The tears didn’t stop coming for days. Kathy tried to reassure herself with ice cream and chocolate but it didn’t help. Then she tried meditating and fasting for hours on end, which only succeeded in giving her slim frame a more waif-like appearance. Sophie attempted to talk her into calling Dave or at least going to work; however Kathy just didn’t have it in her. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The betrayal she felt over Dave’s words hadn’t so much as shaken her as it disappointed her. He obviously didn’t know her.
Looking around her vacant apartment, Kathy sighed heavily. When she had gotten home that day her parents and Todd were waiting for her. They started by apologizing for making a scene at her job. Then they assured her that they weren’t mad at Dave or his family for the way they had treated them. The moment her father spread his arms wide to welcome his only daughter into them, Kathy lost all control. She slapped her father across the face, looked at Todd with such venom that he backed away from her, and then announced to her mother that she was the worst parent to have ever been given the gift of children.
This time there would be no mistaking her words or actions. She wanted them out of her life forever. When their vehicle was still parked in front of her building the next day, she called maintenance to have it removed. The whole situation felt surreal.
When her parents pleaded with her to let them stay, she informed them, “I have already helped you enough. If you don’t want me to call the police and have you removed along with your van, I suggest you find a new place to squat.”
Todd had the audacity to look shocked. “I’m dying,” he pleaded with her.
“Go to a hospital. You’ve caused me pain for the last time.”
With the memory still reeling in her mind Kathy ran to the bathroom sick to her stomach. The pain of letting Dave go paled the problems with her folks. He had called her every morning. Showed up and waited hours outside her door. Sent countless flowers and even apology cards for what he said, written and signed with love. Yet her mind wouldn’t forgive him. How could she? He was wrong, she was nothing like them.
With an aching heart she relived that day up to the moment when her parents came walking in. The dream had been there and real. Every couple gets into fights, she told herself. Then they make up and move on with their lives together. What’s stopping me?
Her cell chimed with Sophie’s ring.
“Hi.”
“Hey, Kathy. How ya doing?”
Another person who called every day to check on her. “I only threw up once today. So I guess that’s an improvement.”
“Yeah, it is.”
The silence seemed to last a lifetime. In the decades they’d known each other, never had they not found something to talk about. However Sophie’s boyfriend was Dave’s brother and that one fact seemed to constantly come into play.
“Dave’s miserable too.”
“I know, Sophie.”
“Kathy, I think you two should talk. Neither of you are going to move forward if you don’t.”
“I know.” The misery in her voice left an acidic taste in her mouth.
“It’s been two weeks. I can’t keep filling in for you at work. I’m starting to feel taken advantage of.”
“I know, Sophie.” Wow, was she pathetic or what?
Sophie huffed into the phone. “You know what? I’ve been nice long enough. You want to throw away the best thing to ever happen to you? Fine. I’m not going to watch you destroy yourself over a little argument. Thank God the two of you didn’t get any more serious because turning and running at your first argument is pretty darn pathetic. And I told Dave the same thing! Obviously you’re not ready for a relationship with a decent man. No. You want to spend your time depressed over your past mistakes and not doing anything to correct them for the future. You suck, Kathy!”
“I know, Sophie. You’re right. I’ll call him today. I’m looking for another job.”
“What? You have to be kidding me!”
The disbelief in Sophie’s voice made Kathy smile. “No, I’m not.”
“I am right, though.”
“Yes, you are, Sophie. I need to get myself together. But everyone needs to be patient. Heck, I lost my boyfriend and my parents in one day. I have a right to mourn.”
Her friend stayed quiet for a moment. “I wish it all hadn’t happened that way.”
“It’s for the best. I can’t carry them any longer.” Her scoff into the phone seemed callous but well deserved. “I just can’t figure out why they would come here. Maybe their drug use has gotten worse.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Kathy. You shouldn’t have had to go through all that.”
“No reason to be sorry. It seems the only person that hasn’t hurt me lately is you.”
“Remember what happened with Jake and his flashback? When I went to his home and he didn’t know I was there?”
“Yeah.”
“Remember how he never wanted me to see him again and how he couldn’t understand how I could forgive him for hurting me?”
“This is different, Soph.”
“Not really. At the time you were upset that I stayed with him.”
“He could have really hurt you.”
“But he didn’t. I knew right then that I was willing to go through all the bullshit to have him. Jake is the one for me.”
“What are you saying? I should be able to put up with Dave’s crap?”
“No. I’m saying he’s willing to put up with yours.”
Kathy’s disapproval of Dave’s words stopped at the tip of her tongue. “Excuse me?”
“I told you, I’m not going to sugarcoat this anymore. I’d hoped you’d come to your senses by now but obviously I was wrong. You’re no prize, Kathy Mae Smith. You have trust and abandonment issues, conflict issues, and are in need of a man who worships the ground you walk on. Dave is that man. I saw it the first time you two met. You can’t deny it, you love him.”
“You think I’m messed up? What kind of friend tells you that? Who the hell do you think you are? I’m not the one who’s screwed up here. He is.”
“He’s not the one running and refusing to let you in. He’s the one who’s been trying to make it up to you because he loves you. He’s the one who’s still going in to work every day despite all this. Do you know your parents came in to see him after you made them leave?”
“What? The gall of them trying one last-ditch effort to get money.”
“Yeah. And he threw them out when your mother said she was there to get your paycheck for you. He told them they should be ashamed of their actions and that it’s too bad they’ll never know what a beautiful woman their daughter is, inside and out. That man loves you unconditionally. I’m not saying what he said was right but damn, Kathy, give him another chance.”
