss it and stared back at my file sheet.
“I thought things were going good between the two of you for once. What’s happened to change that? You two were laughing it up at Kinsey’s.” I glanced back at him as he leaned against the wall by the door and propped his foot up behind him.
“I was drunk.” I scrubbed my face with my palms and wanted to cry. I couldn’t tell him about Katie, it was too humiliating. Of course, Ted had hidden it from everyone. I’m sure they’d all be surprised that he’d chosen to bed my best friend this time. In the past it was always random women, most I wasn’t too familiar with, though most I’d heard of. But this, it brought his fucking everything that moved
to prove a point to a whole other level.
A sickening feeling came to mind. Ella. Had he gone to see her? To strike up a bargain? It was early yet, and knowing Ted, he was working both Ella and Katie.
“I don’t think he’d do anything to upset you.” Luke brushed off his pants and then dropped his foot from the wall to the floor.
“His track record says otherwise. Let’s face it, he’s spent the past few years doing shit to upset me.” It was what he did best.
“Why don’t you call and ask him what he’s doing. Or I will.” He walked over and pulled out his phone. Before I could speak, the phone started to ring. He held a finger up to his lips and the look on his face reflected his confidence.
“Hey, where are you?” asked Luke, still holding up that finger. His eyes widened, and then he nodded. “Katie’s?” He mumbled the word so I could barely make it out. “Oh, the feed order. Okay. Yeah, I got it. Talk to you later.” He hung up the phone and then all the color drained from his face. “He’s going to adjust the feed order.”
My eyes narrowed. “He couldn’t do that on the phone? And who is Katie?” My brow lifted like a challenge.
“She’s, um. I really don’t know. But he’ll be back, and he’ll explain.” He turned and made his way quickly to the door. “I better go check on Mason. Everything is going to be fine. Trust me, Lauralee.” He gave me a sympathetic smile and headed off to find his brother.
Even Luke lied to me now. I couldn’t take it anymore. Tears welled up in my eyes and I closed them tight, allowing them to spill down my cheeks. My throat burned with the hurt that ached within. I messaged Mason, who I assumed was in the field, farthest away from the office, and told him to come to the office. I had to go home. I grabbed my sweater which the puppies had pulled to the floor and were rolling around on, and Peanut, (or Thor or Max, whichever he was,) chewed a button. I shrugged into the thing, which was still cozy with their warmth, and headed home before either brother could return. Thor and Max would be fine for a few minutes alone.
Ted was with Katie, and my whole world was off its axis.
Chapter 31
Ted
I threw my cell phone into the passenger seat and cursed Luke for calling with Lauralee right there in the room. Luckily, he’d caught on, and I’d given him a cover story that might hold up if I were a lucky man.
I turned into the horseshoe driveway in front of Katie’s house. The huge Colonial had always seemed like a mansion to me when I was younger, now the place seemed to have gotten smaller. Or was it that I’d gotten older. I stopped behind her car, and she hurried from the house to meet me.
“Did you manage to sneak away? I’m surprised that girl lets you out of her sight. I know I wouldn’t.” She ran her hand through her thick ponytail, and then I followed her inside as it bounced in front of me, like a pendulum swinging with purpose.
The large foyer was decorated for Fall, and I tried to keep a straight face as I passed the elaborate scarecrow she’d propped up against a hay bale. Things that I was sick of looking at, she saw as fancy décor. “Yeah, I’m surprised I haven’t ruined it already or given it away. I’ve tried to stay away from her as much as possible, but it’s hard. I like being near her a lot better.” She waved me into the living room next, and it was adorned with oak leaf swags and wreaths with burlap bows. She motioned me toward an oversized brown leather chair that swallowed me up as I lowered myself into it.
“The dress is ready to go; the size was confirmed. You need to get it before one though. They close early today. The flowers are ready, anytime today is fine. Here is the card and you need to remember your tux. Bentley’s is open all day. You did remember to go in and order that, right?” I nodded as she ticked through the list, counting everything off on her fingers as she did.
“I remembered. But I’m still not sure how I’ll look in it. They said last minute wouldn’t be a problem and they deal with that all the time.” I had no desire to dress up in some monkey suit, and I hoped that gesture, if any, proved my love to her.
She reached across and brushed my hair off my forehead. “You’ll look amazing, which reminds me. Shave and haircut? Did you schedule that too?” She let out a long breath and slapped her hand on my thigh. “You’ve got me so worried trying to do all this on such short notice.”
“I got it. I can’t believe it’s all going off without a hitch. So far, anyway.” I placed my hand over hers and gave it a pat. “Thanks so much, Katie. I couldn’t have organized all this without your help. You’ve always been a good friend to my Lolly.”
“Well, she promised me that I’d be her bridesmaid one day, so I guess I should at least earn the honor.” I wanted to correct her and tell her that I wasn’t going to propose, but part of me wondered why not? Because it’s absolutely nuts, that’s why. Baby steps.
