Chapter 22
22
“Mom! Nikki’s mom is almost here!” Laura’s voice rang out from the living room, jolting Karen out of her brooding thoughts. She blinked, her mind still heavy with memories, but forced herself to focus on the present.
The girls had a sleepover night. She snorted— the sleepover night that was supposed to be another night for Mark and me. “Do you have everything?” she called out as she walked toward the front of the house.
Both girls stood in the living room with small overnight bags at their feet. It was unusual for them both to have a sleepover at the same place. Tonight, both girls were headed to Nikki and Hannah’s, two sisters their age with whom they had developed a bond.
The four girls had a unique friendship despite having their own social circles and interests. It warmed Karen’s heart to see the sisters connecting and maintaining their bond, even as they grew older and drifted toward different activities.
As Nikki and Hannah’s mom pulled into the driveway, Laura and Olivia bolted out the door, followed by Karen. The moms talked for a few minutes, then with a flurry of hugs, kisses, and the typical reminders of good behavior given, she waved as they pulled out of the driveway. Since all four girls were runners, Karen was grateful that the girls would be dropped off for practice the following morning. All Karen had to do was pick Laura and Olivia up when it was over. And I should be able to avoid Mark that time if I stay in the vehicle and let the girls come to me.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she turned and locked the door behind her. The house, once filled with the vibrant energy of two lively daughters, now felt overwhelmingly empty.
For a moment, she considered the possibility of going out. She was not someone who minded eating in a restaurant by herself. Yet the idea of getting dressed up and going out when her evening plans had been so different held no appeal. She weighed the option of ordering takeout but dismissed it quickly. The idea of picking up food only to come home to an empty house with nothing but a glass of wine for company made her feel lonelier than she already did.
She wandered into the kitchen, opening the fridge as if it might hold the solution to her restlessness. Of course, it didn’t. All it offered were some leftovers from last night.
With little choice, she heated the leftovers and poured a glass of wine, even if it exemplified her evening’s loneliness. She set the table as if it were a special occasion, but as she sat down and began eating, the weight of her solitude pressed down harder. Even the slice of pie she allowed herself couldn’t lift her spirits.
“Ugh,” she groaned, dropping her fork with a clatter. She didn’t mind that her life was about Laura, Olivia, and work. Loneliness had been a constant companion since becoming a widow, but there were nights, like tonight, when it felt almost suffocating.
A knock on her front door caused her to jolt, and for a few seconds, the idea that Mark had come by on a night they were supposed to have a date. She glanced down and grimaced. She had changed out of her nursing scrubs, but with no plans for the evening, she’d simply put on a pair of leggings and a slouchy Army sweatshirt.
She hurried to the door, uncertain if she wanted it to be Mark or not. Peeking through the security hole, she was surprised to see Belle Simmons. Belle was also a nurse and worked in a nursing home. The two women met during professional development right after Karen moved to the county. Considering that some of the services the ESHH provided were for clients at Careway Nursing Home, the two women became friends.
However, Karen’s busy schedule and her girls being so much older than Belle’s children meant they spent little time together.
She threw open the door and greeted, “Belle! What brings you here? Come on in.”
Always so pretty, Belle was a dark-haired, soft-spoken, sweetheart of a woman with a caring nature.
“Karen, please forgive me for just dropping by, but I wanted to talk to you. It’s been such a crazy week. This was the first chance I had to come by.” She glanced around. “Are your girls around?”
“No, believe it or not, they’re at a sleepover, so I have the house to myself tonight.” Uncertain what Belle needed to talk to her about, she offered, “Would you like a glass of wine?”
Belle smiled and nodded. “If you’re having one, then I’ll have one. I have to drive home, so I’ll be sure just to have a small glass.”
Karen invited Belle to make herself at home in the living room, and she hurried to get another wineglass. She poured a little for Belle and then poured a second glass for herself. “I’m really glad you stopped by. I’m having the kind of week where, as nice as it is to have some time alone, with the girls gone, I was feeling lonely.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Belle said. “I know there are times, as a mother, we crave some silence. Then, when it’s quiet, I wonder what they have gotten into or miss them if they’re gone.”
