Mended (8 page)

Tim closed the blinds, not wanting her to know he had witnessed her private moment.  He wondered what was making her so miserable. She was beautiful, wealthy and had a brilliant career.  She was alone for the most part, but Kassie seemed to have a very active social life judging from the friends who came in and out of her home constantly. Still, that was a huge house to be all alone in every night.

Nat ran into the den with Griffin right on her heels. He stopped on a dime right beside her.

“Can I have cookies?” She asked.

“Yeah, but no chocolate for him, only the plain oatmeal ones.”

The two tore out of the room and Tim called behind them, “Only two cookies for both of you!” Natalie’s groan was his answer.

For a moment, Tim stood there staring at his violin. He almost felt like going over and seeing if she was ok. But he wondered how receptive she was be to him being anywhere near her.

Kassie wasn’t feeling work anymore and decided to call it a night. She had been a bit hungry but lost her appetite with that phone call. Instead, she went upstairs to the beach room and decided to do a little more work on it before heading to bed.

*~*~*~*

On these fall days that were cool and sunny, Kassie stayed in the yard. She’d rake up leaves, plant bulbs for the next year or sit in a lounge chair on her patio, watching the geese fly over her house. She had lived such a busy and tumultuous life with Monroe in Chicago, that sometimes she had forgotten that there was such a thing as peace. But here in her own little sanctuary, Kassie couldn’t imagine giving up her new life and going back to the old one.

The worst part about living in herself imposed exile was that no one was there to distract her from thinking about her life. No one was there to talk to when she needed. Kassie existed in a bubble of insecurity and sadness. Sure there were pockets of happiness and her friends were the best, most supportive friends any girl could ask for, but honestly, she was lonely.

Kassie had not gone out with a man since Nick and she had no intention of doing so either. Every time she even thought about dating, she would cringe inside. Honestly, she was having a hard time trusting her own judgment. Kassie had come to the conclusion that she would have to live in celibacy because she would never give any one the chance to hurt her again.

Men had ruined her life. Every man, from the father who had walked out on her when she was nine, to the pedophilic step father who tried his best to take away her innocence and up to Monroe who took her love and threw it away like garbage. Every man she had ever loved had played a part in ruining her life.

Reclining on her patio, sipping her tea, Kassie was startled as something streaked across her yard. Standing quickly, she was pleasantly surprised to see Griffin running from one end of her yard to the next. The dog rolled around on her grass before jumping up and running off again. He dropped a little red squirrel on the grass and Kassie ran to pick it up, tossing it into the air where he promptly jumped and caught it. Griff trotted back to where Kassie stood laughing at him and plopped himself down in front of her.

“Hey Crazy.” She said kneeling down to pet him. She had come to start calling the silly dog “Crazy” since it seemed to suit him and, oddly, he answered to it. He ran away again, rolling around with the toy then running back to her and dropping it at her feet. He put his paws in her thighs and nudged her hand with his head as if to say
‘Go on, you know you want to.’
Kassie giggled and gave him what he wanted,
‘I wonder if Tim would let his dog live with me on the weekends.’ 
She mused jokingly.

*****

Tim looked out seeing Griffin in her yard and quickly ran out of the house. He just didn’t trust her after what she said about poisoning his dog. Granted that was a year ago but he was still wary of her. As he ran out though, he heard her talking to Griffin and stopped to listen; he crept closer. Kassie was kneeling next to the dog, scratching behind his ears affectionately.

“You’re a pretty boy aren’t you? You’re a pretty, pretty boy.” She cooed softly. For his part, Griffin lay there like a log.
‘Traitorous mutt. For God’s sake the woman threatened to kill you!’ 
Tim thought to himself. If Griff’s life depended on his running away from Kassie at that moment, the dog would be a goner. He kept listening, his ears not believing what they were hearing as she lavished Griffin with affection.

“Kassie’s going to have to buy you some more treats isn’t she? You’re almost out.”

His mouth dropped open.
‘So! That’s why he came in smelling like processed foods sometimes, he’s been consorting with the enemy all this time!
  Tim smirked to himself. Hell, if I was Griff, I’d consort with her too. He shook his head and chuckled softly. This chick was something else. He wanted to jump over that fence and take a picture of her laughing and smiling with his dog. Just to show the neighbors that she really could be nice.

“Griffin!” He called, looking around and pretending he just ran into the yard. Kassie jumped to her feet, looking a little guilty and Griffin picked up his toy, walking innocently to Tim.
‘Yeah right pal tell it to the judge.’ 
Tim glared at the dog as he slunk back into their yard.

Kassie stared at Tim admiringly a bit. There was something about him that was all too tempting. She looked away when he turned his attention back on her, her expression a little chagrined and he smiled inwardly. Yup, she was checking him out. Awesome! Cause he had been checking her out for a year.

