What She Wanted (19 page)

“Hey!”

“What? Now I can’t have ice cream on my heart diet?”

I splashed him with the hose and he yelped. “That’s mine.”

He hustled onto the porch and through the front door.

I didn’t know whose life I’d fallen into, but I was positive I’d never see my malt again.

I flipped through online articles in the
Monroe County Chronicle
, Special Edition. The annual Strawberry Festival had arrived, and the number of community events going down in one day was daunting. The headline, “Something for Everyone,” wasn’t a lie. There were community meals at local churches, pie eating at the Rotary Club, a flower sale at the bed and breakfast, a farmer’s market outside the library, and face painting, crafts, and story time inside. A carnival had set up rides, games, and food carts on the high school football field. Local bands were playing at the pavilion near the lake, and fireworks would cap it all off. Even the most ambitious local would struggle to do it all. I wasn’t ambitious. I’d attended the pancake breakfast at ten and come home to keep Mark company until the evening parade. Also, I’d needed to transfer pictures to my shared drive.

Sylvia had texted, looking for some fresh shots, several hours ago, but I’d promised Mark to give an old black and white television series called
Rawhide
a try. I hadn’t hated it.

I clicked into the shared drive and labeled a new folder Strawberries. Hard to believe it’d been exactly six weeks since my world went topsy-turvy. Stranger, I’d started marking time by Mark’s heart attack. How morbid was I?

My mind wandered to Mom’s list, constantly pushing its way to the forefront of my mind. Mark and I were adapting to our new situation, but we hadn’t gone fishing. Whenever I’d bring up the option, he’d say he wasn’t feeling up to it. We hadn’t talked about our blowup over Joshua either, but that day was coming.

Joshua hadn’t approached me since my birthday, but he always waved and smiled when we ended up at the same park or restaurant. The space he offered me felt like respect. Like, he left the door open for me to decide when we’d talk. I liked that. The hard conversations would be easier if I was in control. Getting to know Joshua wasn’t on Mom’s list, but it was moving to the top of mine, now that he’d become real. I’d spent too many years thinking of him abstractly, like Santa Claus, or angrily, like he was the devil. I’d never allowed myself the possibility he was flawed and human, possibly broken, like everyone else.

Why wasn’t he mentioned on Mom’s list? Dean and Heidi thought it was because Mom had no reason to think he wouldn’t be in my life. She was probably too sick at the end to know Mark started turning him away. I hoped they were right and the reason wasn’t because Mom had known he didn’t want me.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and swung my bag cross-body. People carrying lawn chairs and coolers marched along the sidewalk outside my bedroom window. Time for the parade.

I bounced down the steps. “Mark, I’m going to the parade. Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

“The game’s on.” His voice warbled in from the kitchen.

I slid bare feet into flip-flops and moved to the kitchen doorway. “I can bring you an old-fashioned lemonade, if you want.”

He snapped his head in my direction, apparently shocked to see me. “I can have sugar now? How about a beer instead?”

“Nice try. You’re probably right about the sugar. There’s iced tea and Jell-O in the fridge if you want something sweet. Don’t snack too much. Mrs. Wells is bringing chicken and corn for the grill.”

“Maybe she’ll get me some beer.”

I rolled my eyes and rocked my head against one shoulder. “She’s going to take a look at you and ask how you’re healing. Be honest with her, please.”

“What if she wants me to drop trou?”

“Do it. You won’t get another offer like that anytime soon.”

His crabby face twitched.

“Definitely don’t smile. She could get confused and call an exorcist.”

“Go away.”

“See ya.” I didn’t need to be told twice. I loved parades. Everyone was happy. The firemen threw candy into the crowd. There was nothing more satisfying than catching free candy.

I took a direct route toward the town square and reviewed the list I’d been working on all summer.

I was down to half my original goals. As it turned out, Mark wasn’t all bad, just deeply hurt and unwilling to let go of the pain. It was as if all the things he’d once held dear had slowly become razors across his heart. Even the good memories were too painful to deal with, and it made him mad. He never smiled. He always grouched. He was aching inside, and I wanted to be more than his temporary caretaker. I wanted him to heal.

