The Space Between Read online

  “What? Brady, you’re being weird.” She giggled, and the giggling intensified when he started to run his fingers under her tank top.

  “Shhh. Don’t laugh.”

  “Then don’t tickle me!” He pulled his hand away, but kept it on her waist.

  “Now, close your eyes and tell me.”

  “Um, I had a weird one a few nights ago. The one where I’m on roller skates at Prom. I managed to win prom queen this time, but they had to bring the crown to me, getting up stairs is impossible wearing wheels.”

  He laughed. “No, not that kind of dream. Like aspirations, your future.”

  “Hm, well, you know most of them…I want my speech at graduation to be killer. Really, I want a standing ovation, with everyone in tears…Um, I want to leave this town, go to school and hopefully become a doctor. You know, the usual.”

  “What about me? Do you see me in your future?”

  “Weeeellll, that depends…aaaaah, stop, please.” He stopped tickling her. “Okay, okay. You’re in my future, but you knew that already.”

  “Like, babies and marriage?”

  “I guess, waaaay in the future. What about you? Do you see me in your future?”

  He paused. “My heart wants you in my future.”

  “I think following your heart is a good way to live.” She flipped over onto her stomach and smiled up at him. “Besides, we don’t have to figure everything out right now. We’ll be together and that’s all the details we need. Right?”

  He nodded and pulled her in for a deep kiss.

  Georgia wasn’t sure why that memory came to mind. Seeing him here? Nostalgia? Both? That had been one of their last nights together. That deep kiss led to other things, which almost led to the ultimate thing, but they’d decided to wait. Well, he did. Probably because he was thinking about breaking up with her.

  Bygones.

  She and Brady did speak at one point, very surface and cordial. He told her how pretty she looked and asked about her kids. She thanked him shyly, not mentioning how handsome he still was—that would have been inappropriate. She did say how proud she was of him for getting what he’d always wanted.

  He’d said, “There’s one thing I didn’t get that I always wanted.”

  Thankfully, Nate joined them before she had to respond to that statement, which sounded harmless, but was anything but. She’d told him it was good to see him, then took Nate’s arm and they walked away.

  One thing hadn’t changed since high school. She’d spent a night that was supposed to be fun in the shadowed periphery, asking herself why she’d come. Lucy and Nate both tried to coax her to mingle, but she claimed the crowd was making her dizzy.

  The ride home was quiet. Nate didn’t ask her why she’d avoided almost all interaction. He probably knew that if she’d wanted to talk about it, she would have. But, like most women, Georgia had hoped he could read her mind. That he would understand why she felt the way she did. Why it was awkward being faced with all the things she was supposed to have been. But to him, there was nothing to lament. Her path had been the same as his and he was content with his life. Ambition a foreign concept.

  Just once she wished he could understand what she was going through. That she didn’t regret him or the girls. It was much worse.

  She regretted herself.

  ~Chapter Five~

  “Okay, their things are inside,” Nate said to his mom, kissing her on the cheek.

  “Rachel, they haven’t had dinner, but they had a snack about an hour ago. They’ll probably need a bath. And Bonnie has to wear a pull-up at bedtime.”

  “Pull-up, got it. Don’t worry, honey, I know the drill. Nana has this under control. Right, girls?”

  “Right!”

  “You two be good. Mind your Nana, and don’t bother Gramps when he’s watching the game.”

  They both nodded. “Yes, Momma.”

  “Can we please go see Gypsy now, Nana?” Amelia begged.

  “Of course…I have lots of fresh carrots for her,” Rachel said, and swung Bonnie into her arms.

  “Carrots?” Bonnie asked.

  “Yes, carrots. And Amelia you can refresh her hay box.” Both girls were beaming. “And after the horse has been tended, we can make cookies.”

  “Yay!” the girls cheered.

  Nate and Georgia watched their little girls walk away. “Bye, love you!” Georgia called after them. They acknowledged her with a half-hearted, “Yeah, okay. See ya.”

  Nate laughed behind her. “Think they’re gonna miss us?” Georgia laughed and nudged him in the ribs

  “Does it ever scare you that two human beings rely on us for their survival?” she asked.

