“That's horrible.”
“Yes and she's having money trouble because of it. They've put a hold on her bank accounts because of what's going on with the investigation, so she's been living off her credit cards, I think. It's just so sad and she won't allow anyone to help her.”
“What do you mean?” Kayla asked sitting back in her chair.
“Well our children play together and attend school together so my oldest told me that her daughter said something about mommy having to sell their TV and computer, you know things like that. Matt and I offered to help her out, but she wouldn't hear of it. She's so ashamed of what's going on that I don't even think that Petunia knows most of it.”
Kayla couldn't eat another bite. She didn't know Vanna, but she could understand what she was going through. Kayla remembered some of what her life was like before she and Darren went to live with Sam and Shirley Barns. She didn't remember much about her mother, but she did remember being hungry. She also remembered times when she and Darren had to sit in the dark because there was no electricity. The images in her mind of what Vanna's kids were dealing with made her heart hurt. Kayla changed the subject by asking about Holly's kids.
After they had finished lunch, Holly showed her pictures of Meghan and Caroline from birth to their current ages of eight and six. Telling her some of the funny things that they have said and done. “Just wait untill you have kids, they take over your life and it's all about them, but it's worth it.” Holly said putting away the album.
While she waited for Holly to return to the living room her phone chirped. She had a message from Danny.
What are you doing tomorrow?
Kayla replied, Nothing really, and you?
Taking you to the state fair.
Kayla realized that she was grinning from ear to ear when she sent back to him, What time are we leaving?
Noon. Appeared on screen followed by. Can't wait.
Holly came back into the room as Kayla put her phone away. Kayla stood and hugged her. “Thanks for lunch, I have some errands to run, so I'm gonna head out.”
“You're welcome.” Holly said letting her out.
Chapter 7
Kayla
Kayla pushed her shopping cart down the aisle not really paying attention to what she was doing, grabbing items and tossing them in her cart. Her mind was far away. The conversation with Holly regarding Vanna had brought up some things from the past. She was about five years old when CPS placed her and Darren with Shirley and Sam. Shirley stood on the front porch of the house as she and her brother were removed from the car. The officer carried Darren while Kayla followed behind her.
Shirley opened the door to them and then followed them inside. The officer introduced them to Shirley, just as Sam entered the room. “This is Darren and his big sister Kayla.”
Shirley squatted down to Kayla. “Hi Kayla. You can call me Ms. Shirley. I'm very happy to meet you and your brother. Sam and I would like you two to stay with us. Is that okay with you?”
Kayla looked from her to the tall man behind her and nodded her head. Shirley held her hand out to her and said, “Would you like to see your room?” Kayla nodded again and took her hand. The officer handed Darren to Sam. Her and Darren's room was unlike anything she had ever seen. There was a bed with a pretty pink blanket and another bed with bars all around it. The windows had curtains and there were toys of all kinds.
Kayla stood holding Shirley's hand looking around the room. “This is your room and everything in it is for you and Darren. Kayla let go of her hand and walked to the bed. She pulled the doll from on top of it. “Mine?” she asked looking back at Shirley and Sam.
“Yes, It's yours.”
Sam put Darren down on the floor near some blocks. Kayla walked around the room touching everything. It was all for them. They had never had so much stuff.
Kayla shook her head coming back to the present. She continued shopping and headed to the check out area when she was finished.
*****
Vanna
Vanna was waiting as the cashier rang up her selections when she saw Kayla get into the line at the next stand. She hadn't seen or spoken to her since last week. She had been upset that Daniel went out with her, but she hadn't had time to dwell on it. Her life was falling apart and she needed to pull herself together if for no other reason, for her kids.
Elizabeth stood beside her now watching as the groceries were being placed in the bag at the end of the belt. Her son Edward was sitting in the basket amusing himself with some toy he'd brought with them. The checker finished and told her the total. Vanna swiped her credit card and waited while it processed. The card reader displayed denied. The checker said, “Ma'am, your card was denied.”
“That can't be right.” Vanna said embarrassed. She hoped Kayla wasn't listening. She seemed engaged in conversation with her checker.
“Try it again.”
Vanna tried again and again the reader said denied.
“You can try another card.” The checker said looking a little annoyed.
Vanna knew that her other cards were maxed out from paying for other bills. “I will have to come back later after I straighten this out with the bank.” She said picking her son up and grabbing her daughter's hand. As she passed Kayla she turned her head not wanted to be embarrassed further. She got the kids settled into the car and started the car. Nothing happened. She heard a clicking sound, but the engine did nothing.
“Mommy is the car broken?” Elizabeth asked from her car seat.
