Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) Read online

  She was on her second tissue when the phone rang. Irrationally her pulse leapt. What if it was Jake? If she promised to stay on her side of the sofa perhaps he’d come over and watch the rest of the movie with her? Tease her as he handed her a tissue?

  Distracted, she answered the call.

  “Allie, hi! So is it serious?”

  Allie let her shoulders slump in disappointment, then shook her head and straightened in her seat. “Reese, just what I need tonight.” Reese’s casual breeziness always cheered her.

  “Ha! The last time we talked you were going to call me after your doctor’s appointment. Then nothing. You going to live or what?”

  Allie was late. Three months late. Since she hadn’t had sex in over three years she probably wasn’t pregnant. That left one daunting possibility—one she wasn’t ready for.

  “Her office called to reschedule, but I looked up my symptoms on the internet. I’m sure it’s menopause.”

  “Don’t sound so miserable; it’s a wonder what they can do with replacement hormones these days. Think about it, pregnancy won’t be an issue anymore.”

  That idea had already trekked boldly through her mind and left its sticky footprints.” Before the seething misery had a chance to root she changed the subject, eager to chat about anything else—school, Halloween, the bestseller she recently finished. By the time they made plans to meet for a matinee she’d missed the end of her movie. As she said goodbye Reese was still nagging her to call the doctor.

  “I promise I’ll call first thing, Mom.” She softened her chiding voice with a chuckle. “And I promise to let you know if it’s fatal.”

  But the starter was acting up in the morning and it took forever to get her car going. Late for school and cranky, she dodged mud puddles on her way in the building. Her kids didn’t deserve her foul mood, though, so she shook it off and got started with a counting game. However, by the end of the day she was still unsettled. She ran her vehicle by the garage and luckily got right in.

  Somewhat mollified, she wrote a check and drove her newly repaired vehicle home, windshield wipers swiping at full speed. Pride swelled inside her, coursed through her system. She’d solved her problem without running to someone else for help. She liked this feeling of independence. It was warm, energizing, encouraging.

  Now if she could only get her son home for a visit.

  The week was a busy one, and flew. She ran with Maddie each morning, volunteered at the library Wednesday after work. And twenty five kindergarten children tugged at her like Stretch Armstrong all day long. Her evenings were busy, also with lesson plans to review and Halloween art projects to prepare for. Trey called on Thursday, everything was going well, he’d be home the next weekend.

  Allie met Reese for lunch on Saturday before the movie. Over spinach salads and raspberry tea they laughed about antics at school and their plans for the upcoming week. Allie worked at the library Tuesdays after work, and there was a committee meeting about Christmas at the women’s shelter scheduled for Wednesday evening. It promised to be another busy week. Allie dug into it with gusto.

  Leaving the library Tuesday night, her cell phone rang. She checked the caller ID. “Maddie, how are you?” She probably had to back out of running again.

  “I’m good thanks.” Cheerful Maddie sounded harried. “But Emily, not so much. She came home from school sick today, and you know how the girls are. Once one of them gets something she’s good about sharing with the other. I expect them both to be ill tomorrow.”

  “That’s too bad. Is there something I can do to help?”

  “Well, no and yes.”

  Allie’s eyebrows dropped at the cryptic answer. “What do you need?”

  “They’ve got those tickets for Friday night. The concert, remember?”

  “Oh right. I’d love to buy them from you. I’m sure I can find someone to go with me.” It was well known Maddie would rather listen to fingernails scratching the chalkboard; she was not a fan of country music.

  “Oh, thanks! You’re a lifesaver. I’ll bring them with me to school tomorrow.

  “Sounds great. I’ll get them from you during lunch. She hung up, drove along for a few minutes, then picked her phone back up and called Reese, wondering if she was interested in a girls’ night out.

  “This Friday, Allie? Rats! One of the guys in John’s firm is retiring and there’s a dinner.” Reese seemed dismayed. “I’d much rather spend the evening with you than a bunch of stuffy tax attorneys.”

