Katie's Glimpse (The Glimpse Series)

  Katie's Glimpse

  By Robin Keahey

  Katie’s Glimpse

  Copyright © 2013 by Robin Keahey

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

  Edited by Sydney Pope

  Cover design by Christine Ko

  Glimpse-

  /glimps/

  1. A brief, passing look, sight or view.

  2. A momentary or slight appearance.

  3. A vague idea; inkling.

  4. A gleam, as of light.

  Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

  -James 4:14

  To all the broken girls out there- you are never alone.

  To my husband- thanks for loving me just as I am.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Jackson, Tennessee

  I sat in the red vinyl booth of the local café and drank my lukewarm coffee. It wasn’t crowded here yet, at least not for a Saturday in a college town. As I glanced around at all the Union University memorabilia on the walls, I realized I would never fit in, not in this town. I was not the typical college girl- that perky, sorority-rushing, happy to finally be free from her parents type. I was more of a “suffer in silence” type.

  The gray, gloomy February day mirrored my mood perfectly. I stared down at my Intro to Microeconomics textbook on the chipped Formica table and sighed. I just couldn’t do this today. I watched through the plate-glass window as one of the remaining leaves on an old oak tree finally succumbed to the blistering wind and fell to the sidewalk below, only to be trampled by a passing pedestrian. My mind wandered to the not so distant past, the image of the leaf still in my head. That leaf was a lot like me- dried up and crushed. Life’s harsh winds had blown against me and even though I’d desperately tried to hang on, it had managed to tear me away from everything I’d ever known.

  I shook the depressing thoughts from my head. It was only the loneliness talking. That had to be it, or so I hoped. Especially since the threat of depression was always near, waiting to hold me captive again. I really had made great strides in improving my mental health since moving away from home. The panic attacks and nightmares didn’t come quite as often now. Today was just a minor setback.

  I had dragged my body out of bed and forced myself to get ready this morning. There would be no more hiding away in my apartment. I decided against wearing my ratty sweatpants out in public; no use scaring the kiddies. Instead, I wore my favorite jeans and a Union hoodie. A navy toboggan completed my almost human look and kept me from having to fix my hair.

  I heard the jingle of the bell above the café door. Hmm, that’s weird. I never noticed the sound before. I glanced towards the door, and what I saw took my breath away. A very well-built and attractive man entered the cafe. He was well over 6 feet tall and even through his fleece pullover, I knew he was solid muscle. He sported short black hair and a face that belonged on a magazine. He looked my way and when our eyes met, he gave me a heart-stopping smile.

  I quickly looked down at my textbook, struggling to erase the image of his beautiful face from my mind. I stared at the words on the page, but seemed unable to focus, reading the same sentence over and over. My mind continued to wander to Mr. Gorgeous, and I felt a sudden urge to get another glimpse. I peeked through my lashes and found him standing at the counter with his back to me, so I took a minute to stare, unabashed. He wore dark jeans and what looked like steel toe boots. I recognized these since my dad worked construction and wore them too. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. What has gotten into me? I don’t ogle guys, no matter how hot they are. Once again, I tried concentrating on my studies, but the sound of approaching footsteps distracted me. Don’t look up, Katie, don’t look up. I couldn’t resist though and lifted my head as he came to a stop right beside me.

  “Can I sit here?” he asked, his voice deep and soothing to my ears.

  I looked into his eyes, the dark blue shade reminding me of a stormy afternoon sky, and felt butterflies take flight in my stomach. It shocked me. I hadn’t felt that in a long time and quite frankly, hadn’t wanted too.

  I hesitated before stammering out, “I..I really need to study.”

  It was obvious my brain wouldn’t work with him this close and even though he was amazing to look at, I wasn’t interested. I braced for what was coming next, probably some lame compliment on my eyes. They’d been quite frequent since I started college. I stared at him, my impatience visible, and waited.

  “Oh, I promise I won’t bother you,” he said as he slid into the seat across from mine.

  I gaped at him, shocked and a little scared. This guy obviously isn’t getting the hint. I scooted closer to the edge of my seat, ready to bolt if he started acting weird.

  He stuck his large hand out across the table. “I’m Levi.”

  I looked at his hand and noting several callouses on his palm and fingertips, hesitantly shook it. “Kaitlyn,” I said firmly and pulled my hand away quickly.

  Even though his hand was rough, it was warm and felt too good to hold any longer. He gave me a dimpled smile and somehow, I knew it was genuine. I continued to study his face. He looked quite tan and had a ruggedness about him. His whole demeanor seemed to radiate strength. His jawline was strong; his nose straight. His full lips were currently curved into an amused smile.

