The Perfect Couple

by Valerie Hansen

  “Maybe.” Susan slid closer as her husband joined them. “And maybe he's just naturally mean-spirited.”

  “Oh, I don't think so,” Kara said quickly. She noticed a look of smug satisfaction come over her sister and easily anticipated her thoughts. “Don't start with me again about needing a husband,” she warned. “Don't even start.”

  Susan almost managed to look innocent. “Who? Me? I didn't say a word.”

  “No, but I know what you were thinking. I told you, I have no interest in any man, least of all Tyler Corbett. Besides, he's got a special lady friend. Look. Third row. Second from the left.”

  Leaning sideways, the elder sister peered between the heads of other worshipers until she spotted her quarry. “Aha. I do see. How interesting that you noticed.”

  “The man walked right by me. I couldn't help but see him. Now, will you please leave me alone?”

  “Till the service is over,” Susan said. “Then you and I are going to find Mr. Corbett so I can properly introduce you to his lady friend.”

  “It won't be necessary to go to…” Kara began.

  Susan pointed to the front of the sanctuary. “Shush. They're starting. I can't hear a thing when you're talking.”

  Disgusted, Kara closed her mouth. Her mind, however, refused to be quieted. No way was she going to permit her sister to drag her into another unnecessary discussion with Tyler Corbett. Especially since he'd brought a female companion to church!

  Not that she cared one way or the other, Kara insisted. He was widowed. He was entitled to find somebody else to fill the void in his life.

  On the other hand, the emptiness Alex had left in her life was a blessing. Yes, she sometimes felt guilty for thinking like that. There were even times when she missed the man she thought she'd married. But truth was truth. Alex had been a beguiling, blasphemous hypocrite with a volatile temper. It was only a matter of time before he'd have stepped over the line and done something truly horrendous-to her or to someone else. Maybe both.

  She'd never wished him harm in a literal sense. She'd simply been frightened and unsure of what to do when he'd gotten drunk, flown into a rage and stormed out of the house for the last time. The decision to drive away had been his. Investigators had assured her that the fatal, single-car crash was no one else's fault. Alex had made many wrong choices. Ultimately, one of them had led to his death.

  All she had to do was accept what had happened and get on with her life. Thank God she was finally healing; finally beginning to feel normal again.

  Even if being normal meant she was beginning to notice a good-looking, appealing man when she saw one? Kara asked herself. She nodded. Oh, yes. She could handle her emotions. Thanks to Alex, she was no innocent, naive girl. Not anymore.

  The Sunday morning church service was over far too soon to suit Kara. She gathered up her purse and bible, intending to make a quick exit as the rest of the congregation began to file out of the sanctuary.

  Susan grabbed her arm. “Hey! Not so fast. Come with me. I'm going to introduce you to somebody special. Remember?”

  “Sorry. I don't have the time. I have to stop at the grocery store on my way home, then drop by the hospital to check on the sheltie we took in on Friday.”

  “And don't forget, you have to wash your hair, too.” Susan grinned knowingly.

  “What?” Kara patted the twist at the back of her head to make sure it was still neatly in place. “What are you talking about?”

  “Just being a good sister and providing extra excuses, in case you run out.”

  “Very funny.” Kara tried to sidle past. The aisle was blocked. Short of being impolite and shoving somebody out of the way, she was temporarily trapped.

  Taking advantage, Susan grabbed her by the hand and tugged her backward until they were once again standing between the two rows of padded pews where they'd been seated.

  Only five feet two inches tall, Kara wasn't able to see over people's heads as well as her sister could. She strained on tiptoe, checking every glimpse of a dark-blue suit in the crowd, hoping that Tyler wasn't going to pass by before she could make a graceful exit.

  It took her only a few seconds to realize she wasn't going to get her wish. She lifted her chin proudly and smiled as Tyler and his well-dressed companion inched past.

  Behind her, Susan squealed so boisterously that dozens of people stopped to stare. “Louise Tate! It is you! I'm so glad to see you decided to come today. Welcome!” She leaned around Kara and extended her hand, grinning widely when the woman took it. “This is my sister, Kara.”

