2000
The three friends had had so much to talk about, they hadn’t even realized the sun was coming up until Carter’s rescued rooster, Victor, began to crow.
Ginny was exhausted, but she felt immensely relieved. She’d told the girls everything and they never interrupted. They knew she had to get some things off her chest. The journalist in Casey found it very difficult not to jump in and ask questions. But, Casey had reminded herself, this wasn’t a news story. This was a dear friend, a friend who just needed them to listen. And that’s what they both did.
They’d even had some good laughs.
“I remember when that guy came for Grizz’s chess set,” Carter said after hearing the story about how it had shown up at Tommy and Ginny’s house, how Jason set it up as a surprise.
Ginny couldn’t help herself. She smiled. She knew the story Carter was getting ready to tell.
“What?” Casey asked. “I’m sensing a story. Did I miss something?”
“Yeah, you were out of the country,” Carter answered her. She took a sip of her wine before continuing. “The chess set was here when I first moved in,” motioning with her hand. “You’d just left for Africa and Ginny had moved back here after staying at Stephen and April’s a while. I noticed she kept avoiding this room.”
“Some things were just so hard,” Ginny said in a small voice.
“I know, sweetie. That’s why I had Tommy come over one day and pack it up and put it in the guest house over the garage. I had taken you to one of your doctor’s appointments so you wouldn’t be here. I didn’t know if you ever realized I moved it.” Carter looked thoughtfully at Ginny.
“I don’t really remember what I thought,” Ginny answered honestly. “Getting through each day was such a struggle.”
“Okay.” Casey looked from one to the other. “So, what was so funny?”
“Yeah, that part,” Carter continued. “It was about two years later. After Grizz was sentenced to prison. I was home one day and there was a knock at my door. I was expecting someone from an animal sanctuary. They were supposed to be picking up Phil.”
“Phil?” Casey asked.
“Yeah, that damn camel that gave me such a hard time. Anyway, Tommy left a message saying someone would be coming by to get the chess set. But I hadn’t listened to my messages.”
“And—” Casey used her hand to urge Carter to continue.
“And, I swung the door open and the most handsome man I have ever laid my eyes on was standing there. A big, gigantic Native American! I know I just stood there and gaped at him.”
“Anthony Bear,” Ginny explained to Casey. “One of Grizz’s friends. I don’t think either one of you met him. He came over with his wife, Christy, a few times, but I’m not sure you were ever at my house at the same time as them.”
“I think I would have remembered a big, handsome Indian.” Casey wiggled her eyebrows.
“Especially this one!” Carter added. “Anyway, it was just awkward, because I thought he was there to pick up Phil. He knew he was getting something to deliver to Grizz, but nobody told him what it was. We weren’t communicating and it didn’t help that I was totally tongue-tied. I swear, I turned into a giggling eighth-grader!” Carter grinned. “I walked him to the back of the house and pointed to Phil. The look on his face was comical. That’s all. It was just funny.”
Casey just shook her head, a bemused expression on her face.
“You’d think it was funnier, Casey, if you’d ever met Anthony. For starters, he’s bigger than Grizz and I think even more serious.” Ginny paused, looked at her lap. “If that’s even possible.”
There was a lull in the conversation.
“Carter, do you have any aspirin?” Ginny asked.
Carter started to get up, but Ginny beat her to it. “I can get it myself. Still keep some in the kitchen?”
“Medicine cabinet in my bathroom.”
Ginny walked toward the back of the house. Carter’s bathroom would be the master bath. The one she’d shared with Grizz.
She remembered when they were having the home built all those years ago. Grizz had insisted on a gigantic tub.
“Why in the world would I need a tub this big?” Ginny had asked him as she’d stood over it, hands on her hips. The bathroom wasn’t finished yet. She’d been there to talk to the contractor about tile selections.
Grizz had come up behind her and put his arms around her waist. Pulling her to him, he bent down to nuzzle her neck. “It has to be big enough for me to fit in it with you.”
“You’re going to take a bath with me?” she’d asked, surprised.
“Yep. And I’m going to make love to you in this tub. I’m going to make love to you in every room of this house, Kitten. The tub, the kitchen, in front of the fire. Everywhere.”
He’d turned her around then and gently kissed her. The kiss deepened and she could feel his arousal press against her stomach.
She’d broken the kiss and looked up at him. “Grizz, not here! The builder is going to be here in a minute.”
“I could kiss you all day, Kitten,” he said, taking her face in his hands. “Nothing’s going to happen, honey. Just let me enjoy you for a few minutes.” And he’d lowered his mouth back to hers.
Ginny felt the tears start as memories of Grizz washed over her. She sat down on Carter’s bed. What was wrong with her? She’d been in this house many times since Grizz’s arrest. Why was she reacting this way now?
Maybe it was the fact that he was gone. For good. Maybe she’d never gotten to properly mourn him after losing him first to prison, and then death just a few days ago. She moved her wide wedding band forward on her knuckle as she rubbed the spot where Grizz’s name had been tattooed almost twenty-five years ago. Long before ring tattoos had become popular. There was still a slight burning sensation from the visit to Eddie’s Tattoo Parlor on Saturday. She finished rubbing it and moved her wedding band back in place.
She didn’t know what she was feeling and she didn’t want her friends to come looking for her. She stood up and wiped her eyes with her hands. Deep breath. Brave face, Ginny. You can go in there and get the aspirin.
Carter and Casey whispered, head to head, after Ginny left the room. They were worried about their friend, but they knew she would get through this.
“Do you think it’s up to us to tell her some things Tommy told us?” Carter asked softly.
“Maybe.” Casey frowned. “I just can’t believe Tommy was deceitful for any other reason than to protect her all these years. He needs allies. I think he’s a good guy, Carter. I’ve never seen anything to make me believe otherwise.”
“Do you think he ever told her the prom story? Or maybe Sarah Jo told her.”
“I really don’t know. When Tommy told us I never thought to ask if Ginny knew. And the fact that Gin has never mentioned it makes me wonder what she has or hasn’t known about all these years. You know, other than Tommy being Grizz’s son.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream coming from the master bathroom.
“Carterrrrrr!!!!!”
“Uh oh,” Carter said, jumping to her feet and heading toward the bathroom. “I guess Gin just met Richard Pepperbloom. I forgot to tell her about him.”
“Who the heck is Richard Pepperbloom?” Casey followed at her heels. “You didn’t mention him to me either.”
“I’m keeping him in my tub until someone comes for him tomorrow.” Before Casey could comment further, Carter added nonchalantly, “He’s an alligator.”