Broken (13 page)

“Some frou-frou shit they done put on the menu a few weeks ago.”

“Shut your ass Charlie it’s good. If you old fools weren’t so afraid to try something new you might learn to live a little.”

“I’m damn near eighty-four you ass, I done did all the living I’ma do.”

“Speak for yourself. Clance you should try this. It’s like coffee with a kick.” Clancy eyed the mug suspiciously but settled for his regular coffee and blueberry pie.

If the boy knew what he was having for breakfast this morning he’d talk his damn ear off. All he’d heard the last few weeks is health this and health that. Like he hadn’t been eating this way for over seventy years. The busybody doctor had spilled his guts, he still don’t know how Kyle pulled that one off. But seeing as the boy was his carbon copy, he could well imagine.

Whatever happened the doctor had filled the boys ears with cholesterol mumbo jumbo and high blood pressure crap. He figured he had nothing to lose. If he went he’d see his Ethel sooner and if it didn’t kill him, oh well. Now though, he had something to live for. He wanted to see his grandson married and settled down.

That was part of his reason for being here after missing how ever many mornings. Him and Lucille had talked long into the night about what to do next to get the word out. The boy had gone and looked at the house and even made an offer. But these young people nowadays, waffled back and forth on what color shirt they should wear. He wasn’t about to leave something this important up to them.

“So I guess y’all seen my grandson tearing through town on that bike of his.” The other three exchanged looks but Clancy didn’t miss it. He knew damn well that these men and their wives were the local media. He was one of them wasn’t he? They’d solved many a town problem right here at this very table, whether anybody knew it or not.

“Morning Mr. Clancy, it sure is good to see you.” Myra the waitress that had been serving them for well nigh twenty years came over with his coffee and pie without even asking. “Morning Myra how you doing?”

“Well, arthritis is trying to kick my ass but I’m not about to let that old bitch win. Other than that I can’t complain.”

“Glad to hear it. What all been going on around here? What did I miss?”

That was all the opening needed to get the ball rolling. He didn’t want to just come out with it, but he knew if he sat there long enough sure enough they’d get to what it was he was after. He listened as they caught him up on the latest. Who had Alzheimer’s, whose shiftless no good husband was outta work again, who was stealing from the local chamber of commerce and who was catting around.

“Well now Clancy seems to me like you’re the one with the news.”

“How’s that T?” He cut into his pie like he wasn’t too interested in what the other man had to say.

“Hear tell your grandson is sweet on our Kerryanne. He planning to stay around you think?”

“Where’d you hear that?”

“Well now, the two of ‘em been seen heading down to the water on that bike a his, and I hear tell he took her to lunch.”

“Yep, I heard tell he put that Sarah what’s her face in her place good and proper.” Deke leaned in like the old gossip he is.

“About time somebody cut into that hag, always putting on airs.”

“You never did like her Charlie.”

“What’s to like? Just because her husband hung a shingle out and calls himself a lawyer she thinks she’s the almighty’s gift.”

“I heard tell he ain’t won a case in damn near two years.” Myra refilled their cups and had her sour face on. You can always tell when Myra didn’t like something. That face of hers would pucker up like a petrified ass crack.

“Well is it true or not?”

“Is what true T?”

“Is your boy making time with little Kerry or not?” Clancy looked around as if searching for wandering ears.

“Well, don’t say I told you, but he went yesterday and made an offer on that big ole place on Bakersridge.”

Their mouths fell open and the questions started. Clancy held up his hands. “That’s all I’m telling cause that’s all I know. What I can tell you is that he was all fired up to get back to the city until he met her.”

That ought to do it. If he knew anything he knew that five minutes after he left that table the news would be halfway across town, and that’s just what he wanted. Lucille was right; men are terrible gossips. He hadn’t ever noticed that about himself and his friends before. But as long as they weren’t hurting anyone he didn’t see the harm in it.

The bell over the door jingled, announcing new customers and he was proud as punch to see who walked in. He hailed his grandson and beckoned him over to the table, his eyes zeroing in on the handholding. He smirked and winked at his friends as the youngsters made their way over.

“Gramps what’s that on your plate?” Kyle pointed at the offensive leftover pie. Clancy rolled his eyes and held his hand out towards the other occupants at the table. “Never mind that come on and meet my friends. You already met Gus and Arty, but this here is Theo, Deke and Charlie. Boys this is my grandson Kyle and you all know Kerryanne.”

