Wrong Way Renee (38 page)

“Do you remember what Gary Junior
did the last time I took him?”

“He was only four, Renee.”

“He shaved my poor cat while I was taking a shower and
he was supposed to be napping.”

“That was a long time ago. He hasn't done anything like that for
…
for a long time.”

“He's a menace,
Char
.
Cleave
's dog will not put up with anything like that. He'll bite
him. And Alyssa's just as bad.”

“She is not. She's
gotten over that hiding thing.”

“
You know what? My next client just walked in. I've got to go. I'll think about it and call you later.
” She hung up and threw her phone into her top drawer.

“
What in the world did you do?
”
Toy
slid into the chair at
her
station.

“It's
Char
.”

“Did she body slam you or something?
”
Toy
pointed to
her
neck brace.

“Oh that? I had a car accident and got whiplash. The doctor told me I only have to wear this st
upid thing a couple more days.” Sh
e told her all about the accident, staying with her parents and the help
Cleave
had offered.

“Take the man's help,
”
Toy
advised.

Sh
e started filing her friend's nails.
“I can't. As destitute as I'll be by time I buy a car, I can't do it. He's too good to me. He's even volunteered to watch
Char
's kids for a night. As long as
I help. Can you believe that?”

“Oh God, Renee.
That boy is going to make some
poor
sister miserable when he grows up.
Remember the last
time you watched Gary Junior?”

“All too well. So does Apple. I reminded
Char
of that. But
Cleave
wants to help. So I guess I'll do it. I can't leave him alone with those monsters with only his poor defenseless huge German Shepherd to protect him.
”
She smiled a wry smile.

“He has a Shepherd, huh?”

“Yeah. And this dog will take
no prisoners, let me tell you.”

“Maybe this will be a good thing.
”
Toy
smiled.

She s
nipped off a hangnail.
“
Cleave
asked me to marry him.
”

“
What
?
”
Toy
's eyes grew big as saucers.
“How could you hold out on me. I thought we were friends. What did you say?”

“I told him I had to think about it. I left his hous
e and then I had the accident.”

“Were you drinking?”

“Not really. I had
a glass and a half
of sangria hours before I left. I called Joe when I found out
Cleave
was going to ask me.

“
Oh, girl, you didn’t.”

“
I guess I wanted to giv
e him one last chance.”

“What did he say?”

“I left a message but he never called me back. I guess I made a fool of myself saying I
love you and stuff like that.”

“Oh, honey.
”
Toy
put her free hand over Renee's.
“I'm sorry.”

“Have you heard from Wesley?”

“Wesley who? I have a date t
onight with someone new.”

“Where'd you meet this one?”

“Actually, he's Wesley's lawyer. We met on Wes' boat when he came to have some papers signed or something. Then we ran into each other
yesterday at the supermarket. I thought it would be a little fuck you to Wes.”

“I've always heard the supermarket was a great way to meet men. I guess it's true.
”
She paused.
“What am I saying? You'd meet a guy at the dump if you went there. I
think they follow you around.”

Toy
shook her head.
“I don't think so.”

After
she finished up for the day,
Renee
went to her first physical therapy appointment and felt a little better after. Then
she
headed
to
Cleave
's house to see if he wanted to go with her to look at cars.

He was
getting out of his car when she arrived. His face lit up with a smile.
“There’s my girl. How are you?”

“Much better. Want to check out some cars with me?
”

He kissed her lightly on the lips.
“Only if I can take you
to dinner first. I'm famished.”

After a seafood feast, they went to a dealership. E
very car was way out of
her price
range. Next they tried a
lot
that had a big sign for used cars.

“
Even the used ones are too expensive
,
”
she said.

“Why don't you let me
cosign and put down the deposit?
”
Cleave
got out of the BMW.

“I can't let you do that.”

“
I'm hoping that soon,
my
money will be
our
money. Have you ma
de any decisions yet
about my proposal
?”

She swallowed hard.
“With all that's happened, you know, the accident, I haven't really had
time to think about it.”

“I wou
ld like an answer soon
.”

“I know. Give me time
to let the dust settle, okay?”

He sighed.
“I'll try to be patient.”

She took his hand.
“You're very patient with me,
Cleave
. You're a wonderful man.
Char
told me you volunteered to keep my niece and nephew Saturday night. Actually I don't know if th
at was nice or foolish of you.”