Somewhere between the insults and tantrums, I’d learned to love him just as he was, and that was at the top of Mom’s list. I hugged him at least once a day, too. Sometimes he patted my back. I hadn’t told him I loved him, but I was working up to that. I’d laughed more in the past six weeks than I had in my life. I’d given a ton of pictures away, and a mob hadn’t come for me with torches or straitjackets. I’d made friends, and I smiled at everyone, even when I felt silly doing it. Some of the people Dean had introduced me to said hi whenever they saw me, even if I wasn’t with him. Bonnie and Trisha seemed to be everywhere since they’d gotten back, and I was kind. That came easily. Heidi had called me a doormat once. I hated to disappoint anyone. Whatever I was, I wasn’t mean-spirited or overly-selfish, so number eight was a no-brainer. Five down and five to go.

Mom’s curly pink shimmer ink kept me motivated.

If you do these things, I’ll know I was a good mom, and I’ll know you’re going to be okay.

I hastened along the busy sidewalk, dodging kids and people too engrossed in conversations to notice one lanky girl and her camera.

Today’s agenda:
Chase my dreams
. Mom had listed it second, so it must’ve been important to her. I’d missed my chance at a proper photography school, but I could always practice. Sylvia said, “The search for that one perfect photo is never ending.” I might as well keep looking. It would only take one amazing shot to change my life’s trajectory.

I slipped through the crowd at the square and found a shaded place to rest and look for the shot. I liked the corner spot with a hunched rhododendron and clusters of leafy shrubbery. My view of the floats was minimal from this vantage, but I wasn’t there to shoot floats. I wanted to see the people.

Music from our high school marching band pumped through the air, punctuated by the occasional smash of cymbals. I tapped my foot and hummed along as the color guard marched by to “Hang On Sloopy.” The salty heat of a mobile hotdog stand drifted up my nose and sent my stomach into a tizzy. I groaned at the sight of gooey nacho cheese.

“Hot dogs!” he called into the crowd. “Coneys! Hotdogs!”

The tang of sauce tickled my senses. Mark would be in heart attack heaven.

“Hey.” A heavy hand landed on my shoulder.

I winced.

The harsh voice and man attached to it sent waves of apprehension through me. “Hi, Arnold.” His texts and voice mails had grown more fervent and belligerent over the past few weeks. As if it were somehow my fault he hadn’t rented the space above his bar. When I’d still wanted it, he said lots of other people wanted it, too. Where were they now? Why hadn’t he moved on?

He scowled. “You said you were going to rent the place above my bar. You bailed on me, and I’m out all that money. You know how many people I turned down so you could have that place?”

I lowered my voice, hoping he’d follow my example. “I’m really sorry. It’s true what I told you about my grandpa. I can’t leave him until he’s well. I told you as soon as I knew, but it’s not like I had any advance notice he’d have a heart attack.”

Arnold loomed over me, sending chills down my spine and yeasty beer breath into my face. “You stiffed me, and I think you owe me for the inconvenience.” His voice ratcheted dangerously and his face darkened in anger.

“What?” He thought I owed him more money? I could’ve asked for the money I gave him back, but I didn’t. That was money he was supposed to put toward my deposit. If I didn’t move in, shouldn’t I get it back? How had he turned this around?

He spoke through gritted teeth, fingers curling at his sides. “You owe me the month’s rent you’d have paid by now.”

I shuffled backward, bumping my heels into the narrow tree trunk. “No.” The word scratched through my tight throat. I couldn’t pay him money for a place I didn’t rent. I had to pitch in on Mark’s meds, and I didn’t owe Arnold anything. Panic crept through my limbs. I shot anxious looks into the crowd, hoping not to be seen in such a horrifying predicament and praying for witnesses if he lost his temper any further.

Joshua skimmed through a break in the crowded sidewalk and stopped at my side. His expression seemed to hover between rage and fear under black wayfarers and a white ball cap. “Everything okay here?” He sidled closer, facing off with Arnold.

“Nobody asked you, buddy. Me and my friend were discussing the weather. Go kick stones.”

Joshua clasped his hands in front of him and stood silently at my side.

Arnold shifted, foot to foot, slowly growing more agitated. “What the hell are you looking at, man?”

