Disclaimers: Mine.
Sex: Of course, and lots of it! I
wouldn't recommend reading this one at work, guys. That being so:
there will be "gasp" a bit of hetero in here. Sorry guys, just
needed for the storyline.
Warning: I do not give permission for
anyone to re-post this story anywhere with any changes, such as:
change in title, character names, storyline, etc. I will seek
legal action.
If you'd like to tell me what a
wonderful writer I am or that I royally suck, feel free at:
XenaNut@hotmail.com.
First Time
by
Kim Pritekel
Part 6
Randi was cursing inside her head as
she tried to fix the mistake she'd made in the register. She was
being trained to work on the drive-thru today, and was having a
hell of a time multi-tasking to the extent that the coffee shop
drive-thru required: keeping up on cars waiting in line at the
ordering station: taking money from the cars pulling up to the
window for previous orders: giving back correct change: yelling out
anything special that the customer wanted that wasn't already
pre-sequenced in the system.
She had been working at the coffee
shop for just under a month and had done thus far at the counter,
but her training at the window was going frustratingly slow. Next
she'd be trained in making drinks, which made her nervous at best.
It had been years since she'd worked and she was struggling to get
back into the daily grind of having a schedule again, other than
picking Blake up from this or that.
She readjusted her headset as the
drive-thru chime rang again, letting her know someone was at the
ordering station. "Welcome to Wayne's Coffee World. What can I
get for you today?"
"You have a really sexy voice," the
woman on the other end said, startling Randi.
"Excuse me?" she said, pressing the
headset closer to her ear.
"I said, you have a really sexy voice.
Can I take you out to dinner?"
Randi listened, something niggling in
her gut.
"I mean, really sexy. You
should work for one of those 900 number lines."
A smile broke out on Randi's face.
"Oh yeah?" she said, voice dropping to an intimate level. "Would
you call and ask for me?"
"You know it. But until then, I'd
like a mocha breve, heavy on the mocha."
"Wouldn't you rather heavy on the
breve?"
A wonderful peel of laughter
registered through Randi's earpiece. "That, too."
Randi was excited now, opening her
window and stretching herself out, trying to see, though she could
see nothing but the corner of the building. "Please pull forward,"
she said. Within moments Canton's black Jeep came into view, the
driver grinning from ear to ear. "You are such a shit!" Randi
exclaimed, leaning out the window again, arms opened as wide as she
could.
Canton hopped out of her Jeep,
accepting the tight hug, as awkward as it was. "Look at you!" she
exclaimed. "A working woman, now!"
Randi looked down at her work polo and
tapped the ball cap she wore with the shop's logo stitched onto it.
"Hey, a girl's gotta make a living somehow. That is, until I
finish my degree."
Canton was beside herself, eyes huge.
"Randi!" she exclaimed, pulling her into another hug, which nearly
pulled her out of the window totally. Both laughed as Randi
squeezed back inside. "I'm gonna get you fired. Hey, dinner at my
place tonight if you're free."
"No, no, dinner at my place,"
Randi said, grabbing a piece of paper and pen and quickly
scribbling her address on it before handing it to Canton.
"Seven-thirty."
Canton gave her a huge smile as she
tucked the paper into her pocket. "I'm proud of you, Randi," she
said softly, climbing back into her Jeep. "Now give me my total
before I really do get you fired."
***
Randi checked the apartment, making
sure everything was perfect and clean. She'd gotten off work at
three, had class until six, then raced home to get the lasagna in
the oven and then raced around like a mad woman cleaning and
getting herself showered and ready. In truth, she had no idea what
she was worried about, after all: it was just Canton. All
the same, she wanted everything to be perfect.
At seven-thirty on the nose there was
a knock at the door. Randi pushed a few strands of hair back from
her face and walked to the door, taking a moment to make sure her
heart was steady before opening it. When she did, she greeted
Canton with a welcoming smile, moving aside for her to enter.
"For you, madam," Canton said,
offering Randi a bottle of wine and large bouquet of flowers. "For
the new place," she explained, indicating the flowers.
"Oh, Canton," Randi breathed, inhaling
the wonderful fragrance of the mixed bouquet. "Thank you!" She
gave Canton a tight one-armed hug, the wine and flowers hugged in
her other arm. "Come on in. Let me put these in some water and
I'll give you the nickel tour, which should take about exactly five
seconds."
