Destiny by chance: A Contemporary Romance Fiction Novel (13 page)

Bill arrived earlier than usual to prepare for Catfish Night at the Senior Center.  He wanted to be ready early so that when Destiny arrived, he could spend some time with her, without its distracting him from his tasks at hand.  She was all he had thought about all week.  Bill hadn’t thought about any woman in eight years.  Sure he noticed women, but none had caught his eye, his heart in such a way that he could think of nothing else.  Her eyes had entranced him, her lips enticed him.  Walking away last Friday night was the hardest thing he’d done in years.  Next to raising an eight-year-old, that is.

Bill was somewhat nervous and a little confused since she hadn’t taken or returned any of his phone calls.  He had tried to keep them simple; sweet greetings and ‘
looking forward to seeing you again
,’ messages.  He had even rehearsed before each call to assure that he didn’t come off sounding ridiculous.  Or desperate.  And yet, he felt ridiculous
and
desperate.  Maybe he had scared her.  No, that wasn’t possible.  There was that unforgettable kiss; the way she looked at him after the kiss. Her playfulness.  Her own nervousness was actually a little exciting.  It felt not unlike… high school.  The first kiss.  Your first kiss with your first love.  But he hadn’t talked to her since. It had been a long time, but he was pretty sure he remembered what the laws of attraction were.  And yet, now he wasn’t sure.

Either way, tonight was the night that he would tell Owen that he wanted to ask her out.  Not that he had to ask his permission, since, according to Destiny, he didn’t have a chance of dating her.  But Owen was his brother, and he owed him honesty.  He owed him that much.

Sheray bounced into the building, singing with a song playing on her cell phone, headphones adorning her head.  When she saw him, she sang louder and bounced to the music, dancing as if she was on stage.  Of course, Bill had to trust that she was singing to the beat.  He didn’t know any hip hop, and since he couldn’t hear any sound, he took her performance at face value.  He grinned.  When the song was over, she tugged the headphones out of her ears.  “Got a new tat,” she bragged, lifting the back of her shirt and lowering the back of her jeans to divulge a Chevy logo tattoo centered over her buttocks.  “It’s my new tramp stamp!” she said excitedly.

Bill shook his head.  “Who puts a car logo on their butt?”

“Technically, it’s not on my butt.” Sheray smiled as she washed her hands and dried them per regulations.

“What were you singing?”

“Eminem, ‘Monster.’”

“M and M’s ‘Monster’?”

“No, Eminem is the singer.  ‘Monster’ is the song.”

Bill wrinkled his lips.  “Interesting.”

Sheray unplugged her headphones, hit replay and turned up the music.  Then she began moving with the beat as she took the food from the fridge.  When the tune picked up, she danced more dramatically until she was dancing around the kitchen.  She bounced next to Bill, motioning him with her head and her hands to join in.  Bill slowly began bouncing.  Sheray stepped away from the counter, pulling him with her.  As he watched her moves he tried to mimic them until he was dancing around the kitchen as well.

“You’ve got it!”

Bill chuckled.  He hadn’t danced in years, and
never
to hip-hop.  He was actually having fun.  “M and M’s huh?”

Sheray laughed.  “Em-i-nem,” she pronounced slowly.

Bill turned as he moved and saw Owen standing, stupefied, in the doorway.  “C’mon, Homie,” Bill said, with a wave of his hands.  “Get down with it.”

Sheray laughed harder.

Owen shook his head and smiled.  “What have you been smokin’?”

“Homie’s in love,” Sheray said as the song ended.

Bill stopped dancing and looked at her.

“Nothing makes a man do crazy things like a woman,” she observed.

Bill glanced sideways at his brother, who was none the wiser. 

Owen began inventorying once again the items they were using and preparing his order for the following week.  Bill drew in a deep breath, counted out his cash drawer.  A half hour later he walked to his brother’s side.

“Hey,” he asked.  “You got a sec?”

Owen turned to his brother.  “Sure, what’s up?”

Bill opened his mouth to speak when suddenly the back door closed.  He turned expectantly to see Destiny, but Lisa walked in by herself.

“Hey, Lisa,” Sheray said.

Lisa nodded once before she walked toward Owen and Bill.  “Can I talk to you for a second?” she asked Owen.

“I’m a popular guy tonight,” he grinned.  “What’s up?”

“It’s Destiny,” she smiled.

“Your friend?”

Lisa nodded.

Bill stepped closer.

“She’s not going to be coming back for awhile.”

“Oh, okay,” he said nonchalantly.

Lisa looked at him expectantly.  “And she can’t make your date.”

“I don’t have a date with her,” Owen said, a perplexed expression on his face.

“I do,” Bill spoke up.

“You do?” Owen asked, a little annoyed.

“Yeah,” Bill replied awkwardly.  “I asked her out.”

