Some Day Somebody (24 page)

The two women erupted into laughter, but Darlene made a quick recovery. “Just like every year, there’s not a man around, and us gals are working our butts off to get dinner ready. So, what’d Dave do that has Ruby so pissed at him?”

As she described the incidents to her friend, she could sense Darlene waiting patiently to add something.

“That crazy son of a bitch,” Darlene said with a voice full of venom. “He’s with a different woman every week and has the nerve to pull that crap.”

“I know. That’s why this is all so frustrating.” Carrie sensed her friend’s wind-up for the next question and steeled herself.

“I was on a date with a co-worker, friend of mine.”

“Really...” The tone of Darlene’s voice lowered noticeably. “Who’s the lucky guy and what’s he like?”

“Sam
Langley,
and he’s settled, dependable, trustworthy.”

“Hmmm.
Maybe he’ll bore you.”

“If boredom means being able to relax and let down my
guard,
then bring it on. Besides…” she paused, wondering how much to say.

“Okay, that sounded too promising not to tell me what you’re thinking,” Darlene teased. “Start with the obvious—what he looks like—then work your way up to how you feel when you’re with him.”

Carrie released a deep chuckle. “
Oooh
, I like the way you think, honey.” She settled back on the sofa. “Okay, he’s much taller than I am, kind of blonde, with light blue eyes. And funny...God, he makes me laugh.” She sighed deeply. “And Dar, when he wraps those long arms around me, I melt.”

“Oh wow. You really like this guy, don’t you?”

Carrie closed her eyes. “I do. But you know what’s even better?”

“Huh?”

“I’m just trying to catch up to how he feels about me.”

“So, you think this thing with Sam could be serious?”

“It’s way too soon to tell.”

“Okay, but you always said if you could do it over you’d have chosen someone tall. How tall is he?”

Carrie grinned at her.
“Six two or three, and Dar?
He wears a size
thirteen
shoe,” she added, grinning at her friend’s sharp intake of breath.

“Thirteen? I wonder if it’s true what they say—”

“I have no idea,” she whispered into the phone. “But I’ll let you know as soon as I do.” The two women burst into laughter.

“Oh, God, I miss you, girl. But it was bound to happen. Sooner or later, we all knew someone would come along and show some appreciation for what Dave took for granted all those years. You took that crap a lot longer than I would have.”

“When you don’t think you deserve better, you settle for less. Now I know differently. I need to go now, hon.
My
kids are bound to be at Mom’s by now.”

“Okay, but I want regular updates on this Sam thing, you hear?”

Five minutes later, she pulled up beside Grant’s black Ford pick-up parked in her mother’s driveway. Her son straightened, loaded down with an armload of wrapped Christmas gifts. She watched his mouth twist and tighten when he caught sight of the huge crack in the windshield of her sedan. She got out of the car and gave her son a kiss on the cheek. “Merry Christmas Eve, Baby Boy.”

“You too, Mom.”
He stared down at her windshield and gave his head a slow shake. “
That
looks about ten times worse than what Dad described.”

Carrie shrugged, but kept her silence.

“That’s not right, Mom.”

She opened the gift-filled trunk of her car. “I know, son, but let’s not talk about this now. Are your sisters inside?”

Grant gave a snort. “Yeah, it only took `
em
two hours to get ready.”

Carrie placed her hand on his shoulder and laughed. “You’d understand if you were a woman.”

Gretchen bounded out of her Maw
Maw
Elaine’s house, as excited as a young puppy.
“Mom!
It’s Christmas Eve!”

Carrie gave her daughter a big hug. “I know, sweetie.”

Lauren rushed out next. “Merry Christmas Eve, Mama,” she said, returning her mother’s hug.

“You too, sweet girl.”

The twins turned toward the windshield and asked in perfect unison. “What happened to the window?”

The last thing Carrie wanted to do was ruin their holidays. “It was nothing. Come on, grab some things and let’s go on inside to help Maw
Maw
get lunch ready.”

Grant spoke up. “Mom, you may as well get it over with.” He turned to his sisters. “Dad broke it.”

“Why?” Gretchen asked.

Carrie’s head fell back on her shoulders. “I don’t know why, honey. He was angry.”

“What does
he
have to be mad about?” Gretchen demanded. “You’re the one who should be mad. He gets to stay in our house.”

