A Couple of Years of Gardening (Chapter 3) (standard:romance, 3530 words) [3/10] show all parts
Author: kmr412002	Added: Nov 02 2006	Views/Reads: 2513/1837	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
The courtship and marriage of a detective as told by his wife

CHAPTER 3 

During the next few days, I occasionally take this picture out and look
at it. I don't know what exactly I am looking for. Most of the time, 
it's those solemn eyes that draw my attention. I think those eyes just 
don't belong to the tough guy I know. 

I can't sleep. I got a postcard from Garrett. We had been together for
nearly two years. The last time I saw him was nearly a year ago. He was 
on his way to Bopal, India. He made his living as photojournalist and 
was very excited about this assignment, so I didn't expect him to 
notice or even care this was probably the last time he would leave my 
apartment. It surprised me when he asked me one last time to leave with 
him. It was in that teasing manner and more like a dare than any 
heartfelt request. I think that just about characterized our entire 
relationship. 

Heartfelt. That's what so many of my friends said my problem was. My
problem with men was that I was expecting that, looking for that. Who 
did that anymore?  Everybody made fun of me. Except, of course, Kate. 

This postcard is to let me know he is in just got back to the states and
has reconciled with his ex-wife. They share a lovely home on the beach 
on the west coast. I really don't feel anything but relief. I don't 
have to be something I'm not; feel something I don't. I must be a 
terribly cold person. All he expected was for me to let him know he was 
the one. The one.  Despite the other women, he was a nice guy, so Nina, 
you must be one unfeeling bitch. No sleep for you. 

I get up and look through my bag intending to pull out that postcard.
Instead, I pull Jack's picture out and study it for an unhealthy amount 
of time. I turn on my computer and scanner. At first, I just want to 
enlarge it to get a better look at it. Then I do what I spend a lot of 
my work time doing, touching up, sharpening the images, erasing the 
creases.  I print it out, study it once again, and slip both the 
original and the copy into an envelope 

The unit captain had the Christmas party at his home. David has to go
out of town, so Kate talks me into accompanying her. The weather is 
terrible with rain that turns the new snow into slush. Just as I wish I 
were somewhere else, I see Jack across the room. He waves at me, just 
as a Megan places a hand on his shoulder. 

Kate asks me, “So, where is Garrett these days?” 

She pronounces his name emphasizing the final ‘t' to show his disdain
for him. I tell her about the postcard. “I'm glad for him. Kate, he 
deserved better.” 

She shakes her head and presses her fingertip into my breastbone, “No,
Nina. You deserved better.” 

The captain's wife, Cheryl, approaches us and we compliment her on the
landscaping in her backyard. She invites us outside for a closer look 
giving us a tour of her garden.  I follow Kate and Cheryl on a 
flagstone path when something catches my eye. There is a kitten 
stranded up a tree. He has the wide eyed frantic look and is pacing up 
and down a tree limb. The whole scenario is achingly familiar to me and 
even though Cheryl and Kate have returned inside, I wander over there 
beckoning it to come down as it starts to rain. 

“I think he'll come down on his own,” Jack called from the porch. 

I keep my eyes on the kitten. “Merry Christmas, Jack.” 

“Merry Christmas, Nina.” 

I hold my hand up and nod. He is behind me before I know it and I hope
he doesn't see that shiver run up my spine. “Here.”  I look down at his 
interlaced fingers and step up into his hands, but the kitten was still 
not in reach. 

“Shit,” I whisper and I decide to give up as rain starts to come down
harder. I shift my weight, and that's when I fall. I never believe that 
I will actually hit the ground, thinking I can make a graceful 


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