“Really?  You asked someone out that I was interested in?”

“I was going to tell you.”

“When?  When you sent out wedding invitations?”

“We’ll talk about it later.”  Bill ignored Owen and turned to Lisa, a look of concern on his face.  “What happened? Why am I hearing it from you and not from Destiny?”

Owen moved away in a huff as Lisa took Bill’s arm and led him to the side, away from Owen and Sheray.  “Something happened last Saturday.”  Lisa looked down nervously.

Bill’s heart sank.  “What happened?” he asked.  When she didn’t answer right away, he grabbed her forearms.  “Tell me.  What?” 

Lisa looked up, surprised by his tone.  “She went out with some friends, and one gave her a ride home.”

“And?” he asked impatiently.

“He drugged her, and he raped her.”

Bill fell against the counter and dropped his head, the words instantly crumbling him.  He looked up.  “How is she?  Is she okay?”  He immediately shook his head.  “Of course, she’s not okay!  God.  What a stupid question!”

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t know about you and Destiny.”  Lisa shook her head.  “Look, Bill.  She’s very depressed.”

“I want to see her.  I need to see her.  I want to talk to her.”

Lisa shook her head.  “That’s not a good idea.”  She placed her hand on his forearm.  “If you care about her, you’re going to have to give her some time.  After everything—“ Lisa’s voice began to crack.  “After everything she’s been through, this is going to be really,
really
difficult.”

Bill paced in a circle and brushed back his hair.  “I can’t believe this.”  He walked to the metal wall and slammed his fist into it, denting the metal.  Sheray and Owen turned suddenly.

“What’s his name?”

Lisa shook her head, pulling him further from the kitchen and lowering her voice.  “I can’t tell you that.  There are legal issues involved now.”

Bill closed his eyes in frustration and banged his hand on the wall.  “I don’t care about any damn legal issues.  I want to know who did this to her.”

Lisa shook her head and frowned.  “I can’t.”

Bill stepped past her, grabbed his jacket and walked out the back door.

“Bill!” she exclaimed, running after him.  “Bill!” Lisa caught up with him and took his arm.  “Destiny’s not at home.”

“Where is she?”

“The best I can do is tell you that I will give her your number, and I’m sure she’ll call you when she’s ready.” Lisa shook her head.  “I’m sorry.”

“She has my number,” Bill said sarcastically, turning away from her, his hands clasped behind his head.  “She just wasn’t answering my calls,” he added angrily.  As he paced in a circle and growled, he stopped, dropping his hands to his knees, taking deep breaths before howling furiously into the night air.

Lisa watched in astonishment.  When he calmed down, she walked up behind him and took his arm in hers.  “She’ll get through this one, too,” she assured him.

“Tell her,” he gasped, fighting the unexpected emotions that were suddenly overwhelming him.  “Tell her that I’m thinking of her.  Tell her we’ll be praying for her.”

“I will.” Lisa kissed his cheek before taking his arm and walking him back inside. 

Her assignment for the week was to do something that she enjoyed doing, something that was part of her usual routine, something that she had stopped doing after the rape.  It had been months, and she was just now feeling strong enough to leave the house more regularly.  Destiny understood more than she ever imagined she could, the shame and embarrassment one bore, though misplaced, when raped.  Although she had no real memory of the rape, what she had experienced was still a brutal, personal assault on her humanity.

They questioned Winston the same day she had reported the assault, and though he refused to submit anything for DNA testing, there was enough evidence in her apartment and on her body to justify issuing a DNA search warrant to do so.  What followed was a warrant for his arrest.  He made bond that same day.  Destiny remembered him telling her he was a trust fund baby, so he was rich enough to hire the best lawyers to see him through a trial.  And he did.

Deep pockets.

Taking Officer Torres’ advice, Destiny filed for a restraining order the following week.  His attorney, in turn, filed for one against her.  Her lawyer explained that it wasn’t an uncommon move, so as to allow the defense to claim that Destiny was the actual threat and not Winston.  Rita didn’t know about the assault until she was contacted by the police later the following afternoon at home.  She had still been in bed recuperating from the night before.  Rita was very helpful in telling them Winston had personally given both her and Destiny drinks.  Then she explained how, coincidentally, she had become deathly ill after the first glass that
he
gave her.  The police requested she go immediately to the hospital to submit saliva, blood, and urine samples.

There were traces of GHB in Destiny’s urine sample, so they had hoped Rita’s tests would show similar results.  Several more hours had passed since Rita’s illness, and if she had also ingested GHB, the chances of it still being in her system were pretty slight.  They were skeptical whether she ingested anything else, but a toxicology was run on her just to be sure.  Rita also felt it was important to tell them about her two other employees who had quit or transferred after rumored involvement with Winston.