  Allie laughed at her. “Right. If I didn’t know how much you loved one of those stuffy attorneys I might believe you.” Reese and John were married fourteen years now and opted out of parenthood. Reese announced—a little smugly—to anyone crass enough to question their decision that they were still on their honeymoon.

  Reese sighed, a deep mocking sigh. “Truly pathetic, but true. His job may be boring, but nothing else about the man is.”

  “Lalalalala, hanging up now.” Allie laughed again. She’d always liked John—he was brilliant, and a fine example of male hunkiness—but Reese never did master the fine art of censoring. “Have fun at your dinner.”

  She pulled into her driveway, hit the garage door opener as she said goodbye. Who else could she call? Thumbing through a mental rolodex of possible companions as she parked in the garage and walked into the house, one name immediately popped into her head.

  She quashed it just as quickly. She couldn’t call him. She made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t. It was getting late—too late to call anyone tonight—but tomorrow she would talk to Ginny at school. Ginny was quite a bit younger than she, but she might enjoy the concert. If Ginny couldn’t make it she could ask Marie from the library. Or maybe she should ask Blake. The thought made her chuckle.

  Yeah, right!

  She wasn’t chuckling Thursday afternoon as she placed a call to his office. She punched the number into her cell as she pulled her car from the school parking lot. The good doctor was with a patient so she left her number and asked to have him call. Her phone rang as she pulled up to a red light, three blocks away.

  Allie laughed as she said hello. “I only called a minute ago. You’re done with your patient already?”

  He laughed with her and confided, “I’ll tell you a secret… I wasn’t really with a patient. Jill, the receptionist, she’s supposed to say that to everybody who calls for me. That way I don’t get stuck with something unwanted—like a sales rep.”

  “Ah, very sneaky, doctor.”

  “What can I say? You now know my one vice. Other than that I’m as honest as they come.”

  “I’m relieved to hear it. I have an offer for you, and I’d hate to have to worry about your moral character.” She was foolish for even calling him, but she was running out of options.

  “An offer, huh? This is intriguing.” Amusement lingered in his voice. “Whatcha got, Allie?”

  “I’ve got two tickets to a concert and I’m looking for company.” She named the group that would be playing. “I wondered if you might be interested.”

  Instead of interested, Blake seemed embarrassed. “Wow, Allie. I’m flattered that you’d call, I am. But actually, I’m seeing someone right now; we already have plans to attend.”

  Now it was Allie’s turn to be embarrassed. She pulled up to the last stoplight before her house. There was a vehicle stopped alongside her. Could the woman driving the midnight blue convertible see her discomfort? She propped her left elbow on the window ledge, hid her face with her palm. With a quick blurted apology she hurried off the phone.

  She pitched her handbag onto the kitchen counter and carried her tote bag into the living room. She had papers to mark, but they could wait until later. In a while she would check the DVR, see if anything sounded good. How many nights were spent in front of the television with nothing but schoolwork to keep her company?

  The walk down the hallway to her room was endless tonight. With curious trepidation she removed her school clothes, st
epped into black sweatpants and a fleece sweatshirt like she was donning chain mail. After slipping her feet into fuzzy armor she headed for the kitchen. The flick of a light switch eradicated shadows in the kitchen, she poured a fortifying glass of merlot. With a steeling breath she picked up the telephone on her way outside.

  She hung her booted toes over the edge of the flagstone deck, the receiver dangling from one hand, half-empty stemware clutched in the other. She closed her eyes against the blanket of stars draping the night sky. She could still change her mind, but… she missed him.

  Calling may not be wise, but… she missed him. She dialed his number before she could talk herself out of it.

  Jake sank onto the edge of a deck chair, nursing a cold beer. The heat was finally gone, his chest rose as he filled it with crisp fall air. He tilted his head, guzzled half the bottle, set it on the table. Work on the Cottonwood Commercial Center had been ceaseless for weeks now with one setback after another—materials, sub-contractors, weather—you name it. Nick could handle the job himself, but the investors insisted he get the job back on track personally. So emails flew continually, his phone had been glued to his ear, and his truck could practically drive the route to Cottonwood, a two hour journey, without his assistance. But the relentless babysitting paid off. After eighteen days the development was back on schedule and the investors were off his back. Mercifully, the project once again rode Nick’s broad shoulders. He’d more than proved himself as an adept project manager in the years since he finished college, even more since his brother’s death.

