Saving Katya (14 page)

* * *

Summer nights in Cypress Falls were hot and muggy or it was raining. Either way, it was wet. Tonight there was no rain in the forecast—thank goodness. I was glad I’d brought a tank top and a pair of blue jean shorts with me, even though Keith would have chastised me for even thinking about wearing them.

Keith liked to call it the over-the-hill syndrome, which he never failed to point out was happening solely to me. Not that I felt over the hill, although nearing the age of forty-two did leave me feeling a little like I was halfway up the steep side and once I crested the top I knew cruising down the backside would go much quicker than I’d like.

Course, it wasn’t all that bad. I’d aged well. Even after two kids, I hadn’t put on more than ten pounds since high school. Georgia was always telling me that I could still work a pair of jeans, but I’d often wondered if she was just trying to make me feel better. Judging by the reaction I’d gotten from Jeffrey Dean earlier, she might have been telling the truth. Either that, or Blue was a damned good actor.

I checked myself in the full-length mirror still standing in my old bedroom. My room, just like Risa’s and Georgia’s and our brother Ryan’s, were like damned shrines. My parents were in serious need of a remodel.

Satisfied with my reflection, it’s not like it was going to change, I headed for the hallway. Knowing my mother was waiting for me, I headed to the staircase reluctantly. I really didn’t want to go, especially knowing Jeffrey Dean would most likely be there.

Nothing like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

* * *

There may not have been rain, but the humidity was high and it was leaving a clammy feeling on my skin as I milled through the fairgrounds. I cut through the maze of rides and headed for the midway.

I passed by several games including the dime and baseball tosses, but it wasn’t until I saw the dart game that panic knotted with my sensibility and held it hostage in my gut. I’d been trying, without much luck, at that very game when I met Blue way back when. He’d stopped beside me, gave me a smile and asked if I’d “
like a few pointers
?”

Of course it’d taken a few seconds to compose myself after getting caught up in his baby blues. His smile and his eyes had been a lethal combination back then, and it hadn’t diminished over the years.

By the time I was in front of the dart game I gave pause to recall the way it felt to have Jeffrey Dean’s arms around me for the first time when he was “showing” me how to hit the balloons with the darts.

I thought about grabbing a bundle of darts and trying my luck, but why breed trouble? I’d best take my ass on over to the nearest concession stand and get myself a corndog and a Coke. After procuring my provisions I found an empty picnic table in the makeshift courtyard and settled in to tame my wandering thoughts with food.

I ripped open the mustard packet in one corner and squeezed a healthy line onto my corndog. As soon as I bit into it, I knew it was a bad idea. Unlike when I was a teenager, now this delectable little treat was going to go straight to my hips. I gave the consequences a second’s notice and then took another bite.

From the corner of my eye, someone walked toward my table. I hadn’t let my gaze travel up to identify the face, but I didn’t need to. I knew who it was. For that very reason I avoided looking up. If I didn’t acknowledge him, maybe he’d go away.

“Ginger Franklin…” His voice carried more amusement than I was comfortable with. “Imagine running into you here.”

Like a magnet, my eyes were pulled up to meet his. I tried, probably without much success, to plaster on a stone face. “I haven’t been Ginger
Franklin
in a very long time.” I let my eyes linger on him for a moment before I cut back to the corndog in my hand.

To my dismay, Blue helped himself to a seat across the table from me. “When’s the last time you had some
fun
?” he asked, putting extra emphasis on the final word.

I gave a little shrug. “I have so much, I hardly know where to begin.” I lied. If I was being completely honest, the more accurate response would’ve been, “
it’s been a while
.” But who wanted to say something like that to Blue Ramsey?

“Tomorrow morning. You and me. We’re going up to the falls.”

Readying myself to tell him,
no, we’re not
, I glanced away because, let’s face it, how could anyone say
no
while staring into those eyes? And that’s when I saw them. Lisa and Ethan, strolling along hand-in-hand.

