Barbara Dunlop - Overheated

“He’s not stomping-”

“Maybe not intentionally. But I see the way you look at him.”

Crystal felt an embarrassed flush rise in her face. Pity from a man like Nash was really hard to take.

“It’s the kids that count,” she said.

“Agreed. But you have to live with the aftermath.”

She swirled the iced tea and ice cubes. “I have a plan.”

There was amusement in his voice. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I’m going to start a charitable trust for abandoned animals and employ myself. I already have a lawyer working on the details. It’ll be worthwhile, satisfying work. Next, I’ll get a new apartment.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I’m going to be fine.”

“Okay.”

“No man is that important.”

Nash gave her a look that said she was deluding herself. Maybe she was. But it was all she had at the moment.

David shrieked again, as Larry pulled up to the dock. He tied off while the kids pulled the inflatable out of the water and up onto the beach.

“Guess I’d better think about dinner,” said Nash, pushing his chair back.

“Never would have guessed you were the domesticated type.”

“There are a lot of things you wouldn’t guess,” he said with a mock, two-fingered salute.

“Auntie Crystal,” David called, jogging across the lawn ahead of Larry and Jennifer. “That was cool!”

“Really?” said Crystal. “I couldn’t tell you were having fun.”

David made it to the top of the stairs. “We were having fun,” he confirmed, hopping up and down in place.

“Glad to hear it. Coming up on dinner, so you better get out of that wet bathing suit.”

He nodded, scampering for the glass door, remembering to wipe his feet on the mat before heading inside.

Jennifer arrived, her skinny arms wrapped around her bathing suit-clad body. “We’re going to need a big dinner,” she announced.

“I could eat a horse,” said Larry.

“Eeewww,” squealed Jennifer, prancing into the house.

Nash appeared in the doorway, his telephone headset in his ear.

He looked at Larry just as Crystal’s cell phone rang.

She turned to the table to answer it and thought she saw Nash give Larry a nod.

“Hello?” she greeted.

“Crystal Hayes?”

“Yes?”

“This is Sergeant Wilson of the Charlotte Metropolitan Police. I’ve been asked to inform you that a Mr. Zane Crandell was taken into custody today. He’s here at the Central Station.”

A wash of relief fell through Crystal’s body, and she dropped herself into a deck chair.

Larry approached, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you,” she said to the man.

“Do you have any questions?”

“No.” There was nothing more she wanted to know. Zane was off the streets and that was all that mattered.

“Very well,” said the sergeant. “Goodbye, then.”

“Goodbye.” She gripped the little phone tight. “They got him.”

“That’s great,” said Larry, with a squeeze. “Do you want to tell the kids?”

Crystal pictured their dripping hair and laughing eyes. “Let’s do it later.”

Larry nodded, and Crystal’s phone rang again.

She put it back up to her ear. “Hello?”

“Crystal?” It was her mother.

“You heard? I am so relieved.”

“Crystal.”

Relief began turning to anger. “Whatever they give him. Whatever he gets-”

“Crystal.” Her mother’s tone was uncharacteristically sharp.

“What?”

“It’s Amber.”

Everything inside Crystal went dead still. “What?” she rasped from deep in her chest.

“They had to do emergency surgery.”

Time stopped while her mother took a breath.

“She didn’t survive it.” Stella’s voice broke.

“No,” Crystal moaned. “No.”

How could it happen? How could it have gone so terribly wrong? The relationship should have run its course. Zane should have grown tired and left town.

“It was the bleeding,” said her mother, regrouping. “They couldn’t stop the bleeding.”

David’s laughter echoed down the stairs, and Nash immediately retreated inside, closing the door behind him.

Larry’s arm went around Crystal’s shoulders as the first sob burst from deep in her soul.

THE FUNERAL WAS SUNDAY. While his family attended the NASCAR race in Michigan, Larry was in Charlotte, standing in a wind-swept cemetery with a cluster of Amber’s friends and family watching Jennifer protectively clutch her little brother who was sitting on a dark, folding chair between his sister and Crystal, tears streaking his cheeks. The little girl was dry-eyed, and had been that way since she heard the terrible news.

Crystal’s face was stark white above the collar of her black dress. He knew she’d been busy with the arrangements for the past three days, but it looked like reality had now hit her with a sledgehammer.

The preacher spoke of life, death and redemption, but Larry didn’t think Crystal was hearing a word. She stared straight at the polished coffin and its simple bouquet of white roses. Her parents sat next to Jennifer, while the rest of those assembled stood in the early morning sunshine.

Larry knew there was nothing he could do or say that would ease her sorrow. The preacher finished, then the family bravely rose as the coffin was lowered into the ground. They each dropped a rose into the grave, then the other mourners filed by.

Larry said his own goodbye to the woman he’d never had the chance to get to know, then he followed Crystal, catching up to her at the line of black cars waiting at the curb.

While the kids got in, he gently touched her elbow.

She turned.

“If there’s anything I can do…”

She nodded and gave him a brave smile, patting his arm. “I’m going to keep it low-key this week.”

“Good idea.”

“I don’t…” Her voice broke. “I don’t even know if I should take them home for some of their things, or buy them new clothes. Would familiar things be good, or would the trip traumatize them?”

“Play it by ear,” he suggested. “You’ll know what to do.”

She gave a little nod of uncertainty, looking small and tired and so alone in the world.

His hands curled into fists, and he had to steel himself to keep from drawing her into his arms, lending her his strength, trying everything in his power to take away some of her burden.

