Carrie flopped down into a chair at the kitchen table and covered her eyes.
"Headache?" Kim asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"No. I don't know what's wrong. I'm nervous and excited and scared and I don't know what all else."
Kim sighed. "Is this about Keith?"
"Yeah."
"I'm not real thrilled about watching you do this again, ya know? Especially with Mr. Moody Instability."
"I'm not thrilled about the possibility of getting hurt again either. You'll note that we haven't gone on a date yet. He's just as scared as I am."
"So, stop while you're ahead."
Carrie sighed. "I don't want to and neither does he. But this may be the slowest moving relationship in the history of man."
***
A couple of weeks later, Keith found himself sitting on his front stairs, waiting for Carrie to walk by.
"Hey!" he called out when he saw her. She came over and pulled her scarf away from her face. When she sat next to him on the steps, she hooked her arm through his. Keith felt his heart thud awake.
"How are you?" she asked, smiling.
"Good," he said. "Look, I'm ready for more pages."
Her smile grew larger. "Great! I'll bring them by tomorrow."
Keith took a deep breath. "Actually, could you bring them over today? Maybe we could order a pizza or something."
"OK," she said with a little smile. "Can you give me an hour?"
"Sure." he said. "What do you like on your pizza? I'll order it so it gets here a little after you."
"No olives, mushrooms or little fishies. Otherwise, anything is OK."
Keith let out a little laugh. "OK. I'll see you in an hour," he said and smiled.
Carrie returned his smile. "OK," she walked down the steps and out of his line of vision.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Carrie and Keith 7
True to her word, Carrie walked by the next day. She put her hand on his arm.
"How are you?" she asked and smiled up at him.
Keith felt himself smile back and he didn't want to stop. "OK."
"Good," she said and squeezed his arm before starting to walk away.
"Hey," Keith said and Carrie turned back to him. "Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?"
"Touch me," Keith smiled again as she bent her head to avoid his gaze.
She shook her head and shrugged. "If it bothers you, I won't do it anymore."
"No. I just wondered."
Carrie stepped towards him and took his free hand, holding it in both of hers. "Touch is very healing and life affirming. Both for the person doing the touching and the one being touched." She looked up at him. "Does that make sense?"
Keith swallowed hard. He tried to say yes, but no sound came out. He had to resort to a short nod.
"For some people, though, it's painful. And if it's that way for you, I'll stop." Keith felt Carrie's eyes searching his soul. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't. Slowly he shook his head. Time seemed to stand still while he pulled Carrie's hand to his lips and kissed it. She blinked her eyes several times, then lowered her gaze. He let go of her hand.
She took a step back from him, then looked up into his eyes again. "Wow."
Keith laughed. "Wow?"
"Yeah. Wow." She turned and walked away.
Keith watched her all the way to her house. When she reached the driveway, she turned and waved to him before disappearing down the driveway. He turned and limped into the house.
"How are you?" she asked and smiled up at him.
Keith felt himself smile back and he didn't want to stop. "OK."
"Good," she said and squeezed his arm before starting to walk away.
"Hey," Keith said and Carrie turned back to him. "Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?"
"Touch me," Keith smiled again as she bent her head to avoid his gaze.
She shook her head and shrugged. "If it bothers you, I won't do it anymore."
"No. I just wondered."
Carrie stepped towards him and took his free hand, holding it in both of hers. "Touch is very healing and life affirming. Both for the person doing the touching and the one being touched." She looked up at him. "Does that make sense?"
Keith swallowed hard. He tried to say yes, but no sound came out. He had to resort to a short nod.
"For some people, though, it's painful. And if it's that way for you, I'll stop." Keith felt Carrie's eyes searching his soul. He wanted to look away, but he couldn't. Slowly he shook his head. Time seemed to stand still while he pulled Carrie's hand to his lips and kissed it. She blinked her eyes several times, then lowered her gaze. He let go of her hand.
She took a step back from him, then looked up into his eyes again. "Wow."
Keith laughed. "Wow?"
"Yeah. Wow." She turned and walked away.
Keith watched her all the way to her house. When she reached the driveway, she turned and waved to him before disappearing down the driveway. He turned and limped into the house.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Carrie and Keith 6
Keith rushed home from work so he would be inside when Carrie came by. He got out of the car, grabbed his mail and got in the door before he saw her coming around the corner. He sat down at the kitchen table and waited for her picking at the edge of the plastic flowered placemat.
Although he was expecting her, the knock at the door made his heart skip a beat.
"C'mon in.," he called. There was a moments hesitation and then the door swung open. "To your right." Carrie walked in with a handful of papers.
"Hi," she said, smiling.
"Hey."
"Here's the next installment," she said and set the chapters down on the table.
Keith took a deep breath. "Do you want to sit?" He kept his eyes lowered.
"Sure," Carrie said quietly. She pulled out the chair next to him and seated herself so that she was facing him. Keith raised his eyes and watched her remove her hat and scarf. Her skin was very pale, but she had a smattering of light freckles across the tops of her cheeks and over her nose. Her eyelashes were very dark against her skin. She wore little gold hoops in her ears. She ran her fingers through her brown, shoulder-length hair and it curled damply around her face.
Keith noticed her blush when she realized he was watching her. She looked around the kitchen.
"Do you live here alone?" she asked.
"Yeah," Keith said and looked away from her. He felt his stomach knot. Now I do, he thought.
"That was the wrong question, wasn't it?" Carrie asked and laid her hand over his. "I'm sorry."
Keith gritted his teeth and released them. "That's OK." he said. Keith forced himself to talk so she wouldn't leave. "I saw you go to one of the houses down there. Is that where you live?"
Carrie nodded. "I moved in with my friend, Kim, about three months ago."
For the next twenty minutes, they talked. Keith found out that she was a massage therapist and he told her that he was in advertising. She asked what his hobbies were and he told her about his band, Caltrops, and about his drawing. Carrie's eyes lit up as they talked a little about her writing. Her hands were always in motion, punctuating her words or reaching out and touching him.
There was a knock at the door and the sound of someone walking in. Carrie pulled her hands away and folded them in her lap.
"Hey, Keith," Justin called from the doorway.
"In the kitchen," Keith called back. Carrie turned in her chair to look at who was coming in.
"Hey, you wanna..." Justin stopped in his tracks. His eyes moved slowly from Carrie to Keith. He winced at Justin's dumbfounded expression but Justin recovered quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't know you had company,"
"Carrie, this is my friend Justin Terry," Keith introduced them.
"Hi," Carrie said and stood up and offered her hand.
"Nice to meet you," Justin said with a smile as he shook her hand.
Carrie turned back to Keith and put her finger on the back of his hand. "I need to go. I'll see you tomorrow."
"OK" Keith said.
"It was nice to meet you," Carrie said to Justin and proceeded to cover her face and head with her scarf and hat.
Justin nodded and smiled at her.
"Bye," Carrie said with a wave after she put on her gloves and she walked from the kitchen. Justin turned to watch her leave. Keith heard the door close behind her. Justin turned slowly back to Keith, grinning.
"What?" Keith asked, defensively.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Justin's smile threatened to split his face in two. "Unless she's a vampire," he teased.
"Shut up," Keith said and looked out the window. "She's allergic to the sun."
Justin sat down in the seat vacated by Carrie.
"Where did she come from?"
"Down the street," he said, trying to sound like she was an old recliner someone had left out on the corner.
"Yeah?" Justin asked and raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah, what?" Keith shot back and looked at him again.
"Oh, come on. I haven't seen you talk to a woman in two years. What's different about this one?"
Keith opened his mouth and shut it. "I don't know." he said. Justin smiled in reply. "Knock that shit off."
"OK, OK." Justin said, raising his hands in surrender. "I wanted to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat before practice tonight."
"Sure. Wherever is fine." Keith said and slowly got to his feet.
Although he was expecting her, the knock at the door made his heart skip a beat.
"C'mon in.," he called. There was a moments hesitation and then the door swung open. "To your right." Carrie walked in with a handful of papers.
"Hi," she said, smiling.
"Hey."
"Here's the next installment," she said and set the chapters down on the table.
Keith took a deep breath. "Do you want to sit?" He kept his eyes lowered.
"Sure," Carrie said quietly. She pulled out the chair next to him and seated herself so that she was facing him. Keith raised his eyes and watched her remove her hat and scarf. Her skin was very pale, but she had a smattering of light freckles across the tops of her cheeks and over her nose. Her eyelashes were very dark against her skin. She wore little gold hoops in her ears. She ran her fingers through her brown, shoulder-length hair and it curled damply around her face.
Keith noticed her blush when she realized he was watching her. She looked around the kitchen.
"Do you live here alone?" she asked.
"Yeah," Keith said and looked away from her. He felt his stomach knot. Now I do, he thought.
"That was the wrong question, wasn't it?" Carrie asked and laid her hand over his. "I'm sorry."
Keith gritted his teeth and released them. "That's OK." he said. Keith forced himself to talk so she wouldn't leave. "I saw you go to one of the houses down there. Is that where you live?"
Carrie nodded. "I moved in with my friend, Kim, about three months ago."
For the next twenty minutes, they talked. Keith found out that she was a massage therapist and he told her that he was in advertising. She asked what his hobbies were and he told her about his band, Caltrops, and about his drawing. Carrie's eyes lit up as they talked a little about her writing. Her hands were always in motion, punctuating her words or reaching out and touching him.
There was a knock at the door and the sound of someone walking in. Carrie pulled her hands away and folded them in her lap.
"Hey, Keith," Justin called from the doorway.
"In the kitchen," Keith called back. Carrie turned in her chair to look at who was coming in.
"Hey, you wanna..." Justin stopped in his tracks. His eyes moved slowly from Carrie to Keith. He winced at Justin's dumbfounded expression but Justin recovered quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't know you had company,"
"Carrie, this is my friend Justin Terry," Keith introduced them.
"Hi," Carrie said and stood up and offered her hand.
"Nice to meet you," Justin said with a smile as he shook her hand.
Carrie turned back to Keith and put her finger on the back of his hand. "I need to go. I'll see you tomorrow."