Destiny hadn’t been back to her apartment since the assault.  She couldn’t bear to return.  Lisa retrieved much of her clothing that weekend, and Destiny moved into Lisa’s guest room that same day.  Everything else was boxed up once more by movers, the following week, and put into storage.  That same week she listed her loft with a realtor and sold it a few days later for less than market value.  Then she shut herself off from the world.  Again. 

If it weren’t for doctor’s orders, she would
never
leave the house.  Therefore, she was forced to choose.  Destiny wasn’t about to go back to the Senior Center, and she couldn’t face anyone from work yet, so she decided to go to the stable.  It was still dark when she left Lisa’s house.  The possibility of running into anyone while riding this early in the morning was remote.  Destiny had even called Charlie and Jessie the night before to assure there were no corporate events or trail rides scheduled and that Daisy was available to ride.  They were excited that she was coming and even invited her to lunch.  She feigned excitement and then lied about having other plans later that morning.  If luck was on her side, she would arrive undetected, have a short ride and then leave without encountering anyone. 

The clouds hung heavy in the black morning sky, the sun just beginning to peek out from behind them.  Roosters cried out from the treetops as chickens cackled and clucked in the henhouse.  Destiny parked closer to the barn than she usually did, anticipating a quick and convenient getaway after her ride.  The tack room was on the way to Daisy’s stall, so she stopped to pick out her bridle. 

“Hey, Girl,” she cooed.  Daisy turned in her paddock and walked to her, whinnying softly.  Destiny stroked her long muzzle.  “I missed you, old girl.”  The gate creaked as she slowly opened it and stepped inside.  She whispered as her hands moved along Daisy’s recently brushed mane.  The mare snorted and shook her head as Destiny slid the bridle over her ears, her fingers working the leather strap through the buckle easily.  Daisy followed her obediently from the stall to the tack room where Destiny fed the reins through the fence before selecting a blanket and saddle for her ride.  Just as she finished saddling her mount, a familiar face appeared around the corner. 

Sydney was swinging a bucket of fresh eggs but stopped when she looked up and saw Destiny.  Her face lit up instantly.  “Hi, Dee!” she exclaimed, setting down the bucket and running to her.  Destiny crouched to accept her hug.

“Hey, Sweetheart.”  Destiny hugged her tightly.

“You’re going riding?”

Destiny nodded.

“Can I ride with you?”

“I don’t think so, today, Honey.”  Suddenly Sydney’s face fell and her shoulder’s slumped.  Destiny drew in a deep breath, looked around, and then exhaled.  “Okay, saddle up.”

Sydney’s smile immediately returned.  She ran into the tack room, re-emerging with a bridle seconds later.  Within minutes, Peanut was bridled and saddled, and Sydney was standing on a bucket ready to climb onto him.

“Do your aunt and uncle know you’re going riding?”

Sydney immediately trotted to the house, the bucket of eggs hanging awkwardly from the saddle horn.  She steered Peanut as close to the porch as she could.  “Uncle Charlie! Aunt Jessie!” she yelled at the top of her lungs.  “I’m going riding with Dee!”

Well
, Destiny thought,
that was one way to do it.

Jessie stepped onto the porch in sweatpants and a man’s flannel shirt over a t-shirt, her wavy blonde unkempt hair looking much like dry straw.  “Hey, Destiny!”

Destiny waved without moving closer. 

“Is it okay?” Jessie yelled from the house.

Destiny nodded, and then listened as Jessie dealt out instructions to which Sydney’s head bobbed up and down obediently.  Sydney handed her aunt the bucket of eggs, then turned her pony, clicked her teeth, gave a little kick and trotted back to Destiny.  “Ready!” Sydney beamed.

“Let’s go.”

Destiny waved at Jessie, then turned Daisy and waited for Sydney before going through the pasture gate and into the vast fields beyond.  The sun was just rising, filling the morning sky with gold, orange, and red hues, to light their way.  They took their time this morning, walking through the meadows, at some points even dismounting and letting the horses graze while they walked ahead of their mounts.  Sydney seemed to sense Destiny’s need for peace and quiet, so she wasn’t very talkative.  The young girl reminded her of herself so many years ago.  Destiny looked down at her.  Without her even realizing it, Sydney’s presence meant so much to her.

For the first twelve years of her life, Destiny was raised on a ranch. She grew up in the saddle.  There was nothing like the power of a horse under her, the grace of the canter, the gentle acceptance of the master’s touch.  Destiny didn’t realize how much she’d missed that until she began riding at Charlie’s and Jessie’s Farm.

New calves stood warily close to their mothers, in the field beyond.  Destiny looked down at Sydney and grinned.  As if she knew what Destiny was thinking, a mischievous grin grew upon her lips.  Destiny clicked her teeth and then galloped across the small slope of green before her, Sydney not far behind. The cattle, refusing to be herded, moved lazily just feet away to another patch of green clover.

