His Kind of Perfection
Stupid woman.
But he’d become a tough nut to crack when any mention of family was made. His childhood must’ve really sucked.
Her anxiety left when she pulled into the driveway and saw Thea’s vacant parking place. She hurried in for a quick shower and a change of clothes since the ones she had on looked as if she’d slept in them.
She was feeding Dandy when Thea came in and headed straight for the coffeemaker.
“Good morning. You’re up and about early.” Thea looked rumpled, but there was an unmistakable glow about her that made Bree jealous and happy at the same time.
Bree stretched her arms overhead. “I slept great last night, so I thought I’d go in and work out before I begin my paperwork.”
“Well, don’t expect Gil to get there early. When I left, he was still snoozing.” Her head tilted, and she gave a tender smile. “He’s so cute when he’s sleeping.”
Bree snorted. “That’s because it’s the only time he’s not being annoying.” It ran through her mind that Kale had seen her sleeping. Did he think she was cute when she slept? And then the fact the thought even came to mind was disturbing, and she flushed. She covered by squatting to give Dandy a parting scratch. “Well, gotta go. I want to get in an hour of spinning before the day starts.”
Thea turned on the faucet to fill the coffeemaker. “See ya,” she called over the sound of the running water.
Bree decided against jogging to the gym and drove instead. Thinking of Dad had put her in the mood for lunch with Mom.
She was surprised to find Lanie’s car already at the gym. The nineteen-year-old had turned out to be not so bad once they’d gotten past their awkward beginning. Oh, she was definitely rough around the edges, but she was a hard worker and prompt—she was already at the gym at 6:48 a.m. when she didn’t start until 8:30 a.m.
With some encouragement from Bree, Gil had talked to her about her clothes. She’d told him it was all she had. Her dad had kicked her out of the house, and she was living with her unemployed boyfriend, barely scraping by. She’d even been forced to drop out of the food service classes at the community college. Bree and Thea had come up with some workout attire for her that helped her fit into the atmosphere of the gym. She’d insisted she didn’t want a handout, so they’d counter-insisted she could pay them back when she got a little ahead.
Lanie was a sad case, and her upbringing so different from Bree and Gil’s, it was hard for Bree to imagine what the girl was going through.
Bree expected to be assaulted by the fabulous aroma of Lanie’s homemade granola bars when she walked in the gym—why else would she be there so early?—but no yummy scent greeted her.
In fact, nothing greeted her. No movement. No sound.
An eerie feeling raised the hairs on the back of her neck.
“Lanie?” she called. No answer. And she wasn’t at the snack bar.
Bree made a quick survey of the free-weight, cardio, circuit and group class rooms through the windows. All empty. “Lanie?” she called again, louder this time. Still no answer. All of the offices remained locked.
So Lanie wasn’t here after all. Her car was parked in the same space as yesterday, so perhaps someone had picked her up and she’d left it there all night.
Satisfied with that explanation, Bree headed toward the small library to pick out a spinning DVD. Maybe a ride along the Pacific Coast Highway—something to keep that nice feeling of waking up on Kentucky Lake in her system awhile longer.
She flipped the light on, bringing a startled scream from inside the room, which shook a yelp from Bree in turn.
“Lanie! You scared the wadding out of me!”
The girl had been asleep on the couch and had gone from lying down to an upright position too quickly. She clutched her head, and leaned back, eyes wide with fright, and apparently too shaken to speak.
Bree assessed the situation. A small bag on the floor beside the couch. The workout clothes, folded and obviously being used as a pillow. A light jacket draped across the front of her arms for cover. “Did you sleep here last night?”
Lanie nodded. “Iz and I had a fight. He kicked me out, and this seemed like a better option than sleeping in the car.” She shrugged as if it was no big deal, but Bree noticed the quiver of her chin—a break in her usual demeanor.
“I’m sorry.” Bree sat down beside her. “What are you going to do?”
Lanie shrugged again. “I thought maybe I could stay here. I mean, there are showers and a kitchen.” She looked at Bree, her voice becoming more animated as she talked...more pleading. “I can bake the snacks after hours, and—and clean up, and launder the towels, and wipe down the equipment.”
“Lanie.” Bree shook her head. “You can’t live here. Gil would never go for it.”
