Chet

“Now who on earth could that be?” Christy asks herself, almost rhetorically. “I was just about to check on dinner and I need to clean myself up a bit before greeting anyone else.”

“I can answer the door, if you like,” I offer.

“Would you mind?”

“Not at all—happy to help,” I say, as I clean myself with a paper towel. I perform a final self-check for any remains of incriminating evidence of our encounter and then swipe the dish towel from the counter and wipe my hands as I head for the door.

I pull the door wide without hesitation and immediately regret not checking through the peephole when I find Mark standing just on the other side of the screen, flowers in hand.

My eyes flash with anger. “What are you doing here?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Me? What the fuck are you doing here you son of…” Mark trails off, catching his words in time.

“Who was it?” Christy calls from the kitchen.

“Hey! How’s my apple-bottom girl?” Mark shouts from the porch.

“Mark?” Christy asks, hesitation dripping from the word.

“I think he’s just leaving,” I call back to her. Turning my attention back to him I add, “Isn’t that right, son?”

“No. I don’t think it is. Old man. Not if Christy wants to see me. I came all the way out here to talk to her and I’m only going to leave when she tells me to, not you.”

I take a step forward, pushing the screen door open and forcing him to step back. “Anything you want her to know, you can say to me. I’ll make sure she gets the message.”

“Listen man, I don’t want trouble with you. I’m here to apologize for the way I acted before. And I’ll be goddamned if I’m going to get into any of that shit with you. Christy! Can you come out here? Please?” he yells around me.

“I told you once already, you talk to me. Not her.”

“Why? Who the fuck do you think you are?” he asks bitterly.

“I’m the man who took the time to see her for the person she is, and all she has to offer, instead of for what she can do for me.”

Mark scoffs. “Yeah, I bet you’re one in a million. But she and I have a whole lot of history. She’s hardly going to walk away from all that for some … cowboy. Now, if you will excuse us, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” He steps forward, angling to squeeze through the opening between the door and me. I shift my body to the left, blocking his path again. “I stepped up when you stepped out,” I challenge, my voice raised and my cheeks flushed. “She’s mine and you’re pushing up against a very thin line with me.”

With my attention focused on Mark, I hadn’t noticed Christy standing in the living room behind me. “Excuse me, but I don’t ‘belong’ to any man, and I don’t appreciate you two standing there swinging your dicks around claiming me,” she says, visibly repulsed by what she’s witnessing.

“Doc, I didn’t mean…” My heart sinks.

“Babe. Come on now,” Mark interrupts. “It’s me. You know how I get sometimes. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Enough,” Christy demands. “From both of you. Mark—you should go. I haven’t responded to any of your crazy nonsense because it’s just that … crazy nonsense, and I’m over it. There isn’t anything left between us to talk about.”

“Christy? Sweetheart? I know you don’t mean that,” Mark replies.

Christy folds her arms across her chest. “Really? You’re an expert on what I’m thinking now?”

“Well … Uh, I’m not saying I’m an expert, but after so many years, I think I ought to know how the love of my life thinks, ya know?”

“Then please, enlighten me, what was I thinking when I decided to move out here when my uncle died?”

Mark lets the bouquet fall to his side. “Well honestly, that was one of those impetuous things you do sometimes without really thinking it through. But ... it’s okay. I know to be patient and let you fail and figure things out on your own. That’s the beauty of a real relationship like ours,” he says, leveling his gaze in my direction.

“A real relationship?” Christy laughs bitterly. “Because what you and I had counted as real?” She shakes her head. “And my only failure was not speaking up sooner and making it clear how tired I was of you running my life for me. Moving to Colorado wasn’t an impetuous thing I did on the spur of the moment, it was my way of telling you I was done. But, I guess I didn’t speak loud enough because here you are.” Christy steps forward. “Am I speaking loud enough now? I’m done with you, Mark. I’m done with you dictating what’s right for me. I’m done with you making me feel like shit. I’m done with living my life based on what you want instead of what I need.”

Mark purses his lips but pauses to collect himself before speaking. “Listen, I know you don’t really mean what you’re saying right now. I know if he wasn’t around this would be a more civil conversation, but I’m asking you to calm down before you say something you regret.”

“The only thing I regret is not saying any of this sooner. You’re an asshole and I want you to leave and never come back.”

“You better stop and think. If I leave right now I am never coming back. Do you even know how much I spent on last minute airfare and a rental car? I sure as shit didn’t drop that kind of money to come here on bended knee and be treated this way. Now for the last fucking time—why don’t you tell him to leave and let me come in so we can talk like adults?”

“I gave you zero indication I wanted you here. Zero. If you spent that money, that’s on you, not me. I have nothing to say to you other than leave. Now.”

“You heard the woman. It’s time for you to go,” I add as my shoulders stiffen, my body preparing for whatever comes next.

Mark rocks back on his heels. “You really can’t keep your nose out of anything can you? Christy, are you really going to take this big of a step down from me just to spite me?”

Christy’s nostrils flare and her eyes go wide. “You go on and keep telling yourself whatever you need to feel better. But that’s the beauty of you not being in my life anymore. None of this matters.” She gestures back and forth between herself and Mark. “And if you don’t get off my damned porch, I’m gonna call the cops.”

Looking down at his feet, Mark chuckles to himself. “You stupid bitch. I’m sure you two will be very happy together. Fuck, you deserve each other. He’s a country bumpkin, and you? Apparently, you’re still just the stupid whore I found all those years ago. I guess I should’ve known I couldn’t change you into anything better.”

“That’s enough,” I say, grabbing his arm.

Mark throws the flowers at me and yanks his arm free from my grasp. “Get your goddamned hands off me. I’m leaving.” He stomps off the porch, tripping over the bottom step in his haste. “Just don’t think you can come crawling back to me when you realize your mistake. I’m gone, bitch,” he says, turning to level a finger at Christy before he climbs into his ridiculously small rental car and speeds out of the driveway.

Filled with pride that she stood up to a man who held so much power over her for so long, my mouth tightens into a smirk as I turn toward her, wanting to hold her.

She steps back, her eyes wary. “What was all that about me being yours? I’m not a possession. Mark thought he could own me, too.”

My mouth falls. My eyes go wide with disbelief. “Doc, let me explain what I meant.” Only, she’s not interested in giving me the chance to finish.

“You should go, too. This is all too much and I need a chance to think.” She runs her hands up into her hair.

“Christy. Hold on a sec, I know he’s gone for now, but he could come back. I’m not going to leave you out here all by yourself.”

“Why?” She lifts her chin, her eyes blazing into mine.

“It’s not safe—that’s why. What if he comes back and decides to let himself in at two in the morning? So you can pack a bag and come back to the ranch with me where I know you’ll be safe, or I can stay here for the night, on the couch, or in my truck if need be, but I’m not leaving you alone.”

“I don’t want you to sleep in your truck. I don’t want you to sleep on the couch either, for that matter, but I need to think and I probably need to cry, and I can’t do that with you here.” She swallows hard. “I need some space. Some time. Please...” She sucks in her lips and swipes at her eyes. “Please leave.” She brings her gaze to mine only to drop it to her hands.

I begin to speak, to insist that she can do all of those things at the ranch, but realize I would only sound too much like Mark did a few minutes before, and stop myself.

“Alright.” I pick up my hat, square it on my head, and go.