by Judith Keim
Sukie drew in a breath of fresh air and vowed to make a fresh start too.
Walking along, she noticed a SOLD sign in front of a house in the cul-de-sac at the end of her street. She idly wondered if it meant more children in the neighborhood. She hoped so. It seemed like yesterday her Rob and Elizabeth had been running through the neighborhood. The sounds of active children playing, calling to one another, reminded her of the satisfying years when her own children’s activities had filled her busy days.
As she drew closer to the newly sold house, a golden retriever galloped across the lawn toward her. Sukie stopped and waited for him to approach. He came to a halt, sniffed her palm and wagged his tail.
A low, male voice called from the direction of the garage, “Prince, come.”
“I’ll get him! Let me!” came a high, sweet voice from the same area. A little girl with blond ringlets ran toward Sukie, her hair flying behind her like a falling crown of gold. The lawn dipped in front of the child. She tripped and tumbled to the ground with a high-pitched yelp.
Sukie reached her just as a man, whom she assumed was her father, joined her and lifted the sobbing child into his arms. Sukie studied the little girl. She appeared to be about three years old and was among the prettiest Sukie had ever seen.
“I’ve got her, but thanks,” the man said above the noise of the child’s cries. “Come, Prince.”
As they walked away, Sukie wondered what her own grandchild would look like—perhaps, a dainty little girl, all pink and white, with honey-colored curls, or a broad-shouldered, lusty-voiced boy like Rob.
The man stopped and turned. The sniffling little girl in his arms laid her head against his shoulder and stared at Sukie. She saw now that the girl had her father’s refined features. His blue-eyed gaze settled on Sukie. They stood, studying each other.
She couldn’t pull her eyes away. He was a very intriguing man—sexy and masculine, yet sweet and gentle with his daughter. As handsome a man as she’d ever seen. A real hottie as Elizabeth would say. The rest of the world disappeared in a haze of keen mutual awareness and a quiet seem to settle around them, like something she’d read in romance novels.
He shot Sukie another admiring glance that lingered. Heat spread in delicious pulses to every part of her body, reminding her how it’d once felt to be sexy. As if he knew her thoughts, he smiled.
Sukie’s cheeks flamed with teen-like embarrassment. She forced herself to mind her manners. “I’m Sukie Skidmore, your neighbor from down the street. Tell your wife I’ll stop by sometime next week. In the past, I’ve tried to welcome everyone to the neighborhood.”
“Thanks.” He nodded. “I’m Cameron Taylor.”
With a quick wave to her, he disappeared into the garage, and Sukie went on her way. Overwhelmed by the instant attraction she’d felt toward a complete stranger, she took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. His wife, she thought, was one lucky woman.
When Sukie entered the house, the phone was ringing. She checked caller ID, happily picked it up and took a seat at the kitchen table. A call from Elizabeth, attending college in New York, was a rare opportunity for a mother-daughter conversation. Though Sukie missed her, she was glad Elizabeth wasn’t around to witness all the crap with her father.
“How are you, Mom?” Elizabeth asked. A note of worry wavered in her voice.
“Holding on. Betsy Wilson called me earlier this week. I met her and a few of her co-workers for lunch today. She calls it Fat Fridays because no calories are counted.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I’ve always liked Betsy. But, Mom, be careful how you soothe your sorrows, so to speak.”
“I am. As a matter of fact, I’m losing weight. I can’t decide if it’s worry or anger.”
“Probably both. I hate that Dad did that to you.” After a pause Elizabeth continued. “Guess what? My friend Laurie and I went to an off-Broadway play last night, and afterwards we went to this great little Italian place for dinner. And, Mom, I met this really hot guy. I love living in the City.”
“I’m glad.” Sukie said, meaning it. Elizabeth was living the kind of life she herself had dreamed of as a young student—a life that was productive, independent, and full of fun. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost it all. But, no more! She’d crossed the bridge from depression to determination and she was going to enjoy her new status.
After they hung up, Sukie stared out the French doors of the kitchen and clutched her cold fingers. She’d lied to Katy Hartmann and had to make it right.