Fear flashed in Lanie’s wide eyes. “If you think it’ll make him mad, you won’t tell him I stayed here last night, will you?”
As long as it was only the once, Bree thought it would be okay if her brother didn’t know. “I won’t tell him, but it can’t happen again. Do you have somewhere else you can go? To a friend’s?”
Lanie shook her head.
“Back to live with your dad?”
“No.” The girl was adamant about that one.
“Well, let’s put your stuff in my office for now.” Bree got up and placed the stack of clothes into the open gym bag, her mind spinning for possibilities. “Maybe you could stay with Thea and me until we find someplace else.” She knew she shouldn’t be volunteering that idea until she’d talked with Thea, who was the owner of the house. And all they could offer her would be a couch.
“I don’t want to be in the way.” Lanie slipped the jacket on, then took the bag from Bree and zipped it.
“We’ll figure out something,” Bree assured her as she led the way to her office.
No sooner had she gotten the door open than Lanie grabbed her stomach and cried, “Oh, shit.” Then she leaned over and puked into the trash can by Bree’s desk.
Bree looked on, horrified by this quick turn of events. “Lanie...are you?”
Lanie straightened and wiped a shaky hand down her ashen face. “Pregnant. That’s why Iz kicked me out.”
CHAPTER FIVE
STELLA COULDN’T GET Lanie off her mind.
Needing someone to talk to other than Gil, Bree had unloaded to Stella about her coworker during lunch. And, although she appreciated her daughter’s kind heart, her own mother’s heart couldn’t keep from worrying about Bree’s plan to give the girl shelter with her and Thea.
A father who kicked her out? A boyfriend who sent her packing as soon as he learned she was pregnant? This was a different type of person than those Bree was used to. What if the boyfriend wanted Lanie back and she’d decided she didn’t want him? Was he the violent type? Abusive?
Stella’s stomach twisted. She didn’t want Bree involved in any of that.
But Lanie needed help. To add insult to injury, the poor girl’s car wouldn’t even start now, which was why Stella was headed to Ollie Perkins’s house to talk with Ray Cyree.
It still seemed strange to Stella, seeing cars on East Main at two o’clock in the afternoon on a Thursday. There had been a time when any traffic here would’ve been limited to pedestrians—the reason being the townspeople had wanted to help Ollie, who was legally blind, keep a bit of his independence after his mother had moved to the nursing home. Everyone had stayed off the street and allowed Ollie to drive his car the three blocks to the nursing home to visit his mom one day a week. Even Sheriff Blaine had looked the other way.
But Ollie had given up driving completely now, the macular degeneration having stolen enough of his eyesight that even walking could be a problem.
Thank God for Ray Cyree, she thought, and Isaiah’s favorite saying followed on its heels: Everything happens for a reason, Stell.
Well, what could possibly be the reason for poor Lanie’s situation?
Ray wasn’t outside when Stella pulled into Ollie’s driveway, but the sawhorses were set up, laden with boards and a power saw. A pile of sawdust beneath served as evidence the man was still hard at work on the renovations.
The hammering was so loud, she doubted anyone could hear her knock on the front door, but she tried anyway. When that didn’t work, she opened the door a crack and stuck her head in.
“Ollie? You home?”
The hammering stopped. “That you, Ms. Stella?” Ray’s familiar voice answered. “C’mon in.”
By that time, she was in, but she was glad he’d made the invitation official.
Ray came from the back of the house, wiping his hands on his faded jeans, his warm smile a pleasant greeting.
“Hi, Ray. How are you?”
“I’m fine. And you look good, as always.”
Stella should have been used to Ray’s ever-present compliments, but they still made her blush like a schoolgirl.
“Are you looking for Ollie?” he went on. “’Cause I took him over to visit his mom.”
“No, I came looking for you.”
Ray’s blue eyes twinkled. “A pretty woman’s never said that to me before.”
“Lawd, Ray,” Stella drawled in her best Southern belle imitation. “How you do go on!”
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled back. “Now, what is it I can do for you? I know you weren’t just hankering for my smile.”
“I’m hankering for your mechanic skills,” she confessed. “There’s a young woman who works at the new gym whose car won’t hit a lick. We can call somebody else if you’re too busy, but I thought I’d start with you.”
