by Linda Lovely
“Doug visited me in the hospital. He says that sex tape was your idea. Claimed you sent it to him with an invitation for a repeat performance. I got a copy because Doug’s girlfriend found it on his computer. She knew I’d been seeing you and thought I’d want to know what a slut you were.”
Yikes. I scurried as quickly as I could and yanked the back-porch door closed behind me. I really didn’t want to hear this. Someone was lying. I’d come to like Sala. Didn’t know Doug, but he and Zack appeared to be good friends.
Rotten Roquefort. I didn’t want to believe Sala’d blessed the video. Didn’t want to think Zack’s friend was screwing with him either. And I was stunned by the news that Sala and Zack had hooked up. Who else knew?
I started the washing machine, a noisy old clunker, and sat on the porch glider. Cashew, who’d followed me out the door, snuggled in my lap. I stroked Cashew’s fur and gently rocked back and forth until I heard the front door bang shut.
“You have to decide who’s telling the truth.” Sala’s sharp parting words were clear as a bell. A car door slammed.
I quietly slipped inside and headed to my bedroom. I wanted to give Zack a little time alone to decompress, and I really did need to shift my dresser to make it easier for Zack to swing his boot-cast up without bumping into it as he climbed out of bed. Then I packed a little overnight bag with clothes and incidentals. I didn’t want to knock on Zack’s door and barge in to retrieve something when he was sleeping or just wanted time alone.
I was rearranging items to give Zack his very own dresser drawer when Carol and Eva yoo-hooed as they came back inside.
“We saw Sala drive away,” Carol said. “She looked upset. Everything okay?”
Curious to hear Zack’s response, I returned to the living room and stashed my overnight bag in the corner. I hoped the bag might offer a semi-legit reason for my sudden appearance. Of course, the real reason was nosiness.
Zack lifted his left hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know you’re all curious. Might as well talk about the elephants in the room—the video,” he paused, “and Sala and me.”
I snuck a glance at Carol. She looked flummoxed.
“Don’t look so horrified Mom. It’s not like there are videos of the two of us.” Zack tried for humor but his mother wasn’t laughing.
“What about you and Sala?” she demanded.
“We’ve been seeing each other about six months. Never in public. Kept it real quiet. Neither of us wanted more publicity. And I worried our relationship might be used against you and your campaign.”
“Is it serious?” Carol stared at her hands as they smoothed nonexistent wrinkles in her slacks. While I’d seen her stare down political enemies, she couldn’t seem to look her son in the eye.
Zack shrugged. “Maybe. I’m not sure after today. She always worried about our age difference, and I didn’t want anyone thinking my position on the team depended on my performance anywhere else. Now I’ve blown it. I doubted her word.”
“About what? The video?” Eva asked.
Zack sighed. “Yes. Doug claims Sala asked him to make it. Sala says that’s bullshit. At least they both agree it happened before I started seeing Sala. But the when is still a problem. Doug says Sala seduced him while her husband was alive. Told me to watch out for her, that she was a conniving cougar.
“Doug’s girlfriend, Kim, found the video on his computer. She sent it to me because Doug told her Sala and I were an item. Apparently, Kim, who’s an IT expert, trashed all of Doug’s electronic devices to destroy any videos he might have secretly made of their lovemaking. That made the Sala video Kim sent me a collector’s edition.”
“That’s why Kate wanted it so badly,” I said.
“I guess.” Zack’s shoulders slumped. “But how did Kate find out it was on my phone? Kim must have told someone besides Doug. Anyway I can’t see how the video helps Kate. It certainly isn’t enough for a court to nullify Lemmon’s will.”
Carol stood. “I’m glad you told us about Sala. Just wish you’d confided in me before this. I’m tired. I’m going to lie down for a while.”
She was hurt and disappointed. Everything from the wobble in her voice to her sagging posture said so.
Once Carol departed, Zack turned to Eva and me. “I promised Sala I wouldn’t tell anyone about our relationship. But you needed to know. Please keep this between us.”
