Chapter 29 #2
I reply to the photographer’s text: Incredible. Can’t wait to see the rest. It’s last minute, but I’d love to give my wife a copy of that third photo. Any way to rush a print and bring it over by end of day Wednesday?
She replies: If you don’t mind the rush fees, I’ll hand deliver it myself.
Me: I’ll cover the charges. Thanks.
I send the photographer my address, instructing her to leave it with the doorman. Lauralee will love seeing this. I can’t wait to give it to her. And kiss her. God, I miss those lips and everything else about her.
With my baseball team in the lead going into extra innings, I decide to turn off the game and get some sleep. Beck will be up early because I promised him pancakes at his favorite breakfast joint before we go to the park. He’s a pancake monster I’m happy to feed.
By the time I’m in bed, I don’t text my girl, I call.
“Hey there, stranger,” she answers, sounding like a smile is set on her face. It is on mine just from hearing her voice.
“Gone for twenty-four hours, and I’m already a stranger?”
Laughter travels the distance to my ear. “Any hours away are too long. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” I’m a sentimental fucker for her, that’s for sure .
“You picked up Beckett today?”
“I did. He walks around like he never forgot where he came from. The kid feels comfortable in the city.”
“Best of both worlds, I suppose. Speaking of where you came from, are you still coming back on Thursday?”
Reaching over, I click off the lamp. “Yes. I want to see you.” Staring into the nighttime cityscape, I study the way the windows with lights shine like stars dotting the building.
The reflection of the moon bounces off the metal trimmings at varying heights.
I’ll never see anything like this in Peachtree, but I don’t need to.
Living among the buildings has been nice, but I’m ready for fields and trees and no neighbors to bug me.
“That’s good,” she replies as if she feels relieved.
“Did you think I would cancel?”
“You’re busy. And now with no job, I know you have a lot to do.”
“It can wait a few days for me to come see you.” I close the curtains since I’m no longer a working man with obligations before the sun rises. “Beck said he’s made progress on the fort. He’s ready for the muscle to come in, so I’ll be out there on Friday while you work.”
“And the car? I ordered a book that came in so I can assist you.” She doesn’t bring up the bet, which I’m grateful for.
Her ability to forgive and move forward, even though she won’t forget, is something I admire.
She’s genuine in everything she does, even in loving me with the flaws that come along with that.
“I find it so stinkin’ adorable that you ordered a book.”
“Look, buster, I know you talk all big and stuff. You’ve worked on trucks and a few vehicles growing up, but this isn’t just any car.” Her passion is palpable. If I were there, I’d be fucking her while she reads the manual to me. So fucking hot. “It ’s a classic, and we can’t screw it up.”
I chuckle, rolling to my side. The bed beside me is empty without her. My soul relates. I reach over, resting my hand where she lay just yesterday. And when I close my eyes, I can still catch the faintest scent of her sweetness in the air. Strawberries.
“We can’t,” I mumble, a yawn catching me by surprise.
“Get some rest and have fun with Beck tomorrow.”
I find myself holding the phone tighter to my ear not wanting to miss a word she says. “I will. Love you, baby.”
“Love you, too. Good night.”
I lie awake a few minutes more, thinking about what my head is telling me to do and what my heart is guiding me toward. They’re not as far apart as they used to be.
“Baylor?” I look up from my phone to see a woman standing a few feet away from the park bench where I’m seated. “It’s Katie.” Her hand goes to her chest as her smile broadens. I’m drawing a blank. “Katie Wilson,” she says as if we know each other.
“Hi,” I play along. “How are you?” I've never seen her in my life, but apparently, she’s seen me.
Her eyes roll, and her smile morphs into knowing. “You don’t remember me. It’s okay. I knew what I was getting into that night with you.”
“Night?”
“Yeah,” she says, sitting on the other side of the bench from me.
Perched on the edge, her eyes are set on the kids on the playground.
When she glances at me, her smile softens.
She’s pretty but nothing about her triggers a memory.
“We met at a work party probably like . . .” She squints as she works through the ri ddle.
“Seven years or so ago. Your company hosted a client event. My boss at the time brought me as his assistant. We had sex in your office.”
“Ah.” That didn’t happen any other time but once. Her hair is blond when it used to be brown, just below her ears when it was long back then. “You changed your hair.”
“I did.” Her shoulders curve forward as she tracks a little girl coming down the slide. “The one in the pink coat is mine.”
I glance at Beck as if he’s my own, checking to make sure he’s good, safe, and having fun. That feeling of wanting kids has started to grow without me even feeding it. “My nephew is playing tag with his friend by the jungle gym.”
“That’s nice. Is he eight or nine?”
“Nine. Yours?”
“She’s six.” There’s a pause between us, but then she laughs. “Don’t worry, she’s not yours.”
I wasn’t worried because I never had sex without a condom other than with Lauralee this weekend. Maybe a little worried. I’ve started embracing the idea of a family with my wife, not a surprise I didn’t plan on. I wouldn’t walk away from any child who’s part of me, but I’m glad she clarified.
She adds, “Her father and I are still together. I met him six months after the office incident.” Standing, she keeps her body angled toward her daughter, and then back at me. “Are you doing well? I see you got married?”
“A lot has changed over the years. My priorities shifted in a good way. I’m happy. How about you?”
Her smile returns. “I like that for you. I’m good. Really good.”
“I’m happy for you, Katie.”
She signals to her daughter. “I need to go. Good seeing you again.”
“Yo u, too. Take care.”
Resting my arms on my knees, I send my gaze to where Beck and his friend are still playing, having a blast by the look and sounds of it. When I sit back, I look at the photo on my phone. The universe can’t be sending a clearer message to me. It’s time I listen to it.