Mended (12 page)

As Roxanna pulled out and roared down the block, Kassie’s glided to a stop in front of her house. Tim started to go out, to explain to her that he wasn’t the man she thought he was . . . but better. He was about to walk away from the window and to the door, when he realized that she was with another woman and stopped himself. He watched the two as they walked across the grass, in their arms were bags. Tim watched them go up the stairs. Kassie’s friend dug into her bag and pulled something out, laughing when Kassie did the same. Kassie let whatever she stole hang out between her lips making the woman laugh. The woman tossed the stolen treat in her mouth. She then chewed it and stuck out her tongue showing Kassie what was in her mouth. He heard Kassie voice her disgust and give the woman a little shove. They laughed as she opened the door and they went inside.

Tim lowered his head against the window and closed his eyes feeling such anger with himself. What had started out as an incredible evening had disintegrated into crap . . . and it was entirely his fault.

*~*~*~*

Kassie never stopped talking to him, and that made it worse. She was pleasant, gave Griffin treats over the fence and was cordial and polite to him but it was different. She never stayed to chat and every time he saw her, he could almost feel her disappointment. Of course, it could have all been in his head but he didn’t think so. Kassie had put a wall between them. In her own subtle way, she was letting him know that there would never be a round two for them and it was killing him. That dinner date was amazing. It was the first date he’d had in a long time that he truly, truly enjoyed. His actions with Roxanna had soured her on him. In truth, they had soured him on himself.

*****

Winter gave them one last kick in the middle of March and it stranded Tim in New York City where he had just played three shows. Though New York had only received three inches of snow, the Windy City was hammered with another seven inches on top of their 20 for the season. Still, all in all they had had difficult winters before this one and Tim was just thankful that New York hadn’t had any ice storms or he’d never get home.

Tim panicked when he couldn’t get in touch with Nora and Natalie because the lines were down over there. He was able to get Nora earlier but she was snowed in and Bruce had taken the car to Chicago.

Tim had done something incredibly bone headed. He’d left Griffin outside in his dog house with three bowls of food and three huge bowls of water. He was only supposed to be gone for two days and plus it was it was sixty two degrees outside when he’d left the other day. But now it was a snowy twenty degrees and though the little dog’s house was full of old blankets and had flannel lining on the inside of it, he knew Griff would still be cold. Tim was scared that he would find his friend frozen into a terriercicle when he got home and the forecast was calling for more snow.

*****

Kassie had been painting all morning and decided to take a break. She had deliberately left off decorating most of the upstairs bedrooms because she knew right away that each one would be different and unique.

This room would be her “beach” room. It was the room that got the most sun so she made it into a beach motif. The walls were white; the accents were sea-foam green, ocean blue and a beautiful iridescent pearl color. She’d painted a giant sand dollar on the wall with the iridescent paint and a dark sand colored one on an opposite wall. Kassie had ordered the bed for the room, a captain’s bed to go with the whole seafaring look, before the storm hit but it was going to be delayed until the roads were cleared. Kassie loved to paint and was excited about the ideas that were coming to her as she worked.

Kassie looked down at the backyard from the bathroom window as she sat paint brushes in to the tub. The snowstorm had started out as rain and sleet, coating everything with ice. Then the snow had come, heavy and wet and blanketed everything in seven inches of white stuff. All the utilities in the neighborhood were out and cell phone service was sketchy to say the least. She’d called Rosie and got out
I’m all right,
before the phones lost their signals.

Kassie beat the brush against the side of the tub as she watched a rusty colored head pop out of Griffin’s dog house. Tim had left two days earlier with a suitcase. It had been so beautiful that she was sure he didn’t anticipate the storm or it being as bad as it was, no one did honestly. She had been keeping an eye on the little dog to make sure he was okay, even going over to pet him and slip him some treats. But honestly, she had expected for Tim to be back by now. He’d never left Griffin unattended for so long and Kassie knew that the storm must have held him up.