Canton smiled, following Randi into
the small kitchen with attached dining area. The building was old,
wonderfully elaborate molding along the top edge of the doors and
wainscoting along the walls, which were painted classic white. The
kitchen cabinets were ornate in design but simple in function with
white appliances. Randi had broken the white monotony with red
toaster oven and coffee maker, and accent towels.
Randi quickly found a crystal vase,
which she filled with room-temp water, setting the flowers and vase
in the middle of the small table-for-four that was in the dining
area. "Ready?" she asked, turning bright eyes to Canton.
"Lead the way." Canton followed
Randi, listening as Randi explained what each room was for and all
the fun little perks, including a fireplace in the living room.
What caught her eye and ear the most, however was Randi, herself.
She was so full of energy and light, the way she had been at
seventeen. Canton found herself getting lost in the green eyes
more than once, so drawn to the woman Randi had become, and whom
Canton suspected was yet to come.
"So, what do you think?" Randi asked,
standing in the middle of the guest bedroom - which was set up for
Blake, should he want to spend the night - totally unaware of
Canton's perusal of her, as opposed to her apartment.
"I think it's beautiful," Canton said,
a genuine smile gracing her lips.
"Thank you," Randi said quietly,
somewhere inside understanding the deeper meaning of the
assessment. She led them back to the kitchen. "Sit while I get
dinner served up."
Switching their roles, Canton poured
them both a glass of wine as Randi served dinner. The food smelled
ridiculously good, making Canton's stomach growl. She knew had to
make a mean lasagna, but by the smells of Randi's, it was blown
clear out of the water! Randi got herself settled to Canton's
left, making sure they both had everything they needed.
"This looks absolutely amazing,
Randi," Canton complimented, closing her eyes as she inhaled the
fragrance of one of her favorite Italian
dishes.
"I'm so glad," Randi smiled, placing
her napkin on her lap as she buttered her piece of garlic bread.
"I could live off Italian food quite nicely for the rest of my
life. Oh, with a bit of mashed potatoes and pumpkin per thrown
in."
Canton grinned. "Interesting
combination." They both began to eat until finally Canton spoke
again. "So tell me: what's going on in the life of Randi."
"God, what isn't going on in
the life of Randi?" the blonde smirked, taking a long sip of her
wine before shoveling more food in her mouth. Once she had it
swallowed, she sat back in her chair. "I don't' get to eat like
this very often anymore. Honestly Canton, I don't know how the
hell I did this when I was in college the first time."
"It's called being eighteen years old
with much more stamina," Canton chuckled, stabbing greens in her
salad.
Randi laughed. "Amen! But, either
way, I've taken on two classes - all I can handle right now - and
am working about twenty-five hours at the coffee shop. Together,
it leaves me with zero time for much else."
"Well, then I feel very honored to
have dinner with you tonight," Canton said, raising her glass in
toast.
Randi clinked her glass against
Canton's. "I'm just so happy you're back. It's amazing I was able
to miss you, considering."
Canton gave her a sweet smile. "I
missed you, too."
"How did it go? What's your next
move?"
"It went very well, and my next move
is to sign leasing agreements with Re/Max for my new office
location."
Randi stopped, bite halfway to her
mouth. "Really? You've already found a place?"
"Yes, ma'am. While I was gone I had
an agent scouting out a good location for my new practice, and I
think we've found the perfect one. I was with her there today
looking it over. It's in a great spot, right on the corner of
5th and Lincoln. Nice-size offices, two filing rooms
and it's already wired for what I'll need, as it used to be a
dentists' office before."
"That's wonderful!" Randi raised her
glass in a new toast. "To new beginnings."
Canton smiled, recognizing her own
toast from weeks before. "To new beginnings."
Canton insisted on helping Randi clean
up the dinner dishes, regardless of how hard Randi tried to get her
to sit down and relax. Deciding to give it up, the two worked side
by side washing, rinsing and drying the dishes.
"The only thing about this place is I
wish it had a dishwasher," Randi lamented, sticking another plate
in the sink of hot rinse water.
Canton grinned. "Isn't it amazing how
the smallest things can spoil us?"
"Isn't that the truth."
"Do you miss your house? All the fun
little toys in it?" Canton asked, putting a stack of dried dishes
in the cabinet where Randi had shown her they go.
"In some ways. I miss the space and
my yard. But honestly, that's about it. I like it here; it's a
good place to be for now."
"What's the long-term plan?" Canton
grabbed the bouquet of silverware and dried each piece.