“Seems like it.” She answered as she pulled out her cell phone and called for help. Thank goodness it wasn't hot outside and she had enough power to let the windows down.
Petunia answered and after she explained that her car wouldn't start. Petunia told her to sit tight and that she would be there soon to get them. Vanna didn't know how much more she could take. Finding out her husband was cheating on her with his secretary was the start of her life unraveling. Then just as her divorce was final, he was indicted and charged with a number of financial crimes. The state put a hold on her accounts as well as his since he was regularly depositing money into them. She was able to get a job as a interior designer and all was going well until her employer found out about the charges against her husband and declared that suddenly he didn't have it in his budget to keep her on as an employee.
She and the children had been waiting for a few minutes when Kayla came out of the store stopping and loading her bags into the Range Rover beside her car. After she loaded the groceries and returned the cart Kayla approached her car. “You okay?” She asked through the window.
Before Vanna could assure her that everything was fine, Elizabeth said, “Mommy's car is broken.”
“Pop the hood, I'll have a look at it.” Kayla said to Vanna.
“No, it's okay. Help is on the way.”
“You sure? I don't mind and I do know a thing or two about cars.” Kayla tried to persuade her.
“No really. We're fine.” Vanna said.
Kayla looked reluctant to let it go, but after a moment she said. “Alright, but take my number just in case.” Vanna pulled out her phone and entered the numbers Kayla gave her.
“Take care,” she said before getting into her car and driving away.
*****
Vanna stumbled down the stairs it was too early in the morning. Her children were upstairs brushing their teeth. She wrapped her robe tighter around her as she reached the front door. She looked out through glass and didn't see anyone, but someone had definitely ringed her doorbell. She unlocked the door opening it slowly. She peered around. No one was in sight. She started to close the door when she saw the bags.
Someone had left bags of groceries on her doorstep. She yanked opened the door looking down the street from one end to the other.. It was not totally dark out so there wasn't much movement going on. She picked up the bags and brought the into the kitchen. She unpacked the food and put it away. At the bottom of one of the bags wa
s an envelope with the word PAY written on it in simple block letters. She opened it slowly and started crying once she saw the contents.
Her daughter came into the kitchen. “Mommy, what's wrong.”
Vanna grabbed her and kissed her cheeks. “Nothing baby. Mommy is crying cause she's happy.”
*****
Daniel
“Stanley I hope everything is okay with you and Aunt P.” Daniel said as he let him and Matt in.
“What's going on?” Matt asked following them into the kitchen.
Stanley open the beer Daniel handed him and sat in his usual spot at the table. “She won't talk to me and I don't know if that's a good thing or bad one.” He took a sip of his drink.
“He sold her car.” Daniel said to Matt.
“Why?” Matt asked.
“Not the Jag.” Stanley filled in. “The Corvette that's been sitting in the garage for a decade rotting away.” He looked from one to the other. “I can't tell you what's going on cause I want it to be a surprise for our anniversary. But she's madder than I've ever seen her, made me sleep in the guest room.”
Daniel felt bad for him. The doorbell rang and he left to answer it. When he returned with Ken, Matt was telling Stanley that Petunia would get over it soon and to stay strong. They were bringing Ken up to speed when the bell rang again. Daniel rushed to get it and returned with Robert.
They started the game and shortly into the first round Robert asked, “Hey, what happened the other night at the bar with Ms. Bootylicious?”
Daniel had hoped this wasn't going to come up, but here it was. “What are you talking about?” Ken asked Robert.
“We went out for happy hour Friday after work, and...”
“Daniel went to happy hour?” Ken interrupted with a stupid look on his face.
“Yes and the Bootylicious woman as there with some guys.” He said pausing for effect. “Daniel joined her and I left.” Facing Daniel he asked again. “What happened?”
“Yea, What happened?” Ken asked
Daniel looked around the table. “We had dinner and talked. Then I walked her to her car.”
Ken dealt the cards and said, “You know I've been thinking about this. It might not be such a good idea to get involved with your neighbor.”
“Why not?” Matt said while looking down at his cards.
“If you too get together and all goes well, no biggie, but if you two don't work out won't it be hard to live right next door to her.” Ken added
“Yeah.” Robert said. “If she starts dating someone else. I couldn't do it.”
Daniel thought about it. “If our relationship didn't work out, I'd want her to be happy and if that meant being with someone else. I could live with it.”
Stanley cleared his throat. “That's what's wrong with you youngsters, you've already jumped to the end of the relationship. Falling in love is about the journey. From the moment you see her for the first time and how she makes you feel all nervous and silly. To the time you share your first kiss and beyond. You guys don't know anything about romance.”
