Trust Me II (37 page)

“What do we wear tonight to this celebration?” he asked, sitting on the end of the bed and looking up at her.

“Whatever you want,” she answered, her tone shorter than she would have liked.

“Is it a jeans affair?”

“Depends; do you want to sit on the grass or do you plan on ordering caviar and champagne?” Sandra stood and walked into the joining bathroom, closing the door behind her. She leaned against the wooden barrier and closed her eye, fighting back the tears. She had never felt more miserable. She could only assume that he was still angry with her for the night before, but he said he didn’t hold grudges. If this wasn’t a grudge, she didn’t know what was.

She washed her face, removing the little bit of makeup she wore that morning before sitting on the edge of the tub. She didn’t want a bath but she didn’t want to go back in the other room and sit in the thick, stifling silence that had been surrounding her husband that day. She decided instead to call and have her friend, Craig Bentley, unlock her storage unit. She could arrange to have her belongings taken to her grandparents’ where she could go through it all in comfort and decide what to do with it. At least she would have something to occupy her time instead of trying to figure out her husband.

Sandra stepped out into the room and looked around to find her husband sitting in the chair she had abandoned. His attention was on the phone in his hand as he searched through his email. He glanced up at her and watched as she picked up the phone from the dresser and sat on the side of the bed. She dialed the number she knew by heart and waited silently for it to be answered.

“Craig,” she said, ignoring her husband’s curious expression. “It’s Sandra Dennis.” She knew full well Creighton was frowning over the use of her maiden name.

“Sandy, welcome home,” the older voice said on the other end of the line.

“Thank you. I was wondering if I could come over. I’d like to pick up my things I left there.” That should give him something to chew on, she thought, watching the frown pull her husband’s brows closer together.

“Yer more than welcome ta come get yer stuff. I can have the truck ready if ya want ta load it. I heard yer movin’ ta England?”

“Yes I am. I’m not sure what I want to do right now, I really want to get the sweater I have there. What about a half hour? That should give me enough time to change.”

“Certainly; Nellie should be home by then and I know she’d love ta see ya.”

“Sounds wonderful, I look forward to it.”

“I have ta tell ya, the whole town is talkin’ ‘bout yer new husband and the way he set Nelson in his place. I can’t wait ta see what the papers have ta say ‘bout it.”

“I’m sure it will be worth the wait,” she smiled. She was certain her one sided conversation was irritating her husband, but she didn’t care. He had a chip on his shoulder and she wasn’t about to sit around and wait for it to fall off. She had things she wanted to do before they returned to Yorkshire and she didn’t want to spend the rest of her trip trying to soothe his wounded ego.

“Are ya bringin’ yer man ta the park t’night?” Craig asked through the receiver.

“I think so; it just depends on how things go the rest of the afternoon. I’ll be over soon, just don’t lock me out.”

“Ya know I never do. I’ll see ya later honey. Bye.”

Sandra hung up and smiled, return
ed the phone to the dresser and pulled out a pair of blue jeans and a yellow and orange stripped tee-shirt. She walked silently back into the bathroom and quickly pulled her sundress and sandals off, tied her hair into a ponytail at the back of her head and applied her normal amount of makeup on her clean face. If Creighton wanted to sulk, he could do it while she looked good. Once she was sure she would stun him, she smiled and gathered her discarded clothes and returned once again to the bedroom portion of the room.

Creighton had already changed into a pair of dark blue jeans and a grey pull over shirt that hugged his firm torso in such a way that it made her stomach jerk and her heart leap. She forced her eyes to move around the room instead of staring at him, as she hung up her dress on a hanger and tossed her sandals to the floor of the closet then gathered her running shoes and socks. Once her shoes were tied across her feet, she glanced up to see him as he walked to the end of the bed.

“Who is Craig?” he asked; his tone soft yet she knew he was jealous, even a bit angry.

