Life After Perfect

by Nancy Naigle

  “I had a great time. So glad you stopped in Boot Creek to get gas yesterday.”

  “Me too.”

  “You’re staying at Naomi’s?”

  “The Lonesome Pines Inn. Until Tuesday. Maybe longer. I’m playing it by ear.”

  “Do you know how to get back?”

  The paper bag with the instructions was still on her seat, but it would be easy to find. “I’m good. I know the way.”

  “Can I give you a call over there?”

  “That would be nice. Someone said I have to try the Blue Skies Cafe’s fried chicken. Maybe we could grab some dinner one night.” It was just dinner. That was innocent enough.

  “It’s my favorite place, and the chicken is great.”

  “Perfect. Thanks for being a gentleman all night.”

  “I’m a man of my word.” His gaze held hers, with no hint of a snicker or laugh.

  “You have no idea how much that means.”

  Her problems seemed so irrelevant in the scheme of things; maybe that was why this guy was put on her path, for her to keep perspective. Things could be a lot worse.

  Katy put her sunglasses on and pulled out of the church parking lot with the big white truck right behind her.

  Derek tooted his horn as he turned off to the right. She raised her hand and waved. “Thanks for a fun night.” And she headed for the Lonesome Pines Inn unescorted.

  When she passed the statue of Dillon Laumann, the thought crossed her mind that the last two days of her life made up a country song.

  When she pulled into the parking area at the Lonesome Pines Inn, there were a few more cars than there’d been when she left. More guests probably.

  She walked through the front door to the smell of sausage and coffee.

  “Good morning, Katy. You were up and out early this morning.”

  It felt a little like getting caught sneaking back in your own window. “It’s a beautiful day,” she said.

  “Oh, yes. I do love the mornings in June,” Naomi said. “There’s still plenty of breakfast. Get yourself some.”

  “I think I will.”

  Katy made a plate and took it outside to the smaller table on a brick patio. Her stomach welcomed the home cooking.

  “You made it!”

  Katy wondered if Naomi was losing it a little. They’d just spoken a few minutes ago. Bless her heart. “Yes.” She forced a smile. Not quite sure what else to say.

  The gray-haired woman busted out in a hearty laugh. “It’s me, Nell. I know that look. You thought my sister went off her plumb rocker, didn’t ya?”

  How had she forgotten? “Nell? You two girls cannot be trusted. You even dress alike. That’s no fair.”

  Nell held a hand to her mouth and laughed. “Guess we never grew out of it.”

  Oh yeah, the old gal was enjoying her little prank. One for the grannies. Katy could only guess how much fun those two had growing up. “Thank you so much for pointing me in the direction of this place. It’s fabulous! More than I ever expected.”

  Nell looked around nodding. “Yep. Sis did pretty good for herself. Her husband, Marshall, could turn a dime into a dozen. Always had a knack for it.”

  “She’s a great cook, too. Just like you said.”

  “I won’t keep you. Just wanted to say hello before we zipped off to church. You’re welcome to come along if you like.”

  “Thanks, but I’m going to hang close today.”

  “Enjoy,” Nell said as she walked back inside.

  Katy could hear the two sisters laughing. Apparently being a twin had lifelong benefits. She watched as they left. She and her sister had never had that kind of relationship.

  Katy took her dishes to the kitchen and stopped in surprise. It was an enormous chef’s kitchen. Her kitchen back home had been a real splurge, but this made that look like playtime. The granite sparkled with gorgeous veins of rust and black that really offset the cherry cabinetry. The subzero refrigerator and freezers were nicer than most restaurants had, and they were filled to the gills. Rows of canned goods filled one wall like a collage. Katy ogled the two-drawer dishwasher; she’d always wanted one, but opted to hand-wash her dishes and leave them on the drainer. What she wouldn’t do to get to do a little cooking in here while she was visiting.

  She was half-tempted to rustle through the pantry right now and bake some cookies, but she probably ought to at least ask permission from Naomi first.

