Calmer Secrets: Calmer Girls 2 (Calmer Girls Series)

by Jennifer Kelland Perry

  “I love you, Henry,” she breathed, kissing his forehead and his pale golden hair. “Did your momma come over with you this morning?”

  “Yeah!” he sang out, pulling away from her embrace, climbing up and bouncing on the bed. “My birf-day party ith today! Are you gonna come to my party, Thammie?”

  Damn it! Henry's birthday had completely slipped her mind because of all that had happened. This was unlike her, considering his big day came so close after her own. “You betcha I'm gonna be there,” she said. “Wow, Henry, you’re four now! Are you having your party here at Grandma's?” Pulling her hoodie on over her nightgown, she slid her feet into her worn moccasin slippers waiting beside the bed.

  “Yeth. I'm gonna have a Elmo cake, and lot-th of prethenth,” he said as he bounced up and down. “Are you gonna give me a prethent too?”

  “Of course, silly willy! I sure hope you like it.” She frowned to herself. She had meant to shop for his birthday present all week, but had fallen down on her job of being the precious tot's aunt by allowing a certain loser boyfriend eclipse all of her time and consciousness. She made an oath to herself she would never again let any guy have so much power over her.

  “Come on out here with Auntie.” She coaxed the bouncing child down off the bed-turned-trampoline. “Are you going to have balloons at your party? And a piñata?”

  Walking down the hall with Henry by the hand, she pondered on how her nephew might turn out when he grew up. She prayed he’d have more maturity and integrity than some guys she knew, and more compassion for his mother than his father did. How could Ben be so insensitive sometimes? Recalling Veronica's rant yesterday, she realized she too had now lumped Kalen and Ben in together as assholes and undesirables. It could be that her sister had given her sterling advice after all.

  After going to the bathroom to splash cold water on herself, Samantha joined the others in the kitchen. Veronica acknowledged her, already dressed in dark jeans and a stylish crop top and freshly made up with silver eye shadow and pale lip gloss. She stood at the counter, slicing the crusts off an assembly line of assorted sandwiches and arranging the tiny triangles on serving trays, while Darlene hovered over the table, cutting a pan of rice krispie treats into small, neat cubes. Kneeling on a chair, Henry already had one almost eaten, his dimpled cheek bulging as he chewed.

  Her mother greeted her. “Good morning. Cash saved you some french toast, if you're interested. It's in the oven.” She licked sticky marshmallow crumbs off her fingers and peered at Samantha. “You alright, dear? You look pale.”

  Under her mother's watchful eye, she moved to the half-empty coffee pot and filled a mug to the brim. She slumped in a chair. “Tired is all. What time is Henry's party?”

  “Two o'clock,” Veronica said. She, too, gave her sister a double take. “Want to come with me to pick up the cake?”

  Last night’s disaster date from hell must be written all over me, Samantha thought. Could her misery be that plain to see, and this was Ronnie’s attempt to cheer her up? Or should she expect the inevitable round of “I told you so's” from her sweet, self-righteous sibling if she did go along? What difference; the time had come to get it over with. Besides, she could use a pep talk, and she knew Veronica would applaud her for what she'd done. “Yeah, sure. Give me a minute to get dressed.”

  “Have your breakfast first,” Darlene said.

  “I'll pass.” Samantha avoided her mother’s scrutiny as she put down her half-empty mug and left the kitchen. In her bedroom, a numbness fell over her as she picked up the green dress she’d thrown on the floor last night, hanging it back in the closet. As if on autopilot, she put in her contacts, then pulled on the first pair of jeans and pullover her hands fell on.

  She slid in beside Veronica in Cash's Jeep Cherokee, which her sister had borrowed to run errands for the birthday party. The scent of Veronica’s perfume filled her nostrils, making her gag for a second. “Before I forget again, could we stop somewhere so I can buy something for Henry? My mind’s been like a sieve.”

  “No problem. Hey, you know what? I have the four Ninja Turtle figurines that I intended to return. I bought Mr. Potato Head and the Woody doll to give him instead, you know, to go with his Buzz Lightyear. You want to buy them off me? I’m sure he'll love them, too.”

