Page 4 of Two of a Kind
Kayla sighed in comfort as she snuggled naked between the cool, high thread count sheets. Patricia had it wrong; happiness didn’t come from a joint bank account. Being alone was so much better. No one to take care of but herself. No compromises, no concessions. Everything exactly the way she wanted it.
Despite what people thought, she wasn’t lonely. Nope, not lonely at all.
Chapter Four
Kayla took advantageof her morning off and lingered in bed longer than usual. While there was something to be said for the feel of a man giving her pleasure, her high-end toys got the job done just fine. She knew what she liked and how she liked it, and the sad fact was, most men didn’t come close. When she was done, she was done.
Even better, her “me time” wasn’t followed by awkward “after time.” She could get up and get on with her business without having to worry about tact or platitudes.
Outside, a chilly rain dampened her plans to mow the lawn. The teenage kid she had hired to do it every week hadn’t been around as much lately, which she didn’t mind too much. Spending time outside and getting some sun and fresh air was a nice change to being in an office.
She opted for a bit of light cleaning inside and tossed in a load of laundry. Not feeling up to going to the gym, she forced herself to do an exercise video, then took a long, hot shower and dressed.
With a couple hours left before she had to go to work, she decided to swing by Brian’s house. It had been on her mind since dinner the night before, and then her dreams had been filled with memories. Some were good, some not so good. Most of it, she had put behind her a long time ago.
How things have changed, she thought, giving herself a final check in the mirror.
She wasn’t the same person she had been then. Hard lessons forced her to re-evaluate her life. It didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t easy, but she no longer looked to others for happiness or approval and was a stronger woman as a result.
The transformation had been external as well as internal. Gone was the skin-tight, vibrant clothing she used to wear, now preferring a well-washed pair of jeans, soft cotton tops, and comfortable shoes. Instead of spending hours on her hair and makeup, she just did the basics—moisturizer, some color-correcting, age-defying foundation, and a few swipes of the mascara brush. A twist and a clip, and her hair was artfully arranged in a casual, but flattering style.
Being content with who she was and not giving any fucks about anyone else was incredibly liberating.
Everything was quiet when she stepped outside and walked to her car. Like many of the older homes on her street, she didn’t have a garage. What she did have was a carport, which was enough to keep the car relatively protected from the elements.
The hairs prickled on the back of her neck, accompanied by the feeling of being watched.
She looked over at her new neighbors, discovering she had been right when she saw one of the curtains move in a second story window. Kayla thought it must have been the kid’s bedroom.
It wasn’t the first time. From time to time, she had caught fleeting glimpses of the slight figure with dark hair.
Kayla wondered absently why the girl wasn’t in school, then realized it was none of her business. If the kid wanted to ditch while her mother was working, more power to her.
Kayla made the relatively short trip to Pine Ridge. Things hadn’t changed much. The local farmer’s market was still a huge attraction. The IHOP was packed, mostly with seniors who liked to while away time over coffee and local gossip. Sean’s garage was still there, too, as was Jake’s Irish Pub. She hadn’t expected any differently. The Callaghans were a strong presence in the community, and probably would be for long after she was gone.
Dull pangs of regret speared through her as they always did when she returned to her old stomping grounds. The town held bittersweet memories for her, as did the pub. She had done things, said things she wasn’t proud of, yet she had been young and stupid. She was smarter now, wiser, but there was no changing the past.