“Nice to meet you son. How you doing Kerryanne? You’re looking pretty as a picture.” She blushed and exchanged pleasantries, her shoulders relaxing just a little when a glance around the room didn’t turn up any undesirables. She was also feeling pretty good since Kyle was still being extra sweet to her this morning.

After they’d left the house he’d strapped on her helmet before helping her on the bike behind him. Then as soon as they’d parked he’d helped her off and had taken hold of her hand. He’d even kissed her nose after removing the helmet. The action was so innocently sweet it had affected her almost as much as one of his devastating kisses.

The only hiccup was that she knew the men at the table, knew their reputations. Chances are this little breakfast outing would be on the community grapevine before the day was out.

She knew it was silly, but she was still a bit nervous about Paul finding out about her new friendship. Not that he could possibly have anything to say, but she was still a bit apprehensive. She hadn’t seen him or Jen since the whole restraining order thing, but knew it wasn’t possible to never run into them at some point. She’d been lucky so far, but how long would that luck hold?

If Kyle knew what she was thinking he’d have another one of his fits so she thought it better to bench that for now and tuned back into the conversation going on at the table. “Why don’t you two pull up some chairs and join us?”

“They don’t want to spend their morning with a bunch of old folks Theo. You two go on and have your breakfast, I’ll see you later at home.” Clancy didn’t mention the fact that his grandson had spent the night because he didn’t want his future granddaughter in law getting a soiled reputation. And he knew no one in this town would believe the two young people had spent an innocent night together. Too much damn TV was to blame for that. Nobody believed in old-fashioned values anymore.

“Don’t stare at them Deke for crap sake.” Clancy kicked his friend under the table.

“I’m not staring, I’m trying to figure out what the hell that boy got painted all over himself.”

“It’s the Chicago skyline with some other stuff. I can’t remember all what he said it was again.”

“If the boy’s painting the place on himself you sure he’s gonna want to stay around here?”

“You leave him to me. Look at the two of them, don’t they make a pretty picture?”

“She looks better with him than that ass-wipe that’s for sure. Boy always was a soft fool. I’d like to kick his ass from here to eternity.”

“Tell us how you really feel Deke.”

Chapter 9

***

W
hile the old men were busy gossiping, Kyle was studying the menu. He wasn’t looking forward to a repeat of yesterday so he took the bull by the horn and ordered for both of them. She seemed a lot more relaxed too as she looked around, though he still sensed an edge. In time she’d get over that, he hoped.

When the waitress came over, he got his back up waiting for the cattiness to start. “Morning Kerry, you’re a sight for sore eyes. I was just telling Jim the other day, Jim is my husband.” This last was for Kyle. “I was just telling him that if we didn’t see you around here soon I was gonna have to come look for you, how you doing?” The older woman rubbed her shoulder affectionately and smiled.

“I’m doing okay Myra how’re you? Did Dana have the baby yet?” The two of them talked about babies and family while he watched her like a hawk. He’d come to know her well, and he knew that she was genuinely glad to be talking to the other woman. There was very little angst in her and her smile was true, so he relaxed, but not much.

People were coming and going and most of them seemed to have a bead on their table but no one approached, though he intercepted a few looks.

He let in the din of voices around him but nothing came back to him that he needed to take care of. He was on full alert, almost ready to spring into action if need be. But there was no table of bitches talking shit and staring holes in the back of her head, so he too was able to let his guard down after a while.

They chatted like old friends, a lot more relaxed than the day before, and she stole a piece of turkey bacon off his plate. He didn’t know why a simple action like that meant as much as it did, but it made him grin like a sap. “What is it?” She was staring at him with that strip of meat halfway to her open mouth.

“I’ve never seen you grin before.” He should do it more often. It did something amazing to his face, and his eyes. For a second there she could see the young carefree boy he must’ve once been. Now he was studying her and she became self-conscious again. What did he really see when he looked at her?

For a split second her confidence slipped and she begun second-guessing herself again. He was so beautiful, if you could get away with calling someone like him such a thing. But even the ink he’d covered himself in added to his rugged good looks and made the whole package all but irresistible. So how was she, the small town nobody who’d already been rejected by someone who was undoubtedly not even in the same league as him, supposed to hold his interest?

