Coming Home (Norris Lake Series) (9 page)

Often individuals at the table would pick on one person having them drink every time the quarter made it into the cup.  The rest of us would have a big laugh at our victim and then have to carry that person back to their dorm. 

“Hi y’all,” Cat said waving at her pals and sitting down in a chair at the end of the table.  She received a round of waves as the game continued. 

“Sit down here girl and join the game,” a black haired boy with thin hawkish features said pulling her chair closer to his place on the bench. 

“Thanks Tony.  I will join in next time around.”  Tony was her special friend.  She’d had a crush on him since she started at UT.  His dark Italian good looks, almost black eyes and swarthy skin had attracted her immediately.  He was a country boy with boots and a baseball cap, but that was okay for now.  Life was all about doing as much living as possible. 

As the daylight hours waned and the evening took over, the bar became so jam-packed that the walls might potentially explode.  The music blared louder and a general atmosphere of drunken gaiety permeated the crowd.  Cat grabbed the corner of the table and stood up. 

“I have to go to the bathroom,” she mumbled in Tony’s ear slurring her words a bit and realizing that maybe she’d had enough to drink for the night. 

“Want me to go with you?” he asked. 

“No. I am okay,” she assured him as she stumbled a little unsteadily through the throng.  She got about half way there and suddenly tripped over something on the floor.  Pitching forward a screech caught in her throat and she caught
herself by falling into the outstretched arms of a male.  As she grabbed him around the waist, he also seemed to instinctively grab her under her arms to keep them both from falling.  He hauled her up on to her feet as if she didn’t weigh an ounce and shoved her against the nearest empty wall. 

“I am so sorry.  I didn’t mean to fall on you,” she said finally shoving her hair out from in front of her face and looking up into a pair of familiar dark brown eyes. 

“You’ve had too much to drink. That’s obvious,” he said callously still holding her against the wall with one hand on the top part of her arms.  She could feel his strong fingers gripping her so hard it hurt. 

“Let me go. You are hurting me and I am not drunk,” she countered struggling a bit and pulling herself up to her full 5 foot 4 inch height which was no match for his six foot tall spread. 

“Why?  Don’t you like this?  You can’t throw yourself at a man and not expect him to take advantage of it? He purred quietly, his face almost touching her own. 

“Let me go,” she said punctuating each word; the anger starting to take over and the buzz from the beer gone.  “I am in full command of my faculties and I insist you let me go.  You’ve got no right to hold me here.” 

“What if I said no?” he said quietly his lips at her ear.

“If you don’t let me go I’ll scream bloody murder.  Oh, my God!  I didn’t mean that you were a murderer.  I meant…” She let the explanation wither.  The chaos and throbbing of the bar moved about them in a steady crescendo but the space between them was like a stagnant bubble.

“Go ahead and scream.  You’ll see if I am a murderer or not.” 

Cat’s scream started in her throat ready to explode when his warm lips captured her own, stifling the scream and trapping it in her chest.  His hands held her tight against the wall and he pinned the rest of her with the weight of his body against hers.  She fought back pushing against him which just made him heave himself against her harder.  His lips went from hard and rough to deep, wet and exploring.  His tongue explored the inside of her mouth touching her own mixing their juices together in a long moist kiss.  He took his lips away from hers for a moment and looked into her eyes searching for something but she was not sure what. 

“I am no killer, Cat.  If you look hard enough you might find out something you don’t want to know.  Your brother and your father are the key reasons that I was sent away and lost my family and everything that I loved. Don’t mess with me.  I don’t play games.  If you do tangle with me you might just find out for sure if I am a killer, but in the meantime, remember me,” he growled as he pushed her away and shoved through the crowd out of her sight like red sea parting and then closing behind him as if he had never been there. 