Since they’d met, Stella had thrown any kind of business Ray’s way that she thought he could handle, which was pretty much everything. He was always grateful for the work.
His hands gripped his hips and his face grew serious. “Where’s her car?”
“At the gym in Benton.”
Ray glanced at his watch. “I’m supposed to pick Ollie up at five, but, take away the driving time, that gives me a couple of hours. Guess if I don’t know what her car needs by then, I doubt I’d ever know.”
Ray’s old truck wouldn’t give Bree or Gil much confidence in his ability if they saw it. “I can take you,” Stella suggested, and he surprised her by accepting her offer.
“That would keep me from having to dismantle things. Let me get my tools.”
Ray led her through the house, stopping long enough to show her the upgrade project he’d been working on.
Two walls had been knocked out to open up the kitchen to the living room, forming a large great room that would allow Ollie more space. The original oak floors would be leveled next. That would require working under the house on floor joists, which sounded like a cold job.
Ray assured her it wouldn’t take too long, but he also planned to refinish the floor. He showed her the halogen lighting fixtures that would replace the old relics that had been in the house since Ollie’s dad built it eighty years ago. They would brighten dark corners and help eliminate shadowy areas that could cause Ollie problems.
Stella was amazed at the depth of the project...and of Ray’s skill. “I swear, Ray Cyree, you really can do everything.”
“I can fix anything but a broken heart.”
She smiled, remembering his sign from the first day they met.
They stepped into the backyard, and she saw why he’d so readily accepted her offer of a ride to the gym.
The back of his pickup/home was now also serving as a makeshift toolshed with lumber and tools scattered about. A large cord connected at one end to the truck and plugged into the foundation of the house at the other.
Ray saw her looking at it. “Yes, ma’am, I’ve set up camp here on a more permanent basis. Ollie lets me plug into his electricity, so I’m not having to run that loud generator...for which his neighbors are grateful, I’m sure.”
Stella was pleased, too, though she didn’t say so. She’d heard Sue Marsden complaining about the noise a couple of days ago to Mary Jenkins, a member of the town council. Sue wasn’t one of Ollie’s neighbors, but she was complaining on their behalf.
If anybody ever needed a champion to do their complaining for them, Sue was the go-to.
Ray loaded a greasy toolbox into the trunk of Stella’s pristine car, and the two of them headed toward Benton. Ray’s face had become a common sight in Taylor’s Grove, so he was no longer the main focus of talk around town. But a few eyebrows were raised when he appeared in the front seat of Stella’s Cadillac, she was sure.
They passed the time making small talk and catching up on the news since they’d last seen each other.
“You told me once, you wanted to stay around these parts.” Stella cast him a sidelong glance as she drove. “It looks like Ollie’s project will keep you busy for a while.”
“To tell you the truth, I think he likes me being there. He invites me in for supper most every night. And sometimes we play cards afterward.” Ray barked a laugh and held his hands out about a foot apart. “Got the dangdest set of cards I ever seen. Huge boogers, so’s he can see ’em.” Then he sighed, and his voice held a somber note. “Ollie’s a good man. Terrible lonesome for companionship, though.”
Guilt gnawed at Stella’s insides. “I never thought much about how lonely he might be. He’s often out and about town, and he always seems to have something to do.”
She saw the movement of Ray’s shrug out of the corner of her eye. “But going home to an empty house is never easy,” he said.
How well Stella knew that. Sometimes when she left her own home, she would leave the TV or radio on just so there would be some noise when she returned.
She learned years ago that the silence in an empty house could be deafening.
Ray chose to stay outside when they got to the gym, so Stella went in to get the infamous Lanie, curious to meet the young woman who vexed Bree so.
The place was a beehive of activity, and Stella couldn’t keep from thinking how pleased Isaiah would be to have so much going on in this place he’d loved so much. And to think that both of their kids worked here—well, that was just a dream come true. Gil was in the weight room helping a young man doing heavy bench presses. His back was to the window, so he didn’t see her. Through another window, she spotted Bree, teaching what looked to be a yoga class. Bree’s eyes went wide when she saw Stella. She excused herself and came rushing out into the lobby. “Is everything okay? What are you doing here?”
