Imagine That: A Small Town Big Love Novel Read online

  “Ohh,” said Togi before laughing. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to be touchy. This will be perfect. We’re going to do a lot of growing together.”

  “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” she joked. “Growing? Let’s just make an agreement that I’m not here to play or talk down to you and you aren’t either. Because what you think I’m doing you’re doing. You talk down to me because you think I’m rich. Let’s just agree that we’re two people with a common problem trying to get better.”

  “Okay. We might have to remind each other of that a couple of times, but I can accept that.”

  Once she wove through town, she put her foot to the floor and the Porsche flew to the Interstate 70 exit.

  Togi braced herself. “Yeah, we’re not in a hurry.”

  “Sorry.” She braked. Maybe she was too excited.

  “Are you trying to get away from Kevin?” Togi asked with a laugh. “I’m surprised we don’t see him in the rearview mirror.”

  Maya flinched. Had she just put Kevin down?

  “What? No. I like Kevin. A lot.”

  “You would be the first.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Maya prepared to defend him. “He’s a great man.”

  “He was forever after that Lucy Shoemaker,” said Togi. “Didn’t she marry one of you all? A brother or a cousin?”

  “You mean John’s Lucy?” asked Maya with rising jealousy. “Kevin liked Lucy?”

  It was the first she had heard of it, but then Kevin and she didn’t talk about much personal stuff. It was all just day-to-day stuff—although he knew more about her personal history than the other way around. She wasn’t so sure if she was comfortable knowing he did have a girlfriend or two, after all.

  “Everybody in Blackwood liked Lucy. She was a popular kid coming up, but Kevin fell for her. Everyone in town knew it. Kevin’s mom used to hit the sauce and Lucy’s mother died so they were kind of buds for a while, but she outgrew him. It makes little sense that such a good looking guy like he is, a football star at one point, could be so silly shy.”

  “We’re in a 12-step group, Togi. We really aren’t ones to talk. We have quirks up the kazoo, and no offense, but this sounds like gossip. He’s been an amazing support to me since I got here. He’s never been untoward or tried to take advantage of me in any way. I consider him my best friend.”

  “You’re absolutely right. I apologize.”

  “For real, please.”

  “I mean it,” she said. “I apologize. You’re not what I expected.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I didn’t think you would be as respectable as you are.”

  “Because I’m rich?”

  “Well, yeah,” Togi answered honestly.

  She wasn’t sure now if Kevin hadn’t been right. She was steamed with Togi’s insinuation that Kevin was weird, but the rich thing got to her. One way or the other it was about her money unless it came down to Kevin.

  “I got you mad, didn’t I?”

  “I’ll get over it,” she said evenly. “I’m not used to being out of my comfort zone. This is a good thing.”

  In no time, the women were coming up to Colorado Street to the United Church of Idaho Springs where the “big” meeting was. Even though Colorado Boulevard was fairly busy relative to the quieter side streets, she parked illegally on the street in front of the church.

  “Ahem.” Togi cleared her throat.

  “Oh my gosh.” Maya laughed. “I’m a serial illegal parker.”

  She started the car and parked in the parking lot with the rest of the meeting goers.

  “I’m not sure what I have about following the rules,” she confessed.

  “Welcome to the club where we are more alike than different.”

  “Oh yeah?” she asked curiously. “What rule do you break?”

  “We all have a thing to work on. You know what it is. I have to work on being less judgmental.”

  “This will be good,” she noted again, in light of her honesty. “Let’s enjoy our meeting.”

  “Yes, let’s.”

  The mountain air was chilly and in contrast, the meeting room was nice and warm. Something about gathering in schools and churches created comfort. Technically they weren’t comfortable places. The room was lined with rows of metal chairs and the floors were usually linoleum, but Maya found the spaces inviting.