  Realizing I was staring, I lowered my head under the pretense of studying, but glanced up again to see what he was doing. He had his head bowed in reverence, as if in prayer. I couldn’t explain it, but for some reason watching this formidable looking man pray in front of me just felt right. When he finished, he lifted his head and smiled at me, setting off his dimples once again. He didn’t even act embarrassed that I’d caught him praying. All my apprehensions about him vanished, and I relaxed back in my seat.

  “You go to Union?” he asked between bites of scrambled eggs.

  “Uh huh,” I replied, and cringed when I realized I’d taken his napkin and shredded it into a pile in front of me.

  He chuckled and reached over, grabbing another from the box at the
end of the table.

  I noticed a small logo on his pullover when he settled back against the seat- Phillips Nursery and Commercial Lawn Care.

  “Is that where you work?” I asked, pointing to the name on his shirt. He looked down at his chest as if he’d forgotten what he’d worn.

  “Yeah, it is.”

  Well that explains the tan and the rough hands. He continued to eat his breakfast while I pretended to study. I felt his gaze on the top of my head and looked up at him, not trying to disguise my irritation. This guy really needs to move along.

  “I’m sorry. I promised I wouldn’t bother you, and I guess I am,” he admitted, giving me a lopsided grin.

  I blushed, embarrassed for being so rude while he was being polite. “No, it’s fine. I just don’t normally do this,” I revealed.

  “Do what?” he asked, his eyebrows knitting in confusion.

  “Sit and talk with strange men.”

  “You think I’m strange,” he replied, taken aback.

  “What? No! I didn’t mean you’re a strange person. I just meant you’re a stranger,” I explained, hoping to erase the injured look from his face.

  Relief washed over his face and he laughed. It was the most comforting sound I’d heard in a while. “Well, I did introduce myself so I’m not really a stranger anymore,” he said and winked.

  I blinked, a little startled. Did he just wink at me? I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped me. He would be the man of my dreams, if I still had dreams, but they all died my senior year of high school.

  He finished his breakfast and after wiping his mouth, gave me one last beautiful smile. “It was nice to meet you, Kaitlyn. Thanks for letting me join you.”

  I smiled back, trying to hide my sudden sadness at his leaving. “You’re welcome. It was nice to meet you too,” I murmured and actually meant it.

  He pulled out his wallet, left a tip on the table, and strolled out the door. I shook my head in disbelief. He had never once mentioned my eyes.

  ***

  I sat on the couch and thumbed through the local paper, stopping at the help wanted ads. I needed to find a part time job and fast. I had too much time on my hands, time I’d been using to dwell on things I could never change. All my college classes were over by noon, and I couldn’t continue to sit around the apartment watching movies or cleaning every afternoon. I didn’t need the money, since my parents were paying for everything, but I felt guilty about not contributing at all. There were a few ads that caught my eye, but unless I had experience as a waitress or a bank teller, which I didn’t, those jobs were out. Near the bottom of the page I spotted a generic looking ad.

  Part time counter help and bookkeeper needed.

  Hours: Tuesday-Friday 1pm-5pm and Saturday 9am-4pm.

  Bookkeeping experience preferred.

  Hmm, this looks promising. I picked up my cell and dialed the phone number given. A woman with a perky voice answered the phone.

  “Phillips, this is Sydney.”

  Phillips? Where do I know that name from? It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “Hi, my name is Katie. I’m calling about the ad I saw in the paper.” I said, hoping she didn’t notice that my voice wavered a bit.

  “Okay, do you have any experience with bookkeeping?” she inquired.

  “Yes ma’am, I do.” I held my breath and waited for her reply.

  “That’s great! We haven’t had many people apply with experience. How about you come on down at three today, and you can talk to the owner.”

  I jumped up, doing a fist pump but managed to keep my voice professional. “Sure, that sounds great. I’ll be there.”

  She gave me directions, and we said our goodbyes. I hung up the phone feeling pleased for the first time in a while. It was already two, so I ran to the bedroom to change into more professional attire. I needed to make a good first impression on the boss.

  After I changed clothes twice, I decided on black dress pants paired with my red and black floral print top and red cardigan, to keep the chill away. Sydney didn’t say what kind of business it was, but this look could go for just about anything. I added my black heels that were usually reserved for church and laughed at that thought. I’d been at college for six weeks and had yet to visit one church. My parents would be disappointed if they knew, but I wasn’t ready to put on a happy face and pretend like I belonged in a house of worship. I put on some makeup; a little blush, mascara, and lip gloss. I wasn’t a big fan of makeup, but it couldn’t hurt for me to try and look my best, at least this one day anyway. I’d saved my hair for last, and luckily it wasn’t in too much of a mess. I managed to tame the strays before tucking it behind my ears. One last look in the mirror, and I was as good as I was going to get. I slipped on my wool pea coat and headed out the door.