  “Okay! That solves my problem quite nicely.”

  On the drive to the supermarket bakery, Veronica flung her a mischievous grin. “Okay. Out with it.”

  Samantha paused, then opened her mouth and let the words tumble out. “I'm finished with Kalen. And before you say it, I mean it this time. And you were, uh, you were—”

  “I was what? Say it!”

  Samantha jumped in her seat, startled. “Ron, watch the road, will you? Did you see that car whiz around you?”

  “My Moses, Sam, you’re a real bag of nerves this morning! I’m watching my driving, so don’t get your bloomers in a bunch. Now, what did you need to say to me again?”

  She shuddered. It took everything out of her to push the words past her lips. “You were right, okay!”

  Veronica erupted in laughter and smacked her hand on her thigh. She grinned at Samantha, her dimples pronounced. “Good. Now, fess up and give me all the dirt.”

  There was no way she could tell her sister about the toxic phone call at the restaurant. The thought alone of verbalizing it left her nauseated and feverish with shame. But why should she feel this way? She hadn’t done anything wrong; Kalen was the one who should feel remorse, for having anything to do with a minor – if the caller was, in fact, correct. She’d been hurt, yes, but mainly she felt anger and a keen disgust in his behaviour. She could live without the details. And if he had flirted with the girl, he should have known the risks and had more respect for his girlfriend than that. Some women might be able to ignore or forgive such behaviour. She knew she wasn't one of them.

  “Suffice it to say I've outgrown him, alright? Turns out he isn't the one for me.”

  “Aw, come on! Did you have a big fight?”

  “Nope. I finally realized we aren’t a good match, that’s all.”

  Veronica turned the jeep into the supermarket parking lot and nosed it into an empty space near the entrance. “We Calmer gals sure know how to pick 'em, don't we?”

  “I'm about ready to cut men out of my life altogether,” Samantha said, despondent.

  “Check us out,” Veronica said with a wry smile. “Burned by the male species, bitching and complaining, but we aren’t ready to give up on them yet, are we, Sam? God, they can't all be losers. I'd hoped Sebastian might turn out to be the one, but that ship has sailed.”

  “Oh? How come?”

  She made a face. “I’m afraid the chemistry has fizzled.”

  “Is it over?”

  “It is for me, but he doesn’t know it yet.”

  “What a shame.”

  “Nah. Lots more fish flopping around.” She laughed as she opened the door of the jeep.

  Samantha managed a feeble laugh. Though she’d kept the real reason for ending it with Kalen to herself, this talk with her sister had made her feel somewhat better.

  ***

  Later in the afternoon, after the last of Henry's pint-sized party guests had said their reluctant farewells, the house and all its contents appeared as if a small tornado had passed through. While Cash chopped and sautéed beef and vegetables for a stir fry supper, Samantha, Veronica and Darlene all pitched in to tidy up and return things to some semblance of order. Of course, the birthday boy, wired with sugar, socializing and excitement over his new toys, had other ideas. While Darlene vacuumed up the cake crumbs, he slowed the process by playing underfoot.

  “Henry!” she said, sounding exasperated. “Please pick up your trucks and your Legos like a good boy for Grandma. Come on now.”

  “I wanna play!” he argued, sprawled out on his belly on the dining room floor with his new things around him.

  “Do what your grandma says, young man,” Veronica chided, n
oisily stacking the dishwasher and pouring in the detergent, while Samantha stuffed a garbage bag with Styrofoam cups, paper plates and remnants of leftover party food.

  Henry refused to budge. Darlene dropped the vacuum cleaner and swooped over to pick him up and out of the way, while Veronica gathered up the toys.

  “Aahhh!” Their mother jerked and bent to lay him down again, her face a mask of agony.

  Cash laid down his spatula and rushed to her side. “What did you do? Is it your back again?”

  Darlene bit her lip and gripped his arm for support. “Yeah, I think I’ve pulled a muscle.”

  “Come on over here and lie down,” he ordered, guiding her to the couch. “I already told you to stop lifting cases at the bar. I warned you to be more careful!”

