Filed to story: Love on the Sidelines (Natalie & Karl)
I tried to stop, but my body had already gathered enough momentum to jump the puddle. I ended up wobbling on the edge a second before my foot landed squarely in the water, mud squishing between my toes.
“Damn,” I muttered under my breath before glancing over my shoulder at Karl. He was standing next to the Chevy, the hood raised.
“What are you doing here?” I extracted my foot, accompanied by a sucking sound, then wiggled my toes as I tried to dislodge the mud. All I succeeded in doing was spreading it even more.
He shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to come over and see what the Chevy needed to get it in good running order again.”
The whole time he was talking, he was walking toward me. When he reached me, he took a shop towel from his back pocket, squatted, and picked up my foot. I had to grip his shoulder to keep from falling while he wiped the mud from my foot and leg.
He’d caught me at a vulnerable time, when I was still half asleep, unprepared, all my defenses down. And while I fought it, my traitorous body tingled from top to bottom at his touch, insisted on remembering what it was like to make love with him.
His hands moved over my skin more like a caress than an attempt to clean, and the flesh under my palm was rock-hard with muscle. Heat radiated from him like a living thing bent on consuming me.
Mentally, I shook my head, trying to wipe away the stupor I’d fallen into. I had to clear my throat before I could speak. “I told Daniel he could work on the car. I don’t remember including you in that offer.”
He lifted his head, his gaze running over me until it met mine, and he made no effort to release my leg. His fingers curled just below my knee as though he intended to leave them there forever, his thumb moving in a slow circle against my skin. When he answered, his voice was husky and it scraped my nerves raw.
“Daniel is smart, but he won’t be fifteen until the end of January. He can change the oil and the plugs, but there’s still a lot he doesn’t know about mechanics.” I pulled my leg from his grasp and he stood. In a way, this was even worse. Less than an inch separated his body from mine. “Why are you doing this?” I was getting desperate and it showed in my voice.
“You know why.” His eyes were molten, a shade I understood very well, even though I denied the memories with all my strength.
“No, damn it, I don’t! You’ve got Lindsey. Why can’t you just leave me alone?” His hands moved to my arms and he leaned closer. “I don’t want Lindsey. I never have. I want you.”
Finally-finally, my anger surged to the forefront, protecting me from the unwanted feelings that were stirring to life. I wrenched away from him, took a step back. “Do you really think I’m still that gullible, Karl? I can do the math as well as the next person. If Daniel’s birthday is the end of January that means you were going straight from my bed to hers.” My laugh was tinged with hysteria. “Do you know, I used to worry about you?
I was afraid you weren’t getting enough rest, working all day and then spending the nights with me. Looks like you had a lot more stamina than I gave you credit for.” His shoulders slumped. “Don’t. Please. It wasn’t like you think.” I took another step away from him. “Oh? Then what was it like?” When he didn’t answer, I turned toward the barn. “I guess that says it all. Stay away from me, Karl. I’m not playing your games anymore.” I marched to my room, back straight and head held high. No matter how my body might be protesting, he wasn’t going to get to me again. I wouldn’t allow it, wouldn’t even permit myself to think about it. There was the Judge’s breakfast to make, and now I had to shower and change before I went to the house.
Karl was still there when I finished dressing, leaning over the Chevy’s motor, but I ignored him this time. That didn’t stop me from feeling his gaze following my progress across the yard. It was a relief when I stepped into the kitchen and closed the door behind me.
Moving to the coffeemaker, I filled it with the decaf my aunts kept on hand for the Judge, then added water and hit the on button. It had made its first gurgle when I tilted my head, listening intently.
The Judge was an early riser, and I was late. I had expected him to be up and dressed by now, but the house was unnaturally silent. The hair on my arms popped erect and a shiver ran down my spine.
I tried to convince myself it was my imagination working overtime as I forced my feet to move. That it was only my worry about the Judge that sent an eerie feeling of emptiness through the house.
I was wrong.
He was sitting on the floor at the bottom of the stairs, slumped over against the first step. His eyes were closed, one side of his face twisted into an unrecognizable mask. His left hand was on his lap, curled until it looked like a claw.
I don’t remember screaming or moving, but I must have done both. When Karl charged into the hall I was down on my knees, trying to lift the Judge’s body, cradle it close.
“He’s dead,” I moaned. “Oh, God. I let him die.” Karl’s hands were moving, touching the Judge’s neck, his wrist. “He’s not dead, he had a stroke. We have to get him to the hospital.” It took some effort, but he pried me away, then lifted the Judge in his arms as though he weighed little more than a child. “Natalie!” His voice was sharp. “I need you to open the door for me.”
His tone worked. Frantically, I scrambled to my feet and ran through the kitchen, holding the door wide while he carried the Judge out, my gaze locked on the pale, contorted face of the man who had raised me.
“We’re taking my truck.”
I was in no shape to argue. Pulling the passenger door open, I waited as he lowered the Judge to the seat, then climbed in after, putting my arms around my grandfather to steady and support his limp body.
“Hang on.”
The trip seemed to take forever, even thoughwemusthavemadeitinlessthan fifteen minutes. There was a blurred sense of speed, of swaying as we dodged traffic, and I vaguely remember Karl talking to the hospital on his cell phone, letting them know we were coming. But all my attention was focused on the Judge.
“We’re almost there,” I whispered in his ear. “Don’t you die, damn it. If you do, I’ll never speak to you again.” I was hanging on by a thread, in shock with fear. My body trembled continuously and I couldn’t stop it.
They were waiting for us as the truck slid to a stop in front of the emergency room doors, waiting to take the Judge away from me. I chased them inside, into a small cubicle that was suddenly full of people.
Someone in blue scrubs stopped me, blocked my entrance. “How long has he been like this?”
It was Karl who answered. “Not too long, I don’t think. He’s dressed. It must have happened when he was coming downstairs.”
“What kind of medication is he taking?”
“Natalie?” Karl put his hand on my arm.
Absently, I told them the name of the blood pressure medication the Judge was on.
I leaned to one side, trying to watch what the nurses were doing to my grandfather. “Is he going to be okay?”