by Ali Parker
The fact that he hadn't called or tried to get in touch with her sat heavy on her. She finally talked herself into calling him, the phone ringing five times before going to voicemail. She sighed and pulled into a parking spot right in front of Sicily's shop, her friend already inside by the looks of things.
Kari got out and walked in, her heart heavy as she bit at her lip. Sicily looked up and smiled, her expression softening as Kari approached.
"What's wrong?"
Kari laughed, but the sound fell flat. "How do you know something is wrong?"
"I'm an empath. I can almost feel the heaviness sitting on you. Plus, you always bite or pick at your lips if something is bothering you." Sicily shrugged and moved to work on getting the top to the paint off.
"Jake left for that trip this morning and I really expected to hear something from him."
"He's not called or texted anything?" Sicily moved her wrist up in front of her face, her eyes narrowing. "It's almost two in the afternoon. Surely he's there by now."
"I know, right? I have no idea what's going on, but I'm almost sick over it."
Sicily moved from the paint bucket and pulled Kari into a quick hug. "I'm sure his phone is dead. Boys are irresponsible and do that stuff all the time."
"Yeah, I guess. Let's get started so I can get my mind off of it."
Sicily nodded, pausing to look at Kari for a few more seconds. "Okay. Grab a brush and let's get this second coat done."
"Wish we had the boys and Lisa here to help. This is going to take forever."
"I'd be fine with Lisa and Jake, but his friend is an ass."
Kari laughed and moved to the front wall, reaching down to dip her brush in the paint. "Drake? Why do you say that?"
"He thinks I'm fat. I've put on about six pounds since we got here, but I don't need him reminding me."
Kari looked over her shoulder, blowing a strand of hair from her face. "What're you talking about? You look great."
"Yeah well, he offered me half off for a gym membership at his place."
"Don't you think that maybe he was just trying to get the chance to see you?"
"No. He could've asked me out. He didn't. He offered to help me lose weight."
Kari turned back to her painting, rolling her eyes. "So let me get this straight. He said to you, 'Sicily, you're a little chunky and I'm a nice guy so here's half off to come work out at the gym I own'?"
"Not exactly, but it's all semantics."
"He was probably hitting on you."
"Whatever. He's an ass and I'm not interested. He must have touched his own chest and stomach a million times the other night. I think he's hot for himself."
Kari laughed loudly, the conversation almost too silly to foster its continuation. "He is hot."
"Conceited and rude."
Kari let the conversation die down, Sicily in a mood and not willing to relent. She worked methodically to finish her wall in an hour and moved to the next one, Sicily having turned on some upbeat music to keep them moving forward. She couldn't help but let her thoughts slip back to Jake, worry clinging to her like a shrunken sweater. She would give him until Tuesday before she allowed the full blown panic that swam in her stomach to explode within her.
Then she would assume the worst. Bethany had won him back and he was lost to her, that or he'd slept with the other girl and felt too much guilt to confront Kari with it.
It seemed so shallow to jump to those conclusions, but Frank had done it after four long years of being together. Why would Jake be any different after a weeklong commitment, and not even that really?
Please God... no.
Chapter 29
Seeing Bethany again for the first time in three years wasn't nearly as hard as he imagined it would be. She was nothing more than a part of his past, a friend in pain from the loss of her mother. He hugged her when they arrived at her folks’ house and spent the afternoon talking with her, her brother, her father and all their old friends. Bethany kept close beside him, but he consistently kept space between them, his mind on Kari, his heart longing for her to be with him.
Why had he told her ‘no’ to coming?
He walked out into the late evening, his stomach in knots over his phone. He'd have to get ahold of someone at the fire station or maybe Drake and have them go deliver the message about his phone. No way he was staying for the next few days and not letting her know what was going on. If he understood her insecurities like his own - she'd be going crazy over not hearing from him all day.
He brushed his fingers through is hair, sighing loudly as Bethany moved up beside him, her long hair messy around her face. Tears stained her cheeks and sorrow sat heavily on her. He pressed his shoulder against hers softly and she looked over at him.
"Who is she?"
"Who is who?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.
"The girl that's stolen your heart." Bethany chuckled, the sound was tense and void of warmth.
Jake looked up at the sky, the moon only half willing to shine. He wondered if she were on the porch, looking up at the same scene as he was. She had stolen his heart and he needed desperately to get back to her.
"She's a photographer for the local paper. She's funny and kind, so passionate and yet life has handed her some hard blows." He looked down at his hands and let out a soft exhale. "My phone died before I got on the flight and then I lost the damn thing so I know she has to be worried. I'm here with you and she knows about our past."
"I wish I wouldn't have messed things up between us." Bethany reached over and touched his arm, her actions tentative as if asking for permission.
He patted her hand and removed it from his arm. "Things always happen for a reason. Kari is helping me heal from all of it."
"I'm not sure how long you've been with this Kari chick, but I would love to try again. I can't apologize enough for my mistakes, but second chances are the only thing that's gotten any of us through this life. Is there any room in your heart for me to have another chance?"
