Katie

            It has been a week since I have been released from the hospital.  I have taken a leave of absence from work at the request of Hayley.  I am exhausted from the nightmares I’ve been having, but I am also getting restless, and am ready to return to work.  I hate having time on my hands to just think about everything.  I don’t want to have time to be left alone with my thoughts, I don’t want to remember.  Hayley is a real help to me, keeping my mind off things by having a John Hughes movie marathon week.  She is also present when I wake in the middle of the night screaming in fear.  She made me join the gym with her and signed us both up to take a self-defense class.  Rick has also been a real help too, as surprising as that is.  He comes over and sleeps on the couch every night, claiming he wants to be sure we are safe, but I have seen a real change in him.  I personally think he realizes that it could have just as easily been Hayley that night.  He confided in me one night after Hayley had fallen asleep during Pretty in Pink, that he received a real wake up call.  He wants to be a better person for Hayley.  Of course, he will never admit that to her, and I assured him his secret is safe with me.

            Hayley and I arrive at the gym for our first meeting with the personal trainer and to get the schedule for the self-defense class.  The trainer goes over how to use the equipment, where the facilities are, and gets our membership cards for us.  Hayley wants to hit the tanning beds first, but the last thing I want is to feel trapped in an enclosed space.  Walking and jogging have always been a way for me to relieve stress, and right now I am wound tighter than a rubber band.  We agree to go our separate ways, she will be fine in the tanning bed as I hit the treadmill.  I want to work on my stamina before I begin hitting weights.  I realized that night that I was weaker than I thought I was, unable to fight off that attack.  As I begin my brisk walk, I begin to lose myself in my thoughts, but am snapped back to reality by a familiar voice.  “Hey Katie.”  I would recognize his voice anywhere.  I have not seen Kevin since that night when I ran out of his office, humiliated, before the…

            “Kevin” there is a slight choke in my voice, sounding more like a question rather than a greeting.  

            He gives me a pained look, head tilted slightly downward, but cutting his eyes up at me.  “Katie, I am really sorry about the way things ended between us the other night.  I allowed things to get out of hand, and that was not my intention.  I did want to kiss you, then when I did, I couldn’t stop.”  He sounds so sincere.

            In a tone just above a whisper, “Kevin, it’s okay.  I probably should have handled things differently, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt your feelings or humiliate you.” 

            “Katie, I really enjoy your company, and would like to continue to get to know you, even if I need to take things slower and just be friends.”  He sounds hopeful, giving me his best sad puppy dog eyes.  I giggle and nod toward the treadmill next to me.  Twenty minutes later, Hayley returns and takes the free treadmill on the other side of me.  We all talk for the next forty minutes, agreeing it was nice spending time together, and that we would continue to meet up at the gym.  As Kevin leaves, Hayley and I head for the showers.

            “Are you sure you trust him?”  Hayley asks as she is turning on the shower in her stall, “You remember he was a suspect in what happened to you.”

            “The evidence cleared him, am I supposed to judge him for a crime that it has been proven he didn’t commit?”  I appreciate Hayley’s concern, but there is no reason to believe that Kevin is responsible for what happened to me.

            “Just be careful, please, Katie.  You know you mean too much to me, and I couldn’t bare it if anything else happened to you.”  

            “I love you too, mom.” I joke with her.  We laugh together, and after getting ready, we leave the gym.  I decide to head to the office to check in, and to let my staff know that I will be returning to work this coming week.  I can tell everyone is being overly cautious around me, being sure not to upset me, none dare to mention what happened.  I understand what they are doing, if the tables were turned, I would handle it the same way.  I am just looking forward to returning to work and getting some normalcy back in my life.  Hayley is returning to work this evening, she is scheduled to work nights, but plans to continue to stay with me for another week.  After squaring a few things away at the office, I realize how hungry I am.  I haven’t been eating well, and suddenly I am famished.  I decide to head over to the café in town, not wanting to be anywhere too crowded.  As I round the corner of the building, Avery comes around the corner opposite of me, causing us to meet each other in front of the door.  “Officer Maulden?”

            “Katie, please call me Avery, I am off duty right now.” It is the first time I see him smile.  It is a beautiful, contagious smile that lights up his face.  He was so serious at our first meeting; this is a side of him I haven’t seen yet and for some reason I am very excited to see him in a different light.  His hair doesn’t seem as red as it did outside the club, more of an auburn color, and his uniform really didn’t do him justice compared to what he is wearing now.  He has on a pair of relaxed fit light washed jeans and a white fitted t-shirt that shows off the muscle definition in his arms.  He has on a ball cap and cowboy boots, and for some reason, I find it all extremely attractive.  

            “So, are you picking up dinner?” He shakes his head as if he is angry at himself for asking that question.

            “Yeah, I haven’t been eating well and I think it is catching up with me.” I rub my stomach in an apparent attempt to confirm this fact.  

            “Would you like some company?”  He is shyly tilting his head slightly to the side awaiting my response.  I feel my pulse rise slightly.  I am suddenly nervous.  I can’t believe he is interested in my company.  He is an extremely attractive man; I am just me.  I am shorter than him, by at least a foot, and where he is dripping sex appeal, I look like a frump.  

