Chapter Twenty-Three

Karla walked out of her room, eager for a cup of coffee and whatever breakfast Aimee cooked up. However, entering the small dining area of their condo, she didn’t smell the perfect aroma of bacon or hear the sizzling pop of the grease. As a matter of fact, she just heard a loud nothing. The kitchen was empty, the coffee not even made, which really disappointed her. She didn’t wish to face her mother and convince her to go back out with Paul on an empty stomach.

Glancing around their small condo, she finally spotted her sister outside on the balcony staring out at the ocean, her hands gripping the metal railing, shoulders slouched. Well, this doesn’t look like a good start to the day. She knew she should walk out there and see what was wrong, but she really needed a cup of coffee first. She glanced back at the empty coffee pot with longing and sighed. Coffee would have to wait. Damn it. She turned back toward the balcony and joined her sister.

The breeze off the ocean was warm as she stepped outside and leaned on the balcony with her forearms, her hands clasped in front of her. Two teens were out in the water making the most of the small waves as their girlfriends sat on large beach towels probably gossiping about last night’s episode of The Vampire Diaries. A line of pelicans glided across the ocean’s surface; their wings spread wide as the morning sun shimmered on the rolling water. Karla took a deep breath, inhaling the beauty of living on the beach.

It took a few moments, but eventually Aimee opened up. “It seems we’re stuck with her,” she said. She took a deep breath, and Karla knew she tried to steady her nerves. “It doesn’t matter that she abandoned her family, walked out on her little girl…that precious, adorable, innocent little girl…doesn’t matter that she hurt that girl or Clint, because she wanted to live a little. None of that matters. They say she’s still his wife and that little girl’s mother, and she has rights.”

“There’s nothing Ginny can do?” Karla gave her sister a quick look, and then turned her attention back to the breaking waves.

Aimee shook her head. “No. She can help him make sure the custody and child support works out in his favor, but that’s it. There isn’t anything else we can do.”

Karla nodded, not sure what to say. She couldn’t imagine the turmoil that churned inside her sister right then. It just didn’t seem right. Or fair. How could Bonnie run out on her family and there be no consequences to pay? Her sister deserved a happy-ever-after. She was the good one, the one who did everything right. It just didn’t seem fair that she was the one suffering while Karla was finally enjoying a relationship she didn’t deserve. It wasn’t right. “So what are you going to do?”

Aimee shrugged. “I don’t know. Abigail has her mother back. How do I interfere with that?”

“What the hell does that mean?” Karla turned, facing her sister. “Couples break up all the time and move on. Bonnie had her chance. Now it’s yours. So you have to deal with Clint’s ex. Big deal. You’ll figure it out. Smile at events where you both have to put up with each other, and you hang in there for Clint and Abigail and, most importantly, for yourself. Bonnie doesn’t stop that unless you let her.”

Aimee just nodded, her gaze hardened on the ocean, but Karla doubted she saw it.

“Aimee, tell me you’re not contemplating something stupid, like breaking up with Clint.”

Aimee still didn’t say anything. She just stared, her breathing ragged and her eyes glassy.

“Has Clint said he wanted to end things?”

Aimee shook her head, still not saying anything.

“Then why the hell are you even thinking about doing it to him? He doesn’t need you to run off on him, too. That’s what she did. He needs you to stand by him and see this through. He needs your strength, not your fear. Don’t do this to him, Aimee. He needs you.”

A tear crawled down Aimee’s cheek. “I don’t know if I can.” Her voice was shaky, timid.

Karla moved closer, wrapping her arms around her sister. “Yes, you can. You love him, and I know he adores you. You can do this. You’re strong enough. I know you are.” She felt Aimee’s arm around her, felt her sister squeeze her tight, holding on, gaining strength. Karla held on tighter. “You can do this, Aimee. I know you can.”

She heard her sister sniffle, and she squeezed her tighter.