Her mouth grew dry at the thought of what she was about to do, but she went ahead and punched in the number.
“Williston Public Library,” a voice answered cheerfully.
Sukie took a deep breath. “Is it too late to sign up for the computer course?”
CHAPTER TWO
BETSY
Betsy Wilson returned to the office, pleased Sukie had joined her and the others for lunch. In many ways, theirs was an odd group of women, but they’d become good friends in a short time. Working together on the top floor of MacTel Communications, where tempers ran high from execs under stress, it was good to have a buddy or two or three on your side. Funny, Betsy thought, how you meet some women and there’s an instant connection, a willingness to help one another get through the ups and downs of another day. She’d always treasured that about women.
Betsy leaned back in her desk chair and gazed at the framed photograph of Caitlin and Garrett, her two grandchildren. She’d placed their picture on the corner of her desk where everyone could see them. Studying their sweet little features, her heart swelled with love. She felt so lucky to have them in her life. Lifting the tiny bottle of perfume they’d bought her at the dollar store for Valentine’s Day, she opened it, inhaled the flowery aroma and dabbed a little behind her ears.
Her grandchildren were the frosting on a cake, the sugar in her coffee, whatever cute saying she could come up with. She loved them like crazy.
Their mother? Not so much.
Betsy’s thoughts turned to Sukie. She had a heart of gold. They’d been neighbors a long time, friends from the first day they’d met, back when their boys were young. Growing up, Richie had spent a lot of time at Sukie’s house. Betsy had always admired her.
Her husband? Another story.
Betsy’s boss handed a folder to her. “I need this done right away. Think you can do it?”
“Sure.” Betsy smiled, but wondered why he always waited until the last minute to land a new project on her desk. Setting aside personal thoughts, Betsy focused on her work.
The afternoon sped by as she put together an agenda and a Power Point presentation for a sales meeting. She’d tell anyone who asked that she was no techie, but she loved being part of the scene at MacTel Communications. All those crazy scripts and programs everyone talked about meant little to her. It was the admin work she enjoyed. She edited the presentation one last time, emailed it, and printed off a hard copy for her boss.
“Night, Betsy.” Carol Ann waved and headed for the elevator.
Surprised at the late hour, Betsy gathered her things. It had been a hectic week and she was tired. But she would take the time to stop by Sukie’s to make sure she was really on board for Fat Fridays.
Betsy drove into the neighborhood and pulled up to Sukie’s house, one of the bigger ones in the area. Betsy remembered how Ted used to brag about that. Funny, she thought, how some couples seem so out of kilter—Sukie, so genuine, and Ted, so full of himself. Lately, Betsy had pushed hard to force Sukie out of the house. She figured once Sukie began to show herself around town, all that nasty gossipy stuff would die down. Small towns could be mighty difficult. Small southern towns, even worse.
Sukie answered the door with a smile that lit her face. Returning her smile, Betsy thought it unbelievable that Ted had left Sukie for someone who looked and dressed like a slut and didn’t seem to have much going on in the brains department.
“Come on in.” Sukie tugged her inside. “How about a
glass of wine? After lunch today, I went grocery shopping and took a long walk in the neighborhood.”
“Congratulations, hon! It’s a beginning, right?” Betsy was glad her campaign had done some good.
Sukie nodded, blushing prettily. “I talked to Elizabeth. She was pleased I’m joining your Fat Fridays group. She’s always liked you, Betsy.”
“Elizabeth is a great gal. If I’d had a daughter, I would’ve wanted her to be like Elizabeth—smart, kind, pretty.”
While Sukie poured two glasses of white wine, Betsy took a seat on one of the black leather stools lining the gray granite counter at the kitchen bar. They clicked glasses in a tinkling salute and sipped. The cool liquid slid down Betsy’s throat easily and warmed her stomach.
“So, how are you doing? Really?” she asked Sukie, taking another soothing sip of wine.
