Kelpie (Come Love a Fey) (11 page)

I
couldn’t deny that what he said was true.  “So?”

He
sighed.  “My dad drank from the minute he woke up in the morning ‘til the
minute he closed his eyes at night.  And he beat the shit out of my mom every
minute in between.  She got fed up and left.  She just left.”  His fingers had
found the rosary he kept wound around his wrist like a bracelet, the only thing
his mother had left behind.

I
frowned at him.  “You told me she died when you were little.”

He
shook his head.  “She left.  My big goal in life is to hold down a job.  I’m
doing one hundred percent better than them if I can hold the woman I love
without leaving bruises.”  He gestured at the trashcan full of liquor bottles. 
“Sometimes I hit a rough patch.”

I
slumped in my chair.  “So this is because I left you?  You cheated on me Noah. 
Repeatedly.  And apparently, everything you told me was a lie.  Our whole
relationship was a joke.”

He
gave me a level look.  “You have no idea how hard I tried.  But I just don’t
belong with you.  It wasn’t what you think, asinine as that sounds right now,
but it doesn’t matter.  I’ve never been good enough for you.”

Suddenly
I could see it all pretty clearly.  He spent his days with me.  Then he went to
the place where he thought he belonged, back to the darkness.  Picking up a
random woman at a bar must fill some sort of void for him.  At least a barfly
wouldn’t judge him.  Not like his girlfriend, with her professional mask always
in place.

I
stood on tiptoe to reach the back of the lazy Susan.  My fingertips just
reached the little bottle of rum.  I found more in the back of the freezer. 
The ones under the couch cushions were empty. 

“Are
there any more?”  I wiggled the empty bottle of Jack in illustration.

He
shook his head, defeated.  “It’s all gone.  I drank them all.”

I
went to the bedroom and came back with two more bottles of whiskey.  I shook my
head, not surprised.  “Liar.”

He
said nothing as I emptied each and every bottle into the sink.  I threw the
empty bottles in the trash and turned to him.  He sat there quiet, but defiant. 
“I can’t believe you would do this over a woman.  That’s just pathetic.  You
need to pull yourself together if you ever want to be worth a shit.”  I
gestured around the house.  “You are going to start by cleaning up this pig
sty.  I’m sending a maid service over when I get home, so you'd better get a
head start or they are going to see just what a mess you are.  Oh, and you’re
going to AA.” 

He
stood, leaning close.  He raised a hand and brushed the hair back from my face
with a tenderness that was heartbreaking.  “Ada, you have so much strength.  I
love you for it.  More than you could ever know.”

I
stepped back to kicked off the slippers and put on my heels.  “What purpose
does this serve?  Do you want to be just like your father?  Do you want him to
win?”

I
paused in the doorway.  “You’re right.  You aren’t good enough for me.  Right now,
you’re nowhere near.  You better do something about that or you’re going to be
alone for the rest of your life.”

I
slammed the door behind me and made my way to my car.  I drove to the nearest
parking lot and pulled off.  Throwing the car into park, I slumped over the
steering wheel and sobbed.  I slammed my fist into the dash repeatedly.  “
Damn
it.  Damn it.  Damn it!”

How
could I be so blind?  I had been with him for a year.  I worked with him every
day.  I ate with him.  I slept with him.  And I had no idea that he was barely
clinging to normalcy.  I was so wrapped up in my own problems.  I was worried about
money and living expenses and being better than my parents.  Meanwhile, he was
fighting something so much darker.  Was I really that shallow?  How could I
miss something so huge?  Everything inside me wanted to turn around and go back
there.  I wanted to hold him and tell him it was all okay, that I understood,
and that deep down I still loved him.  But that wasn’t what he needed.  And it
wasn’t what I needed.

I
put the car in drive and headed to the grocery store. 

*****

When
I got home, I was in a terrible mood.  It got worse when I opened my door to
find the owner of the Good Neighbor tavern in my apartment.  I kicked off my
shoes and dropped the grocery bags on the counter with a thump.  A package of
fresh salmon fell out and went skidding across the countertop and onto the
floor.  I bent to retrieve it.  When I straightened, Leith was standing just a
shade too close.  I took a step back and simpered at him.

