Cross Country Chaos Read online

  “Thanks, Mart. I’m going to find Grandma.” Off he flew.

  Mart looked at Kelly. “He’s at such a fun age.”

  “Yes. I dread the teenage years.”

  “And driving.”

  “Oh please, I don’t want to think about that. It’s bad enough Paulie’s already looking at car magazines.”

  “So six, right?”

  Kelly had to think for a second—he’d changed the subject back. “Yes, six. Nothing fancy?”

  “Slacks or jeans. We’ll walk. It’ll be cool out, so you might want to bring a jacket.”

  “Okay.”

  She followed Mart to the pool deck, and he showed her where the results were posted and how to interpret them.

  “See this column here?” He pointed to a results sheet. “That’s what you look for. Do me a favor, write his results for me on the heat sheets, okay?”

  She nodded. “Okay.” She was leaning over, her head level with his. When she looked at him, she found him smiling, his face inches from hers.

  “Six,” he whispered, and her heart nearly stopped.

  Swallowing hard, she managed to find her voice. “Can’t get here soon enough.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kelly felt guilty about dumping the boys on her mom.

  “Stop it,” Sharon scolded her. “You’ve earned this. Go out and have fun.”

  “Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it.”

  Sharon smiled. “Hey, he’s nice, he’s handsome—”

  “All right, Mom.”

  “Just saying.” Her mom and the boys left at five. The IMAX theater was a few blocks away. They would walk and have dinner after the movie.

  Once they were gone, Kelly enjoyed the quiet. She took her time in the shower, relishing the thought that she didn’t have to hurry so someone else could get into the bathroom. Being cooped up with her family for over a week was taking its toll, and she still had nearly two weeks to go.

  Never again would she complain her house was too small.

  She realized she had no lipstick when she heard his knock.

  Shave and a haircut, two bits.

  Crap. ChapStick it is.

  Mart looked nice in a pair of khakis and a long-sleeved chambray shirt and tie.

  Nice! She felt rumpled and un-ironed next to him.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  She smiled. “Definitely.” She grabbed her purse and jacket and walked with him to the elevator.

  “Do you mind a short walk? I guess I should have asked before I made plans.”

  “No, I don’t mind. I’m sick of being in a car.”

  “I bet.”

  The evening air was damp but comfortably cool, surprisingly so considering how hot the day had been. Kelly took a moment to slip on her jacket. The sidewalk angled downhill, and she resisted the urge to grab the back of his wheelchair like she would Denny’s.

  He’s an adult.

  The walk was short. “I was here a few months ago when I came out for a business trip. Their food is fantastic,” he explained as they settled into a cozy table in a dim corner. The Italian restaurant was quiet and upscale, not a run-of-the-mill, mass-market chain.

  Twenty minutes into dinner, Kelly was laughing and enjoying herself. Mart wasn’t a man in a wheelchair—he was her date.

  She looked at her plate.

  “What?” he asked.

  He was nothing like her ex-husband. He was interested in what she had to say. He was funny, and fun to talk with.

  She shook her head. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been out like this.”

  He sipped his wine. “Really?”

  “Not many men want to go out with me when they find out I have two sons, and one’s in a wheelchair.”

  “Their loss.” Mart reached out and touched the back of her hand. “I like having you all to myself. I don’t share well.” He smiled.

  The food was excellent, and Kelly enjoyed herself.

  “So how’s the novel going?” he asked.

  “Been too busy to do much with it lately. I’ve played with some poetry, haven’t done that in years.” She finally felt comfortable admitting that, sensing he wouldn’t ridicule her.

  Sure enough, his eyes lit up. “I love poetry.”

  “Now you’re just BS-ing me.”

  He shook his head. “No. I took a couple of classes in college.” He thought for a minute, then quoted Robert Frost. “‘Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by—’”

  She finished, “‘And that has made all the difference.’” She smiled and took his hand.

