Last Chance Texas, page 14
The admission nearly broke Kelsey’s heart.
Back in the day, Kelsey had envied Meredith having a life she’d only dreamed about. One filled with the laughter of children. But lately, Kelsey had found herself relieved not to deal with the baggage of marriage. For now, having a child was totally in her own hands, no one else’s. She’d already set up an appointment to begin counseling for the in vitro. It would be only a matter of time before her dream of a family came true. Right now, she wouldn’t trade places with Meredith for a million dollars.
When there was a lull in the conversation, Kelsey decided to tell the girls her plans. She’d test it out on them first; kind of like a trial run. And then she’d tell her parents . . . eventually.
“I’ve decided to take a leave of absence from my job. I’m going to Alpine to live on Mimi’s property. That way Nathan can’t inherit it through Squatters Rights.”
“That could take months.” Meredith looked at her, a stunned expression on her face.
“Are you sure you’ll be able to handle living that close to Nathan?” Rachel was staring about the apartment now, obviously avoiding eye contact with Kelsey.
“Don’t be silly. Of course, I’ll be able to handle living next door to Nathan.”
After she said it, Meredith reached for her hand and squeezed it, a knowing expression on her face, as though the two shared a secret. “What you had with Nathan wasn’t a one-night stand. You just said that to protect yourself.”
“We had sex, Mere. There’s a difference.”
“I doubt Nathan sees it that way, and if you were being honest, you’d admit you’re lying.” Rachel glanced over at Meredith and Kelsey felt both women giving her a look of disapproval.
“If you two know all that much about Nathan, you’d realize he hates kids. Why would I hook up with someone like that?” Kelsey could hear the anger in her own voice as she recalled how insensitive he’d been when she mentioned wanting children.
“Kelsey, come on. He doesn’t hate kids. He just doesn’t want any. And seriously, you pretty much had him backed into a corner. The guy was probably frustrated and said the first thing that popped into his head. And really, what guy talks about kids when he’s trying to get into your pants?” Meredith grinned after she said it and it was all Kelsey could do not to laugh.
Eager to avoid further discussion about Nathan, Kelsey slid off her chair and began busying herself in the kitchen, hoping they’d leave.
But just as she suspected, Rachel would run this into the ground. “I think Nathan’s a pretty decent guy, Kelsey.”
“Will everyone please stop talking about Nathan Wainwright? He’s old-fashioned, traditional, and extremely opinionated. Having a guy like that in my life is the last thing I need. Trust me.”
Chapter 11
Two days later, Kelsey decided to bite the bullet and tell her parents about her decision. Decisions, actually. She’d start with the land issue. That would be a cakewalk compared to telling them about the in vitro. God. Her mom would flip out. But the wheels were already in motion.
She sauntered up the walk of the red, brick house she’d grown up in. By Dallas standards, it would be considered modest. The home on Melody Lane had changed little since Kelsey was a child-from the white, bleached cupboards to the beige ceramic tile, it looked pretty much like a throwback from the late ‘80s.
When she saw her mother’s face peeking out from beneath the kitchen curtains, Kelsey smiled. It reminded her of an old sitcom where a middle-aged woman stares out from behind the curtain, watching the goings-on of the neighborhood.
Before she had a chance to ring the doorbell, the front door to her parents’ house flew open.
“Well, hello, stranger.” Her mother’s face looked pinched as she greeted Kelsey with a peck on the cheek.
“Hey, Mom. Sorry I haven’t been here in a while.”
“Well, that’s neither here nor there.”
What did that saying mean, anyway? ‘It’s neither here nor there.’ Her mom had used it for as long as she could remember.
“Where’s Dad?”
“In the den watching golf. Where else?”
Kelsey laughed at her mother’s comment. Where else would the man be on a Sunday afternoon?
“I made us some tea. Go ahead and join your father. I’ll bring the drinks in.”