"OK" Keith said.
"It was nice to meet you," Carrie said to Justin and proceeded to cover her face and head with her scarf and hat.
Justin nodded and smiled at her.
"Bye," Carrie said with a wave after she put on her gloves and she walked from the kitchen. Justin turned to watch her leave. Keith heard the door close behind her. Justin turned slowly back to Keith, grinning.
"What?" Keith asked, defensively.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Justin's smile threatened to split his face in two. "Unless she's a vampire," he teased.
"Shut up," Keith said and looked out the window. "She's allergic to the sun."
Justin sat down in the seat vacated by Carrie.
"Where did she come from?"
"Down the street," he said, trying to sound like she was an old recliner someone had left out on the corner.
"Yeah?" Justin asked and raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah, what?" Keith shot back and looked at him again.
"Oh, come on. I haven't seen you talk to a woman in two years. What's different about this one?"
Keith opened his mouth and shut it. "I don't know." he said. Justin smiled in reply. "Knock that shit off."
"OK, OK." Justin said, raising his hands in surrender. "I wanted to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat before practice tonight."
"Sure. Wherever is fine." Keith said and slowly got to his feet.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Carrie and Keith 5
"Did you get through those pages yet?" Carrie stood beside him. He looked down into her smiling green eyes and realized he had never seen her face. Suddenly, he had an overwhelming urge to know what she looked like.
"Not yet," Keith said.
"I've got another couple of chapters done. Do you want them?"
Keith shrugged. "Sure, if you want to bring them."
Carrie touched his arm and he looked into her eyes again. She held his gaze steadily for several moments. Keith swallowed hard, but he could not look away. Her eyes crinkled into a smile and he could feel himself starting to smile back. He dragged his gaze back to his mail. Carrie squeezed his arm.
"I'll bring some more pages by tomorrow after work. Will you be home?" she asked.
He nodded, not wanting to look at her. He heard her sigh as she turned and walked away.
Keith stayed and watched her. She turned into a driveway at the other end of the block. Keith felt his heart slam against his chest wall. She had looked up and caught him watching her. She stopped for a moment, then raised her hand slowly and gave him a little wave. Keith took a deep breath and waved back. She turned and disappeared between the houses.
***
Carrie's heart thudded wildly. She tried to take a deep breath to calm down but instead she laughed out loud and flopped down into a chair in the kitchen. She took another breath and looked up at the ceiling, smiling.
Kim walked in and stared at her. Carrie giggled when she saw her.
Kim shook her head and started making a pot of tea. "Gonna tell me what happened?" she asked with her back to Carrie.
"I'm bringing Keith some more pages to read. Can I borrow your fax again? I'll buy you some ink and paper." Carrie said.
"Sure, no problem." Kim said and put the pot of water on to boil. "Is that why you're giggling?" She turned around and leaned on the counter, arms crossed.
Carrie sighed and began unwrapping herself. "I got the beginning of a smile out of Keith today. And when I got to the driveway, I looked back and he was still watching me." She smiled.
Kim rolled her eyes. "What happened to 'I'm through with men'?"
Carrie pressed her lips together and looked at her friend. "So I can't get excited when a man watches me walk all the way home? It's not like it happens every day."
Kim shook her head and turned to pour the boiling water into the teapot. "I just don't want to see you hurt again."
Carrie sighed and leaned back in her chair. "I know."
"Not yet," Keith said.
"I've got another couple of chapters done. Do you want them?"
Keith shrugged. "Sure, if you want to bring them."
Carrie touched his arm and he looked into her eyes again. She held his gaze steadily for several moments. Keith swallowed hard, but he could not look away. Her eyes crinkled into a smile and he could feel himself starting to smile back. He dragged his gaze back to his mail. Carrie squeezed his arm.
"I'll bring some more pages by tomorrow after work. Will you be home?" she asked.
He nodded, not wanting to look at her. He heard her sigh as she turned and walked away.
Keith stayed and watched her. She turned into a driveway at the other end of the block. Keith felt his heart slam against his chest wall. She had looked up and caught him watching her. She stopped for a moment, then raised her hand slowly and gave him a little wave. Keith took a deep breath and waved back. She turned and disappeared between the houses.
***
Carrie's heart thudded wildly. She tried to take a deep breath to calm down but instead she laughed out loud and flopped down into a chair in the kitchen. She took another breath and looked up at the ceiling, smiling.
Kim walked in and stared at her. Carrie giggled when she saw her.
Kim shook her head and started making a pot of tea. "Gonna tell me what happened?" she asked with her back to Carrie.
"I'm bringing Keith some more pages to read. Can I borrow your fax again? I'll buy you some ink and paper." Carrie said.
"Sure, no problem." Kim said and put the pot of water on to boil. "Is that why you're giggling?" She turned around and leaned on the counter, arms crossed.
Carrie sighed and began unwrapping herself. "I got the beginning of a smile out of Keith today. And when I got to the driveway, I looked back and he was still watching me." She smiled.
Kim rolled her eyes. "What happened to 'I'm through with men'?"
Carrie pressed her lips together and looked at her friend. "So I can't get excited when a man watches me walk all the way home? It's not like it happens every day."
Kim shook her head and turned to pour the boiling water into the teapot. "I just don't want to see you hurt again."
Carrie sighed and leaned back in her chair. "I know."
Friday, January 23, 2009
Carrie and Keith 4
Keith sat on the porch swing and waited for Carrie. He hung his cane over the arm of the swing. It was another ninety plus degree afternoon. A hot breeze blew across the porch and he felt the sweat trickle down his neck.
Several minutes later, Carrie walked up the stairs, swaddled away from the sun. She carried a stack of papers.
"Hi, Keith," she said and came and sat down beside him on the swing. "Here's the copy. I'm going to apologize in advance for my messy handwriting." Keith felt his pulse speed up as she handed the pages to him and put her hand gently on his arm. He looked down at her hand and then up into her eyes. They were green.
"Do you want it back?" Keith asked.
"No. You can keep it. It's not done yet." she said.
"Not done? I wanted to read the whole thing."
"I can bring you copies of chapters as I finish them if you want," She touched his shoulder. He felt a tingle run through his body. Keith gritted his teeth and reminded himself that he didn't deserve for any woman to be kind to him.
"I don't know. I'll see how I like it."
"Oh, OK." Carrie pulled her hand back and lowered her eyes. "Well, I've been trying to walk three or four days each week. Just let me know if you're interested." She squeezed his arm, stood up and left. Keith gritted his teeth and turned to page one.
***
A couple of weeks passed. Keith stood at his mailbox sorting through his mail when he felt a hand run down his back. He turned to see Carrie walking away from him with a wave over her shoulder. Keith sighed and clenched his teeth against the little glow of happiness that welled up in his chest. Forget it, Connell. You had your chance and you let her die.
Still, he felt compelled to see Carrie. Everyday, he lingered at his mailbox after work. Some days, Carrie walked by and patted his shoulder or gave his back a rub. Other days, he didn't get to see her at all. Everyday, he berated himself for wanting to see her and feel her touch. Every night, he read a little more of her story, savoring each page because he was afraid to ask for more.
Several minutes later, Carrie walked up the stairs, swaddled away from the sun. She carried a stack of papers.
"Hi, Keith," she said and came and sat down beside him on the swing. "Here's the copy. I'm going to apologize in advance for my messy handwriting." Keith felt his pulse speed up as she handed the pages to him and put her hand gently on his arm. He looked down at her hand and then up into her eyes. They were green.
"Do you want it back?" Keith asked.
"No. You can keep it. It's not done yet." she said.
"Not done? I wanted to read the whole thing."
"I can bring you copies of chapters as I finish them if you want," She touched his shoulder. He felt a tingle run through his body. Keith gritted his teeth and reminded himself that he didn't deserve for any woman to be kind to him.
"I don't know. I'll see how I like it."
"Oh, OK." Carrie pulled her hand back and lowered her eyes. "Well, I've been trying to walk three or four days each week. Just let me know if you're interested." She squeezed his arm, stood up and left. Keith gritted his teeth and turned to page one.
***
A couple of weeks passed. Keith stood at his mailbox sorting through his mail when he felt a hand run down his back. He turned to see Carrie walking away from him with a wave over her shoulder. Keith sighed and clenched his teeth against the little glow of happiness that welled up in his chest. Forget it, Connell. You had your chance and you let her die.
Still, he felt compelled to see Carrie. Everyday, he lingered at his mailbox after work. Some days, Carrie walked by and patted his shoulder or gave his back a rub. Other days, he didn't get to see her at all. Everyday, he berated himself for wanting to see her and feel her touch. Every night, he read a little more of her story, savoring each page because he was afraid to ask for more.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Carrie and Keith 3
"What's that face for?" Kim asked.
"What face?" Carrie slid out of her reverie and looked at Kim. She frowned back at her.
"That 'gooey' face. What were you thinking?" Kim poured herself a cup of tea from the pot on the counter and sat down at the kitchen table across from Carrie.
"Can I borrow your fax machine?" Carrie asked.
"Sure." Kim said and blew on her tea before taking a sip. Carrie looked down into her cup.
"Are you gonna tell me what for?" Kim asked.
Carrie looked up. Kim was frowning at her again. "Oh, yeah. I found the missing page. That guy I knocked over had it. He wants to read the whole thing. So, I need your fax to make copies."
"What's this guy's name?" Kim asked, frown still in place.
""Keith Connell," Carrie lowered her eyes.
Kim put her hand on Carrie's. "You have a crush on this guy." Kim accused.
Carrie felt herself blushing, but she kept silent and didn't raise her eyes.
"You've only seen him twice. For less than ten minutes between the two meetings."
Carrie let out a sigh. "Oh, Kim. Relax, would you? He's just interesting."
"Yeah?" Kim asked. "Do you really think you need this right now? I don't. I think a fish needs a bicycle more than you need this."
Carrie pressed her lips together and looked at Kim for a moment.
"I think I'm doing fine considering where I was a year ago. Besides, this guy acts like he doesn't even like himself."
Kim sat back in her chair and shook her head. "Just be careful, huh?"
