Page 24 of Tricked in October
“If you go with me, Mommy won’t be able to get any work done.”
June frowned but put her shoes on.
Kelsey had a love/hate relationship with O’Henry’s Bar and Grill. After Ricky died, the last thing she wanted was to be at the bar. It reminded her of Ricky and it hurt too much. But once she finally returned and opened it back up, it was the place she felt closest to him. Now, pulling her away from the bar for more than even a day was difficult.
Lately, Davis had been trying to convince her into going out on the canoe with him and Cooper. The river that stretched through town was just calm enough to put in at. She always had a good excuse to give him. The kids, the bar, too tired. While he often settled for a Disney movie night at her place that resulted in helping her carry sleeping kids to their beds, he never complained.
Not sure what she did to deserve a friend like Davis, Kelsey had a moment of panic while she picked up Charlotte and plopped her on the kitchen counter. Things between them the night before had escalated. At first, she assumed it had only been a moment of weakness when she checked him out while he stood before her bare chested, offering his mostly dry tank top to her.
But last night—last night. The memory of what it felt like to have his hands on her back, the warmth radiating through her sweater, sent her heart racing even now. The connection between them was so intense, it frightened her.
Charlotte babbled causing Kelsey to blink back the desire building in her chest. She threaded the baby’s pudgy arms into her jacket. The little girl normally fussed when she had to be restrained with things like coats and shoes. But she was distracted by a stuffed dog.
She swallowed, forcing herself to be present with her kids. “All right, I’m counting to ten. Everyone better be out of this house and in the car by the time I finish, or we aren’t getting pizza on the way home tonight. One, two, three…”
The two oldest were out of the house before Kelsey could get to four. Pizza worked like a charm. In a few years, she’d have teenagers and she’d have to up her game to things like video games or iPhones. Things she hoped she’d be able to afford. If she got her finances figured out now.
The O’Henrys were reasonable folks. They’d always liked Kelsey. Before she and Ricky had even gotten married, they’d welcomed her into the family and treated her like a daughter. Since Ricky passed, they offered often to babysit the kids, and bring over groceries and dinners. If they didn’t want to or couldn’t afford to help her with her loan issues, she was sure they had lawyer friends who might be willing to help and would, at the very least, buy her some time. With just over a month remaining, she didn’t have much longer to come up with a solution. And as each day ticked by, it felt as if her grasp on the bar slipped more and more.
Kelsey drove to her in-laws across town where the upper class of Pineridge residents lived and unloaded her kids from the car. As she walked up the driveway and front steps with jittery nerves, her boots crunched against the fallen maple leaves. She rang the doorbell like she always did, now at least. Before, she followed Ricky inside after he’d turn the knob and walk right in like he owned the place. The O’Henrys never batted an eye to his behavior, but something didn’t feel right about her doing that now that he was gone.
The door opened and Mr. O’Henry stood there, a wide smile and crinkling eyes, reminding her of Ricky. If he were older. If he’d had the chance to grow older. Her throat thickened. But she managed a weak smile.
“Good morning, Kelsey. Hey, kids. C’mon in.” He put his hands out for Charlotte, but again, the poor girl refused, clinging to Kelsey’s jacket in her small fists.
“Hi, Jack,” Kelsey greeted her father-in-law as she entered the home with her youngest still in tow against her hip and slipped her shoes off. She abandoned them in the front entryway where the kids had already tossed theirs and followed Mr. O’Henry through the house.
“Who’s ready to go to the fun center?” he asked with much enthusiasm.
“Me, me, me!” June shouted.
Mrs. O’Henry stood in the kitchen, placing colorful donuts on a serving tray. “Me, too,” she said. “But who’s ready for a donut first?”
“I want a donut,” Zach said.
“Hi, Kelsey, how are you?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” She wasn’t. She hadn’t been fine all year. But did Mrs. O’Henry want the full truth on how she was?
Because the full truth was, she was terrible. She was worried. And mostly, she was lonely and felt abandoned.
“You mentioned on the phone you had something to discuss so I thought donuts for the kids would be a good distraction.”
“Good idea.” Kelsey tried not to think about how she’d already served the kids a sugary breakfast, and now they’d be eating an even sweeter snack. At least she wouldn’t have to deal with the sugar rush followed by the crash.
“What about Charlotte? Does miss Charlotte want a donut too?”
The baby fussed, squeezing her hands and reaching for Mrs. O’Henry, who took Charlotte into her arms and picked up a pink donut with sprinkles. Charlotte’s eyes widened and she licked her lips.
“I think she approves.” Mrs. O’Henry giggled, setting Charlotte into an old wooden highchair. She buckled her in, and put the sprinkled donut onto the tray. The highchair had been used by all the O’Henry children, including Ricky when he was a baby.
Kelsey’s heart squeezed.
“There. They look settled. For a few minutes at least. Why don’t we go into the living room.” Mrs. O’Henry led the way.
“Would you like some coffee?” Mr. O’Henry offered.
“No, thanks. I’ve already had a cup. I’m afraid if I have another I’ll be running to the bathroom like crazy and I have too much to do at the bar.”
