The Broken Road

by Melissa Huie

  He was leaving. Good. I didn’t need him around stirring up old feelings. I guess I should have been grateful. Part of me didn’t want him to leave, not after what had happened last night. I didn’t want to be that girl, though; the girl who needs someone to protect her. I gave him my most evil Megan stare just to show him that he wasn’t off the hook yet. Yeah, it didn’t work.

  I finally said, “Okay, sure. Thanks for letting me know.”

  “No problem.” Shane gave me a wink and set off.

  I walked back to my car in a huff. I wanted to say I was mad about that little shenanigan that he pulled, but deep down, way deep down, I was sad that he was leaving so soon. I ignored the little voice in my head that wondered if Allison was going with him to Trenton. I’m not going to think about him. I’m not going to think about him.

  When I got home, I quickly put the groceries away. Penny’s vet appointment was in half an hour and she would fight me every step of the way. I grabbed some of her favorite treats and her leash, and headed up the stairs. I found her on my bed and when I walked in the room, she looked scared.

  “Come on, Penny. Let’s go for a car ride,” I said, with as much sweetness as I could muster. It didn’t fool her. With her tail between her legs, she gave me the saddest look I’d ever seen.

  “Oh, Penny. Don’t be such a baby. You’ll be fine,” I said as I clipped on her leash and lead her down the stairs. She tried to balk at the car door but realized that resistance was futile.

  * * *

  We made it to Dr. Collins’s office with a minute to spare. Penny didn’t care very much for Dr. Collins, but he was a good vet and within my budget. His bedside manner wasn’t the best, but hey, we can’t have everything.

  I practically dragged Penny into the office, giving her treats every third step or so. Penny looked so pathetic that it was hard not to laugh. When she was finally called, Penny dug her back paws in, but seeing as how we were on laminate flooring it didn’t stop her from joining me in the exam room.

  “Dr. Collins will be right in,” the nurse said, trying hard not to laugh.

  I chuckled. The big baby whined and immediately tried to climb into my lap

  “Isn’t she a bit big to be a lap dog?” asked a voice behind me. I turned around and was taken aback to see Superhunk from earlier that morning. Embarrassed, I tried to put her down. The stubborn dog whimpered and strained to stay on the bench. I was struggling with her weight on me when this new Dr. Collins gently lifted her down to the ground. I sighed with exasperation. What a great first impression.

  “Yeah, she’s not fond of going to the vet. I’m Megan Connors. This is Penny,” I said as I reached out my hand to him.

  “Dr. Collins. Alex Collins. Nice to meet you,” he said, flashing those perfect teeth as he shook my hand. He started to read Penny’s file. I felt like I had to say something. Anything.

  “You’re not the Dr. Collins I was expecting,” I said as I tried to get Penny to calm down. My heart jumped nervously. He squatted down to Penny’s level, right next to me. Dr. Collins took her face in his hands and started rubbing her ears. Penny immediately became at ease.

  “Yeah, this is my uncle’s practice. I just moved here from North Carolina to help him out. He’s retiring at the end of the summer. You can call me Alex,” he said as he checked Penny’s teeth. Amazingly, there wasn’t a growl or snarl to be heard.

  “That’s really nice of you, Alex,” I said lamely. I couldn’t think of what else to say. The man had me dumbfounded.

  Mr. Superhunk smiled while he checked Penny’s hips and limbs. “She seems to be in good health. Not overly big, but she could stand to lose a few pounds. Maybe cutting back on the treats would help,” he said with a grin. I sheepishly grinned back and put the rest of her treats back into my purse. This guy is gorgeous. I discretely checked for a ring on his left hand. Nope, no ring. Jen’s voice rang in my head. Talk to him you fool, it urged.

  “Penny seems to like you. This is the most relaxed I’ve seen her at the vet’s,” I said shyly.

  “Yeah, lucky for me, dogs like me. I don’t have any dogs of my own right now but the place where I’m staying has some,” he said, listening to Penny’s heart. Penny was cool as a cucumber.

  “Oh really? Your girlfriend’s dog or something?” I inquired nonchalantly. I had to ask.

  Alex chuckled and gave me a crooked grin. “No. I’m renting the guesthouse at Copper Ridge Farm over in Davidsonville. They have a bunch of dogs over there along with every other farm animal.”