  Back in her room she scanned the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves for something relaxing to read.

  The bookshelves held all kinds of books, and it wasn’t until she really stopped and looked that she realized there was actually quite a meticulous order to how they were shelved. By genre, by author, and somehow they seemed to be by size too. Everything from fine literature in thick leather bindings to thin paperbacks and the whole Nancy Drew series. Current authors too. She scanned a row of paperbacks for a familiar name, then tugged out a bright yellow-and-pink book. It looked like it would be a light read.

  She carried it out to the hammock on the adjoining patio. It took some balance to get in it without flipping over. For a minute she wondered if she should have brought her phone with her in case she got twisted up in a knot and couldn’t get out. Hammock wrestling was never a skill she’d had to refine, but after a couple of tries she managed to finally steady herself. Getting out would probably be just as challenging, so she settled in for the long haul.

  Lost in the words of the story, she had no idea how long she’d been outside, but the next thing she knew she was waking up in a sweat. The sun had risen high in the sky and the air had gone from warm to downright hot. And that peaceful, easy feeling she’d held on to earlier had been chased away by a bad dream. One where everyone was whispering and staring at her as she hosted a holiday party. The woman she saw Ron with was in every crowd across the room as she mingled, and she didn’t even realize that it was the very same woman in every crowd. But everyone in the room did. The whispers as she walked by taunted her. Listen, Katherine. Look. She’s right there, but in the dream she couldn’t hear or see it. She wondered if the woman had ever been to their house. Was it a dream or a memory? It was possible. She’d been too naive to even suspect a thing.

  This made her feel sick to her stomach.

  She rolled out of the hammock to the ground. Not graceful, but effective.

  Contacting Ron was still on her list of things to do. Before Monday. Dinner time already? She’d run out of ways to stall and there wasn’t a whole lot of time left to Sunday now.

  She sat contemplating whether she should call Ron now, or wait until later. “Get it over with.” She dialed home, but got no answer. Her heart went cold. Sunday night, and he was out?

  Confusing thoughts fought for her attention. Visions of Ron holding that woman, kissing her. Mom’s face. The look of disappointment in her eyes at Katherine’s marriage failing. Peggy trying to be strong.

  “What a mess.”

  She thought through what her message should be carefully. Even wrote down notes. Planning. It was what she did best. Satisfied she had a script that would deliver the message she intended, she dialed Ron’s office number.

  “Ron. If you actually made it into the office this morning, then you’ve seen my message. The one I left after I saw you on Friday afternoon.” Pause for effect. “With her. Was fidelity really too much to ask?” Pause again. No chance of him misunderstanding that. “Shaleigh will be in touch. Don’t bother trying to contact me. Everything can go through her.” She paused again, but this time it wasn’t planned. Her anger was only matched by the sadness and disappointment of it all. Don’t cry, damn it. There would be no more of those “Love ya, talk to ya later” goodbyes with him. “Goodbye, Ron.”

  She ended the call, feeling out of breath and a little afraid.

  Pressing the contacts icon on her p
hone, she blocked his numbers. “Blocking my own home number. That’s got to be a first.”

  No sense being tempted. It was over. Her heart was not going to go through this again. Ever.

  Chapter Eleven

  Katy stood on a craggy rock in Boot Creek hoping the sluice of cold water below would calm her. She stepped gingerly forward and swished her foot in the icy water. Even though it made her almost squeal, it was a welcome relief compared to the hot sun beating down.

  Knowing that Ron would soon be getting his wakeup call had made her so anxious that she’d been unable to sleep. She’d unblocked the number on her phone sometime in the middle of the night . . . just so she would know when it happened.

  She could ignore him when he called. She hoped.

  But knowing was better than waiting and wondering. Not that it really changed anything, but she was a details girl. Sticking her head in the sand wasn’t her style.

  Rocks formed a random path across the creek. Although the ones along the creek’s edge were sharp and ragged . . . those toward the center looked worn to a soft sheen.

