“Thanks, Pat. Can you get us a shot of tequila, too?”
“No, Bernie. We’re not doing tequila shots. Don’t bring us shots,” Alexis pleaded. For Pete’s sake. She wasn’t taking care of drunk Bernie on a Tuesday. Of course, Bernie overruled and got the shots.
Three hours later, dancing her ass off on Charlie’s crotch, Alexis made her leave. Bernie put up a fight with slurred words and a staggering attitude.
“Oh come on, Lex. What happened to the fun girl from school? I remember you being drunker than this a time or two,” Charlie protested. Of course he did. He was close to getting laid.
“She grew up!” Alexis demanded through gritted teeth. “Maybe you should try it.”
“I’ll help you, Lex,” Mike Sills offered.
“Thanks, Mike,” Alexis said with her fingers planted around Bernie’s arm. Bernie disputed and jerked away. Great.
“You guys are just a bunch of old fuddy-duddy party poopers,” Bernie slurred with flailing arms and a swaying, drunk body. “Where are my keys? You can all go to hell. I’m going to find somebody that knows how to party.” Bernie looked around in search of her lost purse. Knocking over a chair, she snatched it from the back and dug to the bottom. “Found them!” she called with one straight arm like she’d just won a victory prize.
Mike grabbed them from her hand and refused to give them back. After an argument and then a ten-minute pleading from Alexis, Bernie was buckled in. Gah!
“I love you, Lex,” Bernie slurred and reached in for a hug. “You’re my bestest friend in the whole world.”
“I love you, too, Bernie, but if you puke in my Jeep, we’re not going to be bestest friends. Get over there, I’m trying to drive.”
The rest of the ride was silent. Bernie was passed out with her cheek flat against the cold glass. Alexis groaned at Allen Jackson, telling her it was five o’clock somewhere, and thought about Cory. She should just stop. It wasn’t good for her to be driving down the road, thinking about the way he smiled and made her smile. She shouldn’t get wrapped up in the way she felt around him. It wouldn’t go anywhere, and it was dumb of her to think differently.
Alexis pulled in behind Bernie’s car and thanked Mike for helping her out.
No problem. “You need help getting her inside?”
“No. Believe me, this is not the first time I’ve had to do this.”
“Oh, how I know that’s the truth. You take care now.”
“You too. I’ll see you around.”
“Lex,” Bernie moaned with her head slumped and her hair hanging over her face.
“What, Bernie?” Alexis was over hiding the annoyance. She should have stuck with her gut and gone home. Bernie wouldn’t have gotten that trashed had Alexis not showed up. That was Bernie being responsible—pass the buck to Alexis.
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Get out of my car, Bernie.” Alexis raced to get her drunk, obnoxious ex-friend out of the car, and not a second too soon. Bernie bent at the waist and heaved on the edge of the driveway while Alexis held her hair and waved to the neighbor. Mr. Reynolds. Great. She would hear about it before noon the next day. Mr. Reynolds was a deacon at their church with her dad. Nice. And once again, Bernie was going to cost her an ass chewing from her dad. Alexis would no doubt endure a lecture for this one. After letting Bernie’s dog out to pee and getting Bernie situated on the sofa with a trashcan, Alexis finally headed home.
Mr. Dog devotedly met her at her car door, just like he did every day. Bending to his size, Alexis hugged and petted him. “I’m so, so sorry, boy. I didn’t mean to leave you out here all day. Come on. I’ll share my supper with you.” The dog wagged his tail, happy to see her, and followed her into the house.
***
Alexis was grateful when she woke, seeing the sun, excited to run and have breakfast with her parents. She ate a quick breakfast with her parents and Walt drove her home in his truck. And yes, Mr. Reynolds had already gotten to him. Alexis had to listen to the same lecture she’d heard a thousand and one times. She was a McKinley. McKinleys were respectful people and they didn’t throw up next their neighbor’s driveway. Blah. Blah. Blah. Twenty-eight years old and she still took the heat for Bernie. Some things never change.
