One Love for Liv

by Marianne Arkins

  What did she like to eat? She’d never thought about it much, always eating whatever was put in front of her without complaint. To take issue with what your host or your cook provided was rude. She looked at the monstrosity of a sandwich he’d made for himself, eyeballed the ingredients and decided to go for it.

  “I’ll have what you’re having, only a little bit smaller.”

  “Are you afraid of cats?”

  “What?” Liv suddenly worried the meat on the sandwich wasn’t roast beef after all. “Why?”

  “Can you go to Daisy’s and feed Booboo while I finish up here?” Mike tipped his head toward a key hanging from a hook near the door. It was on a plastic daisy chain.

  Liv’s heart pounded at the opportunity to go next door. If she had tried, she couldn’t have set this up better. “Sure. Where’s his food?”

  “He’ll probably have a feeder full of kibble. You’ll just need to open up a can of wet stuff. It’ll be in the cupboard directly to the left of the sink.”

  “I think I can handle it. Back in a few minutes.”

  “Thanks.” Liv felt a little guilty when Mike smiled gratefully at her. If he only knew she wasn’t doing him a favor. He was doing one for her. She snatched the key chain off of the wall hook and hurried next door.

  Daisy’s door opened easily, with no fancy wiggles or hip bumps needed to get inside. Liv wondered if Daisy performed them anyhow, just to put on a show for the guys on her floor.

  The house was feminine and frilly from top to bottom. Liv waded through a mile of lace to find the kitchen. Artificial flowers sat artfully arranged in a glass vase full of pink marbles. The table was set with woven straw placemats and ornate, scallop-edged plates, as if waiting for the arrival of guests at any minute.

  The apartment was immaculate and the decorating was perfect for the type of person she imagined Daisy to be. Liv thought about the mess next door, and was horrified Daisy seemed far more capable of functioning than Liv. Was that why Geoff preferred Daisy over Liv? Was there a possibility she’d never get him back?

  Liv yanked open the cupboard door and pulled out a can of cat food, wondering if the cat was going to make an appearance. She popped the top and then looked for something to dump the brown goop into. The beautifully made table caught her eye, so she grabbed a fancy dish from there, spitefully pleased to be using the place setting for the cat.

  She must have made just the right noise because a huge white cat with a smashed face plodded into the room and sat at her feet crying pitifully. She dug out the food with a spoon and shoved it under the cat’s nose. “Bon appetit.”

  Time to get to work. She wandered into the bathroom, the one room in the house that will tell any and all secrets its residents may harbor. When Liv saw a cup with two toothbrushes, one blue and one pink, she inhaled sharply. Just how often did Geoff stay here?

  She sank to the floor and tried to hold back the tears, wondering how her previously perfect life had gotten so messed up. She’d had it all planned out—the right college, her own business, the perfect man. Charity functions, appropriate volunteer work, eventually one or two children and a nanny, of course. A home in the country, close enough for Geoff to commute, but quiet enough for a quality home life.

  Things had been falling into place one by one. What had she done to mess it all up? Why was she now sitting in a tiny, low-class apartment bathroom, seeing her fiancé’s personal effects on a sink with some other woman’s soap?

  Something soft rubbed against her arm. Liv looked over to see the cat rubbing back and forth against it, purring. He gave her an inquisitive look and put a paw on her leg as if asking permission to get into her lap.

  “You seem okay for a cat,” Liv said, hesitantly stroking the long fur. It was soft and oddly comforting, and she felt the need to bury her face in it, like it was her old teddy bear from her childhood. When the cat settled in her lap, her leg vibrated with the rumble from his purring.

  “Hey, Liv?” Mike’s voice called from the front door, and she jumped to her feet. Her sudden movement startled the cat, who trotted from the room, huge stomach swaying back and forth.

  “In here.” She grabbed a wad of toilet tissue, dabbed at her wet eyes and blew her nose noisily. “I’ll be right out.”

  Mike was squatting on the floor, scratching the cat’s rear end, which stood up in the air, the tail flowing back and forth like a flag of surrender.