The roof of Griffin’s doghouse was covered in a thick layer of snow. He looked over at something and walked out slowly, the snow reaching almost up his entire leg. He trudged over to a spot and sniffed then began to dig it out. When he finally finished she saw the frozen water in his bowl and a bowl of frozen food beside it. That was it. She couldn’t leave him out there; he’d freeze and starve to death. Kassie couldn’t live with herself if her little friend died out there and she wouldn’t be able to face Tim knowing she’d left Griffin to freeze to death when she could have helped.

Kassie slipped on her heavy boots and jacket. The snow was picking up again and she knew he was cold. She stuffed her house key into a pocket and pulled her hood on, rushing out of the house.

It had to be at least twenty degrees warmer inside than out and if her generator went out, she still had the fireplace, which she was happy she had cleaned in November. Only thing was that she didn’t have much in the way of wood. She had maybe five of those quick-light logs in her pantry. Push come to shove she would definitely pop one into the fireplace and light it up.

Slipping into Tim’s fence she trudged to the backyard, unsure of what was holding her back more, her big clunky boots or the snow.

“Griffin!” She called as she walked into the backyard.

He barked a clear,
“Hurry up, it’s cold out here!”
and Kassie put a little more oomph into it.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” She called to him and he sat in the snow, waiting patiently for her. Kassie reached him and he licked her hand in gratitude. She couldn’t get his chain off where it was hooked on his house so she took off the collar altogether.  Griffin took off like a shot through the snow, bounding through the tracks she had made.

“Griffin!” She called running after him as best she could. The dog ran out of the fence “Oh no!” She cried. But she couldn’t move as fast as she would have liked. She couldn’t see much in the windblown snow so she called his name and nearly passed out with relief when the dog barked in response.

She found him waiting for her at her door when she finally made it to the front. Kassie exhaled hard, glaring at him.

“Don’t scare me like that, you crazy thing!” She said walking into her fence and closing the gate behind her. Griffin scratched at her door as she walked up onto the porch and took out the key. She unlocked the door and opened it for him. He ran in so quickly that he skidded on the hardwood floor and crashed into the wall. Kassie had to laugh when he jumped up and raced into the kitchen then back out to her.

*****

Kassie cooked Griffin a pack of ground beef meat with carrots and potatoes, and gave him a large bowl of water. While he was eating she made a spot for him on her bedroom floor, it was a heaping pile of old blankets she had bought years ago. She’d never used them so they were getting a use now. Maybe she’d hold on to them incase anything like this happened again.

Kassie placed batteries in all of her push lights, flashlights and lanterns. It was still light outside and she made certain everything was locked tight, even the basement windows, though they were buried in snow. It was overly cautious she knew but better safe than sorry. She’d seen too many slasher flicks and had an extremely vivid imagination. Sometimes she scared the piss out of herself.

Griffin ran out of the kitchen refreshed and happy, he jumped onto the couch beside her as she was flipping though a romance novel. He licked her face in happiness with his hamburger laden breath and curled up besides her putting his head on her lap. She rubbed his head and stroked his ears until he fell asleep. She covered them both with a little throw and dozed off a little later.

*****

Tim was able to get a train out of New York City once the storm cleared up. He took it all the way to Chicago but almost everything there was at a standstill. It was five am when he got to Chicago and he saw the magnitude of the storm. The telephone lines were down and lights were out in parts of the city, cell phone service was still sketchy though. He used the radio on his phone to get information. There was no traffic outside of the train station and little to no people walking around outside. The plows cleared the main arteries but getting to Elgin was still going to be a task. He had to get there; he had to check on Griffin. He even found himself worried about Kassie, feeling a bit of possessiveness towards her even though he suspected it wouldn’t be appreciated.

Timothy hailed a cab outside the train station and the driver said he could get him home. Tim didn’t care how expensive it would be, he just wanted to get to his home and get his silly little dog inside and warm.

*****

Kassie heard a whimper and Griffin licked her face, she opened her eyes, and he did it again.

“What’s wrong?” She moaned rubbing her eyes. He whimpered again and jumped down off the couch, running toward the kitchen. He looked back at her and barked. Kassie realized he had to use the bathroom and quickly rushed to let him out. She’d share space with him but she wouldn’t clean his doggie poops off her floors.