Joshua widened his stance and drew back his shoulders. Nothing about him should have said lethal, but everything did. “Pretty sure I’m looking at grounds for harassment charges, possibly extortion. I missed the beginning of your conversation, but it wasn’t too hard to fill in the rest.” He looked from me to Arnold. “You sure you want to keep it up? She looks like a minor to me. You know what? Let me ask one of the officers patrolling this area. He’ll know what kind of charges she can press. Then you can make an educated decision on how to proceed.” He craned his neck to scan the crowd. “Here’s one now.”

Arnold scrunched his ugly face in confusion. “Man, screw you.”

Joshua shrugged. He lifted a hand overhead and motioned to a cop in street blues. “Let’s ask Officer Green.”

Arnold’s attention ricocheted off the cop headed our way. He barked a few more colorful expressions and disappeared into the mix of locals.

The cop shook Joshua’s hand. “Hey, Lowe. It’s been a long time, buddy. How’s it going?” He gave me a cursory look. “Was that Arnold Switzer you scared off this time?”

This time? I smiled. Joshua was wearing plaid shorts and boat shoes. He looked like he stepped off my J. Crew catalog, but he made a habit of scaring people away? Well, that was a fun fact I wouldn’t have found while trolling his neglected social media accounts. Apparently, I wasn’t completely off base about the lethal vibe.

Joshua snorted. “I hate that guy.”

He knew that guy?

The officer gave me another look. He smiled broadly. “Who’s this?”

Joshua gave me a worried look. “Sorry, this is Katy Reese.”

Officer Green offered me his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“You, too.” I gave Joshua a long look. “Thanks for that.” I tipped my head in Arnold’s direction. “Really.”

“Anytime.”

I lifted my camera to put space between myself and the men as they fell into easy conversation. Joshua adjusted his position to keep me in his periphery.

Officer Green motioned to the camera, and I realized I was staring. “You used to carry something like that, didn’t you?”

Joshua answered. “I did. Mine was older.” He dragged his gaze to my face. “Why was Arnold bothering you? I think you need to fill Jason in on the details so he can get out in front of whatever that was about.”

Officer Green nodded in response.

I groaned inwardly. I felt dirty for having considered the apartment above Ray’s. “I was going to rent the place over Ray’s bar, but then Grandpa had a heart attack and needed me to stay with him while he recuperates, so I couldn’t.”

Both men went rigid. Their mouths opened and their hands landed on their hips.

“I’m not going to now.” I rushed the words out. “I went inside once and realized that wasn’t a place for me. I told Arnold I couldn’t take the apartment, but he won’t stop bothering me about the fact I backed out.” I chewed my bottom lip. Why did I feel like I was in trouble? “It’s no big deal.”

“Oh, it’s a big deal,” Joshua growled.

Officer Green nodded sharply. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.” He slid his eyes to Joshua, and he nodded once more.

“Katy!” Dean’s head bobbed inches above the crowd.

One look at his easy smile relaxed my tense muscles. I lifted onto my toes and waved.

He strode across the little patch of grass outside the courthouse and handed me a bottle of water. “I thought I’d find you here.” He ran his forearm across his forehead, removing a line of sweat from his tan skin.

I cracked the water open and sucked down the delicious relief. Nerves had dried my mouth and throat.

Joshua had come to my rescue and learned my ugly secret about almost living over Ray’s. The whole interaction was almost normal, except for the content. That was horrible.

“What’s up, Jason?” Dean shook Officer Green’s hand. “How’s the lawn looking?”

“Real nice. It’s going to be hard to keep up with it myself once you’re gone.”

I turned to say good-bye to Joshua, but he was half a block away with Elizabeth, his pregnant wife. They looked upset. Hopefully it had nothing to do with me.

Officer Green tipped his hat. “Y’all have a nice day and stay safe.”

I turned to Dean and squelched the urge to hug him. “I’m so glad to see you.”

“Me, too. You want to get out of here?”

“Absolutely.” I tucked the camera into its bag. Pictures could wait. I wanted to absorb every second I got with Dean before he disappeared back to college.

He slid his hand over mine and turned our palms together as if it were no big deal, as if he held everyone’s hand, or we were a regular couple who did things like show public affection.

I shivered at the warm shock of heat climbing my arm to my heart.

“Are you afraid of heights?”

I bumped him with my hip. “If you’re planning to climb the water tower, we’ve officially become the embodiment of every country kid cliché on record.”