Life After Perfect

by Nancy Naigle

  “That’s my girl.”

  She licked a finger seductively.

  “Yeah, and that.” He pointed at her. “That’s just not fair.”

  “You’re good for my ego.”

  “I don’t know why someone as beautiful as you would have any problem in that department.”

  If he only knew.

  That Friday afternoon when she saw Ron with that girl everything had changed. In that one moment she’d lost her sense of self. She’d felt small, and ugly, and unworthy. And then again when she watched the same girl walk right out of her very own house. It was unforgivable. She wondered how long it took the girl to realize she had graffiti on the side of her car. It didn’t matter now.

  Here with Derek, she felt special and desirable.

  Chapter Sixteen

  He’d promised an early night and he made good on the promise. And although part of her really respected him for it, part of her wished he’d gone totally Neanderthal on her and picked her up and carried her off to his bedroom.

  When she had been nestled in the crook of his arm that first night, it had been the best head prop of her life. If they sold a pillow that fit like that, she’d buy one for sure.

  Derek negotiated the winding road. “Power must be out,” he said. “It’s dark, but you can usually see lights from a couple of the houses along this road at night.”

  The rain had stopped, but the water sloshed beneath the tires at each curve. He slowed near the turn into the gravel lane. Little frogs hopped across the lane. So many there was no way there weren’t going to be some casualties. “Where did those all come from? It’s like a horror movie.”

  “There are always a ton of frogs out here near the creek.” He pulled in front of Lonesome Pines and just as he’d predicted, the power was out. The yard lights weren’t on and there wasn’t even a hint of one of the fifty night-lights Naomi had in the sockets around the house to make getting around at night safe.

  “Let me get a flashlight,” he said.

  She sat tight while he got out of the truck. It was only partly because of the dark that she was almost afraid to move. In the daytime, the grounds were lovely and peaceful, but now every sound was amplified and that deluge of frog traffic had her skin crawling.

  The dome light came on when he opened the door and she let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding.

  He opened her door and held out his hand to help her down, using a large lantern-type flashlight in his other hand to light up a wide area in front of them. He led her to the porch and helped her inside.

  Naomi must have already turned in for the night, but she’d left jar candles burning in the first-floor rooms with a note. Katy trained Derek’s light on the note so she could read it. It told her where there were more candles if she needed them, and Naomi had left a flashlight out for her to help her get around. At the very bottom of the note she had scrawled, “PS—I hope you didn’t make it home to read this note tonight. Xo”

  She laid her hand over the paper so Derek wouldn’t see that.

  “She’s the sweetest lady,” Katy said trying to play it off lightly. “Point the light over here so I can put Naomi’s dinner in the refrigerator.”

  He followed her through the space, and they both laughed as they bumped into things in the shadowy darkness. She slid the dinner into the refrigerator and closed it quickly.

  “Do you think the power will be out long?”

  He shrugged. “They’ll probably get it up in the morning. It just depends on how big of an outage it is.”

  “At least she was prepared with all of the candles.”

  Derek frowned. “She shouldn’t have left them burning unattended.”

  “They’re attended now.”

  “So they are.” He flashed the light toward the note again. “What’d it say?”

  “The note?” She shrugged. “She’s in bed. Candles. Flashlight. That’s it.”

  He turned off the flashlight, and in the soft flicker of the seven candles around the room, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

  A rumble of thunder rolled across the sky.

  “Mother Nature doesn’t seem to approve,” he said.

  “Or,” she said, pulling in closer, “she doesn’t think it’s safe for you to leave.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  She nodded her head.

  “Where’s our room?” he asked.

  She turned and crooked a finger toward him. “Follow me.”

  “One second. Hold that thought.” He went around and blew out all of the candles, then caught up with Katy and let her lead him down the hall.

  Feeling like a kid sneaking back in after curfew, she motioned for him to follow her.

  He held the flashlight steady, lighting a path in front of her.

  With each step down the hall, she became more aware of him right behind her.

  They stepped inside her room and Derek turned off the flashlight.

  She sucked in a deep breath, the darkness a welcome relief from the insecurities that were taunting her, but she didn’t want to resist.

  He pulled her into his arms.

  She ached for his touch and his moves as intense and volatile as the storm had been outside.

  He laid her down on the bed and undressed her.

  Part of her wished for at least the moonlight to see the outline of his form, but the darkness played on her senses like a wicked masquerade. Somehow freeing, yet dangerous at the same time.

  He was awakening feelings that were foreign to her. The sound, the warmth, even the taste of him filling her with desire for even more.

  The connection was more powerful than it had been the night they’d met. They’d been able to resist going too far then, but not tonight. There was no holding back now.

  They lay in the darkness, breathing so heavily that even the storm seemed to have quieted.

  “I could stay.” His hand ran the length of her arm.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” She had explaining to do, but she couldn’t do it now. How would that look? “What would Naomi think?”