I felt lucky I wouldn’t be sitting at the Udderly dinner table tonight, trying to make casual conversation. Mollye had invited me to try a new Greenville restaurant that had excellent reviews. Since Danny McCoy was working, I was Mollye’s date. Eva’d urged me to accept the invitation. “You made salad for our guests, and I’m better than you at grilling steaks. Go on, get out of the house. I can entertain the Strongs. Have fun.”
I didn’t ask Eva if I should reconsider. Having spent a quiet summer at Udderly Kidding Dairy, all this emotional drama was proving exhausting. A night away sounded ideal. I liked my quiet life, though I often wished my love life weren’t quite so quiet.
THIRTY-TWO
I picked Mollye up at five thirty. On the drive to Greenville, she tried her darndest to coax me into gossiping about Zack. I only divulged two things. One, Sala was arranging added security with an executive protection agency, and two, Zack had accepted an invitation from Howie Lemcke to visit his retreat for wounded veterans. I was determined to honor Zack’s request to keep his relationship with Sala a secret.
Mollye pulled down the visor, slid open its mirror window, and started applying green eyeshade to match the streak in her hair. “I have a feeling you’re keeping your lips zipped about juicier details. But I’m glad you’ll have more good men at Udderly. Maybe you should invite one of your new protectors to provide extra cover come nightfall. You’re always telling me how important exercise is. Parts of you may shrivel up if you don’t give them a workout soon.”
I awarded Mollye the standard head shake when she prodded me about my sex life.
She ignored me but skipped to another subject. “I think having Zack visit that veterans retreat is brilliant. Should perk the residents up and lift Zack’s spirits, too.”
“I agree. Zack asked Doug to join him. Imagine the residents will be ecstatic to shoot the breeze with two football pros. And seeing how Howie has adjusted to his loss of a leg should give Zack real incentive to put his all into rehab.”
I didn’t mention my misgivings about Zack’s decision to invite Doug. Zack had heard two starkly different accounts of the video, one version from his buddy, another from his lover. I figured he’d invited Doug to confront him about the huge ‘he said, she said’ discrepancies.
We arrived at the restaurant at six thirty. Mollye’d made the reservations but assured me I’d find enough veggie items on the menu to make a meal while she devoured the creamy lobster lasagna the restaurant critic had raved about.
While dining out is oftentimes a challenge for vegans, Mollye was right tonight. The hors d’oeuvres and side menus gave me lots of choices. I ordered a green salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing, a plain baked sweet potato, and a skewer of grilled vegetables.
When we finally set our forks down, both our plates were empty. “Terrific,” Mollye said.
“Agreed, and I think I’ll splurge tonight with a little after-dinner treat. I’m going to ask for an Irish coffee sans cream, of course.”
“Wow. Sure you can handle that and drive? Your alcohol consumption doesn’t worry me. But I figure we’ll need to stop two or three times so you can pee. You must have downed a gallon of water with dinner.”
I laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll visit the ladies’ room before we leave.”
I looked around to see where the restrooms might be tucked away.
That’s when I saw them. My mouth went dry.
“What’s wrong?” Mollye asked. “Looks like you�
��ve seen a ghost.”
She turned and managed a half-hearted wave. I did the same though my stomach had turned sour.
Please don’t come over to our table. Please don’t introduce your dates.
My mental pleas bombed. Paint and Andy sauntered our way shepherding two gorgeous women—a Swedish-looking blonde and a curvy brunette. They were on a double date.
I pasted on a smile for the introductions. Shook hands with the women. I heard their names but made zero attempt to remember them. I wanted to forget their faces, too, though I knew I wouldn’t. The adoring way both women looked at Paint and Andy, suggested someone—okay everyone but me and Mollye—would get lucky tonight.
I forgot all about ordering Irish coffee. “The food is great,” I managed. “We were just getting our check. Have to get back to Udderly. We have guests. Enjoy your meal.”
I flagged down our waiter as the two men I most wanted walked away with their dates. Frozen frankfurters.
