Three-Year Rule

by Alaina Stanford

When Beth arrived at the Salt Lake City Airport, she took a cab to the nearest car dealer and purchased an SUV. The sun began to sink behind the rolling green mountains as she pulled in front of the cabin. A cool breeze greeted her; she unloaded her bags and walked to the front door.

  She saw her Mini Cooper parked next to Randy’s white SUV and decided she would give it to Amy. Dropping her bags on the stoop, she unlocked the door and tossed her bags across the threshold before walking inside. Charlie was instantly at her side jumping up and placing her huge paws on Elizabeth’s chest to greet her. Elizabeth glanced up and found Randy rising from the sofa pulling on his shirt, followed by Amy, who did the same.

  “Oops,” Elizabeth said with a laugh and added, “Surprise! I’m home early!”

  Amy smiled and rushed over to hug Elizabeth. Randy grabbed her bags and flashed an embarrassed smile saying, “Welcome home. I’ll take these upstairs for you.”

  “Thank you so much Randy, and when you’re done come on outside and see my new car.” Elizabeth stepped to the door and opened it wide so Amy could see the SUV.

  Amy squealed with delight and ran outside. “Beth!” She called as she opened the front door, “Now you are a true mountain woman! You own a truck!”

  Elizabeth laughed and countered with, “And you own a Mini.”

  Amy stopped and stared at Elizabeth, her eyes opened wide in surprise. She threw her arms around Elizabeth and asked, “You are giving me a car?”

  Elizabeth laughed and explained, “Yes, to use as a down payment on your own truck. It’s brand new so the trade in value should give you a decent deposit.”

  Amy released Elizabeth; her eyes were full of tears. She said, “You are unbelievable. I’m only your assistant, yet you let me live with you and share your life so I can save my money for my Master’s Degree. You turn a blind eye when I’m taking an online class instead of working your re-edits, and now you’re giving me your car?”

  Elizabeth smiled and rolled her eyes saying, “Honestly, Amy. You deserve it. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  Amy hugged her again as Randy came outside to check out the SUV. “Randy!” Amy rushed over to him. “Elizabeth gave me her car to trade in for my own truck!”

  Randy glanced at Elizabeth and winked at her then said, “Wait just one minute. I’m not sure these mountains are ready for you in a pickup just yet. Have you gotten your truck driver certification?”

  Amy stared at him in confusion and asked, “What?”

  “Oh yeah,” Randy continued, “There are strict laws governing the operation of a pickup truck by petite urban blondes.”

  Amy shoved at his chest with both hands frowning in annoyance but unable to hide her amusement. “Whatever,” she said as she turned back toward the SUV.

  Elizabeth tossed Randy the keys, and he started the engine and popped the hood to listen to how it ran. He said, “I think you made a good decision. It will get you anywhere you need to go.

  “Thanks,” Elizabeth said, closing the hood and the doors. “Have you had dinner? I’m starving.”

  Amy glanced at Randy, then back to Elizabeth, and said with hesitation, “We ate earlier, but we were thinking of heading to Sadie’s later for a drink. Do you want to join us?”

  “Sure,” Elizabeth answered and opened the front door of the SUV adding, “First I’m going to run by Joshua’s. I haven’t been able to reach him all day.”

  Randy and Amy exchanged looks again, and Randy stepped forward slowly saying, “Uh... he’s working now. He’s been working all day. We actually have plans for the four of us to go to Sadie’s for dinner the day after tomorrow when you were supposed to get back.”

  Elizabeth stopped and turned back to Randy. He was acting strangely. He and Amy both were suddenly very uncomfortable. “He’s not home then?” Elizabeth asked, gauging Randy’s response.

  “Home?” Randy asked, glancing at Amy again, “Well I’m not sure... he might not be home. He has plans.”

  Amy moved to stand by Randy’s side snaking her arm around his waist and added, “Why don’t we head to Sadie’s now? I’ll put Charlie inside, and we can head out unless you’d like to change clothes first.”

  Elizabeth stared from one to the other then back again in silence, and then asked, “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” Randy answered quickly in an innocent voice.

  Elizabeth concentrated on Amy and asked, “Is he working?”

  Amy’s smile disappeared at the change in Elizabeth’s tone from casual curiosity to impatient annoyance. She released Randy and took a step closer to Elizabeth saying in a calm, quiet tone, “He asked us not to say anything to you. He wants to discuss it with you in person. It’s not a big deal, Beth really, everything is fine.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed, and she asked, “If everything is fine, then why are you both acting so guiltily?”

  “We aren’t acting guiltily.” Randy began, and then stopped when Elizabeth turned her angry glare in his direction. He added, “Elizabeth, sometimes a man has something he wants to deal with in private.” He stopped and frowned at how ridiculous his words sounded, then added, “Joshua has a personal problem he wants to deal with.”

  Elizabeth couldn’t believe what Randy was saying. Her jaw dropped open slightly, and her blood began to boil. “He’s with someone else isn’t he?”

  “No,” Randy stammered. “That’s not it at all.”

  Elizabeth glared at him, then turned to Amy and said, “I can’t believe you’re standing there allowing him to lie to me. I thought I meant more to you than just your boss. I thought we were friends.”