  She pasted a smile to her face. “Sorry. I needed to blow my nose. Maybe I’m allergic.” Sorry cat, she apologized silently, feeling like she’d betrayed his comfort with her words. “Or maybe I just had a delayed reaction to the smoke.”

  “Booboo all taken care of?”

  “Yes.” She didn’t realize how close she was to Mike until he stood up and his chest was only a few inches from her face. Her heart pounded in her chest, so hard and loud she was sure he would notice. She fought the urge to step back.

  He looked down and grinned, eyes twinkling. Was the man ever unhappy? He slid a hand down her arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps behind like a wake, and took her hand. “Let’s go eat.”

  Chapter Six

  Liv opted to go home immediately after dinner, not at all pleased with the enormous amount of physical sensation being near Mike caused in her body. He wasn’t hitting on her, nor she on him, but just his proximity sent warning bells and awareness shooting across her already raw nerve endings.

  She walked through the door of her condo, cradling the tiny rose plant like it was a fragile and exotic orchid. She’d never had a plant before because her father said they attracted bugs. Hopefully this one came with care instructions.

  The light on her answering machine blinked: short, short, long. Two messages. She set the pot on her kitchen counter and pressed the flashing red button.

  “Hi, darling, it’s Dad, are you there?” Liv sat through a prolonged pause, wondering why the machine didn’t hang up. She figured even electronics were afraid to offend Stewart Leigh. “Guess not. I tried your cell, but there was no answer. I have a dinner tomorrow and need an escort. If Geoff isn’t keeping you busy, I’d like you to come with me. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

  Seven? That wasn’t going to work with Mike’s schedule. What could she do? Before she could think of anything, the machine beeped to indicate the second message.

  “Lee Lee.” It was Geoff, and Liv leaned closer to listen. “I’ll be home tomorrow, a day early, and I want to see you. I’ll call you.”

  “I’m busy, you jerk. You can’t just assume I’ll be waiting for you to stop by.”

  She grabbed the phone off its rest and hit speed dial one. Sophie picked up on the second ring. “Leigh residence. May I help you?”

  “Good evening, Sophie. Is my father available?”

  “Of course, Miss Olivia, he’s been waiting for your call.” She laid the phone down gently and Liv heard the sound of Sophie’s retreating footsteps on her father’s hardwood floor.

  Liv glanced at her watch. It was almost nine o’clock, her father’s bedtime, and she felt a little guilty about not being available for his call earlier in the evening. Early to bed and early to rise was his mantra. He still jogged three miles every morning at five a.m. She only hoped to be in that kind of shape in her sixties.

  She heard a scraping sound as the receiver was picked up. “Hello, Lee Lee. I’m glad you got my message in a timely fashion.”

  “Hi, Daddy. About tomorrow night, I can’t make it at seven, but I could meet you at eight. Geoff isn’t a problem.”

  “Let me give you the address, then, and you can take a cab. I’ll bring you home after.” He rattled off the address of an exclusive club two towns over. “I’ll meet you at the door at seven forty-five. Don’t be late. Dinner is served at eight and the auction will follow immediately.”

  “Fine, Daddy.” Liv had a sudden inspiration. “Could I talk to Sophie again for a moment?”

  “Of course. Sweet dreams.”

  “You, too.” She w
aited as her father called for Sophie.

  “Yes, Miss Olivia?”

  “I have a friend,” Liv began. “One who needs a little TLC, and I was wondering if you could make a modest meal for me to take to this friend, with clear instructions on how to prepare it?”

  “Of course, Miss. When do you need it?”

  “Could I pick it up tomorrow around lunch time?”

  “Certainly.” Liv could almost see the woman curtsey. She’d taken care of the Leigh family since Liv’s mother died twenty years ago, and she still insisted on absolute formality.

  “Thank you, Sophie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Liv hung up the phone and pulled the small paper tag out of the rose pot, reading the care instructions. There was a little packet of plant food attached, and she removed it and placed it nearby, testing the dirt for moisture. It felt quite damp, so Liv assumed it didn’t need any water tonight. She was terrified about watering it too much. Or not enough. Just the right amount of love and attention would keep the plant alive.