“You
should have told me you were having guests,” I shoved the salmon in the fridge
and rummaged around in the grocery bag for the rest of the refrigerated items. 
“I wouldn’t have come home until she was gone.”

Leith
handed me a carton of milk from my bag.  “I’m sorry to bring people into your
home without your permission, but it was very important that I speak with Mair.”

I
glanced at the voluptuous woman reclining on my couch.  She was pretending not
to listen, her face turned away so that she was in perfect profile.  I would be
willing to bet she had heard every word.

“Next
time, hang a tie on the door handle or something,” I muttered under my breath.

I
shut the fridge harder than I meant to and turned to find Leith regarding me
with a mixture of puzzlement and amusement.  I shrugged out of my jacket,
grabbed my cell phone, and headed toward the balcony.  “By all means, carry on.
 I’m just going to get some fresh air.”  I walked by Mair without looking at
her.

“Good
evening,” she said as I passed.  Her smooth, husky voice sounded amused. 

I
opened the slider and stepped out into the fading afternoon.  Reaching behind
me without turning around, I grasped the door handle and slid the door shut
with a bang.  I could not believe the nerve of that guy.  He had no right to invite
strangers into my house.  Especially not voluptuous, golden-haired strangers
that could be centerfolds.

I
flopped onto a patio chair and stared at the woods.  The sun was already
beginning to sink behind the trees and the sky was lit up with an orange glow.  A
pair of little chickadees flitted about in the bird feeder that I kept on a
Sheppard’s crook in the corner.  I smiled at their antics as I tried to let go
of the tension I was holding in my chest.

I
wondered what Noah was doing right now.  I prayed to God that he wasn’t out
getting more booze.  I considered calling him, just to make sure, but I stifled
the urge.  He was a big boy and it wasn’t my job to take care of him.  Not
anymore.

I
glanced over my shoulder toward the living room.  Leith had taken a seat on the
couch near Mair and they were engaged in some intense conversation, his dark
head bent to her light one.  I rolled my eyes and turned away again.  Maybe she
would take him home with her.  That would solve the problem of how to get him
out.  The thought didn’t make me feel as relived as it should.

I
rolled my shoulders and took a few calming breaths. 

Fishing
my phone out of my pocket, I dialed my parents.  I needed to tell my mom that I
wouldn’t be able to make our weekly dinner.  I was sure I would be spending the
day traipsing about the woods.  Maybe I could talk Leith into going down to the
police station with me.

Mom
answered on the third ring.  Her voice was bright and cheery.

“Hey,”
  I said in greeting.  “How are you guys doing?”

Hearing
that they were both doing fine, I relaxed a little.  It sounded like there
wasn’t anything big they needed help with before next week.  “I’m sorry Mom,” I
said hesitantly.  “I know I’m supposed to come out tomorrow, but something’s
come up.”

She
laughed.  “Don’t worry sweetie, if this is about your guest, I don’t mind.”

I
stared blankly at the patio railing.  “What?”

“Oh,
I called earlier, but you weren’t home yet.  I spoke with your young man.  He
seems very nice.”

I
swallowed.  I hadn’t wanted her to know I had homeless man living with me.  It’s
not exactly the thing every parent wants to hear.  I wondered just what he had
told her. 
My young man?

“Don’t
worry,” Mom said happily, “I’ll make enough food for you both, and I’m sure
your dad would love some help in the garden.”

I
finally found my voice.  “What?  Mom, I am not bringing a strange guy over to
your house.  We can just get together next week.”

She
wasn’t having any of it.  “Leith said that you would feel that way.  He said
you would probably cancel, and he didn’t want you to do that because of him.”

I
pulled up my knees and rested my forehead on them.  Leith and my mom were on a
first name basis now?  He brought strange people into my house, and he answered
my phone and chatted with my parents.  Just who the hell did he think he was?

