Mended

by Clayborne, By Kimberly M.

  Kassie didn’t get home until nine the next morning, still in the pretty gold flapper dress and still as fresh faced and beautiful as when she left. She gave him a cheery ‘Hello Timothy’ as she bounced up the stairs and to her door. He said hello too but was frozen where he stood until her door closed. He was losing his mind next door to her, she was everything he wanted and needed in this world and he wanted her so badly.

  *****

  Kassie walked downstairs as her kitchen phone began to ring. She turned it on speaker phone when she saw Rosie’s number.

  “Talk to me pretty mama.”

  “Oh my God that was so much fun last night!”

  “Yeah, now I know why great gramma Helen used to constantly relive her old days.” Kassie said smiling.

  Gramma Helen was the only member of her mother’s family that Kassie had loved dearly besides her uncle Butch. Gramma Helen had lived to see 96 years of age and it had broken Kassie’s heart when she died ten years ago. It was like a piece, the best piece, of her had gone missing and she couldn’t find it. In her heart, Kassie had dedicated her first illustrated book to her Gramma.

  When she was away at college, they sent each other gifts every Christmas and birthdays. When she was in the end stages of her life, Kassie made certain that she was there with her when she drew her last breath.

  “A Gatsby themed New Year’s party, that was so decadent. Paul and I got pretty drunk last night.” Rosie said.

  Kassie giggled pouring herself a cup of coffee from the freshly brewed pot.

  “What time did you get home?” Rosie asked.

  “The party ended at five, I had breakfast with Nash and Bailey.” Kassie said. “Nash came very close to convincing me to bring him home with me last night.”

  Rosie snorted through the phone.

  “What? That man is hot!”

  “And a dog.” Rose reminded her.

  Kassie had to admit, it was true. Nash had made the rounds with every woman he could get his hands on; including Rosie when they were in college, but Kassie wasn’t biting. Besides, she hadn’t needed sex from Nash; she’d had Monroe for that!

  “And that’s why I came to my senses and refused him entrance to Shangri-la.” Kassie said leaning her bottom against the counter and blowing her coffee gently.

  Rosie laughed out loud and then groaned in pain.

  “Oh my head . . .” She whined. “What the hell did I drink last night?”

  “Everything.” Kassie answered dryly.

  “Bitch . . . You were pretty hammered there yourself straight and narrow.”

  Kassie roared, nearly spilling the hot coffee on herself. She didn’t have that much to drink but she did have a buzz. She ended up spending the night on Rosie’s couch.

  They talked for another hour before making a date to bake cookies together. Rosie may have been a cookie fiend, but Kassie knew that her friend also wanted a chance to eyeball Timothy.

  When Kassie hung up, she stood there watching Tim as he walked out onto his back porch and tossed something into the recycling bin on the side of the porch. He looked so hot in his plain green Henley and black sweats. It was the most casual thing ever but he looked so sexy in it. Her mind sent out images of her peeling his shirt off. She wondered if his body looked as good as she fantasized.

  “I would let you into my bed.” Kassie whispered. She sighed softly and lowered her head. She wanted to move on but she was so scared of being hurt.

  “No Kassidy! You can’t have that.” She told herself sternly, then turned and left the kitchen all the while dreaming of pulling that shirt up over his head and kissing him until his sock shot off his feet.

  *****

  Kassie yawned and rubbed her eyes. She had been working on these pictures for hours now, but last night’s festivities had taken their toll on her and she was having a hard time getting it together. She looked up and caught Tim leaning against the wall in his den, staring at her with a thoughtful frown on his face. Kassie smiled slowly and waved, but he didn’t smile back, instead he turned and walked out.

  “Ok that was odd and rude.” She said softly.

  Five minutes later, Kassie’s doorbell was ringing as she was making her way to the kitchen for another cup of Joe. Kassie turned back yawning as she opened it.

  “Hey Tim.” She smiled. “You’re like Super Tim, faster than a speeding bullet.” There was an awkward moment. “Oh, no, um not like that.”