  He met her eyes and nodded. “Yes, it has.” The waiter brought their check. Mart’s eyes didn’t leave Kelly’s face. “It’s made a big difference,” he whispered.

  He paid their bill, and they left, hand in hand.

  Next to the restaurant was a jewelry store. They hadn’t closed yet, their window displays still in place. A ring caught Kelly’s eye, and she paused to look.

  “What is it?” Mart asked, stretching up to see.

  She pointed. “The ring in the middle. I love amethyst.” The small diamond, surrounded by smaller amethyst stones, sparkled under the display lights. With a price tag of more than three mortgage payments, it wasn’t something she’d buy for herself when there were too many things to get for the boys.

  “One day, when I hit the bestseller list, I’m buying myself a ring like that.” Kelly stepped back from the window. “Then I’ll wave it in David’s face and show him what a ‘waste of time’ writing fiction is.” She looked at her bare left hand. “Sorry. I guess I’m still bitter.”

  Mart smiled. “It would look beautiful on you.”

  They took the long way back to the hotel, walking through the park and along the river to look at the falls. He stopped next to a bench and took her hand.

  “This has been a wonderful evening. I really appreciate you going out with me,” he said.

  She sat on the bench. “Thank you for asking me out. You’re a great guy. You’re handsome, and funny, and so sweet.”

  “But.” His face hardened and he pulled his hand away.

  “Huh?”

  “Usually, when I hear a combinations of traits phrased like that, it’s followed by, ‘but,’ and a litany of reasons why it was a one-time date,” he said bitterly.

  Kelly shook her head. “No! That’s not what I meant at all.” God, could she screw this up any worse? She took the leap, hoping she wouldn’t hit the ground. “I like you. A lot.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” She took his hand. “I hope this isn’t a last date, because that would be a shame. That day in the park, when you were showing me how to throw?” She swallowed hard and forced the words out. “I really wanted to kiss you.”

  He smiled. “Me too.” He leaned in and kissed her.

  She closed her eyes and savored it, touching his cheek. He was soft and gentle, but she felt his passion beneath the surface.

  “I’d say the feeling is mutual,” he said softly. “You don’t know what you did to me that day.” He stroked her cheek. “You are a special woman.”

  “I played the cards I was dealt. I had no choice.”

  “I didn’t mean Denny. I meant you.”

  Her stomach flipped in a good way as he leaned in for another kiss. With his arms around her, she lost herself in the feeling. He was tender and passionate and damn, he smelled good! She wanted to—

  She sat back, gasping for breath. “I have two kids, you know.”

  His eyes searched her face, still holding her hand. “I know. Two great kids.”

  “My mother is nuts.”

  “No nuttier than mine.”

  She stared at him, fighting her fear. She didn’t want to be hurt again, not this soon.

  As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I’m not going to rush you. But I’d like to go out with you again, when we get home.”

  She nodded and leaned in for another kiss.

  The
y reluctantly returned to the hotel. He walked her to her room. At her door, he looked up and took her hands in his.

  “You okay?” he asked. “Not weirded out or anything?”

  “I’m good. Better than I’ve been in a long time.”

  He kissed her hands. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She nodded. Before he let go, she kissed him good night, and he pulled her to him.

  Eventually she stepped back, smiling, and watched him wheel down the hall.

  He had a room to himself. She could follow him, knock, and…

  She closed her eyes. No. Too soon. Way too soon.

  As if sensing her thoughts, he turned and smiled.

  Was that a wink?

  She unlocked her door. Oh God, he was a fantastic kisser! David was never that good. How did she end up with two kids with that jerk when he couldn’t even kiss worth a damn?

  Memories of the evening flowed through her. She smelled hints of Mart’s cologne on her clothes, remembered the taste of his lips. Kelly was reliving their date when the boys burst in, followed by her mom, shattering Kelly’s quiet reverie.

  But later that evening, once everyone was settled and the lights were off, Kelly rolled onto her side and closed her eyes and relived the feel of Mart’s lips on hers.