Stella’s heart thumped loudly at the realization their roles were reversing. Her children had started to worry about her. And, while that was a sweet gesture, it also caused a little irritation to flare. She was hardly doddering, yet.
She gave a dismissive wave to Bree’s fears. “Everything’s fine. I brought Ray to fix Lanie’s car. Can you point her out to me?”
Bree looked around. “There she is.” She gestured to a young woman coming out of the employee kitchen in the back. “Lanie,” she called and wiggled a finger, beckoning.
One look at Lanie’s overly colored hair, overly drawn eyes and overly...well, everything...reminded Stella that today was Halloween, and she wondered if perhaps the young woman was made up for the occasion. But she wore no costume. In fact, she was dressed like everyone else—except for the dog collar necklace, which then set Stella to wondering about the girl’s self-image.
“Lanie, this is my mother, Stella Rice. Mom, this is Lanie Fremont.” Bree made the quick introduction, then added her apology. “Sorry. I’ve got to get back to my class.” She left quickly, and just as quickly an awkwardness descended.
“Hi.” Lanie thrust her hands into her pockets, obviously with no intentions of shaking hands.
“Hello, Lanie.” Stella managed to infuse some warmth into her voice. “Bree told me about your car trouble, so I’ve brought someone to take a look at it. But, we’ll need the keys.”
Lanie’s eyes flicked around the room, avoiding eye contact. “I don’t have any money to pay a mechanic.”
“That’s okay. I’ll take care of it.”
“Not necessary.” Lanie turned to walk away.
“Lanie.” Stella pulled out the stern voice and was pleased to see it still worked. Lanie stopped and turned back toward her. “It is necessary,” Stella said. “You need transportation. Now get your keys.”
With the petulant huff most girls perfected around eleven, Lanie sauntered to the snack bar and retrieved her car keys. “Here. It’s the green Corolla.” She popped her chewing gum as she waited for Stella to take them.
Stella bit back her sarcastic retort and ignored the rude behavior. “Thanks.” She took them with a wink and squeezed Lanie’s fingers.
It’s all about upbringing, she reminded herself as she hustled the keys out to Ray.
He went to work immediately, and Stella found herself without anything to do. She wandered aimlessly around the parking lot and eventually out to the town square for window shopping, but she didn’t go in any of the stores. She wanted to be ready to take Ray back to Taylor’s Grove as quickly as possible. And besides, something Ray had said sparked an idea she wanted to ponder on a bit.
This world was full of lonely people. People who needed companionship—like Ollie. People who needed a little help—like Ray and Lanie. People who needed someone around so they didn’t have to leave the TV or radio on in order to avoid coming home to silence.
She’d considered getting a pet. A cat or a dog. But the world was full of lonely people.
If she thought about it too long, she might change her mind—and then where would she be?
With a purposeful stride, she walked back to the gym, meeting Ray in the parking lot. “Well, how bad?”
He had a bottle of something tucked under his arm and was wiping his greasy hands on a rag. “I fixed a wire that’d worked loose, so it’s running now. But it’s in bad need of a tune-up, an oil change and a bunch of stuff I don’t have the tools or the time for today. It really needs to be put on a lift to get to the underbelly.” He shuffled in his pocket for a minute and handed her the keys.
Resolve stiffened Stella’s spine. If Lanie was homeless, she definitely wouldn’t have the means to get her car repaired.
“You want to come in?” She nodded toward the door. “I’ll show you around...you can meet my children.”
Ray shook his head, and for the first time, she saw worry pinch his face. “Some other time, Ms. Stella. When I’m more presentable.” He squirted something from the bottle on his hand and started rubbing vigorously.
“Okay, then. I’ll be right back.”
When she entered the gym again, she didn’t look for Bree or Gil—she didn’t want their opinion, or their interference, on this matter. Instead, she headed straight to the snack bar. “Lanie.” She used the stern tone again. “Bree told me about what you’re dealing with, and that your boyfriend has kicked you out of the house.”
Lanie’s eyes narrowed cautiously.
Stella’s heart beat a staccato rhythm against her chest wall. “Your car’s running now, but Ray says it needs to go into the shop for some major repairs. So, the way I see it, you’re going to need someone who can drive you around for a few days.” She saw the girl’s face harden, but she didn’t let that daunt her. “I have a car and plenty of time on my hands—too much really—and can drive you wherever you need to go. I have a large house with plenty of empty space that I would be more than happy to share.” She paused for a breath, before blurting, “I’d like for you to stay with me until you get on your feet.”