  “Yeah I, I, get it.” He said with a smile and a bit of a chuckle in his throat. “What are you doing today?”

  “Working.” She said softly, leaning against her door.

  “What would you say to New Years dinner?” He asked.

  Kassie nearly shook her head, but for some reason she couldn’t say no. She found herself wanting very much to spend time with him.

  “Ok.”

  “I’ll run out and pick up Italian.” He said softly.

  “Sounds yummy.”

  “Six ok?”

  “Perfect.” Kassie smiled.

  They stood there looking at each other, not saying anything for a moment before Tim broke the spell.

  “See you then.” He said softly.

  “See you then.” Kassie said to him. “Should I wear something fancy?”

  “Nothing too fancy, just something casual.”

  “Ok.” Kassie rasped a little breathlessly. “See you at six.”

  “At six.” He smiled and walked off the steps. Kass watched him a bit before closing the door. She couldn’t wait to tell Rosie. She could already hear her friend screeching through the phone.

  ******

  Kassie shifted through her closet. She wanted something sexy, but casual and pretty but not trying too hard. She came to a grey dress she’d bought a few weeks ago. It was a little figure hugging, but not overly sexual. The dress was fitted and curve hugging with elbow length sleeves. She looked it over before deciding on it. She’d pair it with cable knit tights and booties.

  She wondered how Tim was doing across the way, and if he was as nervous as she was right now. A huge part of her couldn’t wait to be staring into his eyes over an Italian meal. Kassie was feeling more and more like it was time to make her move.

  *****

  Tim was nervous. He had dated a lot, but he hadn’t been this physically attracted to a woman in a long time. She was so different. She didn’t hold up smoke and mirrors. What you saw was what you got. Kassie was real; she had her fair share of warts, but there was also something special about her. He wanted her like he had never wanted anyone before and he hoped that tonight he could see the kind of person she truly was.

  He looked up from lighting the candles when there was a knock at the door. Tim blew out the match and put it on the base of the candlestick, walking to the door.

  Kassie smiled at him when he opened it.

  “Hello Timothy.” She said very formally, making him laugh.

  “Hi Kassie.”

  She stood there holding a bottle of wine. He couldn’t deal with how pretty Kassie was. She had thrown a pink wool coat over her dress and wore a lacy white scarf around her neck. Her hair was pulled back into a bun and she wasn’t wearing makeup, just a little mascara, and a slightly dark pink lip color. The cold had flushed her creamy brown cheeks with a touch of red, giving them a natural blush. He stared at her, unnerving her just a bit. Tim saw the slight discomfort on her face and realized he was ogling her . . . again.

  “Come, come in please. My God, I’m sorry. You must be freezing.” He scrambled to one side, giving her room to step into the house.

  Kassie smiled even wider.

  “It’s fine.” She said and he could hear the laughter in her voice. She slipped past him into the house, standing beside him in the small foyer as he closed the door.

  “I’ll grab that,” Tim took the wine from her and sat it on the table by the door, then helped her off with her jacket. He hung the expensive looking pink coat on the coat rack by the door and his senses were
assaulted by the sweet aroma of her perfume. It was delicious, like a vanilla cupcake or something and he loved it.

  “Thanks for inviting me over.”

  “Thanks for saying yes. I usually have Nora, her husband Bruce and Nat over, but this year they’re having dinner with her mother-in-law.” He said.

  “It’s nice that you and Nora are still friendly.”

  “For Natalie’s sake we are. We have known each other since college and couldn’t even imagine not being a part of each other’s lives simply because we grew apart in our marriage. We still argue but just not in front of Natalie, Nora thinks I’m too soft on her,” Tim shrugged, “but she’s my girl.”

  Kassie saw the love he felt for his daughter on his face.

  “Daddy’s usually are softies when it comes to their daughters . . . well good fathers at least.” She said, forcing an understanding smile. Kassie wouldn’t know about those things since her own father could give two craps on a spring day about her, even now.

  “Thanks, I try, but some days let me tell you, I could strangle her.”