In a rush, Cat scrambled out of Ivy’s and ran back to her dorm.   She stumbled to her room, the beer buzz mere memory, slammed the heavy wooden door and flipped on the lights.  Thankfully, her roommate wasn’t there. She threw her purse on to the small narrow twin bed and sat heavily on the corner.  A loud sigh of release passed her lips as she lay back on her bed reliving the events of the past hour.  She looked around at the cement block walls soaked in several layers of white enamel and was sure she was the only 24 year old at U.T. home this early on a Saturday night. Normally, she and her friends would party until the wee hours of the morning and then stop at Krystal for hamburgers, fries and a thick chocolate shake, so thick you had to eat it with a spoon, before heading back to their dorms.   Tonight was different.  She heard the high pitched sound of female voices coming down the hall and then a knock on her door. 

“Cat, you in there?” her sister called.

Cat sighed again. “Yes, I am here.  Come on in.” she answered.

“What are you doing home so early?” her sister, Lynn Marie, queried as she walked across the small dorm room and leaned against a sturdy desk built in to the wall at least 30 years ago.

“I had something weird happen and just needed to come on home.” Cat said sitting up on the bed.

“So, what happened? Tell me.” Lynn said as she walked over to a small dorm refrigerator and took out a diet coke.  Popping the top, she took a long swallow and perched back on the desk. 

“Don’t you have some where to go?” Cat queried, moving slowly to the dorm refrigerator and removing a diet coke, she returned to her place on the bed.

“Yeah, well, I was just going to meet Joe.  He and I are going to have dinner over at Ruby Tuesday’s, but when I saw your light, I thought I’d see if you wanted to come with us.”  Lynn smiled.  She’d started dating Joe within six months of her starting at U.T. and now they were a permanent pair.  You’d rarely see Lynn Marie without also seeing Joe and vice versa.  They were already making plans for a big wedding and an exciting life in Dyersburg, Tennessee once they graduated.  Joe’s parents owned a large furniture and appliance store in Dyersburg, in fact, the only one within 2 hours of Memphis.  Joe’s parents already had a job and inheritance outlined for Joe.  He was heir apparent to take over the family business.  His parents accepted Joe’s choice of mates and had already carved out a niche for Lynn Marie in their world.  Lynn and Joe had their lives all pre-planned and it was a great picture.  Cat envied her.

“No, thanks.  I don’t want to be a third wheel.” Cat replied, taking another sip of her diet coke.

“Then tell me what happened.  I have a few minutes.  Joe can wait.” Lynn Marie pried her brow wrinkled with concern.  “Is there some sort of trouble?”

“No, not trouble…it’s just I ran into someone from high school and it was unpleasant.”  Do you remember Stephen?  I can’t think of his last name.  He was that guy with the light skin and almost white hair.  He supposedly killed his sister or some of the other kids thought he did. 

“I barely remember something like that but not really.  You are at least two grades ahead of me and Stephen went to school with Michael.  That would make him three years older than me at least. So what was he like?” Lynn Marie sat back on the desk and crossed her legs Indian style obviously settling in until she’d heard everything she wanted to know.

Cat took note that she wasn’t going to be able to avoid a conversation about Stephen, and pulled a bag of chips off the top of the dorm refrigerator and opened it.  “You want some?” she offered Lynn Marie.

“No it will spoil my dinner,” Lynn Marie waved off the offer.  “Tell me the story. Stop stalling.”

“You are making it out to be more than it is.  I just ran in to Stephen at Ivy’s. I barely recognized him.  He had dyed his hair, had darker skin
and was wearing dark contacts, but I still knew who it was.  There’s something about him that’s dangerous and attractive.” Cat admitted.

“You like him don’t you?  I can tell.”  Lynn Marie probed.  “So what happened that made you come back early?  Just being intrigued by Stephen wouldn’t have brought you home.”

“He kissed me.” Cat smiled.

Lynn Marie jumped at attention.  “He kissed you! Did Tony see it?”

“No, Tony didn’t see us.  It was a quick interchange while I was on my way to the bathroom.  He trapped me against the wall and it was a kiss.  Nothing special, just a kiss.” Cat said staring intently at her coke can.