  Kind of like her engagement. Had she over-watered Geoff or under-watered him? They needed to talk. She picked up her cell phone and stepped outside on her balcony, the sounds of traffic soothing her nerves.

  Hitting speed dial three, number two being the spa, she wondered what Geoff was doing right this moment. Was he alone, or in a clinch with Daisy?

  She was forwarded to his voice mail after four rings and sighed. “Geoff, it’s me. I’m going to a function with my father tomorrow and won’t be home until ten. I’ll call you on Saturday morning.”

  She hung up the phone, sad and emotionally exhausted. Maybe she was just unlovable. She and Geoff had known each other for two years, but had only dated for a few months—and look what had already happened. What would she do if it was her problem and not his?

  She returned inside to get ready for bed, and not even the sight of her green plant with its tiny melon-orange flowers could ease her sorrow.

  *

  The next morning Liv bounced out of bed with a new resolve. She knew she loved Geoff, regardless of how her body reacted when Mike was around, and she wanted her fiancé back where he belonged.

  She washed and finger-styled her hair, still loving the fresh new cut and color. She wondered what her father would say about her new look when she saw him tonight. Nothing good, most likely. He liked to be involved in any drastic changes Liv made. She wondered if she could hide her head and avoid the ugliness altogether.

  She grabbed a cup of yogurt and rushed out the door to Pamper Me, knowing Marissa would think of something to help her with her dilemma. When she arrived at the spa, she asked Cheri to send Marissa to Liv’s office as soon as she was free.

  Liv settled herself behind her desk and signed payroll checks with the phone propped on her shoulder, dealing with a supplier who was behind in his delivery. Unable to gain assurances the new massage tables would be at Pamper Me next week, she canceled the order and hung up, determined to find a more reliable company.

  “Liv?” Marissa’s voice startled her, and she looked up to see her friend hovering just inside the doorway.

  “Come inside and close the door.”

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m having dinner with my father tonight and need to hide my hair. I’m not up to fighting with him, considering everything else that’s going on.” She rubbed her forehead, hoping to ease the headache that bloomed behind her eyes. “Any ideas?”

  “I could call that wig shop we’ve used in the past and see if they have something in the same color and style you used to wear. But it’s awfully short notice.” Marissa tapped one index finger against her lips. “I should be able to get something close, but it may not be exact.”

  “He’s a man. He won’t notice as long as it’s blond.” Liv stuffed a pile of papers into her briefcase and stood up. “I need to go or I’ll never get everything done.”

  “Liv,” Marissa laid a hand on Liv’s shoulder. “You’re killing yourself trying to keep up with everything.”

  “I’m fine.” Liv smiled at Marissa. “I need to get going or I’ll be late. Sophie made dinner for Mike and I need to pick it up on my way to Salem.” She patted Marissa’s hand. “Don’t worry about me. It’s all under control.”

  “Is it?”

  “Of course.” Liv started to walk away, but Marissa grabbed her arm again. “What?”

  “Your hair is brown.”

  “So?”

  “What about Sophie? You know she reports everything to Stewart. How will you explain to your father about having brown hair today and blond tonight?”

  Liv closed her eyes and pounded her forehead with a fist. “I didn’t even think about that.”

  “Good thing you have me.” Marissa pulled Liv into the employee break room and reached in to a locker. “Here.”

  Liv looked at the beret with skepticism. “That’s not exactly my style.”

  “It is today.” Marissa pulled the hat over Liv’s head and tucked in a few loose strands of hair. “Now you can go.”

  Liv thanked her friend and walked out into the parking lot, automatically walking toward her Miata. She stopped in her tracks when she realized if she took her car to her father’s house, she’d have to come back here to switch cars before driving to Salem. There was no way she’d have time for that. It exhausted her just thinking about it, so she climbed into Marissa’s car, hoping her father was at work and Sophie wouldn’t notice what Liv drove to the house.

  She just wasn’t built for duplicity and lies. Unlike some fiancés she knew.

  As if thinking about him conjured him up, her cell phone rang. She took a minute to hook up her headset so she could talk and drive. “Hello, Geoff.”