Although it wasn’t her turn to open, Alexis left an hour before opening. She wasn’t even really mad at Bernie anymore. The sun was bright and warmed her face, the air felt refreshingly crisp, and the birds tweeting happily left her feeling grateful. Happy to be alive, she answered the ringtone that she would change as soon as she got to work. When the hell did she do that? It had to have been when she went to the bathroom the night before at the bar.
“Goodmorning, sunshine. Isn’t it a beautiful day today?”
“Go to hell.”
“Where are you?” Alexis laughed.
“Where do you think I am? I’m never drinking again.”
“Yes, you will.”
“Well, I’m never getting that drunk again.”
“Yes, you will.”
“I’m not doing shots again.”
“Yes, you will.”
“Not tequila.”
“Yes, you will.”
“Shut the hell up. How did I even get home?”
“I don’t know. You left with Charlie last night.”
“Oh God, what did I do?” she moaned.
“I’m kidding. I took you home, and you didn’t do anything stupid, thanks to me.”
“Oh, thank God. What would I do without you?”
“Hmm, that is a scary thought, my friend. You’d probably be in jail, have a kid by every guy in town, get a DUI. Want me to keep going?”
“Don’t make me laugh, my head can’t take it. Can you please work the morning shift?”
“I’m already here. I’ll see you when you decide to get out of bed.”
“Ugh, that might be never. Goodnight.”
“Drink some tomato juice. I’ll see you when you feel better.”
Three
Cory pulled up to the only barber shop he could find. He smiled and shook his head. What the hell was he doing in this one-horse town? The name of the barbershop was just that. Barbershop. That’s what the sign said above the candy cane light post. Assuming it was the only one in town, he parked and walked inside.
He noticed only one barber and one barber’s chair. The balding stylist looked over the brim of dark frames and paused, holding opened scissors. Two older gentlemen and a small boy waited their turn. Cory looked around at the room of frozen stares with all eyes on him. Uneasiness was felt through the brief silence.
Cory broke the silence. “Um, good morning. I was hoping to get a trim.”
“You the new doctor or the new banker?” one of the men sitting asked.
“Doctor.”
“Nice to meet you,” the man, waiting, greeted. He stood with an extended hand and a warm smile. The other man followed suit and they both offered their names.
“Checker, and this here’s Buck, my grandson. I reckon you’ll be his new doctor—boy’s sick all the time.”
“We’ll have to see what we can do about that,” Cory said with an extended hand. The little boy smiled and took his hand.”
“I’ve got three in front of you, but you’re welcome to wait if you’d like,” the barber offered with little enthusiasm, continuing to trim the man’s hair.
“Maybe I’ll just come back after lunch. Could you tell me where I might find the photographer here in town?”
“You mean Alexis McKinley’s place?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“You fixin’ on courting her?”
Cory amusingly smiled at the southern hospitality. People around these parts were a little more outspoken than he was used to. He briefly thought about it, grinned a knowing smile, and answered truthfully. “I sure would like to, but she’s a tough one.”
“She can hold her own,” the barber assured him with a snip and a nod. What the hell did that mean?
“She’s a real fine girl,” the guy who introduced himself as Checker said. “Comes from good folks, too, been friends with the McKinleys for many years.”
“You walk out that door and turn left, go two blocks and she’s right there on the corner, can’t miss it,” the barber explained.
“Thanks, and I may just be back later on today.”
“I’ll be here,” he answered with a relaxed, laid-back, country tone.
Cory walked down the street and looked into the windows of the small shops. He passed an old-time candy store that looked like something from a Norman Rockwell calendar. Judy’s Salon was just three stores down from the barber, and a small dry cleaners was next to that. That made him euphoric. He hated pressing his own shirts. Not to mention, he sort of sucked at it. April’s diner sat on the corner next to the cleaners and Lenny’s Service Station was just across the street.