“You don’t even know me.” Lanie’s sneer was a mixture of derision and bewilderment.
Stella kept her gaze constant. “I know you can’t live on the street. You have a baby to think about.”
The girl’s chin buckled in response.
“If it doesn’t work, you can move out. But we won’t know unless we give it a try.” She grabbed a pen from the bar and scribbled her address on a napkin. “What have you got to lose?”
“I can’t,” Lanie protested.
Stella held her hand up, palm out. “Can’t or won’t? It seems like a plausible solution to me.” She dropped her hand and gave the girl a motherly smile. “I’m a good cook, and I’m fixing fried chicken and mashed potatoes for supper. Think about it.”
She headed back outside to give the young woman a little space, hoping Lanie would take note of that and understand.
* * *
THE TRUCK PULLING into the parking lot gave Kale a merciful respite in the middle of his third movement of the bricks while doing sprints. If he hadn’t recognized Josh’s pickup, he would’ve been relieved to be armed with a brick in each hand. The boy was unrecognizable as he climbed out of the vehicle clad in black leather and made up to look like a member of the heavy metal band Kiss, complete with white makeup, blackened winged eyes, red lips and wild wig.
“If you’re starting a band, that look’s already been taken,” Kale called from the corner of the lot where he deposited the load.
Josh’s grin made him much less menacing. “Wanted to show you my Halloween costume, Mr. B. I’ve got a party later, but I thought since I went to all the trouble, I might as well get some mileage out of it.”
“Well, if a customer shows up, please, get back in your truck. It’s been slow today, and I sure as hell don’t want anyone scared off.”
Kale invited the boy inside, where Josh grabbed a Mountain Dew while Kale chose a V8, then they went back out on the dock to enjoy the crisp October breeze coming off the lake.
“You’ve lost more weight.” The kid gave him a thumbs-up.
“Yeah, I joined that gym in Benton. Got me a personal trainer. It’s going pretty well.”
Kale was then pleased to hear that Josh was taking a lively part in school activities. He had made the math team again and had been approached by the debate coach, though he hadn’t decided on that yet. Student Council and Beta Club fund-raisers were taking huge chunks of his time. Most importantly, Ramona Blaine, the sheriff’s youngest daughter, had asked him to be her escort at homecoming Friday night.
“Watch out for the pretty ones, son,” Kale advised as Bree flashed in his mind, and he remembered the grueling workout from the night before followed by the drenching. “They can be wicked.”
Josh answered with a wicked smile of his own, his teeth yellowed by contrast to the white makeup and red lipstick. “So you’re advising me to date only ugly girls, but you don’t follow your own advice?”
Kale took the last swig of his drink. “I never claimed to be a role model.”
Josh shrugged. “Sorry things didn’t work out with Addy, Mr. B.” The low, sympathetic voice coming from the sinister face gave a surreal quality to the conversation. “Do you know the guy she hooked up with?”
The words, no matter that they were delivered so offhandedly, landed a punch to Kale’s gut. “You saw Addy with someone?”
Josh’s neck disappeared into his leather jacket like a turtle taking cover in its shell. “Ye—yeah.” The kid’s voice cracked. “At the Murray State game Saturday. I figured you knew.”
Anger and frustration tore through Kale. “Hell, no, I didn’t know!” He crushed the can in his hand into a ball and flung it at the trash container. It hit the metal side and ricocheted off like a bullet, straight for Josh’s head. Luckily, the kid had good reflexes. He shifted out of the way to let it whiz past.
Kale held his tongue by taking deep breaths, his head and lungs filling with the pungent fumes of gasoline. He stalked across the tethered walkway to shore, feeling the boards bounce under his heavy tread. The kid stayed behind, walking to the far end of the dock, giving him space.
Kale’s gut twisted. He was losing Addy. Emotions pinged about in his brain like June bugs in a jar. Addy. The marina. The two were paired in his brain. He had a plan, damn it! For the first time in his life, he was going to have something lasting. He’d been working his ass off for both of them...literally. Was within a few pounds of his goal weight, for God’s sake.