But he knew he couldn’t do that. Being half in, half out of her life was the worst thing he could do. He could still see the love in her eyes. It matched the adoration he felt in his soul. If there were no complicating factors, he’d whisk her and the kids off right this minute and keep them with him forever.

But life wasn’t simple. Hell, there was nothing about life that was remotely simple.

“Thank you, Larry,” she whispered, stretching up to kiss him on the cheek.

And then she slipped away. The car door closed, and they pulled away from the curb.

When the car disappeared around the corner, he turned to walk back to his own car. He put it in gear, drove home and headed straight to his study, forcing himself to take up his research, hoping against hope he could take his mind off Crystal and the kids.

He worked relentlessly every day. But when he was forced to stop to eat, he’d think about Crystal. Several times he picked up the phone, only to slam it back down in self-disgust.

But, as the days wore on, he weakened. He started asking himself what would be so terrible about a call, or about a quick visit? At the very least, he wanted the kids to know he was there for them. And he was. He was prepared to offer anything they needed.

Then, on Friday, he remembered Crystal’s overnight bag. It was still in the backseat of his car from the night they broke up. He could return it, say hello to the kids, maybe stay for coffee.

Without giving his better nature a chance to protest, he abandoned his whiteboard and grabbed his car keys.

IT HAD BEEN A QUIET WEEK for Crystal. The first couple of days were the worst, but they were slowly settling into a routine. Amber’s will had made it clear that she wanted Crystal to raise her children, and their grandparents supported that wish. The day after the funeral, Crystal’s mother had arrived with some of the kids’ clothes from their apartment, and wisely arranged to have their beds, quilts and stuffed animals delivered to Crystal’s place.

Not for the first time, she appreciated her mother’s strength and practicality.

Jennifer and David seemed comforted by the familiar things. David was on-and-off weepy, particularly at night, but Rufus seemed to give him great comfort. Crystal was grateful for the dog. It was the need to walk him that first got her back outside. Yesterday, they’d even done a grocery shopping trip.

Jennifer hadn’t cried yet. Crystal had worried about that. But then she read that it was normal. Everyone’s grief took a different path.

There was a knock at her kitchen door.

Rufus immediately took up his post.

“Can I get it?” asked Jennifer, looking up from her book.

“Go ahead.” Crystal nodded. “But look through the window first.”

Jennifer rose and padded across the room. “It’s Uncle Larry,” she called, joy in her voice.

Crystal’s stomach clenched with nerves, while David skidded out from the bedroom. “Uncle Larry?”

Jennifer opened the door, and Crystal came face-to-face with the man who’d been haunting her dreams.

“Hi, guys,” he greeted, smiling at each of the kids.

He looked to Crystal and held up her overnight bag. “I thought you might need this.”

She’d completely forgotten about leaving the bag in his car. Rising to her feet, she crossed the apartment to take it from his hands. “It was nice of you to bring it by.” She felt ridiculously formal and awkward.

“Are you flying today?” asked David.

Larry smiled. “As a matter of fact, I am.” A pause. “But not the Cessna. I was thinking about taking the jet to California. There’s a NASCAR race there this weekend.”

David’s jaw dropped open. And really, so did Crystal’s.

“You have a jet?” asked David, in a reverent tone.

“It’s not mine,” Larry warned. “It belongs to my nephew Kent. He said we could use it if we wanted to come and see him race.”

David’s and Jennifer’s eyes were wide and hopeful. They stood perfectly still, attentive to what Larry might say next.

He raised his eyebrows in Crystal’s direction.

She gave him a subtle nod. The trip would probably be good for the kids, and she knew Larry would take excellent care of them.

His face lit up with delight. “Would anyone like to come along?”

“Yes!” the children both squealed at the same time. “Can we, Auntie Crystal?”

“Sure, you can. But you have to be good for Uncle Larry.”

Three shocked, silent faces turned her way.

“But, you’re coming, too, aren’t you?” David voiced the question.

“Of course she’s coming, too,” Larry leapt in. “So is Rufus. My future daughter-in-law has set up a pet area at the track beside her mobile vet unit.”

Crystal’s heart started to pound. A weekend with Larry? How was that going to work? Could she ignore him and focus on the kids? Did she dare try to rekindle something?

“Let’s pack,” Jennifer cried, and the kids disappeared, leaving Crystal and Larry staring silently at each other.

“I hope that was okay,” said Larry, looking guilty but less than contrite.

“It’ll be good for them,” Crystal told him honestly.

“And what about you?” His meaning was clear. How would she handle spending time with him?

“They’re my priority at the moment.” Attempting to adopt her mother’s approach to adversity, she moved briskly over to the kitchen table, shutting down her laptop. “I’m going to have to bring some work along. I’m afraid I’ll be pretty busy with it.”

“I take it all’s well with the five million?”

“All is well,” she confirmed. “I’m working with a lawyer and an accountant. I decided to manage the trust myself. Pay myself a salary. Maybe buy the kids a house.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Larry said softly, his eyes conveying admiration. “Bring along all the work you want.”

CRYSTAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN working. But there was something peaceful about sitting in the early Saturday morning breeze, watching Jennifer and David play with a group of NASCAR teams kids. They appeared to be friendly and inclusive, and in no time at all, Jennifer and David were caught up in the games.

Crystal had found a bench, shaded by one of the haulers. Clouds scuttled across the blue sky, the temperature was cool, and the garage area was a pleasant hum in the distance. She took the first relaxed breath she’d allowed herself all week.