  Even outside of Blackwood, everyone knew Togi because she was what was known as an old timer. She had been sober for over thirty years straight. They knew Maya because she was an obvious Blackwood. Even if they weren’t sure, with her signature height and dark hair and complexion, people pegged her for one eventually. The fact that at the end of her drinking career she had been a loud, obnoxious fixture in Idaho Springs in the not-too-distant past had also created a name for herself.

  The two women sat next to each other after they got coffee. The awkwardness between them seemed to slip away. She got coffee because it was something to do. She only liked to drink it in the morning, but it gave her something to fidget with when she sat through the meetings.

  She tended to check the door and people watch. Someone entered the room that jarred something in her. She knew she knew him, but she didn’t know from where. Then it all came flooding back to her. It was the man she’d gotten busted with by her family when they hauled her to rehab. According to her brother Clem, he had been soaking her, convincing her to take money out of one of her accounts.

  He was actually a superb-looking man, but all the pretty in the world couldn’t mask the evil that was in his persona. They locked eyes for a moment. She couldn’t remember his name, but she remembered the face. If she had been sober, there was no way she would have hooked up with him—if she did in fact “hook up.” Obviously, he remembered her. He got his coffee and sat right next to her.

  “Hey, Stretch,” he said with mock affection.

  He had a nickname for her. She turned to Togi, a little shaken.

  “Can we move?”

  Togi leaned forward and checked out the man next to her.

  “Sure.” She gave the man the eye.

  Maya had obviously touched a nerve. He looked like he was amused, but he didn’t appear to like her rejection of him.

  “You know this is a mixed meeting,” he said. “Maybe you’d be more comfortable at a women’s meeting tomorrow night.”

  “I think I’m at my limit,” she whispered so only Togi could hear. “This morning I was in the saloon. I knocked on the door at six in the morning just in case someone was there prepping for the day.”

  “That’s important to know,” said Togi.

  “Yeah. I’ve been through a whole array of feelings today. I went from feeling like I needed a drink, to being happy to see Kevin, to meeting you and all of that—”

  “Quite a day for sure, but it evens out as you go on. Not so much wreckage of the past to contend with.”

  “I want to work the steps with someone and have a sponsor. I had one but she never picked up.”

  She realized she was risking feeling sorry for herself. The presence of the stranger slammed her with the shame for having one time sunk so low.

  “You did call this morning before you went to the saloon. What’s her name?” Togi’s tone was serious.

  “Cheryl Ann.”

  “Yeah, no.” Togi shook her head. The strands of fire-red hair shifted but stayed pointed at the ceiling. “Honey, she’s in rehab.”

  Maya’s jaw dropped.

  “For corn sake, no one told me,” she said. “What I’m saying is, I don’t think this is supposed to be a place where people judge or should feel threatened.”

  “I said if you are serious about this, I’ll work with you. We just have to get to know each other.” She nodded in the man’s direction. “Who’s that fella?”

  “He’s what I guess you could call a semi-blackout ghost. I was here in this town, ripping on a gambling tear with this guy when my brother and my cousins hauled m
e off to rehab.”

  “Focus on the positive. Just because people are sitting in these chairs doesn’t mean we are perfect. We do our best and sometimes it takes a newcomer to call us on our bullshit, like you did me today. This guy won’t be here much longer. Just wait.”

  She gave the guy a final glance. “Before I forget, I already emailed our family’s attorney about the fact they fired you guys.”

  “You did?” Togi’s eyes opened wide with genuine surprise.

  “Yes. We had an agreement. I can’t help but wonder if we didn’t make an enormous mistake. The people we sold to don’t seem to have their act together.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that and we can talk about that another time. For now, let’s focus on the here and now. Sit on the other side of me and let’s have a good meeting. You earned your seat. No one can kick you out.”

  “Shh,” the man from Maya’s past scolded them.

  “The meeting hasn’t started yet,” snapped Togi.

  Maya giggled. She was right about Togi protecting her.

  The meeting secretary approached Togi and said the person who was supposed to lead the meeting hadn’t shown and asked if she could do it.

