“Okay, it’s a deal. I just want you to realize that I’m there now and just waiting for you to catch up.”
“You could wear white since you’re still a virgin as far as the mighty male member—a real one, that is.” Paul and Sam usually had a few drinks before trying to go through their list of friends to find someone else who hadn’t slept with their opposite sex at least one time.
“Oh, please, now you sound like Jake—men and their dicks, gay or straight, united by increments of inches.” Sam waited for Paul to stop sputtering. “One last chance to be a virgin has a nice sound to it. Talk to you later.” Sam hung up. She did feel better. She could think of worse situations than being married to Paul. Maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea.
Sam glanced at her briefcase. She had brought several business magazines home in case her weekend was a dud. “Well, I don’t think I need to wait for it to get any worse.” She took the magazines to the sofa and positioned herself on the end nearest the fireplace to have the best view of the house across the street.
When Sam next looked up, Haley had moved her truck onto the street and was hosing it down—bucket, rags, and container of car wash set on the curb. Sam had listened to KD bitch Haley out a few weeks before for washing her truck in the driveway and leaving dirt and soap bubbles for KD to step in.
Sam walked out of the house and placed a red Netflix envelope in her mailbox.
“You know it’s Sunday, right?” Haley sprayed the mud out of her wheel wells, following the clumps all the way to the storm sewer with the stream from the hose. She saw Sam staring at the sandy clay mix. “I made the mistake of going on a construction site in my personal vehicle instead of a company car.” Haley worked for an HVAC firm, designing and inspecting commercial and industrial air handling systems.
“And you didn’t want to leave mud in the driveway for someone to get on their work boots?” Sam asked.
Haley shielded her eyes. “Or on the sneakers I wear to the office when I don’t have client meetings in the field.”
“Sorry, I’m just in a funk.”
Haley grimaced. “I can imagine what it was like going back in the ER yesterday. I wasn’t brave enough to offer to go with you.”
Sam shook her entire body. “It was U-G-L-Y.” She spelled the word out for emphasis. “I made another good first impression.”
Haley chuckled. “You have the worst dating luck I’ve ever seen. When was the last time that woman went hiking? Did the year start with 19?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah, and she probably did, too.” She waited for Haley to stop laughing. “Paul and I may announce our engagement soon if I can get Scott out of the picture.”
“I’m all for that. Scott gives me the creeps. If he can lie convincingly to his wife, what is he lying to Paul about?” Haley usually passed judgment on no one. “I think you and Paul would be a cute couple. I could see you two growing old together.” Haley filled the bucket and poured in soap to hand wash the Toyota Tacoma.
Sam closed the distance between them and lowered her voice. “Can you see you and KD growing old together?”
Haley paused in wiping the side of the truck, then looked at Sam and tossed her a soapy rag. “Nope.”
“She hits you. She makes you feel guilty enough to stay at home with her, yet she goes out with her friends whenever it suits her. She never says anything positive to or about you unless there’s a barb attached to it. If you hint at something wrong, she makes sure you understand that she can’t function without you. I’m guessing her name is on all of your bank accounts, investments, and insurance. Does she enjoy sex anymore? Don’t answer that. Whose belongings does she break when she loses her temper? Why are you just using your right arm?” Sam stopped to breathe.
Haley gave up washing the truck. She stared at Sam. “How can you know all of that?”
Sam rubbed the front fender. “I didn’t, until just now. You better get back to work.” She inclined her head toward the house.
Haley looked over her shoulder. KD stood on the open carport with a coffee cup in hand. As soon as she made her point of catching their attention by staring at them, KD walked along the driveway to the street. “My baby is such a hard worker. First, she cleans the house and now her truck, and after I told her I’d take it to the car wash for her.”
“No sense wasting good money for something I can do here.” Haley smiled at Sam.
“I hear you had an exciting morning yesterday.” KD blew on her coffee as she looked at Sam.