Kathy sat on her bed shocked at the revelation. “I’m the messed up one, aren’t I?”
“I wouldn’t love you if you weren’t.”
“I guess I just figured it was Dave.” It all came together in one nice little package. In Sophie’s relationship it was Jake who needed the extra care. In her relationship with Dave she was the one who needed the extra push. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I thought you knew.” A small chuckle escaped Sophie. “Do you know the difference between psychotic and neurotic?”
“No. But I have a feeling you’re going to tell me and I’m going to feel better about all this.”
“Psychotic is when you don’t know you’re crazy. Neurotic is when you do. Now that you know which one you are, the healing can begin!”
Kathy closed her eyes and had a good laugh. “I need to shower. I’ll call Dave afterward.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I want this so badly. It makes me sick to be without him. I don’t know if I can make it work though.”
“Now’s not the time to doubt yourself. You’ve overcome so much already.”
“You’re right. And I will talk to him. Promise.”
“Good. And anytime you need a butt kicking, just let me know. Heck, I’ll do it even if you don’t need it!”
* * *
“Damn, I’m looking scruffy.” Dave rubbed the long stubble on his face. In the last week he began to see where he went wrong with Kathy. In the last few days he understood he shouldn’t have said she was like her parents. God he missed her. Countless times he picked up the phone to call for their morning chats and then remembered he messed things up and needed to be apologizing. He let her down when he pushed too hard. Hadn’t she asked him to be patient and to trust her? Dave wanted what Jake had with Sophie. Unconditional love. But instead of trying she left; like he always knew she would.
He sprayed the foam in his hands and rubbed it all over his cheeks and jaw. With a few swipes of the razor, he began to look more like himself. The last glide drew blood and he swore ripe when the phone rang at the same time.
“Hello,” he snarled.
“Dave.”
His heart leaped in his chest as hope sprang to life inside him.
“Kathy, please don’t hang up,” rushed out of his mouth. “I’m so sorry. Please—”
“Dave, you don’t have to take the blame for everything. I had a part in it also,” she said.
“Yes, but I said some terrible things and I didn’t mean to. I… and… I miss you so much. Please come back to me.”
“I needed space, Dave.”
“I know. I tried. Well, in the past week I’ve tried.” Five days to be exact. He hadn’t sent flowers, cards, phone calls, nothing. He gave in to the fact she didn’t want him in her life.
“I’m sorry. I made a mess of things.” When he attempted to interject, Kathy cut him off. “Don’t even say I didn’t. There was no reason for me not to tell you it was Sophie on the phone.”
“Why can’t you trust me, Kathy? I’ve never done anything to make you to think I wouldn’t understand.”
“Maybe that’s it. You’re too understanding, too perfect, and it scares me.”
“Do you want this to work?”
“I…” She took a deep breath and the agony of the wait elevated his anxiety. “I love you, Dave, and that’s all that counts. I don’t care about my parents and what kind of marriage they have. I don’t want to be scared of us because we might fail. Dave, I’m not perfect. I need a lot of maintenance and sometimes I might get scared and attempt to run. But just promise you’ll help me. Work through this with me. Can you do that?”
His mind spun with what she’d told him. “Ummm, can we go back to the beginning? To the part where you said you loved me. Because I want to know exactly what that means to you.”
Razor forgotten, Dave grabbed a towel for his face then headed to answer the pounding at his door. There, with her hair a mess and dark shadows under her eyes, stood Kathy.
“It means I won’t accept anything less than all of it. I want a picket fence, a dog, kids, and you by my side every night. If I go a little crazy from time to time, I want you to pull me back and show me how much you care. I didn’t grow up with the kind of life I want to have with you. But I think your parents will help show me how to be good at it.”
“They’ll show us.”
“I love you.” A tear rolled down her cheek and he wiped it away with his thumb.
“I’ve loved you all my life. Even when I didn’t know it was you.”
“Damn it, Dave! How the hell am I supposed to react when you say stuff like that?” She walked away from him and back again while his laughter filled the doorway. “I don’t think this is funny.”
“I think it’s great!”
“Why?”
Dave grabbed her hand and pulled her into his home. “Because I love you and we don’t have a clue what we’re supposed to be doing.”
“I didn’t want you to be in love with me. Still don’t. I don’t understand what I’m feeling. I look at you and I think to myself, ‘you’re gonna break his heart. Run.’ Then I wonder what it is that makes me want to be with you, near you.” On a huff she placed her hands on her hips. “What makes you think you’re in love with me? Because I know I’m not easy to handle sometimes.”
“Let’s see.” He tilted his head in examination of her. “You talk soft but have a mean streak.”
“Is that supposed to make me swoon?”
“Ha! No.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You have a wicked sense of humor. Your eyes mesmerize me like I’ve been put under a spell. You put me in my place when it’s needed. You’re truthful, loving, and a little unsure.” Leaning in, Dave’s smiling lips kissed hers gently when he saw the flash of insolence in her eyes. “Damn, you turn me on with those defiant looks, Kathy.” He lifted her into his arms. “I’m going to strip you down and keep you that way for the next twenty-four hours. Then we’re going to have dinner with my parents and let them know we’re getting married. Can you handle that?”
“I love it when you tell me what to do.” She wiggled her brows at him.
“Oh, then you’re going to love what I have in mind right now.” He headed back to his bedroom. “You have a lot of making up to do for the crap you did.”
“Oh, no. Please don’t make me be your sex slave.”
“Too late.” He grinned. “You need to be taught a lesson.”
She bit his earlobe and lust shot straight to his groin. “What if I’m naughty again?”
“Then I tie you up and have my way with you.” Her small gasp delighted him. “Thought you’d like that.”