After a few moments of holding each other, Aimee pulled away, rubbing her nose with the back of her arm, and then her eyes with the palms of her hands. After a deep breath, she said, “I need to get to work.”

“What? No breakfast? I’m not sure how I’m going to handle the day with no breakfast dishes to wash.”

“You could try cooking it yourself, you know,” Aimee said as she walked back through the open sliding glass door and through their small condo.

Karla followed her sister, noticing Aimee’s back seemed a little straighter and her shoulders not so stooped. “You’ve had my cooking. You know that’s not going to really work. I think I’ll just grab a bite at some fast-food dive before heading to see Mom.”

Aimee slipped her purse over her shoulder, as she snatched the keys off the table. “Mom’s? Why are you going there so early? And why aren’t you making her cook for you? That’s more like you.”

Karla sighed as she leaned on one of the dining room chairs. “It would be, wouldn’t it?” She shook her head. “Apparently, Mom dumped Paul because of me, even after she told me to butt out of her affairs.”

“Nice play on words,” Aimee giggled. “And you’re going to do what? Tell her good job?”

“No. Actually, I’m going to tell her I was wrong and to do what she wants with whoever she wants. It’s not like I would have allowed anyone to tell me not to be with someone I wanted.”

Aimee gave her a puzzled look. “Again, I ask, who are you and what did you do with my sister?”

“Trust me, I see the hypocrisy to my character. Damn Mitch Greenway and his meddling in my head.”

Aimee opened the front door, but before passing through, she paused long enough to smile at her sister. “I’m glad you’re going over, and I, for one, think Mitch is great for you. You seem happier. Even nicer.” She laughed as she said that last part.

Karla just rolled her eyes. “I hate being nice.” She shook her head. “Now, get to work and let me know if I need to hide any bodies.”

Aimee said she would, and then vanished out the door. Karla stared at it for a few seconds, thinking of her sister’s words about Mitch being good for her and how she seemed happier. She thought she was more confused than happy most of the time, but she had to admit, Mitch made her see things differently. She wasn’t necessarily sure that was a good thing, however. She was used to holding the shield in front of her that protected her from getting hurt by people who only thought of themselves. She didn’t want to risk all that again.

She squeezed the back of the chair. It didn’t seem, however, that Mitch would give her a choice.

With a deep breath to steady the uncertain thoughts going through her head, she pushed herself away from the table and toward the shower. She wanted to get this conversation with her mother over with before she changed her mind.

Forty-five minutes later, she knocked on her mother’s door.

“Karla? I’m surprised you’re not still in bed.” Her mother opened the door, allowing Karla to enter her home.

“Do I really sleep as much as everyone thinks?”

Her mother shut the door as she shrugged. “I don’t know what everyone else thinks. I only know you work late into the night and need your sleep. I worry about you.”

“Well, you worry too much.” Karla took a deep breath and turned toward her mother. “And you listen to me too much as well.”

Betty just stared at her. “Excuse me?”

Karla walked over and placed her hands on her mother’s upper arms. “Paul told me you broke up with him because of me. You shouldn’t have done that. I was wrong. You even told me I was wrong, remember?” She took another deep breath. “Mom, you have the right to see whoever you want. It’s your life. You have to live it. Hell, I’m the last one who should be telling anyone that what they’re doing is wrong. I’m sorry. I never should have opened my big, fat mouth.”

Her mother just stared at her, much like Aimee stared at her that morning. “Karla, I don’t… I just…”

Karla pulled her mother in for a tight embrace. “Yeah, I’m just as confused as everyone else about my sudden flip. Paul is hurting. You should call him and straighten this out. He’s a great guy. Just don’t tell him I said that. My mean reputation has been tarnished enough lately.”

Her mother hugged her tight, her hands on Karla’s back, and Karla could swear she heard a sniffle. “Thank you,” her mother whispered.

