Part 1: Free To Love (The Katherine Walsh Series)

I can’t believe I’m here right now. A damn guilt trip is what this is. I could be sitting at home watching Americas Next Top Model marathon then sitting here at great Uncle Paul’s funeral.  I feel horrible that he died but I only met him once at a family reunion when I was five, and I hate things like this! I have shown up wearing all black as expected.  My dress has a modest bust line with short sleeves that falls right below the knees which is very slimming. I have always looked great in black.  I’m tall for a girl I suppose being around 5’9 but I never cared because I have always been skinny because of it. I can’t wait to get back to the house and change and pull my hair down.  My hair is chestnut brown with natural red highlights, which happens to be so tight up in a bun that I am getting a headache.  Pulling myself out of thought I start to look around, man there is a lot of people here who knew great Uncle Paul was so popular.  The funeral was held outside with folding chairs laid out on the grass dividing down the center reminding me a lot of a spring wedding.  I’m on the right side couple of rows from the front sitting next to me is my mother and she is eyeing her ex who is in the row in front of us, aka my father.  Looking back he replies, “Hey kitty Kat, You look pretty where did you get that dress?” God I hate it when he calls me that I’m not two! “Hey dad its Katherine not Kat!” I snap.  He looks at me with disproval. “Hi Maude sorry about your Uncle“, He replies to mom with deep concern.  He never has stopped loving her after all these years and is genuinely concerned how she is faring.  “Thanks Jim you were always one of his favorites.” Tuning them out I start looking at the guest most of them are old enough to be buried right along with him.  Looking behind me I see my cousin Mary. “‘Hey girl”, I say waving enthusiastically at her.  I get up to go sit with her very happy at my new escape route from the awkward conversation o f my parents.  

 Mary is around my age one year older she jus t turned the big twenty -one and I can tell she has a huge hangover. Ha-ha that’s Mary for you a big party girl. She is a pretty girl being blond blue eyed and small.  Mary is usually the center of attention where ever she goes.  I always felt inadequate next to her growing up. We are two opposites.  I’m an amazon giant compared to her.  I have  a slender but athlete built and my features are  sharp, and angled I’m pretty don’t get me wrong, but I’m not your average country bumpkin with a soft face and a promise of a good time ; that was Mary and boy did we get in trouble every time we hung out.

Mary looking at me through sunglasses rolls her eyes, “I’ve been better.”  “I can see that, what did you do last night?” I ask her. Mary looks at me with a sly smile, and says leeringly, “Who did I do last night!” Giving a wicked laugh she goes into full detail of the newest guy she has met.  She bumped into him coming out of the bathroom at a bar. She knocked into him so hard she dropped her drink.  Without delay he offered her his hand, and escorted her to the bar buying the rest of her drinks for the night.  She can tell he is from out of town even though he really wouldn’t talk much about himself. I tell her they probably didn’t spend much time talking, and she laughs!  Continuing the story, Mary tells me they left the bar together around midnight, but somehow ended up home. She blacked out most of the night after that. Shocked I shout, “Mary!”  “You could have been raped and killed and stuffed in a gutter!” She laughs at me like I’m a little kid.  “Hunny you can’t rape the willing.” “I guess I just drank more than I’m use to beside, I’m alive”! “Not in a gutter you see.” “He was nice enough to take me home, and obviously I was coherent enough to tell him where I lived silly girl!”

Hearing someone clear their throat we both looked up startled. The pastor was standing in front waiting to start. Straightening up in my chair I flushed a crimson shade thinking everyone had heard our conversation.  Two and a half hours later I was driving home.

Tired and mentally exhausted from the funeral, I park my white stratus in my driveway. I live in a small two bedroom apartment with a roommate named Angie. I can tell she is still home because her bright yellow bug is still here.   Thinking I should take a nap, but wanting to salvage any kind of my weekend off I go looking for her.  Sitting on our couch she is sprawled out with a blanket and a bowl of cereal still in her pajamas watching Americas Next Top Model.  Jealous and very envious I tell her to move over. Angie looks at me and laughs, “You look tired, how was the funeral?”  I reply with a yawn, “good I guess if you can say a funeral is ever good.”   Angie nods her head sympathetically at me, her strawberry blond curls bobbing in unison.