“Lisa and Ethan?” Surprise spilled out in my voice. “I certainly didn’t see that coming!”

“Don’t you think it’s fitting that your niece and my nephew should get together?”

Hell, no. My niece—Georgia’s niece—getting together with Tommy Dixon’s son was a disaster waiting to happen, especially since Georgia and Tommy had
unfinished business
. Even though Lisa and Ethan were in their early twenties now, and the haunted past should’ve died away long ago, it hadn’t. Nope, those old ghosts were alive and kicking. Georgia’s success, Lisa, and even Ethan, were all constant reminders of how life had taken an unexpected turn.

I stared at Lisa and Ethan. Lisa really favors her Aunt Georgia—did I mention that Georgia and I aren’t identical? And Ethan, he really looks like his dad. It was almost like looking back in time and seeing what might have been if Georgia and Tommy hadn’t been star-crossed. “This is so weird.”

“Yeah...” Blue chuckled. “You should’ve seen my sister’s reaction.”

I hadn’t thought of that. But hey, Kathy had had seven years to win over Tommy. That’s how long they’d kept up the charade after Tommy married her because he’d gotten her pregnant. But I think everybody knew—including Tommy and Kathy—that the marriage was destined to fail. Even so, for as much as I’d always thought Tommy belonged with my sister, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Kathy. She’d loved a man who couldn’t possibly love her back. And it was mean of her brother to take pleasure in her pain.

I slowly cut my eyes toward Blue. “Seriously. When did this happen and just how serious is it?”

“What’s the matter, Ginger?” Blue gave me a wink. “Afraid we’ll start sharing the same holiday dinner table?”

I felt my head shaking before my thoughts tumbled from my mouth, “It’s not that serious?” I wanted it to be a statement, more than anything else, but I’m afraid it wasn’t.

I glanced back at Lisa and Ethan, seeing them heading our way. They were still holding hands, both were glowing. Dread began to sink into my gut. This was going to freak Georgia out.

I stood as they approached the table, and Lisa fell into my arms. “Aunt Ginger! I had no idea you were in town.” We parted, but her eyes—twinkling with the light of love—stayed glued on me. “Are you here for long? Did Justin and Diana come too?” she asked of my teenage children.

“No.” I shook my head. “I just came in for the weekend.” I’m not sure when I’d made that decision. In that instant, I guess. “Justin and Diana are in Mexico.”

“And Keith?” Her tone grew chillier.

“Keith is away on...business,” I said, as we all sat down at the table.

Lisa did a little half roll with her eyes and capped it off with a slight nod. She knew, as well as I, monkey business was more like it.

It’s funny how family members can read a cad like an open book. It would’ve helped if they’d told me before I married him five years ago. Thankfully, he’s not the father of my children. That honor belongs to my first husband, Rick. He stayed long enough to knock me up twice, and then split.

There were two other husbands between Rick and Keith. I have been called, upon occasion, a serial bride. That may be why I put up with a lot from Keith. Four failed marriages looks pretty bad on a dating resume.

I’m not sure exactly when I saw
it
, but it was right about then that I
noticed
it. The colossal diamond on a certain finger on Lisa’s hand.

I guess my mouth dropped open because her hand inched across the table at me. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“It’s beautiful,” I said. “When did this happen?”

“A few days ago. We haven’t made a formal announcement yet.”

Oh, God. “I hope your mother knows.” If I found out before Risa, there’d be hell to pay.

Lisa giggled. “Yes, Mom knows.”

“Well—” What else was there to say? “Congratulations to both of you,” I said, glancing back and forth between them. My attention finally stalled on Lisa’s new fiancé. “Ethan, how are your parents?”

“Fine.” He shrugged. “My dad seems to have a lot on his mind lately.”

Yeah, I’ll bet. Like my sister, maybe, and how his son was about to marry her niece? I glanced over at Blue. Oh, Lord...fate had been a cruel bitch to both me and Georgia.

“Have you set a date yet?” I asked. It was better to keep the conversation out of the past. Nothing good could come from going there. Not in Georgia’s case, and definitely not in mine.