  * * * *

  Mart almost invited her back to his room for a nightcap. Not that he had anything to offer except water, but he had a feeling if he’d offered, she might have accepted.

  Her ex cheated on her? What a moron.

  Mart closed his eyes and conjured her face. He already hated her ex-husband, sight unseen. Mart was sure eventually his path would cross with David Alexander, and the jerk better watch out.

  And Mart knew what he wanted to do but would have to wait until morning.

  * * * *

  The next morning, Mart met them downstairs for breakfast. As he handed Kelly a sheaf of papers, he caught her gaze and held it. A warm tingle spread through her when he didn’t release the papers immediately, his fingers caressing hers. He smiled.

  “Here’s the field pit assignments,” he said. “They’ll be numbered, so you won’t have any trouble finding where you need to be.”

  She trapped his fingers between hers and the papers, returned his smile, then winked.

  He winked back. Her stomach twisted in a pleasant somersault.

  “I don’t know how to hook up the throwing chair,” she said.

  “I can do it, Mom,” Paulie said. “Mart showed me.”

  “There will be volunteers at each pit to help,” Mart added. “I’ll be around. I’m not running a pit, but I’ll swing by when he’s up.”

  “Are you going to watch me throw?” Denny asked.

  “I’m going to try my best, buddy. Your mom and grandma are going to tape it for me so I can watch it again later. You all set?”

  Denny nodded, flapping his arms. “I’m going to warm up.”

  They all laughed. “The most important thing is remember to take the practice throws,” Mart reminded him.

  Denny nodded. “Got it.”

  Mart glanced at his watch. “I have an officials meeting. I’ll see you out there.” He wheeled off, and Sharon leaned over to whisper in Kelly’s ear.

  “He’s handsome.”

  “Knock it off, Mom.”

  “I’m just saying.” She smiled.

  Kelly couldn’t help but smile back.

  * * * *

  Paulie helped Kelly unload the throwing chair and drag it across the soccer field to the throwing pits. Sharon pulled the wheeled cooler and helped Denny negotiate the wide expanse of grass when he bogged down.

  Kelly consulted the sheaf of papers and found Denny’s assigned pit. Their pit official was an older man with a reddish beard and hair and an unmistakable Louisiana accent.

  Kelly looked around and didn’t see Mart. She knew that didn’t mean anything, because it was easy to miss him in the crowd with the hundreds of other people in wheelchairs.

  She glanced at her watch. They were scheduled to start soon. She walked over to the pit official, who was in conversation with another official.

  He looked up. “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Hi, I’m sorry, this is our first big meet, and my son’s coach isn’t here yet. Is there any way he can go last?”

  He smiled, putting her at ease. “Yes, ma’am, we can do that. Not real sure how to set up the throwing chair?”

  She shook her head, relieved.

  “Who’s his coach?”

  “Martin Rawlings.”

  The man laughed. “Well, don’t worry, we can’t start anyway. There’s a problem with the computer over at Weights and Measures, and we need Marty to fix it. No one can find him.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  The man looked over her head. “Ah, there’s the lost one himself.”

  Mart quickly wheeled across the grass toward them. “Hi, Kelly, John.”

  Denny flapped in aggravation. “You’re late!”

  “I know, buddy. I’m sorry.”

  “You’d better get yourself over to the trailer,” John said. “Karen’s having a cow. The computer’s down. Where’d you disappear to, son?”

  Did Mart glance at her?

  “I had to make a quick stop. Sorry, my phone was off.”

  John handed him his radio. “Take this. Go get one of your own and bring it back. Call Karen and tell her you’re here.”

  “Thanks.” To Kelly, “I’ll be right back.” Mart’s eyes lingered on hers, sending another warm shiver through her. Then he winked.

  She couldn’t help but wink back.

  True to his word, Mart made it back in time to watch Denny’s first implement, the shot put. Paulie and the volunteers helped strap the chair down and get Denny positioned. Mart moved in for a quiet last pep talk, then backed out of the way.