“Was there any hot guys there?”  Smacking her with a pillow I exclaim, “Angie it was a funeral, besides I was related to over half the people there dork!”  Laughing she says, “Hot guys go to funerals too”.  I roll my eyes at her and grab the remote.  Zoning out after three episodes I get up to go to the kitchen.  Opening the fridge door I thought if I stared hard enough something would materialize in my hand. Sighing, I shut the door when my cell phone goes off.  Single ladies by Beyonce ringing off in the air, I knew that my cousin Mary was calling.                  

I picked up the phone.  “Hey girl what’s up?”   Mary replying, “Well you know that bar I told you about earlier today, do you want to go out there tonight?  “I’m not twenty- one Mary, they won’t let me in.”  I say. “Oh they don’t care about stuff like that, besides they don’t card there.” She replies with a little too much gusto.  “I really don’t feel like trying to sneak into a bar two hours away from home, just to be kicked out and embarrassed.”  I say exasperated. “Please, please please!” She begs. Groaning, I’m always such a sucker I whine, “Why do you wanna go out there again?”  “Well, she starts, “I don’t think I gave him my number, and I don’t have his, I was hoping that I would run in to him again.” “Please Kate, I know he is from out of town, this might be my last shot at seeing him!” Pausing a second before letting out a big sigh, she yells in the phone, “Thank you, thank you, I love you!” “I’ll come pick you up at eight, so we don’t get there too early.” “Wear something Hot!” With that she hangs up the phone.

Dragging my feet back in the front room, Angie looks at me with an amused smile on her face. “Going out?” She asks. “Yes”, I growl. “There isn’t any chance you want to come?” I ask her in hopes of having someone there to talk to when Mary ditches me for Mr. Dark and Handsome. “No way girl! I have a date tonight!” She squeals. “Well have fun.” I say feeling very sorry for myself. “I get to be Mary’s excuse to walk into the bar without looking desperate, and then she will ditch me, and get to hope that the rest of the time no one cards me.”  Angie playfully shoves me towards my room.  “Well you better get ready, at least you can look like a hot bar fly while Mary is looking for that guy.”  “Thanks”, I reply very solemnly, and shut the door with a little thud, and sigh.

One great thing about this apartment is that I have the master bedroom with a private bathroom.  Angie and I don’t have to share, so I feel free to take as long as I need to. Turning on my radio and listening to the local station, I start getting ready.  While I’m doing my hair and makeup, I belt out the lyrics to Carrie Underwood song, “last name”, without a care in the world.  I decided to go a little heavier on the makeup for the night hoping to make me look older.  I leave my hair down having it cascade past my shoulders in thick curls, with enough hairspray to make sure it stays. Giving a final look in the mirror I am happy with the results, I head to find something to wear.

Looking through my closet I couldn’t find anything. I’m not really trying to impress anyone, but I should dress like I look at least twenty-one. I was tempted to call Mary and ask her what she was going to wear, but I already knew the answer. She would be wearing a skimpy, short skirt, high heels, and some kind of revealing top. I was always glad she was not very busty, because then she really would be obscene. But hey that was her and I loved my cousin.  

Flipping through my clothes, I finally come upon a cute off the shoulders, navy blue shirt. It hides my midriff, but was form fitting, and makes my boobs look great.  I reach for my favorite pair of jeans, and slid on some blue pumps.  

By the time I’m done Mary’s here talking to my roommate. “Why you look great!” Angie gushes. “Love the makeup you look real pretty tonight Kate.”  Mary whistles in response.  Blushing not ever use to being the center of attention, I examine Mary. Sure enough she is wearing a hot pink halter top. It’s so small that it ends well above her midriff, so that she can show off her new belly button ring.  A pink crystallized Playboy bunny sparkles in her navel.  I see she is also wearing the new white mini skirt she bought the other day.  Her shoes would make any stripper proud, with five inch heels topped with hot pink straps, lace across her feet and up her ankles. Mary was wearing a show stopper outfit, so much for hoping to sneak into the bar.  Everyone would see her as soon as we entered. “Well are we ready?” I ask nervously. I am ready to get this night over with. Mary laughing says, “Relax puss, no one will card you, let’s go.”

Getting into Mary’s car was even embarrassing. It’s a flashy white convertible mustang, with bright pink decals all over it ranging from stars and swirls.  Mary’s car matches her personality perfectly.   She rolls down the windows, and puts in a cd she mixed with the label party tunes. Clicking till ludicrous starts playing, she sings out all the lyrics to what’s your fantasy. Laughing at her care free behavior, I join in.

