you home?”
He stiffened. “I’m fine.” He rubbed his hand on his face. “You’re right. I’m just exhausted. It was an awful day. I need to check in with the congregation and the staff and church members tomorrow. I have to go there… Can you imagine returning to that room?”
She cringed. It sounded horrible and Kayla preferred to never go near that place again. But Kathy would. She knew it. The church was Kathy’s comfort zone and Kayla was sure she’d go back there. Kathy would never let anyone take that from her.
What about Jim? What was left for Jim?
It was so depressing to see how alone the man was. His aloneness seemed to be consuming him. Now. At this moment. Right before her. Even the church and the connection he had with God couldn’t help him just then.
Kayla got up from the pew and said quietly, “You’re just human, Jim. With all the loneliness, frailty and failures that the rest of us share.”
He didn’t answer. Obviously, he wasn’t ready to hear that from her of all people.
So Kayla joined Kathy and stayed with her family. Kayla saw Kathy finally come out and smile, the first sign of her belief that Eric would be okay. Kathy nearly glowed… She told Eric some personal secrets and he responded well.
But…
Jim.
He was all alone and not okay. That’s what Kayla’s gut knew.
And maybe it was normal that he wasn’t right. He was way beyond sad or shocked or exhausted.
He seemed… God, so unlike himself. Abandoned and in need.
What could Kayla offer him? She had no idea. But there was no one else. As far as Kayla knew, Kathy was Jim’s only connection to humanity… What if he just untied himself from it?
It seemed far-fetched… But maybe not.
Kayla tried to imagine having no one to talk to after a day like this one. Hell on earth. Jim witnessed, lived through and experienced a traumatic event and now he had no one to share it with. To commiserate with. To vent the experience with.
Kayla left the hospital and went to the apartment Jim rented. The small, dumpy building was uninviting but she found it and knocked on the door. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was after eleven… Would Jim be asleep?
Again, at her gut level, she knew he wasn’t.
And she knew she did the right thing when he opened the door and saw her. Usually, he’d ask her what she wanted, but this time? He was hollow-eyed as he shrugged and turned away, leaving her standing there and the door wide open.
She took it as an invitation.
He needed someone now. And Kayla was the only one available.
For better or worse, here she was.
Chapter 4
STUNNED AT JIM’S TOTAL lack of reaction to seeing her, Kayla wondered what to do. She stared into the dark interior since his back was to her and didn’t fail to notice that he’d changed into a t-shirt and a pair of dark, loose sweatpants. Kayla never saw Jim in any kind of dress except his Sunday wardrobe. Button-up shirt, pressed slacks and suit jacket. He and Kathy both dressed far too formally for their age group. No matter the occasion, or lack thereof. No matter the location either. A casual Monday to meet for coffee? Grocery shopping? A trip to the bank? Jim and Kathy were always dressed in what Kayla called their Sunday, goin’ ta church clothes. Always.
So seeing Jim so casually dressed now was a jolt to Kayla. His wide back tapered nicely down to his waist. He was tall and slender, but not lanky. He showed innate grace in his movements, like a panther. His long, slim legs and commanding stride were how she always pictured him.
Stepping inside what felt like the lion’s den, she shut the door behind her and turned around, blinking rapidly.
It was very small. Crowded. Too dark. Heavy drapes covered the front living room window, blocking out all the light. The small entry was filled with coats and shoes. Some were on the shelves, while others were thrown haphazardly. The carpet led to an open, but small living room and kitchen with a tiny, two-person table.
A black loveseat provided the only furniture to sit on. Books. Lots of them. There were books stacked on the floor, the table and even the kitchen counter.
The light over the stove emitted the only illumination, which softened the shabbiness of the place. Kathy never told Kayla about Jim’s living standards. But she wouldn’t have. Kathy was too