“We’re cowboys!” Sydney said excitedly.

“Cowgirls!” Destiny corrected as she changed course.  The cattle scattered, then congregated closer to the wooded area.

“Woo-hoo!” Sydney exclaimed, corralling them against the trees.

Destiny stopped and dismounted, slowly walking toward the small herd.  The calves moved nervously closer to their mothers.  She reached into her pocket and retrieved a handful of apple slices she had brought for Daisy.  She sat on the ground and held out her hand.  Sydney joined her, looking at her expectantly.  Destiny took half the apples and put them into the girl’s small hand.  The cows all looked at them, stupefied.  Whenever Sydney would start to say something, Destiny would put her finger to her lips and shush her. 

Daisy nudged Destiny’s back, nearly knocking her over.  She moved her head over Destiny’s shoulder, attempting to steal the apples originally meant for her.  Destiny gently shoved Daisy’s head away until the mare got the hint and started eating the grass beside her.  One of the cows stepped precariously toward them, her calf following close behind.  She arrived in front of Sydney and leaned over to sniff the apples.

“Hold them flat-handed,” Destiny whispered, demonstrating with her own hand. 

Sydney did as Destiny showed her.  The cow sniffed before taking the apples, leaving a slobbery mess in Sydney’s hand.  “Ewww!” she exclaimed, startling the calf, then wiping her hands on her purple jeans.

Destiny laughed as the brown Jersey proceeded to consume the apples she held, slobbering all over her hands as well.  She gave a strangely exaggerated look, then wiped her hands on her pants, also.  The rest of the cattle, seeing that there were treats involved, slowly made their way toward Destiny and Sydney.  Destiny reached up and scratched under the Jersey’s neck.  The young milk cow stepped closer to Sydney as she stretched her neck further, encouraging Destiny to scratch other parts.  Sydney scooted closer to Destiny afraid of getting trampled.  The Jersey leaned over and sniffed her head.  They both laughed, startling the herd when they stood up.  They took Daisy and Peanut by the reins and walked into the woods.

“I didn’t expect to see you this morning.” Destiny leaned side to side, dodging limbs.

“Yeah, I told my dad I needed some time to myself.”

Destiny watched Sydney as she spoke.

“Sometimes there’s just so many people coming and going that I can’t hear myself think.”

Destiny grinned.  “How old are you, again?”

“Eight.  And then Deborah comes home, and she gets kind of bossy.”

“Deborah your sister?”

“No, she lives with Daddy and me.”

“Oh,” Destiny replied. 

“But I don’t think she’s going to work out, or, at least, that’s what Daddy says.”

Destiny made a face.

“Yeah, she’s nice and all, but just not what he’s looking for.”

“Your dad told you that?”

Sydney nodded.  “We talk about everything.”

“Hmm,” Destiny said, furrowing her brow as they arrived at the opening in the woods.  They released the horses to drink at the spring and sat on a boulder overlooking the water.

“I just hope he can find someone that can make him happy.”  Sydney turned to Destiny.  “Are you married?”

Destiny looked down at the water and shook her head.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

Destiny shook her head again.

Sydney sat up straight.  “Hey, maybe you and my daddy—” she began.

Destiny held up her hand.  “Young lady, I know you mean well, but I don’t think I’m what your dad is looking for, either.”

“How do you know that unless you meet him?”

Destiny looked over at Sydney and brushed her hair away from her face.  “The thing is, Sydney, I used to be married, and now I’m not anymore.  And it was real hard, after.  And, well…” she looked back into the water, “sometimes, I think some people just are meant to be alone.”

Sydney leaned against Destiny.  “No one should be alone.”

Destiny wrapped her arm around Sydney’s shoulder.  “No,” she said sadly.  “No one should be alone, but sometimes they just are.  And that’s not always a bad thing.”

“But aren’t you sad?  Being alone?”

Destiny bit her lip as she released Sydney and started swinging her legs back and forth.  “Sometimes,” she said, trying not to cry.  “But most times, like right now, I’m just glad to have friends, like you, that I can spend time with; then I’m not lonely.  Then I’m not sad.”

Sydney nudged her with her shoulder.  “So you’re glad I was here this morning?”

Destiny looked down at the young girl.  “I’m
really
glad you were here this morning.”

Sydney leaned against Destiny.  “Good answer.”

Destiny laughed.  “Are you sure you’re only eight?”  She put her arm around Sydney again, pulling her closer to her side.  When their laughter died down, they sat quietly, listening to the brook and the birds.  The sun burned off the morning mist around them; the cattle settled into a greener meadow to eat, and for these few magical moments, the things of the world that tortured her soul, were forgotten.