Kelsey strolled down the hall to greet her dad. The second she walked into the den, he jumped to his feet, raced over to her, and lifted her clear off the ground. “Pumpkin! Good to see you. How’s my best gal?”
Her dad never disappointed her. He always greeted her the same way, and she loved every minute of it. “Dad, put me down. I can barely breathe.”
He chuckled at her comment and quickly set her back down. For a man his age, he had the strength of a bear. Years of manual labor had kept him amazingly fit. Kelsey thought of all the times her mother had asked him to get a desk job, to do something more white collar. But Brian Malone had always stood his ground, insisting he’d rather be out in the elements, mingling with real people instead of sitting behind a desk as a ‘god damned pencil pusher,’ as he termed it.
“Your mother’s got some kind of sissy tea out there.” When she didn’t say anything, he opened the small fridge next to his recliner. “Figured you’d rather have a brewsky.”
Kelsey barely got seated before he tossed her a beer. Grabbing one for himself, he flopped down on his favorite recliner. They popped open the beers in unison, just as they always did for luck. She leaned back in her seat and watched her dad take several big chugs. His salt and pepper hair looked grayer than she remembered.
As he slumped back in the chair, his large frame nearly swallowed up the entire recliner. For a fleeting moment, she almost wanted to tell him about her decision to undergo in vitro without her mother being in the room. He’d probably be thrilled at the prospect of having a grandchild. A man as strong as him should have a grandbaby riding on his shoulders.
When the memory of Nathan carrying Tommy Randall on his broad shoulders flashed through her mind, she scolded herself.
What are you doing? Stop thinking about him.
Her mother flew into the room, carrying a large tray. “Okay. Here’s the tea I made. It’s raspberry. It’s a special recipe I found on the Internet. I think you’ll really like . . .” her mother stopped talking as she stared at the can of beer Kelsey was holding.
“Oh, I see you’ve already got a beverage.”
You detest the fact that I drink. I get that.
“Set the tea down, Mother. I might have some later.”
To Kelsey’s relief, her mother decided not to be a martyr, not to openly criticize Kelsey and her dad for drinking before five o’clock on a Sunday afternoon. Maybe she was mellowing. Perhaps breaking the news to her about the in vitro wouldn’t be as difficult as she’d thought.
“You haven’t mentioned much about the trip you took to Alpine with the girls. Did you have a nice time?” The second her father asked the question, Eleanor began staring at the Mizpah Kelsey was wearing.
Aware her mom would have something to say about the necklace her aunt had given her, Kelsey waited several seconds, almost daring her to say something negative about Mimi. Although she’d grown up listening to unflattering remarks about the woman, Kelsey suddenly felt protective of the aunt she’d barely known. Maybe traveling to Alpine, immersing herself in Mimi’s world had played a role. Hard to know.
“Honestly, Kelsey, I can’t believe you’re still wearing that silly necklace.”
She stared at her mother, daring her to criticize Mimi. The look must have proven ominous because Eleanor’s tone softened abruptly and she changed the subject. “Did you put the wreath I gave you on Mimi’s grave like I asked?”
In a roundabout way.
Aware she’d inadvertently thought of the exact phrase Nathan had used when they’d met at the cemetery, Kelsey sat up a little straighter.
“Of course I did.”
“So you paid your respects to your aunt, then?” Her dad’s voice sounded strained as he spoke, and Kelsey suspected that in spite of the fact Mimi was out of their lives, her parents still had issues.
“I did.” Kelsey considered leaving it at that, but for some strange reason, she kept remembering the Alpine Angel’s Cemetery. As cemeteries went, it was pristine. And yet, the picture in her mind of Mimi’s grave bearing a simple wooden cross troubled her. “Mimi’s grave was nothing more than a simple wooden cross. Were you aware of that?”
When her dad looked over at her mother, an accusatory expression on his face, Kelsey suspected her comment might start something. He took another swig of beer before expressing his disapproval. “Eleanor, I thought someone in your family took care of that. If they’re too damn cheap to provide the woman with a headstone, I’ll take care of it myself.”