  “I try not to think about it.” He hooked his arm around her neck and pulled her into him.

  “So, it’s just you and me. Where would my gorgeous wife like to go tonight?” he asked, as they got into his truck. It was a bigger, fancier version than the one he had in high school. Worn fabric replaced with soft beige leather.

  “Nothing with the words ‘K’ or ‘Bob’s’ on the menu,” she said, lifting an eyebrow at Nate. “Oooh, I know. Lucy said they opened a new Thai restaurant twenty minutes south of here. It’s supposed to be delicious.”

  “Thai, with all those weird noodles and shit? Not so sure about that one, babe. I eat with a fork. You give me those stick things and I’ll starve to death.” He backed out of the long cement driveway and pulled into the street.

  “They actually eat with forks in Thailand…ugh, that’s not the point. The point is, don’t you want to try something different for once?”

  “Okay, say we drive the twenty minutes to this Thai place, and we hate it. Then we’ll just have to go eat somewhere we know we like anyway.” The logic of someone who never wanted to try new things.

  “Well, what if we go and it’s the best thing you ever tasted?”

  “Doubt it, Georgie, seriously doubt it.”

  “Okay, mister won’t eat anything that doesn’t have gravy on it, what would you suggest?”

  “We could drive out to Cattleman’s.”

  “Nate, you know that’s too expensive. Plus that’s forty five minutes away. Why can’t we get a new restaurant here,” she growled.

  “Because, people ‘round here like what they like, just like me.” He winked. “How about Willette’s?”

  “I don’t want to go somewhere with the word roundhouse on the sign, either.”

  “Their food is decent, and we could dance a bit. It’s been a long time since I’ve shuffled around the dance floor with my wife.”

  “Uh, yeah, never is a long time,” she teased.

  Georgia avoided dance floors as a rule and the people that danced at Willet’s didn’t mess around. They flung and twisted their partners while never missing the one, two shuffle of their feet. She was pretty sure she’d look like a gazelle being taken down by a cheetah. She figured she could trip over her two left feet in the privacy of her own home.

  Georgia knew that’s where he wanted to go, and it was better than the diner.

  He gave her an expectant look as his truck idled.

  “Okay, I guess there aren’t a lot of options.”

  “Hey, I threw one out there,” Nate said as they drove.

  “It doesn’t count when you know there’s no way we’d go there. It’s too expensive and you know it.”

  “You threw out that Thai place. You knew there was no way I’d go there.”

  “That’s not true! I was hoping you’d want to try something different.”

  “Baby, I like what I like.”

  “I know, just every once in awhile it would be nice. What if we ever go to a foreign country, huh? You gonna put biscuits in your suitcase?”

  He laughed. “I just might.”

  Georgia could hear the country music blaring the minute she stepped down onto the gravel parking lot. Her shoes crunched as they walked to the entrance. Nate held open the door, then took her hand.

  The area
around the hostess stand seemed dark compared to the glare of the lights above the dance floor. Willet’s was packed. It always was on the weekends, and after their second lap they found themselves back at the entrance.

  “Well, no tables. Looks like we’ll just have to go somewhere else…Damn, I was really looking forward to eating something fried, served in a basket,” Georgia said.

  Nate sniffed. “You’re lucky I still find your sarcasm entertaining.”

  “Nate! Hey, Bristol!” someone yelled over the music. It was Nate’s friend, Gabe.

  Georgia pinned Nate with a look. “I didn’t know the guys were here, promise.” She frowned. It was one of the only places to go out in town, so the odds were good his buddies would be here. She wished she’d thought of that beforehand.

  “Hey guys,” Gabe said as he joined them. “You two need a table? We have a few open spots. Don’t worry, G, some of the wives are here.”

  That didn’t make her feel any better. She wanted to sit with her husband, alone.

  “Whatdya say, baby? There’s no place else to sit.”

  She could’ve said no. She could’ve insisted they try the Thai place. Nate could eat rice. But, now in front of his friend, and with all of his buddies in attendance, she’d look like a bitch…Why didn’t Nate turn him down? Yeah, right.