Lauren’s voice shook with anger. “He did that, knowing we have to ride in this car, too.”

Carrie grabbed an armload of gifts. “He wasn’t thinking straight at the time,” she answered. “Here, bring these inside.”

She watched her daughters disappear into her mom’s house and turned her gaze up at her son. “Listen Grant, I want to talk to you about something, without the girls around.” She rested her hips against the opened trunk. “I went on a date last night. My first, since your dad and I split up.”

Grant gave his head a quick nod. “Okay.”

“Does that upset you?”

“Why should it upset me? Dad’s been going out.”

Carrie looped her arm through her son’s. “I know, but I worry about you three, and what y’all think of me.”

“Mom, I want you to be happy.” He turned to survey the gifts in Carrie’s trunk. So, who’s this guy you’re dating, and where’s he live?”

“One date, so far, and he lives in Kenton. He’s a good man, Grant, one of my co-workers, and I like him a lot.”

Grant nodded and grabbed an armload of gifts. “I don’t have a problem with you dating again, but, he’d better be good to you.” He balanced the armful of gifts and shrugged down at his mother. “I think Gretchen will be okay with it, too.” Then he made a face. “Lauren is the only one still in denial. I swear, Mom, all along she expected you and dad to get back together, even though Gretchen and I tried to tell her it was over.”

Carrie nodded. “I know, and it worries me that she’s so upset after all this time.”

“You want me to talk to her first?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ll do it, as soon as we unload this car. But first, I have to tell you about the threatening calls I’ve been getting.”

“Is that still the guy that calls at two in the morning and doesn’t say anything?”

“Yeah, but unfortunately, he’s saying plenty now. At first, I thought your dad was putting someone up to it, and I could have handled that, but now I’m not so sure. The caller has been...threatening, lately. I don’t know where to go to get away from him. All I know is that I don’t want my family to get hurt. Rob thinks it’s someone from this area, since he knew when I moved in with Chris.

Grant crossed one foot over the other. “That’s just great. What are the cops doing about it?”

“They’re doing what they can, but the problem is, as long as he’s bothering me, I can’t have any of you with me, and that sucks.”

“Why don’t you move back home. The rest of us could stay at Maw
Maw
Ruby’s, even Dad.  But at least you’d have the dogs around to protect you.”

“That’s too close to people I love.” She shook her head slowly. “I won’t do that.” She took one deep breath before broaching the move. “Listen, tonight I’m going to Kenton to meet with someone. I’m thinking of renting a place there.”

“In Kenton?”

Carrie gave her son a quick nod.  “Yes, it’s far enough away from you three so that you’ll be safe.”

“What about after they catch this guy?” Grant asked, looking puzzled.  “What then?”

“I’m praying that happens
quickly,
and well...I don’t know yet, Grant.  I guess that depends on how everything else turns out.  I have to know you’re all safe, and I wanted you to know where I’m going tonight. Could you keep this to yourself, for now?” she asked, as he nodded. “I’ll bring up moving to Kenton, but I don’t want to tell them why, okay? I will talk to them about Sam, though.”

Fifteen minutes later, Carrie sat with all three of her teenagers on her mom’s back deck.  She told her girls about Sam, but didn’t add anything more than what she’d told Grant about him. Seated across the circular redwood table from her daughters, she gathered her courage. “So,” she said, dreading the answers to her next question. “How do you feel about me dating again?”

The solemn, unreceptive faces of her daughters cued her in on the upcoming struggle.

“What if you get married?  Would he want to move over here?” Gretchen said, her brow drawn in confusion.

“I don’t know why you have to date at all. You’re
old
,” Lauren said.

“You’re so stupid,” Grant told his sister.

“Well, she is!” Lauren said.

“No, she’s not,” Gretchen added. “Brittany’s mom is dating again and she’s a lot older than Mom is.”

Carrie sucked in her breath, picturing the last time she saw Brittany’s mom, sloppy drunk, and dancing on the pool table of the Red Rose in Lake Erin. Any comparison to Mary Ellen
Wakely
was not good, especially since the woman practically got paid for it.

“Look, when I was your age, I’d have thought I was ancient, too. Believe me, you’ll be here before you can spit and turn around.”

“
Ew
—that’s a long time from now,” Lauren exclaimed.