  “Elizabeth,” Amy reached out to touch her arm, adding, “Calm down, it’s not what you think.”

  “It’s not, is it? Then exactly what is it? What is such a big secret that it’s causing the two of you to share secret glances and lie to me? Why are you acting guiltily? Am I such a monster, you can’t tell me the truth? Am I so unreasonable a simple explanation is beyond my understanding?” Elizabeth spun, climbed into the SUV and slammed the door.

  “Don’t go!” Amy rushed to the door. “Please! Let us explain!”

  “You’ve said enough!” Elizabeth snapped at her through the glass window and shoved the truck in reverse, sending gravel flying as she turned around and roared down the driveway.

  Elizabeth felt strangely vindicated with the knowledge that Joshua was not the perfect man his pseudo persona portrayed him to be. Her fingers wrapped so tightly around the steering wheel her nails dug into her palms. A taunt scowl crossed her face; Joshua was in the arms of another woman. How dare he? How dare he act so devoted, so protective, so caring when all along he was looking for a new woman? We had an agreement.

  Tears welled up in her eyes, and she shoved them away. How could she be so naive to have fallen for such a fake? She knew better. All men were fakes. Most men would not stay faithful. A vision of her as a teenager, walking out of the local movie theater to find her father in the arms of another woman flashed through her mind. Even her father was unfaithful. A sob escaped her throat. She took a deep breath and began to cry.

  She couldn’t understand why this hurt so much. It felt like Josh ripped out her heart and crushed it beneath the heal of his boot. Her stomach lurched with every breath. She considered pulling over to throw up. How did she manage to lose focus? Why hadn’t she maintained an attitude of discovery? Getting to know Joshua was supposed to be foremost in her mind. She was supposed to discover the real Joshua deep down inside. There was no doubt in her mind that he had secrets not yet revealed. So why did the idea of losing a man who was supposed to be a casual love interest hurt so much?

  She turned onto the main road. Was she fake, as well? Worse, was she one of those females that depended on a man as her reason for living? For her own self-esteem. Had she lost her identity trying to conform to Joshua’s way of life? Had she molded herself into oblivion? Was that why she was having trouble writing her next book?

/>   She released the gas pedal, and she glanced around at the inside of the SUV. Did she buy this to fit Joshua’s life? She’d done exactly what she told her readers not to do. She’d jumped in headfirst and let her emotions rule the relationship. She was supposed to move slow and get to know him before falling in love.

  Elizabeth glanced back at the road; she’d reached the turn off to Joshua’s home. The SUV was slowing to a halt. She glanced out the windows at the shadows of the mountains that surrounded her. Her mind went to her Uncle Wendell. His kind, scruffy face appeared before her. The idea of his constant warm smile and soft reasoning voice calmed her. He was the only man she’d ever known who never showed her his temper. He was always in a good mood, always quick to laugh. She recalled so many times when her father was screaming at her for spilling her juice, or coming home with dirt on her clothes. She remembered the nights she cried herself to sleep, wishing Uncle Wendell was her daddy. Her summers in the mountains were the best times of her life.

  She took a deep breath and turned the corner. No, she wasn’t here for Joshua. She was here because this was home. Joshua was a pleasant diversion while she waited for the house to be completed. He was something to pass the time. He was a summer fling, nothing more. Even so, he should have had the decency to break it off before moving on. He was wrong, and he was going to get an earful about it.

  The evening sun floated deeper into the cloudless dark sapphire sky that slowly revealed a layer of shimmering stars spreading across the horizon. Elizabeth slowly pulled up to Joshua’s large two-story log cabin home. It had a four-car garage and a wraparound porch filled with tables and benches as if to welcome her. Elizabeth was surprised to see the house lit up like a Christmas tree. Every light was on. She climbed slowly out of the truck and headed to the door, determined not to lose her temper.

  As Elizabeth climbed the porch steps, she heard voices and laughter coming from inside. Josh clearly wasn’t alone. She knocked on the door and shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. Joshua opened the door, as soon as their eyes met, he stepped outside, closing the door behind him.

  “Beth,” He said softly, “I thought you were staying in New York for a couple more days?”

  “I can tell.” Elizabeth glared at him. “We agreed, if you want to see other people, all you have to do is tell me. Don’t sneak around behind my back.”

  “What are you talking about?” Joshua asked confused.

  “We agreed if we needed to move on we would break it off before taking another lover.” Elizabeth began.

  Joshua shook his head no and reached for her, “Beth, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but now is not the time. I’ll call you in the morning. We can meet for lunch.”

  Elizabeth pushed his hand away and glanced past him at the door, asking, “Is that all you’re going to say? You’re not going to have the decency to discuss it with me now? You don’t respect me enough to tell me to my face.”

  “Beth, I don’t have time to explain at the moment. You aren’t making any sense,” Joshua said, “Please go home. I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll talk.”

  Joshua turned around and went back inside, closing the door behind him. Elizabeth stood staring at the door in silence. She glanced down at the ground suddenly feeling very stupid. She was acting like a child. If he had moved on, then there was nothing to discuss.

  She turned and climbed back in her truck, wiping the tears away that streamed down her face.

  Chapter Five