  “Lee Lee. I’ve arranged with your father to escort you to the function this evening.”

  “Oh?” She pulled onto the road and started for her father’s house, glancing at the gas gauge. Almost full, thankfully, so she wouldn’t have to make a stop for gas.

  “Yes. I’ll pick you up at your condo at six thirty.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible with my schedule, Geoff.” When he didn’t reply and the silence stretched out, she looked at the phone display to make certain they were still connected. “Geoff?”

  “That’s terribly inconvenient, darling. I’d like you to change your current plans.”

  Liv sighed, knowing she had always done so in the past, but she was determined to go to Mike’s today. “I can’t do that, Geoff. I’ll see you at the club at seven forty-five.” She hung up the phone before he could reply and turned the phone off to avoid another confrontation.

  Liv turned into the long driveway of her father’s home, stopping in front of the main entrance. She stepped out of the car, flinging the headset into the passenger seat and checking her reflection in the side mirror to make certain no brown hair showed from beneath her hat.

  She jogged up the granite steps and let herself into the house. Thankfully, it turned out her father was at the office and not working from home when she arrived. Chatting with him would have put her behind schedule.

  She wandered toward the kitchen, wondering how her father would feel if he discovered Liv’s actions of the past few days. She seldom did anything big without consulting with him first. In fact, when things had started getting serious with Geoff, Liv had gone to Stewart and discussed the possibility of marriage. They’d hammered out the pros and cons and decided marriage would be a positive thing. Geoff was educated, well-connected and knew which fork to use.

  All very important considerations.

  Liv couldn’t help but think about Mike. That man was certainly not well-connected and evidently even ate without flatware on a regular basis. Still, he was thoughtful and caring—just look at how he’d adopted that disgusting ferret when someone else abandoned it. She might not have tender feelings for the beast, but she was certain Geoff would have called animal control to rid the home of the pest. And Mike had taken her in, the mom
ent he thought she needed help.

  Liv bet Mike wouldn’t sneak around on his girlfriend. He was nothing if not honest. Unlike Liv. Her conscience gave a twist she tried to ignore.

  She wondered how Mike would feel when he discovered he’d been lied to, and not just once, but over and over. She was pretty certain he wouldn’t take it well. She bowed her head, mourning in advance the loss of their friendship.

  Aside from Marissa, no one saw the person Liv was inside. She was enjoying the sensation of being able to act however she chose without some catty debutante waiting for Liv to screw up.

  With Mike, she could eat pizza with her fingers and wear jeans and a T-shirt off the rack, and no one seemed to mind.

  “Miss Olivia?” Sophie’s voice jolted Liv from her reverie. “I have your supper ready to go.”

  “Sophie, you’re an angel.” Liv stole a quick look inside the large, rolling picnic basket. “Oh my. That’s a lot of food.”

  “The directions for preparation are taped to the inside of the lid. I hope they’re clear enough.”

  “I’m sure they’re fine.” Liv leaned over and kissed Sophie’s tissue-paper cheek. “Thank you.”

  Sophie turned a pale pink and she stared at her feet. “You’re welcome, Miss Olivia.”

  Liv looked at the wall clock in the hallway. “Oh no! I’m behind schedule. Need to fly, Sophie. Thanks again.”

  She dashed out the door, dragging the rolling basket behind her, thumping down the stairs. Hopefully Sophie hadn’t packed the crystal. The new maid was due at Mike’s house in forty-five minutes, and it would normally take Liv over an hour to get there from here.

  Fate smiled on her. She hit no traffic and found a spot right smack in front of the apartment complex. Only ten minutes late. She unloaded the food and started to roll it toward the steps when a familiar brindled monster galloped her way. She sighed, thinking she really didn’t have time for this today.

  “Spike, no!” She hoped her voice sounded firm and not fearful. “Go away.”

  The dog stopped a couple feet from her and plopped down on his rear, tail sweeping the ground clean behind him. He gave a soft woof and lifted one paw as if to say hello. Her heart gave a little squeeze. He was kind of cute, even with all of the slobber.