“A friend,” she said honestly and stood up, reaching for her shoulder bag. She began assembling her wallet, her new phone,
the motel key and her lip gloss together then slipped it over her head and shoulder before walking to the door and opening it.

“I’ll be back later,” she said, knowing her words would set him off.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he snapped, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her back into the room before shutting the door again.

“I’m going to a friend’s house. Do you have a problem with that?”

“Yes I have a problem with that,” he snapped, blinking at the innocent expression on her face. “I am not about to let you go to a strange man’s house without me.”

“First off, he’s not a strange man, he’s my friend, and second the way you’ve been acting all day, it would seem as though you don’t want me around. I thought you would appreciate some time to yourself. It’s more than obvious my presence is bothering you.”

“You are not bothering me.”

“Really? Then why are you acting as if I’m so kind of a stranger? I’m you wife, remember? I know I upset you last night and I’ve already apologized; I’m not in the mood to do it again. If you’re going to continue treating me like I’m in the way, then I’ll leave so you can decide if you want me here with you or not. The choice is yours, Creighton; just remember what it is that you’re pushing aside with your attitude.”

Sandra pulled out of his grip and opened the door again, walking out and shutting it behind her. She ignored the looks the truck driver and his partner in the parking lot gave her as she stormed past them. She needed some air, much more than she would have admitted and she needed some space between her and the man she loved. If he would only open up with her, maybe she could help make things right. The way he had been acting that whole day, she was tempted to tell him to go back to England alone and leave her there. At least here, she knew she was loved for more than her body.

Sandra
hadn’t realized how much stuff she had put away in storage, until Craig opened the door to the unit. She literally had an entire apartment inside the concrete box. There was a complete five piece bedroom set with padded headboard and footboard; a dinette set, sofa and love seat, coffee table, television, stereo and an assortment of dishes, linens, knick-knacks and wall décor.

She remembered how proud she was when she bought each and every piece of furniture, having saved and swapped until she had just the right setup for her apartment; now she couldn’t even begin to think of what she would do with all of it.
She didn’t need the money, thanks to her new husband, and didn’t relish the idea of a yard sale. Sitting outside in the hot sun while people sorted through all of her personal belongings wasn’t her idea of a fun weekend.

With a heavy sigh, she stood up
from the center of the items she had been going through and straightened her back. She climbed across the sofa to the entrance, taking with her a box of personal items. She found her trophies from her track days, a photo album of family pictures and a handmade leather case of her fathers.

It was much hotter than it had been that morning and the sweat that moistened her brow
and hairline dripped down her neck and into the collar of her damp shirt as she shut and locked the unit again.

Sandra
went back to the house at the front of the long row of storage units, walking in and sighing as she sat the box on a chair near the back door. At lease Craig and Nellie had central air, she thought with a heavy sigh.

“Find what
yer lookin’ fer?” Craig asked watching as she sat at the round dining table.

“Some of it,” she said honestly. “I still have to decide what to do with the rest of the stuff. I would like to donate it to someone, but I don’t know anyone who may need it.”

“You can put an ad in the paper, or we can put a notice up on the bull’tin board at church,” Nellie said, walking to her and giving her a glass of ice tea. Sandra thanked her and began drinking the cool, amber liquid.

“I’m not sure how long we’re going to be here,” Sandra said a moment later, taking a cookie from the plate on the table. “I
don’t really want to spend the rest of my vacation sorting through all that junk.”

“Then hire someone t
a inventory it,” suggested Craig as he sat down at the table with his wife and Sandra. “I’m sure there are plenty a people ‘round who would be willin’ ta sort through it.”

“I know,” Sandra sighed. She was tired and hot and
really didn’t want to think about any of this right now. She couldn’t get her mind off her husband; was he still at the motel or perhaps he went to her grandparents’. She had a horrible, sickening thought that she had made him so angry, he went back to the plane; but then it was still in New York, wasn’t it?