Randi snorted with a smile. "Make it
through the rest of this semester." She grinned over at Canton who
returned it. "I'm glad I started this way: just taking the two
classes during the summer course. It's harder on some ways because
the semester is so much shorter, but it's shorter."
"And, I bet nothing transferred, did
it?"
"Nope." Randi tackled the glass
baking pan next, grabbing a scrubbing pad for the job. "All my
credits were more than ten years old, so nadda."
"Oh man, that sucks!'
"Tell me about it! When I was in
school before, I was taking eighteen credit hours a semester, so I
had quite a few classes stacked up." She tried to snap her
fingers, but the wet soapy water her hands had been in for the past
ten minutes caused a dull soapy splash, which caught Canton right
in the face. Randi looked at her with wide, surprised eyes. "I'm
sorry."
Canton wiped her face with the towel
then looked at Randi with a raised brow and clear intent in her
eyes.
"Hey now, it was an accident," Randi
said, slowly taking a step back from Canton, who had grabbed one of
the glasses she'd just dried and dunked it into the sink of rinse
water, her gaze never leaving Randi. "Canton, whatever you're
thinking of doing-"
Randi squealed as Canton grabbed her
by the front of her shirt and tugged her towards her, dumping the
entire half-filled glass over Randi's head. "Oops!" Canton
exclaimed, her eyes twinkling and a devilish grin on her face.
Randi gasped as water cascaded down
her face and shirt. She was just glad it was warm and not cold
water. "Oh, you are so in for
it!"
The war was on as both women grabbed
anything they could: water, leftover salad from the bowl that had
yet to be put into the fridge. The coup de grace was when Randi
grabbed a can of Reddi Whip from her fridge, literally sitting on
Canton on the kitchen floor as she squirted the creamy white goop
into Canton's hair, both giggling like school girls. Canton
managed to wrestle the can away from her, grabbing the front of
Randi's shirt and squirting the whipped cream down into her bra
before squishing it in with her hand on the front of Randi's shirt.
Randi gasped, the goop cold and
absolutely disgusting feeling. "I can't believe you did that!"
Without thinking, Randi whipped off her shirt and grabbed Canton's
face, forcing it into the whipped cream cushion that had formed on
and between her breasts.
"Mmm! Yum, yum, yum…" Canton
hummed as she began to playfully feast on the Reddi Whip.
Randi's smile fell off her face as she
realized their position: she was straddling Canton's lap, arms
wrapped around the brunette's head and Canton's arms wrapped around
her body, face buried in her breasts. What had started out in play
was quickly causing a slow burn between Randi's legs.
Canton felt it, too, as her movements
began to slow and she realized that rather than eating the whipped
cream, she had begun to push it aside with her face, her tongue
wanting to taste the flesh beneath.
Randi gasped as she felt that tongue
stray into her bra, just barely lapping across the edge of her
nipple, already hard from the cold whipped cream. She pressed on
Canton's head, needing her mouth on her.
Encouraged and not thinking, Canton brought up a hand, pushing
Randi's bra up over her breasts, giving her full access. She could
hear soft whimpers above her, all of which fed her core of need and
desire for Randi. She took in as much of Randi's left breast as
she could, using her tongue to flick over the rigid tip, her own
soft moan escaping. It finally hit her what she was doing when she
felt Randi's hips begin to rock against her.
Randi was thrust back into reality
from her sensual haze at the same time, realization dawning
painfully clear. She looked down at Canton, only to meet horrified
blue eyes. Slowly they disengaged, Randi getting to unsteady legs
then helping Canton to hers. "Um," Randi said, her hands trembling
as she tugged her bra into place. "I think we both need a shower,"
she said quietly, indicating the disgusting state both were in.
"Towels are-"
"No, you go first. It's your place."
Relieved, as Randi needed to compose
herself, she headed out of the room and to the bathroom, leaving an
unsteady Canton in the kitchen.
"My god," Canton breathed, burying her
face in her hands for a moment, grimacing when she realized she'd
just essentially done a face plant in whipped cream. Her heart was
still racing as she began to clean up the mess they'd made.
Randi stood in the shower stall,
letting the water flow over her naked body, hoping it would not
only rinse away the whipped cream, but also her guilt. How could
she have let that happen? How could she have done that to Canton,
teased her like that and put her in a position like that? She felt
terrible and like she was a terrible person.