  “That the bridge was closed?”

  “Let’s take it slow, Derek.” They were both taking steps on shaky ground. And she didn’t need a rebound guy to make things even more confusing than they already were. Besides, he had roots here, and she’d just been uprooted.

  He kissed her on the forehead and then pulled her into his arms. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

  But those words tempted her like she’d never expected they would.

  She walked him out to his car with the light, and reluctantly waved as he left. It might have been nice to have him stay, but it wasn’t the right time. She regretted not telling him about her situation. Maybe once she had the separation papers in hand, it would be easier to tell him. And it would be more final. Then again, the right time might never come.

  She needed to stand on her own two feet right now. At least she’d earned back a little self-esteem in the process tonight.

  Using the flashlight to find her way back to her room, she undressed and crawled into bed in the silent house. One didn’t really realize there was such a hum from all those electronics until it wasn’t there anymore.

  Katy’s phone woke her from a dead sleep. She rushed around the room trying to find where she’d put her purse in the dark last night and finally put her hand on her ringing phone.

  Shaleigh’s voice came across the line. “Have you looked at Facebook today?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Seems the little Prius driver has tagged you. In a video.”

  “Uh-oh.”

  “Yeah. No charges have been filed yet, but I guess Ron gave her his phone or sent her the video. Not your best move, Katherine.”

  “It was spontaneous.”r />
  “Like combustion. Never leave a trail. Haven’t I taught you anything?”

  “Sorry.” She turned on her computer, waiting for it to boot up while she talked. “I’m kind of surprised she’d post it. Doesn’t she know that video is not flattering of her behavior?”

  “I don’t think she sees it that way. But then consider the source. She was sleeping with your husband.”

  Even though she knew it, hearing the words roll right off of Shaleigh’s tongue like that resulted in a painful stab.

  Katy had only seen the video on her phone. At least here she could go full screen. “Hmm. Well, there are already over two hundred likes. I wonder if they like what I did, or what she did?”

  “Don’t think it matters. It’s only nine in the morning. I’m sure it will become clear later on.”

  “Great. Maybe I’ll repost it with hash tag slut on it.”

  “Please don’t,” Shaleigh said.

  “How about #RonBarcliftIsACheater?”

  “Same.”

  “You’re no fun.” She closed the Facebook screen. “What else is going on?”

  “Just wondering if you thought any more about taking a simple little job in that town.”

  “Not really. I thought about going back to work now. Ending the leave of absence, but then I’d have to rent a place to stay, and quite honestly, I’m not ready to go back to that job.”

  “So don’t. Just get a little job at a restaurant or in an office or something. I’ll say you’re too distraught to go back to the pressure of your career and this is all you can do for now. Get this turned back to Ron doing you wrong.”

  “I could do that. As long as it’s not with a financial institution, there won’t be a conflict.”

  Shaleigh’s voice didn’t hold an ounce of amusement. “And please quit acting like a Power Ranger and taking matters into your own hands. You’re supposed to look hurt and fragile.”

  “I am.”

  “Well, act it.” Shaleigh laughed, finally. “Even your ‘hurt and fragile’ is more put-together than anyone I know. Why am I surprised?”

  “Sorry. It’s just the way I operate. Plan what you’re going to do, and do what you plan.”

  “I’ll send you the t-shirt. Just lay low for a little while. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  Katy hung up the phone and turned on the light. The electricity had come back on sometime during the night. It was probably time to get that cashier’s check cashed so she’d have some money. Without Ron pushing his agenda on her, she could open an account at one of the big banks with lots of branches.

  She got dressed. Naomi must have gone somewhere because she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Kelly Jo’s door was pulled shut, too.

  She went to the desk and looked in the phone book for a list of banks. A quick look in the tiny phone book showed there was a national bank right on Main Street.

  She got a cup of coffee from the kitchen and then went with her coffee in one hand to her car and headed to town.

  With the cashier’s check safely tucked into her purse, she went into the big fancy building. It looked out of place with its shiny, glass exterior. Inside everything was electronic. Not that old hometown feel. She waited for her turn to speak to a teller.

  Finally she stepped to the counter and handed over the cashier’s check and her driver’s license.

  “Are you a customer here, Mrs. Barclift?”

  “No. I’m just here on vacation. I live down in Atlanta.”

  “Not this branch. Our bank.”

  “Oh. Well, no. Not that either. I bank with them. See there on the cashier’s check.”

  The woman’s mouth took on an unpleasant twist. “I’m so sorry. We can’t cash this for you. We only cash these for our customers.”

  “I need the money. Can you just put a hold on it, or charge me a fee or something?”

  “I’m sorry. Maybe you can find a branch close by.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “I’m afraid not. You’d be surprised how many fraudulent cashier’s checks we run into. We really have to be careful.”