“But if it was just a nothing special kiss and no one saw it, then why did you come back early?  There must have been some reason.”  Lynn Marie said again.

Cat sat up and squeezed her arms against her chest hugging herself.  “I don’t know.  There was something about that kiss that said our lives would be intertwined again someday.  It was like a premonition.  That was what was so weird.”

“That is kind of creepy.” Lynn Marie mused. “I don’t want to hear any more about it.  I heard he was involved with demons and witchcraft, so I don’t want know anything else.”  With a frown Lynn Marie put down her diet coke and walked back toward the door.
              “You should stay away from him, Cat.  I have a feeling too.  He’s more dangerous than you know.” Lynn Marie warned.

“Yeah, I agree with you.  You know what.  I think I will come with you and Joe after all.  I don’t want to be alone right now.” Cat smiled.  She picked up her purse and followed Lynn Marie out the door. 

Chapter 5

"I’ll kill you bitch!"  he screamed as he pushed her hard.  Her back hit the wall knocking the breath out of her.  Her legs crumpled underneath her and she sat down heavily on the floor.  "You stupid no-good, worthless cunt.  How many times have I told you not to fuck with me?  All you ever do is fuck with me.  You ruin everything you stupid whore,” he yelled slamming the door of their bedroom against the wall.  The slamming door shook the wall knocking a picture off the wall.  He grabbed a bottle of Jack and staggered down the hall towards his office.

The sound of breaking glass punctured the background.  A little dog’s shrill barking rose to a staccato as it tried to scratch its way through the back door. 

"Shut up you god damn dog,” he shouted turning back to the woman.  The scratching continued. 

He pulled her up off of the floor and half dragged her into the living room.  She whimpered in fear as tears filled her eyes. 

"Boo hoo hoo.  Why don’t you cry for me some more, you crybaby? he teased, completely impervious to her tears.  Her tears continued to fall, as she tried to stop them.  "Can’t you ever learn?  How long have we been together?  You’d think you would know better than to fuck with me like you do. But no, you have to ruin my night by opening up that pole smoker and running that lip of yours,”  he sneered.  "And another thing, who gave you the right to say anything about where I have been and what I have been doing?  It’s none of your god damn business and if you don’t like it you can just get the fuck out for all I care.  Stupid bitch!  You women are all alike,” he said stepping menacingly towards her with every word. 

She cowered wanting to run, but knew that running or wincing would just make the situation worse.  She had learned over the years that keeping her mouth shut and looking at the floor was the only way to protect herself and diffuse the situation. 

Once she had made the mistake of saying something to defend herself and explain why she had done something.  That time saying something had resulted in his throwing his dinner plate against the wall as he had come out of his chair to shove her on the floor.  The fork had hit her in the forehead nearly missing her eye.  The scar was still there making a permanent part in her eyebrow.  She closed her eyes and waited for his anger to run its course.  It was the booze.  She knew.

He stepped towards her raising his fist.  He had never actually hit her.  She didn’t think he would but she didn’t think that she wanted to be around if he ever decided to deliver that fist. 

He shoved her to the floor again.  She backed up like a crab as he continued towards her shouting obscenities.  She stared at the floor wishing it would open up and swallow her whole like an abyss or better yet maybe he would get so mad that he would finally explode.  No she told herself, God would never make things that easy for her.  What had she done to deserve this?  The question turned over and over in her mind.  I hate you.  I hate you.  I hate you.  She silently chanted to herself. 

"You are pathetic. Just get away from me.  Don’t talk to me anymore tonight," he snarled.  She could hear him muttering under his breath as he stalked down the hall towards their bedroom.  The door slammed, like a thunderclap, and she heard the lock with a finality that signaled that at least for her this evening tirade was over. 

She sat like a statue waiting, not willing to take a breath for fear it would jinx her.  Sometimes, he would come back to make sure that she was sufficiently terrified.  It was a trick that she had learned.  She could sit here and wait.  She would wait until it was safe. 