            As I look up into his hazel eyes which are almost hypnotizing, I reply, “You know, I really would love some company.”  Avery indicates to the server that we need a table for two and we are seated.  After ordering, we begin talking.  I share with him what inspired me to become a vet, and he shares his for becoming a cop.  We discuss friends, favorite types of food and what we like to do in our spare time.  Before we know it, we have finished our meal and the café is empty, with the staff anxiously awaiting our exit.  Avery paid the check, and we slowly walk out to my car, laughing about how the staff is probably celebrating our departure.

Avery

            As we approach Katie’s vehicle, I am suddenly disappointed that our time together is about to end.  I really enjoyed her company, although it is frowned upon that I am conversing with her outside of the investigation.  An investigation that I am getting no closer to closing.  The lab had returned Katie’s dress, unable to find any DNA.  The DNA obtained by the hospital did not match any of the sexual offenders in the database, and it was not a match to Kevin, who had willingly come in to give a sample.  I thought for sure he was the assailant, but there is no evidence to connect him to the crime, other than the brief encounter with Katie in his office.  When I was first assigned this case, all I could think about was making a name for myself, closing my first case in record time.  Now, I am surrounded by this overwhelming feeling of needing to bring closure to Katie. For her to know that the person responsible is no longer out there, free to do it again.  I need for her to feel safe, and I would be so damn proud to be the one who helps her feel that way.  

            “I really enjoyed this.” I sigh, unable to remember the last time I had really enjoyed the company of a woman.  My relationships seem to involve some superficial type of sexual relationship, one that I have no problem ending as soon as the night is over.  This is different, my interaction with her leaves me hoping I will see her again.

            “I enjoyed it too.” Katie bashfully replies.  To my surprise, unsure why, she lifts herself up on her toes, and kisses my cheek, “Thanks for dinner.”  Then she turns, gets into her vehicle, and leaves, leaving me standing there, with my hand touching the spot on my cheek where her lips had previously been.  What kind of sap have I turned into?

            After she leaves, my thoughts return to Troy.  Neither Wayne or I have seen or heard from him since that night, and he isn’t returning our calls.  When Wayne met with Troy’s father to sign the papers for his restaurant, he was assured that Troy is fine and that he is working and to give him time.  But this is new territory for us, Troy has never gone this long without getting back in touch.  My thoughts are interrupted by my humorous new ringtone, that still brings a smile to my face.  After seeing the name on the caller ID, I quickly answer, “Troy?”

            “Avery, sorry I haven’t returned your call before now.  I have had a lot of shit on my mind that I have been working through.”  He sounds so distant, so hurt, lost in his thoughts.

            “Troy, dude, you know I’m here for you, if you want to talk about what happened.” I offered, the bliss of my evening quickly turning to concern.

            “I’m fine.  At first, I was pissed, but you know me, I’m tough.”

            “Wayne told me what happened; he is worried that you hate him or something.  He hopes you understand the incredible opportunity that has been presented to him.  He would be happy for you if the tables were turned.”

            “That’s just it; it would never happen to me!”  Troy raises his voice a bit, “That stupid bastard hates me, I could turn him the biggest profit he has ever seen, and I still would not be good enough for him!”

            “Your dad realizes how valuable you are, that is why he pulled you into the family business like he did.  If he didn’t think you were an asset to him, he wouldn’t have done it, right?”  I am trying my best to reason with him.

            “Sometimes I think the only reason he wants me to work for him is so he can keep an eye on me.  You know he never believed I was innocent; this is his way of keeping me out of trouble.”

            “Then why don’t you leave?”  I have always wondered why he didn’t just leave it all, and make a name for himself, doing what he wants to do.

            “Look, I don’t need this bullshit right now!  I just wanted to return your call, to let you know I am fine.”  Troy sounds a bit annoyed, I know I make his leaving sound so simple, when it isn’t.

            “Are we cool?”  I pause, “Are we all cool?”  I need Troy to reassure me that things are fine between all of us.

            “Yea, we’re cool.”  Although Troy’s voice is emotionless.  My phone beeps, indicating that Troy has disconnected the call.  I pull up Wayne’s number and give him a call.

            “You got me!” Wayne answers, sounding a bit more cheerful than usual.

            “I just heard from Troy.”  I know the concern is obvious in my tone.

            “How is he?” I can hear the pain in Wayne’s voice.  I know he has been worried about him.

            “He is bitter, man.  He claims we are all cool, but he sounds bitter.”  I honestly don’t believe at all things are cool between us.

            “I don’t blame him, I honestly don’t.  I have been second guessing things ever since I signed that damn contract.  It is hard to be happy about all this when it is hurting Troy so badly.”  I know Wayne never wanted to hurt Troy, but from a professional standpoint, this is the deal of a lifetime for him.  He couldn’t just let the chance pass him by. 

            “Troy will be fine.  He is tough, he reminded me of that.  He is just pissed right now; he will get over it sooner rather than later.” I tried to sound reassuring, although I don’t believe a word of what I am saying.  “Talk to you later.”

            “Later.” 

            I turn in the direction of my house.  It has been a long day, but it did have its perks.  I let my mind wander back to my dinner spent with Katie.