Carrie smiled at her and stood up. "I will." She patted Kim's shoulder and went to make her copies.
"What face?" Carrie slid out of her reverie and looked at Kim. She frowned back at her.
"That 'gooey' face. What were you thinking?" Kim poured herself a cup of tea from the pot on the counter and sat down at the kitchen table across from Carrie.
"Can I borrow your fax machine?" Carrie asked.
"Sure." Kim said and blew on her tea before taking a sip. Carrie looked down into her cup.
"Are you gonna tell me what for?" Kim asked.
Carrie looked up. Kim was frowning at her again. "Oh, yeah. I found the missing page. That guy I knocked over had it. He wants to read the whole thing. So, I need your fax to make copies."
"What's this guy's name?" Kim asked, frown still in place.
""Keith Connell," Carrie lowered her eyes.
Kim put her hand on Carrie's. "You have a crush on this guy." Kim accused.
Carrie felt herself blushing, but she kept silent and didn't raise her eyes.
"You've only seen him twice. For less than ten minutes between the two meetings."
Carrie let out a sigh. "Oh, Kim. Relax, would you? He's just interesting."
"Yeah?" Kim asked. "Do you really think you need this right now? I don't. I think a fish needs a bicycle more than you need this."
Carrie pressed her lips together and looked at Kim for a moment.
"I think I'm doing fine considering where I was a year ago. Besides, this guy acts like he doesn't even like himself."
Kim sat back in her chair and shook her head. "Just be careful, huh?"
Carrie smiled at her and stood up. "I will." She patted Kim's shoulder and went to make her copies.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Carrie and Keith 2
"What's the matter with you?" Kim asked when Carrie stormed into the kitchen with her arms full of papers.
Carrie dropped the sheets on the kitchen table.
"I just ran into the rudest guy," she said.
Kim sat down at the table, resting her cheek in her hand. "Aren't they all rude?"
"This guy was above average. I had my headphones in and I was walking and reading my story when I barreled into this guy standing at his mailbox. I didn't even see him until we were both sitting on the pavement. He walks with a cane and when I hit him, we both fell. I apologized three times and tried to help him up, but he just yelled at me." Carrie was sorting through the pages, trying to put them back in order.
"And then, I went to give him his mail and he asked if I realized it was July and ninety-five degrees. Like I might be dressed this way for fun. Shit," she said and flopped down in a chair. "I'm missing a page." Carrie said and took off her hat and scarf. She sighed. "I"m either going to have to rewrite it or go look for it." She ran her fingers through her hair and decided she wasn't interested in doing either.
***
Two days later, Keith was standing at his mailbox, grumbling at his bills when the woman walked by him again.
"Hey," he said as she stepped around him. She stopped and slowly turned around to face him. "I have something you might want."
Again, she was covered head to toe so all he could see were her eyes. She looked at him warily.
"Wait here," Keith said and limped up the stairs and into his house.
When he came out, she was sitting on the low brick wall that surrounded his front porch. He showed her the page. Her eyes lit up.
"Oh! Thank you. I thought that page was gone forever!" She slid off the wall and took a step toward him.
Keith pulled the page back and held it to his chest. "You can have it back on one condition," She stopped and her eyes narrowed. He could see she was waiting for him to continue. "I want to read the rest of it."
She cocked her head to one side as if deciding whether he were serious or not. Then he saw her eyes smile.
"OK. I can make you a copy if you don't mind reading my handwriting," She stepped forward again.
"Can I trust you?" he asked.
"Cross my heart" she said, making the motion. Keith realized she was wearing fingerless gloves. He held out the page to her.
"What's up with the outfit?"
"I'm allergic to the sun," she said matter-of-factly. "What's up with the cane?" she shot back.
He looked at her for a moment in silence. "Motorcycle accident." he said.
She took the page and held out her hand. "My name is Carrie O'Hearn." Keith hesitated a moment before taking it. Her grip was firm and sure. "Keith Connell," he said.
Her eyes smiled at him. "Will you be home this time tomorrow?" she asked.
"Probably," he said. He realized they were still holding hands. He swallowed hard.
"OK. I'll bring it by then." She released his hand and walked down the stairs. Keith took a deep breath to try to disperse the weird feeling in his chest.
Carrie dropped the sheets on the kitchen table.
"I just ran into the rudest guy," she said.
Kim sat down at the table, resting her cheek in her hand. "Aren't they all rude?"
"This guy was above average. I had my headphones in and I was walking and reading my story when I barreled into this guy standing at his mailbox. I didn't even see him until we were both sitting on the pavement. He walks with a cane and when I hit him, we both fell. I apologized three times and tried to help him up, but he just yelled at me." Carrie was sorting through the pages, trying to put them back in order.
"And then, I went to give him his mail and he asked if I realized it was July and ninety-five degrees. Like I might be dressed this way for fun. Shit," she said and flopped down in a chair. "I'm missing a page." Carrie said and took off her hat and scarf. She sighed. "I"m either going to have to rewrite it or go look for it." She ran her fingers through her hair and decided she wasn't interested in doing either.
***
Two days later, Keith was standing at his mailbox, grumbling at his bills when the woman walked by him again.
"Hey," he said as she stepped around him. She stopped and slowly turned around to face him. "I have something you might want."
Again, she was covered head to toe so all he could see were her eyes. She looked at him warily.
"Wait here," Keith said and limped up the stairs and into his house.
When he came out, she was sitting on the low brick wall that surrounded his front porch. He showed her the page. Her eyes lit up.
"Oh! Thank you. I thought that page was gone forever!" She slid off the wall and took a step toward him.
Keith pulled the page back and held it to his chest. "You can have it back on one condition," She stopped and her eyes narrowed. He could see she was waiting for him to continue. "I want to read the rest of it."
She cocked her head to one side as if deciding whether he were serious or not. Then he saw her eyes smile.
"OK. I can make you a copy if you don't mind reading my handwriting," She stepped forward again.
"Can I trust you?" he asked.
"Cross my heart" she said, making the motion. Keith realized she was wearing fingerless gloves. He held out the page to her.
"What's up with the outfit?"
"I'm allergic to the sun," she said matter-of-factly. "What's up with the cane?" she shot back.
He looked at her for a moment in silence. "Motorcycle accident." he said.
She took the page and held out her hand. "My name is Carrie O'Hearn." Keith hesitated a moment before taking it. Her grip was firm and sure. "Keith Connell," he said.
Her eyes smiled at him. "Will you be home this time tomorrow?" she asked.
"Probably," he said. He realized they were still holding hands. He swallowed hard.
"OK. I'll bring it by then." She released his hand and walked down the stairs. Keith took a deep breath to try to disperse the weird feeling in his chest.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Carrie and Keith 1
"More junk," Keith grumbled to himself as he shuffled through his mail. His cane hung over his arm as he balanced on his right foot, using the left only for stabilization. He shook his head, frowning. He heard footsteps coming up on his left, but he didn't bother to look up.
The sudden impact knocked him off balance. He swung his arms to try to recover, but it was too late. His cane went flying as he fell and he greeted the cement with a grunt.
"What the hell?" he yelled and looked around to find his attacker. There were envelopes and papers all over the sidewalk. A woman wearing a white, wide brimmed hat and a scarf over her face sat opposite him. Her eyes were wide. She reached up and pulled earphones from under her scarf.
"I am so sorry," she said and scrambled to her feet. She tried to help Keith up. He snatched his arm away from her.
"Just go get my cane," he snapped.
She recoiled and looked around wildly. She located his cane and nearly ran to pick it up from the street. She brought it over to him and he snatched it out of her hand.
"Back off!" he said when she tried to help him. She stepped back quickly and he rolled on to his knees. Using his cane, he struggled to stand.
Once on his feet, he looked over to see the woman scrambling to pick up the mail and papers that were scattered on the sidewalk. He noticed that she was wearing long sleeves and an ankle length skirt although the temperature exceeded ninety degrees.
"I am so sorry," she repeated as she walked over and held out his mail to him with a shaking hand. "Are you OK?" her voice trembled, too.
Keith didn't respond. Instead he leaned on his cane and looked into her eyes. She lowered them.
"You know it's July and ninety-five degrees, right?" he sneered. She looked back up at him, eyes narrowed. He could tell her lips were pressed into a thin line even though her face was covered by the scarf.
"Yes. I'm aware. Thank you. Here's your mail," she took a step forward and poked him in the chest with it. He reached up and grabbed it from her. "I'm sorry for knocking you down." She turned and stalked away.
Keith watched her for a moment. Then he saw another sheet of paper on the ground. He hobbled over and laid his mail on it so he could pick up the entire pile with one hand. He looked up, but she was gone. He returned his gaze to the page. It appeared to be part of a longer piece. He limped up the porch stairs and into the house.
He seated himself at the kitchen table and began to read the handwritten page.
"...and the serpent reared up to it's full height. Joryant could see it's white underbelly but was unable to reach for his sword to do anything about it. The dragon came down, black claws splayed. Joryant used all of his strength and rolled out of the way. The ground shook violently when the creature landed and some rock from the ceiling of the cave rained down on them. They bounced off of the dragon's blue scales like grains of sand. For Joryant, they were more of a problem. He curled up like a turtle and gasped as they dented his armor. When the stone storm ended, he hazarded a look at the serpent who was inspecting his feet for Joryant's remains. Struggling to his feet,..."
Keith flipped the page over. There was nothing on the other side. He sighed, wondering how he could get to read the rest of it.
The sudden impact knocked him off balance. He swung his arms to try to recover, but it was too late. His cane went flying as he fell and he greeted the cement with a grunt.
"What the hell?" he yelled and looked around to find his attacker. There were envelopes and papers all over the sidewalk. A woman wearing a white, wide brimmed hat and a scarf over her face sat opposite him. Her eyes were wide. She reached up and pulled earphones from under her scarf.
"I am so sorry," she said and scrambled to her feet. She tried to help Keith up. He snatched his arm away from her.
"Just go get my cane," he snapped.
She recoiled and looked around wildly. She located his cane and nearly ran to pick it up from the street. She brought it over to him and he snatched it out of her hand.