“Don’t remind me.” Sam shook her head. “I was lucky to catch Haley and Paul, or I’d still be pacing the ER with that nurse bitching at me.”
“My baby is clumsy like that. First, falling off the exercise equipment, then walking into a door.” KD hugged Haley, squeezing Haley’s left side with her hand.
“Things usually happen in threes.” Sam said it because of the look that passed across Haley’s face with the pressure of KD’s hand.
KD snapped her gaze in Sam’s direction. “So she told you about falling down the steps. Those ribs will be sore for a while. I guess she’s learned the hard way to pay more attention to her footing.”
“Let’s hope so,” Sam said, not dropping her gaze from KD’s. She finally looked toward Haley. “So we’re on for weekend after next?”
KD picked up the hose and rinsed the side of the truck that they had washed. “Weekend plans?”
“Sorry. We were talking before you came outside. Paul and I are going to the Columns for the first Tech game on Saturday. Tickets sold out early, so there’s no blackout. I’ll e-mail you the details,” Sam said to Haley.
“Shit, I hate football. I think I’ll pass. Get it?” KD asked.
Sam rolled her eyes as expected. “You’re killing me.”
KD’s smile sent chills down Sam’s back. “I don’t mind you asking my wife out since you’re doing it front of me and not behind my back.”
“No secrets in this neighborhood,” Sam said evenly.
“I’m already looking forward to it,” Haley said. She turned to KD. “I didn’t think you’d mind. Aren’t you traveling that weekend for a job that starts the following Monday in Florida?”
KD nodded. “The money is too good to turn down, plus the general contractor is generous with expenses that he can bill back to the owner for requesting rush work.”
“Electrical work hard to find around here?” Sam asked. Sam had also asked around with her tenants. KD’s reputation preceded her—she was known across most of eastern Virginia for her temper, drinking, and snorting. Local contractors would no longer hire her. She was too much of a loose cannon on projects with tight schedules and low profit margins. Her employment would take a big job with deep pockets and a general contractor who needed bodies to make his efforts look good.
“Tight market, not enough multimillion-dollar projects to keep all of us independents busy.” KD dropped the hose. “I need a refill. See you, Sam. I know I can trust you to look after my best girl.” KD walked away.
“I’m proud of you,” Sam said softly. “Paul and I really are going to the restaurant that Saturday and want you to go with us.”
“Don’t e-mail me anything you don’t want her to see. I’m not always the first one to go through my inbox.” Haley concentrated on her truck.
“God, Haley, why do you put up with this? Change your damn password or set up another account.” Sam stopped ranting when Haley pointed to the lips that had been split. “You have to be kidding.”
Haley shook her head. “You don’t understand.”
“You’re right about that.” Sam made herself fake a smile for the benefit of the house she faced; she saw a slight movement of blinds. “Do a search on lesbian abuse, then delete it from your browser history. Damn it, if you don’t do something soon, I will.”
KD returned to the carport. “Sweetie, I need you in here before you do that other side.”
“You’ve decisions to make, and you must be prepared. Paul and I will he
lp, but you decide the timing.”
“I know.” Haley tossed the rag in the bucket.
Sam raised her hand and waved to KD as she turned to go back to her house. “I thought my life was fucked up. I have no problems.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sam leaned across the table, motioning Paul to meet her halfway. “Why do we keep coming here? This place depresses the hell out of me.”
Paul chuckled. “It’s reality, sweetheart.”
“It’s not a reality I’m ready to accept,” Sam said, feeling as petulant as a child. “To start with, most of these people are straight.” Sam had already counted only two other same-sex couples out of the sixty or so people in the restaurant.
“This was your suggestion.” Paul loved to remind her of a repeated faux pas.
“I was trying to think and talk at the same time. You know that always gets me in trouble.” Sam topped off her glass of beer from the pitcher.
“No sympathy here,” Paul said.
