Love Thy Neighbor

by Kimberly Smith

  Daniel got up and took their plates to the sink and cleaned them. “I'm an accountant.”

  Kayla realized that she wasn't getting through to him so she stopped talking and helped him clean up the kitchen.

  *****

  Monday came and went in a blur of errand running. She and Lee went shopping and she bought Daniel some not so “white bread” shirts and pants. With Lee's help she found a dress for the anniversary party. She also went to see her lawyer to sign the paperwork that he had processed for her. They also took the time to have a Mani-Pedi combo.

  On Wednesday Kayla had the corvette ready for its paint job. Stanley had chosen the second color option of a light electric blue. He explained to Kayla that Petunia had always seemed electric to him. She still had the spark that made him fall for her in the first place. Kayla agreed with Holly, Stanley would be lost without his Petunia.

  She and Daniel had settled into a routine. After work he would cook her dinner and stay up till she got home. He would chat with her about his day while she ate and then he would clean up the kitchen and later join her in bed making love till the wee hours of the morning before they fell asleep. He had clothes and toiletries at her house. She'd given him a set of keys and the alarm codes.

  By Friday evening she had finished the corvette. The guys were wiping it down to remove fingerprints. When they finished that she placed a cover over it. It was beautiful and Stanley had wanted to come by and see it but could not escape Petunia. Kayla told him to come by on Saturday afternoon if he could get away.

  *****

  Daniel

  Daniel had wanted to have lunch with Kayla, but she said she was too close to finishing up a car to go out for lunch. He offered to bring her lunch, but she gave him another excuse. He didn't understand why she wouldn't tell him where she worked or let him come by her job.

  Over the past week he'd even offered to bring enough food for dinner to the entire garage. She'd stopped him at every turn.

  When he thought about it, he sometimes got the feeling that maybe she was ashamed of him. That he was too “white bread”. The guys that worked with her were rough and tumble kind of guys. He was just a clean cut average man. Was it possible that she didn't feel the same way about him as he felt about her? Maybe she was just trying something new, seeing what it was like to be with a regular guy.

  It was nearly midnight when Kayla came in from work. “Hey babe.” She said as she entered the house. He was sitting at the kitchen bar drinking beer. She kissed him.

  “Sit, I'll fix your plate.” he said when she pulled back. He opened the oven and pulled a pan of lasagna and put a portion on her plate handing it to her. He poured her a glass of wine and set it next to her plate. “How was work?” He asked then continued. “No wait, I forgot you can't tell me about your job or where you work.”

  Kayla was just about to put a bite in her mouth. She stopped and looked at him. “What's going on Danny?”

  “Are you ashamed of me?” He asked looking into her eye.

  “Where the hell is this coming from?”

  “Just be honest with me.” Daniel said grabbing another beer from the refrigerator.

  “Danny, what's going on?” Kayla asked getting up to go to him.

  “I've been thinking. Every time I ask about your job and where you work, you come up with some excuse why I can't come by to see you or pick you up for lunch.” He took a drink from his bottle. “I'm too “white bread for you. Aren't I?” He slurred his words. Maybe that's part of the excitement for you, doing it with a regular guy is new for you huh?”

  *****

  Kayla

  “How much have you had to drink?” She reached for the bottle. He moved quickly and she missed it. “What are you saying Daniel?”

  “All this time I've been on the look out for people acting like racists so that I could show you how what they think doesn't matter, but this whole time it's been you.” He pointed at her.

  “Me?”

  Daniel took another drink backing up. “Yes. You. I'm not good enough for you. I don't have tattoos and I'm not a biker looking dude. I'm just some plain old boring average piece of bread to you. My life is too boring for you. You don't want to defend me and my plainness to your friends cause they are so cool.”

  Kayla stood there stunned at what she was hearing. “This isn't about me. This is about you and the fact that you have lived your whole life in a bubble of fear. You've been too afraid to actually live.” She said moving closer to him. “Instead you exist, going through your life in a color blind haze doing the same things over and over again. Don't blame me that you haven't got the courage to step out on faith and take a chance on anything that isn't pre-scripted for you. You are miserable with who you are and don't have a clue how to be anything other than what someone had told you to be.”

  Daniel stopped. “I knew it! You're probably at work with you 'guys' laughing at me this whole time. Well laugh all you want because I don't need you.”

  “Oh, so you don't need me? Then why are you still here? Give me my key back and get the hell out of my house!”

  Daniel put the bottle down with a clunk and strolled past her and out the front door. Kayla followed with her hand out just as he reached the door. Daniel reached into his pocket and took out his key ring sliding her key off and placing it in the palm of her hand before turning his back and going home.