  Good. No girlfriend. Obviously likes animals. Sexy as sin. Seems like he has a good head on his shoulders. Time to put on my big girl undies and go for it.

  “Copper Ridge? I used to ride there when I was younger,” I said in hopes of prolonging the conversation.

  “It’s a nice place. Bill and Mary Patterson are great people. Aside from the discount in rent, I’m able to take out some of the horses for exercise. That’s a major plus since I had to leave my old gelding back in North Carolina. Do you still ride?” he asked. Do I ride? Of course, my sex-deprived mind went straight for the gutter.

  “Not lately. It’s been awhile. Eventually, when I have the time, I’d like to get back into it,” I said lightly.

  “You should come up to the farm. I’m sure Mary and Bill would love to see you,” he said absentmindedly as he jotted down notes on Penny’s chart. “Well, her shots are up-to-date and she seems to be in perfect health,” Alex stated, handing me the appointment summary sheet. Now’s my chance. Do it! I cheered myself on. Good Lord. I sucked in my breath and said, “Thanks Dr. Collins. It was nice meeting you.”

  The daredevil in me was calling out horrible names, such as chicken shit, fucking coward, wimp, and some other expletives. I can’t do it. I really can’t do it. As I left the clinic, I was kicking myself in the ass when I heard, “Ms. Connors, wait.” Oh! It’s him! I quickly turned around with a big smile on my face.

  “You forgot this,” he said, handing me my cell phone. Thoroughly embarrassed, I smiled tightly and thanked him. I tended to lose my phone quite frequently.

  “Thanks,” I said, gathering up my courage before I lost my nerve again. “If you’re not busy tomorrow morning, would you like to get together for coffee? Say around nine?” I blurted out. I almost clamped my hand over my mouth in utter shock. I couldn’t believe I did it. How humiliating.

  Alex looked taken aback as well. “Wow. Um. Nine? I think that will work. Same Starbucks?” he said, a gleam in his eye.

  “Yeah, same one,” I said, trying to hide my shock that he had said yes.

  “Sounds great. I’ll see you there.” Alex chuckled and headed back into the office. I quickly walked to the car and as soon as I was out of earshot I squealed in excitement. I can’t believe it. I did it! I actually did it! Penny looked at me like I had lost my mind. This is AWESOME! I tried desperately not to look like an idiot, but I couldn’t help myself and did a happy dance next to the car. Was this considered a date? God, it had been so long since I’d been on one, I couldn’t tell.

  * * *

  Once we were home, I quickly let Penny inside and dialed Sarah’s number.

  “Hey Sarah! How are things going?” I asked as she answered the phone.

  “Hey Megan. It’s going great. I was just talking to your brother. He can’t wait for his break next week,” Sarah said excitedly. She and Kyle had been trading weekends here and there, but with him on the force, there was so little time for them to see each other.

  “You mean he can’t wait to see you?” I teased. I was so glad I introduced them. They were such a great couple. We chatted for a few minutes, before I told her about Shane. Sarah knew all the Shane stories. After Jen, Sarah was my closest friend.

  “I can’t believe that he said that you were like his sister,” Sarah said quietly. “That must have hurt.”

  “I have to say that it did. But you know what? It was needed. It’s been almost a year since Tommy and I split, and obviously I n
eed to get over Shane too. Hearing that this morning reaffirmed what Jen said. We were talking last night and she said that I needed to get back out there. I’m twenty-six years old; I should be having the time of my life, not wasting time being depressed and sitting around in my pajamas all day.”

  “So do you have anyone in mind?” she asked.

  “Well . . . ” I hedged a bit. “I met a guy today. He’s Penny’s new vet. He’s sexy as sin, single, gray eyes. Sarah, he’s beautiful. And he’s really nice too. We’re meeting for coffee tomorrow.”

  “That’s a start. Coffee is always a great start. That’s how I got your brother hooked,” she giggled.

  “Right. And here I always thought it was your good looks,” I laughed. Sarah had modeled for a couple of campus calendars while we were in school. She was so gorgeous, with long black hair, her father’s Asian brown eyes, and her mother’s French nose. I had been totally intimidated when I first met her.

  Sarah had to get off the phone. Apparently, class was more important than our phone call, but she threatened to not bring me my favorite Boston potato chips if I didn’t give her all the details of my date. I did a few loads of laundry and then the doorbell rang. It was the mattress that Shane had ordered. I directed the deliverymen upstairs and they hauled away his old one. Being the good friend, I made his bed. I put on some white cotton sheets and a new comforter. His cologne still lingered in the air and I paused as I walked out the door.