  I followed the directions Sydney gave me through town, finally pulling up to an older, red brick building on the outskirts of Jackson. I noticed the barbed-wire topped chain link fence and what must have been acres of plants, trees, and shrubs on both sides and behind the building. The large white and green sign read- Phillips Nursery and Commercial Lawn Care. It suddenly dawned on me where I knew that name, from the guy I’d met the week before at the café.

  I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Before leaving the car, I’d already convinced myself that considering the size of the property, I probably wouldn’t run into him much.

  I concentrated on not slumping as I made my way to the front door. It was something Mom had drilled into me as a child and apparently, it stuck. I opened the glass door and immediately the smell of plants and soil bombarded my nose. I inhaled deeply, already in love with the sweet aroma.

  A friendly looking woman, in her late twenties to early thirties, stood behind a high counter.

  She smiled sweetly when she saw me. “Are you Katie?” she asked.

  “Yes ma’am,” I answered.

  She laughed, the sound seeming loud in the small reception area. “Oh please, don’t call me ma’am. I’m not that old. I’m Sydney, and I’m glad you could come in on such short notice. Come on back. I’ll introduce you to the boss man and y’all can chat.”

  She came around the counter belly first. The sight had me frozen in place, momentarily dazed. I stared at it briefly. She looked to be around seven months pregnant. I fought back the wave of nausea I felt as memories flooded my mind. I wanted to kick myself for still having trouble dealing with this issue. I tried to play it off and gave her a small smile, nodding at her swollen belly.

  She gently caressed it with her hand. “I’ve got two and a half months before she gets here. That’s the reason for the job opening. My husband wants me to cut back on my hours. He thinks I’m on my feet too much.”

  I smiled again and replied, “Oh, okay.” Geez, this woman is going to think I’m a complete idiot.

  She turned the corner, and I followed her down a narrow hallway. She stopped at an open door, stuck her head in, and spoke to the person inside. “Boss, your three o’clock applicant is here.”

  Turning, she held her hand out, gesturing for me to go inside. As I came around the doorway and got a view of the “boss man” my steps faltered. There, sitting behind the desk, was the guy from the café- Levi. His eyes met mine and noting the apparent look of shock on my face, he laughed loudly.

  “I’m guessing by your expression, you didn’t expect to see me here.” I blushed and tried to reign in my surprise by clearing my throat. He pushed away from his desk and stood, his two strides eating up the space between us. “Here, let me take your coat,” he insisted, holding out his hands.

  I slipped it off and handed it over, carefully avoiding his touch. I watched as he hung it on the back of the door, over another coat.

  He turned back to me, an amused smile on his face. “Have a seat and we’ll talk.”

  I moved to one of the leather chairs in front of his desk and after smoothing my pants, sat down. He remained standing beside me until I was seated. Oh my,
such a gentleman. I studied his face as he strode to his chair and sat down. When his gaze met mine, I thought how unfair it was that he looked as gorgeous as I remembered. I cleared my head and got down to business.

  “You’re right. I didn’t expect to see you here. I answered the ad in the paper for this job but didn’t know what the business was until I pulled up and saw the sign. Then I remembered you said you worked here, but you didn’t say you were the owner,” I said, struggling to slow my pounding heart.

  “I’m just glad to hear you remembered me. Sydney mentioned a Katie was coming in but you introduced yourself as Kaitlyn at the café, so I didn’t put it together.”

  I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. What did he expect? He had pretty much held me hostage at the café table.

  “So tell me about yourself, Kaitlyn, or is it Katie?” he asked with a cheeky grin.

  “It’s Kaitlyn Crane, but you can call me Katie. And I’m currently a freshman at Union studying business management. I’m originally from Springfield, Tennessee, where my dad owns a construction company. I worked for him the summer before last doing some bookkeeping and whatever else he needed.”

  “Did you not work there this past summer too?”

  Oh crap! He just had to ask me that.

  My smile faltered. “No. I took this past summer off since it was my last one at home for a while,” I lied.

  I thought about the truth, but knew I couldn’t tell him what I’d actually been doing last summer.

  “Are you familiar with this bookkeeping system?” He turned the computer screen so I could see what he used.

  I smiled when I saw the program. “That’s the same one my dad uses for his business, so I’d say I’m very familiar with it.”