  Easing back in the chaise, he studied the haphazard array of stars blanketing the inky sky. He could locate the most common constellations like the big and little dippers, and then the North Star. He could recite the names of others, but could never find them in the sky. Mostly he liked the stars because they reminded him of Allie’s freckles—scattered over her silken skin the way stars sprinkled across the heavens. He let his eyes drift shut, imagined being able to trace the path of each of her constellations. Imagined running his lips over each one, and giving it a name.

  His phone rang and he let it. Ignored the voicemail notification as well. There was nobody he wanted to talk to. Allie hadn’t called in weeks. She slipped into his thoughts, though, uninvited—he was unable to keep her out. But face it, he didn’t want her out, didn’t turn her memory away once.

  What was she doing tonight? Was she busy with her young orthodontist? Did she have someone new by now? An emptiness crushed his chest, heavy and familiar. Why did she stop calling? Could she tell how he felt? He hoped by staying away she would stop invading his every thought. He woke up thinking of her; left for work wondering if she was home, getting ready for school. At the end of the day he fell into bed exhausted, wishing she was there, to hold while he slept. It was a good thing work was so busy these past few weeks. But now he was tired.

  His phone rang again. Out of habit he picked it up, checked the caller ID. His heart stuttered when her name came up. Play it cool, Taylor. “Hello?” A stab of anticipation ran straight to his gut.

  “Jake?”

  The one word nearly melted his resistance. “Yeah. Allie? How’ve you been?”

  She answered after a short pause. “I’m good. Did… did I catch you in the middle of something?”

  God, all he wanted was to be in the same room with her. “Not really. Why?”

  “You sound funny. And you haven’t called.” She paused again, then blurted out, “I miss you.”

  Jake slid his eyes shut and bit back a groan. “What’s to miss? You must have plenty of guys around.” And how petulant did that sound?

  Her chuckle rumbled softly in his ear. “Nah, don’t be silly.

  Really? He wanted to dance at the thought—like Gene Kelly, posed dramatically with an umbrella in one outstretched hand, his fedora in the other while raindrops slicked over him. Defenses firmly in place, big boy. He relaxed against the cushion again, took up his beer. “That’s too bad. So what have you been up to, besides not dating?”

  “Same old, same old. The kids at school, the library. I had a committee meeting last night. And I got a pedicure with Maddie and the girls last Saturday.”

  He liked her toes painted a startling pink, shuffling on his dashboard. A reluctant smile tugged on his lips.

  “Oh, and I cut my hair.”

  He bolted upright in his chair. “You did what!?”

  “Well, I didn’t do it. I went to a salon.”

  She sounded amused now, her mischievous grin came across loud and clear. His resistance tumbled, crumbled into a pile of useless rubble.

  “It was an impulse. I thought I’d try something new. You’ll like it, I promise.”

  Yeah, sure. “I can hardly wait.” Some of his greatest fantasies involved his hands and her hair and she’d just shot them all to hell.

  “Oh stop pouting. What is it with men and long hair anyway?”

  Not in a million years could he tell her what was with this man and her long hair, so he said nothing—simply sulked wordlessly.

  “Anyway, you sound tired.”

  He shivered, the chill breeze seeping through his thin T-shirt, causing goosebumps. “I am tired. The job in Cottonwood has been kicking our asses—mine and Nick’s. Too many road trips, too much diner food, too little sleep. I’m sitting by the pool, dozing. I’m glad you called.”

  Her hesitation was imperceptible, nothing more than a faint hitch in the conversation. “What does your day look like tomorrow? Will you be in town?”