  “And Henry's after getting too heavy for you to lift, Momma,” Veronica said. “Have anything here to take for the pain?”

  “Check the medicine cabinet, will you? There might be some of my Tylenol left in there.”

  Samantha picked up the wand of the vacuum cleaner and finished the job while her sister fetched the pills and a glass of water. While putting the vacuum cleaner away, she heard Veronica ask if Henry could sleep there tonight. Othello’s had called her with an extra shift when one of the waiters called in with the flu.

  “Well, you aren’t going in to work in that state, Dar.” Cash’s voice was stern. “We can do without you tonight, anyway. Theresa should be able to stay and help me.”

  “Get him in bed before you go,” Darlene said to Veronica. “He never wakes up once he's asleep, anyway, and Sam is here too, sure.”

  “After the busy day he’s had,” Veronica replied, “he’ll be conked out as soon as his head touches the pillow.”

  While Veronica gave Henry his bath after supper, Samantha sat down with her mother and Cash to watch the evening news. The lead story announced that the new weather forecast called for a blizzard overnight, covering the entire Avalon Peninsula and much of the northeast coast.

  “What?” Darlene wailed. “Are my ears deceiving me? Snowfall amounts upwards of twenty-five to thirty centimeters? Blessed Lord, how can you call this spring?” She shifted her weight gingerly on the couch, wincing.

  “A typical one for Newfoundland!” Samantha answered with a smirk. “Don't dare put away the boots and snow shovels until June.”

  “Good thing I have you to do the shovelling,” Darlene said to Cash.

  Henry came charging out into the living room, fresh from his bath and in clean pyjamas. “Aunt Thammie, I got tattoo-th at my birf-day party! Can you put one on me?”

  “Sure!” Samantha took the temporary tattoo transfer from his outstretched hand and went to the kitchen to dampen it under the tap. The child ran after her, holding out his arm.

  “There we go,” she said after she’d applied the tiny cartoon figure of Inspector Gadget to the back of his hand. With pride, the child ran to show it off to his mother and his grandma.

  Later, after Veronica had left for her shift, Samantha and her mother curled up to watch a TV movie together. Cash had gone to his tavern by taxi because he didn't want to risk driving home in the impending storm. While Samantha got a diet Pepsi from the fridge, Darlene sipped on the wine she'd asked for. It helped with her back spasm, she explained (as if she ever needed an excuse, Samantha thought).

  The movie had just gotten underway when the doorbell rang. She almost dropped the remote when she opened the door and saw Kalen standing there, the image of sadness and hurt.

  “Hi, Sam.”

  “It's Kalen, Momma,” she called, before closing the entryway door behind her for privacy. “What do you want?”

  “An explanation?”

  “In case you couldn't tell from last night, we're through,” she said.

  “Why? What the heck happened when I went to the men's room, anyhow?”

  “I can't talk to you here like this.”

  “Come with me then, so we can straighten things out.”

  Still holding the doorknob, she turned away from him. “That’s a bad idea, Kalen.”

  “Please, Samantha? Don't you owe me that much? I have a right to know what I did, what got you so friggin' angry with me.”

  She hesitated but stood firm, shaking her head.

  “Come on. We can go for a drive, or get a coffee or a drink, or we can go to my place and talk in private. You call it.” His voice was earnest, his forehead creased.

  Samantha found her original intent softening a little. He did deserve an explanation for her actions and her sudden turnaround, after all. And she could kill two birds with one stone and pick up the clothes and things she'd left over there. She would come home again, right after she assured him she wouldn’t be reconsidering her decision.

  “Alright. But this is only to explain. Got it?”

  He nodded. “I'll wait in the car.”

  She told Darlene she was going out with Kalen but she would return home early. She hadn't told her mother about the breakup yet, which made it easier to slip out with him.

  “Make sure you’re home before the snow starts!”

  Darlene had always played the total worry wart when it came to driving in bad weather. Samantha knew her fear had gotten worse, since the accident Samantha and Ben had somehow survived.

  “Relax, Momma! I'll be home before then.”