"Back off!" he said when she tried to help him. She stepped back quickly and he rolled on to his knees. Using his cane, he struggled to stand.
Once on his feet, he looked over to see the woman scrambling to pick up the mail and papers that were scattered on the sidewalk. He noticed that she was wearing long sleeves and an ankle length skirt although the temperature exceeded ninety degrees.
"I am so sorry," she repeated as she walked over and held out his mail to him with a shaking hand. "Are you OK?" her voice trembled, too.
Keith didn't respond. Instead he leaned on his cane and looked into her eyes. She lowered them.
"You know it's July and ninety-five degrees, right?" he sneered. She looked back up at him, eyes narrowed. He could tell her lips were pressed into a thin line even though her face was covered by the scarf.
"Yes. I'm aware. Thank you. Here's your mail," she took a step forward and poked him in the chest with it. He reached up and grabbed it from her. "I'm sorry for knocking you down." She turned and stalked away.
Keith watched her for a moment. Then he saw another sheet of paper on the ground. He hobbled over and laid his mail on it so he could pick up the entire pile with one hand. He looked up, but she was gone. He returned his gaze to the page. It appeared to be part of a longer piece. He limped up the porch stairs and into the house.
He seated himself at the kitchen table and began to read the handwritten page.
"...and the serpent reared up to it's full height. Joryant could see it's white underbelly but was unable to reach for his sword to do anything about it. The dragon came down, black claws splayed. Joryant used all of his strength and rolled out of the way. The ground shook violently when the creature landed and some rock from the ceiling of the cave rained down on them. They bounced off of the dragon's blue scales like grains of sand. For Joryant, they were more of a problem. He curled up like a turtle and gasped as they dented his armor. When the stone storm ended, he hazarded a look at the serpent who was inspecting his feet for Joryant's remains. Struggling to his feet,..."
Keith flipped the page over. There was nothing on the other side. He sighed, wondering how he could get to read the rest of it.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sarah and Kevin 50
"What the hell is going on?" Kevin yelled. She flinched and buried her head in her arms.
"Nothing now," said Peter from the bedroom.
Kevin stepped past her. The thud of a body being forced into the wall made Sarah flinch again.
"What did you do to her now?" Kevin shouted.
Sarah felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Tom offering his hand to help her up.
"You know what she said tonight? 'There'll never be another Kevin.' She really loves you." Peter's voice sounded tired and sad.
Sarah took Tom's hand and got up from the floor. She tried to walk to her door, but he pulled her into his bedroom and made her sit down on Kevin's bed.
"Answer my question!" Kevin ordered.
"Button your shirt," Tom said. Sarah did and tucked it in. She lifted her skirt and looked at her knees. Rug burns on both of them.
"I didn't do anything to her." Peter said calmly. "I almost had her convinced that she should sleep with me and then she heard your voice and ran."
"Wait here," Tom said. When he returned he had the first aid kit from the bathroom with him.
"She loves you, Kevin. So much that she wants to make you hate her so that you will come with us to California and not think twice." Peter continued.
Tom cleaned and bandaged her knees. Sarah didn't even try to breathe through the pain. She felt she deserved it.
"I told her that if you caught us in bed together you would let her go."
"You told her that?" Kevin sounded like he was beside himself. "I love her and you're trying to sleep with her!" Another thud.
"Nothing happened!" Peter yelled.
"What the hell, Peter? Why would you do that? Can't you see how miserable they've both been?" Scott asked.
"What? Does he have some divine right to her? Look at what I did to her and how I treated her. Instead of kicking me out, she got me to go get help. No other woman has ever done that for me. So, yeah, I was willing to play dirty to get her." Peter took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Kev."
"Just shut up!" Kevin slammed Peter into the wall one more time.
Tom pulled her skirt down to cover her knees and stood up. Through the doorway, she saw Kevin come and into the hall and look for her. He tried to open her door.
"God damn it," Kevin said and put his forehead against the door.
"Kevin" Tom said. He turned around and saw Sarah. He rushed in and dropped to his knees in front of her. Tom left and closed the door behind him as Kevin wrapped his arms around Sarah. She didn't hug him back.
Kevin sighed. "I can't take this shit. If you love me, tell me."
Sarah looked at him, tears pouring down her face. "I don't want you to be fifty years old looking back on your life and saying, 'I really could have been something if it hadn't been for that Sarah bitch'." she wailed.
"Do you love me?" Kevin asked.
"I don't want to hold you back."
"Do you love me or not?"
"Kevin, why are you making this so hard? You have a chance to do what you've always wanted to do; what you were born to do. I'm not going to stand in your way."
Kevin took her face in his hands. She could feel him shaking. He kissed her softly. She felt the barbed wire around her heart fall away.
"Do you love me or don't you?" he asked, his face inches from hers.
"Yes. I love you," she said and started sobbing. He stood up and laid down on the bed, pulling her down next to him. He handed her some tissues and held her until she was cried out.
"I thought you would just come with me." he said quietly.
Sarah felt her heart flip. She looked over at him.
"But what about my job? And my house?"
"They make laptop computers, you know." he teased. "And we'd still need a place to live when we weren't on the road."
Sarah sighed. "I don't know. I need a shower and some time to think. Go practice. I'll see you when you're done."
"Don't lock me out again, please."
"Here" she handed him her key. "Now I can't."
Harvest Time
"Hi Mom,
Sarah and I are together again. I'm trying to convince her to come with me when we go to record.
We cut a deal for 5 CD's with tours for each one.
If Sarah agrees to come with me, my life will be perfect.
Love,
Kevin"
Kevin went into his room and opened the top drawer in his night stand. He pulled out his mother's engagement ring and looked at it again. He took a deep breath. It's time. He swallowed hard, clenched the box in his fist and went into the kitchen.
Sarah was at the sink, washing some salad greens. He stood in the doorway and watched her. She carefully cleaned the leaves, discarding some and tearing others into pieces before putting them on the kitchen towel. She was dressed in black as usual. Her long hair was twisted up into a bun with little strands of it sticking out all over. Her feet were bare and he noticed that her toenails were painted pink today. You are beautiful and I love you. She gathered the corners of the towel and turned to walk outside.
"Oh" she said, startled. And then she smiled at him. "Hey. I didn't see you there. What are you up to?"
Kevin shook his head. "Nothing. Just watching you."
"Well, I'm going to go out and spin this salad." She said.
"OK" he said and walked over to his usual Sarah viewing chair and sat down. He set the box on the table and folded his hands around it. Sarah went out and spun the towel with the greens in it a few times. He watched her out the window. She walked back in and dumped the greens into a bowl.
"Sarah, can I talk to you?" he asked quietly. She turned to face him with a frightened look in her eyes.
"Sure," she said.
"Can you come here and sit down?" he asked, pointing to the chair next to him. She pulled the chair out and sat down.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing. You know that I love you and I want you to come with me when we leave, right?"
"Yes. We have a lot of details we need to work out on that still." she replied.
"I know. That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Kevin slid out of his chair and knelt down on one knee in front of Sarah. He opened the ring box and offered it to her. "Will you marry me?" He looked up at her.
Kevin had never seen so many emotions move over one face so quickly. There was disbelief, joy, fear, embarrassment, adoration and several others he couldn't place. Sarah blinked like she had just come out into bright sunlight and then she looked at Kevin. For a moment, he felt like she was staring straight into his soul. Without removing her gaze, she clasped his hand, ring box and all in both of hers.
"I would be honored to be your wife," she whispered.
"Nothing now," said Peter from the bedroom.
Kevin stepped past her. The thud of a body being forced into the wall made Sarah flinch again.
"What did you do to her now?" Kevin shouted.
Sarah felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Tom offering his hand to help her up.
"You know what she said tonight? 'There'll never be another Kevin.' She really loves you." Peter's voice sounded tired and sad.
Sarah took Tom's hand and got up from the floor. She tried to walk to her door, but he pulled her into his bedroom and made her sit down on Kevin's bed.
"Answer my question!" Kevin ordered.
"Button your shirt," Tom said. Sarah did and tucked it in. She lifted her skirt and looked at her knees. Rug burns on both of them.
"I didn't do anything to her." Peter said calmly. "I almost had her convinced that she should sleep with me and then she heard your voice and ran."
"Wait here," Tom said. When he returned he had the first aid kit from the bathroom with him.
"She loves you, Kevin. So much that she wants to make you hate her so that you will come with us to California and not think twice." Peter continued.
Tom cleaned and bandaged her knees. Sarah didn't even try to breathe through the pain. She felt she deserved it.
"I told her that if you caught us in bed together you would let her go."
"You told her that?" Kevin sounded like he was beside himself. "I love her and you're trying to sleep with her!" Another thud.
"Nothing happened!" Peter yelled.
"What the hell, Peter? Why would you do that? Can't you see how miserable they've both been?" Scott asked.
"What? Does he have some divine right to her? Look at what I did to her and how I treated her. Instead of kicking me out, she got me to go get help. No other woman has ever done that for me. So, yeah, I was willing to play dirty to get her." Peter took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Kev."
"Just shut up!" Kevin slammed Peter into the wall one more time.
Tom pulled her skirt down to cover her knees and stood up. Through the doorway, she saw Kevin come and into the hall and look for her. He tried to open her door.
"God damn it," Kevin said and put his forehead against the door.
"Kevin" Tom said. He turned around and saw Sarah. He rushed in and dropped to his knees in front of her. Tom left and closed the door behind him as Kevin wrapped his arms around Sarah. She didn't hug him back.
Kevin sighed. "I can't take this shit. If you love me, tell me."
Sarah looked at him, tears pouring down her face. "I don't want you to be fifty years old looking back on your life and saying, 'I really could have been something if it hadn't been for that Sarah bitch'." she wailed.
"Do you love me?" Kevin asked.
"I don't want to hold you back."
"Do you love me or not?"
"Kevin, why are you making this so hard? You have a chance to do what you've always wanted to do; what you were born to do. I'm not going to stand in your way."
Kevin took her face in his hands. She could feel him shaking. He kissed her softly. She felt the barbed wire around her heart fall away.