  “Yeah, sure. I’m planning to sleep in, catch up around the house. I have a dentist’s appointment late in the morning, so it will be after lunch before I get to the office. I was going to hang out tomorrow night, probably order a pizza. You want to come eat pizza with me?” Where did this feeling come from—like he was jumping out of an airplane without a parachute?

  Her chuckle warmed him instantly. “It sounds great, but I have something funner.”

  “Funner, huh? How could it possibly be better than pizza and the tube?” God, he missed teasing her.

  “How about a concert at Airways? Maddie’s girls are sick, so I bought their tickets.” It’s a country band, but they’re pretty good seats. What do you think?”

  That free-falling feeling swamped him again. He hadn’t seen her in nearly three weeks, but that wasn’t near enough time to get her out of his head.

  “Sounds perfect. What time does it start?”

  “The concert’s at eight.”

  “I’ll pick you up at six. We can grab dinner downtown, somewhere near the arena.”

  She agreed so quickly his pulse leapt.

  He would see Allie again. His heart sang. He missed her fiercely. Tomorrow could not come fast enough.

  Waking Friday was a painful venture, his chest full of lead as it was. He’d dreamed of her again, dreamed of kissing. Dreamed of a lover with short, curly hair and slim shoulders shrouded in fairy dust. Oh, shit, did he agree to a date?

  Not a date; the little voice was reassuring. Just food and a little music. But dread hung heavy—like knowing he was on his way to the gallows where he would be hung by the neck until dead. Or perhaps he would face a firing squad. Okay, yeah. At least that was quicker.

  He grappled with alarm that threatened to overwhelm him. How would he make it? A tangle of anticipation and terror twisted through his mind and knotted his midsection. He would never survive.

  The house was already presentable—the cleaning lady came on Wednesdays. He threw a load of jeans into the washer and went to the garage to drag out the lawnmower. The palm trees towering over the front yard swayed, rustled in the breeze. The autumn day was sunny with a bracing nip, the type of day he usually relished. But today there was little enjoyment; he was a man on the way to his demise.

  When he finished the grass he shoved the mower back in the garage and then his laundry into the dryer on his way through to the backyard. There he sprayed off the patio, then rolled up the hose, s
kimmed fallen leaves from the surface of the pool and trudged through the house to shower.

  Heat and steam cascaded over his body, easing muscles achy from physical labor, almost relaxing him. He let his mind ease as well, and listened to his saner self. Spending time with Allie was not torture. He enjoyed her, for chrissake. He wanted to be with her. He would just remember to play it cool.

  A new voice spoke to him, made him pause as he lathered his hair. What if he didn’t have to play it cool? What if he could make this work? Allie missed him too; he could hear it in her voice, in her words. Was it possible he was overlooking something? These thoughts all warred with his feeling of imminent doom as he dressed for the day.

  He ran his tongue over the slickness of his teeth as he left the hygienist’s chair and was led in the direction of the examination room. He reclined on the exam chair while the assistant covered him with a lead blanket, then shoved x-ray slides into his mouth while he concentrated on not gagging up his breakfast. That bit of pleasantness behind him, he relaxed, waited for the dentist to tell him he was cavity-free and excused to get to work.

  “A root canal? You’ve got to be kidding!” Bloody hell, wasn’t that the way his world spun lately? Still muttering, something about the dentist having to pay for the silver Ferrari sitting in the parking lot, he made the needed follow-up appointments and left the building.

  Whirling hope lobbied with sweeping despair all morning. He was up and down like the see-saw Allie’s kids liked to play on at recess. He needed to rein in his thoughts, restore order to their chaotic flight. Anguish still hovered in the background, but optimism was straining to take control.

  Jake pulled his truck out of the medical complex parking lot, swung toward his office. Driving down the boulevard, he came to the onramp and made a quick detour, something strong inside him urging him in this direction. Arriving at his destination, he pulled over, sat for a few moments, staring through the windshield as the idling engine vibrated through the cab of his truck. Shutting down the engine, he kicked through dull fallen leaves, stopping beneath the dubious shade of a venerable jacaranda.