  Louise smiled pleasantly. “How nice to finally get to meet you. Susan has told me a lot about you.”

  Uh-oh. Kara couldn't help but smile in response to the woman's happy glow and the elfin look in her twinkling blue eyes. The only thing that amazed her was Louise's evident age. It looked as if Tyler preferred older women. Much older women. With ash-blond hair that hinted at grey.

  “Louise is Deanne's mother. You know…Tyler's wife. I mean late wife.” Susan blushed. “Oh, dear. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have put it that way.”

  Louise patted her on the arm. “Nonsense. We all want to remember Deanne. She was a lovely girl. I'm proud to have had her for a daughter. It bothers me when people avoid mentioning her because they think it will hurt me.”

  Worried about how Tyler might be affected by the candid conversation, Kara glanced up at him, expecting the worst. Instead, she found him staring at her as if he hadn't heard a word anyone had said. Their gazes met. Held for an instant too long. She blinked to break the silent bond and looked over at Susan, hoping she hadn't noticed. She obviously had.

  “My sister's a widow, too,” Susan volunteered, her voice brisk and enthusiastic, “but I guess I told you that already, didn't I?”

  “Yes, you did,” the older woman said. She smiled sweetly at Kara. “I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, dear. At my age it's a lot easier to get away with saying what I really think.” She punctuated her statement with a soft chuckle. “I must tell you, now that I've met you, I'm surprised you're still single.”

  Kara opened her mouth to express her opposing point of view.

  Susan cut her off before she got started. “She says she likes being on her own. I sure wouldn't. I don't know how I'd manage if I didn't have my Mark to come home to every night.”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” Louise agreed. “I've outlived two wonderful husbands. If the right man came into my life right now, I'd marry again in a heartbeat.”

  Pointed comments were flying back and forth between Susan and Louise so rapidly, Kara felt like a spectator at a tennis match. She rolled her eyes in disbelief and looked up at Tyler for validation of her cynical attitude.

  He nodded in agreement. Kara relaxed and smiled at him, secure in the knowledge that she could do so without giving him the wrong impression.

  His eyebrows arched comically, one corner of his mouth lifting in a wry smile, as he took his mother-in-law's arm. “Come on, Louise. I'll treat you to lunch and we'll brainstorm about finding you another husband. How's that?”

  “Well, I—” She was hustled away before she could finish the sentence.

  When Tyler glanced back over his shoulder, Kara mouthed a silent, “Thank you.”

  He replied with an equally silent, “You're welcome,” and gifted her with a heartwarming smile.

  Kara felt the effects of that stunning smile all the way from the top of her head to her toes. A shiver skittered up her spine. On its heels was a warm glow.

  Taken aback, she waved her church bulletin like a fan to cool her suddenly flushed cheeks. “Whew!”

  A wide, satisfied grin split Susan's face. “What's the matter? Too hot for you?”

  “It is warm in here,” Kara offered, still fanning.

  Susan snickered. “Hah! The air temperature has nothing to do with your being so hot under the collar, and you know it.”

  “Don't be silly.”

  “I'm not the one being si
lly.” Susan bent to pick up her purse and bible. She was still grinning broadly as she waved goodbye to Kara with a blithe, “See you tomorrow.”

  Chapter Five

  The veterinary office was finally empty, the last client on his way home. Exhausted, Kara sank into the chair behind the front counter, propped her feet up and sighed. “Boy, I don't know what's the matter with me lately.”

  Concerned, her sister leaned against the filing cabinet. “Are you sick?”

  “No. It's not that. I'm…well…distracted. Sort of befuddled. I have been all week. It's like I have spring fever or something, and it's wearing me to a frazzle.”

  “I wasn't going to mention it, but you have been acting kind of out to lunch, lately. And I'm not talking about food.” She laughed lightly. “Course, I shouldn't talk. I'm the one who shaved Mrs. Pettibone's tomcat's tummy so you could spay him!”

  “That was so funny,” Kara agreed with a chuckle. “You should have seen the look on your face when you realized what you'd done.”