“They're not that bad
…
Are they?
”
His eyes grew wide with fear.

“Do you have good insurance?
”

He laughed
but she could see the fear in his eyes
.
“It'll be fun. And
good practice.”

Sh
e had her doubts. They walked the lot until they saw a white Jeep similar to
her
old one, but a newer model.

“I loved my car. I think I might get something like it. What do you think?
”
She ran her hand along the glossy finish on the hood.

Cleave
read the sticker on the window.
“It's
only two years old
and it has power everything.
And the price
isn’t bad
.
Do you want to test drive it?”

“Yeah. Do you see a salesman?”

She had no sooner said that when one appeared.

After her test drive she was sold
. But she couldn't afford big payments.

Cleave
seemed to sense the
problem.
“I'll tell you what. Let's see how low we can get them to go. I'm sure we can get at least a thousand knocked off. I'll pay the balance. When you get your insurance check,
sign it over to me.”

“But my check is only going to be around four thousand. I'll still owe you
a bunch more
. I can't do that.
”
She ran her hand over the soft leather of the seat.

“Sure you can. If you decide not to accept my proposal, which I sincerely hope you do, then you can make me payments if and when you can. No in
terest. How's that for a deal?”

“That's unbelievably generous of you.
”
She
hugged him
.

“You remember that when you're making your pros and cons about
Cleave
list, okay?”

She kissed his cheek.
“Okay.”

Cleave
was able to negotiate the price down
just as he’d promised
. She drove off the lot with her new car, thanks to
him
. But the indebtedness she felt toward him made her queasy. She knew this might not end as
Cleave
hoped. What would she do then?

Chapter Twelve

“So what's new, kiddo?
”
Becky
brought two
two steaming mugs
to the couch
in the waiting area
Saturday morning
and
handed one to Renee.

“How did you know you should say yes when C
harles asked you to marry him?”
Renee sipped her coffee
and let it warmed her from the inside out
.

“You know, when we first started dating, I really wasn't sure if I was attracted to him or not. There weren't any fireworks or anything. But the more I got to know him, the more I really liked the person he is. He
's a real stand-up guy.
I guess the attraction developed over time. Now, I can't imagine being with anyone else. It was the natural progression that we should get married. We fit. I'm so sure o
f it, I'd stake my life on it.”

“Wow. I wish I could say the same about
Cleave
. I mean he's such a sweet guy. He helped me buy a car yesterday. Loaned me almost ten thousand bucks. I've never had anyone
do anything like that for me.”

“His house is beautiful
. And he was such a gracious host. Charles and I both like him. So that white Jeep
out back is yours, huh? Nice.”

“I love it.
He asked me to marry him the other night after everyone had left. I told him I'd have to think about it.
”
She studied Becky's reaction. Maybe she could tell her what to do.
Her friend’s expression gave away nothing.

“Oh. Are you that unsure?”

“Yes.”

She frowned.
“S
till carrying a torch for Joe?”

“Yeah,
”
she
said after a long pause
.
“I think about
him
all the time. I know if he wasn't on my mind so much, I'd probably have an easier time letting myself feel more for
Cleave
. I keep comparing, you know?”

Becky nodded.
“That's a problem.”

“It is. I keep trying to put
Cleave
off, but he
won't let me do that forever.”

“You have to resolve your feelings for Joe, honey. You'll never be able to fall in love with an
y other man until you do.”

The backdoor flew open. Antoine blew in and headed to the front of the shop.
“Good morning,
bitches
. Is this a private coffee cloche or can anyone join in?
”
He parked himself on the arm of the
sofa
.

“We're talking about men. Do you have anything to contribute?
”
Becky teased.

“We are all dogs, honey. That's all I got to say.
”
With that, he
started
over to his station.

“When was the last time you called Joe?
”
Becky asked.

Sh
e
held
her hand to her cheek.
“I'm embarrassed to tell you this. I hid in the upstairs guest bathroom at
Cleave
's on Valentines Day and called
Joe’s
phone. I left a message, but of course, he never
called me back.”

“That was the nigh
t you had the accident, right?”

“Right.”

“Hmm. Did your state of confusion
have anything to do with that?”

“I don't know. Probably. My dumb ass sister told me
Cleave
bought a ring. So I called Joe and then
Cleave
popped the question. Yeah, you could say it was an emotional night. It might have played a role. Speaking of my sister, gu
ess what we get to do tonight?”