  “How much time do you have to have?” asked Togi.

  The secretary smiled because everyone there knew she had been sober a lot of years.

  “Six months.” He stared at her in disbelief. “I think you qualify, Togi. You’ve been sober longer than I’ve been alive.”

  Togi turned to Maya.

  “Ever lead?” Togi asked with a smile.

  “Are you being mean again?” Her stomach twisted with knots.

  “I’m not.” Togi laughed her head off. “I’m your friend. You can do it.”

  “I haven’t prepared,” she protested.

  “Honey, you prepared by finding your way here.”

  Chapter Seven

  Kevin

  Kevin had planned to be in Idaho Springs at the tail end of the meeting, but he was so early that he had to wait from the beginning. When the smokers mashed their butts on the concrete and headed inside, the meeting would start, so he got out of his car and leaned on the building outside the door.

  It was cold, and he remembered when Maya had been out earlier, she hadn’t been wearing a coat or a sweater. He looked at his watch and figured he had time. One street over on Miner Street where all the shops were, he had a few minutes to pick her up something. He hopped back in the truck and hit a shop called Eldora’s.

  It was a posh boutique that was immensely popular. It was too impractical for his tastes, but he suddenly had the urge to splurge. He picked out a beautiful tailored buff-colored leather jacket he thought would be hot on her. It was his first present to her. If she was amenable, it would be the first of many.

  Stills of every detail of Maya’s form flowed through his mind as he estimated whether it would fit her. He recalled what it felt like to hold her and he had to put that from his mind while he was in public. She was a long-limbed, lean woman but her breasts were full. There was only one in the size he thought would work.

  “I can bring this back if it doesn’t fit, right?”

  “Of course.” The shop clerk rang it up and bagged it.

  In a matter of minutes, he had a coat for Maya. He went back to the church where the meeting was held and waited outside. He had on his own leather jacket so he was comfortable in the crisp air.

  He looked up to the horizon, to the mountains as he did so many times a day. Even though they were shadows in the darkness of the night, he still felt gratitude. He loved where he lived. He had no regrets about not staying a player when he had the chance. He loved his small-town life.

  Kevin could hear the meeting clear as a bell. He was familiar with the general format. It was just getting through the business matters, so he had made it back from the store in plenty of time.

  When they called the speaker for the evening, Maya B, he nearly choked. His heart brimmed with pride. He wanted to go in and listen, but that wouldn’t be fair to her. He hadn’t asked, and he hadn’t told her he was coming. He might make her nervous. Plus, he wanted to keep his arrival a surprise.

  Instead, he stayed outside with an ear to the door and listened. The words she spoke about being a shy, insecure kid stemming from being the tallest in class to the loss of her beloved husband touched him deeply. She was so eloquent and honest.

  She talked about twenty minutes and then she opened the meeting up for others to share. Finally, some man spoke. Kevin was going to go back to his car but then he thought what the man was saying sounded awfully familiar—like he was sharing a story that Kevin had heard before, so he listened on. The man in the meeting was talking about Maya. He had to be. He mentioned an heiress whose family just sold a town. He was degrading her.

  Kevin was going to step in the room, except that the guy finished his share, and it was the halfway mark of the meeting so they stopped for bathroom and coffee breaks, and to take up collections.

  Maya stormed out of the meeting room with a man chasing after her and Togi trailing behind. They whizzed right by him because he wasn’t standing in the light. Kevin didn’t like what he saw. He recognized the signs of a hostile confrontation.

  “Hey!” he yelled in a deep voice.

  The guy trailing Maya didn’t respond to his demand. In fact, he grabbed Maya’s arm and yanked her back hard.

  “You’re coming with me,” the man shouted. “You owe me for the last time.”