"A fucking tease," she whispered,
washing her hair - twice - and then her body. But, god that
felt amazing…. Nobody had touched Randi other than
Shannon since the last time Randi and Canton had made love.
Shannon had never been able touch her in the same way or
make her feel remotely the way Canton did. The ironic things was,
regardless of how unhappy Randi and Shannon's marriage was, Shannon
had always insisted on a regularly active sex life, which had long
ago become a chore for Randi. She never liked his hands on her,
never liked his body to touch hers.
Then there was Canton. In those few
brief moments on the kitchen floor, Canton had made Randi feel more
than Shannon ever had in all their years of marriage combined.
"Shit."
As Randi quickly dressed and got
towels and a pair of shorts and t-shirt for Canton, Randi wondered
if the brunette would even still be there. Had she taken off?
Angry and hurt with Randi for what she'd started? Knowing Canton,
Randi knew she likely blamed herself. With a heavy sigh, Randi
finally padded out to the kitchen to meet her fate.
Canton was on her hands and knees
finishing up the last bit of towel mopping she was doing. The
kitchen was spotless, including the dishes they'd been washing when
the water and food fight had started. Randi couldn't believe it.
"You did not have to clean
everything up, Canton. I can't believe you did all that," Randi
said, looking around in awe.
"Yes I did. I helped make the mess so
there was no reason why I shouldn't clean it up," Canton said,
getting to her feet. She rinsed off the towel she'd been using
then slapped it onto the faucet so it could
dry.
"Well, I disagree, but thank you very
much."
"No problem." Canton smiled, but it
was guarded.
"I left towels and clean clothes in
the bathroom for you. If you'll get those off, I'll throw them
into the washing machine."
"You don't have
to-"
"Please? It's the least I can do,
Canton. Considering, it was my whipped cream that made
the mess." She gave Canton a playful smile, trying to break some
of the tension.
"Well, in that case, I'll let ya."
Randi stood in the small laundry room
down the hall from her apartment, preparing the washer for Canton's
clothing, which was an absolute mess. She threw her own clothing
in with it. For a moment she got a bit of a thrill, knowing their
clothing would be washed together. Pushing that thought out of her
head, she brought back what had happened half an hour before.
Her body still tingled from the memory
of Canton's mouth on her, a shiver running down her spine and
ending up squarely between her legs. She rested her hands on the
washing machine, placing her weight on it as she closed her eyes,
taking several deep breaths. What she really wanted to do was
march right back into her apartment, grab Canton and finish what
they'd started.
Even so, something inside her knew
that was a really, really bad idea for so many reasons. One of
which, she was still a married woman, no matter what the living
arrangements were. She had plans to head down to the courthouse
and file proper papers, but hadn't yet, fear stopping her: once she
did that, it was final and there was no going back. Perhaps she
was holding onto the word "married" like some sort of warped
version of a binky.
Pushing off the washing machine, she
headed back to her apartment, where Canton was already waiting for
her, sitting on the couch in the borrowed t-shirt and shorts. Her
hair was wrapped in a towel. She was flipping through one of
Randi's text books, which was lying on the coffee table with her
laptop.
"Clothes are being washed as we
speak," Randi said, her voice light and friendly, determined to
bring the evening back to an even keel.
Canton looked up at her and smiled,
closing the text book and placing it back on the table. "I
appreciate that. My Jeep would be smelling like Reddi Whip
forever."
Randi chuckled. "Guess there are
worse things it could smell like, but I imagine that sweet smell
would get old quick."
Canton was having a hard time keeping
her composure, sadness creeping over her. She was terrified that
she had taking things too far and had ruined their burgeoning
friendship. "Randi," she began, her voice soft as she looked down
at her hands which lay in her lap.
"No," Randi said, walking over to
where Canton sat. She reached down at grabbed one of her hands,
tugging until Canton was on her feet and into a warm hug. Canton
was unsure, which made her stiff. "Don't do that," Randi whispered
into the hug. "Hold me."
Canton squeezed her eyes shut as
allowed herself to fully embrace, no only Randi, but also the
moment of forgiveness. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "It won't
happen again."
Don't say that.
Randi rested her head on Canton's shoulder, rubbing
soothing patterns on her back. "There's no need to be sorry."
They stood that way for nearly twenty
minutes, just absorbing the presence of the other woman, reveling
in the familiarity and safety the other provided. Canton rested
her cheek against the top of Randi's head, her fingers combing
through the soft blonde strands. She could feel Randi's warmth and
just wanted to lose herself in it.