Cory nodded and threw up a hand when a truck passed him on the corner. “Friendly little town,” he spoke to himself. Next was a small hardware store, filled with a little bit of everything, and an empty store after that. He looked up to see what it used to be and read the worn out sign, “Claytons Shoes.” Something heavenly pulled his attention from the deserted shoe store, something that made his mouth water. He was definitely going in there. Behind the glass window held a large display case full of goodies: cupcakes, donuts, pies, fresh bread, and maple rolls. Maybe he’d even stop there on his way back.
The “open” sign to Alexis’s studio was lit in neon-blue, hanging below a Brady County Photography sign. Cory ducked from the oversized Christmas bell hanging from the door a little too late. His six-foot-three height landed the bell right to his forehead.
“Have a seat. I’ll be with you as soon as I can,” Alexis called from the back of the long store. She heard the Christmas bell but cursed under her breath at the electronic chime that only worked when it wanted to. The stupid thing cost her three hundred bucks to have it installed.
Cory walked around with his hands in his pockets, observing her artwork. Beautiful portraits of beautiful people lined the walls. He turned his head toward Alexis and smiled, listening to her make gurgling sounds with her mouth, playing catch with a ball, and pretending to sneeze, all while trying to get everyone still and smile at the same time. He waited for exactly twenty-seven minutes, listening to her work while he flipped through more pages of her photographs. Alexis was superb at what she did. She made people stunning. She was brilliant, a true artist.
A mother, carrying a baby boy, ushered two smaller children ahead of her, finally emerging from the back room. The mother motioned for them to sit and explained that they were almost done.
The mother responded with a pleasant tone. “We’ll see, now sit still for one more minute.”
Alexis looked like she had just worked up a sweat with her dark blue polo shirt half out of her tan khakis. A coffee stain in the shape of a teardrop tainted her right leg, and her hair was a mess. Did she even have makeup on? Great. He could have warned her.
“Hi,” Cory spoke with his eyes looking up from one of the photo books on the table. That stopped her in her tracks.
“Hey,” she modestly said as she moved behind the counter, trying to be cool. Her attention went to the screen of her computer and she tried to busy herself with her job, backspacing several times.
“I’ll send your proofs to your email tomorrow,” Alexis explained right before hitting the back button—again.
The young mother rallied her troops and thanked Alexis. “Thank you so much for doing such an excellent job with them.”
“You’re very welcome, Tracy. Good luck on your dance recital Kalie,” Alexis offered.
Alexis turned to Cory and pulled the hair tie from her hair, trying to get it all put back into place. Brief silence filled the air as she looked to Cory, hoping he’d speak first. He didn’t. He grinned at her with a smile that showed that one little dimple in the center of his cheek. “I have another appointment coming in at any minute now. I don’t have much time. What can I do for you?”
Cory laughed a little with a puff of air. “I think we both already know the answer to that question. You wouldn’t give me your number, remember? You told me I had to look you up, so…I did.”
Damn. Why did he have to be so handsome? She laughed. “You’re pretty quick.”
“And persistent,” he added.
“Yes, most definitely persistent,” Alexis agreed.
“In that case, can I take you to lunch?”
“Well, I can’t leave until one of two things happen. I close for an hour at one thirty or my drunken friend gets her butt in here and decides to work today.”
“Should I even ask?”
“Probably not.”
“Okay, so I’m going to see the barber and hope he doesn’t mess up my hair. I’ll come back at one thirty…deal?”
Both their heads turned to the chime, echoing through the store and then the Christmas bell over the door. Bernie stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Cory. The dark sunglass stayed put due to the pounding right behind her eyes. Swearing off alcohol for the millionth time, Bernie suspiciously eyed him over the brim of her shades.
Alexis looked at her imaginary watch on her left wrist. “Nice of you to join me. Cory, you remember Bernie.”
“Yes, how are you?”
“Don’t ask,” Bernie moaned and dropped her purse below the counter with a loud clunk.
With the quick head drop, Cory mouthed to Alexis. “Drunk friend?”
Alexis nodded the truth. Yup, that was her drunk friend all right.
“I’m here. You go do what you need to do,” Bernie offered with a hand wave toward the door.
“No way am I leaving you here all hung-over and grouchy with my kids.”
