Filed to story: Love on the Sidelines (Natalie & Karl)
“Hey, Karl.” Hugh greeted him as they met. “How’s it going?”
“Fine. Fill it up?”
“Please.” Hugh went into the office and I could see him talking to Mr. Viders.
My gaze went back to Lindsey. She was still watching Karl as though her life depended on keeping him in sight. And it hurt. As much as I tried to fight it, it hurt.
The rattle of the gas nozzle drew me, and I glanced around. He was standing as close to me as possible without making it too obvious.
“Don’t look like that,” he begged, his voice low.
“It’s hard seeing you with her, Karl.”
“I know.” Beneath the window where no one could see, his fingers curled around mine and squeezed. “Every time he kisses you goodnight I want to strangle him.” We shared a long look full of sympathy and understanding. “Are you coming over tonight?” I finally asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay.” I slipped my hand from his when the bell over the office door rang.
HughgavemeanoddlookashepaidKarlforthegas,andIbracedmyselffor questions. But he didn’t ask any, merely handed me my soda and opened the car door for me before climbing in on the driver’s side.
Later that night, after Karl and I made love, I broached the subject of Lindsey again.
Karl looked so tired that it suddenly hit me how little sleep he must be getting. He worked all day, then spent the evenings with Lindsey until he came to me after midnight. He didn’t show up every night, but he was there enough to make me worry about him. On those nights he was lucky to get a few hours sleep.
“How much longer is this going to last?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” His fingers traced anabsentmindedpathdownmyarm.
“Sometimes I think I’m making progress, then she’ll just clam up and refuse to talk about it. I feel like I’m beating my head against a brick wall. And…the situation…seems to be getting worse. It’s reached the point where I’m afraid to leave her alone for a single minute.”
It was the closest he’d ever come to telling me what was going on, and I realized he wouldn’t have said that much if he hadn’t been so tired he couldn’t think straight. He must have known the same thing, because instantly he shut up.
I snuggled closer and wrapped my arms around him. “Go to sleep,” I whispered.
With a yawn, he did just that, but I stayed awake the rest of the night, driving myself crazy wondering why he was afraid for Lindsey. What could possibly happen to her when she rarely left her home? And from what I’d seen, when she did go out it was always with Karl.
Of course, I solved nothing that night. I only prayed that Karl would feel enough confidence in me to tell me everything when it was over. Neither of us knew that it wouldn’t be over for many long years, or that Frank Hayes would wind up dead, lying in a pool of blood on the grimy floor of his trailer.
I did, however, realize I might have a big problem of my own when I walked into the kitchen a few weeks later and found my mother and Helena Morgan huddled over a spring catalogue. They were talking in excited whispers that came to a screeching halt when I strolled through the door. Both of them looked up and gave me patently fake smiles of pure innocence.
“Okay, where is it?” I demanded.
Mama arched an eyebrow. “Where’s what, Dear?”
“The body. When two people look like you two do, there has to be a body involved.”
“Nonsense. We were just…um, looking at the new fashions.”
“That’s right.” Helena nodded eagerly.
“Uh-huh.” I went to the fridge and poured a glass of tea, trying to ignore the fact that they’d decided I was blind and were signaling each other frantically. “Isn’t it a little early in the season to be thinking about spring clothes?” I carried my drink to the table and sat down.
“It’s never too early, Darling.” Helena beamed at me. “And I do so love spring. It makes me think of weddings.”
Uh-oh. This was trouble with a capital T. I forced myself to stay calm. “Really? It makes me think of mosquitoes and storms.”
Right then Aunt Darla came skidding into the room. “It just hit me,” she started excitedly. “Lilacs…oh, Natalie. I didn’t know you were here.” The three of them went through another round of facial contortions while my heart sank.
It was even worse than I’d thought. They were already planning my wedding. To Hugh.
“So tell me, Natalie, what’s your favorite time of the year?” Helena inquired.
“Christmas,” I spit out, hoping I could head them off at the pass and buy some time.
“Oh.” Their faces fell, but I knew Karl and I couldn’t put things off much longer without hurting a lot of people.
I did try later that day to prepare Mama. After Helena left I curled up on the couch with a copy of