He was wearing his glasses today. His clothes were so relaxed and slightly nerdy yet sexy. He wore simple khaki shorts, and a red tee shirt with
Wolf pack and Beers
written on it in white lettering. Kassie almost laughed because he was far and away from looking like a typical ladies man. But then she remembered some of the women she had seen coming from his house and realized she might be wrong. Besides, looking at him this close brought home to her how handsome he was. Suddenly, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Kassie swallowed. “I, I’m sorry. I must have left my gate open.”

“No problem, I should have kept a better eye on him.”

She turned and walked back to her house. Tim couldn’t take his eyes off her delicious bottom, quietly praying,

“Please God, give me that for Christmas.” He turned and walked out of her yard.

*****

Kassie’s convertible pulled into the yard fast enough to make Tim’s heart stop. She was a fast driver sometimes, but usually she would peel out or in only at night when the streets were empty. He and Griff were just returning from a long walk as she was getting out of her car, her arms laden with packages.

“Good evening.” He said as he passed.

“Evening.” She smiled.

Griffin placed his paws on her thigh as she tried to close the gate.

“Hello.” She smiled at him, seeming a little happier to see the dog than to see the human. Griffin wagged his tail happily at her and Kassie placed her bags on the ground, digging into one of the takeout bags. She pulled out some delicious looking steak fries, blew on them and gave them to Griff who gobbled them up.

“I like the convertible.” Tim made conversation.

“Thanks.”

“You don’t see cars in that color much. Didn’t you have a red one?”

Kassie nodded, “The red one was mine, the black one was my ex husband’s. I took it in the divorce, and the navy blue one is a little celebration of my divorce from him.” She pushed her hair back from her face, “The other two, the red and the black, I sold and donated the money to a battered women’s shelter and The Disabled Veterans Foundation.” Kassie said.

Tim raised his eyebrows, impressed by her generosity.

“That’s sweet of you Kassie.”

“I didn’t need the cars or the money,” she shrugged. “Why not?”

He smiled at her wolfishly, “Maybe one day you can take me for a drive.”

“Maybe one day I will,” She picked up her things and walked away, throwing him a coy look over her shoulder. “If you get lucky.”

Kassie went into her house and lost her composure the minute she closed the door. She leaned back against it. Was she actually flirting with Tim? Her heart was thumping in her chest so hard she could swear she was having a panic attack. The man was giving her the fits for God’s sake . . . and she was enjoying it! She was really starting to wonder about him. She wondered how his lips taste, how his hands would feel on her and how his skin smelled. Kassie had imagined all kinds of things when she thought of being with him.

*~*~*~*

Halloween blew in so quickly that Kassie didn’t remember until mid day. She had plans for the city but would much rather lay on her couch, eating popcorn and watching scary movies; while taking down as much chocolate candy as she could before she broke out in hives. But business was business and it had to be done. She decided she’d grab a bag of candy in the city and order a scary movie at her hotel suite. It wasn’t as fun as being at home but it would have to do.

*****

It was seven o’clock and the streets were full of trick-or-treaters. Timothy slid a blue satin cape onto Griffin and chuckled.

“Alright dog wonder, I’ll admit, you’re cute.” He shook the Griffin’s paw. Tim looked in the hall mirror and touched up the fake blood around his mouth, before doing a little James Brown spin.  He was not just a zombie; he was the baddest badass zombie on the block!

Nora and Bruce walked out of the kitchen with a huge bowl of candy. Nora was wearing a zombie beauty queen costume and Bruce was Dracula.

“Sure you don’t mind Brucie?” She asked.

“Nope. I’ll eat candy and watch Vincent Price. Happy Halloween to me.” Bruce never liked Halloween, even as a kid. He always felt a little creeped out by the whole “celebrating the dead” thing (as he called it). Plus the fact, his brothers would beat the crap out of him and take his candy.

“Ok, I’m ready!” Natalie ran down dressed as a zombie cheerleader. “Candy.” She stuck out her arms and drug her foot behind her, they all laughed. No one wanting to remind her that they were a zombie family, not mummies.

“Let’s go.” Tim said picking up her pail and a black pillowcase.

“Really Tim?”

“What? This is my payment for wearing this costume when I wanted to be Knight Rider.” Tim objected. Nora stared at him with an amused annoyance. He was Knight Rider every year. “You’ll get your cut.”

“Yeah,” Nora said. “Well I want a third.” She turned and gave Bruce a quick kiss good bye, ignoring Tim’s grumbling behind her back. 

“Candy addicts.” Natalie mumbled on her way out.

*****

Kassie tossed her bag into the back of her car. She was wearing very un-Halloween like clothing; black leather booties, a short cobalt blue dress and a black blazer with the sleeves rolled up on her forearms. Her hair was in a sexy, messy braid over her shoulder.

“Hi.” Natalie said brightly, running up to Kassie driveway gate.

“Hello.” Kassie smiled at the little girl. “How are you?”

“I’m doing well, how are you?”

Kassie laughed, a tinkling beautiful laugh and Tim nearly swooned.

“Very well spoken for a zombie cheerleader, usually you guys just grunt and groan at people.”

Natalie giggled.

“You look pretty. Are you going to a party?” Natalie asked excitedly.