For the moment, though, she sat and leaned against the wall, hands grasped around her knees, her legs still pulled tight in against her.  It felt safer to sit that way and until she was sure that he was asleep, she would just sit there...like a statue.  No feelings. No thoughts.  No tears.  Only cold and unmoving.  She could hear the television noise and the sound of running water, as he brushed his teeth.  A little while longer and he would have gone to bed.  She would sleep out here on the sofa as she had done many times in the past. 

Thirty minutes crept by.  She felt it was safe to stretch her legs.  If he was coming back, he would have done so by now.  She stood cautiously not wanting to make too much noise and walked to the back door.  Calling softly, she beckoned to her best friend. 

"Baby, where are you? Patty…Pattycake, puppy,” Caitlyn whispered.  She waited and didn’t hear anything.  It was dark and she immediately began to worry.  What if something had happed to her dog?  What would she do?  She would give her life without hesitation for what she considered her baby.  The dog had steadfastly remained her friend over the years.  She was always there when needed and never judged her wanting.  Pattycake was her baby girl; her very heart – nothing could replace her.

She stepped out the back door into the blackness of the night.  She had always marveled at the stillness of the early morning hours.  It was about 3:00 a.m. and nothing moved.  No birds sung.  No dogs barked.  No insect chirped.  She walked across the concrete patio and across the lawn to the back of the garage.  The wooden privacy fence surrounded the acre backyard and ended around the side of the house on each side. 

She peered around the side of the house searching the darkness.  Sitting in the irises was her dog.  The little furry form tipped the scales at about seven pounds.  She had gotten the dog from an AKC breeder who ran a puppy mill.  The little thing had been starving and filled with worms when she got her.  She remembered her vet telling her that a few more days in that kennel and the little runt would have died. 

"My baby dog.  Come to mommy,” she whispered as she picked up the little package.  She knew that the animal was terrified from all of the yelling and screaming.  For the little dog to walk in the grass was close to a miracle.  Only when she was terrified or carried would she think of leaving the concrete patio or the comfort of the back porch. 

"Someday we’ll leave baby.  You just wait.  Someday, we’ll just leave and then everything will be okay,” she crooned holding the dog in her arms and nuzzling the soft fur.  She breathed in the warm doggy smell and hugged the trembling life close to her chest.

"We’ll leave and soon."  He’s drunk and he can’t help it.  Don’t hate him.  It’s not his fault he’s bad. It’s the drugs and the booze. Maybe someday when he learns”  Her wishes dropped off the edge of her lips like raindrops off a ledge and on to the ground only to be absorbed into the soil as if they’d never been there at all.

Tomorrow there would be silence for a while and then an apology.  He would be sorry and beg her to forgive him.  She would as she had time and time again, knowing it was a scene to be repeated time and time again like a summer re-run. 

She could remember the first time that she saw her husband.  He had been standing cattycorner to her at the corner of a bar.  He stood there in a black t-shirt and a black cowboy hat.  He looked handsome and rugged and dangerous.  A shock of his dark hair hung over his forehead and he had a way of running his fingers through his bangs to shove them out of his face that gave her a glimpse of the muscles in his arm.  A similarly dark thick mustache and beard framed his face.  When he smiled his light blue eyes sparkled like ice and she was rewarded with a smile that promised that she was the only one in the bar.  He leaned with both elbows on the bar, arms creating a pyramid and chin on top of his hands as if he were contemplating some deep dark question. 

She and her sister were at a local restaurant and bar taking in the local scene.  They’d been there several times since Cat’s last break up.  Lynn Marie was determined to find Cat a suitable date.  Within the hour one of her sister’s male co-workers would be there to meet the famed sister, Cat, another blind date in a series of blind dates, that Cat had met unsuspecting.  Cat stood at the bar ordering a Jim Beam and diet coke when there was a tap on her shoulder, as her sister beckoned for her attention. 