Mom
was chattering on while I was stewing, but I started paying attention again
when her tone of voice changed.  “So…is he cute?  He has a really sexy voice.”

I
sat up straight.  “Mom!”

She
laughed merrily and I gritted my teeth.  “Oh, sorry.  I have another call,” I
lied, “I’ll have to let you go.”

I
said goodbye and ended the call.  I was furious with Leith.  No way was I
taking him to my parents’ house.  And he was going to get an earful about
answering the phone, and inviting himself to my family gathering, not to
mention telling my mom who-knows-what.  I stood and turned toward the door.

Leith
was still seated on the couch.  Mair knelt in front of him.  She clasped his
hand and he stroked her honey-colored hair, a tender look on his face.  She
lifted his big hand, planting a kiss on the back, and he leaned down to embrace
her.  I crossed my arms and tapped my toe impatiently.  What the hell was going
on here?  If he was dating someone he could damned well freeload off
her
.
 I opened the door and marched across the room, refusing to look at them.

I
opened the fridge and started banging about, making dinner.  Leith stood and
came to the door, Mair gliding along in his wake.  “You’re sure you won’t stay
for dinner?”  Leave it to Leith to be obliviously polite.

Mair
smirked.  “No, I think I’d better be going.  I’m not welcome here.”

I
went to the sink to wash my hands, then took a deep breath and turned to face
the gorgeous woman.  “I’m sorry,”   I said tightly.  “I’ve just had a long
day.  I don’t mean to be rude, but coming home to a stranger in my house is a
bit… much… today.  It’s nothing personal.”

She
nodded, her perfect lips curling up into a sensuous smile.  I doubted anything
she did ever looked less than appealing.  “I would feel the same way, dear. 
But don’t worry, I am not here to take him away.  Not today.”

I
stared at her for a minute.  Leith raised an eyebrow and I turned back to the
stove.  “I have no idea what you mean.  By all means, take him.  Right now. 
Get him out of my apartment so I don’t have to take him to the homeless shelter.”

She
laughed- the sound like tinkling glass- and made her way out.  I closed the
oven door with a bang and wiped down the already clean countertop.  Leith was
still standing there.  He stepped close to snatch a roll from the package on
the counter, and I stepped back.  He was too close.  I looked up to see him
regarding me with a strange half smile. 

“What?”
 I asked defensively.

His
smile widened.  “You are jealous of Mair?”

I
rolled my eyes.  “Don’t be stupid.  I couldn’t care less who you’re sleeping
with.  Just don’t think you’re doing it in my house.”

He
laughed.  Hard.  I turned away and got out a couple of plates.  “What?”  I
snapped.  “What is so funny?  This isn’t your house you know.  You can’t just
bring strange people here.”  I rounded on him.  “And while we’re on the
subject- I talked to my mom.  What the hell, Leith?”

He
stopped laughing, wiping tears from his eyes.  I crossed my arms impatiently. 
“I answered the phone, thinking it might be you.”  He shrugged.  “I had the
feeling that you might be having…difficulty.”  He waved a hand dismissively.  “Your
mother looks forward to seeing you, and I didn’t want to disrupt your life
anymore than I already have.”

I
shook my head.  “What did you tell her?  You realize she thinks were dating
now?”

He
was completely unconcerned.  “I don’t mind.”

I
took a deep breath and checked the urge to smack him.  “Well
I
do.”

He
frowned for a moment, and then nodded as understanding washed over his features. 
“Ah, because of your other man?  I hadn’t thought of that.”

I
rubbed my head.  “Noah and I aren’t…. that has nothing to do with this!  I just
don’t take homeless, crazy people to visit my parents.”

 I
gave him a look meant to shrivel his heart.  “You are not going with me.”

W
e got to my
parent’s house around seven.  I parked at the curb out front in, case the
neighbors wanted to use the driveway.  Mom and Dad owned a duplex.  They had
sold our family home and moved there after dad retired.  They lived in one side
and rented the other side to help supplement their income.