Sam looked around the bar section of the restaurant that occupied about a third of the building. The bar itself was parallel to the side wall with an obligatory row of stools. Between the columns supporting the roof were small standing height tables. Against the glass wall separating bar from dining area was a row of booths. Near the front exit was a space cleared out for bands to play weekend jams that were usually excellent for jazz or soft rock fans. The dining area was a mix of tables and booths in an L-shape around the main entrance. While waiting to be seated, diners stood in the retail section where house specialties were sold out of glass cases for take-home shoppers and rows of imported beers and wines were neatly displayed for grab-and-go customers.
“I do love the food here,” Sam admitted. She dipped crusty bread into the creamy hearts of palm appetizer.
“That’s right, honey, it makes the rest bearable.” Paul watched the divide for Scott or Haley.
“Humph.” Sam glanced around. “Well, it does make me feel like the youngest customer until our dates get here.”
The majority of people in the bar area were at least in their early fifties—most with gray or white hair, men with stomachs overhanging belts and women with too much makeup or first sign of one plastic surgery too many.
“Face it, honey, you’re an age snob. This could be us in another ten to fifteen years, and I hate the prospect just as much as you.” Paul glanced at himself in the bar mirror. The slight gray in his hair still passed for highlights done purposely. His chin sagged only if he held his head too low—no turkey neck yet.
“Speak for yourself. My hair will be this shade until they close the coffin lid, and I will not end up unable to move my lower face or have eyes pulled closer to my ears.”
“Keep your voice down unless you want the pack to turn on us.” Paul chuckled. His face lit up when he saw Scott walking their way, stopping long enough at the refrigerated beer case to select a brand he wanted to try.
Sam glanced up in time to steel herself for the obligatory passing kiss to the cheek.
Scott Boone was a handsome man. His sandy hair showed flecks of premature gray. His face had the boyish roundness of Sir Paul McCartney. He was Paul’s height and slightly heavier. He worked out but not every day and often fell into the trap of eating fast food with his children.
“Sam, how are you?” Scott slid onto the bench seat next to Paul and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Scott admitted that he felt safe at the Columns because the crowd was in the grandparent stage, averaging twenty years his senior, and not as likely to travel in the same circles he did.
That day, they were all Virginia Tech fans first and foremost and ready for football. Most conversations focused on last season’s stats and the final bowl game. Speculation bounced from one group to the next regarding the starting quarterback.
Scott looked at the empty seat and extra place setting in the booth. “Who’re we waiting for?”
“Haley,” Sam said.
“Cross your fingers that she shows,” Paul said quietly.
Scott nodded as he studied the menu, then looked at Paul. “Why?”
“Why what?” Paul said.
“Why am I supposed to want Haley to be here? I barely know her. KD never lets her off the leash long enough to talk to anyone.” Scott sounded too unconcerned.
“Bingo,” Sam said.
“You two think you’re going to outmaneuver KD about her little cherub?” Scott shook his head. “Not going to happen.”
Sam glanced at her watch—Haley was fifteen minutes late. “Thanks, Scott, now you’ve made me jumpy about why she’s not here.”
Paul looked at Scott questioningly. Scott shrugged. “I’m going to the bar for another round. You guys are good?” He looked at the pitcher of light beer and frowned.
“Some of us are watching carbs,” Sam said.
“And calories,” Paul added.
“Oh, yeah, I forget all you old guys do that.” Scott slid out of the booth and joined a group of men at the bar. They treated him as though a teenager, asking for ID and not believing that he had two children.
“He’s only eight years younger than me,” Paul said.
Sam shook her head. “I’m not going to launch into my Scott opinion again. I feel like a parrot as it is.” Sam held up her hand. “Don’t go there, it’s too easy.”
Haley slid into the booth beside Sam. “Sorry. I just got off the phone with KD.”
“You told her what time you were meeting us, didn’t you?” Sam asked.
“So she timed her call to make you late.” Paul finished Sam’s thought.