Holding in a contented sigh, Randi
murmured into the hug. "I have dessert, too if you want it."
Canton chuckled. "I kinda already
did."
That set them both off in peels of
laughter, the tension fully broken.
***
Randi held her pen poised over the
pad, waiting. When nothing was forthcoming, she glanced up at
Shannon, who sat across from her at the kitchen table in the house
they'd shared for many years. "Shannon?" she said, drawing his
attention from where it had been focused out the kitchen window.
He looked at her. "What do you want out of the family room?"
Shannon sighed, tossing the pencil
he'd been playing with onto the table, amidst the piles of papers
and records that documented their life together. "I don't care,"
he sighed.
Randi hid her irritation as best she
could, sitting back in her chair and setting the pen down.
"Shannon, please don't start. We've got to get these lists
compiled for the hearing next week."
Shannon studied her for a long moment.
"Did you ever love me?" he asked, voice quiet, almost like a
little boy's.
"Don't do this now," Randi moaned, her
face in her hands.
"What? I'm sorry if I can't be cold
about all this."
"I'm not being cold, Shannon. How can
you not feel that it was time and that we were beating a dead
horse?"
"Because I still love you and I think
you're going through something. I don't know what, but something.
Menopause or whatever. Something."
Randi's anger was reaching the boiling
point now, and she had no desire to sit there and fight. She
pushed back from the table, gathering all the records she'd brought
with her and shoving them back into the file folder they'd come
from. "Let me know when you're ready to sit down like adults and
work these details out. Until then, I'm going home."
Shannon watched her go, plopping back
against his chair with a heavy sigh.
***
Laughter rang through the first level
of Canton's newly renovated house. In the elegance of the formal
dining room, Canton hosted a dinner - prepared with the help of
Randi - to Randi, Blake and his new girlfriend, Kerry. The food
was amazing and company was even better. The small dinner party
was to reveal the new house, which had been completely restored to
the glory of the original 1846 structure, replete with antique
furnishings from the time period. Walking into Canton's home was
walking back in time.
"And so," Blake laughed, the women
surrounding him already laughing as he continued his story, "I'm
hanging there," he explained, raising her arm over his head like
he's dangling from the beam he was describing, "I'm like, 'Hello!
Anyone down there?'" The table burst into fresh laughter, Kerry
sending adorning eyes to him, which was not missed by Randi or
Canton.
"We offered to help!" Kerry exclaimed,
sending new laughter to Blake's flushed cheeks, but everyone knew
it was all in good humor.
Canton raised her glass to Kerry and
Blake. "Well, you two-" she turned to Randi, "three, were
absolutely integral to making my homes come to life." Glasses
clinked all around, followed by "Here, here!"
"Well, this has been a blast ladies,
but Kerry and I have a nine o'clock film to catch," Blake said,
scooting back from the table, ready to make his leave.
"We are not leaving without
helping clean up, Blake," Kerry insisted, also scooting back, but
began to gather plates as she did.
"I so like her," Randi stage-whispered to Canton, Blake
rolling his eyes.
"So do I. She's definitely good wife
stock," Canton played along.
"I agree! I can easily imagine her -
baby in tow - finishing up with dinner and making Blakey do the
dishes," Randi said, staring off into a seen
future.
"What a wonderful idea!" Canton
quickly agreed. Both burst into laughter as Blake and Kerry were
each turning seven shades of red. "Go to your movie, you two!"
Canton exclaimed, waving the teens off. "We'll get this."
Randi pointed a finger at them both.
"This time!"
"Okay, okay," Blake muttered,
shepherding Kerry out of the house.
Canton and Randi stood side by side,
watching them go. Canton placed an arm around Randi's waist, Randi
resting her head against Canton's shoulder. "Well, dear," Canton
joked, "I think our little boy is growing up."
"Sigh," Randi returned, both
chuckling. "Come on, you. Let's clean up."
An hour later, they sat in front of a
gorgeous fire in the rock fireplace in the sitting room. Randi was
curled up in a wingback drinking a mug of coffee with a shot of
Grand Marnier while Canton reclined on the chaise lounge, her mug
in hand. Randi stared into the flames, a soft smile curling her
lips. Canton studied the graceful calm of Randi's face.
"What are you thinking about?" Canton
asked softly, sipping from her coffee.