"Do you love me or don't you?" he asked, his face inches from hers.
"Yes. I love you," she said and started sobbing. He stood up and laid down on the bed, pulling her down next to him. He handed her some tissues and held her until she was cried out.
"I thought you would just come with me." he said quietly.
Sarah felt her heart flip. She looked over at him.
"But what about my job? And my house?"
"They make laptop computers, you know." he teased. "And we'd still need a place to live when we weren't on the road."
Sarah sighed. "I don't know. I need a shower and some time to think. Go practice. I'll see you when you're done."
"Don't lock me out again, please."
"Here" she handed him her key. "Now I can't."
Harvest Time
"Hi Mom,
Sarah and I are together again. I'm trying to convince her to come with me when we go to record.
We cut a deal for 5 CD's with tours for each one.
If Sarah agrees to come with me, my life will be perfect.
Love,
Kevin"
Kevin went into his room and opened the top drawer in his night stand. He pulled out his mother's engagement ring and looked at it again. He took a deep breath. It's time. He swallowed hard, clenched the box in his fist and went into the kitchen.
Sarah was at the sink, washing some salad greens. He stood in the doorway and watched her. She carefully cleaned the leaves, discarding some and tearing others into pieces before putting them on the kitchen towel. She was dressed in black as usual. Her long hair was twisted up into a bun with little strands of it sticking out all over. Her feet were bare and he noticed that her toenails were painted pink today. You are beautiful and I love you. She gathered the corners of the towel and turned to walk outside.
"Oh" she said, startled. And then she smiled at him. "Hey. I didn't see you there. What are you up to?"
Kevin shook his head. "Nothing. Just watching you."
"Well, I'm going to go out and spin this salad." She said.
"OK" he said and walked over to his usual Sarah viewing chair and sat down. He set the box on the table and folded his hands around it. Sarah went out and spun the towel with the greens in it a few times. He watched her out the window. She walked back in and dumped the greens into a bowl.
"Sarah, can I talk to you?" he asked quietly. She turned to face him with a frightened look in her eyes.
"Sure," she said.
"Can you come here and sit down?" he asked, pointing to the chair next to him. She pulled the chair out and sat down.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing. You know that I love you and I want you to come with me when we leave, right?"
"Yes. We have a lot of details we need to work out on that still." she replied.
"I know. That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Kevin slid out of his chair and knelt down on one knee in front of Sarah. He opened the ring box and offered it to her. "Will you marry me?" He looked up at her.
Kevin had never seen so many emotions move over one face so quickly. There was disbelief, joy, fear, embarrassment, adoration and several others he couldn't place. Sarah blinked like she had just come out into bright sunlight and then she looked at Kevin. For a moment, he felt like she was staring straight into his soul. Without removing her gaze, she clasped his hand, ring box and all in both of hers.
"I would be honored to be your wife," she whispered.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Sarah and Kevin 49
"Ready?" she asked Peter. He nodded and they went out to the truck.
Sarah got in and started the engine. Peter slid in beside her and put his hand on the back of her neck. Sarah took a deep breath and put the truck in gear.
Peter sang on the way to the meeting. He kept caressing the back of her neck, sending goosebumps and shivers down her back. Sarah sighed as she pulled into the parking space behind the church. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She didn't try to pull away. After he got out of the truck, Sarah leaned her head forward and rested it on the steering wheel. God, I'm tired, she thought.
She remained in that position for several minutes. "Sarah!" she heard a voice yell. It sounded like Jason. She lifted her head as the door opened. "Sarah, are you OK?" Jason asked, clearly worried. Peter was at his side, concern written on his face as well.
"Yeah. I'm fine." she said.
"No offence, dear, but you don't look fine. You look like you haven't eaten or slept in weeks."
Sarah gave a little laugh. "Oh, it hasn't been that long."
Jason frowned at her and took her arm. "Come on. There's a cot in one of the rooms down here. You can rest on it until the meeting is over. It's air-conditioned so you won't have to be out in this heat." He led her into the church, giving the truck keys to Peter. Peter took her free hand and held it.
They brought her to the room and made her lay down on the cot. She tried to protest, but they wouldn't listen. Jason covered her with some kind of blanket. Peter knelt beside her, brushed her hair off her face and took off her glasses.
"I really am OK," she said. Peter shook his head.
"Jason's right. You look worn out. Sleep. I'll come and get you when the meeting's over." He kissed her on the mouth before leaving the room. Sarah sighed deeply and gave in to her exhaustion.
***
"...so she's not talking to him and she stopped eating dinner with us. She's probably not sleeping either." Sarah woke to hear Peter talking about her. She sighed and rolled over.
"Where are my glasses?" she asked. Peter unhooked them from his shirt collar and handed them to her. She put them on and sat up.
"Did you mention that I was sleeping with him? Oh, and don't forget to tell him that you've taken every opportunity to try and get into bed with me too." Sarah said bitterly as she finger-combed her hair.
"Sarah. What are you doing to yourself?" Jason asked. Sarah stood up and straightened her clothes.
"I'm just stupid," she said and bent to fold the blanket she had used. A sob escaped and she sat down on the cot and cried. Jason seated himself beside her and Peter knelt in front of her. They patted her and gave her tissues until she stopped crying.
"I'm sorry. I'm making you late by being a big baby."
"Sarah. You're not being a baby," Jason scolded her. "You are, however, throwing away a relationship that has made you very happy. The lights are gone out of your eyes. Why don't you let Kevin decide what he wants instead of making that decision for him?"
Sarah took a deep breath. "No matter what he chooses, I'll be miserable. If he stays with me, I'll blame myself for the loss of his career. If he goes, I'll be lonely. There will never be another Kevin," she sobbed again.
Jason hugged her. "At least it would be his decision. From what Peter has said, Kevin's pretty miserable, too." Sarah just nodded. She wasn't going to win this argument. It would be best if she just left it alone.
"Let Peter drive you home. At least think about taking my advice, OK?" Jason knows me too well.
"OK" Sarah nodded. "Thanks, " she said and kissed Jason's cheek. He returned the kiss and let her go with a hug.
Peter held her hand the entire way home. He pulled into the garage and turned off the engine.
"You know, if he caught you sleeping with me, he'd let you go." Peter said softly. Well, this is a new tactic.
"I know." she said. "He'd also try to kill you."
Peter shrugged. "It would be worth it." Sarah felt a tingle travel down her body. Ugh. Why does he do that to me?
"Peter. Just stop. OK?" she said and got out of the truck.
Peter got out and followed her out of the garage. She closed the garage door and walked to the house with Peter on her heels. She walked straight to her door and fumbled for her key. Peter held her shoulders and kissed her neck.
"Sarah. I want you. Please." he whispered and slid his hands around her waist. She closed her eyes and let the goosebumps run down her back.
"I'm not ready for that," she said.
Peter chuckled. "Let me make you ready, then." he said, kissing the other side of her neck.
Sarah leaned back against him and he ran his hands up her torso and over her breasts. She sighed, blocking out the warnings that she should stop before this went too far. He began unbuttoning her blouse. When it was open enough, he pulled it down over her shoulders and kissed both of them. He turned her around to face him and he kissed her mouth.
Sarah broke the kiss and found herself gasping for air. "Peter..." He covered her mouth with his fingers to silence her and kissed her neck again.
He took her hand and pulled her into his bedroom. Gently, he pushed her onto the bed. He laid down next to her and ran his hand over her body as he kissed her. He grabbed her skirt and pulled it up so he could slide his hand up her thigh.
"God damn it, Tansara! Are you coming to practice or what?" Kevin yelled. It sounded like he was almost in the kitchen already. Sarah scrambled out of Peter's bed and ran for the door to her rooms. She tripped and fell into the hallway. She heard Kevin's feet run up the last couple stairs and through the kitchen.
Sarah got in and started the engine. Peter slid in beside her and put his hand on the back of her neck. Sarah took a deep breath and put the truck in gear.
Peter sang on the way to the meeting. He kept caressing the back of her neck, sending goosebumps and shivers down her back. Sarah sighed as she pulled into the parking space behind the church. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She didn't try to pull away. After he got out of the truck, Sarah leaned her head forward and rested it on the steering wheel. God, I'm tired, she thought.
She remained in that position for several minutes. "Sarah!" she heard a voice yell. It sounded like Jason. She lifted her head as the door opened. "Sarah, are you OK?" Jason asked, clearly worried. Peter was at his side, concern written on his face as well.
"Yeah. I'm fine." she said.
"No offence, dear, but you don't look fine. You look like you haven't eaten or slept in weeks."
Sarah gave a little laugh. "Oh, it hasn't been that long."
Jason frowned at her and took her arm. "Come on. There's a cot in one of the rooms down here. You can rest on it until the meeting is over. It's air-conditioned so you won't have to be out in this heat." He led her into the church, giving the truck keys to Peter. Peter took her free hand and held it.
They brought her to the room and made her lay down on the cot. She tried to protest, but they wouldn't listen. Jason covered her with some kind of blanket. Peter knelt beside her, brushed her hair off her face and took off her glasses.
"I really am OK," she said. Peter shook his head.
"Jason's right. You look worn out. Sleep. I'll come and get you when the meeting's over." He kissed her on the mouth before leaving the room. Sarah sighed deeply and gave in to her exhaustion.
***
"...so she's not talking to him and she stopped eating dinner with us. She's probably not sleeping either." Sarah woke to hear Peter talking about her. She sighed and rolled over.
"Where are my glasses?" she asked. Peter unhooked them from his shirt collar and handed them to her. She put them on and sat up.
"Did you mention that I was sleeping with him? Oh, and don't forget to tell him that you've taken every opportunity to try and get into bed with me too." Sarah said bitterly as she finger-combed her hair.
"Sarah. What are you doing to yourself?" Jason asked. Sarah stood up and straightened her clothes.
"I'm just stupid," she said and bent to fold the blanket she had used. A sob escaped and she sat down on the cot and cried. Jason seated himself beside her and Peter knelt in front of her. They patted her and gave her tissues until she stopped crying.