"Order me another drink, will you?" her sister asked. 

"One here too," her sister’s boyfriend, Joe, chimed in.  They stood packed against the bar trying to save their spot from an encroaching crowd.  Bodies were pressed tightly against each other as couples went to and from the dance floor and others stood watching the dancers sway to the pounding rhythm of the country music.  She turned around to order the drinks and the dark cowboy was missing from the corner of the bar. 

"Oh well,” she pondered to herself, "he was too good looking anyway.  Most of the ones that look like that are either conceited or just no good".  She signaled for the bartender’s attention.  He paused to receive her order and she stood waiting for the drinks. 

There was another tap on her shoulder and she turned around to tell her sister to hang on to her drink for her.  A warm, shiver coursed down her back to the very soles of her feet as her eyes came into contact with the dark stranger’s eyes. 

The stranger smiled, as if laughing at her discomfort, and in a practiced baritone asked "Dance with me?"  Speechless she just stood there wondering if she was going to be able to say anything and not surprised that nothing came out but a stutter of protest, as he pulled her towards the dance floor. 

Lynn Marie smiled at Cat as she allowed herself to be propelled towards the center of the floor, a slow pulsing love song filled the air as the lights dimmed slightly. 

The stranger pulled her close and she allowed herself to be pressed against his chest, her head barely coming to his shoulder.  She felt the warmth of his breath against her neck as she followed his steps.   She couldn’t believe that he had asked her to dance. Things like this...gorgeous men actually noticing her and then asking her to dance just didn’t happen. 

She stepped back to look up into his face, he asked, "So will you marry me?" and she knew right then that her fate was inescapable.   

Cat was short, not petite, just a short 5’4".  Or maybe it just seemed that way because the majority of people that she came into contact with every day were taller than her.  Long red hair fell to the middle of her back in uncontrollable waves and red bangs framed her face revealing a pair of light green eyes fringed by thick red lashes, a nose that in her opinion was a little too big, and lips fuller than she would have liked.  

Her white porcelain skin, with a sprinkling of freckles and deep green eyes flashed her Irish background.  She had a small cleft in her chin.  Her mother said a fairy put it there to charm Cat’s life.  In her opinion, her nose was a little too big and she could have been happier with one of those full lipped pouts her sister had, but all in all it wasn’t a bad face.

She had an hour glass figure which was not the fashion in a day where beauty in the glamour magazines was a more boyish, anorexic build.  She went to aerobics and ran religiously to be able to eat as she pleased and was satisfied that she was doing the best she could with what she had.  She would never wear a thong bikini or be asked to pose for Playboy, but neither would a lot of other women out there.  When she made a list of her good points, there were a few.    

When she was growing up, she was the smart one; the middle sister who was not the eldest and not the youngest; not the pretty one nor the athletic one. So she settled for trying to be the smart one.  It had worked when she was in high school.  She passed all of her classes easily and spent her free time escaping to the different worlds that books offered.  She traveled through time with Madeline L’Engle and investigated imaginary worlds with J. R. Tolkein.  She didn’t have many friends, nor wanted them, satisfied to find company in her books. 

In college she fell in love many times.  Each of them were special but none sparked an interest in anything long-term.  By the time college ended, she was against marriage and instead chose a career.  Even though, she talked about having a family and felt its pull, she never really believed that it would happen.  After a while her older sister married.   She visited Lynn Marie in a small town in West Tennessee over the years, watching her build a home and a family and felt a loss. 

As she moved into her late twenties, she had lots to be proud of.  She had a home, her mother, father and sister close by, a good job with promise of promotion into management after a few years, friends at work and some nice men to date.  But even with all that, she still wasn’t happy, so what was missing.  The story that young girls grow up with of course, where was her prince charming?

That was how she came to be standing face to face with the dark stranger who soon after became her husband.  And now after five years, she made the decision to leave.