  They laughed softly as he turned and grabbed the bottle of wine before directing her into the living room. He walked behind her, enjoying the soft sway of her hips and the way her dress clung to her exquisite bottom. She looked amazing and Tim knew that ogling her loveliness was just going to be the norm for him tonight. He just had to figure out a way to be discreet about it and not come off like a creepy pervert.

  When she had taken off that coat, Tim thought his eyes were going to fall out of his head and roll around on the floor. Her dress wasn’t too fancy or sexy. It was just her body! Her beautiful shape would make a potato sack look great. The soft gray fabric hugged Kassie’s body, sliding over her tight curves. Everything on her was toned to perfection, as if her body knew to put all the extras where they would be better appreciated, into her round bottom, hips and breasts. God, how was he going to be able to think tonight?

  “Tim?” She asked turning to him. “Tim?” His dreamy expression changed and he focused on her.

  “Yes?” He answered.

  She knew he was looking at her and smiled prettily, flattered by his attention.

  “I asked if you needed help with anything.” She said softly.

  “No, you’re perfect.” He rasped.

  “Huh?” She tilted her head a bit.

  “It. It’s perfect.” He cleared his throat, flustered. “Um, everything is perfect. Uh, done.” His hand shook a bit as he pushed his glasses back up on his nose.

  Kassie laughed that beautiful tinkling laugh that he loved and placed her hand on his, “Take a breath Timothy.”

  Kassie chuckled gently and he realized that she knew he was checking her out, Tim turned red in embarrassment.

  “I’m sorry.” He said softly. “You look . . . amazing.”

  It was Kassie’s turn to blush now.

  “Thank you. I wanted to look casual enough for dinner between neighbors, but didn’t want you to think I was trying too hard.” Her voice was low, warm and melodious, flowing over Tim like a balm.

  “It’s fantastic.” He said staring at her dress.

  “Thank you.” She said quietly. He stared longer, rolling his eyes over her body slowly. Kassie felt something awaken in her core and her heart gave a lurch against her rib cage. She grew a little nervous. She had never in her life been slutty, but she liked the way he was looking at her.

  “Tim, umm maybe you should put the wine in the fridge.”

  He looked down at his hand and the bottle in it as if they had just grown there, then the fog lifted.

  “Oh! Be right back!” He sprinted into the kitchen.

  *****

  When he came back, she was sitting on the edge of one of his arm chairs. Her long sexy legs were crossed and she was looking around with interest at his furnishings. Tim sat down in the identical chair across from her and gave her a cup of tea in a beautiful cabbage rose print teacup. He drank his out of a coffee mug with #1Dad emblazoned on the front.

  “Where’s my little friend today?” She looked around.

  “Banished to the spare room for the evening.” Tim smiled. “It wouldn’t do to have him hamming it up all night, stealing all of your attention from me.”

  She laughed and gave him a coy look.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, besides it’s not his fault he’s so adorable.

  Tim laughed at her, setting his mug down on the table.

  “Your house is very nice.” She said appreciatively.

  “Thank you.” Tim smiled at her.

  Nora had told him it was a nut sack house, her way of saying overly masculine. Once she had moved out, Tim did away with anything floral or lacey. He settled on a simple and bold style. The exterior was a dark sage green with white trim and the inside seemed to be nothing but wood and leather. She didn’t see much in the way of cotton or fabrics other than the deep olive curtains that hung at the windows, and the overstuffed sofa pillows of the same color. He had a black leather sofa and the two side chairs that they were sitting in were wood and black leather.

  “How was your holiday?” She asked politely.

  “Pretty good. I hung out with my girl; saw some family, and Griff and I gained a good ten pounds of cookie weight.” He said.

  Kassie chuckled softly, giving him an appraising once over, “You don’t look it.”

  Tim basked in her playful scrutiny ‘Keep it together old boy!’

  He cleared his throat.

  “What did you do for Christmas?” He asked her.

  “I worked.” Kassie said. “Baked cookies, delivered them to my friends, listened to Christmas carols on the radio, and watched every Christmas show on T.V.”

  Tim watched as she sipped her tea.

  “No family craziness?”