"I'm sorry. I'm making you late by being a big baby."
"Sarah. You're not being a baby," Jason scolded her. "You are, however, throwing away a relationship that has made you very happy. The lights are gone out of your eyes. Why don't you let Kevin decide what he wants instead of making that decision for him?"
Sarah took a deep breath. "No matter what he chooses, I'll be miserable. If he stays with me, I'll blame myself for the loss of his career. If he goes, I'll be lonely. There will never be another Kevin," she sobbed again.
Jason hugged her. "At least it would be his decision. From what Peter has said, Kevin's pretty miserable, too." Sarah just nodded. She wasn't going to win this argument. It would be best if she just left it alone.
"Let Peter drive you home. At least think about taking my advice, OK?" Jason knows me too well.
"OK" Sarah nodded. "Thanks, " she said and kissed Jason's cheek. He returned the kiss and let her go with a hug.
Peter held her hand the entire way home. He pulled into the garage and turned off the engine.
"You know, if he caught you sleeping with me, he'd let you go." Peter said softly. Well, this is a new tactic.
"I know." she said. "He'd also try to kill you."
Peter shrugged. "It would be worth it." Sarah felt a tingle travel down her body. Ugh. Why does he do that to me?
"Peter. Just stop. OK?" she said and got out of the truck.
Peter got out and followed her out of the garage. She closed the garage door and walked to the house with Peter on her heels. She walked straight to her door and fumbled for her key. Peter held her shoulders and kissed her neck.
"Sarah. I want you. Please." he whispered and slid his hands around her waist. She closed her eyes and let the goosebumps run down her back.
"I'm not ready for that," she said.
Peter chuckled. "Let me make you ready, then." he said, kissing the other side of her neck.
Sarah leaned back against him and he ran his hands up her torso and over her breasts. She sighed, blocking out the warnings that she should stop before this went too far. He began unbuttoning her blouse. When it was open enough, he pulled it down over her shoulders and kissed both of them. He turned her around to face him and he kissed her mouth.
Sarah broke the kiss and found herself gasping for air. "Peter..." He covered her mouth with his fingers to silence her and kissed her neck again.
He took her hand and pulled her into his bedroom. Gently, he pushed her onto the bed. He laid down next to her and ran his hand over her body as he kissed her. He grabbed her skirt and pulled it up so he could slide his hand up her thigh.
"God damn it, Tansara! Are you coming to practice or what?" Kevin yelled. It sounded like he was almost in the kitchen already. Sarah scrambled out of Peter's bed and ran for the door to her rooms. She tripped and fell into the hallway. She heard Kevin's feet run up the last couple stairs and through the kitchen.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Sarah and Kevin 48
August
It was nearly midnight when they arrived home from the airport. The house was dark except for the light outside the back door. Kevin smiled, thinking about sleeping next to Sarah tonight. He hadn't hardly slept the entire time they were in California.
When he tried to open the door to the attic, it was locked. Kevin stared at the doorknob for a minute. He tried it again. That's when he saw the letter taped to the door. He tore it off the door and opened it, already knowing the gist of the message.
"Kevin,
I'm glad you made it back safely and I hope the trip went well.
As mentor for MourningStar, this is where I back out. I brought your things back to your room. I will still be fulfilling my obligations regarding room and board until it's time for you to move out. I will also continue to bring Peter to his meetings.
Please don't pound on the door. I'm not going to open it and there's nothing more to be said. You've earned your wings and now you get to fly. I am not going to be the sandbag holding you down.
Sarah"
Kevin turned his back to the door and leaned against it, looking up at the ceiling light.
"Whoa. What's wrong?" Scott said when he walked into the hall. Kevin handed him the letter.
"I don't know whether to be sorry or grateful." Scott said after reading it.
"What?" Kevin asked.
"Well, from a business standpoint, this is the best for the band. Having you run back and forth between here and wherever we land could cause trouble." Now Peter and Tom had arrived and Scott handed them the letter.
"I just thought she'd come with me." Kevin's heart hurt.
"Oh, c'mon, Kev. Do you really think she'll give up her home and her writing to chase you around the country?" Peter asked.
Kevin stared at Peter for a moment. He looked down at the floor. Now he felt angry, afraid and frustrated all at once. Somehow it just didn't seem right that he had to choose between his muse and his music. They were supposed to go together.
Peter put his hand on Kevin's shoulder and handed the letter back to him. "She really loves you. Just cut her some slack. Maybe she'll come around." Peter went into his bedroom. Scott squeezed Kevin's shoulder and went to bed as well.
Kevin looked up at Tom. His expression was grim. "If you really love her, fight for her. If you 'cut her some slack' , you'll lose her. And probably to Peter." Kevin blinked at him. He'd never seen him so adamant about anything.
"Thanks, Tom," Kevin went in and laid down on his old bed. It was starting to become light outside when he finally fell asleep.
***
"Hello?"
"Hi Mom," Kevin said dejectedly.
"What's wrong? Are you stuck in California?"
"No, we're back home. Sarah broke up with me."
"Why? What happened?"
Kevin read his mom the letter.
"She doesn't want to go with you?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her yet. I don't know what to say to change her mind."
"Maybe she'll come to her senses. She may not have even considered going with you."
"I hope so. I feel like I have a knife in my chest."
"You really love her, don't you?"
"Yeah, I love her a lot."
"She must love you a lot too if she's willing to sever ties with you so that you can move on with
your career. I'll bet she cries herself to sleep at night over it."
"That doesn't make me feel better, Mom. I just want her to come with me."
"All you can do is try to talk to her. I think she'll come around."
"I hope you're right."
"Me too. I love you."
"Love you, too."
***
Kevin tried to take Tom's advice, but Sarah would have none of it. He tried talking to her while she was making dinner, but she ignored him. She had stopped eating dinner with them and was getting up early in the morning to do the dishes and make breakfast. Every night when he came upstairs from practice, her door was locked. After a week of this, he was just about beside himself.
It was nearly midnight when they arrived home from the airport. The house was dark except for the light outside the back door. Kevin smiled, thinking about sleeping next to Sarah tonight. He hadn't hardly slept the entire time they were in California.
When he tried to open the door to the attic, it was locked. Kevin stared at the doorknob for a minute. He tried it again. That's when he saw the letter taped to the door. He tore it off the door and opened it, already knowing the gist of the message.
"Kevin,
I'm glad you made it back safely and I hope the trip went well.
As mentor for MourningStar, this is where I back out. I brought your things back to your room. I will still be fulfilling my obligations regarding room and board until it's time for you to move out. I will also continue to bring Peter to his meetings.
Please don't pound on the door. I'm not going to open it and there's nothing more to be said. You've earned your wings and now you get to fly. I am not going to be the sandbag holding you down.
Sarah"
Kevin turned his back to the door and leaned against it, looking up at the ceiling light.
"Whoa. What's wrong?" Scott said when he walked into the hall. Kevin handed him the letter.
"I don't know whether to be sorry or grateful." Scott said after reading it.
"What?" Kevin asked.
"Well, from a business standpoint, this is the best for the band. Having you run back and forth between here and wherever we land could cause trouble." Now Peter and Tom had arrived and Scott handed them the letter.
"I just thought she'd come with me." Kevin's heart hurt.
"Oh, c'mon, Kev. Do you really think she'll give up her home and her writing to chase you around the country?" Peter asked.
Kevin stared at Peter for a moment. He looked down at the floor. Now he felt angry, afraid and frustrated all at once. Somehow it just didn't seem right that he had to choose between his muse and his music. They were supposed to go together.
Peter put his hand on Kevin's shoulder and handed the letter back to him. "She really loves you. Just cut her some slack. Maybe she'll come around." Peter went into his bedroom. Scott squeezed Kevin's shoulder and went to bed as well.
Kevin looked up at Tom. His expression was grim. "If you really love her, fight for her. If you 'cut her some slack' , you'll lose her. And probably to Peter." Kevin blinked at him. He'd never seen him so adamant about anything.
"Thanks, Tom," Kevin went in and laid down on his old bed. It was starting to become light outside when he finally fell asleep.
***
"Hello?"
"Hi Mom," Kevin said dejectedly.
"What's wrong? Are you stuck in California?"
"No, we're back home. Sarah broke up with me."
"Why? What happened?"
Kevin read his mom the letter.
"She doesn't want to go with you?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her yet. I don't know what to say to change her mind."
"Maybe she'll come to her senses. She may not have even considered going with you."
"I hope so. I feel like I have a knife in my chest."
"You really love her, don't you?"
"Yeah, I love her a lot."
"She must love you a lot too if she's willing to sever ties with you so that you can move on with
your career. I'll bet she cries herself to sleep at night over it."
"That doesn't make me feel better, Mom. I just want her to come with me."
"All you can do is try to talk to her. I think she'll come around."
"I hope you're right."
"Me too. I love you."
"Love you, too."
***
Kevin tried to take Tom's advice, but Sarah would have none of it. He tried talking to her while she was making dinner, but she ignored him. She had stopped eating dinner with them and was getting up early in the morning to do the dishes and make breakfast. Every night when he came upstairs from practice, her door was locked. After a week of this, he was just about beside himself.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Sarah and Kevin 47
The music festival was fading into memory. They were playing gigs regularly and had gotten a couple of bigger venues lined up. They were even at the point now where they could pay a little rent and still have money for the band.
Sarah was at her desk writing one Thursday afternoon when she heard yelling and howling coming from the first floor. It sounded happy, so she didn't worry about it. Then all of a sudden she heard several sets of feet thundering up the stairs accompanied by laughter. She spun around in her chair so she was facing the little hallway off the stairs.
Kevin rushed in wild eyed and pulled her out of her chair. He hugged her hard and then lifted her up and spun her around. He was laughing the entire time. Soon she was in the middle of a maelstrom of hugs, kisses and laughter as her musicians clustered around her.
"What's going on?" She cried while trying to catch her breath between kisses.
"Next week we're meeting with a rep from Sondi Recording Studio!" Scott told her. "They heard us play at the festival."
Sarah squealed and clapped her hands. "Where are you going to meet them?"