In the last few days, she’d come out of her shell a little, got some of the old Kerry back and then some. But she didn’t kid herself.

But he was here now, and for what it’s worth she wanted it to be more than just a passing fancy for him. She’d never been so on edge and giddy at the same time. She could put the giddiness down to her writing, but she knew he was a big part of it.

Her poor heart struggled not to cave, especially after the morning they’d had. She was one of those one-man types; she knew this. She wouldn’t be spending time with him if she weren’t interested. But where would that interest lead?

“Stop thinking so hard baby, it’s a done deal.” She wasn’t even going to touch that. “Do you have some sort of writing schedule?” He changed the subject for which she was immensely grateful. “Not really, I just write when I feel it.” She pulled a little notepad from her bag. “I carry this in case I get an idea, then I jot it down for later, why?”

“I just wanted to know so I could leave you alone to do your thing. I wanna take you for a ride when we’re done here.”

“Hmm, is it gonna end like yesterday?” She can be a feisty little thing when she wants to. He liked that. It showed that she was growing more comfortable with him.

“Not unless you start thinking about the asshole again.” There was no inflection in his voice, he just stated it as fact and carried on eating his breakfast. She had no argument for that because he was right. She also realized that when she rolled out of bed this morning Paul hadn’t even entered her mind.

“Fine, I won’t.” She smirked at him.

“Good girl, now eat your eggs before they get cold.” She did as she was told while they talked and laughed like new lovers.

***

There might not have been a table of women watching but they had the full attention of the four old men across the room. “Look-look he’s holding her hand while they eat. I used to do that with my Mabel.”

“He’s as good as gone Clance, look at that.” They each took turns breaking down the body language of the young couple that they were pretending not to stare at. “Don’t let them see you looking you old farts. You know how touchous these young people are, every little thing sets them off.”

“Fine-fine Clance, but it’s a beautiful thing to watch, young love in its bloom.”

“Deke, you’re a woman.”

“Kiss my ass Charlie-you ain’t got no soul-that’s what’s wrong with you.”

“That’s rich, which one of you pale bastards got more soul than me?”

“Here we go with the race card.”

“Race these nuts…”

“Boys-boys can we have one day that doesn’t turn into an all out brawl? You two fools are too old to be acting like children. T, how many years we been refereeing between these two?”

“Too many to count Clance, look they leaving.”

They turned back to see Kyle drop some bills on the table before reaching for Kerry’s hand to help her up from the table. “They’re heading this way look sharp.” The four of them pretended an interest in the latest headline news like they’d been debating it all along. “Okay gramps, we’re heading out I’m gonna take Kerry for a ride then I’ll be back. It was nice to meet you gentlemen please keep him out of trouble.”

“Go on with you boy and don’t worry about me, I’ll probably go over to Lucille’s to watch that mind numbing drivel she likes.” And to tell her how great everything’s going. Yes indeed, this was more exciting than pruning the rosebush he’d been planning on tackling.

They left and walked out into the sun with their hands clasped. Kerry wondered why such an innocent thing made her tummy flop around like a landed trout, but each time he did it she got butterflies. And when he’d squeeze her fingers every once in a while for no reason, it made her smile.

That smile didn’t last long when she saw what was coming towards her on the sidewalk. She wasn’t prepared- she thought she would be-had gone over it in her head time and again-but the reality was starkly different from anything she could’ve imagined. She shut down. There was no other word for it. Everything just stopped and she was back on that awful day when her world came tumbling down.

Kyle knew who the woman was before she was on them. Kerry had gone stone cold. “It’s okay sweetie.” He whispered to her just as the other woman stopped in front of them with the stroller.

He debated for all of two seconds before pulling her away and around the woman and heading for his bike. She was damn near catatonic when he put the helmet on her. “Look at me. Don’t do this, don’t let her see you like this.” She nodded her head but he knew she was too far-gone inside her head for his words to mean much. Dammit, just when the day had been going so well.

Her arms squeezed around him even tighter than usual and he closed his eyes in silent prayer for a second. It fucked with him that she was hurt. It fucked with him even more that there was nothing he could do about it now. If the baby wasn’t there things would’ve gone differently, but what he had to say to that bitch would keep for another time.