Jake looked over at her, memories slamming against him. Years and years of loving the girl beside him and her question didn't faze him at all. How grateful was he that Kari came into his life when she did. If nothing else, it steeled his resolve to not allow Bethany to whittle her way back into his heart. She was smart, beautiful, and incredibly manipulative. He smiled kindly at her.
"I'm pretty sure Kari's the one I'll get married to, Beth. I wouldn't hurt her for anything in the world."
"Like I hurt you?"
He nodded. "I would never do that to anyone - ever."
She moved back from the ledge of the porch, her voice nothing more than a whisper. "Do you love her?"
He looked back up at the stars, warmth rushing over him at the image of Kari's beautiful face as it moved across his vision. "I don't know how I do already after just this short amount of time, but yeah... I do."
"Lucky girl."
***
Kari fought back tears as she pulled a white tank top over her head, her peach-colored sweater laid across the bed next to a pair of brown slacks. She finished dressing and pulled her hair into a bun, not caring what she looked like. Her long night of crying had taken its toll, Jake never once getting in touch. Her worst fears had birthed into reality and she knew without a doubt that she had lost him. Kari fixed herself a quick cup of coffee and slipped out of the house an hour before anyone was up, needing to find solace somewhere.
She drove to the school and sat in the parking lot, her eyes moving along the field where Jake coached. The boys were busy running drills together. She leaned back and closed her eyes, knowing that she should go.
"Probably look like a stalker," she whispered as hot tears burned her eyes. She wanted things to work with Jake so bad, needed them to. Something had to renew her faith in the idea of hope, of loyalty, of love.
She sat up and wiped her eyes angrily, starting the car and driving to the paper while internally lashing herself at dreaming something better. It
only left her feeling vulnerable and waiting to be scarred.
Getting out of the car, she walked slowly up the small steps to the paper as Cliff moved in behind her. He reached out and touched her back as she opened the door and walked in.
"Hey, what's going on? You look like someone died."
She looked over her shoulder and shrugged. "I'm just having relationship issues. What else is new?"
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not right now. I want an assignment so I can keep busy."
"I was supposed to go interview Bob Townley at the fire station today for the centennial thing. You want to go do it for me?"
She walked down the hall, calling softly over her shoulder. "Sure. Thanks."
***
The fire station was massive, and beautiful. It had been refurbished a few years back and the men in the station obviously took great pride in it by the upkeep being done on it. Kari walked in and called out, the place open, but seemingly empty. She walked down the halls, the various pieces of equipment used in the good old days hanging on the walls as a monument to how far they had come. She stopped by a small office, the pictures on the walls catching her attention.
Jake.
Walking in, she turned on the light behind her, the room holding only a desk and a filing cabinet. The wall above his desk had picture after picture of Jake and Bethany, their arms around each other and laughter on their faces. She reached up and picked one from the wall that made her blood run cold.
Jake's strong arms were tightly wrapped around the girl, pulling her as close as he probably could. The look on his face was one of desire, love, and commitment to only her. Kari had been a fool. No one got over a relationship that lasted for twelve years. He probably hadn't been with anyone but Bethany.
And he's with her now.
Kari sunk down in the small leather chair, the sound of it creaking moving past her as the first of several tears fell on her cheeks. She hated herself for crying, for being so scared of what might happen, but there was no helping it. Her heart had been broken too many times and it was on the precipice of happening again.
"Tears are said to be the cleansing of the soul." A deep voice sounded from the door and Kari jerked up, wiping at her face and trying to compose herself.
"Oh hi. I'm sorry. Not enough sleep and too much going on in my love life to keep it together lately." She wiped at her eyes again, put the picture back on the wall and walked around, extending her hand as her lip quivered. The older man before her reached out and took her hand, cupping his other one on top of it and smiling warmly at her.
"You must be from the paper?"
She nodded and reached up to wipe a wayward tear. "I am and I'm not usually this emotional. Kari Martin."
He motioned for her to sit in the small chair across from Jake's. "Nice to meet you, Kari. I’m Robert, but most of the guys just call me Bob. Have a seat and we'll talk for a minute and then get on with the interview?"
She bit at her lip, breathing in a shaky breath and then finding her way to the chair. She sat down, her eyes moving up to Jake and Bethany again.
Bob closed the door, leaving it only cracked before walking over. Kari expected him to sit, but instead he started taking down the pictures. Kari wasn't sure what to think, so she waited for the older man to talk.
He looked down at her as he pulled the pictures off the wall. "Sometimes we cling to the things from our past and at times that can be healthy, but at others it's damning. It destroys any hope for the future."
Kari nodded, shifting back in her seat as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Jake is one of the best men I've ever met in my long life. He's loyal and good, strong, and so brave. I wish I could have been half the man he is at his age." He reached for the garbage and dropped the pictures in them, sitting down. "He meant to do this last week, some pretty new girl in town stealing his heart and helping him finally get over this cheating witch."
"He mentioned me to you?"