  Gabe took her silence as an affirmative. “Great, see you guys over there. We’re right by the pool tables.”

  When he was out of earshot Georgia grabbed Nate’s arm. “I really wanted to have you to myself, Nate.”

  “Aw, you will, baby. If you dance with me, I’m all yours.” Nate grinned and kissed her on the side of her head.

  There went date night.

  They did dance, once, a slow one. He made her laugh and hummed the song in her ear. It was nice to be in his arms. But once the guys started to play pool she was relegated to the wives’ table. The only upside was that his butt looked really good in the jeans he was wearing, and he bent over the table many times.

  She nursed a beer for most of the night, carefully peeling the label from the bottle. Nothing like wallowing in self pity while your husband gets hit on right in front of your face. Now she wished Nate was wearing overalls.

  The most aggressive was a girl named Ellie. She was attractive, if you like short blondes with huge boobs. It pissed Georgia off. That girl knew he was a family man, but that didn’t stop her from sniffing around. Nate never paid attention to any other woman, nor responded other than a polite greeting. He was loyal to the grave. It didn’t make their flirtations any less insulting. Some of the other husbands were more responsive to the female attention. It made her feel sorry for their wives, who seemed oblivious, but she swore she saw a crack in their armor a time or two.

  Having her fill of surface girl talk, she went over to Nate.

  “I’m ready to go home.”

  “Babe, I’m winning big over here. Wayne’s already into me for a hundred bucks,” he laughed.

  “I’ll win it back, you bastard,” Wayne yelled, flipping Nate off.

  “Sure you will, just keep taking those shots of whiskey. It’s sure to improve your game,” Nate teased. Wayne mumbled a curse under his breath.

  Georgia pulled his sleeve. “Seriously, I’m ready to leave.” Nate sighed and kissed her cheek. “Okay, baby, okay.”

  “Sorry, guys, but me and the missus need to head home.” A few choice phrases like “you pussy” were thrown out at Nate.

  “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I’m going home with my hot wife. Enjoy playing with your sticks, boys.” More grumbles and middle fingers.

  “See you tomorrow, Nate,” Wayne said.

  “Tomorrow?” Georgia looked at Nate.

  “Uh, the guys were gonna play a round tomorrow, ya mind?”

  “Come on, G, that’s the only way I’m gonna win my money back. You know Nate’s golf game sucks a fat one.”

  “I thought we were going to take the girls to ride bikes at the park?” Georgia whispered.

  “We can go when I get back.” Yes, she was sure after five hours of golf and six beers, he’d be raring to go.

  On the spot two times in one night, this had to be a new record. She looked towards the pool table and all the guys were staring at her with hopeful looks on their faces.

  “Sure, why not.”

  “That a way, G. You’re the best,” Gabe hollered.

  She was beginning to feel like the only wife that actually wanted to spend time with her husband. The other wives seemed anxious to get rid of theirs.

  “Night, guys,” she said and walked away, not waiting for Nate. She was fuming and hoped the walk to the car would give her a little time to cool off.

  Nope, not so much.

  “Georgia, wait up!” Nate called after her. She didn’t, she just kept on, her blood boiling.

  He caught up and pulled her arm. “Hey. Didn’t you hear me?”

  “Yeah, I heard you.” She stood in front of the passenger side door with her arms crossed.

  “Babe, sorry about the golf thing. I was going to tell you, but the guys beat me to it.”

  “Nate, that’s not the point and you know it.” The automatic locks disengaged and she hopped in. She may or may not have slammed the door in his face.

  He hopped in and started to turn the key, then stopped. “What is the point, Georgia? I said I was sorry.” Sometimes she wondered if he was this clueless, or if he pretended so she’d have to spell it out.

  “That’s the problem, Nate. You’re always sorry, not enough to stop doing things like that, but always sorry…You and I rarely get time out together and what do you do with it? Dance with me once, then ignore me the rest of the night.”

  “I didn’t ignore you. I was just playing pool with the guys for a bit. You seemed to be having fun with the girls.”