Griffin finished his business and played in the snow for a little while before trotting back inside and having his breakfast. Kassie took her coffee upstairs with her, leaving Griffin downstairs. He soon followed her, snuggling into his blankets and going back to sleep while she dressed in sweats, a tee shirt and wool socks. She looked like a bum today but she didn’t care. All she planned to do was draw and keep an eye on Griffin. He had some toys that she’d bought him for when he was with her, that he could play with while she worked.

*****

The cab couldn’t get down his street because it hadn’t been plowed. So Tim paid and got out on the corner, trekking the rest of the way home. He left his bags on the front porch and ran around the backyard. Griffin was gone; his leash was still stuck to the dog house.

“Griffin!” He yelled desperately.

Griffin raised his head, then jumped up, and ran downstairs, Kassie followed. But instead of running to the door as she expected, Griffin ran into the kitchen where the rest of his food was. Kassie shook her head laughing and went to the door.

Tim looked back when he heard her door close behind him, Kassie walked out to the edge of her porch. Tim looked scared and flustered.

“Griff, have you seen him?”

“No but you can’t see much out here.” She shook her head accusingly, “You should just come in and warm up.”

“I can’t, he, he’s out there and if I don’t find him he’ll freeze.” Tim said.

“If he’s out there he’s already frozen.” She shrugged, walking down to him. “Probably curled up in some snow bank and just went to sleep . . . poor thing.” She sighed mournfully.

“That’s real fucking nice to say.”

“Or maybe one of the neighbors took pity on him, saved him and took him home.” She stated nonchalantly.

“My dog is missing!” He yelled at her. “Have a fucking heart!”

She sighed again and shook her head, ponytail swishing back and forth.

“Really Tim? Men can be so thick sometimes.” She snapped at him. “You think I’d let him freeze to death?” She asked. “He was cold and his food froze.” She turned and went up the steps.

“Wait, y-you have Griffin?” He breathed.

“Yeah I do.” She looked at him over her shoulder and Tim exhaled, clutching his chest.

“You scared the shit out of me!” He said. “God, I could fucking kiss you right now.”

“Please don’t.” She said. “I know where your lips have been.” She grimaced in distaste. “Thanks are enough. Come on, it’s cold out here.” She turned and went inside, leaving the door open a little for him.

Tim ran up the steps, grabbing his bags and rushing back to her house. He walked into her  living room feeling the homey warmth. Griffin happily jumped on Tim the moment he saw him.

Tim hugged his dog tightly, damn near crying in relief.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you.” He looked at her. “I panicked.”

“I shouldn’t have tricked you.”

They stared at each other for a moment. He wanted to talk to her about Roxy so badly and how she really meant nothing to him, but he left it alone. She didn’t look as if she was open to any discussions like that.

“Cocoa?”

“Yes.” He said softly. He kissed Griffin’s head and stood, taking off his shoes and following her into the kitchen.

Her kitchen was beautiful and bright with colors. The walls were a rich yellow.  All of the appliances were white. The fridge and cabinets all had glass fronts. Beautiful colored dishes and glasses peeked out from inside of them. Pegs on the far left wall housed an assortment of aprons. There were shelves along the opposite wall and he could see cookbooks displayed inside on one, and pots and pans of different colors and sizes on the other shelves. Pictures scattered the walls with different funny sayings and there were beautiful 19th century fruit and vegetable illustrations. On her butcher block counter were two large ceramic utensil holders full of bamboo spoons, ladles, stainless steel meat forks, and silicone spatulas. She was obviously a cook; everything in her kitchen screamed that this was her domain.

“You should stay here with us.” Kassie said taking two mugs out of the cabinet. “The lights are still out.”

“I, I can’t stay here with you.” With his attraction to her growing, staying would be a BAD idea.

“Why not?” Kassie asked, looking over at him.

“I don’t want to be a burden.” He said softly.

“I wouldn’t be offering if you were going to be a burden on me, I have more than enough room.” She said gently, pouring cocoa into the mugs and handing one to Tim.

He stared at her then nodded. They shared an awkward ten minutes of silence.