Karen nodded as she sipped her wine. “Is there something special I can do for you?”
Belle fiddled with her glass momentarily, then sighed as she held Karen’s gaze. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about Mark.”
Karen battled the desire to shut the conversation down quickly but refused to be rude to someone like Belle, who always seemed to put others first. “Well, I’m not sure what there is to discuss.”
“Have I ever told you how Hunter and I met?”
Belle was married to Hunter Simmons, a North Heron Sheriff’s Department detective. Surprised at Belle’s opening question, she shook her head. Karen was anxious to hear what her friend had to say.
“I grew up in the area,” Belle began. “My mom was a drunk and a drug user, and I was raised mostly by my grandmother. We lived in a mobile home park. My grandmother was such a wonderful influence on my life. I started at Careway as a teen volunteer, became a nurse’s aide, worked to earn my LPN, and eventually became an RN. It’s been harder with kids, but I finally managed to get my master's in nursing administration.”
“You’re an absolute inspiration,” Karen said, meaning every word.
“I don’t know about that, but when I first met Hunter, he lived in a camper in the same park and worked at the nursing home in maintenance.”
Karen was surprised that Belle’s detective husband had worked in maintenance just a few years ago, but she remained quiet to focus on the story.
“Anyway, to make a long story short, drug thefts were going on at the nursing home, and the state police had an undercover operation to try to find out what was going on. During this time, I didn’t know Hunter was a suspect, but he and I began our relationship. I fell head over heels in love with a man who was somewhat of a rough biker but treated me like a princess. I told him about my life growing up, and I felt we had a true bond.”
Now, wholly enthralled in Belle’s story, Karen was almost afraid of what was coming.
“I showed up for work one day, and there was a huge number of law enforcement all around the nursing home. I saw Hunter, and I was terrified. I knew he hadn’t been dealing drugs, but I was horrified that somebody might’ve thought he was. It wasn’t until I rushed forward to defend him that I realized he had a badge clipped to his belt.”
“Oh my God,” Karen said, barely breathing.
Belle chuckled. “Yes, he was working undercover for the state police, and while I may have been a suspect at the very beginning, he quickly discovered I wasn’t, and we had a relationship. But of course, I didn’t really know who he was when the relationship began.”
Karen knew Belle and Hunter were married with a couple of children and a big house on the bay, and they were happy. And since Belle was in her house telling her all about Hunter’s duplicitous actions, she sighed. “I suppose you know what’s going on?”
Belle smiled softly. “Not everything, of course. Hunter told me how much Mark really likes you, and I have to say I was glad. Mark is a wonderful man and a wonderful father. I could easily see the two of you together.” She blushed and added, “Bess even mentioned that she felt sparks when the two of you met at Brad’s place when she was recuperating.”
Karen snorted. “Bess was high. I’m not sure the sparks were from anything other than her pain meds.”
Belle threw her head back and laughed. As her mirth slowed, she sighed. “You know, Karen, besides just seeing a friend who I thought might need cheering up, I’m not exactly sure why I came today. I guess I wanted to share my story, which was way more fudged up than what happened to you.”
Karen lifted a brow. “Fudged up?”
Belle blushed. “We’ve got little ears at home that seem to pick up everything we say when we don’t want them to.”
“Well, my girls are older, and I know they hear everything at school. But, like you, I try to watch my cursing.”
The soft glow of the living room lamps bathed the two women in a warm, intimate light as they sat on the sofa, sipping their wine in comfortable silence. The quiet stretched between them like an unspoken understanding. Karen’s fingers traced the rim of her glass, her thoughts churning as the tension of the past week simmered just beneath the surface.
Finally, Karen said, “I know my anger at Mark this week was misplaced. He has a job to do. An important job. If someone is targeting the home health patients for stealing, I want them caught. It was just embarrassing and, well, to be honest, a little frightening and intimidating to be brought in for questioning. They explained that it was a more secure location than talking in my office, where we could have been overheard, and yes… as an employee who has been in the homes, I am certainly a suspect. I suppose I felt angry with Mark because I needed someone to focus my anger on.”