“Why don’t
ya worry ‘bout all this later?” Nellie said, patting her hand. The couple had been friends of her grandparents’ for so many years, she felt like they were family. Craig had been best man at James and Mary’s wedding and Nellie babysat when she was young. They had gone through teething and diapers, walked with her to her parents’ graves and cheered her on when she graduated. She loved these two as much as she did her own grandparents, and the fact that she had allowed Creighton to become jealous, made her feel guilty for letting him think Craig was anything other than a very old friend.

“Honey,
you okay?” Nellie was saying, bringing Sandra out of her silent thoughts.

“I’m sorry,” she said with a soft blush. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought I was.”

“Let me take ya home,” Craig said. “You can rest up b’fore the festivities t’night.” Sandra nodded and drained the last of her tea, taking another cookie as she stood up and hugged Nellie.

“I can’t wait t
a meet this man of yer’s,” she told her. “He must be right special ta capture yer eye.” Sandra smiled, kissed her wrinkled cheek and walked out behind Craig who had put her box in the back of his truck.

“I’m staying at Aunt Kissy’s,” Sandra said as they pulled onto the main road.

“Why ain’t ya stayin’ with James and Mary?” he asked with a frown.

“I’m on my honeymoon,” she said blushing again when he
laughed softly.

“
So tell me ‘bout this man a yer’s,” he said with a wink. “I know he’s filthy rich, but is he a good man?”

“He’s wonderful,” Sandra said with a smile. “He’s kind and loving and gentle and I love him more than anything in this world.” Sandra suddenly burst into tears, covering her eyes with her hands.

“Hey now, what’s all this?” Craig asked in a fatherly tone of voice.

“I’ve just made such a fool of myself,” she sobbed. “I yelled at Creighton last night like some kind of lunatic and now he barely looks at me. I hurt him and no matter how many times I say I’m sorry, it just doesn’t make up for the mean things I said.”

“Well honey, sometimes we all say and do things we don’t mean,” he said, patting her leg. “What ya need ta do is tell him ya love him and just talk things through. If ya try ‘n hide or run away, it will just get worse.”

“I made him think I was coming to visit an old beau,”
she said sadly. “He wanted to come with me and I told him no. I told him if he didn’t want me around I wasn’t staying. What if he left, Craig? What do I do without him?”

“He won’t leave
ya, Sandy. He came all this way just fer you. I know he told Nelson it wasn’t ‘cause o’ you that he decided to build here, but I know that’s the real reason. Nobody in their right mind would come ta Kansas ta build a solar powered plant ‘less they were in love and I don’t mean with the wheat.”

“I just don’t know,” she said, accepting the handkerchief he handed her and dabbed at her made up eyes. “I don’t know that he’ll ever forgive me.”

“If he loves ya, he will. Ya may need to hogtie him and make him listen, but he’ll come ‘round. Never give up on love, honey. It’s the only thing worth fightin’ fer.” Craig pulled the old truck up in front of Kissy’s motel and kissed Sandra’s cheek as she opened the door.

“Do ya want some help with that stuff?” he asked.

“No thank you, I’ve got it. And thanks again for everything.”

“Ya know we’re always here,” he said with a wink. “We’ll be seein’ ya t’night. Yer going bring that hubby a yer’s and enjoy the night. You’ll see, everythin’ will work out. Just keep on talkin’.” Sandra smiled, closed the door and removed her box from the back of his truck, then waved as he dro
ve off. She turned and walked to the room, noticing Creighton’s car sitting in a different stall than the one they had parked in earlier.

She said hello to Kissy,
who was sweeping the front walk and chatted for a few brief moments about the events at city hall and the picnic for that night, before opening the door to the room she was sharing with her husband. Her heart was pounding as she reached for the key. She felt sweaty and it had nothing to do with the heat; she was afraid of what she might find in the room when she opened the door. Before she had a chance to slide the key into the lock, the wooden barrier flung open and a very angry, almost relived Creighton stood on the other side.