Neither Mollye nor I spoke for the first twenty miles. She cleared her throat a couple of times like she was about to break the silence. Then she chickened out. Finally, I decided to gut it out. Silence and Mollye were incompatible entities. Their coexistence made the universe seem out of kilter.
“Sorry I rushed you out of the restaurant,” I began. “I know you wanted dessert.”
“I understand. Never dreamed we’d run into them. Guess that glowing restaurant review caught their eyes, too.”
“Since you greeted everyone by name, I gather you know their dates.” I glanced over at Mollye. “Do you like them?”
“Not as much as you.” She sighed. “Okay, they’re nice. Yvonne, the one with Andy, is a kindergarten teacher; Kristy, Paint’s date, is a dental hygienist.”
“Have they been dating long?’
Mollye squirmed. “Don’t think so. Saw Paint and Kristy out a couple of weeks ago. Hadn’t seen Andy with his date before. Hey, I didn’t know how to tell you. It’s no secret you have the hots for both of them and vice versa but you told them it would never happen. Did you think they’d swear off women in hopes you’d change your mind?”
“I don’t know what I thought.” I brushed away a tear.
Stop it. This was your decision.
Was it too late to change my mind?
THIRTY-THREE
When I pulled into our drive, I saw lights in the two bedrooms and the main living area. Rats. I was in no mood to chat with anyone.
When I walked inside, I was surprised to see Eva in her PJs and sitting alone in her recliner. Our blow-up beds, sleep-ready with sheets and pillows, consumed most of the living area floor.
“Didn’t want to turn out the lights before you got home.” Eva kept her voice low as though she believed our guests might be asleep. “Afraid you’d step on me. Hope you’re tired. I’m more than ready to call it a night.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t yet ten o’clock but I didn’t feel like picking up my book. I was two-hundred pages into a romantic suspense, and there was zero suspense about what the hero and heroine were about to do next. I was afraid I’d substitute Paint and Andy and their dates for the characters in any steamy love scene. Geesh. The book’s heroine was a school teacher, too.
“Let me brush my teeth and slip on my pajamas,” I added. “The lights are on in the bedrooms. Imagine the guests are still awake.”
Eva grunted. “Yeah. They’ve gone to their corners to sulk. I didn’t expect them to be angry with each other when I invited them to stay. Dinner conversation was a struggle. Could have used your help, deserter. Hope you had a good time.”
She studied my face. “Guess not. What happened?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Just ran into Paint and Andy on a double date.”
Eva got up from her easy chair and gave me a hug. “Sorry, honey, but you had to know it would happen sooner or later. They’re healthy young men, not eunuchs. You’d better take a good look at your feelings. Don’t just drift. Make a decision. Either you want Paint and Andy as friends or you want one or both as lovers. If you do nothing, it’ll be decided for you.”
I nodded and hurried to the bathroom so Eva wouldn’t see my tears.
Having tossed and turned most of the night, listening jealously to Eva’s raucous snores, I was dog tired when my aunt shook me awake. She’d opened the blinds but it was too early for sun to stream through the cabin windows. I was more than ready for Daylight Savings Time to end. I hated it when darkness clung to bigger and bigger chunks of my morning.
I glanced out the window. The gold leaves of the giant hickory tree out front looked black in the moonlight, but a clear sky promised a pretty day. I’d definitely go for a run after I finished my chores. Running cleared my mind, and usually cheered me up. I needed to power up a pile of endorphins today. I could use some serious cheering up.
Eva handed me a welcome mug of coffee. “I told our guests they were on their own for breakfast. There’s cereal, fruit, milk and yogurt. Don’t feel like you have to cook every meal. I’m not real anxious to gather round the kitchen table with Carol and Zack until they settle their issues.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I do want to go for a run today, but I can drive Zack to the veteran retreat if you have other things you need to do.”
“No, go for your run. I’ve been promising Howie I’d visit. It’s as good a time as any. You’ll be alone with Carol. Is that okay? Those security folks Sala promised won’t be here until afternoon.”