Sukie shrugged. “I’m getting by, though I’m still trying to figure out my finances. I got the house and I’m getting some alimony. It surprised me that Ted agreed to it so quickly, but I don’t trust him. You know how he is. He’ll find a way to make my life miserable. He betrayed me once, who’s to say he won’t again?”
“Is there a catch somewhere? Ted isn’t exactly known as being easy to deal with.”
“I know. I’m pretty sure this so-called generosity of his won’t last. No doubt, we’ll end up in court with him trying to pay me less after the glow of being with that...that...woman wears off.” Sukie caught her lip with her teeth and frowned. “I don’t think Emmy Lou was the first. You know how he was at our neighborhood parties—he always had his arm around one of the women. Remember?”
Betsy was quiet a moment. “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything to you, but he even hit on me one time.”
Sukie’s eyes rounded. “You? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought it was a crude joke at the time, nothing more. You know how nasty he could be when he’d had too many drinks. God knows, at my age and with my body, I’m not exactly a sex goddess.”
Sukie grimaced. “I’m sorry he did that to you. I didn’t know. I was so stupid.”
“Oh, hon, it’s just that you’re so nice, it probably never occurred to you that your husband was such a lyin’ cheatin’...”
“Bastard,” Sukie finished. Her nostrils flared. “I was such a fool...”
Betsy shrugged. “Well, life has some hard lessons for all of us. Believe me, I know. What is it Lily Tomlin said? ‘Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse.’ I know it seems like life sucks right now, but this whole thing may turn out to be a good thing. You couldn’t have been that happy with Ted. Not really.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind,” Betsy said, wishing she hadn’t been so blunt. “I’m way outta line here. We’ll talk about it some other time.”
Silence filled the room as they each took another sip of wine.
Sukie broke into the quiet. “So, tell me, how are you doing since Rich died? It’s been almost two years. How have you managed? I need to hear the gritty truth from someone who’s gone through the process of learning to live on her own.”
How was she doing? She was doing, well... great. Betsy stirred in her seat, trying to find the right words. “This may sound strange, but I feel younger, and in some ways, happier. Living with Rich wasn’t what I’d expected.” She held up a hand. “Don’t get me wrong. He was nice enough, but as bland as unsalted and unbuttered grits. I miss having someone else in the house, of course, though I don’t feel totally alone. Richie and Sarah and the kids are only forty minutes away.”
“I didn’t realize...“
Betsy cut her off. “Rich was a good man. He didn’t boss me around or abuse me or purposely do anything at all to make me unhappy.”
“But...?” Sukie gave her a steady look.
Betsy took a deep breath, wishing she hadn’t opened her mouth. “There was no real spark between us. It was just the state of our union,” she ended, hoping for humor.
“I’m sorry.” Sukie’s voice held a note of concern that made Betsy’s stomach curl inside at what she’d revealed.
“Good God! I’ve never told another soul about the way it was with Rich and me. It must be the wine.”
Sukie clasped her hand. “I’m glad we can totally level with one another.”
Betsy nodded, though she felt guilty for badmouthing Rich. It wasn’t his fault that he never truly made her happy. It was hers.
“Did you ever consider divorce?” Sukie asked.
“From Rich? Never. That wasn’t an option for conservative, church-going people like us. I went ahead with my daily routines and kept busy with Richie, even though I sometimes felt like I was drowning.” Betsy set her wine glass down. She’d had enough wine and enough confessing.
“We all have problems of one kind or another, Betsy,” Sukie assured her, then smiled. “On a more pleasant note, how are Garrett and Caitlin?”
Betsy smiled happily. “Garrett is proud to be in first grade, old enough to take the bus. Caitlin looks so grownup. She just had her ears pierced for her eighth birthday. I love them both dearly.”
As if on cue, Bestsy’s cell phone rang. She knew without looking at caller ID who it was. She pinched her lips together. “It’s Richie’s Sarah. Bets on whether she asks me to babysit? It’s happening every weekend.”
Sukie clucked her tongue sympathetically.