Haley nodded. “I looked at those Internet sites you mentioned.” She glanced around the bar.
“And?” Paul asked.
“It makes me feel like an idiot for not looking sooner,” Haley said. “It also makes breaking up seem inevitable.”
Paul reached across the table for Haley’s hand. “Only if you want to live to a ripe old age so you can put us in the home and take over managing our vast portfolios.”
Haley stared at him.
“Only if you want to live,” Paul said, dropping the pretense of humor.
Haley looked from Paul to Sam. “I didn’t think anyone would help me, much less both you guys.” She said it so simply that it took a moment for the sentiment to sink in. “I thought I was trapped with KD from now on.”
“She’s conditioned you to think that for ten years,” Sam said.
“I’m surprised you can have an independent thought. It’s like Patty Hearst and her kidnappers.” Paul showed his age with the reference to brainwashing but didn’t care.
“Look, are you ready to pack the two bags and set up signals for us?” Sam asked.
“I hid one suitcase in the attic where KD never goes and another’s in my truck for you.” Haley looked at Sam expectantly.
“Move into the apartment in my basement this weekend. Don’t be there when KD comes back from this job,” Sam said.
Haley shook her head. “I know I shouldn’t let it come down to money, but it does. I have to get KD to sign off on any claim to the house. She’s on the deed, but I’ve paid every cent of the mortgage. I can’t walk away from better than $70,000 in equity.”
Paul started to speak and stopped himself. Sam looked at Paul across the table and whistled appreciatively. “Damn,” Sam said.
“I know.” Haley looked from Paul to Sam. “It may not be much money to either of you, but I have to keep my equity in my house. I’ve paid down loans for ten years—on our vehicles, on my college degree, on the house. I have very little in the bank because I learned the hard way not to let money set where KD can easily draw it out.”
Paul nodded. “I haven’t divulged any details to Sam.”
Haley brushed off the last statement. “That goes without saying. You guys are different from me—you’re smart enough to figure it out.”
“And you’re smart enough to have survived this long and not gone bankrupt.” Sam still couldn’t
believe it had taken so long to see through what was going on across the street from her. “Pack up her things and change the locks on the doors. Give her the key to a storage unit when she signs a quit claim on the house.”
“KD doesn’t make idle threats—she’d kill me.” Haley said it as a fact. “I think she knows we’re done. I’m going to offer her all the cash I’m willing to go into debt for to buy her out of the house as compensation for the improvements she’s done over the years. I can pull $20,000 off of credit cards.”
Paul shook his head. “Come to the bank after you get the highest quote on replacement windows you can put your hands on. I’ll set you up with an equity line that won’t eat you up on the interest rate.”
Haley nodded. She watched Scott at the bar. “You’re helping me, and the last thing I mean to do is insult you.”
“What?” Paul asked.
“I don’t want Scott to know any of this. He’s had KD work at his house and business off the books.” Haley’s mistrust hung in the air.
Paul nodded and spoke slowly. “I understand what you’re saying.”
Sam placed her arm around Haley’s shoulders. “How many steps do you have to stay ahead to survive?”
Haley’s face turned red. She leaned into Sam.
Sam felt eyes burning into her. She glanced about the bar. First sweep picked up nothing unusual; second caught sight of spiked blond hair with black roots. “Oh, shit.”
Paul raised his eyebrows.
“Lisa,” Sam said.
Haley followed Sam’s line of sight and froze. “What do we do?”
“Nothing,” Sam said.
“Damn, if looks could kill, we’d be stretched out on a slab somewhere,” Haley said. “I don’t know whether to return your hug or leave the bar to make this better.”
“What’s the point? I’m an ax murderer, and you’re my girlfriend.” Sam raised her glass to Lisa and took a drink.
Lisa’s friends appeared to be trying to keep her at the standing height table. Sam noticed that none of the women in particular tried to restrain Lisa, so maybe Lisa was uninvolved.
Just A Little Romance Page 8
