Chapter 20
I was aroused from a sound sleep by someone pounding on the door. Glancing at my wristwatch I was surprised to see that it was neigh on noon. The pounding was demanding my attention, so I tossed back the bed covers and pulled on an over-sized t-shirt and some shorts.
I followed the sound to the sliding glass door and was amused to find Wade’s face pressed against the glass, trying to peep inside. When he saw me his face brightened. I unlocked the door and slid it open.
“Lordy, Missy,” he said, looking at my sleepy face, “did you burn the midnight oil last night? You look as if you could use a whole pot of freshly brewed coffee.”
“Morning, Wade,” I replied, stifling a yawn, “I didn’t fall asleep until the wee morning hours. I guess I overslept.”
“Holy Jesuits of Morning Glory! Kerrie, your knee looks terrible.” Wade stared in horror at my legs. I followed his glance downwards, and was shocked to see a really ugly blackish-purple bruise covering my left knee.
“It looks worse than it feels, Wade. I bruise easily. Don’t fret.” I hugged him, and then took his hand, urging him over to the couch.
“I’m hungry. Would you like some lunch?” I asked. My tummy rumbled loudly, reminding me that I had missed breakfast.
“No, baby doll, I had lunch with Ebb. I came by to check on you. Perry called me this morning and asked that I swing by today. He’s working over at the gym today and won’t be done until late.”
“I’m doing fine, Wade. You can give Perry a glowing report.” For some reason, I was irritated with Perry’s request that Wade keep tabs on me. Why didn’t he come by and tell me himself? He could have called, if he didn’t want to disturb me. Was he just playing a game of kiss and run? As these thoughts and questions ran through my mind, I began to doubt myself. Maybe he regretted the kiss and was trying to avoid me until the after effects wore off. Angrily, I realized that Perry’s kiss would linger on my lips for a very long time. I became mad at myself for my own self-doubts.
Wade gave a sheepish grin, “Dang, he told me not to tell you he asked that I check in on you. Don’t tell him I told you, all right?”
I was still miffed and ignored Wade’s question. He changed the subject to one I preferred not to discuss. “Have you had any calls from that feller who’s looking for you?”
“No, as far as I know, he hasn’t gotten a clue to my whereabouts. I intend to keep it that way.” I decided to neglect telling him about the late night call. It most likely didn’t mean anything and I figured that he might tell Perry. I wasn’t prepared to be honest about my past yet. I had too many unanswered questions myself.
“If you have any troubles with him, let Perry or me know.” He glanced at his watch. “I got to scat. Need to ride by Milton Nobles beach house and tell those darn college kids who are renting the place for a week that they can’t have play loud music until dawn. They got neighbors on each side of them who work for a living and have to sleep at night. Darn irresponsible kids!” He grumbled so adorably that I couldn’t stay frosty for long.
“Wade, have you forgotten what it’s like to be young and carefree?” I laughed, trying to imagine him as a young man. He probably was a very sharp lady-killer.
“Missy, my bones remind me daily. I’ll try to drop in later for some of your freshly squeezed lemonade.”
“I’ll make sure I have some just for you. Go easy on the college students.” I watched him walk carefully down the stairs. I glanced over at the boathouse, thinking how strangely quiet it seemed. Did Perry regret kissing me?
I followed the sound to the sliding glass door and was amused to find Wade’s face pressed against the glass, trying to peep inside. When he saw me his face brightened. I unlocked the door and slid it open.
“Lordy, Missy,” he said, looking at my sleepy face, “did you burn the midnight oil last night? You look as if you could use a whole pot of freshly brewed coffee.”
“Morning, Wade,” I replied, stifling a yawn, “I didn’t fall asleep until the wee morning hours. I guess I overslept.”
“Holy Jesuits of Morning Glory! Kerrie, your knee looks terrible.” Wade stared in horror at my legs. I followed his glance downwards, and was shocked to see a really ugly blackish-purple bruise covering my left knee.
“It looks worse than it feels, Wade. I bruise easily. Don’t fret.” I hugged him, and then took his hand, urging him over to the couch.
“I’m hungry. Would you like some lunch?” I asked. My tummy rumbled loudly, reminding me that I had missed breakfast.
“No, baby doll, I had lunch with Ebb. I came by to check on you. Perry called me this morning and asked that I swing by today. He’s working over at the gym today and won’t be done until late.”
“I’m doing fine, Wade. You can give Perry a glowing report.” For some reason, I was irritated with Perry’s request that Wade keep tabs on me. Why didn’t he come by and tell me himself? He could have called, if he didn’t want to disturb me. Was he just playing a game of kiss and run? As these thoughts and questions ran through my mind, I began to doubt myself. Maybe he regretted the kiss and was trying to avoid me until the after effects wore off. Angrily, I realized that Perry’s kiss would linger on my lips for a very long time. I became mad at myself for my own self-doubts.
Wade gave a sheepish grin, “Dang, he told me not to tell you he asked that I check in on you. Don’t tell him I told you, all right?”
I was still miffed and ignored Wade’s question. He changed the subject to one I preferred not to discuss. “Have you had any calls from that feller who’s looking for you?”
“No, as far as I know, he hasn’t gotten a clue to my whereabouts. I intend to keep it that way.” I decided to neglect telling him about the late night call. It most likely didn’t mean anything and I figured that he might tell Perry. I wasn’t prepared to be honest about my past yet. I had too many unanswered questions myself.
“If you have any troubles with him, let Perry or me know.” He glanced at his watch. “I got to scat. Need to ride by Milton Nobles beach house and tell those darn college kids who are renting the place for a week that they can’t have play loud music until dawn. They got neighbors on each side of them who work for a living and have to sleep at night. Darn irresponsible kids!” He grumbled so adorably that I couldn’t stay frosty for long.
“Wade, have you forgotten what it’s like to be young and carefree?” I laughed, trying to imagine him as a young man. He probably was a very sharp lady-killer.
“Missy, my bones remind me daily. I’ll try to drop in later for some of your freshly squeezed lemonade.”
“I’ll make sure I have some just for you. Go easy on the college students.” I watched him walk carefully down the stairs. I glanced over at the boathouse, thinking how strangely quiet it seemed. Did Perry regret kissing me?
penned by Painter Lady at 10:10 PM
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