"They're flying us out to California." Peter smiled.
Sarah felt her heart sink. "California! How cool!" she said. She gritted her teeth to force herself to keep smiling as they told her about the trip and what they were going to do when they got there.
"So, if all goes well, will you be going out there to record?" she asked.
"Probably. Unless they have an affiliate in Chicago." Scott said.
"I'm so glad for you guys." she said and hugged Kevin hard, hiding her face in his chest. Kevin wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey, do you guys want to go out for Chinese tonight? I'll buy." Sarah offered.
They all agreed. "OK. I'll call to see if we need reservations." She walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
***
After dinner, Peter and Sarah went to the AA meeting while the others drove home. Sarah sat in the truck and cried for the duration of the meeting. She had hoped this day would come, but now that it was here, she was miserable. She would not stand in Kevin's way, but the thought of losing him was breaking her heart.
By the time Peter got into the truck, she was a mess. Her eyes were swollen and her nose was bright red.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Peter asked when he got into the truck. Sarah just shook her head and started the engine. Peter grabbed her hand before she could put the vehicle into reverse.
"C'mon. You've been crying. Tell me what's wrong." He said quietly. Sarah disengaged her hand, grabbed a couple more tissues from the box and started crying again.
"Kevin's leaving," she wailed. Peter scooted over on the seat and put his arm around her. She laid her head down on his chest.
"You really love him, don't you?" Peter said, almost sadly.
She nodded and sobbed harder.. Peter held her until she stopped crying.
Finally, she was able to catch her breath. She sat up and wiped her face.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"It's OK." he said, rubbing her shoulder.
"Promise you won't tell him I was crying."
"Don't you think he'll be able to tell?" Peter asked.
"Not if I stop now." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'll look normal by the time you're done practicing. Promise?"
"OK. I promise." Peter said and shifted over into his own seat.
Sarah put the truck in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot.
***
The rest of the week was a nightmare. Sarah found herself fighting back tears almost constantly. She reserved her crying for when he wasn't around. The few times he caught her looking bad, she tried explaining it away by saying she had a cold. He frowned at her, but didn't push it.
The first day he was in California, she cried all day. The second day, she cried and brought all his belongings back to his room. On the third day, she cried and wrote him a "Dear John" letter, and taped it to her door.
Sarah was at her desk writing one Thursday afternoon when she heard yelling and howling coming from the first floor. It sounded happy, so she didn't worry about it. Then all of a sudden she heard several sets of feet thundering up the stairs accompanied by laughter. She spun around in her chair so she was facing the little hallway off the stairs.
Kevin rushed in wild eyed and pulled her out of her chair. He hugged her hard and then lifted her up and spun her around. He was laughing the entire time. Soon she was in the middle of a maelstrom of hugs, kisses and laughter as her musicians clustered around her.
"What's going on?" She cried while trying to catch her breath between kisses.
"Next week we're meeting with a rep from Sondi Recording Studio!" Scott told her. "They heard us play at the festival."
Sarah squealed and clapped her hands. "Where are you going to meet them?"
"They're flying us out to California." Peter smiled.
Sarah felt her heart sink. "California! How cool!" she said. She gritted her teeth to force herself to keep smiling as they told her about the trip and what they were going to do when they got there.
"So, if all goes well, will you be going out there to record?" she asked.
"Probably. Unless they have an affiliate in Chicago." Scott said.
"I'm so glad for you guys." she said and hugged Kevin hard, hiding her face in his chest. Kevin wrapped his arms around her.
"Hey, do you guys want to go out for Chinese tonight? I'll buy." Sarah offered.
They all agreed. "OK. I'll call to see if we need reservations." She walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
***
After dinner, Peter and Sarah went to the AA meeting while the others drove home. Sarah sat in the truck and cried for the duration of the meeting. She had hoped this day would come, but now that it was here, she was miserable. She would not stand in Kevin's way, but the thought of losing him was breaking her heart.
By the time Peter got into the truck, she was a mess. Her eyes were swollen and her nose was bright red.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Peter asked when he got into the truck. Sarah just shook her head and started the engine. Peter grabbed her hand before she could put the vehicle into reverse.
"C'mon. You've been crying. Tell me what's wrong." He said quietly. Sarah disengaged her hand, grabbed a couple more tissues from the box and started crying again.
"Kevin's leaving," she wailed. Peter scooted over on the seat and put his arm around her. She laid her head down on his chest.
"You really love him, don't you?" Peter said, almost sadly.
She nodded and sobbed harder.. Peter held her until she stopped crying.
Finally, she was able to catch her breath. She sat up and wiped her face.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"It's OK." he said, rubbing her shoulder.
"Promise you won't tell him I was crying."
"Don't you think he'll be able to tell?" Peter asked.
"Not if I stop now." She took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'll look normal by the time you're done practicing. Promise?"
"OK. I promise." Peter said and shifted over into his own seat.
Sarah put the truck in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot.
***
The rest of the week was a nightmare. Sarah found herself fighting back tears almost constantly. She reserved her crying for when he wasn't around. The few times he caught her looking bad, she tried explaining it away by saying she had a cold. He frowned at her, but didn't push it.
The first day he was in California, she cried all day. The second day, she cried and brought all his belongings back to his room. On the third day, she cried and wrote him a "Dear John" letter, and taped it to her door.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Sarah and Kevin 46
July
The day of the music festival came. Sarah was wearing a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt. Kevin realized that he had never seen her wearing pants. She helped them pack up all their equipment and drove with them to the festival. After helping them unload the van, she kissed Kevin.
"Break a leg, you guys," she said. "I'll be cheering for you." She left and went out into the audience.
They were the fifth band to play that afternoon. It was hot. The July sun beat down on the stage. Kevin was thankful for the shade backstage. He talked to a bunch of musicians and got autographs from some of them. Peter told him he was a freak about fifty times. Kevin was just starting to lose his patience in the heat when it was their turn to go on stage.
Their equipment was set up. All they had to do was go on and play. Kevin could not locate Sarah in the huge throng of people. He picked up his guitar and played as if his life depended on it. He played like he was making love to Sarah. He played like his heart was so full it was going to explode. It was magical. As if everything in his life was culminating in this one set. They never sounded as good as they did that day. The crowd cheered after each song and at the end. Kevin wasn't sure if his feet were even touching the ground when the walked off stage.
They went around to the back and waited for their equipment to be brought offstage. Kevin felt a hand slide down his back and around his waist. He turned to find Sarah smiling up at him.
"You guys were amazing." She hugged him. He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks to you. Without you , we wouldn't have gotten this far." he said to her. Sarah blinked hard and Kevin saw a tear run back into her hair. She stepped away from him and wiped her eyes.
Peter rushed up, picked Sarah up like a doll and carried her over to where Scott and Tom were standing. They each hugged and kissed her. Kevin trotted over to them.
"I had to steal her away. You'd never have let her go, otherwise," Peter teased. Kevin just smiled at him.
Their gear was brought to them. Sarah helped them to load up the van again and they headed home.
"I have this weird feeling that somehow you guys have sealed your fate." Sarah said from the back of the van. "I don't know if it's good or bad. I just feel like your next step is predestined. Do you guys feel that way?"
"All I know is that we played our asses off." Peter said from the front seat.
"You were awesome." Sarah said.
When they got home, Sarah cooked dinner while they unloaded the van and set up the equipment in the basement again.
"OK you guys. Dinner is ready." Sarah called. They immediately put down what they were doing and went upstairs. Sarah had a huge bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce on the table, a salad and two pitchers of lemonade. They devoured dinner in silence.
"Damn, Sarah. That was awesome." Peter said. The rest of them agreed loudly.
"Thanks." She stood up and began to clear the table. Kevin stood up to help her.
"Are we going to practice tonight?" Scott asked as they lazed around the table.
"Nah. Let's just sit around. I'm too full to sing." Peter said.
"That OK with you, Kev?" Scott asked.
"Yeah," he said as he dried the plates. "Nothing I could play tonight will make me feel better than I do right now."
"Tom?" Scott asked.
"OK" Tom replied.
They spent the evening sitting around the living room, talking. Sarah just listened to them and smiled. For just one moment, they were all at peace with the world and themselves.
The day of the music festival came. Sarah was wearing a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt. Kevin realized that he had never seen her wearing pants. She helped them pack up all their equipment and drove with them to the festival. After helping them unload the van, she kissed Kevin.
"Break a leg, you guys," she said. "I'll be cheering for you." She left and went out into the audience.
They were the fifth band to play that afternoon. It was hot. The July sun beat down on the stage. Kevin was thankful for the shade backstage. He talked to a bunch of musicians and got autographs from some of them. Peter told him he was a freak about fifty times. Kevin was just starting to lose his patience in the heat when it was their turn to go on stage.
Their equipment was set up. All they had to do was go on and play. Kevin could not locate Sarah in the huge throng of people. He picked up his guitar and played as if his life depended on it. He played like he was making love to Sarah. He played like his heart was so full it was going to explode. It was magical. As if everything in his life was culminating in this one set. They never sounded as good as they did that day. The crowd cheered after each song and at the end. Kevin wasn't sure if his feet were even touching the ground when the walked off stage.
They went around to the back and waited for their equipment to be brought offstage. Kevin felt a hand slide down his back and around his waist. He turned to find Sarah smiling up at him.
"You guys were amazing." She hugged him. He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.
"Thanks to you. Without you , we wouldn't have gotten this far." he said to her. Sarah blinked hard and Kevin saw a tear run back into her hair. She stepped away from him and wiped her eyes.
Peter rushed up, picked Sarah up like a doll and carried her over to where Scott and Tom were standing. They each hugged and kissed her. Kevin trotted over to them.
"I had to steal her away. You'd never have let her go, otherwise," Peter teased. Kevin just smiled at him.
Their gear was brought to them. Sarah helped them to load up the van again and they headed home.
"I have this weird feeling that somehow you guys have sealed your fate." Sarah said from the back of the van. "I don't know if it's good or bad. I just feel like your next step is predestined. Do you guys feel that way?"
"All I know is that we played our asses off." Peter said from the front seat.