Sarah greeted Betsy in a rush, her voice high and demanding. “Betsy, I really need your help! It’s been a busy week and the kids are driving me crazy. I need to get away and have a break from them and from everything.”
In Betsy’s opinion, Sarah didn’t know what busy or hard work meant, unless it was trying to keep up with the neighbors in the high-priced neighborhood in which Sarah had insisted she and Richie live. Sarah was never satisfied with anything. She constantly shopped to make things “nicer”.
Betsy sighed. “So, what do you want me to do this time?”
“Take the kids for the whole weekend. Richie can drop them off in an hour. He’s agreed to take me to the Biltmore Estate for a weekend of rest and pampering. Isn’t he a doll?”
More like a puppet, Betsy thought grimly.
“So, can you do it for me? Please?”
Betsy sighed. “Okay. It’s the third weekend in a row, but you know how much I love the kids.”
“Great. I have their overnight bags packed and ready to go. Oh, by the way, how are you?”
Betsy rolled her eyes at the afterthought. “I’m fine. Busy. Make sure the kids bring one of their movies. It’s been a hectic week.”
“Okay. See you Sunday afternoon when we pick them up. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Sarah.” Betsy disconnected the phone and turned to Sukie. “Another weekend Sarah has to get away from the kids. I swear I don’t know how Richie puts up with her. But, believe me, as the wicked Mother-in-Law, I don’t say a word. I tried it once and it caused a huge fight between us.” At the memory of Sarah’s wounding words, tears stung Betsy’s eyes.
“A difficult situation,” Sukie said, commiserating with her. “I can’t wait for my little one. Madeleine and Rob are beside themselves with joy over their first baby. They’ve been reading books and attending birthing classes together. Ted went into a tailspin when he heard he was about to become a grandfather. I sometimes think that’s what started the whole break between us. Pathetic, huh?” Sukie lowered her gaze.
Betsy tried to think of one of her cute sayings, but nothing came to mind. Life was bittersweet. Didn’t she know it?
CHAPTER THREE
TIFFANY
Tiffany Wright drove right home after work, glad the week was over. She loved her job, the ladies in the Fat Fridays group, even her boss, but it had been five days of hellish tension both at work and at home. She needed a couple of days to relax, to hang out with Beau and get back on track. She decided they’d barbeque chicken on the grill, have a few beers, and keep it nice and easy. It had been a while
since they’d had a weekend like that. Maybe then, things between them would seem better.
Pulling up to the front of the house, Tiffany let out a groan. Her father-in-law’s fancy Mercedes sat in the driveway like a big black cloud of doom. Tiffany parked alongside it. She prayed Regard had left her mother-in-law, Muffy, at home, that he’d just stopped by on his way to or from Charleston, and would soon be on his way.
Seeing Muffy’s blond head in the window, Tiffany let out a sigh. Her mother-in-law was married to The Beauregard Wright Jr., a prominent lawyer in Charleston, and was a royal pain in the ass. Not that Tiffany could ever say that to her husband. Beau thought his parents, Muffy and Regard, were fine as far as “rents” went. But then, why wouldn’t he think that? They spoiled him rotten.
The curse words Tiffany had grown up with flashed in her mind, but she’d learned not to say them aloud. Her mother-in-law’s smooth, over-sprayed hair would frizz in a minute if she knew what Tiffany really thought about her, the family’s phoniness and the stomach-clenching way they made her feel.
“Surprise!” Muffy burst from the house in one of her dressy St. John suits, wearing a bright smile that made Tiffany cringe.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Tiffany forced herself to leave the safety of the car.
“Regard and I are taking you to the club for dinner,” Muffy announced. “Regard had a speech to give in Atlanta and we’ve come for the weekend. We haven’t seen you and Beau for a couple of weeks now.”
Tiffany pasted a fake smile on her face, and told herself to chill, that it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. But, really, she couldn’t think of anything worse. She could never be herself with Muffy. Oh, yes, she put on a good show for her mother-in-law, for both of them, really, but it was hard for her to hide who she really was. She was no debutante from the South. She was several rungs below the Wrights on the social ladder and always would be.