Belle leaned forward, nodding as the flicker of empathy in her eyes offered silent encouragement. “I understand. I was furious with Hunter. I felt used. I felt like he was just getting to know me to learn about the nursing home’s inner workings.”
The air left Karen’s lungs. “Yes! That’s exactly what I felt. When we met, the burglaries were already occurring and being investigated. I wondered if our new relationship was just a way to get inside information.”
Belle cocked her head to the side. “Do you really think that?”
Karen’s cheeks puffed out as she breathed heavily, the weight of the question sinking in. Then she shook her head slowly. “No. I know Mark is an honorable man. I don’t think our relationship was false or that he was using me. At least, not intentionally.” She lifted her glass and drained the last of her wine before holding Belle’s gaze again. “I’m sure he’s unhappy about the investigation now encroaching on his personal life.”
Belle set her now-empty wineglass down on the coffee table. “I guess the question is, what are you going to do about it?”
“What can I do?” Karen shot back, then winced at the shrill tone. “Sorry, but there isn’t anything I can do. I froze Mark out this week because I was angry and frustrated. But now, how can we continue anything until the case is over? And by that time, dealing with the aftermath of the criminal situation, there might not be much left to build on.”
The two women rose from their seats and walked together into the kitchen, where Karen rinsed the glasses and placed them in the dishwasher. She leaned her hip against the counter near the sink, and Belle mirrored her posture, leaning against the kitchen island.
“I wish I had the magic formula to tell you how to navigate the situation,” Belle said, her voice wistful. “I’d thought that sharing my story might give you hope or at least help in some way.”
“Oh, you have, Belle,” Karen rushed to assure her friend. “I know Mark wasn’t using me. I know he was filled with questions about my job because he was interested in me. And my anger has burned out, leaving just a feeling of loneliness. Once more.” She sighed. “Because I don’t see how to navigate anything until it’s all over.”
Belle stepped closer, her arms outstretched, and Karen gratefully leaned into the embrace, finding comfort in the simple warmth of human connection. For a moment, they stood there, holding each other in quiet solidarity, the weight of their shared burdens momentarily lifted.
After escorting Belle to the front door and saying their goodbyes, Karen closed and locked her door. She glanced at the clock. Deciding the appeal of self-care was calling, she took a long hot bath filled with scented bath oil. Then she climbed out and got ready for bed. Once under the covers, she read for a few minutes, but her phone continually distracted her. It was as though the small device was just in her peripheral vision enough to have her constantly look over. Hoping for a call? Or a text? He’s done that all week, and I’ve ghosted him.
Sighing, she placed her e-reader on the nightstand and picked up her phone. She read Mark’s messages from the past few days.
I’m so sorry for what happened. Please call me and I’ll answer any questions you might have.
You’re not answering when I call. I know you’re upset. Please talk to me.
I can’t know what you think if you won’t talk to me. Please, Karen… let me explain.
I want to see you. We still have Friday night. Please call or text me so I know what you think.
Karen, please know how sorry I am about this whole fucked-up situation. I need to know you’re all right. I want us to be all right. Please talk to me.
She sighed, torn between wanting to talk to him and wondering what they would say. “Hey, sorry I was investigating you while rocking your world.”
“Okay, the sex wasn’t exactly rocking my world,” she grumbled. She leaned back in frustration, banging her head against the pillows piled up behind her. “Ugh… who am I kidding? It was really great.”
She tossed her phone to the nightstand, watching as it skittered over the surface before falling to the floor. I don’t care ? —
It vibrated with an incoming call, and she threw the covers back and scrambled to the floor, grabbing the device in case it was the girls. Seeing Mark’s name on the caller ID, she hesitated briefly before declining. She shifted so that her butt was on the floor and her back rested against the side of the bed… and sighed heavily. Torn between bitchy and needy.
Suddenly, she had no idea what she was supposed to do. She hated that at the beginning of something amazing, she felt like it had been ripped away. And grief again washed over her.