  Kayla closed the door and went back into the kitchen. She picked up his bottle and finished the beer. As she put it in the trash she saw that there were a lot of bottles in there. She looked at the lasagna he'd made, but she wasn't hungry any more. She covered her plate and stuck it in the refrigerator along with the pan.

  Chapter 13

  Kayla

  Kayla spent most of the day in her office with the door closed. Which was so unusual that everyone kept coming by to check on her. Lee came in and sat on the edge of her desk. “This is not like you Missy. What's wrong?”

  Kayla leaned back in her chair. “I don't want to talk about it.” Lee didn't move. He just sat there watching her stare off into space.

  “It's the hunk isn't it?” Lee asked.

  “I said I don't want to talk about it.”

  “You may feel better if you do.”

  “Bye Felecia.” Kayla glared at him. Lee caught the reference to the line in the movie Friday and left.

  The car was finished and Hank would deliver it to the country club tonight and although she did not want to see Danny, she would be there to make sure everything went off without a hitch. Danny had sent her several text messages and had tried to call. She didn't respond to his messages and she let his calls roll to voicemail. She sat there fuming over the things he'd said to her. The only reason she hadn't allowed him to come here was because she had made a promise to Stanley.

  Liar she said to herself that was only part of it. She was afraid that if he knew how successful she was that he would feel intimidated. It had happened when Jesse found out how much money she was making. Then he wanted her to moved to Dallas and give up her dream. It had happened over and over again until she just stopped trying to have a relationship with anyone. Kayla sat there angry and Danny and herself until it was time to go home and get ready for party.

  *****

  Kayla stood looking at her phone. Danny had called several times since she got home and texted her as well. She was not going to ruin Stanley's night and the best way to do that was to ignore Danny. She put the phone down and finished applying her make up. When she was finished she slipped her dress on. The backless black long sleeved floor length dress that dipped almost to her naval molded to her curves. The split in the front revealed her shapely legs when she walked. She'd flat ironed her hair, which hung past her shoulders. She had it parted down the middle and tucked behind her ears. Her makeup was a stunning smoky eye with dark red lips. She'd applied bronze colored blush and coated her lashes several times with mascara.

  She left the bathroom and slid her feet into
a pair of Louboutin stilettos. Before leaving the bedroom she tucked her phone into a black sequined clutch. She was pulling the Rover out onto the street as she passed Danny talking to Stanley and Petunia on their front walk way

  She drove to the garage first to make sure that everything was ready. When she stepped out of her car Hank and Jim whistled at her. She thanked them for the compliments. Everything was in order and they knew what time to arrive. “Text me when you get there.” She told them before getting in her car again.

  *****

  Stanley

  “I figured you and Kayla would be going together.” Petunia said to Daniel as Kayla passed them. Daniel shrugged and did not offer any explanation.

  Stanley could sense that something was off. “Maybe she had something to do before. Come on. Lets go.” He said as Vanna came out to meet them. Stanley had hired a limo for the evening and invited Daniel to ride with them to the party. They all got into the car. Petunia and Vanna talked about how excited they were. Stanley nodded and occasionally made a comment, but Daniel just stared out the window.

  Petunia did look stunning in her light blue gown with her hair pulled back showing her beautiful face. She was as lovely as the first time he saw her fifty-five years ago in the very country club they were going to tonight. He smiled thinking of that night. He had been there waiting tables when he saw her. She was beautiful and haughty and he knew she was the one for him.

  Before he knew it they had arrived and the driver was opening the door for them. He got out and helped the ladies out followed by Daniel. Petunia was still very upset with him and had not let him back into their bed, but she was at least speaking to him again. He offered her his arm and she smiled taking it. Daniel did the same and Vanna smiled as she took his arm.

  *****

  Daniel

  Daniel walked Vanna in and then excused himself. He knew his mood was not good, but he couldn't help it. He had been trying to reach out to Kayla to talk about their argument, but she was ignoring him. He felt stupid for attacking her and wanted to make up with her. He was perusing the room and she wasn't here. Which was strange considering that she left before them. He hoped she was okay.

  He took out his phone and tried calling again. It went to voicemail. “It's me again. Where are you?” He disconnected the call and went to the bar. As he stood there, he decided that drinking was not a good idea. Look where it got him last night. Vanna touched his arm.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “I'm fine.” He replied smiling.

  “I don't think you are. We can talk about it if you like.”

  “I don't think that's a good idea.”

  “I'm okay Daniel. I know that you and me are not going to be anything other than friends. I saw the way and Kayla are together.” She smiled at him with sincerity. “You can talk to me.”

  “It's nothing really.”

  “Alright. If you won't tell me what's wrong, the least you can do is dance with me. You and Matt are the only men here close to my age and he's dancing with Holly.” She teased.

  Daniel smiled. She was right, the thought as he looked around the room. “Okay.” he said and led her to the dance floor.

