Filed to story: Love on the Sidelines (Natalie & Karl)
“Loan me a pair of jeans and I’ll go with you. And if you’re a good girl, I’ll even treat you to a hamburger later.”
“Deal.”
We walked in silence for a while, the leftover leaves from last fall crunching under our feet. All around us, wild plum and redbud trees were in full bloom. The buzzing of bees, busily collecting nectar, filled the air.
“How does your mother like her new house?”
“Fine, I suppose.” About six months ago, Daddy had retired. He and Mother had sold their house in Jonesboro and bought a smaller one down the street from the farm so she could be closer to the Judge.
“Don’t tell me she’s still not talking to you?” My smile contained no humor. “Only when she has to. You know how close she and Helena are. They’re feeding each other’s indignation. I’m hoping they’ll get over it when they realize this isn’t a game, that I really am divorcing Hugh and they can’t change my mind.”
“They probably will. What about Darla?”
“You know Aunt Darla. She couldn’t stop talking if someone held a gun to her head. There’s not a week goes by that I don’t get at least one lecture on how I’m putting my immortal soul in danger. According to her, I’m going to hell in a handbasket.” I hadn’t set foot in a church since Katie’s funeral, much to Aunt Darla’s dismay. The problems with Hugh, plus my sudden accessibility after I moved back to the farm, had simply escalated her tirades. I’d passed the point where I listened anymore. She seemed happy enough if I merely nodded once in a while as though agreeing with her statements.
“Aunt Jane is the only one who doesn’t seem to have an opinion one way or the other. She still treats me the same way she did before I got married and left home.”
“Do you think it’s ever crossed her mind that if your father had married her, you’d be her daughter?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.”
Jenna gave me a sideways, speculative look. “Karl asked me about you. He knows you and Hugh are getting a divorce.”
“Everyone knows about Hugh and me. I hear they have a betting pool at the barbershop and the odds are five to one I’ll call off the divorce.”
“Yeah?” She perked up. “Maybe I should stop by tomorrow.”
“Don’t. Everyone will figure you’ve got inside information and it’ll ruin their fun.”
“I suppose you’re right. Of course, when everyone discovers that Karl is back, the odds may change.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on, Natalie. You honestly don’t think you were that good at hiding the way you felt about each other, do you? Every kid in school knew. Well, except Piggy. She was so busy being jealous of you and Hugh, she couldn’t see anything else.” While I’d never really cared who Hugh’s women were, I knew for a fact that one of them had been Piggy. Shortly before I left him, she’d made it a point to let me know, hanging on him, touching him in ways only a lover would.
She wasn’t exactly overweight now, she was more-abundant. Not to mention married with two kids, a boy and girl, both as mean and spoiled as Piggy. The oldest had been born approximately six months after she had married Devon Garner, the star basketball player who had nearly raped me that night at the Burger Zone. She’d always claimed the baby was premature even though he weighted in at nine pounds, six ounces.
I was in no position to throw stones as far as the baby went, but it was apparent to everyone Devon had been trapped into the marriage because he was second best to Hugh. These days, there was little sign of the old Devon left. He worked for an insurance company in town and had a quiet, beaten look about him. In spite of our past, I felt sorry for him. No one deserved Piggy.
But something else was bothering me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Hesitantly, I cleared my throat. “So, how does Karl look?”
“Hot damn! I knew you were interested.”
Heat flushed my cheeks. “I’m not interested, merely curious. I hope he’s fat and bald.”
“Well, you can get over that hope real fast. God, Natalie, he’s even more gorgeous now than when we were kids. Wait until you see him. He could be a movie star, one of those manly men who play the tough guys in westerns. I expected to see a six-shooter strapped on his hips. And he sure doesn’t look like he’s hurting for money anymore. I swear, he says he’s paying cash for that land, and it’s not cheap.” I turned abruptly, not wanting to hear another word about Karl, and headed back toward the barn. “Come on. Let’s go get that burger.”
Staying calm when Jenna told me about Karl was one thing. Actually seeing him again was something else entirely, and I fretted about the possibility for the rest of the weekend. Southern Supply generated enough paperwork to keep me in my room and occupied, but I had trouble concentrating.
At one point Sunday afternoon, I heard the distant echo of hammering coming from the direction of the twenty acres Karl was buying, but I wouldn’t allow myself to look.
Shortly after the noise started, the Judge appeared in the open door leading to the barn. “You hear that hammering?”
“Yes, Sir.” I stayed focused on the invoices in front of me.
“Know who it is?”
“Karl,” I answered.
“Okay, just wanted to make sure you knew he was back. Think I’ll go over and say hello.”
I finally looked up. “Don’t you dare do anything to exert yourself.” We were all a little worried about the Judge. He didn’t seem to have much energy anymore, and he barely ate enough to keep a bird alive. He’d been on medication for his blood pressure for two years now.
“Stop fussing at me. You’re getting as bad as Darla. She watches me like a damn vulture. Can’t even go to the bathroom without her standing at the door checking on me. I know what I can do and what I can’t.”
“Knowing and doing are two different things, you stubborn old coot. And we only fuss because we love you.”