  Katy snagged the check and her license back and stalked out of the bank. Great. Well, that would have been nice to know before she’d left Atlanta for the second time. She’d always thought a cashier’s check was as good as cash. When did that change?

  She left feeling aggravated and madder than ever at Ron for making things so difficult. If he could have just been faithful, none of this would be happening.

  Leaving her car at the curb in front of the bank, she walked down the block to the Blue Skies Cafe.

  When she walked in, Angie was the first person she saw.

  “Hey, girl!”

  “Hi. I had some errands to run. Thought I’d drop in for some breakfast. What do you recommend?”

  “Omelet. The best.”

  “I’ll take it. With orange juice, please.”

  “Coming right up.”

  Katy checked her messages and the weather forecast on her phone.

  Angie brought her juice and slid across from her in the booth.

  “So you and Derek had a little date last night?”

  Katy laughed. “I don’t know if I’d call it a date.”

  “It was a date. He hasn’t done anything with anyone since Laney died. You’re the best thing that’s happened to him . . . in way too long.”

  “Well, I could probably say the same thing. He makes me feel pretty good too.”

  “Naomi stopped in earlier. She was driving to the airport to pick up Kelly Jo’s husband.”

  Katy couldn’t hold back the tears. “I don’t know why I’m crying like this. I just feel so relieved. Happy. Something for her. She needs him with her through this.”

  “I know.” Angie swept tears from her own cheeks. “Aren’t we just a couple of girly messes?”

  “For sure.”

  “Eat—before it gets cold.” Angie walked away, but then came back. “And I just want you to know that whatever it is you’ve been through, Derek is a good guy. He would never hurt you.”

  “How? Why do you think—”

  “When we talked about my ex, I saw your pain.” She smiled. “You have to trust again. It’s different for me. I’ve got Billy. When he’s older, then I’ll take a chance again. But you’ve got the chance now.”

  Katy sat dumbfounded for a moment. She wasn’t even sure if she was looking for anything, but then isn’t that always when the biggest opportunities came your way?

  Maybe that was her problem. She was looking too darn hard. Katy felt more at home in this little town every day. “Hey, Angie, when you get a second.”

  Angie waved to her and then stopped to take someone’s order.

  After Angie put the order in, she came back over to Katy. “What else can I get you?”

  Katy bit down on her lip. “Nothing from the menu. I was kind of thinking of sticking around for a little while, but I need work. Do you know of anything locally?”

  She grinned. “You’re gonna stick around a while. Really? I’m so excited. Between Derek and me, we know everyone in this town. We’ll find something for you.” She did a little wiggle dance. “It’ll be great to have you around.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate anything you can do to help point me in the right direction.”

  “Absolutely. We can talk about it when we go over to the farm this afternoon. You’re still up for that, right?”

  “Been looking forward to it all week.”

  “Me too. I don’t get to do stuff just for fun much anymore.”

  Katy sucked in a deep breath. A stream of golden light cast a glow through the back of the stained-glass divider onto the table.

  The color of hope and opportunity.

  She left money for her bill and
a tip on the table, and took the back door out of the cafe, heading for the medical center.

  She walked inside, and before she even got halfway down the hall, Derek stepped into the hallway.

  “Katy? I wasn’t expecting you. Everything’s okay, right?”

  “Oh, yeah. Everything’s fine.”

  He looked relieved. “Good. I was just going to my office. Come with me.”

  She followed him down the hall and into his office. “Nice.” Katy walked over to the certificates on the wall. “Looks like a lot of studying.”

  “It was.”

  She turned back toward him and then took a seat across from him, as he sat behind the desk. “I was just over talking to Angie. Naomi went to pick up Todd at the airport. I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help her be more comfortable while he’s here. You know, anything she could eat or do?”

  “There’s not much you can do for her. Make sure she stays hydrated. Todd will be the one who will need comfort. I’m sure anything you make will be appreciated.”

  She nodded. “It’s thanks to you that he’s coming.”

  “It was time. I think Kelly Jo knew it. She just needed a reason to change her mind.”

  She noticed the picture on the bookshelf. Hesitating for just a moment, she picked it up. “This is Laney, isn’t it?”

  He nodded.

  “She’s beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” He walked to her side and looked at the picture with her. “She had a beautiful soul. Even when the cancer stripped her of her outer beauty, she still had that spirit. Angelic.”

  “She was lucky to have you,” she said, looking up at him.

  “It worked both ways.” His lips quirked.

  “You miss her.”

  “Every day.” He cleared his throat. “That will never change.”

  She put the picture back on the shelf. Some things scarred you for life. Like tattoos. Some with better stories than others.

  His voice shook just a little. “I know I have to move on. To live. I want Laney’s memory to live on and bring positive things to the world . . . somehow . . . even though she is gone.” He placed his hand on her arm. “I think the retreat could be the thing that does that and helps me move on. And you. You coming here, and all. I haven’t felt this alive in a long time. I’m really thankful that you stopped in town when you did.”