"You were awesome." Sarah said.
When they got home, Sarah cooked dinner while they unloaded the van and set up the equipment in the basement again.
"OK you guys. Dinner is ready." Sarah called. They immediately put down what they were doing and went upstairs. Sarah had a huge bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce on the table, a salad and two pitchers of lemonade. They devoured dinner in silence.
"Damn, Sarah. That was awesome." Peter said. The rest of them agreed loudly.
"Thanks." She stood up and began to clear the table. Kevin stood up to help her.
"Are we going to practice tonight?" Scott asked as they lazed around the table.
"Nah. Let's just sit around. I'm too full to sing." Peter said.
"That OK with you, Kev?" Scott asked.
"Yeah," he said as he dried the plates. "Nothing I could play tonight will make me feel better than I do right now."
"Tom?" Scott asked.
"OK" Tom replied.
They spent the evening sitting around the living room, talking. Sarah just listened to them and smiled. For just one moment, they were all at peace with the world and themselves.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Sarah and Kevin 45
After dinner that evening, Kevin helped with the dishes as usual. Sarah hadn't spoken during dinner or afterward as they washed up together.
Kevin put his arm around Sarah's shoulders.
"You promised," he said.
She nodded and cleared her throat. She lowered her head. "Today is the anniversary of David's death. I'm having a hard time with it."
Kevin took her in his arms and hugged her. He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" she asked.
"Stupid? No. I'm sorry you're hurting."
Sarah sighed. "You're too good to me," she said.
"I hope I'm good enough for you," he said. Sarah reached up and took his face in both her hands.
"You're perfect for me." she said. He smiled and kissed her forehead and then her lips.
Kevin heard the outside door open and broke the kiss.
Mark stood in the doorway. His face was redder than his hair. He was holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"I thought you'd need some cheering up today," Mark snarled. "But obviously your mind is on other things, so I guess you forgot all about it." Marks voice rose until he was screaming. He threw the flowers on the floor at her feet and stormed out. Kevin looked at Sarah. Her face was bright red and there were tears rolling down her cheeks. Kevin felt the rage bubbling up in his chest. He let go of Sarah, put his glasses on the table and ran out the door after Mark.
"Hey!" Kevin yelled. Mark stopped and looked up at him. "Get your sorry ass back in that house and apologize." Kevin strode toward him. Mark slammed his car door and met Kevin in the middle of the yard. They were standing toe to toe.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do, you freak?" Mark snapped.
"I'm Sarah's boyfriend. And I'm god damn sick and tired of you coming over here and upsetting her." Kevin poked a finger in Mark's chest. "You owe her a god damn apology."
"I ain't gonna apologize to that bitch. She can't even show respect for the day her husband died."
"It's been five years. Should she cover herself in ashes and wear a cotton sack for the day?"
"You don't know anything about it. So shut the hell up." Mark shoved him. Kevin staggered back a couple of steps. Then he lunged for Mark.
They ended up down on the ground exchanging blows. Kevin heard the back door slam and soon he and Mark were being dragged apart.
"I ought to arrest you for assaulting an officer." Mark yelled over Scott's shoulder.
Sarah, who was helping Tom hold Kevin back turned around. "You shoved him first!"
"This is all your fault, bitch. Shut the hell up." Mark snapped.
"My fault? You're jealous and acting like an idiot and it's my fault?"
Mark shook off Peter and Scott. "Don't flatter yourself. I wouldn't touch you with someone else's hands now."
"Shut up!" Kevin yelled. He pushed past Tom and Sarah. "She loved your brother very much. She was grieving for him today. I was trying to make her feel better when you came in and started running your mouth."
Mark visibly deflated. He looked past Kevin at Sarah. "Can we talk? Alone? Please?" he asked quietly.
Sarah sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek. "OK." She turned and walked toward the house.
"Mark, will you wait in the kitchen?" she asked and, grabbing Kevin's glasses, followed her musicians downstairs. When they got to the bottom, Sarah took Kevin's hand.
"Let me help you get cleaned up," she said quietly. They walked into the bathroom. Kevin saw that his lip was bloody and and there was a bruise forming on his cheek.
"Sit here." she said and pointed at the toilet seat. She took a wash cloth out of the cabinet and wet it. Gently, she wiped the blood from his lips and then the rest of his face. She bent down and kissed him.
"Thank you for fighting for my honor." she whispered and put his glasses back on..
Kevin smiled up at her. She brushed his hair back from his face. "I'll see you after practice." she said and kissed his forehead. She left the bathroom and went upstairs.
When Sarah got to the top of the stairs, Mark was sitting at the table, nose still bleeding. Sighing, she took a dish cloth out of the drawer and wet it at the kitchen sink. She wiped Mark's face and tried to get the blood out of his shirt. Mark watched her as she ministered to him. The band began practicing, so she closed the kitchen door to muffle the sound so they could talk.
"Are you really in love with that guy?" he asked. Sarah looked in Mark's eyes. He sighed and turned his head to look out the window. "Damn." he said.
"Mark, You know I loved David more than anything. When he died, I didn't think I would ever love anyone again. When I first saw Kevin, I knew he was the one who was going to change that for me. He won't ever take David's place in my heart. No one could. But I love him more than I ever thought possible." She kept her voice low so it wouldn't shake.
"After he died, I just wanted to take care of you. And then I fell in love with you. I knew you didn't love me, but I hoped that someday you would. Even after you broke things off with me, I hoped that you would change your mind someday." He cleared his throat and stood up. "I won't stand in your way. You deserve to be happy, even if it's not with me. Can I still call you once in a while?"
"Of course," she put her hand on his arm.
Without another word, he walked out the door.
Kevin put his arm around Sarah's shoulders.
"You promised," he said.
She nodded and cleared her throat. She lowered her head. "Today is the anniversary of David's death. I'm having a hard time with it."
Kevin took her in his arms and hugged her. He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" she asked.
"Stupid? No. I'm sorry you're hurting."
Sarah sighed. "You're too good to me," she said.
"I hope I'm good enough for you," he said. Sarah reached up and took his face in both her hands.
"You're perfect for me." she said. He smiled and kissed her forehead and then her lips.
Kevin heard the outside door open and broke the kiss.
Mark stood in the doorway. His face was redder than his hair. He was holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"I thought you'd need some cheering up today," Mark snarled. "But obviously your mind is on other things, so I guess you forgot all about it." Marks voice rose until he was screaming. He threw the flowers on the floor at her feet and stormed out. Kevin looked at Sarah. Her face was bright red and there were tears rolling down her cheeks. Kevin felt the rage bubbling up in his chest. He let go of Sarah, put his glasses on the table and ran out the door after Mark.
"Hey!" Kevin yelled. Mark stopped and looked up at him. "Get your sorry ass back in that house and apologize." Kevin strode toward him. Mark slammed his car door and met Kevin in the middle of the yard. They were standing toe to toe.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do, you freak?" Mark snapped.
"I'm Sarah's boyfriend. And I'm god damn sick and tired of you coming over here and upsetting her." Kevin poked a finger in Mark's chest. "You owe her a god damn apology."
"I ain't gonna apologize to that bitch. She can't even show respect for the day her husband died."
"It's been five years. Should she cover herself in ashes and wear a cotton sack for the day?"
"You don't know anything about it. So shut the hell up." Mark shoved him. Kevin staggered back a couple of steps. Then he lunged for Mark.
They ended up down on the ground exchanging blows. Kevin heard the back door slam and soon he and Mark were being dragged apart.
"I ought to arrest you for assaulting an officer." Mark yelled over Scott's shoulder.
Sarah, who was helping Tom hold Kevin back turned around. "You shoved him first!"
"This is all your fault, bitch. Shut the hell up." Mark snapped.
"My fault? You're jealous and acting like an idiot and it's my fault?"
Mark shook off Peter and Scott. "Don't flatter yourself. I wouldn't touch you with someone else's hands now."
"Shut up!" Kevin yelled. He pushed past Tom and Sarah. "She loved your brother very much. She was grieving for him today. I was trying to make her feel better when you came in and started running your mouth."
Mark visibly deflated. He looked past Kevin at Sarah. "Can we talk? Alone? Please?" he asked quietly.
Sarah sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek. "OK." She turned and walked toward the house.
"Mark, will you wait in the kitchen?" she asked and, grabbing Kevin's glasses, followed her musicians downstairs. When they got to the bottom, Sarah took Kevin's hand.
"Let me help you get cleaned up," she said quietly. They walked into the bathroom. Kevin saw that his lip was bloody and and there was a bruise forming on his cheek.
"Sit here." she said and pointed at the toilet seat. She took a wash cloth out of the cabinet and wet it. Gently, she wiped the blood from his lips and then the rest of his face. She bent down and kissed him.
"Thank you for fighting for my honor." she whispered and put his glasses back on..
Kevin smiled up at her. She brushed his hair back from his face. "I'll see you after practice." she said and kissed his forehead. She left the bathroom and went upstairs.
When Sarah got to the top of the stairs, Mark was sitting at the table, nose still bleeding. Sighing, she took a dish cloth out of the drawer and wet it at the kitchen sink. She wiped Mark's face and tried to get the blood out of his shirt. Mark watched her as she ministered to him. The band began practicing, so she closed the kitchen door to muffle the sound so they could talk.
"Are you really in love with that guy?" he asked. Sarah looked in Mark's eyes. He sighed and turned his head to look out the window. "Damn." he said.
"Mark, You know I loved David more than anything. When he died, I didn't think I would ever love anyone again. When I first saw Kevin, I knew he was the one who was going to change that for me. He won't ever take David's place in my heart. No one could. But I love him more than I ever thought possible." She kept her voice low so it wouldn't shake.
"After he died, I just wanted to take care of you. And then I fell in love with you. I knew you didn't love me, but I hoped that someday you would. Even after you broke things off with me, I hoped that you would change your mind someday." He cleared his throat and stood up. "I won't stand in your way. You deserve to be happy, even if it's not with me. Can I still call you once in a while?"
"Of course," she put her hand on his arm.
Without another word, he walked out the door.
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