  He obviously wasn’t looking then.

  “You know what? Forget it. You’re never gonna get it.”

  “Get what? If you tell me what you want I can give it to you, but I’m not a mind reader.”

  “I shouldn’t have to tell you, Nate. You should just know.” Her voice was taking on a shrill quality.

  “That makes no damn sense, Georgia.” He turned the key and peeled out of the parking lot, gravel flying under the tires.

  If she had to tell him, then what was the point? He would do it because she was mad at him, not because he thought it was the right thing to do. She wanted him to tell the guys no, without her having to say it. It seemed obvious to her, but men and women spoke different languages…and she had no interest in learning clueless moron.

  They didn’t speak the whole drive home, and that was fine with Georgia. Anything that came out of her mouth wouldn’t have been pleasant anyway. The silence continued as they walked into the house. Nate threw his keys in the dish by the door.

  Georgia let their dog out into the backyard. She stood on the patio and looked up at the soft moonlight, feeling the anger dissolve. She was still upset, but the need to stab him with something sharp wasn’t as strong.

  Her thoughts drifted. She could be anywhere right now, gazing at these same stars. She imagined herself somewhere other than her small hometown—where she never thought to find herself at this stage in her life.

  “Come on, Bear,” she called out into the dark yard. Georgia scratched behind his ear and let him inside. Nate was on the couch watching a college basketball game.

  “I’m going to bed,” Georgia said over her shoulder as she walked down the darkened hall to their bedroom.

  She sighed as she unlatched her bra—the underwire had been digging its way past her ribcage all night. She opened her drawer and held up a teal negligee. Nope. Cramming it back into the drawer she grabbed the oldest, ugliest t-shirt she could find. And to make double certain Nate didn’t get any ideas, she put on a pair of oversized flannel pants…with ballerina hippos on them. That should do it. Nothing said ‘not tonight’ like flannel.

  She brushed her teeth and washed her f
ace. When she wiped the hand towel across her eyes she found Nate leaning against the frame of the bathroom door.

  “You gonna stay pissed at me all night?”

  She thought about it a second. “I’m not mad…well, anymore. I’m more disappointed, I guess…Just please, stop putting me in those situations.”

  “Okay, baby. And I’m sorry the night ended like it did. Come on, watch some TV. with me.” She gave him a look. “I’ll even let you pick.”

  “Okay, but there won’t be any balls involved, just so you know.

  He grabbed her around the waist and smiled. “Oh, there’ll be balls involved, but that comes later.” The kiss that followed had apology written all over it, which she accepted.

  He never gave her pajamas a second look, and they never made it back out to the living room.

  ~Chapter Six~

  A red radio played on her kitchen window sill. Georgia sang along with the tune and stirred in time with the beat—still riding the high of her night with Nate. The ending of it, anyway. She smiled just thinking about it.

  He’d taken his time, like he was trying to make it up to her. And with an empty house, they were as loud and creative as they wanted.

  She took the spoon around the edge of the bowl two more times. Satisfied with the look of the batter, she turned it over and let it ooze into the greased baking dish.

  This was the worst time for the telephone to ring, but that was always when it rang. Georgia huffed as she looked down at the dark batter on her apron and hands. She cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear while she wiped her hands clean.

  “Hello…Hey, Momma…I’m working on the cola cake right now…Yes, frosting’s done…No, that’s not all I’m bringing, Momma. I made a Greek salad, too…Feta cheese, olives, mixed greens…yes, Momma, people will eat it…Because I didn’t want to make a Caesar or anything that required ice berg lettuce. I wanted to bring something different…the Barefoot Contessa, that’s who…No, I won’t be embarrassed if no one eats it…No, Nate won’t be either…Mom, Mom! It’s just a salad, it’s not like I’m bringin’ foie gras…never mind.” Georgia rolled her eyes and threw the dirtied dish towel onto the counter. “Yes, Momma…No, Momma. Okay, I need to get this into the oven if I’m gonna make it to church by three…Uh huh, love you too…Ugh! That woman makes me crazy!”