“No worries.” She squeezed her mother one more time and then pulled back some. “Now, how about breakfast? Aimee reminded me what a mooch I am this morning, so I bypassed the fast-food value menu on my way here. Can’t go changing too much now, can I?”

“Sweetie, I’ve always thought you were perfect just the way you are. Never change for anyone.” Her mother squeezed her arms, and then started for the kitchen. “And breakfast is a great idea. I’m famished.”

Karla watched her mother walk into the kitchen, her mother’s words bouncing in her head. Never change for anyone. Yet, she was changing. And it was all because of Mitch. The weird part of it all was that none of it bothered her. She liked who she was becoming and the man who was making her that way. Mitch Greenway was worth changing for.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mitch walked into the Riverview Café, Lloyd right behind him. Myrtle was wiping down one of the tables recently vacated, her stocky torso bent in half as her four-inch heels allowed her to reach the entire table without having to move around. The place throbbed with activity as they entered, couples and families sitting around tables, devouring eggs and pancakes, sipping coffee, chattering away about their day ahead or the night behind. Plates clanged and silverware clattered as the smell of hot coffee filled Mitch’s nostrils. His stomach growled in anticipation.

“This is where you eat?” Lloyd asked, his expression skeptical. “Are you sure it’s sanitary?”

“Better not let Myrtle hear you say that,” Mitch said with a chuckle.

As if hearing her name, the tall redhead stood, the hand holding her rag going to her hip as she faced the two men. “Mitch, don’t tell me you got your heart hurt again,” she said. “I knew if you listened to that old man, you’d just make things worse.”

Mitch laughed as he approached the table where she stood and pulled out a chair. “Nah, everything’s good. Just needed some of your pancakes and thought I’d introduce Lloyd here to your amazing cooking.”

She cocked her head, giving him an incredulous look. “Kind of early for you to be drinking, isn’t it?” She slapped at him with her rag. “Well sit, sit, and I’ll get you some coffee.” She shook her head as she wandered off to the kitchen.

Mitch sat down as did Lloyd, the latter picking up a menu stuffed between condiment bottles. “So, I take it the pancakes are good here?” Lloyd asked as he opened his menu.

“They won’t kill you,” Mitch answered with a laugh.

After Myrtle brought their coffee and took their orders, both pancakes with sides of bacon, Lloyd dropped his menu back in-between the condiment bottles and picked up the stark white ceramic coffee mug. “Your girl going to be at the shop today?” Lloyd asked before taking a sip of coffee, the twirling strands of steam curling around his nose.

Mitch shrugged, picking up his own mug. “She needs to talk to her mom about something, and then, I’m guessing, she’ll be back around. Why? Enjoy staring at her ass?”

Lloyd didn’t even look embarrassed. “It’s fun sending her to the loft to get things, that’s for sure.”

Mitch laughed, “Knowing Karla, she’s enjoying it, too.” He took a sip of his coffee, the heat tingling his lips.

“She’s definitely prettier to stare at than you. I wouldn’t mind having her around the shop more often, even full time. Besides, I can find things in the office now.”

“An added bonus,” Mitch said with a chuckle. Did he want Karla there full time, though? They talked about it the other day a little, but what would it do to their relationship if they were around each other all the time? Would she think he was trying to box her in if he even asked her? Keep her from being her own person, so to speak? She would doubt his offer was genuine. Of course, as much as she enjoyed showing her bare assets to Lloyd throughout the day, she just may relish the chance. She was the ultimate exhibitionist, after all. A fact that Mitch found fascinating.

Myrtle brought their food, and while the conversation turned to more mundane things other than Karla’s bare ass, Mitch’s mind remained on what to do with her. How far did he want to take his control of her? A wasted question. He already knew the answer to that. He wanted it all. He wanted full control. Yet would she surrender it? That remained to be seen, and he really wished he had an inkling of an idea as to her response. So far, she took to everything he asked her to do, but where would her line be drawn? He would just have to push until he found out.