Shane searched her mind for an answer. Should I lie? she thought. No. Then Carmen would surely think that she didn’t mean a word of their previous conversation.

“Honey, who was it on the phone? You seem upset,” Carmen asked again. She walked over to her large overnight bag, searching for something to put on. She found a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and satisfied that it was perfect for a walk in the park, she began to get dressed, turning her attention back to Shane.

“It was, uh…” Shane hesitated. Carmen had now come to sit on the bed as she put on a pair of running shoes. As she tied the laces, she again looked to Shane for an explanation as to why she seemed so nervous all of a sudden.

“Cherie.” Shane spoke the one word almost in a whisper, resigned to the fact that she needed to be honest with Carmen because she meant what she said earlier- that she would do whatever it took to not hurt her again.

Carmen paused and looked to Shane with an unreadable expression. “What?” she asked.

“It was Cherie on the phone…. but I didn’t pick it up” Shane said defeatedly, knowing that even the mention of the woman’s name was not going to sit well with Carmen.

Every muscle in Carmen’s body tensed. The lines of her jaw. Her hands. Her eyebrows. Everything tightened, as she finally understood what Shane just said.

Swallowing deeply before speaking, and telling herself that she wouldn’t jump to conclusions, Carmen asked, “What the f*** did she want Shane?”
Shane’s head dropped and she looked down at her hands, not wanting to tell Carmen about the previous message she had retrieved from her cell phone.

“Answer me! What is she doing calling your phone?” Carmen asked again, this time not trying to disguise her growing anger.

Shane looked up, and staring ahead of her at nothing in particular, said “I think she found out about the accident. NNo, what I mean is, I know she knows about the accident because… because she had left me a message on my cell phone.” Shane turned to face Carmen so that she was looking her in the eye.

When she did, Shane noticed Carmen’s eyes seemed to be slightly watery, though she didn’t know why. “Baby, I don’t know what to say other than I am nnot gonna call her back.” Shane then reached for Carmen’s hands but was surprised to see her flinch at the touch and instead pull them to herself as she crossed her arms.

“I think you should call her.” Carmen said. Shane, clearly taken aback, looked to her questioningly. “What?”

“Call her. I want to know why she’s calling you after all this time.” Carmen implored. “I, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Besides, we have nothing to talk…”Shane started.

“Shane, we can’t move forward with Cherie Jaffe hanging over our heads. The woman will continue to call and call until you answer. I could tell that about her the day I saw her at WAX. She thinks she can have things however she wants them. Besides, I want to know what she wants from you.” Carmen interrupted.

Shane knew she messed up big time that night she went to Cherie’s beach house. The truth was, she had decided that it would never happen again. She made it pretty clear to the woman that they were over. Though she wasn’t proud of what she had done, part of her saw it as closure. She was upset with Carmen that night, watching her flirt with those guys. But in the back of her mind, she knew it wasn’t reason enough to go to Cherie like she had. It was a stupid mistake, and she regretted it. But because she did it then, she knew she no longer had those feelings for Cherie, and it looked like she needed to remind the older woman of that once again. Carmen was right – in order to be completely happy with Carmen, she couldn’t have Cherie Jaffe trying to mess things up again.

“Alright. But I will call her with you here in the room, jjjust so you know that I am not doing so behind your back” Shane said.

A wave of relief came over Carmen. She knew in the past Shane would have never agreed to do such a thing. But now, it was almost like she had something to prove. And for that, Carmen appreciated her genuinely trying to be honest about the phone call. Already she could tell that Shane was willing to be more open with her. The very mention of that woman’s name caused an anger in Carmen that made her whole body become annoyed. But she made herself stay in check while she watched Shane dial the number.

“Hello. Cherie? This is Shane.,” she said in an unenthusiastic tone. Shane took Carmen’s hand and was relieved that she didn’t object to her doing so.

“Yes, I’m fffine…. I am doing better and the doctor let me go home this week… I know, I listened to your message about the hair appointment…” Shane made sure to glance at Carmen every so often to gauge her reaction since she couldn’t hear Cherie’s part of the conversation.

All of a sudden, Shane’s expression changed to that of disbelief as she dropped Carmen’s hand. “You want to meet me? … so we can talk? You can say whatever it is right now…. ” Carmen’s anger began rising at the audacity of the woman on the other end. But she kept silent and waited for Shane’s response.

“There’s really nothing to talk about…. (sighing loudly) Shane continued.
“I told you that I never wanted to see you a -” suddenly Shane got a fantastic idea.

“OK, we can meet. Where?” Shane said into the phone, despite the daggers that Carmen was now sending her way with her eyes. How could she agree to meet that woman? she thought.

“About 7:30? …. Yeah…. I’ll be there” and with that, she clicked the phone shut.

“I can’t believe you just did that! I guess you’re gonna meet her tonight? I know you don’t expect me to take you?” Carmen demanded rising from the bed to stand in front of Shane.

Shane stood up too, pulled Carmen in close, and quietly said, “No. WE are gonna meet her tonight.”

The reality of Shane’s words hit Carmen like a ton of bricks, as she suddenly understood the reason for her accepting the invitation to meet.

“Shane, I don’t want to see that woman. If I am in the same room with her, I may scratch her eyes out or worse.”

“Look, come with me. This woman does not seem to get that I don’t want her anymore. Iiiff you are by my side, she will have no choice but to get it” Shane said assuredly.

Carmen looked down to the floor in silent contemplation. It would be really really hard to be in the same room as Cherie. But a part of her was touched that Shane had even considered taking her along. Another huge step had been taken, and with that, Carmen reluctantly agreed.

“So, we save the park for another day?” Carmen asked. At the sound of disappointment in her voice, Shane quickly responded with “I promise”.


At a small eatery near WAX…


Cherie Jaffe, dressed impeccably in an expensive suit and matching shoes courtesy of her divorce settlement, sat waiting at a small booth. She was nursing a raspberry tea and going over the plan in her head. She believed that Shane couldn’t resist her, and since that night at the beach house confirmed how easily it was to tempt Shane, she would again gain Shane’s empathy over her extreme loneliness. Even playing her daughter into the picture whom she would say was so torn up about her parents divorcing, that she agreed to stay with Cherie’s now ex husband. Yes, that would put Shane’s defenses way down, and she’d move in for the kill.

Truth was, Cherie could probably go to any gay bar and get any woman she wanted. But she knew the power she had over Shane in the past. And that excited her. She felt like the king, or should she say queen, of the jungle whom everyone feared and obeyed without question. Cherie had also heard about Shane leaving that girl at the altar – what was her name? Oh well, whatever her name was, Cherie didn’t feel sorry for her one bit. Didn’t she know what she was getting into by dealing with the one and only Shane McCutheon? Obviously she didn’t, or she wouldn’t have been stupid enough to believe that the town’s most well known gigolo would not settle down for anybody.

Cherie smiled to herself thinking this will be like taking candy from a baby.

However, she almost choked on her drink as she spied two people coming towards her booth. Shane was moving a little slowly, but there was no mistaking whom she was with. And were they actually holding hands?

Hands interlocked together, Carmen paused briefly as they approached the woman. Shane looked back at her, questioning the hesitation in their walk. “Ssecond thoughts?” she asked. Carmen straightened her shoulders and lifted her head, a new determination in her eyes, “No. I’m okay, really” she responded.

The two approached the table, and Carmen actually smiled at the look of shock that Cherie could not hide.

“Hello Cherie. Yy you remember Carmen.”


TBC