  John offered the implement. “You want to take the practice throws?”

  Denny nodded and took the shot put.

  “This one doesn’t count,” John said to the volunteers ready to move in and mark the results.

  Denny took his time positioning the shot put, held onto the throwing chair with his free hand, and then let it fly.

  Mart smiled and moved in. “Good, that was perfect.”

  Denny nodded and took his second, then final practice puts.

  “These count, folks,” John said. The volunteers prepared.

  It was a little shorter than his practice puts, but it landed squarely inside the vector lines.

  Mart moved in and talked to Denny before the next put.

  “Good job, buddy. Relax and take your time. You’re doing fine.”

  Denny nodded, his face a mask of serious concentration. His next put was longer and in bounds. By the time Denny finished his five puts, he didn’t have a record, but his two longest were longer than his closest competitor’s qualifying distance.

  When Denny signed the results sheet after getting out of the throwing chair, Mart rolled with him to Kelly and flashed her a thumbs-up.

  “How’d he do?” she whispered in Mart’s ear.

  “I glanced at the sheet. It looks like Denny might have this event nailed, but don’t say anything yet.”

  She nodded, watching Paulie high-five Denny.

  “How’d I do, Mart?” Denny asked.

  “Pretty good, I think. We need to wait for the results. Stretch before your next throw.”

  Kelly survived the stress of discus and javelin. Mart almost missed discus, but was there in plenty of time for the javelin.

  Denny had trouble keeping the discus inside the vector lines, but he won by six inches. And he did great with the Turbo Jav. Mart flashed her another thumbs-up.

  “I have a meeting, then I’m free for lunch,” Mart said.

  Kelly nodded. “We’ll see you back at the hotel.”

  He winked at her before saying good-bye to the others and wheeling across the field. As Kelly watched him go, Sharon stepped over to her.

&n
bsp; “So, how was your date?”

  “Shut up, Mother!”

  * * * *

  They met up with Mart at the hotel. The boys followed him to the buffet line. Kelly and Sharon snagged a free table and waited to get their food until the boys returned to hold the table. They heard a loud crash, and then applause rippled through the dining room. Kelly turned to see Denny leaning over an upside down plate of food. He looked close to tears.

  She stood, but Sharon grabbed her arm.

  “No, hon. Wait a minute.”

  Kelly wasn’t close enough to hear, but Mart leaned in and spoke to Denny. In a moment, Denny was laughing, as was Paulie. Mart gave both boys a high-five.

  As one of the wait staff walked over to help clean up the mess, Denny wheeled back to the stack of clean plates to get another.

  “See, hon, it’s okay,” Sharon said. “They’re okay. He’s okay.”

  Kelly nodded and sat, watching.

  When Denny returned, slowly wheeling to the table with his plate precariously balanced on his lap, he was all smiles.

  “Did you see me, Mom?” Denny grinned.

  She nodded. “Are you okay?”

  He laughed. “Mart said you’re not a real racer until you dump a plate of food in front of everyone at a meet.”

  She glanced at Mart, who shrugged. Then he winked.

  She smiled and winked back.

  As much as Kelly wanted to spend the afternoon with Mart, they had a ton of laundry to wash. She left the boys in Mart’s care and headed out with Sharon to find a laundromat. It didn’t take long to find a complex with a laundry and an oil change shop.

  They spent nearly two hours at the laundromat. Kelly daydreamed about her date with Mart while folding clothes.

  “You still with me?” Sharon joked.

  “What?”

  “You look like you’re lost in space.”

  Kelly looked at the growing pile of folded clothes in front of her. “I feel like it.”

  “So. How was the date?”

  “Mom, don’t do this.”

  “Do what? I’m asking a simple question.”

  Kelly considered her answer and couldn’t conceal her smile.

  Sharon let her off the hook. “You really like him, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. Please don’t talk about this in front of the boys. I don’t know where this will lead, and I don’t want them upset if it doesn’t go anywhere.”