They listened to Stanley tell them how he romance Petunia, a woman way out of his league and won her heart. Later they changed the subject to Ken's social life, which as always was about him having a string of women chasing him while he ran in the opposite direction. He avoided any further mentioning of Kayla after that.
*****
Daniel pulled shirt after shirt out of his closet tossing them on the bed. He'd never felt unsure of himself like this. He wanted to show Kayla that he was not boring and when he looked at his clothing selection he knew he needed help. All it seemed that he owned were suites and polo shirts with the occasional t-shirt thrown in. He settled on a tan colored t-shirt and a pair of jeans with sneakers.
He drove his car down his driveway and parked in front of Kayla's house. Daniel knocked on the door. A few seconds later, Kayla opened it smiling. “Hey Sexy.”
His heart flipped and his stomach dropped. She stood wearing a simple white dress with thin straps. Her flaming red hair was pulled high on top her head with a few wisps of hair cascading around her face. She was smiling. He was certain that she was not wearing a bra because her nipples were visible through the soft material. Her beautiful smooth legs showing from just above the knee drew his attention down to the simple flat white sandals covering her feet. She had her phone and keys in her hand and was ready to go. “You look beautiful.” He finally got out.
She closed and locked the door. Daniel grabbed her free hand and walked her to the passenger door. He opened and held it as she slid into the seat. He strolled around to the other side getting behind the wheel. The drive to Fair Park was quick. Daniel knew that she was from South Texas. “Have you ever been to the fair?”
“A few times as a kid.” She said.
“When I was a kid we came every year, kind of a tradition. I haven't been in a long time.” He told her. “Most of the time it was my mom, dad, Stanley and Aunt P.” Daniel talked about how much fun the five of them had playing games and going to the shows. “What traditions do you have with your family?”
“They holidays are important to us. Thanksgiving Dad and I cook and we watch football, but Christmas time is a big deal. We have a big family dinner, decorate the tree and just have a good time. Sometimes we help out at the shelter and my father dresses as Santa and gives toys out to the kids there.”
As Daniel drove them to their destination, Kayla told him about some of the unofficial traditions that she and her brothers had of torturing each other. Not having any siblings he had never experienced any of the things that Kayla described to him. It sounded like it may be fun to be a part of a big family.
By the time they reached the fair grounds Daniel was almost in tears as she told him about the time Mark, Micah and Leo convinced her to replace their fathers aftershave with lemon juice salt mixture they had created. It actually backfired on them. Her father never thought she would be so mischievous and all three boys were punished while she got and extra helping of desert for being accused. She spent the next few weeks being picked on anytime their father wasn't around.
Daniel parked and took her by the hand making their way to the entrance. He paid their admission price. He knew that she was into cars so he took her to the Texas auto show arena. They walked around looking at the current models and concepts cars. Kayla was an expert car person. She told him about several of the cars and which were her favorites, but she lit up when they moved around to the classic car section.
He realized that she wasn't just a mechanic, but a car enthusiast. She told him about each of the classic cars and they played a guessing game of it's estimated worth. She won hands down. He hadn't even come close on most of his guesses.
They made their way to the midway and chose some rides to go on. Kayla, he found had a fondness for anything that went fast and spun out of control. When he admitted that he had never been on a roller coaster she insisted that he try it with her. He was scared out of his mind, but he put on a brave face and by the end he had to admit that it was a lot of fun. As the sun was starting to set he lead her to the Texas Star Ferris Wheel.
They sat close together as the wheel took them higher and higher. Daniel slid his arm around her shoulder and watched her face as she looked out over the city with the sun setting in the background. “Oh Danny it's so beautiful. I've never seen anything like it.” Kayla said turning to look at him.
“I agree.” He said lowering his head, capturing her mouth with his. She kissed him back opening her mouth to him. She moaned and brought her hand up to caress his face. She pulled him closer exploring his mouth with her tongue. He groaned and pulled back. He had to keep his cool and stop kissing her now.
After the Ferris wheel they walked with his arm around her shoulders and her arm around his waist. He asked if she was hungry and she nodded smiling up to him. He kissed her lips briefly. When they both had what they wanted they found some space at a table and sat across from each other.
Daniel had a state fair corn dog. He offered Kayla the first bite. She opened her mouth taking a good-sized bit and Daniel smiled as she started wiggling her hips to some unheard beat of music. “I take it that you like it.”
“Yes. It's been a while since I had one, but it's still delicious.” She said after she swallowed.
She offered him one of her shrimp fritters. He shook his head and watched as she delighted in every bite. “You're sure you don't want to try it?” asked before popping the last bite into her mouth.
Love Thy Neighbor Page 7