  How many years would it take to rub away the sharp edges with just the movement of water? Hundreds and hundreds for sure.

  A large rock rose like an island out to her right.

  She held her arms out to the sides like a tightrope walker keeping her balance. Nine well-executed hops and steps, and she’d made it to the big rock.

  The chill from the water cooled the air out here in the middle. She sat down and watched the current sweep around her.

  A school of minnows headed toward where she stood, then split as if choreographed. Half taking the left route and half swimming right. She spun around watching the two groups partner back up on the other side. A fish jumped somewhere nearby, and when she glanced across the creek, two turtles had crawled up onto the long felled tree that hung precariously from the bank to the water by its roots, its brown leaves clinging to dead limbs as it turned back into earth. One day it would let go and then where would those turtles sun?

  Being one with nature had never once been something she’d entertained as a better way of life, but if anyplace could change her mind, it was this creek. The fast pace of her life with Ron didn’t seem so attractive. For all that they’d compromised to earn more and buy more and climb the corporate ladder, they’d missed out on some of the simplest things in life, and she was beginning to regret that. Or maybe it wasn’t so much regret as it was a new appreciation for something different. Something pure.

  She pulled the phone from her pocket and checked the time, then tucked it away, once again navigating her way back to the creek bank.

  Her phone rang in her back pocket, the buzz scaring her and nearly landing her in the water. She stepped up the pace and hopped over the last two rocks to the shore. She’d missed the call, but then she hadn’t intended to answer anyway. Or had she?

  No voice mail.

  As she pressed buttons to see who had called, the signal for the voice mail came through. Must have been one heck of a long message.

  She sat down on the ground and put her phone next to her while she put her shoes and socks back on. His picture was next to the icon. He knew. That’s all she needed to know. Right?

  Or she could listen.

  Would he grovel? Beg her to come home? Say he was sorry?

  Which might be true, but he wouldn’t mean it the way she was thinking right now.

  Shaleigh’s words echoed, “Let me handle it.”

  She pulled her knees up in front of her and hugged them. Friday seemed eons ago, and her emotions were swinging like Tarzan.

  She decided not to listen to the voice mail, but she didn’t delete it either.

  Katy walked back up to the house.

  As she walked down the corridor to her room, a crash came from behind her. She turned and rushed back. “Naomi?”

  But it wasn’t Naomi.

  A wisp of a woman lay in a heap of trinkets that had been on a table near the fireplace. She still clutched the heavy tablecloth.

  “Are you okay?” Katy asked, almost afraid to help her up for fear she’d hurt her worse. The woman’s skin was so pale. So light against the black velour robe. Velour in the middle of summer?

  “I think so.” Her voice was breathless.

  “I’ll call 911.” Katy pulled her phone out of her pocket.

  “No!”

  Katy hesitated.

  Kelly Jo, for this must be her, pleaded, “Please don’t call an ambulance. I don’t want to go to the hospital.”

  “I think you need some medical attention.”

  “Just help me to the couch.”

  Katy held out her arm for the girl and led her to the couch. “Are you hurt anywhere?” She was so frail.

  “Aside from my pride? Just a bump on the shin. Really. It’s okay.” The woman sat quietly for a moment. “I’m Kelly Jo. I’m sorry I scared you.”

  “I know, please don’t apologize. You took quite a fall.”

  “I’m Naomi’s grandniece. I came downstairs to get something to drink. I lost my balance.” She glanced over. “I sure made a mess.”

  “You just sit right there. I’ve got that.” Katy rushed back over, collected the items from the floor, and righted the table. Just as she put the last item on the table, Naomi walked in and sang out a hello, but when she saw Katy huddled over the table and Kelly Jo on the couch, her expression fell.

  “What were you doing up?” Naomi rushed to her niece’s side.

  “I’m sorry. I was just so thirsty. I got dizzy . . .” She didn’t finish the sentence, but Naomi clearly got the gist of what had happened.

  “Are you okay?”

  Katy said, “She might be dehydrated. I wanted to call an ambulance.”

