Shoe Strings

pole body.”
    “Listen, Kerri Ann, I had dinner with Jesse a few nights
ago.”
    “Yeah?” she said with a quick flick of her eyes.   “I figured you were smarter than that.”
    “I...” What had she been going to say?   “What do you mean?”
    “I know he’s got the hots for you, Lita.   I just didn’t think you’d have any
interest in him.”
    “Why not?”
    For the first time all day, Kerri Ann seemed to stiffen and
turn sarcastic.   “I thought with you
being a famous designer, making friends with Bryce and all, you wouldn’t look
twice at Jesse.”
    Angelita needed to set her straight.   “I am friends with Bryce.   He helped me out just the other day and
I’m grateful.   But it’s Jesse
I’m…sort of interested in.”   She
touched her hand to Kerri Ann’s arm.   “Does that bother you?”
    “You current on your vaccinations?” Kerri Ann laughed and
then turned to face Lita.   “I’m only
kidding, and no, it doesn’t bother me in the least.”   She set her slice down and wiped her
mouth.   “Jesse and I are over and
have been for a very long time.   We…we lasted a lot longer than even the two of us expected and only
because of Ty.”
    “I know it’s silly, but I’ve been trying to put the two of
you together in my mind and I just can’t.”
    “You’re not the only one.”   She shrugged, thought for a moment.   “I come from a big family--three brothers
and four sisters.   My house was
always crazy.   Being somewhere in
the middle, I felt a little lost at home.   Jesse didn’t have any brothers or sisters and his family was, well…Cal
and Ellie were so much fun to be around.   They made me feel special and loved.   I stayed with Jesse mostly because I
didn’t want to lose being a part of their family.”
    “And then you had Ty.”
    “And then Ty came along and we were stuck with each
other.   Until Ellie got sick and
died and Jesse just couldn’t handle it all.   I’m running off at the mouth,” she said
and continued eating.  
    “No, no, I appreciate the information.   We mostly talked about me at dinner and
I didn’t have a chance to find out about his past, about you.”
    “He doesn’t like to talk about it.   He doesn’t open up with women.   He didn’t have to with me because I was
there, but with others…he just won’t.”   Lita thought of how he’d moved the conversation back to her each time
she’d inquire about his past.   He’d
pried out all her insecurities about her father and yet he’d shared nothing of
his past but his pride in Ty.   “His
mother was everything to him, to him and to Cal.   They’re both still grieving and picking
at each other.   It’s hard for them
to deal with each other without her in the middle.   Ty’s become their buffer now.”
    Kerri Ann heard the door jingle and glanced over
absently.   Lita noticed the color
drain from her face, then flood it again.   She didn’t have to turn around to realize who was standing behind her.
    “Ladies,” Bryce said in the slow way Lita already recognized
as his own.   She turned and saw him
look at Kerri Ann, taking in the softness of her hair and the flushed
cheeks.   “Kerri Ann, you look
different.”
    Oh brother, for a man who made his living with words, he
sure did blow an opportunity.   “She’s had her hair done.   Isn’t it lovely?”
    “Yeah, I mean, yes.   You look beautiful.”
    “I do not.”   She
stood up to gather their plates.   “You want your regular?”
    Lita couldn’t sit by and watch the two of them bungle
another chance.   She could see so
clearly how the two of them had spent years dancing around each other.   “She got a beautiful dress today,
too.   I just wish she had a reason
to get all dolled up.   Are there any
nice restaurants around town?”
    “You’d have to go to Asheville to wear a dress at
night.”   Kerri Ann moved past Lita
toward the back of the bar.  
    “Perfect.   A
night out.   You two should go.”   She grasped Bryce’s arm and urged him
forward.   “Kerri Ann was just saying
she’d like to take more time for herself.   What do you say, Bryce?   An
evening out with an old friend?”
    Kerri Ann stood frozen, the plates still in hand, while
Bryce looked dumbstruck and fumbled with an answer.   “Well, sure,” he said, coming out of his
funk.   “That sounds great.   Kerri Ann, what do you say to
Thursday?   I’m not in court that day
and could slip out