  Kassie shook her head, “No, I’m not close to my family and even though my ex invited me to dinner I declined. I’d rather be home alone.” She said. “I can catch up on my work.”

  “Were you lonely?” He said softly.

  “Not really.” Kassie said. “I’m used to it.”

  She looked up seeing a picture of him when he was a kid, on the wall. Kassie stood, placing her cup on the table and walked closer to it, a huge smile growing on her face.

  “Oh no! Is that you?”

  “Yes.” He came up behind her.

  She laughed and he had to too, it was a pretty bad picture.

  “Awwww.” She sounded sympathetic and that made him laugh again. He had bucky teeth and braces in the picture, his glasses seemed too big for his little face and his hair was slicked back but he had a massive cowlick. He wore a green turtleneck and Kassie thought he kind of looked like a turtle.

  “You were so cute.” She gushed.

  “I was the class president, president of the science club and the leader of the Virtuosos.”

  “Virtuosos?” She smiled at him.

  “It was a competitive orchestra club.” He said. “I was the youngest leader in the history of the club. Granted it’d only been around for two years.” Kassie looked at the picture. “Man I was a massive geek.”

  “You were cute.” She looked at him teasingly for a moment before looking back at the photo. “I like geeks.”

  He looked at her quickly and she kept her eyes on the picture.

  “I was president of the math club from fourth grade until tenth.” He said quickly.

  Kassie giggled and nodded. “Did you take chemistry?” She asked.

  “No.”

  Kassie clucked her tongue.

  “Too bad.” She said coyly and walked over to another picture, leaving him standing there in a daze. Tim wasn’t sure what the hell just happened, but he was pretty sure she had just flirted with him and made a pass at him. He smiled all the way to his toes.

  *****

  Dinner was great; they talked about everything except for politics, religion, and family. They made sure to steer clear of talking about those things
, not wanting the date to turn into an argument. Even though he would gladly tell her that, he was a lapsed Catholic; much to his mother’s displeasure, that politics were a crock and he loved his family, even his jackass of an older brother.

  At the end of the night, Tim walked her to the door. It was nearly nine and he helped her with her coat. He was reluctant to see her go, he truly enjoyed the night with her. She was so intelligent and funny that he was shocked.

  “I had a really great time.”Kassie said, placing her hand on his arm.

  “Yeah I did too.” He looked into her eyes.

  “Thanks for dinner.” Kassie said. “It was nice spending time with you.”

  “You’re welcome. Thanks for not turning me down.” He said with a soft smile.

  “Why would I turn down free food and a night of sitting across from a good looking intelligent guy?” She asked.

  Tim smiled, completely flattered, though he was more than certain that he didn’t have to pay her a compliment. He had already made an idiot of himself over her . . . multiple times.

  “Night.” She whispered. Kassie placed her hand on his chest and kissed him on the cheek.

  Tim could barely breath. It took every ounce of his will power to keep from wrapping his arms around her.

  “Night.”

  He opened the door and she walked down the steps, and out of the fence. He stood out on the porch watching to make sure she got inside safely. Kassie waved to him as she unlocked her door and he waved back. He actually felt a pang of regret when she went inside and closed the door.

  *****

  Tim popped the dishes into the dishwasher. He couldn’t believe how great his evening had been and how much he had truly enjoyed spending time with Kassie. He was already thinking about their next date. Yes, it had been a date. He could admit it. And what a date it had been! When she kissed him goodnight, he damn near lost his composure. He probably would have gotten socked if he grabbed her and kissed her like he wanted to do.

  He turned off the kitchen light, listening to the soft hum of the dishwasher as he walked into the den. There was a knock at his door which sent him running to answer, with the hopes that Kassie had come back.

  Tim pulled open the door, and next sighed in disappointment. One of his lovers, Roxanna, was standing on his porch. She opened her coat revealing warm alabaster skin, a red lace bra and panty set . . . and nothing else. Tim wasn’t in the mood for it. He wasn’t even turned on, as he normally would be. Instead he felt a bit bored by it. Roxy was bit predictable.