  “No. No more of this,” I said to myself, pushing out the old feelings. “We’re purely platonic. We’re practically family. No romantic feelings whatsoever.”

  My calendar tone rang on my phone to remind me that mom was cooking me dinner. I whistled for Penny and hustled down the stairs. Penny gazed at me forlornly as I clipped her leash to her collar, as if pleading for no more doctor’s visits.

  “Oh shush. We’re going to Grandmas,” I said as I pushed her into the back seat. My mother demanded an audience of her children once a month at the very minimum. We always followed Kyle’s schedule and today just happened to be the day.

  * * *

  Mom still lived in my childhood home in Davidsonville just twenty minutes away. When I looked for a home, I looked for one close to my mom. I was so glad when I found one so close to her. When we arrived, I let myself into the house and Penny ran ahead of me into the kitchen. The aroma of Mom’s baked chicken and sweet potato fries greeted me.

  “Hi, baby doll,” she said, coming around the corner. Dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, she was the older version of me. Long dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a slightly heavier frame. We looked exactly alike. I gave her a huge hug. I missed living with my mom. The house always smelled like apple turnovers, vanilla, and chicken.

  “Hi, Mom. Dinner smells good,” I said as I hung my jacket on the hook. I wandered into the kitchen, and Penny was already there sniffing for scraps.

  “Penny! Here you go!” my mom called as she put down a bowl of chopped chicken and rice.

  “Mom, Dr. Collins said that Penny needs to lose some weight. So no more table scraps,” I admonished.

  My mom waved me away. Her fourteen-year-old bichon came hobbling down the hall, sniffing for food. Micki was nearly blind, partially deaf (although my mom called it selective hearing), and just very elderly. Penny let Micki get into the food bowl and backed off. She knew who ruled this house.

  I sat at the old oak table, the same one my father bought for Mom on their ten-year anniversary. “What time is Kyle coming over?” I asked as I watched her take the fries out of the oven.

  She checked the country clock on the wall. “He should be here shortly. He can smell dinner from a mile away so I doubt we’ll have to wait very long for him.”

  I nodded. Kyle was a food magnet. He enjoyed cooking almost as much as he loved eating. I drummed my fingers on the table with mock impatience.

  “So what’s new, Megs?” she asked, taking the chicken out of the oven.

  “Nothing much. Shane moved in,” I mumbled. She was going to find out anyway so I figured I might as well tell her now.

  Mom paused and raised an eyebrow. I gave the same look when I found the truth hard to believe. “Shane? Shane Turner?” she asked as she stirred the gravy.

  I sighed. “Yes Mom. Shane Turner. Don’t worry. We’re just friends. He has his own room. Plus he’s still dating that girl Allison.”

  “Hmmm.” She knew better than to not press me about Shane. She always had her suspicions about my feelings for him. Mom knew me better than I knew myself sometimes. I rolled my eyes. I didn’t have to ask her what she was thinking because I knew what she would say. Luckily, the dogs’ barking saved me from answering any questions. Kyle walked in and threw his book bag on the sofa.

  “Hey guys,” he said as he kissed mom on the cheek. I raised my cheek for my kiss but got a raspberry instead.

  “Ugh. You’re so gross!” I cried, wiping the spit off my cheek. Kyle just laughed.

  “So, Kyle, how’s Sarah doing?” Mom asked as she pulled out the plates and handing them to me. I set the table and shook my head slightly at Kyle when he widened his eyes at me, as if to say, “No baby brother, I didn’t tell her.” I wanted his proposal to be a surprise just as much as he did.

  Kyle coughed. “She’s good. I’m going up there next weekend. She has a break and I’m able to get some time off.” He brought over the water pitcher and sat down. Mom and I followed suit.

  We ate in companionable silence, enjoying the best food we’d had in a long time. I learned my cooking skills from both my parents but even with their simplest recipes, it wasn’t the same. It didn’t take long for my mother to ask the question that I knew she was dying to ask.

  “So Kyle, what’s going on with you and Sarah?” she said as she passed around the broccoli. I kept my eyes down, quickly took a serving, and passed the bowl to Kyle. I was a horrible liar. Kyle was only slightly better than I was.