“No, I have a meeting in Chicago.” Kassie said.

Natalie nodded sadly. She was a Halloweenaholic and thought that everyone should be.

“I’ll get candy for you too.” She said.             

“Thank you sweetheart, that’s very nice. Most zombies don’t like to share.” Kassie giggled and Natalie joined her. Tim watched the light in Kassie's eyes as she spoke to the young girl. He hadn’t seen that light when she spoke to him.

“Hello.” Nora said stepping up and holding out her hand, Kassie shook it.

“Hi.” Kassie smiled. “I’m Kassie-,”

“I know who you are. We were big fans of your work when Nat was little. You’re an excellent artist.” Nora flattered Kassie. “I’m Nora by the way.”

Kassie smiled graciously, all the while feeling Tim’s eyes on her.

“Nice to meet you Nora and thank you. I’m never certain about my work.” Kassie smiled. “I’m about to publish a book of my own.”

“That’s wonderful. I’ll read it to my little one.” She patted her belly.

Kassie smiled, but it pained her. After her miscarriage she wasn’t too sure that she’d be able to get pregnant again.

“Congratulations.” Kassie said gently.

Tim saw the sadness cover her pretty face and took a bit of a step closer.

“Oh, oh my gosh. I’m so sorry.” Nora remembered reading about her miscarriage in a tabloid. It was weird to read about the countless affairs Monroe had on Kassie and here she was standing right in front of them. Seeing her face to face the woman was very pretty and seemed nice. She didn’t understand how some men could be so heartless.

“No, it’s fine. I’m not going to rain on your happiness.” Kassie smiled a little tremulously. “Besides it’s been two years.”

Tim could see the sorrow in her eyes still.

“We should get going.” Tim said softly.

Kassie looked at him up and down slowly. Even in a zombie costume, he was good looking, as impossible as that seemed.

“Where’s
your
costume?” Kassie asked breaking the tension.

Nora and Natalie laughed.

“You’re real cute.” Tim grumbled.

Kassie turned and walked away giggling too.

“Enjoy your night.” Kassie smiled, opening her car door.

“Bye Kassie.” Natalie said.

“Hey wait,” She turned. “What’s your name sweetheart? You’ve never told me.”

“Natalie.” The little zombie beamed at her.

“That’s a beautiful name.”

“It’s my Gram’s name.” She said smiling.

“I like it.” Kassie waved, not even realizing that she had made the girl’s night. “Have fun guys.”

“Bye!” Natalie and Nora called out. Tim stuck his tongue out at her and she laughed out loud as she pulled out into the street full of trick-or-treaters, this time very slowly. She honked as she slowly drove past them. Tim closed her gate as Nat and Nora waved.

*****

Tim looked at Nora as she teased him; she had been teasing him throughout the walk. He shook his head at her angrily.

“See what I mean about her?” Tim asked.
“Where’s your costume?”
  He mimicked in a high voice.

Nora shrugged a shoulder at him and laughed. As a matter of fact she had laughed her ass off at his expense.

“I think she’s funny. Where’s your costume.” She giggled again and shook her head. “Good stuff. Besides, I got a little flirtation in that teasing whether you noticed or not.”

“Yeah right.” Tim said softly kicking over a stone.

“Not everyone has a relationship like ours Timmy.” She said softly as she looped her arm around his. “We just grew apart and we knew it. Thank God we were able to just divorce and stay friends. Some couples don’t have that. There’s cheating and lying and fighting, it all leaves such bitterness. Even in our splitting up we both waited until we were well out of our marriage before we started dating again.”

“I respected you Nora and what we had together.” He said. “And what we made.” He looked up at Natalie as she got a handful of candy from Max, who was dressed in his old football gear. He waved at Nora and Tim and they waved back.

“I loved you for that.”

“Besides I’m a pussy. I didn’t want to see you cry.” He said.

“Yeah you really are.” She agreed.

He laughed putting his arm over her shoulder as Natalie ran out of the fence and to the next house with a group of friends. Nora still smiled when he put his arm over her shoulder; it was automatic. It felt like they were still in college when he did that. How innocent and carefree they were back then.

“Speaking of that, I’m playing in D.C. this weekend.”

Nora laughed, “Oh?”

“And I have a
“friend”
there who visits me every time I go but she’s got a boyfriend now and I’m feeling . . . I don’t know . . . weird about sleeping with her.”

Nora snorted and shook her head in disbelief.

“You know, I need my jaw to hold my violin, wouldn’t do to have it broken.” Tim added, Nora mmm-hmmed him sassily. “So, how do I handle that?”

Nora rolled her eyes, “Having it broken by him or her?”

Tim laughed knowing she was referring to the time a woman he was seeing before decked him. He was a gentleman, hitting women wasn’t his thing. But he wasn’t above showing his anger, he had before and he quickly cooled before he really blew.

She then proceeded to lecture him for sleeping with an involved woman then advised him on how to separate himself from the relationship. Tim was sweet but letting people down easy wasn’t his strong suit.

*~*~*~*