  *****

  Kayla

  Kayla stood at the edge of the ballroom scanning the crowd. She saw Stanley talking with a group of men and Petunia was across the room chatting with a group of women. She told herself she was not looking for him, but she was and she regretted it when she found him. Danny was on the Dance floor smiling and dancing with Vanna.

  She had to admit they looked great together. Vanna's blond hair curled and swept to one side, held by a beautiful comb with sapphire colored jewels that matched the dangling earrings she wore. Her dress was sleeveless in blue satin with a flowing full skirt. Daniels look incredible in a black suite and bow tie set off by a crisp white shirt that was made to fit him. His trousers skinny cut emphasized his long legs. Just as he saw her she turned her head and moved to speak with Stanley.

  She crossed the room avoiding the dance floor to get the Stanley. “Good evening gentlemen.”

  She said when she reached him.

  Stanley smiled and kissed her cheek. “You look stunning.” He said before introducing her to his companions. “Kayla Barns, I'd like you to meet James Worthington, Martin Donaldson and Joseph Tartan. Kayla is the woman I was telling you about.”

  All three men kissed the back of her hand smiling. Martin spoke first. “Stan, why didn't you tell me you had invited my future wife here tonight?”

  Kayla knew that he was joking, but Stanley couldn't help but spoil Martin's fun. “I don't think your current wife would be too happy to know you plan on replacing her.” They all laughed.

  Kayla chatted with them for a bit before stealing Stanley away. “If you would excuse us I'd like a moment with Stanley.”

  She and Stanley found a quiet corner. “My guys will text me when they arrive and once we have the car ready for you, I will find you.”

  “I can't thank you enough for this. You are amazing.” He said kissing her cheek.

  “I should go say hello to your wife.” She said moving away from him. Petunia was speaking with a lovely silver haired woman covered in jewels.

  He cleared her throat as she walked up behind Petunia. Petunia turned to face her. “Mrs. Coleman, you look stunning. Happy anniversary.”

  Petunia smiled and air kissed her cheeks. “I was starting to wonder if you were coming. This is Hannah Tartan.” She introduced the lady she'd been talking to. “Excuse us a moment Hannah,” she said. Hannah walked away and Petunia checked to make sure they could not be heard. “Is everything okay with you and Daniel? I know it's none of my business, but he seems distraught and the two of you seem to be on the outs.”

  Kayla took a deep breath. “We're fine.” She lied.

  Petunia gave her that mother look that says I know you're lying, but she smiled and said. “Okay.”

  “Excuse me a moment.” Kayla said and went in search of the ladies room. She stood looking at her reflection in the mirror when Holly entered.

  “Kayla, You look absolutely stunning,” she said as she came up beside her.

  “Thank you Holly.”

  “I figured you weren't going to be here.” She said touching up her lipstick.

  “Why would you think that?” Kayla asked looking at her in the mirror.

  “When I saw Daniel come in with Vanna on his arm, I just assumed that you weren't coming.”

  Kayla's stomach dropped. She'd seen them dancing together and while it hurt her, it wasn't anything compared to what she felt now. That must have been why he had called her repeatedly to make sure she knew that he no longer wanted to escort her tonight. “I wouldn't miss tonight for anything.” She said before turning and leaving the room.

  She entered the room and found a table. She sat with a lovely group of strangers while they ate and talked about their business ventures and charities and whatever else they were discussing. After the food had been served several people made toasts to the Colemans. Shortly after the toasts the band started to play again. Martin asked her to dance, she tried to politely refuse, but he said. “I won't take no for and answer.” She took his hand and let him lead her around the floor. He was a good dancer and conversationalist. He chatted with her about Stanley and how they knew each other. He also talked about his business without boring her. “You look very familiar to me, are you sure we haven't met before?” He asked as her phone buzzed in her purse.

  “Thank you for the dance Martin, but I have to take this call.” She said after he kissed her hand.

  Kayla answered the phone and quickly went into the hall. “Hello.” Hank and Jim were out front taking the car off the flatbed. “I'll be right out.” She said. She put her phone away and turned to the hall way that lead to the main entrance, bumping into Daniel. She looked up at him and moved to step around him. He blocked her path. “Excuse me.”

  “I want to talk to you.” He said.<
br />
  “Well I don't want to talk to you. Now get out of my way.” She stuck her chin out and stomped her foot.

  “Will you stop being so stubborn?” He demanded.

  Kayla moved to the left and when he countered she slid past him on the right. She walked quickly looking back over her shoulder. He was following her. She didn't have time to deal with this. She got outside and saw Hank and Jim wiping away any of the last prints they had placed on the car when they moved it. “What do you think boss?”

  “It looks great,” she said as Hank handed her the keys and then threw a satin tarp over it.