Bob smiled and sat back, crossing his legs and clasping his hands over his stomach. "He sure did. He was walking around here with a smile on his face that had most of us poking fun at him. He's fallen fast and hard and though I think it scares him, it's exactly what he needs to heal."
"He's with her now," Kari whispered, tears swimming in her gaze again.
"He's with his family and his friends, trying to lay to rest a part of his past. Trust him to keep the past separated from the future."
"I'm trying. I just haven't heard a word from him." She reached for her phone, checking it in hopes of him communicating in the last few minutes. Nothing.
"Then his phone is lost or stolen. Jake's not one to put off someone else's feelings, especially someone he's falling in love with. He gives up all he has to us and we're not a beautiful girl who might just be the one." Bob smiled and tilted his head as he studied her. "Would you cheat on him if the tables were turned? If it was you going back to help an old boyfriend with the death of his mother?"
"Never. I've been cheated on and would never do that to anyone. It's the darkest form of pain I know."
Bob nodded, smiling knowingly. "Jake would never do that either. His heart was torn from his chest by this girl, and he's been here, trying to heal for three years. Give him a chance to prove himself. Blame the communication on the phone and not him. Rest assured... it's all going to be okay. His character has proven itself over and over to us guys at the station. Let him prove it to you too."
Kari nodded, breathing in slowly. "I'll try. Fear seems to choke me back down every time I start to move past my horrible thoughts of him being with her."
Bob leaned forward, pressing his arms to the desk between them. "Fear is an illusion that you can destroy with the power of hope. Hope for something better, Kari. Hope for that beautiful future you keep jogging around in your thoughts. Hope will win - give the old boy a chance. He's just found hope and claimed it was because of a beautiful young photographer who just arrived in town."
Kari smiled, her emotions starting to settle a little. "I want him to come home. I need to see him."
Bob nodded. "I know. He will - hold tight, kiddo. Hold tight to hope."
***
The conversation with Bob moved around her thoughts. The old man was right and she couldn't bear the thought of worrying much more about it. Her insides were tense, her chest tight at the realization that she could lose him. She pushed it back, trying to stay concentrated on helping Sicily and Lisa with the bakery. They asked a million times what was up with her, but she batted them off. She didn't want to get into it, as it was nothing more than her fears trying so hard to pull her into nothingness.
The evening was spent on the porch out back, tears and worry battling with reason and trust. The slamming of a car door had her heart pounding. She carefully slipped over the side of the porch and dropped into the grass before jogging toward the front of the house.
Drake turned from his walk toward the front door as Kari approached, a look of surprise on his handsome face.
"Damn, girl. You scared me. I was about to pull out a can of whoop-ass on you." He laughed and moved toward her.
Kari's heart fell. "I'm sorry. I thought you might be Jake."
He smiled and put his hands on his hips. "No, but he owes me. He begged me to come over here and let you know that his phone died and then the damn thing got stolen at the airport. He doesn't have your number and had to look up the gym's digits on the Internet. Good thing I finally got my webpage up."
Kari sighed, her body relaxing for the first time in two days. His phone was the issue.
"When is he coming home?"
Drake shrugged. "I don't know, but I would assume late tomorrow night. I told him to wait until Thursday as there are supposed to be some crazy thunderstorms tomorrow. The dangerous kind."
Kari bit at her lip, the need for him to get to her almost overriding her sense for him to be safe. She thanked Drake and went into the house, inviting him in
and him declining due to the gym needing him back.
She watched him go as she leaned against the front door to the house, relief rolling through her.
Maybe things weren't going south. Maybe he was being faithful and fate was just testing her to see if she would move past her hurt and give love a try.
"I don't believe in fate," she whispered as she walked into the warmth of the house.
Her spirit whispered back, 'Yes, but maybe it believes in you.'
Chapter 30
Wednesday was the longest day of his life, the funeral mid-morning and his family and friends beckoning him to stay through the week and spend the weekend with them. He thought about it for a few minutes and decided there was no way. The ache deep in his chest at the thought of Kari hurting or wondering about him drove him to upset everyone and pack up just after the funeral.
"Baby, you just got here. Find the girl's number and tell her that you'll be home this weekend." His mom gave him a stern look as he smiled, pulling her into a hug.
"Mom. She's been hurt pretty badly by her fiancé cheating on her. Her life was turned upside down and I came home to help my ex, who was everything to me just three years ago. I haven't called in two days because of my phone and this girl means the world to me already."
His mom reached up and touched the side of his face. "Does she cook?"
He laughed. "I don't know, momma, but I want to find out. I want to spend hours getting to know her more. I want to take long walks with her and dance in the rain. I want to cook in the kitchen together and sit in church beside her. I know she's hurting, mom."
His mother pulled him down for a quick kiss on his cheek. "Well, she's a lucky girl. You go to her and tell her how much she means to you, and then... you better bring her back here to see us. You being gone for three years has been harder than I care to admit. Your daddy has asked about you without fail every week ever since you left."