Kelsey glanced down at her watch, unable to watch the disagreement they were having escalate into a fight. But there was a part of her that wanted to get things out in the open. She’d mapped out her plan carefully, and once they spoke about Mimi’s property, it would be a perfect segway into the conversation about her getting that land to finance the in vitro.
“When I went out to claim the land Mimi gave me, I discovered that some guy is trying to claim it through Squatter’s Rights.”
“Can he do that?” Eleanor’s dark eyes widened as she begged for an answer.
“Actually, he can. He’s been keeping up the land, and according to Texas law, it’ll be his in a couple of months. That’s why I’ve taken a leave of absence from my job. I’m moving to Alpine so I can claim my land. After June twenty-seventh, I’ll own those ten acres.” She let the admission pour from her mouth before taking in another breath.
“Does this fellow trying to swindle you out of Mimi’s land have a name?” Her father jumped to his feet, nearly spilling the can of beer he was gripping.
“Come on, Daddy. He’s worked the land, and he feels entitled to it. I wouldn’t call him a swindler.” Kelsey tried to calm her father down, but to no avail.
“If you tell me who he is, I’ll to drive out to Alpine and beat the living crap of him.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Brian! You’ll do no such thing.” Kelsey’s mother jumped up from her seat, scurried over to Kelsey’s dad and placed a palm on his shoulder. Luckily, he had the good sense to let it go.
“Daddy, come on. I’m a grown woman. I can handle him. The man’s name is Nathan. Nathan Wainwright.”
When her mother walked back over and sat down, Kelsey detected on odd look on her face. Eleanor stared at Kelsey, her eyes fixated on the necklace once again. When she spoke, her tone was terse. “Look, Kelsey. I think it was a lovely gesture on Mimi’s part to give you that property. But honestly, what in the world are you going to do with it? I doubt it’s worth much.”
The comment about the land not being worth much didn’t sit well with Kelsey. Maybe she was reading too much into the remark, but in her eyes, it appeared her mother was once again putting Mimi in her place; inferring she’d never give Kelsey something that had value. Kelsey realized that anything remotely related to the memory of Mimi seemed to be problematic for her mother.
“I already have a potential buyer for the land, some trucking company. They’ll break ground once I turn the title over to them. I just have to get the deed to the property. That shouldn’t prove too difficult.”
Brian Malone leaned forward in his chair, his blue eyes twinkling. “Looks like our little gal is turning into quite the wheeler dealer. Sounds like you’ve got everything under control, Pumpkin. If you need anything, we’re here for you.”
Kelsey smiled over at him, her heart swelling with love. Her dad was quite the man. Overly protective at times, but someone who believed in her. She decided that although this wasn’t quite the segway she’d planned on to tell them about the in vitro, it would have to suffice.
“Dad, get me another beer, will you? I’ve got something important to tell you.”
~ ~ ~
Brian Malone walked over to where his daughter sat and handed her another beer. Kelsey looked more uncomfortable than usual as she sat almost stoically, her legs crossed at the ankles. She hadn’t sat like that since high school when Eleanor had enrolled her in those Cotillion classes.
Twisting several locks of her hair with her index finger, Kelsey cleared her throat several times, and then paused. It wasn’t until Eleanor looked up at the grandfather clock in the den that Kelsey finally spoke. “I’m making plans to have a child, but I won’t be getting married. I’ve decided to be a single parent.”
She suddenly stopped talking, just long of them to wait for Eleanor to gasp.
“Are you insane, Kelsey? Please tell me that’s not what you want?”
“Eleanor, at least hear the girl out, will you?”
“Since it appears I’m running out of time and have yet to meet anyone worth spending the rest of my life with, I’ve decided to be artificially inseminated.” The look on Kelsey’s face once she put it all out there was almost comical. Kelsey was a born pleaser. This couldn’t be easy for her.