Randi's eyes never left the fire, her
smile broadening slightly. "Just how at peace I feel." She met
Canton's gaze, the blue turned gray in the firelight. "I finally
feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be for the first time in my
life. I'm just very proud of myself."
"And you should be. You're finally
living your life for you, and it's made that wonderful light inside
you that much brighter. It's very beautiful, Randi." Canton
couldn't take her eyes of the blonde, her words coming from her
heart.
"Thank you, Canton,' Randi whispered.
"I think you are, too."
***
"Hey girl!" Tammy, the Night Manager
exclaimed in her usual exuberant manner. "What time do you need to
be outta here?"
"By six-thirty," Randi answered, in
the middle of creating the best caramel macchiato that she could.
"I got plans." Her huge grin made Tammy fan herself. "Oh, stop!"
she laughed. "I'm helping a friend get her new office ready for
business Monday morning." Tammy still fanned herself, making Randi
roll her eyes.
***
"Careful!" Canton exclaimed, guiding
the delivery men as they moved in the last of the equipment into
the offices. It had been a long day and she was exhausted.
"Where does this one go, ma'am?" the
big, burly delivery man asked.
"Exam room 3."
***
"Thank you and come again to Wayne's
Coffee World," Randi smiled, handing her latest customer their
drink. She'd been appointed to making drinks today, and she loved
being there at the drink station. She loved creating new menu
items, and it brought her back to her roots in at more kitchen-like
setting. Besides, it was a hell of a lot better than working the
drive-thru window! A quick glance at the clock showed her that she
only had ten minutes left on her shift. Randi couldn't hide her
grin as she started on the next order.
***
Shannon sat in his car, his heart
beating a million miles per minute. He sat in front of the coffee
shop that he'd gotten a cup of coffee from every day on his way to
work for the entire five years that it had been open. His fingers
grazed across the smoothness of the weight that sat in his lap. It
was almost a decadent smoothness: cool to the touch and exciting to
the spirit.
After a moment of silent prayer,
Shannon tucked away his new toy and opened his door, stepping out
into the warm July day. He took a surreptitious look around as he
made his way towards the shop, pushing inside with a jingle of
warning bells above the door. He saw the surprised look on Randi's
face and suddenly, it was all worth it.
***
Canton glanced at the clock she'd just
hung in exam room 1, concern building when she saw that it was
after eight p.m. Randi was due an hour and a half earlier, and it
just didn't seem like her to be so late without calling. Canton
had stopped herself from calling, not wanting to interrupt Randi at
work in case something had come up and the blonde had to work late.
Even still, something in her gut was niggling at her.
Suddenly, her cell phone chirped to
life. Canton hurtled the exam bed to get to the main office where
her phone sat on the receptionist's desk. Expecting it to be
Randi, she was surprised - and even more concerned - to see it was
Blake.
"Hello?" he said, bringing the small
phone to her ear.
"Are you near a TV?" Blake asked, his
voice quiet and filled with fear.
"No, I'm at the office. What's wrong, Blake? You sound like
you're about to cry."
"You might want to get home, Canton.
It's mom," he urged.
***
Randi was deeply shaken, left alone in
the coffee shop with Shannon. She couldn't take her eyes off the
9mm that sat in his lap. He'd allowed the rest of the co-workers
to leave, which she was grateful for, but now it was just the two
of them, the walls of the shop swirling with the red and blue
lights of the police cars that filled the parking lot. She
garnered her courage, finally meeting his gaze.
"What do you want with me, Shannon?"
she asked, her voice forcibly soft.
Shannon sat at one of the tables, away
from the large plate-glass windows. He sipped the caramel breve
Randi had made for him. "This is really good," he complimented.
Randi said nothing, just stared at her
hands, which fidgeted with a cardboard sleeve that slipped onto
cups to help keep customers from getting burned. Her heart was
pounding and she wasn't sure what to do. Two hours before, Shannon
had entered the shop like any other customer. Once he'd reached
the register, he'd asked for Randi, who'd been called to wait on
him. He would have been her last customer before leaving to go
meet Canton at her new offices.
"What can I get you, Shannon?" she
asked, waiting impatiently for his order. He'd given her the order
for his caramel breve and then had brandished his gun, something
she had no idea he owned.
Within an hour's time, he'd
allowed the other employees and customers to leave, the cops
already arrived on scene. In truth, he wasn't sure what he planned
to do, other than the fact that he just couldn't face the fact that
they'd be meeting in court within a few days, and at that point,
all ties to her would be gone and things would be put into motion
for the final outcome of divorce. It just wasn't something he
could face.