Bernie tilted her head to one side and frowned. “Have you ever seen me grouchy with any of these kids? I’m not talking about my own child, just my work kids. Get going. Besides, Paige will be here soon, I plan on making her do everything anyway.” Although it was said in a joking manner, Alexis knew she spoke the truth.
The loud bell rang when Cory opened the door and said, “You heard the lady.” He smiled while remembering to duck that time.
“It’s only noon. I’m not even hungry yet. And I really have a lot of shoots to go through and get sent in.”
Bernie shoved her toward the door. “You can do that later. You have all day.”
Alexis wanted to protest as much as she didn’t. She stepped out to the sidewalk with Cory right behind.
“We could just go for a walk if you’re not hungry yet,” Cory suggested.
“Okay, sure,” Alexis agreed with a shrug. It was a nice day and she knew those were numbered.
“Not that we could get lost or anything, but you lead the way,” he joked.
“Let’s go this way,” she said, turning left. “We’ll walk the tracks.
“The tracks?”
“Yeah, the railroad tracks.”
Cory pulled a ball cap from his pack pocket and Alexis flipped her sunglasses over her eyes. Great. He had to have the ball cap. Alexis had been a sucker for boys in hats since she was twelve. And Dr. Cory Baker wore it well. Sigh. Alexis led the way through the school playground. Answering trivial questions about the town, some of the people, and Bernie. Walking side by side, Alexis led Cory up a dirt path, up an embankment, and through a patch of trees.
“Should I be scared?” he questioned with crooked eyebrows and a frown.
“Maybe,” she joked.
Once they reached the top of the bank, they were out of the woods and on the tracks. Cory walked on the railroad ties and Alexis followed on the gravel beside the tracks.
“This is kind of fun, come up here,” he said with and outstretched hand.
Alexis resisted with a headshake and a flirtatious smile.
“I have to say, I’ve never done this before.”
“Done what? Walked on the railroad tracks?”
&nb
sp; “Nope…never, I’m a city boy. Remember?”
Alexis questioned him next, asking about that city boy. Cory answered most of her meddling questions, but did revert the subject to unimportant topics a couple of times. She wondered what was up with that. Was he trying to hide something, or was she being her normal paranoid self? Stopping on an old bridge, they stood with their elbows leaning on the rusty metal wall. The water was as clear and fresh as the country air. Nothing like what Cory was used to. Birds sang, leaves ruffled, and the country colors flourished with vibrant shades.
“This is very nice,” Cory said as he admired the view and the quiet sounds of nature. “Do you do this often?”
“No. Not usually here, but I walk or run along the river by my house.”
“You’re a runner?”
“Just for fun. Do you run?”
“I do, but I’ve only done it one evening so far since I moved here. I just haven’t had the time yet with trying to get settled and into the new office. But it will slow down and I’ll get back into it.”
“Bernie thinks I’m crazy because I like to run. She says running is not fun, it’s work.”
Cory’s sexy eyes noticeably scanned her body. He didn’t even try to hide it. He didn’t want to hide it. “So that’s why you are in such good shape.”
Alexis shifted her crimson red face toward the brook below. Ugh. Why was she doing that? She could only hope that it wasn’t visible. Just because she felt the cherry in her cheeks, didn’t mean he could see it. She hoped. “Come on, we better get off the bridge. There’s a train coming.”
Cory looked back down the long, empty tracks, confused. “How do you know?”
“I felt the vibration, put your hand here,” Alexis instructed with her hand flat on the top of the tarnished old metal. Cory covered her small hand with his and she flinched.
“I’m not going to bite you,” he quietly said as his eyes briefly held her gaze.
Alexis gave half a smile and pulled her hand from his. “We better get off the bridge,” she said again when the echoing train whistle pulled her back to reality. Jesus. What the hell was wrong with her? She was acting like Paige. They walked off the bridge and down a little bank, gaining more separation between them and the approaching train. They both turned their heads and squinted their eyes from dust being kicked up by the wind.
And in Time... Page 5