  “No.” Naomi’s answer was firm and nearly as fast as Kelly Jo’s had been. “But Kelly Jo, we should go see the doctor. Just in case.”

  Kelly Jo’s lips were paper-thin. “Can I get some water and just lie here for a minute?”

  “Of course, sweetheart.” Naomi swept Kelly Jo’s fine wisps of hair to the side.

  “Juice might be better,” Katy said. “Want me to get it?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  Katy rushed to get something for Kelly Jo. When she pushed through the doorway she stopped mid-step, spinning around in somewhat of a tizzy to find what she needed quickly. She pulled a cotton flour-sack towel off of a stack of them on the huge marble island and then grabbed ice from the freezer. She wrapped the towel into a knot, then filled a glass to the rim with some Gatorade she found in the pantry and raced back out to the living room.

  “Here you go,” Katy said. “It’s Gatorade. If you’re dehydrated, it will probably be better for you to drink, and here, put this on your leg.”

  “Thank you,” she said, lifting the glass gingerly to her lips.

  Even swallowing looked like an effort.

  Kelly Jo closed her eyes and lay back.

  Naomi lifted the robe and looked at her leg. “That’s a goose egg.”

  Kelly Jo handed the ice to her aunt.

  She placed it over the already bruising area, then turned to Katy. “Would you mind driving us into town to see the doctor after she rests a bit?”

  “Not at all,” Katy said. “We can go whenever you’re ready.”

  She went to get her keys and purse, then moved her car up as close to the front porch as she could get. By the time she came back inside, Naomi was already trying to steady Kelly Jo. That looked like a disaster waiting to happen.

  Katy grabbed the rolling desk chair from where Naomi had checked her in the other day and wheeled it over to them.

  The young woman leaned against the wall and Naomi steadied her as she sat down in the chair. She was so thin the chair didn’t even squeak or creak when she sat down.

&
nbsp; “Hang on.” Katy turned the chair around and headed for the front door, rolling it right out onto the porch and down the handicap ramp.

  “I can stand to get in,” Kelly Jo said.

  “Okay. I’ll be right here. Hang on to my arm if you need to.”

  Once Kelly Jo was in the car, Naomi hopped into the back seat and Katy wheeled the chair back in the inn before taking off.

  “I don’t know where we’re going, so you’re going to have to give me directions,” Katy said.

  “No problem. I’ve lived here all of my life.” Naomi leaned forward between the two front seats. “Back out to the main road.”

  “I can do that,” Katy said, negotiating the curves as fast as safely possible.

  Naomi reached a hand over the seat to Kelly Jo. “Honey, we need to move you to one of the downstairs rooms. No sense you trying to climb those stairs by yourself. You’ll just worry me.”

  Kelly Jo looked like she was going to argue, but then she didn’t. “You’re right. I’ll do that.”

  Katy focused on the windy road, trying to stay calm. Kelly Jo looked like she was sweating, and Naomi looked nervous. “When I was coming in I saw a little sign that said FALLS on it. Is that someone’s name or are there waterfalls nearby?”

  Naomi’s lips spread into a grin. “The waterfalls. I fell in love at the falls.”

  “Really?” She urged the conversation, trying to get Naomi’s mind off of how bad Kelly Jo looked. Heck, trying to keep herself from panicking too.

  A slip of a smile played across her lips.

  “He must have been a pretty special man. I can see it on your face.”

  “A very kind and generous man. Marshall was my everything. He loved to entertain. That’s why I live in that monstrosity of a house. I would have been perfectly happy with a little cottage on the creek. Those little nooks in the house became my way of making it feel cozy.” She seemed to drift back to happier times. “We lived in some grandeur then. Remind me to show you some pictures.”

  “You still do. That place is lovely.” Katy thought of the high-end touches she’d already noticed.

  “It is. I love the memories there, but it’s really too much for me. I couldn’t possibly let it go to someone who wouldn’t love it the way we did, though.” She reached over and pointed to the street ahead. “Turn there, dear.”