Shannon knew there was a question on
the table for him to answer and instead of voicing his response, he
held the paper cup in his hands, swirling the liquid inside around
and around. "Randi," he said, voice soft as he was lost in memory.
"Do you remember that old café I used to work in at school?"
"Yes Shannon, I do."
Shannon smiled at the memory bouncing
around in his mind. "Remember that 'special blend' coffee old Ray
used to pawn off? I tried to get you to drink that forever but you
wouldn't. It wasn't until you got pregnant with Blake that you
started to crave the smell of coffee." He smiled, leaning back in
his chair. "I remember you yelling down from the loft in that
piece of crap apartment we lived in for awhile: Shannon, make
me some coffee to snort!"
Even Randi had to smile at that,
remembering all too well.
"I never did tell you, but Ray's
'secret blend' was nothing more than Folgers and Swiss Miss hot
chocolate powder mix combined." Shannon grinned up at Randi.
"Funny, huh?"
"Shannon," Randi said softly, moving
around until she was sitting across from him. "Why are you doing
all this? I'm not worth this." She eyed the gun then her gaze
moved up to his troubled eyes. "Let it go. Let me go
before you ruin your life."
Shannon studied her for a moment
before his face distorted into rage as she shoved his chair back
hard enough to knock it over. He grabbed Randi by the hair,
forcing her head back. "Do not presume to tell me what to
do," he growled, the barrel of the gun resting under her
chin.
***
Canton's eyes were glued to the news
broadcast of the hostage situation on local news. Blake sat next
to her, Kerry on the other side of him, both trying to give him
support, even as Canton's heart was screaming for her to do
something. A helicopter perspective was played across the
television coverage, showing the small army of police and fire
vehicles that littered the parking lot of the coffee shop and
surroundings streets. The people at those vehicles looked like
ants on the ground.
"It's going to be okay," Kerry
murmured, her hand buried in Blake's hair. Canton's own hand was
placed protectively on his back, but her heart was in her throat,
tears threatening to fall.
Suddenly a reporter was on the screen,
an earpiece pressed to her ear. "We have more information
regarding the hostage situation at the Wayne's Coffee World coffee
shop today," the young reporter explained, looking down at notes
she held in her hand. "The man has been identified as thirty-eight
year old Shannon Garland Lehey, who has been holding his wife,
Randi Lynn Lehey hostage at her place of work for the past two and
a half hours. Authorities have tried to use negation tactics, but
Lehey has yet to acknowledge them."
***
"You are a stupid woman," Shannon
growled, holding Randi against him, the gun now pointing at her
temple. "Call him."
"Who?" she whispered, heart pounding
and fear trickling sweat down her spine and between her breasts.
"Who do you think!" Shannon raged.
"Our son!" He shoved Randi's cell phone into her hand, the gun
never wavering.
***
Canton's hand covered her mouth as she
watched the footage, unable to look away. Blake and Kerry were in
the same position, Kerry crying out startled when Blake's cell
phone chirped to life. Blake hurried to grab it from where it sat
on Canton's end table at the other side of the room. His face
paled when he saw who it was from.
"It's my dad," he breathed. He
brought the phone to his ear. "Hello?"
***
"Hello, son," Shannon said into the
phone, his eyes never leaving Randi, who he'd pushed to an arm's
length away. "Your mother wanted to say goodbye."
***
Blake felt his stomach catch. "Where
is she going, Dad?" Blake asked, dread creeping down his spine.
***
Shannon glanced over at Randi, who was
softly crying. "We're going on a journey, son." Shannon thrust
the phone towards Randi. "Tell him goodbye," he growled, eyes hard
and filled with hatred.
***
"Mom?" Blake was on his feet, nearly
yelling now. "Mom?"
Canton was also on her feet, her gaze
bouncing back and forth between Blake on the phone and the TV, the
reporter's words becoming lost as her fear took over. She was
trying desperately not to think the worst.
***
"I love you Blake," Randi whispered
into the phone, her gaze locked on Shannon's gun as it was pointed
directly at her face. A sob was torn from her throat. "Please no,
Shannon," she begged. "Please don't do this."
***
Blake was opening crying now. "Mom?
Dad, don't do it! Dad!"
At the exact time a loud bang could be
heard over Blake's phone, the reporter on the screen cried out,
"Shots have been fired! Shots have been fired!"
Canton felt her world go cold.