Bittersweet Memories by Cecelia Dowdy

Author:Cecelia Dowdy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-07-24T04:00:00+00:00

Eleven

The alarm sounded, waking Keith from a deep sleep. Forcing his eyes open, he gazed at his clock, remembering he had set the alarm for 4:45 a.m. He lay back on his pillow, taking pleasure in knowing he was off from work today.

Eventually he got out of bed and, after a rough workout, showered then brushed his teeth. When he entered his kitchen, Suzie plodded over, begging for breakfast. “I’ll feed you in a minute, girl.” After starting a pot of coffee, he poured water and food into Suzie’s dishes.

Hearing the water spurting from the hose at Ms. Doris’s house, he opened the blinds in his kitchen and saw Karen outside, watering her mother’s plants. Her slender arms held the hose over the flowers. She turned the faucet off and wrapped the hose around the stand. An idea formed in his head, and seconds later, he was approaching Karen in her mother’s backyard.

“Hi there.”

She jumped. “Oh, Keith. You scared me.” She smiled. “What’s up?”

He shrugged, still looking at her. Her hair was swept into a bun, a few curls dangling at the side. “You’re off today, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. Why?”

He relaxed against the oak tree. “If you don’t have any plans, I was wondering if you wanted to take a ride with me today.”

“A ride?”

“Yeah, remember I told you that I’m researching different divinity schools?”

She nodded.

“Well, I’m visiting Washington Bible College in Lanham. They’re having an open house today. Do you want to come?”

“You really want me to?”

“Yes, if you’re not busy. I know it’s last minute and all, but it didn’t occur to me to ask you to come until this morning.”

“What time are you leaving?”

“In an hour or so. I know that’s early, but I wanted to get a jump on rush-hour traffic. I was going to stop and have breakfast on the way. My treat. So—you interested?”

She grinned. “Yes, I’d like that. I promise I’ll be ready in about an hour.”

He watched her as she headed back inside; then he returned to his own house, guzzled his coffee, and changed into slacks and a collared shirt. An hour later, Karen met him in his driveway. The heavenly scent of her perfume enticed him as he opened the car door for her. After she stepped into the vehicle, he walked around to his side, got behind the wheel, and turned the radio to his favorite gospel station.

They were silent for part of the way before Karen spoke. “I saw Melanie yesterday.”

“Really? I heard she’s been worshipping at her fiancé’s church lately. How is she?”

“She came into the shop, asking me to give her a haircut.”

Keith frowned. “Do you mean a short haircut?”

“Yes, and you know how long her hair is. It’s so pretty, but I cut it like she wanted me to.”

Keith shrugged. “Maybe she just needed a change.”

“Well, after I cut her hair, she started crying, like she really hadn’t wanted me to do it.”

“That’s strange.”

“Yes. She said she messed up. Then she paid her bill and left the shop.

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