“We’ll be fine. Don’t think anyone can talk Carol into a secret rendezvous again. Besides your shotgun is nice and handy by the front door. Our Great Pyrenees won’t let anyone sneak up on us.”
With our morning settled, Eva went off to milk goats and I headed to the horse barn to feed Rita and Hank. After they finished eating, I let them out in a fenced section of woodland rather than a grassed field. Less food to tempt them into pigging out.
Rita and I were getting along a little better. The mule had a very special relationship with Lilly. I remembered how Rita would go still and search for Lilly whenever the mule heard her human’s voice. When Lilly died, Rita didn’t understand why she wasn’t here anymore. Since I showed up at the same time, she must have thought I was to blame. At least that was Eva’s take on Rita’s attitude.
The upshot? Whenever I walked behind Rita, she’d swish her tail with pinpoint accuracy to hit me. She’d nip at me, too. Eva urged me to ride Rita. Said she needed exercise. That went about like I expected. First she steadfastly refused to budge. Then she sideswiped every tree she could find, trying to brush off the nuisance on her back.
I hadn’t tried to ride her again. But, at Eva’s suggestion, I regularly brushed Rita and talked to her just as Lilly used to do. I told her how pretty she was. Murmured that she was a queen amongst mules. Fed her apples and scratched between her long ears. She hadn’t tried to nip me in weeks.
Eva and I finished our chores about the same time. When we returned to the cabin, Zack and Carol were dressed, and chowing down on cereal and bananas.
“How about we leave in fifteen minutes?” Eva asked Zack. “That’s how long I need to take a quick shower and change clothes.”
“Sure.” He stood and grabbed his cane. “I’ll be ready.”
Zack tap-tapped his way to the bedroom and closed the door. I glanced at Carol. Her lips quirked up in a quick smile. “We love each other. We’ll be fine. Just need a little more time to sort things out. I want him to be happy. It’s just hard to keep from offering unwanted advice when you think someone you love may be making a big mistake.”
I nodded. The words Eva spoke last night came back to me. She thought I was making a big mistake.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to go for a run,” I said. “Should be gone less than an hour. Your campaign speeches have assured me you’re not afraid to use a gun. Eva’s shotgun, always loaded, is in
the umbrella stand by the door.”
Carol’s smile brightened. “I’m a much better shot than Eva. Don’t worry. I know Udderly’s fluffy white guard dogs will give me plenty of warning.”
I waited for Eva to clear the bathroom to change into running clothes. With our current living arrangements, I could only robe and disrobe in my new “bed” room if our guests were behind closed doors.
Wearing a pair of new running tights, I gulped down water to hydrate as Eva and Zack reached the front door. “We’re invited to stay through lunch,” Eva said. “Should be back by two o’clock. You and Carol, stay safe. I’ll close and lock the front gate once we go through it. That should discourage any reporters from coming to call.”
Two minutes after my aunt and Zack departed, I bid Carol goodbye. Outside I leaned against the hickory tree as I did a few warm-up stretches. A breeze carried the hint of burning leaves, a fall bonfire. The sunny but cool day was made for running. I decided to run through the state forest that bordered the back of the Udderly property. While none of its improved trails ran near us, I enjoyed cross-country jaunts. Okay, not entirely true. I definitely didn’t like to run along mountain ridges with steep, vertigo-inducing drop-offs.
My run proved to be exactly the medicine I needed. Lungs and legs pumped, worry and jealousy brain cells switched off. I felt lighter, happier. And I’d made a decision. I knew what I’d say if Paint and Andy inquired about dating again.
Exiting the woods, I slowed my pace. My cool down phase. Almost back home. I checked my watch. Forty-five minutes. Not bad. Hands on my thighs, I bent forward, gulping air and motoring down.
Some of our Great Pyrenees began barking up a storm. What now? I trotted ahead, back on Udderly land. A large black panel van sat inches from the back of my Prius. Slewed sideways, the van’s position would make it impossible for my car to back up. Since the front bumper of my Prius sat two feet from the cabin, my ride was completely penned in. What the Feta?