  “It wasn't entirely my fault, you know. His name's Miss Priss.”

  “Not anymore. Mrs. Pettibone was so shocked to learn he was a boy that she decided to change his name. I think she finally settled on Rufus.” Kara paused. “Which reminds me, how's Road Kill?”

  “A cat named Rufus reminds you of Road Kill? That's a stretch of the imagination.”

  “He's been on my mind lately.”

  “Are we talking about the dog, here?”

  “Of course we are.” Kara made a silly face.

  Susan's eyes glimmered with mischief. “And you have no interest in how Tyler is?”

  “He's all right, isn't he?”

  “Aha!” Susan was jubilant. “I knew you were thinking of him all along.”

  “What if I was? I'm still worried you and Mark will get into trouble with him because of me.”

  “Hey, don't worry about us. We're fine. Mark got a raise and he loves his job, so things couldn't be better.” She studied her younger sister perceptively. “Except that I hate to see you sitting home all alone, night after night.”

  Kara's “Hah!” was loud, abrupt. “I live with four dogs, six cats, and keep a spoiled rotten, retired carriage horse in my side pasture. I'd hardly call that being alone.”

  “Okay. Besides the Kara Shepherd Home for Antique Animals, what do you have to look forward to?”

  “Peace and quiet, for one.”

  “As opposed to an interesting human companion who cares about you? I'd hardly call that a fair trade.”

  “Well, I would,” Kara insisted.

  “Maybe.” Susan gave her a friendly pat on the back. “But it's really none of my business so let's change the subject. What are you doing for dinner Saturday night?”

  Kara scowled up at her. “I thought we were changing the subject.”

  “We are. I've got a really delicious-looking pork roast in the fridge. I thought I'd stick it on the rotisserie. Cook it real slow. Only it's way too big for just Mark and me to eat all by ourselves.”

  “You could serve it two days in a row.”

  Susan shook her head. “I could. Or I could ask my favorite sister to share it with us. That is, if she isn't too stubborn to admit she gets lonesome once in a while.”

  “Okay. Once in a while I suppose I do. But remember, living by myself is my choice.” She smiled to assure Susan she wasn't upset. “So, what can I bring?”

  “Yourself,” Susan said enthusiastically. “We'll have a great time. You'll see. I can hardly wait!”

  Eyeing her suspiciously, Kara wondered why anyone would be so excited about having a sibling over for dinner. Especially since it wasn't that rare an occasion. She decided to ask. “Why is it I'm getting the idea you're way too happy about all this?”

  “I'm just a basically cheerful person. You used to be, too, before—” Looking penitent, Susan said, “Sorry.”

  “Hey, don't be. I know I've changed since we were kids. Everybody has to grow up sometime.” She smiled and pointed. “Even you.”

  “Not me,” Susan countered. “I plan to stay a big kid all my life. It's more fun that way.”

  Kara's smile faded. Fun was a concept she'd put aside for self-preservation when she'd realized what kind of man her husband really was. He hadn't liked the sound of her normal laugh; said it was too shrill, too loud. So to keep the peace, she'd minimized it. During the course of her marriage she'd squelched her good humor so often she'd almost forgotten how to let go; how to have ordinary fun the way Susan did, especially when she and Mark were together.

  That was one reason Kara didn't like to spend too much time in their company. It hurt to see what a good marriage could be like and to know how rare it was.

  What a blessing it would have been to find that kind of husband, she thought wistfully. To have the kind of perfect partnership Susan and Mark shared. The same kind that Tyler Corbett had once had with his beloved Deanne.

  “I don't know why she's so intent on putting on such a big spread,” Mark said, dusting off his hands and facing his boss. “All I know is, when my wife gets a bee in her bonnet, it's best to let her have her way.” He flashed a wide grin. “You don't mind, do you?”

  Tyler shrugged. “No. I'm flattered. What time shall I come?”

  “I don't know. We usually eat around six. Just wander over an hour or so before that and you can help me light the barbecue. Susan's been cooking a roast on the electric rotisserie all day but I still have corn on the cob and taters to do on the grill.”