  “Um. Things are really good. She’s doing great in school. We’re going to try to take a vacation after she gets back from Boston. Not sure where, but some place nice,” he quickly stuttered.

  Mom gave him a raised eyebrow. Quickly taking the bullet, I interrupted. “That’s right. I think a bunch of us were talking about going down to Myrtle Beach for Memorial Day weekend.”

  Kyle gave me a grateful look and I stored that in my brownie points file. You never knew when you might need a police officer to owe you a favor. Especially if that police officer was your younger brother and you just got a speeding ticket.

  After dinner, Kyle and I did the dishes while Mom put the leftovers into bags for us. She always worried about us eating well and made enough for a couple dinners.

  “I heard about your house,” Kyle said under his breath. He checked over his shoulder to see where Mom was. He was supposed to be drying the dishes, not checking up on me. I groaned.

  “Well, nothing much we can do about it now. It was just some random thing,” I muttered back. I handed him the last dish and dried my hands on the checkered dishtowel.

  He gave me his “who are you kidding?” look. I just rolled my eyes and walked into the living room.

  “Megan, would you like me to add some for Shane?” Mom asked, cutting Kyle off from saying what I’m sure would have been a condescending comment about me being careful. I settled on the couch and blew out a breath. I couldn’t move. “No, thanks,” I called back. No need for Shane to have leftovers if he was going to be away for a while. Full from dinner and feeling all cozy from the roaring fire in the fireplace, my body melted into the folds of the couch. I tucked up my legs and pulled the afghan over me. I could have fallen asleep right there.

  “Shane? We’re not talking about Shane Turner are we?” Kyle mocked as he fell into the other end of the sofa. Shane and Kyle were friends, although not as close Shane and I were. They had similar interests so their paths crossed frequently. “Does that mean you and Shane are finally hooking up?”

  I reached over
and punched him in the arm. “Whatever, Kyle. You know it’s not like that. We’re friends. Two adults of the opposite sex can be friends,” I replied hotly. Were my feelings for Shane that obvious? Sheesh.

  Kyle laughed. “Yes. Two adults of the opposite sex can be friends, but we’re talking about you and Shane. Before Tommy, you and Shane were inseparable. Ever since you met him, you’ve been crushing on him. It’s written all over your face! ”

  My cheeks flamed as my temper rose. He had a point, but did he have to be so freaking blunt about it? I did what any big sister would have done. I picked up a throw pillow and smacked him upside the head with it.

  “I have moved on, thank you, mister pain-in-the-butt. In fact, I’m meeting someone for coffee tomorrow!” I retorted, then quickly clamped my mouth shut. That wasn’t supposed to come out. Crap. Mom’s eyes lit up. She wanted grandchildren in the worst way, and I was delaying her plans. If she had her wish, I would already be married with three kids.

  “Oh really? I’m surprised you didn’t mention him earlier. Who is he? Where did you meet?” she pressed.

  “It’s just coffee, Mom. Not a big deal,” I replied with a yawn. I leaned my head back against the sofa and closed my eyes. I knew that if I didn’t want to stay the night, I should leave soon.

  “Well, what’s his name?” My mother knew practically everyone in the area.

  “Alex Collins,” I mumbled in defeat. I was sure she knew about Dr. Superhunk. Micki went to the same vet.

  “Oh, old Dr. Collins’s grandson? He’s adorable. We met him the other day. I took some cranberry bread over to Mary Patterson and he was there working with the children,” she said approvingly.

  My heart thumped slightly faster. He works with kids? Is this man not perfect? I stood up and stretched. “Um, right. Well, Mom, I’ll let you know how it turns out. But we have to run. Come on, Pen. Let’s get a move on.” Penny lazily thumped her tail. With her full belly, Penny didn’t want to move. I threw on my jacket, grabbed my purse, and hugged my mom and brother goodbye.

  The shock of the frigid air outside woke me up and I was able to keep my eyes open all the way home. I pulled up to my house and sat there, just watching. It felt odd to see Shane’s truck parked on the side of the road. I hoped another car in front of the house would deter any future would-be thugs. Regardless, I was uncomfortable being by myself after the previous night’s fiasco. After setting the double locks, alarm, and motion detectors, I brought Penny upstairs to my room and shut the door. I peeled off my clothes, settled underneath the covers, and fell into a dreamless sleep.