“I can’t promise that anytime soon, but who knows. It’s what I want someday. I want to give her everything. The house of her dreams and the love she deserves.” I imagined I sounded like a fool, but I wanted Katie to know I meant it all. I had a feeling that if anyone understood the story of Lauralee and me, it was her. If I ever screwed things up, I hoped she’d remember this moment and share it with her.
“Well, the gym is all yours from seven until twelve. There’s an away game tonight, and the team doesn’t come back to the gym before midnight. You’ve got permission to be there, but wrap it up before then.” She threw her head back and laughed. “You know, when I asked Mr. Otis about using the gym, he remembered the night you hit that poor kid at prom. Said it was about time you made it right.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I remembered the old man pulling that kid off the ground. I realized in that moment that I was in deep trouble. He put me in detention until graduation and worse, called my dad. “It’s nice of him to help.”
“Yeah, I think everyone’s been rooting for you two for a while now. I know I have. She deserves to be happy. She’s a good friend and one of the best people I know.”
“I don’t know about everyone. I’m not sure her old man is keen on the idea of me. Maybe I’ll make that right tonight too.”
She patted my back for reassurance. “It’s going to be perfect. I’m so excited for it to be over so I can hear all about it.”
I rose to get a move on, chuckling at the thought of what Lauralee might have told her about us over the years. I had a feeling it was more than her heartache, but the good times too.
I said my goodbyes and rushed out to make my appointments. I had planned on getting back to the house before Lauralee left for home but was cutting it close. I decided to call Mason and get him to have her wait around.
“She went home early. Said she was sick,” he said. My brain came to a skidding halt, and I could almost smell the rubber burning.
“She’s sick? Is it bad?” Maybe a headache or sniffle wouldn’t ruin the night, but I couldn’t expect her to go on a date if she should be in bed resting.
“I don’t think so. She seemed fine enough earlier, but she hauled ass before I could get back to the office.” Her being in a rush to get home didn’t sound promising.
“I’ll stop by her house. Maybe it’s not as bad as it sounds.” I glanced at her dress laying across the seat beside me and wished so much to see her in it. She would have been so surprised, and I was long overdue to produce the kind of excitement that she deserved.
“Well, good luck. Sounds like you’re gonna need it.” Mason’s end went silent and I was left alone with my thoughts. The night of drinking had been rough on her. I wished I’d slowed her down then and maybe she wouldn’t be feeling so terrible now. She hadn’t felt feverish, so maybe it was a headache or lady troubles. Maybe she was better now that she’d rested. The hope of my night faded away, and I suddenly understood how it had been for Lauralee all those years ago. If it all blew up in my face, I deserved it.
I tried to call her as I put the pedal down, but she didn’t answer, which made me worry more. I barreled into her driveway,
not minding the mud holes that had me bouncing in my seat, and skidded to a stop. Granny met me out on the porch, and I approached the woman so out of breath you’d think I ran the whole way. “Where is she?”
“She’s in bed. She’s been feeling poorly all day.”
“I need to see her.” I loved Granny Langston and respected the hell out of the old woman, but I was ready to argue my way upstairs.
She narrowed her eyes and then reluctantly stepped aside and waved me in. “Don’t blame me if you catch her germs.” As she wandered back toward her kitchen, I bounded up the stairs taking two at a time. Lauralee’s door was closed, so I knocked.
“I’m sleeping.” Her voice sounded so small that I could almost imagine her younger, that sulking little girl sitting in the shade of the big oak, avoiding a sunburn.
I turned the knob and pushed the door open. “You sound awake to me.” She lay bundled up under her covers, her face smashed against her pillow, which was wet from tears that had reddened her eyes. She seemed so sweet and docile until a hint of recognition sparked in her eyes.
“Why are you here and what do you want?” She rose up, sitting amongst the fluffy layers of covers with daggers in her eyes sharp enough to shred it all to ribbons. My sweet, docile angel had sprouted horns and fangs.
I crossed the room toward her bed. “Mason said you’re feeling bad. I came to check—”
“What do you care? Get out of here and leave me alone.” She scrubbed her eyes with balled fists, and her tone threw her words on me like iced water.
I stopped in my tracks at the foot of her bed. Sick or not, I hadn’t done anything to warrant that attitude from her. “I beg your pardon?”
“I know all about you and Katie, so don’t you dare come in here asking me how I feel.” Her voice rattled off the walls, and I expected her grandmother to come up at any moment. She thought I was with Katie? How? Why? I wondered for a moment if one of my brothers had said something. I guess my expression must have shown that I was dumbstruck because she offered up her explanation. “I caught her adding her number into your phone and then I saw your text. I guess you two had to have a trial run today before your big date tonight.” She reached over to her nightstand toward a candle and all of a sudden the damned thing flew across the room at my head. I ducked away from it and met her eyes, which were wide with challenge.