  Samantha surveyed the rooms as soon as they arrived, relieved Kalen had restored his home to its former order, as if the break and enter had never happened.

  “Can I getcha a beer or something?”

  “No, thank you. I'm here for one reason. Scratch that: two reasons. May I go ahead and collect my things from your room?”

  Kalen strode over to her, taking her hand. “Why are you talking to me like I'm a stranger? We've been friends for years and now we’re much more than that. What the heck is wrong?”

  She felt the blood rise in her cheeks. Pulling her hand away, she explained. “I suppose I shouldn't have, but I answered your phone for you in the restaurant.”

  “Who was it?”

  Her stomach churned with revived anger and mortification at the memory. “An incredibly pissed off mother who told me you fooled around with her fifteen-year-old daughter.” She stole a quick look at him to gauge his reaction.

  “What?!” He stared at her, puzzled. “Who?”

  “Damned if I know who she was! She didn't see fit to give me any names. But she said it happened a couple of weeks back, while I was away at school. I've never felt like such an idiot in my entire life.”

  “Then you hung up on her? Did she say anything else?”

  “She tore a strip off me, Kalen! As if I have any say in what you do behind my back with anyone's daughter. But a minor? And how is it she had your number? Well, I've learned my lesson: you can't be trusted!” She marched into the bedroom, pulling items savagely from hangers in the closet and jamming them under her arm. As much as her blood boiled, unloading onto him gave her a measure of relief. She felt as if someone had lifted a giant weight off her chest and she could breathe again.

  Kalen trailed after her. “I think I might know what this is about.”

  “Save it. I don't give a shit anymore.” She found an empty plastic shopping bag and shoved the clothes into it in a big ball.

  “Gerry and Mel had a party one night, while you were in Corner Brook last time. A lot of people showed up who were strangers to me, including this one girl who wouldn't leave me alone. You gotta understand how it is, Sam, with me playing in the band. Sometimes I get more attention than I need or want. Anyway, usually they take the hint after a while that I'm not interested, but this girl, well, she was all over me. But I had no idea she was only fifteen. If we had known, we would've kicked her out. We don't have time for that foolishness, with booze and draws around.”

  Samantha glared up at him, then marched into the bathroom. She gathered her toiletries from around the sink and pushed them into the bulging bag. Kalen followed her again.
>
  “Please listen. I got pretty hammered that night and a lot of the details escape me, but one thing I’m sure of is that I’ve stayed faithful to you. I never ever want to hurt you or give you any reason to doubt me. You believe me, right? Sam?”

  She sat on the corner of the bed and stared at a spot on the carpet. Either this guy was telling the truth, or he was the Olympian gold medalist of liars. Did she believe him, that he cared about her and her alone? She couldn’t make sense of it anymore, what to think or whom to trust.

  Besides, if he’d gotten as hammered as he admitted, how could he, or she, be certain he hadn’t given in to the girl’s advances?

  He sat beside her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his muscular thigh outlined through his jeans, and she felt the warmth of him against her leg. Quickly, she stood and moved away. Carrying the bag of clothes, she went out to the foyer, with him close behind. “You should take me home now.”

  “You don't believe me,” he said, shaking his head. “Why don't you believe the truth? I'm not lying to you, I swear. Do you need me to track down the girl and get her to tell you how nothing happened? Because I will if that's what it takes for you to forgive me.”

  “That won't be necessary.”

  He remained silent for a moment. “Okay, how about hanging with me for a while, as friends? Or are you throwing our friendship away, too?”

  Samantha couldn't deny she still valued him as a friend. Despite what had or hadn’t happened, she didn’t want to be hasty and cut Kalen out of her life altogether. But she did need time for her hurt feelings to recede. “Alright. I guess I can stay for a short while. Let me call Momma and let her know.”

  “Calling could be difficult,” he said, wearing his classic lopsided grin. “Somebody drowned my phone, you see.”

  Samantha clapped her hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter. “That ‘somebody’ almost forgot.”

  “Not to worry.” Kalen reached into the pocket of his jeans. “Psych! I went out and got a new one this morning.” With a flourish, he pulled out the new phone and waved it in front of her.