  “Sounds delicious. Can I bring anything?”

  “Nope. As long as you show up and help me keep peace in my family, I'll be satisfied. Susan left it up to me to invite you and I got the idea she wasn't going to take it kindly if I didn't succeed.”

  Tyler chuckled. He took his hat off and raked his fingers through his hair, combing it back. “She sure is something when she makes up her mind, that's a fact. Has she always been so stubborn?”

  “Far as I know. She's been that way as long as I've known her. Ever since she was sixteen.”

  “Is Kara older or younger?” Tyler asked.

  “Younger. Susan turned thirty in March—only don't you dare let on I told you or I'll be in the doghouse for sure. Kara's twenty-six.”

  Tyler made a skeptical sound low in his throat. “You could have fooled me.”

  “I know what you mean. Kara's so serious all the time, it makes her seem older.”

  “Was she always like that?”

  Mark shrugged. “I'm not sure. I was eighteen when I first met Kara. And so in love with Susan I couldn't see straight. I'm afraid I didn't pay much attention to her baby sister.” He grew thoughtful. “Seems to me she was always pretty studious, though. Had her nose buried in a book most of the time.”

  “What about their parents?” Tyler asked, remembering Kara's confession. “Were they strict?”

  “Their father was,” Mark said without hesitation. “I used to hear him ranting and raving some nights when I was sitting out on the porch with Susie. She never seemed to take him seriously but I sure did. Believe me, I always got her home before her curfew.”

  Tyler had to know more. “Is he still living?”

  “Nope. Flew into a rage one day and had a stroke. He didn't live long after that. Susan said his heart gave out.” Mark snorted wryly. “If you ask me, he didn't have one.”

  “That must have been hard on the sisters.”

  “It was.” He paused to recall. “They both flew back to Illinois for the funeral. So did I. Alex and Kara had been married about a year by then. He never bothered to show up. I thought that was kinda strange.”

  “Must have made it worse for her,” Tyler ventured.

  “You'd think so. But if I remember right, I never heard her mention his name the whole time we were at her mother's.”

  “Not even once?”

  “Nope. Well, I'd better go get that corn.”

  Tyler didn't pay much attention. He was thinking abo
ut Kara and visualizing her as a sensitive child who'd buried herself in her studies to escape rancor in the home, while her sister had merely shrugged off the same situation and hadn't let it bother her. Too bad they couldn't have both been immune the way Susan was.

  He quickly convinced himself it wasn't his problem. He didn't want to know what made Kara Shepherd tick. Or what experiences, good or bad, had formed her into the person she was today.

  Except that she intrigued him, he admitted ruefully. There was something about her that drew him, caused his normally staid emotions to threaten to run amok when she looked at him with those soft, doe eyes of hers. It was almost as if he couldn't bring himself to look away, once their gazes met.

  You're a fool to look at another woman in the first place, he told himself. You had the best. You had Deanne. She was one of a kind.

  Tyler nodded slowly, pensively. His days had been blessed beyond imagination by his marriage. He firmly believed that a perfect love only came along once in a lifetime. In spite of what his former mother-in-law kept insisting about finding another husband for herself, he was certain his personal quota of miracles had been used up. That was enough to convince him he'd never court anyone else. Ever.

  When Kara's winsome face popped into his consciousness unbidden and he muttered in disgust, “Especially not her,” he was very thankful Mark wasn't there to hear him.

  Kara arrived at Susan's just in time to help her set the dining room table.

  “We were going to eat in the yard but the bugs have been terrible,” Susan said. “Mark insists it's because last winter was too mild.”

  “Probably. We need a long, cold spell to kill off a lot of the worst pests. Of course, there is a plus side. We'll sell a lot more flea and tick killer.”

  “Good point.” Susan grinned. “Hey, maybe we could breed the little critters and make even more money!”

  Kara huffed in mock derision. “This is Arkansas, dear heart. Nobody has to try to breed insects here. They just appear in droves the minute the weather gets the tiniest bit warm. I don't know what I'd do without the Purple Martins that nest out at my place.”