“Not yet.” Lisa smiled. “But when we do, you’ll be the first to know.”

I laughed, doubting that, but appreciating the gesture. We all stood at the same time, as if our minds had been tied to some universal mental cue.

Blue and Ethan exchanged some manly farewells while Lisa gave me another hug. “It’s so good to see you again, Aunt Ginger. When we do set the date, I hope you’ll come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I said as she and Ethan locked hands again, preparing to leave.

“Please make sure Aunt Georgia comes, too?” Lisa said in an almost pleading tone. She and I both knew she’d have to twist Risa’s arm to get her to send Georgia an invitation. Risa had been mad at Georgia for so long now that I think my mother is the only person still holding out hope that Risa would come around.

“Georgia wouldn’t miss your wedding for the world,” I told Lisa. “Besides, you’re her favorite niece.”

“Aunt Ginger...” She giggled and turned away, leaving me and Blue standing there all alone. Nothing good could come from that either.

“Care to go for a walk?” Blue whispered against my ear.

“Where’d you have in mind?”

“Memory lane.”

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it, seriously, and probably far longer than I should have. I looked sideways at Blue. It wasn’t smart to look that guy in the eyes head-on. “I really should be going.” I moved slowly away from him, hoping he wouldn’t notice until I was long gone.

“Tomorrow morning, Ginger.” He winked at me. “We’re going up to the falls.”

“Right. Tomorrow morning,” I said turning away. Tomorrow morning, I’d be long gone.

* * *

This may have been the first time my mother was actually happy to see me leave Cypress Falls. The farther she could get me away from Jeffrey Dean Ramsey the better—for once I tended to agree with her. See, it’s not that my mother’s old-fashioned about fooling around so much as she is about appearances and scandals. Scandals are the worst thing that could happen to our family, from where she’s sitting. Georgia and I have given her lots to contend with.

And while Blue Ramsey may have been my weakness—still—he wasn’t the reason I was leaving. Nope, it was all about Georgia. Word was bound to spread soon enough, and it’s better that she heard it from me. Or at the very least I needed to be there with her when she heard that her niece was about to marry Ethan—son of the man Georgia had secretly loved for practically the whole of her life.

I booked an early flight for the next morning, somewhere around the crack of dawn so I’d be long gone by the time Blue showed up at my parents’ house.

When I got back to southern California my own home was eerily silent. The kids weren’t due home until tomorrow, but I would’ve thought Keith would be back by now. I tossed my keys on the kitchen counter and headed for the back stairway with my cell in hand. I hit the speed dial for Georgia.

“Ginger...” Her voice poured through the earpiece. “How was Cypress Falls?”

“Scary.”

“Uh oh. What happened?”

“Well, first off...Blue Ramsey is back in town.”

Georgia’s devilish laughter gave me a chill. “Talk about a blast from the past.”

“That ain’t the half of it. Where are you? How fast can you get over here?”

“I can be there in ten minutes.” Good. She was home. All she had to do was hop in her car and zip around the corner.

I walked into my bedroom as I disconnected the call. Nothing appeared to be out of place, but still, something was off. I scanned the room. On my second run I saw the folded paper lying on the dresser. I walked over, scooped it up and opened it. Anxiety blew through me.

Ginger,

We both know this hasn’t been working for a while now. I’ll send the movers for the rest of my things in a day or two. I wish you the best and I hope you find what you’re looking for, the thing that makes you happy. We both know that’s not me.

Keith

Seriously? A note? Man, I sure know how to pick ’em.

My cell chimed. I looked at the display. A text message from Blue. God, that’s all I needed. Against my better judgment, I cued it up.

I’ll see you at the wedding, Ginger. You can count on it!

*I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into the life of Ginger Franklin. Look for more installments this fall for sneak peeks into the lives of Ginger’s sisters Georgia and Risa.

The Franklin sisters’ saga will continue in
The Lonely Hearts Club
later in 2012*

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