She’d done him a favor anyway, taking out the asshole before he came along. But she’d hurt his girl to do it. No matter the circumstances, that was a big fucking no-no. He knew his vengeful ass wasn’t gonna leave that shit alone-he couldn’t. If he was gonna live here, and it looked like he was, then his woman was gonna get her own back. She wasn’t gonna duck and hide every time she saw that skank on the fucking street.

He wondered if he should wait for another day to show her the house but then said fuck it. He wasn’t putting shit on hold because of them they’d stolen enough of her joy already. He didn’t say a word to her as they rode along but he knew she was hurting. Hopefully having him here would ease some of the pain.

He’d called the agent earlier while she was in the shower so the gate was open when they got there. Kerry had been expecting another trek down to the waterfront and was a little surprised when they pulled into the long winding driveway.

She’d always liked the look of this place. It was like something out of one of those magical fairytales you read about. It even felt like another world where nothing bad could happen-if only.

“What are we doing here?” She looked around in wonder when he lifted her off the bike and removed her helmet. He didn’t answer as he took her hand and walked her around to the back where the lake ran through.

“It’s pretty isn’t it?” He could tell from her reaction that it had been a good move. Whatever the little run-in had done, it hadn’t brought her all the way down. She was radiant.

Kerryanne was fighting hard to hold it together. She buried the pain for now because it was too much. Later, later when she was alone she’d take it out and deal with it. For now she chose to enjoy one of the few things she still found pleasure in.

“I’ve always loved this place, the house and everything about it. Did you see the gardens?” Now she was the one dragging him along. “When they were building it, I used to sneak in here before they put the gate up...everyone did it.” She tacked that part on as if she thought he’d reprimand her.

Her joy in the place was evident and she prattled on and on about the grounds until he started leading her up the marble steps to the front door. “What’re you doing? We can’t go in there.” She looked around as if expecting someone to jump out and nail them.

“Didn’t you see the For Sale sign out front?” “Yeah, but you need an agent to go in.”

“It’ll be fine.” She was torn between dying to see the inside of the house and getting caught. Kyle didn’t seem to care and she had to wonder at someone with that much confidence. He pushed the door like he owned the place and her jaw hit the floor.

“Wow.” She mouthed the word as she took it all in. It had everything; made the little home she’d built with Paul look like a shack and that hadn’t been anything to sneeze at. It was like every woman’s dream home. High ceilings, marble floors, spiral staircase and the biggest crystal chandelier she’d ever seen in the entrance hall.

“Can I take pictures-do you think?” She knew just what the house her hero was going to buy the heroine was gonna look like. “Why are you whispering?” He whispered back with a grin. She’s so cute. When he wasn’t obsessed with getting her under him, he was becoming more and more enamored of the person she was.

Her innocence never ceased to amaze him and he found that he liked it. It wasn’t contrived. He knew that now. It was just who she was and it was beautiful. She touched the walls and ran her hands down the polished wood of the staircase.

In the bathrooms, she marveled at the gold faucets and she damn near fainted when they made it to the master suite. He was glad he’d brought her, because seeing her here, the way she found such joy in the place, solidified his decision for him.

“This thing is twice the size of my apartment.” He stood back and watched as she moved from room to room exclaiming over everything. “So can I?”

“Can you what?”

“Take pictures do you think? Or is that rude? It’s for sale so the pics may be online right.”

“Take your pictures Kerryanne, I doubt the new owners will mind.”

She pulled out her new phone and started snapping away as he followed her around. “So would you change anything about this place? Color, floors, anything?”

“Oh no, it’s perfect just the way it is. Thanks for bringing me.” In her excitement she kissed him, more like a peck on the lips, before pulling away shyly. His stare didn’t help her any, the way he just looked at her without saying a word.

It was the first time she’d initiated contact and it surprised him for a minute. He pulled her back into his chest, and turning her to the wall, covered her lips for one of their torrid tongue fights. It was her first kiss in her new home though she didn’t know it, so he made it good.

By the time they left, an hour or so later after she’d gone over every inch of the place, he was feeling good about his decision.

Once again, he left her at the little apartment to get on with her writing, which she seemed overly eager to do, even though he noticed just a touch of sadness leave her at his parting.