“Jesus, have mercy!” Eleanor let out a wail that sounded like a flock of loons being attacked by wolves. “What have I done to fail you, Kelsey? Why can’t you just marry some nice young man and do things the traditional way? How about that nice doctor you’ve dated a couple of times?”
When his daughter stared intently at him, a look of desperation on her face, Brian attempted to keep the conversation from becoming a blood bath. Eleanor would never forgive their daughter for what she was about to do, and yet, Kelsey seemed completely at ease with her decision. That was all he needed to know.
He decided to serve as the peace maker, just as he always did. “My only regret, Kelsey, is that you haven’t found a man worthy of you. Kyle was a total jerk, and I’m just as glad he won’t be the father of your child. If this is what you really want, Pumpkin, I totally support you. You aren’t one to make rash decisions. I know you’ve probably agonized over this for a long time. Am I right?”
When Brian saw Kelsey’s lower lip quiver after he’d said it, he already knew the answer.
“Well, if this doesn’t beat all.” Eleanor bolted from the sofa as she spoke, and when Brian reached his hand out to stop her, she slapped it away.
“Eleanor, come on . . .”
But she’d already begun walking toward the bedroom. He glanced over at the closet, realizing he’d be spending the night on the couch. Just as he always did when his wife was in a tither.
“Daddy, I’m so sorry . . .”
“Don’t worry, Honey. She’ll come around. She just needs time.”
When his daughter strolled over and plopped down on the arm of his recliner, he placed an arm about her, pulling her close. “She’ll come around eventually. But it’s just like everything else, Kelsey. Everyone has an open mind about something different-until it happens in their own backyard, or course. Give her time.”
“Guess I’d better drink while I can.” Kelsey was trying to joke her way out of an awkward situation, no doubt feeling guilty for stirring things up at the Malone household. In some ways, it was a welcome respite from what had become a rather mundane existence with two retirees tripping over one another. And the idea of having a grandchild pleased him.
It was the previous conversation they’d had with Kelsey that worried him. He decided just to come out with it. “Let’s back up a bit what you said earlier. You mentioned that you’d be moving onto Mimi’s property for a couple of months. Is that the only way you can get that land?”
“Dad, I’m not one hundred percent certain, but I want to be out there, just in case. I can’t afford to screw this up.” There it was again; that look of sheer grit that made him proud to call Kelsey his daughter.
“We’ve always been honest with each other, Kelsey.”
“We have.” Kelsey was staring up at him, as though she knew something was coming but couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
“The notion of you so far away from home, living in such close proximity to some local yokel I’ve never met isn’t sitting well with me. He could be some sex pervert for all I know.”
Kelsey swallowed a swig of beer so quickly she choked on it. She hiccupped several times before she could speak. “Nathan is nothing like that, I promise.”
She turned suddenly, and stared out the window. The girl looked a million miles away now, and he wondered if there was more to this Nathan fellow than met the eye.
“Why does he need this land so much?”
“We both have our reasons for wanting the land, Daddy. Let’s just leave it at that.” Kelsey continued staring outside as she spoke, and Brian had the distinct feeling this was pretty much a one-sided conversation.
“Well, he’s probably got a family and every bit helps. I read somewhere that the average salary in that area of the country is around thirty thousand or so a year.”
“Seriously?” Kelsey turned from the window and stared at him, as though he’d dropped a bombshell.
“Well, that’s what I read off the Internet. What do you know about this character, anyway?”
“Nathan’s a widower with a grown daughter. That’s about all I know about him.”
“Then that settles it. I’m driving you out there. Your mother and I will stay with you. I’m not about to let some fellow I’ve never met take advantage of my daughter.”
“Dad, please.” Kelsey’s words came out more like a groan, and he realized that as a woman well into her thirties, she was aghast at his attitude. Still, she would always be his little girl.