 Nothing like a road trip at night headed to a different town to make you feel excited.  My heart is pounding through my chest as we pulled into the parking lot of the bar.  “Man Mary!” I exclaim. “We drove almost two hours to come to a dive ass bar.” Whisky River sign glows on the old lodge building with its dirt driveway full of rusty old vehicles, and country music blaring from the inside.  Mary laughing links her arm with mine and says, “Shh its serves alcohol and there are hot guys in there so who cares how it looks”.  Mary pulls out some vodka she has stashed in her car. “Here drink this, it will calm your nerves” Taking a big swig from it I settled my shoulders back and match the pace of my ridicules cousin and march into the bar like I had a right to be there.

As we enter I usher her to the closest stool at the bar, so I can get a good look around. The room is very large.  The bartender is behind a long counter to the left. The rest of the room is filled with torn booths, and small rounded tables. At least there are two pool tables and a jukebox. This bar was defiantly a dump.  Dimmed lit almost completely dark, it is hard to get a real good look at anyone’s face. And here I was worried that I was going to be carded. No wonder why they didn’t card people here, they couldn’t see them. Mary brings my attention back to her. She wants to be on the prowl, and urges me to get up and walk around so she can see who is here. After doing a trip around the bar, we settle in at a booth at the back facing the entrance.  She slumps down with a sulky look. Obviously he wasn’t here. “Oh well at least we can get drunk” she pouts. “What do you want to drink?”  Just as I was going to reply, a pitcher of beer slides between us with a pale tattooed hand snaking it through.  The man greets Mary,  “Hello beautiful, I was hoping you would be here” Mary beaming I thought her teeth would tear through her skin, reply’s, “Well hello stranger,” Mr. Dark and handsome as she described him to me earlier, slithers into the booth besides her. Feeling awkward like I have become the third wheel, I fidget with my hands.  Tuning out Mary’s conversation, I get a good look at her mystery beau. Handsome yes he was, if you like the convict criminal look. He has black hair that falls on his shoulders in greasy straight lines.  He has a black tank top on, showing off his full sleeved tattooed arms. Black skinny jeans extenuate his sleek appearance. This guy was defiantly not from around here.

After my inspection of him I notice that they weren’t talking and that he was starting at me.  Startled that I got caught checking him out I stumble on my words, “um hi I’m Mary’s cousin Kate.” “Hello he replies with a small smile.  “Uh hi”, I said again feeling totally dumb. He returns his attention back on Mary. That was rude I thought after I calmed down from my embarrassment, he didn’t offer his name.

No wonder Mary doesn’t know much about this guy, they are talking about her, Mary’s favorite subject. Wishing I never came I make an excuse to go to the bathroom. Getting up felt good as I put some distance between me and Mary’s new friend. He makes me feel nervous. Looking in the mirror in the bathroom I stare at myself.  My long locks curl all around me; my makeup heavier than usual, doesn’t over shadow my features but enhances my dark eyes. Knowing I can’t stay in here all night, I head out the door. Making my way back to the group I notice that someone is standing next to Mary and her date.  Now this is a hottie, tall, blond, and gorgeous.  Thank you.

 He is wearing a light blue t-shirt that shows off his strong arms and flat abs.  Looking further I see him wearing comfortable, fit jeans that hug his thighs perfectly.  Standing off on one side he has his hands in his pockets.  His face turns towards me slowly as if he hears me approach.  My steps falters a moment, he is so incredibly handsome. I feel myself inspecting him. He looks like an Armani model with his fine bone structure and chiseled jaw line perfectly framing his piercing aqua green eyes. He looks to be in his late twenties.  His hair has the palest shade of blond I have ever seen, and it’s held back in a low ponytail.

When I am finally at the booth, Mary’s companion turns to his friend and says, “This is Mary’s cousin Katie.” “Katherine”, I reply stiffly.  Man, I am starting not to like this guy.  A smile parts the stranger’s lips, reveling a perfect row of teeth.  He looks at me from head to toe and he says my name like a caress, “Katherine.”  A warm bubbly sensation flutters through me.  I melt inside, and a shiver runs down my body. It’s almost as if I can feel him touch me with such a direct gaze. Someone clears their throat, and I realize I haven’t responded. Feeling heat reach my cheeks, I smile back and extended my hand to him. “Hi”, I say nervously.  He takes my hand and leisurely lifts it to his lips to places a tender kiss upon it. He looks at my lips and raises his eyes to mine, and informs me his name is Elijah.