  Kevin charged from out of the shadows, with the Eldora’s bag in hand. He moved across the parking lot in seconds and chest butted the guy. He knocked him flat, dropped the bag and bounded on top of him, pressing him into the concrete. He turned to see if Maya was okay. She was in one piece but holding her arm. She cried quietly. The sight of her sorrow sapped him of his strength and distracted him.

  The guy beneath him grabbed his ear. Kevin shifted until the man’s hand was flat against the street. He had him completely pinned. He took a deep breath, lifted just enough to flip him and kept him in a wrestling hold.

  “Maya, get my cuffs from my truck. The key is in my pocket.”

  Maya had to reach intimately into the front pocket of his jeans to pluck the keys free.

  “Aw man, you’re a cop?” moaned the guy.

  “Togi, call 911.”

  Maya returned with the cuffs.

  He watched her shiver. “Maya, take the bag. It’s yours.”

  She removed the jacket from the bag and smiled brightly as she held it up to herself.

  “For me?”

  “I knew you didn’t wear a coat,” he said with a mild scolding.

  He was hot now from the physical commotion but he could see his breath. In the cold, clear night air, she slipped on the jacket he’d bought for her. It fit perfectly, like he knew it would.

  “Thanks,” she beamed.

  “The cops are coming,” reported Togi.

  She checked out the bag that Maya’s coat had come in.

  “Wow.” Togi’s eyes took in the bag. “Nice. I wish someone had bought me something from Eldora’s.”

  “Kevin bought it for me,” she said, making a face of adoration.

  “Can you get off of me?” the man beneath him shouted. “I will sue.”

  “I’m happy to face you in court.” Kevin placed the cuffs on the man’s wrists. He clicked them into place and rose to his feet, lifting the guy with ease.

  “This is overkill, don’t you think?” He squirmed and fought his confinement. “I just wanted to talk to her.”

  “By grabbing her arm?” There was no kindness or patience in his voice. He turned to Maya. “Are you okay?” Funny how he could flip the switch from cross to compassionate.

  “I’m fine. How come you’re here?” It seemed to take her a moment to catch on that he didn’t belong there. “You came to give me a jacket?”

  “No, I had something I wanted to tell you.” Kevin rocked back on his feet the way a young boy wou
ld before he asked a girl on a date.

  She looked between him and the man in cuffs. “What did you come all this way to say?”

  He leaned forward and kissed her. He held the guy in one hand while he cradled her neck with the other and pulled her close to kiss him. It was a slow, sensual kiss.

  “That,” he said, with heavy-lidded eyes. “That was the most important part of the message.”

  Maya seemed to study him. He felt like he’d put everything on the line and he couldn’t predict the way she would respond. Risk felt horrible, and those few seconds that she took to move were an eternity. Then she leaped forward and threw her arms around him and kissed him back.

  “Hey,” protested the cuffed man. “Knock it off.”

  Kevin swept his feet so he would settle down. It forced the man to rely on him for balance.

  “Cool it,” Kevin warned.

  Very quickly the Idaho Springs police arrived. Kevin’s substation in Blackwood was a branch of the bigger local station so those coming onto the scene were fellow cops.

  “Kevin?” asked one cop as he approached the scene. “What happened?”

  “Maya Blackwood was being aggressively pursued by this guy, who verbally threatened her before assaulting her.”

  “Assault?” the cuffed man protested. “Do you call grabbing her assault?”

  The cop smiled. “That’s actually the definition of assault. Unwanted contact, especially if followed by a threat. Did we all hear his admission?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “Are you hurt?” Kevin asked her tenderly as he cupped her cheek.

  She revealed her arm, which had visible fingerprints. He turned from the guy for fear he would lose his cool. He did his best to contain his rage so he could care for his woman.

  “I don’t want to go get it checked out tonight. I’ll go tomorrow if I have to. Right now, I want to go home.”

  “I’m the one who got tackled!” the man shouted.

  “You didn’t,” the cop laughed.

  Kevin nodded. Red blushed his cheeks. “Yeah, I did.”